is generally prepared from the whole of the peeled fruit, with the seeds,
instead of merely from the pulp, by which its activity is greatly
lessened. A factitious article is also met with in trade, made by grinding
bryony root with about twice its weight of colocynth seeds and a very
small quantity of gamboge.
=Powder, Compound Almond.= (B. Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS AMYGDALÆ COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Steep 8 oz. of Jordan almonds in warm water till their skins can
be easily removed; and, when blanched, dry them thoroughly with a soft
cloth, and rub them lightly in a mortar to a smooth consistence; mix gum
Arabic in powder, 1 oz.; and refined sugar, in powder, 4 oz.; and adding
them to the pulp gradually, rub the whole to a coarse powder. Keep it in a
lightly covered jar.
=Powder, Compound Bark.= (Geneva Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS CINCHONÆ COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Peruvian bark, 1 oz.; rhubarb, 1-1/2 dr.; muriate of ammonia,
1-1/2 dr.; mix.
=Powder, Compound Belladonna.= 1. (Hecker.) _Prep._ Belladonna, 1 to 3
gr.; musk, 5 gr.; camphor, 5 gr.; white sugar, 30 gr.; mix. For 8 powders.
2. (Kopp.) Belladonna root, 2 gr.; ipecacuanha, 2 gr.; sulphur, 32 gr.;
sugar of milk, 32 gr. Mix, and divide into 3 powders, three daily. In
hooping-cough.
=Powder, Compound Ceruse.= (Ph. L. 1788.) _Syn._ PULVIS CERUSÆ COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Carbonate of lead, 5 oz.; sarcocol, 1-1/2 oz.; tragacanth, 1/2
oz.; mix. For outward use.
=Powder, Compound, of Cyanide of Zinc.= (Guibourt.) _Syn._ PULVIS ZINCI
CYANIDI COMPOSITUS. _Prep._ Cyanide of zinc, 2 gr.; calcined magnesia, 27
gr.; cinnamon, 10 gr.; mix. For 6 doses, in cramp of the stomach.
=Powder, Compound Fennel.= (Brunsw. Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS FŒNICULI
COMPOSITUS. _Prep._ Carbonate of magnesia, 1 oz.; fennel seeds, 1-2 oz.;
orange peel, 2 dr.; white sugar, 2 dr. Reduce each to a fine powder and
mix.
=Powder, Compound Musk.= (Russ. Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS MOSCHI COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Musk, 8 parts; valerian, 10 parts; camphor, 3 parts.
=Powder, Compound Opium.= (B. P.) _Syn._ PULVIS OPII COMPOSITUS. _Prep._
Mix thoroughly 1-1/2 oz. of opium, in powder, with 2 oz. of powdered black
pepper, 5 oz. of ginger, 6 oz. of caraways, and 1/2 oz. of tragacanth.
Pass the powders through a fine sieve, rub them lightly in a mortar, and
keep the powder in a stoppered bottle. This powder nearly represents the
dry ingredients of confection of opium, L.——_Dose_, 2 to 5 gr.
=Powder, Compound Silver.= (Serre.) _Syn._ PULVIS ARGENTI COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Chloride of silver, 1 gr.; washed orris powder, 2 gr. Used in
frictions, the same as COMPOUND GOLD POWDER.
=Powder, Compound of Sulphate of Soda.= _Syn._ PULVIS SODÆ SULPHATIS
COMPOSITUS. SEL DE GUINDRE. _Prep._ Dried sulphate of soda, 18 dr.;
nitrate of potash, 1/2 dr.; potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1 gr. A third
part to be taken in water or herb broth.
=Powder, Compound Sulphur.= _Syn._ PULVIS SULPHURIS COMPOSITUS.
RATIER:——Sulphur, 1 oz.; cream of tartar, 1 oz.; white sugar, q. s. VAN
MONS (antidysenteric powder):——Sulphur, 1 oz.; fennel seed, 1 dr.; white
sugar, 2 oz.; gum Arabic, 2 oz.; mix. SWEDIAUR (pectoral
powder):——Sulphur, 1/2 oz.; liquorice, 1 oz.; orris, 2 dr.; benzoic acid,
1 scruple; white sugar, 2 oz.; oil of anise and fennel, of each 10 drops.
=Powder of Contrayer′va (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS CONTRAYERVÆ COMPOSITUS,
L. _Prep._ (Ph. L. 1824.) Powdered contrayerva root, 5 oz.; prepared
oyster shells, 1-1/2 lb.; mix. A tonic absorbent or antacid.——_Dose_, 10
gr. to 1/2 dr., as required.
=Powder, Cooling.= (G. Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS TEMPERANE. _Prep._ Nitrate of
potash, 1 oz.; cream of tartar, 3 oz.; sugar, 6 oz.
=Powder, Corn.= See CORN SOLVENT and POWDER, WART (_below_).
=Powder, Cosmet′ic.= _Syn._ PULVIS COSMETICUS, L. _Prep._ (Ph. Hann.
1831.) Blanched sweet almonds and beans, of each 18 oz.; orris root, 8
oz.; white Spanish soap, 6 oz.; spermaceti, 1-1/2 oz.; dried carbonate of
soda, 1 oz.; oils of lavender, bergamot, and lemon, of each 6 dr.; mix,
and beat them to a powder. See POWDER, HAIR, and HAND (_below_), PASTE
(Almond), POWDERS (Scented), &c.
=Powder of Cryst′al.= From quartz, like POWDERED GLASS (page 805). Used to
make fine glass; also for a dryer for paints, and sold under the name of
‘diamond dust’ for razor strops.
=Powder of Cubebs with Alum.= (Matthieu.) _Syn._ PULVIS CUBEBÆ CUM
ALUMINE. _Prep._ Cubebs, 2 oz.; alum, 4 dr.; mix. For 9 doses. Three
daily, in gonorrhœa.
=Powder, Cur′ry.= _Syn._ INDIAN CURRY POWDER. The samples of this compound
prepared by different houses vary so greatly from each other in the
proportions of the ingredients, that it is difficult to regard any one as
a standard. The following are therefore merely given as examples:——
_Prep._ 1. Corianders, 1 lb.; turmeric, 3/4 lb.; black pepper, 1/2 lb.;
scorched mustard, 1/4 lb.; ginger, 2 oz.; cumin seed, 1 oz.; capsicums,
3/4 oz.; mace, 1/4 oz. (all in powder); mix well.
2. Coriander seeds and black pepper, of each 8 lbs.; turmeric and cumin
seeds, of each 4 lbs., allspice, 3/4 lb.; mace, 1 oz. (all in powder);
mix. This receipt is employed by an eminent wholesale house that does very
largely in curry powder.
3. (See page 524.)
Used as a condiment and flavouring ingredient. The addition of a few heads
of garlic gives it an increased zest for Indian veterans.
=Powder, Cust′ard.= _Prep._ From sago meal, 2 lbs.; powdered turmeric, 1/2
oz.; bitter-almond powder, cassia, and mace, of each 1/2 dr.
=Powder, Cyprus.= From _Cladonia rangiferina_, or reindeer moss. It has a
very agreeable smell, and, being extremely retentive of odours, is much
used as a basis for scent-powders, sachets, &c. The lichen known as the
ragged hoary evernia also possesses nearly similar properties, and is
often substituted for it. See POWDERS (Scented).
=Powder, Diapente.= (Ed. Ph. 1744.) _Syn._ PULVIS DIAPENTE. _Prep._
Aristolochia root, gentian, bay berries, myrrh, ivory dust, of each 2 oz.;
mix.
=Powder, Disinfect′ing.= _Syn._ PULVIS DISINFECTANS, L. _Prep._ (Keist.)
Bisulphate of potassa, 41 parts; sugar of lead, 7 parts; binoxide of
manganese, 3 parts, reduce them separately to a fine powder, and, when
wanted for use, mix a proper quantity in any suitable vessel. For other
formulæ, see DISINFECTING COMPOUNDS. The name is generally applied to
hypochlorite of lime.
=Powder, Diuretic.= (P. Cod.) _Syn._ PULVIS DIURETICUS. _Prep._ Gum
Arabic, 6 oz.; sugar of milk, 6 oz.; nitrate of potash, 1 oz.; marshmallow
root, 1 oz.; liquorice root, 2 oz.; mix.
=Powder, Dover’s.= _Syn._ PULVIS DOVERI, L. _Prep._ (Original formula.)
Nitre and sulphate of potassa, of each 4 oz.; melt them together in a
red-hot crucible, reduce the cold fused matter to powder, and add powdered
ipecacuanha, liquorice, and opium, of each 1 oz. This is the formula
adopted in the Paris Codex. COMPOUND IPECACUANHA POWDER is now sold under
this name. (See _below_.)
=Powder, Duke of Portland’s.= _Syn._ PULVIS ANTIARTHRITICUS. _Prep._ Round
birthwort, gentian, tops of lesser centaury, tops of ground pine, and
germander, of each equal parts.——_Dose_, 1 dr.
=Powder, Egg.= See POWDER, BAKING.
=Powder of Elaterium, Compound.= (B. Ph.) PULVIS ELATERII COMPOSITUS.
_Prep._ Elaterium, 10 gr.; sugar of milk, 90 gr. Rub them together to fine
powder.——_Dose_, 1/2 gr. to 5 gr.
=Powder, Emmen′agogue.= _Syn._ PULVIS EMMENAGOGUS, P. HÆMATINUS, P. CONTRA
AMENORRHŒAM, L. _Prep._ 1. Saccharine carbonate of iron, 3 parts; powdered
myrrh, ginger, and nutmeg, of each 1 part; divide into 1/2-dr. papers. One
for a dose, twice or thrice daily.
2. (Augustin.) Myrrh, 12 gr.; saffron, 3 gr.; oil of cloves, 1 drop. For a
dose, as the last.
3. (Klein.) Calomel, 4 gr.; extract of yew, 10 gr.; powdered savine, 1
dr.; Quevenne’s iron, 1/2 dr.; loaf sugar, 2 dr. For 6 powders; as
before.
=Powder, Emulsive, of Gluten.= (Taddei.) _Syn._ PULVIS GLUTENIS EMULSIVUS.
_Prep._ Fresh vegetable gluten, 10 oz.; soap, 2 oz.; water, 1 pint.
Dissolve, evaporate the solution, dry it on plates, and reduce to powder.
As an antidote to corrosive sublimate.
=Powder, Escharot′ic (Arsenical).= _Syn._ PULVIS ESCHAROTICUS ARSENICALIS,
L.; POUDRE DU FRÈRES COSME, Fr. _Prep._ 1. (Original formula.) From white
arsenic, 12 gr.; burnt hartshorn, 1/2 dr.; cinnabar, 1 dr.
2. (P. Cod.) Red sulphuret of mercury and powdered dragon’s blood, of each
2 parts; levigated arsenious acid, 1 part; carefully mixed together. See
CAUSTIC, ARSENICAL.
=Powder of Extract of Col′ocynth (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS EXTRACTI
COLOCYNTHIDIS COMPOSITI, L. _Prep._ From compound extract of colocynth
(Ph. L. 1836), dried by a gentle heat, and powdered.
_Obs._ This, like many other articles employed by lazy dispensers, does
not represent the preparation for which it is used as a substitute;
whilst, from its peculiar character, it is very open to sophistication——a
practice, we regret to say, very general with certain druggists. Indeed,
some of these parties make this article by simply throwing the ingredients
of the extract into a pan along with a little water, and, when they have
become soft, stirring them together with a spatula, after which they are
desiccated and powdered. This is then labelled by certain houses, “Pulv.
Ext. Coloc. co.——P. L.,” and sold to their unfortunate customers as such,
although no such an extract has been in the Ph. L. since that of 1836.
=Powder, Faynard’s.= The charcoal of beechwood, finely powdered. (Paris.)
Used in piles, and as a styptic.
=Powder, Fe′ver.= See POWDER, ANTIMONIAL (_above_).
=Powder of Flint.= _Syn._ SILEX CONTRITUS (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ As powdered
glass. (See page 805.) It is ordered in the Ph. L. to be employed, instead
of magnesia, for the purpose of mechanically dividing the essential oils
used in the preparation of distilled water. It is also used as an
escharotic.
=Powder, Fly.= _Prep._ From white arsenic, 5 oz.; white sugar, 6 lbs.;
rose pink, 2 oz.; mix, and put 6 dr. in each paper. Used to kill flies. It
is poisonous, and should be employed with great caution, particularly
where there are children.
=Powder, Fu′′migating.= _Syn._ PULVIS FUMALIS, L. _Prep._ (Ph. Russ.)
Amber, mastic, and olibanum, of each 3 parts; storax, 2 parts; benzoin and
labdanum, of each 1 part; reduce them to coarse powder, and mix them well.
See FUMIGATION.
=Powder, Galls of (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS GALLÆ COMPOSITUS, L. See
POWDER, ASTRINGENT.
=Powder, Gascoign’s.= _Syn._ PULVIS ECHELIS COMPOSITUS. _Prep._ Prepared
crab shells, 1 lb.; prepared chalk, 3 oz.; prepared coral, 3 oz.; mix.
=Powder, Goelis’s Antihec′tic.= _Prep._ From burnt hartshorn, powdered
nutmeg, black pepper, and roasted laurel berries, of each 1 part;
liquorice powder, 3 parts.——_Dose_, 1/2 to 1 dr; in the hectic fever of
scrofulous subjects.
=Powder, Gold.= _Syn._ PULVIS AURI. Triturate gold leaf with 10 or 12
times its weight of sulphate of potash till bright particles are no longer
visible; pass it through a sieve, mix with boiling water, wash what
remains on the filter, and dry in a stove.
=Powder, Gold Compound.= _Syn._ PULVIS AURI COMPOSITUS. _Prep._
Auro-chloride of sodium, 1 gr.; lycopodium, starch, or washed orris
powder, 1 scruple; mix. A 1/15th part, gradually increased to 1/8th part,
of this powder to be rubbed on the gums.
=Powder of Gold and Iron.= (Buckler.) _Syn._ PULVIS AURI ET FERRI. _Prep._
Pulverised gold, 2 scruples; clean levigated iron filings, 2 scruples; gum
Arabic in powder, 30 gr.; mix. For one dose, to be given in water
acidulated with a few drops of sulphuric acid, as an antidote for
corrosive sublimate.
=Powder, Goulard.= Effloresced sugar of lead. Poisonous.
=Powder, Grey.= Mercurial powder.
=Powder, Gregory’s.= See POWDER OF RHUBARB (Compound).
=Powder of Guarana, Compound.= (Dr Gavrelle). _Syn._ PULVIS PAULLINIÆ
COMPOSITUS. _Prep._ Guarana, 1 dr.; compound cinnamon powder, 4 dr. Mix.
