hours. This should only be taken under medical advice and sanction.
41. Powdered opium, half a grain; camphor, two grains in a pill; to
be taken every three or four hours whilst in pain.
42. Syrup of balsam of tolu, two ounces; the muriate of morphia, two
grains; muriatic acid, twenty drops: a teaspoonful twice a day.
43. Salts of tartar, two scruples, twenty grains of powdered
cochineal; 1/4 lb. of honey; water, half a pint; boil, and give a
tablespoonful three times a day.
44. Calomel, ten grains; Castile soap, extract of jalap, extract of
colocynth, of each one scruple; oil of juniper, five drops: make
into fifteen pills; one three times a day.
45. Infusion of orange peel, eight ounces; carbonate of soda, one
drachm; and compound tincture of cardamoms, half an ounce: take a
tablespoonful three times a day, succeeding the pills.
46. Carbonate of iron, three ounces; syrup of ginger, sufficient to
make an electuary: a teaspoonful three times a day.
47. Take of Castile soap, compound extract of colocynth, compound
rhubarb pill, and the extract of jalap, each one scruple; oil of
caraway, ten drops; make into twenty pills, and take one after
dinner every day whilst necessary.
48. Spirit of rosemary, five parts; spirit of wine, or spirit of
turpentine, one part.
49. Take of thick mucilage, one ounce; castor oil, twelve drachms;
make into an emulsion: add mint water, four ounces; spirit of nitre,
three drachms; laudanum, one drachm; mixture of squills, one drachm;
and syrup, seven drachms; mix; two tablespoonfuls every six hours.
652. Medicines (Aperient).
In the spring time of the year, the judicious use of aperient
medicines is much to be commended.
653. Spring Aperients.
For children, an excellent medicine is
i. Brimstone and treacle, prepared by mixing an ounce and a half of
sulphur, and half an ounce of cream of tartar, with eight ounces of
treacle; and, according to the age of the child, giving from a small
teaspoonful to a dessertspoonful, early in the morning, two or three
times a week.
As this sometimes produces sickness, the following may be used:
ii. Take of powdered Rochelle salts one drachm and a half, powdered
jalap and powdered rhubarb each fifteen grains, ginger two grains,
mix. _Dose_, for a child above five years, one _small_ teaspoonful;
above ten years, a _large_ teaspoonful; above fifteen, half the
whole, or two teaspoonfuls: and for a person above twenty, three
teaspoonfuls, or the whole, as may be required by the habit of the
person.
This medicine may be dissolved in warm water, mint, or common tea. The
powder can be kept for use in a wide-mouthed bottle, and be in
readiness for any emergency. The druggist may be directed to treble or
quadruple the quantities, as convenient.
654. Aperient Pills.
To some adults all liquid medicines produce such nausea that pills are
the only form in which aperients can be exhibited; the following is a
useful formula:
i. Take of compound rhubarb pill a drachm and one scruple, of
powdered ipecacuanha ten grains, and of extract of hyoscyamus one
scruple; mix, and beat into a mass, and divide into twenty-four
pills; take one or two, or if of a very costive habit, _three_ at
bedtime.
ii. For persons requiring a more powerful aperient, the same
formula, with twenty grains of compound extract of colocynth, will
form a good purgative pill. The mass receiving this addition must be
divided into thirty, instead of twenty-four pills.
655. Black Draught.
The common aperient medicine known as black draught is made in the
following manner:
i. Take of senna leaves six drachms, bruised ginger half a drachm,
sliced liquorice root four drachms, Epsom salts two and a half
ounces, boiling water half an imperial pint. Keep this standing on
the hob or near the fire for three hours, then strain, and after
allowing it to grow cool, add of sal volatile one drachm and a half,
of tincture of senna, and of tincture of cardamoms, each half an
ounce. This mixture will keep a long time in a cool place. _Dose_, a
wineglassful for an adult; and two tablespoonfuls for young persons
about fifteen years of age. It is not a suitable medicine for
children.
656. Tonic Aperient.
The following will be found a useful medicine for persons of all ages.
i. Take of Epsom salts one ounce, diluted sulphuric acid one drachm,
infusion of quassia chips half an _imperial_ pint, compound tincture
of rhubarb two drachms. _Dose_, half a wineglassful twice a day.
