The following general rules will aid the student in remembering the
safe dose of many important preparations:
1. Tinctures of very active drugs, such as opium, digitalis,
belladonna, physostigma, nux vomica, gelsemium, arnica, and capsicum
may be given in _doses_ of from 5 to 20 minims (0.3-1.2 c.c.),
except the _tinctures of aconite_, _veratrum viride_, _iodin_, and
_cantharides_, the _dose_ of which is from 1 to 5 minims (0.06-0.3
c.c.).
2. Tincture of less active drugs, such as gentian, calumba, krameria,
quassia, valerian, cinchona, kino, may be given in _doses_ of from ½ to
1 dram (2-4 c.c.).
3. Solid extracts of active drugs may be given in _doses_ of from ⅙ to
¼ of a grain (0.01-0.016 gm.).
4. Solid extracts of less active drugs may be given in _doses_ of from
½ to 5 grains (0.03-0.3 gm.) or more.
5. Dilute acids (hydrochloric, nitric, nitrohydrochloric, sulphuric)
may be given in _doses_ of from 5 to 20 minims (0.3-1.3 c.c.), except
_dilute hydrocyanic acid_, the _dose_ of which is from 1 to 5 minims
(0.06-0.3 c.c.).
6. All medicated syrups, except the _syrup of iodid of iron_ and the
_compound syrup of squill_, may be given in _doses_ of 1 to 2 drams
(4-8 c.c.) or more.
7. All infusions may be given in _doses_ of ½ to 1 ounce (15-30 c.c.)
or more, except the _infusion of digitalis_, the _dose_ of which is
from 1 to 4 drams (4-15 c.c.).
8. All official mixtures may be given in _doses_ of from 1 to 4 drams
(4-15 c.c.).
9. All spirits may be given in _doses_ up to 1 dram (4 c.c.), except
the _spirit of nitroglycerin_ (glonoin), the _dose_ of which is from 1
to 5 minims (0.06-0.3 c.c.), the _spirit of phosphorus_, the _dose_ of
which is from 5 to 15 minims (0.3-1 c.c.), and the _spirit of bitter
almond_, the _dose_ of which is from 5 to 10 minims (0.3-0.6 c.c.).
10. All _waters_ (aquæ) may be given in _doses_ up to 1 ounce (30
c.c.), except _aqua ammoniæ_, _aqua chlori_, and _aqua laurocerasi_
(cherry-laurel), the _dose_ of which is about ½ dram (2 c.c.).
11. Volatile or essential oils may be given in _doses_ up to 5 minims
(0.3 c.c.) or more, except the _oil of bitter almond_, the _dose_ of
which is from ¼ to ½ minim (0.015-0.03 c.c.).