Dose for children
, from one to two drachms; and for
adults
, from one to two ounces, combined with rhubarb and cinnamon water.
734. Tamarinds
Tamarinds are generally laxative and refrigerant. As it is agreeable, this medicine will generally be eaten by children when they will not take other medicines.
Dose
, from half to one ounce. As a refrigerant beverage in fevers it is extremely grateful.
To-morrow, in a Coffin is Confined.
735. Castor Oil
Castor Oil is a most valuable medicine, as it generally operates quickly and mildly.
It is
used externally,
combined with citron ointment, as a topical application in common leprosy.
It is
used internally
as an ordinary purgative for infants, as a laxative for adults, and in diarrhœa and dysentery. In colic it is very useful and safe; and also after delivery.
Dose
for
infants,
from forty drops to two drachms; for
adults,
from half an ounce to one and a half ounces.
736. Sulphur
Sublimed sulphur is laxative and diaphoretic.
It is
used externally
in skin diseases, especially itch, both in the form of ointment and as a vapour bath.
It is
used internally
in hemorrhoids, combined with magnesia, as a laxative for children, and as a diaphoretic in rheumatism.
Dose,
from one scruple to two drachms, mixed in milk or with treacle. When combined with an equal proportion of cream of tartar, it acts as a purgative.
737. Magnesia
Calcined magnesia
possesses the same properties as the carbonate.
Dose,
from ten to thirty grains, in milk or water.
Carbonate of magnesia
is an antacid and laxative, and is very useful for children when teething, and for heartburn in adults.
Dose,
from a half to two drachms, in water or milk.
Fluid Magnesia
is a useful preparation by whose use is avoided the grittiness that is inseparable from magnesia when taken in the form of powder.
738. Senna
Senna is a purgative, but is apt to gripe when given alone; therefore it is combined with some aromatic, such as cloves or ginger, and the infusion should be made with
cold
instead of hot water. It usually acts in about four hours, but its action should be assisted by drinking warm fluids.
Dose,
of the
confection,
commonly called
"lenitive electuary,"
from one to three or four drachma at bedtime; of the
infusion,
from one to two ounces; of the
tincture,
from one to two drachms; of the
syrup
(used for children), from one drachm to one ounce.
Caution.
—Do not give senna, in any form except confection, in hæmorrhoids, and never in irritability of the intestines.
739. Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a purgative, astringent and stomachic.
It is
used externally
in the form of powder to ulcers, to promote a healthy action.
It is given
internally
in diarrhœa, dyspepsia, and a debilitated state of the bowels. Combined with a mild preparation of calomel, it forms an excellent purgative for children.
Dose,
of the
infusion,
from one to two ounces; of the
powder
, from one scruple to half a drachm as a purgative, and from six to ten grains as a stomachic; of the
tincture
and
compound tincture,
from one to four drachms; of the
compound pill,
from ten to twenty grains.
740. Jalap
Jalap is a powerful cathartic and hydrogogue, and is therefore apt to gripe.
Dose,
of the
powder,
from ten to thirty grains, combined with a drop or two of aromatic oil; of the
compound powder,
from fifteen to forty grains; of the
tincture,
from one to three drachms; of the
extract,
from ten to twenty grains. The watery extract is better than the alcoholic.
741. Colocynth
Colocynth is a powerful drastic cathartic, and should never be given alone, unless ordered by a medical man, as its action is too violent for some constitutions.
Dose,
of the
extract,
from five to fifteen grains; of the
compound extract,
from five to fifteen grains; of the
compound colocynth pill,
the best of all its preparations, from ten to twenty grains.
742. Buckthorn
Buckthorn is a brisk purgative for children in the form of syrup.
Dose
of the
syrup
, from one to six drachms.
743. Aloes
Aloes is a purgative and cathartic in large, and tonic in smaller doses.
Dose,
of
powder,
from two to ten grains, combined with soap, bitter extracts, or other purgative medicines, and given in the form of pills; of the
compound pill,
from five to twenty grains; of the
pill of aloes
and
myrrh
from five to twenty grains; of the
tincture
, from four drachms to one ounce; of the
compound tincture
, from one to four drachms; of the
extract
, from six to ten grains; of the
compound decoction
, from four drachms to two ounces.
To-day, He Floats on Honour's Lofty Wave.
744. Cream of Tartar
Cream of Tartar is a purgative and refrigerant. It is
used internally
in dropsy, especially of the belly, in doses of from one scruple to one drachm. As a refrigerant drink it is dissolved in hot water, and sweetened with sugar, and is used in febrile diseases, care being taken not to allow it to rest too much upon the bowels.
Dose
, as a
purgative
, from two to four drachms, as a
hydrogogue
, from four to six drachms, mixed with honey or treacle.
Caution.
—Its use should be followed by tonics, especially gentian and angostura.
745. Scammony
Scammony is a drastic purgative, generally acting quickly and powerfully; sometimes producing nausea, and even vomiting, and being very apt to gripe.
It is
used internally
, to produce watery evacuations in dropsy, to remove intestinal worms, and correct the slimy motions of children.
