398 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



Cantharides, Plaster of. Blistering 

 plaster. Sometimes prepared in the form of a 

 tissue paper, imbued with the active principle. 



(a) Physical properties. The plaster is a 

 firm preparation requiring the warmth of the 

 hand to enable it to be spread upon leather or 

 calico. It soon spoils by keeping ; and if more 

 than a month old should, after spreading, be 

 dusted over with powdered cantharides. 



(7>) Therapeutical effects. To raise the cuti- 

 cle from the cutis, producing at the same time 

 a large secretion of serous fluid. The time 

 varies from 3 hours to 12, or even more. In 

 babies the blister should always be carefully 

 watched after 3 hours, as it often rises rapidly 

 and would be liable to produce severe ulcera- 

 tion of the skin. Blistering may be promoted 

 by applying a poultice after the removal of the 

 cantharides. 



Capsicum. 



(a) Physical Properties. Berries of a red 

 color, and an extremely pungent odor and 

 teste, which is yielded to alcohol, ether, vine- 

 gar, and water. 



(6) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant, stom- 

 achic, and rubefacient. 



(c) Used in dyspepsia, flatulence ; externally, 

 as an ingredient in gargles for relaxed sore 

 throat. 



(d) Dose. 3 grains to 5 grains, in pills ; 2 

 drachms to 8 ounces form the strength for using 

 as a gargle diluted largely with water. 



Castor Oil, obtained from Ricinus corn- 

 munis. 



(a) Physical properties. A pale yellow- 

 colored, transparent and viscid oil, with a 

 faint odor and nauseous taste. 



(J) Therapeutical effects. Mildly aperient. 



(c) Used in colic and in those cases of con- 

 stipation which will not bear drastic purga- 

 tives ; also for mixing with gruel for the ordi- 

 nary enema. 



(d) Dose. A teaspoonful to one or two 

 tablespoonf uls ; an ounce is the proper quan- 

 tity for mixing with gruel to make an enema. 



Cerate. A species of ointment made rather 

 hard with wax. 



(a) Simple Cerate . Add 20 ounces of 

 melted wax to a pint of olive oil, and mix while 

 warm, stirring till cold. 



(6) Cerate of Spermaceti. Melt to- 

 gether eight ounces of white wax and ten of 

 spermaceti ; then add a pint of olive oil, and 

 stir together till they cool. 



(c) Cerate of Acetate of Tjead. Melt 

 four ounces of white wax in eight fluid ounces 

 of olive oil ; then gradually add four drachms 

 of powdered acetate of lead, previously rubbed 

 with two fluid ounces of olive oil, and stir with 

 a spatula till they unite. 



(d) Cerate of Resiu. Mix together 16 

 ounces each of resin and wax, and melt them 

 over a slow fire ; then add a pint of olive oil, 

 and press the cerate, while hot, through a linen 

 cloth. 



Chalk, prepared. Friable carbonate of 

 lime, rubbed into a fine powder and washed. 



(a) Physical properties. An inodorous, in- 

 sipid, white, friable powder, heavy, and insolu- 

 ble in water. 



(i) Therapeutical effects. Anti-acid, astring- 

 ent, and absorbent. 



(c) Used in acidities of the stomach and 

 bowels, and to correct the irritation which is 

 established in diarrhoea. Externally as a mild 

 application of sores and burns. 



(J) Dose. 10 to 15 grains. 



Chamomile Flowers. 



(a) Physical properties. 



The flowers are small, with a strong, fr& 

 grant odor, and bitter aromatic taste, an<4 

 some slight degree of warmth. Water and al- 

 cohol both absorb the virtues of this plant. 



(6) Therapeutical effects. Tonic, stomachic, 

 and carminative. The warm infusion, when 

 weak, is emetic. Externally soothing. 



(c) Used in dyspepsia, hysteria, flatulence, 

 and also to work off emetics. 



(d) Dose of the powder. 30 to 40 grains 

 twice a day. The infusion a half ounce to a 

 pint of water is usually preferred. 



Chloride of Zinc. A combination of 

 Zinc with chlorine. 



(a) Physical properties. In solid piece, 

 snow-white, inodorous, having a strongly styp- 

 tic and metallic taste. 



(6) Powerfully caustic, destroying the vital- 

 ity of the part with which it is in contact, and 

 causing very severe pain. In solution it is 

 used as a disinfectant, appearing to act more 

 energetically than chlorinated soda or lime, 

 with a less disagreeable odor of chlorine. 



(c) Used as a caustic in cancer and fungoid 

 disease. In solution, it is applied to cutaneous 

 diseases, and to mucous membranes, but re- 

 quires great caution in its use. As a disin- 

 fectant, it must be largely diluted. (See DIS- 

 INFECTANTS.) 



Cincona Bark (yellow"). 



(a) Physical properties. Larger, thicker, and 

 less rolled than the pale bark. Externally of 

 u brownish yellow, and internally of a cinna- 

 mon brown. The fracture is fibrous ; taste 

 bitter, and less aromatic than the pale, with 

 scarcely any degree of astringency. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Astringent, tonic, 

 antiseptic, and febrifuge. 



(c) Used in typhoid fevers, and in all low 

 states of the system, being in such cases su- 

 perior to quinine. 



