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THE
EDINBURGH
NEW DISPENSATORY. 
'■-■•■.•■.$   :;-.. 
THE
^4vua+
       EDINBURGH
NEW  DISPENSATORY:
CONTAINING
I.
The ELEMENTS of PHARMA-
  CEUTICAL CHEMISTRY.
             II.
The MATERIA MEDIC A; or, An
  Account of the Natural Hiftory, Quali-
  ties, Operations and Ufes, of the diffe-
  rent Subftances employed in Medicine.
III.
The PHARMACEUTICAL PRE-
  PARATIONS and MEDICI-
  NAL  COMPOSITIONS  of
  the New Editions  of the London
  (1788) and Edinburgh (1783) Phar-
  macopoeias ;
                          WITH
Explanatory,  Critical,  and  Practical  Observations
                        on each:
            Together with the Addition of thofe Formulje,
From the  best  FOREIGN  PHARMACOPOEIAS,
    Which are held in higheft Eiteem in other Parts of Europe.
             the whole  interspersed with
  PRACTICAL CAUTIONS and OBSERVATIONS,
           AND ENRICHED  BY  THE LATEST DISCOVERIES IN
NATURAL HISTORY,  CHEMISTRY, and MEDICINE;
                   With New TABLES of
       Elective Attractions, of Antimony, o'f Mercury, \$c,
                          and
        COPPERPLATES of the moft convenient Furnaces,
           and Principal Pharmaceutical Instruments.
              Eeing an IMPROVEMENT upon the
    NEW  DISPENSATORY  of  Dr LEWIS.
         A NEW  EDITION;
With many Alterations, Corrections, and Additions.
               PHIL  A D E L P H I A:
Printed by T. DOB SON, at the Stone-House, N° 41, in
                     Second-Street.
                        M,DCC,XCI.
                        M,DCC,XCI.
                        M,DCC,XCI. 
 
T O
 Sir  GEORGE  BAKER, Bart,

     PHYSICIAN to thijir  MAJESTIES,
                     AND
 PRESIDENT of the ROYAL COLLEGE of PHYSICIAN'S
                  of LONDON.

    SIR,
  IF the prefent edition of this work have any fupe-
riority over the laft, that fuperiority principally arifes
from the many important improvements which have
lately been made in the London Pharmacopoeia;
and for thefe improvements the public are not a little
indebted to  you.   Permit me, therefore, to take this
method of acknowledging, as an individual, the ob-
ligation which,  in my opinion, you have conferred
on every medical practitioner : And believe me to be,
with fincere efleem,

             Your moft obedient fervant,
Edinburgh, "1
Nov 1.1788. J
                   ANDREW  DUNCAN.
*/3SIO^ 
 
PREFACE.
   SUCH was the fuperiority of Dr Lewis's Difpenfatory, at the time of
    its publication, over all others then extant,  that it foon  fuperfeded.
every work of a fimilar nature in Britain, and obtained very high repu-
tation abroad.   During the life of the author, the improvements which
that work received from his hands, in fucceflive editions, correfponded to
the difcoveries that  were then made in pharmaceutical chemiftry;
but during the period which  has elapfed fince the world was  deprived
of the labours of that ingenious, induftrious,  and learned man, chemif-
try, in all its branches, has received much greater improvements than
before.   It was therefore concluded, that an attempt to colled and apply
the lateft and moll important difcoveries  to his Difpenfatory, would not
be unacceptable to the public.
   This attempt was carried into execution about two years ago, by the
publication of a work,  under the title of Edinburgh New Dispen-
satory.  That work has met with  an unequivocal proof of public ap-
probation :  for in little more than a year, a  very large impreffion was
completely fold off.  Upon this event it  would again have been imme-
diately put to the  prels, had  it not been from the expectation of a new
edition  of the London Pharmacopoeia ; which was at that time in fuch
forwardnefs, that a fpecimen of it had been diftributed with the view of
obtaining the opinion of other intelligent pharmacians refpecting the in-
tended alterations.  That expectation has now been fulfilled.  About
the beginning of the prefent year, the London College, who had made
no alteration in their Pharmacopoeia for near half a century before, re-
publifhed that work,  with many alterations and corrections:  And as far
as the prefent edition of this publication has any  fuperiority over the for-
mer,  that fuperiority  principally arifes from the many important im-
provements which the new  London Pharmacopoeia contains.
   This edition of the Edinburgh New Difpenfatory includes a complete
tranflation of the prefent London and Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias, which
are by Royal  authority the ftandards of pharmaceutical practice in Bri-
tain : and it contains alfo many additions from the beft foreign Pharma-
copoeias lately published on the continent of Europe, particularly from
the Pharmacopoeia Stiecica,  Roffica, Danica, Brunfvicenfis and Gene-
venfis.   But there is not a more material difference between the prefent
and former impreffion of this work, in the additions which have taken
place, than in the diminutions:  And it is prefumed, that no inconfider- 
viii
PREFACE.
 able advantage arifes from expunging from the prefent edition many ar-
 ticles which retained a place in the former, although obfolete, abiurd,
 and not intitled to more notice than numbers of the prefcriptions of  Ga-
 len and Paracelfus, long fince banifhed from every pharmacopoeia.  By
 omitting thefe,  the time of the reader will not only be faved, but the
 danger of error avoided.
   In the prefent edition,  very confiderable alterations have alfo been
 made in the arrangement of this work.  In place of four, it is now di-
 vided into three parts :  The firft of thefe, The Elements of Pharmacy,
 was in  the laft edition adapted to the principles qf modern chemiftry, and
 illuftrated by engravings of the moft convenient furnaces and principal
 pharmaceutical inflruments ; here, therefore, there was but little room
 for alteration ; and it is accordingly prefented to the public very nearly
 in the fame ftate as before.
   In the fecond part, The Hiftory of the Materia  Medica, we  hav»
 retained the alphabetical mode of arrangement, which has in many par-
 ticulars a decided fuperiority over every other which  has yet been pro-
 pofed, and which is now adopted in almoft every modern Pharmacopoeia.
 But to conjoin with this the advantages of other arrangements, a fhort
 view is annexed of fome of the leaft exceptionable of thefe, both of  an-
 cient and modern  date.  The  number  of articles of which a hifto-
 ry is given  in this  part of the work is now confiderably abridged :
 for all  thofe are now rejected which do not ftill retain the fandion
 of fome modern Pharmacopoeia of credit.  But we have ventured to
 add to  the lift fome  articles which,  although not yet received  into
 any of the modern Pharmacopoeias, have been recommended to the pub-
 lic on fuch authority as, at leaft, to point them out as the fubjed of  fu-
 ture trials.  The account which is given of the  operation and ufe of each
 article, we have endeavoured  to render correfpondent to the pathologi-
 cal opinions at prefent moft generally received among the moderns, and
 to the concurring teftimony of faithful and accurate obferves.  We  are
 indeed  fully  fenlible, that in many particulars, with regard to the real
 effeds of medicines, and ftill more with regard to their mode of operation
 even the beft informed moderns are ftill in a ftate of ignorance and un-
 certainty. But we have at leaft endeavoured, as far as we were able  both
 to fhake off the trammels of theory and the authority of great names;
 and we flatter ourfelves with  the  hope that our  endeavours have not
 been altogether  fruitlefs: We  fhall however be always ready to  avail
 ourfelves of the light which may hereafter be thrown by future experi-
 ence and future  obfervation, on any particular falling under this branch
 of our fubjed.
   Under the third part,  we  have included what  was formerly  di-
 ftributed  into two,  Pharmaceutical  Preparations and Medicinal Com-
 pofitions.   In this  we have  followed both the  London and Edin-
 burgh  Pharmacopoeias; and,  indeed,  in  many cafes,  it  is  total-
 ly impoffible to  draw an accurate  line between preparations and com-
 pofitions: accordingly moft of  thofe articles which were  formerly re-
 ferred to one or oth»r of thefe heads,  had an  equal  title to belono- t»
 both.  In the arrangement of the  different clafles of preparationslnd
compofitions, we have followed the order of  the  London pharmaco-
poeia ; which, while it differs very  little "from  that of  the Edinburgh
                                                          College, 
PREFACE.
ix
College, is perhaps, in fome particulars, preferable:   But under each
chapter, comprehending  falts, fpirits, powders, pills, or the like, we
have introduced the moft adive  and efteemed formulae from foreign
Pharmacopoeias which have not a place in thofe of Britain.  And we
are inclined to think, that from thefe additions,  medical pradice in this
ifland may derive fome advantages.
   By the changes which have now been pointed out,  we tmft that the
prefent work has been not a little improved.  We are, however, very
far from confidering it as a  complete fyftem of pradical  and fcientific
pharmacy.   For accompjiftring fuch a work, much yet  remains to  be
difcovered, much to be corrected ; and the exertions  of  genius and in-
duftry may give future Difpenfatories a better claim to the approbation
of the learned and difcerning reader:  yet we hope, that our own labours
bellowed on the prefent work  will neither be  altogether unacceptable
nor ufelefs to the public.
Edinburgh,  ">
 Nov. 1.1788. 3 
Explanation of the  Contractions ufed for the Titles of

      different Pharmacopoeias quoted in this  Work.



Lond.—Pharmacopoeia collegiiregalis medicorum Londinenfis,4to, Lon-
         dini 1788.

Edin.—Pharmacopoeia collegii regii medicorum Edinburgenfis, 8vo, E-
         dinburgi 1783.

Csn.—PharmacopceiaGenevenfis, ad ufum nofocomiorura, 8vo, Genevse
         1780.

Susc.—Pharmacopoea Suecica, cditio altera emendata,   8vo, Holmia:
         1779-

Rofs.—Pharmacopoea Roffica, 4to, Petropoli 1778.

Bruji.—Difpenfatorium  pharmacenticum Brunfvicenfe,  4to, Brunfvici

Dan.—PharmacopoeiaDanica, regia audoritate, a collegii medicoHaiin-
         ienfi-confcripta, 410, Haunias  1772. 
CONTENTS.
                                                             Page
Introduction                                                x»
     Definition and Dhifion of Pharmacy                          ib.
     Abftratl of Dr Webfter's Syllabus ofLeftures on Chemiftry and
         Materia Medica                                      xvii

                    PART     I.

                  Elements  of Pharmacy.

CHAP I. A general View of the properties and relations of medicinal
         fubftances                                             33
     Sed. i. Vegetables                                         ib.
        Productions from vegetables by fermentation                35
        Productions from vegetables by fire                        40
        Subfta?ices naturally contained in vegetables, and feparabie
          by art without alteration of their native qualities         43
              I. Crofs oils                                   ■   44
              2. Crofs febaceous matter                          45
              3. Ejfential oils                                   ib.
              4. Concrete ejfential oils                            46
              5. Camphor                                      ib.
              6. Reftn                                         47
              7. Gum                                         ib,
              8. C#flz re fin                                     48
              9. Saline matter                                  ib.
             IO. Farina, or four                               50
             11. Colouring matter of vegetables                  51
             General obfervations on the foregoing principles        52
     Sed. ii.  Animals                                         54
     Sed. iii. Minerals                                         58
              1. Oils and bitumens                               58
              2. Earths                                         ib-
              3. /kfete/i-                                        60
             4. ^«i^J                                         62
              5. Fixed air                                      i>$
          Of the affinities of bodies                               66
          Table of attractions                                     jo
 CHAP. II. Of the pharmaceutical apparatus                       78
           Furnaces and plates                                  ib.
           Dr Black's furnace.  Plate I. N° I. and 2.             81
           Dr Price's furnace.  Plate II. N° 1. and  II.             84
          Baths                                                 26
          Coating of glares, lutes                                 ib.
          Vejfels.   Plate III. N° 1. and 2.                         88 
xii             [C  O   N
Page
	Weights		21
	Meafures		ib.
	Table of the heights of different fluids		92
Chap	III. Of the pharmaceutical	operations	94
	Sed. i. Solution		ib.
	ii. Extraction		98
	iii. Depuration		99
	iv. Cryftallization		100
	V. Precipitation		103
	vi. Evaporation		104
	vii. Diftillation		105
	viii. Sublimation		106
	ix. Exp re fit on		107
	x. Exficcation		ib.
	xi. Comminution		108
	xii. Fufion		no
	xiii. Calcination		111
PART     II.

   Materia Medica.
General obfervations                                          113
Account of the natural and medical hiftory of the different fubftances
  employed in medicine, arranged in alphabetical order           114
F/tfw of other arrangements of the materia medica                 312
Arrangement of Diofcorides                                    ib.
           of Geoff roy ~                                      312
           ofCartheufet                                    313
           of Dr Murray                                    ib.
           of Dr Cull en                                     314
           of Dr Home                                      315
           o^Z)r Duncan                                    ib.
     PART    III.

Preparations and Compositions.
Ch A P. I. The more fimple preparations.                       „ >
         II. Conferves                                        | '
        III. 7«/c<?j                                             £
        IV. ExtraBs and refius.                                j:  ■
         V. Expreffedoils  '                                   \31
        VI. Effential oils                                      If
       VII. 5*///                                            35o
                                                    VIII.  /^. 
CONTENTS.
xiii
CHAP. Vfll. Magnefia                                    *a|'
          IX. Preparations offulphur                        408
           X.             of antimony                      41 j
          XI.             offilver                         424
          XII.             of iron                          427
         XIII.            , of mercury                       421
         XIV.             of lead                          450
          XV.             of tin                            4 £3
        XVI.              of zinc                           4j£
        XVII.  Simple diftilledwater                          ac-i
       XVIII.  Diftilledfpirits                                470
        XIX.  Decoctions and infufions                        486
         XX.  Medicated wines                              503
        XXI.  TinElures                                    500
        XXII.  Mixtures                                    53^
       XXIII.  Syrups                                       54J
       XXIV.  Medicated honeys                              552
       XXV.  Powders                                     S5S
       XXVI.  7Vort&M                                      560
      XXVII.  P///r                                        570
     XXVIII.  EleBuaries                                   570
       XXIX.  Confetfions                                   584
       XXX.  Medicated waters                              500
       XXXI.  P/*/?<?rj                                      592
      XXXII.  Ointments and liniments                        601
     XXXIII.  C*nrf«                                      613
     XXXIV.  Epithems                                     616
 Table fhowing the proportion of mercury and opium eantaintd in dif-
  ferent compofitions                                        618
 Index of names that have been changed                         619
 Englifh index                                              625
 Latin index                                                 637
I  N  T   K  G- 
 
INTRODUCTION.
    PHARMACY is the art of preparing, prefervirg,  and compounding
    fubftances for the purpofes of medicine. This art has very common-
ly been divided into two branches,  Galenical and  Chemical pharmacy.
But for this divifion there is no juft  foundation in nature : And accord-
ingly, proceffes  in one pharmacopoeia referred to  the head of  Chemi-
cal, are in another referred to the head of Galenical.  There can be no
doubt, that even the moft fimple pharmaceutical  preparations  are to a
certain extent chemical.   Hence this divifion, founded on prejudice,
and fupported merely by a veneration for antiquity, is now banifhed
from almoft every modern pharmacopoeia.
   Pharmacy  has alfo  been divided into Theoretical and Practical -, the
fvrft, confifting not merely of fpeculative opinions* I ut of a knowledge
of  fads and  principles,  tending to explain the rationale of proceffes j
the latter, comprehending the mere manual labour employed  inproceiles.
   The former of thefe may therefore bejuftly ftyled Scientific Pharma-
cy.  And there can be no doubt that an acquaintance with it is effential-
ly necefTary to the due exercife of the healing art:  For without it the
praditioner muft often err in the forms of preparations and compofitions
which he employs ;  and he muft often be deceived in the effeds refult-
ing from compofitions, when he infers their properties from the known
powers of the ingredients in their feparate ftate.  It would therefore be
highly improper to detach the fcientific and pradical parts of  pharmacy
from each other.  And accordingly, in the firft part of  this work a ge-
neral view is given of the elements of pharmacy both pradical and fci-
entific, that the  reader may be better prepared for the confideration of
the particular fubjeds  and proceffes which fall  to be treated of under the
fecond and third parts.   As in fome degree fubfervient to the fame in-
tention, we have here alfo fubjoined an abftrad from the Syllabus of Dr
Webfter's Lednres on Chemiftry and Materia Medica.  It will at leaft
prefent the reader with an ufeful method of arranging the fubjeds ; and
may at the fame time be of fome feivice in  fupplying  the want of fyno-
nymes in this work. 
* 
INTRODUCTION.
xvii
 Abstract  from  Dr  WebsterV  Syllabus  of
        Letlures on Chemiftry and  Materia Medica.

   IN Chemiftry we confiderthe difpofitions of the different kinds of mat-
    ter  to unite, with their effeds on union, as in dietetics and materia me-
 dica we do  their effeds on the human body.
   That power by which different particles unite is called chemical  at-
 traction, or unefcence.
   Matter has been commonly  arranged into fix kinds,  i. Salts ; fyn.
 faline bodies.   2. Earths; fyn. earthy bodies, ftones. 3. Inflammables;
 fyn. combuftibles.  4. Metals ; fyn. metallic bodies.   5.  Water ,• fyn.
 watery or aqueous bodies.   6. Airs ; fyn. gafes, gafeous or aerial bodies,
 permanent vapours.  The kinds  of matter not comprehenfible in the a-
 bove arrangement are,  1. Heat; fyn.  abfolute  or elementary heat or
 fire ; principle or matter of heat.  2. Light; fyn. matter of light, lumi-
 nous principle. 3. Eledrical fluid. 4. Magnetical  fluid. 5. Peculiar vege-
 table and animal matters: as gum;  colouring-matter;  ftarch, or amyla-
 ceous matter; vege to-animal gluten, coagulable lymph or fibre of the blood.
   1. Salts are fapid, foluble in water, generally uninflammable. They
 are  fimple and compound.
   The  fimple  are fo called, as being ingredients in the compound, and
 are acids and alkalies.
   The  compound falts are faline and middle, i. e. the earthy and metal-
 lic ; as the acidated alkalies, earths, and metals.
   The  faline,  fyn. neutral, acido-alkaline, fales falfi, confift of two or
 more fimple falts.  The earthy, fyn. faline earths, confift of a fimple falc
 and an  earth.  The metallic confift of a fimple or faline fait and a metal.
 The falts confolidated with water in a regular form are faid to be cry-
 ftallifed.
   A fait is faid to be, 1.  Deliquefcent when it attrads water from the
 air ; fyn. aquefcent.  2. Spontaneoufly calcinable, when the water of its
 cryftals is attraded by the air ; fyn. efflorefcent, deaquefcent.  3. Sub-
 jed  to the watery fufion, when it is foluble by heat in itscryftalline wa-
 ter.   4. Decrepitating, when it  crackles  in the fire, owing to its fmall
 quantity of water becoming fuddenly elaftic vapour ; fyn. fubaquated.
 5. Deflagrating,  when, from the pure air which it contains, it can fup-
 port and accelerate combuftion ;  fyn.  detonating, deaerefcent ;  as falts
 containing acid of nitre.
   2. Earths, except lime, are infipid ; difficultly foluble in water, diffi-
 cultly fufible,  becoming glafs, uninflammable,  unmeiallifable, and not
 heavier  than five times their bulk of water.
  3. Inflammables, when fet on fire,burn till refolvedinto falts, earths,
 water, or. fome mixture of thefe.
   4. Metals  are opake, bright bodies, not lighter than fix times their
 bulk of  water.
   The inflammables and metals are fuppofed to owe their diftinguifhing
 qualities to  their containing a fubtil  fluid ciWe&phlogifton, fyn. principle
ef inflammability or metallifation, fulphureous, oleous, fpirituous, or in-
                               B                      flammable 
XV1H
INTRODUCTION.
flammable principle, fixt fire, pure inflammable air.  The inflammables
and metals are called  phlogiftic bodies ,• or, as their uninflammable part
as well as their phlogifton have  a  difpofition to unite with air, aerefcent
bodies.  The metals are fuppofcd to confift of peculiar earths or acids
with phlogifton, or peculiar fubftances free from pure air.
  5. Water is a colourlefs, infipid  body ;  which has a difpofition  to
unite with falts and fome airs, and thus forms mineral waters.
  6. Airs are invifible fluids, of indefinite elafticity, retaining their
aerial form in any degree of cold yet known.  Except two, called spurc
and impure, both ingredients of the atmofphere, they all feem to be acid,
alkaline, or inflammable.   The pure air fupports life much longer, and
promotes inflammation much more than common or atmofpheric air :  it
is alfo called empyreal, aphlogiftic, dephlogifticated, vital, fire air, emi-
nently refpirable, principal of acidity ; and is fuppofed to be dephlogifti-
cated water.  The impure air, like all the reft,  except pure and  atmo-
fpheric air, deftroys life and flame;  and is alfo called noxious, foul, cor-
rupted, phlogifticated  air,  or atmofpheric mephitis.
  The operations by which permanent effeds are produced on the diffe-
rent kinds of matter,  are,
  I. Compofition :  fyn. Mixture, combination, union, folution. As che-
mical attradion does not take place at any fenfible diftance, attention is
jieceffary todiminifh cohefion in folids, to approximate the particles  of
the ingredients, and to multiply their points of contad.
  Bodies minutely  divided, as  in the ftate of vapour or air, refufing to
unite, have  no attradion; liquids refufing, have  little;  but a  liquid
uniting with a folid /or air, (hows a great attradion.
  The  general  effeds of chemical union  are, 1. Condenfation, confe-
quently increafe of fpecific gravity.  2. Heat, except it be  abforbed by
the produdion of liquidity or vapour.  3. Change of form, folids becom-
ing fluids, and fluids becoming  folids. 4. Extreme divifion  of parts.  5.
Change of colour.   6. D^minilhed  attradion for  other bodies : hence
the more fimple a body  is, the  ftronger and more  numerous are  its at-
tradions.   7. Alterations  with  regard to  the effeds of heat  and other
kinds of matter.  8.  Different  appearance on being  mixed with  other
bodies.  9. Alteration of effeds on the human body.
  II. Decompofition : fyn. Separation, as open  evaporation ;  clofe eva-
poration ; that is, diftillation or fublimation ;  precipitation.
  Befides the heads of Compofition and Decompofition, another  feems
ncceffary ; as in the operations of the calcination and redudion of me-
tals and vitrification, there feems to be fometking parted with  and fome-
thingreceived.  This head maybe called Reciprocation.
  As chemical attradion  feems to difpofe matter to unite with one kind
rather than with another; by which a body added attrads an ingredient
from a compound, thereby producing a new compoHnd ; and a  compound
changes  ingredients  with  another  compound,  thereby producing two
new compounds ; the former is called a  Jingle eledive aitradion, and
the latter a double one, as exhibited in the Tables.   The  fuppofed ano-
malies in the order of attradions were chiefly owing to overlooking the
influence of heat, phlogifton, air, or water, as ingredients,  the union of
three of the ingredients, the folubility of fome of them, or the excefs of
gcid i^i fome of the  compound falts.
                                                              The 
INTRODUCTION.
xix
   The moft fimple kinds of  matter feem  to be, i. Heat.   2.  Light.
 3.  Phlogifton.   4. Eledrical fluid.   5. Magnetical fluid.   6. Pure air*.
   Thofe confidercd as next in fimplicity are, the acids, the alkalies, the
 earths, and water.
   The different kinds of matter are rarely found pure in nature.   They
 differ from each other in their origin, fenfible qualities,  chemical attrac-
 tions, and the compounds which they form.

                           ACIDS.

   Acids have  a four  tafte ;  redden certain vegetable blues ; unite with
 alkalies, earths, inflammables, or metals; by which union the ingredients
 may lofc their diftinguifhing  qualities, the compound being then faid to
 be neutral. The acids feem to contain pure  air.   They  owe their liquid
 ftate to water, and their colour and volatility probably to phlogifton ,  for
 both which  they in general, have a powerful attradion.   The mineral
 acids burn animal and vegetable bodies like fire.   Diluted with 40 or 50
 times their weight of water, they are as adive as the other acids.   The
 vegetableand animal acids poffefs the general properties of acid* in a much
 inferior degree  ; they contain  oily and flimy matter, and are totally de-
 ftroyed by a red heat. Acids, as articles of the materia medica, diuolve,
 at leaft out of  the body, fome animal concretions, neutralife the tafte of
 bitters, corred vegetable poifons; feem to be locally ftimulant  and aftrin-
 gcnt ;  and are employed to obviate weaknefs, relaxation, fpafm, acidity,
 putrefcence, heat, thirft, fweat, hemorrhagy, chronic eruptions, increafed
 difcharges, the ill condition of  certain ulcers. They occafionally increafe
 the fecretions, according to the dofe and temperature of the patient. The
 vegetable acids  are applied in external inflammation ; and acid juices are
 ufed internally in adive inflammatory and hemorrhagic  ftates. Acid va-
 pours are employed as antidotes to contagion.  Acids render the ftoniacli
 lefs capable of being aded on by other matters, as fpirits, &c. They are
 fometimes  obferved to" excite cough and fpafms. Their adminiftration re-
 quires only dilution with water, which may alfo be fweetened.

 1.  Acid of vitriol: fyn. Vitriolic acid, oil of vitriol, acid of fulphur, ful-
   phureous acid, acid  of alum, aluminous acid  ; aerial, ethereal, primo-
   genial, univerfal or catholic acid; acidum calcanthi, acidum vagum
   foffile.  In  its concrete ftate, it is  called glacial or icy oil of vitriol ;
   in its ordinary ftrong ftate, that is, when  about double the  weight of
   water, the epithet ftrong or concentrated iffoften added ;  and in a  more
   diluted ftate,  that  is,  with about feven waters, it  is  called weak vi-
   triolic acid, fpirit of vitriol, or fpirit of fulphur by  the  bell.   Its va-
  porific point when pure, is about 5500  of  heat. United with a cer-
  tain proportion of phlogifton, it may exift  in the form of  vitriolic
  acid air  ; and this,  combined with water, forms the volatile vitriolic
  or fulphureous acid.   Saturated with phlogifton, it forms fulphur.  It
  has a confiderable attradion for phlogifton.
                                 B  2                        2.  Acid

  • Some, however, confider heat and light as different compounds of pure air and
phlogifton ; while others,  denying the exiftence of phlogifton, confider pure  air as
confifting of heat and a certain matter which phlogiftic  bodies are  difpofed to ab-
ibrb.  Others, again, confider the fitc firft as mere modifications of one another. 
XX
INTRODUCTION.
2. Acid of  nitre; fyn. Nitrous acid, fmoking acid  or fpirit  of nitre,
    fmoking nitrous acid, Glauber's fpirit of nitre. Diluted, it is called"
    fingle aquafortis.  It exifts in form of nitrous and nitrous acid air.
    It has a remarkable attradion for phlogifton.
3. Acid of fait ; fyn. Acid of muria, muriatic or marine acid, fpirit of
    fait, acid or fpirit of fea-falt, Glauber's fpirit of fea fait, fpirit of fal
    gem, acid fpirit  of fal ammoniac.   It exifts in form of marine acid
    air.   It feems to contain fo much phlogifton that it has little attrac-
    tion for it.  It is dephlogifticated by black calx of manganefe, calx
    of arfenic, acid of nitre, &c. Thefe are the three chief mineral acids.
4. Acid of tartar ;  fyn. Tartareous acid, fpirit of tartar.
$. Acid of vinegar ;  fyn. Spirit of vinegar or of verdegris, radical vine-
    gar, acetous acid.   It exifts in form of acetous air.
       Vinegar is a produd of fermentation ;aprocefs by which dead or-
         ganic matter, expofed to air, moifture, and a heat at leaft above
          320, is decompofed ; and in the cafe of fweet matter produces
         fucceffively alcohol, vinegar, and volatile alkali, with a refpec-
          tive ferment in each ftage. Thefe ftages are called the vinous
         or fpirituous, the acetous, and  the putrefadive.  The ferment
         in the firft  ftage feems to be acid of chalk.
6. Acid of  Borax ;  fyn.  Sedative or narcotic fait of Homberg, Boracic
    acid.
7. Acid of chalk; fyn. Cretaceous, cretous, calcareous, chalky, aerial,
    or mephitic acid, air or gas ;  fixt, fixable air or gas, gas fylveftre,
    deadly  or choak damp.  Water combined with it is called mephitic
    or acidulous water, or fpirit of chalk.
       The  acid and alkaline airs are readily abforbable by water,  and
          are confidered as the vapours of the acids volatilifed by phlo-
          gifton.
8. The other acids are, 1. *Aqua regia.   2. Acid of amber.   3. Acid
    of benzoin.   4. *Acid of fugar.  5.  *Acid of milk.   6.  *Acid of
    fugar of milk.  7. Acid of lemons. 8. Acid of tamarinds.  9.  Acid
    offorrel.   10.  *Acid of fat.  11. *Acid of ants.   12. *Acid<of
    arfenic.  13.  *Acid  of fluor or fpar.   14. * Acid of phofphorus.
     15.  * Acidum perlatum.  16. *Acid  of Pruffian  blue.   17.  Acid
    of tungftein.
Perhaps the acid principle is the fame in all acids, and they differ from
   one another only in their proportions of pure air and phlogifton.


                    ALKALIES.

   Alkalies, whether the faline or earthy,  have  many properties in
common. They are found united  with the acid of chalk, they have much
the fame  appearance, they green vegetable blues, unite with acids, are
fluxes to the flinty earths, and render oil of fulphur mifcible with  wa-
ter. The  earthy are much lefs foluble in water ; and, except lime, have
little  or no tafte. The earthy are deprived of their acid by heat, the fa-
line require  another  attrading fubftance, as lime.  The faline ones and
}ime,  when  pure, are corrofive, aquefcent, and ad on the metals in fome
                                                              mea-
Thofe marked thus * are not ufed in medicine. 
INTRODUCTION.
xxi
mesiure like the acids.  They diffolve animal concretions and mucus, are
faid to  corred animal poifons, and out of the body they obviate putre-
fcence.  The earthy alkalies, if mild, whether with or without their acid,
and common fait when inafmali proportion, feem the only particular fub-
ftances  that promote putrefadion.  When diluted, they  are ufed exter-
nally in chronic eruptions, to ftimulate theinadive veffels in  foul ulcers,
and in the form of injedion to deftroy afcaridcs.  Some ufe them inter-
nally in fcrophesla.  The faline ones increafe the difcharges by the  fkin,
kidneys, and inteftines, according to the dofeand patient's temperature:
the  volatile alkali is  ufed as a rubefacient; and its odour to excite the li-
ving principle; and likewife internally to  ftimulate and to  obviate fpafm
and torpor.  Lime-water is ufed as a tonic andaftringent, as in dyfpepfia,
intermittents, and increafed difcharges. The other alkaline earths  feem
merely to abforb  moifture and acid ;  and magnefia meeting with acid in
the ftomach purges.   The ufe of the alkalies cannot be long continued
without injuring the  ftomach and conftitution.   The faline ones may  be
given diluted, or  with fome conferve in  form of bolus; and the mild ear-
thy ones fufpended in water by gum.


SALINE ALKALIES; fyn.Alkaline or antacid falts.

I.  Vegetable alkali: fyn. Pure kali, cauftic vegetable alkali, or alkali of
     tartar; cauftic,  infernal, or feptic ftone, potential cautery, common
     cauftic.  Diffolved in water, it is  called cauftic ley, or water of pure
     kali.
Subcretifed vegetable alkali:  fyn. Kali, common or mild vegetable alkali;
     fixt  nitre;  fait of tartar;  the impure, as that of wormwood,  of
     plants,  of woods, &c. pot-afh,  pearl-afh, calhub,  morcoft allies,
     black or white flux.   Diffolved in  water, it is  called oil of tartar,
     per deliquium, liquor of fixt alkali or of fixt nitre, ley of tartar, wa-
     ter of kali. It contains 20 parts of pure acid, 48 of  pure alkali, and
     32 of water in the hundred, and isfoluble in 4 waters at 6o° of Fah-
     renheit's fcale.   lis cryftals are  permanent.
2.  Mineral alkali; fyn. Pure or cauftic, mineral, marine,  or foffile alkali,
     natron,  foda, alkali of fait.  Diffolved in water,  it is called foap-ley.
Subcretifed mineral alkali: fyn. common or mild mineral or foffile alka-
     li,  foda, or fait of foda, barilla, kelp, mural natron, aphronitrum, the
     nitre of the ancients, Egyptian nitre.  It contains 16 of acid,  20 of
     alkali, and 64 of  water; is foluble  in two waters.   Its cryftals are
     deaquefcent.
3. Volatile alkali: fyn. Ammonia, pure or cauftic volatile alkali, alkali of
     bones or ofcali.   Combined with water,  it is called cauftic volatile
     fpirit, fpirit offal  ammoniac prepared by quicklime, water of  pure
     ammonia. It exifts in form of alkaline air, which is capable of tie-
     corn poiirion.
Subcretifed volatile alkali or Amonia:  fyn. Common mild concrete vola-
     tile alkali, fait of urine, volatile alkali, or fait of fal ammoniac, volatile
     fal  ammoniac, fait of foot, or hartfhorn, volatile fait of bones,of ivory,
     of elks-hoof,  of vipers, of earth-worms, &c. It contains 45 of acid, 43
                               B  3                             of 
xxii           INTRODUCTION.
     of alkali, and 12 of water. Diffolved in water, it is called mild fpirit
     of f.il ammoniac, of hartlhorn water of ammonia, &c.
This laft iscalled volatile, as it exhalesin the common temperature of the
     atmofphere.   The cpithet/x^is often added to the names of the
     other two, as they require a great degree of heat to convert them
     into vapour.


 EARTHY ALKALIES;  fyn.Alkaline, abforbent,

                       antacid earth.


 1  * Barytes : fyn. Pure ponderous, or heavy earth. Soluble in 900 wa-
     ters at 6o° ; fpec. grav. 4.
     Subcretifed barytes.
2. Lime: fyn. Pure, calcined, burnt,  cauftic limeftone, chalk, calcareous
     earth :  quicklime. Soluble iu 680  waters at 6o°; fpec. grave. 2. 3.
  Subcretifed lime : fyn. mild calcareonsearth,as limeftone, chalk, marble,
     marie, gur; animal fhclls and concretions, as oyfter (hells;  various
     fpars, petrefadions, &c.  It often contains 40 of acid.
 3.  Magnefia:  fyn. Pure, muriatic earth, or calcined  magnefia.  Soluble
     in 7692 waters at 6o° ; fpec. grav. 2. 33.
  Subcretifed magnefia: fyn.  common  magnefia, magnefia of nitre, of
     common fait, Count de Palma's powder, Valentini's laxative  poly-
     chreft.  It  often contains -,%. of acid.
 4.  Clay : fyn. Pure clay, argillaceous earth,  earth of alum : As infolnble
     as magnefia.  Bole, as French bole, is an impure clay j fpec. grav. 2.
     Subcretifed clay.
 5. The  other primitive earth  is the Flinty ; fyn.  filiceous, cryftalline, vi-
     trefcent, or vitrifiable ; which is foluble in  no acid  but that  of fpar.
     Sp. gr.  2.66.

 The volatile alkali feems naturally to contain phlogifton.  All  the  three
     are alterable by certain phlogiftic matters, and then faid to be phlo-
     gifticated  ; the two fixt by fuch meansyield volatile alkaki. Perhaps
     the alkaline principle is the fame in all the alkaline fubftances, and
     they  differ from one another only in the proportions of earthy
     matter and phlogifton.

               SALINE   SALTS.

    The faline falts may be produced, 1. By mixing the ingredients  to the
 point  of faturation ;  and  in  the cafe of perfed  neutrals,  till the diftin-
 guiihing qualities of the ingredients are loft.  2. By adding the acid to a
 compound containing the alkali.  3. By adding the alkali to a  compound
 containing the acid.   4.  By a double  eledive attradion.  This applies
 in fome meafure to all compound  falts.
    Thefaline and earthy falts increafe the difcharges by thefkin  thekid-
 neys, and inteftines, according to the dofeand patient's  temperature ;are
 ufed chiefly  in adive inflammatory and hemorrhagic ftatcs, but  fometi'mes
                                                              with 
INTRODUCTION.          xxrri
with the view of carrying eff effufed water or acrimony.  Saline falts are
rendered more adive by large dilutions; and more grateful by fugar, le-
mon-juice, and an aromatic.  Alum is chiefly  ufed as an aftringent.

i. Vitriolated Vegetable Alkali or Kali;  fyn. Vitriolated nitre or tartar.
     Glafcr's fal polyehreft. arcanum duplicatum, fal enixum de duobus.
     It contains 40 of acid, 52 of alkali, and 18 of water;  foluble in 5
     waters at 2120,  and in 16 at 6o°. Its cryftals arc  fubaquated and
     permanent; tafte bitteriih.
2. Vitriolated Mineral Alkali or Natron ; fyn. Glauber's purging or won-
     derful fait, vitriolated foda. It contains 27 of acid, 15 of alkali, and
     58 of water;  foluble infour-fifths its weight of water at 2i2°,in 3 at
     6o°, by heat in  its own water, is deaquefcent; lofing in both cafes
     above one half its weight.   Tafte cool and bitterifh.
3. Nitriated Vegetable Alkali or Kali;  fyn. Nitre,  faltpetre, prifmatic
     nitre, fal prunel, mineral cryftal.  It contains 33 of acid, 49  of al-
     kali, and 18 of water; foluble in one water at 212°, and in 7 at 6o° :
     cryftals permanent. Tafte cool, acrid, and bitteriih.
4. Muriated Vegetable Alkali, or Kali; fyn. Digeftive fait, Sylvius's fe-
     brifuge fait, regenerated  fea-falt, fpiritus falis marini coagulatus. It
     contains 31 of acid,  51 of alkali, and 8 of water ; foluble in 2 wa-
     ters at 2t2°, and in  3 at 6o°.   Cryftals permanent and fubaquated.
     Tafte fait and acrid.
5. Muriated Mineral Alkali or Natron; fyn.  Salited foffile alkali  ; fea,
     fountain, mountain, foffile, marine, or common fait; fal gem.  It
     contains 52 of acid,  42 of alkali, and 6 of water. Soluble in 2\ wa-
     ters at 2120, and in  a little more at 6o°.   Cryftals permanent and
     fubaquated.  Tafte fait and agreeable.
6. Muriated Volatile Alkali or Ammonia ; fyn. Crude, common, or fim-
     ply fal ammoniac, armoniac, armeniac, cyrenjac ; fait of land, flow-
     ers of fal ammoniac.  It contains 52 of acid, 40 of alkali, and 8 of
     water; foluble  in one water  at 212°, andin  3^ at 600.  Cryftals
     permanent.  Tafte acrid.
 7. SupertartarifedVegetable Alkaliqr Kali; fyn. Cryftals or cream oftartar
     pure  tartar.  Tartar in its impure ftate is called  crude, red or  white
     tartar, argol or  wineftone. It contains about one-fourth its weight
     of alkali ; foluble in 28 waters at 2120, and in 150 at 6o°.  Cryftals
     permanent.  Tafte acid. The excefs of acid in compound  falts ad-
     heres lefs firmly than theneutralifing portion.
 8.  Tartarifed Vegetable Alkali or Kali;  fyn.  Tartarifed tartar, foluble
     tartar,  vegetable fait. Soluble in 4 waters at 6o° ; aquefcent, tafte
     bitter.
 9.  Tartarifed Fixed Alkali or Kalinatim ; fyn. Rochclle fait, Seignette's
     polyehreft fait,  tartarifed foda. It contains more than one-fourth of
     mineral alkali,  lefs than one-fourth of vegetable alkali foluble in 4
     waters at 6o° ; deaquefcent.
 to. Acetifed Vegetable Alkali or Kali;  fyn.  diuretic  fait,  regenerated
      tartar, terra foliata tartari.  It contains 19 of acid, 32 of alkali, and
      49 of water ; is very aquefcent.
 ti.  Acetifed Volatile Alkali or Ammonia ;  fyn. Mindererus's fpirit, ve-
     getable ammoniac.   Very aquefcent.
                                  B  4                        12. Sub- 
xxiv          INTRODUCTION.

12. Sub-boraxated Mineral Alkali or Natron ; fyn. Borax,  tincal,  cry-
    focolla.  It contains 34 of acid, 17 of alkali, and 47 of water ; fo-
    luble in 6 waters at 2120,  and in 12 at 6o° ; foluble by heat in its
    own water;  and fomewhat deaquefcent.
13. Lemonated Vegetable Alkali ox Kali;  fyn. Saline, or anti-emetic
     mixture.

              EARTHY   SALTS.

1  * Vitriolated Barytes, fyn. Ponderous fpar or gypfum, Bononian ftone,
    barofelenite,  marmor metallicum.  Not foluble in 1000 waters at
    212°.
2.  ' Vitriolated Lime; fyn. Gypfum, felenite,  plafter of Paris. Soluble
    in 500 waters at 6o°.
3.  Vitriolated Magnefia; fyn.  Bitter fait, bitter purging fait; Englifh,
    Epfom,  Scdlitz, or Seidfchutz fait.  It contains 33 of acid, 19 of
    magnefia, and 48 of water ; foluble in two-thirds of  water at 212*
    and in one water at 6o° ; foluble by heat in its own water ; deaque-
    fcent; lofing, in both cafes,  one half its weight.  Tafte cool and
    very  bitter.
4. Supervitriolated Clay ;  fyn. Alum.  It contains  38 of acid,  18 of
    clay, 44 of water; foluble in two-thirds of water at 212°, and in 15
    at 6o°.  Cryftals permanent;  foluble by heat in their own water,
    and Iofe one half their weight.

   Glutinous fubftances, whether infipid or fweet, are, like the  falts, foluble
in water;  fufpend oil and heavier matters in water; are rendered mifcible
in fpirit by effential oil  or refin ; defend from acrimony, and  the fweets
render other medicines agreeable. Glutinous fubftances, when pure, may
be diluted ; or fweetened in form of lozenge.
   The infipid are-----Gum-mi Arabicum, Gummi Tragacanthse, Althaa
Linum, Malva, Convallaria, Liliumalbum, Satyrion, Lichen, Parietaria,
Trichomanes,Faenum,Grascum.-----The fweet are—Saccharum, Man-
na, Mel. Glycyrrhiza, Primus Gallica, Uvae paffae majores ct minores,
Carica, Caffiafiftularis, Ginfeng.


             INFLAMMABLE  BODIES.


   Heat, from whatever fource, as from condenfation, in the fun's rays,
eledricity, chemical union, fermentation, animals, fridion, or percuffion,
or phlogiftic bodies, has the following general effeds:  Calefaction, ra-
refadion, as expanfion, fluidity, and vapour; ignition; and, with re-
gard to phlogiftic bodies expofed to the air, inflammation, or  combuftion.
The heat and phenomena of this laft may be from the double chemical
union  and condenfation which take place, viz,  the  union  betwixt the
elementary bodies pure air and phlogifton, and betwixt pure air "and the
refiduum.

I. Inflammable Air; fyn. Fire-damp.
II. Alcohol; fyn. Ardent fpirits, redified fpirit, fpirit of wine, vinous fpi-
     rit, pure fpirit.  It means a fpirit free from all water, except what
                                                           enters 
INTRODUCTION.
XXV
  enters its compofition as  an ingredient.  When its fpecific gravity is
  to water as  13 to 12,  it is called redified fpirit.   This diluted with
  an equal  weight of water, is called a proof-fpirit,  a brandy, weak
  fpirit of wine.  Its vaporific  and  inflammable point is  1740.   Its
  ftrength is judged of by its partial or entire iniUmmability, levity, and
  fluidity.   When pure, it is the fame from whatever fermented liquor
  it is diftilled.  Its ingredients feem to be water, acid, and a fubtle oil
  containing its phlogifton.   It diffolves the faline alkalies, and more or
  lefs of the following compound falts,  moft of the  ammoniacal  falts,
  acetifed vegetable alkali, nitrated and muriated lime and magnefia, fu-
  pervitriolated iron fomewhat dephlogifticated, fupermuriated mercury.
  It does not diffolve the vitriolic compounds. It is ftimulant and intoxi-
  cating.   Its compounds are,
1. Vitriolic/Ethereal Liquor; fyn. Vitriolic cether, vitriocol.
2. Dulcified Spirits ; fyn. Weak aethers; as fweet fpirit of vitriol, fyn.
  Vinous vitriolic acid,  weak vitriocol.
3. Sweet  Spirit of Nitre; fyn.  Vinous nitrous acid,  fpirit of nitrous
  sether, weak nitrocol.
4. Sweet  Spirit of Salt; fyn. Vinous  muriatic acid,  weak murocol.
5. Sweet Spirit of Sal Ammoniac;  fyn. Spirit of ammonia.
Oily Subftances, whether the nnduous,  cffential, or foffile, feem to owe
  their origin to organic matter, to confift of phlogifton, acid and wa-
  ter ;  and fhow little difpofition to unite with water.
III.  The uniluous*; fyn.Unguinous, expreffed, bland  ; fat; greafe. They
     feel fiippery, inodorous, infipid ; rife at 6oo° ; form foap with alkali,
     plafter with metallic earth; evolve acid, or become rancid on keep-
     ing; and are only foluble in alcohol when  rancid, diftilled, that is,
     empyreumatic, or feparated  from foap or plafter by acid.  They de-
     fend from acrimony, and relax.   Their compounds are,
  I. Soap; fyn. alkali fed oil.
  2. Balfam of Sulphur,• fyn. fulphurated oil.
IV.  Effential Oil\;  fyn. Aromatic oil;  balfam, refin. The balfams and
     refins differ from the oils chiefly in confiftence. This oil feels lefs flip-
                                                              per/
  *  The unduous fubftances are, Amygdalae amarae  et  dukes, oliva,
laurus, palma,  fevum ovile, axungia porcina, fpermaceti, cera alba, vi-
pera. Unduous oil may be given mixed with water in form of emulfion
or mixture,  by means of gum or  volatile  alkali; or wiih mucilage in
form of lindus.  The external applications differ chiefly  in confiftence.
The liniment confifts of one part of wax and four of oil;  the ointment,
of one of wax  and two and a half of oil; the cerate of one of wax and
about two of oil,  with one-eighth of fpermaceti.   Thefe  ftrve to keep
parts foft and from the air.   The plafter confifts of oil and calx of lead ;
and ferves to keep parts firm, and retain dreflings.   With  thefe,  fub-
ftances fuppofed ufeful may be mixed.            ■
  f  In this, in a gummy or faline matter,  refide thofe fcnfible qualities
by which the following medicines are arranged.  They are not ufed inac-
                                                               tive 
xxvi          INTRODUCTION.
    pery than the unduous, has a ftrong odour,  pungent tafte ; rifes at
    212°, or lefs; foluble in alcohol; generally lighter than water.
V. FoftlOil, fyn. Naphtha, is a light, volatile, fragrant, penetrating oil,
    not foluble in alcohol, but unites with fome effential oils.  Its im-
                                                               pure
tive inflammatory or haemorrhagic ftatesof the fyftem, except when the
evacuation they occafion may compenlate any bad effects from their fti-
mulus.   In general they vary in their quantity of inert and adive mat-
ters.   Their adive matter, diffolved in form of expreffed juice,  infu-
fion, or tindure, or freed from the folvent, without an injuring heat, in
form of extrad, is their moft certain ftate f. The lefs difagreeable ones,
however, are often given fimply divided, diffufed  in liquid, or fufpended
by gum in form of a mixture, or invifcated in form of elednary, bolus,
or pill.  The form of pill rendered foluble by gum  or extrad of liquorice,
is in general  beft; as, except in infancy or difficult deglutition, it is ea-
fily fwallowed, it covers any difagreeable  tafte, confines the adive  mat-
ter; and from its flownefs of folubility, and as it can be longeft conti-
nued without  difguft,  it is particularly fuited to  adive  medicines and
chronic complaints in which thefe medicines are chiefly ufed.
  Acrids excite local  heat, pain, and  blifters, and increafe fecretion.
They are given internally  to increafe  fecretion; and fome are chiefly
ufed as emetic, cathartic,  or anthelmintic.   Cantharides; arum, rhodo-
dendron; urtica,  inillipedae;  pyrethrum, pirnpinella; afarum, hippocaf-
tannm; dolichos, fpigelia, filix mas, Geoffrasa ; finapi album, cochlearia,
nafturtium aquaticum,  raphanus rulticanus, cardamine ; fiammula Jovis,
mezereon, farfaparilla, bardana, lobelia fyphilitica, pulfatilla  nigricans;
fcilla,  allium, colchicum, cinara, digitalis; iris paluftris,  feneka,  fam-
bucus, bryonia, melampodium,  veratrum,  gambogia, fcammoniam, ja-
lapa, fenna, ricinus, ipecacuanha.
   Aftringents, excite a fenfe of roughnefs in  the mouth, and form ink  '
with a folution of iron. They conftringe the animal fibre, and are given
to obviate weaknefs, increafed difcharges,  and pntrefcence.   Catechu,
kino, biftorta,  uva urfi, quercus,  gallae, agaricus, lignum Campechenfe,
granata mains, cydonia malus, tormentilla, rofa rubra, plantago,  hydro-
laphatum, ulmus, tuffilago, verbafcum, fcolopendrinm ;  rheum.
   Bitters are given to obviate weaknefs, morbid  acid, worms, and pn-
trefcence. Some are chiefly ufed as cathartic.  Gentiana, curfuta, quaf-
fia, fimarouba, radix  indica Lopeziana,  columbo,  cortex, Pcruvianus,
falix,  chamamelum} artemifa, abfynthium, abrotanum, centaureum, mi-
nus, carduus benedidns,  fantonicum, tanacetum, taraxacum, menyan-
thes, fumaria,  marrubium, rubia, dulcamara,  didamnus albns, fcordinm,
genifta, gratiola, elaterium, rhaninus catharticus, colocynthis, aloe foe-
cotorina, aloe hepatica.

   f It might be of ufe to diftinguifh the folvent of the fubftance; as by the termi
aquated, colifed.aquacolifed ; and the cstradi, by the tern^s deaqisated, decolifed, de-
 aquacolifed. 
              INTRODUCTION.            xxvii
     pure kinds are, Petroleum,  or rock oil; mineral pitch, Barbadoes
     tar, or devil's dung; *afphaltum, Jews pitch,  or  raamia minera-
     lis; *j«t; amber;  * foffil or pit-coal: and are called bitumens.
"VI. Animal Oil,  fyn. Dipellius's oil, is an empyreumatic oil, diftilled
     chiefly from  the glutinous parts of animals, and redified by gentle
     diftillations into a light, volatile, odorous, penetrating oil, contain-
     ing volatile alkali.
 VII. Sulphur; fyn. Brimftone, mineral fulphur, flowersof fulphur. It is
     idioeledric,  infoluble in water, has little tafte or fmell till heated j
     its fpecific gravity about 2 ;  rifes at 1700, melts at 185^ and flames
     at 3020; contains of acid.60, of phlogifton 40 per cent.  It is laxa-
     tive and antipforic.  Its compound is,
   Liver of fulphur;  fyn. hepatic fulphur, futphur-cali; hence hepatic
     or fulphur-caline air; an antidote to mineral poifons, and is ufed
     externally in chronic eruptions.
 VIII. Fhofphorus, a  kind of very inflammable fulphur, confifting of a-
     cid of  bones and phlogifton.
 IX. * Charcoal:  fyn. Charred vegetables, as charred linen or tinder;
                                                            charred
   Odorous fubftances are fubdivided into aromatics and fetids, between
which it is not eafy to draw the line of diftindion.—The odorous prin-
ciple in a moderate degree, ftimulates, rtfrefhes, and ftrengthens; in a
certain greater degree,  its ftimulus is fo confiderable and quickly diffu-
.five,  that it has the  appearance of being entirely and directly fedative.
Aromatics render other medicines agreeable, and are grateful ftimulants
in cafes of weaknefs, fpafms, or flatus; but cannot be fo long continued
as the fetids, nor are they fo important medicines.  The fetidsaremuch
ufed in ftates of weaknefs attended with fpafm, flatus, pain,  watchful-
nefs,  and bad ulcers.
   Aromatics. Cinnamomum, caffialignea,canellaalba}cafcarilla,fantalum
citrinum, faffafras, zedoaria, acorus, ariftolochia, iris,  Florentina, tnula
campana,contrayerva, ferpentaria virginiana,z/a^er,  curcuma ; pimen-
to, cubebaj ; piper longum, nigrum, et indicum caryophilli  aromatici et
rubri, nux mofchata, limonia mala, aurantiaHifpalenfia, Juniperus; eni-
fum, faeniculum dulce et vulgare, anethum, coriandrum, carvi, cardamo-
mum  minus, cuminum, petrofelinum, dancus fylveftris, angelica fativa et
fylveftris, ligufticum, imperatoria, mentha fativa et piperitis,meYiSk,mil-
lefolium, pulegium, hedera terreftris, hyffopus, falvia, majorana, thymus,
ferpyllum, lav endula, rofmarinus, rofa pallida, arnica; ttrebimhina vc-
neta,  balfamumCanadetrfe,Gileadenfe, copaibas, peruvrnmm, tolutanum,
benzoinum,  maftiche,fiyrax calamita,ftorax liquida.• olibanum, myrrha.
   Fetids.  Gummi  ammoniacum, fagapenum, galbanuin, afafectida cam-
phor a,mofchm, cal'ioreum, guaiacum, Valeriana fylveftris, fabina, artiplex
faztida, ruta. ' The narcotic fetids are, Opium, acuta, hyofcyamus, bel-
ladona, aconitum, ftramonium.
   Colorants are fuch  fubftances as are ufed for giving colour to medicines.
Sanguis draconis, anchufa, concinella, r»fa  rubra, caryophilli rubri, viola. 
 xxvrii          INTRODUCTION.
     red pit-coal,  as coaks or cinders; animal charcoal, as charred ox-
     blood ; charred oil, as lamp-black.   Thefe part with their phlogif-
     ton in  the order  in  which they ftand.  It confifts of phlogifton
     earth, acid of chalk, and alkali.  It is ufed for fuel, and for phlogif-
     ticating other matters. The earth of vegetables, whether from pu-
     trefadion or combuftion, is either lime,  or a mixture of all kinds,
     often with iron and manganefe,the vitriolated and muriated fixt al-
     kalies, vitriolated and  phofphorated lime, and liver of fulphur.  The
     earth of the fhells of filh  and eggs is lime; oyfter-thells contain
     fome vitriolated  lime; the earth of bones,  horns, claws, &c. is
     phofphorated  lime.


                       METALS.

   The Metals are found fometimes native, with their entire  comple-
ment of phlogifton ; or miueralifed in the form of ore,  that is, more or
lefs dephlogifticated by  their union with fulphur, arfenic, acid of chalk,
fometimes "of vitriol,  and of fait,  and even of phofphorus.
   They are malleable in the following order ; Gold,filver, copper,  iron,
tin, lead,  mercury, and  zinc: tenacious in  the following order ; Gold,
iron, copper, filver, tin, and  lead.   Bifmuth, antimony, and arfenic,
have a foliated texture ; the reft are of a granulated one.  Metals by ham-
mering are apt to harden ; and by applying heat, and cooling flowly, the
particles are feparated, and  allow a new approximation.   Metals expofed
to heat and air burn;  fome emitting flame, as zinc, iron, copper, fil-
ver,  tin, lead, antimony, gold, and arfenic:  And all, except the  per-
fe&. metals, part with  phlogifton ;  abforb pure air, feeniingly changing
it partly into acid of chalk; diminifh in fpecific, but increafe in  abfolute
weight; lofe their fplendor, dudility, opacity,  fufibility, volatility, fa-
llibility in acids, power of  being reduced, their difpofition to unite  even
with their own metals, their power of conduding eledricity, their adi-
vity on the human fyftem :  they affume the appearance  of earths called
calces  of  different colours, as grey, brown,  glaffy,  red,  white;  fome
becoming  foluble in water,  or even converted into acid.  The procefs is
called Calcination.
   Iron, which is found in almoft every part of nature, is the only metal
feemingly friendly  to the human fyftem  :  the reft arc either inert,  or
more or lefs deleterious, and their  ufe cannot be continued  long  with
fafety.  They arc adminiftered, i. In the ftate  of  regulus, or metal
limply divided.  2. Calcined by heat and air, or by nitre, as the calces;
or by acids,  as the precipitates.   3. Saline preparations.   And, 4. Com-
bined with fulphur.
Zinc, fpecific gravity 7,V ; melts, inflames, and rifes at 7000 ; bluifh.
Iron 8,  16950 ; bluifh; capable of welding; magnetic,
Manganefe 6,%.; bluifh.
Cobalt 7/„-; bluifh.
Nickel 9;  whitifh red  ; magnetic.
Lead 11A-; 5s5° J  bluilh.
Tin 7-,%. ;  408°; white.
Czbpzro,;  1410;  pale red ; volatile.
                                                          Bifmuth 
               INTRODUCTION.           xxix
Bifmuth 9^; 4600;  whitifh-red.
Antimony 6-,7, ; 8090; rifes, white.
Arfenic 8T"T ; bluifh ;  volatile.
Mercury 14 ; congeals at 400 below 0°j boils at 6oo° ; white.
Silvern;  10000; white.
Gold 19^.;  yellow.
Platina 23; white.
Tungftein metal.


Metals calcined by Heat and  Air; fyri. Calces, de-,
                   phlogifticated Metals.

1. Calcined Zinc; fyn. Calx of zinc, flowers of zinc, philofophical wool.
2. Subcalcined Iron ;  fyn. Scales of iron.
3. Red Lead; fyn. Red calcined lead.
4. Litharge ; fyn. Subvitrified lead.
5. Grey Calx of Antimony.
6. Nitrated Calx of Anti?nony;  fyn. James's  powder, nitro-rccalcined
     antimony.
7. Glafs of Antimony  ; fyn. Vitrified antimony.
8. Crocus of Antimony, fyn. Crocus of metals, red nitro-calcined anti-
     mony.
9. Calcined Mercury ; fyn. Mercury precipitated by itfelf.


                     Metallic   Salts.

   Acid of nitre is the moftpowerful folvent of the metals : itsadion re-
quires fometimes to be moderated, or the metal is apt to feparate.  The
acid of vitriol requires even a  boiling heat to attack mercury or filver.
The acid of fait has ftill lefs difpofition to unite with them ; but whende-
phlogilticated, it diffolves all metals completely.  To metals dephlogifti-
cated as by the other  acids,  it fhows a  ftronger attradion, even in its
ordinary ftate, by taking the metals from them.
   The other acids are in general weaker in folvent power.
   Metals dephlogifticated to a certain degree are foluble both in acids
and alkalies.
   Metals cannot unite with acids without lofing their phlogifton fo far
as to be  in the ftate of calces; nor can they remain united if they lofe
more,  which metallic folutions are very apt to do by cxpofure to the air.
Perfed folutions are  tranfparent, and tinged with the proper colour of
the calx.   The colour feems to vary according to  the quantity of phlo-
gifton prefent;  and by a fufheient quantity, all colonr is fometimes de-
ftroyed.
   The caufticity that is in fome of the metallic falts feems to be owing
to their attradion for  phlogifton.
   Precipitates  retain fome of the  folvent and of the precipitant, from
which they can hardly, if at all, be freed.   Precipitates by mild fixt al-
kalies, carry down acid of chalk and water; and by volatile alkali, phlo-
gifton. 
 xxx           INTRODUCTION.

 i. Vitriolated Zinc;  fyn. White vitriol or copperas, vitriol of zinc or of
      Goflar ;  it contains 12 of acid, 20 of zinc, and 58 of water; foluble
      in two waters at 6o°.
 2. Snper-vitritlated Iron;  fyu. Green vitriol or copperas, fait or vitriol
      of iron,  of fteel, or of Mars ; recently cryftallifed, contains 20 of
      acid, 25 of iron, and 55 of water ; foluble in 6 waters at 6o°.
 3. Supertarifed iron.
 4. Super-vilrhlatcd Copper;  fyn.  Blue, Roman, Cyprus vitriol or cop-
      peras; contains 30 of acid, 27 of copper, and 34 of water ; foluble
      in 4 waters at 6g>°.
 5. Super-vitriolated Mtrcury ; fyn. Vitriol of mercury : contains 19 of
      acid.
 6. Super-nitrated Mercury ; fyn. Nitre of mercury; contains 28 of acid.
 7. Super-nitrated Silver ; fyn. Salt of filver, lunar cauftic or cathartic,
      contains  36 of acid.
 8. Snper-muriated Antimony ; fyn. Butter or cauftic of antimony.
 9. Super-muriated Mercury ; fyn. Corrofive fublimate M«cury; contains
      16 of acid,  77 of mercury, and  6 of water, not  decompofable  by
     heat; cryftals permanent;  foluble in 19 waters at 6o°, and in alco-
     hol ;  unites with muriated volatile alkali, which renders it remark-
     ably foluble.
 10.  Super-tartarifed Antimony ;  fyn.  Emetic tartar; foluble  in 60 wa-.
     ters at 6o°.
 11.  Super-acetifed Lead or ceruffe;  fyn. Salt or  fugar of lead, or of  fa-
     turn; acetifed ceruffe.
 12.  Super-acetifed Mercury, foluble in 3 waters at 6o°.
   Ammoniacal Copper and Ammoniacal Iron, or Martial flower st con-
     tain metal,  volatile alkali, and  acid.

                    Subacidated  Metals.

 1. Ruft of Iron; fyn. Subcretifed iron.
 2. Submuriated Mercury ; fyn. Sweet  mercury ftiblimate,calomel, aquila
     alba, mild muriated mercury.  It contains  14 of acid and  water,
     and 86 of mercury.
 3. Subacetifed Lead;  fyn. Ceruffe,  white lead.
 4. Subacetifed Copper; fyti. Verdegris.

                  Calcined  metallic  Salts.

 I. White calcined Vitriol;  fyn. Calcined Vitriol.
 2, Red calcined  Vitriol; fyn.  Colcothar of vitriol.
 3. Calcined Nitrated Mercury ; fyn. Red corrofive mercury, red preci-
     pitate.

                    Sulphurated  Metals.

 1. Sulphurated Antimony ;  fyn. Antimony,  crude and prepared antimo-
     ny, ore of antimony.
2. Sulphurcaline Antimony ; fyn. Kermcs mineral.
                                                      3. Dealcalifed 
               INTRODUCTION.           xxxi
3. Dealcalifed Sulphurcaline Antimony; fyn.  Precipitated fulphur of an-
     timony, golden fulphuz of antimony.
4. Sulphurated Mercury; fyn. Native and fiditious cinnabar, ore of mer-
     cury, vermilion, Juhiops mineral,  antimonial iEthiops.

            PRECIPITATES.

1. Devitriolated mercury ; fyn. Yellow emetic mercury; turbith mineral.
2. Denitrated mercury; fyn. Alhy powder of mercury.
3. Devmriated antimony ; fyn. Powder of algaroth; mercury of life.
4. Demuriated mercury; fyn.  White  precipitate  of mercury;  white
     calx of quickfilver.

                       WATER.

   Water is about 850 times heavier than air; its vapour occupies 1400
times more fpace  than when in a liquid ftate: like air, it exifts in almoft
every body of nature,  and is never found pure.
   The chief fubftances found in water are, Pure, inflammable, and hepa-
tic airs; acid of chalk; the fixed alkalies, vitriolated, muriated, cretifed ;
the  vegetable, oftener  nitrated; cretifed volatile alkali;  muriated ba-
rytes ; lime, and fometimes magnefia, vitriolated, nitrated, and fubcretifed;
fometimes clay, fuper vitriolated and muriated ; iron, vitriolated, muria-
ted, cretifed ; manganefe, muriated ; copper, vitriolated; calx of arfenic;
petroleum ;  vegetable and animal putrescent mucilage. Waters are exa-
mined by the fenfes, and by evaporation, during which the volatile and
fixt  matters are feparated and colleded, or by precipitants or tefts.  The
chief of thefe tefts are vegetable blue infufions, as that of  red cabbage,
for  acids and alkalies;  a faturated folution of an aftringent,  as that of
gall-nut in fpirit  of wine, for iron; phlogifticated alkali for the metals;
vitriolic acid for  barytes; acid of fugar for cretifed lime; cretifed alkali
for  magnefia and clay; nitrated  filver and  muriated barytes for acids
 united  with other fubftances; alcohol for acidated alkalies: any acid for
faline,  or earthy hepar, &c.

                           AIRS.

 Pure Air, fpecific gravity HO.
 Phlogifticated Air 140.  ,
 Acid of Chalk 220.
Common Air 152.
 Inflammable Air 10.
Nitrous Air 157.
 Marine Acid Air 252.
 Vitriolic Acid Air 300.
 Alkaline Air 70.
Cafis 
XXX11
INTRODUCTION.
Cafes of Double EleBive Attraction.

              By  WATER.
Phlogifticated irou with
Vitriolated copper,
              2.
Acidated earth, or metal, with
Cretifed  alkali,
             3-  .
Acidated ammonia with
Cretifed fixt alkali or earth,
              4-
Vitriolated alkali, magnefia,or
   clay, with
Nitrated, muriated, oracetifed
   lime,
             5-
Vitriolated or muriated alkali
   or earth  with
Nitrated or acetifed lead, iw.er-
   cury, or filver,
             6.
Vitriolated,' nitrated,  or ace- \  Give
   tifed filver,  with
Muriated alkali, or earth,
             7-
Vitriolated kali with
Muriated lime, or lead,
             8.
Tartarifed  or acetifed kali
   with
Nitrated  mercury,

Vitriolated ammonia with
Nitrated, muriated, or acetifed
   fixt alkali,
            10.
Vitriolated, nitrated, or muri-
   ated ammonia, with
Acetifed  fixt alkali or lime,
            ii.
Vitriolated mercury  with
Muriated natron,            J
             • I.
  Phlogifticated copper and
  Vitriolated iron.
               2.
  Acidated alkali and
  Cretifed earth or metal.
               3-
  Acidatedfixtalkaliorcarthand
  Cretifed ammonia.
               4-
  Vitriolated lime, and
  Nitrated, muriated, or ace-
     tifed alkali,  magnefia, or
     clay.
               5-
  Vitriolated or muriated  lead,
     mercury, or filver, and
  Nitrated,oracetifed alkali, or
     earth.
               6.
J Vitriolated, nitrated,,or aceti-
     fed alkali, or earth, and
  Muriated filver.
             - 7-
  Vitriolated lime, or lead, and
  Muriated kali.
               8.
  Tartarifed or acetifed mercury
              and
  Nitrated kali.
               9-
  Vitriolated fixt alkali, and
  Nitrated, muriated, oracetifed
     ammonia.
              io.
  Vitriolated, nitrated, or muria-
     ted fixt alkali or lime,  and
  Acetifed ammonia.
              n.
  Vitriolated natron and
 ..Muriated mercury.
By  HEAT.
Muriated mercury with
Sulphurated antimony,
Give  < Muriated antimony and
      q Sulphurated mercury.
THE 
THE  EDINBURGH
NEW    DISPENSATORY.
PART   I.
Elements of Pharmacy.
                   CHAPTER  I.


 A general  View  of the Properties  and Relations  of
                   Medicinal Subftances.

                         SECT.   I.

                       Vegetables.

     VEGETABLE'S  are organized  bodies,  furnifhed  with a  variety
      of veffels for the reception, tranfmiffion, and perforation of dif-
 ferent fluids.   Analogous to animals,  they are produced from feeds and
 eggs, and are endowed with fundions, whereby the  aliment they im-
 bibe is changed into new forms, into folids and fluids, peculiar to parti-
 cular plants, and to different parts of the fame plant.
   The analogy between the vegetable and animal kingdoms will appear
 ftill more ftriking, when we confider  that the former exhibit, though in
 a lefs degree, all the phenomena of fenfibility and motion.
   The pabulum of vegetables, like that of moft animals, is of a mixed
 nature ; and is made up of the neceflary union of water, heat, and light,
 and lefs neceflarily of air and  earth :  the office  of  thefe two laft feems
 to be that of filtres, or vehicles for conveying the other  principles in
 proper form.
   From  varieties in  the ftate  and proportion of thefe feveral agents, a
 very multiplied diverfity takes place in the external form, quantity, and
 quality of one and the fame vegetable: hence  the difference of plants
 from the foil, climate, feafon, and other fimilar circumftances.  The in-
 fluence of heat, and  light, or what is probably the fame thing, the ab-
forption of the inflammable principle, is perhaps  the moft  important
article in the aliment of vegetables.   This principle, whether derived
from the folar rays,  from putrid matter employ&d in manure, or from
                              C                           the 
 34    -            Elements of Pharmacy.          Part I.

the putrefadion of the wild growth, affifted by calcareous earth sand other
feptics, is found at all times to modify, in a peculiar manner, the form, the
quantity, and even the fentible and inherent properties of vegetables : it is
of importance  however to remark, that the foundnefs and fpecific princi-
ples of vegetables are not invariably the more complete in proportion-to the
vigour of their growth ; high health, which is alwaysa dangerous ftate in
theconftitutionof animals, is often the means of perverting  ordeftroying
the ceconomy of  vegetable life! Thus the finer  aromatics, which natural-
ly inhabit the dry and  fandy foils,  when tranfplanted into a moift and
rich one, or, in other words, when placed  in mould abounding in thc/o-
mites of inflammable principle, grow with  rapidity and vigour, have their
bulk  confiderably increafed, but lofe very much of their fragrance, as if
their adive principles were exhaufted by the luxuriance of their growth.
  Plants are alfo found to differ confiderably in the different periods  of
their  growth.  Thus fome herbs in their infancy abound moft with odo-
riferous matter;  of which others yield little or none till they have attain-
ed to  a more advanced age.  Many fruits, in their immature ftate, con-
tain an auftere acid  juice, which by maturation is changed  into a fweet :
others,  as the orange, are firft warm and aromatic, and afterwards by
degrees become filled with a ftrong acid.  The common grain, and fun-
dry other feeds,  when beginning to vegetate, are in  tafte remarkably
fweet: yet the kernels of certain fruits prove, at  the fame period ex-
tremely acid.  The roots of fome of our indigenous plants, whofe juice
is, during  the fuinmcr, thin and  watery, if wounded early in  the fpring,
yield rich  balfamic juices, which, expofed  to a gentle warmth, foon con-
crete into  folid  guinmy-refins,  fuperior to many of thofe brought from
abroad.  In open expofurcs, dry foils, and fair warm feafons, aromatic
plants prove ftronger and more fragrant, and folid ones weaker in fmall
than in the oppofite  circumftances.   To thefe  particulars therefore due
regard ought to hs. had in colleding plants for medicinal ufes.
  It may be proper  to obferve alfo,  that the different  parts of one plant
are often very different in quality from each other.  Thus the  bitter herb
wormwood rifes from an aromatic root;  and the narcotic  popy-head in-
cludes feeds which have no narcotic power.  Thefe differences, though
very obvious in  the common culinary plants,  do not feem to have been
fufftciently obferved, or attended to, in the medicinal ones.
  Without any obvious dependence on the circumftances abovemention-
ed, vegetables are alfo, like animals, obnoxious to  difeafes  and death.
Thefe, whether occafioned by  intenfe  cold,  by  infeds,  lightning,  or
other caufes, always maintain a ftriking analogy to the afFedions of ani-
mals. A.difference however arifes from this, that the feveral  parts of ve-
getables do not conftitute fuch a  mutually  depending fyftem  as thofe of
the more perfed animals: Hence it is, that a very coniiderable part of a
plant  may bedifeafed or dead, whilft the reft enjoys a perfed integrity
of life and health.   Though the phyfiology  of vegetables is hitherto in-
fufEcient for forming any complete dodrines of the cr.uies and cure of
their feveral difeafes; yet it is commendable to have an eye to the for-
mation of a pathology of the vegetable kingdom : in the ftate  even of our
prefent knowledge,  it  is of importance in the ftudy of pharmacy to be
aware that fuch difeafes do really exift, and are capable of changing or
deftro/ing the adive principles of many of em- moft valuable herbs.   In
                                                              the 
Chap. I.                Vegetables.                        35

the plants more evidently fenfitive, the difeafes exhibit a very clofe pro-
pinquity to many of thofe of animals:  feveral of the remote  caufes are
fuch as are known to obftrud perfpiration, to induce general debility, or
otherwife diforder the animal ceconomy.  The difeafes alfo are evident-
ly market! by a diminution of their fenfitive and moving principle ; and
perhaps, in confequence of this, their folids, their fap, and other fluids,
fhrivel and decay, and the whole plant aflumes new forms,  is impreg-
nated with inert, or  fraught with noxious  principles.   Analagous alfo to
animals, the plant,  when deprived of the living principle, runs into all
thofe changes common to what is called inanimate matter. Thefe chan-
ges we  next proceed to examine.

         I. Productions from Vegetables by Fermentation.

  Fermentation is that fpontaneous motion excited in dead  vegeta- •
bles and animals; but which is peculiar to  thofe organic fubftances elabo-
rated by the principle of vegetable or animal life.
  The  circumftances favouring fermentation in general are, a certain
degree of fluidity, a certain degree of heat, and the contadof the air.
  There are however feveral fubftances,  of themfelves not fufceptible of
fermentation, which neverthelefs may be brought into that ftate by the
admixture of thofe that are ; as by adding to them, along with a proper
quantity of water, a portion of the yeft or head thrown up to the furface
of fermenting liquors.  Without this expedient many vegetables would
run immediately into the acetous,  and fome of them  into the putrefac-
tive fermentations.  It is alfo found, that though acetous and putrefadive
ferments are unable to flop the vinous fermentation, they  are however
capable of affimulating the liquor to their own nature in a more perfed
form ; and hence it  is, that in the manufadures of wine, rum, and vine-
gar, it is found ufeful to keep the veffels  well feafoned with  the liquor
intended to be prepared. Three different kinds or ftages of fermentation
have been generally diftinguifhed by chemifts.   The vinous, which fur-
nilhes alcohol, or what is commonly  called fpirit; the acetous,  which
affords vinegar ; and the putrefadive,  which yields volatile alkali.  Be-
ing pretty conftant in fucceffionto each other,  the  whole procefs will be
beftunderftood by confideritig each of them apart.  All vegetable fub-
ftances are not capable of the vinous fermentation : the conditions ne-
ceffary to its produdion are,  a faccharo-mucilaginous matter ; a fluidity
a little vifcous, the proper degree of which  is belt learned from experi-
ence ; a heat from 40 to 96 of Farenheit's thermometer ;  a confiderable
mafs of matter ; and, laftly, the accefs of the external air.
  The phenomena exhibited in the viuous fermentation are, a brifk tu-
multuary motion, the liquor lofes its tranfparency  and  homogeneous ap-
pearance, its bulk and heat are confiderably increafed, the folid parts are
bnoyed up to the top, and a great quantity of a permanently elaftic fluid
is difengaged. This fluid  or gas being fomewhat heavier than  atmofphe-
ric air,  floats in  feparate maffes next the furface of the liquor ; and is
from this and other  appearances eafily diftinguifhed from common air :
It extinguilhes flame and animal life, precipitates lime from lime-water,
cryftallifes and renders mild the cauftic alkali ;  and is therefore the gas
fylveftrc of Hclmont, and the fixed air or  aerial acid of modern chemifts. 
36                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

After fome time the tumultuary motion in the liquor is fuddenly checked,
perhaps from the generation of the alcohol;  a fine ley is alfo precipitated ;
and the floating matter, if not purpofely prevented, fubfides to the'bottom
of the refTel.  In the wines produced from  the grape, a large quantity of
a faline concrete is likewife incrufted on the fides and bottom of the cafks;
and this is commonly known by the name  of tartar, the properties of
which we (hall afterwards examine.   At the termination of thefe pheno-
mena, the vegetable matter has affumed  new properties; and from being
a mild, fweet, or gently acidulous infufion,  is now become the brifk pun-
gent, and inebriating liquor, called Wine or Vinous Liquor.
   Fermented or vinous liquors are prepared from a great variety of fub-
ftances : the faccharine, or thofe rendered  fo by a beginning vegetation,
are in general fitteft for the purpofe ; a multitude  of collateral circum-
ftances are alfo neceffary for the proper management of the proccfs ;  and
in vinous liquors, great diverfities are found independent of their being
more or lefs watery. Thefe differences are  not only obferveable in wines
produced from different fubftances, but  alfo in thofe prepared from  one
and  the fame vegetable.  Thefe diverfities may be referred  to the dif-
ferent conditions of the fubftance  to be fermented, to the ffates of fluidity
and  heat, and to the degree  of  fermentation to which  the fubjed  has
been carried.   This laft is principally modified by  the preceding caufes,
and  not unfreqaeutly by very minute  and apparently  trifling circumftan-
ces in the condud of the operator.   Hence the nnmberlefs varieties in
the vinous liquors produced from the grape, which have been more pecu-
liarly denominated wines : It is an important part of pharmacy to inquire
into thefe differences with care and attention.
   The diverfity in vinous liquors is ftill more obvious in  thofe produced
from different vegetables.   Many of the native qualitiesof the fubftance,
fuch as colour, tafte,  flavour, &c. often remain in the wine ; not being
totally fubdued by that degree of  fermentation by which the liquor is
rendered vinous.  Hence the remarkable difference of wines as produced
from the grape and thofe furnifhed by  the graminous feeds : the wine
produced from thefe laft has been more  ftridly called beer ; and this too
is well known to differ as remarkably from  thofe produced from apples,
pears, apricots, &c. as thofe differ from wine properly called.

           I. Of the Produd of the Vinous Fermentation.
   The produd of all thefe fermented vegetables is,  as we have juftnow
mentioned, the pungent and intoxicating liquor called  wine.   It is pro-
per, however, in pharmacy, to inquire into the different principles which
enter into its compofition as a mixt.   As the  wine furnifhed by grapes
is the moft valuable and generally known,  we fhall take it for our exam-
ple.  Grape-wine, then, is made up of  a large quantity of water,  of al-
cohol, of tartar, and of a colouring matter.   It is proper, however,  that
we fhonld lay down the proofs of fuch a combination in wine, and explain
the methods by which it may be decomposed and feparated into the con-
ftituent parts abovementioned.
   For this purpofe, the affiftance of the  fire is generally bad reconrfe to.
The liquor is put into an alemb'ic; and as foon as it boils, a white milky
fluid, of a pungent fmell and tafte, diftils into the recipient.  This fluid
is called aquavit*, -or, in common language, fpirit:  it  is compounded of
                                                             water 
  Chap. I.                 Vegetables.                      37

  water and certain matters capable of fufpenfion in water, of alcohol, and of
  a fmall proportion of oil; which laft communicates to it the milky colour t
  the yellow colour, afterwards alfiimed, is partly owing to the fame oil,
  and partly to a  folution of the extradive matter of the wooden  cafks
  in which the aquavitae has been infufcd.  This aquavitae, like wine, al-
  ways partakes more or lefs of the  flavour of the vegetable from whence
  the wine has been prepared ;  but by farther diftillation,  and other pro-
  cefles, it is freed of its water, and the native principles of the vegetable
  matter which the watery parts had kept in folution ;  when thus prepar-
  ed, it is a pure alcohol ox inflammablefpirit, which  is always the fame
  from whatever vegetable the wine was produced.
    After all the aquavitae has been drawn off, the refiduum now ceafes
  to be wine ; it is of a chocolate colour, of an acid and auftere tafte ; it has
  now affumed  a heterogeneous appearance, and a great quantity of faline
  cryftals is obferved in the liquor; thefe cryftals  are the tartar. By the
  above proceffes, then, we have fully decompofed wine : but it is to be
  obferved, that by this analyfis we have not  feparated  the  different parts
  of wine in their original and entire ftate ; we are not hitherto acquaint-
  ed with any method of regenerating the wine by recombining the aqua-
  vitae with the refiduum :  fome produd, therefore, of the fermentation is
  changed or deftroyed ; and this produd is probably fome peculiar modi-
  fication of fixed air or aerial acid.  The refiduum, when evaporated, af-
  fumes the form and confiftence of an extrad ; the colouring part may be
  abftraded by redified fpirit of wine,  but is not feparated  from it by
  the addition of water : it feems, therefore, to be of a gummi-refinous na-
  ture, and extraded from  the grape by means of the alcohol generated
  during the fermentation.
    From this analyfis, then, it is obvious, that wine is compofed of water,
  colouring matter, alcohol, and a fomething that  is changed or loft.   We
  refer the particular examination of alcohol and tartar  to  the proper
  places affigned them in this work; and we exped that from this general
  furvey of the fubjed, the properties of wine, as a folvent  of feveral me-
  dicinal fubftances tobe afterwards examined, will be much more readily
  underftood.   Before  we  go farther it  is proper alfo to  add,  that
  the ley precipitated from  wine during the fermentation,  is a compound
  of ftones, pieces of grape, tartar, and vitriolated tartar : the two firft are
  inert bodies;  of the two laft we fhall inquire particularly in their proper
  order.   We are  now prepared to confider the nature and  produd of the
 next kind or ftage of fermentation, viz,  the

                     2. Acetous Fermentation.

   Tounderftand whatgoeson in the acetous fermentation, we muftleavc
 for the prefent our analyfis of the produd of the  vinous fermentation and
 return to the wine itfelf in its moft perfed and entire ftate. It is proper
 to  obferve,  that though after the liquor has become vinous-,  a partial
 ceffation of  the more obvious phenomena takes  place, yet the  wine ftill
 fuffers a flow and imperceptible degree of fermentation. We are not then
 to confider the liquor as being in a quiefcent ftate, but as  conftantly ap-
 proaching to the next ftage, which wc are now toconfider viz. iheacctous
fermentation.  This kindof infcnfible fermentation, or what wc may call
                               C 3                            the 
38                Elements of Pharmacy.           Parti.

the intermediate change, feems to be neceffary to the pcrfedion of the
wine. Its degree, however, is to be regulated under certain limitations :
when too much checked, as by  cold, thunder, or fuch like caufcs, the
wine becomes vapid ; when too much encouraged by heat, contad of air,
&c. it approaches too far to the acetous change : but in order that the
vinous fhall proceed fully to the acetous fermentation,feveralcircumftances
are required ; and thefe are in general the fame that were before neceffary
to the vinous ft?.ge.  Thefe  conditions are, a temperate degree of heat, a
quantity of unfermented  mucilage, an acid matter, fuch as tartar,  and the
free accefs of external air. When thus lituated,  the liquor foon paffes in-
to the acetous fermentation :  but during this ftage the phenomena are
not fo remarkable as in the vinous ;  the motion of air is now lefs con-
fiderable,  a grofs unduous matter  Separates to the bottom,  the liquor
lofes its vinous tafte and flavour, it becomes four, and on diftillation affords
no inflammable fpirit.  It is now the acetous acid or vinegar;  and when
feparated by diftillation from the unduous ley,  may  be preferved a con-
fiderable length of time  without undergoing the putrid change : to this
laft, however, it always approaches lefs or more, in the fame way as the
vinous conftantly verges  to the acetous fermentation ; and this  will much
more  readily happen if the  acid be  allowed to remain with the unduous
feculent  matter abovementioned.  When  thus fituated, the  vinegar
quickly  lofes its tranfparency, affumes a blackifh colour, lofes its  fournejs
and agreeable odour, has now an offcnfive tafte andfmell, and  when dif-
tilled  at a certain period of the procefs it yields  volatile alkali.
  The liquor is now arrived at the  laft ftage, viz.

               3. The PutreiActive Fermentation.

  From  the preceding  phenomena, it  is obvious,   that  the  fame fub-
ftance which is capable of the vinous and acetous, is alfo capable of the,
putrefactive fermentation.  It is perhaps impoffible to induce  the firft
without a mixture of the Second ; or the Second  without a mixture of the
third.   Hence it is  that every wine is a little acid  ; and  there are few
vinegars without fome  difpofition towards putrefadion,  and in which
there is not a little  volatile alkali, though it be neutralized by  the acid
which predominates.  Notwithstanding this feeming continuation of one
and  the fame procefs, the putrefadion  of  vegetables has its particular
phenomena. The vegetable matter, if in a fluid ftate, becomes  turbid and
depofus a large quantity of feculent matter:  a confiderable number of
air-bubbles  are raifed to the top; but the motion of  thefe is not fo brifk
in the putrefadive as in the vinous, or even the acetous fermentation:
neither the bulk nor heat of the liquor feems to be increafed ; but an
acrid  pungent vapour is perceived  by the fmell, and which, by chemi-
cal trials, is found to be the  volatile alkali;  by degrees this  pungent
odour is changed into one  lefs pungent, but much more naufeous.   If
we fuppofe the fame train of  phenomena to have taken place  in a vege-
table confifting of parts fomewhat folid, its cohefion  is now broken down
into a  foft  pulpy mafs; this mafs, on drying, lofes at length its odour
entirely, leaving a black,  charry-like refiduum, containing nothing but
earthy and faline fubftances.
   It is proper to obferve, that though  the circumftances favouring the
putrefadive are the fame with thofe requisite to the vinous and acetous
                                                    fermentations, 
Chap. 1.               Vegetables.                       39

fermentations, yet thefe feveral conditions are not fo indifpehfable to the
former as to the two latter ftages. All vegetables have more or lefs tendency
to putrefadion, and a great number are capable of the acetous fermenta-
tion :  but the proportion of thofe capable of the vinous is not consider-
able : and thefe laft will run into the putrid  in circumftances in which
they cannot undergo the vinous or even the acetous fermentations. Thus
flour made into a foft pafte will  become four: but it  muft be perfedly
diffolved in water to make it fit for the vinous ftage; whereas mere damp-
nefsis fufficient to make it pafs to the putrid fermentation; befides the con-
dition qf fluidity, a lefs degree of heat, and a more limited accefs of air,
likevvifefuffi.ee for producing the putrefadive fermentation.
  It is therefore probable, that all vegetables,  in whatever ftate, are liable
to a  kind  of putrefadion : in wood and other folid parts the change is
flow  and gradual, but never fails at length to break  down their texture
and cohefion.
  We formerly obferved, that  the vapours feparated during the vinous
fermentation were fixed air or aereal acid ; and it is indeed true, that in
the incipient ftate a quantity of this gas is 11 ill evolved, and along with it
a quantity  of alkaline air: in  the  advanced  ftate,   however,  we find
thefe  vapours of  a different nature ;  they now tarnifh filver, and render
combinations of lead with the vegetable acids of a black colour. When
produced in large quantity, and much confined, as happens in flacks of
hay put  up wet, theyburft into adual flame, confuming the hay to afhes:
on other occafions, the efcape  of thefe  vapours  difcovers itfelf by an
eniiffion of light, as in  the luminous appearance of rotten wood when
placed in the dark.  From the above phenomena it is evident, tjiat thefe
vapours abound with the principle of inflammability ; and their odour pro-
bably depends on this principle loofely combined with the water, or fome
other partsof the volatilifed matter.  This gas is therefore different from
that feparated during the vinous fermentation ; it is the phlogifticated, and
fometimes the inflammable air of  Dr Prieftley.
   We have thus, for the fake of clearnefs, and in order to comprehend
the whole of the fubjed,  traced  the phenomena of fermentation through
its different ftages :  it is proper,  however, to obferve, that though every
vegetable that has Suffered the vinous will proceed to the acetous and putre-
fadive fermentations, yetthe Second ftage is not neceffarily preceded by the
firft, nor the third by the fecond ; or in other words, the acetous fermenta-
tion is not neceffarily confined to thofe fubftances  which have undergone
the vinous,  nor the putrefadive to thofe which have  undergone the ace-
tous  fermentation.   Thus  it is,  that gums  diffolved in water fhall pafs
to the acetous without undergoing the' vinous fermentation;  and gluti-
nous  matter feems to run into  putrefadion  without fhowing any previ-
ous acefcence :  and  farther, thefe changes frequently happen although
the matter  be under thofe conditions  which are favourable to the pre-
ceding ftages.
   From the foregoing fketch, the importance of this fubjed in the  Study
of Pharmacy will be  obvious at firft light:  it  cannot, however,  af-
ford us any ufeful information on the native principles of vegetables.  But
it prefents to us new produds, the importance of  which is well known in
chemiftry, in medicine, andinarts.  The neceffuy of  being well acquaint-
ed with the feveral fads (for of theory we know  none faiisfadory), will
                               C 4                          appear 
40                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I,

Appear  in  the pharmaceutical hiftory and preparations of many of our
moft valuable drugs.  We are next to confider a Set of no lefs compli-
cated operations, viz.

              II.  Productions from vegetables by Fire.

   In order 10 analyfe, or rather to decompofe vegetables by the naked
fire, any  given quantity of dry  vegetable matter is put into a retert of
glafs or earth.  Having filled the veflel about  one half or two-thirds,  we
place it in  a reverbatory furnace, adapting it to a proper receiver.   To
colled the  elaftic fluids, which, if confined, would burft the veffels (and
which, too, it is proper to preferve, as being real produds of the analyfis),
we ufe a perforated receiver with a crooked tube, the extremity of which
is received  into a veflel full of water, or rather of mercury, and inverted in
a bafon containing the fame :  by this contrivance, the liquid matters arc
colleded in the receiver,  and the aeriform fluids pafs into the inverted
veffel.  If the vegetable  fs capable of yielding any faline matter in a
concrete ftate,  we interpofe between the retort and the receiver another
veffel, upon whofe fides the fait fublimes.  Thefe things being properly
adjufted, we apply atfirft a gentle heat, and increaSe it gradually, that we
may obferve the different produds in  proper order.   At firft an infipid
watery liquor pafTes over, which is chiefly made up of the water of vege-
tation ; on the heat being a little farther increafed, this watery liquor, or
phlegm, becomes charged with an oily matter, having the odour of  the
vegetable,  if it poffeffed any in its entire ftate;  along with this oil we
alfo obtain an acid refembling the acetous, and which communicates to
the oil Somewhat of a faponaceous nature ; on the heat being carried ftill
farther, we procure more acid, with anoil of a dark colour, andthecolour
gradually deepens as the diftillation advances.  The oil nowceafes to retain
the peculiar odour of the vegetable; and, being Scorched by the heat, Sends
forth a ftrong diSagrecable Smell like tar: it is then called empyreumatic
oil. About this time alSoSome elaftic vapours rufh into the inverted veffel;
thefe generally confift of inflammable or fixed airs, and very often of a
mixture of both ; the volatile fait now alfo fublimes, if the vegetable was
of a nature to furnifh it.   By the time the matter in the retort has ac-
quired a dull red heat, nothing further will arife : we then flop; and al-
lowing the veffel to cool, we find a mafs of charcoal, retaining more or
lefs the form and appearance of the vegetable before its decompofition.
  We have thus defcribed, in the order of their fucceffion, the feveral
produds obtained from the generality of vegetables when  analyfed  in
clofe veffels and in a naked fire.   «
  It is,  however,  to be underftood, that the  proportion of thefe princi-
ples turns out very various; the more  Succulent  yield  more water, and
the more folid afford a greater quantity of the other principles.  Inde-
pendently alSoof this difference, the nature of  the produds thcmfelves arc
found to differ in different vegetables;  thus in the cruciform plants, and
in the emulfive andSarinaceous Seeds, the  Saline matter which comes over
with the water and oil is found to be alkaline; fometimes again it is am-
moniacal, from the combination of the  acid with the volatile alkali pafling
over at the  end of the procefs ;  it is alfo probable, that the acids of vege-
tables are not all of the fame nature, though they exhibit the fame exter-
                                                                nal 
Chap. I.                Vegetables.                        41

nal marks.  When volatile alkali is obtained,  it is always found  in the
mild effervefcing ftate ;  it is procured,  however, from a few vegetables
only; it is Seldom in a  concrete form, being generally diffolved in the
phlegm; and as it ordinarily makes its appearance about the end of the
procefs, it is probable that its formation is owing to fome peculiar combi-
nation of the oil and fixed alkali.  The plants containing rr.uch oily com-
buftible matter  feem to be thofe which more peculiarly yield inflammable
air, whilft the mucilages appear to be as peculiarly fitted for affording the
fixed air or aerial acid.  The chemical  properties of charcoal feem To be
always  the  fame from whatever vegetable it has been produced :  on a
minute  examination (which however is not the bufinefs of pharmacy),
it is found to confift of fixed air, the principle of inflammability, a Small
quantity of earth, faline matter, and a little water.  The whole  of the
analyfis then  amounts to air,  water, earth, and the principle of inflam-
mability ; for by repeated distillations the oil is refolved into wrter, the
principle of inflammability, and a little earth ;  the faline matter alfo is
a produd arifing from a combination of the earthy matter with water or
the principle of inflammability, in fome fhape or other, or perhaps with
both.   That thefe combinations take place, has at leaft been the opinion
of the chemifts.
   We formerly faid that charcoal was partly compofed  oS Saline matter ;
it thereSore remains that we fbould next decompofethe charcoal, in order
to obtain or Separate the articles next to be  mentioned.
                    The fixed Salts of Vegetables.
   When vegetable charcoal ha.vbeen burnt, there remains a quantity of
allies or cinders of a blackifh  grey or white colour:  thefe, when boiled
or infufed in water, communicate to  it a  pungent faline tafte ; the fait,
 thus held in folution may, by evaporation, be reduced to a concrete ftate:
 this faline matter,  however, is generally found to be mixed with ferru-
 ginous, earthy, and other impurities, and likewife with a number of neu-
tral falts of different kinds.  In this mixed condition it is the
                     Potafbes ufed in Commerce.

    This  fait, or rather compound of different falts, is procured by burn-
 ing large quantities of wood of any kind ; and this procefs is called inci-
 neration:  the  predominating  fait, however, is alkaline; and as the neu-
 tral falts are obtained to better advantage by other means, they are ge-
 nerally negleded in the purification of potafhes. Potafhes, then, freed
 from its impurities, and feparated from the other falts  by proceffes to be
 hereafter mentioned, is now
                       The fixed Vegetable Alkdi.

    Alkalies  in general are diftinguifhed by a pungent tafte, theveryre-
 verSe of that of fournefs; by their deftroying the acidity of" every four li-
 quor ;  and by  their changing the blue and red colours  of vegetables to a
 green : they attrad more or lefs the moifture  of the air,  and fome of
 them deliquate into a liquor. The fixed alkalies, which we fhall at prefent
 confider more particularly, are fufible by a gentle heat: by a greater de-
  gree of heat they  are diffipated ;  their fixity, therefore, is only relative
  to the other kind of alkalies, viz.  the volatile: they diffolve and form glafs
                                                               with 
 42               Elements of Pharmacy.          I'art.  I.

 with earths; and, laftly,  when joined with acids to  the  point of fatu-
 ration,  they form what are called Neutral Salts.
   Thefe charaders will afford fome neceffary and preliminary knowledge
 of thefe fubftances in general; and we fhall afterwards find that they a?e
 fufficient to diftinguhh them from all other faline bodies: it is neceffary,
 however, to examine them more minutely,  and our analyfis has not yet
 reached fo far as to prefent them in their limpleft ftate.  Previous to the
 difcoveries of Dr Black, the vegetable fixed alkali (which we at prefent
 fpeak of particularly),  when feparated from  the foreign  matters with
 which it is mixed in the allies, was confidercd to be in  its pureit ftate;
 we fhall afterwards find that it is ftill a compound' body,  and is really a
 neutral  fair, compounded of  pure alkali, and fixed air  or the aerial acid.
 We prefume, then, that the  particular  hillory  of its chemical and medi-
 cinal properties will be  better underftood when we come  to  thofe pro-
 ceffes by which it is brought  to its moft pure and Simple ftate.   We fhall
 only thereSore obServe  for the prefent, that fixed vegetable  alkali, not
 only in  its pure ftate, but alfo when neatralifcd by aerial acid,  feems al-
 ways to be one and the fame thing, from whatever vegetable it has been
 produced.  Thofe of fome fea-plants muft, however,  be excepted:  the
 Saline matter obtained Srom theSe laft is, like the former, in a mixed and
 impure  ftate; it differs, however, from potafhes,  in containing an alkali
 of fomewhat different properties.   The cinJcrof fea-plants  containing
 this alkali is called
                               Soda.

   Soda, then, as we have juft now hinted, is produced by the incine-
 ration of the kali and other jfea-plants : And from this impure  and mixed
 mafs of  cinder, is obtained  the marine, mineral, or muriatic alkali, or na-
 tron, as  it is now denominated by the London College.  This alkali has
acquired thofe names, becaufe it is the bafeof the common marine, or fea
fait: it differs from the vegetable alkali in being more  eafily chrvftaliza-
ble ; when dried, it does not like the former attrad humidity fufficient to
form a liquid ; it is fomewhat let's pungent to the tafte, and, according to
 Bergman, has lefs attradion for acids than the vegetable alkali.
   It is,  however, to be obferved, that this alkali, when deprived of fixed
air, that is to fay, when brought to its pureft ftate, can fcarcely if  at all
 be diftinguifhed from the vegetable alkali; and indeed the true diftindion
can only be formed from their combinations, each of them affording with
 the fame acid very different neutral falts.   It belonged to this place to
 mention fome of the charaders of alkalies in general, and alfo fome of
 thofe marks by  which the vegetable and mineral alkalies are diftinguifh-
 ed from each other ;  but for a more particular hiftory of their chemical
 and vmedicinal properties, we refer to the account of the pharmaceutical
 preparations.  As the volatile alkali is rarely produced from vegetables,
 but is very generally obtained from animal matter, we fhall confider that
 kind of  alkali when we come to analyfe the animal kingdom.

                       Of Vegetable Earth.

   After all the Saline matter contained in the afhes  of vegetables has
 been waflied off by the proceffes before mentioned, there yet'remains an
                                                            infipiJ 
Chap. I.               Vegetables.                       43  .

infipid earthy-like powder, generally of a whitifh colour, infoluble in wa-
ter, and from which fome iron may be aftraded by the magnet.  It is
faid to have formed alum with the vitriolic acid ; a kind  of ftlenite has
alfo been obtained,  but fomewhat different  from that produced by the
union  of  the fame  acid with calcareous earth ; this refiduum of burnt
vegetables differs alfo from calcareous earth ;  in not being fufceptible of
becoming quicklime by calcination. It has been found tint this refiduum,
inftead of an earth, is a calcareousphofphoric fait, fimilar to that obtained
from the bones of animals.

  We have thus finifhed our analyfis of vegetables by the naked fire ;
and have only  to  obferve,   that, like that by  fermention,  it  can
afford us no ufeful information on the native principles ©f the vegetable
itfelf.
  When chemiftry began firft to be formed into a rational fcicnce,  and
to examine the component parts and internal conftitution of bodies, it
was imagined, that this refoluiion of vegetables by fire, discovering to us
all their adive principles, unclogged and unmixed with each other, would
afford the fureft means  of judging of their medicinal powers.  But on
profecuting thefe experiments, it was foon found that they were infuffi-
cient  for  that end :  that the analyfes of poifonous and cfeulent plants
agreed  often as nearly as the analyfes of one plant : that by the adion
of a burning heat, two principles of vegetables are  not barely feparated,
but altered,  traiifpofed, and  combined  into new forms ;  infomnch that
it was impoffible to know in what form they exifted,  and with  what
qualities they were endowed, before theft changes and tranSpofirionshap-
pened.   If, for example,  thirty-two ounces of a certcin vegetable fub-
ftance are found to yield ten ounces and a half of acid liquor, above one
ounce and five drams of oil, and three drams  and a half of fixt aikaline
fait ;  what idea can this analyfis give of the  medicinal qualities at gum
Arabic ?

III. Substances naturally contained in Vegetables, and feparable by Art
              without Alteration of their native Qualities.

   It  has ben fuppofed,  that there is one general fluid or blood which is
common to all vegetables, and from  which the fluids pecu'i;.;r to parti-
cular plants and their parts are  prepared by  a kind of  fecretion :  To
this fuppofed general  fluid botanifts have given the name ot'fap.   This
opinion is rendered plaufible  from the  analogy in  many o:ner refptds
between vegetable and animal fubftances : and indeed if we confider the
water of vegetation as this general fluid, the opinion is perhaps not very
far from the truth ; but the notion has been carried much farther than
fuppofing it to be mere water, and the opinion of naturalifts on this fub-
jed does  not feem to be well fupported by experience.   It is difficult to
extrad this fap without  any mixture of their conftituent parts.  But in a
few vegetables, from  which it diftils by wounding their bark, we find this
fuppofed general blood poffefEng properties not a little various : Thus the
juice  effufed from a wounded  birch is confiderably different from  that
poured out from an incifion in the vine.
                                                           1. Grofs 
44
Elements of Pharmacy.
Fart. i.
                          I. Grofs Oils.

  Vegetables, like animals,  contain  an oil in two different ftates.
That is, in feveral vegetables a certain quantity of oil is  fuperabundant
to their conftitution, is often lodged in diftind refervoirs, and does not
enter into the compofition of their other principles: in moft vegetables,
again, another quantity of oil is combined, and makes a conftituent part
of their principles.  Of this laft we formerly fpoke in our analyfis of ve-
getables by fire ;  and it is the former we mean  to confider, under  the
three following heads.                                     .
  Grofs oils abound chiefly in the kernels of fruits and in certain feeds ;
from which they are commonly extraded  by expreffion,  and hence are
diftinguifhed by the name of Expreffed Oils.   They are contained alfo in
all the pans of all vegetables that  have been  examined, and may be for-
ced out by vehemence of fire ; but here their qualities are much altered
in the procefs by  which they are extraded  or  difesvered,  as we have
feen under the foregoing head.
  Thefe oils, in their common ftate, are not diffoluble either in vinous
fpirits or in water,  though by means of certain intermedia they may be
united both with one and the other.  Thus a Skilful interpofition of fu-
gar renders them mifcible with water into what are called lohochs and
oily draughts : by the intervention of gum or mucilage  they unite with
water into a milky fluid : by alkaline falts they are changed into a foap,
which is  mifcible both with water and fpirituous liquors, and is perfedly
diffolved by  the latter into an uniform tranfparent fluid. The addition of
any acid to the foapy folution abforbs the alkaline fait; and the oil, which
of courfe feparates, is found to have undergone  this rerrmkable change,
that it now diffolves without  any  intermedium in pure fpirit of wine.
  Expreffed oils, expofed to the cold, lofe greatly of their fluidity : fome
ef them, in a fmall degree of cold, congeal into aconfiftent mafs.  Kept
for  fome time in a warm air, they become thin  and highly rancid :  their
foft, lubricating,  and relaxing quality is changed into a lharp acrimoni-
ous one :  and in this ftate, inftead of allaying, they occafion irritation ;
inftead of obtunding corrofive humours, they corrode and inflame. Thefe
oils are liable to the fame noxious alteration while contained in the origi-
nal fubjed : hence arifes the rancidity which the oily feeds and kernels,
as almonds, and  thofe called the cold feeds, are fo liable to contrad in
keeping.   Neverthelefs on triturating thefe feeds or kernels with water,
the oil, by the intervention of the other matter of the fubjed, unites with
the water into an emulfion or milky liquor, which,  inftead of growing
rancid,  turns four on ftanding.
  It appears then that fome kind  of fermentation goes on in the progrefs
of oils to the rancid ftate ; and it would feem from fome experiments by
Mr Macquer, that an acid is evolved, which renders them more foluble
in fpirit of wine than before.
  In the heat of boiling water, and even in a  degree of heat as much
exceeding this as the heat of boiling water does that of the human body,
thefe oils Sifter little diffipation of their  parts.  In a greater heat they
emit a pungent vapour,  Seemingly of the acid kind ; and when fuffered
to grc'.v cold again, they are found to have  acquired a greater degree of
confiftence than they had  before, together with an acrid tafte.   In a
                                                               heat 
Chap. I.                 Vegetables.                      45

heat approaching to ignition, in clofe veffels, the greateft part of the oil
arifes in an empyreumatic ftate, a black coal remaining behind.

                     2. GroSs Sebaceous Matter.
  From the kernel of  fonje fruits, as that of the chocolate nut, we ob-
tain inftead of  a fluid oil,  a fubftance of a butyraceous confidence ;  and
from others, as the nutmeg, a folid matter as firm  as tallow. Thefe con-
crets are moft commodioufly extraded by boiling the fubftance in water:
the Sebaceous matter,  liquefied by the heat, Separates and  ariSes to the
Surface, and refumes its proper confiftence as the  liquor cools.
   The Subftances oS this clafs have the Same general properties with ex-
preffed oils,  but are leSs diSpofed to become rancid in keeping than moft
of the common fluid oils. It is fuppofed by the chemifts, that their thick
confiftence is owing to a larger admixture of an acid principle : for,  in
their refolution by fire, they yield a vapour more fenfibly acid than the
fluid oils;  and fluid oils, by the admixture oS concentrated acids, are re-
duced to a  thick or Solid maSs.

                          3. Effential Oils.

    Essential  oils are obtained only Srom  thoSe vegetables, or parts of
 vegetables, that are confiderably odorous. They are the direct principle,
 in which the odour, and  oftentimes the warmth, pungency, and other
 adive  powers of the fubjed, refide; whence their name of FJfences or
 Effential Oils.
    Effential oils are  Secreted fluids ;  and are often lodged in one part of
 the plant, whilft the reft are entirely void of them.  Sometimes they are
 found in Separate Spaces or receptacles; and there, too,  vifible by the
 naked eye;  thus, in the rind of lemons, oranges, citrons, and many others
 there are  placed every where very fmall pellucid veficles, which, by ex-
 preffing the peel near to the flame of a candle, fquirt out a quantity of
 effential oil, forming a ftream of lambent flame^i hence,  too, an oleo-
 saccharum maybe made, by nibbing the exterior furface of thtfe peels
 with a piece oS lump-Sugar, which at once  tears open  theSe veficles, and
 abSorbs their contained oil.
    Effential oils unite with redificd Spirit oS wine, and compoSe with it
 one homogeneous transparent fluid ; though Someof themrequire forthis
 purpofe a  much larger  proportion of the fpirit than others. The diffe-
 rence of their folubility perhaps  depends on the quantity  of  difengar
 gcd acid ;  that  being  found by  Mr Macqucr  not only  to promote the
 folution of effential oils,  but even of thofe of the unduous kind. Water
 alfo, though it does not diffolve their whole fubftance, may  be made
 to imbibe fome  portion of  their more fubtile matter, fo as to become
 confiderably impregnated with their flavour ; by the admixture of fugar,
 gum,  the yolk of an egg, or alkaline falts, they  are made  totally diffo-
 luble in water.  Digefted  with volatile alkali,  they  undergo various
 changes oS colour,  and Some oS the leSs odorous acquire confiderable de-
 grees oS Sragrance ; whilft  fixt alkali univerfally imparts their odour.
    The Specific gravity of moft of thefe oils is lefs than that of water :
 fome of  them, however,  are fo heavy as to fink  in  water ; and thefe
 varieties  will be noticed when we come to their preparation.
    In the  heat of boiling water,  thefe oils totally exhale  ;  and  on this
                                                           principle 
46                 Elements of Pharmacy.         Part. I.

principle they are commonly extraded from fubjeds that contain them ;
for no other fluid, which naturally exifts in vegetables, is exhalable by
that degree of heat, excepting the aqueous moifture, from which great-
eft part of the oil is  eafily feparated.   Some of thefe oils ariSe with a
much lefs heat, a heat little greater than that in which water begins vi-
fibly to evaporate.   In their  refolution by a  burning heat, they differ
little from expreffed  oils.
   Effential oils, expofed for fome time to a warm air, fuffer an alteration
very different  from that which the expreffed undergo. Inftead of grow-
ing thin, rancid, and acrimonious, they gradually  become thick, and at
length harden into a folid brittle concrete ; with  a remarkable diminu-
tion of their vo!atility,fragrancy, pungency, and warm ftimulatingquality.
In this ftate, they are found to confift of two kinds  of matter; a fluid oil,
volatile in the  heat of boiling water, and nearly of  the/ame quality with
the original oil; and  of  a grofler fubftance which remains behind, not
exhalable without a burning heat, or fuch as changes its nature and re-
folves it into an acid, an empyreumatic qil, and a black coal.
   The admixture of  a concentrated acid inftantly produces, in effential
oils, a change  nearly Similar to that which time effects. In making theSc
kinds of mixtures, the  operator ought to  be on  his guard ; for when
a ftrong acid, particularly that of nitre, is poured haftily into an effential
oil, a great heat and ebullition enfue, and often an  explofion happens, or
the mixture burftsinto flame.  The  union oS expreffed oils with acids is
accompanied with much lefs conflid.

                     4.  Concrete effential Oil.
   Some vegetables, asrofes and elecampane root, inftead of a fluid effen-
tial oil, yidd a fubftance poffeffing the  fame general properties, but of a
thick or Sebaceous confiftence.   This fubftance appears to be of as great
volatility, and  fubtility of parts, as the fluid oils : it equally exhales in the
heat of boiling water, and concretes upon the furface of the colledcd va-
pour.   The total exhalation of this matter, and its concreting again into
its original confiftent ftate, without any Separation  of it into a fluid and a
folid part, diftinguiflies it from effential oils that have been thickened or
indurated by age or by acids.

                          5. Camphor.

   Camthor is a folid concrete, obtained chiefly  from the woody parts
of certain Indian trees.   It is volatile like effential oils, and foluble both
in oils and inflammable fpirits: it unites freely with water by the inter-
vention of gum, but very fparingly and imperfedly by the other inter-
media that render oils mifcible with watery liquors.  It differs from the
Sebaceous as  well as fluid  effential oils, in fufferi;:^  no fenfible alteration
from long keeping ; in being totally  exhalable, not only by the  heat of
boiling water,  but in a warm air, without any change or Separation of its
parts, the laft particle that remains uncxhaled appearing to be of thefame
nature with the original camphor:  in  its receiving no empyreumatic
impreffion, and Suffering no refolution, from  any degree  of fire to which
it can be expofed in clois veffels though readily combuftible in the open
air ; in being diffolved by concentrated acids into a liquid form ;  and in
Several other properties which it is netx'efs tofpecify in this place.
                                                          6. Refin 
Chap. I.                Vegetables.
47
                             6. Refin.
  Essential oils, indurated by age or acids, are called Refins.  When
the indurated mafs has been expofed to the heat of boiling water, till its
more fubtilepart, or the pure effential oil that remained in it, has exhaled,
the grofs matter left behind is likewife called refin.  We find, in many
vegetables, refins analogous both to one and the other of thefe concretes ;
foine containing a fubtileoil, feparableby the heatof boiling water; others
containing nothing that is capable of exhaling in that heat.
  Refins in general diffolve in rectified fpirits of wine, though fome of them
much more difficultly than others : it is chiefly by means of this diffolvent
that they are extracted  from the fubjeds in  which they are contained.
They diffolve alfo in oils both expreffed and effential; and may be united
with watery liquors by means of the fame intermedia which renders the
fluid oils miffible with water.  In a heat leSs than  that of boiling water,
they melt  into an oily fluid ;  and in this State they may be incorporated
one  with another.  In their refolution  by fire, in clofe vcu'c'.s,  they yield
a manifeft  acid, and a large quantity of empyreumatic oil.
                             7. G 11:11.
  Gum differs from  the  foregoing fubftances in being inflammable :
for though it may be burnt to a coal, and thence to allies, it never yields
any flame.  It differs remarkably alfo in the proportion of the principles
into which it is reSolved by fire ;  the quantity of empyreumatic oil being
far lefs, and that of an acid far  greater.  In the heat of boiling water,
it fuffers no diffipation :  nor does it  liquefy like refins :  but continues
unchanged, till the heat be So Sar increafed as to S-orch or turn it  to a
coal.
   By a little quantity of  water, it  is  foftened into a  vifcous adhefive
maSs, called mucilage ; by a larger quantity it is  diffolved into a fluid,
which proves  more or leSs glutinous according to the proportion of gum.
It does  not diffolve in vinous fpirits, or in any  kind of oil: nevertheless,
when SoStened with water into a mucilage, it is eafily miScible both with
the fluid oils and with refins; which by this means become foluble in  wa-
tery liquors along with the gum, and are thns excellently fitted Sor  me-
dicinal purpofes.
   This elegant method of uniting oils  with aqueous liquors,  which has
been kept a Secret  in  Sew  hands, appears  to have been known to Dr
Grew.   " I took (Says he) oil of anileeds, and pouring it upon another
" body,  I So ordered it, that  it  was thereby  turned into a perSed milk-
-white balSam or butter; by which  means the oil became mingleable
" with  any vinous or watery liquor, eafily and inftantanconfly diffolving
" therein in the Sorm  of a milk.  And note, this is done without the
" leaft  alteration of the fmell, tafte, nature, or operation of the faid oil.
" By fomewhat the like  means any other ftillatitious oil  may be tranf-
" formed into a milk-white butter, and in.like manner be singled with
" water<*or any other liquor: which  is  of various ufe in medicine,  and
" what I find oftentimes very convenient and advantageous to be  done."
(Grew  of Mixture, chap.  v. inft. i. § 7.)   This inquiry has lately been
further profecuted in the firft  volume  of the Medical Observations pub-
Jifhed by a Society oS phyficians in London ;  where various experiments
                                                                are 
48                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I,

are related, for rendering oils, both effential and expreffed, and different
unctuous and refinous bodies, foluble in water by the mediation of gum.
Mucilages have alfo been ufed for fufpending crude mercury,  and fome
other ponderous and infbluble fubftances; the mercury is by this  means
not a little divided; but it is found that the particles arc very apt to run
together, or fubfide, if a pretty conftant agitation be not kept up.
   As oily and refinous fubftances are thus united to water by the means of
gum, fo gums may in like manner be united to fpirit of wine  by the in-
tervention of refins and effential oils ;  though the fpirit does not take up
near fo much of the gum as water does of the oil or refin.
   Acid liquors, though they thicken pure oils, or render them confiftenr,
do not impede the diffolution of gum, or of oils blended with gum.  Al-
kaline falts, on the contrary, both fixt  and volatile,  though they render
pure oils diffoluble in water, prevent the folution of gum, and of mixtures
of gum and oil.   If any pure gum be difiblved in water, the addition of
any alkali will oceafion the gum to Separate,  and fall to the bottom in a
confiftent form ;  if any oily or refinous body was previoufly blended with
the gum,  this alfo feparates,  and either finks to the bottom, or rifestQ
the top, according to its gravity.
                         8. Gum-refin.

   By gum-refin is underftood a mixture of gum and refin.  Many ve-
getables contain mixtures of  this kind,  in which  the  component parts
are  fo intimately united, with the  interpofition perhaps of fome other
matter, that the compound, in a pharmaceutical view, may be considered
as a diftind kind of principle ; the whole mafs diffolving almoft equally
in aqueous and in fpirituous liquors ; and the  folution being not turbid
or milky, like thofe of the groffer mixtures of gum and refin, but per-
fedly iranfparent.  Such  is the aftringent  matter of biftort-root, and
the bitter matter of gentian.  It  were  to be wifhed that we had fome
particular name  fortius kind of matter; as the term  gum-refin is ap-
propriated to  the groffer mixtures,  in which the  gummy and  refin-
ous  part  are   but  loofely joined,  and eafy  Separable  from  each
other.
   We fhall afterwards find that it will be convenient to imitate this na-
tural cpmbination by art. As the effeds of medicines very generally de-
pend on their folubility in the ftomach,  it is often neceffary to bring their
more infoluble  parts,  Such as refinous  and oily matters, into the ftate of
gum-refin :  this is done, as we have mentioned in the former article, by
the  mediation of mucilage.  By this management thefe matters become
much more foluble in the ftomach; and the liquor thus prepared is called
 an emulfion, from its whitifh colour, refembling that of milk.

                         9. Saline Matter.

   Of thcfaline juices of vegetables there are differentkinds, which have '
 hitherto been but little examined : the fweet and the  acid ones are the
 moft plentiful, and the beft known.
   There have lately, however, been difcovered a considerable variety of
 falts in different vegetables. The mild fixed alkali, which was formerly
 confidered as  a produd of the  fire,  has been obtained from almoft all
 plants by macerating  them in acids ;  the  vegetable alkali is the moft
 eommon, b.:: the mineral is foand alfo in the marine plants. Befides the
                                                              fixed 
 Chap.  I.               Vegetables*                      49

fixed alkali,  feveral other falts have been deteded in different vegeta-
bles; fuch as vitriolated tartar, common fait, Glauber's fait, nitre, febri-
fugal fait, and felenite.  From fome experiments, too, the volatile alkali
has been fuppofed to exiit ready formed in many plants of the cruciform
or tctradynamian tribe.
  It is,  however,  to be underftood, that though fome of thefe falts are
really produds of vegetation, yetothersof them arenotunfrequently ad-
ventitious, being imbibed from the foil without any change produced by
the fundions of the vegetable.
  The juices of vegetables, expofed to a heat equal to that of boiling wa-
ter,   fuffcr generally  no other change than  the  evaporation of their
watery moifture; the faline matter remaining behind,  with fuch of the
other not volatile parts as were blended with it in the juice.  From many,
after the exhalation of great part of the water, the faline matter gradually
Separates in keeping,  and concretes into little folid mafTes, leaving the
other fubftances diffolved or in amoift ftate; from others no means have
yet been found of obtaining a pure concrete Salt.
  The  Salts  more peculiarly native and effential to vegetables are the
(weet and the Sour:  theSe two are frequently blended together in the Same
vegetable,  and Sometimes paSs  into each other at  different ages oS the
plant. Of the four falts feveral kinds are known in pharmacy and in the
arts ;  fuch as thofe of forrel, of lemons, oranges, citrons, &c.  The fac-
charine falts are alfo obtained from a great number of vegetables; they
may in general be eafily discovered by their Sweet tafte :  the Sugar-cane
is the vegetable from  which  this faline matter is  procured in greateft
quantity,  and with  moft profit  in commerce.  For its medicinal and
chemical properties  we refer to the article Sugar.
  The fweet and four falts abovementioned diffolve no: only  in water,
like other faline bodies, but many of them, particularly the  fweet, in
redified fpirit alfo. The grofs oily and gummy matter, with which they
are almoft always accompanied in the fubjed, diffolves freely along with
them in water, but is by fpirit in great meafure left  behind.  Such hete-
rogeneous matters as the fpirit takes up, are almoft completely retained by
it, while the fait concretes;  but of thofe which water takes up, a consi-
derable part always adheres to the fait. Hence efTential falts, as they are
called, prepared  in  the common manner from the watery juices of ve-
getables, are always found to partake largely of the other foluble princi-
ples of the fubjed;  whiift  thoSe  extraded by Spirit of wine prove far
more pure.   By means of redified fpirit, fome produdions of this kind
may be freed from their impurities and imperfed Saccharine concretions
obtained Srom many of our indigenous fweets.
  There is another kind of faline matter obtained from fome refinous bo-
dies, particularly Srom benzoine, which is oSa  different nature from the
foregoing, and fuppofed by fome the chemifts to be a part of  the eflen-
*ial oil of the  refin, coagulated by an acid, with the acid more predomi-
nant or moredifengaged,thanin the other kinds ofcoagulated or indurated
oils  Thefe concretesdiftblve both in water and in vinous fpirits, though
difficultly and fparingly in both :  they fhow fome marks of acidity, have
a considerable fhareof fmell like that of the refin they  are obtained from>
                               D                           exhale 
50                Elements of Pharmacy.        ■  Part.  I.

exhale in a heat equal to that of boiling water, or a  little  greater, and
prove inflammble in the fire.