657. Infants' Aperient.
The following may be used with safety for young children.
i. Take of rhubarb five grains, magnesia three grains, white sugar a
scruple, grey powder five grains; mix. _Dose_, for an infant from
twelve to eighteen months of age, from one-third to one-half of the
whole.
ii. A useful laxative for children is composed of calomel five
grains, and sugar a scruple, made into five powders. _Dose_, half of
one of these for a child from birth to one year, and a whole one
from that age to three years.
658. Flour of Brimstone
is a mild aperient in doses of about a quarter of an ounce; it is best
taken in milk. Flour of brimstone, which is also called sublimed
sulphur, is generally put up in ounce packets at 7d.; its wholesale
price is 4d. per pound.
[A SPARK MAY RAISE AN AWFUL BLAZE.]
659. Medicines.
Preparations of them.--The following directions are of the utmost
value in connection with the DOMESTIC PHARMACOPOEIA, DISEASES,
PRESCRIPTIONS, and POISONS.
_They will be found most important to emigrants, attendants upon the
sick, and persons who reside out of the reach of medical aid, sailors,
&c., &c. They contain instructions not only for the compounding of
medicines, but most useful hints and cautions upon the application of
leeches, blisters, poultices, &c._
660. Articles Required for Mixing Medicines.
_Three glass measures_, one to measure ounces, another to measure
drachms, and a measure for minims, drops, or small doses.
A _pestle and mortar_, both of glass and Wedgwood-ware.
A glass funnel.
Glass stirring rods.
A _spatula_, or flexible knife, for spreading ointments, making pills,
&c.
_A set of scales and weights_.
_A small slab of marble_, or porcelain, for making pills upon, mixing
ointments, &c.
661. Medicine Weights and Measures.--_Weights_.
When you open your box containing the scales and weights, you will
observe that there are several square pieces of brass, of different
sizes and thicknesses, and stamped with a variety of characters. These
are the weights, which may now be explained.
662. Troy Weight.
Medicines are made up by troy weight, although drugs are bought by
avoirdupois weight. There are twelve ounces to the pound troy, which
is marked lb.; the ounce, which contains eight drachms, is marked
[*ounce]i. [looks like a z on top of a 3]; the drachm, containing
three scruples, is marked [*drachm]i. [looks like a 3]; and the
scruple of twenty grains is marked [*scruple]i. [looks like a
backwards C with a horizontal cross-bar]. The grain weights are marked
by little circles, thus:
-------
|o o|
Five | o | Grains
|o o|
-------
Each of the grain weights, in addition to the circles denoting their
several weights, bears also the stamp of a crown. Care must be taken
not to mistake this for one of the numerals. Besides these weights
there are others marked [*scruple]ss, which means half a scruple;
[*drachm]ss, meaning half a drachm; and [*ounce]ss, meaning half an
ounce. When there are ounces, drachms, or scruples, the number of them
is shown by Roman figures, thus:--i. ii. iii. iv. v., &c., and
prescriptions are written in this style.
663. Measures.--Liquid
Liquid medicines are always measured by the following table:
60 minims......... \ / 1 fluid drachm.
8 fluid drachms | are | 1 fluid ounce.
20 fluid ounces... | contained | 1 pint.
8 pints.......... / in \ 1 gallon.
And the signs which distinguish each are as follows:--c. means a
gallon; o a pint; _fl_ [*ounce], a fluid ounce; _fl_ [*drachm], a
fluid drachm; and m, a minim, or drop. Formerly drops used to be
ordered, but as the size of a drop must necessarily vary, minims are
always directed to be employed now for any particular medicine,
although for such medicines as oil of cloves, essence of ginger, &c.,
drops are frequently ordered.
664. Specific Measuring Vessels.
In order that Medicines may be measured Accurately, there are
graduated glass vessels for measuring ounces, drachms, and minims.
665. Approximate Measures.
When proper measures are not at hand, it is necessary to adopt some
other method of determining the quantities required, and therefore the
following table has been drawn up for that purpose:
A tumbler ....... \ / 10 ounces.
A teacup ........ | | 6 "
A wineglass .... | usually | 2 "
A tablespoon..... |- contains -| 4 drachms.
A dessertspoon... | about | 2 "
A teaspoon....... / \ 1 "
These quantities refer to ordinary sized spoons and vessels. Some cups
hold half as much more, and some tablespoons contain six drachms. A
medicine glass, which is graduated so as to show the number of
spoonfuls it contains, should be kept in every family.
[TO-DAY, MAN LIVES IN PLEASURE, WEALTH AND PRIDE.]