=Powder, Gum.= (G. Ph.) _Syn._ PULVIS GUMMOSUS. _Prep._ Gum Arabic, 3 oz.;
liquorice, 2 oz.; refined sugar, 1 oz. Mix.
=Powder, Hæmostat′ic.= _Syn._ PULVIS HÆMOSTATICUS, L. _Prep._ 1.
(Guibourt.) Charcoal and gum Arabic, of each, in powder, 1 part; powdered
resin, 4 parts.
2. (Mialhe.) From powdered alum, gum tragacanth, and tannin, equal parts.
Used to check local bleeding.
3. (P. Cod.) _Prep._ Resin, 4 dr.; gum Arabic, 1 dr.; powdered catechu, 1
dr. Mix.
=Powder, Hair.= _Syn._ PULVIS PRO CRINE, L. Starch reduced to a very fine
powder, and then scented according to the fancy of the artist; it is,
lastly, passed through a gauze sieve. In its simple form, without any
addition, it constitutes ‘plain hair powder.’ In other cases it is
distinguished by the name of the substance added to perfume it. Thus, we
have ‘rose hair powder,’ ‘violet h. p.,’ &c. Potato farina, well
triturated, is now commonly used for hair powder. Amongst the lower
classes, the contents of the ‘flour dredger’ of the kitchen are frequently
misappropriated to this purpose. See POWDERS, SCENTED (_below_).
=Powder, Hand.= _Prep._ From almond powder, 1 lb.; powdered cuttle-fish
bone and white soap, of each 4 oz.; orris powder, 1 oz.; mix. Used to
clean the hands, and to render them soft and white. See POWDER, COSMETIC.
=Powder, Helvetius’s.= _Syn._ PULVIS HELVETII, L. A mixture of powdered
alum and dragon’s blood. (Dr Paris.)
=Powder, Herrenschwand’s Specific.= See PATENT MEDICINES.
=Powder, Hiera Picra.= Powder of aloes with canella (see _above_).
=Powder, Hufeland’s.= _Syn._ HUFELAND’S QUINQUINA FACTICE, PULVIS CINCHONÆ
FACTITIUS, P. SALICIS COMPOSITUS, L. _Prep._ From bennet (the herb),
calamus aromaticus, chestnut bark, gentian root, and willow bark, equal
parts; reduced to powder.
=Powder, Hunter’s.= See POWDER, WART (_below_).
=Powder, Hunt’s.= See POWDER, BREAKFAST.
=Powder of Ipecacuan′ha (Compound).= _Syn._ DOVER’S POWDER, COMPOUND
POWDER OF IPECACUANHA WITH OPIUM; PULVIS DOVERI, PULVIS IPECACUANHÆ
COMPOSITUS (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L.; POUDRE D’IPECACUANHA ET D’OPIUM,
Fr. _Prep._ 1. (B. P., Ph. L.) Ipecacuanha and opium, of each, in fine
powder, 1 dr.; sulphate of potassa, in fine powder, 1 oz.; mix them
(thoroughly). The Edin. and Dublin Formulæ are similar.
2. (P. Cod.) Nitre and sulphate of potassa, of each 4 oz.; ipecacuanha,
liquorice root, and hard extract of opium, of each 1 oz. This closely
resembles the original formula.
3. (Wholesale.) From powdered ipecacuanha and opium, of each 1 lb.;
powdered sulphate of potassa, 8 lbs. _Uses, &c._ ‘Dover’s powder’ is a
powerful and valuable sudorific.——_Dose_, 5 to 15 or 20 gr., followed by
warm diluents; in inflammatory affections, rheumatisms, colds, &c.
=Powder, Itch.= _Syn._ PULVIS ANTIPSORICUS, L. _Prep._ 1. Sulphur and
potato farina, of each 1/2 lb.; essence of bergamot, 1/4 oz.; mix.
2. (Poudre de Pihorel.) A mixture of finely pulverised sulphuret of
calcium and farina, in nearly equal quantities. Used either as a dusting
powder or mixed with a little oil or fat, and rubbed into the affected
part.
3. (Fr. Hosp.) Flowers of sulphur, 1 oz.; acetate of lead, 1 oz. Mix.
4. Equal parts of sulphur and charcoal.
=Powder of Jal′ap (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS JÂLAPÆ COMPOSITUS (B. P., Ph.
L., E., & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Jalap, 3 oz.; bitartrate of potassa,
6 oz.; ginger, 2 dr.; rub them separately into fine powder, then mix them.
2. (Ph. E.) As the last, omitting the ginger.
3. (Ph. D.) Jalap, 2 oz.; bitartrate of potassa, 3-1/2 oz.; ginger, 1/2
oz. (all in fine powder); mix by careful trituration.——_Dose_, 20 to 60
gr.; as a purgative in habitual costiveness, dropsies, &c.; also in worms,
the tumid bellies of children, &c.
4. (B. P.) Jalap, in powder, 5; acid tartrate of potash, 9; ginger, in
powder, 1; mix.——_Dose_, 20 to 60 gr.
5. (PULVIS LENITIVUS; SUCRE ORANGE PURGATIV.) From refined sugar, 3/4 lb.;
jalap and cream of tartar, of each 2 oz.; oil of orange peel, 1/4 oz. A
popular purgative on the Continent.——_Dose_, 1 to 3 dr.
=Powder, James’s.= _Syn._ PULVIS JACOBI, P. FEBRIFUGUS JACOBI, L. The
antimonial powder, or compound powder of antimony, of the Pharmacopœias
(see _above_) is the preparation which usually passes under this name; but
the true James’s powder is a nostrum the pretended secret of the
preparation of which is claimed to be possessed by only two parties in the
kingdom. The patent specification of the once celebrated Dr James runs as
follows:——
“Take of antimony, calcine it with a continued protracted heat, in a flat,
unglazed earthen vessel, adding to it, from time to time, a sufficient
quantity of any animal oil and salt, well dephlegmated; then boil it in
melted nitre for a considerable time, and separate the powder from the
nitre by dissolving it in water.” On this it has been remarked that it
yields a product totally different from that which Dr James and his
successors have sold under the name, and he has hence been charged with
concealing the real formula for his powder, and publishing a false one in
its stead.
According to Dr Robinson, the original formula for this nostrum, and that
still adopted by the vendors of the proprietary article at the present
day, is——Tartarised antimony, 1 part; prepared burnt hartshorn and calx of
antimony, of each 5 parts; carefully mixed together, and divided into
21-gr. powders. (‘Phil. Journ. Pharm.,’ vi, 282.)
From analyses recently made of three specimens of James’s powder
(‘Newberry’s,’ ‘Butler’s,’ and a sample of 60 years old obtained by Mr
Squire), it appears that antimonious acid was present in different
proportions, from about 45% to 33%, the amount being greatest in the old
specimen; teroxide of antimony was also present to the extent of from 9%
to less than 1%, the greatest quantity being again in the old preparation;
the remainder in each specimen consisted chiefly of phosphate of lime; no
trace of tartaric acid was discoverable in any of the samples.
Perhaps no nostrum ever received such extensive patronage from the faculty
as James’s powder. Dr James himself was remarkably successful in its use;
but whether his success depended upon his powder or the mercurials and
bark which he commonly employed at the same time is still undetermined.
=Powder of Kermes with Camphor.= (Germ. Hosp.) _Syn._ PULVIS KERMETIS CUM
CAMPHORA. _Prep._ Kermes mineral, 3 gr.; camphor, 6 gr.; white sugar, 2
dr.; mix. For 12 doses.
=Powder of Kermes with Ipecacuanha.= (Fr. Hosp.) _Syn._ PULVIS KERMETIS
CUM IPECACUANHA. _Prep._ Kermes, 2 gr.; ipecacuanha, 2 gr.; crabs’ eyes, 2
scruples; gum Arabic, 2 scruples; mix. For 12 doses. In hooping-cough.
=Powder of Ki′no (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS KINO COMPOSITUS (Ph. L.), L.
_Prep._ (Ph. L.) Kino, 15 dr.; cinnamon, 4 dr.; dried opium, 1 dr.; reduce
them separately to fine powder, and then mix them.——_Dose_, 5 to 20 gr.;
in diarrhœa, pyrosis, &c.
(B. P.) _Prep._ Kino, 3-3/4 oz.; cinnamon, 1 oz.; opium, 1/4 oz.;
mix.——_Dose_, 5 to 20 gr.
=Powder, Lausanne.= _Prep._ From nitre, 1-1/2 dr.; carbonate of magnesia,
bitartrate of potassa, precipitated sulphur, and oleo-saccharum of
peppermint, of each 4 dr.; sugar of milk, 1 oz. Lenitive and
antidysenteric.
=Powder, Lax′ative.= See SPECIES, LAXATIVE.
=Powder of Liquorice (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS GLYCYRRHIZÆ COMPOSITUS, L.
_Prep._ 1. (Ph. Bor.) Liquorice root and senna leaves, of each 6 oz.;
fennel seed and milk of sulphur (pure), of each 3 oz.; white sugar, 18 oz.
(all in fine powder); mix. Pectoral and laxative.
2. (B. Ph.) _Prep._ Senna and liquorice root, both in fine powder, of each
2 oz.; sugar, in fine powder, 6 oz. Mix thoroughly and pass through a fine
sieve.——_Dose_, 1/2 dr. to 1 dr.
=Powder of Magne′sia and Rhu′barb.= See POWDER OF COMPOUND RHUBARB
(_below_).
=Powder, Martin’s Cancer.= An American nostrum, composed of the powdered
stems of the _Orobanche Virginiana_ (Linn.), combined with a very small
quantity of arsenious acid. It is used as a sprinkle for open cancers and
cancerous sores.
=Powder, Mercu′′rial.= _Syn._ GREY POWDER (HYDRARGYRUM CUM CRETÂ, B. P.),
MERCURY WITH CHALK. _Prep._ 1. (B. P.) Mercury, 1; prepared chalk, 2;
triturate till the globules disappear.——_Dose_, 3 to 8 gr.
2. Mercury, 3 oz.; powdered resin, 3/4 oz.; prepared chalk, 5 oz.;
rectified spirit, q. s.; make a paste with the resin and a small quantity
of the spirit; add the mercury, which may be extinguished in a short time;
then the chalk and alcohol, gradually, so as to keep up the pasty
consistence; lastly, add sufficient spirit to dissolve out the resin, wash
the powder on a filter, and dry it. Rectified oil of turpentine may be
substituted for the spirit.
=Powder, Morison’s Ape′′rient.= See PATENT MEDICINES.
=Powder of Mugwort, Saccharated.= (Bresler.) Powdered mugwort root, 3 oz.;
sugar, 6 oz.; a teaspoonful four times a day in chorea and epilepsy.
=Powder of Mush′room.= _Syn._ PULVIS AGARICI, P. A. ESCULENTI, L. From
edible mushrooms, dried by a gentle heat, and then powdered along with a
little white pepper, cloves, and mace. Some cayenne is frequently added.
=Powder of Mus′sel.= From the _Mytilus edulis_ (Linn.), or common mussel,
in the same way as POWDER OF OYSTER.
=Powder of Myrrh (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS È MYRRHÂ COMPOSITUS, L.
_Prep._ (Ph. L. 1788.) Myrrh, dried savine, dried rue, and Russian castor,
equal parts, rubbed to powder, and then well mixed. Emmenagogue and
antispasmodic.——_Dose_, 12 to 30 gr.
=Powder, Nephritic.= (Fuller.) _Syn._ PULVIS NEPHRITICUS. _Prep._ Powdered
roots of smallage and saxifrage, of each 2 dr.; crabs’ eyes, 1 dr.;
sulphate of potash, 1 dr.; sal prunella, 2 scruples; oil of juniper, 4
drops. Mix.——_Dose_, 20 to 60 gr.
=Powder, Nur′sery.= See POWDER, VIOLET (_below_).
=Powder of Nux Vomica, Compound.= _Syn._ PULVIS NUCIS VOMICÆ COMPOSITUS;
VOGT’S STOMACHIC POWDER. _Prep._ Nux vomica, 18 gr.; ipecacuanha, 24 gr.;
rhubarb, 1 dr.; prepared oyster shell, 48 gr.; oleo-saccharum of mint, 1
dr. Mix, and divide into 12 powders.
=Powder, O′′piated.= Powder of chalk with opium.
=Powder, Opiated Guaiacum.= (Pareira.) _Syn._ PULVIS GUAIACI OPIATUS.
_Prep._ Guaiacum, 1 dr.; orange leaves, 1/2 dr.; acetate of morphia, 3/4
gr. Mix, and divide into 6 powders. One every two hours in articular
rheumatism.
=Powder of Oys′ter.= _Syn._ PULVIS OSTRÆ, L. _Prep._ From the common
oyster (_Ostrea edulis_——Linn.), pulped through a sieve, made into a paste
with wheaten flour and a little salt, and then rolled out into thin
pieces, and dried; these are reduced to powder, sifted, and packed in
well-corked bottles. Used to make sauce; about 1 oz., to water, 1 pint.
Other shell-fish are treated in the same way.
=Powder of Oxide of Zinc with Starch.= (Cazenave.) _Syn._ PULVIS ZINCI
OXYDI CUM AMYLO. _Prep._ Starch, 1 oz.; oxide of zinc, 1 dr.; camphor, in
powder, 1 dr. For excoriations and bed-sores.
=Powder, Parturifacient.= (E. Ph. 1744). _Syn._ PULVIS AD PARTUM. _Prep._
Borax, 4 dr.; castor, 1-1/2 dr.; saffron, 1-1/2 dr.; oil of cinnamon, 8
drops; oil of amber, 6 drops. Mix.——_Dose_, 20 to 30 gr. (This name, and
also that of PULVIS PARTURIFACIENS, has been given to powdered ergot.)
=Powder, Pea.= _Syn._ PEA FLOUR; FARINA PISORUM, L. _Prep._ From peas, in
the usual manner. Used to make extemporaneous pea-soup.
=Powder, Pearl.= _Prep._ From pure pearl white and French chalk (scraped
fine by Dutch rushes), equal parts; triturated together, Some makers add
more French chalk. Used as a skin cosmetic. This mixture is preferable to
pearl white alone, from being more adhesive.
=Powder, Pease.= _Prep._ From dried mint and sage, of each 4 oz,; celery
seed and white pepper, of each 1/2 oz.; turmeric powder, 1/4 oz.; reduced
to fine powder. Used as a condiment and kitchen-spice.
=Powder, Pec′toral.= See POWDER OF LIQUORICE, &c.
=Powder of Phosphate of Lime, Saccharated.= _Syn._ PULVIS CALCIS
PHOSPHATIS, SACCHARATUS. _Prep._ Precipitated phosphate of lime, 15 gr.,
white sugar, 85 gr.; triturate and divide into 20 packets. Two or more
powders daily, according to age of child. In rickets.
