"® MATERIA MEDICA. 



pared by the action of distilled vinegar on carbonate of ammonia A 

 limpid colourless liquid, when properly made; taste, coolina and 

 bitterish ; an excellent diaphoretic in fevers. Dose, a tablespSonful 

 every hour or two. 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre.— (^;?iVe>;/s JEtheris Nitrici, U. S )— 

 Prepared by the action of sulphuric acid on alcohol and nitrate of 

 potassa, by distillation; chemically, the hyponitrite of ethyl, dis- 

 solved in alcohol. 



P/-o^. — Colourless, limpid, of an etherial odour, and a pungent, 

 sweetish taste; apt to deteriorate when kept, becoming acid; soluble 

 m alcohol and water; apt to be impure, as found in the shops. It is 

 diaphoretic, diuretic, and antispasmodic ; much used in fevers with 

 nervous irritability. Dose, 20 drops to f3j, every 2 or 3 hours. 



NUrate of Poto55a,— already spoken of as a refrigerant. It will 

 frequently produce diaphoresis, especially if combined with other 

 medicines of this sort ; the Nitrous Powders are a combination of 

 tartar emetic, nitre, and calomel. Nitre and tartar emetic are often 

 prescribed, as a diaphoretic, in solution. 



The Nauseati7ig Diaphoretics, comprise such medicines as pro- 

 duce diaphoresis, by relaxing the cutaneous capillaries ; in this way, 

 nearly all emetic substances will promote perspiration, if given in 

 small doses. The only ones much employed are. Ipecacuanha and 

 Tartar emetic. They are indicated in all cases of high arterial ex- 

 citement, not attended with irritation or inflammation of the stomach. 

 Tartar emeiic is usually given in the dose of the sixth to the twelfth 

 of a grain. Ipecacuanha is chiefly used as a diaphoretic, in com- 

 bination with opium, in the form of Dover's Powder— {Fidvis Ipecac, 

 et Opii, U. S.) — This is made by rubbing up one part of ipecac, 

 and opium each, with eight parts of sulphate of potassa ; the dose 

 IS 10 grams. It is a very useful anodyne diaphoretic, in rheuma- 

 tism, diarrhosa, and dysentery ; also in pneumonia and bronchitis, 

 after proper depletion ; it should not be used, if there be much arte- 

 rial excitement, or determination to the head. 



The Q)[{\e{ Alterative Diaphoretics are Sassafras, Mezereon, Guaia- 

 cum, and Sarsaparilla. 



Sassafras, U. S. 



Bark of the root of the Sassafras officinale, an indigenous tree. 

 Occurs in irregular fragments, of a reddish cinnamon colour, brittle, 

 of a very aromatic odour and taste. Virtues depend on a volatile 

 oil. It is a mild stimulant diaphoretic, used chiefly in domestic 

 practice ; not much employed alone, but forms an agreeable adjuvant 

 to other medicines. It is one of the ingredients in the Compound 

 Syrvp of Sarsaparilla, 



The sassafras pith (sassafras medulla) is procured from the young 

 twigs. It is in cylindrical peices, white, and very light; forms with 



