708. Peruvian Bark
Bark, or, as it is commonly called, Peruvian bark, is an antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, and stomachic.
Used externally
, it is an excellent detergent for foul ulcers, and those that heal slowly.
Used internally
, it is particularly valuable in intermittent fever or ague, malignant measles, dysentery, diarrhœa, intermittent rheumatism, St. Vitus's dance, indigestion, nervous affections, malignant sore throat, and erysipelas; its use being indicated in all cases of debility.
Doses of its preparations
.—
Powder
, from five grains to two drachms, mixed in wine, water, milk, syrup, or solution of liquorice;
infusion
, from one to three ounces;
decoction
, from one to three ounces;
tincture
and
compound tincture
, each from one to three drachms.
Caution
.—If it causes oppression at the stomach, combine it with an aromatic; if it causes vomiting, give it in wine or soda water; if it purges, give opium; and if it constipates give rhubarb.
709. Sulphuric Ether
Sulphuric Ether is given internally as an antispasmodic in difficult breathing and spasmodic asthma; also in hysteria, cramp of the stomach, hiccough, locked jaw, and cholera. It is useful in checking sea-sickness.
Dose
, from twenty minims to one drachm.
Caution
.—An overdose produces apoplectic symptoms.
To-day He's Clad in Gaudy, Rich Array
710. Camphor (2)
Camphor is given internally as an antispasmodic in hysteria, cramp in the stomach, flatulent colic, and St. Vitus's dance.
Dose
, from two to twenty grains.
711. Opium (2)
Opium is employed internally in spasmodic affections, such as cholera, spasmodic asthma, whooping cough, flatulent colic, and St. Vitus's dance.
Dose
, from one-sixth of a grain to two grains of the solid opium, according to the disease.
712. Oxide of Zinc
Oxide of Zinc is an antispasmodic, astringent, and tonic.
Used externally
, as an ointment, it forms an excellent astringent in affections of the eyelids, arising from relaxation; or as a powder, it is an excellent detergent for unhealthy ulcers.
Used internally
, it has proved efficacious in St. Vitus's dance, and some other spasmodic affections.
Dose
, from one to six grains twice a day.
713. Calomel
Calomel is an antispasmodic, alterative deobstruent, purgative, and errhine.
Used internally
, combined with opium, it acts as an antispasmodic in locked jaw, cholera, and many other spasmodic affections. As an alterative and deobstruent, it has been found useful in leprosy and itch, when combined with antimonials and guaiacum, and in enlargement of the liver and glandular affections. It acts beneficially in dropsies, by producing watery motions. In typhus it is of great benefit when combined with antimonials; and it may be given as a purgative in almost any disease, provided there is not any inflammation of the bowels, irritability of the system, or great debility.
Dose
, as a deobstruent and alterative, from one to five grains, daily; as a cathartic, from five to fifteen grains; to produce ptyalism, or salivation, from one to two grains, in a pill, with a quarter of a grain of opium, night and morning.
Caution
.—When taking calomel, exposure to cold or dampness should be guarded against, as such an imprudence would bring out an eruption of the skin, attended with fever. When this does occur, leave off the calomel, and give bark, wine, and purgatives; take a warm bath twice a day, and powder the surface of the body with powdered starch.
714. Tonics
Tonics are given to improve the tone of the system, and restore the natural energies and general strength of the body. They consist of bark, quassia, gentian, camomile, wormwood, and angostura bark.
715. Quassia
Quassia is a simple tonic, and can be used with safety by any one, as it does not increase the animal heat, or quicken the circulation.
Used internally
, in the form of infusion, it has been found of great benefit in indigestion and nervous irritability, and is useful after bilious fevers and diarrhœa.
Dose
, of the
infusion
, from one and a half to two ounces, three times a day.
716. Gentian
Gentian is an excellent tonic and stomachic; but when given in large doses, it acts as an aperient.
