The properties and preparation of the Rio Negro sarsaparilla, and of the angustura bark, practically examined / by John Hancock.

  • Hancock, John, -approximately 1840.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The properties and preparation of the Rio Negro sarsaparilla, and of the angustura bark, practically examined / by John Hancock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    If in the delightful and fruitful country to which this plant is indigenous, the heat is at times oppressive to the inhabitants, engendering malignant fevers,—this salutary and providential antidote is growing at their doors, and they have acquired a to- lerable knowledge of its powers, the mode of employment in that part being to drink a warm infusion in order to induce sweat and diuresis. They often, however, begin with so large a quantity as to evacuate the stomach or the bowels, for it is capable of elfecting both, and indeed is often employed for that purpose as well as a febrifuge (contra-calentura), while a decoction of the leaves is resorted to as a bath in fevers and pains of the limbs, arising from colds, in chronic rheumatism, &c. In the years 1816 and 1817 there prevailed in the district of the Orinoco, and particularly at St. Thomas de Angostura, a malignant bilious intermittent fever, which proved fatal to great numbers of the inhabitants as well as to foreigners. In the lat- ter, indeed, it assumed the form, in many cases, of true yellow fever, with vomito prieto. I had the appointment of Medico de Sanidad in the harbour, which is about 260 miles up the river, and had an opportunity of observing this disease in all its various shapes. I had also the care of the Military Hospital in 1817, during the absence of the garrison-surgeon, Don Pablo Gonzalez, and had seldom less than 60 or 70 patients with fever, dropsy, and dysentery. The number of hydropic patients was almost uicredible. It was distressing to see them dying along the streets of Angostura from the effects of fever and want of food, the town being be- sieged by the patriot forces under General Bolivar. In March, 1817, the mortality increasing, our stock of Cin- chona was quite expended, and we had no other resort but to the Quiua de Carony, of which there was a large supply in the town. It was prepared nearly as prescribed by those who were there, termed Curiosos, or the native doctors. Into a large jug, containing about six gallons, ■w^e put one pound of coarsely-powdered bark, with doable, or at least ao