"ANTIMONY."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7612, 8 December 1886, Page 2

"ANTIMONY."

"Eripit intordum, modo dat medicina snlutcm."

Sir,— Much has been said of late respecting this drug; the papers have been repeatedly full of it; but, as far- as I have seen, it has only been mentioned with disapproval, almost amounting to horror, as a virulent "poison ;" not a woid said in its defence, or to show its great use and beneficial service in medicine,— in skilful and cautious hands. . ' .

For some time I have thought of writing a few words to the Press on this subject ; if only to remove from the public mind the general impression— of Antimony being only a "poison," and of very doubtful use* in medicine. Of course," this common

belief is now strengthened " through tho modern prohibitory law respecting its sale by Druggists ; as well as by the manner it has been of late (for the last' two months) spoken of in the papers ; • iocluding* the - statements of Medical and other profes sionals in our Law Courts respecting it : — not one word (as far as I 'can learn) having been said in its lawful defonce and support. ' ' ■ I know very wcil that in my writing on ; this'subject I shall lay myself open to.tha charge of being an intruder,— perhaps a ■ ' quack, or charlatan ! but now, as before, I speak only of what I know. And here, I think, a sagacious saying '- of our celebrated Englishman Locke, may not inaptly be adduced :—" Were it my _ business to understand physic, would not . the safer way be to consult Nature herself • in the history of diseases and their cures, m than espouse the principles of the dogmatists, methodisls, or chymists?"

• Now it so happens, that I myself have had pretty much to do with Antimony as a medicine in its various preparations during my life ; and that not only in prescribing and administering it to others, but in using it myself, and have found very great benefit from it on many oeeasious. A few of the more prominent cases I will mention.

When Tory young (a growing schoolboy) I was lons subject to an internal dis« order ; doctors and iheir remedies wero I ivied, also ilie nostrums of 'old women. (never in those days despised in country places), and also some of those other nostrums painfully collected and publteheA liy ltev, John Wesley in liis Look of" "Primitive Physic," (which, at that period, 00-70 years ago, was in high repute, especially in Cornwall,)— all, however, proved to be of little if any service. About that time a Danish Doctor (said to be the physician to the King of Denmark) came over to the much warmer climate of Mount's" Kay to spend the winter, on account of his health, he being consumptive, and I soon became one of his patients ; and after taking his. mcdi- . ciues, undergoing operation, and Buffering-' much "(nil to no pnrposo), I left him; - At this time I was advancing towards manhood (in my teens !) and 1 began to study Medicine a little, having the opportunity of so doing ;— for I was early intended for the Medical profession, owing' to our esteemed family Doctor being one of ,my godfathers. Among other strong medicines that I prescribed for myself, for tny obstinate internal complaint, I may here briefly notice Sulphuric Acid ; and this not merely the diluted article of the Pharmacopeia,, but tho stronger raw article of commerce,— which, of course, I diluted in my own way, but was always, obliged to suck it up through a glass tube , and this did mo some real service. After a while, however, I took Antimony, (the very notorious and much-abused Tartarized Antimony, or Emetic Tartar of the present time !) and of this drug I have taken as much_ as 2 grains, and on one occasion 2J grains, at a dose ; and from this medicine I derived very great benefit. . . . - •

So much fov my early experience. In coming to Hawlte's Bay to reside in 1844, I brought with roe a largo and varied assortment of useful Medicines obtained from Apothecaries Hall. . And, as may he readily supposed, I had plenty of gratuitous practice ! (I may here mention, that for several years from the year 1830 • I was in sole charge of tlfe Church Mis--sionary Surgery at Paihia, in the Bay of,'. Islands ; there being at that earty period no resident Surgeon in the Bay, or indeed, • in all New Zealand.) ... In IS4G, the first visitation of Influenza . appeal el among us here in Hawko's BayV and it was a sad- time ! for the epidemic . was very severe and protracted. Now,then, was again (seen the great benefits ,. from the judicious usa of Antimony (Em-/ Tartar). I -had a large "household, in< ■" eluding Maori domestics, boys. tmd girls r "~:

and my common practice was, dining the raging of that Epldemic ) -=-iirst, to weigh . out evqry morning, 6 grains.of Antimony, jlrid dissolving .this in a, large bowl of jj'atev, to'- place'it.bn.a table in. the liall, witli <i .tablc-spobri aiid-a dess'eH.-snflph by JtSr.isidoj.vand' of this we, -all- bands 1 (sufferers from influenza) took a spoonful ' every 3 hours ; and this use of it was kept up for several days. I proved this to be exceedingly beneficial in most cases, including my own self and family ; in all, I may say, whero the seat of tho disorder was moro especially confined to the chest. And this practice I always carefully followed, in succeeding years in my own house, whenever influenza appeared. In cases of Croup I have also found Antimony to be a most beneficial Medicine ', as well as in certain Cases of Indigestion,. Bilious Complaints, and severe chronic maladies. .Used onUvardly iis a,ti, ointnjcnt:l hate ivlso .pi'oyyd it .to bjj'gre^t service in Hooping Cough, severe swellings, &c— I believe that the celebrated Dr Jen'nei- was the first to recommend tho use of it hi this way. For my own part, I conssder Tartarized Antimony to bo the best and most useful of all tho Antimonial preparations, because it is so easily managed/ . ' ! Iv all chronic disorders where it is likely to bo of' service,' its' use must be continued for a long time. I never heard (until of late) of its admisistration in minute doses being considered by physicians of eminence as poisonous. When taken in large doses, of course, it. &eta as an active corrosive poison ; bnt even then its, symptoms are immediately produced and well-known. . I could say a great deal more on this head, but I forbear. At present I merely give you a little of my own experience. — I am, &c, William Colenso. Napior, December 4th, 18S6.