396 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant and ex- 

 pectorant. 



(c) Used in chronic bronchitis. 



(d) Dose. Five grains to half a drachm 

 twice a day. 



Acid, Carbolic {pure and impure'). A 

 powerful antiseptic substance, obtained from 

 coal tar oil. 



(a) Physical properties. The pure anhy- 

 drous acid is in long, colorless, prismatic crys- 

 tals, turning a pale pink on keeping. It rapidly 

 deliquesces in moist air. The impure is a 

 more or less brown liquid. Both strongly re- 

 semble tar in smell. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Strongly antisep- 

 tic, antifermentative, and caustic. 



(c) The pure acid is applied on cotton for 

 allaying tenderness and pain in decayed teeth. 

 Being a caustic, it should be carefully kept 

 from touching anything but the tooth ; when 

 properly used, it is the best application for 

 toothache arising from this cause, and is indeed 

 a specific. 



Dose. About a grain of the acid is enough 

 for toothache. One drachm of carbolic acid to 

 a pint of water is strong enough for disinfect- 

 ant purposes. 



Acid, Citric, prepared from the juice of 

 lemons. 



(a) Physical properties. Sharp acid taste, 

 white semi-transparent crystals of a rhom- 

 boidal shape. Decomposed by heat ; soluble in 

 twice their weight of cold, and half their 

 weight of boiling water. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Refrigerant. 



(c) Used in febrile and inflammatory com- 

 plaints ; dissolved in water as a substitute for 

 lemon juice, and added to soda to form the 

 common effervescing draught. 



(d) Dose. 10 grains to 1 scruple ; 15 

 grains of the acid neutralize 20 grains of bicar- 

 bonate of soda, to form the effervescing 

 draught. 



Acid, Gallic, prepared from galls. 



(a) Physical properties. A powder of nearly 

 colorless semi-crystalline appearance ; dissi- 

 pated by heat ; dissolves in water and spirit. 



(c) Used in discharges of blood and diar- 

 rhoea, and in other mucous discharges. Also 

 in hemorrhoids. 



(d) Dose. 2 to 5 grains. As an injection 

 half a drachm dissolved in one ounce of water ; 

 an ointment, 20 grains are mixed with an 

 ounce of lard, with the addition of 30 or 40 

 grains of powdered opium. 



Acid, Hydrochloric (diluted). Hydro- 

 chloric acid, mixed with three times its bulk 

 of water. 



(a) Physical properties. Taste, intensely 

 acrid and caustic ; smell, acrid and suffocating ; 



the acid is colorless when pure, but usually is 

 of a straw color, with the presence of peroxide 

 of iron, or nitrous acid. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Tonic, antiseptic, 

 and partially diuretic, by promoting all the 

 secretions. 



(c) Used, when combined with diluted nitric 

 acid, in affections of the liver ; also with bit- 

 ters, to prevent the generation of worms ; in 

 gargles for sore throat. 



(d) Dose. 20 minims to 40. 



Acid, Sulphuric (diluted). Sulphuric acid 

 mixed with about eleven times its bulk of 

 water. 



(a) Physical properties. Strong acid taste, 

 inodorous, colorless, and transparent. Specific 

 gravity, 1.103. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Tonic, astringent, 

 and antiseptic. 



(c) Used in dyspepsia, also to check sweat- 

 ings, salivation, and diarrhoea ; likewise as a 



e. 



(d) Dose. 10 minims to 30, diluted largely 

 (2 drachms to 8 ounces) as a gargle, with honey, 

 sage, etc. 



Acid, Tartaric. 



(a) Physical properties. Colorless imper- 

 fect crystals, inodorous, very acid, soluble, 

 largely in water. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Refrigerant, an- 

 tiseptic, diuretic, and slightly aperient. 



(c) Used in fevers, etc., with some soda or 

 potassium, as an effervescing draught, instead 

 of citric acid ; the proportions being the same. 



JEther, Sulphuric. 



(c) Physical properties. A limpid, volatile, 

 inflammable fluid, without color, produces great 

 cold by evaporation ; taste, peculiar, but hot 

 and pungent ; sparingly soluble in water, i-eadily 

 so in alcohol. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. A diffusible stim- 

 ulant, afterwards narcotic and antispasmodic ; 

 externally cooling ; when inhaled producing 

 anaesthesia. 



(c) Used in hysteria, faintings, asthma, and 

 other spasmodic complaints. 



(d) Dose. 20 minims to 60, in water. 

 Aloes, Barbadoes. The inspissated 



juice, of the cut leaf of the Aloe spictita, im- 

 ported from the Cape of Good Hope and West 

 Indies. 



(a) Physical properties. Of a dark brown 

 color, and shining resinous surface, with a 

 strong disagreeable odor, and very bitter taste ; 

 very difficult to powder, and soluble in diluted 

 alcohol. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. A stimulating pur- 

 gative, producing its chief effects on the lower 

 bowels. Apt to produce and aggravate hemor- 

 rhoids. 