666. Process of Making Medicines.
To Powder Substances.--Place the substance in the mortar, and strike
it _gently_ with direct perpendicular blows of the pestle, until it
separates into several pieces, then remove all but a small portion,
which bruise gently at first, and rub the pestle round and round the
mortar, observing that the circles described by the pestle should
gradually decrease in diameter, and then increase again, because by
this means every part of the powder is subjected to the process of
pulverization. In powdering substances, making emulsions, and whenever
using a mortar, the pestle should always travel _from the right to the
left_.
667. Preparation and Assistance.
Some substances require to be prepared in a particular manner before
they can be powdered, or to be assisted by adding some other body. For
example, camphor powders more easily when a few drops of spirits of
wine are added to it; mace, nutmegs, and such oily aromatic substances
are better for the addition of a little white sugar; resins and
gum-resins should be powdered in a cold place, and if they are
intended to be dissolved, a little fine well-washed white sand mixed
with them assists the process of powdering. Tough roots, like gentian
and calumba, should be cut into thin slices; and fibrous roots, like
ginger, cut slanting, otherwise the powder will be full of small
fibres. Vegetable matter, such as peppermint, loosestrife, senna, &c.,
requires to be dried before it is powdered.
668. Care of the Mortar.
Be careful not to pound too hard in glass, porcelain, or Wedgwood-ware
mortar; they are intended only for substances that pulverize easily,
and for the purpose of mixing or incorporating medicines. Never use
acids in a marble mortar, and be sure that you do not powder galls or
any other astringent substances in any but a brass mortar.
669. Sifting.
Sifting is frequently required for powdered substances, and this is
usually done by employing a fine sieve, or tying the powder up in a
piece of muslin, and striking it against the left hand over a piece of
paper.
670. Filtering.
Filtering is frequently required for the purpose of obtaining clear
fluids, such as infusions, eye-washes, and other medicines; and it is,
therefore, highly important to know how to perform this simple
operation. First of all take a square piece of white blotting paper,
and double it over so as to form an angular cup. Open out this filter
paper very carefully, and having placed it in a funnel, moisten it
with a little water. Then place the funnel in the neck of the bottle,
and pour the liquid gently down the side of the paper, otherwise the
fluid is apt to burst the paper.
671. Maceration.
Maceration is another process that is frequently required to be
performed in making up medicines, and consists simply in immersing the
medicines in _cold water_ or spirits for a certain time.
672. Digestion.
Digestion resembles maceration, except that the process is assisted by
a gentle heat. The ingredients are placed in a flask, such as salad
oil is sold in, which should be fitted with a plug of tow or wood, and
have a piece of wire twisted round the neck. The flask is held by
means of the wire over the flame of a spirit lamp, or else placed in
some sand warmed in an old iron saucepan over the fire, care being
taken not to place more of the flask below the sand than the portion
occupied by the ingredients.
673. Infusion.
Infusion is one of the most frequent operations required in making up
medicines, its object being to extract the aromatic and volatile
principles of substances, that would be lost by decoction, or
digestion; and to extract the soluble from the insoluble parts of
bodies. Infusions may be made with cold water, in which case they are
weaker, but more pleasant. The general method employed consists in
slicing, bruising, or rasping the ingredients first, then placing them
in a common jug (which should be as globular as possible), and pouring
boiling water over them. Cover the jug with a cloth folded six or
eight times, but if there be a lid to the jug so much the better. When
the infusion has stood the time directed, hold a piece of _very
coarse_ linen over the spout, and pour the liquid through it into
another jug.
[TO-MORROW, POOR--OR LIFE ITSELF DENIED.]
674. Decoction.
Decoction, or boiling, is employed to extract the mucilaginous or
gummy parts of substances, their bitter, astringent, or other
qualities, and is nothing more than boiling the ingredients in a
saucepan with the lid slightly raised. Be sure never to use an iron
saucepan for astringent decoctions, such as oak-bark, galls, &c., as
they will turn the saucepan black, and spoil the decoction. The
enamelled saucepans are very useful for decoctions, but an excellent
plan is to put the ingredients into a jar and boil the jar, thus
preparing it by a water bath, as it is technically termed; or by using
a common pipkin, which answers still better. No decoction should be
allowed to boil for more than ten minutes.
