821 



PROVISIONS; PROVISOES. 



PRYTANIS. 



823 



PROVISIONS; PROVISORS. 



PROVOST, a term having its origin apparently in the Latin pros- 

 posit ut, which denotes the chief of any society, body, or community. 

 In France the corresponding word prv6t approaches nearer the original 

 form. In that country it is applied to the persons who discharge the 

 functions of many different offices, but in England it is rarely used : 

 instances occur in the heads of certain colleges, as Eton, King's College 

 (Cambridge), &c. But in Scotland it is used to designate the chief 

 officer in cities, as the provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, where in 

 England the same officer is called the mayor. 



PROVOST-MARSHAL, a term adopted from the French, who 

 called an officer with similar functions the preVot des mareehaux de 

 France. The English provost-marshal is attached to the army, his 

 duty being to attend to offences committed against military discipline, 

 to seize and secure deserters and other criminals, to restrain the soldiery 

 from pilfering and rapine, to take measures for bringing offenders to 

 punishment, and to see to the execution of the sentences passed upon 

 them. 



PROXY. [LORDS, HOUSE OP.] 



PRURIGO is a disease of the skin characterised by an eruption of 

 small pimples and a moat intense burning sensation of itching. The 

 pimples are usually but slightly if at all red, and the skin between 

 them has its natural colour. They are generally seated about the 

 shoulders, back, and neck, but often also on the limbs, and in severe 

 cases even on the face and over a great part of the body. Their course 

 is always very slow, and they are not infectious. 



There are three principal varieties of Prurigo, namely, P. milit, P. 

 formicam, and P. scnilii; and besides these, some others are distin- 

 guished by the names of the parts which are in each exclusively or 

 chiefly affected. 



The Pruriyo mi/is is the mildest form of- the disease. The pimples 

 are very small, and so pale that they can scarcely be discerned, till, by 

 the scratching, which is almost unavoidably resorted to in order to 

 relieve the intolerable itching, their tops are torn off, and become 

 covered by little black scabs of dried blood. 



In P. formicam all the symptoms of the disease are more severe, 

 and the itching by which they are accompanied is united with a pain- 

 ful burning sensation in the skin, as if, patients say, hot needles were 

 constantly piercing it. Both this and the preceding form of Prurigo 

 may disappear with a slight desquamation in a few weeks, but more 

 commonly a succession of eruptions follow one another, and the disease 

 is prolonged for months or even years. Both of them occur in persons . 

 of all ranks and ages, but they are most common in the young and in 

 the old, and among those who enjoy fewest of the comforts of life. 

 They are not attended by any important constitutional disorder. 



Pruriyo lenilit, which ia by far the worst form of the disease, occurs 

 almost exclusively in enfeebled children and old people. It usually 

 lasts four years, producing all the time almost intolerable suffering by 

 the intense itching that attends it. and which scarcely admit* of relief 

 by any known means. The pimples are usually very numerous, and 

 often hard and prominent ; the skin between them is also often 

 thickened and indurated, other eruptions break out upon it, and if 

 cleanliness be not carefully observed, it becomes infested with swarms 

 of lice. 



The treatment of the first two forms of Prurigo must consist of a 

 mild antiphlogistic regimen, tepid baths, and the use of alkalies both 

 externally and internally. Stimulants of all kinds greatly increase 

 the pain and itching, but they may sometimes be relieved by the 

 application of ointments or lotions containing small quantities of 

 opium, or pmssic acid, or cyanuret of potassium. In the Prurigo Knilu 

 the regimen must be more nutritious, and tonic medicines are useful ; 

 but in this form, as well as in the others, stimulants must be avoided. 

 If the skin is infested with pediculi, the most effectual mode of 

 destroying them is fumigation with the vapour of cinnabar. In this 

 form also sulphur-baths are among the few means that will produce 

 any relief. The alkaline lotions, which may be used in all cases, may 

 be composed of one or two drachms of carbonate of potash to the 

 pint of water, or of from one to three drachms of sulphuret of potash 

 to the ame quantity of water, the strength being determined by the 

 irritability of the skin, and being always made less than sufficient to 

 excit ' T redness in it. 



PRUSSIC ACID. [CTANOUEN, Iti/rlrocyanic Add.] 



PRUSSIC ACIli, .l/../,VW /V ,,/ H rtie of. This is termed also, from 

 its chemical composition, hydrocyanic acid. Its medical employment, 

 and its connection with medical jurisprudence, from the frequent use 

 of it in cases of death, accidental or intentional, merit the most atten- 

 tive consideration. Hut these are unsuited for popular discussion. A 

 few important rules and cautions can alone be furnished here. 



Much variation in ntrength exists in the acid (that is, the dilute 

 acid, for the anhydrous is always of definite strength), owing to differ- 

 ent methods of preparation. Thus not only does a difference of 

 strength exist in the acid as it is enjoined to be prepared by the 

 K'liiilmrgh and London colleges, but even in England two preparations 

 are commonly met with, that enjoined by tin- London i'liarm.' 

 which contains 2 per cent, of real acid, and that which has been long 

 known as Scheete's, containing 4 per cent. The substitution of the 

 one for the other in preparing a prescription miyht lead to serious if 

 not fatal consequences. This anomaly will be removed by the General 



Pharmacopoeia now preparing for use through all Great Britain and 

 Ireland. A still greater difference exists in the strength of the pre- 

 parations met with in different countries of the Continent. No one 

 in travelling should ever prescribe prussic acid, unless he has previously 

 ascertained what preparation will be employed in compounding the 

 prescription. 