                       10. Farina or Flour.

   This fubftance has much of the nature of gum, but has more tafte, is
more fermentable, and much  more nutritive.  It abounds in very many
vegetables,  and is generally depofited in certain parts, fecmingly for the
purpofe of its being more advantageoufly  accommodated  to their  nou-
rifhment and growth.  Several of the bulbous and other roots, fuch as
thofe of potatoes, briony,ihofe from which caffava is extraded, falep,and
many others, contain a great deal of a white fecule refembling and really
poffcffing the properties of farina.  The plants of the leguminous tribe,
fuch as peas and beans, are found alfo to abound with this matter.  But
the largeft quantity of farina refides in grains, which are therefore called
farinaceous.  Of this kind are  thofe of wheat, rye, barley oats, rice, and
other Similar plants.
   At firft fight we would fuppofe that farina was one homogeneous fub-
ftance : it is however, found :o be a compound of three different and fc-
parable parts. To illuftrate this,  we fhall take foronrexample the farina
of wheat, being the vegetable which affords it in greateft quantity, and
in its moft perfed ftate. To feparatc thefe different parts, then, we form a
pafte with any quantity of flour and cold water; wefufpend this  pafte  in
a  bag of muffin or of fuch like cloth; we next let  fall upon it a ftream of
cold water  form fome height, and the bag may   now and then be  very
gently fqueezed; the water in its defcent carries down with it a very fine
white  powder,  which is to be  received along with the water into a veffel
placed below the bag: The procefs is thus to be continued till no  more of
this white powder comes off, which is known by  the water which pafTes
through  the bagceafingto be  of a mikly colour. The procefs being now
finiflied the farina is found to be feparated into three different fubftances:
the glutinous or vegeto-animal part remains in the bag;  the amylum or
ftarch  is depofited from the water which has been received into the vefTel
placed below the  bag; and,  laftly, a mucous matter is held diffolved in
the fame water from which the ftarch has been depofited : This mucous
part may be brought to the confiftence of honey, by evaporating the wa-
ter in which it is kept in Solution.
   TheSe Several parts are found alfo to differ remarkably in their fenfible
and chemical properties. The vegeto-animal part is of a whitifh grey co-
lour, is a tenacious,dudile, and elaftic matter, poffeffing fomewhatof the
texture of animal membranes.   Diftilled in a retort, it yields like all
animal matters, a true volatile alkali, and its coal  affords no fixed alkali.
It is not only iufoluble, but even indiffuiible, in water ;  both which ap-
pear Srom its remaining in the bag after long-continued  lotions.  Like
gums, it is infoluble in alcohol, in oils, or aether : but it is alfo infoluble
in water, and yields on diftillation produds very different from thofe af-
forded by gums:  It  is therefore of an animal nature,   and approaches
perhaps  nearer to  the coagulable lymph of animal blood than to any
ether fubftance.
   The fixed alkali, by means of heat, diffolves the  gluten vegeto-animale,
                                                               but 
Chap. I.                Vegetables.                       51

but when it  is precipitated from  this  folution by means of acids, it is
found to have loft its elafticity.  The mineral acids,  and especially the
nitrous,,  are alfo capable of difTolving the  vegeto-animal part of the fa-
rina.
   The ftarch,  amylum, or the amylaceous matter, makes the principal
part of the farina. As we before noticed, it is that fine powder depofited
from the water which  has pervaded the entire farina :  it is of a greyifh
white colour, but can be rendered much whiter by making it undergo a
certain degree of fermentation.  Starch is infoluble in cold  water ; but
in hot water it forms a tranfparent glue : hence  the neceflity of employ-
ing cold  water in Separating it from the vegeto-animal  part.  Diftilled  in
a retort,  it yields an acid phlegm ;  and its  coal affords,  like other vege-
tables, a  fixed alkaline fait.  As ftarch forms the greateft part of the fa-
rina, it is probably the  principal nutritive conftituent in bread.
   The mucous,  or rather  the  mucofo-faccharine matter, is only in very
Small quantity in bread.  This fubftance on diftillation is found to exhi-
bit the phenomena of fugar.   The ufe of this matter feems to be that of
producing the  vinous  fermentation : and we may obferve once for all
that the preparation of good bread probably depends on a proper propor-
tion of the three different parts above defcribed ;  that is to fay,  that the
vinous fermentation is promoted by the mucofo-faccharine part, the ace-
tous by the ftarch, and the putrid by the gluten  vegeto-animale.  From
different ftates or degrees  of  thefe feveral ftages of fermentation the
qualities  of good bread are  very probably derived.   What remains on
this very important fubjed will be taken up when we come  to fpeak of
wheat in the Materia Medica.
             11. Of the Colouring Matter of Vegetables.
   The colouring matter of vegetables feems to be of an intermediate na-
ture between the  gummy and refinous parts.   It  is in many plants equal-
ly well extraded by water and by  redified fpirit : it is alfo, however,
procurable in the form  of a lake, not at all foluble in either of thefe men-
ftrua.  It would feem that the colouring matter,  ftridly fo called, has
hitherto  eluded the refearches of chemifts.  It  is  only  the baft or
nidus,  in which the  real colouring matter is embodied,  that chemiftry
has as yet reached ;  and on the chemical properties of this bafe, colours
are capable of being extraded  by different  menftrua, and of being  vari-
oufly accommodated to the purpefes of dyeing.  The fubftance from
which the colours of vegetables are immediately derived, is without doubt
a ve.ry fubtile body.  Since plants are known to lofe their colour  when
excluded Srom the light, there  is reaSon to think that the immediately co-
louring fubftance is primarily derived from the matter of the fun,  fome-
how elaborated by vegetable life.
   Many  of thefe dyes are evolved or varioufly modified by chemical ope-
rations.   Thus a colouring matter is fometimes depofited in the form of
ifecula during the putrefadion of the vegetable ; in others it is evolved
or changed by alum, by acids,  or by alkali.  We may alfo obferve, that
any part  of the vegetable may  be the bafe of the colouring matter.   This
appears from the Solubility  of  the  different dyes in  their  proper men-
ftrua ;  and in thefe folutions we have not  been able to Separate the real
colouring matter Srom the baSe  in which it  is  inviScated. ASter all, then,
                              D 2                             we 
52               Elements of Pharmacy.            Part I.

we muft conclude,  that a full inveftigation of this fubject more properly
belongs to the fublimer parts of chemiftry, than to  the bufinefs we are
at preSent engaged in.
   The colouring drugs will be confidered in their proper places.
   In finifhing our hiftory of the vegetable kingdom, it only remains that
we fhould offer fome

           General Obfervations on the foregoing Principles.

   i. Essential oils, as already obferved, are  obtainable only from  a
few vegetables : but grofs oil,  refin,  gum, and  faline matter, appear to
be common in greater or lefs  proportion to all; fome abounding more
with one, and others with another.
   2. Ths feveral principles are in many cafes intimately combined ; fo
as to be extraded  together Srom. the Subjed, by thoSe  diffolvents,  in
which fome of them  feparately could not  be diflolved.  Hence watery
infufions and  fpirituous tkidures of a plant, contain,  refpedively, more
than water or fpirit is the proper diffolvent of.
   3. After a  plant has been fufficiently  infnfed in water,  all that fpirit
extrads from the refiduum  may be looked upon as confifting wholly of
fuch matter as diredly belongs to the adion of fpirit.   And, on the con-
tray, when fpirit  is applied firft, all the water exirads afterwards may
be looked upon as confifting only of that matter of which water is the di-
reddiflolvent.
   4. If a vegetable fubftance,  containing all the principles we have been
Speaking of,  be boiled in water, the effential  oil, whether fluid or con-
crete, and did camphor,  and volatile effential  Salt, will gradually exhale
with the Steam of the water, and may  be colleded by receiving the fteam
in proper veffels placed beyond the adion of the heat.  The other prin-
ciples not being volatile in this degree of beat remain behind : the grofs
oil and febaceous matter float on the top:  the gummy and faline fubftance,
and a parr of the refin, are diffolved by the water, and may be obtained
in a folid form by ftraining the liquor, and expoling it to a gentle heat
till the water has exhaled.   The reft of the refin, ftill retained by the
fubjed, may be extraded by Spirit  of wine,  and feparated in its proper
form by exhaling the fpirit.   On thefe foundations,  moft of the fubftan-
ces contained in vegetables may  be  extraded, and obtained in a pure
ftate, however much they maybe compounded together in thefubjed.
   5. Sometimes one or more of the principles is found naturally difenga-
ged from the others,  lying  in  diftind receptacles within the fubjed, or
extravafated and accumulated on the furface.  Thus, in the dried roots of
angelica, cut  longitudinally,  the microfcope difcovers veins of refin.  In
the flower cups of hypericum, and the leaves of the orange tree, tranfpa-
rent points are diftinguifhed by the naked eye ; which, on the firft view,
feem to be holes, but on a clofer examination are found to be little vefi-
cles tilled with efTential oil.  In the bark of the fir, pine, larch, and fome
other trees, the oily receptacles are extremely numerous, and fo copioufly
fupplied with the oily and refinous fluid, that they frequently burft,  e-
fpecially  in the warm climates, and difcharge   their contents  in great
quantities.  The acacia  tree in Egypt, and the plum and cherry among
ourfelves, yield almoft pure gummy exudations.   From a Species of afh is
                                                           Secreted 
Chap. I.                Vegetables.                       5/

Secreted the faline fweet fubftance manna ; and the only kind of fugar
with which the ancients were acquainted, appears to have been a natu-
ral exudation from the cane.
  6. The foregoing principles are, as far as is known, all that naturally
exift in vegetables ;  and all that art can extrad from them, without fuch
operations as change their  nature, and  deftroy their original qualities.
In one or more of thefe principles, the colour, fmell, tafte, and medici-
nal virtues, of thefubjed, are almoft always found concentrated.
   7. In fome  vegetables, the whole  medicinal  adivity refides  in  one
principle. Thus, in fweet almonds, the only medicinal principle is a grofs
oil; in horfe-radilh root, an eflential oil; in jalap root, a refin : inmarlh-
mallow root, a gum ;  in the leaves oS Sorrel, a Saline.acid Subftance.
  8. Others have one kind of virtue refiding  in one principle, and ano-
ther in different.   Thus Peruvian bark  has an aftringent  refin, and a
bitter gum ; wormwood, a ftrong-fkvoured  effential oil, and a bitter gum-
refin.
  o.The groSs infipid oils and Sebaceous matters, the fimple.infipid gums
and the Sweet and acid Saline Subftances, appear nearly to agree reSpedive-
ly among themfelvs,  in their medicinal qualities, as well as in their phar-
maceutic properties.                           .  , .,
  10.  But effential oils, refins, and gum-refins,  differ much in different
fubjeds.  As effential oils are univerfally the principle of odour in vege-
tables, it is obvious  that they muft differ  in this refped as much as the
fubjeds from, which they are obtained.  Refins frequently partake of the
oil, and consequently of the differences depending thereon ; with this
further diverfity, that the grofs refinous part often contains other powers
than thofe which refide in oils.  Thus from wormwood a refin  may be
prepared, containing not only the ftrong fmell and flavour, but likewife
the whole bitternefs of the herb;  from which laft quality  the oil is en-
tirely free. The bitter, aftringent, purgative, and emetic virtue of vege-
tables, refide.generally in different forts of refinous matter, either pure or
blended  with  gummy and faline parts ; of which kind of combinations
there are many  fo intimate,  that the component parts can Scarcely be
feparated from each other, the whole compound  diffolving almoft equally
in aqueous and fpirituous menftrua.
   11.  There  are fome fubftances alfo, which, Srom  their being totally
diffoluble in water, and  not in Spirit, may be judged to  be  mere gums ;
but which, nevertheless, polfeSs virtues never to be Sound in the fimple
gums'.  Such are the aftringent gum called acacia, and the purgative gum
extraded from aloes.
   12.  It is fuppofed jhat vegetables contain certain fubtile  principles or
prefiding fpirits, different in different plants, of too  great tenuity to be
colltded in their pure ftate, and of which oils, gums, and refins are only
the matrices or vehicles. This inquiry is foreign 10 ihepurpofes of phar-
macy,  which "is concerned only about groffer  and more femible objeds.
When we obtain from an odoriferous plant an  tffcntial oil, containing hi
a Small compafs the wljolc fragrance of  a  larjie quantity of the fubjed,
our intentions  are equally anfwered, whether.the fubftance  of the oil be
the dircd odorous matter, or whether it has diffufed through it a fragrant
princ:ple more fubtile than itfelf.   And  when this oil, in long keeping,
lofes its odour, and becomes a refin, it is  eq;:_i k; regard to the  prefent
                               D 3                           con- 
54  -            Elements of Pharmacy.            Part I.

confiderations, whether the cffed happens from the avolation of a fubtile
principle, or from a change produced in the fubftance of the oil itfclf.


                       SECT.    II.

                         Animals.

    FROM the hiftory we have already given of the vegetable kingdom,
     our details on animal Subftances may, in many particulars, be confi-
derably abridged. All animals are fed on vegetables, either diredly or by
the intervention oS other animals.   No part oS their Subftance is^derived
from any other fource except water.  The Small quantity of fait ufed by
man and fome other animals, is only neceffary as a feafoning or ftimulus
to the ftomach.  As the animal then is derived from the vegetable mat-
ter, we accordingly find that the former is capable of being refolved into
the fame principles as thofe of the latter.  Thus, by repeated distillations,
we obtain from animal fubftances, water, oil, air, an eafily deftrudible
fait, and charcoal. Thefe Secondary principles are by farther proceffes at
length refeluble into the fame proximate principles which we found in
vegetables, viz. water, air, earth, and principle of inflammability.   But
though the principles of vegetable and animal fubftances  are at  bottom
the fame, yet thefe principles are combined in a very different manner.
It is exceedingly rare that animal fubftances are capable of the vinous or
acetous fermentations ;  and  the putrefadive,  into which  they run re-
markably faft, is alfo different in fome particulars  from the putrefadion
of vegetables ;  the  efcape of the phlogifton in the form of  light is more
evident, and the fmell is much more offenfive, in the putrefadion of ani-
mal than of vegetable fubftances. The putrefadion of urine is indeed ac-
companied with a peculiar fetor, by no means fo intolerable as that of o-
ther animal matters : this wefuppofe to be owing to the pungency derived
to the  effluvia from  the volatile alkali, and alfo from the urine containing
lefs inflammable matter than the blood and many other  fluids.  When an-
alifed  by a deftrudive heat, animals afford alfo produds  very different
from thofe of vegetables : the empyreumatic oil  has a particular, and
much  more fetid odour ; and the volatile fait inftead of being an acid, as
it is in moft vegetables, is found to be in animals a volatile alkali. Che-
mifts have indeed fpoken of an acid procurable from animal fubftances;
and indeed  certain parts of animal bodies are found to yield a fait of this
kind ;  but it by no means holds with animal fubftances in  general;  and
though the proofs to the contrary were even conclufive, it is  confefTedly in
fuch fmall quantity as not to deServe any particular regard. In fome animals,
however, an acid exifts, uncombined and ready formed in their bodies.
This is particularly manifeft in fome infeds, eSpecially ants, from which
an acid refemblingthe acetous has been procured by boiling  them in water.
The Solid parts of animal bodies, as the mufcles, tegaments, tendons, car-
tilages, and even the bones, when boiled with water, givea gelatinousmat-
teror^/r^reSemblingthc vegetable gums, but much more  adheSive. We
muft,  however, except the horny parts and the hair, whichSeem to be little
Soluble either in water or in  the liquors of the ftomach. The acids, the
alkalies, and quicklime, are  aifo found to be powerful folvents of animal
                                                          matters, 
Chap. I.                 Animals.                        55

matters.   It is from the folid parts that the  greateft quantity of volatile
alkali is obtained ;  it  arifes along with a very fetid empyreumatic oil,
from which it is in fome meafure feparated by repeated redifications.
This fait is partly in a fluid, and partly in a concrete ftate;  and from its
having been anciently prepared in greateft quantity from the horns of the
hart, it has been called fait ox fpirit ofhartfhorn.  Volatilealkali is, how-
ever, procurable from all animals, and from almoft every part of animal
bodies.   Though we are fometimes able to  procure fixed alkali from an
animal cinder,  yet  it is probable that this fait did not make any part of
the living animal, but rather proceeded from the introdudion of fome fa-
line matter, incapable of being aflimilated by the fundions of the living
creature.
   In fpeaking of the fluid parts of animals,  we fhould firft  examine the
general fluid, or blood, from whence the reft are Secreted.   The blood,
which at firft fight appears to be an homogeneous fluid, is compofed of feve-
ral parts, eafily Separable from each other, and which the microfcopecan
even perceive in its uncoagulated ftate.  On allowing it to ftand at reft
and be expofed to the air, it feparates into what are called the craffamen-
tum and the ferum.  The crafTamentum, or cruor, chiefly confifts of the
red globules, joined together by another fubftance, viz. the coagulable
lymph :  the chemical  properties of thefe globules  are not  as yet under-
stood ; but it appears that it is in thefe that the greateft quantity of the
iron found in blood refides.  The Serum is  a yellowifh Sub-vifcid liquor,
having little fenfible tafte or fmell: at a heatof i6oof Farenheit it is con-
verted into a jelly.  This coagulation of the ferum is  alfo owing to its
containing a matter of the fame nature with that in the craffamentum, viz.
the coagulable  lymph: whatever,  then, coagulates animal blood, pro-
duces  that effect: on  this concrefcible part.  Several caufes, and many
chemical  fubftances, are capable of effeding this coagulation ; fuch as con-
tad of air, heat, alcohol mineral acids, and  their combinations with
earths, as alum, and fome of the metallic falts. The more perfed neutral
falts are found  to  prevent the coagulation, fuch as common  fait and
nitre.
   Of the fluids Secreted from the blood, there are a great variety in men
and other animals.   The excrementitious and redundant fluids are thofe
which afford in general the greateft quantity of volatile alkali and empy-
reumatic oil: there are alfo  fome of  the  fecreted fluids, which on a che-
mical analyfis yield produds in fome degree peculiar to themfelvcs.  Of
this kind is the urine ; which is found  to contain in the  greateft abun-
dance the noted Salt formed from the phofphoric acid and volatile alkali.
The fat,  too, has been faid to differ from  the other animal matters,  in
yielding by diftillation a ftrong acid, but no volatile alkali.  There is alfo
much variety in the quantity and ftate of the combination of the faline
and other matters in different fecreted fluids: but a fuller inveftigationof
this and other parts of the  fubjed, we refer to the dodrines in Anatomy,
Phyfiology, and Chemiftry ; with all which it is more immediately con-
neded than with the Elements oS Pharmacy.
   Animal oils and Sats, like the groSs oils of vegetables, are not oS them-
 Sclves diflbluble either in water or vinous Spirits: but they  maybe united
 u-ith w.ucr by the intervention oSgum or  mucilage ;  and moft of them
                                  D  4                         may 
56                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

may be changed into foap; and thus rendered mifcible with fpirit, as well
as water, by fixed alkaline falts.
   The odorous matter of fome odoriferous animal-fubftances, as muik,
civet, caftor, is like effential oil, foluble in fpirit of wine, and volatile in
the beat of boiling water.  Carthufer relates, that from caftor an adoal
effential oil has been obtained in a veryfmall quantity, but of an exceed-
ingly ftrong diffufivc fmell.
   The veficating matter of camharides, and thofe parts of fundry animal-
fubftances in which their peculiar taftesrefides, are diffolved by redified
fpirit, and feem to have fome analogy with refins and gummy refins.
   The gelatinous principle of animals', like the gum of vegetables,  dif-
folves in water, but not in fpirit or in oils.- like gums alfo, it renders oils
and fats mifcible with water into a milky liquor.
   Some infeds, particularly the ant, are found to contain an acid- juice,
which approaches nearly to the nature of vegetable acids.
   There are, however, fundry animal juices which differ greatly,  cvenin
thefe general kinds of properties, from the corresponding ones of vege-
tables.  Thus animal ferum, which appears analogous to vegetable gum-
my juices,  has this remarkable difference,  that though it mingles uni-
formly with cold or warm water, yet on confiderably heating the mixture,
the animal-matter Separates from  the watery fluid,  and concretes into a
folid  mafs.  Some have been apprehenfive, that the heat of rhe body, in
fome diftempers, might rife to fuch a degree, as to produce this danger-
ous or mortal concretion of the  ferous humours:  but the heat requifite
for this effed is greater than the human body appears capable of  fuftain-
ing,  being  nearly about  the middle point between the greateft  human
heat commonly obferved and that of boiling  water.

   The  Soft and fluid parts of animals are ftrongly difpofed to run into
putrefadion :  they  putrefy much fooner than vegetable matters ;  and
when corrupted, prove more offenfive.
   This procefs takes place, in fome degree,  in the bodies of living ani-
mals ; as often as the juices ftagnate long,  or are prevented, by an ob-
ftrudion of the natural cmundories, from throwing off their more vola-
tile and corruptible  parts.
   During putrefadion, a quantity of air is generated ; all the humours
become gradually thinner,  and the fibrous pans more lax  and  tender.
Hence the tympany, which fucceeds the corruption of any of the  vifcera,
or the imprudent fuppreffion of dyfenteries by aftringents; and the weak-
nefs and laxity of the veffels obfervable in fcurvies, &c.
   The craffamentum of human blood  changes, by putrefadion, into a
dark livid  coloured liquor;  a few drops of which tinge the ferum of a
tawny hue,  like that of the ichor of fores and dyfenteric fluxes, and of the
white of the eye, the faliva, the ferum of blood drawn from a vein, and
that which oozes from a blifter in deep fcurvies and the advanced ftate of
malignant fevers.
   The putrid craffamentum changes a large quantity of recent urine to a
flame-coloured water, fo common in fevers and in the fenrvy. This mix-
 ture, after  ftanding an hour or two, gathers a cloud refembling  what is
Seen in the crude water of acute diftempers, with fome oily mutter on the
 furiace like the fcum which floats on Scorbutic urine.
                                                              The 
Chap. 1.                 Animals.                       57-

  The ferum of blood depofites, in putrefadion, a Sediment refembling
well-digefted pus,  and changes to a faint olive green.  A ferum fo far
putrcfied as to become  green, is perhaps never to be Seen in  the veffels
of living animals;  but in dead bodies this ferum is to be diftinguifhed by
the green colour which the flefh acquires in corrupting. In Salted meats,
this is commonly aScribed to the brine,  bat erroneoufly; for that has no
power of giving this colour, but only of qualifying the tafte, and in fome
degree the ill effeds of corrupted aliments.  In  foul ulcers and other
fores where the ferum is left to ftagnate long, the matter islikewifefound
of this colour, and  is then  always acrimonious.
   The putrefadion of animal-fubftanccsis  prevented or retarded by moft
Saline matters, even by the fixed  and volatile alkaline Salts, which have
generally been fuppoSed to produce a contrary effed.  Of all  the falts
that have been made trial of, fea-falt feems to refill putrefadion the leaft:
in fmall quantities, it even accelerates the procefs. The vegetable bitters,
as chamomile-flowers, are much ftronger antifeptics, not only preferving
flefh long uncormpted, but likewife Somewhat correcting it when putrid:
the mineral acids have this laft effed in a more remarkable degree.  Vi-
nous fpirits, aromatic and warm fubftances, and the acrid plants, falfely
called alkalefcent,  as fcu-rvy-grafs  and horfe-radifh, arc found alfo to re-
fill putrefadion.  Sugar and camphor are Sound to be powefSully antifep-
tic. Fixed air, or  the  aerial  acid, is likewife thought to refill putrefac-
tion ; but above all  the vapours of nitrous acid, in the form  of air (the
nitrous air of Dr Prieftley),  is found to be the moft effedual  in preferv-
ing animal bodies from corruption.   The lift of the feptics,  or oSthoSe
fubftances that promote putrefadion, is very fhort;  and Such a property
has only been discovered in calcareous  earths and  magnefia,  and a very
few falts,  whoSe baSes are oS thefe earths.
   It is obfervable,  that notwithftanding the ftrong tendency of animal
matters to putrefadion, yet broths made from them, with the admixture
of vegetables, inftead of putrefying, turn four.   Sir John Pringle has
found, that when  animal-flefh in  fubftance is beaten up with bread or o-
ther farinaceous vegetables, and a  proper  quantity of water, into the
confiftence of a pap,  this mixture likewife, kept in  a heat equal to that
of the human body, grows in a  little  time four; whilft the vegetable
matters, without the flefh, fuffer no fuch change.

   It \vas obferved in the  preceding  fedion,  that fome few vegetables,
in the refolution of them by fire,  difcovcr  Some agreement in the matter
with bodies of the animal  kingdom; yielding a volatile alkaline fait in
confiderable  quantity, with little  or nothing of the acid or fixed alkali,
which the generality of vegetables  afford.  In  animal-fubftawces alfo,
there arc fome exceptions to  the  general analyfis: from animal fats, as
we before obferved, inftead of a volatile alkali, an acid liquor is obtained ;
and their empyreumatic oil wants the peculiar offonftvcr.eSs of the "other-
animal oils.
SECT. 
5S              Elements of Pharmacy.            Part I.


                       SECT.    III.

                          Minerals.

                     I. Oils and Bitumens.
  IN the mineral kingdom is found a fluid oil called naphtha or petroleum,
   floating on the furface of waters, or iffuing from clefts of rocks, par-
ticularly in the eaftern countries, of a ftrong  fmell, very different from
that ©f vegetable or animal oils, limpid almoft as water, highly inflam-
mable, not foluble in fpirit of wine,  and more averfe 19 union with wa-
ter than any other oils.
  There  are  different forts of thefe mineral oils,  more or lefs tinged,
of a more  or lefs agreeable, and a ftronger or weaker fmell. By the ad-
mixture of concentrated acids, which raife no great  heat or conflid with
them, they become thick, and at length confiltent; and in  thefe  ftates
are called bitumens.
  TheSe thickened or concreted oils, like the corresponding produds of
the vegetable kingdom, are generally foluble  in fpirit of wine, but much
more difficultly,  more fparingly,  and  for the moft part only partially :
they liquefy by heat, but  require the  heat to be confiderably ftronger.
Their fin ells are various;  but all of them, either in the natural ftate, or
when melted or fet on fire, yield a peculiar kind of ftrong fcent,  called
from them bituminous.
  The folid bitumens are, amber, jet, afphaltum, or bitumen of Jndea,
and foflil or pit-coal.   All thofe  bitumens, when diftilled, give out an
odorous phlegm, or water, more or lefs coloured and faline ; an acid, fre-
quently in a concrete ftate; an oil, at firft light, and refembling the na-
tive petrolea, but Soon becoming heavier and thicker; and, Uftly, a quan-
tity oS volatile alkali  is obtained :  the refiduum is a  charry  matter,  dif-
fering in its appearances according to the nature  of the bitumen which
has been analyfed.
  From the observations of feveral naturalists, it is probable that  all bi-
tumens are of vegetable  and animal origin ; that  the circumftances by
which they differ from the refinous and other oily matters of vegetables
and animals, are the natural effeds of time, or of an alteration produced
on them by mineral acids •, or perhaps they are the effed of both thefe
caufes combined.   This  opinion  is the more probable, fince bitumens,
on a chemical  analyfis, yield oil and volatile alkali;  neither of which are
found in any other minerals.

                           II.  Earths.

   The little impropriety  of joining the vegetable  and  animal earths to
the mineral, muft be overlooked for the fake of bringing both under one
Synoptical view.  Under the mineral earths are included ftones; thefe be-
ing no other than earths in an indurated ftate___The different kinds of
thefe bodies hitherto taken notice of, arc  the following.

I. Earths foluble in the nitrous, tJiarine, and vegetable acids, but not at all
   or exceeding fparingly hi the vitriolic acid. IVhcnprevioufly ditftlved mo-
   ther acids, thsy are precipitated by tie addition of this la ft,which thus unties
                                                               ivitb 
Chap. I.                Minerals.                         59

with them  into infipid,  or  nearly infipid concretes, not dijfoluble in any
liquor.
                         Of this kind are,
  1. The mineral calcareous earth: diftinguifhed by its being convertible in
a ftrong fire, without addition, into an acrimonious calx called quicklime.
This earth occurs in a variety of forms in the mineral kingdom.  The
fine foft chalk, the coarfer lime-ftones, the hard marbles, the tranfpa-
rent fpars,  the earthy matter contained in waters, and which feparating
from them, incruftates the  fides of the caverns, or hangs in icicles from
the top, receiving from its different appearances different appellations.
How ftrongly foever fome of thefe bodies have been recommended for par-
ticular medicinal purpofes, they are at bottom no other than different forms
of this calcareous earth ; fimple pulverization depriving them of the fu-
perficial charaders by which they were diftinguifhed in the mafs.  Moft
of them contain generally a greater or Jefs admixture of fome of the in-
difTolublc kinds of earth ;  which however,  affeds their medicinal qua-
lities no othcrwife than by the addition which it makes to their bulk.
Chalk appears to be one of the pureft; and is therefore in general pre-
ferred.  They all burn into  a ftrong quicklime:  in this ftate a part of
them diffolves in water, which thus becomes impregnated with the aftrin-
gent and lithontriptic powers that have been erroneoufly afcribed to fome
of the  earths in their natural ftate.
   During the calcination of calcareous earths,  a large quantity of elaftic
vapour is difcharged ;  the abfence of this fluid  is the canfe of the caufti-
city of quicklime, and of its folubilityin water in the form of lime-water.
For a more full enquiry into this fubjed,  fee the articles Fixed Air,
Lime-Water,  and Caustic Ley.
   2. The animal calcareous earth: burning into quicklime like the mineral.
Of this kind are oyfter-fhells, and all the marine Shells that have been
examined ; though with fome variation in the ftrength of the quicklime
produced from them.
   3. The earth of bones and horns:  not at all burning into quicklime.
This kind of earth is more difficult of folution in acids than either of the
preceding.   It is accompanied in the fubjeds  with a quantity of gelati-
nous matter,  which may  be  feparated by long  boiling in water, and
more perfedly by burning in the open air. The earth  may be extraded
alfo from  the bone or horn, though difficultly,  by  means of acids;
whereas vegetables and the foft parts of animals yield their  pure earth
by  burning only.

II. Earths foluble with eafe in the vitriolic as well as other acids,and yield-
  ing, in all other combinations therewith, faline concretes foluble in water.

   I. Magnefia alba: compsfing with the vitriolic acid a bitter purgative
fait.  This earth has not yet been found  naturally in a pure ftate.   It is
obtained from the pnrging mineral waters and their falts; from the bit-
ter liquor which  remains after the cryftallifation  of  fea-falt from fea-
water; and from the fluid  which remains uncryftallifed in the putrefac-
tion of the Same forts of rough nitre.  The afhes of vegetables appear to
be nearly the fame kind of earth.
   2. Aluminous earth :  compofing with the vitriolic acid a very aftrin-
gent [alt.  This earth alfohas not been found naturally pure.  Itisobtained
                                                              from 
 60                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

 from alum; which is no other than a combination of it with the vitriolic
 acid: it may likewife be extraded, by ftrong boiling in that acid, from!
 clays and boles.

 III. Earths which by digefting in acids,  either in the cold or in a moderate
    waf Tilth, are not at all diffolved.
   I. Argillaceous earth : becoming hard, or acquiring an additional hard'
 nefs, in the fire. Of this kindof earth there are Several varieties, differing
 in fome particular properties: as the purer clays, which when moiftened
 with water form a very vifcous mafs, difficultly diffufible through a larger
 quantity of the fluid, and Slowly fubfiding from it; boles, lefs vifcous, more
 readily  mifcible with  water, and more readily fubfiding;  and ochres,
which have little or nothing of the vifcofity of the two foregoing, and are
 commonly impregnated with a yellow  or red ferrugineous calx.
   2. Cryftalline earth : naturally hard, fo as to ft r ike fp arks with ft eel;
becoming friable in a ftrong fire.  Of this kind are flints, cryftals,  &c.
which appear to confift of one and the fame earth, differing in the purityy
hardnefs,  and tranfpareucy of the mafs.
   2. Gypfeous earth :  reducible by a gentle heat into a foft powder, which
unites with water into a mafs, fomewhat vifcous and tenacious while moift,
but quickly drying and becoming hard. A greater heat deprives the powder
of this property, without occafioning  any other alteration.  Such are the
tranfparenty>/<?/7//t\j.-  the fibrous Stony maffes improperly called Englifh
talc : and the granulated gypfa, or plafter of Paris ftones. Though thefe
bodies,  however, have been commonly looked upon as mere earths, of a
diflind  kind from the reft,  they appear both from analytical and fynthe-
tical experiments,  to be no other than combinations of the mineral cal-
careous  earth with  vitriolic  acid.
   4. Talky earth : fcarcely alterable by a vehement fire.  The maffes of
this earth are generally of aflbrous or leafy texture; more or lefs pellucid,
bright or glittering; fmooth and undtuous to the touch; too flexible and
elaftic to be eafily pulverifcd ; foft, fo as to be cut with a knife. In thefe
refpeds Some of the gypfeous earths nearly reSemble them, but the diffe-
rence is readily discovered by fire ; a weak heat reducing the gypSeous to
powder, while the ltrongeft makes no other alteration in the talky, than
fomewhat diminifhing the flexibility, brightneSs, and  unduofity.

                          III.  Metals.

   Of metals, the next divifion of mineral bodies, the moft obvious cha-
raders are, their peculiar bright afped, perfect opacity, and great weight;
the lighteft of them is fix, and the heavieft upwards of nineteen, times
heavier than an equal bulk  of water.
   To tindcrftand the writers in chemiftry, it is proper to be informed,
 that metals are Subdivided into the perfect, the imperfect,  and the fev.-i-
mefals.
   Tlrtofe poffeffed of dudility and malleability, and which  are not fen-
fibly altered by very violent degrees of heat, are called perfect metals : Of
 thefe there are three ; gold, Silver and platina.  It is however, probable,
that the mirk of their indeftrudibility by fire is only relative;  and in-
deed modern chemifts have been able,  by a very intenfe degree of hear
                                                                to 
Ghap. J.                 Minerals*                      61
to bring gold into the ftate of a calx, or fomething very nearly reSemr
bling it.'
   Thofe metallic fubftances which poffefs the diftindive properties of the
perfed  metals,  but in a lefs degree, are called the imperfect metals :
Thefe arc copper, iron, tin, lead.
   Laftly, thofe bodies having the metallic charaders in the moft imper-
fed ftate, that is to fay, thofe which have no dudility and the leaft fixity
in the fire, are diftinguifhed by the name of femi-mctals: Thefe are re-
gulus of antimony, bifmuth,  zinc, regulus of cobalt, nickel, and regulus
of arfenic; which laft might be rather considered as  the boundary be-
tween the metallic and faline bodies.
   Mercury has been generally ranked in a clafs by irfelf.
   All metallic bodies, when  heated in clofe veffels, melt oxftf:.  This
fufion takes place at different degrees of heat in different metals; and it
does not appear that this procefs produces any change in the metals, pro-
vided it be conduded  in clofe veffels.  Metals, expoi'ed to the combined
adion of air and fire, are converted into  an earth-like fubftance called
calx : by this procefs, which we call calcination, the metal fuffers remark-
able changes.  From the  diftindive marks we have before given of the
metallic bo lies, it will be obvious, that the perfed metals are moft flow-
ly, the  imperfect,  more  quickly, and the femi-metals moft eafily and
 fooneft, afteded in this operation.  This earth-like powder, or calx, is,
found to poffefs no metallic afped, but is confiderably  heavier than  the
metal before its calcination :   it has no longer  any affinity with metallic
bodies,  nor eveu with the metal from which it has hrcn produced.
   Befides this method of calcining  metals by air and tire, they may
likewife be brought into the  ftate of a calx,  by ditlblving them in acids,
from which they maybe afterwards freed  by evaporating the acid, or by
adding  to the folution an alkaline fait.Metals are alfo fometimes dephlogif-
ticated  by detonation with nitre. This change in their obvious properties
is generally accompanied with a remarkable alteration in their medicinal
virtues  : thus quickfilver, which taken into the  body in its crude ftate
and undivided, Seems inadive; when calcined by fire, proves even in
Small doSes a  Strong:emetic and cathartic, and in Smaller ones, a powerful
alterative in chronical diforders; while regulus of antimony, on the con-
trary is changed by the fame  treatment, from a high degree of virulence
to a ftate of inadivity.
   Calces of mercury and arfenic exhale in a heat below ignition; thofe of
lead and bifmuth, inared or low white, heat, run into a transparent glaSs*
the others are not at all vltreScible, or not without extreme vehemence
of fire.  Both  the" calces and glaffes recover their metallic form and quali-
ties again by the fkilful addition of any kind of inflammable fubftance that
does not contain a mineral acid. This recovery of the metallic calces into
the metallic form is called reduction.   During this procefs an elaftic
aerial fluid efcapes, which is found in many inftances to be very pure air.
   Is the converfion of metals into calces owing to the difcharge of phlo-
gifton,  or to the abforption of pure air?   And is the redudion to be a-
fcribed  to the abforption of phlogifton, or totheefcapeof pure air? And
again,  Is the calcination to be explained  by the difcharge of phlogifton
and confequent precipitation of pure air ?  And is the  reduction effeded
                                                                by 
 62               Elements of Pharmacy.          Part. I.

 by the abforption of phlogifton, either furnifhed by inflammable bodies;
 or precipitated in confequence of the  difcharge of  pure air ?  On thefe
 queftions there is much difpute among modern chemifts :  We thought it
 only neceffary to  ftate them here, as a full enquiry into the fubjed is
 by no means the province of pharmacy.   We, however, think it pru-
 dent to retain the dodriue of Stahl: and we do this the more readily,
 that  it has been followed in the former editions of this work; that it is
 abundantly clear in its illuftration of the pharmaceutical proceffes;  and,
 laftly,  that  perhaps  it is not the  moft exceptionable.   We fhall  not,
 however, rejed any  modern difcovery which may Serve to  illuftrate our
 fubjeds.
   All metallic bodies difTolve in acids:  Some only in particular acids, as
 Silver and lead in the nitrous; Some only in compofitions of acids, as  gold
 in a mixture of the nitrous and marine: and others, as iron and zinc, in
, all acids.  Some likewife  diffolve  in  alkaline liquors, as copper:  and
 others, as  lead  in expreffed oils.  Fufed with a compofition of fulphur
 and fixed alkaline fait,  they  are all, except zinc, made foluble in water.
   All metallic fubftances, diffolved in faline liquors, have powerful effeds
 in the human body, though many of them appear in their pure ftate to be
 inadive. Their activity is generally in  proportion to the quantity of acid
 combined with them : Thus lead, which in its crude form has no fenfi-
 ble effed, when united with a fmall  portion of vegetable acid into cerufs,
 difcovers a low degree of the ftyptic and malignant qualify,  which it fo
 Strongly exerts  when blended with a larger quantity of the fame  acid
 into what was called faccharum faturni but now more proper\yfal plumbi,
 ox plumbum acetatu?n : and this mercury, with, a certain quantity of the
 marine acid, forms the violent corrofive Sublimate, which by diminifhing
 the proportion of acid becomes the mild medicine called mercuriusdulcis.

                            IV. Acids.

   The Salts of this order are very numerous;  but as we are  at prefent
 treating of Minerals, it  is only therefore the mineral ox fo fit I acids  we
 mean to fpeak of in this place.
   Thefe are diftinguifhed by  the names of the concretes from which they
 have been principally extraded; the vitriolic from vitriol, the nitrous from
 nitre  or faltpetre,  and the tuarine or  muriatic from  common fea-falt.
 The form they are commonly in, is that of a watery fluid : They have
 all a  remarkable attradion  for water:  they imbibe the humidity of
 the  air  with rapidity and the generation of  heat.  Although heat be
 produced by their union witli water, yet when mixed with ice in a  cer-
 tain manner, they generate a prodigious degree of cold.  Acids change
 the purple and  blue colours of vegetables to a red ; they refill fermenta-
 tion ; and, laftly, they imprefs  that puculiar fenfation on the tongue called
fournefs,anti which their name imports.  But it is to beobServed, that they
 are all highly corrofive, infomuchasnottobe SaSely touched, unleSs large-
 ly diluted with water, or united with Such Subftances as obtund, or fup-
 prefs their acidity.  Mixed haftily with vinous Spirits, they raife a violent
 ebullition and  heat,  accompanincd with a copious difcharge of noxious
 fumes : a part of the acid unites intimately  with the vinous  fpirit into a
 new compound, void of  acidity, called dulcified fpirit. It is obfervable,
 that the marine acid is much lefs difpofedto this union with fpirit of wine
                                                               than 
Chap. I.                 Minerals.                        63

than either of the other two : neverthelefs, many of the compound falts
rcfulting from the combination of  earthy and metallic bodies with this
acid, arc foluble in that fpirit, while thofe with the other acids are not.
All thefe acids effervefce Strongly with alkaline Salts, both fixed and vo-
latile, and form with them neutral falts; that is, fuch asdifcover no marks
either of an acid or alkaline quality.
  The nitrous and marine acids areobtained in the form of a thin liquor;
the acid part being blended with a large proportion of water, without
which it would be diffufed intoanincoercible vapour: the vitriolic ftands
in need of fo much lefs water for its condenfation as to affume commonly
an oily confiftence (whence it iscalled oil of vitriol), and in Some circum-
ftances even a Solid one. Alkaline Salts, and the Soluble earths and me-
tals, abSorb from the acid liquors only the pure acid part; fo that the wa-
ter may now be evaporated by heat, and the compound fait left in a dry
form.                                               ,
  From the coalition of the different acids with the three different alka-
lies, and with the feveral foluble earths and  metallic bodies, reSulf a va-
riety of faline compounds;  the principal of which will be particularifcd
in the fcqtiel of this work.
  The vitriolic acid, in its concentrated liquid ftate, is much more pon-
derous than the other two; it emits no vifible vapour in the heat of the at-
inofphere, but imbibes moifture therefrom, and increafes in its weight:
the nitrous and marine  emit copious corrofive fumes, the nitrous yellowifh
red, and the marine white ones. If bottles containing the three acids be
ftopt with cork,  the cork is found in a little time tinged black with the
vitriolic, corroded into a yellow fubftance by the nitrous, and into awhi-
tifh one by the marine.

  It is above laid down as a cbarader of one of the claffes of earths, that
the vitriolic acid precipitates them  when they are previoufly diffolved in
any other acid :  it is obvious, that on  the fame  principle this  particular
acid may be diftinguifhed from all others. This charadcr Serves not only
for the acid in its pure  ftate, but likewife for all its combinations that are
foluble in water.   If a folution of any  compound fait, whofe acid is the
vitriolic, be added to a folntion of chalk in any other acid, the vitriolic
acid will part from the  fubftance with which it was before combined, and
join itfelS to the chalk,  forming therewith a compound ; which, being no
longer diflbluble in the liquor, renders the whole milky for a time, and
then gradually fubfides.
  This acid  may be diftinguifhed   alfo, in compound  falts, by another
criterion not lefs ftrongly marked : If any fait containing it be mixed with
powdered charcoal, and the mixture expofed in a clofe veffel to a mode-
rately ftrong fire, the acid will unite with  the diredly inflammable part
of the charcoal,  and compofc therewith a genuine Sulphur.  Common
brimftone is no other than a combination of the vitriolic acid with a fraall
proportion of inflammable matter.   With any kind of inflammable mat-
ter  which is not volatile in clofe veffels, as  the coal of vegetables, of ani-
mals, or of bitumens, this acid compofes always the fame identical fulphur.
  The nitrons acid alio, whatever  kind of body it be combined with, is
both diftinguifhed  and extricated   therefrom by  means of  any  inflam-
mable fubftance brought to  a State of ignition.   If the fubjed be mixed
                                                              with 
 64               Elements of Pharmacy.           Parti.

with a little powdered charcoal and made red-hot, a deflagration or fill-
mi nation enfues; that is, a bright flame with a luffing noife; and the in-
flammable  matter  and  the acid being thus confumcd or diffipated togc-
ther, there remains only the fubftance which was before combined with
the acid, and the fmall quantity of i../«es afforded by the coal.
  Thefe  properties of the nitrous acid  deflagrating with inflammable
fubftanses, and of the vitriolic forming  fulphur with  them, ferve not
only as criteria of the refpedive acids in the various forms and difguifes,
but likewife for difcovering inflammable matter in bodies, whenitsquan-
tity is too fmall to be fenlible on other trials.
  All thefe acids will be more particularly examined when  we come to
treat of each of them apart.   There are, however, a few  other mineral
acids which are of importance to  be  known :  thefe are aqua regia; acid
of borax; fparry acid; and, laftly, fixed air,  which has  of late  been
called  aerial acid or acid of chalk.
  Aqua regia has  been generally prepared by a mixture of  certain pro-
portions of the nitrous  and muriatic acids.  It is of little  avail in phar-
macy,  whether we confider it as a diftind acid, or only as  a modification
of the muriatic. It has been found, that the muriatic acid,  when diftilled
with manganefe (a peculiar foffile fubftance,  fhowing a remarkable at-
tradion to phlogifton), fuffers a change which renders it capable of dif-
folving gold and platina.   Whether  this  change be produced by the
acid acquiring a redundance of pure air, or  by  its being deprived of
phlogifton, M not our bnfinefs to  decide.   This experiment,  however,
renders it probable, that the nitrous acid  in  the common  aqua regia, is
only fubfervient to accomplishing the fame change in the muriatic  acid,
which is produced  by diftilling that acid with manganefe.
  As aqua  regia has been only ufed  in the  nicer operations in chemiftry,
and in the art of  affaying, we think it unneceffary to Say more of it in
this place.
  The acid ofborax, or fe dative fait ofRomberg, may be extraded Srom
borax, a neutral Salt, with the bafe of mineral alkali.   It has alSo been
found native  in the waters of feveral lakes in Tnfcany.   It is a light,
cryftallifed concrete Salt: its tafte isSenfibly  acid : it is difficultly Soluble in
water; but the Solution changes blue vegetable colours to a red.  With
vitreScent earths it fufes into a white glafs: it unites with the other al-
kalies,  with  magnefia, and with quicklime.   The falts  refulting from
thefe combinations are very  imperfedly known.  The Salt has been
called fedativc, Srom its fuppofed virtues as an anodyne and refrigerant
remedy; but modern  phyiicians have very little faith in this once cele-
brated drug.
  Thefparry acid is  fo  called, from its being extraded from a foull
called  fparry fluor, ox vitreous fpar.  It is not yet determined whether
it be a diftind acid; and it has not yet been employed for any purpofe
in pharmacy, we think it would  be  improper to attempt any farther ac-
count of it here.
  Befides  the acids abovementioned, there  have  alfo been  difcovered
acids Seemingly of a particular nature, in amber, in arfenic, and in black-
lead :  but as  thefe  have not hitherto been  applied  to any ufe in pharma-
cy, they cannot properly have a p'acc in this work.
                                                               We 
 Chap. I.                 Minerals',                        6£

  We now come to the laft, but perhaps the moft generally  diffufed,
acid in nature : this  is the aerial acid,  or

                             Fixed Air.
  In our pharmaceutical hiftory of this  body,  we fhall only make ufe of
the two names, fixed air and aerial acid, being thofe moft generally ufed
and which in our opinion are moft applicable to our own fubjed.  Fixed
air is a permanently  elaftic fluid, being only fixed when in a ftate of com-
bination with calcareous earth x>x other  fubftances from which it may be
extricated.  It has received  many different names, according to the fub-
ftances from which it is difengaged, and the different opinions concern-
ing its  nature;  it is the gas ftlveftre of Helmont,  the fixed air of Dr
Black, the acid of chalk, calcareous gas, mephitic gas, mephitic acid, and
aerial acid, of many  modern chemifts.  In accommodating our account of
it to the purpofes of pharmacy, it is moft convenient to confider it in the
light of an acid.  The aerial  acid, then, may be extricated by heat, orby
other acids,  from all calcareous  earths ; that is, from all thofe earths
which by calcination  are converted into quicklime;  fuch as chalk,  mar-
ble, limeftone, fea-fhells, &c. It is likewife extricated from mild, fixed,
and volatile alkalies,  and from the magnefia alba. Thus, if the vitriolic,
or almoft any other acid, be added to any quantity of calcareous earth or
mild alkali, a brifk cffervefcence immediately enfues ;  the fixed air, or
aerial acid, is difcharged in bubbles  ; and the other acid  takes its place.
If this procefs be  conducted with an apparatus to be afterwards defcribed,
the aerial acid, now feparated from the calcareous earth, may be receiv-
ed and preferved in cloSe velfels.  When thus diSengaged, it affumes its
real charader, viz. that of a. permanently elaftic fluid.   Fixed air is alfo
feparated in great quantity during the vinous fermentation of vegetable
matters.   When a calcareous earth is deprived of this acid by heat, it is
converted into the cauftic fubftance, quicklime.  When alkalies, fixed or
volatile, are deprived by any means of their aerial acid, they are render-
ed much mofe cauftic, incapable of cryftallifation, or of effervefcing with
other acids.  They are alfo in this dea'e'rated ftate much more powerful in
difTolvingother bodies.  By  recombining this acid to the quicklime, the
calcined  magnefia, or to the alkali, any of which had been deprived o£
it, thefe fubftances again  affume  their former weight and properties.
Thefe bodies, then, when combined with aerial acid,  are called mild ;
as mild calcareous earth, mild alkali, &c.:  and when deprived of this a-
cid, they are called cauftic; as cauftic calcareous earths, cauftic, alkali, Sac.
but as magnefia is not rendered cauftic by calcination, there would  per-
haps be lefs danger in calling them aerated and dea'trated. The aerial a-
cid is more difpofed tounite with cauftic calcareous earth (quicklime) than
with any other fubftance ; next to that, its attradion ftands for  fixed al-
kali ; then with  magnefia; and, laftly, with volatile alkali. We fhall af-
terwards find, that  thefe relative powers of the different fubftances to
unite with this acid,  lay the foundation of many important proceffes in
pharmacy.
  When we pour a fmall quantity of the aerial acid into lime-water, the
liquor inftantly affumes a white colour,  and the lime  gradually precipi-
tates, leaving the water clear and taftelefs : the lime in this experiment
has abforbed the  acid, and has therefore become mild ox aerated earth.
The aerial acid  is capable of being abforbed by water ; and the water
                             E                                 thus 
66                Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

thus impregnated, precipitates lime in lime-water: but if a certain larger
quantity of this impregnated water be added, the lime is rediffolved,and
the liquor recovers its tranfparency.  Water impregnated with aerial acid
is capable of diffelving iron ; and in this way are formed native and arti-
ficial chalybeate waters.   Zinc is alfo foluble in the fame liquor.  This
acid is eafily  expelled Srom the water by removing the preffurc of the
atmofphere, by boiling, and even by time alone, if the veffel be not kept
clofe fhut.  Fixed air extinguifhes flame, vegetable and animal life, and
ought therefore to be cautioufly managed : like other acids, it changes
the blue colours  of vegetables to a red, and  communicates an acidulous
tafte to the water impregnated with it. The attradion of the aerial aeid,
even to quicklime, is but feeble; as  we know of no other acids whatever
that are not able to difengage it.
  From thefe feveral fads, it will appear obvious, that mild ox effervef-
dug alkalies,  whether fixed or volatile,  are really neutral falts,  com-
pounded of the aerial acid and purealkali: like other acids, it unites with
thefe bodies, diminifhes their caufticity, and effeds their cryftallifation.
In fpeaking, therefore, of pure alkali, we ought to confine ourfelves to
thofe in the cauftic or deaerated ftate ; or, in other words, to thofe which
are deprived of their fixed air^or aerial acid, with which they formed a
compound fait. Many other properties of this acid might  be mentioned,
but we have now noticed all thofe which we thought were concerned in
the bufinefs of pharmacy. We fhall have occafion to recur to the fubjed
when we  come to the preparation of feveral compound drugs.
   Let us next take a view of what paffes in the combinations of acids
with  different fubftances.
   If a fixt alkaline fait be united with a vegetable acid, as that of vine-
gar, into a neutral fait, on adding  to this compound fome marine acid, the
acetous acid will be difengaged, So as to exhale totally in a moderate heat,
leaving the marine in poffellionof the alkali: the addition of the nitrous
will in like manner difpoffefs the marine, which now arifes in its proper
white fumes,  though  without fuch an addition it could  not be extricated
from the alkali by any degree of heat: on the addition of the vitriolic
acid, the nitrous gives way in its  turn, exhaling in  red  refnmes, and
leaving only the vitriolic acid and the alkali united together.
   Again, if any metallic body be diffolved in an acid, the addition of any
earthy body that is diflbluble in that acid will precipitate the metal : a
volatile alkaline fait will in like manner precipitate the earth : and a fixt
rJkali will diflodge the volatile; which laft being readily  exhalable by
heat, the remaining fait  will be the fame as if the acid and fixt alkali
had been joined together at firft,  without the intervention of any of o-
ther bodies.

   The power in bodies on which thefe various tranfpofitions and combi-
nations depend, is called by the chemifts affinity or elective attraction ;
a term, like the Newtonian attraction, defigned toexprefs not the caufe,
but the effed.  When an acid fpontaneoufly quits a metal to unite with
an alkali, they fay it has a greater affinity ox attraction to the alkali than
to the metal: and when,  converfively, they fay it has a greater affinity to
fixt alkali than to thofe of the volatile kind,  they  mean only  that it will
                                                              unite 
 Chap. I.                Minerals.                        b]

unite with  the fixt in preference to the volatile;  and that if previoufly
united with a volatile alkali, it will forfake this for a fixt one.
  The dodrine of the affinities of  bodies is of very extenfive ufe in the
chemical pharmacy: many of the officinal proceffes, as we fhall fee here*
after, are  founded on it:  feveral of the prepartions turn out very diffe-
rent from what would be expeded  by a perfon unacquainted with thefe
properties of bodies; and feveral of them, if, from an error in the procefs,
or other caufes, they prove unfit for the  ufe intended, may be rendered
applicable to other purpofes, by fuch tranfpofitions of their component
 parts as are pointed out by the knowledge of their affinities.
  We fhall here therefore fubjoin a tableof the principal affinities obferved
in pharmaceutical operations,  formed chiefly on that of Mr Geoffroy
 (which was publifhed in the Memoirs of the French Academy for the year
 1718),  with  fuch corredions and additions as later experiments have
furnifhed.
  The table is thus to be underftood. The fubftance printed in capitals,
on the top of each Series, has the greateft affinity with that immediately
under it, a lefs affinity with the next, and fo on to the end of the Series:
 that is, if any of the remote bodies has been combined with the top one,
the addition of any of the intermediate bodies will difunite them; the in-
termediate body uniting with the uppermoft body of the feries, and throw-
 ing out the remote one. Thus in the firft feries of the affinities of water,
 a fixt alkali being placed between the water and inflammable fpirit, it is
 to be concluded, that wherever water and fpirit are mixed together, the
 addition of any fixt alkaline fait will abforb the water, and occafion the
 pure fpirit to be feparated. Where feveral fubftances are expreffed in one
 feries, it is to be underftood, that any one of thofe bodies which are near-
 eft to the uppermoft, will in like manner difengage from it any one of
 thofe which are more remote.
£ 2
1.  Water. 
6$
Element's of Pharmacy.
Part I.
i.  Water.
Fixt alkaline fait,
inflammable fpirit.

          2. Water.
Inflammable fpirit,
Volatile alkaline fait.

          3.  Water.
Inflammable Spirit,
Sundry compound  Salts.

   4. Inflammable Spirit.

Water,
Oils and Refins.

      5. Vitriolic Acid.

Inflammable principle,
Fixt alkaline falts,
Calcareous earths  calcined,
Volatile alkaline falts,
Calcareous earths  uncalcined,
Zinc and Iron,
Copper,
Silver.'

      6. Nitrous Acid.
Inflammable principle,
Fixt alkaline Salts,
Calcareous earths  calcined,
Volatile alkaline Salts,
Calcareous earths  uncalcined,
Zinc,
Iron,
Copper,
Lead,
Mercury,
Silver,
Camphor.

       7. Marine Acid.
Fixt alkaline Salts,
Calcareous earths calcined,
Volatile alkaline falts,
Calcareous uncalcined,
Zinc,
Iron,
Tin,
Regulus of antimony,
Copper,
Lead,
Silver,
Mercury.

      8. Acetous Acid.

Iron,
Copper.

      9. Alkaline Salts.

Vitriolic acid,
Nitrous acid,
Marine acid,
Vinegar,
Tartar,
Aerial acid,
Oils and Sulphur.

    ig. Soluble  Earths.

Vitriolic acid,
Nitrous acid,
Marine acid.

 11. Inflammable Principle.

Nitrous acid,
Vitriolic acid,
Metallic fubftances,
Fixt alkaline Salts.

         12. Sulphur.
Fixt alkali and Quicklime,
Iron,
Copper,
Lead,
Silver,
Regulus of Antimony,
Mercury,
Arfenic.

          13. Gold.
Ethereal fpirit,
Acids.

        14. Mercury.
Marine acid,
                        Vitriolic 
Chap.  I.
Vitriolic  acid,
Nitrous acid.

       15. Lead.
Vitriolic acid,
Marine acid,
Nitrous acid,
Vinegar,
Oils.
       16. Silver.
Marine acid,
Vitriolic  acid,
Nitrous acid.
Affinities.
       17. Copper.
  Vitriolic acid,
  Marine acid,
  Nitrous acid.
      .18. Iron.
  Vitriolic acid,
  Marine acid,
  Nitrous acid,
  Aerial acid.
19. Regulus of Antimon
  Vitriolic acid,
  Nitrous acid,
  Marine acid.
  We think it may be ufeful to infevt here another Table of Single
eledive attradions,  formed from a later and more complete knowledge
oS the Subjed.  It is taken from Dr Webfter's Syllabus ;  and as it prin-
cipally concerns thofe bodies employed in pharmacy, we think it peculi-
arly adapted for this work.   We have, however, delivered it in the com-
mon nomenclature of the art.  Dr Webfter's method is more Short,  and
may be feen in the Syllabus alluded to.
a. 3
ABLE 
           Elements of Pharmacy.        Part I,








TABLE  of ATTRACTIONS.
By WATER.
	T3		
•grs-G	'G		
« u a)	w		o ca
o rt o • — en .—i	CO 3		m n g
o§,2	O	bJO	o 3
j-, ;-. i-.	ctf		rt
tJ •" 3	I*	Ch	T3 -a
>ZS	H	>	
Terra ponderoSa,	Lime,		Lime,
Vegetable alkali,	Terra ponderofa,		Terra ponderofa,
Mineral alkali,	Magnefia,		Magnefia,
Lime,	Vegetable alkali,		Vegetable alkali,
Magnefia,	&c.		&c.
Volatile alkali,			
Clay,			
Zinc,			
Iron,			
Lead,			
Tin,			
Copper,			
Antimony,			
Mercury,			
iSilver,			
IWater,			
1 Alcohol,			
|Phlogifton.			
By HEAT,
Phlogifton, Terra ponderoSa, &c. Magnefia, Metallic fubftan-ces, Volatile alkali, Clay.			
Table 
Chap.-1.          'Affinities.                31
Table of Attractions .continued.
By WATER.
			
			
			
	"rt CO Ctt U		
-a	™ ^-^T3		
	able alal leal pon		U3
	eget kali iner olati erra roSa		
£ <	> S>H	J	So
<^v>o	u.---^-----»		WO
Terra ponderoSa,	Vitriolic acid,	Vitriolic acid,	1
Lime,	Nirous acid,	Tartarous acid,	I i
Vegetable alkali,	Muriatic acid,	Nitrous acid,	1
&c.	Tartarous acid,	Muriatic acid,	|
Alcohol,	Vinegar,	&c.	i
Effential oil,	Acid oS borax,		
Unduous oil.	Fixed air, Unduous oils, Brimftone, Metallic Subftan-		i i
	ces,		
	Water.		t
By HEAT.
	Acid of borax, Vitriolic acid, &c.		
E A
TABL.E 
^%           Elements oj r&armacy.       rart l.
Table of At tractions continued.



       By  WATER.
Phlogifton.	Brimftone.	Hepar Sulphuris.	Alcohol.
Nitrous acid,	Lead,	Silver,	Water,
Vitriolic acid,	Tin,	Mercury,	Dulcified fpirit
Marine acid de-	Silver,	Antimony,	of vitriol,
phlogifticated, by manganefe, Silver,	Mercury, Antimony, Iron,	Copper, Tin, Lead,	EfTential oils, Volatile alkali, Fixed alkali,
Mercury, Antimony,	Fixed alkali, Volatile alkali,	Iron, Alcohol,	Hepar fulphuris, Brimftone.
Copper, Tin,	Terra ponderofa, Lime,	Water.	
Lead,	Magnefia,		
Iron,	Unduous oils,		
Zinc,	Effential oils,		
Water.	Dulcified fpirit of vitriol,		
	Alcohol.		
Table 
Chap. I.          Affinities.
Table of Attractions continued.
By WATER.
Dulcified Spirit of Vitriol.	Effential oils.	Unduous oils.	Zinc calcined.
Alcoljol, Effential oils, Unduous oils, Water, Brimftone.	Dulcified fpirit of vitriol, Alcohol Unduous oils, Water, Brimftone.	Dulcified fpirit of vitriol, Effential oils, Fixed alkali, Volatile alkali, Brimftone.	Vitriolic acid, Muriatic ccid, Nitrous acid, Tartarous acid, Vinegar, Acid of borax, Fixed air.
Table 
74          Elements of Pharmacy.       Part I.
Table of Attractions continued.
By WATER.
	1		
			»4
B	*T3 ctf	E	Cu
O			P-.
s-i—I	•J	H	o U
Tartarous acid,	Vitriolic acid,		Tartarous acid,
Vitriolic acid,	Tartarous acid,		Mariatic acid,
.Sec.	Muriatic acid,		Vitriolic acid,
	&c.		Nitrous acid,
	Fixed alkali,		&c.
	Unduous oils.		Fixed alkali, Volatile alkali, Unduous oils.
			
		*	
Table 
Chap. L                Affinities.                      7£


         Table of Attractions continued.
By  water.
o a <	3 u	s* u > "t/3	CJ
Muriatic acid, Vitriolated acid, &c.	Moriatic acid, Vitriolic acid, Tartarous acid, Nitrous acid, &c.	Muriatic acid, Vitriolic acid, &c.	Vegetable alkali, Mineral alkali, Volatile alkali, Alcohol.
  Besides thefe cafes of fingle eledive attradion, there are alfbcafesof
what is called double elective attraction. Thefe compofe a table, in all the
cafes of which there are two compounds decompofed, and two new ones
produced in their ftead.  We fhall take for our example the firft cafe in
our table: If a plate of iron be put into a folution of vitriol of copper, the
acid of the vitriol quits the copper and Seizes upon the iron, whilft the phlo-
gifton of the iron attaches itfelf to the calx of the copper. We have now,
then, a vitriol of iron  and metallic copper; that is to Say, inftead of vi-
triol of copper and a plate of iron, we have now a plate of copper and a
vitriol of iron.   As all chemical compofitions and decompofitions depend
on thefe fingle or double eledive attradions, we fhall, for the fake of thofe
more advanced in the ftudy of chemiftry, here fubjoin a Table of Double
Eledive Attradions, extraded from  the Syllabus of Dr Webfter: hut as
his terms may appear difficult to beginners, we have illuftrated theSeve-
veral cafes by a  fingle familiar example from each divifion. 
7 6                Elements of Pharmacy.

          Cafes of Double Elective Attraction.
                        By   WATER.
Part I,
i. Phlogifticated iron with
   Vitriolated copper,
2. Acidated earth or metal with
   Aerated alkali,

3. Acidated volatile alkali
            with
  Aerated fixed alkali or earth,

4: Vitriolated alkali, magnefia,
     or clay, with
  Nitrated, Salited, oracetdted
     lime,

5. Vitriolated or Salited alkali          5. Vitriolated  or Salited lead,
     or earth with                           mercury, or filver,  and
  Nitrated, or acetated lead, r °ivc <    Nitrated  or  acetated alkali
     mercury, or filver,                      or earth.
1. Phlogifticated copper and
   Vitriolated iron.

2. Acidated alkali and
   Aerated earth or metal.

3. Acidated fixed alkali or earth
            and
   Aerated volatile alkali.

4. Vitriolated lime and
   Nitrated, falited,  or aceta-
     ted alkali, magnefia,  or
     clay.
6. Vitriolated, nitrated, or ace-
     tated alkali, earth, or me-
     tal, with
  Salited filver,
7. Vitriolated vegetable alkali
            with
   Salited lime, lead, or filver,

8. Tartarifed or acetated vege-
     table alkali with
Nitrated mercury,____________
 6.Vitriolated, nitrated, or ace-
      tated filver, and
    Salited alkali, earth, or me-
      tal.

 7. Vitriolated lime, lead, or
      filver, and
    Salited vegetable alkali.

_ 8. Tartarifed or acetated mer-
      cury and
I   Nitrated vegetable alkali.
By   HEAT.
1.' Vitriolated volatile alkali
            with
   Nitrated, falited, or aceta-
   ted fixed alkali.

2. Vitriolated, jiitrated, or fa-
     lited volatile alkali,  with ip.
   Acetated  flint,  alkali,  ox f  ive
lime,
g. Vitriolated mercury with
   Salited mineral alkali,

4. .Salited mercury with
   Sulphuraied antimony,
  1. Vitriolated fixed alkali
              and
     Nitrated, falited,  or aceta-
       ted volatile alkali.

  2. Vitriolated, nitrated, or fa-
j      lited fixed alkali, or lime,
              and
    Acetated volatile,alkali.

 . 3. Vitriolated mineral alkali &
    Salited mercury.
4." Salited antimony and
   Sulphurated mercury.
Fa. 
Chap. I.
Affinities.
H
Familiar Examples of a fingle Cafe in each of the oppofite Divifions.

                       By  WATER.
i. Iron in its metallic ftate
  with Vitrol of copper,

2.  EpSom Salt with
   Mild vegetable alkali,

3.  Vitriolic ammoniac
            with
   Mild mineral alkali,

4.  Vitriolated tarar
            with
   Nitrous Selenite,

j.  Vitriolated tartar
            with
   Mercurial nitre,

6.  Saltpetre
            with
   Luna cornea,

7.  Vitriolated tartar
            with
   Luna cornea,

8.  Regenerated tartar
            with
   Mercurial nitre,
"I
1.  Copper in its metallic ftate
   and Vitriol of iron.
>Give J
•J
2. Vitriolated tartar and
   Common magnefia.

3. Glauber's Salt
            and
   Mild volatile alkali.

4. Vitriolic Selenite
            and
   Saltpetre.

5. Vitriol oS mercury
             and
   Saltpetre.

6. Lunar cauftic
            and
   Cubic nitre.
7.  Vitriol oS filver
            and
   FebriSugal Salt.
I-
8. Acetous mercurial Salt
            and
   Saltpetre.
1. Vitriolic ammoniac
           with
   Common Salt,

2. Vitriolic ammoniac
            with
   Regenerated tartar,

3. Vitriol oS mercury with    j
   Common Salt,

4. Crude antimony with
  Sublimate corrofive mercury,
By  HEAT.
           r
1.  Common Sal ammoniac
            and
  Glauber's Salt.
>Give<<
 2.  Acetous ammoniacal Salt
             and
    Vitriolated tartar.
          r     -----------         '
 3.  Glauber's Salt and
  Sublimate corrofive mercury.

- 4.  Butter of antimony and
    Faditious cinnabar.

                    CHAP. 
Elements of Pharmacy.         Part. I.
                 CHAPTER   II.


            Of the Pharmaceutical Apparatus.


     ON E of the principal parts of the pharmaceutic apparatus confifts in
      contrivances for containing and applying fire, and for direding and
regulating its power.  Of thefe contrivances, called furnaces, there arc
different kinds, according to the conveniency of the place, and the parti-
cular purpofes they are intended to anfwer. We fhall here endeavour to
give a general idea of their  ftrudure, and of the principles on which
they are built.

                           Furnaces.

   The fimple furnace is the common ftove, otherwife called the fur-
nace for open fire.  This is ufually made of an iron hoop, five or fix
inches deep; with a grate or fome iron bars acrofs the bottom, for fup-
porting the fuel.  It either ftands upon feet, fo as to be moveable  from
place to place ; or is fixt in brickwork.  In this laft cafe, a cavity is left
under the  grate,  for receiving the  afties that drop through it; and an
aperture or door, in the forepart of the afh-pit, ferves both for allowing
the afhes to be occafionally raked out, and for  admitting air to pafs up
through the fuel.  This furnace is defigned for fuch operations as re-
quire only a moderate heat; as infufion, decodion, and the evaporation
of liquids. The veffel, containing the fubjed matter, is fupported over
the fire by a trevet.  Fig. I.

   A deeper hoop  or body, cylindrical, parallelopipedal   widening up-
wards, elliptical,or of other  figures; formed of, or  lined with, fuch
materials  as  are  capable of fuftaining a ftrong fire: with a grate and
afh-pit beneath,  as in the  preceding ;  and communicating at  the top
with a perpendicularpipe or chimney  ; makesa wind furnace.  Fig 2.
   The greater the perpendicular height of the chimney, the greater will
be the draught of air through the furnace, and the moreintenfely will the
fire burn; provided the width of the chimney is fufficient to allow a free
pafTage to all the air that the furnace  can receive  through the grate; for
which purpofe, the area of the aperture of the chimney fhould be nearly
equal to the area of the interftices of  the grate.
   Hence,  where  the chimney confifts of moveable pipes, made to fit
upon each other  at  the ends, fo that the length  can be occafionally in-
creafed or diminifhed, the vehemence of the fire will be increaSed or di-
minifhed in the fame proportion.
   In furnaces whofe chimney is fixed, the fame advantage may be pro-
cured on another principle.  As the intenfity of the fire depends wholly
upon the quantity of air fucceffively paffing through  and  animating the
burning fuel, it is obvious, that the moft vehement fire may be fupprefred
or reftrained at pleafure by more or lefs clofing either the afh-pit door
by which the air is admitted, or the chimney by which it pafTes off; and
                                                             that 
Chap. II.    Pharmaceutical Apparatus.             79

that the fire may be more or lefs raifed  again, by more or lefs opening
thofe pafTages. A moveable plate, or register, in any convenient part
of the chimney, affords commodious means of varying the width of the
paffage, and confequently of regulating the heat. This is moft convenient-
ly accomplifhed by keeping the afh-pit door entirely fhut,and regulating the
heat by a range of holes in a damping plate; each hole is provided with a
proper pin, whereby we may fhut it at pleafure. Thefeholes may bemade
to bear a certain proportion to each other; the Smalleft being confidered
as one,  the next to it in fize muft have twice the opening, the next to
that double of the Second, &c. and  fo on  to the number of Seven or eight;
and by combining thefe holes varioufly together, we can admit any quantity
of air from I  to 128 ; as 1.  2. 4. 8. 16. 32. 64. 128.*   See Fig. 7. and 8

   There are two general  kinds of thefe wind-Surnaces; one, with  the
chimney on the top, over the middle of the furnace,  (fig. 2.); the other,
with the chimney on one fide, and the mouth clear, (fig. 3.)
   In the firft, cither the upper part of  the furnace is  contracted  to fuch
an aperture,  that the chimney may fit upon it;  or it  is covered  with an
arched dome, or with a flat plate,  having  a like aperture in the middle.
As in this difpofition of the chimney, the infide of the furnace cannot be
come at from above, a  door is made in the fide,  a little above the grate,
for fupplying fuel, infpeding the matter in the fire, &c.   Fig. 2.
   For performing fusions in this furnace, the crucible, or melting vef-
 fel, is placed immediately among  the fuel, with a flip of brick,  or fome
 other like fupport, between it and the grate, to keep the cold air, which
 enters underneath, from ftriking on its bottom.
   When defignedasa reverberatory, that is for diftillation in long
 necks or coated glafs retorts, two iron bars are placed acrofs, above  the
 fire, for fupporting the veffel, whofe neck comesout  at an aperture made
 for that purpofe in the fide.   This aperture fhould be made in  the fide
 oppofite to that  in which is the door abovementioned ; or at leaft fo .re-
 mote from it, that the receiver, fitted on the neck of the diftilling veffel
 without the furnace,  may  not  lie  in  the operator's way when he wants
 to ftir the fire, or throw in  frefh fuel.   Fig. 4.
   The other kind  of wind-furnace communicates, by an aperture in its
 back part near the  top, either with an  upright pipe  of its own, or with
 the chimney of the room;  in which laft cafe, all other paffages  into the
 chimney muft be clofed up. Here the mouth of the furnace ferves for a
 door,  which  may be occafionally covered with a plate or tile.   Of  this
 kind is the furnace moft commonly ufed for fufion in  a crucible.  Fig. 3.

   This laft conftru&ion, by leaving the mouth of the furnace clear, affords
 the conveniency of letting into it a boiling or evaporating pan, a copper
 ftill, an iron pot for diftilling hartfhorn, an iron fand-pot, or other  like
 veffels, of fuch a fize that they may be fupported on the furnace by their
 rims.   The mouth being thus occupied by the veffels, a door muft be
 made in the fide for fupplying  and ftirring the fuel.
    When a furnace of this kind isdefignedonlyfor zfand-bath, it is moft
 commodious to have the Sand placed on a long iron plate, furnilhed with a
 ledge of freeftone or brick-work at each fide. The mouth oS the  furnace
                                                                is 
 So               Elements  of Pharmacy.          Part I.

 is to betlofely covered by one end of this plate; and the canal by which
 the furnace communicates with its chimney, is to be lengthened and car-
 ried along under the plate, the plate forming the upper fide of the canal.
 In this kind of fand-baih,- digeftions, &c. requiring different degrees of
 heat, may be carried on at once; for the heat decreafes gradually from
 the end over the furnace to the other.   Fig. 5.
   When large veffels, as /fills and iron-pots for diftilling hartfhorn and
 aquafortis, are fixed in furnaces, a considerable part of the bottom of
 the veffel is commonly made to reft upon folid brick-work.
   The large ftill, whofe bottom  is narrow in proportion to its height,
 and whofe weight, when charged with liquor, requires great part of it to
 be thus fupported, expofes but a Small Surface to the adion of the fire un-
 derneath.  To make up for this disadvantage, the heat, which riSes at
 the further end of a long narrow grate, is conveyed all ronnd the fides
 of the veffel  by a fpiral canal,  which communicates at top with a com-
 mon chimney.
   The pots for diftilling hartfhorn and  aquafortis in the large way, have
 part of their great weight borne up by  three ftrong pins or trunions at
 equal diftances round the pot towards the middle reaching into a brick-
 work ;  fo that lefs fupport being neceffary underneath, a greater furface
 ef the wide bottom lies cxpofed to the immediate adion of the fire.

   If a furnace, communicating with its chimney by a  lateral canal, as in
 the fand-furnace  abovementioned, be carried  to a confiderable height
 above the part where, this canal enters  it,  and if it be filled with fuel to
 the top, and clofely covered, the fuel will burn no higher than op to the
 upper fide of the canal through which the air paffes off; and in proportion
 as this lower  part of the fuel confumes, it will be fupplied by that above,
 which falls down in its place. Hence in this furnace, called  an athanor,
 a conftaut heat may be kept up for a confiderable length of time without
 attendance.  Fig. 6.
   The tower of the athanor, or that part which receives the fuel, is com-
 monly made to widen a little  downwards, that the  coals may  fall the
 more freely ;  but not fo much as that the part on fire at bottom may be
 too ftrongly preffed.  A  fmall aperture  is made oppofite to the canal or
 flue, or a number of openings, according to the fize of the furnace and the
 degree of heat required for fupplying the air, which is more convenient-
 ly admitted in this manner than through the grate, as the interfticesof
 the grate are in time choaked up by the afhes.
   This furnace is  defigned only for heating bodies exterior to it.   Its
 canal or flue,  as in the fand-furnace already defcribed, paffes under a
fand-b.ith or water-bath ; at the farther end of which it rifes perpendi-
cularly to fuch a  height,  as may occafion  a  Sufficient draught of  air
 through the fire.
   The flue may be So wide as tocorreSpond to the whole  height  of the
 fire-place.  A regifter or fliding-plate,  placed between the flue and the
furnace, enables us to increafe or diminilh this height, and consequently
the quantity of fire at pleafure. If the fpace beneath the flue be inclofcd
to the ground, the heat  in this cavity will be confiJerable enough  to be
 applicable to fome ufeful purpofes.
                                                            With 
r : _\ T K  i  S? I
Fig
 
Plat k i . n°2
 
Chap.  II.    Pharmaceutical Apparatus.             81

  With regard to the materials of furnaces,  the fixed ones are built of
bricks, cemented together by  fome good loam or clay.   Any kind of
loam or clayey compofition that is of a proper degree of tenacity, which,
when made into a pafte with water, and well-worked, does not ftick to
the fingers, and which when thoroughly dried, neither cracks nor melts
in a vehement fire, is fit for this ufe.  The purer  and  more tenacious
clays require to have their tenacity leffened by an admixture of fand, or
rather of the fame kind of clay burnt  and grofsly powdered.
  Smaller portable furnaces are made of ftrong iron or copper plates, li-
ned to the thicknefs of an inch or more with the fame kind of clayey
compofition;  which for  this ufe may be beaten with fome  horfe-dung,
chopped ftraw, or cut hair or tow.
  Very commodious portable  furnaces, for a bufinefs of moderate ex-
tent, may be formed alfo of the larger kind of the common black-lead
melting-pots; by cutting a door at the bottom of the pot for the afh-pit,
another above this for  the  fire-place, and introducing a circular iron
grate  of fuch a fize that it may reft between the two doors.   A particu-
lar account of the method of preparing  thefe furnaces for different ufes
may be feen in the firft part of the Commerciuni Philofophico-technicum
of Dr Lewis: They are, however, liable, by the repetition of  violent
heats, to  a kind of calcination like inflammable fubftances;  and the heat
is not regulated  with fufficient exadnefs.
  In confideration of  thefe inconveniences, Dr Black has contrived one
of the moft fimple and elegant  furnaces  with which we are yet acquaint-
ed.  Befides its durability, it will be Sound, though but one instrument,
to anSwer all the purpoSes either of the pradical  or fpeculative chemift.
Plate  I. Fig. 7. and 8.

                   Explanation of Plate I.

  Fig. 1. A common ftove which ftands on feet, and is moveable from
place  to place.
  A,  The body of the ftove.
   B,  Its feet.
  C,  The grate, which is  that ufed  in Dr Black's furnace, to be after-
wards defcribed, and which we would recommend as the beft for every
kind of portable furnace.
  Fig. 2. A wind-furnace.
   A,  Its dome.
   B,  The door for fupplying fuel, and  placing the matter to be wrought
on.
   C,  The chimney.
   D, The door of the afh-pit.
   E,  The regifter, or damping-plate.

 ' Eig. 3. The furnace moft commonly ufed for fufion in a crucible.
  A,  The beginning of its chimney from the back-part.
   B,  The mouth of the furnace, ferving as the door.
  C,  The regifter.

  Fig. 4. Plan of a wind-furnace when defigned for a reverberatory.
                              F                               A, 
Sz               Elements of Pharmacy.          Part I.

  A,  The iron bars, which cannot well be mown, but may very eafily
be conceived.
  B,  A retort,  fupported on the bars.
  C,  The neck of the retort, coming out at an apertare of the furnace
in the oppofite fide of the door B, Fig. 2.
  Big. 5. Plan of a wind-furnace when defigncd for a fand-bath.
  A,  A long iron plate,  one end of which clofely Shuts the  mouth of the
furnace.
  B,  A ledge of free-ftone or brick-work.
  C,  The mouth of the canal.
  D,  the door for admitting fuel.
    Regifters, &c. as in other furnaces.
  Fig. 6. An athanor.
  A,  The tower, whjch has a cover at the top B when ufed.
  C,  The fire-place.
  D,  The afh-pit.
  E, E, An oblong frame of metal or ftone conneded to the tower A.
  F, F, A chamber conneded to the fire-place C,  and continued  up  to
the chimney G.   Above this chamber the reft of the frame is lined with
iron.
   H, H, Which being covered with fand,  and heated by the long range
of fire in the chamber below,  forms the fand-heat.
  I, The regifter

  Fig. 7. and 8. Dr Black's furnace.  To render our defcription of this
inftrument as fimple as polfible,  let the  reader SuppoSe that the body of
the common ftove, fig. 1. is made of  an oval Sorm,  and cloSed at each
end by a thick iron plate.  The upper plate or end of the furnace is per-
forated with two holes:  one of thefe,  A, is pretty large, and is often the
mouth of the furnace ; the other hole B, is of an oval form, and is intended
for fcrewing down the vent upon.
  The undermoft plate or end of the  furnace has only one circular hole,
fomewhat nearer to one end of the ellipfe than the other;  hence  a line
paffing through the centre of both circular holes has a little obliquity for-
wards : this is fhown in  fig. 8. which  is a fedion of the body of the fur-
nace, and exhibits one half of the upper and one half of the  under nearly
correfponding holes.  The  afh-pit, fig. 7. and 8. C,  is made of an ellip-
tical form like the furnace; but is fomewhat wider, fo that the bottom
of the furnace goes within the  brim ; and a little below there is  a bor-
der, D, fig. 8. that receives the bottom of the furnace.   Except the
holes of the  damping-plate E, fig. 7.  and  8. the parts are  all clofe by
means of a quantity of foft lute, upon which the body of the furaace is
preffed down, whereby  the joining is made quite tight:  for  it is to be
obferved, that in this furnace the body, afh-pit, vent, and  grate, are all
Separate pieces as the furnace comes from  the hands of the workman.
The grate C, fig. 1.  is made to apply to the outlide of the lower part or
circular hole: it confifts  of  aring fet  upon its edge, and bars likewife
fet on their edges.  From the outer part of the ring  proceed four  pieces
of iron, by means of which  it can be fcrewed on:  it  is  thus kept out of
the cavity of the furnace, and preferved from the extremity of the heat,
                                                         whereby 
Chap. II.      Pharmaceutical Apparatus.            8$

whereby it lafts much loDger. Theiides of the furnace are luted, to con-
fine the heat, and to defend the iron from the adion of it. The luting is
fo managed, that the infide of  the furnace forms in fome meafure the
figure of an inverted truncated cone.
   We have thus combined the two figures 7. and 8. in order to defcribe
as exadly as poffible this furnace in its entire ftate ; but to prevent con-
fafion* it muft be underftood, that fig. 7. reprefentsthe body of the fur-
nace with its bottom  received within  the afh-pit.  As  in this figure,
then, we could not exhibit the bottom of the furnace, we have in fig. 8.
fuppofed the body of  the furnace to be cut down through its  middle;
whereby one half of the undermoft hole, with a proportional part of the
grate G  applied to it,  is exhibited along with, and nearly oppofed to,
one half of the upper hole F; the fame hole which in fig.  7. is represent-
ed in its entire ftate by A. By fig. 8. then, the relation of the upper and
under holes to one another is explained.  It is alfo to be underftood, that
the afh-pit of fig. 8. is not, like the body of the furnace, divided in its
middle,  but is the afh-pit  of fig.  7- only detached from the bottom of
th« furnace, in order to reprefent the border D, on which the bottom of
the furnace is received.
   Now to adapt this furnace to the different operations in chemiftry, we
may firft obferve, that for a melting furnace we need only provide a co-
vering for the upper hole A, which in this cafe is  made the door of the
furnace.  As this hole is immediately over the grate, it is very conve-
nient for introducing and  examining from time to time the fubftances
that are to be  aded upon.   The  cover for the door may be a flat and
fquare tyle or  b»ck.   Dr. Black ufually employs a fort  of lid made of
plate-iron with a rim that contains a quantity of luting.  The degree of
heat will be greater in proportion as we heighten the vent B, and to the
number of holes we open in the damping-plate E : by this means the fur-
nance may be employed in moft operations in the way of afTaying ; and
though it does not  admit of the introdudion of a muffle, yet if a fmall
piece of brick is placed upon its one end in the middle of the grate, and
if large pieces of fuel are employed, fo that the air may have fxee paffage
through it, metals may be affayed in this furnace without  coming  in
eontad with the fuel.   It may therefore be employed in  thofe operations
for which a muffle is ufed ;  and in this way lead and fundry other metals
may be brought totheir proper calces.
   When we wifli to employ this furnace for thofe  distillations requiring
aujnteufe heat,  the earthen retort is to be fufpended by means of an iron
ring, having three branches ftanding up from it, fig. 9. This ring hangs
down from the hole A  abnit one half foot; fo that  the bottom of the re-
 tort refts upon the ring, and is immediately  hung over the fuel.   The
owning between die mouth of the furnace A is filled up with broken cru-
cibles or potfiierds, and tbefe arecovered oyer with afhes, which tranfmit
 the heat very fiowly.  ThisSurnace, then, anSwers for diftillations per-
formed with the naked fire.  Dr Black has alfo had fome of them pro-
 vided with a hole in the fide Srom which the neck of the retort  iffued ;
 and in this way he has diftilled the phoSphorus of urine,  which requires
 tt vc,ry ftrong heat.
   F*s d'uUllAiions with retorts, performed ia the  fand-bsth, there is an
                               p j      *                    iron- 
84                Elements of Pharmacy.          Part. I.

iron-pot (fig. 10.)  fitted  for the opening of the furnace A, and this is
employed as a fand-pot.  In  thefe diftillations the vent B becomes the
door of the furnace, and it  is more eafily kept tight than when on the
fide.   When it thus Serves for the door, it may be covered with a lid of
charcoal and clay.
   This furnace anfwers very well too for the common ftill; part of which
may be made to enter the opening A, and hang over the  fire.  In this
cafe, likewife, the vent B is the door of the furnace, by which freih fuel
is to be added :  bur in ordinary diftillations it is never neceffary to add
frefh fuel; and even in the diftillation of mercury,  phofphorus of urine,
and indeed during any procefs whatever, the furnace generally contains
fufficient to finifh the operation; foeffedually is the heat preferved from
diffipation, and the confumption of the fuel is fo very flow.

   On  the fubjed of furnaces, we cannot pafs over  a very  excellent one
contrived by Dr Price.   Though it is perhaps not  neceflary in the lefs
op erofe proceffes in pharmacy; yet we think an explanation of it may be
entertaining and ufeSul to many of our readers. The plate  of this intern-
ment is taken from an excellent drawing in the poffeffion of our ingenious
friend  Dr Schwediauer.

                   Explanation of Plate II.

   This furnace confifts of four feparate pieces: the body, or largeftcy-
linder, divides in two at  the part marked M.  The outermoftor largeft
furnace is made of the compofition ufually employed in England for ma-
fting  the blue  crucibles, but with  a larger  proportion of clay.  It is
ftrongly braced with iron as expreffed in the drawing,  with fcrews to
tighten the circular braces,  which prefs on and fecure the  vertical bars.
Thefe  bars are terminated at each end  by a clamp, which could not very
well be expreffed in the draught.   The front of the furnace is alfo fecu-
red in  the part moft liable to fuffer by the expanfion in heating with an
iron plate.
   In the lower divifion is placed a tripod  with a circular ring, which fup-
ports a grate which may occafionally be changed.  The tripod, by means
oS pieces of brick placed under the legs, may be raifed according to the
intended depth of the fire.
   In the larger furnace,  as thus defcribed, may be placed a ftill, fand-
pot, water-bath, evaporating vefTel,  and the like.   The fire is to be fed
by the aperture B, and  the fmoke paffes off by the flue  C, whofe di-
nienfions are fhown by the dotted lines.  The fire is eafily  regulated, by
taking partly or entirely out the doors of the air draughts D and F.
   A muffle may be placed and  worked at B,  this aperture being made
of a proper fliape  for that  purpofe, the fuel being put in at top.  The
muffle  being removed, a retort may be placed fo as to have  its neck pafs-
ed through the fame aperture;  and if it be an earthern or coated glafs
one, may be worked in the naked fire, or with what is called a fire of fup-
preffion.
   This larger furnace may be alfo tifed as a wind-furnace, or melting-
furnace ; but is rather larger than common experiments require: it will,
however,  give a very ftrong heat when employed for that purpofe.
                                                             The 
 
                    Plate n.N°l.  r _      ^
AJioefycfFur/iact                       EAracr* f/>. Screws
B Cnrninrtfrftid/HcFire        FlGt.l       Y.Docrs tcJt'r ffcles
C.F/ue
H^ie'rlfote
 Q7r//icdfc
•rfunncrtGrate-
^arid Cylinder
W..DcortvFtrf
■Ptac*
VJ#AAM/%^,
r> 
Plate  ILN° 2.
\lflf<(fcnfff(Mitu/.dFurnace  FlG. £.  Ts.Grate of/urge Cy/i/t(/e r
B-fff' tarter Cy/inde&r              ^^ E. >9 /r/ rr j
C-cfv'tnutlf d?
*J)r -crstcAn 'He/t'J
P^Bcdycffhe(\/ot(/cr     FlG.J.    E.ff/t# cffma/tCr/txe/er
V.Cjicnitrf/orftee/oig Arc___D               T.JVafr^f d?
CF/ue
YsJrcn Braces
D 
 
Chap. II.     Pharmaceutical Apparatus.            85

  The cylinder marked A, fig. 3. is compofed of a thick iron plate pro-
perly faltened to two rings of iron conneded by perpendicular bars, to
which alfo the plate is ftrongly rivetted.
  It is ftuck very full of nails, whofe points projeding inwardly  hold
pieces of crucibles put between them edgewife ;  and thefe are covered,
with a luting of Windfor loam, Stourbridge clay, and fome glafs-grinders
fand, which partly vitrifying, renders the whole very compad.
  This  cylinder  is put into the other,  fupported on the grate,  and fo
placed that its apertures may correfpond with thofe of the larger.
  It thus affords a furnace  in which a Smaller fand-pot  retort, or muffle,
may be  worked, as in the former.  It is a much more convenient wind-
furnace, being fed at top,  and the mouth of it covered with a kind of
tile of the fame materials with the outer furnace,  which is to Slide back-
wards and forwards over it.  This method of charging a wind-furnace
is much preferable to that of putting in the crucibles and fuel thro' a door
laterally.
  In this furnace a very intenfe heat may be excited,  which the air-
draughts will afford the operator means of regulating to the greateft ex-
adnefs.  By a proper choice of fuel, and fome  addrefs in managing the
fire, the moft refradory metals (platina perhaps excepted) may be f'ufed
in it. The regulus oS manganeSe has been obtained in it ; and fteel melts
without a flux in a few minutes.
  It fliould  be  obferved that the fize of the flue is full  large, and there-
fore it  may be occafionally clofed, partly by pieces of  brick of different
fizes according to the intended purpofe.
   The  fmaller cylinder, marked C in the plan (fig. 2.), is compofed as
that juft defcribed,  but without the aperture for the muffle, though  it
would not be amifs to have a Similar but Smaller aperture in thisalSo.  It
would thus  work a little ftill,  Sand-pot, bath,  &c. but its flue fliould be
confiderably narrowed with flips of brick or tiles.
   Asa melting-furnace itanfwers very well for any heat not much greater
than that of melting caft iron.  It can with care be made to fufe. fteel.  It
feems particularly adapted to experiments on fmall quantities of metal,
glafs, or the like, as it requires little fuel, and yet gives a fufficient heat.
   The  grate of this cylinder is fattened to it, and it refts on three fmall
projedions on the outfide at top, by which it catches on the ring of the
fecond cylinder, and thus hangs in it.
   It fhould be obferved, that when thefe cylinders are ufed, the upper
jundure fliould be pointed round and well clofed with fire-lute  ; and it
would be advantageous to  fprinkle  in fome charcoal-duft,  which will
tend, both by excluding air and by other means,  to prevent the fcorifica-
tion of the iron, and may perhaps be of fome little ufe. in retaining the heat,
or at leaft will hinder the cold air from coming up and  chilling the Sides.
   The  chimney oS this Surnace is about eight feet high  and nearly fix
inches Square in  the area of its cavity ; but, if circumftances had permit-
ted, it fhould have been at  leaft twelve feet high  and much thicker than
it is. However, with thefe difadvantages, it works very well; but would
probably give a much fiercer heat, had the fituation of it fuffcred the
chimney to be more lofty and maffive.
   The  conftrudion of this furnace requires a lateral flue. This fhould be
                               F  3                        ilrongljr 
 86               Elements of Pharmacy.           Part  I.

 ftrongly braced with iron in the part near the furnace;  for otherwise it
 Will infallibly fall topieces after the furnace has been ufed for a few times.
   Let it be remarked,  that opening all the air-draughts and unftopping
 the flue does not produce the greateft heat, for reafons which thofe who
 have ftudied the principles of the excitation of fire can readily affign, but
 which cannot be briefly explained to others.  Their fize is, however,
proper on other accounts.
   It fhould be farther noticed, that if this kind of furnace be made on a
 fmaller  fcale, it would require an enlargement  of the  Hue and dbor to
 more than the proportional  fize ;  and that when made very fmall, the
 third cylinder may of courfe be omitted; but  the bracing ftrongly, and
 luting, are indiSpenSably requifite in furnaces of every dimenfion.

                            Baths.

   Where a ftrong degree of heat is requifite, as in the fufion of metals,
 &c. the veffel containing the fubjed-matter is placed among the burning
 fuel,  or immediately over it : this is called operating  in a naked fire.
 Where  a fmaller heat is fufficient, and the veffel employed is either of
 glafs, or of the more tender kinds of earthen ware, the Sand-bath or wa-
 ter-bath is ufed to defend the veffel from the  immediate adion of the
 fire, and to render the heat lefs fluduating.
   Both  thefe baths have their particular advantages and  inconveniences.
 In water, the heat is equal through every part of the fluid : whereas in
 fand, it  varies  in different parts of one perpendicular  line, decreafing
 from  the bottom to  the top.   Water cannot be  made to receive,  or to
 tranfmit to veflels immerfed  in it, above a certain degree of heat, viz.
 that which is fufficient  to make it boil ; and hence it Secures effedually
 againft any danger  of an excefs of heat in thofe operations wherein the
 produd  would be injured by a heat greater  than of boiling water : but
 this advantage  renders it ufclefs for proceffes which require a greater
 heat, and for which fand  or  other folid intermedia  are neceflarily em-
 ployed.   There is this convenience alfo  in the fand-bath, that  the beat
 may be  readily  diminifhed  or increafed about any particular veflel, by
 railing it higher out of the fand or finking it deeper ; that different fub-
jeds may be expofed to different degrees of heat  from one fire ; and
 that it keeps the veffels Steady.   The fand made choice of  fhould be a
 large coarfe-grained kind, feparated from the finer parts by wafiiing,
 and from little ftones by the fieve.


                 Coating  o/Glasses, Lutes.
   Some proceffes require to be performed with glafs veflels in a naked
 fire. For thefe purpofes, veffels made of the thinneft glafs lhould be cho-
 fen ;  for thefe bear the fire, without cracking, much better than thoSe
 which are thicker,  and in appearance ftronger.
   All glaflcs, or other  veflels that are apt to crack in the fire, muft be
 cautioufly nealed, that is, heated by flow degrees: and when  the procefs
 is finiflied, they mould be as flowly cooled, unlefs where  the veffel is to be
 broken  to get out the preparation, as in fome  fublimations: in this cafe it
 is more advifible to  eXpoSe the hot glafs  Suddenly to  the  cold  air, which
                                                              will* 
 Chap.  II.    Pharmaceutical  Apparatus.           87

will foonoccafion it to crack, than to endanger throwing down the fubli-
med matter among the feces by a blow.
  As  a defence from the violence of the fire, and to prevent the  contad
of cold air on fupplying frefh fuel, &c.  the glafs is  to be coated over to
the thicknefs of about half a crown, with Windfor loam, foftened with
water into a proper confiftence, and beaten up with  fome  horfe-dung,
or with the other clayey compofitions abovemenrioned.
  TheSe compofitions Serve alfo as a lute, Sor Securing the junduresofthe
veflels in the diftillation of the volatile falts and fpirits of animals: forth*
diftillation of acid fpirits, the matter may be moiftened with a folution of
fixed alkaline fait inftead of water.  For moft other purpofes, a  piece of
wet bladder, or a pafte of flour and water, or of linfeed meal (that is the
cake left after the expreffion ©foil of linfeed), are fufficient lutes.
  Sometimes clay and chalk are mixed up into a pafte, and Spread upon
flips oS paper; and Sometimes gum arabic is uSed inftead of the clay, and
mixed up in the fame manner.
  Wet bladders contrad fo ftrongly by  drying, that they  not unfre-
quently break the veffels: And the fat  lute of Mr Macquer, which is a
compofition of clay and chalk wit^oil, is too clofe for moft operations.
Where very elaftic fleams arc  to be condenfed, we are often obliged,
even when the common lutes are employed, to leave or make an  opening
which may be occafianally flopped by a plug :  By  this  means  wc give
paffage to a part oStheSe vapours, which prevents theburfting oSthe vef-
fels and  facilitates  the condenfation of the reft.  If we wifh to colled
incondenfible vapours, we receive them into a jar inverted under a bafon
of water, or quickfilver, asdirededin our Analyfis of Vegetables by fire.
   Befides  thefe,  there is  alfo required fome  other kinds of lutes  for
joining veflels together in operations requiringa ftrong heat, and for li-
ning furnaces. Four parts of fand and one of clayanfwersbeft for luting:
but for lining the infide of furnaces, fix or  Seven parts of fand to one of
clay is neceffary, in order to  prevent  the contradion  and confequent
cracking of the clay, which it moft readily does when freeftof fand. Be-
fides this lute immediately next to the fire, three parts by weight,  of char-
coal, to one of common clay, are firft mixed in a dry powder, and  as much
water is to be added as will make them form into balls of the confidence
of fnow: thefe balls are beat very firm and eompad, by means of a ham-
mer on the infide oS the furnace, to the thicknefs of about one inch and a
half: the other lute is fpread over this to about the thicknefs of half an
inch : and this too is beat folid  by means of a hammer, and allowed t©
dry flowly, that all cracks and fiffures may be prevented.  After the bo-
dy of the furnace, is thuslined, the Vent is applied and lined in the fame
manner; and the whole being dried, which requires a long time, a  fire
is kindled in the furnace, which is gradually heated a day or two,  and
then is raifed to the greateft intenfity:  By theSe means the whole luting
acquires a hardneSs equal to that of free-ftone.  Thefe are the  lutes re-
commended and ufed by Dr Black ; and, except for fome operations in
metallurgy, he feems to have  been the firit who thought of employing
charcoal as an ingredient for the lining  of furn:ces.
  The few fimple lutes, here defcribed, will be found to anfwer ail the
purpofesof the more operofe compofitions recommended for thefe inten-
tions by the chemical writers.
                              F  4                      Vessels. 
88               Elements  of  Pharmacy.            Part I.


                            Vessels.
  In this place, we fhall only give  the operator a few general cautions
witlr regard to the matter of the veflels defigned for containing the fub-
jed ; and refer their defcription to the plates, and to the account of the
operations in which they are employed.
  Metalline veffels poffefs the adyantage of being able to bear Sudden al-
terations of heat and cold, and of being very ftrong, fo as to be capable
of confining elaftic fleams: but except thofe made of gold or filver they
are readily corroded by acids, even by the milder ones of the vegetable
kingdom. Copper veflels are corroded alfo by alkaline  liquors, and by
fome neutral ones, as folutions of fal  ammoniac. It is obfervable, that ve-
getable acids do not ad upon this metal by boiling, fomuch as by ftanding
in the cold ; for even lemon juice may be boiled  in a clean copper vetfe!,
without receiving from it any tafte or ill quality; whereas, in the cold, it
foon diffolves fo much as to contrad a pernicious taint.  The tin, with
which copper-veflels are ufually lined, gives likewife a fenlible impreg-
nation to acid juices; and this impregnation alfo isprobablynot innocent,
more efpecially as  a quantity of lead is commonly mixed with the tin.
From the want of transparency in thefe veflels,  we are alfo deprived of
tiie advantage of feeing the different changes during the operation.
   The earthen veflels poffefs none  of  the defirable qualities for chemi-
cal operations, except thatoffuftaining very violent degrees of heat, with-
out being melted or otherwife changed.   Thefe veflels are lefs liable to
external cracks fromfudden applications of heat and cold, when they are
made with a certain  proportion of fand, than with pure clay. Black-lead,
too, mixed with the clay, makes the veflels fuftain violent degrees and Hid-
den alterations of heat fiirprifingly well: crude cl?.v, reduced to a kindof
fand by  violent heat, and then mixed with raw clay, is alSo Sound tofur-
nifh veffels excellently  fitted Sor thoSe operations where  Sand might be
corroded : but of all kindsof earthen-ware, the moft perfed is'procelain,
compofed of thefintft clay mixed with a ftony matter capable of melting
ina violent heat: This, however, is toocoftly an article for general ufe.
Reaumur difcovered a method of imitating porcelain, by melting the coar-
fer kindsof glafs with a mixture of fand and clay: this has been found to
be nearly of the colour of porcelain, to be much ftronger than glafs, and
to bear the moft fudden changes of heat and cold that we have occafion
to apply.  There has not hitherto been any manufadure of this ware;
and till then it will not propably come  into general ufe.
   The common earthen veflels are  of a loofe porous texture; and  hence
are  apt to imbibe a confiderable quantity of certain  liquids particularly of
thofe of the faline kind ; which foon difcover their penetrating the velfel,
 by fhooting into faline  efflorefcences on the outfide.  Thofe which are
glazed have their glazing corroded  by  acids: by  vinegar,  and the acid
juices of fruits, as well as by the ftronger acids of the mineral kingdom.
And as this glazing confifts  chiefly of vitrified lead,  the  impregnation
 which it communicates to thefe  liquors is of a very  dangerous kind.   If
 vinegar be boiled  for fome time in a glazed earthen veflel,  it will yield
 on being infpiflkted, a  pure  fal plumbi, that is, a fait compofed of lead
 and the acetous acid.
  The veffels called,  form their hardnefs and compadnefs,./JW-w«/v, are
                                                                  in 
 
Plate.b
 
P LAT E  111. N.° 2.
 
 
Chap. II.     Pharmaceutical Apparatus.             89

in a good meafure free from the inconveniences of the coarfer earthen
ones.  Their glazing being a part of the clay  itfelf, fuperficially vitri-
fied by means of the fumes of common fait, appears to be proof againft
acids.
   Glafs-veffels fuffer no corrofion,' and give no taint, in any of the phar-
maceutic operations.  When,  therefore, they are  made of a proper
thinnefs, when they are  well  annealed, and when blown into a Sphe-
rical form fo that the heat may be equally applied, they are preferable to
all others,  where great and fudden changes of heat and cold are not to
take place, and where ftrength  is not required : What is called ihefiint-
glafs, which contains a quantity of k\:i< in its compofition, is the  beft
for chemical purpofes.  Having made thefe general remarks, we next
come to defcribe the particular instruments ufed in pharmacy : but as the
nature and uSes of each will be better underftood after reading the fol-
lowing chapter, and the proceffes in which they are en ployed, we  fhall
here only give a fhort explanation of the figures  of thefe iiiftruments;
and to which the reader may occafionally recur in going over the feqnel
of the work.
                   Explanation of Plate III.
   Fig. i.  An evaporating pan, being fuch a fedion of a globe of glafs
 as is beft fitted for expofing a large Surface.
   Fig. 2.  The chemical phial or matrafs, furnifhed with a long neck for
 allowing the vapours raifed by heat or mixture to circulate and be con-
 denfed, whereby their efcape is prevented.
   Fig. 3.  A retort and receiver together, to Show their conncdion du-
 ring diftillation or  fublimation.  The receiver  is of a  conical figure;
 whereby the fleams have more room to circulate and condenfe. Dr Black
 has found this form more convenient, when we with to get outfublimed
 matter.
    In the laft figure was reprefented an example'of the diftillatioper la-
 tus, or the diftillation by the retort and receiver ; and it is ufed  in all
 cafes where nice operations are required, or where metallic veflels would
 be  corroded by the contained  matter.  The diftillatio per  afcenfum is
 performed by,
    Fig. 4. A copper ftill.
    A, The body of the ftill, containing the matter.
    B, The head of the ftill into which  the  vapour immediately arifes;
  this  is made to fit very clofely to the body, fo as to require little or n»
  luting.
    C, A pipe ifluing from the middle of the top of the head, and defend-
  ing to C, is received into the pipe D.
     D, The pipe or worm defcending into a large veffel E,  containing a
  quantity of cold water  to  keep the pipe cool, and thereby facilitate the
  condenfation of the vapours.
     F, The further extremity of this pipe,  coming out at an  opening, in
   the under part of the veflel E;  from this extremity the condenfed matter
   diftills.
     This inftrument is on the conftrudion ufed and recommended by Dr
   Black, and varies a little from the common form.   He finds it unnecef-
                                                               fary 
<jo               Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

fary that the pipe D fhould be made Serpentine, which renders the clean-
ing of it very difficult and uncertain.
   Fig. c. A feparatory, for feparating oil from water.
   This inftrument is provided  with two tubes,  A, B, projeding from
near its neck; and it is managed thus: If the oil  to be feparated is  Spe-
cifically  lighter than water, the veflel is gently inclined to one fide, in
order to pour out the oil, which  from its lightnefs has afcended  into the
tube: if, on the contrary,  the oil is Specifically heavier than  water, the
veffel, with its month fhut,  is to be inverted, that  the oil at its bottom
may be brought  to fink into one of the tubes;  from which it is to be
poured till the water begins to come off along with it,  when  the mouth
of the tube is to be inftantly fhut by the  top of a finger.   It is obvious,
that to manage this inftrument  properly, requires confiderable addreSs
and dexterity.
   Fig. 6. An oblong glaSs veffel, the under part of which is kept hot,
when intended  to fublime folid matters, and the upper part is kept cool,
whereby the vapour is condenfed in the form of a cake at the top.  The
mouth of the vefTel is to be ftopt by  a cotton ftopple.  This  method is not
fo well fitted for large operations as the retort and receiver.
   Fig. 7. An adopter, which is a  receiver that  has a pipe ifluing from
its farther extremity, and  which is received into another receiver or a-
dopter; we may increafe or diminifh the number of receivers at pleafure.
It may be ufeful for the condenfation of very elaftic vapours,  as thofe of
the cauftic volatile alkali, vitriolic ether, &c.  The receivers in this in-
ftrament are of the ufual form, and may ihow wherein that  recommend-
ed by Dr Black differs.
   Fig. 8. A retort-funnel for pouring in liquors,  fo as  to prevent touch-
ing the neck of the retort;  and it is neceffary that  in drawing out the
funnel we fliould keep it applied to the upper part of the retort, whereby
the drop hangs from the under edge of the funnel, and therefore cannot
touch the infide oS the retort.
   Fig. 9. A crucible which is angled at  the top for the conveniency of
pouring oat the contained matter. It is narrow below for receiving fmall
quantities,  which in a larger compais might be lefs eafily brought out.
The black-lead and clay crucibles are often aded on by faline  matters,
and Sometimes deftroyed by the  inflammable matter of the black-lead:
they, however,  anSwer much better for filling metals than thofe of clay
and fand.   Thefe laft anfwer beft for faline fubftances; but being more
liable to break than the other,  they may be  made Securer by inclofing
the crucible containing the matter  within another crucible,  and filling
up the interfaces with Sand.
   The crucible in this figure flands upon a pedeftal, which  is a piece of
clay or brick betwixt  the  crucible and the  grate to prevent the cold air
ftriking the bottom whilft the top is hot;  in which caSe the crucible ge-
nerally breaks to pieces. To prevent the fuel Sroin Sailing in we uSe co-
vers made of clay, or we invert  another crucible upon that containing the
mutter, and  Secure the joining by a  proper lute.
   Fig. 10. A pair oS crucible tongs Sor putting in or taking out the mat-
ter to be wrought on.
Weights. 
Chap.  II.             Meafures.                       91

                         Weights.
  Two different kindsof weights are made ufe of in this country: one in
the merchandise of gold and filver; the other for almoft all other goods.
The firft we call Troy, the latter Averdupois weight.
  The goldfmiths divide the Troy pound into twelve ounces, the ounce
into twenty pennyweights;  and  the pennyweight into twenty-four
grains.   The Averdupois pound is divided into Sixteen ounces; and the
ounce into Sixteen parts, called drams.
  The pound of  the London and Edinburgh difpenfatories is that of the
goldfmiths, divided in the following manner:
             The pound ")         C twelve ounces.
             The ounce ( „„„,-■„» J e'ght drams.
             The dram  r contains 'S three fcruples.
             The fcruple j         (_ twenty grains.
           The grain is equal to the goldfmith's grain.
   The medical or Troy pound  is lefs than the Averdupois, but the ounce
and the dram greater.  The Troy pound contains 5670gr:ins; the A-
verdupois 7000grains. The Troy ounce contains 480 grains; the Aver-
dupois only 437^.  The Troy dram  60; the Averdupois dram fome-
what more than 27.  Eleven drams  Averdupois are equal to five drams
Troy ; twelve ounces Averdupois  to  nearly eleven ounces Troy ;  and
nineteen pounds Averdupois are equal to fomewhat more than twenty-
three pounds Troy.
  Thefe differences in our  weights have occafioned great confufion in the
pradice of pharmacy.  As the druggifts and grocers fell by the Averdu-
pois weight, the apothecaries  have not in general kept any weights ad-
jufted to  the Troy pound greater than two drams, ufing Sor all above A-
verdupois.   By  this  means it is  apparent, that  in  all compofitions,
where the ingredients are preScribed, Some by pounds and others by oun-
ces, they are taken in a wrong proportion  to each other:  and the fame
happens when they are direded in leffer denominations than the ounce,
as theSe Subdivisions,  ufed by  the apothecaries,  are made to a different
ounce.

                          Measures.

  The  meafures employed in pharmacy  are the common wine mea-
fures.
           A gallon   '")         C  eight  pints (libra.)
           The pint   > contains < Sixteen ounces.
            The ounce j         £ eight  drams.

  Though the pint  is called  by Latin  writers libra or pound, there
Js ntit any known liquor of which a pim-meafure anfwers to that weight.
A  pint  of the  higheft  redified fpirit  of  wine  exceeds a pound by
above half an ounce ; a pint of water exceeds it by upwards  of three
ounces ;  and a pint of oil  of  vitriol weighs more t-han two pounds and
a quarter.
  The Edinburgh College, fenfible oSthe many errors from the promis-
                                                           cuous 
9*
Elements of Pharmacy.
Part I.
cuous ufe of weights and meafures, and of different kinds of thefe, have
in the laft edition of their Pharmacopoeia entirely rejeded meafures, and
employ the Troy weight in direding the quantity cither of folid or fluid
fubftances. They have, however, taken all poffible care that the propor-
tion of the fimples and ftrength of the compound,  fhould neither be in-
creafed nor diminished by this alteration. This change in the Edinburgh
Pharmacopoeia muft  be very particularly adverted to.  And it is,  we
think, to be regretted, that the London college have not in the laft edi-
tion of their Pharmacopoeia followed the fame plan.
   A table of the weights of certain meafures of different fluids may on
many occafions be uSeful, both for affifting the operator  in regulating
their proportions in certain cafes,  and for fhowing  the comparative gra-
vities of the fluids themfelves. We hereinfert fuch a table for a pint, an
ounce, and a dram meafure, of thofe liquids, whofe  gravity has been de-
termined by experiments that can be relied on. The wine gallon con-
tains 231 cubic inches ;  whence the pint contains 28^, the ounce 1 4^1,
and the  dram *3'  of a cubic inch.
       Inflammable Spirits.
Ethereal fpirit of wine
Highly-rectified fpirit of wine
Common-redified fpirit of wine
Proof fpirit    -
Dulcified fpirit of fait
Dulcified fpirit of nitre
Burgundy
Red port
Canary
Wines.
          Expressed Oils.
Oil olive
Linfeed oil     ...

          Essential Oils.
Oil of  turpentine
    of orange-peel
    of juniper-berries
    ofrofemary
    of origanum
    of caraway-feeds
    of nutmegs
    of favin
    of hyflbp
    of cummin-feed
    of mint
    •f pennyroyal
	Ounce	Dram
Pint weighs	meafure	meafure
	weighs	weighs
0) a. m	ao	m
s a .5	£	a
c cd ca	"c«	'S3
« U Ih	»-	u
O 13 M	bfl	w
II 1 36	33°	42
12 5 20	380	474
13 2 40	400	50
14 I 36	426	53
14 4 48	438	55
15 2 40	460	57\
14 I 36	426	53
15 1 36	456	57
15 6 40	475	^
14 0 0	420	52',
14 2 8	428	53t
12 1 4	364	45t
	408	51
	419	52
	430	54
	432	54
	4?2	54
	43"	544
	443	SS'r
	443	- SSk
	448	56
	448	56
	45o J	56^
Essen 
Chap. II.
Meafures.
93
    Essential Oils continued.

Oil of dill-feed
   of fennel-feed
   of cloves     -       -     -
   of cinnamon
  . of faflafras

       Alkaline Liquors.
Aqua kali puri, Pharm. hond.
Spirit of fal ammoniac
Strong foap-boilers ley
Lixivium tartari

         Acid Liqjjcrs.
Wine-venegar
Beer-vinegar
Glauber's  fpirit of fait
Glauber's  fpirit of nitre
Strong oil of vitriol

        Animal Fluids.
 Urine    ....
 Cows milk
 Afles milk    -
 Blood

            Waters.
 Diftilled water
 Rain-water
 Spring-water
 Sea-water
          Qjjicksilver.
	Ounce	Dram
Pint weighs	■neafure	meafure
	weighs	weighs
<B IB "°	a>	a>
8 fi -a	a	
c <« 2	'c3	'rt
g -5 M	u be	u
	457	57
	458	57
	476	594
	576	49 t
	503	63
16 o c	480	60
17 1 10	515	64t
17 6 24	534	67
24 0 0	720	90
15 3 44	464	58
15 6 56	476	59;
17 4 0	525	65^
20 2 40	610	76
28 ? 20	860	107;
15 5 20	470	59
15 6 4c	475	59^
16 0 c	480	60
16 1 4	484	6o,
15 1 5c	456	57
15 2 4c	460	57^
153 12	462	1 58
15 5 2C	470	59
214 5 2C	6440	1 80c
CHAP- 
94
Elements of Pharmacy.
Parti.
     CHAPTER   III.

Of the Pharmaceutical Operations.
                         sect.  I.

                            Solution.

    SOLUTION is an intimate commixture of folid bodies with fluids in-
     to one Seemingly homogeneous liquor. The diflblving fluid is called
 a menftruum or folvent ;  and the body diffolved is called the folvend.
   Objedions have been made, and perhaps with propriety, to thefe
 terms ; as it is fuppofcd that the two bodies uniting in folution ad reci-
 procally on each other : there is, however,  no danger from the words
 themfelves, if we do not  derive them from a  miftaken theory. Solution
 cannot  take place, unlefs one of the bodies, at leaft, be in a fluid ftate ;
 and this fluidity is effcded either by water or  fire : hence folution is faid
 to be performed in the humid, or in the dry ivay.  Thus, for inftance, if
 any quantity of brimftone be diflblved in a folution  of fixed alkali, the
 brimftone is Said to be diflblved  in the humid way :  but if the brimftone
 be diflblved by melting  it in a  pan  with the  dry alkali,  the folgtion is
 faid to be done in the dry way.  The hepar fulphuris is the fame in both.
 Another kind of folution refembling that by the dry way, is, Iiowever, to
 be carefdly.diftinguifhed from it: If, for example, a piece of Glauber's
 fait is put into a pan over  the fire, the fait very foon affumes a liquid ftate;
 but on continuing  the  heat,  it  loSes its fluidity, and becomes a white
 powder : but this powder is nothing but the Salt freedfrom itswatcr,and
 it is found  to be very refradory.  This liquidity depended  on the water
 of cryftallifation, being enabled by the heat to keep the fait in folution, and
 the fait ceafed to be fluid as foon asitscryftallifing water was evaporated.
 This kind of folution, then, differs not from the firft, or humid way.
   If one of  the two bodies  to be  united is tranfparent,  the folution,  if
 complete,isa tranfparent compound : this is the cafe in folutions of alkalies
 and calcareous earths in acids. But if the folution be opaque and milky,
 as is the cafe with foap and water, it is then confidered as incomplete.
   The principal menftrua made ufe of in pharmacy are,  water,  vinous
fpirits,  oils, acid and alkaline liquors.
   Water is the menftruum of all falts, of vegetable gums,  and of animal
 gellies.  Of falts, it diflblves only  a  determinatequantity, though of one
 kind of fait more than another ; and being thus faturated, leaves any ad-
 ditional quantity of the fame Salt untouched.
   Experiments have been made for determining the quantities of water
 which different falts require for the diflblution,  Mr Eller has given a
                                                             large 
Chap. III.     Pharmaceutical Operations.             95

large Set in the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Berlin for
the year 1750,  from which the following table is extraded.

         Eight ounces by weight of diftilled water diflblved.
                                                         oz. dr. gr.
Of Refined fugar,       -        -       -       -         2400
    Green vitriol         -          -       -       -        9  4  o
    Blue vitriol       •      -       -       -              900
    White vitriol         -        -       -       -         440
    Epfom fait       -        -       -       -       -400
    Purified nitre       -          -       -       -         400
    Soluble tartar          -         -       -       -400
    Common fait       -       -         -       -      -     3  4  o
    Sal gemmte          -          -       -       -        340
    Sal catharticus Glauberi       -      -       -      -340
    Seignette's  fait         -       -       -       -        300
    Alum      -       -       -       -       --240
    Sal ammoniac          -       -       -       -        240
    Vitriolated tartar         -        -       -        -140
    Salt of hartfhorn       -       -       -       -        140
    Sugar of lead      -       -       -       -        -120
    Cream of tartar       -       -       -       •,          100
    Borax        -         -       -        -          -04 20

   Though great care appears to have been taken in making thefe expe-
riments,  it is not to be expeded that the proportions of  the  feveral
falts, foluble in a certain quantity of water, will always be found exadly
the fame with thofe above fet down.  Salts differ in their folubility ac-
cording  to  the ckgree of their purity, perfedion, and  drynefs :  the
vitriols,  and the artificial compound falts in general,  differ  remarkably
in this  refpcd, according as they are more or lefs  impregnated with
the  acid  ingredient.   Thus vitriolated  tartar, pcrfedly  neutralised,
is extremely difficult of folution :  the matter which remains in making
Glauber's fpirit of nitre is no other than a vitriolated tartar ;  and  it
diflblvcs fo difficultly, that the operator is obliged to break the retort in
order to get it out; but on adding more of the vitriolic acid,  it diffolves
with  eafc. Hence many have been tempted to ufe an over-proportion of
acid in this preparation ; and we frequently find in the (hops, under the
name of vitriolated tartar, this acid foluble Salt. The degree of heat occa-
fions alfo a remarkable difference  in the quantity of  fait taken up  : in
very  cold weather, eight ounces  of water will diffolve only about  one
ounce of nitre; whereas in warm weather, the fame quantity will cake up
three ounces or  more.  To thefe circumftances are  probably owing, in
part, the remarkable differences in the proportional folubilities of falts, ss
determined by different authors. It is obfervable that common fait is lefs
affeded in its folubility by a variation of  heat than any  other ; water in
a temperate ftate diflblvhig nearly as much of it as very hot water:  and
accordingly this i6 the Salt in which the different experiments agree the
beft.  In the experiments of Hoffmann, Neumann, and  Petit, the  pro-
portion of this fait, on a redudion  of the numbers, comes out exadly the
f-une, viz. three  ounces of  the fait to eight of water ; Dr Brownrigg
                                                            makes 
96
Elements of Pharmacy.
Part I.
makes the quantity of fait a little more ;  Dr Grew, a dram and a fcnr-
ple more ; and Eller, as appears in the above table, four drams more :
fo that in the trials of fix different perfons, made probably in different
circumftances, the greateft difference is  only  one-lixth of the  whole
quantity of fait;  whereas  in  fome other  falts  there are differences ot
twice or thrice the quantity of the fait.  In the experiments from which
the table is drawn, the water was of the temperature of between 40 and
42 degrees of Farenheit's thermometer, or above freezing by about one-
feventh of the  interval between freezing and the human heat.
   Some falts omitted by Eller  are here fubjoined:  the firft is taken from
Dr Grew, and the other four from Neumann.
Eight ounces of water diflblved
Of fixed alkaline fait
   Sal diureticus
   Sugar-candy, both brown and white
   Sugar of milk
   Effential fait of forrel
     oz. dr. gr.
above 800
      800
      900
      o   2  40
      o   1  20
  Though water takes up only a certain quantity of one kind of fait, yet
when faturated with one, it  will ftill diffolve fome portion of another;
and when it can bear no more  of either of thefe, it will ftill take up a
third, without letting go any of the former. The principal experiments
of this kind  which have been made relative to pharmaceutic fubjeds, are
exhibited  in the following table ;  of which the two firft  articles arc
from Grew,  and the others from Eller :
T3
3
 >»
Nitre
Common fait
Nitre
Common fait
Volatile alkali
Sal ammoniac
Soluble tartar
Vitriolated tartar
Glauber's fait
Epfom
Borax
Water, 32 parts by weight,
<=)
("Sal ammoniac
|  Nitre
j  Fixed alkali
|  Nitre, near
|  Nitre
^•Common fait
|  Nitre
I  Fixed alkali
|  Nitre
|  Sugar
L Fixed alkali
 io<|
 10 |
7   I
2   I
4
2^
2
2
 I
6
2
>
 Sal ammoniac
Common fait
Fixed alkali
Sugar
 2
 2
2;
 2
Sugar
   In regard to the other clafs of bodies for which water is a menftruum,
viz. thofe of the gummy gelatinous kind, there is no determinate point of
faturation : the water unites readily with any proportions of them, form-
ing with different  qualities liquors of different confiftence.  This fluid
takes up likewife, when affifted by trituration, the vegetable gummy  re-
fins, as ammoniacum and mirrh ; the folutions of which, though imper-
fect, that is, not tranfparent, but turbid and of a milky hue, are neverthe-
lefs applicable to valuable purpofes in medicine.   It mingles with vinous
Spirits, with acid and alkaline liquors, not with oils, but imbibes Some of
                                                                thq 
 Chap.  III.               Solution.                         97

the more  fubtile parts of effential oils, fo as to become impregnated with
their fmell and tafte.

   Redified fpirit of wine, or rather alcohol, is the menftruum of the ef-
fential oils and refins of vegetables; of the pure diftilled oils, and feve-
ral of the colouring and medicinal parts of animals ; of fome mineral bi-
tuminous fubftances, as of ambergris;  and of Soaps,  though it does  not
ad upon the expreffed oil and fixed alkaline Salt, of which foap is com-
pofed: whence if foap contains  any fuperfluous quantity of either  the
oil or fait,  it may by means of this menftruum be excellently  purified
therefrom.  It diflblves, by the affiftance of heat, volatile alkaline falts;
and  more readily the neutral ones,  compofed either of fixed alkali and
the acetous  acid, as the fal diureticus, or of the volatile alkali  and  the
nitrous acid, as alfo the fait of amber, &c.   It mingles with water and
with acids; not with alkaline lixivia.

   Oils diffolve vegetable refins  and balfams, wax, animal fats,mineral
bitumens, fulphur, and certain metallic fubftances, particularly lead. The
expreffed oils are, for moft of thefe bodies, more powerful menftrua than
thofe obtained by diftillation ; as  the former are more capable of fuftain-
ing, without injury, a ftrong  heat, which is in moft cafes neceflary to
enable them to ad.   It is faid, that one ounce of fulphur will diflblve in
three ounces of expreffed oil, particularly that of linfeed ;  but  requires
fix ounces of effential oil, as that of turpentine.

   All acids diflblve alkaline falts, alkaline earths,  and  metallic fub-
ftances.  The different acids differ greatly  in  their  adion upon thefe
laft; one diflblving only fome particular metals;  and another, others.
   The vegetable acids diffolve a confiderable quantity oS zinc, iron, cop-
per, lead,  and tin ; and extrad So much Srom the metallic part of anti-
mony, as to become! powerfully emetic: They diflblve  lead more readily,
if the metal be previoufly calcined by fire, than in its metallic ftate.
   Themarineacid diflblves zinc,  iron, and copper; and though itfearcely
ads dh any other metallic fubftance in  the common way of making folu-
tions, it may neverthelefsbe artfully combined with them all except gold.
The corrofive fublimate,  and antiraonial cauftic of the fhops, are combi-
nations of it with mercury and the metallic part of antimony, effeded by
applying the acid, in the form of  fume, to the fubjeds, at the fame time
alfo ftrongly heated.   .
   The nitrous acid is the common menftruum of all metallic fubftances,
except gold and the metallic part of antimony; of which two, the proper
folvent is a mixture of the nitrous  and marine acids, called aqua regia.
   The vitriolic acid, diluted with water, eafily diflblves  zinc and iron.
In its concentrated  ftate, and affifted by a boiling heat, it may be made
to corrode, or imperfedly diflblve, moft of the other metals.
   The aerial acid diflblves iron,  zinc,  and  calcareous earth ; and thofe
folutions muft be conduded without heat.

