COPYRIGHT, 1917 
LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY IN 
COLONIAL TIMES 
BY 
STANTON A. FRIEDBERG, M.D. 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
REPRINTED FROM SPRING NUMBER, 1917 
ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY 
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY PAUL B. HOEBER 
PAUL B. HOEBER, 67-69 EAST 59TH STREET, NEW YORK LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY IN COLONIAL TIMES 
By STANTON A. FRIEDBERG, M.D. 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
THROUGH the kindness of Dr. 
Fielding H. Garrison, of Washing- 
ton, I have in my possession a man- 
uscript which contains so much of value to 
the history of early American medicine that 
I have considered it a duty to present at 
length in a separate paper the subjects that 
are of special interest to those of us en- 
gaged in the practice of laryngology and 
otology. No attempt will be made to enter 
into a close analysis of the matter present- 
ed, my object being only to place in a per- 
manent state the information contained in 
the work with the hope that it may be of 
some benefit to future historians. 
The author of, or at least the sponsor for, 
the manuscript was Matthew Wilson, a 
minister and at the same time a physician, 
an association of professional activities that 
we would consider unique at present but 
which we find occurring very frequently in 
our early history. Although a native of 
Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he 
was born January 15, 1734, he found the 
field for his active career in Lewis, Dela- 
ware, where he lived until his work was 
ended March 30, 1790. 
His education was directed by Dr. Fran- 
cis Alison, a minister of prominence, a 
patron of learning, and a man of great in- 
tellectual force and power. As rector of 
the University of Pennsylvania, his name, 
I believe, may be found on the first Ameri- 
can medical diploma.1 There is no evidence 
that Dr. Wilson possessed a degree in medi- 
cine. By his biographers it is stated that 
his medical studies were pursued under the 
tutelage of the Rev. Dr. McDowell, like- 
wise a man of great versatility and of con- 
siderable influence in his day and time. 
Dr. Wilson was licensed to preach in 1754, 
and two years later was installed as pastor 
of two congregations, one at Lewis and the 
other at Cool Spring, Maryland. A few 
years later another congregation was added 
at Indian River. Coincident with the as- 
sumption of his ministerial duties he en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine, and in 
addition gave instruction at a nearby acad- 
emy in Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and the 
learned sciences. Although so busily oc- 
cupied for nearly twenty-nine years, time 
was not lacking for him to participate in 
the solution of important religious as well 
as the grave political questions preceding 
the Revolution. 
Viewed in any light, he was indeed a re- 
markable man. To quote Thacher,2 “the 
joint functions of minister of the Gospel 
and physician were sustained and dis- 
charged by him with an ability and popu- 
larity which evinced he was a man of ex- 
traordinary talents, attainments, and en- 
ergy. His ardent industry and the com- 
prehensiveness of his mind reduced every 
obstacle, and embraced every object of 
knowledge. He wrote an able compend of 
medicine, which was called a Therapeutic 
Alphabet. Commencing with the classifica- 
tion of Sauvages, it contained the diseases 
in alphabetical order, with definitions, 
symptoms, and method of cure. It was pre- 
pared for the press, used by himself, and 
transcribed by his students, but never pub- 
lished.” 
It is from this Therapeutic Alphabet that 
I have taken the material that will be pre- 
sented. The book itself is a small, thick 
volume, bound by hand, and made up of 
over three hundred leaves. It is very evi- 
86 Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
87 
dent that a number of individuals took part 
in the transcription as is shown in the varia- 
tions of penmanship, spelling, punctuation, 
and corrections. The construction of the text 
also varies; in some places the style seems 
almost modern while in others we have 
the quaintness common to writers of that 
period. Several of the articles have the 
signature, M. Wilson, appended. As is 
stated in “The Preface by the Editors,” 
Wilson himself wrote the articles on the 
principal diseases, but the definitions of the 
lesser complaints were generally trans- 
lated by his pupils from Vogellius, Cullen, 
Linnaeus, Brooks, and Sauvages. Regret 
is expressed that on account of the multi- 
plicity of the author’s business, time did 
not permit him to examine into the cor- 
rectness of these translations by a com- 
parison with his own notes. 
There are two title pages, the second 
being separated from the first by a number 
of intervening pages upon which are writ- 
ten the preface, praecognita and prognos- 
tics. The title pages differ only in minor 
details, with the exception that at the lower 
part of the second occurs the statement 
that “it is now transcribed from M.W., 
D.D. Notes, &c., by Thomas B. Chrag- 
head & bther students. A.D., 1787, Janu- 
ary, 29.” From this date it may be seen 
that the contents of the manuscript are the 
result of an experience extending over the 
years from 1756 to 1787, truly the most 
epoch-making period in the life of the col- 
onies. Had the intention to print the work 
been carried out it would have been the 
first book on the practice of medicine pub- 
lished by an American author. 
The title page reads as follows: 
Multum in parvo 
being a new 
Tberapeuti —Alphabet or 
A Pocket-Dictionary, of 
Medicine, Midwifery, & Surgery; 
extracted from 
Short Medical Notes on about 
Nine Hundred Diseases, in both 
their Technical and English names; 
with many new and old successful Remedies, 
important Precognita, Crises & Presages; 
Containing a concise yet full History & 
Theory of all the Principal Diseases, with a vulgar 
and Medical Recipes adapted to the Middle States of N. 
America. 
By Matthew Wilson D.D. Presbyter & 
Physician at Lewes, about 29 years. 
Nullius addictus jurare in Verba Magistri. " Hor. 
To every candid Reader. 
As America, in any Northern Latitude, is more 
than ten Degrees colder than the same Latitudes in the 
Old World; so in experience it is very certain that the 
Diseases, even of the same Name are very different; 
The Physical Writers, therefore, in Europe do often 
lead young American Physicians into fatal Mistakes. 
—To prevent this & be of some use to my Country was 
the Design of permitting the present Publication, in 
this rough unpolish'd Dress. 
M. Wilson. 
In selecting the various subjects of Iaryn- 
gological and otological interest the text 
has been closely followed with here and 
there an addition or change in punctuation 
to render the meaning clearer. It will be 
noted that most of the articles are short 
and concise. Definitions of diseases with 
their cross references are given in order 
that a proper conception may be had of 
the exact comprehensiveness of the medi- 
cal knowledge of Dr. Wilson and his pupils. 
The prevalence and importance of the dif- 
ferent diseases may be judged by the 
amount of space devoted to their descrip- 
tion and treatment. A reference to the 
various throat conditions will show the 
lack of anatomical and pathological dis- 
tinctions common to the medical knowl- 
edge of the period. In the account of the 
“Throat Disorder in America,” the dis- 
ease, which is now recognized as diphtheria, 
the work of Douglas is mentioned. In a 
note under “Quinsy Malignant” is the 
statement of an Epidemic Cynanche in 
which New York physicians found a new 
membrane in the larynx. This undoubt- 
edly refers to the work of Samuel Bard and 88 
Annals of Medical History 
Richard Bayley. A full description of early 
American literature on the throat distem- 
per may be found in Elsberg’s “Laryn- 
gology in America.” 3 Wright in his his- 
tory 4 has analyzed carefully the steps in 
the progress of the differentiation of the 
various throat diseases from the earliest 
times down to the present day. 
THE THROAT DISORDER IN AMERICA. 
This dire contagious, putrid & nervous 
Disease began in N. England a.d. 1735 
& gradually moved on Westward, thro’ 
most Part of North America. Children & 
young People were more generally affected, 
yet some Old Persons have died of it.—It 
prevails most among the Poor and Scorbu- 
tic, who feed much on Pork & live in wet 
& low Grounds.—In Some Families it 
spreads like the Plague—Others at the 
same Season take it without Opportunity 
of Contag (ion)—Some have it very mildly 
& none die, & yet I have heard of 4 Chil- 
dren dying in one House in a Few Days.— 
It will often keep in a Neighbour (hood) 
for some years—Some have it more than 
once. Some seem to have it long hatching, 
before it breaks out as appearing by the 
Languishing Scorbutic Habit, Corrosive 
Humors &c. 
Symptoms.—The common attending Fe- 
vers (but seldom Nausea or Vomiting) 
putrid Heat, but moist & seldom parch’d. 
