Fluids act quicker than solids, and powders sooner than pills.
685. Best Method of Preventing the Nauseous Taste of Medicines
Castor oil may be taken in milk, coffee, or spirit, such as brandy; but the best method of covering the nauseous flavour is to put a tablespoonful of strained orange juice in a wineglass, pour the castor oil into the centre of the juice, and then squeeze a few drops of lemon juice upon the top of the oil. The wineglass should first be dipped, rim downwards, into water, so that the interior may be wetted. Cod liver oil may be taken, like castor oil, in orange juice. Peppermint water neutralizes, to a great extent, the nauseous taste of Epsom salts; a strong solution of extract of liquorice, that of aloes; milk, that of cinchona bark; and cloves that of senna.
To-day, Lays Plans for Many Years to Come.
686. An Excellent Way to Prevent the Taste of Medicines
An excellent way to prevent the taste of medicines is to have the medicine in a glass, as usual, and a tumbler of water by the side of it; take the medicine, and retain it in the mouth, which should be kept closed, and if drinking the water be then commenced, the taste of the medicine is washed away. Even the bitterness of quinine and aloes may be prevented by this means. If the nostrils are firmly compressed by the thumb and finger of the left hand, while taking a nauseous draught, and so retained till the mouth has been washed out with water, the disagreeable taste of the medicine will be almost imperceptible.
687. Giving Medicines to Persons
Medicines should be given in such a manner that the effect of the first dose shall not have ceased when the next dose is given, therefore the intervals between the doses should be regulated accordingly.
688. Doses of Medicine for Different Ages
It must be plain to every one that children do not require such powerful medicine as adults or old people, and therefore it is desirable to have some fixed method of determining or regulating the administration of doses of medicine. Now let it be supposed that the dose for a full-grown person is
one drachm
, then the following proportions will be suitable for the various ages given; keeping in view other circumstances, such as sex, temperament, habits, climate, state of
general health
, and idiosyncrasy.
689. Drugs, with their Properties and Doses
The various drugs have been arranged according to their properties, and the doses of each have been given. Many, however, have been necessarily omitted from each class, because they cannot be employed except by a medical man. The
doses
are meant for adults.
690. Classes of Drugs
Medicines have been divided into four grand classes
691. General Stimulants
General stimulants are subdivided into two classes, diffusible and permanent stimulants: the first comprising narcotics and antispasmodics, and the second tonics and astringents.
692. Narcotics
Narcotics are medicines which stupefy and diminish the activity of the nervous system. Given in small doses, they generally act as stimulants, but an increased dose produces a sedative effect. Under this head are included alcohol, camphor, ether, the hop, and opium.
693. Alcohol
Alcohol, or rectified spirit, is a very powerful stimulant, and is never used as a remedy without being diluted to the degree called proof spirit; and even then it is seldom used internally. It is
used externally
in restraining bleeding, when there is not any vessel of importance wounded. It is also used as a lotion to burns, and is applied by dipping a piece of lint into the spirit, and laying it over the part. Freely diluted (one part to eighteen) with water, it forms a useful eye-wash in the last stage of ophthalmia.
Used internally
, it acts as a very useful stimulant when diluted and taken moderately, increasing the general excitement, and giving energy to the muscular fibres; hence it becomes very useful in certain cases of debility, especially in habits disposed to create acidity; and in the low stage of typhus fevers.
Dose
.—It is impossible to fix anything like a dose for this remedy, as much will depend upon the individual; but diluted with water and sweetened with sugar, from half an ounce to two ounces may be given three or four times a day. In cases of extreme debility, however, much will depend upon the disease.
Caution
.—Remember that alcohol is an irritant
poison
, and that daily indulgence in its use originates dyspepsia, or indigestion, and many other serious complaints. Of all kinds of spirits the best as a tonic and stomachic is
brandy
.
To-morrow, Sinks into the Silent Tomb.
694. Camphor
Camphor is not a very steady stimulant, as its effect is transitory; but in large doses it acts as a narcotic, abating pain and inducing sleep. In moderate doses it operates as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, increasing the heat of the body, allaying irritation and spasm.
It is
used externally
as a liniment when dissolved in oil, alcohol, or acetic acid, being employed to allay rheumatic pains; and it is also useful as an embrocation in sprains, bruises, chilblains, and, when combined with opium, it has been advantageously employed in flatulent colic, and severe diarrhœa, being rubbed over the bowels.