   Alkaline /;#;»/* diffolve oils, refinous fubftances, and Sulphur. Their
power is greatly promoted by the addition of quicklime; inftancesoS which
occur in the preparation of foap, and in the common cauftic.  Thusacua-
                                G                             ted, 
                   Elements of Pharmacy.           Part I.

ted,  they reduce the flefh, bones, and other folid parts of animals, into
a gelatinous matter*
  This increafed acrimony in alkaline falts, is owing to the abftradion
of their fixed air;  that acid having  a greater attradion for quicklime
than for alkalies..
  Solutions made in water and fpirit of wine  poffefs the virtues of the
body diflblved ; whilft oils generally fheath its adivity, and acids and
alkalies vary  its quality.  Hence watery and Spirituous  liquors are the
proper menftruaof the native virtues of vegetable and animal matters.
  Moft of  the foregoing folutions are eafily  effeded,  by pouring the
menftruum on the body to be diffolved, and fuffering them to ftand toge-
ther for fome time expofed to a Suitable warmth. A ftrong heat is gene-
rally requifite to enable oils and alkaline liquors to perform their office;
nor will acids ad on fome metallic bodies without its affiftance.  The ac-
tion of watery and fpirituons menftrua is likewife expedited by a moderate
heat; though the quantity which they  afterwards keep diffolved is not, as
fome fuppofe, by this means  increafed : all  that heat octafions theSe to
rake up, more than they would do in a longer time in the cold, will, when
the heat ceaSes, Subfide again.  This at leaft is moft commonly the caSe,
though there may be Some inftances oS the contrary.
  The adion oS acids on the bodies which they diflblve,  is generally ac-
companied  with heat, efferveScence,  and a  copious diScharge oS Sumes.
The fumes which  ariSe during the diflblution of Some metals in the vitri-
olic acid, prove inflammable :  hence  in the preparation of the artificial
vitriols of iron and zinc, theoperatorought to be careful, efpecially where
the folution is made in a narrow-mouthed veflel, left by the imprudent ap-
proach of a candle the exhaling vapour be fet on fire. The vapour is the
inflammable  air  of Dr Prieftley and other modern chemifts.
  There is another Species of folution, in which the moifture of the air is
the menftruum.   Fixed alkaline falts, and thofe oStlie neutral kind,com-
poSed oS alkaline Salts and the vegetable acids, or of foluble earths and any
acid, except  the vitriolic, and fome metallic falts, on being expofed for
fome time to  a moift air, gradually attrad its humidity, and at length be-
come liquid.  Some fubftances, not diflbluble by the  application  of water
in its groffer  form, as the butter of antimony,  are eafily  liquefied by this
flow adion of the aerial moifture.  This procefs is termed deliquiathn.


                        SECT.   II.


                          Extraction.

     THE liquors which  diflblve certain fubftances in  their pure ftate,
     Serve  likewife to extracJ them from admixtures of other  matter.
Thus ardent  fpirit, the menftruum of effential  oils and refins, takes  up
the virtues of the refinous and and oily vegetables, as  water does thofe
of the  mucilaginous  and faline; the inadive earthy parts remaining
untouched by both.  Water extrads  likewife  from many plants, fub-
ftances which by themfelves it has little effed upon ; even effential oils
being, as we have Sormerly obServed, rendered Soluble in that fluid by the
admixture of  gummy and faline matter, of which all vegetables participate
                                                                in
.98 
Chap. III.              Ext rati ion.                    99

in a greater or lefs degree. Thus many of the aromatic plants, and moft
of the bitters and aftringents, yield their virtues to this menftruum.
   Extradionis performed, bymacerating or fteeping the fubjed in its ap-
propriated menftruum in the cold ;  or dtgefting or circulating them in a
moderate warmth ; or infufing the plant in the boiling liquor, and fnffer-
ing them to ftand in a covered veffel till grown cold; or adually boiling
them together for fome  time. If the vegetable matter is itfelf Succulent
and watery, it is fometimes only neceffary to  exprefs the juice, and eva-
porate it to the proper confiftence.
   The term digeftion is  fometims ufed Sor maceration ; and in this caSe
the proceSs is direded to be performed without heat: where this circum-
stance is not expreffed, digeftion always implies the ufe of heat. Circula-
tion differs from digeftion only in this :  that the fleam, into which a part
of the liquor is rcfolved  by the heat, is, by means of a proper difpofition
of the veffels, condenfed and conveyed back again upon the fubjed. Di-
geftion is ufually performed in a  matrafs (or bolt-head), Florence flafk, or
the like ; either of  which may  be converted  into  a circulatory veflel, by
inverting another into the mouth, and fecuring the jundure with apiece
of wet bladder.  A fingle matrafs, if its neck be very long and narrow,
will anfwer  the purpofe aseffedually; the vapour cooling and  condenfing
beSore it can riSe to the top, in a veflel oS  this kind, even Spirit of wine,
one of the moft volatile liquors we know of,  may be boiled without any
confiderable loSs : the uSeof this inftrument is likewife free from an in-;
convenience, which may in fome cafes attend the other, of the uppermoft
veffel being burft or  thrown off. As the long-necked matraffes here re-
commended, are difficultly filled or emptied, and  likewife very dear,  a
long glafs pipe may be occafionally luted to the fhorter ones.
   Heat  greatly expedites extradion ; but by this means proves as inju-
rious to fome fubftances, by occafioning  the menftruum  to  take up  their
groffer and more ungrateful parts, as it is neceffary for enabling ittoex-
trad the virtues of others.  Thus guaiacum and logwood  impart little to
aqueous  liquors without a  boiling heat;  whilft even a fmall  degree of
warmth  proves greatly prejudical to the fine bitter of carduus benedidus.
This  plant  which infufed in boiling, or digefted  in fenfibly  hot water,
gives out a nauSeous tafte, So offenfive  to the ftomach as  to promote vo-
miting, yields to the cold element a grateful balfamic bitter.
  As heat promotes the  diflblving power of liquids; fo cold, on the other
hand, diminifhes it.   Hence  tindures or extradions made  by a confi-
derable heat, depofite in  cold weather a part of  their contents, and thus
become proportionally weaker : a circumftance which deferves particular
regard.

                         SECT   III.


                         Depuration.

    THERE are different methods of depurating or purifying liquors from
    their feculencies, according as the liquor itfelf is more or lefs tena-
cious, or the feculent matter of greater or lefs gravity.
    '                          G 2                        Thin 
 I oo               Elements df Pharmacy.          Part.  I.

   Thin fluids  readily depofite their'more ponderous impurities  upon
 ftanding at reft for fome time in a cool place ; and may then be decanted,
 or poured off clear, by inclining  the veffel.
   Glutinous, unduous, or thick fubftances, are to be liquefied by a  fuit-
 able heat; when the groffer feculcncies  will fall to the bottom ; the
 lighter arifing to the furface, to be difpumated or fcummed off.
   Where the impurities are neither fo ponderous as to fubfide freely to
 the bottom, nor fo light as to arife readily to the  furface,  they  may  be
 feparated in great meafure by colature through ftrainersof linen, woolen,
 or other cloth; and more perfedly by filtration through a  foft bibulous
 kind of paper made for this purpoSe.
   The grey paper which covers pill-boxes as they come from abroad,  is
 one of the beft for this purpofe: it does not eafily  break whenwctted,or
 tinge the liquor which paffes through it,  which  the  reddifh  fort called
 bloffom paper frequently does. The paper is fupported by a funnel orpiece
 of canvas fixed in a frame.  When the funnel is ufed,  it is convenient to
 put fome ftraws or fmall flicks between the paper and its fides,  to prevent
 the weight of the liquor from prefling the paper fo clofe to it, as not to
 allow room for this  fluid to tranfude. In fome cafes a funnel made  of
 wire is put betwixt the paper and  the glafs funnel.  There is alfo a kind
 of glafs funnel with ridges down its fides  made on purpofe for this ufe.
  Glutinous and unduous liquors, which do not eafily pafs through the
 pores of a filter or ftrainer, are clarified by beating them up with whites
 of eggs; which concreting or growing hard when heated, and entang-
 ling the impure matter, arife with it to the furface: the mixture is to be
 gently boiled till the  fcum begins to break, when the  veflel is to be re-
 moved from the fire, the cruft taken off, and the liquor paflcd through a
 flannel bag.
  Decantation, colature, and filtration, are applicable  to moft of the me-
 dicated liquors that Hand in need of purification.  Defpumation and cla-
 rification very rarely have place :  fince thefe, along with the impurities
 of the  liquor, frequently Separate its medicinal parts. Thus, if the de-
 codion of poppy heads, for making diacodium,  be folicitoufly fcummed
 or clarified, the medicine will lofe almoft  all that the  poppies  communi-
 cated ; and inftead of a mild opiate, turn out little other than a plain Sy-
 rup of fugar.
  It may be proper to obferve, that  the common forts of filtering paper
 are apt to communicate a difagreeable flavour: and hence in filtering
 fine bitters or otherliquor, whofe gratefnlnefs is of primary confeqaence,
 the part which paffes through firft ought to be kept apart for inferior
 purpofes.

                       SECT.   IV.

                     Crystallisation.

     WATER, aflifted by heat, diflblves a larger proportion of moft faline
      fabftances  than it can retain  when grown cold: hence  on
rhe abatement of the heat, a part of  the fait Separates from  the  men-
ftruum, and concretes at the fides and bottom of the veflel. The concre-
                                                            tions, 
Chap. III.           Cryftallifation.                    101

tions, unlcfs too haftily formed by the fudden cooling of the liquor,  or
diftarbed in their coaleScence by agitation, or other Similar cauSes, prove
transparent and of regular figares, reScmbling in appearance the natural
Sprig-cry ftals.
  Salts, diflblved in a large quantity of water, may in like manner  be
recovered from it in their crystalline form, by boiling down the folution,
till fo much of the fluid has exhaled as that the remainder will be too little
to keep the Salt diflblved when grown perfedly cold.  It is cuftomary to
continue the evaporation till the Salt fhows a diSpofition to concrete even
from the hot water, by forming a pellicle on that part which is leaft hot,
viz. on the furface. If large, beautiful, and perfedly-figured cryftals are
required, this point is fomewhat too late:  for if the fait thus begins to
coalefce whilft confiderably hot,  on being removed into a cold place its
particles will run too haftily and irregularly  together: the pellicle at the
fame time falling down through the liquor, and thus proving a farther
difturbance to the regularity of the cryftallization.
   In order to perform this procefs in perfedion, the evaporation muft be
gentle, and continued no longer than till fome drops of the liquor, let fall
on a cold glafs plate, difcover cryftalline filaments.  When this mark of
fufficient exhalation appears, the veflel is to be immediately removed from
the fire into a lefs warm, but not cold place, and covered with a cloth to
 prevent the accefs of cold air, and confequently the formation of a pellicle.
   The fixed alkalies, efpecially the mineral, when fully faturated with
 fixed air or the aerial acid,  afTume a cryftalline form ;  but  thefe cryftals
 are not fo perfed as when the fame alkalies are united with the other acids.
 The volatile alkalies cannot cryftallife,  becaufe they efcape before  the
 menftruum exhales.
   Some even of the other neutral falts, particularly thofe of which certain
 metallic bodies are thebafis, are fo ftrongly retained by the aqueous fluid,
 as not tcexhibitany appearance of cryftallifation, unlefs fome other fub-
 ftance be added, with which the water has a greater affinity. The Table
 of Affinity fliows that fuch a fubftance is fpirit of wine ; by the prudent
 •uldition of which, thefe kinds of fait feparatc freely from the menftruum,
 and form large and beautiful cryftals,  fcarce obtainable  by  any other
 means.                                                    .  .   . n
    The operator muft be careful not to add  too much of the fpirit; Jelt,
 inftead of  a  gradual and regular cryftallifation, the bafis of  the fait be
 haftily precipitated in a powdery form. One-twentieth part of the weight
 of the liquor will  in moft cafes be a  fufficient, and in fome  too large a
 quantity.                                                       ,.r
    Different falts require different quantities of water to keep them  o»i-
 folved : and hence, if a mixture of two or more be diffolved in this fluid,
 they will begin to Separate and cryftallife at different periods of the evapo-
 ration.  Upon this foundation, falts are freed, not only from fuch impuri-
 ties-as water is not capable  of diifolving and carrying through the pores of
 a filter,  but likewife to admixtures of each other ; that which requires
 moft water to diflblve in fhooting firft into cryftals.
    It is proper to remark, that a fair, when cryftallifing, ftill retains and
 combines with a certain portion of water : this water is  not effential to
 the fait as a fait, hut is efTential to a fait as being cryftallifed ; it is there-
 fore called  by the chemifts the water of cryftallifation.  The quantity of
                                  G 3                            this 
 102              Elements of Pharmacy.          Part.  I.

this water varies in different falts:  In fome of them, as in Glauber's fait,
alum, and copperas, it makes up about one hilf of their weight;  in others,
as in nitre, common fait, and efpecially felenites, it is in very fmall quan-
tity.   As falts unite to the water of their cryftallifation by their attrac-
tion for water alone, we accordingly find that this water is perfedly pure,
and contains, in complete cryftals, no fubftance foreign to the fait. Salts
not only differ in the quantity of water neceflary to their folution,  but
fome of them alfo are foluble  with equal facility in cold as in hot water.
Sometimes, then, we employ evaporation ; fometimes cooling ;  and at
other times both thefe expedients are ufed alternately, to feparate diffe-
rent falts diflblved in the Same liquor.  It is obvious, then,  that thoSe
which are nearly, or equally Soluble in cold as in boiling water, can only be
cryftalliSed by evaporation ; thoSe again, which arc much more Soluble in
boiling than in cold water, are to be Separated by cooling.  OS the firft
of thefe is common or marine fait:  of the latter is nitre or faltpetre.  It
remains, then, that we fhould know how to feparate thefe two falts, when
both of them happen to be diflblved in the fame water: this method con-
fifts in alternate evaporation and cooling.   If in fuch a folution a pellicle
appears in the boiling iiquor before cryftals can be formed in the cooling,
we then conclude that the common fait predominates :  In this cafe  we
evaporate the water, and feparate the common fait as faft as it is formed,
till the liquor on cooling fliows cryftals of nitre :  we then allow the nitre
to cryftallife by cooling.  After all the nitre which had been diffolved by
the heat alone has now feparated by cooling, we refume the evaporation,
and feparate the common Salt till the cooling liquor again fhows cryftals of
nitre.   We thus repeat the fame feries of operations, by which  means
thefe two falts may be alternately cryftallifed ; the one by evaporation, the
other by cooling, till they are  perfedly feparated  from each other.  If in
the beginning of the operation the liquor had, upon trial, given cryftals
of nitre by cooling before any pellicle  appeared on its  furface when
boiling, this would have indicated that the nitre was predominant in the
folution;  the nitre in this cafe would have been cryftallifed, firft by cool-
ing, till the quantity of nitre exceeding that of the common fait having
been feparated, the common  fait would next have cryftallifed in its turn
by  evaporation.   The  example we have now given may be applied to
other falts, or to a number of falts which may happen to be diflblved in
the fame liquor.   For though  there are few fo completely foluble in cold
water as common fait, and few fo fcantily as nitre ; yet there are Scarce-
ly two falts which either precifely fliow the fame folubility or the fame
appearance of their cryftals.   It  is obvious, too, that by cryftallifation
we diScover the peculiar predominant Salt in any Solution of mixed Saline
matter; butas one Salt always takes down a Small portion oS another, it is
neceffary to rediflblve the firft produds, and repeat the cryftalliSation, in
order to render the Separation complete.
   We See, then,  that though the  cryftal appearance and Sorm does not
alter the fait itfelf, yet that this procefs affords an elegant method of dif-
covering compound folutions of falts, of judging of "their purity, and,
laftly, of feparating different falts very completely  from each  other.
Cryftallifation,  then, is one of the moft  important agents in pharmacy,
and ought to be well underftood.  -We fhall attempt to explain  the parti-
                                                              cular 
Chap. III.           Precipitation.                     103

cular managemement in cryftallifing particular Salts,  when we come to
treat of each of them feparately.

                        SECT.   V.

                         Precipitation.

    BY this operation bodies are recovered Srom their Solutions, by means
     &f the addition of fome other fubftance, with which either the men-
ftruum or the body diflblved, have a greater affinity than they have with
each other.
   Precipitation, therefore, is of two kinds; one, where the fubftance fu-
peradded unites with the menftruum,  and occalions that before diflblved
to be thrown down; the other in which it unites with the diflblved body,
and falls along  with it to the bottom.  Of the firft, we have an example
in the precipitation of fulphur  from  alkaline lixivia by the means of
acids ; of the Second, in  the precipitation oS mercury Srom aquaSortis by
Sea-Salt,  or its acid.
   The fubjeds of this operation, as well thofe which are capable of being
precipitated as thofe which precipitate them, will readily appear from in-
fpedion of the Table of Affinity. The  manner  of performing it is fo
Simple, as not to ftand in need oS any particular diredions; no more being
required than to add the precipitant by degrees, So long as it continues to
occafion any precipitation.  When the whole oSthe powder has Sallen, it
is to be well edulcorated, that is, wafhed in Several freih parcels of wa-
ter,  and afterwards dried for ufe.
   Where metals are employed as precipitants, as in the purification of
martial vitriol from copper by the addition of frefli iron, they ought to be
perfedly clean and free from any rufty or greafy matter ; otherwife they
will  not readily, if at all, diffolve, and consequently the precipitation will
not Succeed; Sor the fubftance to  be precipitated Separates only by the ad-
ditional onediflblving and taking its place. The Separated powder, often,
inftead of falling to the bottom, lodges upon the precipitant; from which
it muft be occafionally fhaken off, for reafons fufficiently obvious.
   Though,  in  this operation, the precipitated powder is generally the
part  required for ufe, yet fome advantage may frequently be made of th£
liquor remaining after the precipitation.  Thus when fixed alkaline fait is
diflblved in water, and fulphur diflblved  in this lixivium ; the addition of
acids feparates and throws down the fulphur,  only in virtue  of the acid
uniting with, and neutralifing the alkali by which the fulphur was held
diflblved : confequently, if the precipitation be made with the vitriolic acid,
and the acid gradually dropt in till  the alkali be completely fatiated, that
is. fo long as it continues to occafion any precipitation or turbidnefs, the
liquor will yield, by proper evaporation and cryftallifation, a neutral fait,
compofed of the vitriolic acid and fixed alkali, that is vitriolated tartar.
In like manner, if the precipitation be made with the nitrous  acid, a true
nitre  may be recovered  from the  liquor; if with the  marine, the fair,
called fpirit its fa lis marini coagulatus; and if with the acid of vinegar,
the fal diureticus.
   J                          G 4                       SECT. 
104              Elements *f Pharmacy.          Part  L

                       SECT.    VI.

                         Evaporation.

    Evaporation isa third method of recovering folid bodies from their
     Solutions, effeded by the means of heat; which evaporating the fluid
part,  that  is, forcing  it off  in fteam,  the matter which was diflolved
therein is left behind in its folid form.
  The  general rules of evaporation are, To place the matter in a flat,
fhallow, wide veflel, So that a large furface of the liquor may be prefented
to the air: for it is only from  the furface that evaporation takes place.
The degree of heat ought to be  proportioned to the volatility of the fub-
ftance to be evaporated, and to  the degree of fixity of the matter to be
left: Thus, the lefs fixed the matter to be left is, and the more ftrongly
it adheres to the volatile parts,  the lefs the degree of heat ought to be ;
and, in fuch cafes too, a forcible current  of air is fometimes fcarcely ad-
miifible : On the contrary, when the matter to be evaporated  is not very
volatile, and when the matter to be left  is very fixed,  and does not ad-
here ftrongly to the volatile part, the  evaporation maybe  urged by a
ftrong heat,  aided by a current of air direded  upon the furface of the
liquor.
  This procefs is applicable to the folutions of all thofe fubftances which
are lefs  volatile than the menftnuim, or which will not exhale by theheat
requifite for the evaporation of the fluid ;  as the folutions of fixed alkaline
falts; of the gummy, gelatinous, and other inodorous partsof vegetables
and animals in water;  and of many refinous and  odorous fubftances in
fpirit of wine.
  Water extrads the virtues of fundry fragrant aromatic herbs, almoft as
perfedly as redified fpirit of wine: but the aqueous infufions are far from
being equally fuited to  this procefs with thofe made in fpirit;  w ater car-
rying off the whole odour and flavour of  the fubjed, which that lighter
liquor leaves entire behind it.   Thus a  watery infufion of mint lofes in
evaporation the fmell,  tafte and virtues, of the herb; whilft a tindure
drawn with pure fpirit, yields on the fame treatment, a thick balfamic li-
quid, or folid gummy refin, extremely  rich in  the peculiar qualities of
the mint.
  In evaporating thefe kinds of liquors,  particular care muft be had, to-
wards the end of the procefs, that the heat be very gentle ; otherwiSe
the matter as it grows thick will burn  to the veffel, and contrad a difa-
greeable Smell and tafte ;  this burnt flavour is called an empyreuma. The
liquor ought to be kept ftirring during the evaporation ;  otherwiSe a part
of the matter concretes on the furface expofed to the air, and forms a pel-
licle which impedes the farther  evaporation.   More particular diredions
for performing this operation  to the  greateft advantage will be given
hereafter.
SECT. 
Chap. III.            Diftillation.                      105
                       SECT.   VII.

                        Distillation.

   IN  the foregoing operation fluids are rarefied by heat into fleam or va-
    pour, which is futfered to exhale in the air, but which it is the bufi-
 nefs of this to colled and preferve. For this purpoSe the fteam is receiv-
 ed in proper veflels,  luted to that  in which the Subjed is contained;
 and being there cooled, condenSes into a fluid Sorm  again.
   There are two kinds of diftillation: by the one, the more fubtile and
 volatile parts of liquors arc elevated from the groffer ;  by the other, li-
 quids incorporated  with Solid bodies are forced  out from them by vehe-
 mence of fire.
   To the firft belong, the diftillation of the pure inflammable fpirit from
 vinous liquors;  and of fuch of the adive parts of vegetables as are capa-
 ble of being extraded by boiling water or fpirit,  and at the fame time of
 arifing  along with their fteam.
   As boiling water extrads or diflblves the effential oils of vegetables,
 whilft blended with the other principles oS  the  Subjed, without Satura-
 tion, but imbibes only a determinate, and that a Small proportion of them,
 in their pnre ftate;  as thefe  oils  are  the only fubftances, contained in
 common vegetables, which prove  totally volatile in that degree of heat;
 and as it is in them that the virtues of  aromatics, and  the peculiar odour
 and flavour of all plants, refide; it is evident, that water may be impreg-
 nated by diftillation, with  the more valuable parts of many vegetables:
 that this impregnation is limited, the oil arifing in this proceSs pure from
 thofe parts of the plant which before rendered it foluble in water with-
 out limitation;  hence  greateft part of  the  oil  Separates from the dif-
 tilled aqueous liquor, and, according to its greater or lefs gravity, either
 finks to the bottom or fwims on the furface:  that confequently infufions
 and diftilled waters  are  very different from each other:  that the firft
 may be rendered ftronger by pouring the liquor on frefh parcels of the
 fubjed; but that the latter cannot be in like manner improved by cohobat-
 ing, or re-diftilling them from frefh ingredients.
   As the oils of many vegetables do not freely diftil with a lefs heat than
 that in which water boils; as redified  fpirit of wine is not fufceptible of
 this degree of heat: and as this menftruum totally diflblves thefe oils in
 their  pure ftate ; it follows, that fpirit elevates far lefs from moft vege-
 tables than water; but that neverthelefs the diftilled fpirit,  by keeping
 all that  it does elevate, perfedly diflblved, may,  in fome cafes, prove as
 ftrong of the fubjed as the diftilled water.  The more gentle the heat,
 and the flower the diftillation  goes on, the volatile parts are the more
 perfedly feparated in their native ftate.
   The apparatus made ufe of for diftilling fpirits, waters and oils,  con-
 fift of a ftill, or  copper veffel, for containing the fubjed, on which is
luted a large head with a.fwan-neck.   The vapour arifing into the head,
is hence conveyed through a worvi, or long Spiral pipe, placed in a veflel
 of cold water called a refrigeratory •  and  being  there «"cnden!cd, runs
down into a receiver.
                                                                 It 
  io6             Elements  of Pharmacy.            Parti.

    It may be obferved,  that as the parts which are preferved in evapora-
 tion cannot arife in diftillation, the liquor remaining after the diftilla-
 tion,  properly depurated and infpiffated,  will yield the fame extrads as
 thofe prepared from the tindure or decodion of the fubjed made on pur-
 pofe for that ufe; the one of thefe operations colleding only the volatile
 parts, and the other the more fixed : fo that where one fubjed contains
 medicinal parts of both kinds, they may thus be obtained diftind, with-
 out one being injured by the procefs which colleds the other.

   The fubjeds of the fccond kind of diftillation are,  the grofs oils of
 vegetables and animals, the  mineral acid fpirits, and the metallic fluid
 quickfilver;  which as they require a much ftronger degree of heat to e-
 levate them than the foregoing liquors can fuflain, fo they likewife con-
 denSe  without arifing So Sar from the adion of the fire.The diftillation of
 thefe is performed in low  glafs veflels, called, from their neck being ben:
 to one fide, retorts : to  the farther end of the neck a receiver is luted,
 which ftanding without the furnace the  vapours foon condenfe in  it,
 without the ufe of a refrigeratory :  nevertheless,  to promote this effed,
 fome are iccuftomed, efpecially in  warm weather, to cool the receiver,
 by occafionally applying wet cloths to it, or keeping it partly immerfed
 in a veflel of cold water.
   The vapours of fome fubftances are fo fluggifh,or ftrongly retained by
 a  fixed  matter,  as  fcarce to arife even over the low neck of the retort.
 Thefe are moft commodioufly diftilled in ftraight-necked earthen veflels,
 called  longnecks, laid on their fides, fo that the vapour pafles off laterally
 with little or no afcent; a receiver is luted to the end of the neck with-
 out the furnace.   In this manner  the acid  fpirit of vitriol is diftilled.
 The matter which remains in the retort or longneck, after the diftillation,
 is vulgarly called caput  mortuum.
  In thefe diftillations,  a quantity of elaftic air is frequently generated;
 which  unlefs an exit be  allowed, blows off or burfts the receiver.  The
 danger of this may in geod meafure be prevented,  by flowly raifing the
 fire: but more  effedually, by leaving a fmall hole in the luting, to be
 occafionally opened or flopped with a wooden plug;  or inferting at the
jundure an upright pipe of" fuch a height, that the fteam of the diftilling
liquor may not be able to rife to the  top: but it is ftill better done by fit-
 ting to the apparatus other veffels, by which their vapours may be con-
denfed.
                      SECT.    VIII.

                          Sublimation.

    AS all fluids are volatile by heat, and confequently capable of being
     feparated, in moft cafes, from fixed matters, by the foregoing pro-
cefs ;  fo  various folid  bodies are Subjeded to a fimilar treatment. Fluids
are Said to diflil, and Solids to fublims : though  Sometimes both are ob-
tained in one and the Same operation. If the fubliming matter concretes
                                                              into 
Chap. III.    Sublimation, Expreffion, &c.         107

into a mafs, it is commonly called a fublimate ,- if into a powdery form,
flowers.
   The principal fubjed of this operation are volatile alkaline falts; neu-
tral falts,compofed of volatile alkalies and acids,  as fal ammoniac;  the
fait of amber, and  flowers  of benzoine; mercurial preparations ; and
fulphur.   Bodies of themfelves not volatile, are frequently made to fub-
lime by the mixture of volatileones: thus iron is carried up by fal ammo-
niac in the preparation of the fiores martiales, or ferrum ammoniacale.
   The fumes of folid bodies in clofe veffels rife but little way,  and  ad-
here to that part of the veflel where they concrete. Hence a receiver or
condenfer is lefs neceffary here than in the preceding operation ; a Single
veflel, as a matrafs, or tall vial, or the like, being frequently fufficient.

                        SECT.    IX.

                           Expression.

    THE prefs is chieflly made ufe of for forcing out the  juices of fuccu-
      lent herbs and fruits, and the infipid oils of the unduous feeds  and
 kernels.
    The  harder fruits,  as quinces, require to be previoufly well beat or
 ground ; but herbs are to  be only moderately bruifed.  The fubjed is
 then included in a hair-bag, and prefled between wooden plates, in the
 common fcrew-prefs, as long as any juice runs from it.

    The expreflion of  oils is performed nearly in the Same manner as
 that oS juices; only here, iron-plates are Subflittited Sor the wooden ones
 there made  uSe of.   The fubjed is well pounded, and included  in a
 ftrong can vafs bag, betwixt which and the plates of the prefs a haircloth
 is interpofed.
    The  infipid  oils oSall the unduous Seeds are obtained, uninjured, by
 this operation, iS perSormed without the  ufe of  heat; which though it
 greatly promotes the cxtradion of the oil,  at the fame  time impreffes an
 ungrateful flavour, and increafes its difpofition to grow rancid.
    The oils expreffed from aromatic fubftances generally carry with them
 a portion of their effential oil; hence the fmell and flavour of the expreff-
 ed oils of nutmegs and mace. They are very rarely found impregnated
 with any of the other qualities of the Subjed: oil  of muftard-feed, for
 inftance, is as SoSt and void of acrimony as that of the almond, the pun-
 gency of the muitard remaining entire in the cake left after the expreflion.

                        SECT.   X.

                           Exsiccation.

      TH ERE are two general methods of exficcating or drying moift bo-
      dies ;  in  the one,  their humid parts are exhaled by heat : in  the
  Other they are imbibed or abforbed by fubftances, whofe foft and fpungy
  texture adapts  them  to that ufe.   Bodies intimaiely combined  with, or"
  diflblved in a fluid, as recent vegetablcsand theirjuices, require the firft:
  Such as are fuper£,,;'1K' mixed, as when earthy or indiflbluble  pow- 
 Io8             Elements of Pharmacy.         Part.  I.

 ders are grounded with water, are commodioufly feparated from it by
 the fecond.
   Vegetables and their parts are ufually exficcated by the natural warmth
 of the air: the afliflance of a gentle artificial heat, may nevertbelefs, in
 general, be not only fafely, but advantageoufly  had recourfe to.   By a
 moderate fire, even the  more tender  flowers may be dried, in a little
 time, without any  confiderable  loSs, either of their odour or lively co-
 lour ; which would both be greatly injured or deftroyed by a more flow
 exticcation in the air   Some  plants indeed, particularly thofe of the a-
 crid kind, as horfe-radiih, fcurvy-grafs,  and arum, lofe their virtues by
 this procefs, however carefully performed ;  but far the greater number
 retain them unimpaired, and often improved.
   The thicker vegetable juices may be exficcated by the heat of the fun;
 or, where this is not fufficient, by that of a water-bath, or an oven mo-
 derately  warm.  The thinner juices may be gently boiled till they be-
 gin to thicken, and then treated as the foregoing.  This procefs, termed
 infpiffation or evaporation,  has been  fpokeu of already.  The juices of
 Some plants, as arum root,  briony  root, orris root, wild cucumbers, &c.
 feparate upon ftanding for fome time, into a thick part,  which falls to the
 bottom;  and a thin aqueous one, which fwims above it: this laft is to be
 poured off, and the firft exficcated by a gentle warmth. Preparations of
 this kind have been ufually called fecula ; that of  the  cucumber, to be
 fpoken of in its place, is the pnly one which pradice now retains.
   Indiflbluble bodies, mixed with  water into a thick confiftence, may be
 eafily freed from  the greateft part of it, by dropping them on a  chalk-
ftone, or  fome powdered chalk prefled into a fmooth mafs, which readily
 imbibes their humidity. Where the quantity of fluid is large, as in  the e-
 dulcoration of precipitates, it may be feparated by decantationorfiltration.
   We have obferved, that one of  the principal circumftances favouring
 fermentation, was a certain degree of moifture. Exficcation is therefore
 employed to diflipate humidity, and render vegetables thereby leSs liable
 to thoSe changes produced by a kind oSinSenfible Sermentation.

                      SECT.    XI.

                         Comminution.

    COMMINUTION is the bare redudion of folid coherent bodies into
     fmall particles or powder.  The methods of effeding this are va-
rious, according to the texture of the fubjed.
   Dry friable bodies, or fuch as are brittle and not very hard, and mix-
tares of thefe with fomewhat moid ones, are eafilypulverifed in a mortar.
   For very light,  dry fubftances, refins,  and the roots of tenaceous tex-
 ture,  the mortar  may in  fome cafes be  previoufly rubbed with a little"
 Sweet oil, or a few drops of oil  be  occafionally added :  this prevents the
finer powder of the firft from flying off, and the other from cohering un-
der the peftle. Camphor is commodioufly powdered by rubbing it with a
little redified fpirit of wine.
   Tough fubftances, as woods, the peels of oranges and lemons, &c. are
moft  conveniently rafped; and foft oily bodies, as nutmegs palled through
& grater.
                                                             The 
Chap.  III.            Comminution.                     109

  The comminution of the harder minerals, as calamine, cryftal, flint,
&c. is greatly facilitated by extinction ; that is, by heating them red-hot,
and quenching them in water : by repeating this  procefs  a few times,
moft of the hardftones become eafily pulverable.   This procefs, howe-
ver, is not to be applied to any of the alkaline or calcareous ftcncs ; left,
inftead of an infipid powder, we produce an acrimonious calx or lime.
  Some metals,  as tin,  though ftrongly cohering in their natural ftate,
prove extremely brittle when heated,  infomuch as to be eafily divided
into fmall particles by dextrous agitation.  Hence the officinal method of
pulverifing tin,  by melting it, and, at the inttant of its beginning to  re-
turn into  a ftate of folidity,  brifkly fhaking it in a wooden box.   The
comminution of metals,  in this manner, is termed by  the*metallurgifts
granulation.
  Onafimilar  principle, certain falts,  as nitre,  may  be  reduced into
powder in large quantity, by diflblvingthem in boiling water, fetting  the
folution over a moderate fire, and keeping the fait conltantly ftirring  du-
ring its exficcation, fo as to prevent its particles, disjoined by the fluid,
from re-uniting together into larger maffes.
  Powders are reduced to a great degree  of finenefs by triturating, or
rubbing them,  for a length of time, in a mortar.  Such as  are not diflb-
luble in water,  or injured by the admixture of that fluid, are moiftened
with it into the confiftence of a pafte, and levigated or ground  on a  flat
Smooth marble or iron plate ;  or where a large quantity is to be prepared
at a time, in mills made Sor that nSe.
   Comminution, though one  oS the moft Simple operations of pharmacy,
has, in many cafes, very confiderable effeds.   The refinous purgatives,
when finely triturated, are more eafily foluble in the animal fluids,  and
confequently prove more cathartic, and lefs irritating, than in their groff-
er ftate. Crude antimony, which, when reduced to a tolerably fine pow-
der, diScovers little medicinal virtue,  if levigated to a great degree of
fubtility,  proves a powerful medicine in  many chronical difcrders.
   By comminution, the heavieft bodies may be made to float in the light-
eft fluids*, for a longer or fhorter time,  according  to their greater or  lefs
degree of tenuity.  Hence we are  furnifhed with  an excellent criterion
of the finenefs of certain powders, and  a method of feparating the more
fubtile parts from the groffer,  diftinguifhed by the name elutriationt or
wafbin? over.
                                                           SECT.
  * Some attribute this effect to a diminution of the fpecific gravity of the body;
and, at the fame time, fuppofc the peculiar virtues of certain medicines, particularly
mercury, to  be in great meafure owing to their gravity.  If thefe hypothefis were
juft, it fhould follow, that the mercurial preparations, by being finally comminuted,
would Jofe proportionably of their efficacy ; and fo indeed mercurius dulri«, for in-
ftance, has been fuppofed to do.   But experience  fhow9, that this is far from being
the  cafe ;  and the comminution by no means leflens, but rather increafes, its power :
when reduced to a great degree of fubtility, it paffes readily into the habit, and ope-
rates, according to its quantity, as an alternative or a fialogogue ; whilft in a groffer
form,  it is apt to irritate the ftomach and bowels,  and run eff by  the inj&ftinct,
without being conveyed into the blood. 
no               Elements of Pharmacy.          Part  I.
                        SECT.  XII.

                           Fus-io n.

     FUSION is the redudion of folid bodies into a ftate of fluidity by fire.
      Almoft all natural fubftances, the pure earths and the folid parts of
 animals and vegetables excepted, melt in proper degrees of fire ;  fome in
 a very gentle heat,  whilft others require its utmoll violence.
   Turpentine, and other foft refinous fubftances, liquefy in a gentle
 warmth ; wax, pitch, fulphur, and the mineral bitumens, require a heat
 too great for the hand to fupport; fixed alkaline Salts, common Salt, nitre,
 require a red, or almoft white, heat to melt them; andglaSs, a Still white
 heat
   Among metallic Subftances, tin, biSmuth, and lead, flow long before
 ignition:  antimony likewife melts before it is vilibly red-hot, but not
 before the veffel is confiderably fo : the regulus of antimony demands a
 much ftroBger fire.   Zinc begins to melt in a red heat; gold and filver
 require a low white heat; copper, a bright white heat;  and iron, an
 extreme white heat.
   One body, rendered fluid by heat, becomes fometimes  a menftruum for
 another, not fufible of itfelf in the fame degree of fire.   Thus red-hot
 filver melts on being thrown into melted lead lefs hot than itfelf: and
 thus if fteel, heated to whitenefs, be taken out of the furnace, and applied
 to a roll of fulphur, the fulphur, inftantly liquefying, occafions the fteel to
 melt with it; hence the chalybs cum fulphur e of the fhops. This concrete,
 neverthelefs, remarkably impedes the fufion of fome other metals, as
 lead ;  which when united with a certain quantity of fulphur is fcarce to
 be perfedly melted by a very ftrong fire.  Hence the method, defcribed
 in its place, of purifying zinc ; a metal upon which fulphur has no effed
 from the lead fo frequently mixed with it.
  Sulphur is the only unmetallic fubftance which mingles in fufion with
 metals.  Earthy, faline,  and other like matters,  even  the calces and
 glafTes prepared from metals themfelves,  float diftind upon the Surface,
 and form what iscalledyW/rf or drofs. Where the quantity of this is large
 in proportion to the metal, it is  moft commodioufly feparated by pour-
ing the whole into a conical mould ; the pure metal or regulus, though
 fmall in quantity, occupies a confiderable height in the lower narrow part
of the cone ;  and when congealed, may be eafily  Sreed Srom the Scoriae
by a hammer. The mould fhould be previously greafed, or  rather fmok-
ed, to make  the metal come freely out;  and thoroughly dried and heat-
ed, to prevent the explofion  which fometimes happens from the fudden
contad of melted metals with moift bodies.
SECT. 
Chap.  III.            Calcination.                     Ill


                       SECT    XIII.

                         Calcination.

    BY calcination is underflood the redudion of folid bodies, by the means
    of fire, from acoherent to a powdery ftate, accompanied with a change
of their quality; in which laft refped this procefs differs from comminution.
  To this  head belong  the burning of vegetable and animal matters,
otherwiSe called uftion, incineration, or concremation ; and the change of
metals into a powder, which in the fire either does not melt,  or vitrifies,
that is, run into glaSs.
  The metals which melt before ignition, are calcined by keeping thern
in fufion for fome time.  The free admiffion of air is effentially neceffary
to the fuccefs of this operation;  and hence when the furface of the me-
tal appears covered with calx, this muft be taken off or raked to one fide,
otherwiSe the remainder excluded Srom  the air will not  undergo the
change intended.   IS any coal, or other inflammable matter which does
not contain a mineral acid, be Suffered to Sail into the  veflel, the effed
expeded from this operation will not  be  produced, and part of what is
already calcined will be revived or reduced; that is, it will return into
its metallic form again.
   Thofe metals which  require a ftrong  fire for fufion,  calcine with a
much lefs heat  than is fufficient to make them flow. Hence the burning
or fcorification of fuch iron or copper veflels as are long expofed to a con-
siderable fire without defence from the air.  Gold and filver arenotcal-
cinable by any  degree of fire.
   In calcination, the metals vifibly emit Sumes ; nevertheless the weight
oS the calx proves greater than  that oS the metal employed.   The anti-
monial regulus  gains about one-eleventh part of its weight; zinc, fome-
times one-tenth ;  tin,  above one-Sixth;  and lead in its converfion into
minium, oSten  one-Sourth.
  The calcination oS metallic bodies, gold, filver, and mercury excepted,
is greatly promoted by nitre. This Salt expoSed to the fire in conjundion
with  any inflammable Subftances,  extricates their inflammable matter,
and burfts with it into flame, accompanied with a hilling noiSe.  This
proceSs is uSually termed deflagration or detonation.
  All the metallic calces and Scoriae are revived into their metallic ftate
by Sufion with any vegetable or animal inflammable matter.   They arc
all more  difficult of fufion than  the refpedive metals themfclves; and
Scarcely any of them, thofe of lead and  bifmuth excepted,  can be made to
melt at all without fome addition, in the ftrongeft fire that can be produced
in the common  furnaces.  The additions called fluxes, employed Sorpro-
moting the fufion, confift chiefly oS fixed alkaline Salts.  A mixture of  al-
kaline Salt with inflammable matter, as  powdered charcoal, is called a
reducing flux, as contributing at the Same timeto bring thecalxintoSufioiij
and to revive it into metal. Such a mixture is commonly prepared from
one part of nitre and two parts of tartar, by grinding them well together,
Setting the powders on fire with a bit of coal or a red-hot  iron, then co-
vering the veflel,  and  fuffering them to  deflagrate or burn till they are
changed into a  black alkaline coaly mafs.  This is the common reducing 
 112              Elements of Pharmacy.         Part. I.

flnxof the chemifts, and is called from its colour the black flux.  Metallic
calces or fcoriae, mingled with twice their weight of this compound, and
expofed to a proper fire inaclofe covered crucible, melt and refume their
metallic form ; but though  they received an increafe of weigh tin the cal-
cination, the revived metal is always found to weigh confiderably left
than the quantity from which the calx was made.
PART 
PART    II.
MATERIA    MEDICA.
    UNDER the Materia Medica, put in contradiftindion to preparations
     and compofitions, are comprehended not only thofe fimple fubftances
employed as medicines which are furnifhed by nature, but likewife many
of thofe articles which are the produd of art.   To tbis head have been
referred moft of thofe articles which the apothecary cannot with advan-
tage prepare for himfelf, but which it will be more for his intereft  to
purchafe from thofe who prepare them as articles of commerce.
   Much pains have been beflowed by the writers on the materia medica, in
attempting to form ufeful arrangements  of thefe articles. Some have ar-
ranged them according to their natural affinities: others according to
their adive conftituent parts; and a third fet, according to their real  or
fuppofed virtues : and  it muft be allowed, that fome of thefe arrange-
ments are not without confiderable uSe, as throwinglight upon the nature
and qualities oS particular articles; but no arrangement has yet been pro-
pofed which is not liable to numerous objedions.  Accordingly, in the
Pharmacopoeias publifhed by the Colleges of Phyficians both oS London
and Edinburgh,  the articles of the materia medica are arranged in al-
phabetical order; and the Same plan is now alSo adopted hi almoft every
Pharmacopoeia of much eftimation lately  publifiied on  the continent  of
Europe.  This plan, therefore,  we fhall here follow ;  fubjoining to the
name of each article which we think ought to enter fuch  a lift, a fhort
view of its natural, medical, and pharmaceutical hiftory.   But to con-
join with this the advantages of other methods to the hiftory of the ma-
teria medica  given in alphabetical order, we fhall  add fome of thofe ar-
rangements which feem to us to  be the moft ufeful, particularly thofe  of
Dr Murray of G^ettingen, and of Drs Cullen and Duncan of Edinburgh.
H
BEL- 
H4'                Materia .

  ABELMOSCHUS \_Brun.~] Se-
viina.
  Hibifcus abelmofchus  Linnai.
  Mufk feed.
  Thefe feeds are the produd of a
plant  indigenous in Egypt, and  in
many parts both of the Eaft and
Weft Indies.   They are of a fmall
fize and reniform fhape ; they are
very remarkable from  poffefling a
peculiar and very fragrant  odour ;
the fmell which they give  out may
be compared to that of mufk and
amber conjoined :  thofe  brought
from  the ifland of Martinico are ge-
nerally efteemed the moft  odorous,
but we have feen fome  the  produd
of hot-houfes in Britain, which, in
point of flavour, feemed not inferior
to any imported from abroad.
   Thefe feeds, although introduced
into fome of the foreign pharmaco-
poeias, have hitherto been ufed prin-
cipally, if not only, as a perfume ;
and as their medical  powers ftill
remain to be ascertained,  it is per-
haps with propriety that hitherto no
place has been given them in the  lift
either of the London or Edinburgh
Colleges. But their peculiar flavour,
as  well as other fenfible qualities,
point them out as a Subjed well de-
Serving a particular inveftigation.

   ABIES \Gen.~\ Summitates, coni.
   Pinus abies <fr pinuspicea Lin.
   The common and the Scotch  fir.
   TheSe are large evergreen trees,
frequent in northern climates. Tho'
 they have now  no place  either in
 the London or Edinburgh Pharma-
 copoeias, yet they ftand in Several of
 the foreign ones, and are employed
 for different purpofes in medicine.
 They are indigenous in Some parts of
 Britain, but are chiefly to be met
 with as planted in the fields, where
 they grow  with great luxuriance.
 From thefe trees, in different parts
 of Germauy, the Strafburgh turpen-
 tine is extraded. The branches and
Medica.             Part II.

the fruit, or cones, gathered about
the  end of autumn, abound with a"
refinous matter, and yield, on diftil-
lation, their effential oil, and a li-
quor impregnated with a peculiar
acid. It has accordingly by fome been
ftyled acidum abietis; and when ad-
ded to water, is thought to commu-
nicate to it both the tafte and other
properties of tar-water.  The aci-
dum abietis was frequently prefcri-
bed  by the late Dr Hope in the Roy-
al Infirmary of  Edinburgh;  and
he thought that he found good ef-
feds from  it in fome inftances of
obftinate coughs,  particularly in
thofecafes of chronic catarrh, which
are  often benefited  by diuretics.
The wood and tops of the fir-tree
 are  fometimes employed under the
 form of decodion or infufion> with
 the  view of promoting  urine and
 Sweat; and thefe formulae have been
 thoaght Serviceable in healing  in-
 ternal ulcerations, particularly thofe
 of the urinary paflages.
   Infufions of  the  fpruce-fir are
 much employed in Canada, with a
 view both to  the prevention  and
 cure of genuine fcorbutus.  And we
 are told, that with thefe intentions
 they were found beneficial in the
 Britifh army at Bofton,  when  the
 fcurvy prevailed among  them in an
 alarming degree.

   ABROTONUM[LoW.]/Vi«7w.
   ABROTANUM [£</.] Herba.
    Artemifia abrotanum Lin.
    Southernwood.
     This is a fhrubby plant, clothed
 with very finely-divided leaves of a
 light-green colour.   The flowers,
 which are very fi^all and yellowifh,
 hang downwards, feveral together,
 from the middle of the  branches to
 the top. It is not like fome other fpe-
 cies of the artemifia indigenous in
 Britain;  but although  a native  of
 warm climates, it readily bears vicif-
 fuudesofours,and is eafily cultivated
                                in 
Part II.            Materia

in gardens; from thence alone it is
obtained when employed for medi-
cal purpofes; the leaves fall off eve-
ry winter, but the roots and ftalks
continue for many years.
  Southernwood has a ftrong fmell,
which, to moft people, is not difa-
greeable ; it has a pungent, bitter,
and fomewhat naufeous tafte. Thefe
qualities are very completely extrac-
ted  by redified fpirit, and the tinc-
ture thus  formed is of a beautiful
green colour.   They are lefs per-
fedly extraded by  watery liquors,
the infufion being of a light brown
colour.
  Southernwood, as well  as fome
other fpecies of  the fame genus,
particularly theabfinthium and fan-
tonicum, has been recommended as
an anthelmintic; and it has alSo been
Sometimes uSed as a ftimulant,  de-
tergent, and Sudorific.  It has like-
wise been employed externally in
diScutient and antiSceptic Somenta-
tions.  It  has alfo been ufed under
the form of lotion and ointment for
cutaneous eruptions, and for  pre-
venting the hair from falling off.
But although itftill retainsaplacein
the pharmacopoeias both of London
and Edinburgh, it  does not enter
any fixed formula in either of thefe
works, and is at prefent very little
employed in practice.

  ABSINTHIUM MARITIMUM
\Lond.~\ Cacumen.
  Artemifia maritifna Lin.
  Sea-wormwood ;  the tops.
  The leaves of fea-wormwood are
much fmaller than thofe  of the com-
mon, and hoary on  the upper fide
as well as the lower; the ftalks alfo
are  hoary all over.   It  grows wild
about fait marfhes,  and in  feveral
parts about the Sea-coafts.—In tafte
and Smell it is weaker and lefs un-
pleaSant than the common worm-
wood.  The tops of Sea-wormwood
formerly entered fome  of the com-
Medica.                  115

pound diftilled waters; bat they are
now  rejeded  from thefe, and arc
very little employed in pradice.

   ABSINTHIUM  VULGARE
\_Lond. Ed.~\ Folia.
   Summit at es  florentes.
   Artemifia abfinthium Lin.
   Common wormwood;  the leaves
and flowering  tops.
   The leaves of this fort of worm-
wood are divided into roundifh fcg-
ments, of a dull green colour above,
and whitifh underneath.   It grows
wild  in feveral  parts of  Britain ;
about London, large quantities are
cultivated for medicinal ufe:  it
flowers in Juneand July; and after
having ripened its feeds, dies down
to the ground, excepting a tuft of
the lower leaves,  which generally
abides the winter.
   Wormwood is  a ftrong bitter ;
and was formerly much ufed as Such,
againft  weakneSs oS  the ftomach,
and the like,  in medicated  wines
and ales; but its nSe with theSe in-
tentions  is exceptionable,  on ac-
count oS the ill relifh and offenfive
Smell with which it is accompanied.
TheSe it may be in part Sreed from
by keeping,  and totally  by  long
codion, the bitter remaining entire.
An extrad made by  boiling  the
leaves in a large quantity of water,
and  evaporating the liquor with a
ftrong fire, proves a  bitter  fuffici-
ently grateful, without any difguft-
ful flavour. This extrad, which had
formerly a place in the Edinburgh
pharmacopoeia, tho' rejeded from
thence,  is ftill retained in fome of
the beft foreign ones; but it is pro-
bably lefs adive  than the  ftrong
tindure now direded by the Edin-
burgh college.

   ACACIA VERA \Brun.~\
   Mimofa nil otic a Lin.
   Acacia is  the infpiffated juice of
the unripe fruit of a large tree, the
              H 2          fame 
116                 Materia

fame which produces the gum ara-
ble.
   This juice is brought to us from
E^ypt, in  roundifh maffes,  wrapt
up  in  thin  bladders.   It is out-
wardly of a deep brown colour, in-
clining to black; inw.trdlyofared-
difh or yellowifh brown ; of a firm
confiftence, b it not very dry.  It
foon fattens in the mouth, and dis-
covers a rough, not  difagreeable
tafte, which is followed by a Sweet-
ifh reliili. This  inSpifTattd juice en-
tirely diflblves in watery  liquors  ;
but is  Scarce Senfibly aded  on  by
rectified Spirit.
  Acacia is a mild aftringent me-
dicine.   The Egyptians  give it in
Spitting oS  blood, to the  quantity
oSa dram,  diflblved in any conve-
nient liquor ;  and repeat this doSe
occafionally: they likewiSe employ
it in collyria for Strengthening the
eyes, and  in gargariSms Sor qnin-
feys. Among us it is little uSed, and
is  rarely  met  with  in the  thops.
What  is uSually Sold for the Egyp-
tian acacia, is the infpiffated juice of
unripe floes: this is harder,  heavi-
er,of a darker colour, and fomewhat
fharper tafte, than the true fort.  In
feveral pharmacopoeias,  as  in the
Suecica and Genevenfis, this article
has a place under the title of Acacia
Noftras.

  ACETOSA \Lond.Ed.~] Folium.
  Rumex Ace t of a Lin.
  Sorrel  ;  the leaf.
  Sorrel  grows wild in  fields and
meadows throughout England. The
leaves have areftringent acid tafte,
without any fmell or particular fla-
vour :  their medical effeds  are, to
cool,  quench third, and promote
the urinary diScharge : a decodion
of them in  whey affords  an ufeful
and agreeable drink in febrile or in-
flammatory diforders : and is re-
commended by Boerhaave to be ufed
in the fpring as one of the moft  ef-
ficacious  aperients and detergents.
Medica.              Part. It

 Some kinds of fcurvies have yielded
 to the continued uSe  of  this medi-
 cine:, the  Greenlanders, who are
 very fubjed to this diftemper,  are
 Slid to^employ, with  good  SucceSs,
 a mixture of the juicesof forrel and
 ef fcurvygrafs.
   The roots of forrel have a bitter-
 iih auftere tafte, without any acidi-
 ty : they are faid to be  deobftrucnt
 and diuretic. They had formerly a
 place in the  Edinburgh pharmaco-
 poeia, but are  now rejeded from it.
 They are ftill, however, retained in
 the pharmacopoeiaSuecica,and fome
 other of the beft foreign ones ;  but
 they  have little other  effed than
 that of giving a reddifh colour to the
 articles with which  they are com-
 bined.
   The feeds of this plant werefor-
 merly ufed in diarrhoeas and dyfen-
 teries ; but have long  been ftran-
 gers to the fhops, and are now jutl-
 ly expunged both from the  London
 and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias, and
 indeed from  moft  of the  foreign
 ones.  They  have no  remarkable
 fmell, and Scarcely any  tafte.

   ACETUM VINI \_Ed.i
   Vinegar : an acid produced from
 f erm ented vinous liquors by a Second
 fermentation.
   Wine vinegar is confiderably pn-'
 rer than that prepared Srom malt li-
 quors ; the latter, however  acid and
 fine,  contains a large portion of  a
 vifcous mucilaginous fubftance ; as
 is evident from the ropinefs and fli-
 minefs which this kind of vinegar
 is very much  fubjed to; the ftrong-
 er and  more fpirituous the wine,
 the better and ftronger vinegar  it
 yields.  The  French vinegars are
 faid by  Geoffrey to  faturate above
 one thirty-fifth of their weight of
 fixed alkaline fait, and fome of them
 no lefs than one-twelfth ;  the beft
 of the German vinegars little more
 than one-fortieth.
   Vinegar is a medicine of excel-
                             lent 
 Part IL              Materia Medica.                 117

 lent ufe in 3ll kinds of inflammatory  cal palfy and  rheumatifm. Diluted
 and putrid diforders either internal  with water,it (hews confiderableac-
 or external; in ardent, bilious ft-  tion on the human calculus out of
 Vers, peftilentiifl and other malig-  the body;  and therefore has been
 nam diftempers, it is recommended  propofed internally  in that difeafe,
 by Boerhaave as one of  the  moft  particularly where furgical operation
 certain fudorifics. Weaknefs, faint-  is improper. As checking fermenta-
 ing, vomiting, hiccup,hylterical and  tion, as well as being aftringent and
 hypochondriacal complaints,  have  tonic,  it is much uied in morbid aci-
 bcen frequently relieved by vinegar  dity, relaxation,  and weaknefs of
 applied to the mouth and nofe,  or  the ftomach. Its  effeds are propa-
 received into the ftomach.   It has  gated over the fyftem; and henceits
 been ufed internally in rabies canina.  eflablilhcd  ufe in paflive hasmor-
 It  is often ufcfally employed as a  rhagics, gleets,  and fevers of the
 powerful  menftruum for extrading  typhous kind. It  is alio ufed intcr-
 the virtues of other articles.         nally  in  itch and other chronical
                                   eruptions ; and when given to nnrfes
   ACIDUM VITRIOLICUM.     having the itch, it is faid to cure
 \Lond. Ed.'].                       both themfelves and their children.
   Vitriolic acid.                   As combined with ardent fpirit,
   This is inferted in  the  Materia  with different metallic  fubftances,
 Medica on account of its being ge-  &c.  it enters feveral articles after-
 nerally made not by the  apothe-  wards  to be mentioned.
 cary,  but by the trading chemift,
 and moft commonly from  fulphur.     ACONITUM  [Lond.~\ Herba:
 The operation is faid to be perform-  \_Ed.~]  Folia
 ed in leaden veffels, fometimes 20    Aconitum napellus Lin.
 feet high audio broad;  with an    Largeblue Wolfsbane,orMonkf-
 eighth-partof nitre to fupply the ab-   hood ; the herb and leaves.
 fence of ihe external air, and fome     Thisisaperennialplant,growing
 water to condenfe the fleams.  It is   naturally  in various mountainous
 concentrated and confiderably pu-  parts of Europe.  The juice has a
 rified by evaporation.  It  is  then  difagreeable fmell and an acid tafte,
 colourlcfs, without fmell, extremely  becoming lefs acrid on infpiflation.
 corrofive, very fixed, the mofl pon-  It has long  been confidered as one
 derousof all unmetallic fluids. Its  of the moft adive  oS  the vegetable
 fpecific gravity in its true ftate, ac-  poiSons,and when  taken to any con-
 cording to the  London  College,  liderable extent,  it occafions fick-
 fliould be to that oS diftilled water  neSs at  ftomach, vomiting,purging,
 as 1.850 to 1.000.  It is powerful-  vertigo,  delirium,  fainting, cold
 ly attradive of water from the air,  Sweats, convulfions, and even death.
 and in uniting with water prodnces  Dr Stoerk of Vienna was probably
 a ^reat degree of heat. It.poffefles  the firft who employed it for medi-
 the general propertiesof acids in an  cal purpofes; and he recommended
 eminent decree.                   it to the attention  of other pradi-
   On account of its fluidity,  it is  tioners,  in  a treatife publifhed  in
 not ufed  as a corrofive.  Blended  1762.  He  reprefents it as a very
wi:h unduous matter in the propor-  effedual remedy in glandular Swel-
tionof one to eight, it is applied in  lings venereal  nodes, auchyiofis,
itch  and  other   chronic eruptions,  Spina ventoSa, itch, amaurosis, gouty
and likewife as a rubefacient in lo-  and rheumatic  pains, intermittent
                                               II 3        fevers 
118                  Materia Medica.            Part. IL
fevers, and  convulfive diforders.
Stoerk's formula was two grains of
the infpiffated juice rubbed down
with two drams of fugar.   He be-
gan with ten grains of this powder
night and morning, and increafed it
gradually to fix grains of the infpif-
fated juice twice a day. Others have
ufed a  tindure made of one part of
the dry leaf,  and fix parts of fpirit
of wine, in the dofe oS forty drops.
But although  the aconitum has now
a place in the Pharmacopoeias both
of the London and  Edinburgh Col-
leges,  and likewife in moft of the
other modern Pharmacopoeias, yet
it has by no means anfwered thofe
expedations which might have been
formed from  Dr Stoerk's account.
It is, however, nnqeftionably a very
adive, and, in fome cafes an ufeful
article.

  ACORUS,vide Calamus aro-
maticus.

  iERUGO [Ed.] Verdegris.
  This is a preparation of copper,
made  chiefly  at  Montpelier in
France, by ftratifying copperplates
with grape ftalks  that have been
impregnated  with a fermented ve-
getable acid :  in a  few days, the
plates are found covered with a pale
green downy  matter, which  isfcra-
ped off from  the  copper, and the
procefs again repeated. The appel-
lation therefore of  Cuprum Aceta-
tum beflowed upon it by fome, gives
a proper idea of its condiment parts.
  Verdegris, as it  comes to us, is
generally mingled with ftalks of the
grape ; they may  be feparated, in
pulverization, by difcontinuing the
operation,  as  foon as what remains
feems to be almoft entirely compof-
ed of them.
  Verdegris is rarely or never ufed
internally.   Some  writers  highly
extol it as an emetic,  and fay, that
a grain or two being taken ads as
 foon as received into the ftomach;
 but  its ufe has been too often fol-
 lowed by dangerous confequences
 to allow of its employment.   Ver-
 degris applied externally, proves a
 gentle detergent and efcharotic, and
 ferves to uke  down fungous flefh
 arifing in wounds.  With thefe in-
 tentions it is an ingredient in differ-
 ent  officinal compofitions, particu-
 larly in the aqua, fapphar, et ung.
 ex acrug.

   ADEPS  SUILLA  [Lend.]
 Axungia porcina \_Ed.~]
   Hogs-lard.
   In hogs-lard we have  a very
 pure animal fat, almoft entirely free
 from any peculiar impregRation,and
 of a foft confiftence. Hence it is a
 very  ufeful emolient for relaxing
 thofe parts to which it  is applied ;
 and it is alfo a very convenient ar-
 ticle for giving the proper confift-
 ence to ointments, plafters, and linj-
 ments.  Indeed this and the fevum
 ovillum or mutton-Suet, are the only
 fats now retained by the London
 and Edinburgh Colleges, although
 formerly more than twenty different
 fats entered Some lifts oS the materia
 medica.  Each particular fat was
 then  fuppofed  to poffefs  peculiar
 properties;  but for this  there is
 probably no foundation : even thefe
 retained are now lefs employed than
 before, as it has beenimagined that
 a proper confiftence of any  kind
 may  be more certainly obtained by
 determined proportions of wax and
oil; but as thefe articles are more
 expenfive, hogs-lard and mutton-
 fuet are often fubftituted for them
 by the apothecaries.

   AGARICUS [Rofs,-]
   Boletus p'oii laricis Lin.
   Agaric:  a fungus growing on
 old larch trees.
   This fungus is an irregular Spon-
 gy fubftance, extreme'/"light, and
                              of 
Part II.              Materia Medica.                  119

of an uniform fnowywhitenefs, (ex-  fometimes  brought into  the fhops
ccpt the cortical part, which is ufu-  mixt  with  true  agaric of  the
ally taken off before the agaric is  larch :  from this it  is eafy diftin-
brought into the fhops).  It cuts  guifhable by  its  greater weight,
freely with a knife, without difco-  dufky colour and mucilaginous tafia
veringanyhardnefsorgrittinefs,and  void of bitternefs.  The  medullary
readily crumbles betwixt the fingers  part of this fungus, beaten foft, and
into a powder.  It has no remark-  applied externally, has been much
able fmell; its tafte is at firft fweet-  celebrated as a Styptic; and faid to
ifh, but  on chewing for  a  fhort  reftrain not only  venal but arterial
time,  it proves acrid,  bitter and  haemorrhagies,  without  the ufe of
naufeous.                         ligatures. It does not appear, how-
  Agaric   was formerly in great  ever, to have any real fly ptic power,
efteem as a cathartic, but the prefent or to ad  any otherwife than dry
pradice has almoft entirely rejeded  lint, fponge,  or other foft fungous
its  ufe.   It is now rejeded both by  applications.
the London and Edinburgh Col-
leges,  but it ftill retains  a place in    AGNUS CASTUS \_Brun.] Se-
moft of the new foreign  Pharmaco-  men.
poeias.  It operates exceeding flow-    Vitex agnus caftusLin.
]y, infomuch that fome have denied    The chafte tree;  its feceds.
it to have  any purgative virtue at    This is  a  Small tree, or rather
all. Given in Subftance, it almoft  fhrub, growing Spontancoufly in Ita-
always occafions  a nauSea, not un-  ly,  &c. and  raiSed  with us in gar-
frecpjently vomiting, and fometimes  dens.  Its fruit, which is about the
exceflive  tormina of the bowels;  fize of a pepper-corn, contains four
thefe  effeds  are attributed to its  longifh feeds, which are faid to be
light farinaceous matter adhering to  of an aromatic fmell, and an acrid
the coats of the inteftines, and pro-  bitteriih tafte, but which are found
ducing a conftant irritation.  The  on examination to be almoft inodo-
beft preparation of agaric feems to  rous and infipid. Thefe  Seeds have
be an extrad made with water,  in  been celebrated as antiphrodifiacs,
which fixt alkaline falthasbeen diS-  andwerc formerly much  ufed by the
Solved; or with vinegar or wine: the  monks for allaying the venereal ap-
firft is Said by Boulduc, and the two  petite;  but  experience does  not
latter by Newmann, to prove an ef-  warrant their having any Such vir-
fedual and Safe purgative. Never-  tues.
 thelefs,  this is at beft a  precarious
 medicine,  of which we ftand in no    AGRIMONIA  \_Rofs.] Herba.
 manner of need.                     Jgrimonia eupatoria Lin.
                                    Agrimony; the plant.
     AGARICUS  CHIRURGO-    This is a common plant in hedges
 RUM:  \_Ed.~\                    and the borders of fields. The leaves
    Boletus igniarius Lin.           have an herbaceous, fomewhat acrid
    Female  agaric, or agaric of  the  roughifh tafte, accompanied with an
 oak, called, from its being very ea-  aromatic flavour.   Agrimony  was
 fily inflammable, Touchwood,  or  fuppofed to be aperient, detergent,
 Spunk.                           and to ftrengthen  the tone of the
   This  fungus is  frequently met  vifcera:  hence it has been recom-
 with, on different kindsof trees, in  mended in fcorbutic  diforders, in de-
 EiJ«-land ;  and is faid to have been  bility and laxity of the inteftines, &c.
    b                                            H 4       Digefted 
 Digcfted in whey, it affords a diet-
 drink,  not ungrateful to the palate
 or ftomach, which  is ufed by Some
 in the Spring.  But it is very little
 employed by regular praditioners,
 it hardly enters the fhops of the  a-
 pothecaries, and has no plajce in the
 lift either of the London or Edin-
 burgh Colleges.

   ALCHEMILLA \Brun.~\ Folia.
   Arche?nilla vulgaris Lin.
   Ladies mantle ;  the leaves.
   This grows wild in many parts of
 England, but is rarely met with  a-
 bout London : the leaves feem as if
 plaited or folded together, fo as to
 have given occafion to the Englifh
 name of the plant.   The leaves  of
 alchemilla difcover to the tafte a mo-
 derate aftringency, and were for-
 merlymuch efteemed in fome female
 weaknefles and in fluxes of the belly.
 They  are now rarely made ufe of;
 though both the leaves and roots
 might doubtlefs be of fervice in cafes
 where mild aftringents are required.

   ALKEKENGI \_Brun]. Baccx.
   Phyfalis alkeke?igiLin.
   Winter cherry ;  the  berries.
   This is a low, branched flirub,
 bearing leaves like thofe of night-
 fhade ; with white  flowers, which
 ftand  fingle at  the joints.    The
 flower-cup changes into a membra-
 nous cover, which  at length burfts
 and difcovers  a  fruit of a fine red
.colour, about the fize of a common
 cherry.   The fruit ripens in Odo-
 ber, and continues frequently to the
 middle of December.   This plant
 grows wild in fome  parts of France,
 Germany, &c. the beauty and late-
 nefs of its  fruit have  gained it  a
 place in our gardens.
   Winter cherries  have in general
 been reprefented by moft writers to
 be extremely bitter: but, as Haller
 juftly obfervcs, the cherry itfelf,  if
Materia- Medica.
PartIL
carefully  freed from  the  cover
(which is very bitter and pungent),
has merely a fubacid tafte.  They
were formerly highly recommended
as detergent, aperient, diuretic, and
for expelling gravel;  four, five, or
moreof the cherries are direded for
a dofe, or an ounce of the expreffed
juice.  Mr Ray tells us of a gouty
perfon who was cured and kept free
from returns of his diforder,  by ta-
king eight of thefe cherries at each
change of the moon  ; thefe occa-
sioned  a copious difcharge of ex-
tremely fetid urine.
  They have not, however, fupport-
ed this charader with others; info-
much  that they have now no place
either in the London or Edinburgh
Pharmacpoeias, and are very little
employed by anyBritifhpraditioner.

  ALLIARIA [Brun^ Merbw..
  Eryfirnum alliaria Lin.     .. i
  Sauce  alone,  or  jack-by-the-
hedge; the plant.
  This is common in hedges;and
fhady wafte-places, flowering.inMay
and June.   The leaves have a bit-
ter ifh acid tafte; and, when rubhed
between the fingers,  emit a  ftrong
fmell, approaching to that of garlick.
They have been recommended inter-
nally as fudorifics and  deobftrneriis,
fomewhat of the nature of garlick,
but much milder; and externally as
antifeptics in gangrenes and cancer-
ous ulcers. Hildanusufed to gather
the herb for thefe laft purpofes in the
fpring, and  expofe it Sor a day to the
adion of a dry air in a fhady place ;
being then committed to the prefs,
it yielded a juice poffefling the fmell
and tafte of the alliaria; this, he in-
forms us,  with a little oil on the fur-
face, keeps in perfedion for years;
whereas the herb in fubftance foon
lofes its virtue in keeping. At pre-
fent they are very little employed
either in medicine or furgerv.
                       ALLIUM 
 Part II.             Materia


  . ALLIUM \Lond. Ed.] radix.
   ■ jilliutn fativum Lin.
   Garlick; the root.
   Thefe roots are of the bulbous
 kind,  of an irregularly roundifh
 ihape,  with feveral  fibres  at the
 bottom: each root is compofed of a
 number of leffer bulbs, called cloves
 of garlick, indofed in one common
 membranous coat, and eafily Separa-
 ble from each other.   All the parts
 of this plant, but moreefpecially the
 roots, have a ftrong offenfive fmell,
 and  an acrimonious almoft cauftic
 tafte.  The root applied to the fkin
 inflames, and often exulccratesthe
-part.   Its fmell is extremely pene-
 tratingand diffufive; when the root
 is applied to the feet, its Scent is Soon
 discoverable  in  the breath;  and
 when taken internally,  its Smell is
 communicated to the urine, or the
 matter  of  an iffue, and perfpires
 through the pores of the fkin.
   This pungent root warms and
 ftimnlates the folids, and attenuates
• tenacious juices.  Hence,  in cold
 leucophlegmatic habits, it proves a
 powerful expedorant, diuretic; and,
 if the patient be kept warm, fudori-
 fic; it has alfo been by fome fuppofed
 tobeemmenagogue.  In catarrhoas
 diforders of the breaft, flatulent co-
 lics, hyfterical, and  other difeafes
 proceeding from laxity of the folids,
 it has generally good effeds: it has
 likewife been found  Serviceable in
 fome hydropic cafes.  Sydenham re-
 lates, that he has known the dropSy
 cured by the uSe of garlick alone ;
 he recommends it chiefly as a warm
 Strengthening medicine in  the be-
 ginning of the diSeafe.
   Garlick is with SomealSoa  Savour-
 ite remedy  in the cure of intermit-
 tents : a>id it has been faid  to have
 fometimes Succeeded  in obftinate
 quartans, aSter  the Peruvian bark
 h»d failed, particularly when taken
 to the extent of  one or two cloves
Medica.                  \%i

daily in a glafs of brandy or other
fpirits.
  The liberal ufe of garlick is apt
to occafion  headachs, flatulencies,
third, febrile heats, inflammatory
diftempers, and Sometimes diSchar-
ches of blood from the hemorrhoi-
dal veflels.   la hot bilious confuta-
tions, where there is already a de-
gree of irritation, and where there
is reafon to Sniped an unfound ftate
of the vifcera, this flimulating medi-
cine is manifeftly improper, and ne-
ver fails to aggravate the diftemper.
  The moft  commodious form for
taking garlick, a medicine to moft
people not a  little unpleafant,  is
that of a bolus or pill.  Infufions
in fpirit, wine, vinegar, and  water,
although containing the Wholeof its
virtues, are fo acrimonious, as to be
unfit for general ufe.   A Syrup and
oxymel of it were formerly kept in
the fhops; but it docs not now enter
any  officinal  preparation   in our
pharmacopoeias; and  it  is  proper
that even the pills fnould always be
an  extemporaneous prescription, as
they fuifer much from keeping.
   Garlick  mark into  an ointment
with oils, &c. and applied  exter-
nally, is faid toreSoive and  diScuSs
cold tumours, and has been by Some
greatly efteemed in cutaneous diS-
eaSes.  It has likewiSe Sometimes
been employed asart-pellient.When
applied under the form of a poultice
to the pubis, it has fometimes prov-
ed effedual in producing a difcharge
of urine, when retention has arifen
from  a want-of due adion of the
bladder: and fome have recommend-
ed, in certain cafes of deatnefs, the
introdudionof a fingle clove, wrapt
in thin mullin or gauze, into the
meatus auditorhis..   Sydenham  af-
fures us, that among all the Snbltah-
ci.s which occafion a derivation or
rcvuiiion Srom the head, none ope-
rates more powerfully then garlick
applied to the Soles of the feet: hence 
 i %%                  Materia

he was led to make ufe of it in the
confluent fmall pox; about the eight
day after the face began to fwell,
the root cut in pieces, and tied in a
linen cloth, was applied to the foles,
and renewed once a-day till all dan-
ger was over.

  ALNUS [Rofs.] Folia.
  Betula alnus Lin.
  The leaves and bark of the alder
tree.
  Thefe have a bitter ftyptic  difa-
greeable tafte. The bark is recom-
mended by  fome in intermittent fe-
vers ; and a decodion of it, in gar-
garifms,  for inflammations of the
tonfils;  but it is little employed in
modern pradice.

  ALOE [Lond. Ed.]
  Aloe perfoliata Lin.
  Aloes.
  Aloe is the.infpiffated juice of cer-
tain plants oS the Same name.   The
ancients diftinguifhed two forts of
aloes:  the one  was  pure and  of a
yellowifh colour inclining to a red,
refembling the colour of a liver, and
thence named hepatic;  the  other
was full  of impurities, and hence
fuppofed to be only the drofs of the
better  kind.  At prefent, various
forts are met with  in the fhops;
which are diftinguifhed either  from
the places from  whence they are
brought, from  the  fpecies of the
plants, or from fome differences in
the juices themfelves.  Three diffe-
rent kinds may be mentioned, al-
though two of them only have now
a place in our pharmacopoeias.

  (i) AloeSocotorina [Lond.
Ed.]
  Socotorine aloes.
  This article is brought from the
ifland Socotorain the Indian ocean,
wrapt in fkins;  it is obtained from
the Variety £ of aloe perfoliata Lin.
Medica.             Part II.

This fort is the purcft of the three:
it is of a gloffy furface, clear, and in
fome degree pellucid ; in the lump,
of a yellowifh  red  colour, with a
purple caft;  when reduced to pow-
der, of a bright golden colour.  It
is hard and  friable in the winter,
fomewhat pliable in Summer, and
grows Soft betwixt the fingers.   Its
tafte is bitter, accompanied with an
aromatic flavour,  but infufficient to
prevent its being difagreeable; the
fmell  is not very unpleafant, and
fomewhat refembles that of myrrh.

  (2)Ai.oeBarbadensis[Z,o«</.]
HEPATICA [Ed.]
  Barbadoes, or hepatic aloes.
  Hepatic aloes is not fo clear and
bright as the foregoing fort: it is
alfo of a darker colour, more corn-
pad texture, and for the moft part
drier.  Its fmell is much ftronger
and more difagreeable : the tafte in-
tenfely bitter and naufeous, within^
tie or  nothing of the fine aromatic
flavour of the Socotorine.  The beft
hepatic aloes comes from Barbadoes
in large geurd fhells; an inferior fort
of it (which is generally  foft and
clammy) is brought over in cafks.

  (3) Aloe caballina.
  Fetid, caballine, or horfe aloes.
  This fort  is eafily  diftinguifhed
from  both  the foregoing,  by   its
ftrong rank  fmell;  altho' in other
refpeds; it agrees pretty much with
the hepatic, and is not unfrequently
fold in its ftead. Sometimes the ca-
balline aloes is prepared So pure and
bright, as not to be diftinguifhable
by the eye even Srom the Socotorine;
but its offenfive fmell,  of which it
cannot be divefted,  readily betrays
it. It has not now a place in the lift of
almoft any modern pharmacopoeia,
and is employedchiefly by  farriers.
  All the  forts of aloes diflblve in
pure fpirit,  proof fpirit, and proof
                           fpirit 
Part. II.
Materia Medica.
123
fpirit diluted with half its weight of
water ;  the impurities only being
left. They diffolve alfo by the aflift-
ance of heat in water alone; but as
the liquor grows cold, the refinous
part fubfides, the gummy remaining
united with water.  The  hepatic
aloes is found to contain more refin
and  lefs gum than the Socotorine,
and  this than the caballine.  The
refins or all the forts, purified by
fpirit ofwine,havelittlefmell: that
obtained from  the Socotorine has
fcarce any perceptible tafte ; that of
the hepatic, a flight bitterifhrelifh;
and the  refin oS the caballine, alit-
tle more of the aloe tic flavour. The
gummy  extrads of all the forts are
lefs difagreeable than the crude a-
loes : the extrad of Socotorine aloes
has very little fmell, and is in tafte
not uoplcafant; that of the hepatic
has a fomewhat ftronger fmell,  but
is rather more agreeable in tafte
than the extrad of the Socotorine :
the gum of  the caballine  retains  a
confiderable  fhare of the peculiar
rank fmell of this fort of aloes,  but
its tafte is not much more  unplea-
fant than that of the extrads made
from the two other forts.
  Aloes is  a ftimulating cathartic
bitter: if given in fo large a dofe as
to purge effedually, it often occa-
fions an irritation  about the anus,
and fometimes a difcharge of blood.
Small dofes of it frequently repeat-
ed, not onlycleanfe theprimse viae,
but likewife warm the habit, quick-
en the circulation, and promote the
uterine  and  hemorrhoidal fluxes.
This medicine is  particularly Ser-
viceable in habitual coftivenefs, to
perfons  of a phlegmatic tempera-
ment and fedentary life, and where
the ftomach is opprefled and weak-
ened :  in dry bilious  habits  aloes
prove injurious, immoderately heat-
ing  the  body, and  inflaming the
bowels.
  The juice is likewife, on account
of its bitternefs, Sippofed  to kill
worms, either taken internally, or
applied  in.plafters to the umbilical
region.  It is alSo celebrated for re-
ftraining  external  hemorrhagies,
and cleanfing and healing wounds
and ulcers.
  The ancients gave aloes in much
larger  dofes than is cuftomary at
prefent.   Diofcorides orders half a
dram or a  dram forgently loofening
the belly ; and  three drams when
intended to have the full effed of a
cathartic.  But modern pradice rare-
ly exceeds a fcruple, and limits the
greateft dofe to two fcruples.  For
the common purpofes of this medi-
cine, ten  or twelve grains fuffice :
taken in  thefe or lefs quantities, ie
ads as  a  gentle  ftimulating ecco-
protic,  capable of removing, if duly
continued, very  obftinate obftruc-
tions.
  Aloes are much lefs frequently
ufed to operate as a purgative than
merely to obviate coftivenefs ; and
indeed their purgative effed is not
increafed  in proportion to the quan-
tity that is taken. Perhaps thechief
objedion  to aloes, in cafes of habi-
tual coftivenefs,  is the  tendency
which  they have to induce and aug-
ment hasmorrhoidal affedions. And
with thofe, liable to fuch complaints,
they can   feldom  be   employed.
Their purgative effed feems chiefly
to depend  on their proving a ftfiim-
lus  to the  redum.
  Some arc of opinion, that the pur-
gative  virtue of aloes refidesemire-
ly in its refin :  but experience has
fhown, that the pure refin has little
or no  purgative  quality ; and that
the gummy part Separated Srom the
refinous, ads more powerfully than
the crude  aloes. IS the aloesindced
be made to undergo long coelion in
the preparation  of the gummy ex-
trad, its cathartic power will be con-
fiderably lefTcned, not Srom the Se-
paration of the refin, but from nn al-
teration made in  the juice itfelf by
the hear.   The Strongest vegetable
                          cathar- 
124                 Materia

cathartics become mild by  a like
treatment, without any remarkable
Separation of their parts.
  Socotorine aloes,  as  already ob-
ferved, contain more gummy mat-
ter than the hepatic;  and hence are
likewife found to purge more, and
with greater irritation.  The firft
fort, therefore, is moft proper where
a-ftimulus is required, as for promo-
ting or exciting the menltrual flux;
whilft the latter is better calculated
to ad  as a common purge. It is fup-
pofed that the vulnerary and balfa-
mic virtuesof this juice refidechief-
ly in the refin ; and hence that the
hepatic aloes,  which  is moft refi-
nous,  is moft ferviceable in exter-
nal application.
   Aloes enter many of the officinal
preparations and compofitions, par-
ticularly different pills and tindures.
And  according to   the particular
purpofes for which  thefe are in-
tended,  fometimes the Barbadoes,
fometimes the Socotorine aloes, are
the moft proper.  But of  theSe we
fhall  aSterwards have occafion  to
fpeak.

   ALTHEA [Lond. Ed.]  Radix,
folium.
   Althea officinalis Lin.
   Marfli-mallows.   The leaf and
root.
   This plant grows wild in marfhes
and other moift  places, in Several
pirts  of England ; though fre-
quently cultivated for medicinal ufe
in gardens.  All the parts of it have
a flimy tafte, and abound with a foft
mucilaginous fubftance,  which  is
readily extraded by  water;  the
mucilage of the roots appears to Le
the ftrongeft ;  and hence  this part
is generally made uSe of in prefer-
ence to the  others.
   This plant has the general virtues
ofan emollient medicine, andproves
ferviceable where the natural mucus
of the inteftines  is abraded.  It :s
Medica.              Part if.

 chiefly recommended in  fharp de-
 fluxions upon the lungs, hoarfenefs,
 dySenteries, and likewiSe in nephri-
 tic and calculous complaints; not,
 as  Some have SuppoSed,  that this
 medicine has any peculiar power of
 diflblving or expelling the calculus;
 but as, by lubricating and relaxing
 the veflels, it procures a more free
 and eafy paflage.   Althaea root is
 fometimes employed externally for
 foftening and  maturating hard tu-
 mors : chewed,  it is  faid to give
 eafe  in  difficult  dentition of chil-
 dren.
   This root gave name to an offici-
 nal fyrup  [Lond. Ed.]   decoction
 [Ed.] -and oihiment [Lond.] and
 was  likewiSe an ingredient in  the
 compound  powder of gum  traga-
 canth and  the oil and plafter of mu-
 cilages [Lond.] though it does not
 appear to communicate any particu-
 lar virtue to the two loft,  its  muci-
 laginous matter not being diflbluble
 in oils.
   And of all thefe formulae the fy-
 rup alone is now retained.
   ALUMEN [Lond. Ed.]
   Alum.
   Alum is a Salt artificially produced
 from certain minerals, by calcining
 and expofing them to the air ; after
 which thealtimiselixated by means
 of water. The largeft quantities are
 prepared in England,  Germany,
 and Italy.
   This fait is of a white or pale red
 colour, of  an auftere ftyptic tafte,
 accompanied with a naufeous fweet-
 ifhnefs. It  diflblves in about twelve
 times its weight of water ; and con-
 cretes again, upon duly evaporating
 the folution, into femi-tranfparent
 cryftals, of an odagonal figure. Ex-
 pofed to  the fire, it  calily melts,
 bubbles up in blifters, emits a copi-
 ous phlegm,  and then turns into a
 light Spongy white mats, confidera-
 bly more acrid than  the alum  was at
 firft: thisurged with a ftronger fire,
                            yields 
 Pari; H.             Materia

 yields a Small quantity of acid fpi-
 rit, fimilar to that obtained by the
 fame means from vitriol ; the part
 which remains, if the heat has been
 Sufficiently intenfe and long conti-
 nued, is an infipid white earth, rea-
 dily foluble in every kind of acid.
   Solutions of alum coagulate milk,
 change the blue colour of vegetable
 juices  into  a red or purple, and
 turn an infufion of galls turbid and
 whitifh. Upon adding fixt alkaline
 falts to thefe folutions, the earth of
 the alum is precipitated, its acid u-
 niting with  the alkali into a neutral
 faline concrete fimilar to vitriolated
 tartar.
   Alum is a powerful aftringent: it
 is reckoned particularly ferviceable
 for reftraining hsemorrhagies, and
 immoderate  Secretions  from   the
 blood ; but  leSs  proper in inteftinal
 fluxes.  In violent hsemorrhagies, it
 may be given in dofes of fifteen or
 twenty grains, and repeated every
 hour  or half hour till the bleeding
 abates: in other cafes,SmallerdoSes
 are more adviSable ;  large ones be-
 ing apt to naufeate the ftomach, and
 occafion violent conftipations of the
 bowels.  It is ufed alfo externally,
 in aftringent and repellent lotions
 and collyria.  Burnt alum taken in-
 ternally has been highly extolled
 in cafes of colic.  In Such inftances,
 when taken to the extent oS a Scru-
 ple for a dofe, it has been faid gent-
 ly to move the belly, and give  very
 great  relief from the fevere pain.
   Its officinal preparations are, for
 internal ufe, pulvis ftypticus, and a-
 qua ftyptica  [Ed.] for external ap-
 plications, the aqua  aluminis, and
 coagulum aluminis [Lond.] and a-
lumenuftum [Lond. Ed.] which laft
 is no  other than the  alum dried by
fire, or freed from the watery moi-
fture, which, like other falts, it al-
ways retains in its cryftalline form.
 By this lofs of its water it becomes
Sharper, So as to ad as a  flight eS-
charotic; and it is chiefly with this
Medica.                   125

intention that it is employed in me-
dicine, being very rarely taken in-
ternally.

   AMBRAGRISEA [Dan.]
   Arnbra ambrofiaca Lin.
   Ambergris.
   Ambergris is a bituminous Snb-
ftance oS agreyifli or  afh colour,
intermingled  with yellowifh and
blackifh Specks or veins: it is ufually
met with in little opaque  rugged
maffes, very light, of a loofe texture,
friable in a certain degree like wax;
 they break  rough and uneven, and
not unfrequently  contain pieces of
Shells, bones of fifties, and other like
matters.   This concrete is  Sound
floating on the Surface of the Sea, or
thrown  out  upon  the  fhorcs ;  the
greateft quantities are met with  in
the Indian ocean ; pieces have like-
wiSe been now and then discovered
in our own and other northern Seas.
Dr Schwediauer SuppoSes it  to be an
animal produd,  from its being  fo
frequently found in the belly  of the
phyfeter macrocephalus Lin.
   Pure  ambergris foft ens between
the fingers ;  melts in a fmall degree
of heat into the appearance of  oil,
and ina ftronger heat provesalmoft
totally volatile.   Warmed  a  little,
it emits a peculiar fragrant fmell ;
fet on fire,  it  fmells like burning
amber.   It  diflblves,  though diffi-
cultly, in fpirit of wine and  eflcn-
tial oils ;  but  not«in expreffed oils
or in water.
   Ambergris is in general the moft
agreeable of the perfumes, and rare-
ly accompanied with the inconve-
niences  which other fubftances  of
this clafs  frequently occafion.   It
has been looked upon as an  high
cordial, and efteemed of great fer-
vice in all difordersof the head, and
in nervous complaints ; a Solution of
it in  a Spirit diftilled  frriv  rofes,
ftands recommended by Hoffman as
one of the moft efficacious corrobo-
rants oSthe nervousSyftem.  TheO-
                          rientai 
126                  Materia

rientals entertain an high opinion of
the aphrodifnc virtues of this con-
crete ;  and likewife fuppofe that the
frequent ufe of it conduces to long
life :   But it is now very little em-
ployed in pradice, and has no place
either  in the London or Edinburgh
Pharmacopoeias;  yet its  fenfible
qualities  give reaSon for believing
that it may be a more adive medi-
cine than Some articles  which are
retained ; although credit is by no
means to be  paid  to  all that has
been Said with regard to it.

   AMMONIACUM GUMMI
RESIN A  [Lond. Ed.]
   Ammoniacum, the gum-refin.
   Ammoniacum is a  concrete gum-
my refinous juice, brought Srom the
Eaft Indies, uSually in large mafles,
compoSed of little lumps or tears, of
a milky colour, but Soon changing,
upon being expoSed to the air, oS a
yellowifh hue. We have no certain
account of  the plant which affords
this juice;  the feeds ufually found
among the  tears refemble thofe of
the umbelliferous clafs. It has been,
however, alleged,  and not without
fome degree of" probability,  that it
is an exudation from a Species of the
ferula, another fpecies of which pro-
duces  the aflafoetida.   The plant
producing it is faid to grow in Nu-
bia, Abyffinia, and the interior parts
of Egypt.  Such tears as are large,
dry, free from little flones, feeds,
or other impurities fhould be picked
out and preferred for infernal ufe  ;
the coarfer kind is purified by folu-
tion and colature, and then carefully
infpifTatingit; unlefs this be artfully
managed, the gum will lofe a confi-
derable deal  of its more  volatile
parts.  There is often vended in  the
fhops, under  the name  oS ftrained
gum ammoniacum, a compofition of
ingredients much inferior in virtue.
  Ammoniacum has a naufeous Sweet
tafte, Sollowed by a bitter one; and
Medica.             Part II.

a peculiar Smell, Somewhat like that
of galbanum, but more grateful:  it
Softens in the mouth, and grows of
a white colour upon being chewed.
Thrown upon live coals, it burns a
way in flame: it is in fome degree
foluble  in  water  and  in vinegar,
with which it afliimes the appear-
ance of milk; but the refinous part,
amounting to about one half, fub-
fides on ftanding.
   Ammoniacum is an ufeful deob-
ftruent ; and frequently prefcribed
for opening obftrudions of the ab-
dominal vifcera and  in hyfterical
diforders occafioned by a deficiency
of the menftrual evacuations.  It  is
likewife fuppofed toad  upon the
pulmonary veffels; and to prove of
confiderable fervice in fome kindsof
afthmas, where the lungs are op-
preifed by vifcid phlegm: with this
intention, a folution of gum ammo-
niacum in vinegar  of fquills proves
a medicine of great efficacy, though
not a little unpleafant.  In long and
obftinate colics proceedi ng from vif-
cid matter lodged in the inteftines,
this gummy refin has produced hap-
py effeds, after purges and the com-
mon carminatives had been ufed in
vain.  Ammoniacum is moft  com-
modioufly taken in the form of pills:
about a fcruple may be given every
night, or oftener. Externally, it  is
fuppofed to foftcn  and ripen  hard
tumours: a folution of it in vinegar
ftands recommended by Some for re-
Solving even fcirrhous fwellings.  A
plafter madeof it and fquill-vinegar,
is recommended by fome in white
fwellings.  A dilute mixture of the
fame islikewife rubbed on the parts,
which are alfo fumigated with the
fmoke of juniper-berries.
   In the fhops is prepared a folution
of it  in pennyroyal water, called,
from its milky colour, lacammoniaci
[Lond.]  It is an ingredient alfo  in
the pil. fcillit.  [Ed.]
                              A- 
Part II.            Materia

 AMYGDALA  AMARA.
DULCIS  [Lond. Ed.]  Nucleus.
 Amygdalus communisLin. Var.y.fc.
  Bitter  and fweet almond.   The
kernel.
  The almond isaflattifhkernel, of
a white colour, covered with a thin
brownifti fkin ; of a foft fweet tafte,
or a difagreeable bitter one.   The
fkins of both forts are unpleafant,
and covered with an acrid powdery
fubftance : they are very apt to be-
come rancid on keeping,  and to be
preyed on by a kind of infed, which
eats4out  the internal part,  leaving
the almond to appearance entire. To
thefe circumftances regard ought to
be  had in the choice  of them.
   The fruit which affords thefe ker-
nels, is the produce of a tree nearly
refembling the peach. The eyedif-
tinguifhes no difference betwixt the
 trees which produce the fweet and
 bitter, orbetwixt the kernels them-
 Selves; it is Said that the Same tree
 has,  by a difference in culture, aS-
 forded both.
   Both Sorts of almonds yield, on ex-
 preflion,  a large quantity  of oil,
 which has no fmell or any particular
 tafte : this oil Separates likewife up-
 pon boiling the almonds in water,
 and is gradually  colleded  on the
 furface :  but on triturating  the  al-
 monds with water, the oil and wa-
 ter unite  together, by the  media-
 tion of the other matter of the ker-
 nel,  and form an unduous milky
 liquor.
    Sweet  almonds are of greater ufe
 in food than as medicines, but they
 are reckoned to afford little nourifh-
 ment; and when eaten in fubftance
 are not  eafy of  digeftion,  unlefs
 thoroughly comminuted. They are
 fuppofcd, on accoun'  of  their foft
 unctuous quality, to r.'o.und  acrimo-
 nious juices in the primse vise : peel-
 ed fweet  almonds, eaten fix or eight
 at a  time,  Sometimes give prefent
 relief in  the heartburn.
Medica.                  127

   Bitter almonds have been found
 poifonous to dogs and fundry other
 animals ; and a water diftilled from
 them, when made of a certain de-
 gree of Strength,  has had the fame
 effeds. Nevertheless, when eaten,
 they appear innocent to men,  and
 have been not unfreqnently ufed as
 medicines: Boerhaave recommends
 them,  in Subftance,  as  diuretics
 which  heat  but  moderately,  and
 which  may therefore  be  ventured
 upon in acute diSeafes.
   The oils obtained by expreflion
 Srom both Sorts of" almonds  are in
 their Senfible qualities the Same. The
 general virtues oS theSe oils are, to
 blunt acrimonious humours, and to
 SoSten and relax  the Solids: hence
1 their  uSe internally,  in tickling
 coughs, heat of urine, pains and in-
 flammations; and externally, in ten-
 don and rigidity  of particular parts.
    The milky Solutions oS almonds in
 watery liquors, commonly called e-
 mulfions, contain the oil oS the Sub-
 jed, and participate in Some degree
 oS its emollientvirtue;  but have this
 advantage above the pure oil,  that
 they may be given in acute or inflam-
 matory diSorders, without danger of
 the ill effeds  which the  oil might
 Sometimes produce ; fince emulfions
 do not turn rancid or acrimonious by
 heat, as  all the oils  oSthiskind in a
 little time do.  Several unduous and
 refinous  Subftances, of thcrhfelves
 not mifcible with water, may by tri-
 turation with almonds be eafily mix-
 ed with it intotheSoim oSsn emul-
 fion; and  thus  excellently fitted
 Sor medicinal uSe. In this Sorm, cam-
 phor and the refinous purgatives may
 be commodioufly taken.  The only
 officinal  preparations  of almonds
 are, the expreffed oil and emulfion.
 The common emulfion,  or the lac
 amygdalse, as it is now calleoby the
  London college, is prepared Srom
 the Sweet almond alone ; but in the
 emulfion oSthe Edinburgh college, a
                             Small 
128                  Materia

fmall proportion of bitter almonds is
added, which has a much better ef-
fed  in improving its tafte  thaw the
fugar added by the London college.
An emulfion formed entirely of bit-
ter almonds, taken to the  quantity
of a pint or twodaily, is faid tohave
been given  in  obftinate intermit-
tents with fuccefs.

   ANCHUSA  [Ed.] Radix.
   Anchufa tintloria Lin.
   Alkanet root.
   Alkauet is a rough hairy plant,
much refembling the vipersbuglofs:
itschief difference from the common
bugloffcs confifts in the colour of its
roots;  the conical p:rt of which is
of a dufky red,  and  imparts an ele-
gant deep red  to oils, wax, and all
unduous fubftances, but not to wa-
tery  liquors. This plant is a native
of the warmer parts of  Europe ;  it
is fometimes cultivated  in our gar-
dens ; but the greateft quantities are
raifed in Germany and France, par-
ticularly  about Montpelicr,  from
whence the dried roots are ufually
imported tons.  The alkanet root
produced in England is much infe-
rior in  colour to that brought from
abroad ;   the  Englifii  being only
lightly reddifli, the others of a deep
purplilb red : this has induced Some
to fufped that  the Soreign  roots
owe  part oS their colour  to art, b.it
we think withom Sufficient founda-
tion.
   Alkanet  root  has  little or  no
Smell : when recent, it has a bit-
terifli  aftringent tafte ; but when
dried Scarce any. As to its virtues,
the prefent pradice  expeds not any
from it.  Its chief ufe is for colour-
ing oils, ointments, and platters. As
the colour is confined to the cortical
part, the fmall roots are beft, thefe
having proportionably  more  bark
than the large.
Medica.             Part II.

  ANETHUM [Lond.  Ed.] fe-
men.
  Anethum gravcolens Lin.
  Dill, the feed.
  Dill isan umbelliferous plant, cul-
tivated in gardens, as well for culi-
nary as medical ufe.  The feeds arc
of a pale yellowifh colour, in fliape
nearly oval,  convex on one fide, flat
on the other.  Their tafte is mode-
rately warm and pungent;  their
Smell aromatic, but not oS the moft
agreeable kind.  TheSe Seeds are re-
commended as a carminative in fla-
tulent colics.  The moft efficacious
preparations oS them  are, the diftill-
ed oil, and a tindure or extrad made
with redified Spirit.   A Simple dif-
tilled water prepared from  theSe
Seeds has a place both in the London
and Edinburgh Parmacopoeias.

  ANGELICA [Lond.  Ed.] Ra-
dix,  caulis, folium, femen.
  Angelica archangelica Lin.
  Angelica, the root, ftalk, leaf,
and feed.
  Garden angelica is a large umbel-
liferous plant, growing fpontaneouf-
ly in the  northern climates: for the
ufe of the fhops, it is cultivated in
gardens in the different parts of Eu-
rope.  Bohemia and Spain are faid
to produce the beft. Angelica roots
are  apt  to  grow mouldy,  and be
preyed upon by infeds, unlefs tho-
roughly dried,  kept in a dry place,
and frequently aired.  We appre-
hend, that the roots which are fub-
jed to this  inconvenience might be
preferved, by dipping them in boil-
ing fpirit, or expofing them to its
fteam, after they are dried.
  All the parts of angelica, efpe-
cially the roots, have a fragrant aro-
matic fmell ; and a pleaSanr bitterifh
warm tafte, glowing upon the lips
and palate for along time after they
have been chewed. The flavour of
the feeds and leaves is very perifli-
able; particularly that of the latter,
                           which 
 Part II.             Materia

 which, on being barely dried,  lofe
 the greateft; part of their tafte and
 fmell: the roots are more tenacious
 of. their flavour, though even thefe
 lofe part of it  upon keeping.   The
 frefh root,  wounded early in the
 Spring, yields an  odorous, yellow
juice ; which, flowly  exficcated,
 proves an elegant gummy refin, ve-
 ry rich in the virtues of the angelica.
 On drying the root, this juice con-
 cretes into diftind raoleculse, which
 on cutting it longitudinally, appear
 diftributed in little veins ; in this
 ftate, they are extraded by pure
 Spirit, but not by watery liquors.
  Angelica is one of the moft ele-
 gant aromatics of European growth,
 though little regarded in the preSent
 pradice.   The root, which is the
 moft efficacious part,  is uSed in the
 aromatic  tindure. The ftalks make
 an agreeable Sweetmeat.
  Befides the angelica archangeli-
 caAor garden-angelica,  as itiscom-
 monly called, the Edinburgh college
 ftill alSo give a  place to the root of
 the angelica fylveftris,  or  wild an-.
 gelica.  But it feems to differ only
 from the former  in being  much
 weaker,  and might we think with
 propriety be rejeded.

  ANISUM  [Lond. Ed.] Semen.
  Pimpinella auifum Lin.
  Anife, the  feed.
  Anife is an annual umbelliferous
 plant, growing naturally in Crete,
 Syria,  and other places of the call.
 It is cultivated in fome parts of
 France, Germany, and Spain, and
 may be raifed alfo in England : the
 feeds brought from Spain, which
 are fmaller than the others, are pre-
 ferred.
  Anifeeds have an aromatic fmell,
 and a pleafant warm tafte, accompa-
 nied with a  degree of  fweetnefs.
 Water extrads very little of their
 flavour ; redified fpirit the whole.
  Thefe feeds are in the number of
 Medica.                  129

 the  four greater  hot  feeds:  their
 principal ufe isin flatulent diforders,
 and  in the gripes to which young
 children are fubjed. Frederic Hoff-
 man ftrongly recommends them in
 weaknefs of the ftomach,diarrhoeas,
 and  for Strengthening the tone of
 the vifcera in general  ; and thinks
 they  well deferve the appellation
 given them by Helmont, inteftino-
 rum folamen.
  There were Sormerly Several offi-
 cinal  preparations of thefe feeds,
 but the only one now retained is an
 eflential oil.

  ANTIMONTUM [Lond.  Ed.]
  Stibium five antimonium fulphu-
 ratum.
  Antimony.
  Antimony  is a  ponderous brittle
 mineral, compofed oS long fhining
 ftreaks like needles, intermingled
 with a dark lead-coloured Subftauce;
 oSno maniSeft tafte or Smell. There
 are Several mines oS it in Germany,
 Hungary,  and France : and Some
 likewiSe in England.  The Englifh
 Seems to be of all thefe  the leaft pro-
 per for medicinal ufe, as frequently
 containing a portion of lead.   The
 fubftances  found mixed with  the
 foreign forts  are generally  of the
 unfufible  flony kind, from which
 the antimony is melted out in vef-
 fels, whofe bottom is perforated with
 fmall holes, and received in conical
 moulds ;  in thefe, the lighter and
 more drofty  matter arifes  to  the
 furface ; whilft the more pure and
 ponderous fubfides to the bottom :
 hence the upper broad part of the
 loaves is confiderably leSs pure than
 the lower.
  The  goodneSs  ,of  antimony is
judged of from irs weight; from the
 loaves not being fpongy or blebby;
 from the largenefsof the ftrise ; and
 from the antimony totally evapora-
 ting  in a ftrong fire.
  Antimony was  employed by the
              I              an- 
130
Materia Medica.
Part II.
ancients in collyria againft inflam-
mations of the eyes ; and for ftain-
ing the eyebrows black.  Its inter-
nal ufe does not feem to have been
eftablilhed till towards the end of
the fifteenth century ;  and even at
that time it was by many  looked
upon as poifonous.  But experience
has  now fully evinced, that pure
antimony, in its crude  ftate, has no
noxious quality,  being often ufed,
particularly in chronic eruptions ;
that fome of the preparations of it
are medicines of great  efficacy; and
that though many of them are moft
violently emetic and cathartic, yet
even thefe, by a flight alteration or
addition, lofe their virulence,  and
become mild in their operation.
   This mineral appears from che-
mical  experiments  to confift of a
metal, united with common  ful-
phur,  and Separable in its metallic
form  by the fame means by which
other  metallic bodies are extraded
from their ores.
   The  pure  metal operates,  in a
very minute dofe, with extreme ve-
hemence, as a purgative and eme-
 tic : when combined with fulphur,
 as in  the crude mineral, its power
 is reftrained  : diverted  of the in-
 flammable principle which it has in
 common with all perfedly metallic
 bodies, it becomes an indolent calx.
    Antimony is at prefent the bafis
 of many officinal preparations, af-
 terwards to be treated of.   But be-
 fides thofe ftill retained,  many o-
 thers  have  been formerly in ufe,
 and are ftill employed by  different
 praditioners. We fhall here there-
 fore Subjoin  a table drawn up by
 Dr Black,  exhibiting  a  diftind
 view  of the whole that were for-
 merly in life.  It may be proper,
 however, to obferve, that the names
 ufed in this  table refer not to the
 prefenf edition oS the London Phar-
 macopoeia, but to that qf 1746.
Dr Black's Table of the Prepa-
     rations of Antimony.
The Preparations of Antimony are
   obtained either fromthe crude an-
   timony, or from the pure metallic
  part of it called regulus.
   From Crude Antimony.
I.  By fimple pulverifation.
  Antimonium praeparatum. Ed. etLou.
II. By the adion of heat and air.
         Flores antimonii. fine addito.
    Vitrum antimonii. Ed. et Lond.
    Vitrum antimonii ceratura. Ed.
III. By the adion of fixed alkalis.
   1. Joined with it by fufion.  He-
     pars of antimony.
      Hepar antim. mitiflimus,  vulgo
         Regulus antim.  medicinalis.
      Hepar for the Kermes mineral of
         Geoffroy.
  Hepar for the tindtura antimonii. Lot).
  2.  Ading upon  it in  the form of
   watery folution.
          Kermes mineralis.
   Sulphur antim.  prxcipitatum.  Ed.
     et Lond.
   Vulgo fulphur auratum antimonii.
IV.  By  melting or  deflagrating it
   with nitre, which produces either
   croci or calces of antim.
       Crocus antim. mitiflimus, vulgt
         Regulus antim. medicinalis.
       Crocus antimonii mitior.
   Crocus antimonii. Lond.
   Crocus antimonii, vulgo crocus metalr
     lorum. Ed.
     Crocus antimonii lotus. Lond.
           Antimon.  emeticum mitius.
            Botrh.
   Calx antimonii nitrata. Ed.  Vulgo
     James's powder.
   Calx antimonii. Lond.  Vulgo antim.
     diaphoreticum:
 V.  By the adion of acids. •
       Antimon. vitriolatum  Klaunig.
   •    Antimon. catharticum.  Wilfon:
   Caufticum antimoniale, vulgoButyrum
     Antim. Ed.
     Caufticum antimoniale.   Lond.
       Mercurius vitas, five pulvis Alga-
         rotti.
       Bezoardicum minerale:
       Floris antim. cum fale ammonia-
         co.
       Tartarus antimonialis, vulgo  e-
         meticus.  Ed. et
           Tartarus emeticus. Lond.
 Vinum antimoniale.  Ed. et Lond.
 Yinuaa c urtare antimonfeli,  Ed.
                            Fro»
                            Y 
Part II.             Materia

     From the regulus.
This metal Separated from the ful-
  phur  by different proceffes,  is
  called Regulus antimonii [implex,
  Regulus antimonii martialis, Re-
  gulus jovialis, &c.  From it were
  prepared,
I.  By the adion of heat and air,
      Floresargentei,five nix antim.
II. By the adion of nitre,
          Cerufla antimonii.
          Stomachicum Poterii.
          Antiheclicum Poterii.
          Cardiacum Poterii.
Preparations which have their name
  from antimony, but fcarcely con-
  tain any of its metallic part.
   Cinnabaris antimonii. Lond.
   Tinctura antimonii.  Lond.
  In the various preparations of an-
tiuiomy, the reguline part is either
combined  with an acid, or in a con-
dition to be aded upon by acid  in
the ftomach ; and  the general ef-
feds of antimonials are, diaphoreSis,
naufea,  full vomiting and purging,
which perhaps may be beft obtained
by the forms  of prepared  antimony
and emetic tartar. Some allege that
antimonials are of the moft ufe  in
fevers when  they do not produce
any fenfible evacuation, as is Said to
be the caSe Sometimes with James's
powder.   Some therefore prefer it
in typhus, and emetic tartar in fy-
nochus,  in which  there is  the ap-
pearance at firft of more  adivity in
the fyftem, and more apparent caufe
for evacuation.

  APIUM r_<7<?«. ]Rad.fol.fevien.
  Apiumgraveolens Lin.
  Sma'.lage ;  the roots, leaves, and
feeds.
   This plant is larger than the gar-
den parfley,of a darker green colour,
and of a ftronger and more unplea-
fant flavour.  The roots  are in the
number of the five called opening
roots, and  have been fometimes pre-
scribed as an ingredient in aperient
apozems and  diet*drinks;  but are
Medica.                  131

at preSent disregarded.   The Seeds
oS the plant are moderately aroma-
tic, and were Sormerly ufed as car-
minatives ;  with  which  intention
they are, donbtlefs, capable of doing
fervice, though the other warm feeds
with which the fhops are  furnifhed
render thefe unneceflary.

  ARABICUM   GUMMI,  Vide
Gummi  Arabicum.

  ARGENTUM [Lond.]
  Silver.
  Silver is inti-•- d to a place in the
materia medica, only as  being  the
bafis of different preparations ; and
of thefe, although feveral were for-
merly in ufe, yet one only now re-
tains a place either in the London
or Edinburgh pharmacopoeias.
  Abundance of virtues have indeed
been  attributed to crude filver by
the Arabians, and by fome alfo of
later times, but on very little foun-
dation.   This metal, taken in its
crude ftate, has no effed in the bo-
dy : combined with a fmall quan-
tity of the  nitrous acid, it proves a
powerful, though not always a fafe,
hydragogue ; with alarger, a ftrong
cauftic.  The nitrous acid  is the on-
ly one that perfedly diflblves this
metal:  on adding to this folution a
minute portion of marine acid,  or
fubftances containing it,  the liquor
turns milky, and  the filver falls to
the bottom in form of a white calx :
hence we are furnifhed with a me-
thod of  difcovering marine fait in
waters.

  ARISTOLOCHIA [Ed.] Rad.
  Birthwort : the root.
  Three roots of this  name were
formerly direded for medicinal ufe,
and have ftill a place in fome phar-
macopoeias.

  (i)Aristolochia LONGALin.
  Long Birthwort.
               12          Tbis 
 f^Z                 Materia

  This is a tuberous root, fometimes
 about the fize of the finger, fome-
 times as thick as a man's arm, and
 a foot in length : it is nearly of an
 equal thicknefs  all  over, or a  little
 thicker in  the  middle than at the
 ends : the  outfiJe is of a brownifti
 colour ; the infide yellowifh.

  (2) Aristolochia rotunda
 Lin.
  R.ound birthwort.
  This has fcarce any other viSible
 difference Srom  the foregoing than
 usroundifh fhapc»  *

  (3) Aristolochia tenuis.
  Ariftolochia clematis Lin.
  Slender birthwort.   ,
  This is a long and  flender root,
 rarely exceeding the thickneSsoSa
 gooSe-quili.
  TheSe roots  are  the produce of
 Spain, Italy, and the fouthern parts
 of France.  Their fmell is  fome-
 what aromatic ; .their tafte warm and
 bkterifh. Authors in general repre-
 fent them as extremely hot and pun-
 gent : Some Say  they are the hotteft
 of all the aromatic  plants; but  as
 ufually met with in the fhops they
 have no great pungency. The long
 and round forts, on being firft chew-
 ed, fcarce difcoverany tafte, but in
 a little time prove naufeenfiy bitter-
 Ifh; the long fomewhat the leaft fo.
 The other fort  inftantly fills the
 mouth with an  aromatic bitternefs,
 which is not ungrateful. Their me-
 dicinal virtues are, to heat, ftimu-
 late, and promote the fluid fecretions
 in general; but  they are principally
 celebrated in fuppreflions of female
 evacuations. The dofe in fubftance
 is from a fcrupie to two drams. The
long fort is recommended external-
ly for cleaniing  and drying wounds
 and ulcers in  cutaneous difeafes.—
None of them, however, are now in
 fo much effceem as formerly ; and,
while all of them are banifhed from
Medica.             Part IL

 the pharmacopoeia  of the London
 college, the ariftolochia tenuis, is a-
 lone retained in that of Edinburgh.

   ARNICA [Lond.  Ed.] Herb a,
 flos, radix.
   Arnica montana Lin.
   German  leopard's   bane  ;  the
 herb, flowers, and roots.
   This article had formerly a place
 in our pharmacopoeias,  under the
 title of  Doronicum Germanicum.
 Then, however, it was little known
 or ufed ; and being juftly cenfider-
 ed as one of the deleterious vegeta-
 bles, it was rejeded :  but it  has a-
 gain been introduced  into the lift
 both of the London and Edinburgh
 colleges, on the  authority of frefh
 obfervations, particularly of thofe of
 Dr Collins of Vienna, who has late-
 ly published a  Diflertation on the
 Medical  Virtues of the Arnica.
   This  plant  grows  in  different
 parts of Europe, particularly in Ger-
 many.   It has an acrid bitter tafte,
 and when bruifed, emits a pungent
 odour, which excites fneezing. On
 this  account, the country people in
 fome  parts of Germany  nfe  it in
 Snuff, and fmoke it like tobacco. It
 was formerly represented as a re-
 medy of great efficacy againft effu-
 fions and fuffufions  of blood, from
 falls, bruifes, or the like; and it
 was then alfo mentioned as a reme-
 dy in jaundice, gout, nephritis, &c.
 but in thefe affections it is now very
 little, if at all, employed.
   Of late it has been principally re-
 commended in'  paralytic affedions,
 and in  cafes where a lofs or diminu-
 tion of fenfe arifes from an affedion
 of the  nerves,  as in  inftances of
 amaurofis.   In thefe, it has chiefly
 been  employed under the form of
 infufion.  From a dram to half an
 ounce of the flowers has been dired-
 ed to be infufcd in a point of boiling
 water, and taken in different dofes
 in the courfe of  the day : fometimes 
Part  IL             Materia

it  produces  vomiting,   Sometimes
fweating,  Sometimes diurefis ;  but
frequently itsuSe is attended with no
fenfible operation, nnleSs it can be
confidered as Such,that in SomecaSes
of paralylis,  the cure is  Said to be
preceded by a  peculiar  prickling,
and by fhooting pains in the affed-
ed parts.
   Bolides, being employed in para-^
lytic affedions, it has alSo been of
late reprefented as a very powerful
antifpafmodic;  and it is faid to have
been fuccefsfully employed in fevers,
particularly thofe oS the intermittent
kind, and likewife in cafes of gan-
grene.  In thofe difeafes it has been
Said  to prove as efficacious as the
peruvian bark,  when employed un-
der the Sormof a pretty ftrong de-
codion, taken in Small  dofes fre-
quently  repeated,  or  under the
form of an eleduary with honey.
   But thefe alleged virtues of the
arnica have not been confirmed by
any trials made  in Britain with
which we are acquainted ; and we
are  of opinion, that its real influ-
ence ftill remains to be determined
by future observations. It is howe-
ver, one of  thofe adive fubftances
from which fomething i\\*-j  be ex-
peded.
   ARSENICUM.
   ATfenic.
   Arfenic is contained, in greater
or lefs quantity, in moft kinds  of
ores, particularly in thofe of tin and
bifmuth, in  the white pyrites, and
in the mineral  called cobalt.   From
this laft, greateft part of the arfenic
brought to us is extraded by a kind
offublimation: the arfenic arifesat
firft in the form of grcyifh  meal;
which  more carefully refublimcd,
concretes into  tranfparent maffes,
the white arfenic of the fhops.
   Arfenic fublimed with one-tenth
its weight of fulphur, unites there-
with into a  bright yellow mafs,  in
-fome degree tranfparent; the cora-
Medica.                  133

mon yellow arfenic.  On doubling
the quantity of fulphur,  the com-
pound proves more opaque and com-
pad;  of a deep red colour, refem-
bling  that of cinnabar, but with this
difference, that it lofes of its beauty
upon  being  reduced into  powder,
whilft that of cinnabar is improved
by this  means : this is the common
red arfenic.  By  varying  the pro-
portions of  arfenic and  fulphur,
fubhmates may  be obtained of a
great variety of  fhades  of yellow
and red.
   Natural mixtures of arfenic and
fulphur, refembling the foregoing
preparations,  are not unfrcquently
met  with in the earth.   The Soffit
red arfenic is the faudaraclia of the
Greeks, the realgar and refigal of
 the Arabians.  Both the red  and
yellow, when of  a  fmooth. uniform
texture, are named zarnichs ; and
 when compofed of fmall fcales or
 leaves, auripigmenla, or orpiments\:
 the laft are  the only fubftances to
 which  the  Greeks gave the name
 *t<rm*n. That the zarnichs and or-
 piments reclly contain arfenic (con-
 trary to  the  opinion of  fome late
 writers) is evident from fundry ex-
 periments, whereby a perfect: arfe-
 nic, and in confiderable quantity, is
 obtainable Srom them. The compi-
 lers of a former edition of the Edin-
 burgh Difpenfatory therefore  very
juflly gavtfandaracha Cr.:corum as
 a fynonymon to redarfZnic; and au-
 ripigmentmu to the yellow.
   The pare or white arfenic has a
 penetrating corrofive tafte ; and ta-
 ken into the body to the extent even
 of only a few grains, it proves a moft
 violent poifon. Befides  the effeds
 which  it has in common with other
 corrofives, it remarkably inflames
 the coats oS the ftomach,  ©ccafions
 a Swelling and  Sphacelation of the
 whole body, and a Hidden putrefac-
 tion after death,  particularly,  as is
 faid, of the genitals in men. Where
               I 3            the 
134                  Materia

the quantity is So very fmall as not
to prove Satal, tremors, palfies, and
lingering hectics Succeed. The re-
medies recommended Sor counter-
ading the effeds of this poifon are,
milk and oily liquors immediately
and liberally drank.
  Some recommend acids, particu-
larly vinegar, as antidotes againft
this poifon.  Others recommend a
watery folution of calcareous oralka-
line hepar fulphuris, which is found
to combine with arfenic and deftroys
moft of its properties.   It is faid to
be  better from a little  iron in the
folution.  The dry hepar  may alfo be
made into pills, and  warm water
drank above them.
  Notwithftanding,  however,  the
very violent effeds of arfenic, it has
been employed in the cure of dif-
eafes,  both   as  applied  externally
and as taken internally. External-
ly,  white arfenic has been chiefly
employed in cafes of cancer ; and
as ufed in this way,  it  is fuppofed
that its  good effects depend on its
ading as a peculiar corrofive ; and
it is imagined,  that arSenic is the
bafis of a remedy long celebrated
in cancer, which, however, is ftill
kept  a fecret by a  family  of  the
name of  Piunket in Ireland. Ac-
cording  to  the beft  conjedures,
their application confifts  of the pow-
der of fome  vegetables,particularly
the ranunculusflammeus and cotula
fostida, with  a confiderable pro-
portion oS arSenic  and   flower of
fulphur intimately mixed together.
This powder, made into a pafte with
the white of an egg, is  applied to
the cancerous part which it is  in-
tended to corrode ; and being co-
vered with a piece of thin bladder,
fmearcd alfo with the white of an
egg, it is fuffcred to lie on from
twenty-four  to forty-eight hours ;
and afterwards the efchar is to be
treated with foftening digeftive, as
m other  cafes.  This application,
Medica.              Part  II.

 whether it be precifely  the fame
 with Plunket's remedy or not, and
 likewife  arfenic  in mere  fimple
 forms, have in fome inftances been
 produdive of good effects. It is in-
 deed a powerful  efcharotic, occafi-
 oning acute pain ; but it has the pe-
 culiar excellence of not extending
 its operation  laterally.  But if in
 fome cafes it has been beneficial, in
 others if muft  be allowed it docs
 harm. While it hasoccafioned very
 confiderable pain, it has given the
 parts no difpofition to heal, the pro-
 grefsofthe ulceration being even
 more rapid than before.
   White arfenic has alfo been re-
 commended as a remedy for cancer
 when taken internally.  With this
 intention, four grains of arfenic, of
 a clear white fhining appearance,
 and in fmall cryftals, is direded to
 be diffolved in a pint of diftilled wa-
 ter: and of this folution the patient
 is to take a table fpoonful with an
 equal  quantity of rnilk and a little
 fyrup of white popies, every morn-
 ing falling, taking care to tafte no-
 thing for an hour  after it.  After
 this has been continued  for abont
 eight days, the quantity is tobe en-
 creafed,  and  the dofes more fre-
 quently repeated, till the folution be
 taken by an adult to the extcntoffix
 table fpoonfuls in the courfe of a day.
 Mr Le Febure, who is,  we believe,
 the introducer of  this pradice, af-
 firms that he has ufed it in more than
 two hundred  inftances without any
 bad effed, and with evident proofs
 of its efficacy. But when employed
 by others, it has by no means been
 found equally efficacious; and in-
 deed it is very doubtful  to what de-
 gree arfenic can be diflblved in Sim-
 ple water.
   ArSenic,  in Subftance, to the ex-
 tent of an eight of a grain for a dofe,
 combined with a little of the flowers
 of fulphur, has been faia to be em-
 ployed internally in fome very ob-
                           ftinate 
Part II.             Materia

llinate cafes of cutaneous  difeafes,
and  with the beft effed.   But of
this we have no experience.
  Of all the difeafes in which white
arfenic  has been ufed internally,
there is no one in which it has been
fo frequently and fofuccefsfully em-
ployed as in the cure of intermittent
fevers.   It  has long been ufed in
Lincolnfhire, and fome other of the
fenny countries, under the name of
the jar[enic drop, prepared in diffe-
rent ways :  And it is conjedured,
that an article, which has had a very
extenfive fale, under  the title of the
taftelefts ague-drop, the form of pre-
paring which, however, is ftill kept
& Secret, is nothing elSe but a Solu-
tion of  arfenic.  But whether this
be  the  cafe or not,  we have  now
the  moft fatisfadory  information
concerning this article, in the Me-
dical Reports of the effeds of Ar-
fenic in the cure of Agues, Remit-
ting Fevers, and Periodic Headachs,
by Dr Fowler of Stafford.  He di-
reds, that fixty-four grains of arfe-
nic, reduced to a very fine powder,
and mixed with as much fixed vege-
table alkaline fait, fhould  be added
to half a pound of diftilled  water, in
a Florence fiafk: that it fhould then
be placed in a fand heat, and gently
boiled till the arfenic be completely
diflblved;  that after the folution is
cold, half an ounce of compound
fpirit of lavender be added to it, and
as much diftilled water as to  make
the  whole folution  amount to  a
pound.   This folution is  taken  in
dofes, regulated according to the
age, ftrength, and  other circum-
ftances  oS the patient,  from two to
twelves drops, once, twice, oroften-
er in the courfe of the day. And in
the difeafes mentioned above, parti-
ticularly in intermittents, it has been
found to be a  fafe and very effica-
cious remedy,  both  by Dr Fowler
and by other pradioners :  but  in
Some inftances, even when given in
Medica.                  135

very fmall dofes,  we have found it
excite violent  vomiting.   But be-
fides this, it has alfo been alleged
by fome, that thofe cured of inter-
mittents by arfenic, are very liable
to become phthifical.
  If arfenic fhall ever be extenfive-
ly employed internally, it will pro-
bably be moft certain and moft fafc
in its operation when brought to the
ftate of a fait readily foluble in wa-
ter.  MrMorveautellsus, that it may
be brought to the ftate of a true neu-
tral fait in the following manner :
Mix well together equal quantities of
nitre and of pure white  arfenic; put
them into a retort, and diftill at firft
with a gentle heat,  but afterwards
with fo ftrong a heat as to redden
the bottom of the retort.   By this
means the nitrous acid,  united to the
phlogifton of the arfenic, will arife
into the receiver, and  the alkaline
bafis of the nitre will  unite with
the acid of the arfenic, and will  be
found in the bottom of  the retort in
the form of a neutral fait, which may
be obtained  in the form of cryftals
of a prifmatic figure, by diflblving
the neutral in diftilled water, filter-
ing the folution through paper, eva-
porating and crystallizing.
   We have been informed, that a
very pureSal arSenici, readily Soluble
in water, has been prepared by Mr
Milner, proSeflbr of chemiftry  at
Cambridge;  and that  it has been
employed with great fuccefs by fe-
veral praditioners  in  that  neigh-
bourhood.   But  with the procefs
which he follows,we are unacquaint-
ed.  Upon the whole,  there is rea-
fon to believe that this adive article
may be employed with fafety and
advantage: and although itdoesnot
now ftand in the lift cither of the
London or Edinburgh Colleges, yet
it feems to  be better  intitled to a
place than many articles which have
been introduced and retained.
   The red and yellowarfenics, both
               I 4        native 
136                 Materia

nativeandfaditious,have little tafte
and are much lefs virulent in their
effeds than the foregoing. Sulphur,
which reftrains the power of mercu-
ry and the antimonial metal,remark-
ably abates the virulence of this poi-
fonous mineral alfo.   Such of thefe
fubftances as participate more large-
ly of fulphur, feem to be almoft in-
nocent: the faditious red arfenic,
and the native orpiments, have been
given to dogs in confiderable quanti-
ty,  without their being produdive
of any apparent ill  confequences.

