The principles upon which this form of preparation is to be constructed,
are fully detailed in the first part of this work, page 199.
_Officinal Mixtures._
MISTURA AMMONIACI. L. This mixture is expectorant, and may be exhibited
with tincture of squills, &c. (_Form. 115, 136._) It is slightly curdled
by _vinegar_, _oxymel_, _æther_, and _oxy-muriate of mercury_.
MISTURA AMYGDALARUM. L. _Emulsio Amygdali communis_. E. _Lac Amygdalæ_.
D. It is a useful demulcent and diluent, and forms an elegant vehicle
for more active medicines. _Incompatibles_—_Acids_, _Oxymel_, _Syrup of
Squill_, _Spirit_, _and Tinctures_, unless added in very small
quantities, decompose this mixture; _tartaric acid_, _super-tartrate of
potass_, and _oxy-muriate of mercury_, also disturb it. _Form. 137._
MISTURA ASSAFŒTIDÆ. L. A nauseous preparation; and where its use is
indicated, it will be more judicious to prescribe it as an
extemporaneous mixture. See _Assafœtida_.
MISTURA CAMPHORÆ. L. This solution of camphor forms an elegant vehicle
for more active stimulants. The camphor is separated from the water by a
solution of pure potass, by sulphate of magnesia, and by several saline
bodies. See _Form. 7, 24, 25, 32, 47, 72, 116, 117, 123_.
MISTURA CORNU USTI. L. _Decoctum Cornu Cervini_. D. This is nothing more
than a simple diffusion of phosphate of lime in a thin mucilage—_Cui
bono_? It was retained in the Pharmacopœia in deference to the opinion
of some experienced practitioners.
MISTURA CRETÆ. L.D. A common and useful remedy in diarrhœa, and may be
combined with opium, catechu, or any other astringent. _Form. 52._ It is
of course incompatible with acids, and acidulous salts.
MISTURA FERRI COMPOSITA. L. This is nearly the same as the celebrated
anti-hectic mixture of Dr. Griffith; to the result of the decompositions
which take place from the mixture of its ingredients, it is wholly
indebted for its medicinal energies; thus, a _proto-carbonate of iron_
is formed, i. e. the iron combined with carbonic acid is at its
_minimum_ of oxidation, which renders it more active than the common
carbonate, and probably less stimulant than the sulphate; this product,
by means of the saponaceous compound formed by the union of the myrrh
with the excess of alkali, is _partly_ diffused and suspended in the
mixture, and _partly_ dissolved, whilst at the same time a _sulphate of
potass_ is formed, which serves to correct the astringent influence
which iron is apt to exert upon the bowels. The iron in this preparation
is disposed to combine with an additional proportion of oxygen, hence
its ingredients should be quickly mixed together, and it ought to be
considered as an extemporaneous preparation, and be preserved in a
closely-stopt vessel. Its change of colour will generally indicate its
loss of efficacy. This preparation must be regarded as permanently
serviceable in Chlorosis, and the numerous sympathetic affections
connected with it. In the painful swellings which infest the breasts of
chlorotic young women, I have found it almost a specific. DOSE,
f℥j-f℥ij. The proportion of _Proto-carbonate of iron_, contained in any
given quantity of this mixture, may be found by referring to the
Medicinal Dynameter; for instance, bring the preparation to 12, and we
shall perceive that this number of fluid-drachms contain 1 grain of
_Protoxide_, or rather more than gr. iss of _Proto-carbonate_ of iron;
and we shall, at the same time, perceive that to give an equivalent
quantity in the form of _Pil. Ferri comp_. we must prescribe ℈j. See
_Form. 96_.
MISTURA MOSCHI. This is an eligible form for the administration of Musk.
_Dose_, f℥j-f℥ij, to which may be added extemporaneously, ammonia,
æther, and other diffusible stimulants.
_The Dose_ of the above mixtures is f℥j-to f℥ij twice or thrice a day.