When reduced to a fine powder
, by the addition of a little spirit of wine and friction, it is very useful as a local stimulant to indolent ulcers, especially when they discharge a foul kind of matter; a pinch is taken between the finger and thumb, and sprinkled into the ulcer, which is then dressed as usual.
When dissolved in oil of turpentine
, a few drops placed in a hollow tooth and covered with jeweller's wool, or scraped lint, give almost instant relief to toothache.
Used internally
, it is apt to excite nausea, and even vomiting, especially when given in the solid form.
As a stimulant
it is of great service in all low fevers, malignant measles, malignant sore throat, and confluent small-pox; and when combined with opium and bark, it is extremely useful in checking the progress of malignant ulcers, and gangrene.
As a narcotic
it is very useful, because it allays pain and irritation, without increasing the pulse very much.
When powdered and sprinkled
upon the surface of a blister, it prevents the cantharides acting in a peculiar and painful manner upon the bladder.
Combined with senna
, it increases its purgative properties; and it is also used to correct the nausea produced by squills, and the irritating effects of drastic purgatives and mezereon.
Dose
, from four grains to half a scruple, repeated at short intervals when used in small doses, and long intervals when employed in large doses.
Doses of the various preparations
.—Camphor mixture, from half an ounce to three ounces; compound tincture of camphor (
paregoric elixir
), from fifteen minims to two drachms.
Caution
.—When given in an overdose it acts as a poison, producing vomiting, giddiness, delirium, convulsions, and sometimes death. Opium is the best antidote for camphor, whether in excess or taken as a poison.
Mode of exhibition
.—It may be rubbed up with almond emulsion, or mucilage, or the yolk of eggs, and by this means suspended in water, or combined with chloroform as a mixture, in which form it is a valuable stimulant in cholera and other diseases. (
See
Mixtures,
556
-
564
).
695. Ether
Ether is a diffusible stimulant, narcotic and antispasmodic.
696. Sulphuric Ether
Sulphuric Ether is used
externally
both as a stimulant and a refrigerant. In the former case its evaporation is prevented by covering a rag moistened with it with oiled silk, in order to relieve headache; and in the latter case it is allowed to evaporate, and thus produce coldness: hence it is applied over scalded surfaces by means of rags dipped in it.
As a local application
, it has been found to afford almost instant relief in earache, when combined with almond oil, and dropped into the ear.
It is used
internally
as a stimulant and narcotic in low fevers and cases of great exhaustion.
Dose
, from fifteen minims to half a drachm, repeated at short intervals, as its effects soon pass off. Give in a little camphor julep, or water.
697. Nitric Ether
Nitric Ether is a refrigerant, diuretic, and antispasmodic, well known as "
sweet spirit of nitre
."
Used externally
, its evaporation relieves headache, and it is sometimes applied to burns. It is used
internally
to relieve nausea, flatulence, and thirst in fevers; also as a diuretic.
Dose
, from ten minims to one drachm. The smaller dose taken in a little warm water or gruel is useful as a sudorific in cases of cold and chill, to induce and promote the proper action of the skin which has been checked. If a larger dose be taken, it acts as a diuretic and not as a sudorific, and so fails to produce the desired effect.
To-day, His Food is Dressed in Dainty Forms.
698. Compound Spirit of Sulphuric Ether
Compound Spirit of Sulphuric Ether is a very useful stimulant, narcotic, and antispasmodic.
Used internally
in cases of great exhaustion, attended with irritability.
Dose
, from half a drachm to two drachms, in camphor julep. When combined with laudanum, it prevents the nauseating effects of the opium, and acts more beneficially as a narcotic.
699. The Hop
The Hop is a narcotic, tonic, and diuretic; it reduces the frequency of the pulse, and does not affect the head, like most anodynes.
Used externally
, it acts as an anodyne and discutient, and is useful as a fomentation for painful tumours, rheumatic pains in the joints, and severe contusions. A pillow stuffed with hops acts as a narcotic. When the powder is mixed with lard, it acts as an anodyne dressing in painful ulcers.
Dose
, of the
extract
, from five grains to one scruple; of the
tincture
, from half a drachm to two drachms; of the
powder
, from three! grains to one scruple; of the
infusion
, half an ounce to one and a half ounce.
700. Opium
Opium is a stimulant, narcotic, and anodyne.
