Following Brekman?s lead, the search for new adaptogens began with the main Eclectic Materia
Medica text, King’s Dispensatory (1854, 1898). Two thousand odd herbal remedies contained in
these two texts were scanned for any drugs designated tonic. Any drug designated tonic was
entered into a data base along with the data listed in these two texts to form a Tonic Data Base. In
example:
King’s Dispensatory 1854 Cornus florida (Dogwood)
Properties and Uses ? Dogwood bark is tonic, astringent, and slightly stimulant; it is, probably, the best native
substitute we have for the cinchona, having often succeeded in preventing the return of parozysmal fevers,
where the foreign drug proved ineffectual. It may be used in all cases where quinia is indicated and cannot be
adminstered, owing to idiosyncrasy, etc, or where it cannot be obtained pure. It may be used with advantages
in all cases where tonics are required, in periodical fevers, typhoid fevers, etc. Its internal employment increases
the force and frequency of the pulse, and elevates the temperature of the body. It should be used in the dried
state, as the recent bark is apt to disorder the stomach, and produce pains in the bowels, but which may be
relieved by a few drops of laudanum. The cornine prepared by Mr Merrell is much used as a substitute for
quinia, by Eclectics, and is frequently preferred by them to be alkaloidal salt. It may be variously combined with
xanthoxylin, myricin, salicin, hydrastin, podophyllin, or hydro?alcoholic extract of cimicifuga, in the different
affections for which it is adminstered. An extract of the bark prepared by boiling it in water, and evaporating to
the proper consistence, will be found the best form in which to administer it. Dose of the powdered bark, from
twenty to sixty grains, as often as required; of the extract from five to ten grains; of cornine from one to ten
grains or more. The ripe berries, infused in brandy, are used in some sections of country as bitters; and an
infusion of the flowers forms a good substitute for chamomile?flower tea.
King’s Dispensatory 1898 Cornus florida (Dogwood)
History ? Cornus florida grows in various parts of the United States, but more abundantly in the middle states.
It flowers in April and May, sometimes earlier and sometimes later than this, depending upon the climate. The
fruit matures in autumn. This is one of the most conspicuous and handsome of our native trees when in bloom,
and is frequently cultivated for its singular beauty. Its leaves turn red in the autumn. The wood is very
compact and hard, and capable of receiving a high polish, and may be employed for many purposes. The
American Indians extracted from the twigs and roots of this and other species a scarlet coloring matter for
dyeing purposes. Dogwood bark was used considerably during the American Revolution as a substitute for
Peruvian bark.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage ? Dogwood bark is tonic, astringent, and slightly stimulant. It forms an
excellent substitute for Peruvian bark, having frequently proved efficient in periodic attacks when the foreign
drug failed. It may be used in many cases where quinine is indicated and can not be administered, owing to
idiosyncrasy, etc. It may be used with advantage in cases where tonics are required, in periodical fevers,
typhoid fevers, etc. Its internal employment increases the strength and frequency of the pulse, and elevates the
temperature of the body. It should be used in the dried stage, as the recent bark is apt to derange the stomach,
and cause more or less pain in the abdomen, but which may be removed by 10 or 15 drops of laudanum. It is
useful in headaches from quinine, in general exhaustion and pyrosis. An extract of the bark prepared by boiling
it in water, and evaporating to the proper consistence, will be found one of the best forms in which to administer
it. Dose of the powdered bark, from 20 to 60 grains, as often as required; of the extract, from 5 to 10 grains.
The ripe berries formed into a tincture with brandy or whiskey, are a popular bitters among some country
people; the flowers are occasionally used in the place of chamomile. Specific cornus, 1 to 20 drops.
Specific Indications and Uses ? ?Tonic and antiperiodic; intermittent or miasmatic fevers; pyrosis; headache
from quinine; general exhaustion? (Scudder); feeble, relaxed tissues; pulse feeble and temperature subnormal;
quinism.
Excerpts such as these created a data base of drugs designated tonic by the Eclectic medical
movement. Then, the top Eclectic materia medica texts were screened for references to these
listed drugs and for any additional listings of tonic drugs. The texts screened include the
following:
1847: Wooster Beach. A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Health. Published by the Author. NY.
1847.
1848: Wooster Beach. A Medical and Botanical Dictionary. Baker and Scribner. New York. 1848.
1855: The Eclectic Family Physician A scientific System of Medicine on Vegetable Principles Designed
for Families. D.Dyer.
1858: L.E. Jones and J.M. Scudder. The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Moore,
Wilstach, and Keys. Cincinnati. 1858.
1858: Marshal Calkins.MD. Thoracic Diseases: Their Pathology,Diagnosis,and treatment in four parts.
Posthumus writings of Calvin Newton. Cowperthwait and Company. Philadelphia. 1858.
1859: Wooster Beach. Beach?s Family Physician and Home Guide. Moore, Wilstach, and Keys.
Cincinatti. 1859.
1869: The American Practice Condensed. Moore, Wilstach, and Keys. Cincinatti. 1869.
1869: John M.Scudder. The Eclectic Practice in Disease of Children. American Publishing Company.
Cincinnati. 1869.
1874: John M. Scudder.MD. Specific Medication and Specific Medicines. Revised. Fifth Edition.
1874: John.M.Scudder.MD. On the Reproductive Organs and the Veneral. Wilstach,Baldwin, and
Company. Cincinnati. 1874.
