402 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



(rf) Dose. drachm to 1 drachm or 2. 



Magnesia, Sulphate of. Epsom salts. 



(a) Physical properties. Small, pointed crys- 

 tals of a transparent, colorless appearance ; in- 

 odorous, with a disagreeable bitter taste ; 

 dissolves readily in water. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Purgative. 



(c) Used as a cooling laxative, washing the 

 bowels out, but not searching them. 



(e?) Dose. 1 drachm to 1 ounce. 



Marsh Mallows. 



(a) Physical properties. A root; long cylin- 

 drical ; grayish without, white within ; inodor- 

 ous ; taste sweetish. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Soothing. 



(c) Used to make a soothing drink in irrita- 

 tion of the mucous membranes, or as a fomen- 

 tation ; boiling the leaves and roots to form it. 



Mercury, Ammonia-chloride of. 

 White precipitate. 



(a) Physical properties. A white, inodorous 

 powder ; insipid, insoluble in water and alcohol. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Used externally 

 only ; it is detergent. 



(c) Used for cutaneous diseases and for de- 

 stroying lice, etc., iu its powdered condition. 



Mercury, Mild Chloride of. Calomel. 



(a) Physical properties. A white, semi-trans- 

 parent crystalline mass, inodorous, insipid, 

 and insoluble. Usually sold as a heavy white 

 powder. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Alterative, purga- 

 tive, and producing absorption. 



(c) Used in chronic diseases of the liver and 

 general torpidity of the stomach and bowels ; 

 in dropsy, in combination with other medi- 

 cines. A most dangerous medicine when em- 

 ployed by those who are not aware of its 

 powerful effects. 



(rf) Dose. 1 grain twice a day as an alter- 

 ative, 4 to 5 grains as an aperient, combined 

 with, or followed by, some mild vegetable pur- 

 gative. 



Mercury, Nitric Oxide of. Red pre- 

 cipitate. 



(a) Physical properties. A powder of a 

 brilliant red color, insoluble in water. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant, external. 



(c) Used in old ulcers and to heal indolent 

 sores of all kinds wfyen made into an ointment 

 with lard. (See Ointments.) 



Mint-water. Prepared from peppermint 

 or spearmint. These are sold in the shops. 



(a) Therapeutical effects. Both are carmin- 

 ative and slightly stimulating. Spearmint 

 water is also diuretic. 



(ft) Used as a vehicle for other remedies. 



Mixture of Chalk. 



(a) Rub ounce of prepared chalk and 3 

 drachms of sugar with a fluid ounce and a half 



of mixture of acacia and 8 fluid ounces of cin- 

 namon water. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Anti-acid, absorb- 

 ent, and astringent when given in diarrhoea. 



(c) Used in diarrhoea. 



(d) Dose. A tablespoonful every two hours. 

 Mixture of Iron (compound). 



(of) Rub 2 drachms of powdered myrrh and 1 

 drachm of carbonate of potassium with a fluid 

 ounce of spirit of nutmeg ; to these, while 

 rubbing, add 18 fluid ounces of rose-water, 2 

 drachms of sugar, and 2 scruples of pow- 

 dered sulphate of iron. Put the mixture in a 

 well-stoppered bottle. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Stomachic, as- 

 tringent, tonic, emmenagogue. 



(c) Used in chlorotic girls, and in all the 

 defective secretions of young females. 



(d) Dose. 1 to 1 ounce. 

 Ointment of Creosote. 



(a) Rub half a fluid drachm of creosote 

 with an ounce of lard, until they are incor- 

 porated. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant. 



(c) Used in scald head, etc. 



Ointment of Galls (cojnpound). 



(a) Mix 6 drachms of finely powdered galls, 

 6 ounces of lard, and 1 drachm of powdered 

 opium. 



(ft) Astringent and anodyne. 



(c) Used for hemorrhoids ; but one quarter 

 of the quantity of gallic acid answers much 

 better. 



Ointment of Green Iodide of Mer- 

 cury. 



(a) Mix from 30 grains to 1 drachm of green 

 iodide of mercury with 1 ounce of lard. 



(ft) Used in scald head, for which it is very 

 efficacious. 



Ointment of Nitric Oxide of Mer- 

 cury. 



(a) Rub 1 ounce of finely powdered nitric 

 oxide of mercury with 10 ounces of wax, and 

 6 ounces of lard. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant. 



(c) Used in indolent ulcers. 



Ointment of Zinc. 



(a) Mix 1 drachm of oxide of zinc with 6 

 drachms of lard. 



(ft) Used as a cooling, astringent, and dry- 

 ing ointment. 



Olive Oil. 



(a) Physical properties. A transparent 

 fixed oil, of a yellowish color ; inodorous and 

 without much taste. 



(ft) Therapeutical effects. Soothing, and 

 slightly aperient. 



(c) Used in bronchial irritation ; also as a 

 vehicle for other medicines in the form of lini- 

 ment. 