=Powder, Piles.= _Syn._ PULVIS ANTIHÆMORRHOIDALIS, P. HÆMORRHOIDALIS, L.
_Prep._ 1. (Fr. Hosp.) Precipitated sulphur, 3 oz.; cream of tartar and
black pepper, of each 1 oz.; oil of cubebs, 1/2 dr.——_Dose._ A
teaspoonful, in milk or honey, thrice a day.
2. (External.)——_a._ From Aleppo galls, in very fine powder, 2 oz.; opium,
in fine powder, 1 dr. A pinch to be applied occasionally.
_b._ From sesquioxide of iron, 1 oz.; powdered acetate of lead, 1/2 dr. As
the last.
=Powder of Pitch, Compound.= _Syn._ PULVIS PICIS COMPOSITUS; DISINFECTING
POWDER OF CORNE AND DEMAUX. 100 parts of plaster of Paris are triturated
thoroughly with 1 to 5 parts of coal tar. Used as an absorbent and
disinfectant to fetid ulcers and wounds.
=Powder, Plate.= _Syn._ PULVIS PRO ARGENTO, L. _Prep._ 1. Jeweller’s
rouge, 1/4 lb.; prepared chalk or levigated burnt hartshorn, 3/4 lb.; mix.
2. Levigated putty powder, 1/4 lb.; burnt hartshorn, 1/2 lb.; prepared
chalk, 1 lb.; rose pink, 1 oz.
3. (MERCURIAL.) From quicksilver with chalk, 1 oz.; prepared chalk, 11
oz.; mix. Used to clean and polish plate. See PLATE.
=Powder, Plate Boiling.= _Prep._ From cream of tartar, common salt, and
alum, equal parts. A little of this powder, added to the water in which
plate is boiled, gives to it a silvery whiteness.
=Powder, Plummer’s Al′terative.= See ANTIMONY, ETHIOPS OF.
=Powder, Poul′tice.= _Syn._ PULVIS PRO CATAPLASMATE (Ph. D. 1826), L.
_Prep._ From linseed meal, 1 part; oatmeal, 2 parts; mixed together.
=Powder, Purgative and Anthelmintic.= (Boerhaave). _Syn._ PULVIS PURGANS
ANTHELMINTICUS. _Prep._ Jalap, 12 gr. (or agaric, 8 gr.), Ethiops mineral,
12 gr.; for one dose.
=Powder of Quinine, Aerated.= (Dr Meireu). _Syn._ PULVIS QUINIÆ AERATUS.
_Prep._ Tartaric acid, 15 gr.; disulphate of quinia, 1-1/2 gr. Mix, and
add bicarbonate of soda, 18 gr.; refined sugar, 30 gr. Mix for one dose,
between the fits of intermittent fever.
=Powder of Quinine and Tobacco.= (Hug.) _Syn._ PULVIS QUINIÆ SULPHATIS ET
TABACI. _Prep._ Disulphate of quinine, 12 gr.; snuff, 1 oz. To be used as
a snuff for nervous headaches.
=Powder, Rat.= See RATS.
=Powder of Rhu′barb (Compound).= _Syn._ GREGORY’S MIXTURE, GREGORY’S
POWDER; PULVIS RHEI COMPOSITUS (B. P., Ph. E. and D.) L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph.
E.) Calcined magnesia, 1 lb.; rhubarb, 4 oz.; ginger, 2 oz. (all in fine
powder); mix, and preserve it from the air.
2. (B. P., Ph. D.) Calcined magnesia, 6 oz.; rhubarb, 2 oz.; ginger, 1 oz.
3. Calcined magnesia, 8 oz.; rhubarb, 3 oz.; chamomile, 2 oz.; ginger, 1
oz.
_Obs._ An excellent stomachic, antacid, and laxative.——_Dose_, 20 gr. to
1/2 dr. Some druggists substitute the heavy carbonate for the calcined
magnesia ordered above, but this alters the nature of the preparation, and
requires the dose to be increased. Heavy calcined magnesia may, however,
be employed with advantage.
=Powder, Sach′et.= See SCENTED POWDERS.
=Powder, Saline′ (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS SALINUS COMPOSITUS (Ph. E.),
L. _Prep._ (Ph. E.) Pure chloride of sodium and sulphate of magnesia, of
each 4 oz.; sulphate of potash, 3 oz.; each separately dried by a gentle
heat, and pulverised, then triturated together, and preserved in
well-closed vessels. An excellent saline purgative.——_Dose_, 2 to 6 dr.,
in 1/2 pint of water or table-beer, in the morning, fasting.
=Powder of Scammony (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS SCAMMONII COMPOSITUS (B.
P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Scammony and hard extract of
jalap, of each 2 oz.; ginger, 1/2 oz.; rub them separately to a very fine
powder, and then mix them.——_Dose_, 5 to 15 gr.
2. (Ph. E.) Scammony and bitartrate of potassa, of each, in very fine
powder, equal parts.——_Dose_, 7 to 20 gr.
3. (Ph. D.) Scammony, in fine powder, 1 oz.; compound powder of jalap, 3
oz.; mix,——_Dose_, 10 to 30 gr.
4. (B. P.) Scammony, 4; jalap, 3; ginger, 1; mix, and reduce to fine
powder.——_Dose_, 10 to 20 gr.
_Obs._ The above are favourite cathartics in worms, especially for
children. They are commonly sold for basilic powder. (See _above_.)
=Powder of Scammony with Cal′omel.= _Syn._ PULVIS SCAMMONII CUM
CALOMELANE, L. _Prep._ From scammony, 1/2 oz.; calomel and white sugar, of
each 2 dr. An excellent vermifuge for children.——_Dose._ For an adult, 5
to 20 gr.; for a child, 2 to 8 gr. Sold for basilic powder, to which it
approaches nearer in composition than the preceding.
=Powder of Scammony with Soot.= _Syn._ PULVIS SCAMMONII CUM FULIGINE;
POUDRE D’AILHAUT. _Prep._ Scammony, 1 dr.; wood soot, 1-1/2 dr.; resin, 2
dr.; mix. _Dose_, 1/2 dr. A once fashionable purgative.
=Powder, Schmidt’s Parturifa′′cient.= _Syn._ SCHMIDT’S POUDRE OCYTIQUE,
Fr. _Prep._ From powdered ergot of rye, borax, and oleo-saccharum of
camomile, of each 8 gr.; powdered sugar, q. s. For a dose; to be repeated
every quarter of an hour until some effect is produced.
=Powder of Scordium (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS E SCORDIO COMPOSITUS. (L.
Ph. 1746.) _Prep._ Bole, 4 oz.; scordium, 2 oz.; cinnamon, 1-1/2 oz.;
styrax tormentil, bistort, gentian, dittany, galbanum, gum acacia, red
rose petals, of each 1 oz.; long pepper, 1/2 oz.; ginger, 1/2 oz. Make a
powder.
=Powder of Scordium with Opium.= _Syn._ PULVIS E SCORDIO CUM OPIO. _Prep._
Add to the preceding, 3 dr. of dry strained opium, and powder it with the
other ingredients.
=Powder of Senna (Battley’s Green).= _Syn._ PULVIS SENNÆ VIRIDIS, L.
_Prep._ From senna leaves, dried and heated until they turn yellow, then
powdered along with a little (blue) charcoal, to give a green colour.
=Powder of Sen′na (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS SENNÆ COMPOSITUS, L. _Prep._
(Ph. L. 1824.) Senna and bitartrate of potassa, of each 2 oz.; scammony,
1/2 oz.; ginger, 2 dr.; all in fine powder; mix.——_Dose_, 20 to 30 gr., or
more; as a purgative or anthelmintic.
=Powder, Sil′vering.= _Prep._ 1. Silver dust (fine), 20 gr.; alum, 30 gr.;
common salt, 1 dr.; cream of tartar, 3 dr.; rub them together to a fine
powder.
2. As the last, but substituting 35 gr. of nitrate of silver for the
silver dust.
3. Chloride of silver is dissolved in a solution of hyposulphite of soda,
and the solution made into a paste with levigated burnt hartshorn or bone
dust; this is next dried, and powdered.
4. Silver dust, 1 oz.; common salt and sal ammoniac, of each 4 oz.;
corrosive sublimate, 1/4 oz.
_Obs._ The above powders, made into a paste with a little water, are used
to silver dial-plates, statuettes, and other articles in copper,
previously well cleaned, by friction. The best silver powder for the
purpose is that precipitated from its nitric solution by means of a copper
plate. When the product of the last formula is used, the articles should
be afterwards made red hot, and polished.
=Powder of Soap.= _Syn._ SAPO CONTRITUS, PULVIS SAPONIS, L. Castile soap,
sliced or cut small, dried by exposure to a warm atmosphere, or by a very
gentle heat, and then powdered. Used in dispensing; also as a hand,
shaving, and tooth powder. As a cosmetic it may be scented at will.
=Powder, Spermaceti.= _Syn._ PULVIS CETACEI. Spermaceti is pulverised as
camphor, by the aid of a few drops of spirit.
=Powder of Spermaceti, with Sugar.= _Syn._ PULVIS CETACEI CUM SACCHARO.
One part of powdered spermaceti with two of sugar. Pectoral.
=Powder of Sponge.= _Syn._ PULVIS SPONGIÆ, P. SPONGIÆ USTÆ, L. _Prep._ Let
sponge, cut into small pieces, be beaten so as to free it from sand or
stones; then burn it in a covered iron vessel, until it becomes black and
friable; finally, reduce it to powder. Deobstruent.——_Dose_, 1/2 to 3 dr.;
in glandular indurations and enlargements, &c. It should be of a
brownish-black colour; if over burnt its efficacy is destroyed.
=Powder of Squills.= _Syn._ PULVIS SCILLÆ, L. _Prep._ Remove the
membranous integuments from the bulb of the squill, cut it into thin
slices, and dry it at a heat between 90° and 100° Fahr.; next reduce it to
powder, and keep it in well-stoppered bottles.
=Powder, Sternuta′tory.= See SNUFFS (Medicated).
=Powder, Stahl’s Resolvent.= _Syn._ PULVIS RESOLVENS STAHLII. _Prep._
Antimonial powder, nitre, prepared crabs’ eyes, in equal parts.
=Powder of Starch with Soda.= _Syn._ PULVIS AMYLI ET SODÆ; DEVERGIE’S
ALKALINE POWDER. _Prep._ Mix 1 part of carbonate of soda in fine powder
with 10 of white starch. For external use in some skin diseases.
=Powder, Styp′tic.= See POWDER, ASTRINGENT, FAYNARD’S P., &c.
=Powder, Tonquin.= _Syn._ PULVIS ANTITYSSUS TUNQUINENSIS; Sir G. COBB’S
TONQUIN POWDER. _Prep._ Musk, 16 gr.; cinnabar, 48 gr.; to be mixed or
washed down with arrack or other spirit. Three doses to be given on three
alternate days, and three more on the three next changes of the moon.
=Powder of Trag′acanth (Compound).= _Syn._ PULVIS TRAGACANTHÆ COMPOSITUS
(B. P., Ph. L. & E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Gum tragacanth, gum acacia,
and starch, of each, in fine powder, 1-1/2 oz.; powdered white sugar, 3
oz. The Edinburgh formula is similar. Demulcent.——_Dose_, 1/2 dr. to 2
dr., in water or any simple liquid; in hoarseness and catarrhs, combined
with squills and henbane, to allay irritation; in dysentery, combined with
ipecacuahna; in gonorrhœa, strangury, &c., combined with acetate of
potassa or nitre.
2. (B. P.) Tragacanth, in powder, 1; gum Arabic, in powder, 1; starch, in
powder, 1; refined sugar, in powder, 3; rub well together.——_Dose_, 10 to
60 gr.
=Powder of Vanilla, with Sugar.= (P. Cod.) _Syn._ PULVIS VANILLÆ CUM
SACCHARO; POUDRE DE VANILLE SUCRÉE. Vanilla is reduced to powder by
cutting it in pieces, and triturating it with 9 times its weight of
refined sugar.
=Powder of Verdigris with Calomel.= _Syn._ PULVIS ÆRUGINIS CUM CALOMELANE.
_Prep._ Prepared verdigris, 1 dr.; calomel, 1 dr.; mix. For external use.
=Powder, Violet.= _Syn._ NURSERY POWDER, SKIN P. This is simply starch,
reduced to a very fine powder, and scented with orris powder or essence of
violets. The best kinds are also perfumed with a little musk or ambergris,
and are now generally made with potato farina. The commoner sort is only
scented with a little essence of bergamot or essence of lemon. ‘Plain
violet powder’ is, of course, unscented.
_Prep._ 1. Powdered starch, 28 lbs.; powdered orris root, 1 lb.; essence
of ambergris and essence of bergamot, of each 1/2 oz.; oil of rhodium, 1/2
dr.; mix, and pass the powder through a sieve.
2. Powdered starch, 14 lbs.; essence of bergamot, 1/2 oz.; oil of cloves,
1/2 oz.; as last. Used as a dusting powder in excoriations, &c. See
POWDERS, COSMETIC (_below_).
=Powder, Ward’s Sweating.= Resembles DOVER’S POWDER.
=Powder, Wart.= _Syn._ CORN POWDER, COSMETIC CAUSTIC, &c. _Prep._ 1. Ivy
leaves ground to powder. A pinch is applied with a rag, the part being
first moistened with strong vinegar. Useful for soft corns and warts.
2. (Hunter’s.) From savine and verdigris, equal parts. See CORN SOLVENT.
=Powder, Warwick’s (Earl of).= _Syn._ PULVIS COMITIS WARWICENCIS, L.
_Prep._ From scammony, prepared with the fumes of sulphur, 2 oz.;
diaphoretic antimony, 1 oz.; cream of tartar, 1/2 oz.——_Dose_, 15 to 30
gr.
_Obs._ This is a modification of CORNACHINI’S POWDER. It is represented in
the present Pharmacopœias by COMPOUND SCAMMONY POWDER. “Cornachini wrote a
whole book about his powder, the proportions of the ingredients of which
he varied according to circumstances.” (‘Med. Lex.’)
=Powder, Wash′ing.= The numerous compounds vended under this name have for
their basis the soda-ash of commerce, blended with common Scotch soda in
variable proportions. The best of them consist either wholly or chiefly of
the first of these substances. The alkaline matter is reduced to coarse
powder, and stirred up with liquid size, or with a decoction of linseed,
Irish moss, or British gum, and is then dried, and again crushed or
powdered, and at once put into the packages, in which it is rammed tight,
and covered up immediately. The object aimed at by the manufacturer is to
keep his commodity from the air as much as possible, because exposure
renders it less caustic, and consequently less detergent.