Dose
, of the
powder
, from five to sixteen grains, given in liquorice water, treacle, or honey; of the
confection
, from twenty to thirty grains.
Caution.
—Do not give it in an irritable or inflamed state of the bowels.
746. Epsom Salts
Epsom Salts is a purgative and diuretic. This medicine generally operates quickly, and therefore is extremely useful in acute diseases. It is found to be beneficial in dyspepsia when combined with infusion of gentian and a little ginger. It forms an excellent enema with olive oil.
Dose
, from a half to two ounces, dissolved in warm tea or water. Infusion of roses partially covers its taste and assists its action.
Note
, that with regard to Epsom salts, the
larger in reason
is the amount of water in which they are taken, the
smaller
the dose of salts required: thus, half an ounce properly dissolved may be made a strong dose. The action and efficacy of Epsom salts may be greatly increased by adding one grain of tartar emetic to a dose of salts.
747. Glauber's Salt
Glauber's Salt is a very good purgative.
Dose
, from a half to two ounces, dissolved in warm water
748. Sulphate of Potash
Sulphate of Potash is a cathartic and deobstruent. It is
used internally
, combined with aloes or rhubarb, in obstructions of the bowels, and is an excellent saline purgative in dyspepsia and jaundice.
Dose
, from ten grains to one drachm.
749. Venice Turpentine
Venice Turpentine is cathartic, diuretic, stimulant, and anthelmintic.
It is
used externally
as a rubefacient, and is given
internally
in flatulent colic, in tapeworm, rheumatism, and other diseases.
Dose
, as a
diuretic
, from ten grains to one drachm; as a
cathartic
, from ten to twelve drachms; as an
anthelmintic
, from one to two ounces every eight hours, till the worm be ejected.
750. Diuretics
Diuretics are medicines which promote an increased secretion of urine. They consist of nitre, acetate of potassa, squills, juniper, oil of turpentine, and others, vegetable and mineral.
751. Nitre
Nitre is a diuretic and refrigerant.
It is
used externally
as a detergent when dissolved in water, and as a lotion to inflamed and painful rheumatic joints.
It is given
internally
in doses of from ten grains to half a drachm, or even one drachm; in spitting blood it is given in one drachm doses with great benefit. It is beneficial in sore throat, a few grains being allowed to dissolve in the mouth.
752. Acetate of Potassa
Acetate of Potassa is diuretic and cathartic.
It is given
internally
as a diuretic, in combination with infusion of quassia; in dropsy, in doses of from one scruple to one drachm, every three or four hours.
Dose
, as a
cathartic
, from two to three drachms.
753. Squills
Squills is diuretic and expectorant when given in small doses; and emetic and purgative when given in large doses.
It is
used internally
in dropsy, in combination with calomel and opium; in asthma, with ammoniacum; in catarrh, in the form of oxymel.
Dose
, of the
dried bulb powdered
, from one to two grains every six hours; of the
compound pill
, from ten to fifteen grains; of the
tincture
, from ten minims to half a drachm; of the
oxymel
, from a half to two drachms; of the
vinegar
, from twenty minims to two drachms.
To-morrow, Leaves his Title for a Grave.
754. Juniper
Juniper is diuretic and stomachic.
It is given
internally
in dropsy.
Dose
, of the
infusion
, from two to three ounces every four hours, of the
oil
, from one to five minims.
755. Oil of Turpentine
Oil of Turpentine is a diuretic, anthelmintic, and rubefacient.
It is
used externally
in flatulent colic, sprinkled over flannels dipped in hot water and wrung out dry.
It is
used internally
in the same diseases as
Venice turpentine
.
Dose
, from five minims to two drachms.
756. Diaphoretics
Diaphoretics are medicines given to increase the secretion from the skin by sweating. They comprise acetate of ammonia, calomel, antimony, opium, camphor, sarsaparilla.
757. Solution of Acetate of Ammonia
Solution of Acetate of Ammonia is a most useful diaphoretic.
It is
used externally
as a discutient, as a lotion to inflamed milk-breasts, as an eye-wash, and a lotion in scald head.
It is given
internally
to promote perspiration in febrile diseases, which it does most effectually, especially when combined with camphor mixture. This is the article so frequently met with in prescriptions, and called spirits of mindercrus.
Dose
, from a half to one and a half ounces every three or four hours.
758. Antimony.—Tartar emetic
Tartar emetic
is diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, alterative, and rubefacient.
It is
used externally
as an irritant in white swellings and deep-seated inflammations, in the form of an ointment.
It is given
internally
in pleurisy, bilious fevers, and many other diseases, but its exhibition requires the skill of a medical man, to watch its effects.
Dose
, from one-sixth of a grain to four grains.
Caution
. —It is a
poison
, and therefore requires great care in its administration.
759. Antimonial Powder
Antimonial Powder is a diaphoretic, emetic, and alterative.
It is given
internally
, in febrile diseases, to produce determination to the skin, and is useful in rheumatism, when combined with opium or calomel.