Used externally
it acts almost as well as when taken into the stomach, and without affecting the head or causing nausea. Applied to irritable ulcers in the form of tincture, it promotes their cure, and allays pain. Cloths dipped in a strong solution, and applied over painful bruises, tumours, or inflamed joints, allay pain. A small piece of solid opium stuffed into a hollow tooth relieves toothache. A weak solution of opium forms a valuable collyrium in ophthalmia. Two drops of the wine of opium dropped into the eye acts as an excellent stimulant in bloodshot eye; or after long-continued inflammation, it is useful in strengthening the eye. Applied as a liniment, in combination with ammonia and oil, or with camphorated spirit, it relieves muscular pain. When combined with oil of turpentine, it is useful as a liniment in spasmodic colic.
Used internally
, it acts as a very powerful stimulant: then as a sedative, and finally as an anodyne and narcotic, allaying pain in the most extraordinary manner, by acting directly upon the nervous system. In acute rheumatism it is a most excellent medicine when combined with calomel and tartrate of antimony; but its exhibition requires the judicious care of a medical man.
Doses of the various preparations.
—.
Confection of opium
, from five grains to half a drachm;
extract of opium
, from one to five grains (this is a valuable form, as it does not produce so much after derangement of the nervous system as solid opium);
pills of soap and opium
, from five to ten grains;
compound ipecacuanha powder
("Dover's Powder"), from ten to fifteen grains;
compound kino powder
, from five to fifteen grains;
wine of opium
, from ten minims to one drachm.
Caution
.—Opium is a powerful
poison
when taken in too large a quantity (
See
Poisons
,
pars
.
1340
-
1367
), and thus should be used with extreme caution. It is on this account that we have omitted some of its preparations. The best antidote for opium is camphor.
701. Antispasmodics
Antispasmodics are medicines which possess the power of overcoming the spasms of the muscles, or allaying any severe pain which is not attended by inflammation. The class includes a great many, but the most safe and serviceable are ammonia, assafœtida, galbanum, valerian, bark, ether, camphor, opium, and chloroform; with the minerals, oxide of zinc and calomel.
702. Ammonia
Ammonia, or Sal Volatile, is an antispasmodic antacid, stimulant and diaphoretic.
Used externally
, combined with oil, it forms a cheap and useful liniment, but it should be dissolved in
proof
spirit before the oil is added. One part of this salt, and three parts of extract of belladonna, mixed and spread upon leather, makes an excellent plaster for relieving rheumatic pains. As a local stimulant it is well known, as regards its effects in hysterics, faintness, and lassitude, when applied to the nose, as common smelling salts.
It is used
internally
as an adjunct to infusion of gentian in dyspepsia or indigestion, and in moderate doses in gout.
Dose
, from five to fifteen grains.
Caution
.—Overdoses act as a narcotic and irritant poison.
To-morrow, is Himself a Feast for Worms.
703. Bicarbonate of Ammonia
Bicarbonate of Ammonia is used internally the same as
sal volatile
.
Dose
, from six to twelve grains. It is frequently combined with Epsom salts.
704. Solution of Sesquicarbonate of Ammonia
Solution of Sesquicarbonate of Ammonia, used the same as
sal volatile
.
Dose
, from half a drachm to one drachm, combined with some milky fluid, like almond emulsion.
705. Asafœtida
Asafœtida is an antispasmodic, expectorant, excitant, and anthelmintic.
Used internally
, it is extremely useful in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, hysteria, and nervous diseases; and where there are no inflammatory symptoms, it is an excellent remedy in hooping cough and asthma.
Used locally
as an enema, it is useful in flatulent colic, and convulsions that come on through teething.
Doses of various preparations
.—
Solid gum
, from five to ten grains as pills;
mixture
, from half an ounce to one ounce;
tincture
, from fifteen minims to one drachm;
ammoniated tincture
, from twenty minims to one drachm.
Caution
. —Never give this drug when inflammation exists.
706. Galbanum
Galbanum is stimulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, and deobstruent.
Used externally
, it assists in dispelling tumours when spread upon indolent leather as a plaster, and is useful in weakness of the legs from rickets, being applied as a plaster to the loins.
Employed internally
, it is useful in chronic or old-standing rheumatism and hysteria.
Doses of preparations
.—Of the
gum
, from ten to fifteen grains as pills;
tincture
, from fifteen minims to one drachm. It may be made into an emulsion with mucilage and water.
707. Valerian
Valerian is a powerful antispasmodic, tonic, and excitant, acting chiefly on the nervous centres.
Used internally
, it is employed in hysteria, nervous languors, and spasmodic complaints generally. It is useful in low fevers.
Doses of various preparations
. —
Powder
, from ten grains to half a drachm, three or four times a day;
tincture
, from two to four drachms;
ammoniated tincture
, from one to two drachms;
infusion
, from two to three ounces, or more.