=Powder of Yellow Bladder-wrack.= (Ph. D.) _Syn._ PULVIS QUERCUS MARINÆ.
_Prep._ Yellow bladder-wrack, in flower, is dried, cleansed, and heated in
a crucible with a perforated lid till vapours cease to be given off, and
the carbonaceous residue reduced to powder.——_Dose_, 10 gr. to 2 dr.
=POWDERS.= The following preparations have been placed under this head
instead of under ‘POWDER,’ because some are invariably spoken of in the
plural number, and the others may be conveniently noticed in classes or
groups.
=Powders, Aerated Sherbet (IN ONE BOTTLE).= Double refined sugar, 14-1/2
oz.; powdered orange peel, 12 gr.; bicarbonate of soda, 3-1/2 oz.; essence
of cedrat, 12 drops; oil of orange peel, 60 drops; tartaric acid, 4 oz.
The powders must be carefully dried, mixed quickly, and afterwards kept
dry, in a bottle securely corked. A measure holding nearly 3 dr. of the
powder should accompany each bottle.
=Powders, Efferves′cing.= _Prep._ 1. (PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES——Ph. E.)
Take of tartaric acid, 1 oz.; bicarbonate of soda, 1 oz. 54 gr. (534 gr.),
or bicarbonate of potassa, 1 oz. 2 dr. 40 gr. (640 gr.); reduce the acid
and either bicarbonate separately to fine powder, divide each of these
into 16 powders, and preserve the acid and alkaline powders in separate
papers of different colours.
2. (PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES CITRATI——Ph. D.) Take of citric acid
(crystallised), 9 dr.; bicarbonate of soda, 11 dr., or bicarbonate of
potassa, 13 dr., proceed as last, dividing each into 18 parts.
3. (PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES TARTARIZATI——Ph. D.) Take of tartaric acid (in
crystals), 10 dr.; bicarbonate of soda, 11 dr., or bicarbonate of potassa,
13 dr.; reduce them to powder, and divide them into 18 parts, as before.
(See _below_.)
=Powders, Effervescing, with Iron.= (P. Cod.) _Syn._ PULVERES
EFFERVESCENTES CUM FERRO. _Prep._ Tartaric acid, 2-3/4 oz.; bicarbonate of
soda, 2 oz.; powdered sugar, 9 oz.; dried sulphate of iron, 46 gr. Mix the
acid and the sulphate of iron (previously reduced to coarse powder), add
the sugar, and lastly the soda, not in very fine powder. All the
ingredients must be very dry. Half an ounce of this powder is to be
quickly added to 2 pints of pure water (without air) contained in a
bottle, which is to be immediately corked.
=Powders for Gazogene.= For 2 pints:——Powdered tartaric acid, 14 scruples;
bicarbonate of soda, 17 scruples.
For 3 pints:——Powdered tartaric acid, 17 scruples; bicarbonate of soda, 21
scruples.
For 5 pints:——One each charge of 2 and 3 pints.
=Powders, Gin′ger Beer.= _Syn._ PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES CUM ZINGIBERE, L.
_Prep._ 1. Powdered white sugar, 1 to 2 dr.; bicarbonate of soda, 26 gr.;
finest powdered Jamaica ginger, 6 gr.; essence of lemon, 1 drop; mix, and
wrap it in blue paper. In the white paper put of powdered tartaric acid,
35 gr., or of powdered citric acid, 30 gr.
2. Finest Jamaica ginger, 1 dr.; bicarbonate of soda, 5 dr.; white sugar,
16 dr.; essence of lemon, 6 or 8 drops; mix, and divide it between 12
papers (blue). For the white papers, divide tartaric acid, 6 dr., in the
same way. By taking the drachms as ounces, the quantity will be sufficient
for 8 dozen. For use dissolve one of each colour separately in somewhat
less than half a glass of water, mix the two, and drink the mixture whilst
effervescing.
3. (In one bottle.)——_a._ The sugar and the saline ingredients are
separately dried by a very gentle heat, then mixed in a dry room with the
ginger and essence of lemon, and at once put into bottles.
_b._ By adding to the ‘acidulated kali,’ noticed at page 929, about 1-16th
of its weight of the finest powdered Jamaica ginger (_i. e._ 1/2 dr. to
each oz.; 1 oz. to each lb.) at the time of mixing the ingredients
together. A dessert-spoonful, thrown into a tumbler two thirds filled with
cold water, produces an excellent glass of ginger beer.
=Powders, Ink.= The article usually sold under this name is noticed under
INK. Another formula, which we have adopted with considerable success, is
as follows:——Good black ink, 3 pints, lump sugar, 1-1/2 oz., and gum
Arabic, 1/2 oz., are put into a clean iron pan, and evaporated by the heat
of boiling water, with occasional stirring, to dryness; the dried mass is
reduced to powder, and divided into 12 parts, which are enveloped in
either tin-foil or glazed paper, and kept dry. One of these papers
dissolved in 1/4 pint of hot water forms that quantity of excellent black
ink, without sediment, and which answers well with the copying press.
=Powders, Lem′onade.= _Syn._ LEMON SHERBET; LIMONADUM SICCUM, PULVIS PRO
LIMINADO, L. _Prep._ 1. Powdered citric or tartaric acid, 12 gr.; powdered
white sugar, 1/2 oz.; essence of lemon, 1 drop (or a little of the yellow
peel of a lemon rubbed off on a piece of sugar); mix. For one glass.
2. White sugar, 4 lbs.; citric or tartaric acid, 1-1/2 oz.; essence of
lemon, 1/4 oz.; mix well, and preserve it in a bottle for use. 1 to 2
dessert-spoonfuls make a glass of lemonade. It is also put up in papers
containing about 2-1/2 dr. each.
3. (EFFERVESCING.)——_a._ For the blue papers, take of powdered white
sugar, 1 lb.; bicarbonate of soda, 1/4 lb.; essence of lemon, 1-1/2 dr.;
mix, and divide it between 6 dozen papers. Next divide tartaric or citric
acid, 5 oz., between 6 dozen white papers. Or the two may be kept in bulk,
in separate bottles.
_b._ (In one bottle.) As ‘ACIDULATED KALI,’ Some makers slightly increase
the quantities of acid and essence of lemon there ordered.
=Powders, Orangeade.= _Syn._ AERATED SHERBET. _Prep._ Powdered sugar,
14-1/2 oz.; powdered orange peel, 12 gr.; oil of orange peel, 60 drops;
essence of cedrat, 12 drops; bicarbonate of soda, 3-1/2 oz.; mix, and put
145 gr. in each blue paper. In the white paper put 32 gr. of tartaric acid
(or 30 gr. of citric acid). Or the alkaline and acid powders may be put
into separate bottles, with a measure holding the proper proportions of
each. The orange peel may be omitted, if necessary.
=Powders, Pol′ishing.= _Prep._ 1. (For brass and copper.)——_a._ From
rotten stone, 3 oz.; powdered soap, 1 oz.
_b._ From rotten stone, 7 oz.; powdered oxalic acid, 1 oz. Both are used
with a little water. See BRASS PASTE.
2. (For gold.) Jeweller’s rouge. See SESQUIOXIDE OF IRON.
3. (For ivory.) Pumice stone and putty powder.
4. (For plate.) See PLATE and POWDER, PLATE.
5. (For silver.) As the last.
=Powders, Scented.= _Prep._ 1. COSMETIC POWDERS.——_a._ (POUDRE DE CHIPRE.)
Macerate oak moss in running water for 2 or 3 days, then dry and powder
it. Used as a basis for other powders, on account of its being highly
retentive of odours. Reindeer moss and ragged hoary evernia are also used
for the same purpose. See CYPRUS POWDER (_above_).
_b._ (POUDRE DE CHIPRE DE MONTPELIER.) From poudre de chipre, 2 lbs.;
musk, 30 gr.; civet, 20 gr. (the last two powdered by means of a little
sugar); cloves, 1/4 oz.
_c._ (POUDRE DE FLEURS D’ORANGES.) From starch or cyprus powder, 25 lbs.;
orange flowers, 1 lb.; mixed in a covered chest, and stirred twice or
thrice daily; the process being repeated, with fresh flowers, a second and
a third time. Or, the plain powder is scented by the addition of a little
neroli or essence of petit grain.
_d._ (POUDRE DE FRANGIPANNI.) From poudre de fleurs d’oranges and poudre
de chipre, of each 6 lbs.; essence of ambergris, 1 oz.; civet (powdered
with sugar), 1/2 dr. Ash-grey colour.
_e._ (POUDRE DE JASMINE.) As POUDRE DE FLEURS D’ORANGES, but using jasmin
flowers.
_f._ (POUDRE À LA MARÉCHALE.) From poudre de chipre, 2 lbs.; starch
powder, 1 lb.; calamus aromaticus, cloves, and cyperus perennis or
rotundis, of each 2 oz. Or, starch powder, 28 lbs.; powdered cloves, 3/4
lb.; powdered orris root, 1/2 lb.; essence of ambergris, 2 dr.
_g._ (POUDRE À LA MOUSSELINE.) From orris root, 1 lb.; coriander seed, 6
oz.; mace and violet ebony, of each 2 oz.; musk seed, cassia, cloves, and
sandal wood, of each 1 oz.
_h._ (POUDRE DE JONQUILLE.) From jonquils, as POUDRE DE JASMINE.
_i._ (POUDRE À L’ŒILLET.) From plain powder, 2 lbs.; orris root and dried
red rose leaves, of each 1 lb.; cloves and musk seed, of each 4 oz.;
essence of bergamot and essence de petit grain, of each 1/2 dr.
_k._ (POUDRE DE ROSES COMMUNES.) From pale roses, as POUDRE DE FLEURS
D’ORANGES.
_l._ (POUDRE DE ROSES MUSQUÉES.) From musk roses, as the last.
_m._ (POUDRE À LA VANILLA.) From poudre de chipre or cyprus, 3 lbs.;
vanilla, powdered by means of sugar, 2 dr.; oil of cloves and essence of
ambergris, of each 20 drops.
_n._ (POUDRE À LA VIOLETTE.) See POWDER, VIOLET (as _above_).
The above are used as cosmetic powders for the skin and hair; also, but
less frequently, for sachets, drawers, &c.
2. SACHET POWDER.——_a._ From orris root, 2 oz.; cassia, 1-1/2 oz.; cloves,
1 oz.; yellow sandal wood, 1/4 oz.; oils of lavender and bergamot, of each
1 dr.; otto of roses, 20 drops; musk and ambergris, of each, rubbed with a
little sugar, 6 gr.; reduce the dry ingredients to coarse powder, mix
them, and add the oils.
_b._ From corianders, orris root, rose leaves, and calamus aromaticus, of
each 4 oz.; lavender flowers, 8 oz.; rhodium wood, 1 dr.; musk, 20 gr.
_c._ From corianders, orris, calamus aromaticus, and red roses (dried), of
each 1 oz.; lavender flowers, 2 oz.; mace and cloves, of each 1 dr.;
essential oil of almonds, 10 drops.
_d._ As last, but substituting musk, 5 gr., for the oil of almonds.
_e._ From patchouli, 8 oz.; lavender flowers, (lightly dried), 3 oz.;
orris root, 2 oz.; cloves, 1 oz.; essence of bergamot, 1 dr.; essences of
ambergris and musk, of each 1/2 dr.
These are used, along with cotton wool, to fill scent bags, cassolettes,
&c.; and as scent powder for boxes, drawers, and the like. The scent is
added to the dry ingredients, separately reduced to powder, and the whole
is then passed through a fine sieve, to ensure perfect admixture.
3. PARFUM POUR LES AUTRES POUDRES. From poudre d’ambrette, 12 lbs.;
civette, 1-1/2 oz.; musk, 1 dr.; reduce the last two to powder by grinding
them with some dry lump sugar, then mix the whole together, and pass it
through a sieve. Used to perfume hair powder, sachets, &c.
=Powders, Seidlitz.= _Syn._ PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES APERIENTES, L. _Prep._
1. Potassio-tartrate of soda (Rochelle salt), 2 dr.; bicarbonate of soda,
40 gr.; mix, and put it in a blue paper; tartaric acid, 35 gr.; to be put
in a white paper. For about 1/2 pint of water. Laxative.
2. (In one bottle.) From potassio-tartrate of soda, 12 oz.; bicarbonate of
do., 4 oz.; tartaric acid, 3-1/2 oz.; white sugar, 1 lb. (all in fine
powder); dry each separately by a gentle heat, add of essence of lemon,
1/2 dr.; mix well, pass the mixture through a sieve, and put it at once
into clean dry bottles.——_Dose._ A dessert-spoonful, or more, to a
tumblerful of water.
_Obs._ The above mixtures, though now universally sold as Seidlitz powder,
do not, when dissolved, exactly resemble the natural water, which contains
carbonates, sulphates, and chlorides of calcium and magnesium. However,
the factitious article is equally effective, and much more agreeable.
=Powders, Sher′bet.= These are made of the same materials as lemonade
powders, the flavouring ingredient being varied to suit the particular
case.
=Powders, So′da-water.= _Syn._ EFFERVESCING POWDERS, E. SALINE P., SODAIC
P., AERATED SODA P.; PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES, L. _Prep._ 1. From
bicarbonate of soda, 30 gr. in each blue paper; tartaric acid, 25 gr. (or
citric acid, 24 gr.), in each white paper. One of each is dissolved
separately in about half a glassful of water, and the two solutions mixed,
and drank immediately. A cooling, wholesome summer beverage, but it should
not be indulged in to excess.
2. (Chalybeated.) By adding 1 gr. of dried protosulphate of iron to each
paper of acid. Tonic.
3. (Midgeley’s.) Made by adding 1/8 gr. of tartarised antimony to each
paper of acid. Refrigerant and diaphoretic. For the Ph. formulæ see
POWDERS, EFFERVESCING (_above_).
=Powders, Soup.= See POWDER, CURRY, POWDER, PEA, SPICE, &c.
=Powders, Spruce Beer.= _Syn._ PULVERES EFFERVESCENTES CUM ABIETE, L.
_Prep._ As ginger-beer powders, but substituting essence of spruce, 3 to 6
drops, for the powdered ginger.
=Powders, Tooth.= _Syn._ PULVIS DENTIFRICII, L. The general principles
which should be kept in view in the selection of the materials, and in the
preparation of dentifrices, have been already fully noticed under
DENTIFRICES, and need not, therefore, be repeated here. Care must be taken
that all the dry ingredients be finely pulverised, and that the harder and
gritty ones be reduced to the state of an impalpable powder, either by
levigation or elutriation. The mixture of the ingredients must also be
complete. This is the most readily effected by stirring them well together
until they form an apparently homogeneous powder, and then passing this
powder through a very fine sieve. Those which contain volatile substances
should be preserved in closely corked wide-mouth bottles, and those which
contain acidulous or gritty matter should not be frequently employed. The
selection of the tooth brush likewise deserves attention. It should be
sufficiently stiff to effect its purpose completely; but, at the same
time, it should be so formed as not to cause irritation or injury to the
gums during its use.
