OF FARRIERY 



517 



JiXTRACTUM BELLADONNiE. 



EXTRACT OF DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 



This is prepared by bruising the leaves of 

 the plant in a stone mortar, sprinkling a little 

 water on them, then pressing out the juice, 

 and evaporating ; it must stand until it ac- 

 quires a thick consistency. 



Medicinal Uses. — Stimulant. It is only 

 used as an application to the eye, to cure a 

 morbid contraction of the iris, or rather its 

 circular fibres, in quantities from two to five 

 grains. 



EUPHORBII GUMMI RESINI. 



EUPHORBTUM. 



The plant which yields this gum (resin) is 

 perennial, succulent, and shrubby. It is ob- 

 tained by making incisions in the branches, 

 from which a lartious gum exudes, and con- 

 cretes into tears. 



Medicinal Uses. — Stimulant. Rubefacient. 

 It is only used externally, entering into the 

 compound unguentum cantharides. 



FERRI SULPHAS. 



SULPHATE OF IRON. SALT OF STEEL. 



Take of iron (by weight) - 

 Sulphuric acid 

 Water - - - - 



8 ounces. 

 8 do. 

 4 do. 



Mix the sulphuric acid with the water, in a 

 glass retort, and to this add the iron in the 

 form of filings ; then when bubbles cease to 

 escape, filter the solution through paper, and 

 evaporate over a slow fire, so that as it cools 

 crystals may form. Having poured off the 

 super natant fluid, dry the crystals upon bibu- 

 lous paper. 



Decomposition. — Water consists of oxygen 

 and hydrogen, and a portion of it is decom- 

 posed by the action of the sulphuric acid and 

 iron, its oxygen unites to ii-on, converting it 

 into an oxide of iron ; before wliich the sul- 

 phuric acid will not act upon it, whilst its 

 hydrogen being set at liberty, escapes in the 

 form of gas. The oxide of iron is then dis- 

 solved by the sulphuric acid, and sulphate of 

 iron is formed. 



Medicinal Uses. — Tonic ; combined wifli 

 ginger. 



GLYCYRRHIZiE RADIX. 



LIQUORICE ROOT. 



This plant is a native of the south of Eu- 

 rope ; but for the London market it is cul- 

 tivated in large quantities, at Mitcham, in 

 Surrey. 



Medicinal l/ses. — Demulgent. It possesses 

 little, if any virtue ; and is, when dried and 

 ground, more used for giving bulk, than for 

 any other purposes. 



HYDRARGYRUM. 



QUICKSILVER. MERCURY. 



Native quicksilver is generally found in 

 globules, disseminated on the surface, or col- 

 lected in the crevices of other mercurial ores, 

 &c. ; but the greater portion of quicksilver of 

 commerce is obtained from Cinnabar, by mix- 

 ing this ore with quicksilver, and then distil* 

 ling from large iron retorts into glass receivers. 

 It is purified by re-distilling it with iron filings. 

 One hundred pounds of the ore gives about 

 one hundred and three pounds of quicksilver. 



Medicinal Uses. — Only used for making 

 the mercurial preparations. 

 6 p 



