DOMESTIC ECONOMY, HYGIENE, DIETETICS. 



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(d) Dose. 1 to 2 drachms. 

 Peruvian Balsam. 



(a) Physical properties. Of the consistence 

 of honey ; color, brown ; agreeable smell, and 

 hot, acrid taste. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant, expec- 

 torant ; externally applied to indolent ulcers. 



(c) Used in catarrh and chronic rheumatism. 



(d) Dose. 15 minims to half a drachm. 

 Pill of Mercury. Blue pill. 



(a) The metal partially oxidated, and mixed 

 with confection of roses. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Alterative and 

 purgative, especially on the liver. 



(c) Used in dyspepsia, torpidity of the liver, 

 and constipation. 



(d) Dose. 1 to 5 or 6 grains. 

 Pill of Rhubarb (compound). 



(a) Made up of rhubarb, aloes, and myrrh. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Laxative. 



(c) Used in dyspepsia and constipation. 



(d) Dose. Two at bedtime. 



Pitch, Burgundy. The impure resin of 

 the Norway spruce fir. 



(a) Physical properties. A tenacious mass, 

 of fragrant odor, semi-transparent, and unc- 

 tuous. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant and 

 rubefacient. 



(c) Used externally in the form of a plaster 

 in bronchitis, whooping cough, etc. 



Poultice of Charcoal. 



(a) Macerate for a short time before the 

 fire 2 ounces of bread in 2 fluid ounces of boil- 

 ing water ; then mix and gradually stir in 10 

 drachms of linseed meal ; with these mix 

 2 drachms of powdered charcoal, and sprinkle 

 a drachm on the surface. 



(b) Antiseptic and digestive. 



(c) Used in gangrene. 

 Poultice of Hemlock. 



(a) Make a poultice of linseed meal ; then 

 add 1 ounce of extract of hemlock previously 

 softened with water, or 4 ounces of the fresh 

 leaves scalded and bruised. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Anodyne and dis- 

 cutient. 



(c) Used in glandular swellings and cancer- 

 ous sores. 



Poultice of Linseed. 



(a) Put into a basin enough meal to form a 

 poultice, making a hole in its center ; then 

 pour upon it boiling water to fill that hole, 

 and stir rapidly with a kitchen knife. This 

 will generally be sufficient to make the poul- 

 tice of the proper consistency. It is always 

 better to add enough water at first, as it is not 

 so smooth if added piecemeal. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant, and yet 

 soothing. 



(c) Used for abscesses and ulcers when in- 

 flamed. 

 Poultice of Mustard. 



(a) Make either a bread or a linseed-meal 

 poultice, then sprinkle over it enough flour of 

 mustard to conceal its surface, and wet it with 

 a little boiling water. Some people add hot 

 vinegar to wet it with. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stimulant, and 

 often inclined to blister the skin. 



(c) Used as a rapid counter-irritant. 

 Poultice of Yeast. 



(a) Mix 5 ounces of yeast with an equal 

 quantity of water, at 100 degrees ; with these 

 stir up a pound of flour, so as to make a poul- 

 tice ; place it by the fire till it swells, and use. 



(b) Stimulant, emollient. 



(c) Used for indolent abscesses and sores. 

 Powder of Ipecacuanha (compound). 



Dover's powder. 



(a) Physical properties. Compound of opium, 

 ipecacuanha, and sulphate of potassium. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Diaphoretic, ano- 

 dyne, arid narcotic. . 



(c) Used to produce perspiration in rheuma- 

 tism and dysentery, etc. . 



(d) Dose. 5 to 10 grains. 

 Quinine, Sulphate of. 



(a) Physical properties. Colorless, inodor- 

 ous, lustrous, bitter efflorescent crystals, totally 

 soluble in water previously acidulated with 

 sulphuric acid. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Stomachic, stimu- 

 lant, febrifuge, and tonic. 



(c) Used in general debility, neuralgia, and 

 after fever. 



(d) Dose. 1 to 3 grains. 



Rhubarb. The root, whole and powdered. 



(a) Physical properties. The root is in firm, 

 flattish, irregular pieces, occasionally pierced 

 with large holes ; color, bright yellow, exter- 

 nally ; odor, peculiar and aromatic ; taste, bit- 

 ter, astringent, and somewhat nauseous ; im- 

 parts its virtue to water and alcohol. The 

 powder is of a reddish yellow. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Purgative and 

 stomachic ; acting on the small bowels. 



(c) Used as a mild purgative in the consti- 

 pation of children and adults. 



(d) Dose. 10 to 30 grains. 

 Saffron. 



(a) A coloring matter obtained from the 

 Crocus sativus. 

 Senna. The leaves. 



(a) Physical properties. Leaves of a pale 

 green color ; leaflets broad, lanceolate ; the 

 two sides unequal ; odor faint, somewhat like 

 green tea ; taste, nauseous and bitter. Yields 

 its properties to spirit and water. 



(b) Therapeutical effects. Cathartic. 