—A frequent irregular Pulse—Countenance 
dejected—Lowness of Spirits—The Tongue 
much furr’d, wc continues to the Tonsils & 
Throat.—When milder the Tonsils only 
swelled, wt white spots, at most an Inch 
Diameter—thrown off from Time to Time 
in Cream colour’d sloughs—When these 
come off the Tonsils appear deeply pitted 
& corroded—The Sloughs soon renew again 
—Sometimes the Throat is swollen inter- 
nally & Externally, and frequently mor- 
tify—But generally the Swelling does not 
endanger Suffocation—Sometimes they im- 
posthumate—The last Symptoms are Op- 
pression great of the upper Part of the Chest, 
difficult breathing, a deep hollow hoarse 
Cough—livid Countenance—Then Death. 
—N. Some walk about till near Dying, 
their Danger not apprehended by their 
Friends—Some die the 4 or 5 day—others 
the fourteenth—The putrefaction is so 
great that nature cannot excite a Fever, 
when they die suddenly of a Mortification. 
Cure: It was long at first fatally treated 
as an Angina, with the usual Evacuations— 
And it is still fatal when Physicians are 
unacquainted with the manner of treating 
this uncommon Malady.—All Evacuants 
in general are Fatal—Bleeding—Blister- 
ing—Purging—Sweating hasten fatal Mor- 
tifications. And what is surprising tho’ so 
putrid Cold-Air, & Jesuits Barks are per- 
nicious.—All Flesh Meats, Fish, & Spirits 
are very hurtful. At last it was discovered 
by Dr. Douglas of Boston that the only 
Way to cure it is by confining the Sick to 
Bed in a gently moderate Warmth for 
many Days—Giving very small Doses of 
Snakeroot, but not to sweat, but only a 
gentle Diaphoresis with Sage Tea, for some 
time after all the Symptoms Disappeared. 
N. It has also been found when mild to 
be attended with a Miliary Eruption on 
the Skin.—Hence Calomel join’d with Cam- 
phire has been thought to answer the same 
End as these Eruptions. 
N. All greasy Applications are hurtful. 
N. Gargles are useful of Sumack Bur- 
ries, Snakeroot &c a little Allom dissolved 
in it.—Gargle before Swallowing.— 
N. Wash ye sores wt Tinct. of Myrrh 
& Alloes wt Honey. 
N. Externally Poultices of Rue & bitter 
Herbs. Sal Ammon wt. sharp Vinegar. 
N. Some have had Sores in other Parts, 
even ye Privates, & less in the Tonsils, & 
were relieved in the same Way. 
N. Wine freely to a Glass every few 
Hours has cured some very low in Nervous 
Fevers— Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
89 
See Putrid Fevers, Typhus, Scarlatina, 
Biliosa &c. 
Acataposis:—Is a difficulty of swallow- 
ing. Vide Angina. 
Aglutitio:—Is a deprav’d swallowing. 
Vide Angina. 
Ageustia or Agehustia:—Is a diminish- 
ed or deprav’d taste. Vide gastritis. 
Angina—Quinsy:—Is a pain, Tumor, in- 
flammation of the Fauces, with a contin- 
ual, inflammatory nervous or putrid Fever; 
attended with a difficulty of Breathing or 
Swallowing or fear of Suffocating. Vid. 
Cynanche. 
There are five species enumerated. The 
Best Rule is to treat according to the Fever. 
If inflammatory: Bleed the Arms & under 
the Tongue, blow Allum often in the 
Throat—Purge wt Glysters, Give Nitre, 
Steams of hot Vinegar—, Puke wt White 
Vitriol, Anodynes etc. See under Quinsy 
ye Theory. If Putrid, Dont Bleed, but 
Puke & Suit the symptoms. Contrayerva 
is good, blow Allum, Poultis wt Jews Ears, 
or Rue or Horehound Leaves, & a little 
Milk, Stew’d with Salt & Vinegar. Inter- 
nally Vin Antimon, Camphor, Bathe wt 
Saponacious Liniment, Gargle wt Tincture 
of Myrrh or Acid Elix; Use Barks & Snake- 
root with Wine, Exercise, Milk in Decoc- 
tion of Alder. 
Gentle Sudorifics, Cheek Purging, Some 
Syringe the Throat with Acet. Egyptiacum 
&c. If nervous & Suffocative the Mucus 
is thickened to a membrane, (Endemic 
here), it is cured wt Mercury by thinning 
the Mucus, by its accrimony with Anyo- 
dynes, Sudorifics; Salivation does it no 
harm. Bathe with Volatiles, Saponacious 
Balsams &c. Convulsiva—Vide Angone 
cujus est species. See Sore Throat. 
Angone:—Is a Spasmodic, sharp choak- 
ing of the Fauces without an inflammation. 
Vide Asthma. 
Cure; By a Dose of Opium, Camphor, 
Volatile & Traumatic Balsam mixt together. 
Repeat if needfull, this Cured an Epidemic 
(at Indian River) after great numbers had 
died. This scarcely failed, only blowing 
Ahum Powder in the Throat &c. 
Anosmia:—Is a defect of Smelling. See 
Nervosi Morbi. 
Antipathia:—Is a particular Aversion 
to an Object of Sight, Smell, or Taste, 
so as to be thrown into grievous Symp- 
toms by them, as Col. Robertdeau at a cat 
& Mrs. Boyd at the smell of Tar & my Self 
at Cod Fish. 
The Cure is commonly Death. 
Aphonia: — Is a deprav’d Voice and 
the same wt Paraphonia. This may be 
from many Causes. If from Cold see Ca- 
tarrhus. If from a Fright see Hysteria. If 
from Lues Venerea, see Scorbutis. If from 
any other Cause, remove the Cause. But 
if from ill-configuration of the Parts, it 
seems incurable. 
Aphthae; Thrush: — Are little whitish 
Ulcers affecting all parts within the Mouth 
& sometimes the Pudendum. 
The Cure:—Vomit Infants wt the vinum 
Antimonii gut. 5-12 in Breast Milk. Vide 
Erysipelas from which it differs only by 
the Weather. 
Juice of Horehound mixt with Honey & 
give a little often. Give also Cathartics, 
Alteratives, Antisceptics, Astringents in- 
wardly. Externally wash with Juice of 
Green Persimmon & Loaf Sugar, or rusty 
Nails and Vinegar, or with Horse Radish 
Root Juice or Strong Tea of Oak Moss wt 
a little Honey, and Allum to wash the sores 
&c. Vide Mouth Sore. N.B.: Onion Juice 
cures it by sending it to the Skin in dan- 
gerous cases. 
History & Theory of the Thrush. 
Aphthae:—for which there is no English 
Name, unless Sore Mouth or Thrush, 
is; a frequent and fatal Disease, especially 
among Infants, & pregnant Women in this 
Place, tho’ little considered or understood. 
These are small, round, superficial Ulcers, 
on the inside of the Mouth, which Boer- 90 
Annals of Medical History 
haave found on Accute inquiry to be the 
Exulcerations of the Excretory Ducts of 
the Glands, which separate Salivery Hu- 
mours & convey them to the Mouth. Now 
this Fluid rendered too thick and Viscid 
stops up the Extremities & Causes them 
to inflame, in all parts where ever these 
Excretory Ducts should discharge them- 
selves as the Lips, Gums, Cheeks, Tongue, 
Palate, Fauces, Uvula, Throat, Stomack, 
& Intestines. In low and Marshy Ground, 
& in hot & rainy Seasons, Infants & Old 
People are most affected by the Apthae. 
The Prolegomena or Causes. 
