214 IV. OILY COMPOUND COMBUSTIBLES.— 



granular ; scarcely soluble in water ; acts still more strongly on 

 the nervous system than rosin of nux vomica; in pills, containing 

 l-12th or l-8th of a grain each, cautiously and gradually increased. 

 Magendie gives the following formula for pills of strychnia ; take 

 of strychnia 2 grains, conserve of roses 4 gros., mix carefully, 

 and divide the mass into 24 pills. 



Veuatrine. Digest the seeds of Veratrum sabadillain boiling 

 alcohol, filter while hot ; distil nearly to dryness ; dissolve in cold 

 water, filter, evaporate slowly; add a solution of acetate of lead, 

 filter to pass sulphuretted hydrogen gas through the clear liquor, 

 filter, evaporate a little ; add calcined magnesia, filter, digest the 

 sediment in boiling alcohol, filter and evaporate till a yellowish 

 substance is left, which may be purified and rendered white by 

 dissolving it in alcohol, and adding water to throw down the pure 

 white veratrine. Errhine produces a very abundant salivation ; 

 cathartic, in doses of a quarter of a grain ; in larger doses emetic, 

 producing tetanus. Dr. Turnbull has lately published a series 

 of cases of heart affections, various forms of neuralgia, rheumatism, 

 paralysis, dropsy, gout, &c., in which the external application of 

 veratria in form of ointment seemed to be followed by the most 

 beneficial results. He directs from 10 to 20 grains of veratria to 

 the ounce of lard, of which the size of a large nut is to be rubbed 

 in night and morning. 



GLUTINOUS MATTERS. 



Black elastic gum, Indian rubber^ Caoutchouc, Gummi 

 elasticum. From Jatropha elastica ? the milky juice being spread 

 upon clay moulds, and dried over a fire, or torches, and formed 

 into water-proof boots and pormanteaus, as also bottles used for 

 holding liquids, and for syringes; very easily expanded, and 

 becomes almost transparent by extension. 



Brown elastic gum. Dried by the air, stiff*, does not expand 

 easily. — Elastic gum softens by heat, dissolves in oils, petroleum, 

 and ether ; and is used for varnish, to make elastic catheters, 

 bougies, and probes ; and for rubbing out the traces of blacklead 

 pencils. 



Urceola elastic gum. Very elastic, brought from China. 



Ficus Indica gum. Soft. — Jack-tree gum ; — Castilla elastica 

 gum. Are all elastic. 



Bird-lime, Viscus aucupum. By boiling missletoe berries in 

 water till they break, pounding them in a mortar, and washing 

 away the branny refuse with fresh water. 



Holly bird-ltme. From the bark, stripped in June or July, 

 and boiled in water for six or eight hours, until it becomes tender; 

 the water is then separated from the bark, which is laid in layers 

 with fern, and left to ferment for two or three weeks, until it 