  ARTEMISIA [Ed.]  Folia.
  Artemifia vulgaris Lin.
  Mugwort; the leaves.
  This plant grows  plentifully in
fields,  hedges, and  wafte  places,
throughout England; and flowers
in June.  In appearance it fome-
what refembles the common worm-
wood : the difference moft obvious
to the eye is  in the flowers, thofe
of wormwood hanging downwards,
whilft the flowers of mugwort ftand
cred.
  The leaves of this plant have a
light aromatic fmell,  and an herba-
ceous bitterifh tafte.  They were
formerly celebrated as uterine and
antihyfteric : an infufion of them is
fometimes drank, either alone or in
conjundion  with other fubftances,
in fuppreflion of the menftrual eva-
cuations. This medicine is certainly
a very mild one, and confiderably
lefs hot than  moft  others to which
thefe virtues  are  attributed ;  in
fome parts of this kingdom, mug-
wort is of common ufe as a pot-herb.
It is now, however, very little em-
ployed in medicine; and it is proba-
bly with propriety that the London
College have rejeded it from their
pharmacopoeia.

  ARTHANITA  Radix.
  Cyclaminen Europau?/iLin.y
Medica.             Part H.

   Sowbread; the root.
   This plant is met with in the gar-
dens of the curious.  The root has,
when frelh, an extremely acrimoni*
ous burning tafte, which it almoft
entirely lofes on being dried.  It is
recommended as an errhine; in ca-
taplafms for fcirrhons and fcropha-
lons tumors ; and internally as a
cathartic, detergent, and aperient:
it  operates very flowly,  but with
great virulence, inflaming the fauces
and inteftines.

   ARUM [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
   Arum maculatum Lin.
   Wake-robin;  the root.
   This plant grows  wild under
hedges, and by the fides of banks,
in moft parts of England.  It fends
forth in March three or four trian-
gular leaves, which are followed by
a naked ftalk, bearing a purplifh pi-
ftil inclofed in a long  fheath : this
is  Succeeded ^n July by a  bunch of
reddifh berries. In fome plants, the
leaves  are fpotted with  black, in
others  with  white Spots, and  in
others  not fpotted at all :  the black
fpotted fort is  fuppofed to be the
moft efficacious.
   All  the parts  of arum, particu-
larly the root, have an extremely
pungent, acrimonious  tafte; if the
root be but lightly chewed, it con-
tinues  to burn  and vellicate  the
tongue for fome hours, occasioning
at the fame time a confiderable thirft:
thefe fyinptoms are  alleviated  by
butter-milk or oily liquors.  Dried
and kep't for fome  time it lofes
much of its acrimony,  and becomes
at length an almoft infipid  farina-
ceous fubftance.
   The root is a powerful ftimulant
and attenuant.   It is reckoned a
medicine  of great efficacy in fome
cachedic  and chlorotic cafes,  in
weaknefs of the ftomach occasioned
                              by 
Part  II.             Materia

by a load of vifcid phlegm.   Great
benefit 4ias been obtained from it in
rheumatic pains, particularly thofe
of the  fixt kind, and which were
Seated deep.  In thefe cafes it may
be given from ten grains to a fcru-
ple of the frefli  root twice or thrice
a-day,  madeintoa bolus or emulfion
with unduous  and mucilaginous
fubftances, which cover its pungen-
cy, and prevent  its making any pain-
ful  impreffion upon the tongue.  It
generally excites  a flight tingling
fenfation through the whole habit,
and when the patient is kept warm
in bed, produces a copious Sweat.
  The arum was formerly an ingre-
dient in an officinal preparation, the
compound  powder; but  in that
form its virtues  are very precarious.
Some recommended a tindure of it
drawn with wine ; but neither wine,
water,  nor fpirits,  extrad its vir-
tues.

  ASAFOETIDA  [Lond.  Ed.]
Gummi refina.
  Ferula afafoetida Lin.
  Afafoetida; the gum-refin.
  This is the  concrete juice of a
large umbelliferous plant growing
in Perfia.   Till very lately it was
not  to be met with even in our hot-
houSes; but by the induftry oS the
late Dr Hope, it is  now growing in
the  botanical garden at Edinburgh,
and in Some other places : and it is
Sound,  that it .not  only bears the
viciflitudes of our climate,  even in
the  open air, but  that the  plant is
here ftrongly impregnated with its
peculiar juice.
  This juice exudes, from wounds
made in the root of the plant,  li-
quid, and white like milk: on being
expofed to the  air,  it turns of a
brownifh colour, and gradually ac-
quires different degrees of  confift-
ency.  It is brought to us in large
irregular maffes, compoSed of vari-
Medica.                   137

ous little fhirring lamps or grains,
which are  partly of a whitifh co-
lour, partly reddilh, and partly of a
violet hue.  Thofe niafles are ac-
counted the beft which are clear,of
a pale reddifh colour, and v ariegated
with a great number of  elegant
white tears.
   This drug has a ftrong fetid fmell,
fomewhat like that ot garlick ; and
a bitter, acrid, biting tafte.  It lofes
with age of its fmell and ftrength,
acircumftance to be particularly re-
garded in  its exhibition.   It con-
fifts of about one-third part of pure
refin and two-thirdsof gummy mat-
ter ;  the former foluble in redified
fpirit, the other in water.    Proof-
fpirit diflblves almoft the wholeinto
a turbid liquor; the tindure in rec-
tified fpirit is tranfparent.
   Afafoetida is the  ftrongeft of the
fetid gums,  and of frequent ufe in
hyfteric and different kinds of ner-
vous complaints.  It is likewife of
confiderable efficacy in flatulent co-
lics ; and for promoting all the fluid
fecretions in either fex.  The an-
cients attributed  to this  medicine
many other virtues, which  are at
prefent not expeded from it.
   This gummy-refin is an ingredi-
ent in the officinal gum-pills, fetid
tindure, thdure of foot, and fetid
volatile fpirit.

   ASARUM  [Lond.  Ed.]  Folium.
   Afarum Eur op aunt Lin.
   Afarabacca;  the leaves.
   Afarum is a very lowplant, grow-
ing naturally in France, Italy, and
other  warm countries.  It  grows
readily in our  gardens;  and al-
though  the  dried roots have been
generally brought from the Levant,
thofe of our own growth do not feem
to be weaker.
   Both the roots and leaves have a
naufeous, bitter,  acrimonious, hot
tafte; their fmell is  ftrong,  and not
                            .very 
 138                   Materia  Medica.             Part H.

 very difagreeable.   Given in fub-   have a bitteriih mucilaginous tafte,
 ftance Srom halS a dram to a dram,   inclining to SweetneSs, the fruit has
 they evacuate powerfully both  up-   much the Same kind of tafte;  the
 wards and  dowr/wards.   It is faid,   young fhoots  are  more  agreeable
 that tindures  made in  fpirituous   than either.  Afparagus promotes
 menftrua, poflefs both the emetic   appetite, but  affords  little nourifh-
 and cathartic  virtues of the plant:   ment.   It gives a ftrong ill fmell to
 that the extrad obtained by infpif-   the urine in a little time after eat-
 fating thefe tindures, ads only by   ing it, and for this reafon chiefly is
 vomiting,and with great mildnefs:   fuppofed to be diuretic: it is like-
 that an infufion in water proves ca-   wife  efteemed aperient  and deob-
 thartic, rarely emetic: that aqueous   ftruent; the root is one of the five
 decodions made by  long boiling,   called opening roots.  Some fuppofe
 and the watery extrad,  have no   the fhoots  to  be  moft efficacious;
 purgative or  emetic quality,  but   others the root; and others the bark
 prove  good diaphoretics,  diuretics,   of the root.   Afparagus  appears
 emmenagogues.                    from experience to contribute very
   The principal  ufe of  this plant   little either to the exciting of urine
 among us is as a fternutatory. The   when  fuppreffed,  or  increafing its
 root of afarum is perhaps the ftrong-   difcharge; and in cafes where aperi-
 eft  of all  the vegetable errhines,   ent medicines generally do Service,
 white hellebore itfelf not excepted,   this has little  or no effed.
 Snuffed up the nofe, in the quantity
 of a  grain or two, it occafions a     ATRIPLEX FOETIDA [Ed.]
 large  evacuation  of  mucus,  and   Herba.
• raifes  a plentiful  fpitting.   The     Chenopodium vulvaria Lin.
 leaves are confiderably milder,  and     Stinking oracfr;  the leaves.
 may be uSed, to the quantity of    This is a low plant, Sprinkled all
 three, four, or five grains.   Geof-   over with a kind of whitifhclammy
 froy relates, that after fnuffing up a   meal:  it  grows about dunghills,
 dofe of this crrhine at night, he has   and other waile places.  The leaves
 frequently obferved the  difcharge   have a ftrong fetid fmell, with which
 from the nofe to continue for three   the hand, by a light touch,  becomes
 days together; and  that he  has   fo impregnated as not to be eafily
 known a paralyfis of the mouth  and   freed from it.  Its fmell has gained
 tongue cured by one dofe.  He re-   it the charader of an excellent an-
 com mends thisintdicineinftubborn   tihyfteric ; and this is the only ufe it
 diforders of the head, proceeding   is applied  to. Tqurnefort recom-
 from vifcid tenacious matter, in pal-   mends a Spirituous  tindure, others
 fies, and  in  Soporific diftempers.   a decodion in water, and others a
 The leaves  are the principal ingre-   conferve of the leaves, as  of won-
 dient in (hepulvis fiernutatorius,or   derful efficacy in  uterine diforders;
 pubis afari compofitus, as it is now   but in  the prefent pradice it is little
 termed, of the fhops.               employed.
  ASPARAGUS  [Ros.] Radix,
turiones.
  Afparagus officinalis Lin.
  Afparagus;  the root and top.
  This plant  is cultivated in gar-
dens for culinary ufe.  The roots
  AVENA [Lond.] Semen.
  Avena fativa Lin.
  The oat;  its Seed.
  This grain is an article rather of
food than  of medicine.  It  is Suffi-
ciently nutritive and eaSy of digef-
                            tion. 
Part II.           Materia i!

ftion. The gruels made from ithave
likewiSe a kind oS Soft mucilaginous
quality; by which they obtund acri-
monious humours, and prove ufeful
in inflammatory diforders, coughs,
hoarfeneSs, roughneSs, and exulce-
rations of the fauces. They are by
no means an unpleafant, and at the
fame time a gently nutritive  drink,
in febrile difeafes in general.

    AURANTIUM HISPALEN-
SE [Lond. Ed.] Folium, flos, fruc-
tus fuccus, et cortex exterior.
   Citrus aurantium Lin.
   Seville orange;  the leaf, flower,
juice of the fruit, and its outer rind.
   The orange is a beautiful ever-
green tree, or rather fhrub ; it is a
native of the warmer climates, and
does not eafily bear the winters of
 this.                          •
   The flowers are highly odorife-
rous, and have been for fome  time
 paft of great efteem as a perfume :
 iheir tafte is fomewhat  warm, ac-
 companied with a degree  of bitter-
 nefs. They  yield  their flavour by
 infufion to redified fpirit,  and in di-
 ftillation both to fpirit  and  water :
 the bitter matter is diflblved by wa-
 ter, and, on  evaporating the decoc-
 tion, remains entire in  the extrad.
 An oil diftilled from thefe flowers is
 brought from Italy under  the name
 of  oleum or  effentia neroli.
    Orange flowers were at one time
 faid to be an ufeful remedy in con-
  vulfive and epileptic caSes ; but ex-
  perience has not confirmed  the vir-
  tues attributed to them.  The leaves
 of the orange have alfo been recom-
  mended for the fame purpofe, but
 have by no means anfwered the ex-
  pedations entertained by fome.
    The outeryellow rind of the fruit
  is a grateful aromatic  bitter; and
  proves an excellent ftomachic and
  carminative,  promoting   appetite,
  warming the habit, andftrengthen-
  ing the tone of the vifcera,  Orange
Medica.                  139

peel appears to be very confiderably
warmer than that of lemons, and to
abound more with effential oil; to
this circumftance therefore due re-
gard ought to be had in the ufe of
thefe medicines. The flavour of the
firft is likewife  fuppofed to be lefs
perifhable  than that of the other:
hence the London college employ
orange-peel  in the fpiritnous bitter
tindure which isdefignedfor keep-
ing; whilft in the bitter watery in-
fufion, lemon-peel is preferred.  A
fyrup and diftilled water are Sor the
 Same reaSon prepared Srom the rind
 of oranges in preference to that of
 lemons.
    The outer rind of the orange is
 the bafis of a conferve both in the
 Edinburgh and London pharmaco-
 poeias ; and this is perhaps one of
 the  moft  elegant  and convenient
 forms for exhibiting it.
    The juice of oranges is a grate-
 ful acid liquor, of confiderable ufe in
 febrile or inflammatory diftempers,
 for allaying heat, abating exorbitant
 commotionsof theblood, quenching
 thirft,' and  promoting the Salutary
 excretions :  it is likewife of" ufe in
 genuine Scorbutus, or Sea-Scurvy.—
 Although   the  Seville,  or bitter-
 orange, as it is called, has alone a
 place in our pharmacopoeias, yet the
 juice oS the China, or Sweet-orange,
 is much more employed. It is more
 mild, and lefs  acid ; and it is em-
 ployed in its moft fimple ftate with
 great advantage,  both as a cooling
 medicine, and as an uSeSul antiSeptic
 in Severs oS the worft kinds, as well
  as in many other acute diSeaSes, be-
  ing highly beneficial as alleviating
  thirft.

    AURANTIA CURASLAVEN-
  SIA.
    Curaffao oranges.
    TheSe are the Small young fruit
  oS the Seville orange dried.   They
  are moderately warm bitterifh aro-
                           matics, 
14a                  Materia

matics,  of a  flavour  Sufficiently a-
greeable.

  AURUM [Brun.]
  Gold.
  This metal was introduced  into
medicine  by  the Arabians, who
efteemed it one of the greateft cor-
dials and comforters of the nerves.
From them Europe received it with-
out any dimunition of its charader;
in foreign pharmacopoeias it is ftill
retained and even mixed  with the
ingredients from which fimple wa-
ters are to be  diftilled. Butno one,
it is prefumed, at this  time, expeds
any Singular virtues from  it, fince
it certainly is  not alterable in the
human body.  Mr Geoffroy, though
unwilling  to rejed it  from  the cor-
dial preparations, honeftly acknow-
ledgs, that he has no other reafon
for retaining it,  thau compluiSance
to the Arabian fchools.   The che-
mifts have endeavoured, by many
elaborate proceffes, to extrad what
they call a fulphur or aninia of gold:
but  no method is as yet known of
feparating  the component parts of
this metal; all the tindures of it,
and aurumpotabile, which have hi-
therto appeared,  are real  Solutions
of it in aqua regia, diluted with fpi-
rit of wine or other liquors, and
prove injurious  to the body rather
than beneficial. A place, however,
is now given in fome of the foreign
pharmacopoeias to the aurum fulmi-
nans; and it  has of  late been re-
commended as a remedy in fome
convulfive difeafes, particularly in
the chorea fandi  viti.

  BALSAMITA [Gen.] Folia.
  Tanacetum balfamlta Lin.
  Coftmary;  the leaves.
  This  was formerly a very com-
mon garden plant, and of  frequent
ufe both for culinary and  medicinal
purpofes:  but it is at prefent very
little regarded for either:  though it
Medica.             Part IL

fhould Teem, from its fenfible quali-
ties  to be  equal or fuperior,  as a
medicine,  to fome aromatic herbs
which pradice has retained. The
leaves have a Wtterifh,warm,aroma-
tic tafte; and a very pleafant fmell,
approaching to that of mint or a mix-
ture of mint and maudlin.   Water
elevates their flavour in diftillation;
and redified fpirit extrads it by in-
fufion.   It  has been recommended
in hyfterical  affedions;  and by
fome  it  has  been fuppofed to be
very powerful in correding the in-
fluence of opium. The leaves fhould
be colleded in the month of July or
Auguft.

  BALSAMUM  CANADENSE.
[Lond. Ed.]
  Pinus baifamea Lin.
  Canada balfam.
  The Canada balfam is a tranfpa-
rent  refinous juice,  of a light amber
colour, and pretty firm confiftence,
which  is  brought  to  this country
from Canada  in North America.
It may beconfidered as one of the
pureft oS the turpentines; and like
theSe it is alSo the produd of a fpe-
cies of fir.  It has a very agreeable
Smell,  and a warm pungent tafte.
Hitherto it has been  but little em-
ployed in medicine: but is confider-
ed by Some as capable oS anSwering
every purpofe for which  the next
article is employed.

  BALSAMUM COPAIVA
[Lond. Ed.]
  Copaifera batfamum Lin.
  Balfam of Copaiva.
  The tree which produces this bal-
fam is a native of the Spanilh Weft
India iflands,  and of  fome parts of
the continent of South America.  It
grows to a large  fize, and the balfa-
mum  Copaiva  flows  under the
form of a refinous juice, from inci-
fions made  in the trunk.
  The juice  is clear and transpa-
                            rent 
Part II.             Materia

rent, of a whitifh or pale yellowifh
colour, an agreeable  fmell, and a
bitterifh pungent tafte.  It is uSually
about the confiftence of oil, or a
Httle thicker :  when long kept, it
becomes nearly as thick as  honey,
retaining its clearnefs ; but  has not
been obferved to grow dry or folid,
as moft of the other refinous juices
do. We Sometimes meet with a thick
fort of balfam  of Copaiva, which
re not at all tranfparent, or much lefs
fo than the foregoing, and geaerally
has a  portion of  turbid watery li-
quor at  the bottom.   This fort is
probably either  adulterated by the
mixture of other fubftances, or has
been extraded by codion from the
bark and branches of the tree :  its
fmell and tafte are much lefs pleafant
than thofe of the genuine balfam.
  Pure balfam of Copaiva diflblves
entirely in redified fpirit, efpecially
if the menftruum be previoufly alka-
lized :  the folution has a very fra-
grant fmell.  Diftilled with water,
it yields a large quantity of a limpid
effential oil ; and in a ftrong heat,
without addition, a blue oil.
  The balfam of Copaiva is an ufe-
ful corroborating detergent medi-
cine, accompanied with a degree of
irritation.  It ftrengthens the ner-
vous fyftem, tends to loofen the bel-
ly, in large dofes proves purgative,
promotes  urine,  and  cleanfes and
heals  exulceraticns in the urinary
paffages, which it is fuppofed to per-
form more effedually than  any of
the other balfams.  Fuller obServes,
that it gives the urine an intenf'ely
bitter tafte,  but  not a violet Smell
as the turpentines do.
  This balSam has been principally
celebrated  in  gleets and the fluor
albtis, and externally asa vulnerary.
The author  abovementioned, re-
commends it likewife in dySenteries,
in Scorbutic cachexies, in diSeaSesof
the breaft and lungs, and in an acri-
monious or putrefcent ftate  of the
Medica.                  141

juices: he fays, he has known very
dangerous coughs, which manifeftly
threatened a confumption, cured by
the ufe  of this balfam alone ;  and
that, notwithftanding its being hot
and bitter, it has good effeds even in
hedic cafes.  Moft phyficians feem
now, however, to confider balfams
and refins too ftimulant to be ven-
tured on in phthifical affedions.
   The dofe of this medicine rarely
exceeds twenty or thirty drops, tho'
fome dired fixty or more.   It may
be conveniently taken in the form
of an clasofaccharnm, or in that of
an emulfion, into which it may be
reduced  by triturating  it with al-
monds, or rather with a thick muci-
lage of gum-arabic, till they are well
incorporated,  and  then gradually
adding a proper quantity of water.

   BALSAMUM  GILEADENSE
[Ed.]
   Amy ris G He ad en [is L<n.
   BalSam of Gilead.
   This article, which has alfo had
the name of Balfamum Judaiacum,
Syriacum, e Mecca  Opobalfamum,
&c.  is  a refinous juice, obtained
from an ever-green tree, growing
fpontaneoufly, particularly  near to
Mecca, on  the Afiatic fide  of the
Red Sea.  The beft fort  of it is a
fpontaneousexudationfrom the tree;
and is held in fo high efteem by the
Turks, who are in poffeffion of the
country where it is produced,  that
it is rarely, if  ever, to be met with
genuine among us.  From the high
price fet upon it, many adulterations
are pradifed.  The true opobalfam-
um, according to Alpinus, is at firft
turbid and white, of a very  ftrong
pungent fmell,  like that of turpen-
tine, but much fweeter ;  and of a
bitter, acrid, aftringent tafte: upon
being kept for fome time, it becomes
thin, limpid, of agreenifh hue, then
of a gold yellow, and at length of
the colour of honey. According to
                             Dr 
143                  Materia

Dr Alfton, the fnreft mark  of  its
being pure and unadulterated is its
fpreading quickly on the furface of
water when dropt into it.  He tells
ns, that if a fingle drop  be let fall
into a large faucer full of water, it
will immediately fpread over its fur-
face,  and feem in a fhort time to
diflblve or difappear ; but  in about
the fpaee of half an hour it becomes
a tranfparent pellicle, covering the
whole furface, and may be taken
up with a pin.   In this ftate it has
loft both its fluidity and  colour ;  it
has become white and cohering,
and has communicated its fmell and
tafte to the water.   It is, however,
he obferves, rare to get it  in a con-
dition that bears this teft.
   This balfam is in high efteem a-
mong the  eaftern nations,  both as a
medicine and as an odoriferous un-
guent and cofmetic.  It has been
recommended in a variety of com-
plaints ; but its great fcarcity has
prevented it from coming into  ufe
among us ; and it is now in general
believed  that the Canada and Co-
paiva balfams will anfwer every pur-
pofe for which it can be employed.

   BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM
[Lond. Ed.]
   Myroxylon peruiferum Lin.
   Balfam of Peru.
   The common Peruvian  balfam is
faid  to be extraded by codion in
water,  from an odoriferous fhrub
growing in  Peru  and the warmer
parts of America.  This balfam, as
brought to us, is nearly of the con-
fiftence of thin honey, of a reddifh
brown colour, inclining  to black,
an agreeable aromatic  fmell, and a
very hot biting tafte. Diftilled with
water, it yields a fmall quantity of
a fragrant effential oil of a reddifh
colour ;  and in a ftrong fire, with-
out addition, a yellowifh red oil.
   Balfam of Peru is a very  warm
aromatic medicine, confiderably hot-
Medica.             Part If.

ter and more acrid than Copaiva.
Its principal effeds are, to warm the
habit, to ftrengthen the nervous fy-
ftem, and attenuate vifcid humours.
Hence  its ufe in fome  kinds of
afthmas, gonorrhoeas, dyfenteries,
fuppreffions of the uterine difcharg-
es, and other diforders proceeding
from a  debility  of the folids, or a
fluggifhnefs and  inadivity of the
juices. It is alfo employed external-
ly, for cleanlingand healing wounds
and ulcers;  and fometimes againft
palfies and rheumatic pains.
   This balfam does not unite with
water,  milk, expreffed oils, animal
fats, or wax: it may be mingled in
the cold with this laft, and likewife
with the Sebaceous fubftance called
expreffed oil of  mace j  but if the
mixture be afterwards liquefied by
heat, the balfam feparates and falls
to the bottom.   It may be  mixed
with water into the form of  an e-
mulfion, after the fame manner as
the  balfam of Copaiva.  Alkaline
lixivia diflblve great part of it; and
redified fpirit the whole.
   It is an ingredient in Several offi-
cinal  compofitions;  in  fome of
which, as we fhall afterwards en-
deavour to fliow, it has rather a bad
than a good effed.
   There is another fort  of balfam
of Peru, of a white colour, and con-
fiderably more  fragrant  than the
former. This is very rarely brought
to us.   It is faid to be the  produce
of the  fame plant which yields the
common or  black balfam ; and to
 exude from incifions made  in the
 trunk ; while the former is alleged
' to be obtained by boiling.  Befides
 the white, there is alfo a third kind,
 commonly called the red or dry.,
 This is fuppofed to obtain a diffe-
 rent ftate from the white, merely
 in confequence  of the treatment to
 which it is  fubjeded  after it is
 got  from the  tree.   In its  fra-
 grance it in fome degree approaches
                               t« 
Part II.              Materia
to the balfam of Gilead, held in fo
high efteem among the eaftern na-
tions ; but it is very rarely in ufe in
Britain, and almoft never to be met
with in our fhops.

    BALSAMUM  RAKASIRI
[ Brun.]
   With the hiftory of this balfam
we are lefs  acquainted than with
that of any others.  It is the  pro-
dud of an American tree yet un-
known to us ; and it is fuppofed to
be a fpontaneous exudation. If the
 accounts given of  it by feveral wri-
 ters, particularly by Mr Fermin  in
 his Hiftory  of  Surinam, are to be
 depended upon, it  may be consider-
 ed as one of" the moft powerful and
 ufeful of the balfams yet difcovered.
 It is faid to poffefs  all thofe  virtues
 which  are  attributed to balfam urn
 Copaiva, but in a  much higher de-
 gree.   It  is reprefented as a moft
 ufeful  application, both in cafes of
 recent wounds and old ulcers ; and
 it is held  forth to be an infallible
 remedy, both for the gonorrhoea in
 men  and   fluor albus in  women.
 Thefe accounts, however,  are fole-
 ly founded on the representation of
 the Indians,  who are alone in the
 habit  of ufing it;  for hitherto it has
 been  very  little  employed in Eu-
 rope, and is very rarely to be met
 with.

    BALSAMUM  TOLUTANUM
 [Lond. Ed.]
    Toluifera balfamum.
    Balfam of Tolu.
    This flows from a tree growing in
 Tolu, in the Spanifh Weft-Indies ;
 from whence the  balfam is brought
 to us in little gourd  fhells.   It is of
  a yellowifh brown colour, inclining
  to red ; in confiftence thick and te-
 naceous:  by age  it grows hard and
 brittle, without Suffering any great
 loSsoS its more valuable parts. The
 fmell of this balfam is extremely fra-
Medica.                  143

grant, fomewhat refembling that of
lemons ;  its tafte warm and fweet-
ifh, with little of the pungency,
and nothing of the naufeous relifh,
which accompany the other balfams.
It has the fame general virtues with
the foregoing; but is much milder,
and for fome purpofes, particularly
as a corroborant in gleets and femi-
nal weakneffes, is  fuppofed  to be
more efficacious. It is an ingredient
in the [yrupus tolutanus, tinftura
tolutana, and fyrupus balfamicus.

   BARDANA  [Lond.  Ed.]  Ra-
dix.
   Arc~iiu7n lappa Lin.
   Burdock ; the root.
   This  is a common plant  about
 way fides, fnfficiently known from
 its fcaly heads, or burs, which ftick
 to the clothes.—The feeds have a
 bitterifli fubacrid tafte: they are re-
 commended as very efficacious diu-
 retics,  giveti either in the form of
 emulfion, or in powder, to the quan-
 tity  of  a dram.—The  roots lafte
 fweetifh, with a flight aufterity and
 bitterifhneSs : they are efteemed a-
 perient, diuretic, and fudorific; and
 faid to ad without irritation,  fo as
 to be fafely ventured upon in acute
 diforders. Decodions of them have
 of late  been  ufed  in  rheumatic,
 gouty, venereal,  and other difor-
 ders ;  and  preferred by fome to
 thofe of farfaparilla.

   BARILLA  [Lond.]  Natrum
 impurum.
   Natrum antiquorum Lin.
   Barilla, or impure fofiil alkali.
   Barilla is a faline fubftance in a
 very impure ftate, chiefly imported
 into Britain from the Mediterrane-
 an.  Its great conftituent is the fofiil
 alkali ; and it is under that  form
 alone that it is now employed in me-
  dicine, either by itfelf, or combined
  with other articles.  'Its medical
  virtues will  therefor* more pro-
                            perly 
 144                 Materia

perly fall to be mentioned under the
title of Natron  praeparatum,  the
name now given by the London col-
lege to the pure foffil alkali, the fal
alkalinus fixus foffilis of the Edin-
burgh college, the fal foda of fome
of the beft foreign pharmacopoeias.
   The barilla, or natron of the an-
cients, has fometimes  been found
native in the  earth, particularly in
Egypt near to Smyrna, andinother
places of  Alia ;   it has alfo  been
found in  fome  parts of Barbary,
Hungary,  and Ruflia :  But as now
employed  for the purpofes of medi-
cine and other arts, it is chiefly ob-
tained by  artificially feparating  it
from thofe fubftances which contain
it.  Our barilla is chiefly imported
from Spain, where it is obtained by
the calcination of vegetables, parti-
cularly the kali, growingon the fea
fhore.  In Britain,  much  of  it is
obtained in a  very impure ftate, by
the calcination of the different fuci,
or fea-weeds, growingon the rocks,
and covered by the Sea-water at e-
very tide.   And xthere  can be no
doubt that all theSe different vege-
tables derive it  entirely from the
fea-fait. Many attempts have been
made to obtain it immediately from
fea-falt: And although thefe  have
not been  hitherto fo fuccefsful as
could have been wifhed, yet it is to
be hoped,  that a procefs will be dis-
covered for obtaining it in an eafy
manner, and at a cheaper rate, than
it is either at  preSent imported Srom
abroad or obtained at home.

   BDELLIUM  [Suec]
   Bdellium ;  gummi-refina.
   Bdellium  is  a gummy-refinous
concrete juice brought from Arabia
and  the  Eaft-Indies,  in glebes of
different figures  and magnitudes.
It is oi a dark reddifh brown colour,
and  in  appearance  .fomewhat re-
fembles  myrrh  ;  upon cutting a
piece, it looks fomewhat  tranfpa-
Medica.             Patt  II.
rent, and, as Geoffroy juftly ob-
serves, like glue. It grows Soft and
tenaceous in the mouth,  flicks  to
the teeth, has a bitterifti tafte, and
not a diSagreeable Smell.  Bdellium
is recommended as a Sudorific, diu-
retic, and uterine ; and in external
applications Sor maturating tumours,
&c.  In the preSent  pradice,  it is
Scarcely  made uSe oS.  And accor-
dingly it has now no place either
in the London or Edinburgh Phar-
macopoeias ;  .but it  is ftill retain-
ed in  feveral  of  the  lateft  fo-
reign ones, and enters fome of their
plafters.

   BECABUNGA [Lond.] Herba.
   Veronica becabunga Lin.
   Brooklime ; the herb.
   This is a low plant, common in
little rivulets and ditches of ftand-
ing water.  The leaves remain all
the winter, but are in greateft per-
fedion in the fpring.  Their pre-
vailing tafte is an herbaceous one,
accompanied with a very light  bit-
ternefs.
   Becabunga has been fuppofcd to
have a faponaceous detergent virtue,
and  to  attenuate  vifcid  humours
without  pungency or  irritation:
hence it has been direded in the
fpecies of fcurvy called hot, where
the cochlearia,  and other acrid an.
ti-fcorbutics,  were  fuppofed to be
lefs proper. If any virtue isexped-
ed from becabunga,  it  fliould be
ufed as food.

   BELLADONA [Ed.] Folia.
   Atropa belladona Lin.
   Deadly nightfhade.
   The deadly nightfhade is a native
of Britain, growing in many diffe-
rent  places, and in confiderable a-
bundance.  It has long been confi-
dered, which indeed may be inferred
from the name, as one of the moft
deleterious of the vegetable narcotic
poifyns.   It  has, however, for  a
                           con- 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
U5
 confiderable number of  years been
 employed in the pradice oS medi-
 cine, both externally and  internal-
 ly;  and it  has accordingly had  a
 place in Succeflive editions of the E-
 dinburgh pharmacopoeia. It is per-
 haps furpriling that the  London
 college have  not introduced into
 their lift an article of great adivity,
 which under prudent management
 may certainly be ufed with fafety,
 and  which at leaft deferves a  trial
 in cafes otherwife defperate.
   The belladona, taken internally,
 has  been highly recommended in
 cancer by feveral writers, particular-
 ly by Dr Lambergen and Dr Munch,
 in treatifesprofefTedly publifiied with
 the intention of recommending it.
 Befides a very remarkable narcotic
 power, this vegetable pofleffes consi-
 derable influence in promoting all
 the excretions, particularly by Sweat,
 urine, and it is alSo Said by Saliva. It
 hasbeenemployed undertheformof
 infufion Sormed of the dried leaves,
 to the extent of a fcruple in a confi-
 derable quantity of  water,  and ta-
 ken  in the courfe of a  day.   But
 fome imagine that it is much injur-
 ed by the adion of heat, and give
 it under the form of  dry powder of
 the leaves.  As thus employed, the
 dofe is limited to a few grains.
  Befides cancer, Schirrhus, and o-
 ther obftinate tumours, it has been
 Said to be alSo  employed with Suc-
 ccSs  in Some caSes of melancholia,
 mania, and epilepfia.
   Externally, it has been applied to
 open cancers under the Sormof an
 infufion of the dried leaves; and to
 occult ones, the  recent leaves have
 been  applied in  fubftance.  And
 there are well authenticated cafes oh
 record of good  effeds  being ob-
 tianed from  it in both thefe ways.
While therefore a place  is given to
it iti  lifts of the materia  medica, it
ought alfo, we think, to be the ba-
 fis of officinal formulx, under which
 it might be employed with moft fafe-
 ty and advantage.

   BENZOE [Lond.  Ed.] Refina.
   Styrax benzoe Dryand. [Lond.J
   Terminalia benzoin Lin. [Ed.]
   Benzoine ; the refin.
   Benzoine is  a concrete refinous
juice.  It is brought from the Eaft-
 Indies only; in large maffes compo-
 fed of white and light brown pieces,
 or yellowifh fpecks, breaking very
 eafily betwixt the bands: Such as is
 whiteft,  and Sree Srom impurities,
is moft elteemed.
  In moft of the new foreign  phar-
macopoeias benzoine is faid to be ob-
tained from  the croton  benzoe of
Linnaeus: but  when the laft edi-
tion of the  Edinburgh pharmaco-
poeia was publifiied, it was fuppofed
to be the produdt of the terminalia
benzoine, a tree unknown to Lin-
nosas, but defcribed in the Supple-
ment to his works, publifhed by his
fon.  But fince that, Dr Dryander
of London has  defcribed the tree
producing it  in  the Philofophical
Tranfadions, and gives it the name
of ftyrax benzoe.  It grows chiefly
in the ifland of Sumatra.
  This refin has very little tafte, im-
preffmg only  a  light  Sweetnefs on
the tongue : its  Smell is extremely
fragrant  and agreeable,  especially
when heated.  Committed to the
fire in proper veffels, it yields a con-
siderable quantity of a white faline
concrete, called flowers, of an aci-
dulous tafte and grateful odour, fo-
luble in  redified fpirit, and, by the
afliftance of heat, in water.-    Of
thefe wc fhall afterwards  have oc-
cafion to treat.
  The principal ufe of benzoine is
in perfumes, and as a cofmetic:  it
is rarely met with in extemporaneous
prefcription,and enters in fubftance
only one officinal compofition, the
balfamum traumaticum, or tindura
benzoes cojnpofita, as it is now more
               K           pro- 
 146                  Materia

properly ftyled by the London col-
lege, defigned chiefly for external
life.   It  fhould  nevertheless Seem
applicable to other purpoSes, and to
have no ill title to thevirtuesoffto-
rax and  balfam of Tolu, at leaft  in
a fubordinate degree.  The flowers
are recommended in diforders of the
breaft; and with this intention they
are made an ingredient in the pare-
goric elixir, or camphorated tindure
of opium.

   BERBERIS [Suec] Cortex bac-
carum fuccus.
   Berberis vulgaris Lin.
   Barberry ;  the bark and juice of
the berries.
   The barberry is a fmall  tree,  or
rather a large  bufh, covered with  an
afh-colonred bark, under which  is
contained another of a deep yellow:
the berries are  of  an  elegant red
colour,  and contain each two hard
brown feeds.  It grows wild on chal-
ky hiilsin feveralpartsof England ;
and is frequently planted in hedges
and in gardens.
  The outward bark of the branches,
and  the leaves,  has an aftringent
acid tafte; the inner yellow bark; a
bitter one ; this laft is faid to be fer-
viceable  in the jaundice; and  by
fome, to be an ufeful purgative.
   The berries, which to the tafte
arc gratefully acid,  and moderately
rcftringent, have been given with
g~-od  Succefs in bilious fluxes, and
diSeaSes proceeding from heat, acri-
mony, or thinnefs of the juices.  A-
inong the Egyptians, barberries are
employed in  fluxes and in  malig-
nant fevers,for abating heat,qt:ench-
in^, thirft, raifing the ftrength, and
preventing putrefadion ; the fruit
is  macerated  for a day and night,
in about twelve times  its quantity
of water, with the addition  of a lit-
tle fennel fsed, or the like, fo pre-
vent offence to the ftomach ; the  li-
quors ltrained off,  and Sweetened
Medica.              Fart II.

with fugar,  or Syrup of citrons, is
given the patient liberally to drink.
Profper Alpinus (from whofe trea-
tife  De Medicina Egyptiorum this
account is extraded) informs us, that
he took this medicine himfelf, with
happy Succefs, in a peftilential Sever
accompanied with an immoderate
bilious diarrhoea.
   The barberry,  however, is now
So little uSed Sor medical purpoSes
in Britain, that it is  rejeded Srom
the lift both of the London and  E-
dinburgh colleges.

   BETA [Gen.] Folium, radix.
   Beta vulgaris Lin.
   The  white and reed beet, the
root and leaves.
   Thefe  plants  are  cultivated  in
gardens  chiefly  for  culinary ufe.
The eye diftinguifhes little other
difference  betwixt them than that
expreffed in their titles.  Decodions
of  beets gently loofen  the  belly;
hence they have been ranked among
the emollient herbs; the plants re-
maining after the  boiling are fup-
pofed to  have rather a contrary ef-
fed. They afford  little nourifh-
ment,  and  are faid by fome to  be
prejudicial to the ftomach.  The
juice expreffed from  the  roots is a
powerful errhine ; but with this in-
tention they are hardly employed  in
medicine.  Of late, another fpecies
of beet, defcribed by Dr Lettfom,
under the title of Beta hybrida,  or
the  root of fcarcity,  has  been ex-
tolled, as  affording a great quantity
of alimentary  matter on  a fmall
fpace of ground,  both for  the hu-
man fpecies and domeftic animals;
but it has not been  recommended
for  any particular purpofe in medi-
cine.

   BETONICA [Br;:;:.] Folia  et
fiords.
   Bcio;:xa officinalis Lin.
   Betony;  the leaves and flowers.
                          Be tony
% 
 Part II.             Materia

   Betony is  a low plant, growing
 in woods and fhady places, in Seve-
 ral parts of  England; the flowers
 come forth in June and July;  they
 are oS a purplith, colour,  and ftand
 in Spikes on the tops of the  ftalks.
 The leaves and flowers have an her-
 baceous, roughifh, fomewhat  bit-
 terifli  tafte,  accompanied  with ?.
 very weak aromatic flavour.   This
 herb has long been  a  favourite a-
 mong writers on the materia medi-
 ca, who have not been wanting to
 attribute to  it  abundance of good
 qualities.  Experience does not dif-
 cover  any other virtue  in betony
 than that of a mild corroborant;  as
 fuch, an infufion or light decodion
 of it may be drank as tea, or a fatu-
 rated tindure in redified  fpirit gi-
 ven in fuitable dofes, in laxity and,
 debility of the vifcera, and difor-
 ders proceeding from thence. The
 powder of the leaves, fnuffed up the
 nofe, provokes fneezing,  and hence
 betony is fometimes made an ingre-
 dient in flernutatory powders : this
 effed does not feem to be  owing, as
 is generally fuppofed, to any pecu-
 liar ftimulating quality in the herb,
 but to  the rough  hairs which the
 leaves  are covered with. The roots
 of this plant differ greatly in qua-
 lity  from  the other parts : their
 tafte is bitter and very naufeous:
 taken in  a fmall  dofe, they vomit
 and purge violently, and are fuppo-
 fed to  bave fomewhat in common
 with the roots of  hellebore.   It  is
 pretty Singular, if true, that beto-
 ny affeds  thofe who gather  any
 confiderable quantity oS it, with a
 diSorder reSembiing  drunkennefs:
 as affirmed  by Simon Paulli  and
 Bartholinus.
  From theSe Senfible qualities  and
operative effeds,  although it  has
now  no  place in  our  pharmaco-
poeias,  yet it  is  perhaps to be con-
sidered  as a vegetable deferving far-
ther attention.
 Medica.                  147

   BETULA [Gen.] Cortex, fue-
 cus.
   Betula alba Lin.
   The birch tree,  the bark and
 fap.
   This tree  grows wild in  mofb
 woods: its bark confifts of a thick
 brittle fubftance of a brownifh red
 colour; and  of  feveral very thin,
 fmooth, white,  tranfparent  mem-
 branes.  Thefe laft  are highly in-
 flammable, and  appear* to abound
 with refinous matter, though fcarce-
 ly of any particular fmell or tafte:
 the  thick brittle part is lefs refin-
 ous, and in tafte roughifn :  of the
 medical virtues  of either, little  or
 nothing is known with certainty.
   Upon deeply wounding or boring
 the trunk of  the tree in the begin-
 ning of fpring;  a fweetifti juice
 iffues forth, fometimes, as it is faid,
 in fo large quantity, as to equal  in
 weight the  whole tree and root:
 one branch will bleed a  gallon  or
 more in a day. This juice  is chief-
 ly recommended in Scorbutic  disor-
 ders, and  other Soulneffes of the
 blood ; its moft  fenfible effed is to
 promote the urinary difcharge.

   BEZOAR  [Brun.]
   Calculus caprx bezoardica.
   Bezoar Stone.
   The bezoar ftone  is a  calculous
 concretion Sound in the ftomach  of
 certain animals  which  are Said  to
 be of the goat kind.  It  is compof-
 ed of  concentrical coats furround-
 ing one another, with a little cavity
 in the middle,  containing a bit  of
 wood,  ftraw, hair, or fome fimilar
 Subftance.
   The fhops  diftinguifh two Sorts
 oS bezoar,  one brought  from Per-
 fia and the Eaft-Indies, the  other
Srom the Spanifh Weft-Indies. The
firft, or beft fprt, called oriental be-
zoar, is of a thinning dark green  or
olive colour,  and an even fmooth
furface; on removing the outward
              K 2           coat, 
  148                  Materia

 coat, that which lies underneath it
 appears likewife fmooth and fhini ng.
 The occidental  has a rough fur-
 face, and lefs of a green colour than
 the foregoing: it is likewife much
 heavier,  more brittle,  and  of a
 loofer texture ; the coats are thick-
 er, and on breaking exhibit  a num-
 ber of ftrias  curioufly  interwoven.
 The oriental is generally lefs than a
 walnut; the occidental for the moft
 part  larger,  and fometimes as big
 as a goofe egg.  The  firft  is moft
 efteemed ; although now they are
 fo little valued  in  Britain,  that a
 place is given to  neither  in our
 pharmacopoeias.
   Kaempfer  (in whofe Amcenitates
 Exotic*, a full account of the be-
 zoar animal may be  feen) informs
 us, that this Hone is in high  efteem
 among  the Perfians, and even oS
 greater value than in Europe;  this,
 with Sundry other  circumftances
 needleSs to relate here, has given
 occafion to many to fufped,  that
 the true bezoar is never brought to
 us. Some authors relate with great
 confidence, that all the Stones com-
 motily Sold under this name  are ar-
 tificial compofitions.   That Some
 of them  are fo,  is evident;  hence
 the great differences in the accounts
 which different perfons have given
 of their qualities:  the  flones exa-
 mined by Slare as oriental bezoar,
 did  not diffolve in acids;   thofe
 which Grew  and Boyle made  trial
 of did : thofe employed by  Geof-
 froy (in  fome experiments  related
 in the French memoirs  1710) did
 not feem to be aded on by redified
 fpirit; whilft fome  of thofe exami-.
lied  by  Newman at Berlin  almoft
totally diffolved therein. Tlie com-
mon murk  of the  goodnefs  of this
ftone, is its  ftriking a deep green
colour on white paper that has been
jobbed with chalk.
  Bezoar was not known to the an-
gient Greeks; and is firft taken no-
Medica.             Part  II.

tice of by the Arabians, who extol
it in a great variety of diforders,
particularly againfl poifons.  Later
writers alfo  beftow extraordinary
commendations on it as a fudorific
and alexipharmac; virtues to which
it certainly has no pretence.   It is
a morbid concretion,  much of the
fame  nature with the human calcu-
lus, of  no fmell or tafte, not di<-
geftible in  the ftomach of the ani-
mal in which it is found, and fcarce
capable of being aded upon by any
of the juices of the human body. It
cannot  be  confidered in any other
light  than as  an abforbent; and is
much the weakeft of all the com-
mon fubftances of that clafs.  It has
been  given to half a dram,  and
fometimes  a whole dram,  without
any fenfible effed:  though the ge-
neral  dofe  is  only a few grains,
from  which nothing can be  ex-
peded.

  BISMUTHUM [Brun.]
  Vifmuthum nativum.
  Bifmuth.
  Bifmuth  is  a  ponderous brittle
metal,  refembling  in appearance
the antimonial regulus and zinc,
but greatly differing from them in
quality.   It diflblves with  vehe-
mence in the nitrous  acid, which
only corrodes the regulus of anti-
mony ; and is fcarce at all foluble
in  the  marine   acid, which acts
ftrongly on zinc.  A calx and flow-
ers  of this fcmimetal have been re-
commended as fimilar in virtue to
certain antimonial preparations; but
are  at prefent of no other ufe than
as a pigment or  cofmetic: and it
is now  entirely  rejeded from the
Britifh pharmacopoeias.

  BISTORTA [Lond.Ed.] Radix,
  Polygonum biftorta Liu.
  Bittort, or fnake-weed ; the root.
  This  plant grows wild  in moift
meadows in feveral  parts of Eng-
                            land 
 Part II.            Materia

 land.  The root is about the thick-
 nefs of the little finger, of a black-
 ifh brown colour on the outfide, and
 reddifh  within:  it  is writhed or
 bent vernacularly  (whence  the
 name of the plant) with a joint at
 each bending,  and full of bufhy fi-
 bres; the root  of the fpecies here
 mentioned has, for  the moft part,
 only one or two  bendings;  others
 have three or more.
   All  the  parts  of biftort have a
 rough auftere tafte, particularly the
 root, which is one of the ftrongeft
 of the vegetable aftringents.  It is
 employed in all kinds of immode-
 rate haemorrhagies and other fluxes,
 both internally  and  externally,
 wheije aftringency is the only indi-
 cation.   It is certainly a very pow-
 erful ftyptic, and is to be looked on
 fimply as Such ;  to the Sudorific, an-
 tipeftilential, and other virtues at-
 tributed to it, it has no other claim
 than in conSequence of its aftrin-
 gency, and of the antifeptic power
 which it has in  common with other
 vegetable fly ptics. The largeft dofe
 of the root in powder is one  dram.

   BOLL
   Boles  are  vifcid  clayey earths,
 lefs coherent and more friable than
 clay ftridly fo called, more readily
 uniting with water, and more freely
 fubfiding from it. They  are foft
 and unduous to  the touch, adhere
 to the tongue, and by degrees melt
 in the  mouth, impreffing  a  light
 SenSe oS aftringency.  A great va-
 riety oS theSe kinds oS earths have
 been introduced  into medicine ;
 the principal oS  which are the Sol-
 lowing.

   (i)  Bolus  Armena  [Seiec]
 Armenian bole,  or bole-armenic.
   Pure   Armenian bole  is  of  a
bright red  colour, with a tinge of
yellow : it is one of the hardeft and
 moft compad of the bodies of this
 Medica.                  149

 clafs ; and not fmooth or gloffy like
 the others, but generally of a rough
 dufty furface.  It raifes no efferve-
 fcence with acids.

   (2)  Bolus Gallica  [Lond.
 Ed.] French bole.
   The common French bole is of
 a pate red colour, variegated with
 irregular fpecks or veins of white
 and yellow.   It is much fofter than
 the foregoing ; and  Slightly effer-
 Vefces with acids.

   (3)  Bolus Blesensis.  Bole
 of Blois.
   This is a yellow bole, remark-
 ably lighter than  the former,  and
 than moft  of the  other  yellow
 earths.  It effervefces ftrongly with
 acids.

   (4) Bolus Bohemica.  Bohe-
 mian bole.
   This is of a yellow colour, with
 a caft of red,  generally of  a flaky
 texture. It is not aded on by acids.

   (5) Terra Lemnia. Lemnian
 earth.
   This is a pale red earth; Slightly
 effervefcing with acids.

   (6) Terra Silesiaca. Silefian
 earth.
  This is of a brownifti yellow co-
lour  : acids have no fenfible effed
upon it.  Thefe and other  earths,
made into little maffes,  and ftamp-
ed with certain impreffions, are call-
ed terra figillata.

  The boles of Armenia and Blois,
and the Lemnian earth, are rarely
met with genuine in the fhops;  the
coarSer boles, or white clay colour-
ed with ochre, caput moment „qf
vitriol, Sec. frequently fupply1 IJffiJr
place.  The genuine may be diftinv:*
guifhed by their fubfiding uniform-
ly from water, without any fepara-
              K  3           tion 
Materia Medica.
ico

tion oS their parts; the genuine yel-
low  boles  retain their colour,  or
have it deepened in the  fire, whilft
the counterfeit forts burn red.
   TheSe earths have been recom-
mended as aftringent, Sudorific, and
alexipharmac ;  and  they have been
tiSed in diarrhoeas, dySenteries, has-
morrhagies, and in  malignant and
pestilential diftempers.   In intcfti-
nal fluxes, and  complaints in the
firft paffages from thin acrimonious
humours, they may doubtleSs  be of
fome uSe;  but the virtues aScribed
to them in  the other cafes appear to
have no foundation.
   In the  London  pharmacopoeia
bole was Sormerly an ingredient in
the pulvis e bolo,  e fcordio, tabella
tardialgiae,  theriaca,  and in one
compofition Sor  external uSe, viz.
the lapis medicamentofus.  But now
theSe formulae  are  either entirely
thrown  out, or  much  changed.
Thus to the pulvis  e bolo, the pul-
vis e creta is fubftituted, in which
no bole  is contained.  The  bolus
gallicus  is the only one now retain-
ed either in  the  London  or Edin-
burgh pharmacopoeias.  It does not
enter any of  their compofitions,
and is  hardly uSed in the preSent
pradice,

   BONUS  HENRICUS  [Gen.]
Herba.
   Chenopodium bonus henricus.
   Englifh herb mercury.
   This  herb is met with by road-
fides, and in uncultivated places. It
is  ranked  among   the  emollient
herbs, but rarely made  uSe  of  in
pradice.  The leaves are applied
by the  common people for healing
flight wounds, cleanfing old ulcers,
and other  like purpofes.

   BORRAGO [Gen.] Herba.
Borrago officinalis Lin.
   Borage; the herb.
   This  is a rough plant, clothed
Part II.
with Small prickly hairs; it  grows
wild in wafte places, and upon old
walls.   An  exhilirating virtue has
been attributed to the flowers of
borage, which are  hence ranked
among the fo called cordial flowers;
but they appear to have very little
claim to any  virtue of this kind,
and feem  to be altogether infigni.
ficant.

   BORAX [Lond.  Ed.]
   Natron boracicatum.
   Borax,  or tincal.
   Thisis a faline fubftance, brought
from the  Eafl-Indies in great maf-
fes,  compofed partly of large cry-
ftals, but chiefly of fmaller ones,
partly white and partly green,join-
ed together as it  were by a  greafy
yellow fubftance, intermingled with
fand, fmall ftones,  and other im-
purities :  the  purer cryftals, expo-
sed to the  fire, melt into a kind of
glafs, which is nevertheless  foluble
in water.
   This fait,  diffolved and criftalli-
zed, forms fmall tranfparent maffes;
the refiners have a method of fhoot-
ing it into larger cryftals; but thefe
differ in feveral  refpeds from the
genuine fait, infomuch  that Cramer
calls them not a purified, but adul-
terated borax.  Experiments have
clearly fliown, that  it confifts of a
fixt alkaline fait, the fame with the
bafis of the fea fait, in  fome  degree
neutralized by a peculiar acid.
   The medical  virtues of  borax
have not been fufficiently afcertain-
ed by experience:  it is fuppofed to
be,  in dofes of half a  dram  or two
fcruples,  diuretic,  emmenagogue,
and a promoter  of delivery.   Mr
Biffet,  in an eflay  on the medical
conftitution  of Great  Britain, re-
commends a folution of this fait in
water as the  moft  powerful diffol-
vent yet known of aphthous crufts
in the mouth and  fauces of chil-
dren.   And for the  fame  purpofe
                              alf* 
Part II.              Materia
alfo a fmall quantity of it  is often
applied  in  the  form  of powder,
mixed up with fugar.   There are
ftrong reaSons to believe, that  the
virtues of borax are much greater
than they ere in general fuppofed
to be; and  that  it ~:iay be  more
extenfively ufed with advantage.

  BOTRYS [Suec]  E.rba,  fe-
me n.
  Chenopodium botrys L'.:.
  Jerufalem oak;  the  l'av;s  and
feed.
  This plant is cultivated in gar-
dens. It  has a ftrong not difagree-
able fmell, and a  warm Somewhat
pungent  tafte.  It  is racommended
as a carminative pedoral;  and it
has alio  been recommended as an
emmenagogue.  Inlafionsof it may
be drank as tea:   and ir this form
it has been recommended in caSes
of chronic ca.anv:.. But the proper
menftruum  for the  adive matter,
both of the leaves and feeds,  is  rec-
tified fpirit.

   BRASSICA  [Gen.]  Ilcrbe, fe-
mina.
   Braffica oleracea Liu.
   White and red cabbages, Sec.
   Thefe are cultivated in gardens
rather for culinary than medicinal
ufe.   They are all fuppofed to be
hard of digeftion, to  afford little
nourifhment, and to produce flatu-
lencies ;  though  probably  on no
very good foundation.   They  tend
ftrongly to putrefadion,  and   run
into this ftate foouer than almoft
any  other vegetable ; when putre-
fied, their fmell is likewife the  moft
offenfive, greatly  refembling  that
of   putrefied   animal  fubftances.
 Hence  it feems reafonable to  con-
clude, that Sew  of the oleraceous
herbs are more eafily Soluble in the
ftomach,  more  nutritious  or lefs
remote Srom the nature of animal-
food.   It is undeniable, that in ge-
Medica.                  151
neral at leaft they are not unwhole-
some ; that they do not induce or
promote a putrid diSpofition in the
body;  but on the contrary prove a
Salubrious aliment;  that when ta-
ken freely, they tend to loofen the
belly ; and that their laxative mat-
ter is extraded by long boiling in
water.  Of all thefe plants,  cauli-
fiavers is reckoned the eafieft of di-
geftion. The white is the moft fe-
tid ; and the red moft emollient or
laxative : a decodion of this laft is
recommended in fome  diforders of
thebrcaft, and in hoarfeneSs.
   Sliced cabbage  cafked  up with
Salt, &c. becomes Sour, keeps long,
is uSed in Germany at table under
the name of fourkrout;  and it has
late"y been introduced as an article
of diet with the Britifh  forces,  ei-
ther in  garrifons befieged, or on
long  voyages.   It is now clearly
demor {bated,  that  in thefe fitu-
tions it operates as a moSt  powerSul
preventative oS Scorbutus; and that
ir has even had very great influence
in curing the diSeaSe after it has ta-
ken place.
   Cabbage h?s alfo been ufed  for
medical  purpofes  as externally ap-
plied. The leaves gently bruifedare
often  applied  to  parts  previoufty
 bliftercd, with  the  effed of  pro-
 moting  a confiderable diScharge.
 They  excite  a confiderable wa-
 tery diScharge through the fkin  in
 caSes of anaf'arca, particularly when
 applied  to the  ankles:  And they
 have Sometimes even  the effed of
 inducing vesications.  As thus ex-
 ternally applied, they have in Some
 inftances produced a complete dis-
 charge of the water in cafes  of ana-
 farca.

    BRASSICA  MARINA
 [Brun.]
   Convolvulus foldanella Lin.
   Sea coleworts, Scots fcurvygrafs,
 or Soldanella; the leaves.
                K4         This 
 i£%                  Materia

  This is a trailing plant, grow-
ing on the fea beach in many parts
of the north of England.  Theroots,
leaves,  and ftalks, yield  a milky
juice.
  Soldanella is a  ftrong cathartic,
operating very churlifhly, and hence
deServedly rejeded  from pradice.
Thofe who recommend its ufe dif-
fer confiderably with regard to the
dofe ;  fome dired half a dram ; o-
thers three drams,  and others a
whole handful.

  BRITANNICA,  vide   Lapa-
 THUM.

  BRYONIA [Ed.] Radix.
  Bryonia alba Lin.
  White bryony, or wild vine ; the
 roots.
  This is a rough plant, growing
 on  dry banks  under  hedges, and
 climbing  upon the  bufhes.  The
 roots are large, fometimes  as thick
 as a man's thigh; the fmell, when
 frefh,  is ftrong and difagreeable ;
 the  tafte  naufcoufty bitter, acrid,
 and biting : the juice is fo fharp, as
 in a little time to excoriate the fkin:
 in  drying, they  lofe  great part  of
 their  acrimony,  and  almoft the
 whole of their fcent.
   Bryony root is  a ftrong irritating
 cathartic ; and as  fuch has fome-
 times been fuccefsfully exhibited in
 maniacal  cafes, in fome kinds  of
 dropfies,  and  in  Several chronical
 diSorders,  where a quick  Solution
 of viScid juices,  and a Sudden  fti-
 mulus on the Solids, were required.
 An extrad prepared by  water, ads
 more mildly and with greater Safety
 than the root  in Subftance  ; given
 from  half a dram to a dram,  it is
 faid to prove a  gentle purgative,
 and likewiSe to operate  powerfully
 by urine.
   Bryony root, applied externally,
 is  faid to be a powerful difcutient.
Medica.             Part  II.

Hence  although this  as  well as
many  other draftic and adive  ar-
ticles is now rejeded by the Lon-
don college, yet  we think that it
ought not only to be retained,  but
that a place fliould alfo  be given
in  our pharmacopoeias to  the ex-
trad.

   BUGLOSSUM  [Gen.] Radix,
folia.
   Anchufa officinalis Lin.
   Garden bugloSs;  the root  and
leaves.
   This is a rough, hairy plant, re-
fembling borage, but leSs  prickly:
a wild Sort is commonly met within
hedges and among corn, which dif-
fers from the garden only in being
fmaller.  Buglofs has a  flimy fweet-
ifti tafte, accompanied  with a kind
of coolnefs ;  the roots are the moft
glutinous, and the flowers the leaft
fo.  The flowers are  one of  the
four calledcosdial flowers: the only
quality they have that can intitle
them  to  this appellation, is, that
they moderately cool  and foften,
without offending the palate or fto-
mach ; and thus in warm climates,
or in hot difeafes,  may  in fome
 meafure refrefh the patient; but at
prefeat  they are very rarely em-
ployed.

    BURSA HASTORIS  IB run.]
 Folia.
    Thlapfi burfa paftoris Lin.
    Shepherds-purfe ; the leaves.
    This plant is common in wafte
 places,  and is  found  in flower all
 the fummer. Shepherds-purfe has
 long been celebrated as an aftrin-
 gent, and ftrongly recommended in
 diarrhceas,dyfenteries,uterinefluors
 and in general in all difeafes where
 aftringents of any kind can avail.
 Some have efteemed it fo powerful
 a Styptic, as fcarce  to be fafely ex-
 hibited  internally.  Others  have
                          thought 
Part II.             Materia

thought it to be of a hot fiery na-
ture, and fuppofed it to  flop fluxes
and hsemorrhagies, by coagulating
the juices like alcohol, and burning
or fearing the orifices of the veffels.
The fenfible qualities of fhepherds-
purfe difcover little foundation for
either of thefe opinions ; it has no
perceptible heat,  acrimony, pun-
gency,  and fcarcely any aftringen-
cy : the tafte is almoft merely her-
baceous, fo as  fufficiently  to war-
rant the epithet given this plant by
Mr Ray, Fatuum.  And although
it be ftill retained in moft of the
foreign  pharmacopoeias, yet it  is
hardly in ufe in Britain.

  BUXUS[Brun.] Folia Lignum.
  Buxus fempervirens Lin.
  Box tree ; the leaves and wood.
  The box is a fmall tree, growing
wild in fome parts  of  Kent  and
Surry. The wood is of a yellow co-
lour, more folid, compad, and pon-
derous than any other of the Euro-
pean  woods.  The leaves have a
ftrong naufeous  tafte, and, when
frefh, a fetid fmell: they are faid
to purge violently, in the dofe of a
dram. A decodion of the wood is
recommended by fome as powerful-
ly fudorific, preferable even to gua-
iacum :  but the tafte readily disco-
vers that  it wants  the qualities  of
that wood.  Neither the wood nor
leaves of the box tree are at prefent
employed for any  medicinal pur-
pofe in Britain ;  and they are now
rejeded by our colleges : But from
their  adive qualities,  particularly
that of the leaves, they defcrve fome
attention, and may perhaps be ad-
vantageoufly  fubftituted  to expen-
sive articles imported Srom abroad.

  CACOA [Suec] Nuclei.
   Theobroma cacoa Li,!.
   Chocolate nuts.
   TheSe are the Sruit oS an Ame-
rican tree  rcSembling the almond.
Medica.                  153

 The  tree,  though Small, bears a
 large fruit, fhaped like a cucumber,
 which contains thirty or more of
 the nuts.  Thefe, by preffure, yield
 a  confiderable quantity  of  a fluid
 oil.  Boiled in water, they give out
 a large portion of a Sebaceous mat-
 ter, which congeals on the furface
 of the liquor as it cools. The prin-
 cipal  ufe  of thefe  nuts is for the
 preparation of the dietetic  liquor
 chocolate.  This is a mild,  undu-
 ous,  nutritious  fluid,  capable of
 foftening   acrimonious  humours,
 and of great Service in confumptive
 diforders; efpecially  if made with
 milk, and with only a fmall propor-
 tion of aromatics.

   CAJEPUT [Suec] Oleum.
   Maleleuca leucadendron.
   Cajeput oil.
   This article has never yet had
 any place  in  our pharmacopoeias ;
 but it is introduced into feme of the
 beft' foreign ones  ; and  it is men-
 tioned by Several writers onthema-
 teria medica as an article in very
 high  efteera among the caftern na-
 tions, particularly  in India.  It is
 Said to be obtained by diftillation,
 Srom the Sruit oSthe maleleuca leu-
 cadendron.   When  brought into
 this country it is a liquid of a green-
 ifh colour, of a fragrant,  but at the
 fame  time a very  peculiar  odour,
 end of a warm pungent tafte. Some
 authors,  however, reprefent this
 oil as being, when  of the beft qua-
 lity, a white or colourlefs fluid ; and
 it has been been faid by iiie authors
 of die Difpenfatorium Brnnfvicenfe,
 when prepared in  Europe from the
 feeds  Sent from India, to be  entire-
 ly of this appearance.
   Hitheno the oleum cajeput  has
 been but  little employed, either in
 Britain or on the  continent  of  Eu-
 rope  ; but  in  India it is ufed  both
 internally and  externally,  and is
 highly extolled for its medical pro-
                          perties. 
      154                 Materia

      perties.  It is  applied  externally
      where a warm and peculiar flimulus
      is requifite ;  it is employed for re-
      Storing vigour aSter luxations and
      Sprains, and for eafing vbler.t pain
      in gouty  and rheumatic cafes,  in
      tooth-?.ch,  snd  fimilar affedions ;
      but it  has  been chiefly  celebrated
      as taken  internally,  and  it is par-
      ticularly Said  to operate as a very
      powerful remedy againft tympani-
      tic affedious.

        CALAMINARI3 LAPIS
      [Lond. Ed.]
        Zincum ccilav.i".ar'u.
        Calamy, or calamine Stone.
        This mineral is found plentifully
      in England,  Germany, and  other
      countries,  cither in diftind mines,
      or intermingled with the ores of
      different iue;:a',s.  It is ufually of a
      greyi (h, brownifti, yellowifh, or pale
      reddifh colour;  confidently  hard,
      though not Sufficiently fo to ftrike
----fire with I: eel.   It has been looked
      upon by fome as a Simple earth, by
      others as an iron ore ; later experi-
      ments have  discovered it  to  be an
      ore of zinc. Calamine is generally
      roafted or calcined,  before it comes
      into the ihops, in order to feparate
      fome fulphureous or arSenica! mat-
      ter which the crude mineral is fup-
      pofed to contain, and to render it
      more  eafily  reducible into a fine
      powder. In this State it is employed
      in collyris, againft defluxions of
      thin acrid humours  upon the eyes ;
      for dryingup moift, runninguicers;
      and  healing excoriations.  It  is the
      bafis of an  officinal epnlotic cerate,
      the ceratum lapidis calaminaris.

        CALAMUS AROMATICUS
      [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
        Acorus calamus Lin.
        Sweet fla^ ; the  roots.
        This flag refembles,   as  to its
      leaves;the common iris; but inother
Medica.              Part II.

 refpeds differs greatly from it: the
 ftalk grows at a little diftance from
 the leaves; the  lower  half,  up to
 where the flowers come forth, is
 roundifh; the part above this,broad,
 like the other leaves ; the flowers
 are very fmall, whitifh,ar,d ftand in
 a kind of head about the fize of a
 Singer. This plant grows  plentifully
 in rivulets and marfhy places about
 Norwich and  other parts  of this •
 ifland, in the canals of Holland,  in
 Switzerland, and in other countries
 of Europe.   The fhops  have been
 ufually fupplied  from the Levant
 with dried roots, which do  not ap-
 pear to be  fnperior to thofe of our
 own growth.
    The  root  of acorus is  full  of
 joints, crooked, fomewhat flatted on
 the fides, internally of a white co-
 lour, and loofe  Spongy texture ; its
 fmell  is ftrong ;  the tafte warm a-
 crid, bitteriih,  and aromatic;  both
 the Smell and tafte  are improved by
 exficcAtion.  This root is generally
 looked upon as a carminative and
 ftomachic medicine, and as Such is
 Sometimes made uSe of in pradice.
 It is Said by Some to be Superior  in
 aromatic flavour ro  any other vege-
 table that is produced in  thefe nor-
 thern climates : but  this affertion
 is by no means ftridly true.   It is,
 nevertheless, a Sufficiently elegant
 aromatic.  It was  formerly an in-
 gredient in the mithridate and the-
 riaca of the London pharmacopoeia;
 and in the  aromatic and ftomachic
. tindures,   and  compound  arum
 powder, of the Edinburgh ;  but it
 is now rejeded from th;-f'e, and it
 does not at prefent enter any offici-
 nal preparation. The frefli root, can-
 died after the manner direded for
 candying eryngo root, is faid to be
 employed atConftantinople asapre-
 fervative againft epidemic difeafes.
 The leaves of this plant have a fweet
 fragrant fmell,  more  agreeable,
                          though 
Part  II.             Materia

though weaker, than that  of the
roots ;  but they have no place ei-
ther in the Britifh or foreign phar-
macopoeias.

  CALENDULA [Brun.]  Flos.
  Calendula officinalis Lin.
  Garden marigold ; the flower.
  This herb is common in gardens,
where it is found in flower greateft
part of  the  Summer.   Marigold
flowers are SuppoSed to be aperient
and attenuating ; and alSo cardiac,
alexipharmac,  and Sudorific : they
have been principally celebrated in
uterine obftrudions.in the jaundice,
and Sor throwing out  the Small-pox.
Their Senlible qualities  give  little
foundation Sor theSe  virtues : they
have Scarcely any tafte, and no con-
siderable Smell.  The leaves aS the
plant diScover a vifcid SweetifiineSs,
accompanied with a more durable
Saponaceous pungency and warmth:
thefe  Seem capable  of anSwering
fome  ufeSul purpofes, as a ftimula-
ting and aperient medicine ;  but at
prefent they  are fo  little employed
in Britain, that, they have now no
place in our pharmacopoeias, and
they are alfo rejeded from feveral
of the  lateft and beft foreign ones.

   CALX  VIVA [Lond.  Ed.]
   Lapis  calcareus   purus   recens
uftus.
   Quicklime.
   Quicklime is ufually prepared a-
mongus, by calcining certain ftones
of the chalky  kind.   All  chalks
and marbles  burn into quicklime ;
with this difference, that the more
com pad the (tone,  generally  the
ftronger is the lime.  In maritime
countries, in defed  of the  proper
ftones, fea-fhells are made  uSe of,
which afford a calx agreeing in moft
refpeds with  the Stone limes.
   All thefe limes are, when frefli
burnt, highly acrimonious and cor-
 rofive, being  thus Sreed from  fixt
Medica.                  15$

sir.  In this ftate they are employ-
ed  in fome external applications as
a depilatory ; for rendering fulphur
foluble in water, and for depriving
alkalies  of  their fixt air, thus in-
creasing their power, either Sor the
purpofes oS  a  cauftic, or to enable
them more readily  to  diffolve  oih
for making  Soap.  If  the lime be
exrofed for a length of time to  the
air, it abforbs water ;  fails by  de-
grees into a powder ;  and, attrad-
ing fixt  air,  lofes greatly of its
:.ciiniony.
  Water poured diredly upon quick-
lime, takes up a portion of it:  the
fclutionhasa ftrong tafte,fomewhat
flyptic, drying the mouth, and ac-
companied with a kind of fweetneSs.
This iiquor does not effervefce with
acids, but is  rendered by  fixt air
turbid and  milky : as  preventing
the coagulation of milk, it is fome-
times made ufe of along with milk
diet ;  agitated with -xpreffed  oils,
it unites with  them into a  thick
compound,  recommended  by  Dr
 Slaire, and much ufed againft burns
and inflammations. Both the Simple
Solution  of  the lime,  and the  folu-
tion impregnated with other mate-
rials, are direded as officinal, un-
der the title of lime water.
   Lime water, drank to the quan-
 tity of  a quarter of a pint three or
 four times a-day, and continued for
 a length of time, has been found
 ferviceable in fcrophulous cafes, and
 other obftinate chronic diforders.
 It  generally  promotes urine,  and
 not unfrequently the cuticular dif-
 charge :  for the moSt  part it  binds
 the belly, and Sometimes produces
 troubleSorne coftivend:-:, unleSs this
 effed be occafionally provided a-
 gainft, by the interpuuticu oS proper
 medicines. It does good Service in
 ccbility and laxity of tiie viScera in
 general; in thai: of the uterine and
 Seminal veffels, flu or a] bus, chronic
 monorrhagia, and gleets, it is par-
                         ticularly 
 156                  Materia

 ticularly recommended. Care muft
 be taken  not to ufe this medicine
 too liberally in hot bilious conftitu-
 tions, or where the patient is much
 emaciated, or the appetite weak, or
 at the time of any critical or peri-
 odical evacuations.   It has been u-
 fed as litb.cr.triptic ;  and  although
 incapable of diffolving calculi in the
 urinary organs, yet under  its ufe
 calculous patients have experienced
 great relief.  In the  form of in-
 jedion,  it is very effedual  in kil-
 ling and bringing off afcarides.

   CAMPHORA [Lond. Ed.]
   Laurus camphora Lin.
   Camphor.
   Camphor is a very peculiar fub-
 ftance, obtained in the  form of a
 folid  concrete,  chiefly  extraded
 from the  wood and roots of a tree
 growing  in Sumatra and  Japan.
 The former is by much the belt.
 As it firft fublimes from the wood,
 it appears brownifti, compofed of
 femipellucid grains mixed with din:
 in this flute it  is exported by  the
 Dutch,  and purified  by a  fecond
 fnblimation ; after which, it is re-
 duced into loaves (in which it is
 brought  to us)  probably by fufion
 in clwfe  veffels ;  for  it does  not af-
 fume this form in  fublimation.
 Camphor  is procurable in  Small
 quantities Srom  various other vege-
 tables by  diftillation.  It  may be
 conlidered as a  peculiar, concrete,
 very volatile effential oil.
  Pure camphor is very white, pel-
 lucid, Somewhat unduous to the
 touch ; of a bitteriih, aromatic, acrid
 tafte, yet accompanied with a fenfe
of coolnefs ; of a fmell fomewhat
like  that of rofe mary,  but  much
ftronger.  It is totally volatile, und
inflammable ; foluble in  vinous fpi-
rits, oils, and riie minerslacids;  not
in water, alkaline Mquors, or the
 acids  of   the vegetable kingdom.
 Thisconcrcteiscfteemed one of the
moft efficacious  diaphoretics ; and
Medica.              Part II.

has long been celebrated in fever3,
malignant  and epidemical diftem-
pers.  In delirium, where opiates
fail of procuring fleep, and aggra-
vate the fymptoms,  this medicine
frequently  fucceeds.
   Dr Alexander, Some time ago a
praditioner  in Edinburgh,  made
many experiments on this article,
particularly by taking it himf'elS in
large doSes.  On taking a Scruple
of  camphor, he found his pulfe
fomewhat lefs frequent:  on taking
two, his pulfe fell from 77 to 70,
but returned  to 77 in lefs than half
an hour ; at which time vertigo and
a gradual abolition of confeioufnefs
came oh,  Succeeded  by  violent
retchings, convuliions, and mania,
the pulfe riling to 100.  He then
began to recover his recolledion,
felt extremely hot, with tremors of
the whole body.  By  ufing warm
water he threw up  the camphor,
the effeds of which gradually wore
off, only he  felt his body  for two
days very fore and rigid.
   Frederick  Hoffman has written*''
an exprefs differtation De Camphora
ufu inierno fecuriffimo et pra-fian-
tiffimo. The Subftance oS his obser-
vations  is,  that camphor Seems to
penetrate very quickly through the
whole body, and increafe perSpira-
tion : that  though  given  to the
quantity of half a dram, diffolved in
Spirit  of wine, and duly diluted, it
does notraife the pulfe, or occafion a-
py heat  but rather cauSes a SenSe of
coolnefs about the prsecordia :  that
on continuing its ufe for fome  time,
the  blood  became  fenfibly  more
fluid,  and the quantity oS watery
Serum, which the habit before a-
bonnded with, was confiderably di-
minifhed : that in malignant Severs,
and all diforders, whether acute or
chronical, proceeding  Srom an acrid
or pmrelcent  ftate  of the juices,
camphor has  excellent effeds, cor-
reding the  acrimony,  expelling the
putrid morbific matter through the
                             cu- 
 Part II.             Materia
 cutaneous pores, and preventing an
 inflammation or fphacelus,  where
 there is previoufly any difpofition
 thereto: that, by Strengthening the
 veffels, it reftrains hsemorrhagies
 happening in acute fevers, and pro-
 motes  critical and  periodieal  eva-
 cuations: that it expels even the ve-
 nereal virus; that he has known ex-
 amples of the lues being cured by
 camphor alone, a purgative, only be-
 ing  premifed; and that in  recent
 infedions he has found no medicine
 equal to it in efficacy.  In inflam-
 matory cafes, where there is a ten-
 dency to mortification, intenSe heat,
 thirft, or where the fkin is dry and
 parched, whether beSore or aSter a
 delirium has come on, fmall dofes of
 camphor joined with  nitre produc-
 ed happy effeds,  almoft  immedi-
 ately relieving the fymptoms, occa-
 fioning a  calm  fleep  and  plentiful
 Sweat,  without fatiguing the pati-
 ent.   He farther obferves, that this
 fimple, by its  antiphlogiftic quality,
 prevents the  ill effeds of the more
 irritating medicines;  that cantha-
 rides, and the acrid ftimulating ca-
 thartics  and  diuretics,  by the ad-
 mixture of a fmall proportion of
 camphor, become much  more mild
 and fafe in operation.
  The common dofe of camphor is
 from one grain to  ten.   It enters
feveral  officinal preparations, both
 for external and internal ufe ; par-
 ticularly the linimentum camphorae,
 linimentum faponis, balfamum auo-
 dynum, oleum caraphoratum, fpt.
 vinofus camphoratus, miftura cam-
 phorata, tindura opii  camphorata,
 &c.
  In modern pradice, it is exter-
 nally employed  chiefly to  diminifh
inflammation, to diScuSs  tumour, to
obviate  gangrene, to  Stimulate in
 local pally, and to allay rheumatic
 and paralytic  pains.  Internally, it
is given in nervousaffedions, wiiha
 vievvof exciting the vis vitae, and al-
lcviatiugfpafmodiccomplaints: with
 Medica.                 157
 the fame view to the vis vitse, to ob-
 viate putrefcence, and to procure
 fleep, it is ufed in fevers of the ty-
 phous kind.   Some recommend it
 as Singularly ufeful in cafes oS ardor
 urines;  and others find it efficacious
 in what are  called nervous head-
 achs.

  CANCRORUM  CHELAE
 [Lond.]
   Cancer pagurus Lin.
   Crabs claws.
   TheSe are  the black tips of the
 claws of a particular fpecies of fea-
 crab.   After being broken down,
 and well  wafhed in boiling water,
 they are  reduced  to powder, and
 employed as an abforbent.  They
 confift oS a calcareous animal earth,
 and  oS  courSe neutralise thoSe acids
 with which  they come  in contad
 in the primes viae.   But befides an
 earth, they contain alSo a glutinous
 animal  matter,  which gives them a
 tendency to concrete in the ftomach
 and bowels: hence abSorbents Srom
 the  mineral  kingdom are perhaps
 preferable;  but  while  thefe,  as
 magnefia, often operate as cathar-
 tics, the chelae cancrorum tend ra-
 ther to  bind  the  body;  a circum-
ftance which  renders them prefer-
able  in  fome cafes.  They  enter
Some officinal preparations, as the
pulvis e  chelis cancrorum compofi-
tus.  The chelae cancrorum have
now no place  in  the Edinburgh
pharmacopoeia.  They employ for
 the Same purpoSe the article next to
be mentioned,  which is now re-
jeded by the Loudon college.

  CANCRORUM  OCULI dicti
 [Ed.]
  Cancer  aftacusLin.
  Crabs eyes.
  The  Edinburgh college  are, we
 think, in the  right in retaining this
 article in  preSerence to the former,
 as being  a more  pure  abforbent
 earth; but it is  with little propriety 
 ijjg                  Mat eric

 that they have retained the ancient
 name,  which has often led to an
 abfurd  mlfUk? :  for the article de-
 nominated  crabs  eyes is  a  ftony
 concretion found in the head, fto-
 mach, and other parts of a particu-
 lar fpecies of crab.   Hence in the
 beft foreign pharmacopoeias ■ they
 are denominated cancrorum calculi,
 lapili, &c.
   The calculi cancrorum are genc-
 nerally about the Size of peas,  or
 larger.    They  are  of a  Spherical
 fliape, but a  little flatted on one
 fide.   They are of a white colour,
 but Sometimes with a reddifh or blue-
 ifh caft, and internally of a lamina-
 ted  ftrudtvre.   The greateft  part
 of them  are the produce  of  Muf-
 eovy, particularly of the river Don,
 where the dead crabs are laid upon
 the banks in heaps, toputrify, after
 which the ftones are picked out.
   The  earth of crab ftones is Said
 to differ  materially  from the pre-
 ceding  article, in not  being con-
 vertible into quicklime; but  their
 medical differences are very incon-
 siderable; Solutions of the two ar-
 ticles in vinegar, or ether vegetable
 or animal acids, being nearly alike.
 As well as the former article, they
 are employed as abforbents,  and
 are fometimes  very   ufeful in the
 diarrhoeas of children, arifingfrom
 acidity, where any objedion occurs
 to the employment of magnefia.
   Crr-bs ftones are faid by moft wri-
 ters  on the  materia  medica to be
 frequently counterfeited with to-
 bacco pipe clay,  or compofitions  of
 chalk with mucilaginous Subftances.
 This piece of fraud,  if really prac-
 tised, may be very eafily dilcover-
 ed; the counterfeits wanting  the
leafy texture which is obServed upon
breaking the genuine ; more readily
imbibing water;  adhering to  the
 tongue ; and ditto!ving in vinegar,
or the ftronger acids diluted with
water, either entirely, or not at all,
' Medica.   '          Part 11.

 or by  piecemeal; whilft  the true
 crabs eyes, digefted in theSe liquors,
 become SoSt  and transparent,  their
 original form remaining the fame:
 this change  is owing to the earthy
 part, on which depended their opa-
 city and hardnefs, being diffolved by
 the gentle adion of the  acid, which
 leaves the conglutinating matter un-
 hurt.

   CANELLA ALBA [Lend.  Ed.]
 Cortex.
   Wintera7iia canella Lin.
   Canella alba.
   This bark is brought to us rolled
 up into long quills, thicker than cin-
 namon, and both outwardly and in-
 wardly of a whitifh colour,lightly in-
 clining to yellow. It is  the produce
 of a tall tree growing in great plenty
 in the low lands in Jamaica, and
 other American iflands.  Infufions of
 it in water are of a yellowifh colour,
 and fmell of the canella ;  but  they
 are  rather  bitter  than aromatic.
 Tindures in redified fpirit have the
 warmth  of the bark, but  little  of
 its fmell.  Proof-fpirit diflblves the
 aromatic as well as the  bitter  mat-
 ter of the canella, and is therefore
 the beft menflnmm.
   The canella is the interior bark,
 freed from an  outward thin rough
 one, and dried  in the fhade.   The
 fhops diftinguifh two Sorts  of canel-
 la, differing from each other in the
 length and thicknefs oS the quills ;
 they are  both the bark of the  fame
 tree,  the thicker being  taken  from
 th,e trunk, and the thinner from the
 branches. This bark is a  warm  pun-
 gent  aromaric,  not  of the  moft
 agreeable kind  : nor are any of the
 preparations of it very grateful.
   Canella alba is often employed
 where a  warm  ftimulant to the fto-
 mach is  neceffary,  and  as a corri-
 gent of other articles.  It is now,
 however, little  ufed in  compofi-
 tion by  the  London  college; the
                             only 
Part  II.              Materia

only officinal formula which it en-
ters being the pulvis aloeticus: but
with the Edinburgh college it is a.i
ingredient in the  tindura amara,
vinnm amarum, vinum rhei, &c.  It
is ufeful  as  covering  the tafte of
fome other articles.
   CANNABIS [Brun.] Semen.
   Ca7inabis fativa Lin.
   Hemp; the feed.
   This plant when frefli, has a rank
narcotic fmell: the water in which
the ftalks are foaked, in order to fa-
cilitate the feparation of  the tough
rind for mechanic ufes, is Said to oe
violently  poiSonous, and  to produce
its effeds almoft  as Soon as drank.
The Seeds alfo have Some  Smell of
the herb ; their tafte is unduous and
fweetifh; on expreflion they yield a
confiderable quantity of iniipid oi!;
hence they are recommended (boil-
 ed in milk, or triturated with water
into an emulsion)  againft coughs,
 heat of urine, and the  like.  They
are aifo faid to be ufeful in inconti-
 nence of urine, and for  reftrainir.g
 venereal  appetites; but experience
 does not warrant their having any
 virtues of this kind.  But although
 the feeds only  have hitherto -been
 principally in ufe, yet other parts
 of the plant Seem to be more adive,
 and may  be confidered as deServing
 farther attention.

   CANTHAR1S [Lond. Ed.]
   Meloe veficatoris Lin.
   The Spanifh fly.
   Thefe  infeds are -of a fhining
 green colour,  intermingled  with
 more  or  lefs  of  a blue  and a gold
 yellow.  They are found adhering
 to different kindsof trees and herbs,
 in Sridn, Italy,  and  France ;  the
 largeft come  from Italy, but  the
 finaller kind from Spain are pre-
 ferred.
   Cartharides are extremely acri-
 monious ; applied to the  fkin, they
 tint inflame,  and afterwards txco-
Medica.                 r $$

riate the part,  raifing a more per-
Sedblifterthan any of the vegetable
acrids, andoccafioninga more plen-
tiful difcharge 0f ferum.  Even the
external application of cantharides
is often followed by a ftrangury ac-
companied with thirft and revcrifh
heat; this inconvenience may be re-
medied by foft undtuous or mucila-
ginous liquors  liberally drank. The
ltranguary is probably owing to the
adion of  the abforbed adive parts
on the neck of the bladder.
  Cantharides taken internally, of-
ten cccr.iion a  difcharge of blood by
urine, '.rith exquifite pain:  if the
dofe be confiderable,they feem to in-
flame and exulcera'e the whole in-
teftinal canal; the Stools become
mucous and purulent;  the  breath
fetid and cadaverous; intenSe pains
are felt in the lower belly ; the pa-
tient faints, grows giddy,  raving
mad, and dies.   All thefe terrible
confequences have  fometimes hap-
pened from  a few grains.  Heiman
relates, that he ha.j known a quar-
ter of a grain  inflame the kidneys,
and occafion bloody urine with vio-
lent pain.   There are neverthelefs
cafes in which inis ftimitlating fly,
r^iven in kro;c-rdofes,provt snot only
Safe but of lingular efficacy  Sor the
cure of difeafes  that .yield little  to
medicines of  a  milder chfs.    In
phlegmatic habits,  where the vif-
cera  are  overloaded, and the kid-
neys and  ureters obftruded with
thick vifcid mucous matter, cantha-
rides have excellent effeds: here
the  abounding mucus defends the
folids from the acrimony of the fly,
till it is  itfelf expelled.;  when the
medicine ought  to be discontinued.
Groenvelt  employed  cantharides
with great  fucceis  in dropfies, ob-
ftinate fuppreflions of urine,  and
ulcerations of the bladder;  giving
very confiderable doSes made  into
boluSes with camphor ; and inter-
pofing large dranghs cf ennilnons,
                           milk, 
 160                  Materia

milk, or other emollient liquids; by
this means the  exceffive irritation
which they would  otherwiSe have
occasioned, was in a great meaSure
prevented. '  The camphor did not
perhaps contribute So much to this
effed as  is generally  imagined ;
Since it has no Senfible quality that
promiSes any confiderable  abate-
ment of the acrimony of canthari-
des : nitre would anfwer all that the
camphor is fuppofed to  perform:
this, with milk, or emollient muci-
laginous  liquors,  drank  in  large
quantity  are  the beft corredors.
Cantharides,  in very fmall dofes,
may be  given  with fafety alfo in
other cafes. Dr Mead obferves, that
the obftinate gleetings which fre-
quently remain after the cure of ve-
nereal maladies,  and which rarely
yield to balfamic medicines, are ef-
jfedually  remedied by cantharides;
and that  no one remedy is more ef-
ficacious  in leprous diforders, in
which laft, proper purgatives are to
be  occafionally taken during the ufe
of the cantharides.  The beft and
fafefl preparation of cantharides for
thefe purpofes,  is a fpirituous tinc-
ture ;  and indeed in all  cafes the
tindure is far preferable, for inter-
nal ufe, to the fly in fubftance.
   On an idea of the  flimulus ac-
cumulated about the genital organs
being propagated  to  parts in the
neighbourhood, the internal ufe of
the tindure  has alfo been  recom-
mended in diabetes,leucorrhoea,a-
menorrhoea, &c. but from the dan-
gerous,  effeds fometimes obferved
frjtnfeeminglyinconfiderable dofes,
cantharides are now aimoft entirely
confined  to external application.
   They   are  fometimes  ufed as
merely rubefacient, as in fridion,
with the  tindure on indolent fwell-
ings, or in form of"weak plafter, but
moft commonly in form of full bli-
fler, Crieff with a viw of relieving
Medica.              .fart II.

 torpor, of determining the impetus
 of the blood from the part affeded
 to the part  of application,  of dis-
 charging ferum, and  of relieving
 fpafms in certain internal parts.
  The virtuesofcantharidesare ex-
 traded by redified  fpirit of wine,
 proof-fpirit, and water; but do not
 arife in diftillation. The watery and
 fpirituous extrads bliftcr as freely
 as the fly in fubftance; whilft the fly
 remaining after the feveral menftrua
 have performed their office, is to the
 tafte infipid,and does not in the leaft
 blifler,or inflame the fkin ;hence the
 unguentit7?i ex infufo cantharidum ;
 But befides  this, cantharides are
 the adive bafis oS Several other of-
 ficinal preparations, as the tindura
 cantharidis, emplalticum canthari-
 dis, unguentum cantharidis, &c.

   C A P P ARI S [Brun.] Radicis
 cortex et florum gemma.
   Capparis fpinofa Lin.
   Caper buth; the bark of theroot,
 and buds of the flowers.
   This is alow prickly bufh, found
 wild  in Italy  and other countries ;
 it is railed with  us  by fowing the
 feeds upon  old  walls where they
 take rcot between the bricks, and
 endure for may years.
   The bark of  the  root  is pretty
 thick, of an alh colour,  with feveral
 tranfverfe wrinkles on the furface;
 cut in flices and laid to dry, it rolls
 up into  quills.   This bark  has a
 bitterifti acrid tafte; it is reckoned
 aperient and 'diuretic; and recom-
 mended in  feveral chronic  difor-
 ders, for opening  obftrudions of
 the vifcera.
   The buds, pickled with vinegar,
 &c. are uSed at table. They areSup-
 poSed  to excite appetite,  and pro-
 mote digeftion :  and to be particu-
 larly ufeful, as detergents and ape-
 rients,  in obftrudions of the liver
 and fpleen.  Their tafte and virtues
                          depend 
 Part If.             Materia

 depend more upon the faline matter
 introduced into them, than on the
 caper buds.

   CARD AMINE [Lond. Ed.]
 Flos.
   Cardamine pratenfis Lin.
   Ladies Smock ;  the flower.
   The  cardamine  is a  perennial
 plant, which grows in  meadow
 grounds, fends forth purplifh flowers
 in the fpring; and in its fenfible qua-
 lities refembles the nafturtium a-
 quaticum. Long ago it was employ-
 ed as a diuretic; and of late it has
 been introduced in nervous difeafes,
 as epilepfy, hifteria, choraea, afth-
 ma, &c. A dram or two of the pow-
 der is given twice or thrice a-day.
 It has little fenfible operation,  ex-
 cept that it fometimes fwcats.

   CARDAMOMUM MINUS
 [Lond. Ed.] Semen.
   Amomum cardamomum Lin.
   Leffer cardamom.
   Formerly a place was giveninour
 pharmacopoeias  to different kinds
 of cardamom feeds, and particularly
 to the large as well as the fmall ;
 but the latter, though fcarce half
 the fize of the former, are confider-
 ably  ftronger  both  in fmell and
 tafte.  Hence  this fort  has  long
 fupplied the place of the other in
 the fhops, and is the only one now
 direded.
   Cardamom feeds are a very warm,
 grateful, pungentaromatic, and fre-
 quently employed as fuch in prac-
 tice :  they are faid to have this ad-
 vantage, that notwithftanding their
 pungency,  they do not,  like thofe
 of the pepper kind, immoderately
 heat or inflame the bowels.  Both
 water and  redified fpirit extrad
 their virtues byinfufion, and elevate
 them  in diftillation ; with  this dif-
 ference, that the tindure and diftil-
 led fpirit  are confiderably  more
grateful than the infufion and diftil-
 MedicS.                  161

 led water:  the watery infufion ap-
 pears turpid and mucilaginous; the
 tindure made in fpirit, limpid and.
 tranfparent. The hufks of the feeds,
 which have very little fmell or tafte,
 may be commodioufly feparated, by
 committing the whole to  the  mor-
 tar, when the feed will readily pul-
 verize, fo as to be freed  from the
 fhell by the.fieve: this fliould not be
 done till juft before ufing them; for
 if kept without the hufks,  they foon
 lofe confiderably of their flavour.—
 The officinal preparations of  thefe
 feeds are fpirituous tindures, fimple
 and compound : they are employed
 alfo as a fpicy ingredient in feveral
 of the  officinal compofitions.

   CARDIACA [Gen.] Folia.
   Leonurus cardiaca Lin.
   Motherwort; the leaves.
   This plant is common in  wafte
 places, and found in flower greateft
 part of the  fummer.  The leaves
 have a bitter  tafte,  and  a pretty
 ftrong  fmell ; they are fuppofed to
 be ufeful in hyfteric diforders, to
 ftrcngthen the ftomach, to promote
 urine;  and indeed it may be judged
 from their fmell and tafte, that  their
 medicinal virtues are confiderable,
 though they are now  rejeded  both
 from the London and Edinburgh
 pharmacopoeias.

  CARDUUS  BENEDICTUS
 [Lond. Ed.] Herba.
  Centaurea benedifla Lin.
  Bleffed thiftle ; the leaves.
  This is an annual plant, cultiva-
 ted in gardens : it flowers in June
 and July,  and perfeds its feeds in
 the autumn.   The  herb fhould be
 gathered when in flower, dried in
 the fhade,  and kept in a very dry
 airy place, to prevent its rotting or
 growing mouldy, which it is  very
 apt to do. The leaves have a pene-
 trating bitter tafte, not very ftrong
or very durable, accompanied with
              L             an 
 162                  Materia

an ungrateful  flavour, which they
are in great meafure freed from by
keeping. Water extrads, in a little
time, even without heat, the light-
er and more grateful  parts of this
phuit ; if the digeftion be continued
for fome  hours,  the difagreeable
parts are taken up ;  a ftrong decoc-
tion is very naufeous and offenfive
'o  the  fomach.   Redified  fpirit
gains a very  pleafant bitter  tafte,
winch remains uninjured in the ex-
trad.
   The virtues of this plant feem to
be little known in the prefent prac-
tice.   The naufeous decodion is
fometimes  ufed  to provoke vomit-
ing ; and a ftrong inSufion to pro-
mote the operationoSother emetics.
But this elegant bitter, when  Sreed
from the offenfive parts oS the herb,
may be advantageoufty  applied to
other purpoSes. We have frequently
experienced excellent effeds Srom a
light infufion  of carduus in lofs of
appetite, where the ftomach was in-
jured by irregularities.   A ftronger
infufion made  in cold or warm wa-
ter, if drank freely, and the patient
kept warm, occafions a plentiful
fweat,  and promotes all the Secre-
tions in general.
   The feeds of  this plant are alfo
confiderably bitter, and have been
fometimes uSed with the Same inten-
tion as the leaves.

   CARICA [Lond. Ed.] Frutlus.
   Ficus carica  Lin.
   The fig ; the dried Sruir.
   The principal ufe of thefe is as a
foft, emollient  Sweet;  with this in-
tention they enter the pedoral de-
codion and lenitive electuary of the
fhops.   They  are alfo efteemed by
fome as fuppuratives,  and  hence
have a  place  in maturating  cata-
plafms ;  and  they  are  fometimes
applied  by themfeves as warm  as
they can eafilybe borne, to promote
the Suppuration of a phlegmon, par-
Medica.             Part II.

ticularly when fofituated  that other
cataplafms cannot eafily be kept ap-
plied.

   CARLINA [Gen.] Radix.
   Carlina acaulis Lin.
   Carline thiftle; the root.
   This is a very prickly fort  of
thiftle, growing fpontaneoufly in the
fouthern parts  of France, Spain,
Italy, and the mountains of Swiffer-
land ; from whence the dried roots
are brought to us.   This root is
about an inch thick, externally of a
palerufly brown colour, corroded as
it were on the furface, and perfora-
ted with numerous fmall holes, ap-
pearing when cut as if worm-eaten.
It  has a ftrong fmell, and afubacrid,
bitterifti,  weakly  aromatic tafte.
Carlina is looked on as a warm dia-
phoretic and alexipharmac; and has
been for fome time greatly efteem-
ed by foreign phyficians,  but never
came much into ufe among us: the
prefent pradice has entirely rejeded
it; nor is it often to be met with  in
the fhops.   Hoffman  relates, that
he has obferved a decodion of it in
broth to occafion vomiting.

   CARPOBALSAMUM [Brun.]
FruBus.
   Amyris Gileadenfis Lin.
   Carpobalfam ; the fruit.
   This is  the fruit of  the tree that
yields the opobalfam or balfam  of
Gilead.   It is about the  fize of a
pea, of a whitifh colour, inclofed  in
a dark brown wrinkled bark. This
fruit, when in perfedion, has a plea-
fant warm glowing tafte, and a fra-
grant fmell, refembling that of the
opobalfamum itfelf.  It is very rare-
ly  found in  the fhops ; 2nd fuch as
we now and then do meet  with, has
almoft entirely loft its fmell and
tafte.  It had formerly a  place  in
the mirhridate and theriaca formu-
lae, now banifhed from our pharma-
copoeias ; but even then the college
      x  '               permitted 
 Part II.             Materia

 permitted cubebs to be employed as
 a fubftitute for the carpobalfamnm,
 which could Seldom be procured ;
 and it is probably on this account
 that it has  now  no place  in  our
 lifts.

  CARTHAMUS [Brun.]Semen.
  Carthamus tinflorius Lin.
  Baftard faffron ; the feeds.
  The baftard faffronjis a foft kind
of thiftle, with only a few prickles
about the edges of the leaves. It is
cultivated in large quantity in fome
places of Germany,  from whence
the other parts of Europe are Sup-
plied  with the flowers as a colour-
ing drug, and the feeds as a medi-
cinal one.  The flowers, well cu-
red, are  not eafily diftinguifhable
by the eye Srom Saffron ; but their
want  oS   Smell  readily diScovers
them. The Seeds are white, Smooth,
oS an oblong roundifh fliape,  yet
with four fenfible corners,  about a
quarter  of an inch in length, fo
heavy as to fink in water; of a vif-
cid  Sweetifh tafte, which in a little
time becomes acrid  and nauSeous.
TheSe Seeds have been celebrated
as a cathartic :  they  operate very
flowly, and Sor the moft part  disor-
der the bowels,'eSpecially when gi-
ven in Subftance ;  triturated with a-
romatic diftilled waters, they Sorm
an emulfion leSs offenfive, yet inSe-
rior  in efficacy, to  more common
purgatives.

  CARUON [Lond. Ed.] Semen.
  Carum carvi Lin.
  Caraway ;  the Seeds.
  Caraway  is  an  umbelliferous
plant, cultivated with  us in gar-
dens,  both for culinary and medi-
cinal ufe.   The feeds have no aro-
matic  fmell,  and  a warm pungent
tafte.  Thefe are in the number of
the  four greater hot feeds ; and fre-
quently  employed as  a ftomachic
 Medica.                 163

 and carminative  in flatulent colics,
 and the like.
  They were formerly the bafis of
 feveral  officinal  preparations,  and
 entered many compofitions by way
 of a corrigent.   But altho' they be
 now lefs frequently employed than
 before,  yet a place is ftill given to
 their effential oil and diftilled  fpi-
 rit ; and they enter the compound
 fpirit  of juniper,  the tindure of
 fenna,  and  fome  other  compofi-
 tions.

  CARYOPHYLLUMAROMA-
 TICUM [Lond. Ed.]
  Caryophyllus aromaticus Lin.
  Cloves.
  Cloves  are  the fruit of a tree
 growing in  the  Eaft-Indies.  In
 fliape, they  fomewhat  refemble a
 fhort thick nail.  «
  Cloves have a very ftrong agree-
 able aromatic fmell, and a bitterifti
 pungent tafte,  almoft burning  the
 mouth and fauces.   The Dutch,
 from whom we have this fpice, fre-
 quently mix it with cloves  which
 have  been robbed  of their oil :
 thefe, though in  time they regain
from the others a confiderable fhare
both of tafte and Smell, are  eafily
diftinguilhable by their weaker fla-
vour and lighter  colour.   Cloves,
confidered as medicines,  are very
 hot ftimulating aromatics,  and poS-
 SeSs in  an eminent degree the  ge-
 neral  virtues of fubftances of this
 clafs.  An extrad made from them
 with redified Spirit is exceffively
 hot and pungent ; the diftilled oil
 has no great pungency ; an extrad
 made  with water is nauSeous, and
 Somewhat ftyptic.   The  only offi-
cinal preparation oS them  is the eS-
 Sential oil.  Both the cloves them-
 Selves and their oil are ingredients
 in many officinal compofitions.

           L 2          CARY- 
 164                 Materia

   CARYOPHYLLUM RU-
 BRUM [Lond. Ed.] Flos.
   Dianthus caryophyllus Lin.
   Clove July-flowers.
   A great variety of thefe flowers
 are met with in our gardens: thofe
 made ufe of in medicine ought to be
 of a deep crimfon colour,  and  a
 pleafant aromatic fmell, fomewhat
 like that of cloves: many forts have
 fcarce any  fmell at all.  The  a-
 ryophylla rubra are  faid to be car-
 diac and alexipharmac. SimonPaulli
 relates, that he has cured many
 malignant  fevers by  the ufe of  a
 decodion of them : which he fays
 powerfully  promotes fweat and u-
 rine, without greatly irritating na-
 ture, and alfo raifes the fpirits and
 quenches  thirft.   At  prefent  the
 flowers are chiefly  valued for their
 pleafant flavour, which is entirely
 loft even by light codion ;  hence
 the college dired the fyrup, which
 is the only officinal  preparation of
 them, to be made by infufion.

   CARYOPHYLLATA [Brun.]
 Radix.
   Geum urabanum Lin.
   Avens ;  the root.
   Avens  is a rough plant found
 wild in woods and  hedges.  The
 root has;a warm, bitterifh,  aftrin-
 gent,-tafte,  and a pleafant  fmell,
 fomewhat of the clove  kind, efpe-
 cially in the fpring, and when pro-
 duced in dry warm foils.  Parkin-
 fon  obferves, that  fuch as is  the
 growth of moift  foils has nothing
 of this flavour.  This root has been
 employed  as a ftomachic, and  for
 ftrengthening  the tone of the vif-
 cera in general : it is ftill in feme
efteem in foreign countries, though
not taken  notice of among us.  It
yields on diftillation an elegant o-
doriferous effential oil,  which con-
cretes into a flaky form.
  Befides the gum urbanum, ano-
ther fpecies ofthegeum, thcrivale.
Medica.             Part II.

 has a place in fome pharmacopoeias,
 under the title of Caryophyllata a-
 quatica.  The root of this fpecies,
 which is larger than the other, is
 faid to be employed by the Indians
 in  South America for the  cure of
 intermittents,  and  to be equally
 fuccefsful with the Peruvian bark.
 Dr Withering mentions,  that the
 powder  of the root is ufed for this
 purpofe by the Canadians.   Butwc
 do  not know that with this inten-
 tion it has been much employed in
 Britain.

  CASCARILLA [Lond.  Ed.]
 Cortex.
  Croton cafcarilla Lin.
  Cafcarilla ; the bark.
  This bark is imported  into Eu-
 rope from the Bahama iflands, and
 particularly from one  of  them of
 the name of Elatheria; from which
 circumftance it was long known by
 the title of  Eleutheria. The caf-
 carilla is in general brought to us
 either in curled pieces, or rolled up
 into fhort  quills, about an inch in
 width, fomewhat refembling in ap-
 pearance the Peruvian bark.  It is
 covered on the outfide with a rough
 whitifh matter ; and  in the  infide
 it is of a brownifti caft. When bro-
 ken,  it exhibits  a  fmooth  clofe
 dark brown furface.
  This bark, when freed from the
 outer whitifh coat, which is infipid
 and inodorous, has a light agree-
 able fmell, and a moderately bitter
 tafte, accompanied with a confider-
 able aromatic warmth.  It is eafily
 inflammable, and yields when burn-
 ing a very fragrant fmell fomewhat
 refembling that of mufk, a proper-
 ty which diftinguifhes the cafcarilla
 from all other barks.  It  was firft
 introduced  into Europe about the
 end of the laft century, and feems
 firft to have been ufed in Germany,
 where it is ftill in very high efteem.
 There it is frequently employed a-
                          gainft 
Part II.              Mat en

gainft common intermittent fevers,
in preference to the Peruvian bark,
as being lefs fubjed to fome incon-
veniences, which  the latter on ac-
count of its great aftringency is apt
to occafion.  It is alfo faid to have
been employed with great fuccefs
in fome very  dangerous epidemic
fevers   attended  with   petechiae:
and it  is  frequently attended with
advantages in flatulent colics, inter-
nal hxraorrhagies, dyfenteries, di-
arrhoeas,  and  fimilar diforders. In
Britain  it has beeu ufed by  fome
praditioners,  particularly by the
late Dr  Kier of London, who was
of opinion that it  was by no means
employed fo generally as it dderved
to be.
   Its virtues are partially extraded
by water, and totally by redified
fpirit, but it is moft effedual when
given in fubftance.

   CASSIA  FISTULARIS
[Lond.  Ed.]  Frutlut.
   Caffia fiftula Li».
   Caflia of the can.-:; the fruit.
   This  is the fruit of ?,t oriental
tree refembling the walnut.
   This  fruit  is a cylindrical pod,
Scarce an inch in diameter, a foot
or more in length:  the outfide is a
hard brown bark ; the infide  is di-
vided by  thin tranfverSe  woody
plates,   covered with a  SoSt black
pulp oS  a Swectifh tafte,  with Some
degree  of acrimony.   There are
two forts of this drug in  the fhops;
one brought from  the Eaft-Indies,
the other from the Weft: the canes
or pods  of the latter are generally
large, rough, thick-rinded, and the
pulp naufeous; thofe of the former
are lefs, fmoother, the pulp blacker,
and of  a fweeter tafte;  this fort is
preferred  to the other.   Such  pods
fhould be  chofen  as arc weighty,
new, and  do  not make  a  rattling
noife (from the  feeds being  looi'e
within them)  when fhaken.   The
:  Medica.                 165

pulp fhould be of a bright finning
black colour, and of a fweet tafte,
not harfh, which happens from the
fruit being gathered before it has
grown fully ripe, or fourifh, which
it is apt to turn upon keeping:  it
fhould neither be very dry nor very
moift,  nor at all mouldy; which,
from its being  kept  in damp cel-
lars, or moiftened, in  order  to in-
creafe its weight, it is very fubjed
to be.   Greateft part  of the pulp
diflblves both in water and in recti-
fied  fpirit;. and maybe  extraded
from the cane by either. The fhops
employ water,  boiling the bruifed
pod therein, and afterwards evapo-
rating the folution to a due confift-
ence.
   The pulp of caffia is a gentle lax-
ative medicine,  and frequently gi-
ven in a dofe of fome drams, in cof-
tive habits.   Some dired a dofe of
two ounces or more as a cathartic,
in inflammatory cafes, where the
more acrid purgatives.have noplace:
but in  thefts large quantities it ge-
ncrrjly naafcates the ftomach, pro-
duces  flatulencies, and fometimes
gripings of the bowels, efpecially if
the caffia be not of a very good kind :
thefe effeds  may be prevented by
the addition of aromatics, and ex-
hibiting it in a liquid form.  Geof-
froy fays,  it  does excellent Service
in the painful tenfions of the belly,
which fometimes  follow  the im-
prudent ufe  of  antimonials; and
that it  may be advantageouflyacua-
ted with the more acrid purgatives,
or antimonial emetics, or employed
to abate their force.   Vallifnieri
relates, that the purgative virtue of
this medicine is remarkably promo-
ted by manna;  that a mixture of
four drams of caflia  and  two of
manna, purges  as well as twelve
drams  of  caflia, or thirty-two  of
manna alone.  Sennertus obferves,
that the urine is  apt to be turned of
a green colour by the  ufe of caflia :
              L 3           and 
166                   Materia Medica.             Fart II.
and fometimes, where a large quan-
tity has been taken, blackifh. This
drug gives  name  to an officinal e-
leduary, and  is an ingredient alfo
in another.

   CASSIA LIGNEA  [Ed.] Cor-
tex, [lores nondum explicate.
   Later us caffia Lin.
   Caffia ; the bark and flowers.
   Td  bark,  which  is  imported
from d'tfer°nt  parts of the Eaft In-
dies and from China, has a very
exad refemblance to the cinnamon,
and  is obtained from  a fpecies of
the fame genus of tree.  It is  dif
tinguifhable from the cinnamon by
being of a thicker and coarfer ap-
pearance, and by its breaking fhort
and Smooth, while  the cinnamon
breaks fibrous  and Ihivery.
   This bark reSembles cinnamon
ftill  more  exadly in  its aromatic
flavour than in its external appear-
and, and Seems only to differ Srom
it in bring Somewhat weaker, in a-
bounding more with  a  viScous mu-
cil.igino.is matter, and in being lefs
artri',g.jm. Accordingly,  it has not
only  a  place  in  the  Edinburgh
pharmacopoeia, but is alfo the bafis
of a diftilled water.  It is perhaps
furprifing that the London college
have given it no place in their lifts.
But although it does not enter their
pharmocopoeia, yet we may venture
fo affert, that it will not be negled-
ed by the  apothecaries.  At "pre-
fent it  is very common with many
of them to fubftitute  the caffia in
every cafe Sor the more expenfivc
article cinnamon: and indeed  al-
moft the whole of what is at preSent
fold under the title either of fimple
or fpirituous cinnamon-water,  is
entirely  prepared  from caffia,  and
not even entirely from  the bark,
but from a mixture of the bark and
buds
  CASTOREUM [Lond.  Ed.]
  Caftor fiber Lin.
  Caftor.
  Caftor appears to  be a peculiar
fatty depofition  found  in cells or
bags fituated near the redum in the
beaver, a  four-footed  amphibious
animal, frequent in feveral parts of
Europe and America.   The beft
comes from Ruffia : this is in large
round  hard cods, which appear,
when cut, full of a brittle red liver-
coloured fubftance,interfperfed with
membranes and fibres cxquifitely
interwoven.  An  inferior  fort is
brought from Dantzick; this is ge-
nerally fat  and  moift.  The worlt
of  all  is  that  of New-England,
which  is in longifh thin cods.   But
of late, fome apparently not  infe-
rior to  the Buffian caftor, has been
brought from Hudfon's bay.
  Caftor has a ftrong not agreeable
fmell, and an acrid, biting, bittcrifh
naufeous tafte.  Water extrads the
naufeous part,   with  little  of the
finer bitter; redified   fpirit  ex-
trads this laft, without much of the
naufeous :  proof-fpirit both :  water
elevates the whole of its flavour in
diftillation; redified fpirit  brings
over nothing.
  Caftor is looked upon as  one of
the capital  nervine and antihyfteric
medicines : fome celebrated pradi-
tioners have neverthelefs doubted
its  virtues;  and Ncwmann  and
Stahl declare it infigniticant.   Ex-
perience, however, hasfhown, that
the virtues of caftor are confider-
able, though they are certainly far
lefs than they have been generally
fuppofed to be.  Its officinal pre-
parations ar*e a fpirituous tindure,
and a compound tindure of caftor.
It is an ingredient in fome  other
compofitions, as the compound pow-
der of myrrh.
  CASUMUNAR [Brun.]
  This is a tuberous  root, an inch 
 Part n.             materia

 or  more in thicknefs, marked on
 the furface with circles or joints like
 galangal, of a brownifh or afh co-
 lour  on the outfide, and a dufky
 yellowifh within; it is brought from
 the Eaft-Indies, cut  into tranfverfe
 flices:  what kind of plant it pro-
 duces is not known.
   Cafumunar has a warm bitterifh
 tafte, and an aromatic fmell, fome-
 what refembling  that of ginger.  It
 has been celebrated in hyfteric cafes,
 epilepfies, palfies, loSs of memory,
 and  other  diforders:  the prefent
 pradice fometimes  employs it as a
 ftomachic and carminative, but it is
 not fo much ufed or known as it de-
 fcrves  to be.

   CATECHU,  Vulgo terra Japo-
 nica  [Lond Ed.]
    Mimofa catechu Lin.
   Catechu; the  extrad.
    This vegetable extrad> which has
 long had, but very improperly, the
 name of terra  Japon'ica, is the pro-
 dud of a plant growing in the Eaft-
 Indies.  A particular  account  of
 the vegetable from whence it is ob-
 tained, as well as oflthe method of
 preparation,  was fome time ago
 publifhed by Dr Kerr in the Lon-
 don Medical Obfervations.The only
 earth which it contains, confifts en-
 tirely of adhering  impurities from
 the furnaces or kilns in which it is
 prepared.   Hence  it is with great
 propriety, that in fome of  the  fo-
 reign pharmacopoeias a fuccusjapo-
 nicus depuratus,  is  introduced,  al-
 though not adopted either by the
 London or  Edinburgh colleges.
    The extrad of catechu in its pu-
 reft  ftate is a dry and pulverable
 fubftance.  Outwardly it is of  a
 reddifh colour,internally of afhining
' dark brown, with a flight caft of red.
 It  is a  mild, but at  the fame time
 a powerful  aftringent.  It is more
 agreeable  in tafte than moft other
 fubftances  of that clafs.  It leaves
medica.                  f 67

in the mouth  a kind of fweetnefs
and mucilaginous feel.  ' It may be
uSeSully employed for moft purpofes
where an aftringent is indicated,
provided the moft powerful be not
requifite.  But  it  is   particularly
ufeful in alvine fluxes ; and where
thefe require the ufe of aftringents,
we are acquainted with no  one e-
qually beneficial.  Befides this, it
is employed alfo in uterine profluvia,
in laxity and debility of the vifcera
in general,  in catarrhal affedions,
and various  other difeafes where a-
ftringents are indicated. It is oSten
Suffered  to diflblve leifiirely in the
mouth, as a topical aftringent  for
laxities and exulcerations  of the
gums, for aphthous ulcers in the
mouth, and Similar affedions : And
it is in Some other caSes applied ex-
ternally both under the form of fo-
lution and of ointment.
   Catechu diflblves almoft entirely
in water  excepting its impurities.
But thefe are  in general fo confi-
derable in  point oS quantity, that
Dr Lewis computes them to confti-
tute  one-eighth part of" the  mafs.
Of the pure matter, redified fpirit
diflblves about feven-eighths into a
deep red liquor ; the part  which it
leaves nndiffolved is an almoft infi-
 pid  mucilaginous fubftance.
   Catechu  is  the bafis of Several
fixed formulae in our pharmacopoei-
 as,  particularly of  a   tindure and
an eleduary : But one of the beft
forms under which it  can  be exhi-
 bited is that of Simple infufion in
warm  water, with  a proportion
of cinnamon or caffia ;  for by this
 means it is  at once freed from its
 impurities,  and improved  by  the
 addition of  the aromatic.

   CENTAURIUM MAJOR Ra-
 dix.
   Centaurea centaurium Lin.
   Greater centaury: the root.
   The greater centaury is a large
               L 4          plant 
168                  Materia Medica.             Part  II.
plant, cultivated in gardens.  The
root has a rough fomewhat acrid
tafte, and abounds with a red vifcid
juice:  its rough tafte has gained it
fome efteem as an aftringent; its a-
crimony as an aperient; and its glu-
tinous quality as  a vulnerary : the
prefent pradice  takes little notice
of it with any intention.

  CENTAURIUM MINUS
[Lond.  Ed.] Cacumen.
  Gentiana centaurium Lin.
  Leffcr centaury ; the top.
  This grows wild in many parts
of England, in dry pafture grounds,
and amongft corn.  The tops are
an  ufeful aperient bitter.

   CEPA [Suec] Radix.
  Allium cepa Lin.
  Onion ; the root.
  Onions differ from other bulbous-
rooted  plants,  in  having  fingle
roots,  or fuch as cannot  be parted
fo as to increafe the plant.   Thefe
roots are  confidered rather as  ar-
ticles of food than of  medicine:
they are fuppofcd to afford little or
no  nourifhment, and when eaten li-
berally produce  flatulencies, occa-
fion thirft, headachs, and turbulent
dreams: in cold phlegmatic habits,
where vifcid mucus abounds, they
cloubtlefs  have   their  ufe;  as by
their ftimulating  quality they tend
to  excite appetite, attenuate thick
juices,  and promote their  expul-
fion: by fome they are ftrongly re-
commended in fuppreffions of urine
and in dropfies.  The chief medici-
nal ufe of onions  in  the  prefent
pradice is in external applications,
as a cataplafm for fuppurating  tu-
mours,  &c.

  CERA FLAVA  [LondEd.]
  Yellow bees wax.
  This is a folid concrete obtained
from the honeycombs after the ho-
ney is got out, by heating and pref-
fing them betwixt iron  plates. The
beft fort is of a lively yellow colour,
and an agreeable  fmell, fomewhat
like  that  of honey when new,  it
is  toughifh  yet eafy to break;  by
age it becomes harder and more
britttle, it lofes its fine colour, and
in' great meafure its fmell.

   CERA ALBA  [Lond. Ed.J
   White wax.
   White wax is prepared from the
yellow, by  reducing  it  into thin
flakes, and expofing it for a length
of time to the air; when fufficient-
ly bleached, it is melted, and  caft
into cakes.  The beft fort is of a
clear and almoft tranfparent white-
nefs, and of a light agreeable fmell
like  that  of the  yellow wax, but
much weaker.
   The chief medical ufe of wax is
in cerates,  plafters, unguents,  &c,
as an emollient for promoting fup-
puration, &c. "It readily unites with
oils and animal fats,  but not with
watery or fpirituous liquors.  It  is
given alfo internally in diarrhoeas
and dyfenteries, when mixed with
oily fubftances.

   CERASUS [Suec]  Folia, frut-
tus, ge?nmi.
   Prunus cerafus Lin.
   The cherry ;  the leaves, fruit,
and gum.
   Of this fruit a confiderable num-
ber of varieties are cultivated in our
gardens;   particularly  the fweet
cherry  with a black juice ;  the
plcafanfly-fourifh cherry, with aco-
lourlefs juice; and  the very  four
cherry,  with a blood-red, juice;
commonly called black, red, and
morello cherries.
   Thefe fruits, efpecially the acid
forts, are very ufeful and agreeable
coolers  and quenchers of  thirft ;
and are fometimes direded with this
intention, in hot bilious, or febrile
diftempers.  Boerhaave was ex-
tremely fond of thefe and the other
fruits  called hor*it  aperients  in 
Part II.             Materia

fome chronic  cafes ;  and declares
himfelf perfuaded, that there is no
kind of obltrudion of the vifcera
capable of being removed by me-
dicine, which will not yield to the
continued ufe of thefe. They are ra-
ther, however, ufed as an article of
diet or luxury, than in  the way of
medicine. And accordingly have no
place in the London or  Edinburgh
pharmacopoeias.
  Befides the fruit of the cherry,
the leaves alfo  are now introduced
into  the Swedifh  pharmacopoeia ;
but they do not enter any of their
fixed  formulae, and  we  know not
for what purpofe they are particu-
larly intended.
  The gum of the cherry is a pret-
ty pure vegetable mucilage,  nearly
approaching to gum arabic.

  CEREFOLIUM [Suec] Her-
ba.
   Sandix cercfolium Lin.
   Chervil ;  the plant.
  This is a low annual plant fome-
what like parfley, commonly culti-
vated in gardens  for culinary  pur-
pofes.  This plant is grateful both
to the palate and ftomach,  gently
aperient, and  diuretic.   Geoffroy
affures us, that he has found it Srom
experience to be of excellent Service
in dropfies :  that,  in this diSorder,
it promotes the diScharge  oS urine
when Suppreffed ; renders it clear,
when feculent and turbid ; and when
high and fiery, of a paler colour ;
that  it ads  mildly without irrita-
tion, and tends rather to allay  than
excite  inflammation.  He goes fo
far as to fay, that dropfies  which
do not yield to this  medicine,  are
Scarce capable oS being  cured by
any other.   He direds  the juice
to be given in the doSe of three or
four ounces every fourth hour, and
Continued for fome time,  either a-
lone, or in conjundion with nitre
and fyrup of the five opening roots.
Medica.                  169

   CHALYBS, vide Ferrum. ,

   CBAMJ£DRYS.[Suec] Herba.
   Teucrhim chamadrys.
   Germander ;  the herb.
   This is a low fhrubby plant, cul-
 tivated in gardens.  The leaves,
 tops, and feeds have a bitter tafte,
 with fome degree of aftringency
 and aromatic flavour.  They are
 recommended as fudorific, diuretic,
 andemmenagogue,andfcrftrength-
 ening the ftomach and vifcera in ge-
 neral.  With fome they have been
 in  great efteem  in intermittent fe-
 vers,  and  alfo in  fcrophulous  and
 other  chronic diforders;   but  at
 prefent they  are very little  in uSe,
 and have  now  no place either  in
 the London or Edinburgh pharma-
 copoeias.

   CHAM.EMELUM [Load. Ed.]
 Flos f.7f?plex.
   Atithemis nobilis Lin.
   Chamomile ; the Single flower.
   TheSe have a ftrong not ungrate-
 ful aromatic Smell, and a very  bit-
 ter naufeous tafte.  They are ac-
 counted carminative, aperient*,  e-
 mollient, and in Some degree ano-
 dyne ; and ftand  recommended  in
 flatulent colics, for promoting ths
 uterine  purgations, in  fpafmodic
 pains, and the pairs of  childbed
 women : fometimes they have been
 employed  in intermittent  fevers,
 and in nephritis.   Thefe flowers
 are Srequently alSo ufed externally
 in diScutient  and antifeptic fomen-
 tations,  and  in emollient jjyflcrs :
 they enter the decodum  pro enc-
 mate, et decodum pro fomento  v*
 our pharmacopoeias.  An  eflewiaj
 oil was formerly direded to be pre-
 pared from  them, but it  is now
 omitted.  A fimple watery  inittfi-
 on of  them taken  in a tepid ftate is
 at  prefent frequently employed  to
 promote the operation  01"  esr.crlc:..- 
 170                  mat eric

   CAM.EPITHYS [Suec] Her-
 ba.
   Teucrium chamxpithys.
   Ground-pine ;  the herb.
   This is a low hairy plant, clam-
 my to the touch, of a  ftrong  aro-
 matic refinous  Smell, and a bitter
 roughifli tafte.   It  is  recommend-
 ed as an  aperient  and  vulnerary,
 and   alfo  in gouty  and rheumatic
 pains.

   CHEIRI [Brun.]  Flos.
   Cheiranthus  cheiti Lin.
   Wall-flower.
   This grows upon old  walls and
 among rubbidi, in Several parts of
 England.  The flowers have a plea-
 fant Smell, and a fubacrid, bitteriih,
 not agreeable tafte : they are  Said
 to be cordial,  anodyne, aperient,
 and emmenagoguc,  but  are wholly
 negleded by pradice.

