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1902

Page 446

Presented as published in 1902. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
down the flour la water, and evaporat- ing the liquid. Iodine has been highly recommended by many English and French physicians, as a specific remedy for scrofula ; and, for the very favourable results I have witnessed, in a great variety of cases, I am disposed to consider it to possess antiscrofulous properties. The best pre- paration is the spirituous solution termed the Tincture of Iodine, which may be administered twice a day, in the dose of 3 to 15 drops, in a wine-glassful of a decoction of marsh-mallow roots, or of Peruvian bark, if the patient be in a debilitated stage. " Devonport’s Syrup of Iodide of Quinine and iron is a ternary compound of marked efficacy, in cases of scrofula, and of bloodlessness, (ancemia.) It is borne well by the stomach, and not pos- sessing the nauseous qualities of its con- stituents, is admirably adapted for chil- dren.”— Dr. Graham. The scrofulous patient must have a nourishing diet, plenty of exercise, and abundance of fresh pure air. SCROFULA, OR KING’S EVIL. — Take as much cream of tartar as lies on a shilling. Or, drink for 6 weeks half a pint of strong decoc- tion of devil’s bit. Or, make a leaf of dried burdock into a pint of tea ; take half a pint twice a day for 4 months I have known this cure hundreds. — Wesley. SCURVY. — This disease arises from a depraved state of the blood, which induces general debility, and a corruption of all the fluids. It is char- acterized by extreme diminution of vita- lity, such as a very pale and bloated complexion, spongy gums, livid spots on the skin, offensive breath, swelling of the legs, foul ulcers, foetid urine, weak- ness, &c. This disease arises from the want of fresh provisions, and a due quantity of vegetables ; probably assisted by the prevalency of cold and moisture, and also such other causes as depress the ner- vous energy, as indolence, confinement, neglect of cleanliness, much labour and fatigue, sadness, despondency, &c. A preternatural saline state of the fluids is assigned by Dr. Cullen as its proximate cause. The reason that salted meat is so productive of scurvy is, h Is drained of its nutritious juices, which run off in brine, its fibres being at the same time hardened, and rendered more difficult of digestion. Treatment. — Abstain from salt as much as possible. A diet of fresh vege- tables, and a beverage strongly impreg- nated with the juice of lemons, oranges, and the sub-acid fruits, are more effica- cious in the cure of this disease than the most powerful anti-scorbutic medicines. The essences of malt and spruce have likewise been found of great service, pro- bably from the quantity of fixed air they contain. When lemon or orange-juice cannot be obtained, nitre dissolved in vinegar, in the proportion of an oz. of the former to a quart of the latter, has been found to afford the best substitute, water acidulated with the nitric acid, is, perhaps, not less efficacious : from 1 to 2 ozs. or more of the former may be given 3 or 4 times in the course of the day ; and of the latter, a quantity con- taining about 15 or 20 drops of the nitric acid may be taken every 5 or 6 hours. The vitriolic acid, the Peruvian bark, and the red sulphate of iron, are like- wise very valuable remedies in the far advanced stage of this disease.