Though many are of opinion that the mercurial ointment is as efficacious as any other preparation of that mineral; yet experience has taught me to think otherwise. I have often seen the most obstinate venereal cases, where great quantities of mercurial ointment had been used in vain, yield to the saline preparations of mercury. Nor am I so singular in this opinion. Mr. Clare, a very eminent surgeon, assured me, that for some time past he had employed in venereal cases a saline preparation of mercury with most happy success. This preparation, rubbed with a sufficient quantity of any mild powder, he applied, in small portions, to the tongue, where, with a gentle degree of friction, it was immediately absorbed, and produced its full effect upon the system, without doing the least injury to the stomach or bowels; a matter of greater importance in the application of this most active and powerful remedy.
It is impossible to ascertain either the exact quantity of medicines that must be taken, or the time they ought to be continued in order to perform a cure. These will ever vary according to the constitution of the patient, the season of the year, the degree of infection, the time it has lodged in the body, &c. But though it is difficult, as Astruc observes, to determine a priori, what quantity of mercury will, in the whole, be necessary to cure this distemper completely, yet it may be judged of a posteriori, from the abatement and ceasing of the symptoms. The same author adds, that commonly not less than two ounces of the strong mercurial ointment is sufficient, and not more than three or four ounces necessary.
The only chemical preparation of mercury which we shall take notice of, is the corrosive sublimate. This was some time ago brought into use for the venereal disease in Germany, by the illustrious Baron Van Swieten; and was soon after introduced into Britain by the learned Sir John Pringle, at that time a physician to the army. The method of giving it is as follows: One grain of corrosive sublimate is dissolved in two ounces of French brandy or malt spirits; and of this solution an ordinary table-spoonful, or the quantity of half an ounce, is to be taken twice a day, and to be continued as long as any symptoms of the disorder remain. To those whose stomachs cannot bear the solution, the sublimate may be given in form of a pill.[[10]]
[10]. The sublimate may be given in distilled water, or any other liquid that the patient chooses. I commonly order ten grains to be dissolved in an ounce of the spirit of wine, for the convenience of carriage, and let the patient take twenty or thirty drops of it night and morning, in half a glass of brandy or other spirits.
Several roots, woods, and barks, have been recommended for curing the venereal disease; but none of them have been found, upon experience, to answer the high encomiums which had been bestowed upon them. Though no one of these is to be depended upon alone, yet, when joined with mercury, some of them are found to be very beneficial in promoting a cure. One of the best we know yet is sarsaparilla.
The mezereon-root is likewise found to be a powerful assistant to the sublimate, or any other mercurial. It may either be used along with the sarsaparilla, or by itself. Those who choose to use the mezereon by itself, may boil an ounce of the fresh bark, taken from the root, in twelve English pints of water, to eight, adding towards the end an ounce of liquorice. The dose of this is the same as of the decoction of sarsaparilla.
We have been told, that the natives of America cure the venereal disease, in every stage, by a decoction of the root of a plant called the Lobelia. It is used either fresh or dried; but we have no certain accounts with regard to the proportion. Sometimes they mix other roots with it, as those of the ranunculus, the ceanothus, &c.; but whether they are designed to disguise or assist it, is doubtful. The patient takes a large draught of the decoction early in the morning, and continues to use it for his ordinary drink throughout the day.[[11]]
[11]. Though we are still very much in the dark with regard to the method of curing this disease among the natives of America, yet it is generally affirmed that they do cure it with speed, safety, and success, and that without the least knowledge of mercury. Hence it becomes an object of considerable importance to discover their method of cure. This might surely be done by making trials of the various plants which are found in those parts, and particularly of such as the natives are known to make use of. All people in a rude state take their medicines chiefly from the vegetable kingdom, and are often possessed of valuable secrets with regard to the virtues of plants, of which more enlightened nations are ignorant. Indeed, we make no doubt but some plants of our own growth, were proper pains taken to discover them, would be found as efficacious in curing the venereal disease as those in America. It must, however, be remembered, that what will cure the venereal disease in one country, will not always be found to have equal success in another.
Many other roots and woods might be mentioned which have been extolled for curing the venereal disease, as the china roots, the roots of soap-wart, burdock, &c., as also the wood of guaiacum and sassafras; but as none of these have been found to possess virtues superior to those already mentioned, we shall, for the sake of brevity, pass them over, and shall conclude our observations on this disease, with a few general remarks concerning the proper management of the patient and the nature of the infection.