   CHELIDONIUM   MAJUS
 [Brun.]  Herba, radix.
 ■  Chelidonium  majus Lin.
   Celandine : the leaves and root.
   This plant grows upon old walls,
 among rubbilh, and in. wafte fhady
 places.  The herb  is of a blueith
 green colour ; the  root  oS a deep
 red ;  both contain a gold-coloured
juice  ; their Smell is difagreeable ;
 the tafte  Somewhat  bitterifti, very
 acrid, biting  and   burning  the
 mouth ; the root is the moft  acrid.
 The  juice of celandine has long
 been celebrated in diSorders  of the
 eyes ; but  it is  too fliarp,  unlefs
 plentifully diluted,  to  be applied
with fafety to that tenderorgan. It
has been fometimes ufed, and it is
 faid with good Succefs, Sor extirpa-
 ting warts, cleanfing old ulcers, and
in cataplaSms Sor the herpes  milia-
lis. This acrimonious plant is rare-
ly given internally ; the virtues at-
tributed to it are thoSe of a  ftimu-
lating aperient, diuretic, and fudo-
rific :  it is particularly reepmmend-
 Medica.             ran ii.

 ed  in  the flow kind of jaundice,
 where there are no fymptoms of in-
 flammation, and in dropfies ;  Some
 SuppoSc the root to have been Hel-
 mont's Specific in the hydrops af-
 cites.  HalS a dram or a dram of
 the dry root is direded for a dofe ;
 or an  infufion in wine of an ounce
 of frefli root.

  CHELIDONIUM  MINUS
 [Brun.]  Radix.
  Ranunculus ficaria Lin.
  Pilewort ; the root.
  This is a very fmall plant, found
 in moft meadows and  by  hedge-
 ficles :  the roots confift oSftender fi-
 bres, with Some  little tubercles a-
 mong them, which are SnppoSed to
 reSemble  the haemorrhoids ;  from
 thence it has been concluded, that
 this root muft needs be of wonder-
 ful  efficacy for the cure of that di-
 ftemper :  10 the tafte, it is little o-
 ther than  mucilaginous: and altho'
 ftill  retained in feveral of  the fo-
 reign pharmacopoeias,  it is hardly
 in ufe in this country.

  CHINA [Suec] Radix.
  Smilax china Lin.
  China root.
  This root is brought from  the
 Eaft-Indies.  But befides the orien-
 tal  china root,  there is alSo a root
 under the  Same  name brought Srom
 the Weft-Indies,  obtained from a
 different fpecies of thi fame genus.
They are both longifh, full of joints,
of a pale  reddifh colour,  of no
fmell, and very little tafte : the o-
riental, which is the moft efteemed,
is confiderably harder and paler co-
loured  than the  other.  Such fhould
be chofen as is  frelh, clofe, heavy,
and  upon being  chewed appears
full of  a fat unduous juice. China
root was cither  unknown or difre-
garded by the ancient phyficians.
It was  firft introduced into Europe
about the year  1535, with the cha-
                          radcr 
Part II.             Materia

rader of a fpecific againft  venereal
and  cutaneous  diforders;   and  as
Such was made uSe of for fome time,
but at  length gave place  to medi-
cines of a  more powerful kind.  It
is  generally  fuppofed  to  promote
infenfible  perSpiration  and the uri-
nary diScharge ; and  by its undu-
ous quality to  obtund  acrimonious
juices.

   CICHOR.EUM [Suec] Radix,
herba.
   Cichoreuvi  intybus Lin.
   Wild Succory ; the roots and herb.
   The root has a moderately bitter
tafte,with Some degree of rough nefs;
the leaves are fomewhat lefs bitter :
the roots,  ftalks, and leaves yield,
on being wounded, a milky Sapona-
ceous juice.   By culture this  plant
loSes its green colour and its bitter-
nefs, and  in  this flare is employed
in fallads  : the darker coloured and
more deeply jagged the leaves, the
bitterer is their  tafte.  Wild fuc-
cory is an ufeful detergent,  ape-
rient,  and attenuating medicine ;
ading  without  much irritation,
tending rather to cool than to heat
the body,  and at the fame  time cor-
roborating the tone of the inteftines.
The juice taken in large quantities,
fo as to keep  up a gentle diarrhoea,
and continued Sor  Some weeks, has
been Sound to produce excellent ef-
feds in cutaneous affedions and o-
ther chronical difeaSes.

   CICUTA  [Lond.  Ed.]  Herba,
flos, femen.
   Conium maculatum Lin.
   Hemlock ; the leaves, flower, and
Seed.
   This is a large umbelliferous
plant,  common about the fides of
fields,  under hedges,  and in  moifl
fhady places : the leaves are wing-
ed, 'divided into a great number of
fmall fern like fedions,of a dark or
blackifh green colour,  and appear-
Medica.                   171

 ing as it were rough ;  the  ftalk is
 hollow (as is likewife great part of
 the root after the ftalk has arifen),
 and fpotted with feveral  blackifh,
 red,  or purple fpots.  Hemlock is
 fometimes applied externally in the
 form  of decodion,infufion, or poul-
 tice,  as a difcutient.   Thefe  are
 apt to  excoriate, and their vapour
 is to  fome particularly diSagreeable
 and hurtSul.   The  ftalks are infig-
 nificant, and the roots very virulent.
 With regard to its virtue when  ta-
 ken  internally, it has been gene-
 rally accounted poiSonons ;  which it
 doubtleSs is, in a high degree, when
 uSed  in any  confiderable  quantity.
 But  Dr Stoerk has  lately found,
 that  in certain Small doSes it may
 be taken  with great Safety;  and
 that, without at all disordering the
 constitution, or even producing any
 fenfible  operation, it fometimes
 proves a powerSul reSolventinmany
 obftinate  diSorders.   In   fcirrhus,
 the   internal  and  external  ufe of
 hemlock has been  found ufeful, but
 then  mercury has been  generally
 ufed  at the fame  time.   In open
 cancer, it often abates the pains,
 and  is free  from  the conftipating
 effeds of opium.   It is  likewife
 ufed  in  fcrophulous tumours  and
 ulcers, and in other ulcers that are
 only  defined  by the  term ill-con-
 ditioned.  It is alfo recommended
 by Some in chincough,  and various
 other diSeaSes.   Its common,  and
 perhaps beft form is  that  of the
 powdered leaves, in the dofe at firft
 of two or three grains a-day, which
 in Some caSes has been gradually in-
 crcal'ed to upwards  of two  ounces
 a-day, without producing giddineSs.
 An extrad from the feeds  is faid to
 produce giddineSs fooner  than  that
 from the leaves.   Hence, while
 both the  London  and Edinburgh
 colleges have given a place to  the
 fucens fpiflatus cicutas, into the phar-
 macopoeia of" the latter an extrac-
                              ttim 
 172                   Materia

 turn feminum cicutae is  alfo intro-
 duced.

   CINARA [Lond. Ed.] Folium.
   Cynara fcolymus Lin.
   Artichoke; the leaves.
   The artichoke is a Targe rough
 plant, with greyiih leaves, which is
 well known in our gardens, as being
 very commonly  cultivated for culi-
 nary purpofes.  The leaves arc bit-
 ter ; and on being preffed give out
 their bitternefs  along with their
juice. This expreffed juice is given
 in dropfies,  and in  fome  inftances
lias  prqved  fuccefsful afar other
medicines have failed.   For  this
 purpofe,  the expreffed juice paffed
 only through a  coarfe ftrainer, is
 mixed with  tn  equal quantity of
 white wine, and  of this mixture two
 or three table fpoonfuls  are taken
 every  morning  and  evening.   It
 operates   by  promoting diurefis.
 For this purpofe, an infufion of  the
 leaf is  alfo ufed;  and  both  the
 leaves and ftalks enter into many
 of the diuretic  decodions ufed by
 the country  people.

   CINNABA^.IS NATIVA
 [Brun.]
   Native cinnabar.
   This is%  ponderous mineral  of  a
 red colour, found in Spain, Hunga-
 ry, and feveral other parts  of  the
 world.   The fineft fort is in pretty
 large maffes,  both externally  and
 internally of an elegant deep red co-
 lour, which  is much improved upon
 fjrindin^ the mafs into fine powder.
There is another  fort,  of a good
 colour, in roundifh drops, fmooth
 without,  and ftriated within.
   This  mineral appears  from che-
 mical experiments to be compofed
 of mercury and  fulphur,  in  fuch  a
 manner,  that the  quantity  of  the
 former is commonly above fix times
greater than that of the latter:   the
 Medica.             fart II.

finer the colour of the cinnabar, the
more mercury it is found to hold.
Native cinnabar has been by many
preferred as a medicine to that made
by art:  bnt there does not appear to
be any juft foundation for this pre-
ference. The native has fometimes
been  obferved to occafion  naufea,
vomiting, and anxiety:  thefe pro-
bably proceeded  from an admixture
of fome arfenical particles which it
could not be freed from by repeated
ablution.  When pure,  it  has no
quality  or medical virtue  diftind
from thofe of the artificial cinnabar,
now ftyled Hydrargyrus fmphuratus
ruber, and afterwards to be men-
tioned among the  mercurial  pre-
parations.

  CINERES  CLAVELLATA
[Lond.]
  Kali impurum.
  Ruflia potafh.
  Potafh is an impure alkaline fait,
produced  from all land plants, ex-
cept  the tetradynamia  clafs, by
burning  with a clofe fmothering
heat.   In this ftate they  are called
weed afhes, which contain, befides
alkali,  charcoal, fulphur,   and  a
little  vitriolated  tartar*   Thefe
foreign  matters  are  partly fepara-
ted, by mixing  the allies with wa-
ter, and paffing it  through  a vcS-
Sel with holes' at the bottom cover-
ed with ftraw.  It  is then  evapo-
rated  to the confiftence of honey,
and afterwards  bnrnt in an oven,
from which it acquires a little ftony
matter.   In this ftate, from its co-
lour it is called pearl afhes,  the fal
alcalinus fixus vegetabilis [Ed.]  It
lime be  mixed with the  afhes, and
paffed through the  veflel as before,
the alkali is confiderably deprived
of its fixed air, is confequently cau-
ftic, has a darker colour,  and gives
a reddifh folution, having diffolved
fome of  the iron  of the pot it is pre- 
Part II.             Materia

pared in, and from which it is call-
ed  potafh.  Large  quantities of it
are brought to us  from America,
Ruffia,  and other places.  Other
kinds  of  impure vegetable alkali
appear  in  commerce, under  the
names of cafhub, marcoft afhes, &c.

  CINNAMOMUM  [Lond. Ed.]
Cortex et ejus oleum effentiale.^
  Laurus cinnamomum Lin.
  Cinnamon; the bark and its ef-
fential oil.
  This is alight thin bark, of a red-
difh colour, rolled up in long quills
or  canes;  of a  fragrant,  delight-
ful  fmell,  and an aromatic, fweet,
pungent tafte, with fome degree of
aftringency.  It is generally mixed
with the caflia bark : this laft is ea-
fily diftinguifhable by its breaking
over fmooth, whilft cinnamon fplin-
ters;  and by its flimy  mucilaginous
tafte,  without  any  thing of the
roughnefs  of the  true  cinnamon.
Cinnamonisavery elegant and ufe-
Sul aromatic,  more grateful both to
the palate and  ftomach, than molt
other fubftances of thisclafs: by its
aftringent quality it likewife corro-
borates the vifcera, and proves of
great fervice in feveral kinds of al-
vine fluxes, and immoderate  dif-
charges from the uterus. An effen-
tial oil, a diftilled water, a diftilled
fpirit,  and a tindure of it, are di-
reded to be kept in the fhops ; but
thefe  are  much more frequently
prepared from caflia than from  cin-
namon ; and  in  thofe  formulae in
which diftillation is employed, the
difference perhaps is  not very ma-
terial :  but whether it be exhibited
under the  form  of powder or idfu-
Sioti, aftringency is only to  be look-
ed Sor from the genuine cinnamon  ;
and this is often required where it
is employed as afpicy ingredient in
a great number of compofitions.
Medica.                  tjj

   CITRULLUS [Brun.] Set/sen.
   Cucurbit a ckrullus Lin. >
   Citruls; the feed.
   This plant is rarely met with a-
mong ui, unlefs in botanic gardens.
The feeds are in the number of the
four greatercold feeds, and agree in
quality with the others of that clafs.

   CITRUS  [Suec] Corticis flave-
do, oleum, fuccus.
   Citrus medica Lin.
   Citron; the yellow rind, oil, and
juice.
   The citron is an evergreen tree
or ftirub, of the fame genus  with
the orange and lemon: it was firft
brought  from Aflyria and Media,
(whence the fruit iscalled mala Af-
fyria,  mala Medica) into Greece,
and thence into the  fouthern parts
of Europe, where it is now culti-
vated.  Citrons are rarely made ufe
of among us : they are of the fame
quality with lemons, except that
their juice is fomewhat  lefs  acid.
They  enter,  however, a confidera-
ble number of formulae in Several of
the  foreign  pharmacopoeias, and
with us are frequently employed as
a condiment.

   COCCINELLA [Lond. Ed.]
   Coccus catli Lin.
   Cochineal.
  This isa fmall, irregular, roiindifii
body,  of a dark red-colour on the
outfide, and a deep bright red with-
in :  it is brought from Mexico and
New Spa in. This fubftance was long
SuppoSed to be the Seed oS a plant ;
but it  appears from chemical ex-
periments to be  an animal,  and
from the accounts of the more cele-
brated natural!'It?, an infed, which
breeds on the American  prickly-
pear tree, and adheres thereto with-
out changing its place.  Cochineal
has been ftrongly recommended as
«. fudorific, csrdiic, and a)exi;ff.ir-
                           mac; 
 174                 Materia

 mac:  but  praditioners have never
 obServedf  any confiderable effeds
 from it.  Its  greateft  confumption
 is among the fcarlet dyers ; and in
 medicine its  principal ufe is as a
 colouring drug : both  watery  and
 fpirituous liquors extrad its colour.
 In the London and Edinburgh phar-
 macopoeias, fome of the  tindures
 receive  from this drug  a fine red
 colour.

   COCHLEARIA HORTENSIS
 [Lond.'Ed.] Folia.
   Cochlearia officinalis Liu.
   Garden  fcurvy-grafs; the leaves.

   COCHLEARIA  MARINA
 Folia.
   Cochlearia Auglica Lin.
   Sea fcurvy-grafs; the leaves.
   TheSe plants have little other dif-
 ference's to their external appear-
 ance,  than that expreffed in their
 titles; in tafte and  medical virtue,
 the firft is  confiderably the ftrong-
 eft ; and hence is alone retained both
 bythe London and Edinburgh col-
 leges ; but where either is employ-
 ed, the latter, colleded on our fea-
 coafts, is perhaps moft frequently
 ufed.
   Scurvy-grafs is a pungent ftimu-
 lating  medicine ; capable of diffol-
 ving vifcid juices, opening obftrnc-
 tions  of the vifcera and the more
 diflant glands, and  promoting the
 fluid Secretions: it  is  particularly
 celebrated  in  Scurvies,  and is  the
 principal herb employed  in theSe
 kinds oS disorders  in the northern
 countries.

   COFFEA [Brun.] Semen.
   Coffea Arabica Lin.
   Coffee; the Sruit.
   Coffee is the Sruit of an oriental
 fhrtib now  cultivated in the Weft-
Indies.   This  fruit is employed ra-
ther  as food than as a medicine.
The  medical effects cxpeded from
Medica.              Fart II.

it are to affift  digeftion,  promote
the natural fecretions, and prevent
or remove a difpofition to fleepinefs.
It has been  recommended in fpaf-
modic afthma;  and in fome cafes it
is found highly ufeful in alleviating
fevere head-ach.

  COLCHICUM   [Lond.   Ed.]
Radix.
   Colchicum autumnale Lin.
   Meadow Saffron ; the root.
   This plant grows wild in  mea-
dows, in the more temperate parts
of Europe.   The roots,  freed from
the outer blackifh coat  and fibres
below,  are  white, and full  of a
white juice.  In  drying they be-
come wrinkled  and dark coloured.
Applied to the fkin, it fhows  fome
Signs oS acrimony; and taken inter-
nally, it is Said  Sometimes to excite
a SetiSe of  burning heat,  bloody
ftools, and other violent fymptoms.
In  the  form of  fyrup,  however,
it has been  given to  the  extent
of two ounces  a-day without  any
bad confequence.   It is fometimes
employed as a  diuretic  in dropfy.
  From its great adivity it was long
ranked  among  the poifonous vege-
tables ;  but from  this circumftance
it  claimed   the attention  of Dr
Stoerk of Vienna,  who made it the
fubjed of many experiments.   Ac-
cording to his account, the recent
root taken in fubftance,  even to a
very fmall extent,  produced alarm-
ing effeds ;  but he found  that an
oxymel prepared from it might be
ufed  with  fafety,  and  proved  a
powerful diuretic.   Since his pub-
lication  it has  been a  good  deal
tifetl by other praditioners;  but it
has by  no  means fupported  the
cbarader which he gave  of it, even
when employed in much larger dofes
than Dr Stoerk feems to have ex-
hibited.   On fome occafions, how-
ever,  it operates as a powerful  diu-
retic ;  and  accordingly  it  is not
                            only 
Part  II.             Materia

only introduced into moft of the
modern pharmacopoeias, but is alfo
the bafis of different formulas. The
London college,  in  imitation of
the original prescription of Dr Sto-
erk,  have  introduced irtto  their
pharmacopoeia an oxymel colchici;
but the Edinburgh college, from an
objedion to honey, which with fome
people  is apt to excite violent colic
pains,   have fubftituted to  this a
fyrupus colchici; in which,  how-
ever,  nearly the fame proportions
are retained, fugar  being merely
employed in place of honey.  This
fyrup,  in  place  oS  two  or  three
drams merely, has  been  given  to
the extent oS two or  three ounces
in a day,  in general  without  any
inconvenience, and Sometimes with
good;  effeds : but like the other
diuretics,  it cannot  be depended
upon.

   COLOCYNTHIS [Lond. Ed.]
Fruclus medulla.
   Cufitmis colocynthis Lin.
   Coloquintida,  or  bitter apple ;
the medullary part of the  Sruit.
   This is the produce oSa plant of
the gourd kind,  growing  in Tur-
key. The Sruit is about theiize  of
an orange ;  itsmedullarypart, Sreed
Srom the rind and Seeds,  is  alone
made  uSe of in medicine : this is
very light, white, fpongy, compofed
of membraneous leaves ;  of an ex-
tremely bitter, naufeous, acrimoni-
ous tafte.  Colocynth is one  of the
moft powerful and moft violent ca-
thartics.  Many eminent phylicians
condemn it  as dangerous,  and  evtn
deleterious : others  recommend it
not only as an efficacious purgative,
but  likewiSe as an  alternative  iTi
obftinate chronical diSorders. Tims
much  is certain,  that colocynth, i.'
the doSe oS a Sew grains,  ads v :th
great vehemence,dilbrdt-s the ! u<y
and Sometimes occafioits a  diScharge
»S blood. Many attempts have been
Medica.                  175

made to corred it's virulence by the
addition oS acids,  aftringents, and
the like ; theSe may leffcn theSorce
of the colocynth,  but no otherwiSe
than might be equally done by a re-
dndion of the dofe.  The beft me-
thod of abating its virulence,  with-
out diminifhing its purgative virtue,
feems to be by  triturating it with
gummy farinaceous fubftances,  or
the oily feeds, which, without ma-
king any alteration in the colocynth
itfelf, prevent its refinous particles
from cohering, and  fticking upon
the membranes of the inteftines, fo
as to irritate,  inflame, orcorrods
them.   It is an ingredient in fome
of the purgative piils, and the ca-
thartic extrads of the fhops, par-
ticularly of the extradum colocyn-
thidis  compufitum,  and pilulae  ex
colocynthide cum aloe.

   COLOMBA [Lond.  Ed.] Ra-
dix.
   Colomba ;  the root.
   The botanical charaders of the
vegetable from whence this  root is
obtained are not yet  afcertained.
It is  brought  from  Colombo  in
Ceylon in  the  form of knobs, ha-
ving a rough  furface,  and confift-
ing  of a cortical,  woody, and me-
dullary lamina.  It has a disagree-
ably  bitter  tafte, an  aromatic fla-
vour ; in experiment isconfide.rably
antiSeptic, and particularly cflcdual
in correding and preventing  the
putridity of bile  Abroad it is much
uSev! in diScaScs attended with bili-
ous  Symptoms, particularly in cho-
lera ;  and  is  Said to  be Sometimes
very effedual in other caSes of  vo-
miting.  Some  confider  it as very
ufeSul in dySpepfia.  Half a dram of
the  powder is  given repeatedly in
  !:'•  dav.  V.dur is not focompletc
a m; ttidtu;. •■ as fpirits, but  to their
united adion  it yields a flavoured
extrad in  very confidcrrffle quan-
tity.  Its uSe in medicine has been
                            par- 
 i"]6

 particularly  recommended  to the
 attention of praditioners  by  Dr
 Percival of Manchefter in his Ex-
 perimental Effays; and it has  in
 general been found to anfwer ex-
 pedation : but it is to be regretted,
 that  it is not So regularly imported
 as to admit of our fhops being fup-
 plied with it ofgood quality. Hence
 when prefcribed it is often exhibit-
 ed in a very  decayed ftate.

   CONSOLIDA  [Suec] Radix.
   Symphitum officinale Lin.
   Comfrey ; the root.
   This is a rough hairy plant,grow-
 ing wild by river-fides and in wa-
 tery  places.   The roots arc very
 large, black  on the ontfide, white
 within, Still  of a  vifcid glutinous
 juice, of no particular tafte.  They
 agree in quality with the roots of
 althaea ; with this difference,  that
 the mucilage of confolida is  fome-
 what ftronger bodied.  Many ridi-
 culous hiftories of the coufolidating
 virtues of this plant are related by
 authors.  At prefent it is fo little
 employed in  pradice in Britain, as
 to have no place in our pharmaco-
 poeias.

   CONTRAYERVA [Lond. Ed.]
 Radix.
   Dorftenia contrayerva Lin.
   Contrayerva  ; the root.
   This is a knotty root, an inch or
 two in length,  about half  an inch
 thick, of a reddifh brown colour
 externally, and pale within :  long,
 tough, flender fibres (hoot out from
 all fides of it ;  thefe are generally
 loaded with fmall round knots. This
 root is of a peculiar kind of aroma-
 licfmell, anda fomewhat aftringent,
 warm, bitteriih   tafte,  with a light
 and fweetifhkind of acrimony when
long chewed : the fibres have- little
tafte or fmell ;  the tuberous part
therefore fliould be alone chofen.
Contrayerva is one of the mildeft of
Materia Medica.
Part 11.
 thofe fubftances called  alexiphar-
 macs: it is indifputably agood and
 ufeful diaphoretic, and may be fafe-
 ly given in much larger dofes than
 the common  pradice is accuftom-
 ed to exhibit it in.   Its virtues are
 extraded  both by  water and rec-
 tified fpirit,  and do not arife in e-
 vaporation with  either :  the fpi-
 rituous  tindure and extrad tafte
 ftronger of the root than the aque-
 ous ones.

   CONVALLARIA  [Ed.] Ra-
 dix.
   Convallaria polygonatum Lin.
   Solomon's feal ; the roots.
   The root of this common plant
 contains  a  fweetilh  mucilage, and
 has been uSed in Sorm of poultice in
 inflammations ; but  whether this or
 any other is better  than the com-
 mon poultice  of bread and milk is
 doubtful.   A  decodion of this root
 in milk has alfo been mentioned in
 certain cafes of hcemorrhagy. The
 flowers, berries, and leaves, are faid
 to be poifonous.

  COPAL [Brun.] Refina.
  Rhus copallinum Lin.
  Copal.
  Copal, SuppoSed by Some a mine-
ral Subftance,  appears to be a refin
obtained  Srom feveral forts oS large
trees growing in New Spaiiu This
refin is brought to  us in irregular
lumps, Some transparent, oS a yel-
lowifh  or  brown colour,  others
SemitranSparent and whitifh.   It
has never came into uSe as a medi-
cine, and is rarely met with in the
Snops ;  but it is introduced into
Some of the  foreign pharmacopoeias,
and may  be confidered as an article
well deServing attention.

  CORALLINA [Brun.]
  Corallina officinalis Lin.
  Coraline, or Sea-moSs.
  This is h branched cretaceous Sub-
                          ftance 
Part If.             Materia

ftance  of a white colour, the ha-
bitation and produdion of polypi,
growing on rocks, and fometimps on
the fliells of fifties.   It is celebrat-
ed as a vermifuge, on what founda-
tion is very doubtful: to the  tafte
it is entirely infipid,  and probably
operates only as an abforbent earth.

  CORRAL LI UM  RUBRUM
 [Lond.]
  Ifis nobilis Lin.
  Red coral.
  This is alfo a marine produdion,
of the fame nature with the forego-
ing. It cannot reafonably be hooked
 upon in any other  light than as a
mere abforbent;  as fuch it enters
 |he officinal crabs-claw powder, and
is Sometimes in pradice direded by
iifelf;  but it is fo little employed,
and of fo little  adivity, that the
 Edinburgh college have with juftice
 rejeded it from their lift.

   CORIANDRUM [Lond.  Ed.]
 Semen.
   Coriandrum fativum Lin.
   Coriander; the feed.
   Coriander is an  umbelliferous
 plant,  differing from all the others
 of  that clafs in producing fpkerical
 Seeds.   TheSe, when frefh, have a
 ftrong difagreeable fmell, which im-
 proves by drying, and becomes fuf-
 ficiently grateful; they are recom-
 mended as carminative  and ftoma-
 chic.   They were formerly an in-
 gredient in the officinal compound
 lime-water and  eleduary of bay-
 berries; but both thefe formulas are
 now rejeded.

  CORNU CERVI [Lond.]
  The  flag or hart's horns.
   Many extraordinary virtues have
been attributed to thefe horns, and
 to  all  the parts  of  the animal in
general:  but  experience gives no
countenance  to them ;  nor do they
feem to iuve any other foundation
Medica.                  177

than the great timidity of the hart,.
the annual renewal of his horns, and
an opinion of his extraordinary lon-
gevity.   From thefe circumftances
it was inferred, that all the parts of
him muft be proper for intimidat-
ing the enraged Archeus, renewing
health and ftrength, and prolonging
life.  They are to be confidered as
of the fame nature with bonts; and
their  produds  by heat are thofe of
animal fubftances in general.  As
fuch they were at one timefo much
employed for yielding the volatile
alkali, that they even gave a name
to that article.
   The horns boiled in water, give
out an emollient nutritious  gelly.
Burnt to whitenefs, they  yield an
earth,  employed  in  the  officinal
white  decodion, or  as it is now
more properly ftyled, the Dicoclum
coruu cervi.

   COTULA FOETID A [Brun.]
Folia.
   Anthemis cotula.
   Mayweed, or wild chamomile.
   This  plant  is common  among
corn,  and in wafte places.   In ap-
pearance it refembles fome of the
garden chamomiles,  but  is eafily
diftiaguifhable  Srom  them  by  its
ftrong fetid fcent. It is rarely or ne-
ver ufed  in the  prefent pradice.

   CRETA [Lond.]
   White chalk.
   This is an earth foluble in vinegar
and the lighter acids, fo as to de-
stroy every  fenfible mark of their
acidity.  This  earth is one  oS the
moft  uScSul oS  the abSorbents, and
is to be looked upon fimply as Such :
the aftringent virtues which Some
attribute to it, have no foundation,
unleSs in So  Sar as the earth  is Sati-
ated with acid, with which it com-
poSes a Saline concrete maniScftly
Subaftringent.  It gives name to an
officinal mixture, in a powder, and
               M         potion, 
 178                  Materia

potion, and is  an ingredient in the
cardialgic troches.  It is employed
alfo for extricating the volatile fait
of fal ammoniac.

   CROCUS  [Lond.] Floris ftig-
ma.
   Crocus fativus Lin.
   Saffron; the chives.
   Thefe chives,  or flefhy capilla-
ments, growing  at the end of the
piftil  of  the flower, are carefully
picked and  prefled  together into
cakes.
   There are three forts of faffron
met  with in  the fhops,   two of
which are brought  from abroad,
the other is the produce of our own
country;  this laft  is  much  fu-
perior to  the two former,  from
which it  may be diftinguifhed by
its blades being broader.  When in
perfedion it  is of a fiery orange
red colour, and  yields a deep yel-
lowifh tindure: it fhould be chofen
frefh, not above a year old, in clofe
cakes, neither dry, nor yet very
moift, tough and firm  in tearing,
of the fame colour within as  with-
out,  and of a ftrong, acrid, diffufive
fmell.
   Saffron is a very elegant and ufe-
ful aromatic; befides  the virtues
which it has in common with all the
bodies of  that clafs, it has been al-
leged that i t re m arkably exhilarates,
raifes the fpirits,  and is defervedly
accounted one of the higheft cordi-
als;  taken in large dofes, it  is faid
to occafion immoderate mirth,  in-
voluntary laughter, and the ill effeds
which follow from the abufe of fpiri-
tuous liquors.  This medicine is faid
 to be particularly ferviceable in hy-
fteric depreffions, or obftrudion of
 the uterine Secretions, where other
aromatics, even thofe of the more
generous kind,  have little effed.
 Saffron imparts the whole of its vir-
 tue  and colour  to  redified  fpirit,
proof fpirit,   wine,  vinegar, and
Medica.              Part If.

 water: a tindure drawn with vine-
 gar,  lofes  greatly of its  colour in
 keeping;   the watery  and vinous
 tindures are apt to grow four, and
 then lofe their colour alfo: that made
 in pure fpirit keeps in perfedion for.
 many years.   Its officinal prepara-
 tions are,  a  fpirituous tindure and
 fyrup.  It  is an ingredient in the
 cordial confedion paregoric elixir,
 and Several of the  aloetic compofi-
 tions : but of late years, the eftima-
 tion in which it was held as a medi-
 cine has been rather on the decline.
 Some  experiments made by  Dr
 Alexander Serve to fliow that it is
 much lefs powerful than was once
 imagined: and it was lately given
 in the  Edinburgh Infirmary by Dr
 Henry Cullen, even to the extentof
 half an ounce a-day, in feveral hyfc
 terical cafes, without  any fenfible
 effed whatever.

   CUBEBA [Lond. Ed.]
   Piper cubeba L in.
   Cubebs.
   Cubebs are a fruit brought from
 the Eaft-Indies.  This fruit has a
 great refemblance to pepper. The
 principal  difference diftinguifhable
 by the eye,  is that  each cubeb is
 furnifhed with a long (lender ftalk
 (whence  they are called by fome
 piper  caudatufn.)   In  aromatic
 warmth and pungency, cubebs are
 far inferior to pepper.   They were
 formerly an ingredientin mithridate
 and theriaca; but they do not now
 enter any  of the fixed formulas of
 our pharmacopoeia*.

   CUCUMIS  HORTENSIS  Se-
 men.
    Cucumis fativus Lin.
   Garden cucumbers; the feeds.
   Thefe arc in the number of  the
 fojir greater cold feeds; they are lefs
 apt to grow  rancid in  keeping than
 the others of that clafs.

                             CU- 
Part II.            Materia

  CUCUMIS  AGRESTIS  [L.]
Frulius recens.
  Momordica elaterium Lin.
  Wild cucumber ;  the fruit.
  This plant, found wild in foreign
countries, is  with us cultivated in
gardens.   Its principal botanic dif-
ference from  the former, is  the
fmallnefs  of its  fruit, which is no
bigger than a Spanifh olive : when
ripe, it burfts on a little touch,  aud
iheds its feeds with  violence, and
hence was named by the Greeks ela-
terium.  This name is applied like-
wife to the fecale of the juice of the
fruit, the only preparation of the
plant made ufe of in medicine. The
j uice, on ftanding, Separates into the
fecule, which falls  to the bottom,
and a watery fluid which fwims a-
bove.  The  clear part may be de-
canted off, and the reft of the liquid
drained off by cotton threads hung
over the  fides of the veflel ading
like fyphons.   The fecule may be
farther dried by the fun,  or a flow
heat; and in this dry ftate  it has the
name of elaterium.  Elaterium is a
ftrong cathartic, and very often o-
perates alfo upwards. Two or three
grains are acsounted in moft cafes
a large dofe.  Simon Pauli relates
fome inftances of the good  effeds of
this purgative in dropfies;  but cau-
tions praditioners  not to  have re-
courfe to  it till after milder medi-
cines have proved ineffedual  ;  to
which caution we heartily fubferibe.
Medicines indeed ingeneral, which
ad with  violence in a fmall  dofe,
require the utmofl  fkill to manage
them with any tolerable degree  of
fafety-. to which may be added, that
the various manners of making thefe
kind's  of preparations, as  pradifed
by different hands, muft needs vary
their power.  But of late, the elate-
rium has been not unfreqnently em-
ployed in obftinate cafes  of dropfy
with fucceSs; and when exhibited in
doScs of only lnlf a grain, repeated
Medica.                   179

 at fhort intervals till its operation
 commences, it is in general fuffici-
 ently moderate in its effeds.

   CUCURBITA [Suec] Semen.
   Cucurbita lagenaria Lin.
   The gourd ; the feeds.
   TheSe are in the number of the
 four greater cold feeds. They unite
 with water by trituration into an
 emulfion,  and yield  to  the preSs
 a Soft infipid oil, and  poffeSs the
 general virtues  of unctuous  fub-
 ftances.

   CUMINUM  [Lond. Ed.] Se-
 men.
   Cuminum cyminum Lin.
   Cummin ; the feed.
   The cummin is an umbelliferous
 plant, in appearance refembling fen-
 nel, but much fmaller.   The feeds
 ufed in Britain are brought chiefly
 from  Sicily and Malta.  Cummin
 feeds have a bitterifh warm tafte, ac-
 companied with an aromatic flavour,
 not of the moft agreeable kind. An
 effential oil is  obtained from them
 by diftillation, in which their adivi-
 ty is  concentrated ;  and they are
 not unfrequently ufed  externally,
 giving name both to a plafter and
 cataplafm.

   CUPRUM [Lond.]
   Cuprum nativum Lin.
   Copper.
   Copper is one of the metals often
 ufed for different purpofes in arts j
 found  both in Britain, and in moft
 other countries of Europe.   It has
 never been ufed as a medicine in its
 proper metallic  form ;  but  it   is
 readily aded upon by all faline fub-
 ftances, both by acids, alkalies, and
 neutrals; and it is  even  corroded
 by moifture.
    Moft of  thefe preparations   of
 copper  are violently emetic, and
  therefore very rarely exhibited in-
  ternally. Some have ventured upon
               M 2             a 
180                   Materia Medica.             Fart  II.
 a folution of a grain or two  of  the
 metal in  vegetable acids, and  ob-
 ferve, that it ads almoft as  foon as
 received  into the ftomach, fo as to
 be of great ufe for occafioning poi-
 Sonous fubftances  that have been
 fwallowed,to be immediately thrown
 up again.   Boerhaave recommends
 a faturated folution of this metal in
 volatile alkaline fpirits, as a medi-
 cine  of great Service in  disorders
 proceeding Srom an acid,  weak,
 cold, phlegmatic cauSe:  if  three
 drops of this tindure betakenevery
 morning with a glafs of mead, and
 the dofe doubled every day to twen-
 ty-four drops, it proves,  he fays,
 aperient, attenuating, warming, and
 diuretic: he affures us, that by this
 means he  cured a confirmed afcites,
 and that the urine  run out as from
 an open pipe ; but at the fame time
 he acknowledges, that upon  trying
 the fame medicineonothers,  it fail-
 ed him.  He likewife recommends
 other preparations of copper, as of
 wonderful efficacy  in certain kinds
 of ill habits, weaknefs of the fto-
 mach, Hkc. bit we cannot think the
 internal ufe of this metal advifable
 in ordinary cafes,  which can  be
 combated  by other means.  Phyfici-
 ans in general Seem tobe agreed, that
 it has really a virulent quality; and
 too many examples are met with  of
 f.tal  confequences   enfuing  upon
 eating food which  has been dreft
 in copper   veffels not well cleaned
 from the ruft which they had con-
 traded by lying in the air.
  Great care ought to be taken that
 acid liquors, or even water, defigned
 tor internal ufe, be not  fuffered to
 ftand  long in veffels made of cop-
 per ; otherwife they will diffolve fo
 much of the metal as will give them
difagreeable qualities.   Hence  in
the diftillation oS Simple waters with
copper flills, the laft runnings, which
are manifeftly acid, have frequent-
ly proved emetic. It is remarkable,
that whilft weak acid liquors are
kept boiling in copper veffels, they
do  not feem  to diffolve any of the
metal ; but if fuffered to remain in
them for the fame length  of time
without boiling,  they become not-
ably impregnated with the copper.
Hence the confedioners, by fkilful
management, prepare the moft acid
fyrups in copper veffels, without gi-
ving  them  any ill  tafte from  the
metal. But although copper be thus
dangerous, fome  preparations of it
are in»certain  cafes  ufed with great
advantage both externally and in-
ternally.
  The chief preparationsof copper
are, the blue vitriol, verdegris, and
cuprum ammoniacum; but the Lon-
don college have given a place only
to the two former. The blue vitriol
is recommended by fome as an ufeful
emetic, particularly in cafes of in-
cipient phthifis with a view of re-
folving tubercles.   It is fometimes
employed as an aftringent and efchst-
rotic ; and verdegris is ufed inform
of ointment in certain ulcerations,
in cafes of tinea capitis and the like.
Of the cuprum ammoniacum, which
although  it has  no place  in  the
pharmacopoeia of the London col-
lege, we  confider to be a very adive
and  powerful medicine, we fhall
afterwards treat, under the head of
Preparations,  in the third part of
this work : here we may only ob-
ferve, that it has produced a perfed
cure in fome inftances of epilepfy.

  CURCUMA  [Lond. Ed.] Ra-
dix.
  Curcuma longa Lin..,
  Turmeric ;  the root.
  Turmeric is a  root brought from
the  Eaft-Indies, where it is uSed not
only in medicine, but for colouring
and feafoning  food,  as rice.  It is
internally of  a deep lively yellow
or Saffron colour,  which it  readily
imparts to watery liquors.   It: has
                              an 
Part  II.            Materia Medica.                   181
an agreeable, weak fmell,  and a
bitterifh Somewhat warm tafte. Tur-
meric is efteemed aperient and era-
menagogne, and of Singular efficacy
in the jaundice.  It tinges the urine
of a Saffron colour.

   CURSUTA [Ed.] Radix.
  Gentiana purpurea Lin.
   CurSuta: the root.
   The Soreign root Sold under this
name was introduced into the  laft
edition of the Edinburgh pharma-
copoeia, but perhaps without fuffi-
cient ground ;  and  accordingly it
has not found a place in the  lift of
any other college.   It is now be-
lieved, that what has had the name
of curfuta, is the root of the purple
gentian;   but what  is  ufually fold
under that title in our fhops cannot,
either  by its appearance, tafte, or
other fenfible qualities, be  diftin-
guifhed from the common gentian,
the root of the gentiana  lutea, after-
wards to be mentioned. And as far
as the medical properties of the cur-
futa  have been afcertained, they are
precifely  the fame  with thofe of
gentian.
   This foreign root has a very bit-
ter  tafte, and is ufed  by fome in
dyfpepfia.
   CYANUS [Brun.]  Flores.
   Centaurca cyanus  Lin.
   Bluebottle; the flowers.
   This is a common weed  among
corn.  The flowers are of an ele-
gant blue colour, which if carefully
and  haftily dried, they retain for a
confiderable time. As to their vir-
tues, the  prefent pradice expeds
not any from them; notwithftand-
ing they have been formerly cele-
brated againftthe bites of poifonous
animals, contagious  difeaSes, palpi-
tations of the heart,and many other
diftempers.

   CYDONIUM MALUM [Lond.
Ed.]  Fruttus, femen.
  Pyrus cydonia Lin.
  The quince; its fruit and, Seeds.
  Quinces have a very auftere acid
tafte ; taken in fmall quantity, they
are SuppoSed  to reftrain vomiting
and alvine fluxes; and more  libe-
rally to looSen the belly. The Seeds
abound wifh  a mncilagjnous fub-
ftance of no particular tafte, which
they readily  impart to watery li-
quors:  an ounce will render three
pints of water thick and  ropy like
the white of  an egg.  A mucilage
of the feeds is kept in the fhops.  A
Syrup of the fruit had formerly a
place, but it isnowrejeded.

  CYNOGLOSSUS [Brun] Ra-
dix.
  Cynoglojfus officinalis Lin.
  Houndftongue ; the root;
  The leaves of this plant  are in
fhape thought to r* femble a tongue,
whence its name ; ihey are clothed
with a  whitifh down : it grows wild
in fhady lanes.  The roots  ha.ve a
rank difagreeable Smell, and rough
bitterifh  tafte, covered with a glu-
tinous  SweetneSs.   The virtues  of
this root  are  very  doubtful : it is
generally fuppofed  to be  narcotic,
and  by fome  to be virulently fo;
others  declare, that it has no virtue
of this kind,  and look upon it as a
mere glutinous aftringent. The pre-
fent  pradice  takes no notice of it
with any intention.

  CYNOSBATUS [Lond.] Fruc
tus.
   Rofa canina Lin.
   Dog-rofe ;  the fruit called hips.
  This bufli grows wild in hedges
throughout England.  The flowers
have a pleafant fmell ; but fo \veak,
that Parkinfon andothershave na-
med the plant Rofa fylveftris iuodo-
r#.-awater diftilled from thenilineUs
agreeably.  .The Sruit.or hips con-
tain a Sourilh Swectiih  pulp ; v\ ith a
rough  prickly matter  inclofing the
       5     M 3           Seeds, 
18a                  Materia Medica.             Part II.
feeds, from which the pulp ought to
be  carefully feparated  before it be
taken internally: the Wirtemberg
college obferves,thatfrom anegled
of  this  caution,  the  pulp of hips
fometimes occafions a pruritus and
uneafineSs about the anus; and the
conServe oS it  has  been known to
excite violent vomiting. The con-
ferve is the only officinal preparation
of  this  fruit.  And as it is not Sup-
poSed to pofftSs any particular medi-
cal virtue, but is merely ufed  to
give form to other articles, the Ed-
inburgh college have perhaps, with-
out any material disadvantage, en-
tirely omitted it.

  CYPERUS [Brun.]  Radix.
  Cyperns longus Lin.
  Cyperus; the root.
  This is a plant of the graminifo-
lious kind; it  is fometimes Sound
wild in  marfhy places in England;
the   roots have  been generally
brought to us Srom Italy. This root
is long,  Slender, crooked,  and full
of knots; outwardly of a dark brown,
or blackifh colour, inwardly white-
ifh ; of an aromatic fmell, and an a-
greeable warm tafte: both the tafte
and the fmell are improved by mo-
derate exficcation.  Cyperus is ac-
counted a  good ftomachic and car-
minative, but at preSent very little
regarded.

  DACTYLUS [Brun.] Frutfus.
  Phxnix  daClyliferaLin.
  The  date; the fruit.
  Dates are imported into Britain
in the ftate of a half dried fruit,
about the fhape of an acorn, but ge-
nerally larger, confifting of a fweet
pulpy part and a hard ftone: the
beft are brought from Tunis.  They
were formerly  ufed in pedoral de-
codions ; and fuppofed, befides their
emollient  and  incraflating virtue,
fp have a flight aftringency.
   DAUCISCRETICUS  [Brun.]
femen.
   Athamanta Cretenfis Lin.
   Candy carrot ; the feeds.
   This is  an umbelliferous plant,
growing wild in the Levant  and the
warmer parts of Europe. The feeds,
which are brought from Crete, have
a warm biting tafte, and not a difa-
agreeable aromatic fmell. They are
carminative, and faid to be diuretic,
but at prefent little ufed.

   DAUCUS  SYLVESTRI.S
[Lond. Ed.]
   Daucus carota Lin.
   Wild carrot; the feed.
   This  is  common   in   pafture
grounds and fallow fields throughout
England. The feecs poffefs the vir-
tues of thofe of the daucus creticus,
in an inferior degree;  and have of-
ten fupplied their place in the fhops,
and beenthemfelves fupplied by the
feeds of the garden carriot: thefe
laft  arc  in  warmth  and  flavour
the weakeft of the three : the feeds
of the candy carrot are much  the
ftrongeft.

   DENS LEONIS, vide Tarax-
acum.

   DICTAMNUS ALBUS [Ed.]
Radix.
   Diftamnus alb us Lin.
   White or baftard dittany;  the
root.
   This  plant grows  wild  in  the
mountainous parts of France, Italy,
and Germany.  From  thence  the
cortical part of the root, in  a  dry
ftate, rolled up in little quills, is
fometimes brought to us. It is of a
white colour, of a weak not very a-
greeable fmell,  and  of a durable
bitter lightly pungent  tafte. It has
beenrecommendedas an alexiphar-
mac, a tonic, and an anthelmintic;
but it is very Seldom ufed,  and  has
                              no 
 Part II.             Materia

 no place in the  London pharmaco-
 poeia.

   DICTAMNUS  CRETICUS
 [Suec] Folia.
   Origanum ditlamnus Lin.
   Dittany of Crete; the leaves.
   This is a kind  of origanum faid
 to grow plentifully in the ifland of
 Candy, in Dalmatia,  and in the
 Morea: it has been found hardy e-
 nough to  bear the ordinary winters
 of our own climate.   The leaves,
 which are the only part in ufe with
 us come from Italy.  The beft fort
 are well covered over  with a thick
 white down,  and now  and then in-
 termixed with purplifh flowers.  In
 fmell and  tafte  they fomewhat re-
 femble lemon thyme; but have more
 of an aromatic flavour,  as well as a
 greater degree of pungency ; when
 frefh, they yield a confiderable quan-
 tity  of an excellent  effential oil.
 But they have now  no place either
 in the London  or Edinburgh phar-
 macopoeias.

   DIGITALIS [Lond. Ed.] Her-
 ba.
   Digitalis purpurea Lin.
   Fox glove; the plant.
   This grows wild in woods, and on
 uncultivated heaths: the elegant ap-
 pearance of its purple flowers (which
 hang in fpikes along one fide of the
 ftalk) has gained it a place in fome
 of our gardens.  The  leaves have
 been ftrongly recommended, exter-
 nally againft  fcrophulous tumours;
 and likewife internally, in epileptic
 diforders: what Service they may be
 capable of doing  in  thefe  cafes is
 not afcertained by accurate experi-
 ment.  Several examples are men-
 tioned by  medical writers of their
occafioning violent  vomiting,  hy-
percatharfis,  and difordering the
whole conftitution;  infomuch that
Boerhaave  accounts them  poifon-
Medica.                   183

ous.  Their tafte is bitter and very
naufeous.
  Digitalis, however, has lately been
employed with great fuccefs in other
difeafes.  A treatife has lately been
publifiied by Dr Withering, profef-
fedly on the fubjed of its ufe in me-
dicine ; and containing many im-
portant and ufeSul obfervations.
   An infufion of  two drams of the
leaf in a pint of water, given in half-
ounce dofes every two hours or fo,
till it begin to puke or purge,  is re-
commended in dropfy, particularly
that of the breaft.  It is faid to have
produced an evacuation of water fo
copious and fudden, in afcites, by
ftooland urine,  that the compreffion
of  bandages  was  found neceffary.
The plentiful ufe of diluents  is or-
dered during its operation. The re-
medy, however,  is inadmiffible  in
very weakly patients.  But befides
being given in inSufion, it has alSo
been employed in Subftance.  And
when taken at  bed-time to the ex-
tent oS one, two, or three, grains  of
the dried powder, it oSten in a lhort
time operates as a very powcrSul diu-
retic, without producing any  other
evacuation.   Even  this  quantity,
however, will Sometimes excite very
Severe vomiting, and  that too oc-
curring unexpededly.  During its
operation it has oSten very remark-
able influence in rendering the pulSe
flower; and it frequently excites
very  confiderable  vertigo, and an
affedion of vifion.
  Befides dropfy,  the digitalis has
of late  been alfo employed in fome
inftances of hasmoptyfis, of phthi-
fis, and of mania, with apparent
good effeds.  But its ufe in  thefe
difeafes is much lefs common than
in dropfy.

  DOLICAOS [Ed.] Pubes  legu-
minis rigida.
  Dolichos pruriens Lin.
              M  4         Cow- 
184                  Materia

  Cowhage ; the rigid down of the
pod.
  The  dolichos is a plant growing
in great abundance in  warm cli-
mates, particularly in the Weft-In-
dia iflands;  and  there  it is very
iroublefome  to  cattle and other do-
meftic animals.   For on account of
the fpiculse oS the Seed-bag, it ex-
cites, when touched, a very  uneaSy
itching.  Thtfe Spiculae have been
long ufed in South America, in cafes
of worms;  and have  of late been
frequently employed in Britain. The
fpiculse of one pod  mixed with fyrup
or molaffes, and taken in the morn-
ing  fafting,  isa  dofe for an adult.
The worms are faid to appear with
the Second  or  third doSe; and by
means of a purge in Some caSes the
Stools are Said to have  confifted  al-
moft entirely oS worms;  and in ca-
fes of lumbrici, it is faid to produce
a Safe and effedual cure. Thofe who
have ufed  it moft, particularly  Dr
Bancroft and Dr Cochrane, affirm
that they have never feen any incon-
venience refulting from the internal
ufe of it, notwithftanding the great
uneafinefs it occafions on the flight-
eft touch to any part of the furface.

   DORONICUM GERMANI-
CUM,  vide Arnica.

   DULCAMARA  [Ed.]  Sti-
pites.
   Solanum dulcamara Lin.
   Bitter-fweet,  or woody  night-
fhade ; the ftalks.
   This plant grows wild in moift
hedges, and climbs on  the  bushes
with woody brittle ftalks. The tafte
of the twigs and roots,  as the name
of the plant cxpreflVs, is both bitter
and fweet; the bitternefs being firft
perceived, and the fweetnefs after-
wards.  The  dulcamara Was for-
merly much efteemed as a powerful
medicine.   It is in general  faid to
pecafion fome confiderable evacua-
Medica.              Part If.

 tion by Sweat, urine, or ftool, par-
 ticularly the latter.   It has been re-
 commended as a  diScutient and re-
 Solvent medicine; and it has been
 Said to be attended  with good ef-
 feds in cutaneous obftinate difeafes
 of  the herpetic  kind.  It has alfo
 been ufed, and fometimes with ad-
 vantage,  in cafes of  rheumatifm,
 jaundice, and obftruded menftrua-
 tion.  It has  principally been em-
 ployed under  the form  of watery
 infufion,  fometimes  under that of
 extrad.

   EBULUS [Suec]  Radix, folia
 bacca*.
   Sambucus ebulus Lin.
   Dwarf-elder;  the  root, leaves,
 and berries.
   This plant  grows  wild  in fome
 counties  of  England;  but  about
 London is rarely met with, unlefs
 in  gardens:  the eye diftinguifhes
 little  difference between it and the    4
 elder  tree except in thefize ; the el-
 der being a pretty Urge tree, and the
 dwarf elder only an herb three or
 four feet high.   The leaves, roots,
 and bark of ebulus have a naufeous,
 fharp, bitter tafte, and a kind of a-
 crid ungrateful fmtll: they are all
 ftrong cathartics, and ss fuch are
 recommended in dropfies, and other
 cafeswhere medicines of that kind
 are indicated. The bark of the root
 is faid to be ftrongeft ; the leaves the
 wedkeft. But they are all too draft-
 ic  medicines for general ufe: they
 fometimes  evacuate violently up-
 wards, almoft always nanfeate the
 ftomach, and occafion great uneafi-
 nefsof the bowels.  By boiling, they
 become like the other draftics mil-
 der, and more  Safe in operation.
 Fernelius relates, that by long coc-
 tion they entirely loSe their purga-
 tive virtue.   The  berries oS this
 plant  are likrwife purgative, but leSs
 virulent  than the other parts.   A
 rob prepared from them may be gi-
                              ven 
Part. II.             Materia

ven  to the quantity of an ounce as
a cathartic ;  and in fmaller ones as
an aperient anddeobltruentin chro-
nic diforders :  with this laft inten-
tion, it is faid by Haller to be fre-
quently ufed in Swifferland, in the
dofe  of a dram.

   ELATERIUM, vide Cucumis
Agrestis.

   ELEMI [Lond.] Refina.
   Amyris elemifera Lin.
   Gum elemi.
   This is a refin brought Srom the
Spanifh Weft-Indies, and Sometimes
from the Eaft-Indies, in longround-
ifti cakes, generally wrapped  up in
flag leaves.  The beft  Sort is Sofrifh,
Somewhat transparent,  of  a  pale
whitifh yellow colour,  inclining a
little to green,  of a ftrong not un-
pleafant  fmell.   It almoft totally
diffolves  in pure Spirit, and Sends o-
ver Some partoS its Sragrance  along
with this menftruum in diftillation :
diftilled with water, it yields a con-
siderable quantity of pale coloured,
thin, fragranteffenMaloil.Tliisrefin
gives name to one of the officinal
unguents, and is at prefent  fcarce
any  otherwiSe made ufe of; though
it is certainly preferable for internal
purpofes  to  fome  others which are
held in greater efteem.

   ELEUTHERIA,  vide Casca-
R1LLA.

   END1VIA  [Brun.] Semen.
   Cichorettm endivia Lin.
   Endive;  the feed.
   Endive is raifed in gardens for
culinary ufe. Ir is a gentle cooler and
aperient,  nearly  of the fame qua-
lity with the cichoritnn. The feeds
are  ranked  among the four  leffer
cold feeds.
 Medica.                 185

  ENULA  CAMPANA [Lond.]
Radix.
  Inula Helenium Lin.
  Elecampane; the root.
  This is a very large downy plant,
fometimes found wild in nioift rich
Soils. The root, eSpecially when dry,
has an agreeable aromatic Smell:  its
tafte, on firft chewing, is glutinous,
and as it were Somewhat rancid : in
a little time it discovers an aromatic
bitterneSs, which by degrees be-
comes confiderably acrid and  pun-
gent. Elecampane root poffeffes the
general virtuesoSalexipharmacs: it
is principally recommended for pro-
moting expedoration  in Immoral
afthmas  and  coughs: liberally  ta-
ken,  it is Said to excite urine, and
looSen the belly.  In fon\e parts of
Germany, large quantities  of this
root are candied, and ufed as a fto-
machic, for ftrengthenirig the tone
of the vifcera in general, and for at-
tenuating tenacious juices.   Spiri-
tuous liquors extrad its virtues in
greater perfedion than watery onesj
the former fcarce elevate any thing
in diftillation ; with the latter an  ef-
fential oil arifes, which concretes
into white flakes :  this poffeffes at
firft the flavour of the elecampane,
but is very apt to lofe it in keeping.
An extrad made with water poffeS-
Ses  the bitterneSs and pungency of
the root, but in a leSs degree than
one made with Spirit.

  ERUCA [Brun.] Semen.
  Braffica eruca Lin.
  Rocket; the Seeds.
  This was formerly much cultiva-
ted in gardens for medicinal ufe, and
for Salads; but  is at prefent lefs
common.   In  appearance,  it re-
Sembles muftard -, but is eafily dis-
tinguishable  by  the  SmoothneSs of
its leaves, and its difagreeable fmell.
The feeds have a pungent tafte, of
the muftard kind, but weaker: they
                            have 
186                  Materia Medica.            Part.II.
have long been celebrated  as a-
phrodiiiacs;  and may,  probably,
have in fome caSes a title to this
virtue, in common with other acrid
plants.

  ERYNGUM [Lond.] Radix.
  Eryngum maritimum Lin.
  Eryngo; the root.
  This plant  grows plentifully on
fome of  our  fandy and gravelly
fhores:  the roots are flender, and
very long; of a pleafant fweetifh
tafte, which,  on chewing them for
fome time is  followed by a light
degree of aromatic warmth and acri-
mony.  They are  accounted  ape-
rient and diuretic, and  have alfo
been celebrated at: aphrodifiac; their
virtues,  however are too weak to
admit them under the  head of me-
dicines.

  ERYSIMUM [Rof.] Herba re-
tens.
  Eryfimum officinale Lin.
  Hedge-muftard; the recent plant.
  This is a low hairy plant, common
in wafte places and by way-fides.
The feeds are faid to promote ex-
pedoration, excite urine and theo-
ther fluid fecretions, and to attenu-
ate  and diffolve  vifcid juices, &c.
This they are fuppofed to perform
by an acrimonious ftimulating quali-
ty ;  but the tafte difcovers in them
only an herbaceous foftnefs void of
acrimony:  the  feeds indeed are
confiderably pungent, and the roots
in Some fmall degree.

  EUPATORIUM [Brun.] Her-
ba.
  Eupatorium cannabinum Lin,
  Hemp agrimony;  the plant.
  This plant is found wild by the
fides of rivers and ditches. It has an
acrid fmell, and a very bitter tafte,
with a confiderable fliare oS pun-
gency. The leaves are much recom-
mended for ftrengthening the  tone
of the vifcera, and as an aperient;
and faid to have excellent effeds in
the dropfy,jaundice, cachexies,and
fcorbutic diforders.  Boerhaave in-
forms us, that  this is the common
medicine of the turf-diggers in Hol-
land,  againft fcurvies, foul  ulcers,
and fwellings in the feet,  to which
they are fnbjed.  The root of this
plant is  faid  to  operate as a ftrong
cathartic: but it  is hardly ufed in
Britain, and has  no  place  in our
pharmacopoeias.

  EUPHORBIUM  [Suec] Gum-
mi refina.
  Euphorbia officinarum Lin.
  Euphorbium.
  This gummi-refinous fubftance is
a fpontaneous exudation from alarge
oriental tree.   It  is  brought to us
immediately from  Barbary, in drops
of an irregular form ; fome of which,
upon  being broken,  are  found  to
contain  little thorns, fmall twigs,
flowers, and  other vegetable mat-
ters;  others  are  hollow, without
any thing in their cavity:  the tears
in general are ef a pale yellow co-
lour externally,  fomewhat  white
with infide:  they  eafily break be-
tween the fingers.  Lightly applied to
the tongue, they affect it with a very
fharp  biting tafte; and upon being
held for fome time in the mouth,
prove vehemently acrimonious, in-
flaming and exulcerating  the  fau-
ces, &c.  Euphorbinm is extremely
troublefome to pulverife;  the finer
part of the powder, which flies off,
affeding the head in a violent man-
ner.  The acrimony of  this fub-
ftance is fo great as to render it ab-
folutely  unfit for any internal  ufe :
feveral corredors have been contriv-
ed to abate its virulence; but the beft
of them are not  to  be trufted to;
and as there feems to be no real oc-
cafion for it, unlefs for fome external
purpofes, we think, with Hoffman
and others,  that it ought to be ex-
                         punged 
Part II-
Materia Medica.
187
punged from the  catalogue  of in-
ternal medicines.  And accordingly
it  has now no place in the London
or Edinburgh pharmacopoeias. But
it is ftill retained in moft of the fo-
reign  ones,  and  is fometimes ufed
as a Sternutatory.

   EUPHRASIA  [Brun.] Folia.
   Euphrafia officinarum Lin.
   Eye-bright; the leaves.
   This is a very low plant, growing
wild in moift fields. It was former-
ly celebrated as an ophthalmic,both
taken internally and applied exter-
nally.  Hildanus fays, he has known
old men  of Seventy, who had loft
their fight,  recover it again by the
uSe oS this herb: later praditioners,
however,have not been So happy as
to obServe  any Such   good  effeds
from it.  At prefent it is totally, and
not unjuftly, disregarded.

   FABA [Rofs.] Semen.
   Viciafaba Lin.
   Beans ; the Seed.
   Beans are of greater ufe for culi-
nary  than medical purpofes;  they
are a ftrong flatulent food,fufficient-
ly nutritious, but  not eafy of dige-
ftion, efpecially when growing old.
A water diftilled  from the flowers
has been celebrated as a cofmetic,
and ftill  retains itscharader among
fome female artifts.

   FERRUM et CHALYBS
[Lond.]
   Iron and fteel.   Iron, cemented
with   animal  or  vegetable  coal,
forms fteel.
   Steel is accounted lefs proper for
medicinal ufe than the fofter iron,
as being more difficultly aded upon
by the animal-juices, and the com-
mon menftrua: iron diflblves readily
in all acids, and nifts  freely in the
air, efpecially if occafionally moift-
ened with water ; fteel requires  a
longer time for its folutian,and docs
not ruft fo eafily.
  The general virtues of thefe me-
tals,  and the Several preparations of
them, are, to conftringe the fibres,
to quicken the circulation, to pro-
mote the deficient Secretions in the
remoter parts, and at the Same time
repreSs  inordinate  difcharges into
the inteftinal  tube.  After the ufe of
them, if they take effed, the pulfe,
is very fenfibly raiSed ; the colour
of the face, though before  pale,
changes to a florid  red ; the alvine,
urinary,and cuticular excretions,are
increafed. Nidorous erudations,and
the faeces voided of a black colour,
are marks of their taking due effed.
  An aperient virtue is ufually at-
tribued to fome of  the preparations
of iron, and an aftringent to others;
but in reality, they all produce the
effeds both of aperients and aftrin-
gents, and feem to differ only in de-
gree.   Thofe diftinguifhed by the
name of aftringent fometimes occa-
fion  a very copious difcharge  of u-
rine, or a diarrhoea 3 whilft thofe
called aperient frequently flop thefe
evacuations.
  While  either a preternatural dif-
charge, or fuppreflion of natural Se-
cretions,  proceed  from a  languor
and  fluggiflinefs of the fluids, and
weaknefs of the folids; this metal,
by iucreafing the motion of the for-
mer, and  the ftrength of the latter,
will  fupprefsthe flux,or remove the
fupprelfion :  but where the circula-
tion  is already too quick, the  folids
too tenfe and rigid, where there is
any  ftridure  or SpaSmodic  contrac-
tion  oSthe veffels ;  iron, and ail the
preparations of it, will aggravate e-
qually both diftempers.
   Though the different  prepara-
tions of iron  ad  all in the Ume
manner,  yet  they  are not equally
proper in all conftitiitions.   Where
acidities abound in the firft paffages,
                             the 
   188                  Materia

  the crude filings, reduced into a fine
  powder prove more ferviceable than
  the  moll elaborate preparation  of
  them.  On the other hand, where
  there is  no acid in the primas viae,
  the metal requires to  be previoufly
  opened by faline meuftrua: hence a
  folution of  iron in acid liquors has
  in many cafes excellent  effeds,
  where, as Boerhaave  obferves, the
  more  indegeflible preparations,  as
  the  calces made by fire,have fcarce
  any effed at all. If alkalefcent juices
  ' be lodged in the ftomach,this metal,
  though given  in a  liquid form,
   proves at leaft  ufelefs  ; for here the
  acidffolvent is abforbed by the alka-
  line matters which it meets with in
p the body, fo as to leave the iron re-
  duced to an inadive calx.
    Chalybeate medicines are  .ikewife
  fuppofcd to differ, independently  of
  differences  in  the conftitution, ac-
  cording to the nature of die acid  u-
  nited with the  metal:  vegetable  a-
  cidsfuperadd a detergency and ape-
  rient virtue ; combined with the vi-
  triolic, it ads in the  firft  paffages
  powerful!)  as an aperient; whilft
  the  nitrous  renders  it extremely
  •ftyptic, and the marine ftill more So.
  The different  preparations of iron
  willbeaSterwartls more particularly
  mentioned.
     Iron is   the  only  metal which
  feems naturally friendly to the ani-
  jnal body.
     Its chief preparations.are the.pre-
  pared filings and ruft, the tindure,
  the  fait, and the martial flo.vcrs,or
  ■ferrum ammoniacale ; and thefe are
  ufed principally in cafes of weaknefs
  and  relaxation, whether attended
  with morbid difcharges  or morbid
  fuppreffions.

     FILIPENDULA [Brun.] Ra-
  Mx.
     Spire a filip endiila L in,
     Drop wort ; \ht root.
     This plant  grows wild in fields
Medica.             Part  II.

and chalky grounds: the root con-
fifts of a number of tubercles, fatt-
ened together by flenderftrings; its
tafte is rough and bitterifh, with a
flight degree of pungency.  Thefe
qualities point out its ufe in a flaccid
ftate oS theveffels,and afluggifhaels
oS the juices:  the natural evacua-
tions are in Some meaSure reftrained
or promoted by it, where the exceSs
or  deficiency   proceed from  this
cauSe.  Hence  Some  have  recom-
mended itasan aftringent indySen-
teries, immoderate  uterine fluors,
&c. others as a diuretic ; and others
as an aperient and deobftruent in
fcrophulous habits. At  preSent it is
wholly disregarded.

   F I L I X [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
   Polypodiumfilix mas.
   Common male fern ; the root.
   Several fpecies of the fern root
had formerly a place in the materia
medica ;  and the prefent article
feems to have been employed at
leaft as early as the days of Diofco-
rides,  for the  purpofe Sor  whioh'it
is now ufed  in medicine.  But it 'ss
Said to have been entirely neglected,
till Some years ago a remedy  em-
ployed by Madame NouSer of Swit-
zerland for the cure of the taenia,
claimed the attention of the pradi-
tioners of france.  Her fecret,after
being  tried  at Paris under the di-
redion of fome of the moft eminent
phyficians,  was purchaSed by the
French King, and publifhed by his
order.  Since that,  the  filix mas
has been introduced into  the phar-
macopoeias both of the  London and
Edinburgh colleges.
  The filix mas is a vegetable grow-
ing in great abundance in almoft e-
very  part  of  Britain where the
ground is not cultivated. Thegreat-
eftpartof the root lies horizontally,
and has a great number of appen-
dages placed clofe to each other in a
venieffdiredion, while a  number 
Part II.             Materia

of fmall fibres ftrike downwards.
The large root,  together with its
appendages, are to be referved for
ufe.  The two ends, however, are
to be cut off,  the one being too old
and Spongy, the other too new and
green.
  This root,  under  the form  of
powder, is found to prove a very ef-
fedual cure for the  taenia  lata  or
tape-worm.   It fometimes alfo, al-
though  not  with  equal certainty,
fuccecdsin the removal of the taenia
cucurbitina or gourd worm.
  Two or three drams of the pow-
der are taken in  the morning,  no
fupper having been taken the night
before. It generally Sickens a little.
A brifk cathartic  with calomel is
given  a few  hours  after,  which
fometimes brings  off the taenia en-
tire ;  if not the fame courfe  muft
be followed at due intervals.
  For the fuccefsof this remedy, it
is proper that the  root fhould be re-
cently gathered ; for after  being
long kept in the fhops,  its adivity
is much diminifhed.   And  we are
of opinion, that it fhould  be ufed
recently dug,  being brought to a
ftate fit for redudion to  powder by
drying it by the aid of fire.

  FLAMULA JOVIS  [Ed.] Fo-
lia, [ores.
  Clematis refta Lin.
  Upright virgin's bowers; the
leaves and flower.
  This article is  introduced into
but few of the modern pharmaco-
poeias, and has never been much
employed in Britain.   As well  as
many other adive  articles, fuppofed
ro be of a  poifonous nature,  it was
fome time  ago recommended to the
attention  of  praditioners  by  Dr
Stoerk of Vienna.
  Its leaves and flowers are fo acrid
as to blifler. Dr Stoerk recommends
it in venereal, cancerous, and other
cutaneous affedions, in thofe head-
Medica.                  189

 achs, pains of the  bones, and wa-
 itings oS the habit, the confluen-
 ces of lues venerea. Externally the
 acrid powder is  Sprinkled  on the
 ulcers, and the Sorms for internal
 ufe are thofeof infufion and extrad.

   FCENICULUMDULCE [Lou.
 Ed.] Semen.
   Auethum foeuiculnm Lin.
   Sweet fennel ;  the feeds.

   FCENICULUxM VULGARE
 [Ed.] Radix,
   Anethum faeniculum varieta $.
   Common fennel ; the roots.
   The fweet fennel isfinallej^nall
 its parts than  the common, except
 the  feeds, which  are confiderably
 larger.  The feeds of  the two forts
 differ likewife in fliape and colour :
 thofe of the common  are roundifh,
 oblong, flattilh on one fide, and
 protuberant on the other, of a dark
 almoft blackifh colour; thofe of the
 fweet are longer, narrower,  not fo
 flat,  generally crooked,  and of a
 whitifh or pale  yellowilh  colour.
 Both Sortsare cultivated in our gar-
 dens : the common is a  perennial
 plant : the Sweet fennel peiifhes af-
 ter it has  given  feed  ; nor do its
 feeds come  to fuch perfedion  in
 this climate as thofe which  we re-
 ceive from Germany.
   The feeds of both  the fennels
 have an aromatic fhitll, and a mode-
 rately warm,  pungent  tafte :  thofe
 of the faeniculum dulce are  in fla-^
 vour moft agreeable, and have alfo a
 confiderable degree of fweetneSs ;
 hence our colleges have direded the
 ufe of thefe only. They arc ranked
 among the four greater hot  feeds,
 and  not undefcrvedly  looked upon
 as good ftomachics and  carmina-
 tives.  A Simple water is prepared
 from them in the  fhops;  they are
 ingredients alfo  in the compound
 fpirit of Juniper, .:rti Some other
 officinal compofitions.
                            The 
  190                  materia

    The rootis far lefs warm, but has
 more of  a fweetifti  tafte, than the
 feeds: it is one of the five roots call-
 ed openers; and has fometimes been
 direded in aperient  apozems. Boer-
 haave fays, that this root agrees in
 tafte, fmell, and medical qualities,
 with the  celebrated ginfeng of the
 Chinefe ; from which, however,  it
 appears to be very confiderably dif-
 ferent.
    The leaves of fennel are weaker
 than either the roots or feeds, and
 have very rarely been employed for
 any medicinal  ufe.

    FCENUM GRjECUM  [Lond.
 Ed.] Semen.
    Trigonella fcenumgracum Lin.
    Fenugreek ; the feed.'
    This plant is cultivated chiefly in
 the fouthern parts of France,  Ger-
 many and Italy ; from whence the
 feeds are brought to us.   They are
 of a yellow colour, a rhomboidal fi-
 gure ; a  difagreeable ftrong fmell,
 and  a mucilaginous tafte.  Their
' principal ufe is  in  cataplafms, fo-
 mentations, and the like, and in e-
 mollientglyflers. They entered the
 tleuvi e mucilaginibus of the fhops ;
 to which they communicate a confi-
 derable  fhare of their fmell.  But
 this formula is now rejeded.

    FORMICA  CUM  ACERVO
 [Suec]
    Formica rufa Lin.
    Ants ;  their bodies and eggs.
    Thefe  infeds are at preSent not
 employed by us in  medicine, tho'
 formerly much celebrated foraphro-
 difiac virtues. They enter the aqua
 magnanimitatis, and other like com-
 pofitions  of foreign diipenfatories.
 It is remarkable, that thefe animals
 contain a truly acid juice, which
 they fhed in fmall drops uponbeing
 irritated  : by infilling a quantity of
 live and vigorous ants in  water, an
 acid  liquor is  obtained  ncariy  a^
 Medica.             Part II.

 ftrong as good vinegar.  Neumann
 obferves,  that on diftilling them ei-
 ther with water or  pure  fpirit, a
 clear limpid oil arifcs,  which has
 fcarce any tafte, or at leaft is not hot
 or pungent like the effential oils of
 vegetables.
   Infomeof the foreign pharmaco-
 poeias, they are the bafis of an oleum
formicarum, afpiritus formicarum,
 and a fpiritus formicarum acidus ;
 from  which it may be prefumed,
 that they are pretty frequently em-
 ployed.

   FRAGARIA   [Suec]   FracJus
 recens, folia.
   Fragaria vefca Lin.
   Strawberry bufh ; its leaves and
 fruit.
   The leaves are fomewhat flyptic
 and bitterifh ; and  hence may be of
 Service in debility and laxity of the
 vifcera; and immoderate fecretions,
 or  a fuppreflion of the natural eva-
 cuations,  depending thereon: they
 arerecommended in haemorrhagies
 and fluxes; and likewife as aperients;
 in fuppreffions of urine, obftrudions
 of the vifcera, in the jaundice, &c.
 The fruit is in general very grateful
 both  to the  palate and ftomach 1
 like other fruits of the'dulco-acid
 kind, they abate heat, quenchtbirfl,
 loofen the belly,  and promote urine;
 but do not afford much nourifhment.
 Geoffroy obferve?, that the urine of
 thofe  who eat liberally of this fruit,
 becomes  impregnated with its fra-
 grant fmell.

   FRAXINELLA, vide  Dic-
 TAMNUS ALBUS.

   FRAXINUS [Suec] Cortex  et
fit/ten.
   Fraxinus exceifior  Liu.
   Thcafh-tree; its bark and feeds.
   The bark of  this tree is mode-
 rately aftringent,  and  as Such has
 Sometimes been made ufe of. It lias
                             alfo 
Part II.            Materia
alfo been  propofed as a Subftitate
for the Peruvian bark in the cure
of intermittents ; bur its efficacy is
not confirmed by experience.  The
feeds, which are  fomewhat  acrid,
have been  employed as aperients.
There are fo many other medicines
more agreeable, and more efficaci-
ous for thefe intentions, that all the
partsof the afli tree have long been
negleded.

  FULIGO  LIGNI. [Ed.]
  Wood Soot.
  This  concrete is oS a fhining
black colour, a  diSagreeable Smell,
and an acrid, bitter, nauSeous tafte.
Its chief ufe is inhyftericand other
nervous cafes, in which it is fome-
times given in conjundion with the
fetid gqms : itgives name to a tinc-
ture  of this kind in the fhops.  But
the efficacy of that article probably
depends much more on the afafoeti-
da it contains, than on the foot from
whence it derives it name. Its vir-
tues are extraded both by watery
and  fpirituous  liquors;  each  ©f
which, if the foot be of a good kind,
diflblve about one-fixth. Soot is faid
to differ greatly in quality accord-
ing to the wood from which it was
produced : the  more refinous the
wood, the more  the foot  abounds
with bitter oily matter.   On che-
mical analyfis, it yields volatile and
fixed alkali, empyreumatic oil, and
earth.

  FUMARIA  [Ed.] Folia.
  Fumaria officinalis Lin.
  Fumitory ; the leaves.
  This is a common weed in fliady
cultivated grounds, producing fpikes
of purplifli flowers in May and June.
It is  very juicy, of a bitter tafte,
without any remarkable Smell. The
medical effeds oS  this herb are, to
ftrengthen the  tone of the bowels,
gently loofen the belly, and promote
the urinary and other natural fecre-
Medica.                  191,

tions. It is principally recommend-
ed in  melancholic, fcorbutic, and
cutaneous diforders; for opening
obftrudions of the vifcera, attenua-
ting  and promoting the evacuation
of vifcid juices.  Frederick Hoffman
had a very high opinion of it as a
purifier of the  blood ;  and affures
us, that with this intention fcarce
any plant exceeds it. Both watery
and Spirituous menftrua extrad  its
virtues.

  GALANGA MINOR [Brun.]
Radix.
  Maranto galanga Lin.
  Galangal; the root.
  This root is brought from China,
it comes to us in pieces  Scarce  an
inch  long,  and not halS So thick,
full of joints, with  feveral circular
rings on the outfide ; of an aroma-
tic fmell, and a bitterifh, hot, bit-
ing tafte. Galangal is a warm fto-
machic bitter: it has been frequent-
ly prefcribed in bitter infufions, but
the flavour it gives is not agreeable.

  GALBANUM  [Lond.   Ed.]
Gummi refiua.
  Bubou Galbanum Lin.
  Galbanum ; the gum.
  This is the concrete juice of an
African plant. The juice, as brought
to us,  is femipellucid, foft, tena-
cious ; of a ftrong,  and, to fome,
unpleafant  fmell ;  and a bitterifh
warm  tatte : the better fort is  in
pale  coloured maffes, which, on be-
ing  opened,  appear compofed  of
clear white tears. Geoffroy relates,
that a dark greenifh oil is to be ob-
tained from this fimple by diftilla-
tion,  which, upon repeated redifi-
cations,  becomes oS an elegant fky
blue  colour. The puner  Sorts of gal-
banum are faid by Some to diffolve
entirely in  wine, vinegar,  or wa-
ter ;  but theSe liquors ate only par-
tial   menftrua  with regard to this
drug ; nor do Spirit of wiue,oroiU,
                           prove 
 192                 Materia

prove more effedual in this refped:
the beft diffolvent is  a mixture of
two parts fpirit of wine and one of
water.  Galbanum agrees in virtue
with gum ammoniacam ; but is ge-
nerally accounted lefs efficacious in
afthmas, and more fo in hyfterical
complaints.   It is an ingredient in
the gum pills, the gum plafter, and
fome other officinal compofitions.

   GALEGA [Brun.] Herba.
   Galega officinalis Lin.
   Goat's rue ; the herb.
   This wjs celebrated as an alext-
pharmac ;  but its Senfible qualities
 diScover no found a tion,for any vir-
 tues of this kind : the tafte is mere-
ly leguminous; and in Italy, where
 it grows wild, it is faid to be  ufed
 as food.

   GALLA  [Lond. Ed.]
   Nidus cynipidis quercus orisnta-
lis.
   Galls.
   Thefe are  excrefcences found in
the \v..rmer countries, upon the oak
tree:  they are produced by a kind
of  infed   (the  cynips),   which
wounds the young buds or branches,
and they afterwards Serve as a lodge-
ment Sor its eggs : the animal with-
in the gall eats its  way through ;
thoSe which have no hole are found
to have  the infed  remaining in
them.  The  beft galls come  from
Aleppo: thefe are not quite round
and fmooth like the other forts, but
have Several tubercles 0:1 the furface.
Galls  have a very auftere Styptic
tafte,  without any Smell;  they are
very ftrong aftringents, and as fush
have  been  fometimes made ufe of
both internally and externally, but
are not much taken notice of by the
prefent pradice.
  Some recommend an oinment of
powdered galls and hogs lard as very
effedual in certain  painful States of
haemorrhois ; and it is alleged, that
Medica.              Part II.

 the internal  ufe of galls has cured
 intermittents  after  the Peruvian
 bark has failed. A mixture of galls
 with a bitter and aromatic has been
 propofedas a fubftitute for the bark.

   GALLIUM  LUTEUM
 [Brun.]  Herba.
   Gallium verum Lin.
   Ladies bed-ftraw ; the herb.
   This  herb has a  fubacid tafte,
 with a very faint, not difagreeable
 Smell: the juice changes blue vege-
 table inSufions oS a red  colour,  and
 coagulates milk, and thus discovers
 marhs of acidity.  It Hands recom-
 mended as a mild ftyptic, and in e-
 pilepSy ;  but has never been much
 in ufe.

   GAMBOGIA  [Lond. Qd.]
   Gummi refina.
   Cambogia  gutta Lin.
   Gamboge  ; the gum refin.
   Gamboge; a folid concrete juice,
 brought from the  Eaft-Indies in
 large cakes or rolls.  The  beft  Sort
 is of  a deep yellow or orange colour,
 breaks fhining and free from drofs:
 it has no fmell, and very little tafte,
 unlefs kept in the mouth for fome
 time, when  it  impreffes a  flight
 fenfe of acrimony.   It immediately
 communicates to fpirit  of wine a
 bright  golden colour, and almoft
 entirely  diflblves  in it ; Geoffroy
 fays, except the fixth-part.   Alka-
 line  falts enable water to ad upon
 this fubftance powerfully as a men-
 ftruum : the  folution made by their
 means is fomewhat tranfparent,  of
 a deep blood  red colour,  and paffes
 the  filrre :   the dulcified fpirit of
 fal ammoniac readily and entirely
 diflblves it,  and takes up a confi-
 derable quantity ; and what is pret-
 ty remarkable,  this folution»mixes
 either with water or fpirit,  without
 growing turbid.
 . Gamboge  evacuates  powerfully
 both upwards and downwards; fome
                            con- 
 Part II.             Materia

 condemn it as ading with too great
 violence, and oceafioning dangerous
 hypercatharfes ; whilft others are of
 a contrary opinion.  Geoffroy feems
 particularly  fond of this medicine,
 and informs us,  that  he  has fre-
 quently  given,  from two  to  four
 grains, without its  proving at all
 emetic ;  that from four to  eight
 grains, it both vomits and  purges,
 without violence; that its operation
 is foon over ; and that if given in a
 liquid form, and fufficiently diluted,
 it Hands not in need of any  correc-
 tor ;  that in the form of a bolus or
 pill,  it is moft apt to prove emetic,
 but  very rarely  has  this effed if
 joined along with mercurius dulcis.
 He ncverthelefs cautions againft its
 ufe where the patient cannot eafily
 bear vomiting.
   It  has been ufed in dropfy with
 cream of tartar or jalap, or both, to
 quicken  their operation.  It is alfo
 recommended by fome to the extent
 of fifteen grains with an equal quan-
 tity of vegetable alkali in cafes of
 the tape-worm. This dofe is order-
 ed in the morning; and iSthe worm
 is not expelled in two or three hours,
 it is repeated even to the third time
 with Safety and efficacy.  It is af-
 Serted, that it  has  been given to
 this extent  even in delicate  ha-
 bits.
   This is Said to be the remedy al-
 luded  to by Baron Van Swieten,
 which was employed by Dr Her-
 renSchward, and with him  proved
 So SucceSsSul in the removal of the
 tcenia lata.

   GENISTA  [Lond. Ed.] Cacu-
 men,[emen.
   Spartium fcoparium Lin.
   Broom ; the top and feed.
   The leaves of this flirub have a
 naufeous bitter tafte  ; decodions of
 them loofen  the belly,  promote u-
rine, and  ftand recommended in hy-
dropic cafes.
  The flowers are Said to prove ca-
Medica.                  193

thartic in decodion, and emetic in
fubftance; though in Some places, as
Lobel informs us, they are com-
monly uSed, and  in large quantity,
in  Salads, without  producing any
effed of this kind.   The qualities
of  the feeds are little better deter-
mined : fome report, that they purge
almoft as ftrongly as hellebore, in
the dofe of a dram and a half; whilft
the author above mentioned relates,
that he  has given  a decodion of
two ounces of them as a gentle e-
metic.
   An  infufion of a dram of well
powdered and  fifted broom feed for
twelve hours, in a glafs and a hal f of
rich white wine taken in the morn-
ing fafting, is recommended in an
anonymous pamphlet as a fovereign
remedy in dropfy.  The patient is
afterwards to walk or ride for an
hour and an half, and then to fwal-
low two ounces of olive oil.  This
method is to be repeated every  Se-
cond  day, or  once in three days,
till the cure be completed.
   Broom afhes have been long  re-
commended in dropSy, and are par-
ticularly celebrated by  Dr  Syden-
ham.   But the efficacy of this me-
dicine depends entirely on the alka-
line fait, and not in the fmallefl de-
gree on the vegetable from which it
is obtained by  burning.

  GENTIANA [Lond. Ed.] Ra-
dix.
  Gentiana lutea Lin.
  Gentian ; the root.        '
  This plant is found wild in fome
parts of England :  but the dried
roots' are moft  commonly brought
from Germany.  They  fhould be
chofen frefli,  and of a  yellow or
bright  gold colour within.   This
root is a ftrong bitter;  and as fuch,
very frequently made ufe of in prac-
tice: in tafte it  is lefs exceptionable
than moft of the other fubftances of
this.clafs : infufions of it, flavoured
with orange-peel, are Sufficiently
               N          grate- 
194                  Materia

grateful.  It  is the  capital ingre-
dient in the bitter wine, tindure,
and infufion of the fhops.  An ex-
trad made from it  is likewife an
officinal preparation.
  This ufeful bitter is not employed
under the form of powder, as it lofes
confiderably by the drying, which
is requifite for giving it that  form.
  A poifonous root was fome years
ago difcovered among fome of the
gentian brought to London; the ufe
of which  occafioned violent  difor-
ders, and in  fome iuftances death.
This is eafily diftinguifhable by its
being internally oS a white colour,
and void of bitternefs.  This poifon-
ous Simple Seems to be the root of
the aconitum ; a plant with which
Lobel informs us the inhabitants of
fome parts of the Alps ufed former-
ly to empoifou darts.

  GEOFRCEA [ Ed.] Cortex.
  Geoffrtra inermis Li".
  Cabbage bark tree ; the bark.
  The  bark  of this tree, which
grows in the  low Savannahs of Ja-
maica, is of a grey colour externally,
but black and furrowed  on the in-
fide.   It  has a  mucilaginous and
fweetifti tafte,  and  a  difagreeable
Smell. It is given in cafes of worms,
in form of powder,  decodion, fy-
rup and extrad.  The decodion is
preferred  ; and is made by flowly
boiling  an ounce of the frefli dried
bark in a  quart of water, till it af-
fume the colour of Madeira  wine.
This Sweetened is the fyrup; evapo-
rated, it forms an extrad. It com-
monly   produces fome ficknefs and
purging ;  fometimes violent effeds;
as vomiting,  delirium,  and fever.
Thefe  laft are laid to be owing to
an over dofe,  or to  drinking cold
water;  and are relieved by the ufe
of warm water, caftor oil, or  a ve-
getable acid.   It fhould  always be
begun in fmall dofes. But when pro-
perly and caiuioufly administered,
Medica.             Part  II.

it is faid to operate as a very power
ful anthelmintic,particularly for the
expulfion of thelumbrici, which are
a very common caufe of  difeafe in
the Weft-India iflands ;  and there
it is very frequently employed. But
it has we believe been but little ufed
in Britain.

   GINSENG [Lond. Ed.]\Radi>c.
   Panax quinquefolium Lin.
   Ginfeng ;  the root.
   Ginfeug is a fmall root, which as
ufed in Britain is chiefly brought
Srom North America ; Sometimes
Srom China ; but much  more fre-
quently  the  American ginSeng is
carried from Britain to China.  E-
very root is an inch or two in length,
taper, iinely ftraited; of a whitifh or
yellowifh^solour. It has a very fweet
tafte,  accompanied  with a flight
bitternefs and warmth.
   The Chinefe  are faid  to have  a
very extraordinary  opinion of the
virtues of this root,  and to look up-
on  it as an univerfal reftorative in
all decays, from age, intemperance,
or difeafe.   The great value there
fet upon it, has prevented it being
exported  from thence  into other
countries, and its difcovery in North
America is but of late date ;  fo  that
among us it has hitherto  been very
rarely made ufe of ; although, from
what can be judged of it from the
tafte, it feems to deferve fome re-
gard, efpecially as it is now procu-
rable in plenty.

   GLADIOLUS,  vide  Iris  pa-
LTJSTRIS.

   GLYCIRRHIZA [Lond.  Ed.]
Radix.
   Glycirrhiza glabra Lin.
   Liquorice ; the root.
   This is produced plentifully in all
the countries of Europe : that which
is the growth of our own is prefer-
able to fuch as comes from abroad  ;
                             this 
 Part H.              Materia

 this laft being  generally mouldy,
 which this root is very apt  to  be-
 come, unlcfs kept in a dry place.
 The powder of liquorice ufually fold
 is often mingled  with  flower, and
 perhaps  too often with fubftances
 not quite fo  wholefomc:  the  beft
 fort is of a brownifh yellow colour,
 the fine pale yellow being generally
 fophifticated, and  it is of a very rich
 fweet tafte, much more agreeable
 than that of the frefli root.  Liquo-
 rice is almoft the only fweet that
 quenches thirft; whence it is called
 by the Greeks adipfon.  Galen takes
 notice, that it was employed with
 this intention in hydropic cafes,  to
 prevent  the neceffity of drinking.
 Mr Fuller, in his Medicina Gym-
 naftica, recommends this root as a
 very ufeful pedoral,  and fays it ex-
 cellently foftens  acrimonious  hu-
 mours,  at  the fame  time  that  it
 proves gently detergent: and  this
 account is warranted by experience.
 It is  an ingredient in the pedoral
 fyrup,  pedoral troches, the com-
 pound lime-waters, decodion of the
 woods, compound  powder of gum
 tragacanth, lenitive elednary, and
 theriaca.  An extrad is direded to
 be made  from  it  in  the fhops, but
 this preparation is brought chiefly
 from abroad, tho' the foreign extrad
 is not equal to fuch as is  made with
 proper care among ourfelves.

   GRAMEN [Suec] Radix.
   Triticum repens Liu.
   Quick-grafs ; the roots,
   GraSs roots have a Sweet roughifh
 tafte.   They are principally recom-
 mended in aperient Spring drinks,
 for what is called purifying and
Sweetening the blood.

   GRANA  PARADISI [Brun.]
 Fruflus.
   Amomum granum  Paradifi.
   Grains of paradife.
  The fruit known by this name is
brought from the  Eaft-Indies.   It
 Medica.                  19^

 is about  the fize of a fig, divided
 internally into three cells, in each
 of which ardcontained two rows of
 fmall feeds like cardamoms.  Thefe
 feeds are fomewhat more grateful,
 and confiderably more pungent, than
 the common cardamoms, approach-
 ing in this refped to  pepper, with
 which they  agree alfo in their phar-
 maceutical  properties;  their pun-
 gency rcfiding, not in the diftilledoil,
 as that of cardamom feeds does, but in
 the refin extraded by fpirit of wine.

   GRANATUM [Loud. Ed.] Flos,
 cortex, frutins.
   Punicagranatum Lin.
   Pomegranate ;  the flowers called
 balauftine,  and  rind  of the  fruits
 The  pomegranate  is a low  tree,
 or rather  fhrub,  growing wild in
 Italy  and  other  countries in the
 fouth  of Europe:  it is fometimes
 met with in our  gardens ; but the
 fruit, for  which it  is chiefly va-
 lued,  rarely comes  to fuch perfec-
 tion as in  warmer climates.   This
 fruit has the general qualities of the
 other  fweet fummer  fruits,  allaying
 heat,  quenching thirft, and gently
 loofening the belly.   The rind is a
 ftrong aftringent, and as fuch  is oc-
cafionally made ufe of. The flowers
are of an elegant red colour, in ap-
pearance refembling a dried red rofc.
Their tafte  is bitterifh and aftrin-
gent.   They are recommended in
diarrhoeas, dyfenteries,  and  other
cafes  where aftringent  medicines
are proper.

  GRAT 10LA   [Lond.   Ed.]
Herba.
  Gratiola officinalis Lin.
  Hedge-hyffop; the leaves.
  This is a fmall  plant met  with,
among us, only in gardens.   The
leaves have a very bitter, difagree-
 able tafte :  an infufion of a handful
of them when frefli,  or a dram when
 dried, is faid to operate ftrongly as
 a cathartic.  Kramer  reports, that
              N3             he 
 196                  Materia

 has  found  the root  of this plant as
 medicine fimilar in  virtue to ipeca-
 cuanha.
   This herb has been mentioned as
 uSeSul in the venereal diSeaSe : And
 by Some it has been highly extolled
 in maniacal cafes.

   GUAIACUM [Load. Ed.] Lig-
 num, cortex, gummi-refina.
   Guaiacum officinale Lin.
   Guaiacum;  its  wood,  bark  and
 refin.
   The guaiacum is a tree growing
 in the warmer parts oS the Spanifh
 Weft-Indies.
   The wood is very ponderous, of
 a clofe compad texture ;  the outer
 part is of a yellow colour, the heart
 of a deep blackifh green, or varie-
 gated with black,  green, pale  and
 brown  colours: the bark is thin,
 fmooth, externally of a dark greyifh
 hue : both have a lightly aromatic,
 bitterifh, pungent tafte;  the bark is
 fomewhat the weakeft.  The refin
 which exudes  from incifions made
 in the trunk of the tree  is brought
 to us in irregular maffes, ufually fri-
 able, of a dtifky greenifh, and lome-
 titnes of a  reddilh caft, with pieces
 of the wood among them : its tafte
 is more acrid and pungent than that
 of the wood or bark.
   Their general virtues are thofe of
 a warm, ftimulating medicine ; they
 Strengthen  the ftomach and other
 vifcera; and  remarkably promote
 the urinary and cuticular difcharge:
 hence in cutaneous defedations, and
 other diforders proceeding from ob-
 ftrudions of the excretory glands,
and where  fluggifh Serous humours
 abound, they are eminently uSeSul;
 rheumatic and other pains have oS-
ten been relieved by  them.   They
are alSo laxative.  The refin is the
moft of thefe drugs;  and the effi-
cacy  of the  others depends upon the
quantity of  this  part contained in
them:  the  refin is extraded from
Medica.              Part II,

 the wood in part by watery liquors,
 but much more perfedly by fpiritu-
 ous ones: the watery extrad of this
 wood, kept in the fhops, proves not
 only  lefs in quantity, but confider-
 ably  weaker than  one made with
 fpirit.  This laft extrad is of the
 fame quality with the native refin,
 and differs from that brought  to 11s
 only in being purer.  The gum, or
 extrads, are given from a few grains
 to a Scruple or  half a dram, which
 laft dofe proves for the moft part
 confiderably  purgative.  The offi-
 cinal preparations of  guaiacum are
 an  extrad of the  wood, a folution
 of the gum in redified fpirit of wine,
 and a folution in volatile fpirit, and
 an  empyreumatic oil diftilled from
 the wood.
  Guaiac in form of decodion has
 been  faid to  cure the venereal dif-
 eafe ;  and in this country it is fre-
 quently ufed as an adjuvant to mer-
 cury.   The refin diffolved in rum,
 or combined with water, by means
 of mucilage or the yolk of egg, or
 in the form of the volatile tindure
 or elixir, is much  employed in gout
 and chronic rheumatifm. The tinc-
 ture or elixir has  been given to the
 extent of half an ounce twice a day,
 and is fometimes ufefully combined
 with laudanum.

  GUMMI AMMONIACUM, vi-
 de Ammoniacum.

  GUMMI  ARABICUM [Lond.
 Ed.]
  Mimofa nilotica Lin.
  Gum a rabic.
  Gumarabicis a concrete gum,ex-
 uding from a tree  growing in con-
 siderable abundance in Egypt and
 Arabia,  which  has  accordingly
 given  name  to this gum.   It is
 brought to us from Turkey, in Small
 irregular maffes or firings, of a pale
yellowifh colour.  The true gum A-
rabic is rarely to be met with in the
                          fheps; 
  Part  II.            Materia

 fhops; gum Senega or Senica, which
 comes from thecoafl of Guinea, be-
 ing ufually fold for it. This greatly
 refembles the other, and perhaps, as
 Dale conjedures, exudes from a tree
 of the fame kind : it  is generally in
 large pieces,  rough on the outfide ;
 and in  thefe circumftances  poflibly
 confifts the only difference between
 the two; altho' the former is held to
 be the  purer  and finer gum,  and
 therefore preferred  for medicine;
 and the latter the ftrongeft,moft fub-
 ftantial and  cheapcft, and conse-
 quently more employed for mecha-
 nic ufes.  The virtues of this gum
 are the fame with thofe of gummy
 and mucilaginous fubftances in gene-
 ral : it is given from a fcruple to two
 drams, in hoarfencffes,  a thin acri-
 monious ftate of the  fluids,  and
 where the natural mucus of the in-
 teftines is abraded.   It  is an ingre-
 dient in the white decodion, chalk,
 julep,  the common  emulfion,  and
 Some of the troches.

   GUMMI ELEMI,  vide E-
 LEMI.

   GUMMI TRAGACANTHA
 [Lond. Ed.]
 Aftragalus tragacanthus Lin.
   Gum  tragacanth.
   The gum tragacanth is obtained
 from  a  thorny  bufii growing in
 Crete, Afia, and Greece. This gum
 is of a much ftronger body than ei-
 ther of the foregoing, and does  not
 fo perfedly diffolve  in  water.   A
 dram will give to a  pint of water
 the confiftence of  a fyrup,  which
 a whole  ounce  of gum arabic is
 fcarce fufficient  to do.   Hence its
 nfe for  forming troches, and  the
like  purpofes,  in   preference to
 the other gums.   It  gives name to
an officinal  powder,  and is an  in-
gredient  in the  compound powder
of cerufs.
 Medica.                 197

   GUTTA CAMBA,  vide Gam-
 BOG1A.

 HEMATITES  Lapis  [Brun.]
   Haematites, or bloodftone.
   Tilt's is an elegant iron ore,  ex-
 tremely hard,  of a dark reddifh or
 yellowifh colour: it is found either
 along with other ores of iron, orin
 diftind mines  by itfelf.  With re-
 gard to its medical virtues, we con-
 ceive they do  not vary from thofe
 experienced  fromruft, and the com-
 mon crociof iron, notwit.hftanding
 the  extraordinary opinion which
 many have entertained  of it; fuch
 as its curing ulcers  of the lungs,
 which Geoffroy fays the haematites
 dries and heals.

   HEDERA   ARBOREA,
 [Brun.] Folia refina.
   Hedera helix Lin.
   Ivy ; the leaves and refin.
   This is a climbing fhrubby plant,
 grows commonly from the trunks
 of trees,   or on  old walls.  The
 leaves have very rarely been given
 internally;  notwithftanding  they
 are recommended ftrongly by fome
 againft the atrophy ofchildren; their
 tafte is naufeous,  acrid,  and bitter.
 Externally,  they  have  fometimes
been employed  for drying and heal-
ing ichorous  fores, and likewife for
keeping iffues open.   The  berries
were  fuppofed  by  the  ancients to
have a purgative and emetic quali-
ty; later writers  have recommend-
ed them in fmall dofes, as diapho-
retics and  alexipharmacs;  and  Mr
Boyle tells us,  that  in the London
plague the powder of  them  was gi-
ven with vinegar, with goodfuccefs,
as a fudorific.   It is probable  the
virtue of the compofition was rather
owing to the vinegar than  to  the
powder.   The refin was ranked by
the ancients(iStheircfWxpi/ov ts mm
was the Same with ourgummi hedc-
              N 3  '       r#) 
198                  Materia

>a) among the depilatories; from
this clafs, which it certainly had no
title to, it has fince been removed to
that of conglutinaters of wounds, to
which it has probably as little title.

   HEDERA   TERRESTRIS
[Ed.] Herba.
  Glechoma hederacea Lin.
  Ground-ivy;  the leaves.
  Ground-ivy is a low plant, fre-
quent in hedges and fhady places. It
has an aromatic, though not very
agreeable fmell ;  and a quick, bit-
teriih, warm tafte.  This herb is
an ufeful corroborant, aperient, and
detergent;  and hence ftands recom-
mended againft laxity, debility, and
obftrudions of the vifcera : fome
have  had a great opinion of it for
healing and cleanfing ulcers oS the
internal parts, even of the lungs,and
for purifying the  blood.   It  is cuf-
tomary to infuSe the dried leaves in
malt liquors; a pradice not  to  be
commended, thoifgh it readily com-
municates its virtues, and likewiSe
helps to fine them down : Scarceany
other herb  has this effed  more re-
markably than ground-ivy.

  HELENIUM, videENULACAM-
PANA.

  HELLEBORASTER  [Lond.]
Folium.
  Helleborusfatidus Lin.
  Bears Soot; the leaves.
  The leaves oS this plant taken in
Several different Sorms have been by
fome recommended as a very pow-
erful anthelmintic. They are parti-
cularly extolled by Dr Biffet in his
effty on the Medical Conftitution of
Great Britain,  efpecially under the
form of fyrup, made by moiftening
the leaves of the frefli herb in vine-
gar,   and then preffing out their
juice, which was formed  into a fy-
rup with coarfe  fugar.  Of this fy-
rup,   Dr Biffet gave to children
Medica.             Part  II.

 from two to fix years of age, one
 tea  fpoonful  at bed-time and  ano-
 ther in  the  morning, for two or
 three days fucceflively.  The  dofe
 was increafed or diminifhed, accor-
 ding to the ftrength of the patient.
 And in  this  way he found it  very
 fuccefsful  in the expulfion  oS  lum-
 brici.
   Where theHelleborafter is  to be
 employed, this Sorm is perhaps the
 beft, and we doubt not that it may
 Succeed  where others have Sailed :
 but  it fhould not, we apprehend,
 be employed till SaSer anthelmintics
 have been tried in vain. For we have
 heard oS Some inftances where the
 imprudent adminiftration oS it has
 been attended even with fatal con-
 fequences.

   HELLEBORUS ALBUS
 [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
   Veratrum album Lin.
   White hellebore ; the root.
   This  plant grows fpontaneoufly in
 Switzerland   and  the mountainous
 parts of Germany.  The root  has a
 naufeous, bitterifh, acrid tafte, burn-
 ing the month and fauces: if wound-
 ed when frefli, it emits an extremely
 acrimonio'iisjuice,which mixed with
 the  blood, by a  wound,  is faid to
 prove very dangerous :  the powder
 of the dry root, applied to an  iffuc,
 occafions violent  purging; Snuffed
 up the nofe,  it proves a ftrong, and
 not  always a Safe flernutatory.  This
 root, taken internally,ads  with ex-
 treme violence as an emetic ; and
 has been obServed, even in a  Small
 doSe, to  occafion convulfions, and 0-
 ther terrible disorders. Theancients
 Sometimes employed it in very obfti-
 nate caSes, and always made this
 theirlaft n?Source. Modern pradice
 Seems to have almoft entirely rejed-
 ed its internal ufe, though  it be Said
 that Some have lately ventured upon
 So large  a doSe as a Scruple, in ma-
 niacal cafes,  and  have found  good
                           effeds 
 Part.  II.           Materia

 effeds from it after the ftronger an-
 timonial preparations had been gi-
 ven in vain. A tindure and honey
 of it were formerly  kept in the
 fhops, but  are  now rejected  from
 the London pharmacopoeia.  The
 former  is  ftill indeed retained  by
 the Edinburgh college, but it is ve-
 ry rarely if ever ufed.

  HELLEBORUS NIGER
 [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
   Helleborus niger Lin.
  Black hellebore,  or melarnpodi-
 um ;  the roots.
  This  plant  grows  wild  in the
 mountainous parts of Switzerland,
 Auftria, and Stiria : the earlinefs of
 its flowers, which fometimes appear
 in December,  has gained it a place
 in our gardens.
  In fome parts of Germany, a fpe-
 ciesof black hellebore hasbeen made
 ufe of, which not unfreqnently pro-
 duced violent,  and fometimes dele-
 terious effeds: this theWirtemberg
 college particularly caution againft,
 though   without  mentioning  any
 marks by  which it may be diftin-
 guifhed, or even giving the precife
 name of the plant. It appears to be
 the fetid hellebore of Linnaeus, call-
 ed in England, where it grows wild,
 fetterwort, fettlewort,  or  baftard
 hellebore : the roots of this may be
 diftinguifhed Srom the officinal Sort
 by  their being lefs black.   The
 roots of the poifonous aconites re-
 femble in appearance thofe of the
 black hellebore ; and in the Breflaw
 colledions  we find fome inftances of
 fatal effeds occafioned by miftaking
 the Sormer Sor the latter:  theSe alfo
 are  happily discoverable by  their
 colour;  the acvnitum being lighter
 coloured than even thepaleft of the
 black hellebores.   The faculty of
 Paris, by allowing the ufe of one of
 the paler hellebores(the greenflow-
cred, which grows wild inEngland,
and is called by  our  farriers peg-
Medica.                  199

root), have in fome degree deprived
the ihops of the benefit of this  cri-
terion.   Since  therefore  the  two
noxious roots which the buyer is
moft apt to miftake  for  this,  arc
diftinguifhable from  it by their co- •
lour,  but have no other external
mark by which they may be with
certainty known,  particular regard
ought to be had totbiscircumftance;
only the deepefl black being chofen,
and all the paler roots rejeded.
   The tafte of hellebore is acrid and
bitter.  Its acrimony, as Dr Grew
obferves,  rs firft  felt on the tip of
the tongue, and  then fpreads  im-
mediately to the  middle, without
being much perceived on the inter-
mediate  part ; on chewing it for a
few minutes, the tongue feems be-
numbed,  and affeded with a kind
of paralytic ftupcr, as when burnt
by eating any thing  too hot : the
fibres  arc more acrimonious than
the head of the  root from which
they iflue. Black hellebore root, ta-
ken from fifteen grains to half a
dram, proves a flrongcathartic ; and
as fuch has been celebrated for. the
cure of maniacal,and other diforders
proceeding from what the ancients
called atra bitis :  in  thefe cafe;:,
medicines of this kind are doubtlefs
occafionally of uSe, though they are
by no means poffefled oS any Specific
power.  It does not however appear
that our black hellebore ads with So
much violence as that of the anci-
ents :  whence many have fuppofed
it to be a different plant;  and  in-
deed the defcriptions which the an-
cients have left us of their hellebore,
do not agree to any of the forts u
fually  taken notice of by modern
botanifts. Another fpecies has been
difcovered in the  eaftern countries,
which Tournefort diftinguifties  by
the name of helleborus siige-r orieu-
talis, ampliffimofolio, caule pr&alto,
flore purpurafcente, and fuppofes to
be the true ancient hellebore, from
              N 4             its 
200                 Materia

its growing in plenty  about mount
Olympus,  and in the ifland of An-
ticyra, celebrated of old for the pro-
dudion of  this antimaniacal drug :
he relates, that a fcruple of this fort,
given for a dofe, occafioned convul-
sions.
   Our hellebore is at preSent looked
upon principally as an alterative ;
and in this light is Srequently em-
ployed, in Small doSes, for attenua-
ting vifcid humours, promoting the
uterine and urinary difcharges, and
opening inveterate  obftrudions of
the remoter glands ; it often proves
a very powerful emmenagogue  in
plethoric habits, where fteel is inef-
fedual or improper.   An extrad
made from this root with water, is
one of the mildefl, and for the pur-
poSes of a cathartic  the moft effec-
tual preparations of it:  this operates
Sufficiently, without occafioning the
irritation which the pure refin isac-.
companied with. A tindure drawn
with proof fpirit contains the whole
virtue of the hellebore, and feems to
be one of the beft preparations of it
when  defigned for  an alterative :
this tindure,  and the extrad,  arc
kept in the fhops.
   The melampodium is the bafis of
Bacher's tonic pills for the dropfy.
The root is ordered to be macerated
in redified fpirit of wine,  the  li-
quor expreffed is repeatedly mixed
with water and duly evaporated.
This is made up into pills with an
extrad  of  myrrh and powder  of
carduus benedidus.  They are faid
to be cathartic and diuretic, and at
the fame time ftrengtheners of the
folids.

  HEPATICA NOBlL\S[B run.]
Herba.
  Anemone hepatica Lin.
  Noble liverwort ;  the herb.
  This herb has a place in our gar-
dens on account of the beauty and
early appearance  of  its  flowers.
Medica.              Part II.

 It  is a cooling, gentle  reftringent
 herb; and  hence recommended in
 a lax ftate  of the fibres as a corro-
 borant.

   HERMODACTYLUS [Brun.]
 Radix.
   Iris tuber of a Lin.
   Hermodadil.
   This is a root brought from Tur-
 key.  It is of  the fliape of a heart
 flatted, of a white colour, compad,
 yet eafy to cut or powder;  of a vif-
 cous fweetifh  tafte,  with a light
 degree of acrimony.
   Hermodadils were of great repute
 among the ancients as a cathartic ;
 but thofe we now meet with in the
 fhops have very little purgative vir-
 tue ; Neumann declares he never
 found them to have any effed at all.

   HERNIARIA [Brun.] Folia.
   Herniariaglabra Lin.
   Rupturewort; the leaves.
   This is a low herb, growing wild
 in.fandy and gravelly grounds.  It
 is a very mild reftringent, and may,
 in  fome degree,  be  ferviceable  in
 diforders proceeding from  a weak
 flaccid  ftate of the vifcera : but to
 the virtue  which it has been moft
 celebrated for, that of curing her-
 nias, it has no title.

   HIPPOCASTANUM [Ed.]
 Frafius.
   JEfcuius hippocaftanum Lin.
   Horfe-chefnut; the fruit.
   This fruit has been ufed as food
 for fheep and poultry,  and as foap
 forwafhing. It was much employed
 in  powder as a fternutatory by an
 itinerant  oculift, and has been re-
 commended by Some others in cer-
 tain ftates of ophthalmia, headach,
 &c. in which errhines are indicated.
   Its effeds as  a fternutatory may
 alfo be obtained by ufing it under
 the form  of infufion  or decodion
 drawn up into the noftrils.  And it
                               is 
 Part II.              Materia

 is entirely with a view to its errhine
 power that it is now introduced into
 the pharmacopoeia of the Edinburgh
 college.   But befides this, the bark
 has alSo been represented by Some as
 a cure Sor intermittent  fevers; and
 it is  probably  with this intention
 that this part of the hippocaftanum
 is introduced as an  officinal article
 in the Pharmacopoeia RoiTica.

   HORDEUM  [Lond.]  Semen,
 femen per latum.
   Horderuu diftichonLin.
   Barley, and pt arl-barley.
  Barley is a well known farinaceous
 grain, cultivated in great abundance
 in  our fields.   Pearl-barley is pre-
 pared by grinding the fhell barley
 into little round granules, which ap-
 pear of a pearly whitenefs.
  Barley, in its feveral ftates, is more
 cooling, lefs glutinous,  and lefs nu-
 tritious, than wheat or  oats: among
 the ancients, decochons of it were
 the principal aliment and medicine
 in  acute  difeafes.  Both  a Simple
 and compound  decodion oS barley
 are introduced  into our pharma-
 copoeias.

  HORMINUM  SATIVUM
 [Brun.] Herba.
  Horminum falvia Lin.
  Garden clary;  the  leaves  and
 Seeds.
  Thefe have  a warm,  bitterifh
 pungent  tafte;  and  a  ftrong, not
 very  agreeable  fmell:  the touch
 difcovers in the leaves a large quan-
 tity of glutinous or refinous matter.
 They are principally recommended
in the fluor albus, and other weak-
neffes, in hyfteric diSorders, and  in
flatulent colics.

  HYDRAGYRUM, five Argen-
TUM  VIVUM.
  Mercury, or quickfilver.
  Mercury is an opakc filver-colour-
Medica.                   201

 ed mineral fluid;  appearing to the
 eye like tin or lead when melted :
 it is heavier than  any other fluid,
 and than moft  oS  the  metallic bo-
 dies: it  does not  congeal in  the
 greateft  degree  of natural cold hi-
 therto known ; in the fire it proves
 totally volatile.  This mineral is ei-
 ther met with in its fluid form in
 the earth, or extraded by art from
 certain ores.  There are consider-
 able  mines  of it  in Hungary and
 Spain;  and  what is  employed  in
 Britain comes chiefly from the for-
 mer of thefe countries.
   The ufe of  mercury in medicine
 feems to have been little known be-
 fore the  fifteenth century. The an-
 cients looked upon it as a corrofive
 poifon,  though  of itfelf perfedly
 void of acrimony, tafte, and Smell':
 there are examplcsof its having been
 lodged for years in cavities both of
 bones and flefhy parts, without its
 having  injured  or affeded them.
 Taken into the body  in  its crude
 ftate, and undivided, it paffes  thro'
 the inteftines  unchanged,  and has
 not been found to produce any con-
 siderable effed.  It has indeed been
 recommended in  afthmas and  dif-
 orders of the lungs;  but the  vir-
 tues attributed  to  it in thefe caSes
have not been warranted   by expe-
rience.
   Notwithftanding the mildneSs and
inadivity oS crude quickfilver undi-
vided; yet when refolved  by fire in-
to the form of fume, or  othtrwife
divided into very minute particles,
and  prevented  from re-uniting by
the in terpofition of proper fubftances,
or combined with mineral acids, it-
has very  powerful effeds; affording
the moft  violent poifons, and the
moft excellent remedies with which
we are acquainted.
   The mercurial preparations,  ei-
ther given internally or introduced
into the habit  by external applica-
                           tion, 
 202
tion,  feem to  forward circulation
through even the minuteft and moft
remote veffels of the body ; and may
be fo managed as to promote excre-
tion through all the emundories.
Hence their common ufe in invete-
rate chronic diforders, and obftinate
obftrudions of the excretory glands ;
in  fcrophulous  and  cutaneous  dif-
eafes; and in the venereal lues. If
their power be not reftrained to cer-
tain emundories, they tend  chiefly
to affed the mouth; and occafion a
plentiSul evacuation of the falival
glands.
   The falutary effeds of mercurials
do not depend on  the  quantity of
fenfible evacuation.  This medicine
may  be  gradually introduced into
the habit,  fo as, without occafion-
ing any remarkable difcharge to be
produdiveof very happy effeds. To
anfwer  this  purpofe, it fhould  be
given in Very fmall  dofes, in  con-
jundion with fuch fubftances as de-
termine its adion to  the kidneys or
the ports of the  fkin.  By this me-
thod inveterate cutaneous and vene-
real diftempers  have been  cured,
without any other fenfible excretion
than a gentle increafe of  perfpira-
tion or urine.  Where there  are ul-
cers in any part, they difcharge for
fome  time a very fetid matter,  the
quantity of which becomes gradual-
ly lefs, and at length the ulcer kind-
ly heals.   If the mercury fhould at
any time, from  cold, or the like,
affed the, mouth, it may be reftrain-
ed  by omitting  a dofe,  and  by
warmth or fuitable  medicines pro-
moting the perfpiration.
   Cooling purgatives are alfo often
employed with advantage; but per-
haps  the moft  effedual means of
giving with  Safety a fudden check
to  a  mercurial  falivation  is  by the
application of a  large blifter to the
back.
   Mercury, as ufed in medicine, has
been employed  in a  very great va-
Materia Medica.
Part II.
riety of different forms.   Of  the
particular preparations direded by
the London and Edinburgh colleges,
we ftiall afterwards have occafion to
treat:  but to give a full and com-
prchenfiveviewof all the mercurial
preparations, we fhall here fubjoin a
a table in which they are  fyftema-
tically  arranged.

Dr Schwediauer's Table of  the
   Preparations of Mercury,
   arranged according to Bergman's
   Table  of  Eledive  Attradions.
   ThoSe marked with the afterifm
   are chiefly in uSe.

I.  Preparation  where  the Mer-
       cury is Simply purified.
     *  Hydrargyrum purificatutn.
      Mercutiuscrudus purificatus off-
        clnarum.
      Argentum  vivum  purificatum,
        Pharm. Lond.
      Anglis, Quickfilver, crude puri-
        fied mercury;  Germanis, Reines
        queckfilber;  Galiis,  Mercurc
        pure.
II.  Preparations  in which  the
       Mercury is only divided.
   I. By gums  or mucilages;  Such
       as gum arabic, tragacanth,
       &c.
     *  Hy drargy rum gummofum.
      Mercurius gummofus  of Plenel,
        (the inventor.^
     Composita.
      * Pilula: ex bydrargyro gummofo.
        Pilulaj ex mercurio  gummofo.
          Plcnck. Pharm. Cbir.
      Solutio   mercurialis  gummofa.
        Ibid.
      Mixtura  mercurialis.   Pharm.
        Nofcom. Sti Giorgii.
      Fotio merculialis.  Difpenfttorli
        Novi Brunf-vicenfts.
      Lac mercuriale.   Plenek.
      Syrupus  hydrargyri.   Pharmac.
        Sua:.
   2. By refins or balSams; fuch as
       turpentine, balfamum copai-
       va, &c.
     *  Hydrargyrum terebinthiua-
       turn, &c.
     Composita.
      * Pilula ex bydrargyro ttrclintbinaU.
                           PilulsE 
Part  II.
Materia Medica.
203
         Pilula mercuriales.  L.
         Pilulae mercurialeslaxantes. G.
         Pilulae mercuriales fialagogae.
           Pharm. Banic.
         Injectio mercurialii.  Pharm.
           Edinb. Pauperum.
   3. By fuet or vegetable oils; fuch
     as  hog's lard, goofe-fat,  or
     buttter of cocoa nuts.
    * Hydrargyrum unguinofum.
    * Unguentum hydrargyri.
       Unguentum ex hydrargyro  cce-
         ruleum.  E.
       Unguentum mercuriale, feu  un-
         guentum Neapolitanum. Phar-
         mac. Aujlriaco. Provineiatis.
   Composita.
   « Unguentum cseruleum fortius.  L.
    Unguentum cceruleum mitius.   L.
    Unguentum mercuriale.  D.
   $ Ceratum mercuriale.  L.
   y Emplaftrum mercuriale.  0.
    Emplaftrum ex hydrargyro.  E.
    Emplaftrum ex gummi ammoniaco
       cum mercuric  L.
     Emplaftrum commune cum mercu-
       ric  L.
     Emplaftrum de ranis cum mcrcu-
       rio.- A.
   4. By calcareous earth ;  fuch as
       chalk, cbelre cancrorum, &c.
       Mercsrius alkalifatus.
       Pulvis  mercurialis.  G-
III. Preparations where the mer-
        cury  is calcined by heat and
        air.
   * Hydrargyrum calcinatum.
       Mercfcrius calcinatus.  L. S.
       Mcrcurius praecipitatus per fe. L.
     Composita.
     *  Pilula ex hydrargyro calcinato.
       Pilulae  fyphiliticae. Pharm. Nofoc.
         Sti Thoma,
       Pilulae ex mercurio calcinato.  G.
       Pilulae ex mercurio catcinate ano-
        dynae.  G.
IV. Pre pa rat ions where the mer-
       cury  is partly divided  and
       diflblved.
   1. By fugar candy, or Saccharine
       compofitions; Such as con-
       ferva roSarum, cynofbati,&c.
     *  Saccharum hydrargyratum.
     Composita.
     * Bolus ex hydrargyro faccharato.
       Bolus cceruleus.  Tb.
       Bolus mercurialis.  G.
  2. Koney.
     * Mel hydrargyratum.
     Composita.
      Pilulae .ffithiopicae.  E.
      Pilulae mercuriales purgantss.
        E. Paufi.
      Pilulae Bellofti.
   3. Mercury  combined  with Sul-
      phur, (flowersof brimftone).
     * Hydrargyrum fulphur atum.
      a. By fimple trituration or fufion.
   * Hydrargyrum fulphuratum nigrum.
      iEthiops mineralis.  0.
     Composita.
      Pulvis iEthiopicus.
     b. By fubiimatien.
   # Hydrargyrum fulphuratum ruhrum.
      Cinnabaris fa&itia, feu artificia-
        lis.  0.
     Composita.
      Pulvis antilyffus Sinenfis.   0.
   4. Mercury  combined with ful-
     phur of antimony.
    a.  By fimple trituration.
   * Sulphur antimonii hydrargyratum ni-
      grum.
    iEthiops antimonialis.  0.
     Composita.
      Pilulae ./EthiopicK.  E. D.
    b. By fublimation.
    Sulphur  antimonii hydrargyratum ru-
        hrum-
      Ckinabaris antimonii.   0,
     Composita.
      Bolus Cinnabarinus.  G.
   5. Mercury combined with ful-
      phur by  precipitation.
  [See below under the Preparations ivitb
    the Vitriolic'Acid.~\
V. Preparations where the mer-
       cury is reduced to the  form
       of a metallic fait or calx by
       acids.
   1. Acid of fuet.   2. Acid of comram
     fait.   3. Acid of fugar.  4. Acid
     of amber.  5. Acid  of  arfenic.
     6, Acid of woqd-forrel.   7. Acid
     of phofphorus.  8. Acid of vitriol.
     9. Acid of fugar of milk.  10. Acid
     of tartar,  n. Acid of citron or
     lemon.  12. Acid of nitre.  13. A-
     cid of fluor mineral.  14. Acid of
     vinegar.  15. Acid of borax.  16.
     Acid of Berlin blue.  17. Aerial
     acid.
   1. Mercury combined with  acid
       of fuet (acidum febi.)
                               Hy- 
204
Materia Medica.
Part II.
Hydrargyrum febinum.
  2.  Mercury combined with the
        muriatic  acid;  or  acid  of
        common fait.
      *a. Hydrargyrum muriatum.
      » Hydrargyrum Ci)j  fublimation,
        murlatumfcr- -J       or
        tius.        C By precipitation.
        Mcrcurius  fublimatus  corrofi-
           vus.   0.
        Mcrcurius fublimatus albus.  0.
        Mercuriuscorrofivus albus. S.L.
        Mercurius corrofivus via huinida
          paratus.  Monnet.
     Composita.
        Solutio fublimati fpirituofa  of
            Van Sivietcn.
          Solutio mercurii fublimati cor-
            rolivi.   E.
          Mixtura mercurialis.  S.
          Mercurius fublimatus folutus.
             G.
      * Solutio  bydrargyri faliti fortioris
            aquofa.  <
        Pilulas e mercurio  corrofivo  al-
            bo.  S.
        Lotio Jypbi/iticafiava, flotio ex hy-
          drargyro muriato fortiori J
          Aqua phagedxnica.  0.
          Liquor mercurialis.  A.
          Lotio mercurialis.   Th.
        Solutio fublimati balfamica.
          Plenck.
        * Liquor ad condylomata.
          Aqua caufticaprocondyloma-
            tibus.   Plenck.
        D. Calx bydrargyri muriata ;  i. e.
          the  calx  of  mercury  united
          with fome muriatic acid.
        By fublimation.
      * Hydrargyrum muriatum mitia.
         Mercuriusdulcis(fublimatio«e
           paratus.  0.
          Mcrcurius dulcis  fublimatus.
           L.
          Calomel feu calomelas.  L.
       Aquiia alba.
       Panacea mercurialis.
       Mercurius dulcis lunaris. Schroe-
        dtr.
     Composita.
          Bolus mercurialis.   E.
          Bolus jalappae cum mercurio.
           Ibid.
         Bolus rhei cum mercurio. Ibid.
         Pilulae calomelanos.  G.
         Pilulas plummeri.  E.
         Pilule altcrantesPlummeri .0.
         ,J*iluIa depurans.  Th.
        Pulvis Plummeri.  0:
        Pilulae mercuriales purgantesl
          A:
        Pilulae catarrhales purgantcs:
          D.
       Pilulae laxantes cum mercurio:
         Ibid.
       Pulvis e fcammonio cum mer-
         curia.  'Th.
    * Lotio Jyphilitica nigra, {lotio ex hy-
        drargyro muriato mitiori.J
       Lotio mercurialis.  G.
  By precipitations
    a. From its folution in nitroui
       acid by common fait.
  * Calx bydrargyro muriata Scheelii.
       Mercurius  precipitatus  dulcia
         of Scbeele, (the inventor)
  b. From  its folution  iu  muriatic
         acid by vegetable alkali.
       Mcrcurius  precipitatus  albus,
           L.
  c. From  its folution in muriatic a-
         cid by mineral alkali.
       Mercurius  praecipitatus  albus.
         A.
  d. From its folution in  muriatic a-
       cid by volatile alkali.
     Mercurius  praecipitatus   albus.
         E.
  e. From its folution in  muriatic a-
        cid by copper.
     Mercurius praecipitatus viridis.
        E.
   Composita.
    Unguentum e  mercurio praecipi-
          tato.  L.
       Linimentum mercuriale.  E.
          Pauf.
3.  With the acid of Sugar.
       Hydrarg. faccharatum.  Berg-
         man.
4.  With the acid of amber.
        Hydrarg.  fuccinatum.  Berg-
          man.
5.  With the acid of arfenic.
        Hydrarg.  arfenicatum. Berg-
          man.
6.  With the acid of wood forrel,
    (oxalis acetofella Linnaei).
      Hydrargyrum oxalinem.  Berg-
         man.
7.  With phofphoric acid.
        Hydrargyrum phofphoratum.
           Bergman.
    By'precipitation from its folution
           in the  nitrous acid  by re-
           cent  urine.
         Rofa mineralis.   0.
                          8. With 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
205
8. With the vitriolic acid.
  * a. Hydrargyrum vitriolatum.
       Vitriolum mercurii.  0.
      Oleum mercurii.  0.
  b. Calx hydrargryi vitriolata (ftava.)
      Turpethum minerale.   0.
      Mercurius emeticus flavus. L.
      Mercurius flavus.   E.
      Mercurius praecipitatus luteus.
        D
        Turpethum nigrum.  0.
    c. Mercury precipitated  from its
          folution in nitrous acid by
          hepar fulphuris or  hepar
          calcis,
        Mercurius praecipitatus niger.
          0.
o.  With  the  acid of  fugar of
   milk
10.  With the acid of tartar.
   a. Hydrargyr. tartarifarum. Berg-
      man.
    b. With purified tartar, common-
       ly called  cream of tartar, (veg.
      alkali  fuperfuturated  ixiitb the a-
      cid of tartar I.- v
    * 'Tartarus bvlrqrgyretus.
        Terre fugPftdt: mercurielle of
         Dr Prejfavin,(the inventor.)
    c. Mercury precipitated  from its
       folution in nitrous acid by the
       acid «f tartar.
    * Calx bydrargyri tart a rifataflava ;
         ■vulgo, Pulvis Conftantinus.
       d. Mercury precipitated from
         its folution in muriatic and
         tartarous acid by fixed ve-
         getable alkali.
    * Calx bydrargyri tartarifata alba;
         vulgo, Pulvis argenteu3.
11. With the acid of citron.
       Hydrargyrum citratum. Berg-
          man.
12. With the acid  of nitre.
   *  Hydrargyrum nitratum.
   A. Simply diffolved.
  * Acidum nitri hydrargyratum.
        Solutio mercurii.  E.
  Composita.
      Unguentum citrinum E. A. S.
  B. Evaporated and  calcined by  fire.
  ** Hydrargyrum nitratum rubrum.
      Mercurius corrofivus  ruber.
        L.  E.
       Mercurius praecipitatus ruber.
          0.
       Pulvis principis.  0.
    _  Mercurius corallinus.   L.
       Mercurius tricolor.  0.
         Panacea mercurii.   0.
         Arcanum corallinum.   0.
         Panacea mercurii rubra.  <V
   Composita.
         Balfamus mercurialis.   Plencl.
         Unguentum ophthalmicum. St.
          Yves,
         Baifamum  ophthalmicum ru-
          brum.  I).
         Unguentum praecipitatum. G.
         Unguentum ad lippitudinem.
          Th.
         Unguentum   mercuriale  ru-
          brum.  D.
         Unguentum pomatum rubrum.
          J).
    C. Precipitated from its folution in
         nitrous acid.
      a By volatile alkali.
      * Hydrargyrum nitratum cinetcunt.
      Pulvis mercurii cinereus.   E.
      Turpethum album.   O.
      Mercurius praecipitatus  dulcis.
         0.
   Composita.
       Dr Ward's white drops,  (mer-
          cury  precipitated by  nitrous
          acid, and rediffolvcd  by fal
          ammoniac).
       Vegetable fyrup.
       Syrup de Bellet.
     b. By vinous  volatile  alkali, (fpi-
          ritus falis ammoniaci vino-
           fus).
      Turpethum nigrum.
      Mercurius praecipitatus niger.
    c. By fixt vegetable alkali.
      Mercurius praecipitatus fufcos.
         Wurtz.
    d. By Copper.
       Mercurius praecipitatus  viridis.
         B.
13. With  the acid  of fpar, (fluor
     mineralis.)
     Hydrargyrum  fluoratum.   Berg-
       man,
14. With the acid of vinegar.
      Hydrargyrum  acetatum.   Berg-
       man.
   Composita.
       Troches or pills of Keyfr.
15. With the acid  of Borax.
      Hydrargyr.  boraxatum.   Berg-
         man.
16.  With the  acid of Berlin blue.
17.   With   the   acid of Molyb-
      dasna.
18.   With  the acid  of  tungftone.
19. With the aerial acid, (fixt air).
                                 Hy. 
 206                  Materia

       Hydrargyrum aeratum.   Berg-
         man.
   i
   Notwithstanding this immenSe
 number oS mercurial preparations,
 there is reaSon to believe, that every
 uSeSul  purpoSe to be anfwered by
 mercury may be obtained from a
 very few.  The mercurial prepara-
 tions in general, with a view to thejr
 ufe both externally and  internally,
 may be divided into two great claf-
 Ses, the mild and the acrid. Almoft
 every purpoSe to be anSwered by the
 former, may be ^accomplifhed by
 the unguentum hydrargyri and pi-
 lulae ex hydrargyro of the London
 and  Edinburgh  pharmacopoeias ;
 while  moft of the effects to be ob-
4 tained from the latter may be de-
 rived from the proper ufe of  thofe
 preparations,  hitherto   generally
 known under the title of Calomel
 and Corrofive  Sublimate Mercury.
    The marks of pure mercury are,
 its globules not lofing their Spherical
 figure  when poured on wood ; its
 not  communicating a tinge to wa-
 ter, or SweetneSs to vinegar, when
 rubbed with them ; its evaporating
 entirely in an  iron Spoon over the
 fire ;  and its having a Shining ap-
 pearance without any pellicle on its
 SurSace. Mercury is beft purified by
 diftillation in an iron pot, with a long
 neck bent and immerSed in vinegar.
    Quicklilver  has Sometimes been
 uSed in its pure metallic ftate, with
 the view oS removing obftruction in
 the alimentary canal, from an idea
 that it would operate by its weight.
 But it is Seldom attended with a
 good effect,  and fometimes it muft
 do  harm.
   Whole volumes have been written
 refpecting its operation and ufe  in
 different difeafes, and particularly^
 venereal affections. Some refer its
 operation  to  an cvacuant power, o-
 thers to its operating as  a peculiar
 Stimulus, and a third fet  to its pof-
 Sefliug a  power  of* destroying  or
Medica.              Part II.

 neutralizing the Venereal virus. Of
 theSe opinions, the latter is the moft
 generally received, and perhaps the
 beft founded.   But for a more full
 view of the controverfy, we may re-
 fer our readers to late publications
 on the venereal difeafe, and on mer-
 cury, by  Mr  John  Hunter,  Dr
 Schwediauer, and Dr Duncan.
   In  virulent  gonorrhoea, it is
 doubted  whether mercury  be ne-
 ceffary.  This difeafe is commonly
 treated like any Similar inflamma-
 tion ; and the chief things attended
 to are cleanlinefs of the parts, a re-
 gular belly, and an  abftinence from
 every thing ftimulant in food, drink,
 &c.  An injection of oil with calo-
 mel, or white precipitate,  is much
 ufed, and fome preSer a watery So-
 lution of opium.  The more adive
 injections have fometines very dif-
 agreeable confequences.
   When the 4jgtfUtution is affected,
 which is  knoRpi by ulcers on the
 glans, buboes/ulcers in the mouth
 or throat, copper-coloured Spots and
 ulcers on the SurSace, nodes, &c.
 mercury  is thrown into the body
 either by friction or by the mouth.
 The general rule is,  to keep up a
 flight SoreneSs of the gums for fome
 fhort time  after  the fymptoms dis-
 appear ; at the fame time it is to be
 remembered, that mercury  fome-
 times continues gleets, and induces
 ulcers, that are difficultly  diftin-
 guifhed from venereal  ones  ; and
 that thefe laft only yield to  warm
 bathing, diaphoretic diluents, opia-
 tes, country air and milk diet. Cor-
 rofive fublimate is fometimes ufed,
 as more fpeedily arrefting difagree-
 able, fpreading,  or dangerous  ul-
 cers; but the completion of thecure
 fhould  always  be  trufted  to  the
 mild preparations alone. Mercury is
 alfo ufed in rabies canina, in worms,
 in hydrocephalus internus,  in teta-
 nus, and isby fome confidered as an
 antidote to the variolous matter.