_Prep._ 1. Cuttle-fish bone and prepared chalk, of each 2 oz.; oil of
cloves, 20 drops. This may be perfumed at will, and medicated by any of
the substances referred to under DENTIFRICES.
2. To the last add of powdered Castile soap, 2 oz.
3. Prepared chalk, 12 oz.; cuttle-fish bone, 8 oz.; orris root, 4 oz.;
dragon’s blood, 1-1/2 oz.; oils of cloves and cassia, of each 1/2 dr.
4. Prepared chalk, 1 lb.; pumice-stone, in impalpable powder, 1/4 lb.;
orris root, 2 oz.; pure rouge, 1/4 oz.; neroli, 1/2 dr.
5. Yellow cinchona bark and myrrh, of each 1/2 oz.; recently burnt
charcoal, 3 oz.; cloves, 1 dr.
6. Pumice-stone, red coral, and powdered rhatany root, of each, 2 oz.;
orris root, 1/2 oz.; essence of vanilla, 1/2 dr.
7. (AROMATIC TOOTH POWDER.) From cuttle-fish bone, 4 oz.; calamus
aromaticus, 2 oz.; powdered Castile soap, 1 oz.; oil of cloves, 1/2 dr.
8. (ASIATIC DENTIFRICE.) From prepared red coral, 8-1/4 lbs.; Venetian
red, 3/4 lb.; prepared chalk and pumice-stone, of each 1-1/4 lb.; China
musk, 30 gr.
9. (Cadet’s.) From lump sugar and charcoal, of each 1 oz.; Peruvian bark,
1/2 oz.; cream of tartar, 1/4 oz.; cinnamon, 1/2 dr.
10. (Camphorated.) See CAMPHORATED CHALK.
11. (CHARCOAL DENTIFRICE.) From charcoal, preferably that from the willow
or the areka nut, either alone or combined with twice its weight of
prepared chalk. Scent or medicinals injure it. (See 9, 19, and 26.)
12. (CORAL DENTIFRICE.) See 16, 23, and 25 (_below_).
13. (Deschamp’s ALKALINE DENTIFRICE.) From powdered talc, 4 oz.;
bicarbonate of soda, 1 oz.; carmine, 6 gr.; oil of mint, 12 or 15 drops.
14. (FLORENTINE DENTIFRICE.) From prepared shells, 4 oz.; orris root,
1-1/2 oz.; bitartrate of potassa, 3/4 oz.; Florentine lake, q. s. to
colour.
15. (GALVANIC DENTIFRICE.) From gold, 3 leaves; silver, 4 leaves;
triturate them with alum and sulphate of potassa, of each 1-1/2 dr.; then
add, of dry common salt, pellitory of Spain, and Peruvian bark, of each 1
dr.; prepared hartshorn, 1 oz.; mix, and either colour it blue with smalts
or red with lake. A useless compound.
16. (Grosvenor’s.) From red coral, 3 lbs.; prepared oyster-shells, 2-1/2
lbs.; orris powder, 1/2 lb.; oil of rhodium, 25 drops. Rose-pink is now
commonly substituted for the coral.
17. (Hemet’s.) From cuttle-fish bone, 6 oz.; cream of tartar, 1 oz.; orris
root, 1/2 oz.
18. (‘Lancet.’) Red bark and Armenian hole, of each 1 oz.; powdered
cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda, of each 1/2 oz.; oil of cinnamon, 2 or 3
drops.
19. (Lardner’s.) From charcoal, in very fine powder, 1 oz.; prepared
chalk, 3 oz.; mix.
20. (Mialhe’s RATIONAL DENTIFRICE.) From sugar of milk, 3 oz.; pure
tannin, 3 dr.; red lake, 1 dr.; oils of mint and aniseed, of each 7 or 8
drops; neroli, 4 or 5 drops.
21. (MYRRH DENTIFRICE.) From cuttle-fish bone, 6 oz.; myrrh and orris
root, of each 2 oz.
22. (PEARL DENTIFRICE.) From heavy carbonate of magnesia or precipitated
chalk, 1 lb.; finest smalts, 3 dr.; essence de petit grain, 1/2 dr.
23. (Pelletier’s QUININE DENTIFRICE.) From prepared red coral, 3 oz.;
myrrh, 1 dr.; disulphate of quinine, 12 to 15 gr.
24. (Ph. Russ.) Cinchona bark, 4 oz.; orris root, 2 oz.; catechu and
myrrh, of each 1-1/2 oz.; sal ammoniac, 1 oz.; oil of cloves, 20 drops.
25. (POUDRE DENTIFRICE——P. Cod.) Red coral, red bole, and cuttle-fish
bone, of each 3 oz.; dragon’s blood, 1-1/2 oz.; cinnamon, 3/4 oz.;
cochineal, 3 dr.; cloves, 1 dr.; bitartrate of potassa, 4-1/2 oz.; reduce
them separately to very fine powder before mixing them. This is the ‘coral
dentifrice’ of the French.
26. (Rignini’s.) From charcoal, 1 oz.; yellow bark, 1/4 oz.
27. (ROSE DENTIFRICE.) From precipitated chalk, 6 oz.; cuttle-fish bone, 3
oz.; bicarbonate of soda, 2 oz.; red lake, 1/4 oz.; otto of roses, 20
drops.
28. (Ruspini’s.) From cuttle-fish bone, 8 oz.; Roman alum and orris root,
of each 1 oz.; cream of tartar, 2 oz.; oil of rhodium, 6 or 8 drops.
29. (VIOLET TOOTH POWDER.) From orris root, 3 oz.; cuttle-fish bone and
rose pink, of each 5 oz.; precipitated chalk, 12 oz.; pure indigo, q. s.
to give it a pale violet tinge.
30. (Zieter’s.) From finely powdered calcined hartshorn and cuttle-fish
bone, of each 6 oz.; calamus aromaticus, cassia, and pellitory of Spain,
of each 1 oz.; essence of vanilla, 1 dr.; essence of ambergris, 10 or 12
drops.
31. Chalk, carbonate of magnesia, and pale bark, of each 1 oz.; oil of
peppermint, 5 drops.
32. Cream of tartar, sugar of milk, of each 2 oz.; carmine, 88 gr. (all in
very subtle powder); oil of peppermint, 4 drops.
=Powders, Worm.= _Syn._ PULVERES ANTHELMINTICI, P. VERMIFUGI, L. _Prep._
1. (Bouchardat.) Powdered Corsican moss and worm-seed, of each 5 dr.;
calomel, 40 gr.; rub them together.
2. (Collier.) From powdered jalap and scammony, of each 1 dr.; cream of
tartar, 2 dr.; Ethiops mineral, 3 dr.
3. (Guibourt.) Sulphate of iron, 1 dr.; tansy, 2 dr.; worm-seed, 3 dr.
4. (P. Cod.) Corsican moss and worm-seed, of each 2 oz.; rhubarb, 1 oz.;
rubbed to a fine powder, and carefully mixed.
=POX.= A corruption of a Saxon word, originally applied to pustules or
eruptions of any kind, but now restricted to varicella, variola, vaccinia,
and, in its unqualified form, to syphilis. (See _below_.)
=Pox, Chick′en.= _Syn._ WATER-POX; VARICELLA, L. An eruptive disease,
consisting of smooth, semi-transparent vesicles, of various sizes, which
afterwards become white and straw-coloured, and about the fourth day break
and scale off, without leaving any permanent mark behind them. In hot
weather the discharge sometimes becomes purulent, and at others the
eruption is attended with considerable fever. Sometimes the vesicles
assume a pointed form, and the fluid remains clear throughout the disease;
it is then frequently called the “swine-pox.” When the vesicles are large
and globular, and their contents, at first whey-coloured, afterwards turn
yellow, it is popularly known as ‘hives.’
The treatment of chicken-pox consists in the adoption of a light,
vegetable diet, and in the administration of mild saline aperients and
cooling drinks.
The chicken-pox, except in children of a very bad habit of body, is an
extremely mild disease. Like the smallpox, it rarely attacks the same
person more than once during life.
=Pox, Cow.= _Syn._ VACCINIA, VARIOLA VACCINA, L. This disease was proposed
as a substitute and a preventive of smallpox by Dr Jenner in 1798, and its
artificial production (vaccination) has rendered smallpox a comparatively
rare disease in Britain. There appears no reason to doubt that the
pretensions of the advocates of vaccination have been fully justified by
the experience of more than half a century; or that this disease, when
actively developed, evinced by the completeness and maturation of the
pustules, acts as a prophylactic of smallpox.
The process of vaccination is similar to that of inoculation for smallpox.
The point of a lance is wetted with the matter taken from one of the
pustules, and is then gently inserted under the cuticle, and the scratch
afterwards rubbed over with the same. Hæmorrhage should be avoided, as the
blood is apt to wash away the virus, or to form a cake which shields the
living tissue from its action.
=Pox, Small.= _Syn._ VARIOLA, L. This disease comes on with the usual
symptoms of inflammatory fever. About the third day red spots, resembling
flea-bites, make their appearance on the face and head, and gradually
extend over the whole body. About the fifth day small circular vesicles,
depressed in the centre, surrounded by an areola, and containing a
colourless fluid, begin to form, when the feverish symptoms abate; about
the sixth day the throat becomes sore; about the eighth day the face is
swollen; and about the eleventh day the pustules acquire the size of a
pea, and cease to enlarge, the matter which they contain becomes opaque
and yellow, a dark central spot forms on each, the swelling of the face
subsides, and secondary symptoms of fever come on; the pustules become
rough, break, and scab over, and a dark spot remains for some days, often
followed by permanent indentations, popularly known as ‘pock-marks.’ At
the end of the sixteenth or eighteenth day the symptoms usually disappear.
In the confluent smallpox, a severer form of the disease, the pustules
coalesce, the eruption is irregular in its progress, and the inflammatory
symptoms are more severe.
The treatment of ordinary cases of smallpox resembles, for the most part,
that mentioned above for chicken-pox. As soon as the febrile symptoms
become marked the patient should not be suffered to lie in a hot bed, but
on a mattress, in a cool and well-ventilated apartment, and antiseptic
cooling drinks should be freely administered. When convulsions occur, or
great irritability exists, small doses of morphine, opium, or camphor may
be administered, and obstinate vomiting arrested by effervescing saline
draughts. When the skin is pale and cold, the pulse weak, and the
eruption languidly developed, the warm or tepid bath is often
serviceable. An infusion of the root of _Sarracenia pupurea_, an American
plant, has been strongly recommended as a preventive and cure of smallpox,
but many of our most eminent physicians regard it as valueless. The
application on the third day of a mask formed of thin muslin, covered with
mercurial ointment, and having holes cut in it for the nostrils, eyes, and
mouth, will effectually prevent ‘pitting.’ (Dr. Stewardson.) With the same
intention some persons recommend the puncture of the pustules as soon as
they are mature. A solution of india rubber in chloroform is now often
painted over the face when the eruption has become fully developed. The
chloroform quickly evaporates, leaving an elastic film of india rubber,
which almost entirely removes the itchiness of the pustules and prevents
‘pitting.’ To remove the pock-marks, whether recent or old, nothing
appears to be better than warm sea-bathing, or the use of tepid ioduretted
lotions.
The smallpox is eminently contagious, but only attacks the same person
once during life. Formerly, a milder form of the disease was propagated by
inoculation, a practice introduced into England from Turkey by Lady Mary
Wortley Montague, about the year 1721. At the present day, in England,
inoculation, as well as the exposure of a patient labouring under
smallpox, is penal, the punishment being either by fine or imprisonment.
See POX, COW (_above_).
“The absolute necessity for enforcing this measure after smallpox is
conclusively shown by the following cases which occurred during the late
severe outbreak of the disease at Ipswich. In the first instance a young
man brought a bundle of infected linen with him from London and had it
washed at Ipswich. Twelve days after, the servant who washed it showed
symptoms of smallpox. In another case, a woman who had been at Highgate
Hospital brought with her a shawl which she had worn during convalescence,
but had not been disinfected; and in fourteen days her sister, who washed
the shawl, was attacked with smallpox.”——_Sanitary Record._
=PRECIP′ITATE.= Any substance which has separated from its solution in a
solid and, usually, a pulverulent or flocculent form. The substance by
which such a change is produced is called the ‘precipitant,’ and the act
or operation by which it is effected is called ‘precipitation.’ The old
chemists gave this name to several compounds. Red precipitate, or
precipitate _per se_, is the red oxide of mercury prepared by heat. White
precipitate is the AMMONIATED MERCURY of the B. P.
=PRECIPITA′TION.= The formation or subsidence of a precipitate. (See
_above_.) When the precipitate is the chief object of the process, it is
necessary to wash it, after it is separated, by filtration. This operation
requires little attention when the substance thrown down is insoluble in
water; but when it is in some degree soluble in that liquid, great
attention is required to prevent the loss which might result from the use
of too much water. Precipitates soluble in water, but insoluble in
alcohol, are frequently, on the small scale, washed with spirit more or
less concentrated.
[Illustration]
The best precipitating vessel is a very tall glass jar, furnished with a
lip and spout, and narrower at the bottom than at the mouth, so that the
precipitate may readily collect by subsidence, and the supernatant liquor
be decanted off with more ease.
=PREG′NANCY.= For the preservation of the health, and the prevention of
the numerous discomforts and dangers which so frequently attend this
condition, nothing is so effective as exercise. It is this that is so
favorable to the humble peasant, and it is its absence that inflicts such
calamities on the wealthier classes. Exercise, moderate and unfatiguing,
when assisted by regular habits, and a diet nutritious, but not too
liberal, is, indeed, capable of not only affording pleasure and increasing
the comforts of existence, but is also generally sufficient to greatly
lessen the severity of the sufferings, and to ward off the not
unfrequently fatal results which terminate this interesting condition.
The sickness of pregnancy may be greatly ameliorated, if not removed, by
the occasional use of a saline aperient, and by effervescing draughts
formed with the bicarbonate of potassa and citric acid. The oxalate of
cerium is strongly recommended by Professor Simpson, of Edinburgh, as a
remedy for obstinate vomiting in pregnancy.——_Dose_, 1 gr. to 2 gr. three
times a day in pills.
