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FORMULA  FOR  STYPTIC  BALSAM. 
FORMULA  FOR  STYPTIC  BALSAM. 
B>  James  Warren,  M.  D. 
It  is  nearly  thirty  years  since  I  commenced  the  use  of  this 
balsam  as  a  styptic,  in  the  various  forms  of  hemorrhage  which 
are  within  the  domain  of  medical  pathology,  and  with  uniform 
success.  I  am  satisfied  that  no  remedy  now  known  exerts  a 
more  specific  power  and  more  speedy  relief,  especially  in  hemop- 
tisis,  hematemesis,  epistaxis,  and  monorrhagia.  It  acts  both  by 
its  sedative  power,  in  diminishing  the  force  of  the  circulation, 
and  by  its  astringent  qualities,  in  contact  with  the  bleeding 
vessels.  In  the  treatment  of  hemorrhage,  neither  bloodletting, 
confinement  to  the  room,  suppression  of  the  voice,  relaxation 
from  business,  nor  other  precautions  are  necessary ;  nor  is  any 
auxiliary  treatment  required,  except,  perhaps,  a  dose  of  Epsom 
salts,  where  there  is  evidence  that  blood  has  been  swallowed. 
Ordinary  exercise  in  the  open  air  is  decidedly  preferable  to 
inaction ;  and  wherever  there  are  premonitory  symptoms  of  a 
return  of  hemorrhage,  it  has  always  exerted  a  prophylactic 
power  when  promptly  used ;  and  by  this  early  resort  to  the 
remedy,  many  radical  cures  have  been  effected. 
The  following  is  the  formula  and  the  method  of  using  it : — 
p.    Acid,  Sulphuric,  (by  weight,)  3 v. 
Spts.  Terebinth. 
Spts.  Yin.  Rect.  aa. 
Place  the  acid  in  a  Wedgewood  mortar,  and  add  the  turpen- 
tine slowly,  stirring  it  constantly  with  the  pestle :  then  add  the 
alcohol  in  the  same  manner,  and  continue  stirring  it  until  no 
more  fumes  arise,  when  it  may  be  bottled,  and  should  be  stopped 
with  a  ground  stopper.  It  should  be  prepared  from  the  purest 
materials ;  and  when  done,  it  should  exhibit  a  dark  but  clear  red 
color,  like  dark  blood ;  but  if  it  be  a  pale,  dirty  red,  it  will  be 
unfit  for  use.  The  dose  is  40  drops,  and  the  method  of  using  it 
is  as  follows :  Put  a  teaspoonful  of  brown  sugar  in  a  common- 
sized  teacup,  and  rub  in  40  drops  of  the  balsam  until  it  is  tho- 
roughly incorporated,  and  then  slowly  stir  in  water  until  the  cup 
is  nearly  full,  when  it  should  be  immediately  swallowed.  This 
dose  may  be  repeated  at  intervals  of  an  hour,  until  three  or  four 
doses  are  taken,  if  necessary ;  and  its  use  should  be  discontinued 