                            HY- 
Part II.             Materia

  HYDROLAPATHUM   [Ed.]
Radix.
  Ramex aquaticus Lin.
  Water dock ; the root.
  The leaves oS this dock  gently
looSen the belly,'and have Sometimes
entered  decoctions  Sor removing a
coftive habit.  The  roots maniSeft
to the tafte  a confiderable aftrin-
gency ; they form an ink with iron,
and are celebrated for the  cure of
fcorbutic and cutaneous  diforders,
both as exhibited internally and ap-
plied  externally, in ointments, ca-
taplafms,lotions,and fermentations.
Muntingius publifhed a treatife on
this plant in  i68r, in which he en-
deavours to prove,  that our  great
water dock is the Herba Britannica
of the ancients : and indeed the de-
fcription which Diofcorides gives of
the latter  correfponds much with
the former. * He therefore  afcribes
to the hydrolapathum all the virtues
formerly attributed   to the herba
Britannica,particnlarly recommend-
ing it againft the fcurvy and all its
fymptoms.
   Where  this  diforder is  of  long
ftanding, fo  as  not  to yield to the
hydrolapathum alone, Muntingius
directs a compofition, by the uSe of
which,  he fays, that even  the ve-
nereal difcaSe will in a fhort time be
effectually cured. The compofition
is formed in  the followingmanner:
Six ounces of the roots of the water
dock  with two  of faffron ; and of
mace, cinnamon, gentian root, li-
quorice  root, and  black  pepper,
each  threeounces; or where pepper
is improper, fix ounces of liquorice.
Thefe are to be reduced into coarfe
powder, and put into a mixture of
two gallons of wine, with half a gal-
lon of ftrong vinegar, and the yolks
of three  eggs.   The whole is to be
digefted with a moderate warmth,
for three  days, in  a glazed veffel
clofe  flopped.   From three to fix
ounces of this liquor are to be taken
every morning  on  an  empty  fto-
Medica.                  207

mach, for fourteen or twenty days,
or longer;  and this is reprefented
as a moft ufeful remedy in fcorbutic
and venereal affections.

   HYOSCIAMUS  [Ed.]  Herba,
femen.
   Hyofciamus niger Lin.
  Common black henbane; the herb
and feeds.
   This vegetable grows in great a-
bundance in moft parts of Britain:
it belongs to the natural order of the
folanace£e,comprehendingthegreat-
er part of the narcotic vegetables ;
and it has  long been confidered as
one of the moft deleterious of thefe :
but notwithftanding this, there  can
be no doubt that it proves on many
occafions a very uSeSul  medicine;
and it is to us matter oS great Sur-
priSe, that the London college have
given it no place in their lift, espe-
cially as Some oS the  London prac-
 titioners  mention it  as  a remedy
which they Srequently employ with
much benefit.
   The Smell of the hyofciamus is
ftrong and peculiar; and the leaves
when bruifed emit fomewhat of the
odour of tobacco. This fmell is ftill
ftronger when the leaves are burnt;
and on burning they fparkle with a
deflagration, fomewhat  refembling
that of nitre: but to the tafte they
fhow no evident faline impregnation.
When chewed,  they are infipid,
mild, and mucilaginous;  yet when
taken to any great extent, they pro-
duce  the   moft  alarming  effects.
They give the appearances of in-
 toxication,  attended  with wild  de-
lirium, remarkable dilatation of the
 pupils of the eyes, and convulfions.
 It oSten produces Sweat,  and Some-
 times an eruption of puflules over
 the  furface, and  generally found
 deep, fucceeded by fcrenity of mind
 and recruited vigour of the body:
 but like the other narcotics,  inftead
 oS theSe it  Sometimes gives riSe to
 vertigo, headach, and general  un-
                          cafineSs 
 2o3                Materia  .

eafinefs. With particular individuals
it occaflons vomiting, colic pains, a
copious flow oS urine, and Sometimes
purging.   Upon  the whole,  like
opium, it  is  a  powerSul anodyne;
and like cicuta, it is free from any
conftipating effect, having rather a
tendency to move the belly.
   From thefe operative effects, it is
not furprifing that hyofciamus fliould
have been introduced into the prac-
tice of medicine; and accordingly
it appears to have been ufed for a va-
riety of purpofes, both as applied ex-
ternally and as  taken internally, e-
ven at the earlieft periods of medi-
cine.  Several  different fpecies  of
the hyofciamus were than employed,
as appears  Srom the writings oi Di-
oScoridesand others. CelSus, in par-
ticular, was very fond of this medi-
cine ; he ufed it externally as a col-
lyrium, in cafes of opthalmia:  he
employed  it  topically  for allaying
the pain of toothach ; and he gave
it  internally, both with a view of
mitigating other pains and of  pro-
ducing quiet fleep.
   For a confiderable length of time,
however,  the hyofciamus fell almoft
into difufe ; but the employment of
it  has of  late  been revived by Dr
Stoerk of  Vienna ;  and it has been
ufed  both  by  him  and  by many
other practitioners   with  the beft
effects,  particularly in  thofe caSes
where an anodyne is requifite, and
where an objection occurs to the uSe
of opium.   Accordingly, it is  now
employed  in many difeafes, and in
various  forms.  It is employed for
refolving   Swelling,  and  allaying
pain in caSes of Scirrhus, under  the
form  of eataplaSm of the  leaves,  or
of a plafter made from  the oil of the
feeds and powder of the herb, with
wax, turpentine, and other articles;
or of ointment  made of the powder
of the leaves with hog's lard.   In
open  ulcers, powder of  the leaves
Sprinkled   on the  part  has oSten a
good  effect.
Medica.               Part II.

  Internally, the hyofciamus is chief-
ly ufed under the form of an extract
from the leaves or from the feeds;
but, contrary to what happens with
cicuta, the former appears to be the
moft powerful.  This  extract has
been given with  advantages  in  a
variety of nervous affections, as ma-
nia, melancholia, epilepfy, hyfteria,
&c. in glandular Swellings, in obfti-
nate ulcerations; and in every cafe
where it is neceffary either to allay
inordinate  action  or mitigate  pain.
In accomplifhing thefe  ends, it is
often no lefs ufeful than opium; and
it often fucceeds where opium pro-
duces very difagreeable  effects, par-
ticularly  diftrefling  confufion  oi
head. The dofe of this extract muft
be  accommodated  to  the  circum-
ftancesof the cafe and of the patient;
and it has been increafed from' half
a grain to half a dram  in the day ;
for like opium, its influence is very
much diminifhed by habit.

   HYPERICUM [Lond.]  Flos.
   Hypericum perforatum Lin.
   St John's wort; the  flowers.
   This plant grows wild in woods
and  uncultivated  places  through
Britain*  Its tafte is rough and bit-
teriih, and  its fmell difagreeable.  It
abounds with an effential oil, which
is contained in fmall veficles in the
growing plant.   TheSe  veficles,
when viewed, by  holding the plant
between the eye and the light, re-
Semble perSorations ; and the eflen-
tial  oil  itSelS may be Separated to a
confiderable extent by diftillation.
Hence  there can  be little doubt
that it  poffeffes active principles.
At one period it was much  employ-
ed  and highly celebrated as a corro-
borant, diuretic, and vulnerary ; and
it was particularly extolled in hy-
sterical and maniacal diSorders.  It
was even reckoned of fuch efficacy as
to have  received the name offuga
d.i monum: but for thefe extraordi-
nary virtues there is probably not
                            much 
Part  II.             Materia

much Soundation ; and of late it has
been So much neglected as even to
lead to its omiflion in the laft editi-
on of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia.
  This plant, however, is probably
not without activity ; and  it is re-
markable that the flowery tops tinge
expreffed oils of a red colour, which
very few vegetable fubftances will
do, and communicate a blood red to
rectified fpirit.   The oil tinged by
them is kept in the fhops.

  HYPOCISTIS [Brun.] Succus.
  Cytinus hypociftis Lin.
  Hypociftis; the juice.
  Hypociftis is a flefhy production,
growing in the warmer  climates
from the roots of different kinds of
cifti.   Its infpiflated juice  is an a-
ftringent Similar to acacia, but Some-
what ftronger.  At preSent it is
Scarce  otherwiSe made uSe  oSthan
as an ingredient in Seme of the old
compofitions.

   HYSSOPUS [Ed.]  Herba.
  Hyftbpus officinalis Lin.
  Hyffop; the herb.
  The leaves oS hyflbp have an aro-
matic Smell, and a warm  pungent
tafte.  Befides  the general virtues
of aromatics, they are  particularly
recommended in humoral afthmas,
coughs, and other  diforders of the
brcaft  and  lungs ;  and faid to pro-
mote expectoration: but fo little de-
pendence is put upon any property
of this kind, that hyflbp has now no
place in the pharmacopoeia of the
London college.

  JALAPA [Loud. Ed.] Radix.
  Convolvulus jalapa Liu.
  Jalap; the root
  Jalap is the root of an American
plant,  brought to us in thin tranf-
verSe flices Srom Xalpa, a province
oSNew Spain.   The botanical cha-
racter of the vegetable  which Sur-
nifhesii are not absolutely afcertain-
Medica.                  209

ed; hence the London college have
given it no Linnaean name. But in
the opinion of the beft botanifts it
belongs to the genus of convolvulus*
In the London pharmacopoeia this
article has the name of jalapium ;
but from the derivation of the name,
from the authority of the beft  bo-
tanical writers, and from the  ex-
ample of all the other modern phar-
macopoeias, the term jalapa or ja-
lappa, is, we think, to be  prefer-
red.
  Such  pieces fliould  be chofen as
are moft compact, hard,  weighty,
dark coloured, and abound moft with
black circular ftriae. Slices of bryony
root are faid to be fometimes mix-
ed with thofe of jalap: thefe may
be  eafily  diftinguifhed by their
whiter colour, and leSs compact tex-
ture.  This root has no Smell, and
very  little  tafte upon the tongue :
but when Swallowed, it affects the
throat with a SenSe of heat, and
occafions a plentiful difcharge  of
Saliva.
  Jalap in fubftance,  taken in  a
dole of  about half  a dram (lefs or
more, according to the  circumftan-
ces of the patient) in plethoric,  or
cold phlegmatic habits, proves an
effectual, and in general a fafe, pur-
gative, performing its ofHce mildly,
feldom occafioning nauSea or gripes,
which too Srcquently accompany the
other  ftrong cathartics. In  hypo-
chondriacal disorders, and hot bili-
ous temperaments,  it  gripes vio-
lently, iS the jalap be good;  but
rarely takes due effect as a  purge.
An extract made by water purges
almoft univerSally, but weakly ; and
at the Same lime has a confiderable
effect  by urir'*: the root remaining
aSter this proceSs  gripes violently.
The  pure refin, prepared by Spirit
of wine occafions  moft violent gri-
pings, and other diftrefling fymp-
toms,  but fcarce proves at all cathar-
tic: triturated  with  fugar, or with
              O       * almonds 
2io               Materia  Medics.                Part II.
almonds into the form of an emul-
fion, or diflblved in Spirit and mixed
with Syrups, it purges plentifully in
a Small dofe, without occafioning
much diSorder :  the part of the ja-
lap remaining after  the Separation
of the refin, yields to water an ex-
tract, which  has no effect as a ca-
thartic, but operates powerfully  by
urine.  Its officinal preparations are
an  extract made with  water  and
fpirit, a Simple tincture, and a com-
pound  powder.
   Frederick  Hoffman particularly
cautions  againft giving this medi-
cine to children; and afFures, that
it will deftroy appetite, weaken the
body,  and perhaps occafion even
death.  In this point, the celebra-
ted practitioner was probably decei-
ved : children, whoSe veflels  are lax,
and  the food  foft and lubricating,
bear thefe kinds of medicines, as
Geoffroy obferves,  better than a-
dtilts;  and  accordingly  innocula-
tors make ranch ufe of the tincture
mixed  with  Simple  fyrup.   The
compound powder is  employed in
dropfy,asahydragogue purge;  and
where  Stimulus  is not contraindi-
cated,  jalap is confidered as a  Safe
cathartic.

    JAPONICA  TERRA.   Vide
Catechu.

   TASMINUM [Brun.] Flos.
   Jafminum officinale Lin.
  Jafmine: the flower.
  This is a fmall tree,  commonly
planted in our gardens.  The flow-
ers have a ftrong fmell, which is
liked by  moft  people,  though to
fome diSagreeable:  expreffed  oils
extract their fragrance by infufion ;
and water elevates fomewhat of it
in diftillation, but no effential oil
has hitherto  been obtained from
them :  the diftilled water kept for
a little  time, lofes its odour.   As to
their  medical virtues, the  prefewt
practice expects-not any from them>
although they have  been  recom-
mended for promoting delivery, cu-
ring ulcerations on the uterus, &c*

  ICHTHYOCOLLA [Lond.]
  Ifing-glaSs, or nth-glue
  This isa folid glutinous fubftance
obtained from a large kind of fifh
caught  in  the  feas  of Mufcovy.
The fkin and fome other  parts of
the animal  are boiled in water, the
decoction is infpiflated to a proper
confiftence, and then poured out fo
as to form thin cakes,  thefe are ei-
ther farther exficcated till perfectly
dry, or cut while  foft into flices,
which are afterwards bent,or rolled -
up into fpira.1, horfefhoe, and other
Shapes.  Some  allege it conSifte of
certain membranous parts.offifbes,
as the air-bladder, inteftines. &c,
only cleanfed, dried, and rolled  up
or twifted.  This glue  is more em-
ployed for  mechanic purpofes.than
in medicine. It may be given in the
fame manner as the vegetable gums
and mucilages;  regard being bad
to their different difpofition to ptt-
trefcence.
  It is alfo f6metimes employed ex-
ternally with  a view  to ;its action
as a  glue, and is  probably the prin-
cipal conftituentof the black flick-
ing plafter, or court plafter,  as it
is commonly called.

  IMPERATORIA  [Ed.]  Ra-
dix.
   Imperatoria oftruthium Lin.
  Mafterwort ; the root.
  This is a native of the Alps and
Pyrenean mountains, and fome parts
of Germany, from whence we are
fupplied with roots fupcrior in aro-
matic flavour to  thofe raiSed in our
gardens. The Smell of this root is
very fragrant: its  tafte bitterifh,
warm and pungent, glowing in the
mouth  Sor  a long time after it has ,
been chewed.   This root,  though
                             tin- 
Part II.             Materia Medica.                  zn
uaddubcedly an elegant aromatic, is
not regarded in the prefent practice;
and accordingly it has no place in
the London pharmacopoeia ; but it
is ftill retained by  the Edinburgh
college, as wellasin moft of the fo-
reign pharmacopoeias. Its flavour
is Similar to that of angelica,  but
ftronger.

  IPECACUANHA  [Lond.Ed.]
Radix.
  Pfychotria e?netica Lin.
  Ipecacuan ; the root.
  The  vegetable from which this
root is obtained is not with certainty
determined, any more than  that
furnifhing the jalap; but on the au-
thority of the younger Linnaeus, in
the fupplement which he published
tohis father's work, the Edinburgh
college  confider it, and probably
with jnftice, as being  the produce
of a Species  of the pfychotria.
  The  root is brought  from  the
Spanifh Weft-Indies.   It is divided
into two forts, Peruvian and Bra-
zilian :   but the eye  diftinguifties
three, afh coloured or grey, brown,
and white.  The afh-coloured, or
Peruvian ipecacuan oSthe fhops, is
a Small wrinkled root, bent and con-
torted into a great variety oS figures,
brought over in fhort pieces full of
wrinkles, and deep circular fiffures,
quite down to a fmall white woody
fibre that runsin the middle of each
piece:  the cortical part is compact,
brittle,  looks  fmooth  and refinous
upon breaking:  it  has very little
Smell; the tafte is bitterifh and  Sub-
acrid, covering  the tongue  as it
were with a kind of mucilage. The
brown is fmall, and fomewhat more
wrinkled than the foregoing ;  of a
brown or blackifh  colour without,
and white within ; this is brought
from Brazil.  The white fort is
woody,  has no wrinkles, and no
perceptible bitternefs in tafte. The
firft fort,  the  afh-coloured or grey
ipecacuan,  is that ufhally preferred
for medicinal ufe.  The brown has
bean fometimes obferved,  even in
a fmall dofe, to produce violent ef-
fects. The white, though  taken in
a large one, has fcarce any effect at
all: Mr Geoffroy calls this  fort baf-
tard ipecacuan, and complains that
it is an impofition  upon the public.
Geoffroy,  Neumann, Dale, and Sir
Hans Sloane, informs us,  that the
roots of a kind of apocynum (dogs-
bane)  are  too frequently brought
over inftead of it; and inftances are
given of ill confequences following
from the uSe of thofe roots :  if the
marks above laid down, particular-
ly the afh  colour, brittlenefs, deep
wrinkles,   and bitterifh tafte,  be
carefully attended to,  all mi Stakes
of this  kind may be prevented.
   Ipecacuan was firft brought  into
Europe about the middle of laft cen-
tury, and an account of it publifhed
about the lame time by PiSo ;  but
it did not come* into general uSe till
about the year 1686,  when Helve-
tins, under the patronage 01 Lewis
XIV.  introduced it into practice.
This root is one of the mildrft Mid
fafeft emetics  with which we .ire
acquainted; and  has  mis  peculiar
a I vantage, that if it fhould  not ope-
rate by vomit,  it paffes off by the o-
ther emunctories. It was firft intro-
duced among us  with the character
of an almoft infallible remedy indy-
femeries, and other inveterate flux-
es, as menorrhagia and leucorrhcea,
andalfo in diforders proceeding from
obftructions of long ftanding :  nor
has it loft much  of its reputation by
time.   In dyfenterits, it almoft al-
ways produces  happy effects,  and
often performs a cure in a very fhort
fpace of time.   In other fluxes of
the belly, in beginning dyfenteries,
and  fuch  as are of  a malignant
kind,or where the patient breathes
a tainted air, it has not been found
equally fuccefsful: in thefe cafes it
              O 2              is 
212                 Materia

is neceffary to continue  the ufe of
this medicine for feveral  days, and
to join with it opiates, diaphoretics,
and the like.  This root, given in
Snbftance, is as effectual, if not more
fo, than any of the preparations of
it: the pure refin acts as a ftrong
irritating  emetic,  but  is  of little
Service  in  dyfenteries ;  whilft an
extract prepared with water is al-
moft of equal Service in thefe cafes
with the root itfelf, though it has
little effect as an emetic.  Geoffroy
concludes from  hence,  that the
chief virtue of ipecacuan in dyfen-
teries depends upon its gummy fub-
ftance, which lining the inteftines
with  a SoSt mucilage, when their
own mucus has been abraded, oc-
cafions their exulcerations to heal,
and defends them from the  acrimo-
ny of the juices  : and that  the re-
finous  part,  in  which the emetic
quality refides, is required,  where
the morbific matter jslodged in the
glands  of the ftomach and intef-
tines.  But if the virtues of this root
were entirely owing to  is mucila-
ginous or gummy part, pure gums,
or mucilages, might be  employed
to equal advantage. Water, aflifted
by a boiling heat, takes up  from all
vegetables a confiderable portion of
refinous along   with the  gummy
matter: if the ipecacuan remaining
after the action  of water  be digeft-
ed with pnre fpirit, it will not yield
half fo much refin  as at firft :  fo
that the aqueous extract differsfrom
the crude root only in degree, be-
ing  proportionably  lefs   refinous,
and  having lefs effect, both as an
emetic, and in the cure of dyfente-
ries.   The virtues of ipecacuan, in
this diforder,  depend upon its pro-
moting perfpiration, the freedom of
which is here of  the -utmoft im-
portance,  and   an  increafe  of
which, even in healthful  perfons,
is generally obferved toSuppreSsthe
evacuation byftool. In dySenteries,
the fkin is for  the  moft part dry
Medica.             Part If.

and  tenfe,  and  perfpiration ob-
structed : the common diaphoretics
paSs off without  effect through the
inteftinal canal : but ipecacuan,  if
the  patient aSter a puke or two be
covered up warm, brings onaplen-
tiSul  Sweat.  ASter the removal of
the dySentery, it is neceffary to con-
tinue the  ufe of the medicine for
fome time longer, in order to pre-
vent a relapSe ;  for  this purpofe, a
few grains divided  into   feveral
dofes, fo as not to occafion any Sen-
sible evacuation, may  be exhibited
every day ; by this means the cure
is effectually eftablifhed.   And in-
deed fmall dofes given, even from
the  beginning,  have been often
found to have better effects in the
cure of  this difeafe  than larger
ones.  Geoffroy  informs  us from
his  own experience, that  he hae
obferved ten grains of the powder
to act as effectually as a  fcruplc
or  two ; and   therefore confines
the   dofe  betwixt   fix and ten
grains :  it has lately  been found,
that even fmaller dofes prove fuffi-
ciently emetic.   The only officinal
preparation of this root is a tindure
made in  wine,  which accordingly
has now the  appellation of vinutu
ipecacuanha,  both   in the Lon-
don  and Edinburgh  pharmaco-
poeias.
  Many ingenious experiments have
been made on the Subject of ipeca-
cuan by Dr Irving,  for which he
obtained the prize  medal of the
Harveian Society at Edinburgh for
 1784.  He has  afcertained, that
while this root  contains a gummy
refinousmatter,yet that the gummy
 exifts in a much greater proportion
 than the refinous part ;  that the
gummy  part is  much more power-
fully emetic than the refinous ; that
although the conical  part of the
root be more active than the ligne-
ous, yet that even the pure ligneous
part poffeffes a confiderable emetic
power ;  and that the whole oS the
                             root 
 Part II,.              Materia

 root poflefles confiderable influence,
 both as an antiSeptic and aftringent.
 To determine whether the  emetic
 power of ipecacuan was of a volatile
 or fixed nature, Dr Irving fubjected
 it to diftillation.  The water obtain-
 ed by diftillation was found to have
 very little influence; but the decoc-
 tion which remained in the ftill, not
 only operated violently as an emetic,
 but produced  rigours, cold fweats,
 and other alarming Symptoms.  By
 long continued boiling, the activity
 of  the  root itfelf is almoft totally
 deftroyed:  but  Dr  Irving  found,
 that the emetic property of ipecacu-
 an was moft effectually counteracted
 by means of the acetous acid; info-
 much that thirty grains of thejpow-
 der taken in two ounces of vinegar,
 produced only fome loofe ftools.
   Ipecacuan,  particularly  in  the
 ftate of powder  is now advantage-
 oufly employed in  almoft every dif-
 eafe in which full  vomiting is indi-
 cated;  and when combined with
 opium under the form of the pulvis
 fudorifiens,  it furnifhes us with the
 moft ufeful and active Sweating me-
 dicine which we poffeSs.   It is  alSo
 often given  with advantage in very
 Small dofes,  fo as neither to operate
 by vomiting,  purging, nor  Sweat-
 ing.
  The  full  dofe of the powder  is a
 Scruple or half a dram, and  double
 that in form of a  watery infufion.
 The full dofe is recommended in the
 paroxyfm of fpafmodic afthma, and
 a dofe of three or four grains every
 morning in habitual afthmaticindif-
 pofition.  A doSeof  ^ or '- grain rub-
hed with Sugar, and given every Sour
 hours or of tener, is  recommended in
 uterine hemorrhagy, cough, pleuri-
 fy,  hasmoptoe, &c. and has oSten
 been found highly  ferviceable.

  IRIS   FLORENTINA [Lond.
Ed.] Radix.
Medica.                  213

   Iris [lore tit in a Lin.
   Florentine orris; the root.
   Several varieties of iris are culti-
vated in our gardens on  account of
the elegance of  their flowers;  but
the florentine orris is what is chiefly
employed  for medicinal purpofes.
The roots, when recent, have a bit-
ter, acrid, naufeous tafte, and taken
internally, prove ftrongly cathartic;
and hence the juice is recommended
in dropfies, in the dofe of three or
four Scruples.  By drying they lofe
this  quality, yet ftill retain a Some-
what pungent, bitterifh tafte: their
Smell in this ftate is of the aromatic
kind; thofe produced in the warmer
climates have a  very grateful fla-
vour, approaching to that of March
violets : hence the ufe of the Floren-
tine iris in perfumes, and for flavour-
ing liquors ;  the fhops employ it in
the white  pectoral troches, or tro-
chifci amy it, as they are now ftyled.

   IRIS PALUSTRIS [Ed.]  Ra-
dix.
   Iris pfeudacorus Lin.
   Yellow water-flag; the roots.
   This plant grows in great abun-
dance by the brinks of rivers, and in
other watery places:  the root  has
an acrid tafte; and when frefli, is
ftrongly cathartic.  The exprefled
juice, given to the quantity of Sixty
or eighty drops every hour or two,
and occafionally increafed, has been
productive  of very copious evacua-
tion, afterjalap, gamboge, and other
ftrong purgatives have proved  in-
effectual ;  and it is in this form that
it is alone ufed;  for  by  drying it
entirely lofes its purgative  effects.
But although this article Still retains
a place in  the Edinburgh pharma-
copoeia, and under proper manage-
ment might probably furnifh an ufe-
ful  medicine, yet it  is  at  prefent
very little employed.

              O3          JU- 
214                  Materia

  JUGLANS [Lond.] Fruftus hn-
fnaturus.
  Juglans regia Liu.
  Walnut;  the unripe fruit.
  The kernel of the fruit is fimilar
in quality  to almonds: the fhell is
aftringent: but neither of them is
at prefent much employed in medi-
cine among Britifh practitioners,al-
though it ftill retains a place in moft
oS the foreign pharmacopoeias,  as
well as in that of the London  col-
lege,

  JUJUBA [Brun.]  Bacca,
  Rhamnus  zizyphus Lin.
  Jujubes;  the fruit.
  Jujubes have a  pleaSant  Sweet
tafte.  They are recommended in
an acrimonious ftate of the fluids;
in coughs from thin fharp  deflux-
ions; and in  heat  of urine:  but
they are at  prefent, among us, a
Stranger to medicinal practice,  and
even to the fhops.

  JUNIPERUS [Lond. Ed.]Bae-
ca,  cacumen.
  Juniper us communis Lin.
  Juniper;  the berry  and top.
  This is an evergreen flirnb grow-
ing upon heaths and hilly grounds
in all  the  parts  of Europe:  the
wood and refin are  not at  preSent
made ufe of  for medicinal purpofes:
the berries are brought from Hol-
land and  from Italy,  where  this
fhrub is  very plentiful.  The Ita-
lian berries are in general reckoned
the beft.
  Juniper berries have a ftrong not
difagreeable  fmell, and a warm,
pungent fweet tafte, which, if they
are long chewed, or previoufly well
bruifed, is followed by a bitterifh
one.  The  pungency  feems to re-
fide in the bark;  the  fweet  in the
juice;  the aromatic flavour  in  oily
veficles,  fpread through the fub-
ftance of the pulp, and diftinguifh-
able even by the eye;  and the bit-
Medica.             Part II.

ter inthe feeds: the  frefh berries
yield,  on expreflion, a rich, fweet,
honey-like^ aromatic juice j  if pre-
vioufly pounded So as to break the
Seeds, the juice proves tart and bit-
ter.
   TheSe berries are ufeful carmina-
tives and ftomachics, and are diure-
tic: for thefe purpofes a compound
fpirit and effential oil diftilled from
them are kept in the (hops:  the li-
quor remaining aSter the diftillation
of the oil, pafled through a ftrainer,
and gently exhaled;tothe confiftence
of a rob, proves likewife a medicine
of great utility, and  in many cafes
is perhaps preferable to  the.  oil or
berry it felf:  Hoffman is exprefsly
of this opinion, and ftrongly recom-
mends it in debility of the ftomach
and inteftines, and fays it is par-
ticularly of Service to old peopl;e who
are Subject to thefe  diforders, or
labour under a difficulty with  regard
to the urinary  excretion.  This rob
is of a dark brownifh yellow coldflr,
a balfamic fweet  tafte, with  a little
of the bitter, more or lefs according
as the Seeds in the berry have been
more or leSs bruiSed.   But perhaps
one oS the beft forms under which
they can be uSed,  is that of a Simple
watery infufion.   This, either by
itfelf, or with the addition of a fmall
quantity of gin,  is  a very  ufeful
drink  for  hydropic  patients. An
infufion of the tops  has alfo been
advantageoufly employed  in the
fame manner.

   KERMES  [Brun.] Gratia, fuc
cus.
   Coccus, quercus, coccifera Lin,
   Kermes; the grains.
   Thefe grains appear, when frefh,
full of fmall, reddifh ovula,  or ani-
malcules, of which they are the ni-
dus.  On  expreflion,  they  yield a
red juice, of a bitterifh, fomewhat
tough and pungent tafte, and a not
unpleafant fmell:  this is brought to
                              us 
Part H.
Materia  Medica.
215
us from the fouth of France.  The
grains themfelves are  cured  by
fprinkling with  vinegarbeSore ex-
ficcation :  this prevents the exclufi-
on of the ova, and kills fuch of the
animals as are already hatched  ; o-
therwifc, they change into winged
infect, leaving the grain an empty
hufk.
  Kermes,confidered asamedicine,
is a grateful, very mild reftringent,
and  corroborant. In  this  light  it
was  looked upon by  the Greeks ;
the Arabians  added  a cordial vir-
tue : European writers alfo  have in
general recommended it for exhila-
rating the fpirits, and  againft pal-
pitations of the heart: they have
alfobeen particularly recommended,
but  without  any good foundation,
for promoting birth, and preventing
abortion. I have  known, fays Geof-
froy, many women, who had never
reached the end'.of pregnancy, made
joyful mothers by the  ufe  oS  pills
compofed of kermes,  germiu. ovor.
exficcat. and confeclio de  hyacintho
(a compofition containing fome ve-
getable aftringents and aromatics,
together  with gold and filver leaS,
four precious ftones,  and other in-
gredients of  lefs value:)  three  of
thefe pills muft be taken for the firft
dofe, and thisrepeated three times,
at the interval of two or three hours;
after which three pills more are to
be taken every morning on the three
laft  days  of the  moon  in every
month till delivery. Notwithftand-
ing this affertion, we conceive our
readers will  with us believe,  that
neither the kermes  nor its auxili-
aries are to be much depended on.

   KINO  [Loud. Ed.] Gummi-re-
fina.
   Gummi rubrum aftringens Gambi-
enfe.
   Kino; the  gum-refin.
   Kino was  firft recommended to
the attention of  medical practitkm-
ersby Dr Fothergill, as being a very
uSeSul vegetable aftringent; and in
the hands of other  practitioners it
has been fo far found to anfwer the
character he gave of it,  that  it is
now in very common ufe.  Ir has a
confiderable refemblance to the cate-
chu ;  but is much more of a re-
finous nature, and  of  a firm tex-
ture :  it is alfo redder and more a-
ftringent; its watery folution more
decompofable by acids, and its ink
lefs permanent.   Its colouring and
aftringent matter are more perfectly
taken up by  fpirit than by water,
though water readily enough ex-
tracts a confiderable fliare oS both.
It is uSed as an aftringent in diarrhoea
haemorrhagies, &c.   In prooS Spirit
it Sorms an elegant tincture; and it
is a principal ingredient in the pul-
vis ftypticus and fome other officinal
compofitions.

   LAC [Ro/i.]
   Milk.
   Milk is a Secretion peculiar to
women,the Semales of quadrupeds,
and of the cetaceous fifhes.  It may
be confidered as a kind of emulfion,
confifting  of  butter, cheefe, and
whey ;  the whey containing a mu-
cilaginous fugar, which keeps the
butter and cheefe in union with its
water ;  and it is from  this Sugary
part that milk is Subject to the vi-
nous Sermentation, as in the Ruf-
fian koumis,  a vinous liquor made
oS  mares  milk,  and recommend-
ed  in phthifis and caSes of weak-
neSs.
   New milk mixes uniformly with
common water, themineral chaly-
beate waters, wines, and  malt li-
quors that are not  acid,  weak vi-
nous  fpirits,  folutions  of fugar,
foaps, and neutral  falts; but not
with oils expreffed or diftilled. A-
cidsboth mineral and vegetable co-
agulate it;  as alfo do fixt and vo-
latile alkalies, and highly rectified
               O 4         fpirit. 
2l6
Materia Medica.
FarfclL
Spirit of  wine: the curd made  by
acids is in part rcfolvcd again by al-
kaline liquors; as that made by al-
kalies likewife is by acids. Neutral
falts, nitre in particular, preServe k
from coagulating Spontaneoufly; and
likewiSe render it leSs eafily coagu-
lable by acids.
  The human milk is the Sweeteft
b( the liquors, and  that of afles
next to it: this laft is the moft di-
Upon evapo-
rating twelve
ounces of
There remained
of dry matter

     drams,
Cows milk	13
Goats milk	J2\
Human milk	8
Afles milk	8
  The  Saline fubftance  obtained
from  afles milk was white,  and
fweet as fugar; thofe of the others
brown or yellow, and confiderably
lefs fweet; that of cows milk, the
leaft fweet of all.  It appears there-
fore, that  afles milk contains more
ferum, and much more of a Sac-
charine Saline matter than thoSe of
cows  and goats; and that the two
latter abound  moft  with  unctuous
grofs matter:  hence  thefe are found
tobe moft  nutritious, whilft the firft:
proves moft effectual as an aperient
and detergent.
  The infpiffated refiduum of milk,
digefted with  about  as much water
as was wafted in the evaporation,
yields an  elegant kind oS whey,
more agreeable in tafte, and which
keeps better than that made in the
common manner. This liquor pro-
motes the  natural Secretions in ge-
neral ; and, if its ufe is duly conti-
nued, does good Service in Scorbutic
and other  disorders.
  There are confiderable differences
in the milk  of  the  fame animal,
according  to  its  different aliment,
lute of them all; on fuffering. it n>
coagulate  fpontaneoufly, the curd
Scarce amounted to two drams froa
twelve ounces, whilft that  of cows
milk was five times as much: the
coagulum  of afles milk, even when
made by acids, forms only  into fine
light flakes, which Swim in the fe-
rum ;  that of goats milk> concretes
into  more compact maffes, which
fink.

From which water extracted a Sweet
  Saline Subftance,amounting,when
  exficcated, to
             drams,
               It
               It
               6
               6

Diofcorides relates,  that  the milk
of goats, who feed on the fcammony
plant and fpurges,proved cathartict
and examples are given in the Acta
Haffnienfia of bitter milk from the
animal having eaten wormwood.
It  is a common obfervation,  that
cathartics  and  fpirituous  liquors
given to a nurfe, affect the child::
and that the milk of animals feeding
on green herbs, ismuch more dilute
than when  they are fed with dry
ones.   Hoffman, from whom moft
of the foregoing obfervations  are
taken, carries  this point  So.far, as
to  direct  the  animal  to  be dieted
according to the difeaSe  for which
its milk is to be drank.

  LACCA [Suec] Gummi refihnrt
  Croton lacciferum Lin.
  Lac the gum refin.
  This is a Sort of wax  of a  red
colour, colleded in the Eaft-Indies
by certain infects, and depofited on
Sticks faftened for that purpofe in
the earth.  It is brought over,  ei-
ther adhering  to the  Sticks, or in
Small transparent grains, or in Semi-
                     tranSparent 
Part II.             Materia
tranfparent flat cakes :  the firft is
called ftick lac, the fecond feed lac,
and the third fhell lac.   On break-
ing a.piece of ftick lac, it appears
compofed  of regular cells like the
honeycomb, with fmall corpufcles
of a deep red colour lodged in them:
theSe are the young infects,  and to
theSe the lac owes its tincture ; for
when freed from them, its colour is
very dilute. The fhell and feed lacs,
which do  not exhibit any infects or
cellular appearance upon breaking,
are fuppofed to be artificial prepara-
tions of the other: the  feed fort is
faid  to be  the ftick lac bruifed  and
robbed of its more foluble parts; and
the fhell to be the feed lac, melted
and  formed into cakes.  The ftick
lac therefore is thegenuine fort,and
ought alone to beemployed for me-
dicinal purpofes.   This concrete is
of great efteem  in Germany,  and
other countries, for laxity and fpon-
gincfs of the gums, proceeding from
cold, or a  fcorbutic habit : for this
ufe the lac is boiled in water, with
the addition oSa little alum, which
promotes its Solution : or a tincture
is made Srom it with rectified Spirit.
This tincture is recommended alSo
internally in the fluor albus, and in
rheumatic and Scorbutic disorders  :
it has a grateSul  Smell,  and a not
unpleafant,   bitterifh,   aftringent
tafte : The principal uSe  of lac a-
niong us is in certain mechanic arts
as a colouring drug, and for mak-
ing Scaling wax.

  LACTUCA SATIVA [Brun.]
Folia, femina.
  Latluca fativa Lin.
  Garden lettuce ; the leaves and
feeds.
  The feveral forts of garden lettu-
ces are very wholcfome,, emollient,
cooling Salad  herbs, eafy of digef-
tion, and  Somewhat looSening the
belly.  Moft  writers  SuppoSe  that
they have a narcotic quality ; and
Medica.                  217
indeed, in many cafes, they contri-
bute to procure reft; this they effect
by abating heat,  and relaxing the
fibres.  The Seeds are in the num-
ber of the four leffer cold feeds.

  Latluca virofa Lin.
  Strong fcented wild lettuce.
  This plant, which is  indigenous
in Britain, and grows in fome places
in confiderable abundance,  differs
very eflentially in its qualities from
the garden lettuce.  Although  it
has not been introduced  into any of
the modern pharmacopoeias, yet it
has of hue been highly extolled for
fome  purpofes in medicine.
  It fmells ftrongly  of opium, and
reftmbles it in fome of  its effects ;
and its narcotic power, like  that of
the poppy heads, refides in its mil-
ky juice.  An extract from the ex-
preffed juice is  recommended  in
fmall  dofes in dropfy.  In dropfies
of long ftanding, proceeding from
vifceral obftructions, it has been gi-
ven to the extent of half an ounce
a-day.  It is faid  to agree with the
ftomach, to quench thirft, to be gen-
tly laxative, powerfully diuretic,and
fomewhat diaphoretic. Plentiful di-
lution is allowed during its opera-
tion.   Dr Collin of Vienna aliens,
that out of 24 dropfical patients, all
but one were cured by this medicine.

  LADANUM [Loud.] Refina.
  Ciftus creticus Lin.
  Ladanum, the  gum refin.
  This refin is Said to  have been
Sormerly collected Srom the beards
of goats who bronzed the leaves  of
the ciftus :  at prefent,  a kind  of
rake, with feveral ftraps or  thongs
of fkins fixed to it, is drawn  lightly
ever the fhrub, So as to take  up the
unctuous juice, which is  afterwards
Scraped off with knives.  It is rarely
met with pure, even in  the places
which produce it ; the duft, blown
upon  the plant  by the wind,  ming.
                             ling 
2i8                   Materia Medica.              Part II.
ling with the tenacious juice : the
inhabitants are alSo Said to mix with
it  a certain  black  Sand.   In the
Ihops two  Sorts are met with : the
beft (which is very rare) is in dark-
coloured almoft black maffes, of the
confiftence of a Soft plafter, which
grows ftill  fofter upon being band-
ied ; of a very agreeable fmell, and
of a light  pungent  bitterifti tafte :
the other fort is harder, notfo dark
coloured,  in  long rolls  coiled up :
this is of a much weaker fmell than
the firft, and  has a large admixture
of a fine fand, which in the lada-
num, examined by the French aca-
demy, made up three-fourths of the
mafs. Rectified fpirit of wine almoft
entirely diflblves  pure  ladanum,
leaving  only a fmall portion of gum-
my matter which has  no tafte or
Smell: and hence this refin may be
thus excellently purified  Sor inter-
nal purpoSes.  It is an uSeful ingre-
dient in   the  ftomachic  plafter,
which is now indeed ftyled the em-
plaftrum ladani.

 '  LAHlUM[Brun.]Herba,flores.
   Lamium album Lin.
   Dead nettle ;  the  leaves  and
flowers.
   This grows wild in hedges ; and
flowers  in April  and May.  The
flowers  have been particularly cele-
brated  in  uterine fluors and other
female weaknefles,  and alfo in dif-
orders  of  the lungs ; but they ap-
pear to  be  of very weak  virtue ;
and they are  at prefent fo little ufed
in  Britain as to have now no place
in our pharmacopoeias.

   LAVENDULA  [Lond.  Ed.]
   Spica ftoreutes.
   Lave ndula fpica Lin.
   Lavender  ; the flowering tops.
   There  are different varieties  of
this vegetable, particularly the nar-
row and broad leaved. The flowers
•1  both hayc  a fragrant fmell,  to
moft people agreeable, and a warm,
pungent, bitterifti tafte: the broad-
leaved fort is the ftrongeft in both
reSpects, and yields in diftillation
thrice as much  effential oil as the
other; its oil is alSo hotter and Spe-
cifically heavier: hence in the South-
ern parts  of  France, where both
kinds grow wild, this is only made
ufe of for the diftillation of what is
called oil of fpike.   The  narrow-
leaved is  the fort commonly met
with in our gardens.
   Lavender is a warm ftimulating
aromatic.   It is principally recom-
mended in vertigoes,  palfies, tre-
mors, fuppreflion of the menftrual
evacuations ; and in general in all
diforders of the head, nerves, and
uterus.   It is fometimes  alSo uSed
externally in fomentations for para-
lytic limbs. The diftilled oil is par-
ticularly celebrated  for destroying
the pediculi inguinales, and other
cutaneous infects : if foft fpongy pa-
per, dipt in this oil, either alone,or
mixed with that of almonds, beap-
plied at night to the parts infefted
by the infects,  they will certainly,
fays Geoffroy, be all found dead in
the morning.  The officinal prepa-
rations of lavender are, the effen-
tial oil, a fimple fpirit, and a com-
pound tincture.
   LAURUS [Lond. Ed.] Folium,
bacca.
   Laurus nobilis Lin.
   Bay ;  the leaf and berry.
   The berries of the bay are gene-
rally  brought from  the Streights,
tho' the tree bears the colds of enr
own climate.  They have a mode-
rately ftrong aromatic fmell, and a
warm, bitterifh pungent tafte: the
berries are ftronger in both respect's
than the leaves, and afford in diftil-
lation a larger quantity of aromatic
eflential oil; they yield alfo an almoft
inlipidoil tothe prefs,inconfequence
of which they prove unctuousin the
mouth..  Thefe Simples are warm
                            car- 
Part II.             Materia

carminative  medicines, and  fome-
times exhibited with this intention
againft flatulent colics, and likewife
in hyfterical diforders.
  Their principal ufe in the prefent
practice is in glyfters, and fome ex-
ternal applications. The leaves en-
ter our common fomentation;  and
the berries,  the plafter of cummin:
they alfo gave name to an electuary,
which was little otherwiSe uSed than
in glyfters.

   LENTISCUS  [Brun.] Lig-
num.
   Piftacia lentifcus Lin.
   The  lentiSe tree ;  the wood.
   This tree or  fhrub is a native of
the warm climates,  but bears  the
common winters oS our own.  The
wood is brought to us in thick knot-
ty pieces, covered with  an afh-co-
loured bark, and white within, of a
rough, fomewhat pungent tafte, and
an agreeable, though Saint  Smell;
the fmaller  tough Sprigs are both in
tafte and  Smell the ftrongeft. This
wood is accounted a mild balSamic
reftringent; a  decoction of it is in
the German ephemerides  dignified
with the title ofvegetable aurumpo-
tabile, and ftrongly recommended in
catarrhs,  naufea,  and  weaknefs of
the ftomach;  for ftrengthening the
tone of the vifcera in general, and
promoting the urinary fecretion.
   This is the  tree  which  in  the
ifland Chio affords the refin called
maftich.

   LEVISTICUM [Suec]  Radix,
herba, femen.
   Ligufticum, levifticum Lin.
   Lovage;   the  plant, root,  and
feed.
  This is alarge umbelliferous plant,
cultivated with usin gardens.  The
root nearly  agrees in quality  with
that of angelica :  the principal dif-
 ference is, that the lovage root has
 a ftronger Smell, and  a Somewhat leSs
Medica.                  219

pungent tafte, accompanied with a
more durable SweetneSs: the Seeds
are rather warmer than the root.
TheSe Simples, though certainly ca-
pable of being applied to ufeful pur-
pofes, are not at prefent regarded :
neither  of them  is directed in ex-
temporaneous prefcription, and they
have now no place in  our pharma-
copoeias.

   LICHEN  CINEREUS  TER-
RESTRIS [Brun.]
   Lichen caninus Lin. "
   Afh-coloured ground liverwort.
   This confifts of pretty thick digi-
tated leaves, flat above, of a reticu-
lar texture underneath, and fattened
to  the  earth by  fmall fibres: the
leaves  when in  perfection are of
 an afh-colour;  by age they  be-
come darker-coloured or reddifh.  It
is met with on common and open
heaths, where it quickly fpreads on
the ground.  Dr Mead informs us,
that this  plant grows  in all coun-
tries, and  has been brought over
from America along with the Peru-
vian bark: that  it is found at all
 times, but ought to be gathered from
autumn to winter, as being then in
 its frefheft vigour.
   This fimple is faid  to be  a warm
diuretic;  but the tafte difcovers  in
it little or no warmth.  It is chiefly
celebrated for its virtue in the cure
of the  diforders  occafioned by the
bite oS  a  mad dog.  An account of
 the remarkable effects in thefe cafes
of a powder compofed of the dried
leaves and pepper was communica-
 ted to  the Royal  Society  by  Mr
 Dampier,  and publifiied in the Phi-
 lofophical Tranfactions. This pow-
 der was  afterwards  inferted  in
 the year  1721) into  the  London
 pharmacopoeia,  under the title of
pulvis antilyjfus,  at the defire of an
 eminent  phylician, who had great/
 experience of its good effects. Some
 years after the fame gentlciuanpub-
                           lifeed 
 220                   Mat eric

liflied and difperfed a paper contain-
ing the method of cure, which he
had in a great number of inftances
conftantly found fuccefsful.  In this
paper the directions were to the fol-
lowing effect: " Let' the patient be
" blooded  to the extent of nine or
" ten ounces: and afterwards take
" a dram and a half of the powder
" every morning faffing, for four
"mornings fucceflively, in half a
u pint of cows milk, warm.   After
" thefe four dofes are taken, the
" the patient muft go into the cold
" bath, or  a cold fpring or river, e-
" very morning faffing for a month;
*' he muft  be dipt all over, but not
i( Stay in (with his head above wa-
" ter) longer than half a minute, if
*' the water be very cold: after this
<c he muft go in three times a-week
" for a fortnight longer."  In the
year 174J, the world was favoured
with a new edition of the Mechani-
cal  Account of Poifons, in which
we  find the fame method of cure
again recommended, as having, in a
courfe  of thirty years experience,
ncverfaiied of Succefs; where it had
been followed before the hydropho-
bia begun.  It is greatly to be wifh-
ed,  that the efficacy of this  medi-
cine in preventing  thefe terrible
diforders, was proved by incontefti-
ble facts.  Inftances have been pro-
duced  of its proving unfuccefsSul;
and the many examples of the fata-
lity of the difeaSe which continually
occur,  Seem arguments either oSthe
inefficacy  oS the medicine,  or a
ftrange negligence  in applying it.
We fhnU only Sarther obferve, that
Boerhaave, who is in general Suffi-
ciently liberal in the commendation
of remedies, ranks this among thoSe
infignificant trifles, which whoever
depends upon,  will find himfelf de-
ceived; and indeed this opinion is
now fo general,  that this fpecies of
the  lnchen has no place in the pre-
fent editions of cur pharmacopoeias,
 Medica.             Part II.

 and is now rejected from moft  of
 the foreign ones.                '-

   LICHEN  ISLANDICUS [Ed.]
 Herba.
   Lichen iflandicus Lin.
   Eryngo-leaved,  or eatable liver-
 wort.
   The leaves of this fpecies of li-
 chen are nearly erect, ftiff when dry,
 and pliant when moift;  irregularly
 divided into broad diftant Segments,
 fmooth and ciliated at the margins.
 It is a native  of this  country.  An
 ounce of it boiled in a pound of wa-
 ter, and ftrained, yields about Seven
 ounces of as thick a mucilage as one
 part of gum  Arabic  diffolved in
 three parts of water.  The Icelan-
 ders ufe it in  diet.   It is fteeped in
 water to deprive it of its bitternefs
 and cathartic  quality, and the pow-
 der of it is made into  pottage with
 milk or water.  This diet is recom-
 mended in phtifis and  Scorbutus;
and is faid to  beverynourifhing,an-
 tiSeptic,  and gently laxative.  The
 Edinburgh pharmacopoeia,however,
is the only one into which this Spe-
cies of lichen  feems yet to be intro-
duced:  and  we believe that  few
practitioners in Britain have much
experience of its  ufe.  If it have
any effect, it is probably only as a
mild article of diet.

   LIGNUM  CAMPECHENESE
 [Lond. Ed.]
  Hamatoxylum campechianum Gin.
   Logwood,  or Campeachy  wood.
  This  wrood is brought  chiefly
from Campeachy in the bay of Hon-
duras.   It is  ufually in  large logs,
very compact  and hard, of a red co-
lour, and an  aftringent fweet tafte.
It has been for a long  time ufed by
 the dyers, but not till very lately as
a medicine;  a decoction of it, and
the extract arc in ufe in  our  hofpi-
tals, and faid  fo have proved very
Serviceable in  diarrhoea. It frequent- 
Part II.            Materia

ly tinges the ftools,  and fometimes
the urine.   The extract is now re-
ceived into the fhops;  and  it is
found to be  a very ufeful aftrin-
gent.

  LIGNUM RHODIUM [Rofs.]
  Genifta  canarienfis Lin.
  Rofewood.
  This wood  or  root is chiefly
brought to  ns from  the  Canary
iflands. The writers on botany and
the materia medica  are much  divi-
ded about  the lignum rhodium, not
only with  regard to the plant which
affords it,  but likewiSe in their aG-
counts of  the drug itfelf,  and  have
defcribed, under this name, fimple s
manifeftly different. This con fufion
feems to have arifen from an opinion
that the rhodium and afpalathus (an
article of confiderable efteem among
the  ancients, but with regard to
which the moderns  are very much
at a lofs) are the fame ; whence dif-
ferent woods brought into Europe
for  the unknown  afpalathus  were
fold again by the name of rhodium.
  In thofe modern pharmacopoeias
which admit the lignum rhodium,
different Linnscan names are at pre-
fent given to it: Thus the authors
of the DifpcnSatorium BrunSvicenne
SuppoSe it  to be the rhodiola roSa of
Linnseus; and they may perhaps be
as near the truth as the authors of
the Pharmacopoeia Roflica.
  As  to  afpalathus, the   ancients
themfelvcs difagree ;   DioScoric'es
meaning  by  this  appellation the
wood of a  certain fhrub freed  from
the bark,  and Galen the bark of a
root.  At  prefent we have nothing
under this name in the fhops. What
was heretofore fold among ns as af-
palathus, were pieces of a pale co-
loured wood brought from  the Eaft-
Indies, and more commonly called
calambour.
  The afpalathus,  calambour, and
Medica.                  22 r

lignum aquilae are fuppofed to be
woods of the nature of agalloehum7
or lignum aloes, but weaker in qua-
lity.
  The lignum rhodium of the fhops
is ufally in long crooked pieces,full
of knots, which when cut appear of
a yellow colour like box, withared-
difh caft :  the largeft,  fmootheft,
moft compact, and deepeft coloured
pieces, fhould be chofen ; and the
fmall, thin, or pale ones rejected.
The tafte of this wood is lightly bit-
terifli, and  Somewhat pungent; its
Smell very Sragrant, refembling that
of roSes : long kept, it Seems to lofe
its Smell ; but on cutting or rubbing
one piece againft the other, it fmells
as well as at firft.  Diftilled  with
water, it yields an odoriferous eflen-
tial oil, in very fmall quantity. Rho-
dium is at prefent i:i efteem only up-
on account of  its oil, which is em-
ployed as an high and agreeable per-
fume in Scenting pomatums and the
like.   But if we may reaSon Srom
analogy,  this  odoriferous fimple
might be advantageoufly applied to
more ufeful  purpofes ; tindure of
it in rectified Spirit of v. ine, which
contains in fmall volume the virtue
of a confiderable deal of the wood,
bids Sair to prove a Serviceable cor-
dial,  not  inferior  perhaps  to any
thing oS this kind.

   LIGUSTICUM, vide  Levis-
TICUM.

   LILIUM ALBUM  [Ed.]  Ra-
dix.
   Lilium candidum Li::.
   White  lilly; the root.
   This is  cultivated in gardens,
more for the beauty of i's flowers
than medicinal life. The mucilagi-
nous root is ufed by fome in form of
poultice ;  but  it poffeffes no advan-
tage over the poultices forced tf
vegetable farina:.
                             LIr 
222                  Materia  Medica.             Part  II.
   LILIUM    CONVALLIUM
 [Suec] Ftores.
   Convallaria maialis Lin.
   Lilly of the valley,or May lilly ;
 the flowers.
   This plant grows wild in great a-
 bundance in woods and fhady  places,
 flowering in May. The flowers are
 faid to be  cephalic  and  nervine.
 They have a pleafant fweet fmell,
 which they impart by  infufion  to
 expreffed oils, and give over in di-
 ftillation  both to water and  fpirit;
 but no effential oil has been hitherto
 obtained from them^Etmullerfays,
 that the diftilled Spirit is more Sra-
 grant than the water. The roots of
 the wild lilly are very bitter: when
 dried they are faid to prove a gentle
 errhine ;  as are alfo the flowers

   LIMON  [Lond. Ed.] Succus,
 sort ex exterior, et oleumvulgo effien-
 tia ditlum.
   Citrus medica Lin.
   Lemon ;  the juice, outer rind,
 and its oil or effence.
   The juice of lemons is fimilar in
 quality  to  that of  oranges,  from
 which it differs little otherwife than
 in being more acid.   The yellow
 peel is an elegant aromatic, and is
 frequently employed  in ftomachic
 tinctures and infufions : it is confi-
 derably lefs hot than orange-peel,
 and yields in diftillation with water
 a lefs quantity of effential oil : its
 flivour is nevcrthelefs more perish-
 able,  yet  does not ariSe So readily
 with Spirit of wine ; for a Spirituous
 extract made Srom lemon peel poS-
 feflss the  aromatic tafte and fmell
 of the Subject in much greater per-
 fection than an extract prepared
 in the fame  manner from the petls
 of oranges. In the fliops, a fyrup is
 prepared from thejuice,and the peel
iscandied; the peel is an ingredient
in the bitter infufions and wines;
the effential oil enters  the volatile
aromatic fpirit, or  fpiritns amoni*
 compofitus, as it is now called, and
 Some other formulae.

   LINARIA [Suec] Folia.
   Antirrhinum linare Lin.
   Toad-flax ; the leaves.
   This grows wild upon banks and
 about the fides of fields.  It is faid
 by fome to be a powerful diuretic,
 whence it is named by Txagusherba
 urinalis;  by others, to be a ftrong
 cathartic, infomuch  that  Brunfel-
 fius has called it by a German name
 exprefling this quality fcheifskraut.
 Experience Scarcely warrants ei-
 ther oS theSe appellations ; nor does
 common practice  take  any notice
 of the plant.

   LINGUA CERVINA  [Brun.]
   Afplenium fcolopendrium Lin.
   Harts-tongue: the leaves.
   This plant confifts of a number of
 long  narrow leaves, without  any
 ftalk : it grows upon rocks and old
 walls, and remains green all the
 year. The leaves have  a roughiih,
 fomewhat mucilaginous  tafte,  like
 that of the maidenhair, but more
 difagreeable.They are recommend-
 ed in  obflructions  of  the vifcera,
 and for ftrengthening  their tone ;
 and have fometimes been made ufe
 of for thefe intentions, either alone,
 or in conjunction with maidenhair,
 or the other plants called capillary.

   LINUM CATHARTICUM
 [Rofs.] Herba.
 Linum catharticum Lin.
   Purging flax ; the leaves.
   This is a very fmall plant, not a-
 bove four or five inches high, found
 wild upon chalky hills and in dry
pafture-grounds.  Its virtue is ex-
preffed in its title :  an infufion in
water or whey of a handful of the
freIh leaves, or a dram  of them in
fubftance  when  dried,  are faid to
purge without inconvenience. 
Pari If.             Materia

  LINUM   SATIVUM  [Lond.
Ed.]  Semen.
  Linum ufitatiffimum Lin.
  Linfeed.
  Linfeed yields to the prefs a con-
siderable quantity oS oil; and boiled
in water, a ftrong mucilage: thefe
are occafionally made ufe of for the
fame purpofes as otherfubftances of
that clafs; and  fometimes thefeeds
themfelves in emollient and matura-
ting cataplaSms.   They  have alSo
been employed in Afia,and,in times
of Scarcity, in Europe, as food ; but
are not  agreeable, or in general
wholeSome.   Tragus  relates, that
thoSe who Sed on theSe in Zealand,
had the hypochondres much diflend-
ed, and  the  face and  other parts
Swelled, in a very  fhort time ; and
that not a Sew died  oS theSe com-
plaints.  The  expreffed oil  is an
officinal preparation.

   LIQJJIDAMBRA [Brun.]
 Refitia.
   Liquidambra fiyracifiua Lin.
   Liquidamber.
   This is a  refinous juice  which
flows Srom a large tree growing in
Viginia, Mexico, and other provin-
ces of America.   This juice is at
firft about the confiftence  of turpen-
tine, but by long-keeping hardens
into a relin : it  is oS a yellow colour
inclining to red, a warm  tafte, and
a Sragrant Smell, not unlike  that oS
ftorax heightened with a little am-
bergris.  It  was Sormerly oS great
uSe as a perfume, but is at prefent  a
ftranger to the  fhops.

   LITHARGYRUS  [Ed.]
   Litharge.
   This is a preparation of lead,
ufually in form of foft flakes, of  a
yellowiflircddilh colour. If calcined
lead be urged with a haity fire,  it
melts into the appearance of oil, and
on  cooling concretes into litharge.
Greateft part of the litharge met
Medica.                  223

 with in the fhops, is produced in
 the purification of filver from lead,
 and the refining of gold and filver
 by means of this metal : according
 to the degree of fire and other cir-
 cumftances, it proves of a pale or
 deep  colour ;  the firft has  been
 commonly called litharge of filver,
 the other litharge of gold.

   LITHOSPERMUM   [Brun.]
 Semen.
   Lithofpermum officinale Lin.
   Gromwell; the feed.
   This is  found wild in dry fields-
 and hedges. Its feeds are roundifh,
 hard, of a  whitifh  colour, like little
 pearls; and from thefe circumftan-
 ces  have  been fuppofed peculiarly
 Serviceable in calculous disorders.
 Their tafte is merely  Sarinaceous.

   LOSELIA [Ed.]  Radix.
  iLcbeiia fiphilitica Lin.
   Lobelia ;  the root.
   This plant  throws in moift places
 in Virginia, and bears our winters.
 It  is  perennial,  has  an erect  ftalk
 three or four feet high, blue flow-
 ers, a milky juice, and a rank fmell.
 The root confifts of white fibres a-
 bout two inches long, refembles to-
 bacco in tafte, which remains on the
 tongue, and is apt to  excite vomit-
 ing.   It is ufed by   the North A-
 mcrican Indians as a  fpecific in the
 venereal difeafe.   The form is that
 of decoction ; the dofe  of which is
 ordered to be gradually increafed
 till  it bring  on very confiderable
 purging, then to be intermitted for
 a little,  and again ufed in a more
 moderate  degree  till the cure be
 completed.   The ulcers arc  alfo
 wafhed with the decoction, and the
 Indians  are faid to Sprinkle  them
 with the powder of the inner  bark
 of thefpruce tree. The fame Strict -
 nefsof regimen is ordered as during
 a  Salivation or mercurial courfe.
 The benefit lobe derived  Srom this
                           article 
 224                 Materia

 article has not, as Sar as we know,
 been confirmed either in Britain or
 by the practitioners in Virginia :
 for there, as well as in this country,
 recourSe is almoft univerSally had to
 the uSe of mercury; and it is pro-
 bably  from this  reafon  that   the
 London college  have not  received
 it into their lilt.   It however feems
 to be be an article  which, in fome
 cafes at leaft, deferves a trial.

   LUJULA  [Lond.] Folium.
   Oxalis acetofella Lin.
   Wood forrel ; the leaves.
   This is  a fmall plant,  growing
 wild in woods.  In tafte and  medi-
 cal qualities,  it  is fimilar to the
 common Sorrel,  but  confiderably
 more grateSul, and hence is prefer-
 red by the London college. Boiled
 with  milk, it forms an agreeable
 whey ;  and beaten with fugar, a
 very  elegant conferve, which has
 been for fome time kept in the fhops
 andnotutifrequently employed.

   LUPINUS   [Brun.] '  Sr,n:?i.
   Lupinus albus Lin.
   White lupines ;  the feeds.
   Thefe have  a  leguminous tafte,
 accompanied  with  a  difagreeable
 bitter one. They are faid to be an-
 thelmintic, both  internally  taken
 and applied externally. Cafpar Hoff-
 man cautions againft their  external
 ufe, and tells us(from one of the  A-
 rabian writers) that they have fome-
 times occafioned  death.   Simon
 Pauli alSo Says, t':.at he Saw a boy
of eight or  ten  years of age,  after
 taking a dram of thefe Seeds  in-
 powder, Seized with exquifite pains
of the abdomen, a difficulty of re-
 spiration, and  almoft total loSs  of
voice ; and  that  he was  relieved
from  thefe complaints by a glyfter
of milk and Su^ar,  which brought
away a viit quantity of worms. But
 Mr Geoffroy obServes, vrry juflly,
th"t either  thefe fymptoms were
Medica.             Part If,

owing to the worms, and not to the
medicine ; or that thefe feeds,  if
they have any noxious quality, lofe
it, with their bitternefs, in boiling;
fince they were commonly kufed a-
mong the Greeks as food, and re-
commended by Galen as very wholc-
fome.

  LUPULUS [Suec] Strobuli.
  Humulus lupulus Lin.
  Hops ; the leafy heads.
  Thefe are one of the moft agree-
able of the ftrong  bitters, though
rarely employed  for any medicinal
purpofes.    Their  principal  con-
Sumption is in malt liquors, which
they render lefs glutinous, and dif-
pofe to  pafs off  more freely by u-
rine.
  The odourof hops hung in a bed
has been faid to induce fleep  after
opium had failed.
  Hops contain a very confiderable
proportion of effential oil; and in
the mannerin which they are com-
monly  ufed  in brewing, this  has
been hitherto almoft entirely  loft:
but of late a propofalhas been made
for prefervingit as it arifes, and re-
ftoring  it to  the  brewed liquor,  a
difcovery well meriting the public
attention.

  LYCOPERDON  [Brun.]
Lycoperdon bovifta Lin.
  Puff ball, or dufty mufhroom.
  This  fungus is found in dry pa-
fttire grounds. It Seems to be nearly
of the fame quality with the agaric
of the oak ;  and  has, like it,  been
employed  Sar reftraining external
haemorrhagies and other  fluxion?.
The fine duft, with which it  be-
comes filled by ag", has been appli-
ed alSo with the Same intentions.

  MACIS [Suec] Involucrum uu-
cis mofchat.:.
  Myriftica mofchata Lin.
  Mace.
                           T\Lce 
Part. II.             Materia

  Mace is one of the coverings of
the nutmeg.  This Spice, confidered
as the Subject both of medicine and
of pharmacy, agrees nearly with the
nutmeg.   The principal difference
is,  that mace is fomewhat  lefs a-
ftringent,  yields to the prefs a more
fluid oil,  and in diftillation a more
volatile one : what is called in the
fhops expreffed oil of mace,  is pre-
pared not  from  this fpice, but from
the nutmeg. Mace was formely an
ingredient in   the officinal  fteel-
wine; and the  expreffed oil is ftill
an ingredient in the ftomachic and
cephalic  plafters, which are now
more properly  ftyled the Empla-
ftrum Ladani, and Emplaftrum pi-
cis Burgundies.

  MAJOR AN A   [Lond.  Ed.]
Herba.
  Origanum majorana Lin.
  Sweet marjoram ; the leaves.
   Marjoram is raiSed annually in
our gardens for culinary as well as
medicinal ufes;  the  feeds are com-
monly procured from the Southern
parts of  France,  where  the  plant
grows wild.   It is  a  moderately
warm aromatic, yielding its virtues
both  to aqueous and fpirituous li-
quors by infufion, and to water in
diftillation.  It is principally cele-
brated in  diforders of the head and
nerves, and in  the humoural  afth-
mas and catarrhs of old people. An
eflential oil of  the herb is kept in
the fliops.  The powder  of the
leaves proves an agreeable errhine,
and enters the officinal fternutatory
powder.

  MALABATHRUM  [Brun.]
Folium.
  Indian  leaf.
  This leaf is  of a  green  colour,
firm texture, very fmooth  on one
fide, leSs So on the other, on which
run three remarkable ribs through
its whole length.  It is conjectured
to be  the leaf a tree  which is a
Medica.                  225

variety of the laurus cinnamomum
of Linnaeus.  Lemery and  Pomet
affirm, that thefe leaves have no per-
ceptible fmell or tafte; Herman and
others,  that they have a very great
fliare of both : thofe met with in our
fhops have little or no fmell till they
are well rubbed, when they emit ail
agreeable fpicy odour:  on chewing,
they are found extremely mucilagi-
nous.   This drug was formerly ufed
in medicine as an ingredient in the
mithridate and theriaca:  It is,
even when in itsgreateft perfection,
much inferior to the mace,  which
has been direded as a fuccedaneum
to it.

   MALVA [Lond. Ed.] Folium,
fios.
   Malva fylveftris Lin.
   Mallow ; the leaf and flower.
   Thefe have a fomewhat mucila-
ginous fweetifh  tafte.  The leaves
are ranked the  firft of the  four e-
mollient herbs:  they were formerly
of fome efteem, in  food, for loofen-
ing the belly; at prefent, decoctions
of them are fometimes employed in
dyfenteries, heat,  and flurpnefs of
urine, and in  general for obtunding
acrimonious humours : their princi-
pal ufe is in emollient glyfters, cata-
plafms,   and  fomentations.    The
leaves enter  the officinal decoction
for glyfters,  and  a conferve was
formerly prepared from the flowers.

   MANDRAGORA  [Suec] Ra-
dix.
   Atropa mandragora Lin.
   Mandrake; the  root.
   The  qualities of this  plant are
very doubtful:  it has a ftrong difa-
greeable Smell, reSembling  that of
the narcotic herbs, to which claSs it
is uSually reSerred; and it belongs
indeed  to the fame genus even with
the deadly nightfhade. It has rare-
ly been any otherwiSe made uSe of
in medicine thanasaningredientin
one of the old  officinal unguents.
Both that compofition and the plant
               P            itfelf 
 226                  Materia

 itfelf are now rejected  from  our
 pharmacopoeias ; but it ftill retains
 a place in moft of the foreign ones,
 and may perhaps  be confidered as
 deferving farther attention.

   MANNA [Lond. Ed.] Succus
 concretus.
   Fraxinus omits Lin.
   Manna.
   Manna is the juice of certain trees
 of  the alh kind, growing in Italy
 and Sicily.   When naturally con-
 creted on the plants and fcraped  off,
 it is called manna in the tear ;  but
 if allowed to exude  on  ftraws or
 chips of wood fattened to the tree,
 it is called cannlated or flaky manna.
 The common, or fat manna, is  got
 by  incifions  made  after the iponta-
 neous exudation is over,  and  is in
 larger maffes and of a redder colour.
 The beft Calabrian manna is in  ob-
 long, light, friable pieces or flakes,
 of a whitifh or pale yellow colour,
 and Somewhat tranfparent.  The
 inferior kinds are moift, unctuous,
 and dark coloured.  Manna is Said
 to be Sometimes counterSeited by a
 compofition  of fugar  and honey,
 mixed with alittleScammony:  there
 is alSo a factitious manna, which is
 white and dry, faid to be compofed
 of fugar,  manna,  and fome purga-
 tive ingredient,  boiled to a proper
 confiftence ;  this  may  be diftin-
 guifhed by its weight, Solidity, nn-
 tranSparent  whiteneSs, and by  its
 talte, which is different from that
 of manna.
  Manna is a mild, agreeable laxa-
 tive, and may be given with fafety
 to children and pregnant women :
 nevertheless in Some particular con-
 stitutions, it acts  very unkindly,
 producing flatulenciesand diftention
of the vifcera; thefe inconveniences
 may be prevented by the addition
of  any grateful  warm  aromatic.
Manna operates So weakly as not
to produce the full effect of a ca-
thartic, unlefs taken in large dofes j
Medica.             Part II.

and hence it is rarely given with this
intention by itfelf.  It may be com-
modioufly diflblved in the purging
mineral waters, or joined to the ca-
thartic falts, fena, rhubarb,  or th«
like.   Geoffroy recommends acua-
ting it with a few grains of emetic
tartar: the mixture is to be divided
into feveral  dofes, each containing
one grain of the  emetic tartar: by
this management, he fays, bilious
ferum will be plentifully evacuated,
without any naufea, gripes, orother
inconvenience.   It is remarkable,
that the efficacy of  this drug is
greatly promoted (if the account
of Vallifhieri is to be relied on) by
a fubftance which is itfelf very  flow
of operation, caflia.   And for this
reafon manna is an ingredient in the
electuary of caflia.

   MARRUBIUM [Lond. Ed.]
Herba.
   Marrubium vulgare Lin.
   White horehound ; the leaves.
   Thefe have a very ftrong, not dif-
agreeable Smell, and arougbifhvery
bitter tafte.  Befides  the virtues
which they poffefs in common with
other ftrong bitters,  they are fup-
pofed to be peculiarly ferviceable in
humoural afthmas and coughs, the
yellow jaundice proceeding from a
vifcidity of the bile, and other chro-
nical diforders.  They are doubtlefs
an ufeful aperient and deobftruent,
they promote the fluid Secretions in
general,  and liberally taken looSen
the belly.

   MARUM SYRIACUM [Lond.]
Herba.
   Teucrium t/tarum Lin.
   Syrian herb maftich.
   This is a  Small fhrubby plant,
growing  Spontaneoufly  in Syria,
Candy, and other warm climates,
and cultivated with us in gardens.
The leaves have an aromatic bitter-
ifh tafte ; and when rubbed betwixt
the fingers, a quick pungent fmell,
                          which 
 Part II.              Matern

 which  Soon affects the head,  and
 occafions Sneezing : diftilled  with
 water,  they yield a very acrid, pe-
 netrating eflential  oil,  refembling
 one obtained by the Same means from
 fcurvy-grafs.  TheSe qualities Suf-
 ficiently point out the ufes to which
 this  plant might  be  applied ; at
 prefent  it is  little otherwiSe em-
 ployed  than in cephalic Snuffs.  It
 is- an ingredient in the pulvis fter-
 nutatoriusof the London pharmaco-
 poeia, or pulvis afari cetnpofitus.

   MARS SACCHARATUS [£</.]
   Steel comfits.
   This article is chiefly made by
 the confectioner; and, though little
 ufed, has got  a place,  as being oc-
 cafionally convenient on account of
 its Sweet tafte; and it is Sometimes
 ufed with advantage where  ehaly-
 beates are indicated.
   A  Solution of  two parts of fine
 fugar in water  boiled  to a candy
 confidence, is gradually added te
 one part of purified iron filings, in
 a veffel hung over a very gentle
 fire, and conftantly fhaken, that the
 filings  may be crufted over with
 the fugar.  Starch is previously ad-
 ded, in  the proportion of a dram to
 a pound, to prevent the comfit from
 running into lumps.

   MASTICHE [Lon.Ed.] Refina.
   Piftacia lentifcus Lift.
   Gum  maftich.
   Maftich  is a refinous  Snbftance
 brought  from Chio, in fmall, yel-
 lowifh,  tranfparent grains or tears,
 of an agreeable  fmell,  efpecially
 when heated or fet on fire. This re-
 fin is  recommended in old coughs,
 dyfenteries, haemoptoes, wcakneSs
 oS the ftomach, and in general in
 all debilities and laxity of the fibres.
Geoffroy directs  an aqueous decoc-
 tion of it to be ufed for thefe pur-
pofes : but water extracts little or
nothing  from  this refin ; rectified
i  Medica.                 227

 Spirit almoft entirelydtffolvesit: the
 folution taftes very warm and pun-
 gent ;  it is not however the bafis
 of any  fixed formula  in our phar-
 macopoeias, and is at prefent but
 little employed.

   MATRICARIA [Suec]  Herba.
   Matricaria parthemum Lin.
   Common wild featherfew ;  the
 leaves.
   This plant was at one time much
 celebrated as an antihyfteric medi-
 cine ; but it is now So little employ-
 ed in Britain,  that it  has no place
 in our pharmacopoeias.
   Simon Pauli relates, that  he has
 experienced moft happy effects from
 it in obftructions of the uterine e-
 vacuations : I have often feen, fays
 he, from the ufe of a decoction of
 matricaria and chamomile flowers
 with a little mugwort, hyfteric com-
 plaints  inftantly  relieved, the dif-
 charge fuccced plentifully, and the
 patient, from a lethargic ftate,  re-
 turn as it wire into life again. Ma-
 tricaria is likewife recommended ia
 fundry  other diforders, as a warm
 ftimulating  bitter:  all that  bitters
 and carminatives can do, SiysGeof-
 froy,  may be  expected from this.
 It is undoubtedly a medicine of Some
ufe in thefe caSes, though  not per-
haps equal to chamomile flowers a-
lone,  with which the  matricaria a-
grees in SenSible qualities, except-
ing in being weaker.

   MECHOACANNA, [Brun.]
Radix.
   Convolvulus mechoacanna Lin.
   Mechoacan ; the root.
   This is the root of an American
convolvulus brought Srom Mechoa-
can, a province of Mexico, in thin
flices  like jalap,  but larger, and of
a whitifh colour.  It was firft intro-
duced  into Europe  about the year
1524,as a purgative univerSally Safe,
and capable of evacuating all mor-
               P a          bifie 
228                  Materia

bific humours from the moft remote
parts of the body :  but as foon as
jalap became  known,  Mechoacan
gradually loft its reputation, which
it has never fince been able to re-
trieve.   It is nevertheless by Some
ftill  deemed an ufeful cathartic ;  it
has very little fmell or tafte, and is
not apt  to offend the ftomach ; its
operation is flow, but effectual and
fafe. Geoffroy  affirms, that there
is fcarce any purgative accompanied
with fewer inconveniences.    It
feems to differ from jalap only in
bein"- weaker ;  the refins obtained
from both  have nearly  the  fame
qualities, but jalap yields five or fix
times as much as Mechoacan; hence
it is  found  neceffary to exhibit the
latter in fix times the dofe of the
former, to produce the fame effects.

   MEL [Lond.]
   Honey.
   Honey is a vegetable juice, ob-
tained from the honey comb, either
by feparating the combs, and laying
them flat upon a fieve,through which
the  honey Spontaneoufly percolates;
or by including the comb in canvas
bags, and Sorcing the honey out by
a prefs  : the firft Sort is the pureft ;
the latter is found to contain a good
deal of the matter  of which the
comb is formed, and fundry other
impurities : there  is another fort
ftill  inSerior to the two foregoing,
obtained by heating the combs be-
Sore  they  are put into  the prefs.
The beft fort is thick, of a whitifh
colour,an agreeable fmell,and avery
pleafant talte : both the colour and
flavour  differ according to the plants
from which the bees collect it :  that
of Narbonne in France, where rofe-
mary abounds, is faid to have avery
manifeft flavour of that plant, and
to be imitable by  adding to other
honey an infufion of rofemary flow-
ers.   Honey, confidered as a medi-
cine, is a \t,ry uSeSul detergent and
Medica.             Part II.

aperient, powerfully promoting the
expectoration of tough phlegm :  in
fome particular conftitutions it has
an inconvenience of griping or pro-
ving purgative ; this is Said to be in
Some meaSure prevented,  by previ-
ously boiling the honey: This, how-
ever, with all conftitutions, isby no
means effectual ; and the circum-
ftance mentioned has  had So much
weight with the Edinburgh college,
that they do not now employ it in
any preparation, and have entirely
rejected the mella medicata,  Subfti-
tuting  Syrups in their place : but
there can be no doubt that honey is
very uSeSul in giving form to diffe-
rent articles, although there be fome
individuals with whom it  may difa.
gree. In order, however, to  obtain
the good effects of the honey itfelf,
it muft be ufed to a confiderable ex-
tent, and as an article of diet.

  MELAMPODIUM [Ed.] vide
Helleborus Niger.
  MELILOTUS  [Suec]  Floret,
herba.
  Trifolium melilotus officinalis Lin.
  Melilot ; the leaves and flowers.
  This plant grows wild  in hedges
and among corn ; and has likewife,
for medicinal ufes, been  cultivated
in gardens.  The green berbhas  no
remarkable fmell ;  when  dry, a
pretty  ftrong  one ;  the tafte is
roughifh, bitter, and, if long chew-
ed, naufeous.   A decoction of this
herb has been recommended in in-
flammations of the abdomen ; -and
a decoction  of the  flowers  in the
fluor albus.   But modern practice
rarely employs it any otherwife than
in emollient and carminative glyf-
ters,  and in fomentations,  catap-
lafms, and  the like ; and even in
thefe not often. It formerly gave
name to one of the officinal plaflers,
which received from the melilot a
green colour, but no particular vir-
tue.
                            ME- 
Part II.
Materia  Medica.
229
  MELISSA [Lond. Ed.] Folia.
  Melijfa officinalis Lin.
  Balm; the herb.
  This plant, when in perfection,
has a pleafant  fmell, fomewhat of
the lemon kind; and a weak rough*
ifh aromatic tafte.  The young flioots
have the ftrongeft flavour; the flow-
ers, and the herb itfelf when old,or
produced in very moift rich foils or
rainy feafons,  are  much weaker
both in fmell and tafte. Balm is ap-
propriated by the writers on the
Materia  Medica,  to the head,  fto-
mach, and uterus;  and in all dif-
orders of thefe parts is fuppofed to
do extraordinary  Service.  So high
an opinion have  fome of  the che-
mifts entertained of balm, that they
have expected to  find in it a medi-
cine which  fhould prolong life be-
yond the ufual period. The prefent
practice however holds it in no great
efteem, and ranks it, where it  cer-
tainly deferves to  be, among the
weaker corroborants: in diftillation
it yields an elegant effential oil, but
in very fmall quantity; the remain-
ing decoction taftesroughifh. Strong
infufions of the herb,  drank as tea,
and continued for fome time, have
done fervice  in a  weak lax ftate of
the vifcera :  thefe liquors,  lightly
acidulated with juice of lemons, turn
of a fine  reddifh colour, and prove
an  ufeful, and   to many  a very
grateful drink, in dry parching fe-
vers.

  MELO [Gen.] Semina.
  Cucumis melo Lin.
  Melon : the feeds.
  Thefe ftand among the four great-
er cold feeds.  They have  been
fometimes ufed, with the others of
that clafs, as cooling and emollient;
but are at prefent little taken notice
of.

  MENTHA   PIPERITIS
[Lond Ed.]  Herba.
   pilcn.'ha piperita Liu.
  Peppermint; the leaves.
  This fpecies of mint grows wild
in fome parts of England, in moift
watery  places, but is much lefs
common than the other forts. The
leaves have amore penetrating fmell
than any of  the other mints, and a
much warmer,  pungent, glowing
tafte like pepper, finking as it were
into the  tongue.  The principal ufe
of this  herb is  in flatulent colics,
languors,  and other fimilar disor-
ders ; it Seems to act as Soon as ta-
ken, and extend its effects through
the whole Syftem, inftantly commu-
nicating a glowing warmth.  Water
extracts the whole of the pungency
of  this  herb by infufion, and ele-
vates it in diftillation.  Its officinal
preparations are an effential  oil, a
fimple water, and a fpirit.

  MENTHA. SATIVA  [Loud.
Ed]. Herba.
  Mentha fpicata. Hudf. Lond.
  Mentha viridis Lin.   Ed.
  Garden or fpear mint; the leaves.
  The leaves of this  mint have a
warm roughifii, fomewhat bitterifh
tafte; and a ftrong, not unpleafant,
aromatic fmell.  Their virtues are
thofe of a warm ftomachic and car-
minative : in lofsof appetite, naufea,
continual  retching to vomit, and,
as  Boerhaave expreffes ir,  almoft
paralytic weaknefl'es of the ftomach,
there are few fnnples perhaps of e-
qual efficacy.   In colic pains,  the
gripes to which children are fubject,
lienteries, and other kinds of im-
moderate fluxes,this plant frequent-
ly does  good fervice.  It likewife
proves beneficial in byfteric cafes,
and affords an ufeful cordial in lan-
guors and other  weakneffes  conse-
quent upon delivery.
  The  beft  preparations Sor theSe
purpoSes are, a ftrong infufion made
from the dry leaves in water (which
is  much  fuperior to  one from  the
green herb), or rathera tincture or
extract  prepared  with rectified Spi-
              P q            rit. 
230                 Materia

rit.  TheSe poffefs the whole vir-
tues of the mint:  the effential oil
and diftilled water contain only the
aromatic part; the expreffed juice
only the aftringency  and bitterifh-
WeSs, together with the mucilagi-
nous fubftance common to all vege-
tables.  The eflential oil, a Simple
water, a Spirit, and a conServe, are
kept in the fhops.

   MENYANTHES, vide Tri-
FOLIUM.

   MERCURIALIS  [Gen.] Her-
ba.
   Mercurialis annua Lin.
   Herb mercury ; the leaves.
   TheSe fiand among the five emol-
lient herbs ; and with this intention
are Sometimes made ufe of  in gly-
fters.  A  fyrup  made  from  the
leayes,  given in  the dofe of  two
ounces, is faid to prove a mild and
ufeful laxative.
   There is another fort of mercu-
rialis growing in woods and hedges,
which, though  recommended by
fome botantic writers as having the
fame virtues with the foregoing,aad
as being more palatable,  has been
found poffeffed of noxious qualities.
This.may be  diftinguifhed from the
foregoing, by its being a perennial
plant, Mercurialis perennis Lin. by
being larger,having its leaves rough
and the ftalks not at  all branched ;
it is commonly called dog's mercury.

   MERCURIUS, vide Hydrar-
 gyria.

   MESPILA. Frufius mefpili  vul-
garis J. B.
   Mefpili Germanici Lin.
   The medlar tree ;  its fruit.
   Medlars are fcarce ever made
uSe  of for  any medicinal purpo-
fes.  They have a very auftere a-
ftringent  tafte, infomuch as not to
be eatable until mellowed by keep-
ing,
Medica.             Part II.

   MEUM [Bruit.] Radix.
   JEthufa meum Lin.
   Spignel; the root.
   Spignel is an umbelliferous plant,
found wild in Italy and the warmer
parts of Europe, and Sometimes al-
fo in England.  The roots have a
pleafant aromatic fmell, and a warm
pungent  bitterifh  tafle:  in  virtue
they are fimilar to the levifticom,
from which this root Seems to differ
only in being weaker and fomewhat
more agreeable. It is an ufeful aro-
matic and carminative, though, at
prefent So little regarded as to have
no place in our pharmacopoeias.

   MEZEREUM [Lond. Ed.]
Cortex radicis.
   Daphne mezereum  Lin.
   Mezeron,  or Spurge olive ;  the
bark of the root.
   Mezereon, although an article ef
great activity, has only of Jatehad
a place in our pharmacopoeias.  It
is  a native of different parts  of
Europe; it has elegant  pale pur-
plifh or  white flowers, fometimes
appearing  about the end of Janu-
ary. The root was long ufed in the
Lifbon diet-drink,for venereal com-
plaints particularly nodes and other
fymptoms refifting the ufe of mer-
cury;  but with the compofition of
this article we were unacquainted,
till an account of it was publifhedin
the Edinburgh Phyfical Effays, by
 Dr Donald Monro of London.
   On chewing it a little, it proves
 very pungent, and its acrimony is
accumulated about the fauces, and
 is very  durable.  It is  employed
chiefly under the form of decoction;
 and it enters the decoction farfapa-
rillac  cotnpofitum of the London
 college ; but it has alfo been ufed in
 powder combined with fome inaftivc
 one, as that of liquorice root.  It is
 apt to occafion vomiting  and purg-
 ing; Somuftbebeguningrain-dofes
 and gradually increafed.  It is often
 gfefully  combined  with mercury.
                            The 
?art  II.            Materia.

The bark of the root contains moft
acrimony, though fome prefer the
woody part.  Mezereon has  alfo
been ufed with good effeds  in tu-
mours and cutaneous eruptions not
venereal.

  MILLEFOLIUM  [Ed.] Folia.
fores.
  Achillea millefolium Lin.
  Milfoil ;  the leaves and flowers.
  This grows plentifully about the
fides of fields, and on dry commons,
flowering greateft part of the Sum-
mer.  The leaves have a rough bit-
terifh tafte, and  a Saint aromatic
Smell.  Their virtues are thoSe oS a
very mild aftringent;  and as fuch
they ftand recommended in haemor-
rhagies both internal and external,
in diarrhoeas, debility, and laxity of
the fibres, and likewife infpafmodic
and hyfterical affections.  In thefe
cafes, fome of the Germans have a
very high opinion of this herb, par-
ticularly Stahl, who efteemed it a
very effectual aftringent, and one of
the moft certain tonics and Sedatives.
Its  virtues are extracted in great
perfedtion by proof fpirit;  water
takes up its  aftringency and bitter-
nefs,  but little  of its aromatic fla-
vour ;  tinctures made  in  rectified
fpirit  contain both, though  they
be  rather weaker  than  thofe in
proof fpirit.
  The flowers of milfoil  are confi-
derably ftronger in aromatic flavour
than theleaves; in diftillation,they
yield a  fmall quantity  of eflential
oil, of an elegant blue colour.
  The roots, taken up in the fpring,
have an agreeable, warm, pungent
tafte.   Dr Grew refembles them to
contrayerva, and   imagines  they
might  in fome  degree fupply its
place : this,  however, is much to be
doubted, fince  there is fuch a re-
maikable difference between the
two, that whilft one retains its  tafte
for a length  of time after it has been
brought  to ns from America, the
Medica.                   231

tafte of the other is almoft loft  by
drying.

   MILLEPEDA  [Lond.  Ed.]
   Onifcus ajfellus Lin.
   Slaters.
   Thefe infects are found in cellars,
under ftones, and  in  cold  moift
places: in the warmer countries they
arc rarely  met with.  Millepedes
have a faint difagreeable fmell, and
fomewhat  pungent,  fweetifh, nau-
feous tafte.  They have been highly
celebrated in fuppreflions of urine,
in all kinds  of obftructions of the
bowels, in the jaundice, weaknefs
of fight, and a variety of other dif-
orders. Whether they have any juft
title to thefe virtues, is greatly to be
doubted : thus much is certain, that
their real effects come  far fhort of
the character ufually given of them.
Their officinal preparations are,the
millepedes dried and powdered, and
a vinous infufion, which is by fome
held in  high  efteem  in cafes of
hooping cough.

   MINIUM  [Lond.]  Red  lead ;
lead calcined to rednefs.   See  the
article Plumbum.

   MORSUS  DIABOLI [Brun.]
Radix, folia.
   Scabiofa fucciffa Lin.
   Devil's bit; the leaves and roots.
   Thefe ftand recommended as a-
lexipharmacs, but they have long
given place to medicines of greater
efficacy.

   MORUM  [Loud.] Fruclus.
   Morus nigra Lin.
   Mulberry ; the fruit.
   This tree is commonly cultivated
on account of its fruit, which is ra-
ther eaten for pleafure than ufed as
a  medicine ; it has" the  common
qualities of the other fweet  fruits,
abating heat, quenching thirft, and
promoting the groffer fecretions; an
agreeable fyrup made from the juice
               P  4             is 
232                  Materia

is  kept in the fhops*   The  bark
of the roots has been in confider-
able efteem as a vermifuge; its tafte
is bitter, and fomewhat aftringent.

  MOSCHUS [Lond.  Ed.]
  Mofchus mofchiferus Lin.
  Mufk.
  Mufk is a grumous Subftance like
clotted blood,  found in a little bag,
Situated near the umbilical region of
a particular  kind  of animal met
with  in  China, Tartary, and the
Eaft-Indies :  the  belt  mufk  is
brought from  Tonquin,  an inferior
fort  from Agria and Bengal, and
a ftill worfe from Rufiia.
  Fine mufk comes  to us in round
thin bladders; which are generally
about the  fize of a pigeon's  egg,
covered with fhort brown hairs, well
filled, and without any appearance
of having been opened.  The  mufk
itfelf is dry,  with a kind of unctuo-
fity, of a dark reddifh brown, or
nifty blackifh colour,  in fmall round
grains,  with very  few hard  black
clots, and perfectly free from any
fandy or other vifible foreign mat-
ter.  If chewed, and  rubbed with a
knife on  paper, it  looks fmooth,
bright, yellowifh, and  free  from
grittinefs.  Laid on a red-hot iron,
it catches flame, and burns almoft
entirely away, leaving only an ex-
ceeding   fmall quantity of  light
greyifh afhes  ; if  any earthy fub-
ftances have been mixed with the
muflc,  the quantity of the refiduum
will readily  diScover them.
  Mufk has a bitterifh fubacrid  tafte;
a fragrant Smell, agreeable at a di-
stance, but when Smelt  near to, So
Strong as to  be diSagreeable, unleSs
weakened by'the admixture of other
fubftances.   If a fmall quantity be
infufed in fpirit of wine in the cold
for a few days, it  imparts a  deep,
but not red tincture : this,  though
it difcovers  no great fmell of the
mufk,  is neverthelefs ftrongly im-
pregnated with its  virtues; afingle
Medica.             Part II.

drop of it communicates to a whole
quart of wine a rich mufky flavour.
The degree of flavour which a tinc-
ture drawn from a known quantity
of mufk, communicates to vinous li-
quors, is perhaps one of the beft
criteria forjudging of the goodnefs
of this commodity.  Neumann in-
forms us, that fpirit of wine  dif-
Solves ten parts  out of thirty of
mufk, and  that water  takes  up
twelve ;  that  water elevates  its
fmell in diftillation, whilft pure fpi-
rit  brings over nothing.
   Mufk  is a  medicine  of great
efteem in the eaftern countries: a-
mong us, it has been for fome time
pretty much  out of ufe, even  as a
perfume. It appears, however, from
late experience, to be, when pro-
perly managed,  a remedy of good
fervice even againft thofe diforders
which it has been fuppofed  to pro-
duce. Dr Wall  has communicated
(in the Philofophical Tranfactions,
n°  474)> an account of fome extra-
ordinary effects of mufk in convul-
five and  other difeafes, which have
too often baffled the force of medi-
cine. He obferves, that the fmell of
perfumes is oftenofdiflervice.where
the fubftance taken inwardly, and in
confiderable quantity, produces the
happieft effects :  that two perSons,
labouring under a  SubSultus tendi-
num, extreme anxiety, and want of
fleep, from the bite of a mad dog,
by taking two dofes of mufk, each
of  which was Sixteen grains, were
perfectly relieved from their com-
plaints.  He likewife obferves, that
convulfive hiccup, attended with the
worft fymptoms, were removed by a
dofe or two, of ten grains: and that
in  fome  cafes, where this medicine
could  not, on account  of ftrong
convulfions, be adminiftered to the
patient by the mouth, it proved  of
fervice when injected  as a glyfter.
He likewife  adds, that under the
quantity of fix  grains,  he never
found much effect from ir; but that
                           taken 
Part  II.             Materia Medica.                   233

taken to ten grains and upwards, it  confequence of this, they are fuppo-
never fails to  produce a mild dia-  fed to ftrengthen the bowels after
phorefis,  without at all heating or  thciroperation as a cathartic is over.
giving any uneafinefs; that on  the  Neverthelefs their purgative virtue
contrary,  it eafes pain,  raifcs  the  is fo inconfiderable, that practition-
fpirits, and that after  the fweat  ers have for a long lime laid them
breaks out the patient  ufually falls  entirely  afidc with that intention;
into a refrefhing fleep; that he  ne-  and the college  of Edinburgh,  as
ver met with any hyfterical perfon,  well as that of  London,  has  now
how  avcrfe foever to perfumes, but  rejected them from the catalogue of
could take it in the form of a bolus,  officinal Simples.
without inconvenience.   To   this
paper is annexed an account of Some     MYRRHA [Lond.Ed.] Gum-
farther extraordinary effe6tsof mufk  mi refina.
obferved by another gentleman. Re-     Myrrh; gum refin.
peated experience has Since confirm-     Myrrh is a concrete  gummy re-
ed its efficacy in theSe diforders.  finous juice brought  from the Eaft.
The  dole  has fometimes been in-  Indies, in glebesor drops, of various
creafed,  particularly in  convullive  colours and magnitudes.  The beft
diSorders,  to the quantity of a fcru-  fort is of a brown or reddifh yel-
ple or half a dram every three or  low colour, fomewhat tranfparent;
four hours, with two or three fpoon-  of a lightly  pungent, bitter tafte,
fuls of the mufk julep between. The   with an  aromatic flavour, though
julep is the only officinal preparation   not Sufficient to prevent its proving
oS it.  It is combined  with opium   nauSeous to the palate ; and a ftrong,
in tetanus, and with mercury in ra-   not difagreeable Smell. The medical
bies canina.                        effects of" this aromatic bitter are  to
   It is not improbable,  that we are   warm and ftrengthen the viScera:
often difappointed of the good ef-   it  frequently occafions  a mild dia-
fects which this medicine might   phorefis, and promotes the fluid  Se-
produce,  Srom the mufk with which   cretions in general.
the fhops  are  Supplied  being previ-      Hence  it  proves   Serviceable  in
adulterated.                        languid caSes, diSeaSes arifing from a
                                  fimple inactivity, thoSe female dif-
   MYROBALANI.                orders which proceed from a cold,
   Myrobalans, dried fruits brought   mucous, fluggilh indifpolition of the
from the Eaft-Indies; their outward  humours, fuppreflions of the uterine
part freed from the flone.           difcharges, cachectic diforders, and
   Five kinds  of myrobalans were   where the lungs and thorax are op.
formerly directed as officinals :  all  preffed by vifcid  phlegm. Myrrh is
of them are fuppofed to be the  pro-   likewife fuppofed in a peculiar man-
duce of the fame tree, but  its bota-   ner to refill putrefaction in all parts
nical  defcription  is not yet afcer-  of the body ; and in this light Stands
tained.                            recommended in malignant, putrid,
   All the myrobalans have alow de-   and pellilential  fevers,  and in the
gree of purgative virtue. They have  fmall-pox; in which laft it is faid to
alfo  an aftringent quality, difcover-   accelerate the eruption.
able by the tafte, from their ufe a-    The prefent practice does not feem
mong the Indians for tanning lea-  to expect  any peculiar virtue from
 ther, and from their ftriking a black  myrrh; and it is now  perhaps lefs
 colour with chalybeate folutions: in  employed than formerly. Some late
                                                             writers 
^ 34                  Materia

writers, however,  and particularly
Dr Simmons in his Treatife on Con-
fumptions, have bellowed very high
encomiums upon it, even in cafes of
tuberculous phthifis;  and although
it can by no means be reprefented
as a remedy much to be depended
upon, yet there is reaSon to believe
that it has been Serviceable in Some
caSes.
  Rectified Spirit extracts  the  fine
aromatic flavour and bitternefs of
this drug, and does not elevate any
thing of either in evaporation:  the
gummy fubftance left by this men-
ftruum has a difagreeable tafte, with
fcarce any thing of the peculiar fla-
vour of the myrrh:  this part  dif-
lblves  in water, except fome impu-
rities which remain.  In  diftillation
with water, a confiderable quantity
of a ponderous effential oil arifes,re-
femblingin flavour the originaldrug.
Myrrh is the bafis of an officinal
tincture.  It enters  the pilulae ex
aloe  et myrrha, the pilulas e gum-
mi,  and pilulas ftomachicas,  and
fome  other formulas.  But for ob-
taining its full effects, it muft be gi-
ven in dofes of half a dram or  up-
wards;  and it is thought to  be ad-
vamageoufly united with a propor-
tion of nitre, cream  of tartar, or
fome other refrigerant Salt.

  MYRTUS [Brun. Baccx.
  Myrtus conwiunis Lin.
« Myrtle ;  the berries.
  This is an evergreen flirub, grow-
ing in  Italy, and  cultivated in our
botanic gardens.   The leaves  and
berries have been Sometimes made
uSe of as aftringents, but  not at  pre-
fent regarded.

  NAPUS [Bru;r]  Semen.
  Braffica  napm Lin.
  Sweet navew, or navew gentle;
the feeds.
  This is a Sort of turnip, Sown in
ft>me of our gardens for culinary ufe:
Medica.             Part II.

the roots are warmer than the com-
mon turnip.  The feeds have a bit-
terifh tafte, accompanied  with  a
faintaromative flavour: abundance
of virtues have been afcribed to them.
as attennuating, detergent,  alexi-
pharmac, and others; at prefent they
are hardly employed  in medicine.

  NARDUS INDICA  [Brun.]
Radix.
  Andropogon nardus Lin.
  Indian nard,  or Spikenard.
  This root,  brought  from  the
Eaft-Indies, is a congeries of fmall
fibres iffning from one head,  and
matted clofe together, fo as to form
a bunch about the fize of the finger,
with fome fmall firings at the oppo-
fite end of  the head.  The matted
fibres (which are the parts chofen
for medicinal purpofes) are fuppofed
by fome to be the head or fpike of
the plant, by others the root: they
feem rather to be the remains of the
withered ftalks,  or  the ribs of the
leaves: fometimes entire leaves and
pieces of  ftalks are found among
them: we  likewife  now and then
meet with a number of theSe bunch-
es iffuing from one root.
  Spikenard has a warm,  pun-
gent, bitterifh tafte; and a? ftrong,
not very agreeable,  Smell. It is fto-
machic and  carminative ;   and  faid
to be  alexipharmac,  diuretic, and
emmenagogue ;  but at preSent it  is
very little employed.

   NASTURTIUM   AQJJATI-
CUM [Lond. Ed.] Herba.
  Sifymbrinm nafturtium Lin.
  Water-crefles; the frefh herb.
  This plantgrowswild in rivulets,
and the clearer ftanding waters; its
leaves remain green all the year, bnt
are in greateft  perfection  in the
fpring.  They have a quick pungeut
fmell (when rubbed  betwixt the fin-
gers), and an acrid  tafte, fimilar to
that of cochlearia, but weaker.   As
                               to 
Part  II.             Materia

to their virtues, they are among the
milder aperient antifcorbutics. Hoff-
man has  a high  opinion of this
plant, and recommends it as oS Sin-
gular efficacy  for  accelerating the
circulation, ftrengthening the vifce-
ra,   opening  obftructions of  the
glands, promoting the  fluid fecre-
tions, and purifying  the blood and
humours :  for thefe purpofes, the
expreffed juice, which contains the
peculiar tafte and pungency oS the
herb, may be  taken in dofes oS  an
ounce or two, and continued Sor a
confiderable time.  The juice is an
ingredient in the fuccus cochlear'ia
compofitus oS the fliops.

  NEPETA [Brun.] Folia.
  Nepcta cat aria Lin.
  Catmint ; the  leaves.
  This plant is commonly cultivat-
ed iu our gardens, and is .Sometimes
alSo Sound growing wild in hedges
and on dry branks. It is  a mode-
rately aromatic plant, of  a ftrong
fmell, not ill refembling a mixture
of mint and pennyroyal  ; of the vir-
tues of which it  likewife partici-
pates.
    NEPHRITICUM   LIGNUM
[Brun.]
  Guilandina moringa Lin
  Nephritic wood.
  This  is  an  American wood,
brought to us in large, compact,
ponderous pieces, without knots, of
a whitifh or pale yellow colour on
the outfide, and  dark  coloured or
reddifh within :  the bark is uSually
rejected.   This  wood  imparts  to
water or rectified Spirit a deep tinc-
ture : appearing, when placed be-
tween the eye and the light, oS a
golden colour; in other Situations,
blue ; pieces  of  another wood are
fometimes mixed with it,which give
only a yellow colour to water. The
nephritic wood has fcarce any fmell,
and very little tafte.  It Hands re-
Medica.                  235
commended in difficulty of urine,
nephritic complaints, and all dif-
orders of the kidneys and urinary
paffages ; and it is faid to have this
peculiar advantage,that it does not,
like the warmer diuretics, heat or
offend the parts. Practioners, how-
ever, have not found thefe virtues
warranted by experience.

   NICOTIANA [Lead.] Folium.
   Nicotiana tabacum Lin.
   Tobacco ; the leaves.
   This  plant was firft brought into
Europe  about  the year 1560,  from
the ifland Tobago in  America  ; and
is now fometimes cultivated for me-
dicinal ufe in our gardens ;  but in
general  imported from America in
large quantities.  The leaves area-
but two  Seet long, of a pale green
colour whilft frefh, and when  care-
fully dried of a lively yellowifh eaft.
They have a ftrong, difagreeable
fmell,like that of the narcotic plants;
and a very acrid burning tafte. Ta-
ken internally, they prove virulent-
ly cathartic and emetic, occafioning
almoft intolerable cardialgic anxie-
ties. By boiling in water, their vi-
rulence  is abated, and at length de-
ftroyed : an extract made by  long
coction  is recommended by  Stahl
and other German phyficians, ns a
Safe and  moft effectual aperient, ex-
peetorant,detergent,&c.bnt this me-
dicine, which  is extremely preca-
rious and uncertain in ftrength, has
never come into efteem  among ns.
Of late,how ever, tobacco, under the
form of a vinous or watery infufion,
and taken in fuch fmall  dofes r.s to
produce little effectfrom its action on
the ftomach, has been recommended
to the attention of practitioners by
Dr Fowler.   He has found it  to be
a very ufeful and powerful diuretic,
and  has publifiied  many cafes of
dropfy and  dyfury,   in which its
employment has been attended with 
 236                   Materia

 the beft effects.   And thefe good
 effects have bpen confirmed by the
 •bfervations of other practitioners.
  Tobacco is fometimes ufed exter-
 nally iu unguents, for deftroying
 cataneous infects,  cleanling old ul-
 cers, &c.  Beaten into a mafh with
 vinegar or brandy, it has Sometimes
 proved  Serviceable for  removing
hard tumours of the hypochondres;
 anaccountisgiveninthc Edinburgh
 Effays of two cafes  of  this kind
cured by it.
  Injections  by the  anus of  the
Smoke or decodion have  been ufed
with advantage in cafes of obftinate
conftipation threatening ileus,of in-
carcerated hernia, of afcarides, of
fpafmodic afthma,and ofperfons ap-
parently  dead from drowning or
other fudden caufcs.   It has been
ufed  internally in  form  of fyrup,
conferve, and  infufion, in cafes of
worms,epilepSy,amenorrhoea, afth-
 ma, &c. but it is certainly too ac-
tive to be thus ventured on. An in-
fufion of its afhes, recommended in
dropfy,  is  not probably  different
from other fuch vegetable lixivia.
  There is another fore of  tobacco
found wijd on dunghills  in feveral
parts of England : Nicotiana rufiica
of Lin.  It feems to agree in qua-
lity with the hyofcyamus formerly
mentioned, though, as Dale informs
us,  often fubftituted in our markets
for the true tobacco : from which it
may  be diftinguifhed by the  leaves
being much Smaller,and the flowers
not reddifh as thoSe of the officinal
fort, but of a  yellowifh green co-
lour.

  NIGELLA [Brun.] Semen.
  Nigella  Sativa Lin.
  Fennel-flowers ; the feeds.
  This plant is  Sown annually in
fome of our gardens ; the feeds moft
efteemed  are  brought from Italy.
They have a ftrong, not unpleafant
fmell; and a  Subacrid, Somewhat
 Medica.              Part II.

 unctuous difagreeable tafte. They
 ftand recommended  as aperient,
 diuretic, &c. but have  long been
 Sfrangers to practice, and are by
 Some SuSpected to have noxious qua-
 lities.

   NITRUM [Lond. Ed.]
   Kali nitratum.
   Nitre.
   Nitre, or Saltpetre,  is a Salt ex-
 tracted in Perfia and the Eaft-In-
 dies from certain earths that lie on
 the fides of  hills ;  and  artificially
 produced, in fome parts of  Europe
 from animal and vegetable matters
 rotted together,  with the addition
 of lime and  afhes,and expofed for a
 length of time to the air ;  without
 the accefs of which, nitre is never
 generated ;  the fait extracted from
 the earth, &c. by means ©f water,
 is purified by colature and cryftalli-
 zation.
   Pnre  nitre diffblves in about fix
 times its weight of water, and con-
 cretes again intocoiourlefs tranfpa-
 rent cryftals; their figure is that of
 an hexagonal priSm, terminated by
 a pyramid  oS an equal number of
 fides. It readily  melts in the fire ;
 and in contact with  Suel  deflagrates
 with a bright flame  and  confidera-
 ble noiSe ;  aSter  the  detonation is
 over, a large quantity of alkaline
 Salt is found remaining. The  tafte
of nitre is fliarp, penetrating, and
 bitteriih, accompanied with  a  cer-
 tain fenfation of coldnefs.
  Nitre is a medicine  celebrated in
 many diforders.   Befides the ape-
 rient quality of neutral  falts in ge-
 neral,it has a manifeftly cooling one,
 by which it  quenches  thirft, and a-
 bates febrile heats and commotions
of the blood : it has one great ad-
 vantage above the refrigerating me-
 dicines of the acid kind,  that it does
 not coagulate the animal  juices  ;
 blood, which is  coagulated by all
the mineral  acids,and  milk, &c. by
                            acids 
Part II.            Materia

acids of every kind, are  by  nitre
rendered more dilute, and preferved
from coagulation :  it is,  however,
fuppofed to thicken the thin,  Se-
rous, acrimonious humours, and  oc-
cafion an uniform mixture of them
with fuch as are more thick and vif-
cid ; by this means preventing  the
ill confequences which would other-
wife enfue from the former, though
it has not, as Junckner fuppofes, any
property  of  really obtunding acri-
mony.  This medicine for the moft
part promotes urine ;   fometimes
gently loofens the belly ;  but in cold
phlegmatic habits,  very  rarely  has
this effect, though given in large
dofes:  alvine fluxes,  proceeding
from too great acrimony  of the bile
or inflammation of the  inteftines,
are  Supprefled by  it : in choleric
and febrile  diforders,  it generally
excites fweat; but in malignant ca-
fes, where the pulfe is low, and the
ftrength loft, it retards this falutary
evacuation and the eruption of  the
exanthemata.
   Dr Stahl has written  an exprefs
treatife npon the medical virtues of
nitre ; in which he informs us, from
his own experience, that this  fait
added to gargarifms employed in in-
flammations  of the fauces in acute
fevers, thickens the falival moifture
 upon the palate and fauces into the
confiftence of a mucus, which keeps
them moift for a confiderable time ;
whereas, if  nitre be not added,  a
fudden  drynefs of the mouth imme-
diately enfues :  that  in nephritic
complaints, the prudent ufe of nitre
is of more fervice than any of  the
numerous medicines ufually recom-
mended in that difeafe : that nitre
gives great relief in fuppreffion  and
heat  of urine, whether Simple or
occafioued by a venereal  taint;  that
it is oS great Service in acute  and
inflammatory pains oSthehead,eyes,
ears, teeth,  &c. in all erysipelatous
affedions whether particular or  uni-
Medica.                   237'

 verSal, and likewiSe in chronic deli-
 rium ; that in diarrhoea happening
 in petechial Severs,nitre mixed with
 ablbrbents  and  diaphoretics, had
 the beft effeds,  always  putting a
 ftop to the flux, or  rendering the
 evacuation  Salutary ; that in diar-
 rhoea happening in the Small-pox,
 it had been employed with the like
 SucceSs,  two dotes  or three at moft,
 confifting oS two, three, or four
 grains each,  according to the age,
 &c. of the patient, given  at the in-
 terval of two or three hours, putting
 a ftop to the flux,  after the bezoar-
 dic powders, both with and without
 fuccefs.   The fame author recom-
 mends this fait likewife as a medi-
 cine of  Angular fervice in cholera
 attended with  great anxieties and
 heat of the blood : in the flatulent
 fpafmodic  heartburns  familiar to
 hypochondriacal people ;  and a-
 gainft the lofs of  appetite,  naufea,
 vomiting, &c. which gouty perfcns
 are fometimes feized with upon the
 pains of the feet, &c.  Suddenly re-
 mitting.  In cafes of this laft kind,
 the ufe of nitre furely requires greac
 caution, although  the author affures
 us, that no bad  confequences are to
 be feared from it.   Neverthelefs,
 he obferves, that  in a phthifis  and
 ulcerous affedion, it has been found
 to be  of no fervice ; and that there-
 fore  its ufe may be fuperfeded in
 thefe complaints.  Indeed, in difor-
 ders of  the lungs in general, it is
 commonly  reckoned  to  be  rather
 hurtful  than beneficial. In modern
 pradice, it is given  in form of pow-
 der  or  julep as a refrigerant  and
 diuretic ;  and fome  recommend it
 much in hemoptyfis, thoughin Some
 conftitutions it  is  alleged to have a
 peculiar influence on the  lungs, oc-
 casioning dyfpncea even when given
 by the anus.   It is Said  10  diSpofe
 to cramps  in the ftomach,  and to
 be particularly  unfriendly to gouty
 Stomachs. 
 338                Materia

   The ufual doSe of this medicine
 among us is from two or three grains
 to a fcruplc ; though  it may be gi-
 ven with great fafety, and generally
 to better advantage, in larger quan-
 tities : the only inconvenience is its
 not  being apt to lit eafy on the fto-
 mach. Some have affirmed, that this
 Salt  loSes half its weight of aqueous.
 moifture by fufion, and consequent-
 ly that one  part oS melted nitre is
 equivalent  to two of  the cryftals j
 but it did not appear,  upon Several
 careful trials, toloSe So much as one-
 twentieth of its weight.  The only
 officinal preparation of nitre is the
 troches.  It is  employed likewife
 in  operations on  metallic bodies,
 for  promoting  their calcination,
 as in the calx antimonii nitrata.

   NUMMULARIA [Brun.] Fo-
 lia.
   Lyfimachia numniularia Lin.
   Moneywort, or herb two-pence ;
 the  leaves.
   This  grows  fpontaneoufly   in
 moift watery places, and creeps on
 the ground with two little roundifh
 leaves at each joint.  Their tafte is
 fubaftringent,  and  very  lightly
 acid :   hence they ftand  recom-
 mended by  Boerhaave in  the hot
 fcurvy, and  in  uterine and other
 heraorrhagies.   But  their  effects
 are  fo inconliderable,  that com-
 mon pradice  takes  no  notice of
 them.

    NUX  MOSCHATA [Lond.
 Ed.]Oleum ejfentiale, oleum expref
fum, oleum macis, vulgo dtflum.

   Myriftica mofchata.  Aid.  Holm.
 [Lend.]
   Myriftica officinalis Liu.   Sup.
 [Ed;]

   Nutmeg.
   Nutmegs are the kernel of a roun-
 difh  nut which grows  in the Eafl-
 Indies.  The outfide  covering of
 this  fruit is foft and flsfhy like that
Medica,              Part  II.

 of a walnut, and fpontaneoufly opens
 when the nut grows ripe: immedi-
 ately under this lies the mace,  (fee
 the article  Macis) which forms a
 kind of  reticular covering ; thro'
 the fiffures  whereof appears a hard
 woody fhell that  includes the nut-
 meg. Thefe kernels have long been
 made ufe of both for medicinal  and
 culinary  purpofes, and defervedly
 looked upon  as a warm agreeable
 aromatic.   They arc fuppofed like-
 wife to have  an aftringent virtue;
 and are employed with that inten-
 tion in  diarrhoeas and dyfenterics.
 Their  aftringency is faid to be in-
 creafed  by torrcfaction,  but this
 does not appear to the tafte : this
 treatment eertainly  deprives  the
 fpice of fome of its finer oil, and
 therefore readers it lefs  efficacious
 for any good purpofe ;  and,  if we
 may reafon from analogy, probably
 abates of  its aftringency. Nutmegs
 diftilled with  water, afford a large
 quantity of effential oil, refembliug
 in flavour the Spice itfelf; after  the
 diftillation,  an  infipid  Sebaceous
 matter is  found Swimming  on  the
 water ; the decodion, infpiffated,
 gives an extrad of an unduous,  ve-
 ry lightly bitterifh tafte,  and with
 little or no aftringency.  Redified
 fpirit  extrads the whole virtue of
 nutmegs by infufion, and elevates
 very little of it in diftillation : hence
 the fpirituous extradpoffefles theflar
 vour of the fpice in an eminent de-
 gree.
   Nutmegs yield to the prefs, when
 heated, a confiderable quantity of
 limpid  yellow  oil, which on cooling
 concretes  into a Sebaceous confift-
 ence.   In the fhops wc meet with
 three Sorts of  unduous fubftanees,
 calledoilof mace, though really ex-
 preffed from the nutmeg. The beft
 is brought from the Eaft-Indies, in
 ftone jars;;  this is of a thick con-
 fiftence, of the colour of mace, and
 an agreeable fragrant fmell: the Se-
 cond fort, which is paler coloured,
                             and 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
 and much inferior in quality, comes
 from Holland in folid maffes, gene-
 rally flat and of a fquare figure: the
 third, which is the worft of all, and
 ufually called common oil of mace,
 is an artificial compofitionoSSevum,
 palm oil, and the like, flavoured with
 a  little genuine  oil  of  nutmeg.
 Thefeoils yield alhhat part in which
 their aromatic flavour refides, on di-
 ftillation to  water, and to pure Spi-
 rit by inSufion : the diftilled  liquor
 and  Spirituous  tindure  nearly re-
 Semblc in quality thoSe prepared im-
 mediately from the nutmeg.   The
 officinal preparations  oS  nutmegs
 are, a fpirit and effential oil, and the
 nutmegs in fubftance roafted. Both
 the nutmeg itfelf andits effential oil
 enter feveral  compofitions,  as the
 confectio aromatica, fpirkus  amo-
 nise  compofitus, &c.