=PRESCRI′′BING (Art of).= Besides a knowledge of diseases and their
treatment, much of the success of the physician depends on circumstances
connected with the form in which the remedies are exhibited. In writing a
prescription it is necessary to consider the age, sex, temperament, habits
and idiosyncracy of the patient, as well as the conditions of climate and
season, before the selection of the leading medicament and the
apportioning of the dose. The most convenient form of exhibiting it,
whether it should be given alone or in some simple form, or combined with
other ingredients, the compatibility of the latter, and how far these are
likely to assist, impede, or modify its operation, must also receive the
consideration of the practitioner. Without a careful attention to all
these circumstances the most valuable remedies may be rendered worthless,
and the highest medical skill and the best intentions frustrated.
A prescription generally contains several medicinal substances, which are
distinguished by medical writers by names indicative of the office which
each of them performs. These are——1. The BASIS, which is the principal or
most active ingredient;——2. The ADJUVANT, or that which is intended to
promote the action of the base;——3. The CORRECTIVE, intended to correct,
modify, or control its action, or to cover its odour or taste, as when we
add carminatives or diaphoretics to cathartics, or aromatics or liquorice
to nauseous substances;——4. The EXCIPIENT, or that which gives the whole a
commodious or agreeable form, and which, consequently, gives the
prescription its peculiar character, as that of draught, mixture, pills,
&c. To these, certain Continental writers add a 5th, the INTERMEDIUM,
which is the substance employed to unite remedies which are not, by
themselves, miscible with each other, or with the excipient. Of this
character are the yolk of egg and mucilage, employed in the preparation of
emulsions.
The medicinal substances, with the quantities to be taken, generally
arranged as above, are said to form the ‘inscription,’——the directions as
to their combination or dispensing, which usually comes next, the
‘subscription,’ and——the orders for the exhibition of the compound
medicine, which follow these, the ‘instructions.’ These distinctions are,
however, in many cases more technical than useful.
In choosing the form of a prescription it should be recollected that
solutions and emulsions generally act with more certainty and rapidity
than powders diffused through water; and these, again, than the semi-solid
and solid forms of medicine, represented by electuaries, boluses, and
pills. On these matters, however, the taste and wishes of the patient
should not be disregarded. For this purpose the taste of nauseous
medicines should be disguised as much as possible by the judicious
selection of an appropriate corrective or excipient. Thus, the
disagreeable flavour of Epsom salt may be in a great measure covered by
dissolving it in peppermint water; that of aloes by liquorice; that of
castor oil and copaiba by orange peel; and that of powdered bark by mixing
it with milk immediately before taking it; whilst the bitterness of all
bitter substances is concealed by strong coffee.
In order that a prescription may be well made it is not necessary to unite
all the elements above referred to. The basis and the excipient are the
only two which are absolutely necessary, since there are many medicines
which have no need of an adjuvant. The agreeable flavour and odour of
some, and the mild and harmless nature of others, often render the
intervention of a corrigent unnecessary when they are employed. A single
substance may also “be capable of answering two or more purposes. Thus,
the adjuvant may also act as a corrigent, as when the addition of soap to
aloes, or to extract of jalap, lessens their griping properties, and at
the same time promotes their action. In the same way neutral salts
correct the colic which follows the use of resinous purgatives, and
accelerate their action.” According to Gaubius, the number of ingredients
in a prescription should scarcely ever exceed three or four. See DOSE,
MEDICINES, INCOMPATIBLES, PILLS, &c.
=PRESCRIP′TIONS.= Recipes or formulæ for the preparation and exhibition of
medicines intended, generally, for immediate use. See PRESCRIBING
(_above_).
=PRESERVES′.= A general term, under which are included the various fruits
and vegetables which are seasoned and kept in sugar or syrup, more
especially those which are so preserved whole or in slices. See CANDYING,
JAM, MARMALADE, &c.
=PRESS (Correcting for the).= See PROOFS.
=PRESSURE, BAROMETRIC, on the Phenomena of Life.= M. Bert has contributed
to the ‘Comptes Rendus’[122] (lxxiii, 213, 503; lxxiv, 617; lxxv, 29, 88)
an account of the following experimental researches on the influence of
changes in the Barometric Pressure on the Phenomena of Life:——
[Footnote 122: ‘Journal Chemical Society,’ vol. xxv.]
He finds that at pressures under 18 centimètres of mercury animals die
from want of oxygen; at a pressure of one to two atmospheres, from want of
oxygen and presence of carbonic acid; at 2-6 atmospheres, from the
presence of carbonic acid alone; at 6-15 atmospheres, from the presence of
carbonic acid and of excess of oxygen; and at 15-25 atmospheres, from the
poisonous action of oxygen alone.
Animals die from want of oxygen when the amount contained in their
arterial blood is not sufficient to balance a pressure of 3·5 per cent. of
oxygen in the atmosphere. They die from poisoning by carbonic anhydride
when the amount contained in their venous blood is sufficient to balance a
pressure of 26 to 28 per cent. of carbonic anhydride in the atmosphere in
the case of sparrows, of 28 to 30 for mammals, and of 15 or 16 for
reptiles.
As the pressure of oxygen in the surrounding air depends on two factors,
the percentage proportion and the barometric pressure, the barometric
pressure may be reduced to 6 centimètres for sparrows, if the proportion
of oxygen in the air is increased; and it may be raised to 23 atmospheres
without causing death, if the proportion of oxygen is reduced by mixing
the air with nitrogen. Aeronauts might, therefore, ascend higher than it
has hitherto been possible to do by taking with them a bag of oxygen to
inhale; and the danger that threatens divers of being poisoned by the
oxygen in the compressed air might be averted by using a mixture of air
and nitrogen.
From an examination of the gases in the blood of animals confined in
rarefied air the author finds that both the oxygen and the carbonic
anhydride in the blood diminish. The dyspnœa which is felt in ascending
mountains is therefore due to want of oxygen in the blood. The diminution
in oxygen becomes diminished at 20 centimètres pressure, yet this is the
pressure under which the inhabitants of the elevated Mexican plateau of
Anahuac live. The oxygen diminishes more quickly and more regularly than
the carbonic anhydride. Although there are but very small quantities of
gases simply dissolved in the blood, the chemical combinations in which
they take part are dissociated very easily and in a progressive manner
under the influence of diminished pressure, and this dissociation takes
place more easily in the organisms than in experiments in vacuo.
=PRINCE’S METAL.= One of the names for Dutch gold. (See GOLD, DUTCH.)
=PRINT′ING (Anastatic).= A method of zincography, patented in 1845, having
for its object the reproduction of drawings, engravings, and letter-press,
from copies however old. To describe briefly the preparation of a plate or
cylinder, let us suppose a newspaper about to be reprinted by this means.
The sheet is first moistened with dilute acid and placed between sheets of
blotting paper, in order that the superfluous moisture may be absorbed.
The ink resists the acid, which attacks the blanks only. In all cases
where the letter-press is of recent date, or not perhaps older than half a
year, a few minutes suffice for this purpose. The paper is then carefully
placed upon the plate with which the letter-press to be transferred is in
immediate contact, and the whole passed under a press, on removal from
which, and on carefully disengaging the paper, the letters are found in
reverse on the plate. A preparation of gum is then applied to the plate by
means of a roller, after which the letters receive an addition of ink,
which is immediately incorporated with that by which they are already
formed. These operations are effected in a few minutes. The surface of the
plate round the letters is next bitten in a very slight degree by dilute
acid, and on the fresh application of the ink it is rejected by the zinc,
and received only by the letters, which are charged with the ink by the
common roller used in hand-printing. Each letter comes from the press as
clear as if it had been imprinted by type metal; and the copies are
fac-similes, which cannot easily be distinguished from the original sheet.
When pen-and-ink drawings are to be reproduced, they are made on any paper
free from hairs or filaments, and well-sized. The ink used is a
preparation made for the purpose, closely resembling lithographic ink, and
may be mixed to any degree of thickness in pure distilled water. It should
be used fresh, and slightly warm when a fine effect is to be given. In
making or copying a design a pencil may be used; but the marks must be
left on the paper, and by no means rubbed with india rubber or bread. It
is necessary to add that the paper should be kept quite clean and free
from friction, and should not be touched by the fingers, inasmuch as it
will retain marks of very slight touches.
Before closing this notice of anastatic printing it may be proper to
remark, that the great pretensions originally set up by the patentees have
not been fulfilled by its extensive adoption in trade.
=PRINTING (Letterpress).=[123] _Syn._ TYPOGRAPHY. The art of collecting
together and arranging movable types for the purpose of printing, in one
or more colours, by pressure applied from a flat surface or by means of a
cylinder biting the paper to be printed, and which is inserted between
itself and the type.
[Footnote 123: The Editor is much indebted to Mr J. E. Adlard for this
interesting article.]
In illustration of this section, some specimen types are appended, the
greater portion being from the well-known foundry of Messrs V. & J.
Figgins, and should now be carefully read down to render the further
remarks intelligible. The key is contained in itself by reading the column
as one continuous paragraph with the help of the foot-notes. Some idea may
thus be formed of the vast number of distinct kinds of type necessary to
carry out the requirements of the present system of printing.
Mention there has been made that the name of the body is determined by its
number of lines to a foot; but this must be qualified. The Imperial foot,
or inch, or yard, is an arbitrary measure of length in reality as well as
in name. When one foundry was sufficient to supply all the types that were
required for use in the early ages of printing, then a name and its
dimensions could be taken as absolute. But with the increase of printing,
type-founders also increased; and this has produced the variations of
bodies which are so annoying to the typographer, for one single letter or
space taken from a body larger than its own, yet of the same name, will be
enough to throw the column of type out of a straight line all the way
through. Still, when we look to the fact that, according to the ancient
masters, the large-sized type called _Pica_ (No. 3 and Nos. 18, 19,20 &
21) requires 72-1/2 lines to the foot, and that _Nonpareil_, half its size
(No. 9, and Nos. 26, 27, 28 & 29), requires 145 lines to the foot, and
recollecting that the slightest variation multiplied 145 times must
produce a very sensible deviation, the wonder is that each of the founders
should approach each other so closely as they do. An attempt was made some
years ago to introduce a certain fixity of standard for each body
throughout the trade, based on the French system; the difficulties of
altering the standards and matrices of each foundry were seen to be so
great that the effort was unavailing.
[Illustration: References to the above types——by reading across.
BODY. BOOKWORK FACE. DISPLAY FACE.
1 Great Primer—— Roman 14 Gt Primer Manuscript
15 Gt Primer Ext. Ornamented
16 Gt Primer Black
2 English—— Roman 17 Gt Primer Condensed Black
3 Pica—— Roman 18 Pica Antique
19 Pica Clarendon
20 Pica Rustic
4 Small Pica—— Roman 21 Pica Narrow Gauge
5 Long Primer—— Roman 22 Long Primer [Condensed
6 Bourgeois—— Roman [Sansserif
7 Brevier—— Roman 23 Brevier Grotesque
24 Brevier Extended
8 Minion——Rom. & Italic 25 Brevier Open Sansserif
9 Nonpareil—— Roman 26 Nonpareil Egyptian
27 Nonpareil Hair line
28 Nonpareil Ornamented
29 Nonpareil Condensed Grotesque
10 Ruby—— Roman
11 Pearl—— Roman 30 Pearl Clarendon
12 Diamond—— Roman 31 Diamond Grotesque
13 Small Pica 2-line (No. 4 doubled) German Text
During the latter half of the present century there has been a growing
disposition to return to the cut of the letters as used by the early
printers. To meet this desire, nearly all the type-founders have
introduced Old-style faces, but yet modernised as to their peculiarities.
Considering that this article would not be complete without some such
notice thereof, as well as to show the contrast, the following is here
introduced to the reader.
[Illustration]
These old-faced types cut by the celebrated William Caslon, in or about
the years 1716-30, are even now viewed with great satisfaction, and held
in high esteem, by judges of the typographic art as master-pieces of shape
and finish.
To the list of types presented, and which give a sufficient general view,
may be added _Emerald_——between _Minion_ and _Nonpareil_——for book-work,
and also for borders and flowers to be used in neat and artistic work; Gem
and _Semi-Nonpareil_ for music; and _Minikin_, for music and Oriental
work.
The larger sizes of type are, with very few exceptions, simple multiples
of the Pica; for instance, 6-_line Roman_ means a roman letter of the
depth of six lines of Pica; 20-_line Antique_, an antique of the depth of
twenty lines; and so on.
Very little more need be said on the names applied to the different faces.
Letters used in Title-pages are especially cut for and styled
_Titling——Square, Condensed_, and if very much condensed in width,
_Compressed_ or _Narrow-Gauge_. On the other hand, when the letters seem
pulled out right and left, they are styled _Extended_.
If the reader will notice the type in which this volume is composed, he
will observe that the bottoms of the _tail letters_ are very close down
upon the tops of the tall letters, and all but touch: this is termed
_solid_. When a page or book is required to look light and less wearisome
to the vision, the lines of type are removed from each other, and a
space-line inserted between them——the page is now termed _leaded_. These
space-lines used to be cut, by the compositor, from milled lead, first in
strips of the necessary width, then of the required length; hence the term
_leads_, by which name they are commonly known. However, they were but
poor appliances at the best. Moulds are now used for casting the metal to
the specified thickness in strips of about 9 inches long, then cut by a
machine to a set gauge; by these means the thickness of the space-lines,
or leads is not only more uniformly secured, but far greater regularity
obtained in the lengths cut. Here, as in the large type, as above
mentioned, Pica is the standard which regulates the lead; in other words,
leads are cast as 3 to a pica, that is, 3 leads form the solid measurement
of the Pica body; 4-to-pica requires 4 leads, and the body of the lead
continues to decrease according to the prefixed figure, which simply
denotes into how many parts the pica is to be divided. Leads are cast so
delicately fine that 16 form the pica, but they are seldom used. In many
of the News offices brass space-lines have superseded those cast from
type-metal.
The method of manufacturing type is——
The face having been determined upon——light or heavy, round or narrow, as
well as the thickness of the downstroke——a piece of prepared soft iron is
taken, and upon the tip-end thereof the proposed letter is cut in relief;
when this cutting is finished it is case-hardened, and afterwards styled
the punch. The strike is the next operation. The punch (the letter cut
upon which, by-the-bye, is backward) is now punched, or struck, into an
oblong piece of copper, about 3 inches long and 1/3rd of an inch thick,
the breadth such as the size of the letter may require: this is the
matrix. A most particular part has now to be performed, called justifying;
which means that the matrices shall, when placed in the mould, deliver the
letters perfectly upright, and all to be true on a line as fine as a
razor’s edge. When the process of justifying is accomplished, the matrix
is fixed at the bottom of a mould, of the shape of a parallelogram, of the
size of the body one way, of the width of the letter the other, and the
depth the standard height of the type; the molten metal is forced down
this tube, either by hand or by a pump worked by hand or steam, the metal
filling the matrix (the sunk letter upon which is now forward) receives
the shape of the letter, which is once more reversed, or in a backward
position, like as the original punch was cut. The castings are released
from the mould by a very ingenious method of opening from the two diagonal
corners. The types as cast are forwarded on to the dressers to remove
burrs and other superfluities; then are placed in long lines in a frame
for finishing; next turned face downwards, and a grooving plane driven
across the feet to insure correctness in height; finally looked over for
blemishes, when all faulty letters are thrown out; the process is
completed by ranging into lines of handy length, and tied up——ready for
delivery to the typographer.