Continual putrid Fever, wt a Diarrhea, 
or Dysentery, perpetual Nausea, Vomiting, 
loss of appetite, Febrile Anxiety, Pain at 
the Pit of the Stomack, often returning; 
great Weakness; considerable Evacuations; 
Stupor, & Heaviness, but perpetual Drowsi- 
ness & pain about the Stomack. Those that 
appear at first with one Pustle, and are 
afterwards white & Pellucid like pearls, 
unequal, are mild & safe. Those which first 
appear in the Throat like New Bacon with 
a white thick crust, beginning in the 
Stomack, & slowly Ascending to the mouth, 
these are Opaque because of thickness, & 
very dangerous. Those which appear over 
the whole mouth wt a hard firm thick tena- 
cious kind of Crust, turning brown, yellow, 
or livid, are very often Fatal. But those 
which break out in the same way, & then 
turn black, are worst of all, & commonly 
take life. The sooner the Separation the 
better; the longer before they fall off, the 
more dangerous to the Patient. The Salival 
Juices are discharged, thro’ the whole in- 
ternal surface of the Mouth, in order to be 
mix’d with the Aliments in Mastication; 
there are also numberless mucous Cryptae, 
or Cells in the back of the Tongue, Tonsils, 
Velum of the Palate, Pharynx, and Gula, 
which excrete thick Mucus for the Lubri- 
cation of those parts. But the eruptive 
Aphthae happen when this Mucous Hu- 
mour is inspissated, and cannot be Driven 
thro’ the Ducts, but Adheres and blocks 
up the Opennings into the Mouth, as may 
be seen through a Microscope. Nine days 
are said to bring the Crisis of this Fever— 
but sometimes it goes much longer. 
The Aphthae or Thrush are Seldom Ob- 
served in hot Countries except in some In- 
fants; for being more thin and lax, they 
are more disposed to perspire & Sweat. 
Sweats & Urine carry off the Apthae, if 
copious & render them mild. Hence all 
diets, drinks, & nursing which interrupt 
these are always detrimental. Van Swieten, 
(If I recollect the Author) Observes when 
Apthae don’t appear, as in Hot Countries, 
then Miliary Spots white & red, are fre- 
quently to be seen on the Skin; and con- 
jectures that the Humor deposited is the 
same. The Miliary Eruptions and Apthae 
attend the same Diseases & such accute 
Fevers as have the same disagreeable 
smell of Vapid Vinegar. 
He remarks the miliary Eruptions or 
Pustules are filled with similar pelucid 
Liquor, perfected above the Cuticle, & 
after they dry up, that they scale off, & 
are often renew’d as in the Apthae. Both 
are preceded by Anxiety about the Heart, 
Weakness, Slight but continual dosing, & 
unequal intervals. If the Apthae & Miliary 
spots sudently disappear, there is great 
danger of their oppressing the Stomack & 
Heart. N. Then there is no hope, but by 
expelling the Apthae again outward to the 
Skin. Stupor, & Heaviness presage the 
Apthae; sometimes they thicken The Duc- 
tus Communis, & Pancreas, (not having 
the way clear into the Duodenum) by a 
thick Apthous Crust; there is great Anx- 
iety, about the Precordia. But when the 
obstructing Crust is removed, we need not 
wonder that the accumulated bile, breaks 
loose; Hence the severest gripes in the 
Bowels, almost Excorriated, & hence dan- 
gerous Diarrhoeas & Dysenteries arise. 
Hence on giving a Purge a fatal Hyper- Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
91 
catharsis may suddenly arise from the 
Acrid Bile & Pancreatic Juice, rushing into 
the excorriated Bowels. N. a Salivation 
follows the Thrush, before the Dilated Ves- 
sels can recover their former size. 
Now the Stomack & Intestines being in 
the same State, it is no wonder that the 
body is exhausted like a Consumption 
after it by the Purging &c. N. Apthae of 
the Mouth in Pregnant Ladies may cause 
Abortion by destroying digestion, and ab- 
sorbing of the Chyle. But she needs nour- 
ishment for two bodies, of which the 
weaker, the Foetus, dies. 
N. A Hickup at the beginning is worse 
than at the End of the Apthae, as denot- 
ing the Stomack lined with thick Apthae. 
N. Cold Applications in this Disease are 
Dangerous. 
Cure: Whey, Vapour Baths, Weak Pan- 
ada, Gargarisms, Glysters, Corroborating 
healing drinks, as Alder & Mallows, & 
Soot, M. in Tea with Milk. Jellies con- 
stantly on the Tongue &c &c. with the 
Remedies first Mentioned. 
Apogeusis: — Is a defect of Taste. 
Vide Ageustia. Find the Cause and try to 
remove it. 
Apophlegmatizantia:—Provokers of Spitt- 
ing. These stimulate the Glands of the 
Palate, Fauces, and Salival ducts, & purge 
off the viscid Phlegm. They are proper 
in defects of Taste, Hardness of Hear- 
ing, to drive viscid humours from the 
Head, in Catarrh & Obstructions of the 
Fauces. They are preservative Agt. con- 
tagious Diseases. V. Salivantia. Tobacco 
chew’d or Smok’d, Chewing Hickory Bark, 
Ginger, Mistletoe, Mercury &c. 
Arcditas:—Is a dryness of the Skin, 
Nostrils, Mouth & Tongue from a dissipa- 
tion of the Watery Juices by the febrile 
Heat; while the impervious Blood distend- 
ing the Vessels make the skin rough & dry. 
Vid. Typhus, Sore Throat &c. 
Asaphia (Aphasia?):—A Defect of the 
Voice. Vide Aphonia, Cophosis, Muti- 
tas. See Sauvages ingenious Treatise of 
Mutitas. 
Balbuties:—Is a Stammering & Loosing 
Letters in Speaking. Vide Psellotis. See 
kinds of it in Sauvages Chap. vi. 
Battarismus:—Vide Balbuties. 
Blaesitas:—A depraved Pronunciation 
of the Letters S & R. Vide Traulotis. 
Black Dry Tongue: — Worst Presage 
in Fevers owing to a Deficiency of 
Lymph, or when the larger Vessels, sur- 
charged with Blood, press & stop the 
smaller. Hence the Tongue, Index of the 
Stomack, is dry and gangrenous. See putrid 
Fevers. 
Bronchocele or Goitre:—Is a large swell- 
ing which is formed on the fore part of the 
Neck, between the Skin & the Wind Pipe, 
& sometimes hangs from the Neck like 
a large Bladder; It contains atheromat- 
ous, steatomatous, fleshy, or honey-like 
Matter. See Encysted Tumors. 
Bronchotomy, the Operation:—This Ope- 
ration is chiefly useful in the Angina, when 
the Throat is exceedingly enlarged by 
the Tumor of the Thyroid Gland & Part 
adjoining, called, Bronchocele, which press- 
ing on the Trachea, prevents the free 
Course of the Air to & from the Lungs. It 
is an incision made in the Aspera Arteria 
to admit the Air to the Lungs to preserve 
Life, in a violent compression of the 
Larynx. 
Frightful Cautions have been laid down 
by Writers, for fear of dividing the recur- 
rent nerves, or the great Blood Vessels. 
But there is scarce any danger at all; for 
they lie quite out of the reach of any In- 
strument in a tolerable cautious Hand. 
The Manner is simply this; Pinch up 
the skin a little below the Tumor, but as 
near it as you can if it be low; & make an 
Incision quite thro’ the Skin, three quar- 
ters of an Inch long. It is commonly in the 
3rd or 4th Ring of the Trachea, but the 
Tumor will not sometimes permit you to 
choose the Place. Then part the lips of the Annals of Medical History 
92 
Wound, make a small transverse Incision 
into the wind-pipe & immediately intro- 
duce a Silver Cannula, near half an Inch 
long, wt a couple of little Rings at the top 
of it, thro’ which pass a Ribband to pass 
round the Neck to keep it fast in the 
Wound. 
N. After the Patient is cured of the 
Quinsy, & can breathe by the natural pass- 
age you may wtdraw the Tube, which 
leaves only a Simple Wound and requires 
only a superficial application. 
Capistrum:—A Spasm closely & immov- 
ably shutting up the Mouth. See Spasmus 
Maxillae inferiorii. See Opium. 
Catarrhus—Catarrh:—Is perhaps the most 
common Disease in our County, yet the least 
examined or understood. When People are 
taken wt it, they only say they are very poorly, 
& have catched a bad Cold, & no further 
Notice is taken of it, ’till it frequently ends 
in dangerous Pleurisies, Peripneumonies, 
Consumption &c. It may be defined “An 
Unusual Deduction of Lymph, Serum or 
Mucus, from the Glands about the 
Head, Jaws & Throat, exciting a Cough, 
distressing & frequent. It is attended wt 
Hoarseness generally & an inflammatory 
Fever.” 