  NUX PISTACHIA [Gen.]
  Piftachia  vera Lin.
  Piftachio  nut.
  This is a moderately large nut,
 containing a kernel of a palegrcen-
 ifh colour, covered  with a reddifh
 fkin.  The  tree which  produces k
 grows fpontaneoufly in Perfia, Ara-
 bia,  and feveral iflandsof the Archi-
 pelago : it bears likewiSe thecolds of
 our own climate, fo as to have pro-
 duced fruit not inferior to that which
 we receive from abroad. Piftachio
 nutshaveapleafant,Sweet, unduous
 tafte, reSembling that oS almonds.
 They are ranked amongft the ana-
 leptics;  and are by Some much e-
 lteemed in certain weakneffes, and
 in emaciated habits.

  NUX VOMICA [Suec]
  Strychucs nux vomica Lin.
  Nux vomica.
  This  is the  produce  of  a tree
growing in the Eaft-Indies, where
it is faid to be  ufed as a  fpecific a-
gainftthe bite of a fpecies of water-
fnake.  It is confiderably hitter and
deleterious ;  but  has been ufed  in
dofes from five to ten grains twice a-
day or So, in intermittents, particu-
larly obftinate quartans, and in con-
tagious dyientery.  The ftryclmor
Jgnatii is a tree of the fame kind,
producing gourd like fruit, the feeds
of which are  improperly called  St
Ignatius's beans.  Thefe, and alfo
the woods or roots, of fome of foch
trees, called  lignum colubrinuin or
fnakewood, are very narcotic bitters
like the nux vomicae

  NYMPHiEA  ALBA  [Brun.-]
Radix [lores.
  Nymphaa alba Liu.
  White water-lily ;  the root and
flowers.
  This grows in rivers and large-
lakes,  flowering ufually in  June.
The roots and flowers have a rough,.
bitterifh, glutinous tafte; (the flow-
ers are the  leaft rough); and when
frefli,theyhavea difagreeable fmell,
which is in great meafure loft  by
drying: they are recommended in
alvine fluxes, gleets,  and the like.
The roots are fuppofed by fome to
be in a high degree narcotic, but on
no very good foundation.  Linde-
ftolpe informs us, that in fome parts
of Sweden  they  were  in times  of
fcarcity ufed  as food, and did not
prove unwholefome.

  OCHRA [Brun.]
  Yellow ochre ;  a Soft friable ore
of iron, of  a yellow colour,  dug  in
feveral parts of England.  It poflef-
Ses the virtues of the calces of iron
and haematites; but in fo low a de-
gree, that the fliops have deiervedly
rejeded it; its principal ufe is as a
pigment.

  OCULI  CANCRORUM.  See
Cancroum Ocuir.

                       CENAN- 
 240                  Materia

   CENANTHE Radix, folia.
   Oenanthe crocato Lin.
   Hemlock dropwort.
   This isoneof three fpecies of the
genus oenanthe, belonging to the
umbelliferous  clafs, and natives of
Great Britain.  It grows  in moift
places, with pinnated leaves, ribbed
ftalks, and white thick fhort bunchy
roots.   It  is known as a virulent
poiSon;  but the juice of the  root,
or the infufion of the leaf, has been
recommended in chronic eruptions. •
   A cafe was fome time ago pub-
lifiied in the Philofophical Tranfac-
tions  by Dr Pultney;  in which,
when taken by miftake in an affec-
tion of that kind,  it had nearly  pro-
ved fatal, but was in the  end the
means of accomplifhing a complete
recovery.  It has fince that been a
good deal employed  in  Edinburgh,
and in Some cafes with apparent ad-
vantage. The late Dr Hope thought,
that in many cafes he Sound an in-
fufion oS leaves highly uSeSul in pro-
moting the menftrtial diScharge. It
does not Seem to have yet Sound its
way into any oS our modern phar-
macopoeias ;  but it may, we think,
be juftly confidered as meriting far-
ther attention.  It proves diuretic,
and is apt  to  occafion  vertigo and
fickneSs.

   OLIBANUM   [Lond.   Ed.]
Gumtni  re fin a.
   funiperus Lycia Lin.
   Olibanum.
   This gummi refinous Subftance is
brought from Turkey and the Eaft-
Indies,  uSually in drops or  tears,
like thoSe oS maftich, but larger, of
a  pale  yellowilh,  and  fometimes
reddifh colour ; a moderately warm
pungent  t»i^e,  and  a  ftrong, not
very agreeable fmell.  This drug has
received many different appellations
according to its different appearan-
ces: the fingle tears are called Simply
tlibanum or thus: when  two are
Medica.              Part II.

joined together, they have been call-
ed  thus mafculum, and when two
were very large,  thus fcemininum ;
Sometimes  Sour or five, about the
bignefs of filberds, are  found adhe-
ring to a piece of the  bark of the
tree from which they exuded ; thefe
h ave been named thuscorticofum, the
finer powder,  which rubs off from
the tears in the carriage, micathuris;
and the coarfer powder, manna thu-
ris.  This drug is not,  however, in
any of its ftates, what  is now called
thus or f rankincenfe in  the fliops.
   Olibanum confifts of about  equal
parts  of gummy and refinous mat-
ters ;  the firft foluble in water, the
other in redified  fpirit.  With re-
gard to its virtues, abundance have
been attributed to it,  particularly in
diforders of the head and breaft, in
hsemoptoes, and in alvine and ute-
rine fluxes: but  its real effeds in
thefe  cafes are far from anfweritig
the proriiifes of the recommenders.
Riverius is faid to have had large
experience of the good effeds of
this drug in pleurifies,  eSpecially e-
pidemic.ones : he direds a Scooped
apple  to be filled with a dram of oli-
banum, then  covered  and  roafted
under the afhes ; this is to be taken
for a dofe,  three ounces of  cardtius
water drank after it, and the patient
covered up warm  in bed : in a fhort
ti me,he fays, either a plentiful fweat,
or a gentle diarrhoea, enfues, which
carriesoff the difeafe.  Geoffroy in-
forms  us,  that he has frequently
made ufe of tbismedicine, after ve-
nefedion, with good fuccefs; but
acknowledges that it  has fometimes
failed.

  OLIVA [Lond. Ed.] Oleum ex-
prejfum.
  Olea Europea Lin.
  Olive ;  the expreffed oil of the
fruit.
  This tree grows in the fourthern
parts of France, in Spain, Italy, and
                           other 
 Part  II.              Materia

 other warm countries: with us it
 is  ufually  preferved in  the green-
 houfes of the curious, though it will
 bear our ordinary winters in the o-
 pen air,  and produce  very good
 fruit.  Olives have an acrid, bitter,
 extremely difagreeable tafte c pick-
 led, as we receive  them  from  a-
 broad, they prove lefs difagreeable ;
 the Lucca olives, which are fmaller
 than the others, have the weakeft
 tafte ; the Spanifh,  or larger, the
 ftrongeft ;  the Provence, which are
 of  a  middling  fize, are generally
 the moft efteemed.
   The oil obtained from  this fruit
 has no particular tafte or fmell, and
 does  not  greatly differ in quality
 from  oil of almonds. Authors make
 mention of two forts of this oil, one
 expreffed from the olives when fully
 ripe,  which  is  our  common olive
 oil: the other, before it has grown
 ripe ; this  is called oleum immatu-
 rum,  and  omphacinum. Nothing is
 met with  in the fliops  under this
 name ; and  Lemery affirms, that
 there is no fuch oil ;  unripe olives,
 yielding only a vifcid juice to the
 preSs.   From the ripe fruit, two or
 three forts are obtained,  differing
 in degree of purity : thepureft runs
 by  light preffure :  the remaining
 magma, heated  and  preffed more
 ftrongly,   yields an  inferior  fort,
 with  fome  dregs  at the  bottom,
 called aniurca.   All thefe  oils con-
 tain a confiderable  portion  of a-
 queous moifture, and a  mucilagi-
 nous fubftance ; which Subjed them
 to run into a putrid  ftate : to pre-
 vent this, the preparers add Some
 Sea-Salt, which, imbibing the aque-
 ous and mucilaginous parts, finks
 with them  to the bottom ; by this
 means the oil becomes more homo-
geneous, and consequently leSs fuf-
ceptible of  alteration.  In  its paf-
Sage to us,  Some oS the Salt, thrown
up Srom the bottom by the fliaking
of the veffel, is  Sometimes  mixed
 Medica.                  241

 with and detained in the oil, which
 in our colder climate, becomes too
 thick  to fuffer it  freely to fubfide ;
 and hence this oil is fometimes found
 to  have  a manifeftly  faline tafte.
 Oil olive is ufed in the Simple oleum
 fulphuratem, and feveral ointments.
 It is oftener employed with this laft
 intention than  the other expreffed
 oils, but more rarely  for internal
 medicinal purpofes,  although  not
 unfrequently it is  employed againft
 coughs and hoarfeneSs, when united
 with water by the intervention of
 alkali.

  ONONIS [Suec] Radix.
  Ononis fpinofa Lin.
  Reft-harrow, cammock, or pret-
 ty-whin ; the root.
  This  plant grows wiid in wafte-
 grounds and dry fields.  The  r6ot
 has a difagreeable fmell, and a nau-
 feous Sweet ifli tafte:  it  ftands  re-
 commended as an aperient and diu-
 retic ;  but has never been much re-
 garded among us.

  OPIUM   [Lond. Ed.]  Sua; x
 infpijfatus.
  Paper fomniferum Lin,
  Opium.
  This juice has not  yet been  col-
 leded  in quantity  in Europe.   E-
 gypt, Perfia, and Some other pro-
 vinces oS A fia, have hitherto Supplied
 us with  this commodity :  in thoSe
 countries, large quantities  of pop-
 pies are cultivated for this purpofe.
 The opium prepared  about Thebes
 in Egypt, hence  named Thebaic
opium, has been  ufually efteemed
 the  beft ; but  this is not now diftin-
guifhed from that colleded in other
places.   This juice is brought to us
 in cakes or  loaves,  covered with
leaves, and other vegetable matters,
 to prevent their flicking together:
it is of a folid  confiftence, yet fome-
 what   Soft  and  tenacious,  of  a
dark reddifh  brown colour  in the
               O^          mafs, 
242                  Materia

maSs, and when reduced into pow-
der, yellow; of a faint difagree-
able Smell and a bitterifh tafte,  ac-
cempanied with a pungent heat and
acrimony:
  In the province of Bahar in  the
Eaft-Indies, it  is  faid,  the poppy
Seeds are  Sown  in Odober or No-
vember at about eight  inches dif-
tance ; and  are well watered  till
the plants are  about half a foot
high, when  a  compoft of nitrous
earth,  dung, and  afhes, is fpread
over the areas ;  and  a little before
the flowers appear, they are again
watered profufely  till the  capfnles
are half grown:  and'then the o-
pium is colleded; for when fully
ripe, they yield little juice.  Two
longitudinal incifions, Srom below
upwards,  without penetrating  the
cavity, are made at SunSet for  three
or  four fucceflive evenings; and
then they are allowed to ripen their
feeds.   In the morning the juice is
Scraped off with an iron Scoop,  and
worked in  an  earthen pot  in the
Sun's heat till it be oS a confiftence
to be Sormed into thick cakes of a-
bout four  pounds weight, which arc
covered over with the leaves of pop-
py  or  tobacco,  and   dried.  It is
Said to be adulterated with various
unknown fubftances,  with  the  ex-
trad of  the poppy plant  procured
by  boiling,  and  even  with cow-
dung.   It is purified by reducing
it to a pulp with hot water,  and
ftrongly preffing  it while hot thro'
a linen cloth from  its impurities.
It is then evaporated by a water-
bath or  other  gentle heat  to  its
original confiftence.   This extrad
is found to contain a refin, a kind
of  effential  oil,  a principle of o-
dour, an eflential  fait, and a foapy
extrad.
   Opium has  a reddifh brown co-
lour ; a ftrong peculiar fmell;  a tafte
at firftnaufeous and bitter,butfoon be-
coming acrid, with a flight warmt h;
Medica.              Part  II.

 and it appears to have fome aftrin-
 gency, as a watery tindure of it
 forms an ink with a  chalybeate fo
 lution.
   The external and internal effeds
 of opium appear to be various in dif-
 ferent conftitutions, andin the fame
 at different times.   By fome, when
 applied to the  tongue, the nofe,
 the  eye,  or  any part  deprived of
 fkin, it has been faid to ftimulate
 and to induce in the eye in particu-
 lar a flight degree of rednefs.   But
 if this effed do take  place,  it is
 at  the utmoft  extremely  inconfi-
 derable, particularly when compa-
 red with the effed of volatile alkali,
 ardent fpirit, or a variety of other
 articles applied  to  the  fame organ.
 And there can be no doubt, that in
 a very fhort time the fenfibility of
 the  part to which it is applied, even
 when there has not taken place the
 flighteft mark of preceding ftimulus
 or inflammation, is very confider-
 ably diminifhed. Some allege, that
 when applied to the fkin,  it allays
 pain and fpafm, procures fleep,  and
 produces  all the other Salutary or
 dangerous effeds which refult from
 its internal  ufe; while others al-
 lege, that thus  applied it has little
 or no effed whatever.
   This variety probably arifes from
 differences in the condition of the
 fubcutaneous nerves,  and  of  the
 fenfibility of the furface as being
 more or lefe  defended.   But there
 is no doubt,  that when mixed with
 cauftic it diminifhes the pain, which
 would  otherwife enfue,  probably
 by deadening the fenfibility of the
 part.
   It fometimes^llays the pain from
 a carious  tooth;  and a  watery fo-
 lution of it has been ufed in various
 ulcers, certain ophthalmias, and vi-
 rulent gonorrhoea,  when  pain and
 inflammation have before that given
 very great diftrefs.
   Opium, when taken  into the {to-
                            rn ack 
Part II.             Materia

mach to fuch an extent as to have
any  fenfibly effed, gives rife to a
pleafant ferenity of mind, in gene-
ral proceeding to  a certain degree
of languor and  drowfinefs.  The
adion of the Sanguiferous fyftem is
diminifhed, the pulfe becoming  for
the moft part fofter, fuller, and flow-
er than it was before.  There often
takes place fwelling of the fubcuta-
neous veins, and fweating; both pro-
bably the confequencesof a diminu-
tion of refiftance at the furface, from
a diminution of mufcular adion ; and
accordingly  opium diminifhes thofe
difcharges which depend on mufcu-
lar adion, as is particularly exem-
plified in its effed of  binding  the
belly.   Opium taken into the fto-
mach in a larger  dofe, gives rife to
confufion of head  and vertigo. The
power of  all ftimulating caufes, as
making impreffions on  the body is
diminifhed ; and even at times, and
in Situations when a  perSon would
naturally be awake, fleep is irrefift-
ibly induced.  In ftill larger doSes,
it ads in  the Same manner as  the
narcotic poiSon, giving riSe not only
to vertigo, hcadach,  tremors, and
delirium,  but to convulfions  alSo ;
and  theSe terminating  in a ftate of
Stupor, from which theperfon can-
not  be roufed.   This ftupor  is  ac-
compained  with  flownefs  of  the
pulfe,  and with ftertor in  breath-
ing, and the fcene is terminated in
death, attended with the fame  ap-
pearances  as take place in apo-
plexy.
   From thefe effeds  of opium in a
ftate of heath, it is not wonderful
that recourfe fhould have been had
to it in difeafe, as mitigating pain,
inducing fleep, allaying inordinate
adion, and diminifhing morbid fen-
fibility.  That thefe effeds  do  re-
fult  from it,  is  confirmed by  the
daily experience of every obferver:
And as anSwering one or other of
Medica.                  243

 thefe intentions, moft, if not all, of
 thefe good  confequences derived
 from it in adual pradice are to be
 explained.  IS, tbereSore, by a Se-
 dative medicine, we mean an arti-
 cle capable of allaying, affuaging,
 mitigating, and compofing, no fub-
 ftance can have a better title to the
 appellation  of Sedative than  opi-
 um.
   As anfwering the purpofes of mi-
 tigating pain, inducing fleep, allay-
 ing inordinate adion, and diminifh-
 ing fenfibility, it naturally follows,
 that opium  may be employed with
 advantage in a great variety of dif-
 ferent difeafes.    Indeed  there  is
 hardly  any affedion,  in  which it
 may  not, from  circumftances, be
 proper ;  and in all defperate caSes,
 it is the moft powerful means of al-
 leviating the miferies of patients.
   Some praditioners are avcrfe to
 its ufe where there takes place an
 adive  inflammation ;  but others-
 have recourfe to it in fuch cafes,
 even at an early period, efpecially
 after blood-letting; and where fuch
 affedions are attended not only with
 pain  and fpafm, but with watchful-
 nefs and cough, it is often  produc-
 tive of the greateft benefit.  Opium
 combined with calomel has of late
 been extenfively employed in every
 Sorm of adive inflammation, and
 with the greateft  fuccefs.    It is
 found alfo to be of  very great fer-
 vice in allaying the pain  and pre-
 venting  the fymptomatic fever li-
 able  to   be  induced  by wounds^
 fradures, burns,  or fimilar acci-
 dents.
    In intermittents, it is faid to have
 been uSed with good effed before
 the fit, in the cold ftage, iu the hot
 ftage, and during the interval. Gi-
 ven even in the hot ftage, ithas been
 obferved to allay the  heat, thirft,
 head-acb, and delirium, to induce
 fweat and  fleep,  to cure  the dif-
               Q, 2          eaSe 
244                  Materia

eaSe with the lefs  bark, and with-
out leaving abdominal  obftrudions
or dropSy.
  It is often  of very great Service
in Severs of the typhoid type, when
patients are diftrefled with watch-
SulneSs or  diarrhoea.  But where
theSe or Similar circumftances do not
indicate  its uSe, it is oSten diftreSs-
ing to patients by augmenting thirft
and conftipation.
   In Small-pox, when the convul-
sions before eruption are  frequent
and confiderable, opium is liberally
ufed. It is likewiSe given from the
fifth day onwards ; and is found to
allay the pain of  Suppuration,  to
promote the ptyalifm, and to be o-
thenvife ufeful.
   In dyfentery,  after the uSe  of
gentle  laxatives,  or  along  with
them, opium, independently of any
effed it  may have on the fever, is
of confequence in allaying the tor-
mini and tenefmus, and in obvia-
ting that laxity of bowels which is
fo frequently a ielid of that  dif-
eafe.
   In diarrhoea, the difeafe itfelf ge-
nerally  carries off any acrimony
that may be a caufe,  and then  o-
piuin is ufed with great effed.    E-
ven in the worft fymptotnatic cafes,
it Seldom fails to alleviate.
   In cholera and pyroiis, it is  al-
moft the only thing trufted to.
   In cholic,  it is employed with
laxatives ;  and no doubt often pre-
vents  ileus and  inflammation,  by
relieving the fpafm. Even in ileus
and in incarcerated hernia, it is of-
ten found to allay the vomiting, the
fpafms, the pain, and fometimes  to
diminifh the inflammation, and pre-
vent the gangrene of the firangula-
ted gut.
   It is given to allay the pain and
favour the defcent of  calculi, and
to relieve in jaundice  and dyfiiria
proceeding from fpafm.
   It is of acknowledged ufe in  the
different fpecies of tetanus; affords
Medica.             Part  II.

relief  to  the various  fpafniodic
fymptoms of  dySpepfia, hyfteria,
hypochondriafis, afthma, rabies, ca-
nina, &c. and has been found  ufe-
ful in fome kinds  of epilepfy.
  Of late, in dofes gradually in-
creased  to five grains, three,  four,
or even fix times a-day, it has been
uSed in Syphilis ;  and Some  inftan-
ces  are recorded,  in which it would
Seem that by this remedy  alone a
complete cure had been obtained. In
other inftances, however, after the
faireft trial for a confiderable length
of time, it  has been found  ineffec-
tual  ; and upon the whole, it feems
rather  to be ufeful in  combating
fymptoms,  and  in  counterading
the  effeds refulting from  the im-
proper ufe  of  mercury, than  in o-
vercoming the venereal virus.
  It is found ufeful in certain cafes
of threatened abortion  and  linger-
ing delivery, in convulfions during
parturition, in the after-pains and
exceffive flooding.
  The only form perhaps neceffary
for  opium is that  of pill; and as it
is fo foluble in every menftruum,
there feems the lefs occafion for the
addition  of either gum or  foap.
This form  is more apt to fit on
the ftomach than any liquid form,
but  requires rather more time to
produce its effeds.  The admini-
ftration  of opium  to  the unac-
cuftomed, is fometimes very  diffi-
cult.   The requifite  quantity of
opium is wonderfully different in
different perfons, and  in different
ftates of the fame perfon.  A quar-
ter  of a grain will in one adult pro-
duce effeds which ten times  the
quantity  will  not do  in  another ;
and  a dofe  that might prove  fatal
in cholera  or  cholic, would not be
perceptible in  many cafes of  teta-
nus  or mania.    The loweft fatal
dofe to the nnaccuftomed, as men-
tioned by authors, feems  to be four
grains ;  but a  dangerous  dofe is fo
apt  to puke, that it has feldom time
                               to 
Part II.             Materia

to occafion death.   When given in
too fmall  a dofe,  it is apt  to pro-
duce difturbed fleep, and o:her dif-
agreeable   confequences;  and  in
fome cafes it feems impoflible to be
made agree in any dofe or form.
Often,  on the other hand, from a
fmall dofe, found fleep, and allevia-
tion of pain will be produced, while
a larger one gives rife  to vertigo
and delirium.  Some prefer the re-
petition of fmall  dofes,  others the
giving  of a  full dofe at once.   In
fome it  feems not to have its proper
effed till  after a confiderable time.
The operation of a moderate dofe
is fuppofed to  laft in general a-
bout eight hours from the  time of
taking it.
   Pure opium is partially foluble in
water  and redified fpirit,  and to-
tally in proof-fpirit, wine, or vine-
gar.  Water rubbed  with  opium,
and decanted repeatedly till it come
off colourlefs, yields, on gentle eva-
poration, an extrad which fome ufe
and recommend as one of the beft
preparations of this fubftance,  and
which requires to be given in dou-
ble the dofe of common opium.
   It  is faid, that alkalies dimi-
niQi its foporific effeds ; that the
fixed render it diuretic,  the vola-
tile determine  it to the fkin ; and
that acids deftroy itsadivity almoft
entirely.  But when conjoined with
acids,  particularly the  diluted vi-
triolic  acid, it often  fits eafily on
the ftomach, when it  would not  o-
therwiSe  be retained,  and after-
 wards  produces  all its Sedative ef-
feds.
   The  chief officinal preparations
of opium are, the opium purifica-
 tum, pilulae ex opio,  pulvis opiatus
 tindura  opii,  and  tindura  opii
 camphorata. Befidesthis itentersa
 great  variety of different compofi-
 tions, as the pulvis Sudorificus, bal-
fa'mum auodynum, eledurarium ja-
Medica.                  245

ponicum, pulvis e creta compofi-
tus, &c.
  The occafional bad effeds of c-
pium  may  refult  from the fame
power by which, in other ftates of
the fyftem,  it proves  beneficial.
The  methods, therefore,  propo-
fed of correcting thefe by  roaft-
ing,  fermentation,   long-continu-
ed  digeftion,  repeated  folutions
and diftillations,  have not  fuc-
ceeded.

   OPOPANAX  [Lond.] Gttmmi
re fin a.
   Paftinacio opopanax Lin.
   Opopanax.
   This is a concrete gummy refi-
nous juice, obtained from the roots
of  an unbelliferous  plant, which
grows fpontaneoufly in  the warmer
countries, and  bears the colds of
this.  The juice is  brought from
Turkey and the Eaft-Indies, fome-
times in round drops or tears, but
more commonly in irregular lumps,,
of a reddifh yellow  colour on  the,
outfide, with Specks oS white, in-
wardly of  a paler colour,  and  fre-
quently variegated with large white
pieces.   It  has a peculiar ftrong
Smell, andabitter, acrid, Somewhat
nauSeous tafte.  Its virtues are thofe
of an attenuating and aperient  me-
dicine.   Boerhaave frequently em-
ployed it, along with ammoniacum
and galbanum, in hypochondriacal
 diforders, obftrudions  of the abdo-
 minal vifcera, and  fupprefllons  of
 the menftrual evacuations from a
 fluggifhnefs  of mucous humours,
 and a want of  due elafticity of the
 Solids;  with thefe  intentions  it is
 an ufeful  ingredient in the pilulse
 gummof* and compound powder of
 myrrh of  the London Pharmaco-
 poeia, but  is not employed in any
 compofition of the Edinburgh.  It
 may  be given by itfelf in the dofe
 of a  fcruple,  or half a  dram : a
               0^5         whole 
246                 Materia

whole dram proves, in many  con-
ftitutions, greatly purgative.

   ORCHIS, vide Satyrion.

   ORIGANUM  [Lond.]  Herba.
   Origanum vulgare Lin.
   Wild majoram  ;  the herb.
   This is met with upon dry chal-
key hills, and in gravelly foils, in
feveral parts of England. It has an
agreeable fmell,   and a  pungent
tafte, warmer than that oS the gar-
den majoram, and much  reSem-
bling thyme, which it Seems to a-
gree with in virtue.  An  effential
oil diftilled from it is  kept in the
fhops.
   There is another fort of origa-
num called Qreticum, whofe flowers,
or rather flowery  tops, are fome-
times brought to  us from Candy :
thefe have an agreeable aromatic
flavour, fomewhat ftronger than the
common  fort.

   ORYZA [Brun,] Semen.
   Oryza fativa Lin.
   Rice ;  the grain.
   Rice is the produd of many dif-
ferent countries, particularly of the
Eaft-Indies:  but   as ufed in  Bri-
tain it is  brought  chiefly  from Ca-
rolina, where the plant is cultivated
jn large quantities.  It is fnfficient-
ly nutritious,  and  affords an ufeful
food in diarrhoeas, dyfenteries, and
other diforders from a thin acrimo-
nious ftate of the juices.

   OVUM [Lond.]
   Ovum gallinaceum Lin.
   The pullets egg.
   Both the yolk and the white of
eggs are  ufed to give a proper  form
to different medicines, and are for
that purpofe employed in  fome of
the officinal preparations, as in the
coagulum aluminis.  But  they do
not feem  to poffefs any medical vir-
tues unlefs as an article of diet; and
Medica.              Part II.

 ufed with that intention, they are
 highly nutritious. Egg-fhells when
 burnt  become a quicklime, and as
 fuch they have fometimes been u-
 fed in medicine; but they differ in
 no refped from the other calcareous
 earths.

   OXALIS, vide Acetosa.  ,

   OXYACANTHA GALENI.
 Vide Berberis.

   OXYLAPATHUM. Vide LA-
 PAT HUl^

   P^EONIA [Suec]  Radix, fe-
 me n.
   Pxonia officinalis Lin.
   Male  and female  peony;  the
 root and feed
   Thefe plants are cultivated in
 our gardens on account of the
 beauty  of their flowers ; the fe-
 male, which is the largeft and moft
 elegant, and for this  reafon the
 moft common, is the only one with
 which  the  fhops are fupplied.  In
 quality  they are  fcarce fenfibly
 different; and   hence   they  may
 be taken   promiScuoufly.    The
 roots  and   Seeds of peony  have,
 when recent, an unpleafant fcent,
 approaching  to that of  the  nar-
 cotic  plants,   and  a  fomewhat
 glutinous fubacrid  tafte, with a
 light  degree of bitternefs and a-
 ftringency : the leaves alfodiScover
 an aftringent quality, both to the
 tafte, and by changing chalybeate
 Solutions of a  purple colour : the
 flowers have little tafte, and a very
 faint,  not agreeable fmell.   The
 parts which have chiefly been ufed
 for medical  purpofes,  are the roots
 and feeds.   Thefe are looked upon
 as emollient, corroborant, and light-
 ly anodyne : and fuppofed tob» of
 fervice  in fome  kinds  of obftruc-
 tions, erofionsof the vifcera,  heat
 of urine, pains in the kidneys, and
                             the 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
247
 the like.   The  virtue  they  are
 chiefly celebrated for,is that of cur-
 ing SpaSmodic and  epileptic com-
 plaints ;  which many have been
 abSurd enough 'to believe that the
 root of this plant would do by being
 only worn about the neck.

   PALMA [Ed.]  Frutfus oleum
 expreffum.
   PalmafruClu pruniformi.
   Palm-tree";  the expreffed oil of
 the fruit.
   This  oil is  obtained  from  the
 kernels  of the fruit  of a Species of
 palm-tree, which is a native of  the
 coaft  of  Guinea and  Cape Verd
 iflands: from  thefe places it  has
 been tranfplanted into  Jamaica and
 Barbadoes. The oil, as brought to
 us,  is about  the confiftence of an
 ointment, and of an orange colour;
 it  has a ftrong,  not  difagreeable
 fmell, but very little tafte : by long
' keeping it loSes its high colour, and
 becomes white, when it ought to
 be rejeded as no longer fit for uSe.
 The  inhabitants  of  the  Guinea
 coaft are faid to make  this oil  part
 of their food,  and to employ it for
 the fame purpofes as we do butter.
 With us it is rarely given inwardly,
 and ufed only in fome  external ap-
 plications, for pains and weaknefs
 of the nerves, cramps, fprains, and
 the like.  The common people ap-
 ply it for the cure of chilblains,
 and, when early made ufe of,  not
 without  fuccefs.

   PAPAVER ALBU  M [Lond.]
 Caput.
   Papavar fomniferum Lin.
   The white poppy  ;  the head.
   The  heads  and ftalks of thefe
 plants contain a milky juice ; which
 may be  colleded in  confiderable
 quantity, by lightly wounding them
 when almoft ripe:  this juice, expof-
 ed Sor a  Sew days to the air, thick-
 ens into a ftiff tenacious mats, a-
greeing in quality with the opium
brought from abroad.   The juices
of different poppies appear to be fi-
milar to each other ; the only dif-
ference is in the quantity afforded,
which is generally in proportion to
the fize of the plants :  the larger,
or white poppy,  is the  fort cultiva-
ted by the preparers  of opium iu
the caftern countries, and for me-
dicinal ufes in this.
   Poppy-heads, boiled in  water,
impart to  the menftruum their nar-
cotic juice, together with the other
juices which  they have in common
with vegetable matters in general.
The liquor ftrongly  preffed  out,
fuffered  to  fettle,  clarified  with
whites of eggs,  and evaporated to a
due confiftence,  yields  about  one-
fiSth, or one-Sixth the weight oS the
heads, oS extrad.  This poffeffes
the virtues oS opium; but requires
to be given in double its doSe to an-
Swer the Same intention, which it is
Said to perform without occafioning
a nauSea  and giddiueSs,  the  nSual
conSequencesoStheother. A ftrong
decodion  oS the beads, mixed with
as much Sugar as is Sufficient to re-
duce it into the confiftence of a fy-
rup, becomes fit for keeping in a
liquid form ; and is the only offici-
nal preparation of the poppy.  Both
thefe  preparations are very ufeful
ones, though liable to variation in
point of ftrength:  nor does this in-
convenience Seem avoidable by any
care in the prefcriber or the opera-
tor ; Since the poppy-heads them-
Selves, according to the degree oS
maturity,  and the Soil and feafonof
which they are  the produce,  con-
tain different proportions of  the
narcotic matter to  the other juices
of the plant.
   The feeds of the poppy  are  by
many reckoned foporific : Jnncker
fays,  they have the fame  quality
with  thofe  of   hyofcyamus,  and
Herman looks upon them as a good
               &*        fuhfti- 
24B                 Materia

fubftitute to opium ; milled proba-
bly by an  observation which holds
in many plants, that the Seeds »re
more efficacious than the veflels in
which they are contained.
   The Seeds oS the poppy have no-
thing of the narcotic juice which is
lodged in their covering and in the
ftalks ; an oil expreffed from them
has been ufed for the fame purpofes
as oil olive ; and  the feeds them-
fcfVes have  been taken  as food :
their tafte is Sweetifli and farinace-
ous.

   PAPAVER ERRATICUM
 [Lond/]  Flos.
   Papaver rhceas  Lin.
   Red poppy ;  the flower.
   The flowers of this plant yield
upon expreflion a deep red juice,
and impart the fame colour by in-
fufion to aqueous liquors.   A fyrup
of them is kept in the  fliops ;  this
is valued chiefly for its colour ; tho'
fome exped  from it a lightly ano-
dyne virtue.

   PARALYSIS,  five  Primula
[Suec] Flores.
   Primula vris Lin.
   Cowflips; the flowers.
   This plant grows wild in marfhes
and moift meadows.   The flowers
appear in April ;  they have a plea-
fant  fweet fmell, and a fubacrid,
bitterifh, Somewhat aftringent tafte.
An inSufion oSthem, uScd as tea, is
recommended as a mild corroborant
in nervous complaints, and in Some
female diforders,  proceeding Srom a
deficiency oS the  menftrual purga-
tions. A ftrong inSufion oS them
forms, with a proper  quantity of
Sugar, an agreeable fyrup, which
long maintained  a place  in the
fhops : but  by boiling,  even for a
little time, their  fine flavour is de-
stroyed.
Medica.              Part II.

   PAREIRA BRAVA [Lond.]
Radix.
   Ciftampelos pareira Lin.
   Pareira brava ; the root.
   This is thp root of an American
plant brought to us from Brazil, in
pieces of  different fizes, fome no
bigger than one's finger, others as
large as a child's arm ; it is crook-
ed, and varioufly wrinkled on the
furface ; outwardly of a dark co-
lour,  internally of a dull yellowifh,
and interwoven with woody fibres;
fo that,  upon a tranfverfe fedion, a
number of  concentric circles ap-
pear, crofled with fibres, which run
from the centre to the circumfer-
ence  : it has no fmell ; the tafte  is
a  little  bitterifh, blended with  a
SweetneSs, like  that of  liquorice.
This root is highly extolled by the
Brazilians and Portuguefe, in a great
variety  of difeafes, particularly a-
gainft fnppreflions of urine, nephri-
tic pains,  and the calculus.  In the
two firft,  Geoffroy fays he has gi-
ven it with good fuccefs ;  and that
the patient was almoft inftantly re-
lieved by  it, a copious difcharge of
urine fucceeding.  He likewife ob-
ferved large quantities of gravel,
and even  fmall ftones, voided after
its ufe :  this effed he attributes not
to any  lithontriptic  power, but  to
its diflblving the vifcid mucus by
which the fabulous matter had been
detained.  He likewife relates, that
he has had frequent experience  of
the  good effeds of this root in de-
terging and healing ulcers of the
kidneys and bladder, where the  u-
rine came away purulent and  mu-
cous, and could not be voided at all
without extreme pain  : by the ufe
of the pareira, the urine foon be-
came clear, and of a due confiftence,
and was evacuated Sreely ; and by
joining to this medicine balfam  of
Copaiba,  the ulcer perfedly heal-
ed.  The  attenuating quality which
                              he 
Part II.              Materia

he had difcovered in this root, in-
duced him to make trial of it in o-
ther difeafes proceeding from tena-
cious juices, and in thefe likewife
it fully anfwered his expedations :
in  humoural  afthmas,  where the
lungs were fluffed  up, and the pa-
tient almoft  fuffocated  by  thick
phlegm, an infufion of pareira, after
many other medicines had proved in-
effectual, occafioned a plentiful ex-
pcdoration,  and foon completed a
cure: in the jaundice,  proceeding
from  thick bile,  it  did  excellent
fervice: but in another iderical cafe,
wheretheliverwasfwelled and hard,
this medicine did no good. His dofe
of the root in fubftance is from twelve
grains to half a dram; in decodion
to two or three drams.
 Thefe good effeds, however, have
not been confirmed by later  expe-
rience ;  and at prefent it is fo little
ufed, that the  Edinburgh college
have given it noplace in their phar-
macopoeia.

  PARIETARIA [Lond.Ed.]
Herba.
  Parietaria officinalis Lin.
  Pcllitory of the wall; the herb.
  This is a fmall plant growing up-
on old walls; of an herbaceous fub-
Saline tafte, without any Smell. It is
one of the five emollient herbs, and
with this intention is occafionally
made ufe of.  The expreffed juice
has been given in  the dofe of three
ounces as a diuretic.

  PASTINACA  [Suec] Semen.
  Paftinaca fativa Lin.
  Parfneps; the feeds.
  The roots of the parfnepare ufed
as food, and prove Sufficiently nutri-
tious.  The feeds  are  lightly aro-
matic; and from that circumltance
are fometimes, although rarely, em-
ployed in medicine.
Medica.                  249

  PENTAPHYLLUM  [LoudJ
Radix.
  Potentilla reptans Lin.
  Cinquefoil; the roots.
  This grows plentifully in hedges
and by road fides. The root is mo-
derately aftringent; and as Such is
Sometimes given internally  in diar-
rhoeas and other fluxes, and em-
ployed in gargariSms for ftrength-
ening the gums, &c.  The  cortical
part of the root may be taken, in
fubftance,  to   the  quantity of  a
dram : the internal  part is confide-
rably weaker, and requires to be gi-
ven in double the dole  to  produce
the Same effed; and as we poffeSs
many  more powerSul  aftringents,
the cinquefoil is but little ufed.

  PERSICARIA [Suec]  Herba.
  Folyganum hydropiper Lin.
  Water pepper ; the leaves.
  This fpecies of polygonum is re-
markable for its pungent,  bitiig,
pepper like tafte.   Its  virtues are
thofe of an acrid ftimulating medi-
cine ;  in phlegmatic habits, it'pro-
motes  the  urinary  difcharge,  and
has frequently done good fervice in
fcorbutic complaints.   The frefh
leaves are fometimes applied exter-
nally for cleanfing old fiftulous  ul-
cers, and conSuming Snngous flefh :
Sor  theSe purpoSes  they are Said to
be employed by the farriers, among
whom  they have been principally
made ufe of.

  PERSICA [Brun.] Flos, nuclei.
  Amygdalus perfica Lin.
  The peach-tree ;  its flowers and
kernels.
  Peach-flowers have an agreeable
fmell, and a bitterifh tafte  : diftil-
led  without any  addition,  by the
heat of  a  water-bath,   they yield
one-fixth their  weight, or more, of
a .whitifh liquor, which, as Mr  Bol-
iag obferves,  commumicatcs  to a
                           large 
 250                   Materia

large quantity  of other  liquids a
flavour like that of the kernels of
fruits.    An  infufion in water of
half an ounce of the frefh-gathered
flowers,  or a dram of them when
dried, fweetened with fugar, proves
for children an  ufeful laxative and
anthelmintic: the leaves of the tree
are,  with this intention,  fomewhat
more efficacious,  though lefs a-
greeable.   The fruit has the fame
quality with the other fweet fruits,
that  of  abating  hear,  quenching
thirft,  and gently  loofening the
belly.

  PERUVIANUS  CORTEX
[Lond. Ed.]
  Cinchona officinalis Lin.
  Peruvian bark.
  The tree which  furnifhes  this
bark is defcribed as being in  gene-
ral about fifteen feet high and fix
inches thick.    It  fomewhat  re-
fembles our cherry-tree, grows pro-
mifcuoufly  in Sorefls,  particularly
in the hilly parts of Qmto in Peru,
and is Spontaneoufly propagated from
its feeds.
   The  bark has fome odour, to
moft people not  unpleafant, and ve-
ry perceptible in the diftilled water,
in which floating globules, like ef-
fential oil, have been obferved.  Its
tafte is  bittter  and aftringent, ac-
companied  with a degree of pun-
gency, and leaving a confiderably
lafting impreffion on the tongue.
  Two Species are mentioned, viz.
the coloured and the white.   The
coloured  includes the pale, the red,
the yellow, and  the  knotty ;  their
barks being coloured, having the
cinchona tafte  and Smell, and the
trees having very Smooth leaves and
purpliSh  flowers.   The white  in-
cludes  four varieties,  their  barks
being of a whitifh colour,  with very
little tafte or fmell, the trees having
broad hairy leaves,  very fragrant
Medica.             Part II.

red flowers,  with  hairs on the in-
fide.
  The  proper red bark and one of
the white kind have been found in
the province of Santa Fe.
  A fpecies  of cinchona has alfo
been difcovered in the  Weft-India
iflands,   particularly in  Jamaica:
it  is  accurately defcribed by  Dr
Wright, under the titleof Cinchona
Jamaicenfis,  in a paper publifiied
in the Philofophical Tranfadions.
In  Jamaica it is called the fea-fide
beech, and  grows  from twenty to
forty feet high.   The  white, fur-
rowed, thick outer bark is not ufed j
the dark brown inner bark has  the
common flavour, with a mixed kind
of tafte,  at firft of  horfe-radifh and
ginger,  becoming at laft bitter and
aftringent.  It  feems  to give  out
more  extradivc  matter than  the
cinchona  officinalis.   Some  of it
was imported from St Lucia, in
confequence of its having been ufed
with  advantage in the army and
navy during the laft war; and it has
lately been treated of at confider-
able length by Dr Kentifh, under
the title of St  Lucia  bark.  The
frefh bark is fonnd to  be confider-
ably emetic and  cathartic,  which
properties it is faid  to lofe on dry-
ing.
  The pale and the red are chiefly
in ufe in  Britain.   The pale  is
brought to us in pieces of  different
fizes,  cither flat or quilled, and the
powder is rather of a lighter colour
than that of cinnamon.   The red
is generally in much larger, thicker,
flattifh pieces, but fometimes alfo in
the form of quills, and its powder is
reddifh like that of Armenian bole.
It is much more refinous, and pof-
feffes  the Scnfible qualities of  the
cinchona in a much higher degree
than the other forts; and the more
nearly the other kinds refemble the
red bark, the better they are now 
Part.  II.           Materia

confidered. The red bark is heavy,
firm,  found,  and dry ; friable be-
tween the teeth ; does not  feparate
into fibres; and breaks, not fhivery,
but fhort,  clofe, and fmooth.   It
has three layers: the outer is thin,
rugged, of a reddifh brown colour,
but frequently covered with mofly
matter: the milder is thicker, more
compad, darker coloured, very re-
finous,  brittle and  yields   firft to
the  peftle:  the  inmoft  is more
woody, fibrous, and of a brighter
red.
   The Peruvian bark yields its vir-
tues  both to cold and boiling wa-
ter: but the decodion is  thicker,
gives out its tafte more readily, and
Forms an ink with a chalybeate more
fuddcnly than the frefli cold infufi-
on. This infufion, however,contains
at leaft as much cxtradive matter,
but more in a ftate of folution;  and
its colour,  on ftanding fome time
with the chalybeate, becomes dark-
er, while that of the decodion be-
comes more faint.  When they are
of a certain age, the addition of a
chalybeaterendersthemgreen;and
when this is the cafe, they are found
to be in a ftate of fermentation,and
effete.  Mild or cauftic alkalies, or
lime,precipitate theextradive mat-
ter, which in the cafe of the cauftic
alkali is rediffolved by a farther ad-
dition of the alkali.  Lime-water
precipitateslefs from a frefh infufion
than from a frefli decodion; and in
the precipitate of this laft fome mild
earth is perceptible.   The infufion
is by age reduced to tbe Same ftate
with the frefh decodion,  and then
they depofite nearly an equal quanti-
ty of mild earth and extradive mat-
ter ; fo that lime-water, as well as
a chalybeate,  may be ufed as a teft
of the relative ftrength and perifli-
able nature of the different prepa-
rations, and of different barks. Ac-
cordingly cold infufions are found
by experiments to be lefs perifhable
Medica.                  251

than decodions; infufions and de-
codions of the red bark than thofe
of the pale ; thofe of the red bark,
however, are found  by length of
time  to feparate more mild earth
with the lime-water, and more ex-
traded matter. Lime-water,as pre-
cipitating the extraded matter, ap-
pears an equally improper and difa-
greeable menftruum.
  Water is found to fnfpend the re-
fin by means oS much leSs gum than
has been SuppoSed.   Redified Spirit
of wine extrads a bitternefs,but no
aftringency,  from  a refiduum of
twenty affufionsof cold water ; and
water extrads aftringency,  but no
bitterneSs from  the refiduum of as
many  affufions of redified fpirit.
The refidua in both are infipid.
  From  many  ingenious  experi-
ments  made on the Peruvian bark
by  Dr Irving, which are now pub-
lifhed in a differtation which gained
the prize-medal given by the Har-
veian  Society  of   Edinburgh for
 1783, the power of different  men-
ftrua,  as  ading   upon  Peruvian
bark, is afcertained with greater ac-
curacy than had before been done:
and it appears, that with refped to
comparative power, the fluids after
mentioned ad in the ordcrin which
 they are placed.
   Dulcified fpirit of vitriol.
   Cauftic ley.
   French brandy.
   Rhenifh wine.
   Soft water.
   Vinegar and water.
   Dulcified fpirit of nitre.
   Mild  volatile alkali.
   Redified fpirit of wine.
   Mild  vegetable alkali.
   Lime-water.
   The  antifeptic  powers of vine-
gar and bark united are double  the
 fum of thofe taken Separately. The
 aftringent power of the bark is in-
 creafed by acid of vitriol; the bitter
 tafte is deftroyed by it.
                             The 
S-52                 Materia

  The officinal preparations of the
bark are,
  i. The powder: of this, the firft
parcel  that paffes the fieve being
the moft refinous and brittle layer,
is the ftrongeft.
  2. The extrad: the watery and
fpirituous  extrads conjoined form
the moft  proper  preparations of
this kind.
  3. The refin: this  cannot  per-
haps be obtained Separate Srom  the
gummy part,  nor would it be de-
firable.
  4. Spirituous  tindure:  this is
beft made  with proof-Spirit.
  5. The  decodion:  this prepa-
ration, though Srequently  employ-
ed, is yet in many reSpeds inferior
even to a Simple watery infufion.
  The beft form is that of powder;
in which the couttituent parts are in
the moft effedual proportion.  The
cold infufion, which can  be made
in  a  few   minutes by agitation,
the fpirituous tindure, and the ex-
trad, are likewife proper in this re-
Sped.   For  covering  the  tafte,
different patients require  different
vehicles, liquorice, aromatics, acids,
port-wine,fnull-beer,porter, milk,
butter-iv.ilk,  &c.  are  Srequently
employed; and thole who dillike
the tafte oS the bark itfelf, vary in
their  accounts  to  which  the pre-
ference is due;  or it may  ot given
in form of  eleduary with  currant-
jelly, or with brandy or rum.
  According to fome, the Peruvians
learned the ufe of the bark by ob-
serving certain animals affected with
intermittents inftindivtiy  led  to it;
while others Say, that  a  Peruvian
having an ague, was cured by hap-
pening to  drink of a pool which,
from  Some trees having Sallen in-
to if,  tailed of cinchona;  and its
ufe  in grangreue is Slid to have ori-
ginated Srom its curing one in an
a^uifh  patienr.  About the  year
1640, the  hdy of the Spauiiu  vice-
Medica.-            Fart II.-

 roy, the ComitifladelCinchon, was
 cured by the bark, which has there-
 fore been called Cortex or  Pulvis
 Comitiffae,  Chincona, Chinachina
 or Chinchina, Kinakina or Kinki-
 na, Ojiinaquina; or Quinquina; and
 from the intereft which the Cardinal
 de Lugo and the Jefuit fathers took
 in its diftribution, it has been call-
 ed Cortex or  Pulvis Cardinalis de
 Lugo, JeSuiticus,  Patrum, &c.
   On its firft introdudion into Eu-
 rope, it  was reprobated by many
 eminent phyficians; and at different
 periods long aSter, it was confidered
 a dangerous remedy ; but  its  cha-
 rader, in proceSs of time, became
 very univerfally eftablifhed
   Praditioners has differed  much
 with regard to the mode of  opera-
 tion of the Peruvian  bark.   Some
 have afcribed its  virtues entirely to
 a Stimulant power.  But while the
 ftrongeft and  moft permanent fti-
 muli  have by no means the fame
 effed with bark in the cure  of dif-
 eafes, the bark itfelf fliows  hardly
 any ftimulant power, either from its
 adion on the ftomach or on  other
 fenfible parts to which it is applied.
 From  its adion  on  dead animal
 fibres, there can be no doubt of its
 being a powerful aftringent; and
 from its good effeds in certaincafes
 of  difeafe,  there is reafon  to pre-
 fume that it is a ftill  more power-
 ful  tonic.  To this  tonic  power
 fome think that its  adion  as an
 antifeptic is to be entirely attribu-
 ted :  but  that,  independently of
 this, it hasa very powerful effed in
 refitting the Septic proceSs to which
 animal  Subftances are  naturally fub-
 jeded,  appears beyond all difpute,
 from its  effeds in refitting putre-
 fadion,  not only in dead  animal
 Solids,  but  even in animal fluids,
 when entirely detached from the
 living body.
   But although it be admitted that
 the Peruvian bark ads powerfully
                               as 
Part  II.             Materia

as an aftringent, as a tonic, and as
an antifeptic, yet thefe principles
will  by no means explain all the
effeds  derived from it in the cure
of difeafes. And accordingly, from
no artincial combination in which
thefe powers are combined, or in
which  they  exift even to higher
degree, can the good confequences
refulting from  Peruvian bark  be
obtained.     Many   praditioners,
therefore, are difpofed  to view  it
as a  fpecific.  If by a fpecific we
mean an infallible remedy, it can-
not indeed be confidered as intitled
to that appellation;  but in as far
as it is a very powerful remedy, of
the operation of which no Satisfac-
tory  explanation has yet been given,
it may with great propriety be de-
nominated a fpecific.   But what-
ever its mode of operation may be,
there can be no doubt that it is daily
employed  with  fuccefs  in  a great
variety of different difeafes.
  It was firft introduced, as has al-
ready been faid, for the cure of in-
termittent  fevers;  and in  thefe,
when properly exhibited, it rarely
fails of fuccefs.    Praditioners,
Iiowever, have differed with regard
to the beft mode of exhibition ;
fome prefer giving it juft before the
fit, fome during  the fit,  others im-
mediately after  it.   Some, again,
order it in the quantity of an ounce,
between the  fits;  the dofe being
the more frequent and  larger ac-
cording'to the frequency of the fits ;
and this mode of exhibition, altho'
it may  perhaps  fometimes  lead to
the employment of more bark than
is neceffary, we confider as upon the
whole  preSerable, Srom being beft
fluted to moft ftomachs.  The re-
quifite quantity  is very different in
different cafes; and in many vernal
intermittents it feems  even hardly
neceffary.
  It  often pukes or purges, and
Sometimes  opprcfles  the  ftomach.
Medica.                  253

 TheSe, or any other effeds thatmay
 take place, are to be counteraded
 by remedies particularly appropri-
 ated to them.  Thus, vomiting is
 oSten reftrained by exhibiting it in
 wine; looSeneSsby combiningit with
 opium; and opprtffion at  ftomach,
 by the addition  of  an  aromatic.
 But unlefs  for obviating  particular
 occurrences,  it is more fuccefsful
 when  exhibited in its  fimple  ftate
 than with any addition ;  and there
 Stems to be  little ground Sor be-
 lieving that its powers are increaSed
 by crude Sal ammoniac, or any o-
 ther additions which have frequent-
 ly been made.
   It is now given, Srom  the  very
 commencement of t-'ie dil'eaSe, w ith-
 out previous evacuations,  which,
 with the delay oS the bark, or under
 doSes of it, by  retarding the cure,'
 often feem to induce abdominal in-
 flammation, fcirrhns, jaundice, hec-
 tic, dropfy, &c. fymptoms formerly
 imputed to the prematurt>r intech
 perate ufe  of the bark,  but whim
 are beft  obviated  by its early and
 large  ufe.   It  is to  be  continued
 not only till the paroxyfms ceafe,
 but till the natural appetite, ftrength,
 and complexion return.   Its uSe is
 then to be gradually left off, and
 repeated at proper intervals to Se-
 cure againft a  relapfe; to which,
 however unaccountable,  indepen-
 dently of the  recovery of vigour,
 there  often feems  to be a peculiar
 difpofition; and efpecially when the
 wind  blows from  the eaft.   Al-
 though, however, moft evacnants
 conjoined with  the Peruvian bark
 in intermittents are  rather  preju-
 dicial  than otherwiSe, yet  it is of
 advantage, previous  to its uSe, to
 empty  the  alimentary canal, par-
 ticularly the ftomach ; and on this
 account good effects are often ob-
 tained  Srom premifing an emetic.
   It is a medicine which Seems not
 only Suited to  both formed and la-
                             tent 
254                  Materia

tent intermittents, but to that ftate
of fibre on which all rigidly perio-
dical  difeaSes Seem  to depend ; as
periodical pain,  inflammation, he-
morrhagy, SpaSm, cough, loSs of ex-
ternal feuSe, &c.
   Bark is now uSed by Some in  all
continued fevers: at the Same time
attention is paid  to keep the bowels
clean, and to promote when neceS-
ftry the  evacution of  redundant
bile, always, however, fo as to wea-
ken as little as poffible.
   In  confluent  fmall-pox, it pro-
motes languid eruption  and Sup-
puration, diminifhes the fever thro'
the whole courfe of  it,  and pre-
vents or  correds pntrefcence and
gangrene.
   In  gangrenous Sore throats it is
much uSed,  as it is externally and
internally in ev^ry  Species of gan-
grene.
   In  contagious  dyfentery,  after
due evacuation, it has  been uSed by
the mo-^h, and  by  injection with
and without opium.
   In all thoSe hemorrhagies called
paffive, and which it is allowed all
hemorrhagies are very apt  to be-
come, and likewiSe in other increa-
fed discharges, it is much uSed ; and
in  certain undefined caSes of has-
moptyfis, Some allege that it is re-
markably effedual when joined with
an abforbent.
   It is ufed for obviating the difpo-
fition to nervous  and convulfive dif-
eafes ; and Some have great confi-
dence in it joined with the acid of
vitriol,  in cafes of phthifis, fcro-
phula, ill-conditioned ulcers,  ric-
kets, Scurvy, and in States of con-
valefcence.
   In thefe  cafes in general, not-
withftanding the uSe of the acid, it is
proper to conjoin it with a milkdiet.
   In dropfy, not depending on any
particular local affection, it is often
alternated or conjoined with diure-
tics, or other evacuants;  and by its
Medica.             Part II,

early exhibition after the water is
once drawn off, or  even begins to
be freely difcharged, a* frefli accu-
mulation is prevented, and a radi-
cal cure obtained.   In obftinate ve-
nereal cafes,particularly thofe which
appear under the form  of pains in
the bones, the Peruvian bark is of-
ten fuccefsfully fubjoined to mer-
cury, or even given in conjundion
with it.

   PETASITIS [Rofs.] Radix.
   Tuffilago petafitis Lin,
   Butterbur; the root.
   This grows wild by the fides of
ditches and  in meadows: it Sends
forth fhort Scaly ftalks in the Spring,
bearing Spikes of purplifh flowers;
after this the leaves appear,  which
are very large and hollowed about
the  middle, fo as to refemble a
bonnet, or what the Greeks call-
ed *rtT«o-ec, whence the name of the
plant.   The roots have a ftrong
fmell;  a bitterifh, aromatic, not
very agreeable tafte;   they  have
been given in the dofe of a dram or
more as an aromatic, and likewife
as an  aperient  and  deobftrucnt;
thefe virtues, however, they poffefs
in fo low a degree,  as  to  have loft
their reputation in the (hops.

   PETROLEUM  [Lond.]
   Bitumen petroleum.
   Rock oil.
   This is a  general name for Sun-
dry liquid bitumens, or mineral oils,
which  fpontaneoufly  exude  from
the earth, or from  clifts of rocks.
Thefe oils are found in  almoft  all
countries, but in greateft quantities
in the warmer ones: fome arc met
with in different parts of England ;
and many of our  common bitumi-
nous minerals, as  pitcoal, &c. af-
ford, on diftillation, oils not greatly
different from them.
   The fincft fort of this commodity
comes from the duchy  of Modena
                               in 
Part II.              Materia

in Italy, where three different kinds
are found ;  the beft  is  almoft as
clear, fluid, and tranfparent as wa-
ter, of  a  highly penetrating, yet
not difagreeable Smell, Somewhat
like that of redified oil of amber :
the Second fort is of a clear yellow
colour, not fo  fluid  as the former,
lefs penetrating,and partaking more
of the  oil  of amber fmell : the
third, or worft, is of a blackifh red
colour,  of a  thicker confiftence,
and more difagreeable than the two
foregoing.  The firft of  thefe is
very rarely met with in the fhops ;
the fecond, mixed with a little of
the third and fome fubtile oil, is u-
fually fent us inftead of it.  Petro-
leum  readily  catches  fire,  and, if
pure, burnsentirelyaway: diftilled,
it becomes fomewhat more pellucid
than before, a  fmall quantity of yel-
lowifh matter remaining,  and it lo-
fes greatly of its natural fmell: it
unites with the effential oils of ve-
getables, not at all with vinous fpi-
rits :  the finer forts are fo light as
to  Swim  upon  the  moft  highly
redified Spirit oS wine.
   Petroleum is at preSent very rare-
ly employed as a medicine, though
iSthe finer kinds could be procured
genuine, they  fhould Seem  to de-
Serve  Some notice :   they are  more
agreeable than  the. oil of  amber,
milder than that of turpentine ; of
the virtues of both which they par-
ticipate.  They are principally re-
commended by authors for external
purpofes, againft pains and aches, in
paralyuc complaints, and  for  pre-
venting chilblains. For thefe inten-
tions, fome of the  more common
mineral oils have been made nfe of
with good fuccefs ; an oil  extraded
from a kind of ftone-coal has been
cried  up among  the common peo-
ple, under the name of Britifh oil,
for rheumatic  pains, &c.  even this
is often counterfeited by a  fmall
Medica.                  255

portion of oil of amber added to the
common expreffed oils.

  PETROLEUM  BARBA-
DENSE [Ed.]
  Barbadoes tar.
  This is thicker than the  forego-
ing petrolea, and nearly of the con-
fiftence of  common tar.  It is of a
reddifh black colour, a difagreeable
fmell, lefs pungent  than the other
forts.  This bitumen is  Sound  in
Several  of our American  iflands,
where it is efteemed by the inhabi-
tants of great fervice as a fudorific,
and in diforders of the breaft and
lungs ; though in cafes of this kind,
attended with inflammation, it is
certainly improper :  they likewife
apply it externally as a  difcutient,
and for preventing paralytic difor-
ders.  Among  us it is rarely ufed,
and not often  to  be met  with ge-
nuine.  The London college em-
ploy it as a menftruum for fulphur
in the balfamum fulphuris  Barba-
denfe, and  direded  an oil to be di-
ftilled  from it.  But in the prefent
edition of their  work, the oleum
petrolei, and petroleum fulpheratum,
as they are ftyled, are direded to be
prepared from  petroleum,  without
fpecifying  that the petroleum Bar-
badenfe in  particular is to be ufed.

  PETROSELINUM [Lond.
Ed.] Radix, femen.
   Apum petrofelinum Lin.
   Parfley ; the root and fetd.
   This plant  is commonly cultiva-
ted Sor culinary purpoSes. The Seeds
have an aromatic flavour, and are
occafionally made uSe of  as carmi-
natives,  &c.  The root of parfley
is one of the five aperient  roots, and
withthisintentionisfometimesmade
an ingredient  in apozems and diet-
drinks:  if  liberally ufed,  it is apt
to occafion flatulencies ;  and thus,
by diftcnding  the yifcera, produces 
 256                   Materia

 a contrary effed to that intended
 by it:  th^ tafte of this root is fome-
 what f\v :e. h, v.'li a light degree
 of warmth uid aromatic flavour.

  PEUCEDANUM [Brun.] Ra-
 dix.
  Peucedanum officinale Lin.
  Hog's fennel, or fulphurwort;
 the root.
  The plant grows wild by the fea
 fhores, and in moift fhady places.
 The roots hive a ftrong difagreea-
 ble Smell, Somewhat refembling that
 of  fulphureotis folutions ; and  an
 unduous, fubacrid, bitterifh tafte.
 They  are  looked upon  as ftimula-
 ting and attenuating,  and fuppofed
 to promote expedoration and urine:
 the expreffed  juice was employed
 by the ancients as an errhine in le-
 thargic  diforders.   The  prefent
 practice pays  no regard to them
 with any intention.

  PIMENTA [Lond.Ed.] Bacca.
 Myrtus pimenta Li:.
  Pimento, or Jamaica pepper; the
 berry.
  This is the  fruit of a large tree
 growing fpontaneoufty inthemoun-
 rainous parts of Jamaica, called by
 Sir Hans Sloan myrtus arborea a-
 romatica, foliis laurinis. The fmell
 of this  fpice  rcfembles a mixture of
 cinnamon, cloves, and nutmegs: its
 tafte approaches  to that of cloves,
 or a mixture of  the three forego-
 ing ; whence  it has received  the
 name of all-fpice.   The fhops have
been for fome  time  accuftomed  to
 employ this aromatic as  a fucceda-
 neum to the more coftly fpices, and
from them it has been introduced
into our hofpitals.
  Pimento is now in our pharma-
 copoeias the bafis of a diftilled wa-
 t< r, a  fpirit, and an effential oil ;
and thefe are not unfrequeutly em-
ployed   where aromatics  are indi-
cated.
 Medica.             Part II
   PIMPINELLA  [Ed.]  Radix.
   Pimpinella faxifraga Lin.
   Burnet-faxifrage ; the root.
   Of this plant feveral  varieties
 had formerly  a place in our phar-
 macopoeias :  but all of  them Seem
 to be poffeffed of the fame qualities,
 and to differ only  in  external ap-
 pearances ;  and even in this, their
 difference is fo inconfiderable, that
 Linnaeus has joined them into one,
 under the general name of pimpi-
 nella.
   The roots of pimpinella have a
 grateful, warm,very pungent tafte,
 which is entirely extraded  by rec-
 tified fpirit: in diftillation, the men-
 ftruum arifes, leaving all that it had
 taken up from the root, united into
 a pungent aromatic refin. This root
 promiSes, Srom its Senfible qualities,
 to be a medicine oS confiderable u-
 tility ; though  little regarded in
 common   pradice.   Stahl,  Hoff-
 man, and other, German phyficians,
 are extremely fond oS it, and recom-
 mend  it as an excellent  ftomachic,
 reSolvent, detergent, diuretic,  dia-
 phoretic, and alexipharmac.  They
 frequently gave it, and not without
 fuccefs, in fcorbutic and cutaneous
 diforders,  tumours and obftrudions
 of the glands, and difeafes proceed-
 ing from a deficiency  of the  fluid
 fecretions  in  general.  Boerhaave
 direds the ufe of this medicine in
 afthmatic and hydropic cafes, where
 the ftrongeft refolvents are  indica-
 ted: the form he prefers is a wate-
 ry infufion ; but the fpirituous tinc-
 ture poffeffes the virtues ofriie root
 in much greater pcrfediofflJ

  PIPER INDICUM  [Lon. Ed.]
 Frntlus.
  Capficum annuum Lin.
  Guinea-pepper, or capficum ; the
fruit.
  This is an annual plant  cultiva-
 ted in our gardens ; it  ripens its
 red pods in September or Odober.
                            The 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
*Sl
The tafte of capficum is extremely
pungent  and acrimonious,  fetting
the mouth as it were on fire.  It is
chiefly employed for culinary pur-
pofes, and has long been  ufed in
that way  ; but of late it  has been
employed alfo in  the  pradice  of
medicine.  And there can be little
doubt but it furnifties us with one
of the purcft and  ftrongeft  ftimu-
lants  which can be introduced into
the ftomach;  while at the  fame
lime it has nothing of the narcotic
effed of  ardent fpirit.   Dr  Adair
Makitrick, who was  perhaps the
firft  that  employed  it as  a  medi-
cine, direds its being given to the
extent of fix or eight grains under
the form  of pills, or under the form
of tindure made by infufinghalf an
ounce in  a pound oS redified  Spirit,
and giving this Srom one to three
drams diluted for  a dofe.   He has
found it ufeful in a variety of affec-
tions, particularly  in  that  morbid
difpofition which  he calls the ca-
chexia Africana, and which he con-
fiders as  a moft frequent and fatal
predifpofition to diSeaSe among the
flaves.    This  pepper  has alSo
been  of late fuccefsfully employed
in a fpecies of cinanche  maligna,
which proved very fatal in the Weft-
Indies, refitting the uSe oS Peruvian
bark, wine, and the other remedies
commonly employed.
   A  Species of  it  called in the
Weft-Indies bird pepper, is the ba-
fis of a  powder brought  us  from
thence under  the  name of  Cayan
pepper.

   PIPER LONGUM [Lond. Ed.]
Fruttus.
   Piper longum Lin.
   Long pepper.
   Long  pepper is the fruit of  a
plant growing  in  the   Eaft-In-
dies.  It is of  a cylindrical figure,
about an  inch and a half in length ;
the external Surface appears compo-
fed of numerous minute grains dif-
pofed round the fruit in a  kind  of
Spiral diredion.

  PIPER NIGRUM [Lond. Ed.]
Bacca.
  Piper nigrum Lin.
  Black pepper ; the berry.
  Black  pepper is  the  fruit of a
plant growing in Java and Malabar,
gathered probably before it be fully
ripe,  and  exficcated in the fun.
This is the only fpice which we im-
port diredly from the Eaft-Indies,
all the others coming through  the
hands of the Dutch.
  All the fpecies of pepper have a
pungent fmell,  and a very hot bi-
ting  tafte.  The long fort, which
is the hotteft and ftrongeft, is moft
frequently made ufe of for medici-
nal purpofes; the black,  as  being
more grateful,  for  culinary  ones.
The warmth and pungency of thefe
fpices refide chiefly in their refin-
ous part;  their aromatic odour in aa
effentia oil.  The genuine diftilled
oil Smells ftrong of the pepper, but
has very  little  acrimony ; the re-
maining decodion infpiffated,yields
an extrad confiderably   pungent.
A tindure made in redified Spirit is
extremely  hot  and fiery;  a Sew
drops oS it Set the mouth as it were
in  a flame.

  PIX  BURGUNDICA  [Lond.
Ed.]
  Pinus abies Lin.
  Burgundy pitch.
  This is oSa Solid confiftence, yet
Somewhat SoSt,  of a reddifh brown
colour, and not difagreeable in fmclL
Geoffroy  relates, that it is compo-
fed of galipot  (a folid whitifh re-
fill which feparates from fome of the
terebinthina as  they run from the
tree) melted  with common turpen-
tine and a little of its diftilled oil.
Dale informs us, from the relation
of a gentleman  who law the prepa-
               id          ration 
>25 8                  Materia

ration of this commodity in Saxony,
(from whence  we are chiefly Jiip/-
plied with it),  that it is no  more
than the common turpentine boiled
a little.
   It is employed only  externally.
It was Sormerly an ingredient in Se-
veral ointments and  plaftera, but
from thefe it is now rejeded. And
it is at prefent chiefly employed with
the view of ading as an emplaftrum
calidum.  In Some cafes  it excites
even vefications;  but  in  general it
produces only redneSs of the part to
which it is applied, with a flight de-
gree of moifture exuding from it.
But  even from this topical adion it
is often Serviceable in cafes of cough
and  fimilar affedions.

   PIX LIQUIDA  [Lond.  Ed.]
   Pinus fylveftris Lin.
   Tar.
   This is  a thick  black unduons
fubftance, obtained Srom old  pines
and  fir-trees, by burning them with
a cloSe Smothering heat.  It differs
Srom the native refinous juice oS the
trees, in having received  a diSagree-
able empyreumatic quality Srom the
fire ; and in containing a  proportion
oS the Saline and other juices united
with the refinous and oily.  By the
mediation of thefe, a part of the te-
rebinthinate oil proves diffoluble in
aqueous liquors, which extrad little
or nothing from the purer  turpen-
tines.  Water impregnated with the
more Soluble parts of tar,  proves,
in confequence of  this  hot,  pun-
gent oil,  warm and  ftimulating.
It has been faid not only toraifethe
pulfe and  quicken circulation, but
to increafe the the vis vitae; and  at
one time it was highly extolled as a
remedy of the utmoft utility, parti-
cularly  in cold phlegmatic habits.
It is now, however, very generally
allowed, that it is by  no means in-
titled to the high  charader which
Medica.              Part II.

 was once given of it, and at prefent
 it is very little employed.

   PLANTAGO  [Ed.] Folia.
   Plantago major Lin.
   Common  great  plantane;  the
 leaves.
   This fpecies of plantane is called
 feptinervia, from its having Seven
 large  nerves or ribs running along
 each leaf; the  narrow  leaved fort
 has only five  ribs,  and hence it is
 named quinquenervia: they are both
 common in fields and by road fides.
 The leaves are lightly  aftringent,
 and theSeedsSaidtobeSo; and hence
 they ftand recommended in hemor-
 rhagies  and other caSes where me-
 dicines oS this kind are proper. The
 leaves bruiSed a little  are the uSual
 application of the common people to
 flight flefh wounds.
   Plantane has been alleged to be a
 cure for the bite of the rattlefnakc:
 but for this there is  probably but
 little foundation, although it is one
 of the principal ingredients in the
 remedy of the Negro  Caefar, for
 the difcovery  of which be received
 a confiderable  reward from the af-
 fembly of South Carolina.

   PLUMBUM  [Lond.]
   Lead.
   This is the heavieft of the metals
 except gold: it melts in a moderate
 heat, and if kept in  fufion,  is loon
 converted  partly  into  fume, and
 partly into an afh-coloured  calx
 (plumbum uftum); this expofed to a
 ftronger fire, in Such a manner that
 the flame may play upon its Surface,
 becomes firft yellow, and afterwards
 of a deep red (miniumox red lead) :
 if in this procefs the fire be Suddenly
 raifed to a confiderable height, the
 calx melts, affumes the appearance of
 oil, and on cooling forms a foft leafy
 fubftance of a yellowifli or  reddifh
 colour (litharge).  The proper men-
                           struum 
Part  II.             Materia

ftroum of this metal is aquafortis :
the vegetable acidslikewifediffolve
it, but in very fmall quantity :  a
quart of diftilled  vinegar  will not
take up a dram ;  expofed to  the
fteam of vinegar,  it is by degrees
corroded into a white  powder (ce-
ruffe) which is confiderably more
eafy of folution. The calces of lead
diffolve by heat, in expreffed oils ;
theSe mixtures are the bafis of feve-
ral  officinal  plafters and unguents.
Cryftals of this metal made with di-
ftilled vinegar  (called, from their
fweetifti tafte, fugar  of lead ;  but
more properly plumbum acetatum
or derufftt acetata) are likewife kept
in the fhops.
  Preparations of lead, given inter-
nally, are fuppofed to incraffate the
fluids, abate inflammations, and re-
ftrain venereal defires. The Sugar
is a ftrong aftringent,  and has been
uSed, it is Said, with  good SucceSs
in hemorrhagies,  the fluor  albus,
Seminal gleets, &c.   A tindure  is
recommended  for the like purpo-
fes  ; and for checking immoderate
fweats in phthifical caSes ;  whence
it has been uSually called  tinftura
antiphthifica.  The internal uSe of
this metal is  neverthelefs full of
danger, and ought never to be ven-
tured upon  unlefs in  defperatc ca-
fes,  after other  medicines have
been employed without taking ef-
fed : it often occafions violent co-
lics; and though it fliould not prove
immediately hurtful,  its ill confe-
quences are  fure,  though  flow :
tremors, fpafms, or lingering tabes,
too frequently follow.
  The  preparations of lead with
vinegar are much  ufed externally
in inflammation.

  POLYPODIUM [Suec.]Radix.
  Poly podium vulgar e Lin.
  Polypody ; the root.
  Polypody  is  a  capillary  plant,
growing upon old walls, the trunks
Medica.                 2$9
of decayed trees, &c.  That found
upon the oak is generally preferred,
though not SenSibly different from
the others. The roots are long and
flender, of a reddifh brown colour
on the outfide, greenifh within, full
of fmall tubercles, which  are re-
fembled to the  feet of an infed ;
whence the name of the plant: the
tafte of thefe roots is fweetifti and
naufeous.
  Polypody has been employed in
medicine  for many  ages ;  never-
thelefs its  virtues  remain as yet to
be determined.  The ancients held
it to be a powerful purger of melan-
cholic humours ; by degrees, it came
to be  looked upon as an  evacuator
of all humours in general:  at length
it was fuppofed only to gently loofen
the belly ; and afterwards  even this
quality was  denied it:  fucceeding
phyficians  declared it to  be aftrin-
gent ; of this number is Boerhaave,
who efteems  it  moderately ftyptic
and  antifcorbutic.    For  our  own
part we have had  no dired expe-
rience of it, nor is  it employed  in
pradice :  it  is probable that (as
Juncker fuppofes)  the  frefh root
may loofen the belly, and that it has
not this effed when dry.

  POMPHOLYX [Suec]
  This is an impure  calx of zinc,
produced in the  furnaces where cop-
per is made into brafs by calamine,
the ore of zinc. It is found adhe-
ring to  the covers  of the crucibles,
&c. either in form of thin crafts, or
of a light  downy matter, generally
of a pnre white colour, tho' fome-
times yellowifh.

  POPULUS [Brun.] Gemma.
  Populus niger Lin.
  The black poplar ; its buds.
  The black poplar is a large tree,
growing wild in watery places; it
is eafily raiSed,  and  very quick of
growth.   The  young buds or rudi-
             R 2        ments 
260                   Materia Medica.             Part II.
ments of the leaves,  which appear
in the beginning of fpring,  abound
with a yellow, unduous,  odorous
juice. They have hitherto been em-
ployed chiefly in an ointment,which
received its name from them ; tho'
they are certainly capable of being
applied  to other purpofes: a tindure
of them  made in redified fpirit
yields upon being infpiffated a fra-
grant refin Superior to many oSthoSe
brought from abroad.

   PORTULACA [Brun.]Herba,
femen.
  Portulaca oleracea Lin.
  Pnrflane ;  the herb and feed.
  This herb is cultivated in gardens
for culinary ufes.  The feeds  are
ranked  among the leffer cold feeds,
and have fometimes been employed
in emullions  and  the like,  along
with the others of that clafs.

  PRIMULA [Suec]  Flores,  ra-
dix.
  Primula veris Lin.
  Primrofc ;  the  flower and root.
  This  is a low plant, growing wild
in woods  and  hedges, and  produ-
cing  pale  yellow  flowers  in  the
fpring.  The leaves have an herba-
ceous tafte.  The roots are  lightly
bitter, with a kind of aromatic fla-
vour, which fome refemble to that
of anile-feeds; their expreffed juice
purified  by fettling, is fometimes
ufed as a fternutatory. The flowers
have an agreeable flavour, but very
weak : an infufion of them in wine
and a fpirit diftilled from them, are
employed in fome places as cordial
and nervine.

  PRUNELLA [Brun.] Herba.
  Prunella vulgaris Lin.
  Self-heal ;  the leaves.
  This  plant grows  wild  in mea-
dows and pafture grounds, and pro-
duces thick Spikes of purplifh flow-
ers during the latter part of  the
fuminer.   It  has  an  herbaceous
roagliifh tafte :  and  hence Stands
recommended in hemorrhagies and
alvine fluxes : it  has been princi-
pally  celebrated  as  a vulnerary,
whence its name ; and in garga-
riSms  Sor aphthse, and inflamma-
tions of the fances.

   PRUNUM  GALLICUM
[Lond.] Frutlus.
  Prunus domefiica Lin.
  The common prune.
  The medical effeds of the com-
mon prunes are,  to abate heat, and
gently loofen  the belly: which they
perform by lubricating the paflage,
and Softening the excrement. They
are of confiderable Service in cof-
tivenefs, accompanied with heat or
irritation,  which the more ftimula-
ting cathartics  would tend to ag-
gravate :  where prunes are not of
themfelves Sufficient, their effeds
may be promoted  by  joining  with
them  a little rhubarb or the like ;
to which  may be added Some  car-
minative ingredient to prevent their
occasioning flatulencies.

  PRUNUM SYLVESTRE
[Lond.]
  Prunus fpinofa Lin.
  The floe.
  Thefe have a very rough, auftere
tafte,  efpecially  before they  have
been mellowed by frofts. The juice
of the  unripe fruit, infpiffated to a
proper confiftence, is called acacia
Germanica, and ufually fold in the
fhops for the true Egyptian acacia :
it is equally aftringent with the E-
gyptian fort;  but  has more of a
fharp or tartifh tafte,  without any
thing of the fweetifti relifh of the 0-
ther. A conferve of the fruit is di-
reded by the London college.

  PSYLLIUM [Suec] Semen.
  Plautago pfyllium Lin.
  Fleawort;  the feeds.
                            This 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
261
   This is a fort of plantane, grow-
ing wild in the warmer climates,and
Sometimes met with in our gardens:
it differs Srom the common plantanes
in having its ftalks branched, with
leaves upon them; hence itis named
by Ray plantago caulifera.  The
Seeds have been uSually brought Srom
the South of France ;  they are fmall,
but fuppofed to refemble in fhape a
flea,  whence the Englifh name of
the plant. Thefe feeds have a nau-
feous, mucilaginous tafte : boiled in
water  they  yield a confiderable
quantity oSmucilagc, which is Some-
times made uSe of in emollient gly-
fters and the like. Alpinus relates,
that among the Egyptians this mu-
cilageis given in ardent fevers, and
that it  generally either  loofens  the
belly or promotes fweat.

  PTARMICA [Brun.] Radix.
  Achillea ptarmica Lin.
  Sneeze-wort:  the root.
  This grows wild upon heaths and
in moift fbady places : the flowers,
which are of a white colour,  come
forth in June and  July.  The roots
have an acrid fmell, and a hot biting
tafte : chewed they occafion a plen-
tiful difcharge of faliva ; and when
powdered and fnuffed up the  nofe,
provoke fneezing.  Thefe  are  the
0 fly intentions to which they have
been ufually applied.

  PULEGIUM [Lond. Ed.]  Her-
ba f fios.
  Mentha pulegium Lin.
  Penny-royal; the flower.
  This plant grows fpontaneoufly
in feveral j>arts  of England  upon
moift  commons,  and  in  watery
places ; trailing upon the ground,
and ftriking roots at the joints. Our
markets have been for  fome time
fuppned with a garden fort, which
is larger than the other, and grows
upright.
  Pennyroyal is a warm, pungent
herb, of the aromatic kind, fimilar
to mint, but more acrid and lefs a-
greeable : it has long been held in
great efteem as an aperient and de-
obftruent, particularly in  hyfteric
complaints, and fuppreflions of the
uterine purgations.  For thefe pur-
pofes, the diftilled water is general-
ly madeufe oS, or an inSufion oS the
leaves.  It is obServable, that both
water and redified Spirit extrad the
virtues oS this herb by infufion,and
likewiSe elevate the greateft part of
them in diftillation.
  In the fhops are kept a fimple wa-
ter, a Spirit, and an eflential oil ob-
tained Srom this  vegetable.   But
under any Sorm it is now  leSs Sre-
quently employed than Sormerly.

  PULMONARIA  MACULO-
SA [Brun.] Herba.
   Pulmonaria officinalis Lin.
   Spotted long-wort;  the leaves.
   This is met with in our gardens :
the leaves are of a green colour fpot-.
ted with white: of an herbaceous
fomewhat mucilaginous tafte,  with-
out any fmell.   They ftand recom-
mended againft  ulcers of the lungs,
phthifis, and other fimilar disorders:
experience,  however, gives little
countenance to theSe virtues, nor
does the preSent pradice exped
them.

   PULSATILLA  NIGRJ-
CANS [Ed.] Herba cum [ore.
  Anemone pretenfis Lin
  Meadow anemone.
  This is the moft acrid oS  the ane-
monies; and is recommended by Dr
Stoerk, in the quantity of halfarj
ounce of the diftilled water, or five
grains of the|extrad, twice or thrice
a-day in venereal nodes,  pains, ul-
cers with caries, chronic eruptions,
amenorrhcea, various chronic affec-
tions of the eye, particularly blind-
nefs  from obfeurities of the  cor-
nea.  Its common effeds are  nau-
              R 3            fea 
262                 Materia  Medica.              Part II.
 fea or vomiting, an augmented dif-
 charge of urine, diarrhoea, and in-
 creafed pain at firft in the affeded
 part.

   PYRETHRUM  [Lond.  Ed.]
 Radix.
   Anthemis pyrethrum Lin.
   Pellitory of Spain:  the root.
   This plant though a native of the
 warm climates, bears the ordinary
 winters of this, and  often flowers
 fucceffively froinChriftmasto May;
 the roots alfo grow larger with us
 than thofe  with which the fhops are
 ufually fupplied from  abroad,
   Pellitory root   has no  fenfible
 Smell; its tafte is very  hot and acrid,
 but leSs So than that of arum; the
 juice expreffed  from it has fcarctly
 any acrimony, nor is  the root itfelf
 fo pungent when frefli as after it has
 been dried. Water, affifted by heat,
 extrads fome fhareof its tafte rec-
 tified fpirit, the whole ; neither of
 them eleyate any thing in diftilla-
 tion.   The principal ufe of pyreth-
 rum in the prefent pradice is as a
 mafticatory, for promoting the fali-
 val flux, and evacuating vifcid hu-
 mours  from the head and neighbour-
 ing parts; by this means it often re-
 lieves  the toothach, fome  kinds of
 pains   of the head, and  lethargic
 complaints.

   QUASIA [Lond. Ed.] Lignum,
 cortex, radix.
   Quafia amara Lin.
   Quaffy:  the wood, bark, and
 root.
   This root is about the thickneSs
 of a man's arm; its wood is whitifh,
 becoming  yellowifh by expoSure to
 the air. It has a thin, grey, fiffurcd
 brittle bark, which  is deemed in Su-
 rinam more powerful than the wood.
 Quaffy has no fenfible odour, but is
 one of the moft intenfe, durable,
pure bitters known. Its infufion, de-
 codion, and tindure, are almoft e-
 qually bitter and yellowifh, and not
 blackened by a chalybeate.
   It was much ufed in a fatal fever
 in Surinam, and is faid to be effec-
 tual in fuppreSEhg  vomiting.
   It is Said to be lefs antiSeptic than
 Peruvian bark ; but, like Colombo,
 another pure bitter, it preServesbile
 longer from  putrefadion.   The
 beft form is that of pills of the ex-
 trad.

   QUERCUS [Lond. Ed.] Cor-
 tex.
   Quercus robur Lin.
   Oak tree, the bark.
   This bark is a ftrong aftringent;
 and hence ftands recommended in
 haemorrhagies, alvine fluxes,  ando-
 ther preternatural  or immoderate
 fecretions; and in thefe it is fome-
 times  attended with good effeds.
 Some  have alleged, that by the ufe
 of  this bark every purpofe can be
 anfwered  which may be obtained
 from Peruvian bark.   But after fe-
 veral  very fair trials, we  have by
 no means  found this to be the cafe.

  RADIX  INDICA LOPEZI-
 ANA [Ed.]
  Radix Indica a Joanne Lopez de-
 norainata, Gaubii Adverfaria.
  Indian,  or Lopez root.
  The  tree is unkown. Neither
 the woody nor cortical part of the
 root has any remarkable  fenfible
 quality. A flight bitternefs is per-
 ceptible, and  it is recommended,
 like fimarouba, in diarrhoeas even
 of the colliquative  kind,  in  half-
 dram dofes four times a-day.   Lit-
 tle of this  root  has been brought to
 Europe: but fome of thofe who have
had an opportunity of employing it,
Speak in very high  terms of the ef-
feds obtained from it.

                  RAPHANUS 
 Part II*.             Materia

  RAPHANUS  RUSTICANUS
  [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
  Cochlear'ia armorica Lin.
  Horfe-radifh root.
  This plant  is fometimes  found
wild about  river  fides,  and other
moift places; for medicinal and cu-
linary ufes, it  is cultivated in gar-
dens ; it flowers in June, but rarely
perfeds its feeds in this  country.
Horfe-radifh root has a quick pun-
gent fmell,  and a penetrating acrid
tafte;  it neverthelefs contains in
certain veffels  a fweet juice, which
fometimes exudes from the furface.
By  drying, it lofes all its acrimony,
becoming firft  fweetifti, and  after-
wards almoft infipid: if kept in  a
cool place, covered with fand, it re-
tains its qualities for a confiderable
time.  The medical effeds of this
root are,  to ftimulate the folids, at-
tenuate the fluids, and promote the
fluid fecretions:  it feems to extend
its adion through the whole  habit,
and affed the  minuteft glands.  It
has frequently done  fervice in fome
kinds of fcurvies and other chronic
diforders, proceeding from a vifci-
dity of the juices, or obftrudions of
the excretory duds.   Sydenham re-
commends  it  likewife in dropfies,
particularly thoSe which  Sometimes
follow  intermittent  fevers.   Both
water and redified fpirit extrad the
virtues of this root by infufion, and
elevate  them in diftillation;  along
with the aqueous fluid, an  eflential
oil arifes, poffefllng the whole tafte
and pungency  of the horfe-radifh.
From this root, the fpiritos raphani
compofitus derives its name, and no
inconfiderable fliare  of its activity.

  REALGAR,  a   foffil compofed
of arfenic and  fulphur.   Vide Ak-
SENICUM.

  RESINA ALBA.  VideTERE-
BINTHINA.
 Medicau                 263

   RHABARBARUM  [Lond.
Ed.] Radix.
   Rheum palmatum Lin.
   Rhubarb;  the root.
   This plant, which is of the dock
kind, grows  fpontaneoufty in Chi-
na, and endures the colds of our own
climate.  Two forts of Rhubarb are
met with in the fliops.  The firft is
imported from Turkey and Ruflia,
in roundifh pieces  freed from the
bark, with a hole through the mid-
dle of each ; they are externally of a
yellow colour, and on cutting appear
variegated with lively reddifh ftreaks
The other, which is lefs efteemed,
comes principally   from China  in
longifh pieces, harder, heavier, and
more compad than  the  foregoing.
The firft fort, unlefs kept very dry,
is apt to grow mouldy and  worm-
eaten;  the fecond is lefs fubjed to
thefe inconveniences  Some of the
more induftrions artifts  are faid to
fill up the worm-holes with  certain
mixtures, and to colour  the ontfide
of the damaged pieces with powder
of the finer  fort of rhubarb, and
fometimes with cheaper materials:
this is often fo nicely done, as effec-
tually to impofe upon the buyer, un-
lefs he  very carefully examines each
piece.  The marks of good rhubarb
are, that it be firm  and folid, but
not flinty;  that it be eafily pulver-
able, and appear,  when  powdered,
of a fine bright yellow colour: that
upon being chewed, it impart to the
fpittle a Saffron tinge, without prov-
ing flimy or mucilaginous  in the
mouth.   Its tafte  is Subacrid, bit-
terifh,  and Somewhat  aftringent:
the Smell lightly aromatic.
   Rhubarb  is  a mild  cathartic,
which operates without violence or
irritation, and may be given with
Safety even to pregnant women and
to children.  In fome people,  how-
ever, it always occafions fevere gri-
ping, Befides its purgative quality,
               R4           if 
264                 Materia

it is celebrated for an aftringent one,
by which it ftrengthens the "tone of
the  ftomach  and  inteftines,  and
proves ufeSul  in  diarrhoea and dis-
orders proceeding from a laxity of
the  fibres.  Rhubarb in  fubftance
operates  more  powerfully as a ca-
thartic than any of the preparations
of it. Watery tindures purge more
than the  fpirituous ones; whilft the
latter  contain  in  greater  perfec-
tion the  aromatic, aftringent, and
corroborating virtues of  the rhu-
barb.  The dofe, when intended as
a purgative,  is from a fcruple  to a
dram or more.
   The Turkey rhubarb  is, among
us, univerfally preferred to the Eaft-
India fort, though this  laft  is for
Some purpoSes at leaft equal to the
other; it is manifeftly more aftrin-
gent but has fomewhat leSs of an
aromatic flavour.  Tindures drawn
from both with redified fpirit, have
nearly the fame tafte : on diftilling
off the menftruum, the extrad left
from the tindure of  the Eaft-India
rhubarb  proved confiderably the
ftrongeft. They are both the produce
of the  fame climate,  and probably
the roots of the fame plant taken up
at-different feaSons,  or cured  in  a
different  manner.
   Rhubarb is now raiSed in Britain
equal to any that is imported.
   The officinal preparations of this
drug are, a watery and a vinous in-
fufion, a Simple and a  compound
tindure.  It is alfo an ingredient in
different  compofitions, fuch  as the
elixir ex  aloe  et rheo, the pilulas
ftomachicas, and fome others.

  RHAMNUS CATHARTICUS.
Vide Spina  Cervina.

  RHAPONTICUM [Rof]  Ra-
dix.
  Rheum rapovticum Lin.
  Rhapontic: the roots.
  Rhapontic  is a large roundifh-
Medidd.               Part II.

 leaved plant, growing wild on the
 mountain Rhodope in Thrace, from
 whence it was brought into Europe,
 about the year  1610,  by Alpinus:
 it bears the bardeft winters of this
 climate, and is not unfrequent in
 our  botanic gardens.   The root of
 this plant (which appears evidently
 to have been the rhubarb of the an-
 cients) is by fome  confounded with
 the modern rhubarb, though confi-
 derably different both  in appearance
 and quality.  The rhapontic is of a
 dufky colour on  the  furface,  of a
 loofe fpongy texture;  confiderably
 more aftringent, but leSs purgative
 than rhubarb;  with this laft inten-
 tion, two or three drams are requir-
 ed for a dofe.

   RHODODENDRON [Ed.]
 Herba.
   Rhododendron chryfanthum Lin,
   Rhododendron; the herb.
   This plant is a native of Siberia,
 where a weak infufion oS it-is ufed
 as tea.  The Siberians ufe a kind of
 decodion of it  in  rheumatifm and
 gout.  They put  about two drams
 of  the dried fhrub into  an  earthen
 pot, with about  ten ounces of boiling
 water,  keeping it near a boiling
 heat for a night, and this they take
 in the morning.  It is faid to occa-
 fion heat, thirft,  a degree of deli-
 rium, and  a peculiar creeping-like
 fenfation in the parts affeded. The
 ufe of liquids is not allowed during
 its operation, as this is apt to induce
 vomiting.   In a few hours the  pain
 and difagreeable  fymptoms are re-
 lieved,  and it is faid two or three
 dofes generally complete the cure,
 The powder has alfo  been  ufed in
 dofes of a few grains.
   Hitherto it has been fo little em-
 ployed in Britain,  that it has no
 place in the London pharmacopoeia:
 But  in  fome cafes in which it has
 been ufed at Edinburgh,it has been
 productive of good effects;  and, ac-
                        cordingly 
Part II.             Materia

cordingly it is now introduced into
the  Edinburgh  pharmacopoeia, as
well as into the Pharmacopoeia Rof-
fica, where it had firft a place.

  RIBES NIGRUM [Lond.]
Fruiius.
  Ribes nigrum  Lin.
  Black currants.

  RIBES RUBRUM [Lond.]
Fruclus.
  Ribes rubrum Lin.
  Red currants ; the berry.
  TheSe have a cool acidulous Sweet
tafte,  Sufficiently agreeable both to
the palate  and ftomach.
  The black currants are the bafis
of an officinal fyrup, and an infpif-
fated juice, which  are  frequently
employed with advantage in recent
catarrhs,  attended with flight fore
throat.
  RICINUS [Lond. Ed.]  Semen.
   Ricinus communis Lin.
  Palma Chrifti; the feed.
  Thefe  feeds are  nuts  about the
fize of fmall beans : and are,  like
the bitter almonds, deleterious. The
oil,  commonly called nut or caftor
oil,  is got by expreflion,  retains
fomewhat  of the mawkifhnefs and
acrimony of the  nut: but is, in ge-
neral, a fafe and mild laxative in
cafes where we wifti to avoid irrita-
tion,  as in thofe of colic, calculus,
gonorrhoea, &c.  and fome likewife
ufe  it as a purgative  in worm-cafes.
Half an ounce or an ounce common-
ly anfwers with an adulr,  and  a
dram or two with an infant.
  An oil of an  inferior kind, but
pofleifing nearly  the fame qualities,
is obtained by boiling.
  With many, the averfion to oil in
its pure ftate is So great, that  this
purgative  cannot be taken without
great reludance  ; and accordingly
different modes  of  taking  it have
been propofed. Some prefer taking
it fwiinming on  a glafs of water or
Medica.                  265

peppermint water, or in the form of
emulfion,with mucilage,or with the
addition of a little rum. Sometimes
it is neceffary to increafe its adivity
by the addition of fome other pur-
gative : And with this view,  no-
thing anfwers better than a fmall
quantity of tindure of jalap,  or
compound  tindure of Senna.

  ROSA DAMASC^ENA  [Lond.
Ed.] Pet alum.
  Rofa ceutifolia Lin.
  The dainafk rofe ; the petal.
  This elegant flower is common
in  our  gardens.   Its fmell is very
pleafant and  almoft univerSally ad-
mired ;  its tafte bitterifh  and Suba-
crid. In «ii(filiation  with  water,  it
yields a Small portion oSabutyrace-
ous oil, whole flavour exadly reSem-
bks that of-the roSes. This oil, and
the diftilled water,  are very ufeful
and agreeable cordials.   Hoffman
ftrongly recommends them as of
Singular  efficacy Sor  raifing  the
ftrength,  cheering  and recruiting
the Spirits, and allay ingpain; which,
they perform  without  raifing  any
heat in the conftitution, rather abat-
ing it when inordinate.  Damafk
roSes, befides their cordial aromatic
virtue,whichrefides in their volatile
parts, have a mildly purgative one,
which remains entire in the decoc-
tion left after the diftillation :  this,
with  a proper  quantity of fugar,
forms an agreeable  laxative fyrup,
which has long kept its place in the
fhops.

  ROSA  RUBRA  [Lond. Ed.]
Petalum.
  Rofa gallica Lin.
  The red rofe ; the petal.
  This  has very little of the fra-
grance of the foregoing pale fort ;
and inftead of its purgative quality^
a mild gratefully aftringent one, e-
fpecially before the flower  has open-
ed : this is confiderably improved by
                           hafly 
 266                  Materia

 hafty exficcation ;  but  both the
 aftringency and colour are impaired
 by flow drying.   In the fhops are
 prepared a conServe,>an infufion, a
 honey, and a fyrup of this flower.

   ROSMARINUS [Lond. Ed.]
 Cacumen, fios.
   Rofmarinus officinalis Lin.
   Rofemary ; the top and flower.
   This is a native of Spain, Italy,
 and the fouthern parts of France,
 where it grows in great abundance
 upon dry gravelly grounds ;  in the
 like foils it thrives beft with us, and
 likewife  proves ftronger in  fmell
 than when produced  in moift rich
 ones: this observation obtains in al-
 moft all the aromatic plants.
   Rofemary  has  a fragrant fmell,
 and a warm pungent bitterifti tafte,
 approaching  to thofe of lavender:
 the  leaves  and  tender tops are
 ftrongeft ;  next to thefe the cup of
 the flower ; the flowers themfelves
 are  confiderably  the weakeft, but
 moft pleafant.  Aqueous liquors ex-
 trad a great fhare of the virtues of
 rofemary leaves by infufion, and e-
 leyate  them in diftillation ; along
 with the water arifes a confiderable
 quantity oS effential oil, of an agree-
 able ftrong penetrating fmell.  Pure
 fpirit extrads in  great; perfedion
 the  whole  aromatic flavour of the
 rofemary,  and elevates very little
 of  it in diftillation :  hence the re-
 finous mafs left upon abftrading the
 fpirit, proves an elegant aromatic,
 very rich in the peculiar qualities of
 the plant.   The flowers of rofema-
 ry give over great part of their fla-
 vour in diftillation with pure fpirit;
 by watery liquors,  their fragrance
is  much injured ;  by beating, de-
ftroyed. The officinal preparations
of  rofemary  are,  an effential oil,
 and a  Spirit commonly known by
 the. title  of Hungary water; the
 topsAarc alfo an ingredient in the
compound tindure of lavender, and
 fbme other formulae,
Medica.              Part II.

   RUBIA [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
   Rubia tinfiorum Lin.
   Madder; the root.
   Madder is raifed in fome of our
gardens for medicinal purpofes :  it
was Sormerly cultivated among us,
in quantity, Sor  the uSe of the dy.
ers, who are at prefent fupplied from
Holland and Zealand.  It has little
or no fmell, and  a fweetifh tafte,
mixed with a little bitternefs. The
virtues attributed  to it are thofe of
a detergent and aperient; whence
it has been  ufually ranked among
the opening roots, and recommend-
ed  in  obftrudions of  the vifcera,
particularly of the kidneys,  in co-
agulations of the  blood from falls
or bruifes, in the jaundice, and be-
ginning dropfies.
  It is obServable, that  this root,
taken internally, tinges the urineof
a deep red colour; and in the Phi-
losophical TranSadions, we have an
account oS its producing a like ef-
fed upon the bones of animals who
had  it mixed with their  food : all
the bones, particularly the more fo-
lid ones, were changed, both exter-
nally and internally, to a deep red,
but neither the  flefhy or cartilagi-
nous parts Suffered any alteration :
Some  oS  theSe bones macerated in
water Sor many weeks together, and
afterwards fteeped and  boiled in
fpirit of wine, loft none of their co-
lour, nor  communicated any tinge
to the liquors.   The colouring part
of this root appears therefore to be
pofleffed of great fubtility of parts;
whence its medical virtues feem to
deferve inquiry.
  Some ufe  it in half-dram dofes
feveral times a day as an emmena-
gogue.

  RUBUS lDJEUS[Lcnd.] Fruc-
tus.
  Rubus id aits Lin.
  Rafpberry ;  the fruit.

                           This 
Part II.             Materia

  This fhrub is common in our gar-
dens; and has, likewife, in fome parts
of England, been found wild: it
flowers in May ; and ripens its fruit
in July. Rafpberries have a pleafant
fweet tafte, accompanied with a pe-
culiarly grateSul flavour; on account
of which they arechiefly valued. As
to their virtues,  they  moderately
quench thirft,abate heat, ftrengthen
the vifcera, and promote the natural
excretions.  An  agreeable  fyrup,
prepared from  the juice, is direded
to be kept in the fhops.

  RUBUS NIGER [Rofs.] Bac-
c*.
  Rub us fruticofus Lin.
  The bramble ,-  the fruit.
  This fhrub  is frequently  found
wild in woods and hedges.   The
berries have a faint tafte, without
any thingof the agreeable flavour of
the foregoing: the leaves arc fome-
what aftringent.
  They enter no officinal compofi-
tion, are rarely direded in pradice,
and hence have now no place in our
pharmacopoeias.

  RUSCUS [Brun.]  Radix.
  Rufcus acuteatus Lin.
  Butchers broom ; the root.
  This is  a  Small  prickly  plant,
Sometimes  found wild in  woods.
The root has a foft fweetifti tafte,
which is followed by a bitterifh one:
it is one of the five aperient roots ;
and with this intention is fometimes
made an ingredient in apozems and
diet-drinks, for opening flight ob-
ftrudions of the vifcera, purifying
the blood and juices, and promoting
the fluid fecretions.

  RUT A [Lond. Ed.] Radix.
  Ktitagraveolens Lin.
  Rue ; the herb.
  This is a fmall fhrubby plant, met
with in gardens, where it flowers in
Medica.                  267

June, and holds its green leaves all
the winter : we frequently find in
the markets a narrow-leaved fort,
which is cultivated by fome in pre-
ference to the other, on account of
its leaves appearing variegated du-
ring the winter with white ftreaks.
  Rue hasa ftrong ungrateful fmell,
and a bitteriih,  penetrating tafte:
the leaves, when in full vigour, are
extremely acrid, infomuch as to in-
flame and blifter the fkin, if much
handled. With regard to their me-
dicinal virtues,  they are powerfully
ftimulating, attenuating, and deter-
gent ; and hence, in cold phlegma-
tic habits, they  quicken the circula-
tion, diflblve tenaceous juices, open
obftrudionsof the excretory glands,
and promote the  fluid  fecretions.
The writers on the materia medica
in general  have entertained a very
high opinion of the virtues of this
plant.   Boerhaave is full of itsprai-
Ses; particularly of the effential oil,
and the diftilled water cohobated
or red iftilled feveral times from frefh
parcelsof the herb: afttrfomewhat
extravagantly  commending other
waters prepared in this manner, he
adds, with  regard to that  of rue,
that the greateft commendations he
can beftow upon it fall  fhort of its
merit:  "What medicine (fays he)
can be more efficacious for promoting
Sweat andperSpiration, Sor the cure
of the hyfteric paffion, and of eptlep-
fies,  and  Sor  expelling  poiSon."
Whatever Service rue may be of in
the two laft cafes, it undoubtedly
has its ufe in the others : the coho-
bated water, however,  is  not the
moll  efficacious preparation of ir.
An extrad made by redified fpirit
contains, in  a  Small compaSs, the
whole virtues of the rue ; this men-
ftruum  taking up by infufion all the
pungency and flavour of the plant,
and elevating nothing in diftillation.
With water, its peculiar flavour and
                         warmth 
 268                  Materia

warmth arife ; the bitternefs, and a
confiderable lhare of the pungency,
remaining behind.
   The only officinal preparation of
rue now retained in our pharmaco-
poeias is the extrad:  but  it is an
ingredient  in the compound pow-
der of myrrh, and fome other com-
positions.

   SABINA [Lond. Ed.] Folium.
   Juniper us fabina Lin.
   Juniper ; the leaS.
   This is an evergreen ftirub, cloth-
ed with  Small, Somewhat prickly,
leaves : it does not produce fruit till
 very old, and hence has been gene-
rally reputed barren.   The leaves
 have a bitter, acrid,  biting  tafte ;
and a ftrong difagreeable fmell: di-
ftilled with water, they yield an ef-
fential oil,  in larger quantity, as
Hoffman obferves, than any other
known  vegetable, the turpentine-
 tree alone excepted.
   Savin  is  a warm irritating ape-
rient medicine,capable of promoting
fweat, urine, and all the glandular
fecretions.   The diftilled oil is one
of the moft  powerful emmena-
gogues; and is found of fervice in
obflrndions of the uterus orother
vifcera, proceeding from a laxity
 and weaknefs  of the veffels, or a
 flug^ifh hidiSpolition oS the juices.
   The powder is Sometimes  uSed Sor
 confnming  venereal warts.
   The effential oil and a watery ex-
 trad are kept in the fhops;  and, as
 well as the  rue, the Savin is likewiSe
 an ingredient in the compound pow-
der of myrrh.

   SACCHARUM NON  PURI-
 FICATUM [Loud.]
   Brown Sugar.

   SACCHARUM   PURIFICA-
 TUM, five Bis  coctum [Loud.]
   Double refined fugar,
Medica.             Part II.

  SACCHARUM   CANTUM
ALBUM et RUBRUM [Rofs.]
  Sugar-candy, white and brown.

  Sugar is the effential Salt of the a-
rundofaccharifera, a beautiful large
cane growing fpontaneoufly in  the
Eaft-Indies, and fomeof the warmer
parts of the Weft,  and cultivated
there in great  quantity.   The  ex-
preffed juice of the cane is clarified
with the addition  of lime-water,
without which it does not affume the
form of a  true fugar,  and boiled
down to a due confiftence ;  when,
being removed  from the fire,  the
faccharine  part concretes from  the
groffer  unctuous  matter,  called
treacle  or melaffes.  This, as  yet
impure or brown fugar,  is farther
purified,  in  conical  moulds,   by
fpreading moift clay on the upper
broad furface : the watery moifture,
flowly percolating through the mafs,
carries with it a confiderable part of
the remains of the  treacly matter.
This clayed fugar,  imported from
America, isby our refiners diffolved
in water, the  folution clarified  by
boiling with whites of eggs and de-
fpumation,  and after due evapora-
tion poured into moulds: as foon as
the fugar has concreted, and  the
fluid part ftrained off, the furface is
covered with moift  clay as before.
The fugar, thus once refined, by a
repetition of the procefs becomes the
double-refined fugar of the  fhops.
Thecandy, or cryftals, are prepared
by boiling down folutions of fugar
to a certain pitch, and  then remo-
ving them  into  a hot room, with
flicks fet acrofs the veffel for the fu-
gar  to  flioot  upon:  thefe cryftals
prove of a white or brown colour,
according as  the fugar  was pure or
impure.
   The ufes of fugar as a fweet  are
fufficiently  well known. The impure
forts  connin an  unduous  or  oily
                          matter. 
Part II.   •          Materia

matter ; in  confequence of which
tliey prove  emollient and laxative.
The cryftals are  moft difficult  of
folution ; and hence are propereft
where this  foft lubricating  fweet
is wanted to diffolve flowly  in the
mouth.

  SAGAPENUM  [Lond. Ed.]
  Gummi refinte.
  Sagapenum, the gum refin.
  This is a concrete juice brought
from Alexandria, either in diftind
tears, or run together in large maf-
fes.  It is outwardly of a yellowifh
colour ; internally, fomewhat paler,
and clear  like horn ; grows foft
upon being  handled, and  flicks to
the fingers : its tafte is hot and bit-
ing ;  the  Smell  diSagreeable,  by
Some reSembled to that oS a  leek,
by  others to a mixture of afafoetida
and galbanum.
   Sagapenum is an ufeful  aperient
and  deobftruent  ;  and  not  unfre-
quently prefcribed either alone or in
conjundion  with  ammoniacum or
galbanum, for opening obftrudions
of  the vifcera, and in hyflerical  dif-
orders arifing from a deficiency of
the mcHftrnal purgations. It likewife
promotes expectoration, and proves
of  confiderable Service in Some kinds
of  afthms.s and  chronic  catarrh,
where the lungs  are oppreffed by
vifcid phlegm. It  is moft commodi-
dioufly given in the form of  pills ;
from two or three grains to half a
 dram may be given every night or
 oftener, and continued for fome
 time. When fagapennm is fcarce,
 thedruggifts ufually fupply its place
 with the larger and darker colour-
 ed mafTes of bdellium, broken into
 pieces ; which are not eafily diftin-
 guifhed from it.
    Sagapenum was an ingredient in
 the compound powder of myrrh, e-
 lednary of bay-berries, mithridate
 and thcriaca of the London  phar-
 macopoeia.
Medica.                  269

   But from fuch of  thefe formulas
 as are ftill retained  it is now re-
 jeded.  It  enters the gum pills of
 the London college ; but it has no
 place either  in  that or  any  other
 formula of the Edinburgh pharma-
 copoeia, a preference  being given
 to ammoniacum and galbanum.

   SAGO [Gen.]
   Cycas circinalis Lin.
   Sago.
   This is the produce of an orien-
 tal tree of the palm tribe. The me-
 dullary part of the  tree is beaten
 with water, and made into cakes,
 which are  ufed by  the Indians  as
 bread. They likewife put the pow-
 der into a funnel, and wafh it with
 water over a hair-five, which allows
 only  the finer part  to pafs through
 the water.  The water, on ftandiug,
 depofites the Secule ;  which being
 paffed through perSorated  copper
 plates, is Sormed into grains called
 Sags.  It Surnifhes agreeable  jelly
 with  water, milk, or broth, and  is
 much uSed  in phthifical and conva-
 lefcent caSes.

    SAL  ALKALINUS  FIXUS
 VEGETABILIS, Prafertim is qui
 pearl-afhes lingua veruucula dicitur.

    CINERES CANVELLATI
 velKALI IMPURUM  [Lond.]
    Vegetable  fixed  alkaline fait,
 particularly that named in Englifh,
 pearl afhes.
    The  Edinburgh college having
 rejeded the oily alkalies of broom,
 wormwood,  &C.  order  the  pearl-
 afhes  to be burnt in a crucible, dif-
 folved in water, and the liquor to be
 decanted and evaporated to drynefs
 in an iron  pot.  If the fait be thus
 properly purified, it diflblves in its
 weight of water ;  the  folution is
 free  from colour and Smell, Supplies
  the place of th.-  okum tartari per
                             de!i- 
 2*70                 Materia

 deliquium,  and in a  dry ftate that
 of the fait of tartar.
  The mild vegetable alkali is ufed
 in form of lotion, in fome cutaneous
 difeafes, and as a ftimulant to thein-
 adive ftate of the  veflels in certain
 ulcers.  It is ufed internally as a di-
 aphoretic or diuretic,  and of late in
 calculus complaints.
  When the liquid alkali is depri-
 ved of its fixed air by quicklime, it
 forms the cauftic or foap ley, which
 in a diluted ftate is injeded by fome
 for removing the mucus and poifon
 in recent gonorrhoea.  The pure
 fait obtained  by evaporation forms
 the common cauftic, which, on ac-
 count of  its deliquefcent, and con-
 sequently Spreading quality, is little
 uSeil. The cauftic ley  diluted is  the
 bafis of  the common  quack lithon-
 triptics.
  It Sometimes allays  the  Symp-
 toms oS  calculus without any  evi-
 dence  of its having  aded on  the
 Stone, and in Some cafes the ftone has
 fhown marks of its adion ;  but its
continued ufe Seldom Sails to injure
 the conftiuuion, or the inteftinal
 canal.

  BARILLA,  five  Natron,
 [Lond.]
  This does not differ much  in its
 general properties  from  the vege-
 table alkali.   It is pr6curable from
 the afhes of fea  plants', particularly
 from kali, and it is called foda or
 barilla. This purified has been re-
 commended by  fome in  fcrophula.

  SAL  ALKALINUS  FIXUS
 FOSSIL IS,  Vulgo fal  foda:, ex
 herba kali ufta [Ed.]
  Foffil fixed  alkaline Salt;  com-
 monly called Salt of foda, from the
 burnt herb kali.

  SAL AMARUS [Lond. Ed.]
  Magnefia vitriolata.
  The bitter purging  fait.
  This fait is extraded  from the
Medica.           v  Part  II.

 bitter liquor remaining after  the
 cryftallization of common fait from
 fea-water.  It is the fait of the Ep-
 fom andfomeother purging mineral
 waters.  We ufually meet with  it in
 minute cryftals, of a fnowy appear-
 ance ; diffolved in water,  and  cry-
 ftallized afrcfh, it concretes, if pro-
 perly managed, into larger ones, of
 a redangular prifmatic figure, re-
 fembling thofe of  the  artificial ca-
 thartic fait of  Glauber, to which
 they are fometimes  fubftituted in
 the fhops.
   All thefe falts have a penetrating
 bitteriih tafte;  they diffolve in lefs
 than an  equal weight of water  : in
 a moderate heat they melt, bubble
 up into  blifters, and foon change
 into a white fpongy mafs, with the
 lol's oSabove half their weight:  this
 calx taftes more bitter than the falts
 did at firft, and almoft totally dif-
 folves again in  water.   The acid of
 thefe falts is the vitriolic : the bafis
 of the natural is magnefia  ; of the
 artificial, an alkaline Salt, the Same
 with  the bafis oS Sea-Salt.   Hence
 upon  adding alkaline falts to a Solu-
 tion  of the falts  of Glauber,  no
 change enfues :  whilft  the Salts ob-
 tained Srom the purging waters, or
 the bittern of marine waters, grow
 milky upon  this addition, and  de-
 pofite their earth, the alkaline  Salt
 being taken up in its place.
   The Sal amarusisamild and gen-
 tle purgative, operating with Suffi-
 cient efficacy, and  in general with
 eaSe  and Safety, rarely occafioning
 any gripes, fickneSs, or the other in-
 conveniences  which  purgatives of
 the refinous kind are too often  ac-
 companied with. Six or eight drams
 may be diffolved for a dofe in a proper
 quantity of common water;  or four,
 five, or more, in a pint, or  quart of
 the purging waters. Thefe liquors
 may likewife be So managed ns to pro-
 mote evacuation,by the other emnnc-
 tories: iS the patient be  kept warm,
 they increaSe perSpiration ;  and by
                        moderate 
Part II.              Materia

moderate excrcife in a cool air, the
urinary difcharge. Some allege this
Salt has a peculiar effed in allaying
pain, as in colic, even independently
oS evacuation.

   SAL  AMMONIACUS  [Lond.
Ed]
   Ammonia muriata.
   Sal ammoniac.
   This is an artificial faline con-
crete, faid to be prepared by  fubli-
mation from the foot of cow-dung.
It is brought from Egypt in confi-
derable quantities, but we are now
principally fupplied in Britain from
our  own  manufadures,  feveral of
which are  eftablifhed in  different
parts of  the country.   In thefe,
though the chcapeft and moft com-
modious procefs  of preparing it is
not generally known, yet it is with
good  rcafon conjedured to be prin-
cipally formed from fea-falt and foot,
the former  furnifhing the marine
acid, the latter  the volatile alkali.
It is in general in large round cakes,
convex on one fide, and  concave on
the other; and fometimes in conical
loaves ; on breaking, they appear
compofed of needles, or ftrise, run-
ning  tranfverfely. The beft are al-
moft tranfparent,colourlefs,and free
from any vifible impurities :  thofe
moft  commonly met with are  of a
grey  yellowifh colour on theoutfide,
and Sometimes black, according as
the matter is more or  leSs impure.
The tafteof this fait is very fharpand
penetrating.  It  diflblves in  twice
its weight, or a little lefs of water;
and upon evaporating a  part of the
menftruum,  concretes  again into
long fhining  fpicula, or thin fibrous
plates like feathers.
   Sal ammoniac  appears from  ex-
perimerfs tobe compofed of marine
acid,  united with a-volatile alkali.
If mingled with fixt alkalies, or ab-
forbent earths, and expofed to a
moderate  fire,  a large quantity of
Medica.                  271

volatile fait fublimes, the acid  re-
maining united with the interme-
dium ; if treated in the fame man-
ner with quicklime, an exceeding
penetrating volatile fpirit arifes, bur.
no folid fait is obtained.   Expofed
alone to a confiderable heat, it Sub-
limes entire, without any alteration
oS  its former  properties :  ground
with certain  metallic fubftances, it
elevates  fome part  of  them along
with itfelf, and concretes with the
remainder into a mafs, which readi-
ly flows into a liquor in a moift  air :
this appears in moft refpects Similar
to a Saturated Solution of  the metal
made diredly in fpirit  of fait.
   Pure fal ammoniac is a' perfedly
neutral fait, capable of attenuating
vifcid  humours, and  promoting a
diaphorefis,or the urinary difcharge,
according to certain circumfiances
in the conftitution,oras the patient
is managed  during the operation.
If a dram of the fait be taken,  dif-
folved in  water,  and the patient
kept warm, it generally proves Su-
dorific:  by moderate exercife, or
walking in the open air,  its action
is determined  to  the  kidneys; a
large dofe gently  JooSeas the belly,
and a ftill  larger proves emetic.
This fait is recommended by many
as an  excellent febrifuge, and by
fome has been held a great fecret
in the cure of intermittents.  It is
undoubtedly  a  powerful  aperient,
and feems to pafs into the minuteft
veflels; and as Such may in Some
caSes be of Service, either alone, or
joined with bitters or bark.  This
Salt  is Sometimes  employed exter-
nally as an antiSeptic, and in lotions
and Somentations, Sor  oedematous
and Scirrhous tumours;  and alSo in
gargariSms Sor inflam m ations oS the
tonfils, and Sor attenuating and diS-
Solving thick viScid mucus.  Some
uSe it in Sorm of lotion, in  certain
ulcers, and for removing commonv
warts.
                            SAL 
272                  Materia

  SAL  MURIATICUS  [Lond.]
  Natron muriatum.
  Sea-Salt or common alimentary
Salt.
  This  is a neutral Salt, differing
from  molt  others  in  occafioning
thirft when Swallowed.  It diflblves
in Somewhat lei's than  three times
its weight in water ;  the folutian
flowly evaporated, and Set to ftioot,
affords cubical cryftals, which unites
together in  the- Sorm  oS  hollow
truncated pyramids. ExpoSed to the
fire, it crackles and flies about, or
decrepitates as  it  is called ;  Soon
after, it melts, and appears fluid as
water.   A fmall  quantity  of this
fait  added to the nitrons acid, en-
ables it  to diflblve gold, but renders
it unfit for diffbiving filver: if a fo-
lution of filver be poured into liquors
containing even a minute portion of
common fait, the whole immediate-
ly grows turbid  and  white ; this
phenomenon is owing to the preci-
pitation of the filver.
  This  fait is either found in folid
form in the bowels of the earth, or
diffolved in the waters of the  feaor
faline fpriugs.
  1.  Sal gemma?. Rock Salt.  This
is met with in Several parts oS the
world ;  but  in  greateft  plenty in
certain  deep mines, of prodigious
extent near  Cracow  in Poland  ;
Some is  likewife Sound in England,
particularly in Chcihire.  It  is Sor
the moft part very hard, Sometimes
of an opake Snowy whiteneSs, Some-
times of a  red,  green, blue, and
other colours.  When  pure,  it  is
perfedly tranfparent and colourlefs;
the other forts are purified by folu-
tion in water and cry (Utilization, jn
order to fit them for  the common
ufes of fait.
  2.  Sal marinus.  Sal mariuus
Hifpanus.  The fait extraded from
fea-waters and faline fprings.  Sea
watersyield from one-fiftieth toone
thirtieth their weight of pure fait;
Medica.             Fart  II.

feveral fprings afford much  larger
quantities ; the celebrated ones of
our  own  country  at  Nantwich,
Northwich, and Droitwich, yield
(according to Dr Brownrigg) from
one-fixth  to Somewhat more than
one-third.   There  are  two  me-
thods oS obtaining the common Salt
Srom the Se natural  Solutions of it:
The one, ahafty evaporation of the
aqueous fluid  till the fait begins to
concrete, and fall in grains to the
bottom of  the  evaporating pan,
from whence it is raked out,  andfot
in proper veflels to drain  from the
brine or bittern  : the other, a more
flow and gradual evaporation, con-
tinued no longer than till a  faline
cruft  forms on  the top of the li-
quor ;  which, upon removing the
fire, foon begins to fhoot, and run
into cryftals of a cubical figure. In
the warmer  climates, both  thefe
proceffes are effeded by the  heatof
the fun.  The  falts obtained  by
them differ very confiderably : that
got by a  hafty evaporation is very
apt to relent in a moift air, and run
per deliquium ; an inconvenience
which the cryftallized  fait is not
fubjed to: this laft is likewife found
better for preferving meat, and fun-
dry other purpofes.
   Common fait, in fmall quantities,
is fuppofed to be warming, drying,
and to promote appetite and  di-
geftion : in large dofes, as half an
ounce, it proves cathartic.  It is
fometimes ufed to check the opera-
tion of emetics and makes them run
offbyftool;  and as a ftimulus in
glyfters.

   SAL  CORNU  CERVI;  /. e.
   Sal alkalinus  volatilis,  [ecus, ex
offibus vel cornibus animalium  igne
paratus, ab oleo  purificatus.
   Salt of hartihorn  ; i. e. dry vola-
tile alkaline fait, obtained by means
of fire from the bones or horns of
auimals, freed from its oil.  [Ed.]
                            This 
Part  II.            Mauri a

   This article, to which the London
college now give the name of am-
monia  pnep>araia, will afterwards
come to  be mentioned  under the
head of Salts.  Here, with refped
to its medical properties, it is Suffi-
cient to obServe, that it is a quick
and powerSul ftimulant, and as Such
is employed  externally to the noSe
in Syncope; and with oil in cynanche,
and Some other inflammations, as a
rubefacient.  It is uSed internally  in
various low ftates of the fyftem.

   SALIX  [Ed.]  Ramulorum cor-
tex.
   Salix frag His Liu.
   The willow;  the  bark of the
branches.
   This bark poffeffes a confiderable
degree of bitternefs and aftringency.
It has  been recommended by fome
as a fubftitute  Sor  the  Peruvian
bark j  and of the indigenous barks
which  have been propofed,it is per-
haps one of the  moft effedual.  But
in point of efficacy it is in no de-
gree to be compared  with  the Pe-
ruvian bark.

   SALIVA  [Lond.  Ed.]  Folium
   Saliva officinalis Lin.
   Sage ; the leaf.
   Of the  faliva different  varieties
are in ufe,  particularly thofe diftin-
guifhed by the titles of major and mi-
nor.  Thefe plants are common  in
our gardens, and flower in  May and
June:  the  green and  red  common
fages differ no otherwife than  in
the colour of  the leaves; the  feeds
of one  and the fame  plant produce
both :  the fmall  fort is a diftind
fpecies;  its  leaves  are  narrower
than   the  others, generally  of a.
whitilh colour,  and  never  red;
moft of them have at the bottom a
piece ftanding out on each fide  in
the Sorm  oS  ears.  Both  Sorts are
moderately warm aromatics, accom-
panied  with  a light degree of a-
ftringency and bitternefs;  the Small
Medica.                   Vjl

 Sort is the ftrongeft, the large moft:
 agreeable.
   The writers on the materia me-
 dica are full of the virtues of  fage,
 and derive its name from its fuppo-
 fed falutary qualities.
   Salvia fahatrix, nature concilia*
 trix.
   Cur moriatur  homo, cut falvid
 crefcit in horto ?
   Its  real  effeds are,  to mode-
 rately warm and ftrengthen the vef-
 fels;  and  hence,  in  cold phleg-
 matic habits,  it  excites  appetite
 and proves  ferviceable ifi debili-
 ties of the nervous fyftem.  The
 beft preparation for thefe purpofes
 is  an  infufion of  the dry  leaves,
 drank as tea ; or a  tindure, or ex-
 trad,   made  with redified  fpirit,
 taken  in proper dofes ; thefe con-
 tain the whole virtues of the fage ;
 the diftilled water and effential oil,
 only its warmth and aromatic quali-
 ty, without any thing of its rough-
 nefs  or  bitternefs.  Aqueous in-
 fufions of the leaves,  with the ad-
 dition of a little lemon juice, prove
 an ufeful diluting  drink in febrile
 diforders.  They are of an elegant
 colour, and  fufficiently acceptable  to
 the palate.

   SAMBUCUS [Lond. Ed.] cor*
 tex interior, fios,  bacca.
   Savibucus nigra  Lin.
   Black  berried elder; the inner
 bark,  flower, and  berry.
   This is a large fhrub, frequent in
 hedges;  it  flowers in May,  and
 ripens its fruit in September.  The
 inner green bark  of  its trunk  is
 gently cathartic;  an infufion of  it
 in wine, or the expreffed juice, in
 the dofe of half an ounce or  an
 ounce, is faid to purge moderately,
 and in fmall dofes to prove an ef-
 ficacious deobftruent,  capable   of
 promoting all  the fluid fecretions.
 The young  buds,  or rudiments  of
 the leaves  are ftrongly purgative,
 and ad with So much violence as to
                S              be 
274                  Materia

be  deServedly  accounted  unfafe.
The flowers are  very different in
quality :   theSe have an agreeable
aromatic flavour, which they give
over in diftillation with  water, and
impart by inSufion to vinous and
fpiritous  liquors.  The berries have
a  fweetifti,  not  unpleaSant  tafte;
nevertheless,  eaten  in  fubftance,
they offend the ftomach:  the ex-
preffed juice, inSpilSued to the con-
fidence of a rob, proves an  ufeful
aperient medicine ;  it opens obstruc-
tions of  the vifcera,  promotes the
natural evacuations, and if continued
for a length of time,  does confider-
able Service in Sundry chronical dis-
 orders.   It is obServable, that this
juice, which in its natural ftate is oS
 a purplifh colour, tinges vinous Spi-
 rits of a deep red.
   This article was  formerly kept in
 the  fhops, under  feveral  different
 formulas.   The fuccus  fpiffatus and
 unguentum S.imbuci  ftill  retain a
 place in the London pharmacopoeia;
 but the. Sambucus  does  not now en-
 ter any fixed formula in that of E-
 dinbi.rgh.
    A rob was prepared from the ber-
 ries; an oil oi elder  by boiling  the
 flowers  in oil olive; and an oint-
 ment by boiling them in a mixture
 of oil and fuet.