It is
used internally
in all cases of general debility, and when combined with bark is used in intermittent fevers. It has also been employed in indigestion, and it is sometimes used, combined with sal volatile, in that disease; but, at other times alone, in the form of infusion. After diarrhœa, it proves a useful tonic. Its infusion is sometimes applied
externally
to foul ulcers.
Dose
, of the
infusion
, one and a half to two ounces; of the
tincture
, one to four drachms; of the
extract
, from ten to thirty grains.
717. Camomile
The flowers of the camomile are tonic, slightly anodyne, antispasmodic, and emetic.
They are
used externally
as fomentations, in colic, faceache, and tumours, and to unhealthy ulcers.
They are
used internally
in the form of infusion, with carbonate of soda, ginger, and other stomachic remedies, in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, debility following dysentery and gout. Warm infusion of the flowers acts as an emetic; and the powdered flowers are sometimes combined with opium or kino, and given in intermittent fevers.
Dose
, of the
powdered
flowers, from ten grains to one drachm, twice or thrice a day; of the
infusion
, from one to two ounces, as a tonic, three times a day: and from six ounces to one pint as an emetic; of the
extract
, from five to twenty grains.
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718. Wormwood
Wormwood is a tonic and anthelmintic.
It is
used externally
as a discutient and antiseptic.
It is used
internally
in long-standing cases of dyspepsia, in the form of infusion, with or without aromatics. It has also been used in intermittents.
Dose
, of the
infusion
, from one to two ounces, three times a day; of the
powder
, from one to two scruples.
719. Angostura Bark
Angostura Bark, or Cusparia, is a tonic and stimulant. It expels flatulence, increases the appetite, and produces a grateful warmth in the stomach.
It is
used internally
in intermittent fevers, dyspepsia, hysteria, and all cases of debility, where a stimulating tonic is desirable, particularly after bilious diarrhœa.
Dose
, of the
powder
, from ten to fifteen grains, combined with cinnamon powder, magnesia, or rhubarb; of the
extract
, from three to ten grains; of the
infusion
, from one to two ounces.
Caution
. —This drug should never be given in inflammatory diseases or hectic fever.
720. Astringents
Astringents are medicines given for the purpose of diminishing excessive discharges, and to act indirectly as tonics. This class includes catechu, kino, oak bark, log wood, rose leaves, chalk, and white vitriol.
721. Catechu
Catechu is a most valuable astringent.
It is
used externally
, when powdered, to promote the contraction of flabby ulcers. As a local astringent it is useful in relaxed uvula, a small piece being dissolved in the mouth; small, spotty ulcerations of the mouth and throat, and bleeding gums, and for these two affections it is used in the form of infusion to wash the parts.
It is
given internally
in diarrhœa, dysentery, and hemorrhage from the bowels.
Dose
, of the
infusion
, from one to three ounces; of the
tincture
, from one to four drachms; of the
powder
, from ten to thirty grains.
Caution
.—It must not be given with soda or any alkali; nor metallic salts, albumen, or gelatine, as its property is destroyed by this combination.
722. Kino
Kino is a powerful astringent.
It is
used externally
to ulcers, to give tone to them when flabby, and discharging foul and thin matter.
It is
used internally
in the same diseases as catechu.
Dose
, of the powder, from ten to fifteen grains; of the
tincture
, from one to two drachms; of the
compound powder
, from ten to twenty grains; of the
infusion
, from a half to one and a half ounce.
Caution
.—Kino is used in combination with calomel, when salivation is intended, to prevent, by its astringency, the action of the calomel on the bowels, and thereby insure its affecting the constitution.— (See
Catechu
).
723. Oak Bark
Oak Bark is an astringent and tonic.
It is
used externally
in the form of decoction, to restrain bleeding from lacerated surfaces. As a local astringent, it is used in the form of decoction, as a gargle in sore throat and relaxed uvula.
It is
used internally
in the same diseases as catechu, and when combined with aromatics and bitters, in intermittent fevers.
Dose
of the
powder
, from fifteen to thirty grains; of the
decoction
, from two to eight drachms.
