236 
Dover^s  Solution. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t       May,  1885. 
Red  Drops,  viz  :  Tinctura  cateclui  coniposita,  5  v ;  spiritus  camphorse, 
5i ;  liquor  Dover!,  ^ii.  This  is  quite  an  efficient  remedy  for  diarrhoea, 
dysentery,  cholera  morbus,  and  all  summer  complaints  in  general. 
Locally,  it  has  acquired  no  mean  reputation  among  the  physicians  and 
others,  and  is  thought  by  some  to  be  equally  as  good,  if  not  superior, 
to  the  renowned  Asiatic  cholera  mixture,  Squibb's  compound  solution 
of  opium,  and  other  preparations  of  wide-spread  reputation. 
In  addition  to  the  Dover's  powder,  a  new  preparation,  known  as 
tincture  of  ipecac  and  opium  was  made  officiiial  in  188(^  The  solu- 
tion of  acetate  of  morphia  (B  P.)  is  somewhat  similar  in  its  anodyne 
properties  to  the  Dov'er's  solution,  and  contains  the  acetate  of  mor- 
phine in  acid  solution  of  the  strength  of  J  gr.  to  the  drachm.  Dover's 
syrup  is  a  preparation  manufactured  in  Philadelphia,  containing  syrup 
as  a  menstruum,  which  makes  it  quite  palatable.  Syrup,  however,  is 
apt  to  prove  disadvantageous  on  account  of  its  nauseating  effects. 
Nearly  all  the  preparations  of  this  type  have  this  eifect,  from  the  fact 
that  they  are  compounds  of  opium  and  not  morphine. 
The  medical  i)roperties  accorded  to  the  solution "  are,  diuretic, 
diaphoretic,  analgesic  and  sedative.  It  is  quite  efficient  in  the  treat- 
ment of  coughs,  colds,  etc.,  and  in  the  first  stages  of  acute  inflam- 
mations attending  throat  and  lung  troubles.  It  is  also  very  useful  in 
the  treatment  of  rheumatism,  neuralgia,  etc. 
A  fluidounce  evaporated  to  pilular  consistance,  should  not  weigh 
more  than  7 J  gr.  (-186  gms.)  In  attempting  to  scale  the  residue  by 
the  usual  method  I  was  not  successful  on  account  of  its  extreme 
deliquescence.  The  resulting  mass,  however,  remains  stable  for  several 
months,  and  may  be  conveniently  rolled  into  pills.  From  several 
experiments  I  found  it  to  be  quite  as  effi^ctive  in  this  form  as  in  solu- 
tion, and  being  quite  heavy  (dose  J  grain),  the  pellets  are  very  easy  to 
take.  The  solution,  on  standing,  without  having  been  filtered,  de- 
posited a  dark  colored  sediment,  light  in  weight.  On  testing  this  for 
morphine  none  was  found.  A  full  grown  cat  was  given  different 
doses  (of  both  liquid  and  solid  form  of  the  preparations),  ranging 
from  \  gr.  to  2  gr.,  with  the  eifect  of  producing  sleep.  Larger  doses 
produced  emesis  with  general  exhaustion,  but  no  alarming  symptoms. 
From  these  experiments  I  concluded  that  it  is  almost  a  harmless 
preparation,  as  an  overdose  is  almost  certain  to  produce  emesis. 
