140 
Selected Articles. 
Aconitse, gr. ii, 
Alcohol, gtt. vi, 
tere optime et adde, 
Axunge, 5i> 
ut fiat unguent. 
The object of adding the alcohol, is to prevent the aconitine 
from forming a thick compound with part of the lard, which 
renders it difficult to make a proper ointment. 
The proportion of the alcaloid in this prescription will, in 
general, be sufficient to begin with, but it may be augmented 
to four or five grains to the drachm, if necessary ; and in one 
case of tic douloureux of unusual severity, I prescribed as 
much as eight grains to the drachm, with the most marked be- 
nefit. The best manner of applying the ointment, is simply to 
rub a small part of it over the whole seat of the affection, till 
the pain be either for the time removed, or until the full effect 
upon the cutaneous nerves above described be brought about; 
and the friction should be repeated three or four times, or 
more frequently in the day, according to the effect produced 
upon the disease. The proportion of the aconitine ought to 
be increased at every second or third friction ; and the same 
rule elsewhere laid down, in regard to the action of Veratria 
and Delphinia, also holds good in the present instance, namely, 
that unless the friction occasion a full developement of the 
peculiar impressions caused by the aeonitine when rubbed on 
the skin, no benefit whatever is to be looked for from its em- 
ployment. It is almost needless to remark that an application 
of such activity should not be resorted to, if there be the slight- 
est abrasion of the surface of the skin, and that it should be 
carefully kept from coming in contact with any of the mucous 
membranes. 
The next preparation that requires notice, is the ammoniated 
extract of aconite; this is propably the best appellation for the 
substance, although it be in reality a mixture of all the active 
principles, along with the extractive and other matters. It is 
made by evaporating very carefully, and at a low tempera- 
ture, the tincture of the dried root of the plant, prepared as 
already directed in the process for obtaining the aconitine, to 
