Page images
PDF
EPUB

to be termed an essence from mustard. It does not appear to us to be any more than diluted spirit of turpentine, to which we conceive Mr. Johnson's encomiums on the virtues of mustard are not strictly applicable, nor can we agree with him in pronouncing it a "safe and effectual" remedy for those complaints, for the cure of which he so warmly, but not disinterestedly recommends it. The expressed oil of mustard may have been employed to dilute the spirit of turpentine, but this oil does not contain the aromatic quality of the mustard in which its medicinal virtues reside.The oil is insipid, and by the manufactors of the flour of mustard, is sold as cheap as common linseed oil.

This nostrum is coloured, probably, by some mustard seed being infused in it, but the menstruum is not capable of extracting its virtues in a degree to entitle it to the term of essence of mustard. A liniment with spirit of turpentine and camphor, was much employed by Dr. Lewen in Liverpool; the formula for which, is published in the Pharmacopeia Chirurgica, with an observation by the Author of that very useful work, that it has been found to resemble, very CLOSELY, "Whitehead's essence of mustard," The taste of the turpentine is so very predominant, that wę cannot discover the least flavour of camphor.

66

*

The Author of a late spirited and well-written pamphlet on quackery states, that it was his intention to have given the composition of the PATENT medicines, but on shewing them to an

* This work is entitled an Essay on Quackery, and the dreadful consequences arising from taking advertised medicines, illustrated with remarks on the fatal effects, with an account of a recent death, occasioned by a quack medicine, and observations on the coroner's inquest taken on the body, &c.

intelligent gentleman, he was assured that those taken from specifications in the patent-office were very erroneous, although given in with the solemnity of an oath, he therefore thought it more proper to abridge the number of the recipes, than deceive the public. His letter on the subject states as follows:

.

"Your recipes on specifications in the patent"office will assuredly err, for, although I believe "each is given in with the solemnity of an oath, "it is doubtful whether any one be true. No "action for infringement will therefore lie, such "if instituted, must be on another principle, not on the patent, viz. for counterfeiting the proprietor's name, his bills, &c. and for selling a preparation as his, which is not so. The purport of a patent, is therefore, merely parade!" he further asserts, "that eminent and experienced "chymists have proved the impossibility of com

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

bining the ingredients named in some of the specifications, and if they could, they were "diametrically opposite to the purpose intended."

66

Dr. Walter Keighley in his popular treatise on midwifery, and the management and diseases of children, observes, "the inventors of good medi"cines, are, no doubt, entitled to compensation, "but this is very improperly given by a patent, whereby the quack is enabled to conceal the composition of his nostrum, (for no patient ever "thinks to examine the specification of his patent,) "and what is more dangerous to put it indiscriminately into the hands of the most ignorant, "in every stage of a disease, or indeed for the cure of half the diseases attending the human "frame.' Page 352.

[ocr errors]

وو

With respect to the composition of this pretended essence of mustard, we cannot discover

the least pretension the proprietor has to a patentspirit of turpentine has been employed both externally and internally, in cases of chronic rheumatism for upwards of a century, Mr. Johnson can therefore have no claim to its first recommendation in those cases. We can see but very little similarity between the properties of mustard and turpentine, and in some cases where the former may be proper, the latter may prove highly injurious. Turpentine is likewise a strong diuretic, a property which cannot be attributed to mustard.

As a remedy for chilblains, diluted spirit of turpentine has been very commonly and successfully employed, but in such cases the stimulus of the mustard would be more likely to increase the inflammation, and thus produce considerable mischief, and we are presuaded that if Mr. Johnson's nostrum had been a genuine essence of mustard, he would not have recommended it as a proper application for chilblains.

As an internal remedy, we conceive there is a very great difference between the stimulating properties of mustard and turpentine, in evidence of which, we shall quote the opinion of Dr. Reece*, whose popular works prove him to be a practitioner well versed in chymistry, and much devoted to the good of his country. This Author observes, "diluted spirit of turpentine has been puffed off "in the daily prints, under the name of essence of "mustard. The stimulus of the mustard is of a "peculiar nature, and very different to turpentine. "If therefore a person that was desired to take "the mustard seed by a physician, and he pre"ferred the essence of mustard, from the assurance "that it contained in a pure and concentrated

* Domestic Medical Guide. Page 366.

"state all the virtues of the mustard, which is "stated to be the case, the most serious conse

66

66

quences might ensue, and in a court of justice, a person so injured, might recover heavy da

[merged small][ocr errors]

In treating on rheumatism this Author observes, "it is often extremely difficult to distinguish "rheumatic pains from those produced by deep "seated inflammation, and from such mistakes the "most serious consequences often arise, particu"larly when situated in the loins or hip joint. "The stimulating applications as electricity, &c. "employed for the cure of rheumatism, increasing "the inflammation and hastening suppuration, "which generally terminates fatally. Such errors "have occurred even in regular practice, and

[ocr errors]

through the imprudent use of quack medicines, "such terminations are not unfrequent. That for"midable disease the lumbar abscess, begins with "pains in the loins similar to lumbago, and al"most the only chance of recovery the patient

has, is the prevention of suppuration, which "the continued use of those stimulating remedies must destroy every hope of effecting." Every person that is acquainted with hospital practice must know the truth of these assertions.

The observations we have already made on the internal use of the concentrated essence of ginger, in cases of gout, rheumatism, and flatulency, equally apply to these medicines, and we are persuaded that no medical man in his senses would approve of its topical application to gout in the extremities, he must have better authority than Mr. Johnson's testimony to justify so bold a practice.

For the "essence of mustard Pill," it does not appear that the proprietor has yet obtained a pa

tent, and we can venture to state, that neither Mr. Johnson or Mr. Whitehead will ever be able to concentrate the medicinal virtues of the mustard, so that it may in proper doses be exhibited in a pilular form. After observing that Mr. Johnson, alias Mr. Whitehead, is the proprietor of the "essence of horehound," we judge any observations on his abilities as a chymist, as well as his medicines, equally superfluous. We conclude, therefore, our animadversions on these medicines, by recommending them to the attention of the College of Physicians, whose duty it unquestionably is to remonstrate with government on the impropriety of granting patents for medicines whose indiscriminate use must be attended with serious consequences, and particularly for remedies which can in no respect be entitled to such protection,

BY THE KING'S PATENT,

GODBOLD'S VEGETABLE BALSAM,

"An infallible remedy for consumptions, asthmas, "and coughs."

Mr. Godbold prefaces his advertisements with the names of 1 Marquis, 3 Lords, 5 Ladies of distinction, 4 Baronets, $ Generals, and 1 Colonel, (who, he observes, )

* A person possessing a slight knowledge of chymistry and the properties of the horehound, must know that there can be no such preparation extracted from this herb as an ESSENCE, or that its virtues can be so concentrated with a spirituous menstruum, that a tea-spoon should contain any thing like a dose. He may as well advertise an essence of cabbage.

« PreviousContinue »