675. Extracts.
Extracts are made by evaporating the liquors obtained by infusion or
decoction, but these can be bought much cheaper and better of chemists
and druggists, and so can tinctures, confections, cerates and
plasters, and syrups: but as every one is not always in the
neighbourhood of druggists, we shall give recipes for those most
generally useful, and the method of making them.
676. Precautions to be observed in Giving Medicines.
677. Sex.
Medicines for females should not be so strong as those for males,
therefore it is advisable to reduce the doses about one-third.
678. Temperament.
Persons of a phlegmatic temperament bear stimulants and purgatives
better than those of a sanguine temperament, therefore the latter
require smaller doses.
679. Habits.
Purgatives never act so well upon persons accustomed to take them as
upon those who are not, therefore it is better to change the form of
purgative from pill to potion, powder to draught, or aromatic to
saline. Purgatives should never be given when there is an irritable
state of the bowels.
680. Use of Alcohol.
Stimulants and narcotics never act so quickly upon persons accustomed
to use spirits freely as upon those who live abstemiously.
681. Climate.
The action of medicines is modified by climate and seasons. In summer,
certain medicines act more powerfully than in winter, and the same
person cannot bear the dose in July that he could in December.
682. General Health.
Persons whose general health is good bear stronger doses than the
debilitated and those who have suffered for a long time.
683. Idiosyncrasy.
By this is meant a peculiar temperament or disposition not common to
people generally. For example, some persons cannot take calomel in the
smallest dose without being salivated, or rhubarb without having
convulsions; others cannot take squills, opium, senna, &c.; and this
peculiarity is called the patient's idiosyncrasy, therefore it is
wrong to _insist_ upon their taking these medicines.
684. Forms best suited for Administration.
Fluids act quicker than solids, and powders sooner than pills.
685. Best Method of Preventing the Nauseous Taste of Medicines.
Castor oil may be taken in milk, coffee, or spirit, such as brandy;
but the best method of covering the nauseous flavour is to put a
tablespoonful of strained orange juice in a wineglass, pour the castor
oil into the centre of the juice, and then squeeze a few drops of
lemon juice upon the top of the oil. The wineglass should first be
dipped, rim downwards, into water, so that the interior may be wetted.
Cod liver oil may be taken, like castor oil, in orange juice.
Peppermint water neutralizes, to a great extent, the nauseous taste of
Epsom salts; a strong solution of extract of liquorice, that of aloes;
milk, that of cinchona bark; and cloves that of senna.
[TO-DAY, LAYS PLANS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.]
686. An Excellent Way to Prevent the Taste of Medicines
is to have the medicine in a glass, as usual, and a tumbler of water
by the side of it; take the medicine, and retain it in the mouth,
which should be kept closed, and if drinking the water be then
commenced, the taste of the medicine is washed away. Even the
bitterness of quinine and aloes may be prevented by this means. If the
nostrils are firmly compressed by the thumb and finger of the left
hand, while taking a nauseous draught, and so retained till the mouth
has been washed out with water, the disagreeable taste of the medicine
will be almost imperceptible.
687. Giving Medicines to Persons.
Medicines should be given in such a manner that the effect of the
first dose shall not have ceased when the next dose is given,
therefore the intervals between the doses should be regulated
accordingly.
688. Doses of Medicine for Different Ages.
It must be plain to every one that children do not require such
powerful medicine as adults or old people, and therefore it is
desirable to have some fixed method of determining or regulating the
administration of doses of medicine. Now let it be supposed that the
dose for a full-grown person is one drachm, then the following
proportions will be suitable for the various ages given; keeping in
view other circumstances, such as sex, temperament, habits, climate,
state of _general health_, and idiosyncrasy.
Age. Proportion. Proportionate Dose.
7 weeks one-fifteenth or grains 4
7 months one-twelfth or grains 5
Under 2 years one-eighth or grains 7-1/2
" 3 " one-sixth or grains 10
" 4 " one-fourth or grains 15
" 7 " one-third or scruple 1
" 14 " one-half or drachm 1/2
" 20 " two-fifths or scruples 2
Above21 " the full dose or drachm 1
" 65 " The inverse gradation
689. Drugs, with their Properties and Doses.
The various drugs have been arranged according to their properties,
and the doses of each have been given. Many, however, have been
necessarily omitted from each class, because they cannot be employed
except by a medical man. The _doses_ are meant for adults.
