Classified List of Drugs. 507 



Nitrate of silver (lunar caustic), 



Nitrate of mercury, 



Nitric acid, 



Chloride of zinc, 



Butter of antimony, 



The hot iron. 



The nitrate of silver and chloride of zinc can be bought in pencils, 

 which can be placed in holders and used very conveniently. The first 

 mentioned is the most popular of all the caustics. 



Nitric acid is very valuable for limited but powerful impression. It 

 is readily applied by dipping the end of a match or a larger piece of 

 wood in the fuming acid, and applying it to the part. The pain is 

 intense, but of short duration. 



Butter of antimony is rejected by some surgeons but is very highly 

 esteemed by others (see page 359). 



The hot iron is an efficient and powerful caustic, too little used now- 

 adays owing to a weak sentimentality. 



Caustic solutions and formulas are given, Nos. 215, 216, 217, 220, 

 221, etc. 



COTTNTER-IREITAirTS. 



This class includes rubefacients, which redden the skin ; vesicants, 

 which raise blisters ; and suppurants, which produce sores on the 

 surface. The principal ones are — 

 Alcohol, 



Turpentine, 



Ammonia, 



Mustard, 



Cantharides, 

 Boiling water. 

 Iron at 212° 



Rubefacients. 



Vesicants 



Croton oil, . „ 



m , X- • X X r Suppurants. 



lartar emetic ointment, J ^ 



All these agents, by setting up an inflammation on the surface at no 

 great distance from an internal one, withdraw from it some of the blood 

 and serum which surrounds it, and thus diminish its intensity. They are 

 of frequent service in almost all attacks of congestion and inflammation 

 of the internal organs, of the bones, joints and deep tissues. Even in 

 influenza, fevers, and other general disorders of a depressing character, 

 an active rubefacient, such as a mustard paste, well rubbed into the legs 



