LAURUS CAMPHORA. ORD. XL. Oleraceee. 693 
exhibition. dt will appear clearly from what is said above, that it may be given in 
doses of very different quantities; and it appears to me from many trials; that doses 
of a few grains, repeated only after long intervals, have hardly any effect at all, 
and that, to obtain sensible effects from it, it must cither be given in large doses, 
not under that of twenty grains, or, if given in smaller doses, these must be 
repeated frequently after short intervals. The latter practice is preferred by some 
eminent practitioners. To what length in either way we may proceed, I have not 
experience enough to determine with any precision. From the effects of two 
scruples given in one dose in the case narrated above, and in another quoted from 
Dr. Hoffman, it would appear that such doses are violent and dangerous; but from 
some other experiments, it appears that larger doses have been sometimes given 
with impunity: and when it is given in divided doses, it appears from Collin’s 
experiments, that it may be given to the quantity of a dram, or two drams in the 
course of a day; and in one of his experiments it was given to the quantity of half 
an ounce: and the same will appear from the history which I haye giyen above. 
Itis probable that from large doses only, considerable effects are to be expected ; 
and as, from-many experiments, it appears that the effects of Camphire are not 
very durable in the body, it will be obvious that the repeated and Jong continued 
use of it may be necessary to the cure of several diseases. 
‘¢ With respect to. the exhibition of this medicine, it is, in the first place, 
necessary that it should be always very minutely divided, as we know it is not 
readily dissolved in the stomach;' and while it remains there, it will float on the 
surface of the other eontents, and in that way be applied to the upper orifice of 
the stomach, and give occasion to some pain there. It ought therefore to be 
minutely divided before it be given; and this ben's oe ose -. rubbing it first in 2 
mortar with any ary p owder, such as nitre or to make certain of 
a minute division, it is pro er at the same time to add a few — of rectified spirit 
of wine, or of such other spirituous menstruum as the spiritus vitrioli dulcis, or 
liquor anodynus mineralis of Hoffman. 
“¢ Jt may also be divided by rubbing it with the mucilage of gum arabic; but this 
will also be more perfectly executed if the Camphire is previously dissolved by 2 
little spirit of wine or expressed oil. By its being diffused in the mucilage of gum 
atabic,it-may be agaig diffused in any watery fluid for more convenient exhibition; 
. but it is to be observed, that Camphire diffused in a watery fluid is ready to exhale 
from it, or arise to its surface, and to render the exhibition more disagreeable. 
When, therefore, any large quantity of water in which Camphire is diffused is to 
be prepared at once, it is proper to employ some means for entangling the Cam- 
phire. Sugar alone does not seem to be sufficient for the purpose; and it is more 
Lc Meee ee eae Oe Soe 
Fothergill, Med. Observ. 5's. vole in fo 48 
No. 51.—vot, 4, "= x 