724. Logwood
Logwood is not a very satisfactory astringent.
It is
used internally
in diarrhœa, the last stage of dysentery, and a lax state of the intestines.
Dose
, of the
extract
, from ten grains to one drachm; of the
decoction
from one to three ounces, three or four times a day.
725. Rose Leaves
Rose Leaves are stringent and tonic.
They are
used internally
in spitting of blood, hemorrhage from the stomach, intestines, &c., as a gargle for sore throat, and for the night sweats of consumption. The infusion is frequently used as a tonic with diluted sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol), after low fevers, or in combination with Epsom salts and sulphuric acid in certain states of the bowels.
Dose
of
infusion
, from two to four ounces.
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726. Chalk
Chalk, when prepared by washing, becomes an astringent as well as antacid.
It is
used internally
in diarrhœa, in the form of mixture, and
externally
as an application to burns, scalds, and excoriations.
Dose
of the
mixture
, from one to two ounces.
727. White Vitriol
White Vitriol, or Sulphate of Zinc, is an astringent, tonic, and emetic.
It is
used externally
as a collyrium for ophthalmia (See
Domestic Pharmacopœia,
), and as a detergent for scrofulous ulcers, in the proportion of three grains of the salt to one ounce of water.
It is
used internally
in indigestion, and many other diseases;
but it should not be given unless ordered by a medical man, as it is a poison.
728. Local Stimulants
Local stimulants comprise emetics, cathartics, diuretics, diaphoretics, expectorants, sialogogues, errhines, and epispastics.
729. Emetics
Emetics are medicines given for the purpose of causing vomiting, as in cases of poisoning. They consist of ipecacuanha, camomile, antimony, copper, zinc, and several others.
730. Ipecacuanha
Ipecacuanha is an emetic, diaphoretic, and expectorant.
It is
used internally
to excite vomiting, in doses of from ten to twenty grains of the powder, or one to one and a half ounce of the infusion, every half hour until vomiting takes place. To make it act well and easily, the patient should drink half pints of warm water after each dose of the infusion. As a diaphoretic, it should be given in doses of three grains, mixed with some soft substance, such as crumbs of bread, and repeated every four hours.
Dose
of the
wine,
from twenty minims to one drachm as a diaphoretic, and from one drachm to one and a half ounces as an emetic.
Caution.
—Do not give more than the doses named above, because, although a safe emetic, yet it is an acrid narcotic poison.
731. Mustard
Mustard is too well known to require describing. It is an emetic, diuretic, stimulant, and rubefacient.
It is
used externally
as a poultice. Mustard poultices are made of the powder, bread crumbs, and water; or of one part of mustard to two of flour; or, especially for children, of linseed meal, mixed with a little of the powder, or having some of the powder slightly sprinkled on the surface. Sometimes a little vinegar is added under the idea that it increases the strength of the poultice, but this is not necessary. In all cases where a stimulant is required, such as sore throats, rheumatic pains in the joints, cholera, cramps in the extremities, diarrhœa, and many other diseases. When applied it should not he left on too long, as it is apt to cause ulceration of the part. From ten to thirty minutes is quite long enough.
When
used internally
as an emetic, a large teaspoonful mixed with a tumbler of warm water generally operates quickly and safely, frequently when other emetics have failed. In dropsy it is sometimes given in the form of whey, which is made by boiling half an ounce of the bruised seeds in a pint of milk, and straining off the curd.
From three to four ounces of this is to be taken for a dose three times a day.
732. Cathartics
Cathartics are divided into laxatives and purgatives. Manna, tamarinds, castor oil, sulphur, and magnesia are
laxatives
; senna, rhubarb, jalap, colocynth, buckthorn, aloes, cream of tartar, scammony, calomel, Epsom salts, Glauber's salts, sulphate of potash, and Venice turpentine are
purgatives
.
733. Manna
Manna is a very gentle laxative, and therefore used for children and delicate persons.