690. Classes of Drugs.
Medicines have been divided into four grand classes
1. General stimulants;
2. Local stimulants;
3. Chemical remedies;
4. Mechanical remedies.
691. General Stimulants.
General stimulants are subdivided into two classes, diffusible and
permanent stimulants: the first comprising narcotics and
antispasmodics, and the second tonics and astringents.
692. Narcotics.
Narcotics are medicines which stupefy and diminish the activity of the
nervous system. Given in small doses, they generally act as
stimulants, but an increased dose produces a sedative effect. Under
this head are included alcohol, camphor, ether, the hop, and opium.
693. Alcohol.
Alcohol, or rectified spirit, is a very powerful stimulant, and is
never used as a remedy without being diluted to the degree called
proof spirit; and even then it is seldom used internally. It is _used
externally_ in restraining bleeding, when there is not any vessel of
importance wounded. It is also used as a lotion to burns, and is
applied by dipping a piece of lint into the spirit, and laying it over
the part. Freely diluted (one part to eighteen) with water, it forms a
useful eye-wash in the last stage of ophthalmia.
_Used internally_, it acts as a very useful stimulant when diluted and
taken moderately, increasing the general excitement, and giving energy
to the muscular fibres; hence it becomes very useful in certain cases
of debility, especially in habits disposed to create acidity; and in
the low stage of typhus fevers.
_Dose_.--It is impossible to fix anything like a dose for this remedy,
as much will depend upon the individual; but diluted with water and
sweetened with sugar, from half an ounce to two ounces may be given
three or four times a day. In cases of extreme debility, however, much
will depend upon the disease.
_Caution_.--Remember that alcohol is an irritant _poison_, and that
daily indulgence in its use originates dyspepsia, or indigestion, and
many other serious complaints. Of all kinds of spirits the best as a
tonic and stomachic is _brandy_.
[TO-MORROW, SINKS INTO THE SILENT TOMB.]
694. Camphor.
Camphor is not a very steady stimulant, as its effect is transitory;
but in large doses it acts as a narcotic, abating pain and inducing
sleep. In moderate doses it operates as a diaphoretic, diuretic,
antispasmodic, increasing the heat of the body, allaying irritation
and spasm.
It is _used externally_ as a liniment when dissolved in oil, alcohol,
or acetic acid, being employed to allay rheumatic pains; and it is
also useful as an embrocation in sprains, bruises, chilblains, and,
when combined with opium, it has been advantageously employed in
flatulent colic, and severe diarrhoea, being rubbed over the bowels.
_When reduced to a fine powder_, by the addition of a little spirit of
wine and friction, it is very useful as a local stimulant to indolent
ulcers, especially when they discharge a foul kind of matter; a pinch
is taken between the finger and thumb, and sprinkled into the ulcer,
which is then dressed as usual.
_When dissolved in oil of turpentine_, a few drops placed in a hollow
tooth and covered with jeweller's wool, or scraped lint, give almost
instant relief to toothache. _Used internally_, it is apt to excite
nausea, and even vomiting, especially when given in the solid form.
_As a stimulant_ it is of great service in all low fevers, malignant
measles, malignant sore throat, and confluent small-pox; and when
combined with opium and bark, it is extremely useful in checking the
progress of malignant ulcers, and gangrene.
_As a narcotic_ it is very useful, because it allays pain and
irritation, without increasing the pulse very much.
_When powdered and sprinkled_ upon the surface of a blister, it
prevents the cantharides acting in a peculiar and painful manner upon
the bladder.
_Combined with senna_, it increases its purgative properties; and it
is also used to correct the nausea produced by squills, and the
irritating effects of drastic purgatives and mezereon.
_Dose_, from four grains to half a scruple, repeated at short
intervals when used in small doses, and long intervals when employed
in large doses.
_Doses of the various preparations_.--Camphor mixture, from half an
ounce to three ounces; compound tincture of camphor (_paregoric
elixir_), from fifteen minims to two drachms.
_Caution_.--When given in an overdose it acts as a poison, producing
vomiting, giddiness, delirium, convulsions, and sometimes death. Opium
is the best antidote for camphor, whether in excess or taken as a
poison. _Mode of exhibition_.--It may be rubbed up with almond
emulsion, or mucilage, or the yolk of eggs, and by this means
suspended in water, or combined with chloroform as a mixture, in which
form it is a valuable stimulant in cholera and other diseases. (_See_
Mixtures, 556-564).
695. Ether.
Ether is a diffusible stimulant, narcotic and antispasmodic.
696. Sulphuric Ether