The trachea, bronchioles, and alveoli, can only be reached by a very 

 fine spray or by volatile substances which can be inhaled. Most of the 

 antiseptics which on account of their volatility could be applied in this way, 

 are either too irritant or so readily absorbed that they would produce un- 

 wished- for remote actions. And though good may be done in some cases 

 by applying the weaker antiseptics it is rarely that they can be brought to 

 the diseased area in sufficient concentration or for sufficient duration of 

 time, to produce any marked effect. The antiseptics that may be used in 

 this way include Benzoin, Thymol, Eucalyptol, Creosote. The Com- 

 pound Tincture of Benzoin is a favorite preparation. Volatization is 

 usually brought about by pouring a strong alcoholic solution of the anti- 

 septic upon the surface of boiling water and inhaling the fumes which 

 arise. In this way, not only the antiseptic, but also water vapour which 

 serves to allay the feeling of dryness of the inflamed mucous membrane, is 

 inhaled. Volatile substances such as Ether, Chloroform, and Amyl nitrite 

 readily produce a remote action when inhaled. 



Administration by the mouth. For remote action drugs are most 

 commonly given by the mouth though as pointed out above they may be 

 administered by the rectum, the skin, or the lungs. The use of hypodermic 

 intramuscular and intravenous injections is increasing. When the phy- 

 sician has decided to give the drugs required by the mouth, several phar- 

 maceutical forms may be used; mixtures are still the most commonly em- 

 ployed, though pills are extensively used when the drugs are unpleasant 

 and the dose is small; powders are used only when one wishes to administer 

 larger doses of tasteless or not markedly unpleasant drugs in quantities 

 larger than can be given in pill form; caches and capsules are forms steadily 

 gaining in vogue especially for the administration of drugs having an un 

 pleasant flavor. 



MIXTURES. It is good practice for the physicain when he writes a 

 prescription for a mixture to use only such drugs as will dissolve and pro- 

 duce a clear solution. This is a good but by no means an absolute rule and 

 indeed we find in the pharmacopoeia very striking deviations from it,e.g. 

 Mistura Ferri. This intentionally contains the incompatibles Iron Sul- 

 phate and Potassium Carbonate resulting in the formation of an insoluble 

 precipitate and a murky solution. The Iron Carbonate formed is, how- 

 ever, less irritant to the stomach than the Sulphate. Mixtures containing 

 a precipitate were very commonly prescribed in the past, but today a 

 physician is compelled to pay more attention to the likes and whims of 

 his patients, all of whom have seen and tasted attractive and pleasant 

 patented preparations. In writing a prescription for a mixture the phy- 

 sician should, as a rule, use fluid preparations of the drug selected if such 

 are contained in the Pharmacopoeia. The reasons for this are easily seen 

 if one considers the matter from the view-point of the dispenser. Sup- 

 pose that thirty doses of Strychnine 1/60 of a grain and Arsenious Anhydride 

 1/40 gr. are to be given. This would force the dispenser, if the solids were 

 prescribed, to weigh out > and 30/40 gr. of the two drugs respectively, 



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