Part 24

Take of Gum Opium, half a drachm Camphor, two drachms Pulverized Ipecacuanha, one drachm Cream of Tartar, or super-carbonate of soda, one ounce

Pulverize all separately, then mix. It is best to use pulverized opium.

Dose—Ten grains, or half a teaspoonful, as often as may be necessary.

Use—This forms a valuable anodyne, diaphoretic and sudorific. It is beneficially administered in fever, St. Anthony’s fire, diarrhœa, dysentery, and cholera morbus, and in all cases where an anodyne, combined with a sudorific, is required. In these diseases it should be administered in small doses. It is also applicable to many other diseases, such as rheumatism, gout, &c. It promotes perspiration without increasing the heat of the body. It produces a constant moisture of the skin for a great length of time, while it allays irritation.

Footnote 4:

The most successful specific, and one almost invariably certain in removing a stoppage, irregularity, or suppression of the menses (monthly turn), is a compound invented by M. M. Desomeaux, of Lisbon, Portugal, called the Portuguese Female Pills. It would appear that they are infallible, and would, undoubtedly, even produce miscarriage, if exhibited during pregnancy. And what is equally important, they are always mild, healthy, and safe in their effects.

In the female hospitals in Vienna and Paris, their exhibition has entirely superseded the use of the ordinary remedies; because, where a cure is attainable by medicinal remedies, they are certain of success. Their astonishing efficacy would be almost incredible, if not vouched for by indubitable testimony, in numerous instances producing returns of the monthly periods after all hope had been abandoned. A remarkable case is related by Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, during his residence in Paris.

“While residing in Paris, I had frequent opportunities of witnessing the astonishing efficacy of the Portuguese Female Pills in obstinate cases of the suppression of the menses. Their effect, in one instance in particular, seemed almost miraculous. A young lady, about twenty years of age, of wealthy and respectable parentage, had not menstruated for nearly two years before her application to me. On inquiry, I ascertained that her health was not seriously affected (except at intervals of about four weeks, occasioned, doubtless, by the efforts of nature to perform her functions), until within the preceding four months, when her symptoms began to assume an alarming appearance. Her medical attendants here prescribed the usual remedies without success.

“I must confess, I thought her case desperate, and had but little hope that Desomeaux’s celebrated Portuguese Pills, which I determined to put to the test, would here avail, as I had never known them to be administered under circumstances quite so apparently hopeless for a cure. But I resolved upon a trial. Accordingly I recommended their use, watching their effects upon the patient. At first their virtue, so to speak, seemed to be only negative—that is, the young woman got no worse. This, however, under the circumstances, I considered a point gained. In the course of three weeks favorable indications began to present themselves. The appetite was better; the deathly-sallow complexion giving place to a healthy hue; the eyes, also, becoming clearer, but still no menstrual discharge. The improvement, however, meanwhile, became more and more apparent, till, at the end of the ninth week after commencing their use, a slight, somewhat reddish discharge took place. Here was a beginning; the patient still improving, taking moderate exercise, with light but nourishing diet. Their exhibition was then dispensed with until within five or six days just previous to the expected return of the menses, when they were again used, and their use continued during the seven days; on the eighth the menses again appeared—on this occasion somewhat freer, but still not in sufficient quantity. Their exhibition ceased with the cessation of the menses, which lasted irregularly about four days. This treatment continued to the end of the fourth month, when the monthly returns were perfectly established. At each successive appearance they assumed a healthier color, freer in quantity, and less obstructed by coagula. The patient entirely recovered, and became possessed of sound health.”

He then relates another instance still more surprising.

“A woman applied to be treated for suppression. It appeared that she had been subject to irregularity, or stoppage of the monthly turns, and as she appeared to be free from the usual symptoms attending pregnancy, it was not supposed that the stoppage arose from that cause. She commenced using Desomeaux’s Pills. After using them about five days—from certain indications attending miscarriage—apprehensions began to be entertained that the suppression might have arisen from pregnancy, which, upon examination, proved to be the case—too late, however, to prevent the miscarriage. In a short time the expulsion took place, and on about the third day after she entirely recovered, with but little comparative inconvenience to her general health.”