1883: J.U.Lloyd.Pharmaceutical Preparations.Elixirs. Robert Clarke and Company. Cincinnati. 1883.
1883: John M. Scudder.MD. The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Published by
the Author. Cincinnati. 1883.
1887: John M. Scudder.MD. The Eclectic Family Physician. Twenty first edition, fifth revision. Two
volumes in one, with appendix. John K.Scudder. Cincinnati. 1887.
1887: J.C.Kilgour.MD. Symptomatic Indications Verified by the Author. Published by the Author.
New Richmond, Ohio. 1887.
1888: I.J.M. Goss.MD. The Practice of Medicine on the Specific Art of Healing. W.T.Keener. Chicago.
1888.
1891: Drugert T.Webster.MD. The Principles of Medicine as applied to Dynamical Therapeutics.
Published by the Author. Oakland, California. 1891.
1892: J.S.Neiderkorn.MD. The Physicians and Students Ready Guide to Specific Medication.The
Little Printing Company. Bradford, Ohio. 1892.
1895: Lyman Watkins.MD. An Eclectic Compendium of The Practice of Medicine. John M.Scudder?s
Sons. Cincinnati. 1895.
1895: John M.Scudder MD. with an appendix by William Byrd Scudder.MD. On the Use of
Medicated Inhalations in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory organs. John M.Scudder?s Sons.
Cincinnati. 1895.
1898: Harvery Wickes Felter. Kings Dispensatory. Volume one and Volume two. Ohio Valley
Company. Cincinnati. 1898.
1898: Dynamical Therapeutics?A work devoted to the Theory and Practice of Specific Medication
with special references to the newer remedies. H.T. Webster. Second Edition.
1899: H.T. Webster.MD. New Eclectic Medical Practice Designed for Students and Practitioners.
Volume One. Webster Medical Publishing Company. Oakland, California. 1899.
1901: Harvey Felter. MD. Syllabus of Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Compiled from
notes taken from the lectures of F.J.Locke. edited with pharmacological additions by H.W.Felter.
Second edition, with appendix. Scudder Brothers Company. Cincinnati.1901.
1902: Drugert T. Webster. New Eclectic Medical Practice Designed for Students and Practitioners.
Volume Two. Webster Medical Publishing Company. Oakland, California. 1902.
1903: John William Fyfe.MD. The Essentials of Modern Materia Medica and Therapeutics. The
Scudder Brothers Company. Cincinnati. 1903.
1905: F.J.Peterson.MD. Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics. Published by the Author. Los
Olivos, California. 1905.
1905: J.S.Neiderkorn.MD. A Handy Reference Book. Published for the Author. Cincinnati. 1905.
1905: Finley Ellingwood.MD. A Systematic Treatise on Materia Medica and Therapeutics with
reference to the most direct action of drugs. Fifth Edition, thoroughly revised and greatly enlarged.
Chicago Medical Times Publishing Company. 1905.
1910: The Eclectic Alkaloids. J.U.Lloyd and C.G.Lloyd. Bulletin of the Lloyd Library. Buletin 12:
Pharmacy series: number 2.
1911: J.U.Lloyd. History of the Vegetable Drugs of the Pharmacopia of the United States. Bulletin
number 18: pharmacy number 4.
1911: John William Fyfe. MD. Pocket Essentials of Modern Materia Medica and Therapeutics. The
Scudder Brothers Company. 1911.
1919: Finley Ellingwood.MD. American Materia Medica,Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy.
Ellingwood?s Therapeutist. Chicago. 1919.
1920: Rolla Thomas.MD.Second Edition. Eclectic Practice of Medicine.
1922: Origin and History of all the Pharmacopeial Vegetable Drugs, Chemicals and Preparations.
Volume 1: Vegetable Drugs. The Caxton Press. Cincinnati. 1922.
1927: The Genesis of the American Materia Medica. Bulletin of the Lloyd Library. Bulletin number 26:
series number 8.
1932: J.U.Lloyd. Drugs and Medicines of North America. Bulletin of Lloyd Library. 1932
When one of these authors commented on one of the drugs listed in Tonic Data Base, their words
were excerpted and added to the data base. In example:
1901 Harvey W Felter Cornus florida (Dogwood)
SYNONYM ? Large Flowering Cornel
BOTANICAL ORIGIN ? The bark of Cornus florida, Linne; Nat. Ord., Cornaceae. Woods of the eastern half of
North America.
A tincture of this bark may be made of eight ounces of the bark to one pint of dilute alcohol. Dose, five to sixty
drops. Make an infusion of the strength of one ounce of bark to one pint of water. Dose, a tablespoonful.
This agent resembles willow bark in action. It is slightly astringent and antiseptic, but chiefly tonic. It is used
only in atonic states, and gives good effects in atonic dyspepsia and in intemittents. Some employ it as a
prophylactic against malarial and other fevers. In gangrenous mortification use the infusion both locally and
internally.
1905 Peterson Cornus florida (Dogwood)
PE: bark of the root.
Native Habitat: United States
Properties: Tonic, antispasmodic, slightly astringent.
Use: It is a tonic and antiperiodic and of special value in chronic malaria with weak pulse, depressed
temperature, relaxed and feeble tissues and general exhaustion, in which cases it should be combined with other
indicated remedies. It tones up the system, counteracts the malarial poison, improves digestion and appetite.