The cause is called taking Cold, tho’ in 
fact it is more frequently by Violent Heat; 
however, it is generally caused by a Diminu- 
tion of insensible Perspiration, the out- 
ward Skin being exposed to the Air, Where- 
by a Plethora arising, the great Author of 
Nature has provided an internal Perspira- 
tion by the Mucous Cryptae of the Skin 
of the Mouth, Fauces, Bronchiae, Lungs, 
&c. But too great quantities collected in 
these, by the Heat of the Parts becoming 
Viscous, are cast off, after they have 
caused much trouble & Irritation by 
Coughs, Sneezing, & Running at the Nose, 
until more be collected, which stuffs up, & 
often rattles in the Breast. This frequently 
produces wt is called the Catarrhal Fever 
& often produces mild Consumption, called 
the Deffluxion on the Lungs. 
Catarrhs are distinguished according to 
an old Verse: 
“Si fluat ad pectus dicatur rheuma Catarrhus; 
Ad fauces, Bronchus, ad Nares esto Coryza.” 
Besides an obstructed Perspiration, some 
other causes may produce Catarrh, as the 
Stoppage of usual evacuations, or Natural 
Secretions as of Urine &c., or as Weaken- 
ing digestion as only to produce a Watry 
Chyle & Blood, when its fluid Parts will 
escape more easily by the Numerous Glands 
about the Head. Prognostics here are easy, 
if the Catarrhal Matter, is but little, & not 
Acrid & discharged only by the Nose, the 
Cure is easy. If discharged by the Throat 
it is more difficult. But when it is very 
Acrid, & falls in a copious Manner on the 
Lungs, especially in one advanced in Years, 
or who is liable to Cough, Asthma, or Con- 
sumption, it is both very difficult & dan- 
gerous. 
Cure in general; Softning the Serous hu- 
mours, drinking large Draughts of Hy- 
dromel warm, or Tissots Elder Flowers, 
Balsam Traumatic, Vomits, Blisters, Ano- 
dynes wt Camphor, Antimon, Vin., Flan- 
nel Shirts, Cough Mass, Volatiles, Issues, 
Smoking Tobacco.—See Peripneum. Ca- 
tarrh., See the Theory of Opium. More 
particularly The Diet should be soft, 
smooth, & balsamic; most Authors agree 
to give a gentle Vomit at first, if the 
strength will permit, and if the Patient be 
Phlethoric or Asthmatic Bleeding may be 
necessary, but in no other Case. It will be 
necessary to give gentle Purges as 
3 
Infus. Sena 5 iij 
Mannae 5 i 
Sal Glauber § ss 
Aq. Nux Muschatae 5 ij 
M.S. Potio Mane Sumanda. 
If there be Restlessness, & Anxiety, give 
a gentle Anodyne, with large Draughts of Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
93 
Rosemary or Bran Tea &c. made into Hy- 
dromel & a Stronger Purge of Rusks Pills 
or of Soap & Alloes. 
When the Cough is troublesome: 
Conserv. Rosar, 
Syrup. Balsam, 
Syr. e. mecon aa5 i 
Spt. Vitriol, tenuis q.s. 
ad Ievem Aciditatem, m. cap. cochi., 
subinde, urgente Tussi, 
or else, 
3 
Terr, japan 3ij 
Bal. tolutan 3 j 
cog. in Aq. font 5 xii ad 5 viij 
colat, add 
Syr. e mecon 3 ij 
M. cap. cochi ij 
h. s. et urgente Tussi 
After removing the cause, it may be 
necessary to thicken the Juices & restrain 
the Flux of sharp Acrimonious Matters. 
3 
Conserv. Rosar 5 i 
Bals. Cocatalli 5 ij 
Sperm. Citi, Terr, japonic* aa5 i 
Oliban pulv 3 iss. 
Syrup. Balsam., q. s. m.f. Electar. 
Dos. q. n. m. 
In the meantime Cupping & Blistering 
& Issues may be applied to the side or part 
affected, according to the Symptoms. Also 
to divert the Deduction from falling on 
the Lungs, let him use freely Diuretics & 
Diaphoretics for some time. 
Therac, Androm, Oliban Sa 3 ss. 
Gum Ammoniaci, croci aa gr. v 
Syrup q. s. f. Bolus, to be taken three times 
a day. 
Lime Water & Milk & Tar Water, & Tea 
of Pine Buds, or Pine saw dust, or ground- 
ing, & Sassafras will make good, common 
Drink, not much inferior to the above ele- 
gant Forms from London. See Treatise 
under Phthisis. See Syrup of Horehound 
under Tussis from a French Physician. 
Catarrhus Suffocativus:—Is a very difficult 
Respiration, Attended wt a sudden Inter- 
ception of the Senses & Motion, snoring & 
intermitting Pulse. See Pnigma, Bleed, 
Vomit, Bathe, purge, Barks of Alder, Tea 
of common Scotch Thistle &c. See Asthma, 
Angina. 
Cionis:—Is a painful thickness of the 
Uvula & Palate. See Angina & Sore Throat. 
Clamor:—Is an anxious Exaltation of the 
Voice; often in Mania. 
Clangor:—Is a Sharp screeching Voice. 
See Paraphonia. See Sauvages. 
Coryza:—Is an extraordinary Running 
of a thin Serum from ye Nose or a Catarrh 
of the Nostrils. See the Latin Verse under 
Catarrhus. 
Cough:—See Tussis, Pertussis, Catarrhus. 
Syrup of Horehound or Sulphur & the Yolk 
of an Egg, or take Barbadoes Tar, Honey & 
ye Yolk of an Egg &c. 
Cynanche:—Quinsy: Is an inflamma- 
tory & sometimes putrid Fever; attended 
wt pain & Redness in ye Fauces, a diffi- 
cult swallowing & Breathing wt a Sense 
of Straightness in ye Fauces. See Angina, 
& Quinsy. If Inflammatory: Blood under 
Tongue, in ye Arm or Feet. Bathe Feet in 
warm water, blow Alum or Nitre into ye 
Throat often. Apply a Chin Stay of Bals. 
Sapon. or Camphorated Spts., purge by 
Mouth & wt Glysters. Blister if pain in ye 
Head. Gargle the Throat with Oak Oose 
or persimmon bark wt 01. Vitriol & Honey, 
Snuff Honey. Apply Poultises of Jews Ears 
or Horehound, plantane & Vinegar. If 
putrid; Mercury is called a Specific. V. 
Malignant quinsy. 
Dysphagia:—A difficulty of Swallowing 
wtout any remarkable difficulty in Breath- 
ing. Vide Angina. 
Epistaxis:—Is a Profusion or Haemor- 
rhage of blood from ye Nostrils, wt pain 
& heviness of ye Head, Redness of ye Face. 
Vid. Hemorrhagia, Haemorr. Nar. &c. 94 
Annals of Medical History 
Original Epistaxis:—is a Haemorrhage 
from a Plethora. Symptomatic Epistaxis: 
are 1st from internal Causes: Febrile Haem- 
orrhage, critical Haemorrhage, insalutary 
Haemorrhage. 2nd: From external Causes; 
common Haemorrhage, Haemorrhage by 
Leeches &c. 
Cure: Bleed Feet, Purge, Sweat over 
bath of Cedar Tops, Epithem in each Nos- 
tril of Pulv. Alumen, on Lint &c. 
Fauces:—Pain’d or inflamed; See Angina. 
Glossagra:—Is a Rheumatism of yeTongue 
and is a Species of Rheumatismus. Q. Vide. 
Glossocele:—Is a spasmodic, violent & 
sharp Extrusion of ye Tongue. 
Glossocoma:—Is a spasmodic, violent & 
sharp Revulsion or hauling in of ye Tongue. 
Gravido:—Cold in ye Head; Is a kindred 
Catarrh of ye Nostrils wt a painful uneasi- 
ness & heaviness of ye Head, hoarse'Voice 
& difficult Breathing, Vid. Catarrhus, Frigus. 
Cure: Thrust roots of ye Thin Yellow 
rind of an Orange up each Nostril, hold ye 
Head over Steam of hot Infusions. 
Hiccup:—Seems to be a Convulsion of 
ye Oesophagus drawing ye Diaphragm up- 
wards, whilst it is suddenly seized wt a 
convulsive Paroxysm & drawing down- 
wards & proceed either from Repletion 
of Inanition. See Singultus. 
Hoarseness:—See Catarrhus, Pertussis, &c. 
Himantosis:—Is a greater Length or 
Slenderness of ye Palate yn usual wt Pain. 
Hypostaphyle:—Is a Prolapse or Produc- 
tion of ye Palate wn it is either relax’d, in- 
flamed, ulcerated, incrassated, attenuated or 
forked. V. Scorbutus. Blow Allum or Nitre 
on it. Wash Acid Elixir, Honey &c. 
Ischnophonia:—Is a Fault of Pronuncia- 
tion in wc one Syllable can’t join another 
quickly. V. Psellimus. 
Labium Leporinum:—Hare Lip. See La- 
gocheilos. 
Lagocheilos:—Hare Lip. Is a Deformity in 
which ye Lip is divided by Chasms or Fissures. 
See Lab. Leporin. The Operation should be 
omitted, untill ye Child has some Reason to 
suffer it to be done. On wc see Van Swieten, 
Sharp. It is pretty common for ye Roof of ye 
Mouth to admit of Reunion. Fissures of ye 
Palate often close in some years. Separate ye 
Lip from ye upper Jaw; divide ye Frenulum 
wc connects it to ye Gums. If ye Dentes 
Incisorii too much projected, cut ym out 
in Infants. Cut off ye callous Lips wt Scis- 
sors ye whole length, but take Care to 
make ye Wound in Straight Lines. Then 
bring ye two Lips of ye wound exactly to- 
gether, & pass a couple of pins, one pretty 
near ye Top & ye other as near ye bottome, 
thro’ middle of both edges of it, & secure 
ym in yt Situation by twisting a Piece of 
Wax’d thread, across & round ye pins 7 or 
8 times. Then cut off ye points, lay a small 
Bolster of Plaster under ym, to prevent 
their Scratching. Wn only ye lower Part 
of ye Flare Lip can be brought into Con- 
tact, one Pin is Sufficient. The practice of 
bolstering ye Cheek upward does more in- 
jury to ye Patient, yn good to ye Wound. 
Dress superficially as often as is Necessary 
for Cleanliness. In 8 or 9 Days ye parts 
generally are found united, yn gently ex- 
tract the Pins & apply dry Lint and Ad- 
hesive Plaster. This method may be use- 
ful in some Fistulae &c. Silver Pins & 
Steel Points suit ye Pomp of ye Great, but 
common Pins Answer ye End fully as well. 
See Cullen on Copper. 
Lagostoma:—The Upper Lip divided. See 
Lagocheilos. 
Leptophonia:—Is a fault of ye Voice 
which is very Weak. See Paraphonia. 
Mumps:—Species of Angina. Q. Vid. 
Poultis wt Wormwood & Vinegar. Give 
them Antimonial Essence freely. Avoid 
Greasy things internally & externally. 
Mouth Sore:—See Scorbutus, Parotis, 
Parulis, Apthae. Wash wt a Decoction 
of Hyssop, Sage, Oak Moss, mixt in honey 
& a little Allum. Horse Radish Root Juice 
& Honey. Purge wt Mullein Juice. Bathe 
the Head wt Rum, Glyster Saline, Tea of Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
95 
Black courrants. Rhubarb in Soot Tea, 
Syrup of Mulberries &c. 
Mutitas:—Is an Impotency in pro- 
nouncing Articulated or joined words. See 
Aphonia. 
Nejrendis:—Is a Deformity in wc ye 
Teeth is out of the Head. 
Noma:—Is an Ulcer wc does not con- 
sume & eat ye Afflicted Part alone, but all 
ye Neighboring Parts. See Cancer, Ulcus. 
Odaxismus:—Is a pain of ye Gums yt 
Infants have whilst Teething. See Den- 
titis. 
Oesophagismus:—Is a Spasm of ye Oes- 
ophagus wc detains ye Food in ye Gullet 
after Swallowing it, attended wt great 
Pain. See Spasms. 
Oxyphonia:—Is a shrill Voice, such as 
is commonly uttered in Wailing & Lam- 
entation. See Paraphonia. 
Ozaena:—Is a putrid Ulcer of ye Nos- 
trils, from wc a stinking Mucus distills. 
See Ulcus. Wn it is venerial, see Syphilis; 
if not, Tobacco Ointment or Honey of 
Roses wt a little red Precipitate; See 
Polypus. 
Palate Diseased:—See Hypostophyle. 
Palsy of ye Gullet:—See Oesophagis- 
mus. 
Palsy of ye Mouth:—Gargle wt Sage 
Juice, purge well, chew, mustard. 
Palsy of ye Tongue:—See Paraglossa. 
Paraglossa:—A Swoln Tongue. 
Paraphonia:—A Deprav’d sound of ye 
Voice. Remove the Cause if possible. 
Chew Ginger &c. See Aphonia. See Pr. 
Sauvages. 
Parotis:—Is a Swelling of ye Parotid 
Gland (See Boils, Syphilis). Inflammation 
of Glands behind ye Ears after an imper- 
fect Crisis. Suppurate wt Leeks & treat as 
Phlegmon, Q. Vide. 
Parulis:—A Tubercle on ye Gums, giving 
much Pain, & of ye Inflammatory Kind. 
See Phlegmone. 
Pertussis:—See Chin-Cough. The Whoop- 
ing or Chin-Cough Is a Contagious Disease, 
attended wt a convulsive & Suffocating 
Cough; a sonorous inspiration and Expira- 
tion; & oftentimes a Vomiting. 
Cure:—Lobs Tincture 3 i bis vel ter die 
in Juice of Pennyroyal 1 ss, M. Purge once 
a Week. Mistletoe & Garlic, or Wild Onion 
Teas freely; Baum de Vie Pt. vij, Tinct. 
Canthar Pt. j. m. is also good; Glyster 
daily. 
N. B.: After a Dose of Train Oil & Onion 
Juice ye Whoop no more. 
N. B.: Our Epileptic Pills; Tar Water is 
good after it. Tea of Scots Thistle, Electar. 
of Sulph., Honey & Yolk of Egg, m. 
Polypus of Ye Nose:—Is an Excresence 
filling ye Cavity of one or both Nos- 
trils, almost suffocating, or at least making 
Respiration difficult, arising from ye La- 
minae Sangiosae Membrane. There are 
several Species. Some resembling ye Hyda- 
tides of ye Liver, as in some Dropsies; 
Some like Ganglions of Nerves, wc borrow 
their Coats from its Vessels. Those wc are 
soft like Serum are form’d of Water, con- 
tained in Cysts; these are too tender to be 
extracted; but should be left to harden, 
wc in time ye commonly do. If ye are 
Viscid, tho’ ye cannot be drawn out at 
once by ye Roots yet at several attempts 
ye may be brought away in Bits. There is 
another sort neither so soft as to be squiezed 
to Pieces, nor so hard & brittle as to crum- 
ble, nor adhere to ye Membrane. This is 
ye favourable Kind, yt suits for Extrac- 
tion by ye Forceps. But there is another 
Kind, & ye worst of all, wc is hard & Scir- 
rhus, adhearing so as to tear rather yn 
Separate, wc often ends in a Cancer wc 
See. 
The Polypus sometimes grows large as 
to alter ye Bones of ye Face. When ye Poly- 
pus appears in ye Throat, Surgeon Sharp 
advises to extract it yt way because ex- 
perience has taught, it is more easy to be 
Separated, wn pulled yt Way. 
Operation on the Polypus. Let ye Pa- 
tient lie Supine 2 or 3 hours to bring it fur- 96 
Annals of Medical History 
ther down before ye Operation. Extract it 
by a Pair of Forceps, yt will take a good 
hold, introduc’d into ye Nostrils an inch & 
half, to make more sure of its roots. Then 
twisting ym a little from one Side to an- 
other, continue in yt action, while you pull 
away very gradually ye Body of ye Poly- 
pus. If it breake, you must repeat ye Ex- 
traction so long as any remains, unless at- 
tended with a Violent Hemorrhage; wc 
often happens if ye Polypus is Schirrous. 
But be not Alarm’d ye Vessels presently 
collapse. Dry Lint, or Lint dipt in some 
Styptic will readily stop it. We prevent its 
future Growth by Vitriol in Toddy on 
Lint wn applied. The Cauteries & Setons 
of some are verjr good. 
Psellimus:—Is a stammering in Speech, 
or a fault in pronouncing some Letters, 
Words, or Syllables. 