He further states that their efficacy and certainty are such, that they are sometimes administered in cases of malformation of pelvis, when the female is incompetent to give birth at maturity. But when such is the case, M M Desomeaux’s “Preventive to Conception,” treated of in another part of this work, under the head of “Conception, when it should be Prevented,” is the proper remedy.

These proofs of their wonderful powers have induced Dr. Mauriceau, since his return from France, to take the sole agency for the United States. They are to be obtained of him only, as they can be transmitted by mail to any part of the Union. For whole boxes the price is five dollars; half-boxes, three dollars. Address to “Box 1224, New York City.” Dr. Mauriceau attends to all diseases of women, especially those arising from suppression of the menses, in the successful treatment of which M. M. Desomeaux’s Pills have been of such eminent service to him. Office 129 Liberty street.

Footnote 5:

Antimonial Powders.—Take of tartar emetic, three grains, nitre, two drachms. Mix, and divide into two doses. One dose to be taken every two or three hours by adults. In obstinate cases, the addition of ten or twelve grains of calomel to the above recipe, will render the medicine more salutary.

Febrifuge Powders.—Take of ipecacuanha, two scruples; nitre, two drachms.—Mix, and divide into twelve doses. One dose to be taken every two or three hours by adults.

Febrifuge Mixture.—Take of nitre, two drachms; lemon juice or vinegar, one ounce; water, half a pint; sugar, a sufficient quantity to sweeten.—Mix. A wineglassful to be taken by adults every two hours. It will be rendered more active by the addition of two drachms of antimonial wine.

Footnote 6:

Pills of Sugar of Lead.—Take of sugar of lead and ipecacuanha, each six grains; opium, one grain; syrup sufficient to form a mass.—Divide in four parts; one part to be taken every three hours, until the hemorrhage ceases; or pulv. opii, four gr.; pulv. sugar of lead, twelve grs. Mix, and divide in four parts; give one in a little water, in an hour give half of another.

Footnote 7:

I have had, very lately, a lady under my care, who menstruates with the most perfect regularity; though she had labored under a prolapsus of the uterus to a great extent for several years. She is now in her sixty-fifth year. Her uterus is now effectually supported by a pessary, which has much improved her general health.—Dewees.

Footnote 8:

Indeed, it would seem that this period of female life is freer from diseases causing death, than almost any other. By some late observations made on the bills of mortality in France, by M. Boiniston of Chateauneuf, it appears that fewer women die between the ages of forty and fifty, than men, or indeed at any other period of their lives, after puberty. And, further, that if this change is effected without much disturbance, that they live not only longer than men, but are free from morbid inconveniences.

Footnote 9:

A remarkable case is mentioned by Morgagni:—“I was acquainted,” he says, “with a maiden of a noble family, who married before menstruation took place, though the menses had been expected for some years; nevertheless she became exceedingly fruitful. We were the less surprised at this circumstance because the same thing had happened to her mother.

Frank attended a patient who gave birth to three children without ever having been unwell. Capuron, also refers to several cases of this description, and Foderé assures us of the fact. A case of the kind occurred too in the practice of Mr. Montgomery. Low likewise mentions a similar instance. Sir E. Moore relates the case of a young woman who married before she was seventeen, and never having menstruated, became pregnant, and four months after delivery was pregnant a second time; the same thing occurred again, and after the third pregnancy she menstruated for the first time, continued to do so for several periods, and became pregnant again.

It should be remembered, however, that some women are very irregular in the return of their menstrual periods—having them prolonged much beyond the usual interval. Mr. Montgomery once attended an unmarried woman of forty, who assured him that returns of the menses had frequently been delayed more than six months without causing ill health. Instances of menstrual suppression for shorter periods are frequent. Zacchias mentions that he attended a patient who used to menstruate regularly, but who never conceived until the discharge had been suppressed for three or four months previously. Mauriceau relates a somewhat similar case, and remarks that cases of this character give rise to the supposition of protracted pregnancy.

Footnote 10: