The reparations claim of Dr. John Davis lists a number of medicines taken by the British from his dispensary. The following dictionary has been compiled by Clarissa Dillon. Quotations are from (unless otherwise noted): 'The New Dispensatory: The whole interspersed with practical cautions and observations. Intended as a correction, and improvement of Quincy; by John Quincy, John Platt, and David Cairmi. Printed for J. Nourse, 1753

Calomet [probably calomel] a mercury compound; "...Obstinate cutaneous and venereal distempers may be successfully cured,..." p.339

Spice probably aromatics used to improve the flavour of various medicines and/or to warm the body - as in "Spiced Rhubarb" (see below).

Jallap "...root of an American convolvulus ... proves an effectual, and in general a safe purgative, performing the office mildly..." pp. 140-141

Rhubarb [root] "...a mild cathartic, which operates without violence or irritation, celebrated as an astringent..." p. 190. Often administered as "Spiced Rhubarb" as in The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker, edited by Elaine Forman Crane, Boston: Northwestern University Press, 1991.

Nitre Saltpeter; ...a medicine of celebrated use in many disorders..." pp. 166-167.

Carolina Pink Root vermifuge; not in The New Dispensatory, but used by Elizabeth Drinker to treat her granddaughter for worms.

Manna ...a mild, agreeable laxative, and may be given with safety to children and pregnant women..." p. 156

Sena [leaves] "...a very useful cathartic, operating mildly, and yet effectual..." p. 205

Volatile Tincture unclear; several possibilities: Peruvian bark "...so acrimonious that ... can contain only a very small quantity of the subject..."; sulphur "... may be a powerful medicine, but it is certainly an unpleasant one."; valerian "...considerably promotes the virtue of the valerian for nervous disorders." p. 415; p. 213; p. 426

Fetid Tincture contained asafoetida in rectified spirits of wine; juice of root used in hysteric cases and flatulent colic. p. 87; p. 416.

Volatile Tincture gr.s Guaiacum resin exuded from trunk of tree growing in Spanish West India, dissolved in "volatile aromatic spirits" as "a warm, stimulating medicine..." p. 185; p, 417.

Thebaic Tincture another name for liquid laudanum, a tincture of opium, widely used pp. 409-410.

Salt of Tartar "...most servicable in cold, phlegmatic habits and where acidities abound in the primae viae..." p. 279

Peruvian Bark also called Jesuit's Bark, used to treat fevers and agues; known today as crude quinine, effective only in cases of malaria.