Psellotis:—Is a Fault in Pronunciation, 
wn one Syllable or Letter is left out or taken 
away. 
Quinsies or Sore Throat: See Angina. Are 
Various but always mean a Sense of Pain in 
ye Throat impeding in some Degree Swallow- 
ing or Breathing or both. The first Division is 
respecting Tumour. A Quinsy wtout Swelling 
is called CatarrhusSuffocativus by Some. Wn 
there is a Tumour it is again very various, 
Aqueous, Scirrhus, Inflammatory, Convul- 
sive, Catarrhus, Oedmatous, Purulent, Can- 
cerous, & Gangrenous. All these must be 
treated differently according to ye Causes 
& Symptoms. See ye Original Diseases In- 
flamatio, Oedema, Cancer, &c. Wn inflam- 
matory it is called Cynanche, ye Breath 
much interupted, ye Voice much sharpen’d, 
ye Anxiety considerable &c. There is great 
danger Indeed & Death sometimes ensues 
in 8 hours or less. 
For Cure: Bleed a large quantity imme- 
diately, apply Cupping Gourds or Glasses 
around ye Neck. Give a good purge imme- 
diately. Immediately blow Powder of Alum 
or Nitre on ye Palate, Larynx &c. & repeat 
as often as needful. It is a Remedy I have 
used for some Years wt amazing Success 
& instances. Also take a Tea Cup of honey 
& as much Good Vinegar & 12 of boiling 
hot Sage or Alder or Rosemary Tea, & let 
him drink abundantly till he Sweats. Take 
Crumb of Bread g iij 
Sweat Oil or fresh Butter § i 
Milk q. s. 
An Onion beaten, boil into a Poultis & 
apply hot to ye Throat & keep it hot. Wn 
ye inner Membrane of ye Larynx is in- 
flamed, ye Danger is greater. Give 20 
grains of Nitre in every hour in his Hydro- 
mel if he can Swallow. If a redness appear 
on ye Neck & Breast, ye patient oft re- 
covers. Another sort of Quinsy, & much 
more common, is wn one of ye Tonsils 
grows red, & swelled, & painful, & ye Pain 
commonly extends to ye Ear on ye same 
Side. In a day or two ye Disease attacks 
ye Glands of ye other Side, ye first disap- 
pearing. These must be treated according 
to ye Pulse. And if ye Pulse be hard & 
quick Phlebotomy is necessary, & if ye 
Redness, Swelling of ye Throat, & difficulty 
of Breathing do not abate, bleed again; If 
ye Pulse be natural omit Bleeding; ye 
Hydromel, Nitre, Powder blown & Purges 
or Glysters, (wt Syrrup of Black Currants 
called a Specific) and Nitrous Decoctions 
&c are Sufficient. 
N. If these Disorders are neglected too 
long, or ye inflammation is too great, yn 
Suppuration ensues, wc is known if ye red 
Tumour last above 3 Days unabated. Then 
use emollient Gargles perpetually, wt Poul- 
tises, Glysters &c. In ye Cynanche & some 
Quinsies, to save life, Heister used safely 
to open one or more of ye Cartilaginous 
Rings, so that, even that is not dangerous. 
Only beware of ye Blood Vessels. Keep ye 
Canula in ’till ye inflammation cease. To 
know Wn stop ye orifice of ye Canula wt 
ye Finger, & if ye Patient can breathe easy, 
by ye Mouth, take out the Tube, & heal 
up ye Wound. Support wt nourishing Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
97 
Glysters. Embrocate wt Volatile Liniments. 
Give Powder of Camphor & Nitre, Drink 
Hydromel, Gruel, Panada &c. (See Bron- 
chotomy). 
For ye Gangrenous Quinsy or putrid 
Sore Throat (V. Gangrena, Cancer, Ty- 
phus). Medicines not only Vegetable Acids, 
but Fossils too, as Spt. Sulph. Nitr., Spt. 
Vitriol, Spt. Sal Marine wt Honey of Red 
Rose &c. constringe ye Vessels & prevent 
ye too great Expansion, repel ye imper- 
vious particles, in ye larger Trunks & cure 
or prevent putrid Gangrines. Sydenham & 
Swieten used these as Gargles. 
The Ancients used Alum, Flax, Oris, & 
Stercora of Animals. The Farmers of Zea- 
land are fam’d for curing Quinsies by 
touching ye Uvula often wt White Vitriol, 
Sal. Ammoniac, & Crude Alom, to ye 
great relief of ye Patient. At first I puke 
wt White Vitriol gr. 25. Give Salts every 
day. I Keep up ye Vis Vitae. I would 
Gargle wt Strong Oose of Persimmon Root 
Bark, Honey & Alom. I give ye Bark a 
Teaspoonful every 2 hours wt Spt. Sal 
Amoniac 3 j in each Dose in Wine. I give 
Antimonial Wine 3 j thrice a Day. I have 
Mist. Sal. Tart. Guaiacum, Camphire, 
Nitre & Sal Amoniac aa 3 j in Spt. Vin. 
I iij often wt Success. Poultis wt Rue Jews 
Ears, Horehound & Lees. 
Quinsy Malignant: Cynanche Maligna; 
Cullen. History or Description; It is Con- 
tagious; Seldom Sporadic, i.e. Endemic. 
Affecting few People in a Season. Com- 
monly Epidemic, attacks all Ages & Con- 
stitutions, but more commonly ye Young 
& infantile & infirm. It first Shews itself 
in a Pyrexia, Cold Shiverings, Sickness, 
Anxiety, Vomiting, yn Stiffness of ye Neck, 
Uneasy Fauces, Hoarse Voice, ye internal 
Fauces of a dep red & some Tumour, 
Deglutition is seldom painful. White Ash 
Colour’d Spots wc Spread & Unite in thick 
Sloughs over ye Fauces; These falling off 
discover Ulcerations. A Coryza of thin 
Acrid & foetid Matter attend; Infants 
purge then, Acrid, excoriating Stools. Pulse 
small, frequent, irregular, worst in ye 
Evening. Great Debility, Delirium & Coma. 
On ye Second Day, sometimes later, Efflores- 
cences appear on ye Skin, patches of a red 
colour first on ye Face, yn over ye whole 
Skin, wt wc ye Fingers are stiff and swell. 
This usually continues 4 Days before Dis- 
quamation, but still ye Fever remains. 
Ulcers in ye Throat livid & black, breath 
foetid, Gangrenous Symptoms, Fever pu- 
trid, some die on ye 2d (?) Day, but more 
on ye Seventh; Putrification Continues 
along ye whole Alimentary Canal wt Diar- 
rhoeas. Large Swellings of ye Lymphatic 
Glands of ye Neck, wc sometimes suffocate, 
Respiratory Organs hurt too. Wn ye Ulcers 
are more mild, ye Efflorescence disqua- 
mates after 3 or 4 Days. The Cure comes 
by gentle Sweats on or before ye Seventh 
Sleep & Appetite return &c. 
Cures: Avoid Bleeding & Purges. Attend 
to Septic Tendency. Antiseptic Gargles, & 
Injections. Neutral Antiseptics as Cortex. 
Emetics both by Vomit & Nausea. Wn 
Tumours, Blisters, Flux, Essence, Throat 
Powder; Anasarcal Drink; Volatiles; See 
Cancer Poultises &c. 
Scarify: Cup between the Shoulders & 
repeat it; Shun Antimon. Purges: Use gen- 
tle EmmoIIient Glysters; Blister ye Shoul- 
ders; Also round ye Throat. For ye putres- 
cent Diathisis Cortix & Serpentaria; For 
ye Diarrhoea, Anodynes & Antihysteric 
Mixture. Throat Powder; Our Anasarcal 
Drinks. Bathe Neck wt Fucus & Rum, m., 
Haustus Cardiacus; Camphor & Volatiles. 
Apply ye White of an Egg & good Mustard 
& red Pepper to ye Pain of ye Throat. 
Pulv. Antispasmodic. Antiseptic Drops in 
ye Ears, also internally. Poultises of Lees 
& Rue from Ear to Ear. 
N. B. A fatal Epidemic Cynanche was 
found by Prof. Monro & by ye New York 
Physicians to have a new membrane in ye 
larynx, of wc ye only cure was Mercurials 
&c. 98 
Annals of Medical History 
Ranula:—Is an Encysted Tumour seated 
upon ye Frenum of ye Tongue, containing a 
thick tobaccous Matter. 
Raucedo:—Hoarseness. Is a rough & ob- 
scure Voice, wc cannot be heard unless by 
those standing very near. 
Cure:—Swallow slowly ye Juice of Horse 
Rhadish Root, Chew peruvian Bark & Gin- 
ger, Figs, Starch, Liquorice, Oily draught, 
Balsamics &c. Lohoch Pectorale; 
Sperm. Citi. & White Soap aa 3 ij 
The Yolk of an Egg, 01. Lin 5 iss 
Syr. Althae § iii 
M.S. Lohoch; rub ye Soles of ye Feet wt Hogs 
Lard before ye Fire. See Pectoralis. 
Renchus:—Is a Sound uttered thro’ ye 
Nose. See Stertor. 
Rhenophonia: — A Speaking thro’ ye 
Nose. Is a nasal Voice wc is not altogether 
uttered from ye Nostrils. 
Rhachmos:—Is a sterterous Sound wtin 
ye Fauces. See Stertor. 
Screatus:—Is Sonorous Evacuation of 
Mucus from ye Fauces. 
Sternutatio:—Sneezing. Is a Convulsive 
Agitation of ye Membranes of ye Nose wt 
an impetous Inspiration of Air, & presently 
making ye like Expulsion thro’ ye Nostrils 
wt a Sound. 
Suffocatio:— Is a Suppression of the 
Breathing or Respiration, from a continued 
contraction, or narrowness of ye Fauces or 
Trachea, wtout a Fever; a Symptom of 
Asthmas, Hysterics, Some Quinsies. Also 
See Dyspnoea, Orthopnoea, Ephialtes &c, 
&c. 
Suffocatio Stridula:—A Disorder in Chil- 
dren called here & in Ireland ye Hives, in Scot- 
land ye Croup, & in some Places Chock or 
Stuffing. In England ye rising of ye Light (See 
ye Pennsylvania Journal No. 1410). It seems 
to be a Species of Asthma attended wt very 
Violent Symptoms. The Infants are seized wt 
a Sudden & great Difficulty of Breathing, wc 
is soon Mortal unless relieved. It seems to be 
Nervous & Spasmodic. It is probable yt 
may arise from a Phlegm or Mucous ac- 
cummulated & hardend adhereing to ye 
Trachea & Bronchia, like ye membrane 
discover’d by Dr. Monroe (& we has been 
discovered here in a putrid contagious 
Quinsy, at New York, many Years since) 
difficulty seperable from ye Larynx. For 
Cure I would bathe ye Throat often wt 
ye Saponacious Balsam. Put his Feet in 
hot Water; if plethoric, bleed. Puke wt 
Antimonial Wine. Mix a little Camphire 
in Sweat Oil and add Honey, wt a few 
Drops of we moisten ye Throat, removes 
ye Mucous Membrane and removing ye 
Spasm wt Lobb’s Tincture, or a Grain of 
Opium, carefully dissolved in Soot Tea 
i viij by Spoonfuls till better. I would 
recommend Onion Tea, Saline Glysters, & 
a Plaster of Turpentine & Camphor be- 
tween ye Shoulders. 
Thrush:—See Aphthae, Purge wt Rhu- 
barb. Glyster 2 a day, wash ye Mouth often 
wt Strong Tea of Sage, Hysop & Alder wt 
honey & Alom mixt. Melasses wt Juice of 
Horse Radish Root is good. 
Tooth Ache:—See Odontalgia: Blow To- 
bacco Smoke in ye Ear of ye affected Side 
& put Oil of White Oak in ye Tooth made 
by burning ye twigs on a Cold Ax, or Pewter 
dish. 
Tortura:—Is a bending of ye Mouth to 
one Side. 
Traulotis:—Is a vitious Pronouncing of ye 
Letters S & R (See Blaesitos). 
Chinese Cure:—IT Pomegranate Rind 
wt Pepper four Seeds beat & apply as 
Snuff. But if from Cold Blood, ye Smell to 
a Composition of Sal. Ammoniac & Lime 
Water tied up in a Rag. If from atrophy, 
ye drink Wine wt some Frankincense in- 
fused in it &c. Vomit, Cold Baths, Snuff 
ye Dew from Mallows Leaves. Drink a 
Decoction of Primrose. Wash ye Head wt 
a Decoction of Sage, Mustard Seed gr. 30 
every Morning. 
Vociferatio:—Is a painful & exalted Ex- 
clamation of ye Voice, to harden ye Body. Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
99 
Uvula Relaxed:—Blow in Alom, Nitre 
&c. Infusion of Mustard Seed. Decoction 
of Water Dock. 
EAR. 
Relatively little space is devoted to aural 
conditions. This is not surprising when we 
stop to realize that real interest in otology 
received its first great stimulus only about 
the middle of the last century through the 
work of Wilde, Kramer and others. An in- 
teresting side light may be found in the 
article on Otitis. The rules of Dr. Graham 
are given and commented upon with an 
underlying spirit of combativeness and 
antagonism. James Graham was perhaps 
one of the earliest ear quacks, in the true 
sense of the word, in America. He flour- 
ished in Philadelphia about 1773. Bass5 
gives the following notice copied from the 
New York Gazette; and the Weekly Mer- 
cury, July 19, 1773: “Doctor Graham, 
Oculist and Aurist, is arrived in this City, 
from Philadelphia, and may be consulted 
at his apartments at Capt. Fenton’s op- 
posite Trinity Church, in the disorders of 
the Eye and its appendages; and in every 
species of deafness, hardness of hearing, 
ulcerations, noise in the Ears, etc. Persons 
born Deaf and Dumb, and those labour- 
ing under any impediment in their Speech, 
by applying personally, will probably be 
assisted. The Doctor intends to sail for 
England in a few months; those, there- 
fore, who have occasion for assistance, 
must apply immediately.”—His London 
career, with his Temple of Health, Celes- 
tial Bed and Elixir of Life, makes an inter- 
esting tale but like many other famous 
quacks his end was obscure.e 
Otitis, The Ear-ach is, an inflamma- 
tion of ye Ear. Otites, Diseases of ye Ear 
are internally & externally, especially ye 
former attended wt very Severe Pain, 
Head-ach & Alienations of Mind (See De- 
lirium) a Loss of Sleep, & sometimes Con- 
vulsions &c. See Odontalgia. It occasions 
great Restlessness & Anxiety, Pain, Red- 
ness, Heat & Fever, like other Inflamma- 
tions (wc see) proceading from Suppres- 
sion of Perspiration, exposing ye Head, to 
cold Water or Air wn Sweating. Cure in 
this case must be by Bleeding ye Arm or 
Jugulars, Cupping the Neck, giving Anti- 
monial Wine & Hydromel, Powder of Cam- 
phor & Nitres. Fomenting the Ear wt ye 
Steams of Warm Water Or applying ye 
Ear to a Jug filled wt a Decoction of Cedar 
Tops or Camomel &c.—Bathing ye Feet 
in Warm Water—And all around ye Ear 
wt Volatile Liniment &c. &c. If it cannot 
be dispersed yn it will be best Suppurated 
by Juice of roasted Onions & a drop of Sweet 
Oil often applied in ye Ear.—If it break & 
run white & laudable Pus, wash it a little 
wn needful wt Honey & Rum, & dress wt. 
Onion Juice & Honey mixt till well. 
2. A Defluxion of an Acrimoneous hu- 
mour, this has not ye great heat, burning 
& pulsation, but is painful from Irritation. 
See Opium. Blow tobacco Smoke thro an 
inverted Pipe into ye Ear wc eases ye Pain. 
Then gently Syringe, wt a Decoction of 
wild Cherry Bark.—Mix Camphire in Sweat 
Oil & drop into it daily—or Syringe wt 
Warm Wine or drop Rosemary & Sage 
Juice in ye Ear often—Drink Barks & 
Guiacum in Decoction. 