=PRINT′ING INK.= _Prep._——_a._ The VARNISH. Linseed or nut oil, 10 or 20
galls., is set over the fire in an iron pot capable of containing fully as
much more; when it boils, it is kept stirred with an iron ladle, and, if
it does not take fire of itself soon after the smoke begins to rise, it is
kindled by means of a piece of burning paper, stuck in the cleft end of a
long stick; the pot is shortly afterwards removed from the fire, and the
oil is suffered to burn for about half an hour, or until a sample of the
varnish cooled upon a palette knife may be drawn into strings of about 1/2
inch long, between the fingers; the flame is now extinguished by the
application of a closely fitting tin cover, and, as soon as the froth of
the ebullition has subsided, black resin is added, in the proportion of
3/4 lb. to 1 lb. for every quart of oil thus treated; the mixture is next
stirred until the resin is dissolved, when dry brown soap, cut into
slices, 1-3/4 lbs., is further added (cautiously), and the ingredients are
again stirred with the spatula until the whole is united, the pot being
once more placed over the fire to promote the combination; when this is
effected, the varnish is removed from the heat, and, after a good
stirring, is covered over and set aside.
_b._ The INK. Indigo and Prussian blue, of each, in fine powder, 2-1/2
oz.; mineral lampblack (finest), 4 lbs.; vegetable lampblack, 3-1/2 lbs.;
stir them gradually into the warm varnish (_a_), and submit the mixture to
careful grinding, either in a mill or by means of a slab and muller. On
the large scale, steam power is now generally employed for this purpose.
An extemporaneous superfine black ink may be made by the following
formula:——Take of balsam of copaiba (pure), 9 oz.; lampblack, 3 oz.;
indigo and Prussian blue, of each 1/2 oz.; Indian red, 3/4 oz.; yellow
soap (dry), 3 oz.; grind the mixture to an impalpable smoothness by means
of a stone and muller. Canada balsam may be substituted for balsam of
copaiba where the smell of the latter is objectionable, but the ink then
dries very quickly.
COLOURED PRINTING INKS are made in a similar way from the following
pigments:——Carmine, lakes, vermilion, chrome yellow, red lead, orange red,
Indian red, Venetian red, for red; orange chrome, chrome yellow, burnt
terra di sienna, gall-stone, Roman ochre, yellow ochre, for orange and
yellow; verdigris, Scheele’s green, Schweinfurt green, blues, and yellows
mixed, for greens; indigo, Prussian blue, Antwerp b., cobalt b., charcoal
b., for blue; lustre, bronze powders, &c., for metallic colours; and
umbia, sepia, &c., for brown.
_Obs._ It is necessary to prepare two kinds of varnish, varying in
consistence, from more or less boiling, to be occasionally mixed together
as circumstances may require; that which answers well in hot weather being
too thick in cold, and _vice versâ_. Large characters also require a
thinner ink than small ones. Old linseed oil is preferable to new. Yellow
resin soap is preferred for black and dark-coloured inks, and white curd
soap for light ones.
A good varnish may be drawn into threads like glue, and is very thick and
tenacious. The oil loses from 10% to 14% by the boiling. Mr Savage
obtained the large medal of the Society of Arts for his black ink made as
above.
A PRINTER’S INK EASILY REMOVED FROM WASTE PAPER. The following process for
the preparation of a printer’s ink that can be far more readily removed
from waste paper than ordinary printer’s ink has been patented by Kirscher
and Ebner. Iron is dissolved in some acid——sulphuric, hydrochloric,
acetic, &c., will answer, and half of the solution is oxidised with nitric
acid and added to the other half and the oxide precipitated from the
mixture by means of soda or potash. The precipitate is thoroughly washed,
and treated with equal parts of solutions of tannic and gallic acids, and
the bluish black, or pure black pigment formed, is thoroughly washed and
dried, and mixed with linseed-oil varnish, and can then be immediately
used for printing from type, copper, wood, steel, or stone. Waste paper
printed with it can be bleached by digesting it for 24 hours in a lukewarm
bath of pure water, and 10 per cent. of caustic potash or soda, and then
grinding it well in the rag engine, and throwing the pulp upon cloth and
allowing it to drain. It is then to be washed with pure water, containing
10 per cent. of hydrochloric, acetic, or oxalic acids, or of binoxalate of
potassa, and allowed to digest for 24 hours, and may then be worked up
into paper, or it can be dried and used as a substitute in the manufacture
of finer paper.
=PRINTS (Ackerman’s Liquor for).= _Prep._ Take of the finest pale glue and
white curd soap, of each 4 oz.; boiling water, 3 pints; dissolve, then add
of powdered alum, 2 oz. Used to size prints and pictures before colouring
them.
=PRINTS, To Bleach.= Simple immersion of the prints in a solution of
hypochlorous acid (the article remaining in the solution for a longer or
shorter space, according to the strength of the solution) is generally all
that is required to whiten it.
=PRIVIES.= See WATER-CLOSETS.
=PROOF.= See ACETIMETRY, ALCOHOLOMETRY, &c.
=PROOFS (Correcting).= The specimen below, with the notes, will, if
carefully perused, put the reader into possession of all the secrets of
this useful art.
[Illustration]
[_The same corrected._]
As the _vine_, which has long twined its graceful foliage about the oak,
and been lifted by it into sunshine, will, when the hardy plant is rifted
by the thunderbolt, cling round it with its caressing tendrils, and bind
up its shattered boughs so is it beautifully ordered by Providence, that
WOMAN, who is the mere dependant and ornament of man in his happier hours,
should be his stay and solace when smitten by sudden calamity; winding
herself into the rugged recesses of his nature, tenderly supporting the
drooping head, and binding up the broken heart.
It also is interesting to notice how _some_ minds seem almost to create
THEMSELVES, springing up under every disadvantage, and working their
“solitary, but irresistible way,” through a thousand obstacles. Nature
seems, &c.
IRVING.
_Explanation of the marks_:
1. When a letter or word is to be in _italics_.
2. When a letter is turned upside down.
3. The substitution of a comma for another point or letter.
4. The insertion of a hyphen; also marked (-).
5. When letters should be close together.
6. When a letter or word is to be omitted.
7. When a word is to be changed to roman.
8, 9. Two methods of marking a transposition: when there are _several_
words to be transposed, and they are much intermixed, it is a common plan
to number them, and to put the usual mark in the margin.
10. Substitution of a capital for a small letter.
11. When a word is to be changed from small letters to capitals.
12. The transposition of letters in a word.
13. The substitution of one word for another.
14. When a word or letter is to be inserted.
15. When a paragraph occurs improperly.
16. The insertion of a semicolon.
17. When a space or quadrat stands up, and is seen along with the type.
18. When letters of a wrong fount are used.
19. When words crossed off are to remain.
20. The mark for a paragraph, when its commencement has been neglected.
Sometimes the sign [, or ¶, or the word ‘_break_,’ is used instead of the
syllables ‘_New Par_,’
21. For the insertion of a space when omitted or insufficient.
22. To change capitals to small letters.
23. To change small letters to small capitals.
24. When lines or words are not straight.
25, 26. The insertion of inverted commas. The apostrophe is similarly
marked.
27. The insertion of a period when omitted, or in place of another point
or letter.
28. Substitution of one letter for another.
29. The method of marking an omission or insertion when too long for the
side margin.
=PROPYLA′MINE.= _Syn._ TRITYLAMINE.
C_{3}H_{9}N, or C_{3}H_{7} }
H } N.
H }
This compound or substituted ammonia, in which one of the three atoms of
hydrogen is displaced by the radicle propyl or trityl (C_{3}H_{7}), is
isomorphous with trimethylamine, which has been often mistaken for it.
Proposed as a remedy for acute and chronic rheumatism.
Hence it is that the commercial substance known under the name of
‘propylamine,’ which has been proposed and employed as a remedy for
rheumatism, has been shown to be not propylamine, but its isomer,
trimethylamine, or a mixture of this latter, in varying proportions, with
ammonia.
Mendius gives the following process for the preparation of
propylamine:——36 grams of cyanide of ethyl, 500 grams of common alcohol,
200 grams of water, and 50 grams of 20 per cent. hydrochloric acid, are
allowed to act on excess of granulated zinc, and then distilled.
The distillate is put back once, and 400 grams of hydrochloric acid are
added.
The product is distilled to get rid of the alcohol, then excess of alkali
added to the residue, and the distillation continued, whereupon
propylamine and water come over. Mendius says 36 grams of the cyanide of
ethyl yield 9 grams of pure propylamine. The propylamine is dried by
distillation from solid potash.
Propylamine is a bright, colourless, highly refracting, very mobile
liquid, possessing a peculiar, strongly ammoniacal odour. It mixes with
water, heat being generated by the mixture. It boils at 50° C., and has a
sp. gr. of ·7134 at 21° C.
Propylamine combines with acids, and forms crystallised salts. The
chloride is a very deliquescent salt. The sulphate occurs in crystals, and
is also deliquescent. See TRIMETHYLAMINE.
=PROPYL′IC ALCOHOL.= C_{3}H_{7}O. _Syn._ HYDRATED OXIDE OF PROPYL, TRITYL
ALCOHOL. A liquid boiling at 204·8° Fahr., obtained by repeatedly
rectifying the first products of the distillation of the fusel oil of marc
brandy. It stands to ethylic alcohol (ordinary alcohol) in the same
relation in which the latter stands to methylic alcohol (pyroxylic
spirit).
=PRO′TEIN.= The name given by Mülder to a substance which he regarded as
the original matter from which animal albumen, casein, and fibrin, were
derived; but which is now considered as a product of the decomposition of
those important principles by moderately strong caustic alkali.
_Prep._ (Liebig.) Albumen, casein, or fibrin is dissolved in moderately
strong potassa, the solution heated for some time to 120° Fahr., and
acetic acid added; a gelatinous precipitate subsides, which, after being
washed and dried, is protein.
_Obs._ The names binoxide and teroxide of protein have been given by
Mülder to products of the long-continued action of boiling water upon
fibrin in contact with the air.
=PRO′TIDE.= A soluble, straw-yellow substance, formed, along with other
products, by the action of strong solution of potassa on albumen, fibrin,
or casein. See ERYTHROPROTIDE.
=PROTO-.= See NOMENCLATURE.
=PROVI′′SIONS (Preservation of).= See PUTREFACTION.
=PRUNES.= [Fr.] The fruit of cultivated varieties of _Prunus domestica_
(Linn.). The dried fruit (FRENCH PRUNES or PLUMS; PRUNUM——B. P., Ph. L.,
PRUNA——Ph. E. & D.) is cooling and gently laxative, and, as such, is
useful in habitual costiveness and fevers.
=Prunes, Pulp of.= _Syn._ PREPARED PRUNES; PULPA PRUNORUM, PRUNUM
PRÆPARATUM (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ The imported dried fruit is boiled gently
for four hours with water, q. s. to cover them, and then pressed, first
through a fine cane sieve, and afterwards through a fine hair sieve; the
pulp is, lastly, evaporated by the heat of a water bath to the consistence
of a confection. A better plan is to use as little water as possible, by
which the necessity of subsequent evaporation is avoided. Used in the
preparation of confection of senna.
=PRU′NING= varies according to the kind of plant or tree operated on and
the particular object in view, and its skilful performance must,
therefore, greatly depend on the experience and knowledge of the gardener.
“In the operation of pruning, the shoots are cut off close to the buds, or
at a distance not greater than the diameter of the branch to be cut off;
because without the near proximity of a bud the wounds will not heal over.
In shoots which produce their buds alternately the cut is made at the back
of the bud sloping from it, so that it may be readily covered by the bark
in the same or in the following year; but in the case of branches where
the buds are produced opposite each other, either one bud must be
sacrificed or the branch must be cut off at right angles to its line of
direction, which is most conveniently done with the pruning shears.”
(Loudon.)
=PRUS′SIAN AL′KALI.= Ferrocyanide of potassium.
=PRUS′SIAN BLUE.= _Syn._ BERLIN BLUE, PARIS B., FERROCYANIDE OF IRON,
PRUSSIATE OF I., CYANURET OF I. This is the well-known blue pigment of the
shops.
_Prep._ 1. The crude but clear solution of ferrocyanide of potassium
(blood lye) is precipitated by a mixed solution of alum, 2 parts, and
green sulphate of iron, 1 part; the dingy greenish precipitate that falls
gradually becomes blue by absorption of atmospheric oxygen, which is
promoted by exposure and agitation of the liquor; as soon as it has
acquired its full colour, the sediment is repeatedly washed with water,
and is then drained, and dried, at first in a stove, but afterwards on
chalk stones. Product large, but inferior in quality.
2. Repeatedly digest and wash the precipitate obtained by the above
process in very dilute hydrochloric acid, and then in pure water; drain
and dry it, as before. Superior.
3. (Paris blue.)——_a._ Neutralise the solution of ferrocyanide of
potassium (blood lye) with dilute sulphuric acid, precipitate the liquid
with a solution of any persalt or sesquisalt of iron (as the persulphate,
nitrate, sesquichloride, or peracetate); well wash the precipitate with
water, and dry it, as before. A very rich and intense colour.
_b._ (Hochstätter.) Crystallised ferrocyanide of potassium and green
sulphate of iron, of each 6 parts, are each separately dissolved in water,
15 parts; after the admixture of the solutions, and frequent agitation,
oil of vitriol, 1 part, and fuming hydrochloric acid, 24 parts, are
stirred in; after some hours have elapsed a strained solution of chloride
of lime, 1 part, dissolved in water, 80 parts, is gradually added, the
addition being stopped as soon as an effervescence from the escape of
chlorine is perceived; the whole is now left for 5 or 6 hours, when the
precipitate is thoroughly washed in pure soft water, drained, and dried.
Or, instead of the above, the precipitate is at once washed in dilute
nitric acid until its colour ceases to be improved by the process. The
product is of the finest quality.
_Prop._ Insoluble in water and in dilute acids, except the oxalic, in
solutions of which it dissolves freely when pure; oil of vitriol dissolves
it to a white pasty mass, which is again precipitated of the usual blue
colour by water; alkalies instantly decompose it, and so do red oxide of
mercury and some other oxides when boiled with it; it burns in the air
like tinder, leaving an ash of oxide of iron. It is not poisonous.