As it undergoes decomposition by time, especially" if exposed to 

 the light, and is readily volatilised at a high temperature, it should be 

 kept in the dark, and in a cool place. As it is specifically lighter than 

 water, it rises to the surface in watery fluids. The fluid in which it is 

 kq>t should be well shaken before pouring it out. When employed 

 externally as a lotion, in which case it is used in larger doses than 

 when meant for internal employment, great care should be observed to 

 distinguish it. lest it should be accidentally taken internally. This is 

 attempted to be accomplished by using phials of a peculiar shape and 

 colour. Even its external employment demands great care, for when 

 the cuticle is abraded or cracked, it is readily absorbed, and may 

 prove fatal. The cuticle, even when in a state of integrity, is not 

 proof against the vapour of prussic acid. All bottles containing the 

 acid should be kept well corked, as the vapour is the most potent form 

 which can influence the human frame. It is important to know that 

 this acid is liable to be formed in some medical mixtures spon- 

 taneously, without the assistance of heat or distillation. Thus it has 

 been formed in a mixture of carbonate of potash with tincture of 

 hyoscyamus, doubtless by the decomposition of the hyoseyamid 

 furnishing nitrogen (see ' Journ. Pharm. Soc.,' vol. xiii. p. 632). 



When first iutroduced into medical practice, high expectations were 

 formed of the utility of prussic acid. Subsequent experience has 

 moderated these expectations ; but there is no doubt that it might be 

 found useful in many instances where it is not employed, the dread of 

 accidents deterring many medical men from using it. Such hesitation 

 displayed by those who know its properties should furnish a salutary 

 caution to all persons against employing it on their own responsibility. 

 The diseases in which it has been most recommended are affections 

 of the lungs, whether acute inflammation,' after the active stage is 

 passed, or those of irritation. Among the former, hooping-cough is 

 unquestionably benefited by it. But here great caution is necessary. 

 Its premature employment, by checking the cough, induces inflamma- 

 tion, often of a very alarming kind. The dose should at first be very 

 small, and most slowly increased. In some works, even emanating 

 from medical men, large doses are most culpably ordered. More 

 relief is obtained in consumption from Conium than from this acid. 

 Some affections of the stomach receive signal relief; others derive 

 not the least benefit from it. The explanation of this appears to be 

 that in the former the causes of the disorder, as well as its seat, are in 

 the stomach itself; while in the latter the pain is felt chiefly in the 

 stomach, but the cause is in the spinal chord. Treatment directed to 

 the spine will in general quickly and often permanently relieve the 

 sufferer. (Teale's 'Treatise on Neuralgic Diseases.') Cutaneous 

 diseases are alleviated by lotions and ointments containing hydro- 

 cyanic acid. But the cautions above given must be carefully observed 

 during their employment. 



The most useful hints which can be here given relate to the treat- 

 ment of poisoning by prussic acid. So soon as it is ascertained or 

 suspected that any one has taken an over or poisonous dose, cold 

 water should be dashed over the head and back. The vapour of 

 ammonia (common smelling salts) or of chlorine should be applied to 

 the nostrils ; or very dilute liquor ammonias may be thrown into the 

 stomach. While these things are doing, other persons may prepare a 

 weak solution of carbonate of potash (common pearlashes will answer) ; 

 and some sulphate of iron (copperas) is to be dissolved in a large 

 quantity of water. Some of the solution of the carbonate of potash 

 is to be given to the patient, followed immediately by some of the 

 solution of copperas. Phials containing these two solutions might 

 be kept ready prepared in chemists' shops, so as to be at hand 

 instantly. This if done promptly, will save the patient. Artificial 

 respiration, if speedily resorted to, is useful, as is likewise bleeding 

 from the jugular vein. Prussic acid (or its elements, which easily act 

 on each other so as to form this compound,) exists in the leaves 

 of the Ceratiu lauru-eeramt, or Cherry-laurel, the mere bruising of 

 which developes the characteristic odour and effects. This shrub is 

 unfortunately often confounded with the true Bay, or Csesar's Laurel, 

 by cooka and confectioners, who use these leaves, (the amount of oil, 

 from difference in the amount of the elements, varies at different 

 periods of the year), to flavour dishes and cheese-cakes, with often 

 fatal effects. Bitter almonds develope pnissic acid. 



PRY'TANIS (rfpirwit), the name of the chief magistrate in many 

 of the Grecian states. We read of this office in Corinth, Corcyra, 

 Miletus, Tenedos, Pergamos, Cos, Rhodes, &c. (Wachsmuth, ' Hellen. 

 Alterth.' i., p. 194.) 



At Athens, the name of Prytanes (rpvrdi'fis) was given to the mem- 

 bers of the senate of five hundred, who acted as presidents of the 

 senate and of the assemblies of the people. The senate of five hundred 

 was divided into ten sections of fifty each, who were chosen respec- 

 tively from the ten tribes into which the Athenian people was divided. 

 Each tribe presided in turn during 35 or 86 days, as the case might be, 

 so as to complete the lunar year of 354 clays (12 x 29.1). Their period 

 of office was called a prytany (Trpurafda). As however fifty was too 



