430 MATERIA MEDIC A 



peculiar principle, termed by chemists tannin, and the gallic acid. 

 The former is remarkable for its strono; attraction for animal 

 gelatine, and the latter for striking a black colour with the salts 

 of iron. But increased evacuations, or a discharge of matter or 

 other fluid from the skin or from sores, do not depend merely 

 upon mechanical laxity of the solids; nor does the process by 

 which they are restrained resemble that by which dead animal 

 matter is constringed, or condensed, as in tanning hides. As- 

 tringency, therefore, in a medical sense, is a peculiar power 

 exerted upon living matter, by which inordinate evacuations or 

 discharges are restrained or suppressed, in a manner with which 

 we are unacquainted. There are other vegetables, besides those 

 above prescribed, that are occasionally used as astringents, such 

 as tormentil, bistort, galls, madder, dragon's blood, catechu, 

 logwood, &c., each of which will be noticed under its respective 

 name. The term astringent is often applied to those medicines 

 or preparations that are supposed to possess the power of putting 

 a stop to haemorrhage or bleeding, either internally or externally 

 from wounds ; these will be noticed under the head Styptics. 



ASTRINGENTS. 

 For Diarrhcea, Diabetes, or Red Water. 



No. 1. Opium i dr. to 1 dr. 



Ginger 1 2^ dr. 



Prepared chalk 3 drs. 



Flour 2 drs. 



Mix into a ball with treacle, syrup, or honey, for one dose. 



No. 2. Powdered opium 1 dr. 



Powdered catechu 2 drs. 



Powdered chalk 1 oz. 



To be given in arrow-root, starch, or thick gruel. 



No. 3. Powdered catechu 2 to 4 drs. 



Alum 2 to 4 drs. 



Powdered opium ^ dr. to 1 dr. 



Powdered ginger 1 to 2 drs. 



Oil of cloves 10 drops. 



Treacle to form a ball. 



For Diabetes, or an excessive Discharge of Urine. 



No. 1. Catechu, or kino 2 to 4 drs. 



Powdered o-ino-er 1 to 2 drs. 



Powdered o-entian 2 to 3 drs. 



Opium ^ dr. 



Oil of caraways 20 drops. 



Syrup enough to form the balk One dose. 