3. Ear Ach from Worms, Wn there is 
felt a sharp shooting Pain, a gnawing, & 
horrible Noise in ye Head, as wn a Flea 
or any insect, has made its Way to ye Drum 
of ye Ear.—In this Case a Drop in ye Ear 
of Sweat Oil, or Brandy, or Juice of Worm- 
wood, or even Warm Milk quickly destroys, 
or dislodges ye Insect, wn it will come out 
on ye Cotten, or be cautiously extracted. 
4. Ear Ach from Morbific Matter trans- 
lated, as in ye Decline of Malignant Fevers 
& generally a favourable symptom, tho’ it 
may cause Deafness. This may be eased 
by ye smoak of Tobacco, Camphorated 
Oil & Onion Juice. 
5. Tinnitus Aurium, a tingling Noise in 100 
Annals of Medical History 
the Ears, often attends Nervous & Malig- 
nant Fevers & is also frequently a chronic 
Disorder, & very troublesome, & often end- 
ing in e(n)tire Deafness, wc is seldom 
cured, & if relieved a while is apt to return 
again. See Phrenismus. 
, 6. Deafness and Thickness of Hearing 
differ only in degrees. Sounds unless very 
loud make little impressions on them. 
This distressing Mallidy is seldom cured, 
because ye fine Organs of Hearing cannot 
be seen, nor their Disorders well ascer- 
tain’d, in living subjects & ye dead have 
no use for it. It is however sometimes oc- 
casioned by hard Wax in the Meatus 
Auditorius, & other pituitous Matter. This 
may be relieved by gently syringing the 
Ears with Warm Water. 
If ye Tympanum &c be too tight Sweat 
Oil & Camphor, or Onion Juice in ye Ears 
on Cotten will have a good Effect, as I 
have often found. But if it be too lax & 
debilitated, washing ye Ear with strong 
Decoction of Wild Cherry Tree Bark, or 
black Alder Bark, or Wine wt sage & Rose- 
mary stewed in it, may do good. Steams 
of Rue, Rosemary & Garlic, thro’ a Funnel 
may be safely tried. Many have tried ye 
Fumes of Amber & Olibanum, & Spirit Sal 
Ammoniac, but it should be wt Caution. 
Some have applied Musk, Amber & Civit 
in a Dossil of lint in ye Ears, wc seems 
rational to affect the sluggish Nerves— 
Some use Galls of Eels & Partridges & even 
Fumes of Sulphur, But the(se) appear to 
me improbable & dangerous.—Some com- 
mend ye Eggs of Ants in Onion Juice as 
almost infallible, but I have never ven- 
tured it. Some try Salivation by Mercurial 
Unction as the last probable Remedy. 
Dr. Graham ye Otistis Rules by wc He 
pretended to cure inveterate Deafness were 
these (1) Bleed the Jugular 1 xiij every 10 
Days for three times.—(2) Three Emetic 
Boluses given one ye Day after each Bleed- 
ing.—(3) A Mixture Night & Morning 
(perhaps Tinctura Sacra & Amara mixt) 
drinking Sage, Sasafras & Fennel Seeds 
Tea.—(4) His Accoustic Essence is each 
Ear & yn wt Force s(n)uffing it up ye Nos- 
trils as long.-—But Juice of Ground ivy, 
Rue, Rosemary & Garlic 1 ii in hot Tar 
Water would be perhaps better. 
(5) Then his Caephalic snuff wc was no 
better yn Powder of ye Bark of Myrtle 
Root, or white Hellbore & Ginger, was 
often to be taken, yt ye must sneeze, keep- 
ing ye mouth shut, & ye Nostrils pressed 
together.— 
(6) His Etherial Essence (not so good as 
camphorated Spirits) were applied to ye 
Ears & volatiles to ye nose for 5 minutes. 
(7) His warm Drops for Deafness (per- 
haps Sweat Oil camphorated) 5 or 6 on 
Lint in each Ear. 
(8) Pen(e)trating Spirits 3 i (Juice of 
Horse Rhadish Root is better) on ye Tongue 
applied to ye Palate & keeping ye Mouth 
shut long after. 
(9) All these were done at night & re- 
peated next morning, three times ye first 
Week & only twice a Week after. 
(10) Twice a Week ye Legs & Feet were 
beathed wt warm Water. Semicupia of 
Decoction of Cedar Tops had been better. 
(11) He embrocated the Head some- 
times wt perhaps ye Volatile Liniment.— 
This was a Prescription for one born Deaf 
but by some mischance did not fully suc- 
ceed tho’ it made a considerable change. 
N.B. I once knew a Deafness cured by put- 
ting on Cotton some drops of a hot Pickle 
of Allom Salt applying it in ye Ear often. 
Auditus:—See Cophosis & Surditas, & 
the Theory under Otalgia. 
Cophosis:—A difficulty or Impotency of 
hearing or perceiving Sounds from some 
Impediment wtin or wtout the Labirinth 
of ye Ear. See Surditas. Try Camphorated 
Oil, Juice of Sage &c. Electricity has suc- 
ceeded in Nervous Cases. Bleeding or 
Blistering in inflammatory. If Ulcers in- 
ject Tinct. of Myrrh & Honey. Insects, 
remove by Oil. Laryngology and Otology in Colonial Times 
101 
Buzzing in Ears: See Otalgia & Tinnitus 
Aurium. 
Dullness of Hearing: See Cophosis. 
Ears pain’d; See Otalgia, Surditas, Vermes. 
Epiphlogisma:—Heat of some part, as if 
made by a burning Coal, attended wt pain. 
If in the Ear it is called Pyrosis. 
Giddiness: See Vertigo. 
Hearing (Dullness of): See Cophosis. 
Hearing (Diseases of): See Otitis. 
Nystagmus: is an involuntary Spasm of 
ye Eye or Lid. 
Otophlatos: An Excretion of an ill-scent- 
ed Humidity from behind ye Ears. This 
was one Year in Sussex, endemic & fatal 
among many Children, who had Agues 
& Fevers before. The Agues ceasing 
ye Children were swelled, bloated, Oede- 
matious, & their Faces Cadaverous. Sores 
came behind ye Ears & several turn’d to 
Cancer & Gangrenes. At length we suc- 
ceeded in curing it in ye same manner. See 
Cancer. 
Otopuosis:—Is an EfHux of Pus from ye 
Ear, or a sordid Catarrh of ye Ear. See 
Otalgia. 
Otorrhea: Is an EfHux of Blood from ye 
Ear. See Otalgia & Haemmorrhagia. 
Paracusis:—Is a difficulty of hearing 
articulated Voices, no Words distinctly. 
See Cophosis, Otalgia. 
Surditas:—Surdity or Deafness: Is an 
abolished Hearing (See a Treatise under 
Otalgia). Drop a Strong infusion of Allom 
Salt in ye Ear. Camphor dissolved in Sweat 
Oil. Some drop Juice of Ground Ivy. 
Susurrus: Is ye perception of Sound 
not existing or a buzzing in the Ear & Dis- 
order in ye Sensation of hearing. See 
Otalgia. 
Tinnitus Aurium:—Tingling of ye Ears. 
See Otalgia. Put a clove of garlick dipt in 
Honey in ye Ear, alternately 8 or 10 nights. 
Vertigo:—Is an Imagination in wc all 
things appear to a man to be turned wt 
himself. See Epilepsia. 
Chinese Cure. Pomegranate Rind wt 
Pepper, four Seeds, beat & apply as Snuff. 
But if from Cold Blood, ye Smell to a 
Compositon of Sal Ammoniac & Lime 
Water tied up in a Rag. If from atrophy, 
ye drink Wine wt some Frankincense in- 
fused in it &c. Vomit, Cold Baths, Snuff 
ye Dew from Mallows Leaves. Drink a 
decoction of Primrose. Wash ye Head wt 
a Decoction of Sage. Mustard Seed gr. 30 
every Morning. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
1. Packard: The History of Medicine in the 
United States, page 161. 
2. Thacher: American Medical Biography. 
3. Elsberg: Laryngology in America. Trans. 
Am. Lar. Assn. Vol. I. 
4. Jonathan Wright: History of Laryngology. 
5. Bass-Henderson: History of Medicine, p. 824. 
6. Foster: Famous Quacks, Medical Pickwick, 
Dec. 1916. 
Reprinted from the Spring Number, 1917, “Annals oj Medical History,” Published Quarterly 
By Paul B. Hoeber, 67-69 East 59th St., New York. Copyright, 1917.