_Pur., &c._ The quality of Prussian blue may be estimated by the richness
of its colour, and by the quantity of potassa or soda required to destroy
this. If it effervesces with acids, it contains chalk; and if it forms a
paste with boiling water, it is adulterated with starch. It is pure if,
“after being boiled with dilute hydrochloric acid, ammonia throws down
nothing from the filtered liquid.” (Ph. L. 1836.) It is distinguished from
indigo by exhibiting a coppery tint when broken, but which is removed by
rubbing with the nail.
_Concluding Remarks._ The commercial Prussian blue is not pure
ferrocyanide of iron, but a mixture of this salt with varying proportions
of the ferricyanide of iron and potassium, which also has a fine deep blue
colour. The object in employing alum is to prevent or lessen the
precipitation of oxide of iron by the free alkali in the blood lye, but a
portion of alumina is in consequence thrown down with the blue, and tends
to render it paler and increase the product. The quantity of alum employed
may be varied according to the shades of the intended blue. Samples
containing this contamination must not be employed medicinally. (See page
324.)
=Prussian Blue, Sol′uble.= _Prep._ 1. (BASIC PRUSSIAN BLUE.) By adding a
solution of protosulphate of iron to a solution of ferrocyanide of
potassium; a bluish-white precipitate, turning dark blue by free exposure,
is formed, which, after it has acquired this colour, is washed until it
begins to dissolve in the water, and colour it blue; it is then either
collected and dried, or is at once dissolved in pure water. This variety
is not precipitated from its solution by alcohol.
2. (FERROCYANIDE OF POTASSIUM AND IRON.) By precipitating a solution of a
sesquisalt or persalt of iron (as the persulphate, pernitrate, peracetate,
or sesquichloride) with a stronger solution of ferrocyanide of potassium,
so that the latter may be in considerable excess. A blue precipitate is
formed, which is treated as before. This variety is precipitated by
alcohol. Both are freely soluble in pure water, but not in water which has
the slightest saline contamination. Hence it is that lengthened exposure
to the atmosphere and the use of the common steel pen causes the gradual
precipitation of this substance from its solution when used as ink. See
WRITING FLUIDS.
=PRU′′SSIC ACID.= See HYDROCYANIC ACID.
=PSEU′DO-MOR′PHIA.= A substance of little importance, occasionally found
in opium. It differs from morphine chiefly in not decomposing iodic acid.
It is said to contain nitrogen.
=PTIS′AN.= _Syn._ PTISANA, L. A decoction made of pearl barley, liquorice,
raisins, and other like vegetable matters, either alone or so slightly
medicated as to be taken as a common drink in fevers, catarrhs, &c. Those
retained in English pharmacy have been already noticed. The French
physicians often employ this form of medicine. The ’tisanes’ of the P.
Cod. are numerous. See DECOCTION, INFUSION, JULEP, TISANE, &c.
=PTY′ALIN.= A peculiar animal matter, analogous to diastase, obtained from
the saliva. It is soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol.
Mialhe named ptyalin “animal diastase,” and regarded it as the principal
agent in effecting the digestion of starchy foods, by converting them into
soluble glucose. One part of ptyalin, according to Mialhe, was capable of
transforming 800 parts of insoluble starch into sugar. It has been
computed that the average daily secretion of ptyalin by an adult amounts
to 116 grains. It very quickly decomposes, and in properties somewhat
resembles sodic albuminate.
=PUCHA PAT.= _Syn._ PATCHOULI. Puchá pât is the dried foliaceous tops of
_Pogostemon Patchouli_, an Indian species of _Labiatæ_. It is much used in
perfumery, particularly for making sachets; but its odour, although very
durable, is not so agreeable as that of many other substances, unless it
is combined with lavender, bergamot, ambergris, musk, or some other like
perfume.
=PUD′DINGS.= The instructions given under CAKES, PIES, &c., will be found,
with some slight modifications, also to apply to puddings, and, therefore,
need not be repeated here. Soyer tells us that every sort of pudding, if
sweet or savory, is preferably dressed in a basin instead of in a cloth.
If boiled in a basin the paste receives all the nutriment of the
materials, which, if boiled in a cloth, are dissolved out by the water,
when by neglect it ceases boiling. To cause them to turn well out, the
inside of the basin should be thoroughly ‘larded’ or rubbed with butter.
In the preparation of meat puddings the first and most important point is
never to use any meat that is tainted; for in pudding, above all other
dishes, it is least possible to disguise it by the confined progress which
the ingredients undergo. The gradual heating of the meat, which alone
would accelerate decomposition, will cause the smallest piece of tainted
meat to contaminate all the rest. Be particular, also, that the suet and
fat are not rancid, ever remembering the grand principle that everything
which gratifies the palate nourishes.”
“A pudding cloth, however coarse, ought never to be washed with soap; it
should be simply dried as quickly as possible, and kept dry and free from
dust, and in a drawer or cupboard free from smell.” (Soyer.)
=PUD′DLING.= See IRON.
=PULMONI′TIS.= Inflammation of the lungs.
=PULP.= _Syn._ PULPA, L. The softer parts of plants, more particularly of
fruits, separated from the fibrous and harder portions.
“Pulpy fruits, if they be unripe, or ripe and dried, are to be placed in a
damp situation until they become soft; then the pulp is to be pressed out
through a hair sieve; afterwards it is to be boiled with a gentle heat,
frequently stirring; and finally, the (excess of) water is to be
evaporated in a water bath, until the pulp acquire proper consistence.
“Press the pulpy fruits which are ripe and fresh through a hair sieve,
without boiling them.” (Ph. L. 1836.)
=PULVERISA′TION.= The reduction of any substance to dust or powder.
On the small scale, pulverisation is usually performed by means of a
pestle and mortar; on the large scale, by stamping, grinding or cutting
the substance in a mill. A few soft substances, as carbonate of magnesia,
carbonate of lead, &c., may be pulverised by simply rubbing them through a
fine sieve, placed over a sheet of paper; whilst many hard, gritty
substances can only be reduced to fine powder by porphyrisation or
levigation. Elutriation, or ‘washing over,’ is adopted for several
substances, as chalk, antimony, &c., which are required to be reduced to
fine powder on the large scale. For some articles which are very tough,
fibrous, or resisting, a rasp or file is employed. Whichever of these
methods is adopted, the body to be powdered must be very dry, and where
spontaneous drying is insufficient, artificial desiccation in a stove or
oven, gently heated, is employed. To facilitate this, the substance should
be first cut into pieces or crushed small. On the other hand, a few
substances, as rice, sago, nux vomica, and St Ignatius’s bean, are often
soaked in water, or steamed, before being further operated on. Whenever a
substance cannot be dried completely, without an alteration of its
properties, an intermedium is had recourse to, by which the moisture may
be absorbed, or its state of aggregation modified. Thus, sugar is employed
in pulverising civet, musk, nutmeg, and vanilla. When camphor is to be
pulverised, the addition of a very small quantity of alcohol renders the
operation easy. In other cases the intermedium is of so hard a nature as
to assist in breaking down the substance to be powdered; thus, gold leaf
is reduced to powder by rubbing it with sulphate of potassa, and
afterwards removing this last by means of water. Fusible metals, as zinc
and tin, are powdered by pouring them into a mortar, and stirring them
rapidly whilst cooling; or, by briskly agitating them, in the melted
state, in a wooden box covered with chalk or whiting. Phosphorus is
powdered by melting it in urine or lime water, and then shaking the bottle
until its contents have become quite cold. Glass, quartz, and silicated
stones, require to be heated red hot, and in this state to be thrown into
cold water, by which they become sufficiently friable to admit of
pulverisation. Many salts which are reduced to fine powder with very great
difficulty, and do not dissolve in spirit of wine, are easily obtained in
a pulverulent form, by agitating their concentrated aqueous solution with
a considerable quantity of rectified spirit; the disengaged fine
crystallised powder may then be dried, and further divided by trituration.
Potassio tartrate of antimony may be advantageously thus treated. A large
number of salts, including nitre, sal ammoniac, and carbonate of potash,
may also be reduced to powder by keeping their solutions in a state of
constant and violent agitation during their rapid evaporation.
The following rules should be observed in the preparation of powders:——
1. If possible, perfectly dry articles should alone be operated on, and
only in dry weather.
2. The nature of the mortar, and the mode of operating, should be adapted
to the nature of the substance. Thus, woods and barks should be pulverised
in an iron mortar; sugar, alum, and nitre, in one of marble or
wedgwood-ware; and corrosive sublimate, only in one of glass.
3. The mortar should be provided with a cover, to prevent loss and
annoyance to the operator. If much powder escapes, or if it is dangerous
or disagreeable when breathed, or if the substance is rare or costly, the
mortar should be covered with a skin of leather, to which the pestle is
attached, so that the latter may be freely moved without causing the
slightest opening for the escape of the dust occasioned by the process.
When aloes or gamboge is powdered, a few drops of olive oil are commonly
added with the same intention.
4. The pulverised portions should be separated from time to time by aid of
a sieve, the coarser particles being returned to the mortar to be again
beaten and triturated; and this alternate pulverisation and sifting is to
be repeated until the process is complete.
=PUM′ICE STONE.= _Syn._ PUMEX, LAPIS PUMICEUS, L. PUMICIS, L. Found in the
neighbourhood of volcanoes. Used, in the solid form, to polish wood,
paint, &c.; also, when pulverised, as a polishing powder for glass, bone,
ivory, marble, metals, &c.
=PUMP FOR USE IN CHEMICAL, PAPER, and other Works.= The Perreaux Pump
Valve is made of vulcanised india rubber, and is of the form of the valves
in the human body. It is of the greatest, and perhaps the really only
valuable improvement in valves applicable, equally, to the common hand or
jack pump, and the most elaborate mechanical combinations for raising
water.
The valve may be taken as the key of the pump; a perfect valve renders an
indifferent pump a valuable and effective machine, whereas an imperfect
valve, in an otherwise excellently constructed pump, renders it
practically useless.
The pump which Simon the tanner, of Joppa, used for pumping his pits,
nearly two thousand years ago, may be taken as the type of the common hand
pump in use to this day. Various mechanical improvements have been made in
its form and construction, but, practically, and effectively, the only
real and valuable improvement is the Perreaux valve, now under
consideration.
Constructed of a flexible material, and made in form, as nearly as may be,
to the valves of the human body, they may be said to be automatic in their
action, or self acting; upon the pump being actuated, the least motion of
the pump ensuring a corresponding action of the valve, and the most rapid
action of the pump, being equally responded to by the pulsation of the
valves.
Although the most perfect valves for pumping clear water, because, what is
mechanically termed the duty of the pump is complete, in other words, the
quantity displaced is discharged, absolutely without loss, yet their most
valuable feature is that they pump semi-fluids equally well as clear
water.
For the pulps and stuffs in paper mills, for bleaches, dyes, and corrosive
liquors, for liquid manures and other such semi-fluids, they stand alone,
they are absolutely unchokable.
Used in conjunction with cylinders or barrels made of toughened glass,
they form the most perfect pump where the fluid to be raised is of a
caustic or corrosive nature, and where the fluid would be destructive to
or destroyed by its action upon metals, such for example as the caustic
bleach used in the manufacture of paper, &c. See VALVES.
=PUNCH.= An acidulous, intoxicating beverage, composed of water sweetened
with sugar, with a mixture of lemon juice and spirit, to which some
aromatic, as nutmeg, mace, or cinnamon, is occasionally added. Wine is
sometimes substituted for spirit. It is much less drunk than formerly. Rum
punch is the most popular amongst sailors, who are now the principal
consumers of this beverage.
_Prep._ 1. Juice of 3 or 4 lemons; yellow peel of 1 lemon; lump sugar, 3/4
lb.; boiling water, 3-1/2 pints; infuse 1/2 an hour, strain, and add, of
bitter ale, 1/2 pint; rum and brandy, of each 3/4 to 1 pint (or rum
alone, 1-1/2 to 2 pints). More hot water and sugar may be added if the
punch is desired either weaker or sweeter.
2. (COLD PUNCH.) From arrack, port wine, and water, of each 1 pint; juice
of 4 lemons; white sugar, 1 lb.
3. (GIN PUNCH.) From the yellow peel of 1/2 a lemon; juice of 1 lemon;
strongest gin, 3/4 pint; water, 1-3/4 pint; sherry, 1 glassful.
4. (ICED PUNCH.) From champagne or Rhenish wine, 1 quart; arrack, 1 pint;
juice of 6 lemons; yellow peel of 3 lemons; white sugar, 1 lb.; soda
water, 1 or 2 bottles; to be iced as cream.
5. (MILK PUNCH; VERDER.) Steep the yellow rinds of 18 lemons and 6
oranges, for 2 days, in rum or brandy, 2 quarts; then add 3 quarts more of
either spirit; hot water, 3 quarts; lemon juice, 1 quart; loaf sugar, 4
lbs.; 2 nutmegs, grated; and boiling milk, 2 quarts; mix well, and in 2
hours strain the liquor through a jelly-bag.
6. (NORFOLK PUNCH.) Take of French brandy, 20 quarts; yellow peels of 18
oranges and 30 lemons; infuse for 12 hours; add, of cold water, 30 quarts;
lump sugar, 20 lbs.; and the juice of the oranges and lemons; mix well,
strain through a hair sieve, add of new milk 2 quarts, and in 6 weeks
bottle in. Keeps well.
7. (ORANGE PUNCH.) As No. 1, using oranges, and adding some orange wine,
if at hand. A little curacoa, noyau, or mareschino improves it.
8. (RASPBERRY PUNCH.) As the last, but using raspberry juice, or raspberry
vinegar, for the oranges or lemons.
9. (REGENT’S PUNCH.) From strong hot green tea, lemon juice, and
capillaire, of each 1-1/2 pint; rum, brandy, arrack, and curacoa, of each
1 pint; champagne, 1 bottle; mix and slice a pineapple into it.
10. (TEA PUNCH.) From strong hot tea, 1 quart; arrack, 1/2 bottle; white
sugar, 6 oz.; juice of 8 lemons; and the yellow rinds of 4 lemons; mixed
together.
11. (WINE PUNCH.) From white sugar, 1 lb.; yellow peel of 3 lemons; juice
of 9 lemons; arrack, 1 pint; port or sherry (hot), 1 gall.; cinnamon, 1/4
oz.; nutmeg, 1 dr.; mix.
12. (YANKEE PUNCH.) Macerate sliced pineapple, 3 oz.; vanilla, 6 gr.; and
ambergris (rubbed with a little sugar), 1 gr., in the strongest pale
brandy, 1 pint, for a few hours, with frequent agitation; then strain with
expression; add, of lemon juice, 1 pint; lemon syrup, and either claret or
port wine, of each 1 bottle; with sugar, 1/2 lb., dissolved in boiling
water, 1-1/2 pint. See SHRUB.