    SANGUIS  DRACONIS [Lond.
 Ed.] Gummi refina.
    Dragon's blood.
    It is perhaps furprifing, that while
 the  London  and  Edinburgh col-
 leges have of late  made fo many
 changes in the  names of articles,
 they Ihould ftill have retained one fo
 abfurd  as that which is affixed to
 this  article, efpecially as that name
 is not  in the  fuia'ieft degree  de-
 rived from any of  thofe  different
 vegetables from whence this ar-
 ticle is   alleged   to  be  obtained.
 What  is  called dragon's-blood is
 a gutnmi-refinotts fubftance brought
Medica.              Part  II.

from the Eaft-Indies, either in oyal
drops, wrapped up  in flag leaves;
or  in  large  maffes,  compofed of
fmaller tears.  It is  faid to be ob-
tained from the. palmijuncus draco,
the calamus  roung,  the  dracena
draco, the  pterocarpus draco,  and
feveral other vegetables.
   The writers on the materia  me-
dica in general, give the preference
to the former, tho* the others are not
unfreqnently of equal goodnefs: the
fine dragon's-blood  of either  fort
breaks fmooth, free from any vifiblc
impurities,  of a  dark  red  colour,
which changes upon being powder-
ed into  an elegant bright crimfoii.
 Several  artificial compofitions, co-
loured with the true dragon's-blood,
or Brazil wood,  are fometimes fold
in the room of  this commodity:
fome of thefe diffolve like gums, in
 water; others crackle  in the fire,
 without proving inflammable; whilft
 the genuine fangnis-draconis readily
 melts and catches flame,  and is not
 aded on by watery liquors. It totally
 diflblves  in pure  fpirit, and tinges a
 large quantity of the menftruum  of
 a deep red coloar :  it is likewife fo-
 luble  in  expreffed oils,  and gives
 them a red hue,  lefs  beautiful  than
 that  communicated by   anchufa.
 This  drug, in fubftance, has no fen-
 fible fmell or tafte ; when diffolved,
 it difcovers fome degree of warmth
 and pungency.   It  is  ufually, but
 without  foundation,  looked  upon
 as a gentle aftringent, and fometimes
 direded  as fuch in extemporaneous
 prefcription,  againft Seminal gleets,
 the fluor albus,  and other fluxes.
 In thefe  cafes, it is fuppofcd to pro-
 duce  the general tffeds of refinous
 bodies,  lightly incralfating the flu-
 ids, and fomewhat ftrengthening the
 folids.   But  in the prefent practice
 it is very little ufed, eitherexternal-
 ly or internally.  It is ftill however
 an ingredient  in  the emplaftrum
 thurisof the London  pharmacopoeia.
                                 It 
Part II.             Materia  Medica.                 275
It formerly entered the pulvis flyp-
ticus  of the Edinburgh college ;
but from this it has with propriety
been  rejeded,  giving  place to a
much more adive article, thegum-
kipo : and perhaps the fanguis dra-
conis  might even with  propriety
be omitted  from our pharmacopoe-
ias, at leaft till its qualities be real-
ly, afcertained :  For even fuppoling
fome  of thefe  red  coloured reiins
Sold under this name, to poffefs me-
dical properties,  yet it can hardly
be imagined that  all refins oS this
colour have the Same properties.

  SANICULA [Brun.] Folia.
  Sanicula Europcea Lin.
  Sanicle ; the leaves.
  This  plant grows wild in woods
and hedges, and flowers in May.
The leaves have  an herbaceous
roughifh tafte: they  have long been
celebrated  Sor  Sanative  virtues,
both  internally   and   externally.
Nevertheless their effeds, with any
intention, are not  confiderable e-
nough  to gain them a place in the
preSent  pradice.

  SANTALUM ALBUM
[Brun.]
  Santalum album Lin.
  White Saunders.
  This  is a wood brought from the
Eaft-Indies  in  billets  about the
thicknefs of a man's leg,  of a pale
whitifh  colour.  This is not, as has
been  fuppofed,  a  different fpecies
from the following,  but that part of
the yellow Saunders wood which lies
next the bark.  Greateft part  of it,
as met  with in  the fhops, has  no
fmell  or tafte,  nor any fenfible
quality  that can recommend  it to
the notice of the phyfician.

  SANTALUM  CITRINUM
[Ed.]
  Santalum album L:n.
  Yellow Saunders.
  This article, which is the interior
part of the wood oS  the Same tree
which Surnifhes the Sormer, is oS a
pale yellowifh colour,  oS a pleafant
fmell, and a bitterifh aromatic tafte,
accompanied withanagreeablekind
of pungency.   This  elegant wood
might  undoubtedly be  applied  to
valuable medical purpofes,  though
at prefent very rarely made ufe of.
Diftilled  with water it yields a fra-
grant effential oil,  which thickens
in the cold into the confiftence of a
balfam.  Digefted  in a pure fpirit,
it imparts a rich yellow tindure j
which  being committed to diftilla-
tion, the fpirit arifes without bring-
ing over any thing confiderable of
the flavour of the faunders.  The
refiduum contains the virtues of fix
times  its  weight  of  the wood.
Hoffman looks upon this extrad as
a medicine of Similar virtues toam-
bergris ;   and recommends it as an
excellent reftorative in great debi-
lities.

   SANTALUM  RUBRUM
[Lond. Ed.]
  Pterocarpus fantolinus Liu.
  Red faunders.
  This is a wood brought from the
Eaft-Indies in large billets, of  a
compad texture, a dull red, almoft
blackifh colour on  the outlide, and
a deep brighter red within.   This
wood  has no maniSeft Smell, and
little or no tafte. It has been com-
mended as a mild aftringent, and a
corroborant of the nervous Syftem ;
but ihrSe are qualities  that belong
only to t!i" ve'lovv fort.
  The principal uSe  of red faun-
ders  is as a colouring drug ; with
which  intention it is employed  in
Some formulas,  particularly in  the
tiuflura lavendulee compofifa.   ft
communicates a deep red to redified
fpirit, but gives no tinge to aqutous 
276                 Materia

liquors:  a fmall quantity  of  the
refin, extraded by means of fpirit,
tinges a large one of frefh fpirit, of
an  elegant blood red.  There is
fcarce any oil, that of lavender  ex-
cepted, to which it communicates
its  colour.   Geoffroy  and  others
take notice,  that  the Brazil woods
are fometimes fubftituted  to  red
faunders ; and the college of Bruf-
fels are in doubt whether all that is
fold among them for faunders be not
really a wood of that kind. Accor-
ding to the account which they have
given, their  faunders is  certainly
the Brazil wood ; the  dillinguifh-
ing charader of  which is,  that it
imparts its colour to common water.

  SANTONICUM  [Lond. Ed.]
Semen.
  Artemifia SantonicumLin. Lt)N.
   Artemifiaauftriaca Jacquin. Et).
  Worm feed.
  This feed  is  the  produce of a
plant of the wormwood or  mugwort
kind, growing in the Levant.
  It is a fmall, light,  chaffy feed,
compofed as it were of a number
of thin membranous coats, of a yel-
lowifli colour,  an unpleafant fmell,
and a very bitter tafte.  Thefe feeds
are celebrated for anthelmintic vir-
tues,  which they  have in common
with  other bitters ;  and are fome-
times taken with this intention, ei-
ther mixed with molafles, or can-
died with fugar : their unpleafant
tafte renders the form of a powder
or decodion inconvenient.

   SAPO  EX  OLEO OLlViE
ET    NATRO  CONFECTUS
[Lond.]
   SAPO ALBUS  HISPANUS
[Ed.]
  White Spanifh Soap.

  SAPO MOLLIS.
  Common foft foap.
Medica.             Part II.

   SAPO NIGER.
   Black foft foap.
   Soap is compofed of  expreffed
vegetable oils or animal fats, united
with alkaline lixivia. The firft fort,
or white hard  foap, is made with
the finer kinds of  oil olive ; the
common foft fort  with coarfer oils,
fat,  tallow,  or a mixture  of all
thefe  ;  and  the black (as is faid)
with train-oil.
   The purer hard foap is the only
fort intended for internal ufe. This,
triturated with oily or refinous mat-
ters, renders them foluble in water,
and hence becomes an ufeful ingre-
dient  in pills compofed  of refins,
promoting  their  diffolution in the
ftomach, and union with the ani-
mal fluids, though gum is certainly
preferable.  Boerhaave was a great
admirer of foap; and in his private
pradice Seldom preScribed any refin-
ous pills without it, nnleSs  where
an alkaleScent or putrid ftate of the
juices forbad its ufe.  From the fame
quality, foap likewife feems  well
fitted  for diflblving fuch oily or unc-
tuous matters as it may meet with in
the body,  attenuating vifcid juices,
opening obftrudions of the vifcera,
and deterging all the veffels it paffes
through. It has likewife been fup-
pofed  a powerful menftruum for the
human calculus ; and a folution of
it  in  lime-water,  as  one  of  the
ftrongeft diffolvents that can be ta^
ken with fafety into the ftomach.
The virtue of this compofition has
been thought confiderably  greater
than the aggregate of the  diflblving
powers of the foap and lime water
when unmixed.
   The foft foaps  are more pene-
trating and acrimonious  than the
hard.  The principal medical ufe of
thefe is for fome external purpofes,
although by fome, when diflblved in
ale, they have  been direded to be
                           taken 
 Part. If.            Materia

 taken  to  a confiderable extent in
 the cure oSjaundice.
   Hard foap gives name to an offi
 cinal plafter, liniment, and batfam.

   SAPONARIA  [Suec.]  Folia.
 radix.
   Sap on aria officinalis Lin.
   Soapwort,   or bruifewort ; the
 herb and root.
   This grows wild, though not ve-
 ry common, in low wet places, and
 by the fides of running  waters ;
 a double-flowered fort is frequent in
 our gardens.  The leaves have a
 bitter, not agreeable tafte; agitated
 with water they raife a Saponaceous
 froth, which is Said to have nearly
 the Same effeds  with Solutions of
 foap itfelf, in taking out fpots from
 cloaths, and the like.  The  roots
 tafte fweetifh  and fomewhat pun-
 gent, and have  a light fmell like
 thofe of liquorice : digefted in rec-
 tified fpirit, they yield a ftrong
 tincture, which lofes nothing of its
 tafte or flavour in being infpiffated
 to the confiftence of an  extrad.
 This  elegant  root  has not come
 much into pradice among us, though
 it  promifes from its fenfible quali-
 ties to be a medicine of confidera-
 ble utility.  It  is  much efteemed by
 the German phyficians as an aperi-
 ent, corroborant, and Sudorific ; and
 preferred by  the college of Wir-
 temberg, by Stahl, Neumann, and
 others, to farfaparilla.

   SARCOCOLLA [Lond.] Gum-
 mi refina.
   This is a concrete juice, brought
 from Perfia and Arabia in Small,
 whitifh, yellow grains, with a few
 of a reddifh,  and fometimes  of a
 deep red colour, mixed with them ;
 the whiteft tears are preferred, as
 beingthe frefheft. It isSuppoSed to be
 the produd oS the penas a Sarcocolla
of Linnae'us.  Its tafte is bitter, ac-
companied with adull kind of fweet-
Medica.                  277

nefs.  It diflblves in watery liquors,
and appears  to  be chiefly  of the
gummy kind, with a fmall admix-
ture of refinous matter.  It is prin-
cipally celebrated  Sor conglutina-
ting wounds and ulcers (whence its
name  «ntf*oxoxx«e, flefh-glue},actua-
lity to which neither this nor any
other  drug  has a juft title. It is an
ingredient  in the pulvis e cerujfa.

  SARSAPARILLA  [Lond. Ed.]
Radix.
  Smilax farfaparilla Lin,
  SarSaparilla ; the root.
  This root  is brought Srom  the
Spanifh Weft-Indies.  It confifts. of
a great number oS long firings hang-
ing Srom one head  : the long roots,
the only part made  uSe of, are about
the thicknefs  oS a gooSe-quill,  or
thicker, flexible, compoSed oS fibres
running their whole length ; So that
they may be flript into pieces from
one end to  the other.   They have
a glutinous, bitterifh, not ungrate-
fnl ufte, and  no Smell. It was firft
brought into Europe by  the Spani-
ards, about  the year 1563, with the
charader of  a Specific for the cure
of the lues venerea, a difeafe which
made  its appearance a  little before
that time,  and likewife  of feveral
obftinate chronicdiSorders. What-
ever good effeds it  might have pro-
duced  in the warmer  climates, it
proved unSucccSsSul in this; inSo-
much, that  many have denied it to
have any virtue at all.  It appears,
however, Srom experience, that tho'
very unequal to the  charader which
it bore at firft, it is  in Some caSes of
confiderable uSe as a Sudorific, where
more acrid  medicines are improper.
The beft preparations are, a decoc-
tion and extrad made with water ;
a decodion of half an ounce of the
root,  or a  dram  of the extrad,
which is equivalent  thereto, may
be taken for a dofe.

               S  3         SAS- 
 27 S                  Materia

   SASSAFRAS [Lond. Ed.] Lig-
 num, radix ejufque, cortex.
   Laurus fajfafras Lin.
   Saffifras ; the wood,  root, and
 its bark.
   Saffafras is brought to us in  long
 ftraight pieces, very light, and of a
 Spongy texture,covered with a rough
 fungous bdrk ;  outwardly of an afh
 colour, inwardly of the colour  of
 rufty iron.  It has a fragrant fmell,
 and a fweetifli aromatic  fubacrid
 tafte :  the barktaftes much ftronger
 than any other part; and the Small
 twigs ftronger than the large pieces.
 As to the virtues of this root, it is a
 warm aperient and corroborant; and
 frequently employed with good fuc-
 cus f .r purifying  the  blood and
 juices. For thefe purpofes, infufions
 nia.^e from the rafped root or bark,
 may be drank as tea.  In fome con-
 ftitutions,  thde  liquors, by their
 fragrance, are apt, on firft  taking
 them, to  affed the head :  in fuch
 cafes they  may  be  advantageoufly
 freed from their flavour by  boiling.
 A decodion of Saffafras boiled down
 to  the  confiftence  of an extrad,
 proves fimply bitterifh andfubaftrin-
 gent.  Hoffman affures us, that he
 has frequently given this extrad to
 the quantity of a fcruple at a  time,
 withremarkablc fuccefs for {length-
 ening the tone of the vifcera in ca-
 chexies, and alfo in the decline  of
 intermittent fevers,  and in hypo-
 chondriacal fpafms, Saffafras yields,
in diftillation, an extremely fragrant
 oil, of a penetrating  pungent tafte,
 fo ponderous,  notwithftanding the
lightneSs of  the dri'g itfelf, as  to
 fink in water.   Redified fpirit ex-
 trads the whole tafte and fmell  of
 faffaSras, and  elevates nothing  in
 evaporation : hence  the  Spirituous
 extrad proves the moft elegant and
 efficacious  preparation, as contain-
ing the virtue of the  root entire.
   The only officinal  preparation  of
faffaSras is the effential oil.  The
Medica.              Part II.

Saffafras itfelf is  an ingredient in
the decodion of the woods; and the
oil in the elixir guaiacinum.

   SATUREIA  [Suec] Herba.
   Satureia hortenfis Lin.
   Summer favory ; the herb.
   This herb  is raifed annually  in
gardens Sor culinary purpoSes.  It
is a very pungent warm aromatic ;
and affords in diftillation with water
a Subtile effential oil, oS a penetra-
ting Smell,  and very hot acrid tafte.
It yields little of its virtues by in-
fufion to aqueous liquors :  redified
fpirit extrads the whole of its tafte
and fmell, but elevates nothing in
diftillation.

   SATYRION   [Ed.]  Radix.
   Orchis mafcula Lin.
   Orchis ; the root.
   This plant is frequent in Shady
places  and moift  meadows:  each
plant has two oval roots, of a whi-
tifh colour, a  vifcid fweetifh tafte,
and a faint unpleafant fmell. They
abound  with a glutinous flimy juice.
With  regard  to their virtues,  like
other mucilaginous vegetables, they
thicken the Serous humours, and de-
Send the Solids Srom their acrimony:
they have alSo been celebrated, tho*
on no very good Soundation,  for ana-
leptic and aphrodifiac virtues ; and
Srequently  made uSe of with thefe
intentions. Salep,a celebrated refto-
rative among the Turks, is probably
the prepared root of certain plants
of the orchis kind.  This drug,  as
fometimes brought to us, is in  oval
pieces, of a yellowifh white colour,
fomewhat clear and pellucid,  very
hard, and almoft horny, of little  or
no fmell, and tafting like gum tra-
gacanth.  Satyrion  root, boiled  in
water, freed from the fl<in, and af-
terwards fufpended in theair todry,
gains exadly the fame appearance:
the roots thus prepared, diflblve  in
boiling  water  into a  mucilage.
                       Geoffroy, 
Part II.              Materia

Geoffroy," who firft communicated
this  preparation oS orchis, recom-
mends it in consumptions, in bilious
dySenteries, and diforders oS the
breaft, proceeding from an acrimo-
ny of the juices.

  SCABIOSA  [Brun.] Herba.
  Scabiofa arvenfis Lin.
  Scabious; the herb.
  This   is  a  rough hairy plant,
growing wild  in  pafture-grounds ;
of a naufeous  bitterifti tafte.   It
ftands recommended as an aperient,
Sudorific, and expectorant; but the
preSent  pradice has little depend-
dence on it.

  SCAMMONIUM  [Lond. Ed.]
Gummi-refina.
  Convolvulus fcammonia Lin.
  Scammony;  the gum-relin.
  Scammony isa concrete juice, ex-
traded from the roots of a large
climbing plant growing in the Ali-
atic Turkey. The beft comes from
Aleppo,  in  light fpongy maffes,
eafily friable, of a fhining afh colour
verging to black; when powdered,
of a light  grey or whitifh colour.
An inferior fort is brought from
Smyrna in more compad ponderous
pieces, of a darker colour,  and full
of fand and  other impurities. This
juice is chiefly of the refinous kind :
redified Spirit  diflblves five ounces
ont  of fix ;  the remainder is a mu-
cilaginous fubftance  mixed  with
drofs: proof fpirit totally diflblves
ir, the impurities  only being left.
It has a faint unpleafant fmell, and
a bitterifh,  fomewhat  acrimonious
tafte.
  Scammony is an efficacious and
ftrong purgative.   Some have con-
demned  it as unfafe, and laid fun-
dry ill qualities to its charge;  the
principal of which is,  that its ope-
ration is uncertain, a full dofe pro-
ving fome times ineffcdual, whilft at
 Medica.                  279

others a much fmaller one occafions
dangerous hypercatharfis. This dif-
ference, however, isowingentirely
to the different circumftances of the
patient, awd not to any ill quality,
or irregularity of operation, of the
medicine : where the inteftines are
lined  with an exceffive load'of mu-
cus,  the fcammony paffes through,
without exerting itfelf upon them ;
where the natural mucus ib deficient,
a fmall dofe of this or any other re-
finous cathartic, irritates  and in-
flames. Many have endeavoured to
abate the force of this drug,  and
corred its imaginary  virulence, by
expofing  it  to the fume of fulphur,
diflblving it  in acid juices, and the
like : but this could do  no more
than deftroy  as it  were  a part of
the medicine, without making any
alteration in  the reft.  Scammony
in fubftance,  judiciouOy managed,
ftands not in need of any corrector:
if triturated with fi.igar or with al-
monds, as we have formerly recom-
mended for other  refinous purga-
tives, it  becomes Sufficiently  Safe
and mild in its operation.   It may
likewiSe be conveniently diffolved,
by trituration, in a ftrong decodi-.n
of liquorice,  and then potired off
from the feces ; the college of Wir-
temberg  affnre  us,  that  by  this
treatment it becomes mildly pur-
gative, without being attended with
gripes, or  other inconveniences ;
and that it likewife proves  inoffen-
five to the palate.  The common
dofe of fcammony is  from three to
twelve grains.
   Scammony gives name to three
different  compound powders,  viz.
the pulvis e fcammonio compofitus,
pulvis e fcammonio cum aloe,   and
pulvise fcammoniocumcalomelane,
and is an ingredient in the compound
powder of Senna, the compound ex-
trad of colocynth,  and the pills of
colocynth and aloes.
             S  4          SCIL- 
280                  Materia

  SCILLA [Loud.,Ed.] Radix.
  Scilla maritima Lin.
  Squill, or fea-onion ; the root.
  This is a Sort of onion, growing
fpontaneoufly upon dry Sandy fhores
in Spain and   the  Levant,  Srom
whence the root is annually brought
into  Europe.  It  fliould be chofen
plump, Sound, frefh, and full of  a
clammy juice: fome have preferred
the red fort,others the white, though
neither deferves the preference to
the other ;  the only difference per-
ceivable between them, is that of the
colour; and hence both may be ufed
promifcuoufly.  This root is  to the
tafte very naufeous, intenfely bitter,
and  acrimonious:  much handled,
it ulcerates the fkin.  With regard
to its medical virtues, it powerfully
Stimulates the  folids, and attenuates
vifcid juices; and by thefe qualities
promotes expedoration, urine, and
if the patient be kept warm, fweat:
jf the dofe be confiderable, it proves
emetic, and fometimes purgative.
The principal ufe of this medicine
is where the primas viae abound with
mucous matter, and the lungs are
oppreffed by tenacious phlegm. Dr
Wagner, in his clinical obfervations,
recommends it  given  along with
nitre, in hydropical fwellings, and
in the nephritis;  and mentions fe-
veral cures which he performed, by
giving  from four to ten grains of
the powder  for a dofe,  mixed with
a double quantity of nitre: he fays,
that thus managed,  it almoft always
operates as a diuretic, though Some-
times it  vomits  or purges.   In
dropSy, dried Squills is often com-
bined with  mercury.   The moft
commodious form for the taking of
Squills, unlefs when defigned as an
emetic,  is that of a bolus, or pill :
liquid forms are to  moft people too
offenfive, though theSe may be ren-
dered lefs diSagreeable both  to the
palate and ftomach  by  the addition
Medica.             Part If.

of aromatic diftilled waters.  This
root yields the whole of its. virtues*
both to aqueous and vinous men-
ftrua,and likewiSe to vegetable acids.
Its officinal preparations, are a con-
serve, dried Squills, a Syrup, and vi-
negar, an oxymel,  and pills.

   SCOLOPENDRIUM.   Vide
Lingua cervina.

  SCORDIUM [Lond. Ed.] Her-
ba.
  Teucrium fcordium Lin.
• Water-germander; the herb.
  This is  a Small,  Somewhat hairy
plant,  growing wild in Some parts
of England, though not very com-
mon ;  the fhops are generally fup-
plied from gardens. It has a bitter
tafte,   and a ftrong  difagreeable
Smell.   Scordium  is of  no great
efteem in the preSent pradice, not-
withftanding the deobftruent, diu-
retic, and Sudorific virtues for which
it was formerly celebrated.  It for-
merly  entered the  mkhridate, the-
riaca.and cataplafm of cumminfeed,
and gave  name to two compound
powders and an elednary;  but it
could by no means be confidered as
an article of any great adivity; and
from Such of  thefe formulae as are
ftill retained, the fcordium is rejed-
ed.

  SCORZONERA [Suec]Radix.
  Scorzonera Hifpanica Lin,
  Viper's grafs; the root.
  Scorzonera is met  with only in
gardens.  The roots abound  with
a milky juice, of a  bitterifh Subacrid
tafte ;  and hence  may be of fome
fervice forftrengthening the tone of
the vifcera, and promoting the fluid
fecretions.   They were formerly
celebrated as alexipbanaacs, and for
throwing  out the meafles andfmall-
pox;  bur have  now almoft entirely
loft their  charader.
                         SCRQ- 
Part If.              Materia Medica.                   2Si
  SCROPHULARIA [Brun.] Fo-
lium, radix.
  Scropbularia uodofa Lin.
  Fig-wort ^  the leaf and root.
  This herb grows wild  in woods
and  hedges:  the  roots  are  of a
white colour, full of  little knobs or
protuberances on the furface :  this
appearance gained it  formerly fome
repute againft Scrophulous diforders
and  the piles;  and  Srom hence it
received its  name:   but modern
praditioners exped no Such virtues
from it.  It  has a faint unpleafant
fmell, and a  fomewhat bitter difa-
greeable tafte.

  SEBESTENA [Brun.]  Fruc
tus.
  Cordia myxa Lin.
  Sebeftens.
  Thefe are a fort  of  plum, the
produce of a tree growing in the
Eaft-Indies.  The fruit is brought
from thence  in a dfy ftate; it is of
a dark  or blackifli   brown colour,
with whitifh or afti-coloured cups:
the flefh flicks  clofe  to the ftone,
which contains Sometimes one  and
Sometimes two kernels.  This Sruit
has a Sweet,  very glutinous tafte:
and hence has been  employed  for
Softening acrimonious humours, in
fome kinds  of hoarfenefs,  and in
coughs from thin fharp defluxions:
at prefent  it is  not often met with
in the fhops.

  SEDUM  ACRE  [Suec]  Her-
ba recens.
  Sedum acre Lin.
  Wall-ftone crop, or pepper; the
recent plant.
  This  fpecies of the fednm is a
Small perennial,  Succulent, ever-
green plant,growing  in great abun-
dance on the tops oS walls and rooSs
oS houSes.   It has a Saint Smell, and
at firft an herbaceous tafte; but it
afterwards fhows confiderable acri-
mony, exciting a SenSe of biting heat
in the mouth and fauces.   In  its
recent ftate it fhows  very  adive
powers, proving emetic, purgative,
and diuretic.   The expreffed juice
taken  to  the  quant try of  a table
fpoonful, has been faid to  prove a
very draftic medicine : but the plant
in its  dried ftate fliows little or no
adivity.  In this country it is hard-
ly employed, and has no place  in
our pharmacopoeias.   Its  adivity,
however,  points it out as  a fubjed
deferving attention.

   SENEKA  [Lond. Ed.]  Radix.
   Poly gala Senega Lin.
   Seneka, or rattle-Snake root.
   Sencka grows fpontaneoufly  in
Virginia, and  bears the winters oS
our own climate.  This  root is u-
Sually about the thicknefs of the lit-
tle finger, varioufly bent  and con-
torted, and appears as if compofed
of joints, whence it is fuppofcd to
refemble the  tail of  the  animal
whofe name it  bears:  a  kind of
membranous margin  runs  on each
fide,  the  whole length of the root.
Its tafte is at firft acid, afterwards
very hot and pungent.
   The Seneka  Indnns are  faid to
prevent the  fatal efftds which fol-
low from the bite of the rattle-fnake,
by giving it internally, snd  by ap-
plying it  externally to the  wound.
It  has been ftrongly recommended
in. pletiriSies,  peripneumonies, and
other inflammatory diftempers.  Its
more  immediate effeds are thoSe of
a diuretic, diaphoretic, and  cathar-
tic;   fometimes  it proves  emetic:
the two laft operations may be oc-
cafionally prevented, by giving the
root  in Small doSes along with aro-
matic fimple waters, as that of cin-
namon. The iftual dofe of the pow-
der is thirty grains or more.
   Some have likewife employed this
root  in hydropic  cafes,  and  not
without fuccefs.  There arc exam-
ples of its occaiioiiirg a plentiful e-
                       vacuatioti 
282                  Materia
Medicd.             Part II.
atiou by  ftool, urine, and perfpira-
tion ; and  by this means removing
the  difeafe  after the common  diu-
retics and hyJragogues had failed :
where this medicine operates  as a
cathartic, it  generally proves fuc-
cefsful : if it ads by liquefying the
blood and juices, without occasion-
ing a due diScharge, it mould either
be  aoftatned from,  or  affifted by
proper additions.

  SENNA [Lond. Ed.] Folium.
  Caffia f una Lin.
  Senna; the leaf.
  This is -i, fhrubby plant  cultivated
in Perfia, Syrii, and Arabii ;  from
whence  the  leaves  are   brought,
drie i a»d picked from the ftalks, to
Alexmdria in E;'ypt;  and thence
imported into Europe. They are of
an  oblong figure, fharp pointed at
the e.?ds, about a quarter of an inch
broad, and not a full inch in length,
of a lively yellowilh green colour, a
faint not very difagreeable  fmell,
and a  Subacrid,  bitteriih,  nauSeous
tafte.   Some "inferior   Sorts  are
brought  from   Trpoli and other
places ; thefe may eafily be diftin-
guifhed by  their  being either  nar-
rower,longer, and flurper pointed;
or larger, broader, and round point-
ed,  witii fmill prominent veins ; or
large and obtuSe, of  a  frefh green
colour, without any yellow eaft.
  Senna  is a very ufeful  cathartic,
operating mildly, and yet  effedu-
ally: and if j idicioufty dofed and
managed,  rarely  occafi^ning the
ill confequences which too frequent-
ly follow the exhibit ion of the ftrong-
er purges. The only inconveniences
complained of in this drug are, its
being apt to gripe, and its nauSeous
flavour.  The griping  quality de-
pends  upon  a refinous  Snbftance,
which, like the other bodies of this
clafs, is naturally  difpofed to ad-
here to the coats  of the  inteftines.
The more  this refin  is divided by
Such matters as take off its tenacity,
the leSs adheftve, and consequently
the leSs irritating and griping it will
prove ; that the leSs it is divided,
the more griping :  hence Senna gi-
ven by itSelS, or infufions made in a
very fmall quantity of fluid, gripe
feverely, and purge lefs than when
diluted by a large portion of fuitable
menftruum, or divided by mixing
the infufion  with oily emulfions.
The ill flavour of this drug is faid to
be abated by the greater water-fig-
wort : but we cannot conceive that
this plant, whofe fmell is manifeftly
fetid and its tafte naufeous and bit-
ter, can at all improve thofe of Sen-
na: others recommend bohea tea,
tho'neither has this any confiderable
effed.  The fmell of fenna refidesin
its more volatile parts, and may be
discharged by lightly boiling infu-
fions of it made in  water: the li-
quor thus  freed from the peculiar
flavour of the fenna,  may be eafily
rendered grateful to the  tafte, by
the addition of any proper aromatic
tindure or diftil'ed water. Thecol-
leges, both of London and  Edin-
burgh, have given feveral formulas
for the exhibition of this article,
fuch as thofe of infufion,  powder,
tindure, and eleduary.  The dofe of
fenna in fubftance, is from a fcruplc
to a dram ; iu infufion, from oneto
three or four drams.
  It has  been cuftomary to reject
the pedicles of the leaves of fenna as
of little or no ufe :  Geoffroy how-
ever obferves,  that they are not
much inferior i n efficacy to the leaves
themfelves. Thepodsorfeed-veflels
met with among the fenna brought
to us, are by the college of Bruffels
preferred  to the leaves :  they are
lefs apt to gripe, but proportionably
lefs purgative.

  SERPENTARIA VIRGINIA-
NA [Loud. Ed.]  Radix.
   Ariftolochia ferpeutaria Lin.
                            Vir- 
Part II.            Materia

  Virginian Snake-root;  the root.
  This isa Small, light, bufhy root,
confifting of a  number of firings
or fibres,  matted together, iffuing
from  one  common head; of  a
brownifh colour on the outfide, and
paltr  or yellowifli  within.   It has
an aromatic fmell, like  that of va-
lerian, but more agreeable :  and a
warm, bitterifti, pungent tafte. This
root is a warm diaphoretic and di-
uretic ;   it has  been  much cele-
brated as an alexipharmac,  and
efteemed one of the principal reme-
dies in malignant fevers and epide-
mic difeafes.   Some recommend it
in cutaneous affedions.  It is given
in fubftance from  ten to thirty grains
and in infufion  to  a dram or two.
Both watery and fpirituous menftrua
extrad its virtue by infufion,  and
elevate fome ftiare of its flavour in
diftillation : along with the water a
fmall portion of  effential oil arifes.
A fpirituous tindure is  direded as
an officinal preparation.

  SERPYLLUM  [Ed.]  Summi-
tatis fiorentes.
  Thymus ferpyllum Lin.
  Mother of thyme; the flowering
tops.
  This is a  fmall creeping plant,
common on heaths and dry pafture
grounds.  Its tafte,  fmell, and me-
dical  virtues are fimilar to thoSe of
thyme, but weaker.

  SIMAROUBA   [Lond.  Ed.]
Cortex.
  Qjafa-[unarouba Lin.
  Simarouba; the bark.
  This bark, with pieces of the
wood  adhering  to  it,  is brought
from Guiana in South America, in
long tough pieces of a pale yellowifh
colour, and  a pretty ftrong bitter
tafte.   Someeftcemit indyfenteric
fluxes: a decodion of  half a dram
is given for a dofe, and repeated at
intervals of three or four hours.
Medica.                  283

   It has alfo been ufed with advan-
 tage in fome other inftances of in-
 creafed  difcharges, particularly in
 leucorrhcea. From its fenfible qua-
 lities  it may be concluded to be a
 gentle aftringent.

   SINAPI [Lond. Ed.] Semen.
   Sinapis nigra Lin. [Londi]
   Sinapis alba Lin. [Ed.]
   Muftard feed, black and while.
   Thefe feeds obtained Srom diffe-
 rent Species of  the muftard, differ
 very little from each other, excep-
 ting that the black is rather more
 pungent than the white.
   This  plant is  fometimes found
 wild, but for culinary and  medici-
 nal ufes is  cultivated  in  gardens.
 Muftard, by its acrimony and pun-
 gency ftimnlates the folids, and at-
 tenuates vifcid juices; and hence
 Stands defervedly recommended for
 exciting appetite, promoting dige-
 ftion, increaling the fluid Secretions,
 alio in paralytic and rheumatic affec-
 tions,  and for the other purpofes of
 the acrid plants called antifcorbutic
 Some  recommend  it in the difeaSe
 called  milreek, to which Smelters are
 Subjed.   It imparts  its  tafte and
 Smell  in perfedion to aqueous li-
 quors,whilft redified Spirit extrads
 extremely little oSeither: the whole
 of the  pungency arifes  with water
 in diftillation.  Committed  to the
 preSs,  it yields a confiderable quan-
 tity oS a SoSt infipid oil, perfedly
 void  oS acrimony :  the  cake left
 after the expreflion is more pungent
 than the n uftard was at firft. The
 oil is direded as an officinal by the
 London college.  Thefe feeds are
 fometimes employed externally as a
 ftimulant and finapifm.

   SIUM [Lond.] Herba.
   Shim nodifiorum Lin.
   Creeping fkerrit  or water parS-
 nip; the herb.
   The  London Pharmacopoeia is
                              the 
 284                  Materia

 the only modern one in which this
 article has at prefent a place. And
 it has probably been introduced from
 Some observations of late date with
 which we are unacquainted. It is an
 indigenous  vegetable  in  Britain,
 growing  abundantly  in rivers and
 ditches.  It was formerly alleged to
 be not only diuretic, but alfo an
 emmenagogue  and   lithontriptic.
 With thefe intentions, however, it
 is not now employed.   Dr Wither-
 ing mentions that a young lady of
 fix years old was cured of an obfti-
 nate cutaneous difeafe by  taking
 three large  fpoonfuls  of  the juice
 twice a-day; and  he adds that  he
 has given repeatedly to adults three
 or four  ounces every  morning,  in
 fimilar  complains.  In fuch  dofes
 it neither affeds the head, ftomach,
 nor bowels.  And children take it
 readily when mixed with milk.

   SOLANUMLETHALE, vide
 Belladonna.

   SFERMA  QMTl  DICTUM
 [Loud. Ed.]
   Phyfiter macrocephalus Lin.
   Spermaceti.
   It is perhaps furprifing,that while
 the London  and Edinburgh  colle-
ges, have with great propriety chan-
ged many of the old names of ar-
ticles, particularly thofe which had
a tendency to miflead,  they  fhould
Still have retained one fo  abfurd as
that which is affixed to the prefent
article. What is denominated Sper-
maceti is  a peculiar a  B'nal Sat ob-
tained Srom the head of a particular
fpecies of  whale.  In  the ftate  to
which it is brought, before it enters
the fliops of  our apothecaries, it is
an unduous  flaky fubftance,  of  a
fnowy whiteuefs, a foft butyraceous
tafte, and  without  any remakable
fmell. The virtues of this concrete
are thofe of a mild emollient: it is
'A  coafiderablc ufe in pains and ero-
r Medica.             Part  II.

 fions of the inteftines, in coughs pro-
 ceeding from thin fliarp defluxions,
 and in general in all cafes where the
 folids require to be relaxed, or acri-
 monious  humours to be  foftened.
 For external purpofes, it readily dif-
 Solves in oils; and for internal ones,
 may be united with aqueous liquors
 into the form of an emulfion, by the
 mediation of almonds, gums, or the
 yolk of an egg.Sugar does not render
 it perfedly mifcible with water; and
 alkalies,which change other oilsand
 fats into foap, have little effed upon
 fpermaceti.   This drug ought to be
 kept very clofely from the air ; 0-
 therwifeits white colour Soon chan-
 ges into a yellow, and its mild unci
 tuous tafte, into rancid and offen-
 five one.  ASter it has fuffered this
 diSagreeable alteration, both the co-
 lour and quality may be recovered
 again by fteeping it  in alkaline li-
 quors, or in a Sufficient quantity of
 fpirit of wine.

   SPIGELIA [Loud. Ed.] Radix.
   Spigelia Marilandica Lin.
   Indian pink ; the root.
   This plant grows wild in  the
 fouthern parts of North  America.
 The roots are celebrated as an  an*
 thelmintic, particularly for the ex-
 pulfion of lumbrici from the alimen-
 tary canal.  Some order it in  dofes
 of ten or fifteen grains ; and allege
 it  is apt to occafion  nervous afixc*
 tions if given in large dofes; while
 others order it in dram dofes,  alle-
 ging that the bad effeds mentioned
more readily happen from fmall do-
fes, as the large ones often purge or
puke ; fome prefer the form of infu-
fion. An emetic is generally premi.
fed ; and its purgative effed aflifted
by fome fuitable additions.

   SPINM  CERVINA    [Lond.
Ed.]  Bacca.
   Rhamnus catharticus Liu.
   Buck-thorn ; the berries.
                            The 
Part II.             Materia

  This tree, or bufli, is common in
hedges: it flowers in June, and ri-
pens its fruit in  September or the
beginning of Odober. In our mar-
kets, the fruit of  fome other trees,
as the black berry-bearing alder,
and the dog-berry tree have of late
been frequently mixed with or Sub-
ftituted for thofe of buckthorn. This
abufe may be discovered by open-
ing the berries: thoSe of buckthorn
have almoft always four feeds, the
berries of the alder two,  and thofe
of the dog-berry only one.   Buck-
thorn berries, bruifed on white pa-
per,gives it a green tindure, which
the others do not.  Thofe who fell
the juice  to the  apothecaries, are
faid to mix  with  it a large propor-
tion of water.
  Buckthorn berries have a faint
difagreeable fmell, and  a naufeous
bitter tafte.  They have long been
inconfiderable efteem ascathartics;
and celebrated in  dropfies, rheuma-
tiSms, and even in the gout; though
in theSe caSes, they have no advan-
tage above other purgatives, and are
more offenfive,  and  operate  more
Severely, than many which the fhops
are Surnifhed with : they generally
occafion gripes,  ficknefs, dry the
mouth and throat, and leave a thirft
oS long duration.  The  doSe  is a-
bout twenty oS the Srefh berries in
Subftance, and twice or thrice this
number in decodion, an ounce oS
the expreffed juice, or a dram oS the
dried  berries.   A Syrup prepared
Srom the juice is kept in  the fhops;
in this  preparation  the nauSeous
flavour of the buckthorn  is fome-
what alleviated  by the fugar, and
the addition of aromatics.

  SPIRITUS CORNU  CERVI ;
Hoc  eft,  Satis atkalint  volatilis ex
offibus vel cornibus animalium para-
ti, portio volatilior liquida bene rec-
tificata ut decolor fit [Ed.]
  Spirit of hartfhorn.
Medica.                   285

   This  is the more volatile liquid
 part of the volatile alkaline fait, ob-
 tained from the bones and horns of
 animals, well redified fo as to be-
 come colourlefs.
   The volatile alkali, as got by di-
 ftillation with a ftrong fire from any
 animal matter, from foot,  &c. is,
 when pure, one and the fame thing.
   Of the mode of obtaining it we
 fliall  afterwards have  occafion to
 fpeak, under  the head of prepara-
 tions, when we come to mention the
 liquor volatilis, fal et oleum cornu
 cervi, which, although they derive
 their name from hartfhorn, may ytt
 be obtained from any animal fub-
 ftance, excepting animal fat.
   As firft diftilled, however, from.
 the fubjed, this liquor is impregna-
 ted with its oil,  rendered fetid or
 empyreumatic by the procefs. The
 oily volatile alkali has been chiefly
 prepared by diftillation in large iron
 pots, with  a  fire increafed  by de-
 grees to a ftrong red heat : a watery
 liquor rifesfirlt,then the volatile fait,
 along with a yellowifh,and at length
 a dark reddifh oil;  a part of the fait
 diflblves in the water and forms the
 fpirit, which is confiderably fepara-
 ted from the.oil by filtration thro*
 wetted paper.  It is redified by re-
 peated diftillations with a very gen-
 tle heat.  Greateft part of  the fait
 always comes  over before  the wa-
 ter ; a little of ihe  fait is generally
 allowed  to remain  undiffolved as a
 teft of the ftrength  of  the  fpirit.
 However colourlefs the fait or Spirit
 of hartfhorn, foot, or fuch like, may
 be thusrcndeied ;  yet by keeping
 they become  yellow and naufeous,
 owing to a quantity of  oil  which
 they ftill retain.   The  Edinburgh
 college  order  this article to be got
 from the manufadurer, rather than
 prepared by the apothecary himfelf,
 who cannot do it to any advantage.
   The volatile alkali is  got in  its
 purcft ftate from fal ammoniac. Itis
                             ufed 
 286                  Materia

ufed externally, held to the nofe on
account of its  pungent odour, in
cafes of faintnefs and fyncope, and
mixed  with  unduous matter as a
rubefacient.  It is ufed internaily
to obviate fpafm in hyfteria, torpjr
in hypochondriasis, and with a view
to excite the vis vitae.
   Ithas alfo been faid, that in fome
inftances  intermittents  have been
Successfully cured by it,  even after
the Peruvian bark had failed. With
this view, fifteen drops of the fpirit
are given in a tea cupful of cold
fpring water, and repeated  five or
fix times in each intermiflion.

    SPIRITUS VINOSUS REC-
TIFICATUS  [Lond Ed.]  Conti-
net alkoholis partes 95 et equa di-
ftillata partes  5 in partihus 100 ;
hujus pondus fpjeificum eft at pon-
dus aquece diftillat^ ut 835 ad 100.
   Redified fpirit of wine.   It con-
tains 95 parts of alcohol and  5 parts
of diftilled water in  100.   Its fpe-
cific gravity is  to that of diftilled
water as 835 to 1000.
   According to the  Edinburgh col-
lege, the pound meafure of redified
fpirit ought to weigh thirteen ounces;
and it  fhould be a colourlefs  fluid
free from any difagreeable fmell.
 .  This purification  is effeded by
repeating the diftillation in a very
gentle heat, with certain additions
to keep down the phlegm and the
grofs oil, in which the ill flavour re-
fides.  Thefe fpirits, whatever ve-
getable fubjeds they have been pro-
duced  from,  are,  when perfedly
pure, one and the fame. They have
a  hot  pungent  tafte, without any
particular flavour ;  they  readily
catch flame,  and burn entirely a-
way, without leaving  any marks of
an aqueous moifture behind : diftil-
led by a heat lefs than that of boil-
ing  water, they totally arife, the
laft runnings  proving as flavourlefs
and inflammable as the firft  : they
diflblve effential vegetable oils and
Medica.              Part II.

refins  into an uniform transparent
fluid.  TheSe Spirits are the lighteft
of almoft all  known liquors: ex-
preffed oils, which fwini upon wa-
ter,  fink'in theSe to the bottom .• a
meaSure which contains ten ounces
by weight of  water, will hold little
more thau*eight and a quarter of
pure fpirit.
  The  ufes  of vinous  Spirits^ as
menftrua  for  the virtues  of  other
medicines, will be mentioned here-
atter, and in this  place  we fhall
confider only their own.   Pure fpi-
rit  coagulates alj the fluids of ani-
mal bodies, except urine, and it al-
fo hardens the folid parts.  Applied
externally, it ftrengthens the vef-
fels, and thus may reftrain paffive
hemorrhagies.lt inftantly  contrads
the  extremities of the nerves it
touches, and  deprives them of fenfe
and  motion ;  by this means eafing
them of pain,  but at the Same time
destroying their uSe.  Hence  em-
ploying fpirituous liquors in Somen-
tations, notwithftanding the Speci-
ous  titles of  vivytying,  heating,
reftoring mobility,  refolving, difli-
pating, and the like, ufually attri-
buted to them, may fometimes be
attended with unhappy confequen-
ces.  Thefe liquors received undilu-
ted into the ftomach, produce the
fame effeds, contrading all the fo-
lid parts which they touch, and de-
ftroying, at leaft for a time,  their
ufe and office :  if the quantity be
confiderable,  a palSy  or apoplexy
follows, which end in death. Taken
in fmall quantity, and duly diluted,
they brace up the fibres,  raife the
fpirits, and promote agility : if far-
ther continued,  the fenfes are dis-
ordered,  voluntary motion deftroy-
ed, and at length the Same inconve-
niences brought on as before.  Vi-
nous fpirits, therefore, in fmall do-
fes, and properly diluted, may beap-
plied to ufeful purpofes in the cure
of difeafes; whilSt in larger of>es they
ad as a poiSon of  a particular kind.
                            And 
Part. II.              Materia

And they generally prove deleterious
from long continued ufe to fuch a
degree as frequently to intoxicate.

  SPIRITUS   VINOSUS  TE-
NUIOR  [Lond.Ed.] Continetal-
koholis partes SS, et aqua diftillata
partes 45  in partibus ioo.  Hujus
poudus fpecificum eft ad pondus a-
qu<z difiillatae ut 930 ad 1000.
  Proof fpirit of wine.  It contains
55 parts of alcohol and 45 of diftil-
led water in ico.   Its fpecific gra-
vity, is to that of diftilled water as
930 to 1000.
   The Edinburgh  college dired
proof fpirit  to be made by mixing
equal parts  of water and redified
Spirits, but the SpiritsuSually met with
under the name of proof \ are thofe
diftilled Srom different Sermented li-
qMors, freed from their phlegm  and
ill-flavour only to a certain degree.
Their purity with regard to flavour,
may be eafily determined from the
taile, efpecially if the fpirit be  firft
(July diluted.  It were to be wilhed
that ^'e had a certain ftandard with
regard to their ftrength or the quan-
tity of water contained in them ;  a
circumftance which greatly influen-
ces fundry  medicinal preparations,
particularly  the tindures:  for as
pure fpirit diflblves the refin and vo-
latile oil,  and vater only the gum-
my and faline.parts of vegetables, it
is evident that a variation in the pro-
portions wherein ih< fe  are mixed,
will vary the diflblvintr power of tl;c
menftruum,and confeque 11 tlytht.  vir-
tue of the preparation ; and from  this
circumftance, apothecaries would
do  better by prep* ing it from rec-
tified fpirit thtnifeivcs, tiianby pur-
chafing it from dealers.

  SPONGIA [Loud.]
  Spongia officinalis  Lin.
  Sponge.
  Sponge is a foft,  light, very po-
rous and compreflible fubftance, rea-
dily imbibing water, and difeir.ding
Medica.                   287

thereby.  It is found adhering to
rocks, particularly in the Mediter-
ranean fea,  about the iflands of the
Archipelago.  It  is  generally fup-
pofed to be a vegetable production:
neverthelefsfomeobfervations,madc
by Juflieu, give room to Sufpcct that
it is of animal origin.   Chemical
experiments favour this fuppofttion:
analyfed,  it yields the  Same prin-
ciples with animal-Subftauces in ge-
neral : volatile Salt is obtained from
it in larger quantity  than from al-
moft any animal-matter, except the
bags of the Silk-worm.  On this Salt
Seem to depend the  virtues oS the
officinal fpongia ufta, which has by
Some been ftrongly recommended in
Scrophulous  affections;  but which
has been particularly celebrated for
removing that large fv, t iliug of the
neck,  which is termed brenchocele,
and which is probably of a fcrophu-
lous nature.
  Crude fponge,  Irom its property
of imbibing and diftending by moi-
fture, is fometimes made  ufe of as a
tent for dilating wounds and ulcers.
  To fit it for thefe intentions,  the
fpougr is immerfed in melted wax,
and fubjtded to pn fibre till  cool :
In this ftate  it may be eafily formed
into proper  tents,  So as 10 be intro-
duced where neceffary.   And Srom
the gradual meitaig 01 the wax in
confequence of tlu heat of the part,
a dilatation of courfe  takes place.
  It adheres ftrongly to the mouths
ol wounded  veffels;  and  when re-
tained  by  proper comprdlion,  it has
prevented  confiderable  biddings
p/eterabiy to a^iric,  or pun-bali.

  STAN.VL'M [Lend.]
  SfANM " L1A.ATLRA   ET
PULVIS  iFd.]
  The filings aivi  p<Avd.r of tin.
  Tirr is the lighttlt and eaficft of
fufion of all  metals.  Heated,  it be-
comes fo orit.le as to Uni a. pieces by
a blow ; and hy.agit-ttx-n (v. hen juft
ready to melt) it  is formed into  .1
                         powder: 
288                  Materia

powder: hence the officinal method
of pulveriling this metal, to be de-
fcribed  in  its place.   The proper
menftruum of tinisthemarine acid,
or aqua regia. Vegetable acids like-
wife diffolve it in confiderable quan-
tity, tho' it has long been  fuppofed
not to be at  all ib  foluble  in them,
unlefs previoufly w< it calcined.
   With regard to the virtues of this
metal  it was formerly accounted a
fpecific in diforders of the uterus and
lungs: a cal a of tin and antimony is
ftill'retained in fome diSpenSatories,
under the name of  an  antiheGic;
but thefe are virtues to which it cer-
tainly  has  little claim.   It has of
late been celebrated as an anthel-
mintic;  and faid  to  deftroy  Some
kinds  oS worms which elude the
force  of many other  medicines,
particularly  the taenia:  pollibly the
cauSe of this effed may be  very dif-
ferent  from what  is  fufpeded,  an
admixture of a portion of arfenic.
   Tin has a ftrong affinity with ar-
fenic ;  infomuch, that when  once
united  therewith,  the arfenic, not-
withftanding its volatility in other
circumftances, cannot be totally ex-
pelled, either by flow calcination or
by a vehement fire.  Almoft all the
ores of tin contain  more or lefs of
this poifonous mineral, which is not
entirely  Separable in  the  common
proceffes by which the ores are run
down, or the metal farther  purified.
Filings of tin held in the flame of a
candle, emit a thick fume, Smelling
oSgarlic ; which Sm^ll is nniverfally
held in  mineral Subftances to be  a
certain  criterion oS arSenic.   M*'
Henckel has discovered a method of
feparating adtial arSenic Srom tin :
this is effeded by Solution in aqua-
regia and cryftalliSation.  Mr Mar-
graff has given a farther account of
this proceSs ; and relates, that  Srom
the tins ufually reputed pure, he has
obtained one-eighth of their weight
of cryftals of arfenic.
Medica.             Part  II.
   But notwithftanding thefe obser-
vations it is certain, that tin  under
theformof ftannum pulveratuui, af-
terwards to be mentioned, is every
day taken  internally  with perfect
impunity,  even in dofes fo large as
to the extent cf an ounce, although
unlefs in  cafes of taenia, it is in
general employed in much fmaller
dofes.

   STAPHISAGR1A  [Lond.]
Semen.
   Delphinium ft aphifagria Lin.
   StaveSacre; the Seeds.
   TheSe are large rough Seeds, of
an irregularly triangular figure, of
a blackifh colour on the outnde, and
yellowiih or whitifh within; they
are ufually  brought from Italy; the
plant is not very common  in this
country, though it bears our fevereft
colds.  They have a difagreeable
fmell, and a very naufeous bitterifh,
burning tafte.   Stavtfacre was em-
ployed by the ancients as a cathar-
tic :  but it  operates with fo much
violence both upwards and down-
wards, that its internal ufe has been
among the  generality of practition-
ers, for fome time laid afide.  It is
chiefly employed in external appli-
cations for fome kindsof cutaneous
eruptions, and  for deftroying lice
and other  infeds;  infomuch,  that
form  this virtue it  has received its
name, in different languages: herba
pedicularis, herbe aux poux,  laufs- ,
kraut, loufewort, &c.

   STIBIUM,  vide Antimo-
K1UM.

   STOECHAS, [Brun.] Flos.
   Lavendula jlachas Lin.
   Arabian  ftechas,or French laven-
der-flowers.
   This is afhrubby plant, confider-
ably fmaller than the commonla ven-
der. The flowery heads are brought
from Italy and the fouthern parts of
                        France: 
 Part II.            Materia

France t  they ife very apt to grow
mouldy in the  paflage; and eVen
when they efcape this inconvehi-
enee, are  generally much inferior
to thofe raifed In our gardens. The
beft ftechas which we  receive from
abroad,  has no great fmell or tafte:
Pomet affirms,  that  fuch  as the
fhops of Paris are fupplied with  is
entirely  deftitute of  both;  whilft
that  of our  own growth,   either
when frefli or when carefully dried,
has a very fragrant  fmell,  and a
warm, aromatic, bitterifh, fubacrld,
tafte j diftilled With water, it yields
a Confiderable quantity of a fragrant
effential  oil;  to redified fpirit  it
imparts a ftrong tindure, which in-
fpiffated pfoVCS  an elegant aroma-
tie extract.  This aromatic plant is
rarely met with in prefcriptioh; the
only officinal compofitions into which
it was admitted,  were the mithri-
date  and  thcriaca.
  There is another plant called fte-
chas, which  from  the beauty and
durability of  its flowers has of latfi
years bad d  place in our gardens,
and whofe aromatic qualities render
it worthy of  attention; this is the
griitphulitlm arehdrittmLin. the gol-
deh ftechis, the goldilocks, or yel-
low caffidony; its flowers ftand in
umbels on the tops of the branches;
they are  of a deep  fhining yellow
colour, which they retain, in per-
fedion many  years ; their fmell  is
fragrant  and  agreeable, Somewhat
of the  mufky  kind;  their tafte
warm, pungent, and Subaftringent;
they impart their flavour to water
in diftillation, and  by infufion  to
redified fpirit.

   STRAMONIUM  [Ed.]  Her-
ba.
  Datura ftramonium  Lin.
  Thorn-apple;  the herb.
  The ftramoniuni is  one of thofe
vegetables commonly confidered as
2  ftrong narcotic poifon, which was
Medica.                  5&8§

highly recommended to the atten-
tion of praditioners by Dr Stoerk
of Vienna.  It grows irtdigenousin
fome parts of Britain, among rub-
bifh and on dunghills.  It has bten
ufed internally,under the form of an,
extrad or infpiffated juice from the
leaves. This extradhas been chiefly
employed in maniacal cafes ; and
when given in dofes from one to ten
grains or upwards in the courfe of
the day,  it has been alleged to be
attended  with furpriiing effeds on
the authority not only of Dr Stoerk,
bat of Dr Odhelius, Dr Weden-
berg and others.   Dr Odhelius in
particular informs us, that of fOHr-
tecn patients  to whom he gave it,
eight were Completely  cured,  five
were relieved,and one only received
no benefit. We have not, however,
heard of its being equally fuccefsful
in Britain ; and it is here fo little1
employed as to have ftill no place in
the pharmacopoeia of the London
college.  But we cannot help think-
ing, that it defefves the attention of
praditioners, and w£ll merits trial,
in affedions often incurable by o-
ther means.  The  powder of the
leaves or feeds prornifes to furnifh a
more certain or convenient formula
than the infpiffated juice.   Befides
maniacal cafes, the ftramonium has
been alfo employed,  and fometimes
with advantage, in convulfive and
epileptic affections.  It is not only
taken internally, but has alfo been
ufed externally.  An ointment pre-
pared from the leaves of the ftramo-
nium has been faid to give eafe in
external inflammations  and in hae-
morrhoids.

  STYRAX CALAMITA [Lou.
Ed] Reftna.
  Sty rax officinalis Lin.
  St or ax.
  This  is an odoriferous refinous
fubftance, exuding  from a  tree
growing in the warmer climates.
                T             It 
290                  Materia

  It Ins been cuftomary  to  diftin-
guifh three forts of florax, though
only one is ufually met with in the
fhops.
  1. Sty rax calamita, or ftorax in
the cane,  fo called  from  its having
been formerly  brought inclofed in
reeds from Pamphylia.  It is either
in fmall diftind tears,  of a whitifh
or reddifh colour, or in larger maffes
compofed  of fuch.
  2. Storax in the lump, or red fto-
rax.  This is in maffes of an  uni-
form texture and yellowifli  red or
brownifti colour ; though fometimes
likewife  interfperfed  with a few
whitifh grains.  Of this fort there
has been fome lately to be met with
in the fliops under the  name of fto-
rax in the tear.
  3. The common ftorax of the fliops
is in  large maffes,  confiderably
lighter and leSs compad than  the
foregoing: it appears upon exami-
nation to be compoSedof  a fine re-
finous juice, mixed with a quantity
of  faw-duft.   For  what pnrpofe
this addition is  made,  it is difficult
to fay, but it can fcarce be fuppofed to
be done with any  fraudulent view,
fince the faw-duft appears at fight.
This common  ftorax  is  much lefs
efteemed  than the two firft forts ;
though, when freed from the woody
matter,  it proves fuperior in point
of fragrance to either of them. Rec-
tified fpirit, thecommon menftrumn
of refins, diflblves the ftorax, lea-
ving the wood behind : nor does this
tindure lofe confiderably  of its va-
luable parts in being infpifTated to a
Solid confiftence ;  whilft aqueous li-
quors elevate almoft all thefragran-
cy of the ftorax.
  Storax is one of  the moft agree-
able of the odoriferous reiins,  and
maybe exhibited to great advantage
inlangnorsanddebilitiesof the ner-
vous fyftem; it is  not,  however,
much ufed in common pradice.
Medica.             Part II.

  STYRAX LIQUIDA  [Dan.]
  Liquidambar ftyracifiua Lin.
  Liquid ftorax.
  The  genuine  liquid ftorax, ac-
cording to Petiver's account,  is ob-
tained from a  tree growing in the
ifland Cobros in the Red Sea :  the
preparers of this commodity yearly
clear offthebarkof the tree, and
boil it in fea-water to the confiftence
of bird lime ;  the  refinous matter
which floats upon the Surface is ta-
ken  off, liquified again in boiling
water,and paffed through a ftrainer.
The purer part which paffes  thro*,
and the more impure which remains
on the ftrainer,and contains a consi-
derable portion of  the fubftance of
the  bark, are both Sent to Mocca ;
from whence they  are  fometimes,
though very rarely, brought to us.
The firft is of the confiftence of
honey, tenaceous, of a reddifh  or
afh brown colour, an acrid unduous
tafte, approaching in fmell  to the
folid ftorax, but fo ftrong as to be
difagreeable:  the  other  is full  of
woody matter, and much weaker in
Smell.
  The genuine liquid ftorax is even
at Mocca  both  a  rare commodity
and Sold at a very high price, and it
has Seldom entered the fliops of our
apothecaries. A refinous juice, pof-
Sefling Somewhat of the Same Sen fiblc
qualities,  brought Srom the Spanifii
provinces in South America ;  and
perhaps the produd of the fame tree
is Sometimes Sold in place of it: But
much more frequently what we meet
with under this name is an artificial
compound of folid ftorax, common
refin,wine,and oil, beat up together
to a  proper confiftence.   Concern-
ing the real virtues of liquid ftorax,
then,  observations arc  altogether
wanting: hence  the London and
Edinburgh colleges have expunged
it from  the catalogue of officinals.

                           sue- 
 Part'11.              Materia

   SUCCWUM[Lcnd. Ed.]
   Amber.
   This is a folid, brittle, bituminous
 fubftance, dug out of the earth, or
 found Upon the Sea-fhores:  the lar-
 geft quantities are met with along
 rhecoaftsof Polifh Prufliaand Pome-
 rania.  It is of a white yellow, or
 brown colour, Sometimes opake, and
 fometimes very clear and transpa-
 rent. The dark-coloured and opake
 Sorts, by digeftion with certain ex-
 preffed oils and animal fats, become
 clearer, paler coloured, more pellu-
 cid, and confiderably harder.  Am-
 ber boiled in water, neither Softens
 nor  undergoes  any  fenfible altera-
 tion :  expofed to a greater heat,
 without addition,  it melts into a
 black niafs like fome of the more
 common bitumens: fet on fire, its
 fmell refembles that which arifes
 from the finer kinds of pitcoal: di-
 ftilled in a retort,  it yields an oil
 and a volatile acidulous fait.
   Amber in fubftance has very little
 Smell or tafte ;  and hence it has by
 Some been reckoned a mere inadivc
 earthy body.  It was formerly ac-
 counted an  abforbent,  and as fuch
 had  a place in the compound pow-
 der of crabs-claws: it certainly has
 no title to this clafs of medicines, as
 not  being aded upon by any acid.
 It is fuppofed to be of fervice in the
 fluor albus,  gleets,  hyfteric affec-
 tions, &c, ; and  with thefe inten-
 tions, is fometimesgiven  in the form
 of impalpable powder, to the quan-
 tity of a dram.   A tindure of am-
 ber made in redified fpirit, to which
 it imparts a bitterifh aromatic tafte
 and  a fragrant fmell, promifes to be
 of Service  in theSe disorders. Boer-
 haave extols  this tindure as having
 incredible efficacy in all thoSe di-
 ftempers which proceed Srom weak-
 neSs and  relaxation, and in hypo-
chondriacal, hyfterical,and cold lan-
guid caSes.  If part of the  fpirit be
abftraded by a gentle he.at, the re-
 Medicd.                 29!

 mainder proves a very elegant aro-
 matic balfam, which is perhaps one
 Of the moft ufeful preparations ob-
 tainable from this concrete*
   Amber in the ftate of powder for-
 merly entered feveral officinal com-
 pofitions, Srom all which it is now
 rejeded  : but it is the  bafis oS an
 oil and Salt aSterwards  to be men-
 tioned  among  the preparations,
 which are fometimesufed in the ftate
 in which they arc at firft obtained,
 but more Srequently in a purifiedor
 redified  ftate ; preparations which
 fall to be mentioned hereafter.

   SULPHUR [Lond.]
  Sulphuris [ores. [Ed.]
   Sulphur, and flowers of Sulphur.
  Sulphur, or brimftone, isayellow
 Subflance, oS the mineral kingdom,
 fufible in a fmall degree of heat, to-
 tally volatile  in a ftronger, readily
 inflammable, burning with  a blue
 flame, which is accompanied with
 a fuffocating acid fume. It diflblves
 in alkaline liquors and oils ; not in
 acids, water, or vinous fpirits.
  Greateft part of the fulphur  met
 with in the fliops, is obtained from
 certain ores by a kind of diftillation,
 cr artificially compofed  by  uniting
 the vitriolic acid with inflammable
 matters.   At fome  of  the  Saxon
 fulphur-works, from whence we are
 Chiefly fupplied, certain minerals a-
 bounding with vitriolic  acid,  but
 containing little or no fulphur,  be-
 ing ftratified  with wood,  and  the
 latter fet on fire, a large quantity of?
 fine  fulphur is produced.   It is u-
 fually  brought to us in large irre-
 gular maffes, which are afterwards
melted and eaft into cylindrical rolls
 with the addition of fbmecoarfe re-
 fin, flower, or the like ; whence the
 paler colour of the foils.   Sulphur
 is alfonotunfrequently found native
 in the earth,  fometimes in tranfpa-
 rent pieces of grcenifti  or  brighc
 yellow colour ; but more commonly
              Ta             in 
292                  Materia

in opaque grey ones, with only Some
ilreaks of yellow.  This laft is the
fort which is underftood by the name
fulphur vivum ;  though that met
with under this name in the fliops,
is no other than the drofs remaining
after the fublimation of fulphur. All
the forts of fulphur are,  when per-
fedly pure,  in no refped different
from each other.  Notwithftanding
the preference given by  fome to the
more  uncommon  foffil forts, thefe
laft are the leaft proper for medici-
nal purpofes, as being the moft fub-
jed to an admixture of foreign mat-
ter both of  the metallic and  arfe-
nical kind.
  Pure fulphur loofens  the belly,
and promotesinfenfible perfpiration:
it feems to pafs through the whole
habit,   and manifeftly  tranfpires
through the pores  of the fkin, as
appears from the Sulphureous Smell
oS perfons who have taken it,  and
Srom  filver heing ftained in their
pockets of a blackifh colour? which
is the  known effed of Sulphureous
fumes.  It  is a celebrated remedy
againft cutaneous difeafes, both gi-
ven internally and  externally ap-
plied.   It has likewife been recom-
mended in coughs, afthmas,  and
other disorders of  the  breaft  and
lungs; and particularly jn catarrhs
of the chronic kind.   But it is pro-
bable,  that the benefit derived from
it in thefe cafes,  is principally, if
not entirely, to be attributed to its
operation as a gentle laxitive, And
with this  intention it  is frequently
ufed with great advantage in hae-
morrhpidal affedions;,  and many o-
ther difeafes in which it is proper
to keep the belly gently open. Tho'
fulphur be not foluble in water, yet
boiling water poured  upon it,  and
kept in a clofe veffel  obtains fome
impregnation.   This water has by
fome been highly extolled as a very
effedual remedy for preventing re-
turns of gout and  rhcumattfm.
Medica.             Part II.

   The common dofe of fulphur
 rarely exceeds a fcruple, tho' Geof-
 roy goes as far as two drams.
   Sulphur is the bafis of  two for-
 mulae in our pharmacopceias,troches
 and an ointment; the former in tend-
 ed  for internal ufe,  the latter (o
 be employed externally.
   It is remarkable of this  concrete,
 that though itfelf a medicine  of
 confiderable efficacy, it neverthelefs
 reftrains that of Some others of the
 moft powerful kind.  Mercury is
 rendered by the admixture  of ful-
 phur, inadive ; and the  virulent
 antimonial regulus almoft So. Hence,
 when antimonial and mercurial me-
 dicines exceed in operation, Sulphur
 has been given for abating their vi-
 olence :  but it is now Sound  that it
 has little cffed  in reftraining their
 adion ; and it is probable, that the
 influence it has depends entirely on
 its operating as a gentle  laxative.
 Even the corrofive  poiSon arSenic,
 by the additionof Sulphur, becomes
 almoft innocent; and hence, if a
 Small  proportion of  arfenic  mould
 be contained in fulphur, it poflrbly
 may not  receive from  thence any
 poifonpus qualities.

   SUMACH [Brun.] Folium, fe-
 me n.
   Rhus coriaria Lin.
   Common Sumach ; the leaves and
 feeds.
   This tree, or fhrub, is cultivated
 in Some  places on account of the
 culinary uSes of its fruits, and for
 the pnrpofes, of the dyers,  &c. a-
 rcong us, it is met with only in the
 gardens of the curious.  The Seeds
 or berries are  of a  red colour, in
 fliape round and flat.  Both thefe
 and the leaves  are moderately a-
 ftringent,  and have fometimesbeen
 exhibited  with this intention, but
 are now  become ftrangers to the
 fhops.
                            TA- 
Part II.
Materia Medica.
*93
   TACAMAHACA  [Brun.]
 Refinu.
   Populus balfatnifera Lin.
   Tacamahaca; the refin.
   This refinous Subftance is obtain-
 ed from  a tall tree,  which grows
 Spontaneoufly on the continent of
 America, and in a flickered Situa-
 tion bears the winters of our own
 climate.  Two Sorts of this refin are
 fometimes to be met with.  The
 beft, called from its being colleded
 in a kind of gourd-fhefta, taeama-
 hacainfhells, is fomewhat unduous
 and foftilli, of a pale yellowifh or
 greenifh colour, an aromatic tafte,
 and a fragrant delightful fmell, ap-
 proaching to that of lavender  and
 ambergris. This fort is very rare :
 that commonly  found  in the fhops
 is in femitranfparent grains or gle-
 bes, of a whitifh, yellowifh, brown-
 ifh, or greenifh colour,  of a lefs
 grateful fmell than the foregoing.
 The firft is faid to exude from the
 fruit of the tree, the other from in-
 cifionstoade in the trunk. This re-
 fin is  faid to be employed among
 the Indians, externally, for difcuS-
 fw»g and maturating tumours,  and
 abating pains and actus of the limbs.
 The fragrance of the finer fort fuf-
 ficiently  points out its being appli-
 cable to different purpofes.

   TAMAR INDUS [Lond.  Ed.]
 Fruftus.
   Tamarindus indica  Lin.
   Tamarinds; the  fruit.
   Tamarinds are the fruit of a tree
 growing in the Eaft and Weft-In-
 dies.  It is a pod refembling a bean
 cod, incladiug feveral hard Seeds,
 together with a hard coloured vifcid
 pulp oS a pleafant acid tafte :  the
 Eaft-Indiatamarindsarelongerthan
 the Weft-India Sort ; the former
containing fix or Seven Seeds each,
the latter rarely above three or Sour.
The pulp of thefe fruits, taken from
 the quantity of two or three  drams
 to in ounce or more, proving gently
 laxative or purgative ; and at  the
 fame  time by its acidity,  quenches
 thirft, and allays immoderate heat.
 It increafes the adion of the purga-
 tive fweets, caffia and manna,  and
 weakens that of the refinous cathar-
 tics. Some have fuppofed  it capable
 of abating the virulence of antimo-
 nial  preparations ; but experience
 fhows that it has rather a contrary
 effed, and that all vegetable acids
 augment their power.   Tamarinds
 are an ingredient in the eleduary of
 caffia, the lenitive eleduary, and de-
 codion of tamarinds with fenna.

   TANACETUM  [Lond.  Ed.]
 Flos,  herba.
   Tanacetum vnlgare Lin.
   TanSy ;  the flower and herb.
   TanSy grows wild by road fides
 and the borders of fields, and is
 frequently alfocultivated in gardens
 both for cUlinary and medicinal u-
 Ses:  it flowers in June and  July.
 Confidered as a medicine, it is a mo-
 derately warm bitter, accompanied
 with a ftrong, not very difagreeable
 flavour :  fome have had a great 0-
 pinion of it in  hyfteric  diforders',
particularly thofe proceeding from
a deficiency or  Suppreflion of  the
uterine purgations.  The leaves and
feeds have been of confiderable e-
fteem as  anthelmintics ; the Seeds
are leSs bitter, and more acrid and
aromatic,   than thoSe of rue,  to
which they arc  reckoned fimilar ;
or of Santonicum, for which they
have been frequently Subftituted.
  An inSufion of tanSy, drunk in a
manner Similar to tea, has been by
Some  ftrongly  recommended as a
preventative of  the return of gout.

   TAPSUS BAFBATUS, vide
Verbascum.
T3
TA- 
294                  Materia


  TARAXACUM  [Lond.  Ed.]
Radix, herba.
  Leontodon taraxacum Lin.
  Dandelion, the leaves and root.
  This plant is very common in
grafs fields and uncultivated places.
The root, leaves, and ftack, contain
a large quantity of a bitter milky
juice. There is reafon to believe that
they poffefs very confiderable adi-
vity; and with that intention they
have fometimes been employed with
fuccefs.   Boerhaave eftcems them
capable, iSduly continued, of open-
ing  very  obftinate  obftrudions of
the vifcera. A fpirit obtained from
them by diftillation, after previous
fermentation, has been ftrongly re-
commended by Profeflor Delius of
Erlang, in every diforder where fa-
ponaceous, attenuating, orrefolvent
medicines can be of ufe,  particular-
ly in afthmatic diforders, in coughs
proceeding from glandular obftrac-
tions, and in hydropic affedions.

   TARTARUM [Ed.]
   Tartar is a faline fubftance, con-
fifting of the vegetable alkali fuper-
faturaied  with  acid.  It is thrown
off from wines to the fides and bot-
tom of the cafk : In this ftate it is
mixed with earthy, oily, and colour-
ing  matter; and when it has a deep
brown colour,   as  that from red
wine, it  is commonly  called  red,
and when of a paler colour,  white
tartar. It is purified by diffolving it
in boiling water, and feparating the
earthypart by filtring theboilingfo-
lution.  On cooling the folution, it
depofites irregular cryftals, contain-
ing  the oily and colouring matters,
which are feparated by  boiling the
mafs with a white clay.  The tartar
thus purified, when cryftallifed, or
in powder, is called cream »f tartar.
If this be expofed to a red heat, its
acid flies off;  and what  remains is
tbe  vegetable alkali, or Salt of tar-
Medka.             .Part II.

tar.   If we add lime  to aborting
Solution of pure tartar, the lime falls
down with the acid,  and the pure
alkali fwims  in  the  water above.
The lime .is  feparated by any acid
of a ftronger  attradion to it, as the
vitriolic acid, which is added in a
diluted ftate,  the whole ftirrcd for
Some lime, and Strained off; the a-
cid of tartar paffes  through, and
may be had by evaporation in the
form of rhomboidal cryftals.  The
folubility of tartar in water  is much
promoted by  borax.
   The virtues of tartar are  thofe of
a mild, cooling, aperient, laxative
medicine.  It is much ufed in drop-
fy ;  and  fome  allege that it has
good  effed,  as  a  deobftruent,  in
dropfy from fchirrus.  Taken from
half an ounce to an ounce, it proves
a gentle,  though  effedual purga-
tive : Angclus Sala relates, that he
was cured of an  habitual  coije by
purging  himfelf a few times with
fix drams  of the  crude Salt, after
many  other  medicines had  been
tried  to no purpofe.
   The cryftals of tartar are in daily
ufe, merely  by themfelves, either
taken in powder or diflblved in wa-
ter ;  and  there are perhaps few
medicines  more commonly employ-
ed.
   This fait is an ingredient in the
compound  infufion of  Senna, com-
pound powder of fenna, of jallap,
and of Scammony ; and it is ufed
for  diflblving or  corroding fome
 metallic bodies, particularly anti-
 mony,  Srom which it receives  a
 ftrong emetic impregnation,  as in
 the  preparation formerly called e*
 metic tartar, but now more properly
 ftyled antiir.onium tartarizafutu.

   TEREI.INTHINA [Lond.Ed.]
 Refina.
   Pinus larix Lin.
   Turpentine.
   The turpentines are refinous juices
                             ex- 
 Part II.             Materia

 extraded'from trees of the pine-
 tribe. There are four kinds of tur-
 pentine diftinguifhed in the fliops.

   TEREBINTHINA CHIA, five
 CYPRIA.
   Chian, or Cyprus turpentine.
   This juice is generally about the
 confiftence of thick honey,  very te-
 nacious, clear,  and  almoft  tranfpa-
 rent, of a white colour, with a eaft
 of yellow, and frequently of blue :
 ithas a warm, pungent, bitterifh
 tafte ; and a fragraut fmell, more a-
 grceablc than any of the other tur-
 pentines.
   The turpentine brought to us, is
 extraded in theiflandswhofenames
 it bears, by wounding the trunk and
 branches a little after the buds have
 comeforih:  the juice iffues limpid,
 and clear as water, and by degrees
 thickens  into  the  confiftence  in
 which we meet with it. Alike juice
 exuding from this tree in theeaftcrn
 countries, infpiffated by a flow fire,
 is of frequent ufe, as a mafticatory,
 among the Perfian ladies, who, as
 Koempfer informs us, are continual-
 ly chewing it, in order to  fatten
 and whiten the teeth,  fweeten the
 breath, and promote appetite.

   TEREBINTHINA   VENE-
 TA.
   Venice turpentine.
   This is ufually thinner than any of
 the other forts, of a  clear, whitifh,
 or pale yellowifh colour, a hot, pun-
 gent, bitterifh, difagreeable  tafte,
 and  a ltrong fmell, without any
 thing of the fine aromatic flavour of
 the Chian kind.
   What is ufually met with in the
fhops, under  the name  of  Venice
turpentine, comes from New Eng-
land ; of what tree it is the pro-;
duce, we have no certain account:
the finer kinds of it are in  appear-
ance  and quality not confiderably
Medica.                  29^

different from the true fort above
defcribed.

   TEREBINTHINA  ARGEN-
TORATENSIS.
   Strafburgh turpentine.
   This, as wc generally meet with
it, is of a  middle confiftence  be-
twixt the two Soregoing, more tran-
sparent, and leSs tenacious than ei-
ther ; its colour a yellowifh brown.
Its Smell is very fragrant, and mote
agreeable than that of any of the o-
ther turpentines, except the C hian ;
in tafte it is the bittereft, yet  the
leaft acrid.
   This refin is obtained  Srom  the
two Sorts of fir-trees, the moft plen-
tiful, and perhaps the only  ones,
that grow fpontaneoufly in Europe,
There is another, whofe refin is
much fuperior to the common tur-
pentine, and has fometimes been
brought to us from abroad under the
name of balfamum canadenfe. The
Virginian, or Canada fir, though not
a native of this climate,  has been
found to endure its feverelt colds.

   TEREBINTHINA  COMMU-
NIS.
   Common turpentine.
   Thisisthecoarfeft, heavieft, and
in tafte and fmell the moft difagree-
able, of all the forts: it is about the
confiftence of honey, of an opaque
brownifh white colour.
   This is obtained  from the wild
pine, a low unhandfomc tree, com-
mon in  different parts cc Europe.
This tree is extremely r: S.t;ous, and
remarkably fubjed to a diic;fr rr m
a redundance and extravafa-fon of
itsrefiji^ttSomuch that, wiihou- clue
evacuafloii, it Swells and burfts. The
juice as it iffues from the tree is  'e-
ceived in trenches made in the c■■* n b,
and afterwards freed from the gruf-
fer impurities by colature through
wicker bafkets.
                T  4          All 
296                 Materia

  All thefe juices yield in diftilla-
tion with water an highly penetra-
ting  effential  oil, a  brittle infipid
jefin remaining behind. With re-
gard to their  medical virtue?, they
premote urine,  cleanfe the parts
concerned in the evacuation thereof,
and deterge internal ulcers in gene-
ral ;  and at the fame time, like other
bitter hot Subftances, ftrengthen the
tone of the veflels: they have an ad-
vantage above moft other acrid diu-
retics,  that they gently looSen the
belly.  They are principally recom-
mended in gleets,  the fluor albus,
and  the like; and by Some- in cal-
culous complaints : where theSelaft
proceed from the Sand or gravel,
formed into  a  maSs by viScid mu-
cous matter, the turpentines, by dif-
folving the mucus, promote the ex-
pulfion of the Sand;  but where a
calculus is formed,  they can do no
fervice, and only ineffedually irri-
tate  or inflame the parts.  In all ca-
fes accompanied with inflammation,
theSe juices ought to be  abftained
from, as this Symptom is increaSed,
and not unfrequently occafioned, by
them.  It  is obServable,  th%t the
turpentines impart, foon aSter ta-
king them, a violent Smell  to the u-
rine ;  and have this  effed though
applied only  externally to remote
parts : particularly the Venice Sort.
This is accounted the moft powerSul
as a  diuretic and detergent; and the
Chian and Strafburgh as corrobo-
rants. The common tHrpentine, as
being the moft offenfive, is rarely
given internally ; its principal uScis
in plafters and ointments among Sar-
riers,  and for the diftillation of the
oil, or Spirit,  as it is caBji  The
dofe of thefe juices is fronvRcruple
to a dram and a half: they are moft
commodioufly taken in the farm of
a bolus,  or diflblved in watery li-
quors by the  mediation of  the yolk
of an egg or mucilage.  Of the di-
stilled oil, a few drops are a fuffici-
Medica.              Part II.

ent dofe: this is a moft poteruyfti-
mulating, detergent diuretic,often-
times greatly heats the eonftitution,
and requires the utmoft caution in
its exhibition.   Taken internally,
when mixed with honey, ithasheen
alleged to prove a pwerful reme-
dy in obftinate rheumatic cafes, par-
ticularly in iSchias.

   TERRA  JAPONICA,  vide
Catechu.

   TEST.E  OSTERORUM
[Lond.]
   0fire a edulis Lin.
   Qyfter fliells.
   Thefe, iruheir natural ftate, fur-
nifh us with  an  abSorbent powder
of a reftringent quality, and Some-
times they are employed toreftrain
loofenefs   arifing  from  acidity.
When calcined, they are often em-
ployed for making lime-water.

   THEA [Brun.] Folium.
   Thea bohea et viridis Lin.
   Tea;  the leaf.
   The feveral forts of tea met with
among us, are the leaves of the fame
plant,  colleded  at different times,
and cured in a fomewhat different
manner; the fmall young leaves very
carefully dried, are the finer green:
the older afford the ordinary green
and bohea. The two firft have a fen-
fible flavour of violets; the other of
rofes:  the former is the natural o-
dour of the  plant ; the latter, as
Neumann obferves, is probably in-
troduced by art:  fome of the deal-
ers in  this commodity in  Europe,
are  not ignorant that bohea  tea is
imitable by the leaves of  certain
common plants,artificially tindured
and impregnated with the rofe fla-
vour.  The  tafte of  both forts  is
lightly bitterifh, fubaftriwgent, and
Somewhat aromatic.   The medical
virtues attributed to thefe leaves are
fjff.citntiy numerous,  though Sew
                              of 
Part II.             Materia

of them baro any jnft foundation:
little more can be cxpeded Srom the
common infufions than that oS a di-
luent, acceptable to the palate and
ftomach:  the diuretic, diaphoretic,
and  other virtues Sor which they
have been celebrated depend more
on the quantity of warm fluid, than
any  particular  qualities  which  it
gains from the  tea. Nothing arifes
in diftillation from either fort of tea
with redified fpirit; water elevates
the  whole of their flavour.
   Good tea, in a moJcratje quantity,
Seems  to  refrefh and ftrengthen;
but  iS taken in  a  recent highly fla-
voured  ftate,  and in confiderable
quantity, its uSe is apt to be Succeed-
ed by weakneSs and tremors, and  o-
ther Simitar confequences refulting
from the  narcotic vegetables.  Yet
it is highly  probable,  that many  of
the  bad as well as good effeds faid
to rtfult  from it,  are  the confe-
quences oS the warm water.

   THLAPSI [Brun.] Semen.
   Thlapfi arveufe Lin,
   Mithridate muftard; the Seed.
   Two.Sorts  oS Thlapfi are uSed
promiScuoufly;   they  both  grew
 wild ;  their Seeds have an acrid bi-
 ting tafte  like  common muftard,
 with which they agree in  medical
 qualities.

   THUS MASCULUM, vide O-
 LIBANUM.

-~ THUS  VULGARE  [Loud.]
 Refina,
   Common SrankiticenSe.
   This is  a Solid,  brittle  refin,
brought to  us in little  glebes  or
 maffes, of a brownifh or yellowifli
colour  on the oatfide,  internally
 whitilh or variegated  with  whitifh
Specks;  of a bitterifh,  acrid, not
agreeable tafte, without any  con-
siderable Smell. It is SuppoSed to  be
Medica.                   297

the produce of the pine tree which
yields the  terebinthina communis;
and concrete on the furface of the
terebinthinate juice foon after  it has
iffued  from the  plant.   It  gives
name to one plafter, the emplaftrum
thuris  and  is  a principal ingre-
dient  in another, the emplaftrum
ladani.

   THYMUS [Ed.] Herba.
   Thymus vulgaris  Lin.
   Common Tiiymc ;  the herb.
   This plant is frequent in our gar-
dens, and  flowers in June and Ju-
ly.  It has an agreeable  aromatic
fmell, and a warm  pungent  tafte;
which it imparts by infufion to rec-
tified fpirit, and fends over in  diftil-
lation with water;  along  with the
water ariSesan effential oil, extreme-
ly hot and pungent.   This oil is of-
 ten Sold in the lltops for that of ori-
 ganum.  It frequently gives eafe in
cafes of odontalgia,  when topically
 applied to a caries tooth.

   TILIA  [Suec]  Flores.
   Tilia Europaa Lin.
   The lime,  or linden  tree;  its
 flowers.
   The lime tree has been much va-
 lued on aecount of its quick growth
 and  pleafant fhade;  it  flowers  in
 July, and lofes its leaves foon aSter.
 The flowers are made uSe of chiefly
 on account of their  agreeable fla-
 vour, which  water extrads from
 them by infufion,  and elevates  in
diftillation.   Among the writers on
 the materia medica, they have the
charader of an antiepileptic,  and a
 fpecific in all kinds of SpaSms and
 pains.  Frederick Hoffman relates,
 that he knew a chronical epilepfy
 cured by the infufion of thefe flow-
 ers drank as  tea.

   TINCAR, vide Borax.

                          TOR. 
;%(fi                  Materia

 .  TORMENTILLA [Lond. Ed.]
Radix.
   Tormsntilla erefta Lin.
   Tormentil, or SeptSoil; the root.
   Tormentil is found wild in woods
and on commons: it has long flen-
der ftalks,  with  ufually Seven long
narrow leaves at a  joint; the root
is  for the  moft  part crooked' and
knotty, oS a blackifh colour  on the
onrfide, and a reddifh within. This
root has an auftere ftyptic tafte, ac-
companied  with a flight kind of a-
rom a tic flavour ; it is one of the moft
agreeable and efficacious of the ve-
getable aitringents,  and is employ-
ed with good cffed in all cafes where
medicines of this clafs  are  proper.
It is more ufed, both in extempora-
neous prefcription and  in officinal
competition,  than any of the other
ftrong vegetable aftringents : it is
an ingredient in  the two compound
powders of chalk. A tindure made
from it with redified fpirit poffeffes
the whole  aftringency and flavour
of the root, and lofes nothing of ci-
ther in infpiffating.

  TRAGACANTHA, vide Gum-
mi TBAGACANTHA.

  TRICHOMANES [Ed.] Her-
ba :
   Afplenium trichomanes Lin.
  Maidenhair; the  herb.
  This is one of  the herbs  called,
from  the fmallnefs  of their  ftalks,
capillary  : itis found wild in diffe-
rent parts of Britain, upon old walls,
and in fhady places.   The  leaves
have a mucilaginous, fweetifti, fub-
aflringent tafte, without any parti-
cular flavour ; they are efteemed ufe-
ful in diforders of the breaft, pro-
ceeding from a thicknefs  and acri-
mony of the juices ; and are likewife
fuppofed to  promote  the expedora-
tion of tough phlegm, and to open
obftrudions of the vifcera.   They
arc ufually direded in inSufion or de-
 Medica.             Part II.

 cedion, with the addition of a little
 liquorice.  A fvrup prepared  from
 ihem, though it has now no place in
 our pharmacopoeias, is frequently to
 be met with in our lhops, both 'as
 prepared  at  home  and imported
 from  abroad.  A little of thefe Sy-
 rups mixed with water makes a ve-
 ry  pleaSant  draught.  The  Syrup
 brought Srom abroad has an admix-
 ture of orange-flower water.

  TRIFOLIUM  PALUDOSUM
 [Lond. Ed.] Herba.
  Menyanthes trtfoliata Lin.
  Buck-bean, or marfh trefoil; the
 herb.
  This plant grows  wild in  moift
 marfliy places; it has three oval
 leaves, ftanding together upon one
 pedicle which iffues from the  root;
 their tafte is very bitter and fome-
 what  naufeous.  Marfh trefoil is an
 efficacious aperient and deobftruent,
 promotes the fluid fecretions, and if
 liberally  taken, gently loofens the
 belly.  Some recommend it in Scro-
 phulous disorders and other ill-con-
 ditioned ulcers; inveterate cutane-
 ous diSeaSes have been  removed by
 an infufion of the leaves drank to the
 quantity  of  a pint a  day at proper
 intervals,  and continued for  fome
 weeks.  Boerhaave relates, that he
 was relieved of the gout by drink-
 ing the juice mixed with whey.

  TRITICUM [Lojid.] Farina a-
 mylum.
  Triticum hybenum Lin.
  Wheat; flour and ftarch.
  Wheat, a common article of food,
 is more glutinous and nutritious than
 moft other kinds  of grain.   The
 flour, or the ftarch prepared from it,
 Sorm with water a SoSt \ifad Sub-
 fiance, which has been taken  with
 good  SucceSs in diarrhoeas and dy-
 senteries. Starch is an ingredient in
 the compound powder of gum tra-
gacanth,   and the white pedoral
                         troches, 
Part II.             Materia

troches, which are now  more pro-
perly ftyled ftarch troches.
   Bran contains, befides the hufks
or fhells of the wheat, a portion of
its farinaceous matter:  This is lefs
glutinous than the finer flour, and is
fuppofed to have a detergent quality.
Infufions of bran are not unfrequent-
ly employed with this intention ex-
ternally, and fometimes likewife ta-
ken inwardly.
   Bread, carefully toafted,  and in-
fuf'ed,or lightly boiled in water, im-
parts  a deep colour, and a Sufficiently
agreeable reftringent tafle. This li-
quor  taken as common drink, has
done good Service in a weak lax ftate
of the ftomach and inteftines ;  and
•in bilious vomiting and purging, or
the cholera morbus.  Examples are
related in  the  Edinburgh Effays of
feveral cafes of this  kind cured by
it, without the ufe of any other me-
dicine.
   It is alfo  a very common and a
 very  proper drink in difeafes of the
 febrile kind.
   When  a farinaceous powder  is
ftceped in cold  water and ftrained
through a cloth, a glutinous part re-
mains in the cloth which Some Sup-
poSe to be the nutrient principle, as
itis quite fimilar to animal jelly : a
ftarch paffes through with the water,
fettles at the bottom, and a Sweet
mucilageiskept diffolved in the wa-
ter.  It is probably the jnft proper-
lion of thefe three  ingredients in
wheat which gives that grain a pre-
ference in diet over the reft.  The
gluten is  infoluble in  water; but
when mixed wiih the other two,and
SeaSoned with Salt, in that ftate made
to Serment by yeaft or leaven, and
this Sermentation,  checked by the
heatoftheoven, the ingrediemsbe-
come  So intimately united, that they
cannot be feparated :  the viScidity of
the gluten is  diminifhed, and the
whole thus forms a very foluble and
nutritious bread.
Medica.                  299

  TURPETHUM [Brun.] Ra-
dicis, cortex.
  Convolvulus turpethum Lin.
  Turbith; the cortical part of the
root.
  The cortical part of this root  is
brought to us in oblong pieces, of a
brown or  afh-colour on the outfide,
and  whitifli  within.  The  beft is
ponderous not wrinkled,  eaSy   to
break, and diScoversa large quantity
of refinous  matter to the eye:  its
tafte is at firft Sweetifh ; chewed for
a little time, it becomes acrid, pun-
gent and naufeous.  This root  is a
cathartic, not of the fafeft or moft
certain kind. The refinous matter,
in which its virtue refides, appears
to be very unequally diftributed, in-
Soniuch that Somepieces,taken Srom
a Scruple to a dram,purge violently;
while others, in larger doSes, have
Scarce any effed at all. An extrad,
made from the root,ismore uniform
in ftrength, though not fuperior or
equal, to purgatives more common
in the fhops.

  TUSSILLAGO  [Lond. Ed.]
Herba, [lores.
  Tuffilago farfara Lin.
  Colt's foot; theherb and flowers,
  This grows wild in watery places,
producing yellowflowers inFebruary
and March ; thefe Soon fall off, and
are  fucceeded by  large roundifh
leaves hairy underneath: their tafte
is herbaceous, fomewhat glutinous,
and fubacrid. Tuffilago, ftands re-
commended in coughs,phthifis, and
other diSorders of the breaft and
lungs, and fome ufe it  in fcrophula.
It is chiefly  directed  to be taken
with milk ; and upon this probably,
more than on the tuffilago iifelf,any
benefit  derived from  it in pradkc
is to be explained.

  TUTIA  [Ed.]
  Tuny.
  This  is en impure Sublimate  of 
 3oo                   Matern

 zinc, or an argillaceous fubftance
 impregnated therewith,formed into
 tubulous pieces  like the bark of a
 iree. It is moderately hard and pon-
 derous ; of a brownifh colour, and
 full of fmall protuberances on the
 outfide, Smooth and yellowifli with-
 in;. Some pieces have a bluifh eaft,
 from minute globules of zinc being
 thrown up by the heat in is metallic
 form.   Tutty is celebrated as an
 ophthalmic,and frequently employ-
 ed as fuch in unguents and collyria:
 it gives name toan officinal ophthal-
 mic ointment.

   VALERIANA  SYLVES-
 TRIS [Loud. Ed.] Radix.
   Valeriana officinalis Lin.
   Wild valerian ; the root.
   This root confifts of a number of
 Strings or fibres matted together, if-
 fning Srom  one common head of a
 whitith or pale brownifh colour; its
 fmell isftrouglike a mixture of aro-
 maticswith fetids ; the tafte unplea-
 fantly warm,bittcrifh,and fubacrid.
 There is a wild valerian,with broad-
 er leaves, of a  deeper and fhining
 green colour met with  in watery
 places. Both forts have  hither been
 ufed indifcriminately; and Linnasus
 has joined them into one fpecies: but
 the firft i scon Side rably the ftrongeft,
 aadlofosof its quality if tranfplanti-
 ed into fuch foils as the other natu-
 rally delights in.  The roots, pro-
 duced in low watery grounds, have
 a remarkably faint fmell in corapa-
 rifon oS the others, and  Sometimes
 fcarce any at all.  The roots taken
 up in autumn or winter,  have alSo
 much ftronger Senfible qualities than
 jhofe collected in Spring and Sum-
 mer. Wild valerian is a  medicine oS
 great uSe in nervous diSorders, and
 is particularly Serviceable in epilep-
 sies, proceeding from a debility  of
 the nervous fyftem. It was firft
brought into efteem  in thefe  cafes
by Fabius Colmnna; who by taking
 the powdered root  in the dofe  of
i Medica.             Part  II.

 half a fpoonful;, was cured o£an in-
 veterate epilcpfy, after many other
 medicines  had been tried ia. vain.
 Repeated experience lias  fince con-
 firmed its efficacy in this  diforder ;
 and the prefent pradice lays confi-
 derable ftrefs upon it. It can, how-
 ever, by no means be reprefented as
 uniformly,  or even frequently, Sue-
 cefsful, and that too  although cm-
 ployed in very large dofes.  In the
 Edinburgh  Difpenfary,  in cafes of
 epilepfy in which there was no evi-
 dence of local affedion, it has been
 given  to the extent of  two ounces
 a day without effed.
   Some recommend it as  ufeful in
 procuring fleep,  particularly in fe-
 ver, even \fehen opium fails : But it
 is principally ufeful in affedions of
 the hyfterical kind.
   The  common dofe  is from a
 fcruple to a  dram in powder; and in
 infufion, from  one to  twodrams.
 Its unpleafant flavour is moft effec-
 tually coucealed by a fuitablq addi-
 tion of mace.
   A tindure of valerian  in  proof
 fpirit and in volatile Spirit are kept
 in the fhops.

   VERRATRUM, Vide  Hellk-
 BORUS AXBUS.

   VERBASCUM  [Ed.]  Folium.
   Verbafcum thapfus Liu.
   Mullein; the leaf.
   This  plant is met with by road
 fides and under hedges. It is clothed
 with SoSt downy lea ves,and produces
 long fpikes of yellow flowers in July.
 To the tafte it manifeftsa glutinous
 quality, and has been recommended
 as an emollient.  Some  hold: it in
 efteem in confumptions, others have
 recommended it ftrongly in dyfen-
 teric affedions ;  but  moft pradi-
 tioners are difpofed  to put  little de-
 pendence on it  in  either.  It has
fometimes,althongh  perhaps ftilllefe
frequently,  been employed exter-
nally in ill conditioned ulcers.
                            VE- 
Part II.              Materia
  VERONICA [Suec] Herba.
  Veronica officinalis Lin.
  Male fpeedwell; the herb.
  This is one of the veronicas which
produce their flowers in clufters at
the joints of the ftalks: it is a rough
procumbent plant, not unfrequently
met with on dry commons  and  in
fandy grounds.  In tafte, fmell, and
medical virtues,  it is Similar to the
betonica,  though the veronica is
commonly SuppoSed to  have more
oS an aperient and  pedoral  virtue,
and betony to be rather nervine and
cephalic.  Hoffman and Joh. Fran-
cus have written expreSs treatiSes on
this plant, recommending infufions
of it drank in the  form of  tea, as
very Salubrious in many diSorders,
particularly thoSe of the breaft.

  VINCETOXICUM [Suec] Ra-
 dix.
   Afclepias vincetoxicum Lin.
  Swallow-wort, or tame  poifon;
the root.
  This is a native of the warmer
climates ; it is fometimes met with
in our gardens,  but rarely perfeds
its feeds.  It is  reckoned  by  bota-
nifts  a fpecies of  apocynum,  or
dogfbane; from  all the poifonous
forts of which it maybe diftinguifh-
ed,  by  yielding  a  limpid juice,
whilft that of the others is a milky.
The root has a ftrong fmell, efpeci-
ally when Srefh, approaching to that
of valerian or nard; the tafte is at
firft fweetifh and aromatic, but foon
becomes bitterifh, Subacrid, and nau-
Seous. This root is efteemed Sudori-
fic, diuretic, and emmenagogue, and
frequently employed by the French
and German phyficians as an alexi-
pharmac, fometimes as a fucceda-
neum to contrayerva;  whence it
has received the name oS contrayer-
va Germanorum.  Among us it  is ve-
ry rarely made ufe of.  It  appears
from its fenfible qualities  to be a
medicine of much the  fame kind
Medica.                  301
with  valerian, which  is probably
preferable to it.

   VINUM  [Lond. Ed.]
   Wine;  the fermented juice of
the grape.   Among the great vari-
iety of wines in common ufe among
us, four are employed in the  fliops
as menftrua for medicinal fimples.
   Vinum album Hifpanicum, Moun-
tain.
   Vinum  Canarium,   Canary  or
fack.
   Vinum Rhenanum, Rhenifh.
   Vinum rubrum,  Red port.
   Wines  confift chiefly of water,
alcohol, a  peculiar acid, the aerial
acid, tartar, and an aftringent gum-
my refinous matter,  in which the
colour of  red wines refides, and
which is Squeezed out from the
hufks of the grapes.  Thty  differ
from  each other in the proportion
of thefe ingredients, and particular-
ly in  that of the alcohol which they
contain.
   The ufes of thefe liquors as men-
ftrua  and vehicles of the virtues of
other medicines will be given here-
after: in  this place  we fliall con-
fider  only  their effeds on the hu-
man body.  Thefe are, to ftimulate
the ftomach, cheer the fpirits, warm
the habit,  promote  perfpiration,
render the  veffels' full and turgid,
raife  the pulfe, and quicken the cir-
culation.
   Sweet wines  are  ftronger than
they appear from the tafte, becaufe
two impreffions  ftrike more  feebly
when combined than when feparate.
Red  port,  and  moft  of  the red
 wines, have an aftringent quality,
 by which they ftrengthen  the tone
of the ftomach and inteftines, and
 thus  prove Serviceable Sor restrain-
 ing immoderate  Secretions.  ThoSe
 which are  of an  acrid nature,  as
 Rhenifh, pafs freely by  the kidneys,
 and gently loofen ihe belly. It is fup-
 pofed that thefe laft cxafpcrate or
                              oc- 
 302                  Materia

 occafion  gouty atrd  calculous difor-
 ders; and that new winesof every
 kind have this^ffcd.
   Wine is  much ufed in fevers of
 the typhous kind, and often with
 great fuccefs, particularly when  the
 appetite  feems to call for  it, and
 when the ftomach rejects all food.
 Claret, Madeira, and Port, are thofe
 commonly employed in Britain.

   VIOLA  [Lond. Ed.]  Flos  re-
 crns.
   Viola odor at a  Lin.
   The   March  violet; the  frefh
 flower.
   This is often found wild in hedges
 and  fhady places, and flowers in
 March ;  the (hops are generally fup-
 plied from  gardens.   In our mar-
 kets we meet  with  the flowers of
 different fpecies; thefe may  be dif-
 tinguifhed from  the foregoing  by
 their being larger, of a pale  co-
 lour, and of no fmell.  The officinal
 flowers have a very pleafant fmell,
 and a deep purplifh blue colour,  de-
 nominated from  them  violet.  They
 impart their colour and flavour to
 aqueous liquors :  a fyrup made from
 this  infufion has long  maintained a
 place in  the fhops, and proves an a-
 greeable and ufeful laxative for chil-
 dren.

   VIPER A [Ed.]
   Coluber berus  Lia.
  .The viper.
   The viper is one of the viviparous
 reptiles, without  feet,  about an inch
 in thicknefs, and twenty or  thirty
 in length.   The poiSon of this Ser-
 pent is confined to its month: at  the
 bafis  of  the fangs,  or long teeth
 which it wounds with, is lodged a
 little  bag containing the poifonous
liquid;  a very  minute portion of
 which, mixed immediately with  the
 blood, proves fatal.   Our  viper-
 catchers  are faid  to prevent the mif-
 chiefs otherwiSe following Srom the
Medica.              Part II;

bite,  by rubbing oil olive warm on
the part.  The fiefh of the viper is
perfedly innocent;  and ftrongly re-
commended as a medicine of extra-
ordinary fervice in Scrophulous, le-
prous, rheumatic, and other obfti-
nate  chronic  diforders.   Its vir-
tues,  however,  in  thefe cafes,  arc
probably too  much  exaggerated^
The viper  is donbtlefs an high  nu-
tritious food;  and  hence in fome
kinds of weakneffes, and emaciated
habits,  is not undefervedly looked
upon as a good rcftorative.   To an-
fwer  any valuable  purpofes, frefh
vigorous vipers, not  fuch  as have
been long kept alive after they are
caught, fhould be liberally ufed as
food.  The wines  and tindures of
them can fcarce be  fuppofed to  re-
ceive any confiderable virtue from
the animal; the dry flefh brought
to us from abroad is  probably entire*
ly infignificant.

   VIRGA  AUREA  [Brun.]
Herba.
   Solidago virga aurea Lin.
   Golden rod  ; the herb.
   This is  found wild  on  heathi.
and in woods, producing fpikes of
yellow  flowers  in   Auguft.  The
leaves have a  moderately aftringent
biiter tafte; and hence  prove fer-
viceable iu  debility and  laxity of
the viScera,  and diforders proceed-
ing Srom that  caufe.

   VISCUS  [Suec] Lignum.
   Vifcus albus Lin.
   Milfeltoe; the wood.
   This is a  bufliy plant, growingon
the trunk and branches of different
trees: that  met with on the oak is
generally preferred, perhaps on ac-
count of its being the moft rare.  It
may,  however, be propagated by art
on any trees, by  rubbing the berries
againft the  bark.   This office has
hitherto been performed by  the
thrufh (who feeds on the berries in
                              the 
Part.IL
Materia  Medica.
the winter) in clearing his bill from
the feeds that flick, about if.  This
plant was held in veneration by the
fuperftition of former ages: it was
hung  about the  neck to prevent
witchcraft, and taken internally to
expel poifons.  It has been celebra-
ted as a fpecific in epilepfies, palfies,
&c.; virtues, which it were greatly
to be wifhed that experience gave
any countenance to : but  So little
reliance is now put upon it, that it
is entirely rejected,   both by  the
London and Edinburgh colleges.
   VITIS [Lond.]
   Vitis viuifera Lin.
   The vine tree.
   The leaves of this tree were for-
merly  celebrated asaftringents, but
have for a long time been entirely
disregarded  : their tafte is herbace-
ous, with only a flight  roughnefs.
The trunk of the tree, wounded in
the fpring,  yields a clear,  limpid,
watery juice : This tear of the vine
has been accounted excellent for
fore eyes ;  and  by  Some  recom-
mended likewiSe in ardent and ma-
lignant fevers,  and  as a diuretic.
The flowers have a pleafant fmell,
which  water elevates from  them in
diftillation ; alon^ with the water,
a fmall portion of an elegant effen-
tial oil is faid to arife, poffeffing in
great  perfedion  the fragrance of
the flowers.—The unripe fruit is of
a very  harfli, rough, four afte : its
expreffed juice, called verjidce, was
of great efteem amongtheanciejits,
and ftill continues fo in fome places,
as a cooling  aftringent medicine : a
rob and fyrup were formerly pre-
pared  from it.—The  ripe  fruit or
grapes, of which there are feveral
kinds,  properly cured and dried,
are the  raifius of the fliops: the
juice by fermentation affords wine,
vinegar,  and tartar  ; of all which
mention has already been made.
                           3<>3
  VITRIOLUM  ALBUM, five
Zinci.  [Ed.]
  White vitriol, or.-.vitriol of zinc.
  This is chiefly found in its native
ftate in the mines of Gollar,  Some-
times  in transparent pieces,  but
more commonly in form, of white
cffloreScences, which arc diflblved
in water, and afterwards reduced
by  evaporation  and cryftallifation
into large maffes.  We rarely meet
with this fort of vitriol pure : it is
ordered  therefore to be prepared.
After the zinc, which is its pnper
bafis,  has been  revived by inflam-
mable fluxes, there remains a fub-
ftance which  is attn,ded  by the
magnet, and difcovers Itfelf on 0-
ther trials alfo to be iron. A folution
of  the vitriol depolites on ftanding
an ochry Sediment, which general-
ly gives a blue tindure  to  volatile
alkalies, and hence appears to con-
tain copper.  White vnriol is Some-
times given Srom five or fix grains
to half a dram, as an emetic ; it o-
perates very quickly, and, if pure,
without violence.  Externally, itis
employed  as  an ophthalmic, and
ofttn made the halts of  coliyria,
both in extemporaneous prescription
and in difpenfatories ; fuch as the
aqua zinci vbnolati cum camphora
of the London pharmacopoeia.

  VITRIOLUM  CaRULEUM
five Cupri [Ed.]
  Blue vitriol, or vitriol of copper,
falfely called Roman Vitriol.
  Greateft  part of the blue vitriol at
prefent met  with  in  the fliops,  is
faid to be  artificially prepared  by
uniting copper with the  vitriolic a-
cid.  This fait has a highly acrid,
auftere, and very naufeous tafte. It
is a ftrong  emetic, and  is recom-
mended as fuch by fome in incipient
phthilis, when SuppoSed  to be Srom
tubercles. Its principal ufe is exter-
nally as an  eScharotic; and Sor flop-
ping hemorrhagies, which it effects
                              bv 
3°4
Materia  Medica.
Part II.
 by coagulating the blood,  and con-
 trading the mouths of the veflels.
 It is the bafis to an officinal water
 for this intention.

   VITRIOLUM VIRIDE,  five
 Ferri [Ed.]
   Green vitriol, or vitriol of iron,
 commonly called copperas.
   This  is prepared in large quan-
 tity at Deptford, by diflblving iron
 in the acid liquor which runs from
 cerrain  folphureous  pyrttse,  ex-
 pofed  for  a length of time to the
 air.  When pure, it  is fimilar in
 quality to the officinaly^/ martis or
 chaly bis.
   The green and blue vitriols (as
 well as the white) are in many pla-
 ces found native in the earth ; tho'
 ufually, in this ftate, neither fort is
 free from an admixture of the o-
 ther :  hence vitriols are met  with
 of all the intermediate colours be-
 twixt  the grafs green of the one
 and the faphire blue oS the other.
   The acid of thefe falts  has the
 greateft affinity with zinc, next to
 this with iron, and with copper the
 leaft of all.   Hence folutions of
 white vitriol depofite,  on ftanding,
 greateft part of the irony and cupre-
 ous matter which they contain ; and
 if fome  frefli zinc be added, the
 whole. In like manner, upon adding
 bright polifhed  iron to Solutions of
 green vitriol, if it holds any cupre-
 ous matter,  this .will be thrown
 down.  By this means the white and
 green vitriols may be purified from
 other metallic bodies. Green vitriol
 has the general  medical effeds of
 iron, but is  much lefs frequently
employed than fome other chaly-
 beates.

  ULMARIA [Brun.] Radix.
  Spire a ulmaria Lin.
  Meadow-fweet, or Queen of the
 Meadows; the root.
  This herb is frequent  in  moift
 meadows, and about the fides of ri-
 vers; it flowers in the beginning of
 June, and continues in flower a con-
 fiderable time.  The flowers have a
 very pleaSant flavour, which water
 extrads from them by infufion, and
 elevates in diftillation.  The leaves
 are herbaceous. But neitherofthefe
 at prefent enter any pharmacopoei-
 as.  The roots  are ufed  in Some
 platters, in  which ihey  have pro-
 bably no influence.

   ULMUS  [Lond. Ed.]  Cortex
 interior.
   Ulmus campeftris Lin.
   The  elm-tree ;  the inner bark.
   This bark has  a mild aftringent
 tafte.  A decodion formed from it,
 by boiling ail ounce with a pound
 of water, to  the confumption of one
 halt, has been highly  recommend-
 ed by Some,  particularly by DrLet-
 fome, in  obftinate cutaneous erup-
 tions.

   URTICA  [Lond. Ed.] Herba.
   Urtica dioica Lin.
   Common nettle  ; the herb.
   The leaves of the frefh nettle fti-
 mulate,  inflame, and raiSeblifterson
 thofe parts of the fkin which they
 touch.  Hence when a powerSuI Ru-
 befacient is required, flinging with
 nettles has been recommended. It
 has been alleged to have Sometimes
 Succeeded in reftoring fenfe  and
 motion to paralytic limbs. Both the
 herb and feed were  formerly be-
 lieved to be lithontriptic and power-
 fully diuretic; and many other vir<-
 tnes  were attributed to  them, to
 which the prefent  pradice pays no
 regard.   The young leaves are by
 fome ufed  in the fpring as a whole-
 fome pot-herb.

  UVA PASSA [Lond.]
   Raifins of the  fun ;  the dried
grapes of the vitis Daviafcena. 
Part II.           Materia Medica.                  305

  UVMPAS8M Miucres.         again revived  by Dr de Haen of
  Currants; the dried grapes of  Vienna.  He bellowed  very  high,
vitis. Coriuthiaca.                  encomiums upon it, againft ulcera-
                                 tions of  the  kidnies, bladder, and
  The principal ufe of thefe is as  urinary paffages.  He reprefentsit
an agreeable fweet: they impart a  as capable of curing  almoft every
very pleafant flavour both to aque-  cafe of that kind ; and even afferts,
ous and fpirituous menftrua.  The  that in cafes of calculus much be-
fceds or ftones are fuppofed to give  nefit is  derived from its  ufe ; pa-
a difagreeable relifh, and hence  are  tients after the employment  of it
generally direded to be taken out.  pafling their water eafily and with-
The railiusof the funarean ingre-  out  pain.  Ithas, however, byno
dientinthe compound decodion of  means anfwered the expectations
barley,  the tindure of fenna, and  which on thefe grounds other prag-
the compound tindure of  carda-  titionersformed of it: But in many
mums.                           affedions of the urinary organs,  it
                                 has proved to be a remedy of  fome
  UVAURSI  [Lond.Ed.]  Fo-  ufe;  and it  has been particularly
liuen.                            ferviceable in alleviating dySpeptic
  Arbutus uva-urfi Lin.           Symptoms in  nephritic and calcu*
  Bears whortleberry ; the leaf.    lous  caSes.   It has  alSo been fer-
  The uva urfiis a low fhrub, Some-  viceable in cyftirrhcea or catarrhus
what refembling  the myrtle.   It  veficas;  and it has been thought to
Seems firft to have been employed in  be Sometimes produdive of aflvan-
medicine in Spain and the fouth of  tage in  diabetes.  It is fometimes
France; and it is an indigenous ve-  ufed under the form of decodion,
getable of thefe countries, but it  but moft frequently in that of pow-
grows alfo in northern  climates,  der, from a fcruple to a dram being
particularly in Sweden and  on  the  taken for a dofe, and repeated twq
hills of Scotland.  The leaves have  or three times a  day.
a bitterifh aftringent tafte;   and
their quality in the latter way isfo    WINTERANUSCOR-
coniiderable, that in certain places,  TEX.  [Brun.]
particularly in Some oS theprovin-    Winterania aromatica,
ces oS  Ruflia,  they  are uSed  Sor    Winter's bark.
tanning leather.   A watery inSu-    Thi sis the produce of a tree grow-
fionof the leaves immediately Strikes  ing about the fouthern  promontory
a very  black  colour with  chaly-  of America. It was firft difcovered
beates.                           on the coaft of Magellan by Captain
   The uva nrfi Seems firft to have  Winter,intheyear 1567: the Sailors
been employed  in medicine with a  then employed the bark as a fpice,
view to its aftringent power. With  and afterwards found it ferviceable
this intention, it was ufed under in the feurvy ; for which  purpofe it
the form of decodion, for reftrain-  is at prefent alfo fometimes made
ing an immoderate flow of the men-  ufe  of in diet-drinks.   The true
fes, againft other hcemorrhagies,  winter's bark is not often met with
in cafes of diarrhoea and dyfentery,  in the fhops, canella alba being ge-
and for the cure oS cutaneous crop- nerally Subftituted  for  it, and by
lions,.  But it had Sailen much in- many it is reckoned tobcthe Same:
to  difefe  till its employment  was There is, however, a confiderable
                                                 U           dif- 
306   ■              Materia

difference betwixt them in appear-
ance, and a greater in quality. The
winter's bark is in larger pieces, of
a more cinnamon colour  than  the
canella ; and taftes much warmer
and more pungent.

  ZEDOARIA  [Lond. Ed.] Ra-
dix.
  Kempferia rotunda Lin.
  Zedoary; the root.
  Zedoary is  the root of a plant
growing in the  Eaft-Indies.  It is
brought over in oblong pieces about
the thicknefs of  the finger, or in
roundilh ones about an inch in dia-
meter. Both forts have an agreeable
fragrant fmell,  and a warm, bit-
terifh, aromatic tafte.
  In diftillation  with water,  it
yields an effential oil, poflefling the
imell and flavour of the zedoary in
an eminent degree; the remaining
decodion is almoft fimply bitter.
Spirit likewife  brings  over fome
fmall fhare of its flavour: neverthe-
lefs  the fpirituous extrad is confi-
derably more grateful than the ze-
doary.
  ZIBETHUM [Brun.]
  Viverra zibet ha Lin.
  Civet.
  This is a foft unduous fubftance,
of a white, brown, or blackifh co-
lour, brought from the Brazils, the
coaft of Guinea, and the  Eaft-In-
dies.  It  is met with in  certain
bags, fituated in the lower part of
the belly of  an animal, faid to be
of the  cat  kind.  The  chief ufe
of this  drug is  in  perfumes; it is
rarely,  if ever,  employed for any
medicinal purpofes.

  ZINCUM [Lond. Ed.]
  Zinc.
  This  is a femimetal, which is in-
flammable perfe,  fublimable into
flowers, which afterwards remain
fixed in the ftrongeft fire, foluble in
Medica.            Part II.

every acid,  not  mifcible in  fufion
with Sulphur, changing copper into
a yellow metal, brafs.  Several pro-
dudions of this metal, though not
generally  known  to be  Such, are
kept in the fhops;  as  its rich ore
calamine,the white vitriol, the pure
white  flowers of  zinc called pom-
pholyx, and  the more impure tutty.
Of feveral of thefe we have already
had occafion to fpeak.
   The preparations of zinc are em-
ployed principally  in external ap-
plications   as  ophthalniics.   The
flowers levigated into an impalpable
powder, form with oily  fubftances
an ufeful unguent,  and with rofe-
water, and  the like, elegant colly-
ria, for defludions of thin  fharp
humours upon the eyes.   They arc
moderately aftringent; and ad, if
the levigation  has  been duly per-
formed, without acrimony or irri-
tation.
   Internally,  they have been re-
commended in epilepfy and other
fpafmodic affedions, both  alone and
with  the  cuprum   ammoniacum;
and Some think they prove an nfe-
fnl addition to the Peruvian bark in
intermittents.

   ZINGEBER [Loud. Ed.] Ra-
dix.
   Amomum zingiber Lin.
   Ginger; the root.
   This root is brought from China,
from the Eaft  and  Weft-Indies. It
has a fragrant fmell, and  a hot, bit-
ing, aromatic tafte.  Redified fpi-
rit extrads its virtues by infufion,
in much greater perfedion than a-
queous liquors; the latter elevate
its whole flavour in diftillation, the
former little or nothing.  Ginger
is a very ufeful fpice in cold flatu-
lent colics, and in laxity  and debi-
lity of  the  inteftines:  it does not
heat fo much as thofe of the pepper
kind, but its effeds are more du-
                            rable 
Part. II.
Materia Medica.
307
rable.  It gives name to an officinal  broad ; enters the cleftuarium car-
fyrup, to the zingiber conditum, or  diacum, and fome other compofi-
candied ginger  brought from a-  tions.
GeneralTitles including feveral Simples.
The five opening roots:
The five emollient herbs:
The four cordial flowers:
{Smallage,
Afparagus,
Fennel,
Parfley,
Butchers broom.
 , "Marfhmallows,
  Mallows,
•I Mercury,
  Pellitory of the wall,
 ^Violets.

  Borage,
  Buglofs,
 1 RoSes,
  Violets.
The four greater hot feeds:
 Anife,
 Caraway,
1 Cummin,
 Fennel.
The four leffer hot feeds:
 Bifhopfweed,
 Stone-parfley,
1 Smallage,
 Wild carrot*
The four greater cold feeds:
Water melons,
Cucumbers,
1 Gourds,
Melons.
The four leffer cold feeds :
 Succory,
 Endive,
> Lettuce,
 Purflane.
U  2
The 
30$              Materia  Medica.


    The four papillary herbs:
Part II.
Maidenhair,
Englifh Maidenhair,
Wall rue,
Caterach.
The four carminative flowers;
Camomile,
Feverfew,
Dill,
Melilot.
  The Simples of each of the above claffes have been often employed to-
gether; under the refpedive general appellations'.  This pradice has en-
tirely ceafed among us; and accordingly thefe denominations are now ex-
punged both  from the London and Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias, and they
are now retained in very few of the foreign ones. But as thefe articles are
frequently mentioned under their general titles by writers of eminence,
we imagined that the above enumeration of them might be of fome ufe.
General  Rulesfor the ColleBion and Prefervation
                       of Simples.
            Roots.

Annual roots are to be taken up
  before  they fhoot out  ftalks or
  flowers: Biennial ones, chieflyin
  the autumn of  the fame year in
  which the feeds were Sown : The
  perennial,when the leaves fall off,
  and therefore generally in the au-
  tumn.  Being wafhed clean from
  dirt, and freed from  the rotten
  and decayed fibres, they are to be
  hung up in  a warm, fhady, airy,
  place, till fufficiently dried.  The
  thicker roots require  to be flit.
  longitudinally, or cut tranSvcrSely
  into thin flices. Such roots as lofe
  their virtues by  exficcation, or
  *jre defired  to be preferved in  a
  frefh ftate, forthe greater conve-
  niency of their ufe in certain
  forms, are to be kept  buried in
  dry fand.

  There are twofeafonsin which
the biennial and perennial roots arc
reckoned the moft vigorous, the au-
tumn  and fpring;  or rather  tho
lime when the ftalksorleaves have
fallen off, and that in which the ve-
getation is juft to begin  again, or
foon  after it has begun;  which
times are found to differ confidera-
bly in different plants.
  The collegeof Edinburgh, inihft
two firft editions  of their pharma-
copoeia, direded them to be dug in
the fpring, after the leaves were
formed:  in  the third edition,  the
                        a u turns 
t   309   1
intumn was preferred. The gene-
rality of roots appear, indeed, to be
moft efficacious in the fpring :  but
as at this time they  are alfo  the
moft juicy, and confequentlyfhrivel
much in drying,  and are rather
more difficultly preferved, it is com-
monly thought  moft advifable to
take them up in autumn.  No rule,
however, can  be given that fhall
obtain univerfally : arum root is ta-
ken  even in  the middle of fum-
mer,  without fufpicion of its being
lefs adive than at other feafons;
while angelica root is inert  during
the fummer, in comparifon of what
it  was in the autumn, fpring, or
winter.

      Herbs and  Leaves.

Herbs are to be gathered when the
  leaves have come  to their  full
  growth,  before the flowers  un-
  fold ;  but  of  fome plants  the
  flowery tops are preferred. They
  are to be dried in the fame man-
  ner as roots.

  For the gathering of  leaves,
there cannot  perhaps be any uni-
verfal rule, any more than for roots;
for though moft herbs appear to be
in their greateft vigour about  the
time of their flowering, or a little
before, there are fome in which the
medicinal parts are more abundant
at an earlier period.
  Thus mallow and marfhmallow
leaves are moft mucilaginous when
young, and by the time of flower-
ing approach more  to  a woody  na-
ture.  A difference of the fame kind
is more remarkable in  the leaves of
certain trees and fhrubs: the young
buds,  or rudiments of the leaves, of
the black poplar tree, have a ftrong
fragrant fmell, approaching to that
of ftorax ; but by the time that the
leaves have come  to their   full
growth,  their  fragrance is  ex-
haufted.
  Herbs are direded by moft of
the pharmaceutic writers tobe dried
in the fhade; a rule which appears
10 be very juft, though it has fome-
times been miSiinderllood.  They
are not to  be excluded  from  the
fun's heat,  but from the ftrong ac-
tion of the  folar light; by which
laft their colours are very liable to
be altered or deftroyed, much more
So than thoSe oS roots.  Slow drying
of them in a cool place is far from
being of any advantage : both their
colours and virtues are preferved in
greateft perfedion when they are
dried haftily by the heat of com-
mon fire as great as that which the
Sun can impart•':  the juicy ones, in
particular, require to be dried  by
heat, being  otherwiSe Subjed  to
turn black.   Odoriferous  herbs,
dried by fire  till they become  fri-
able, difcover indeed, in  this acrid
ftate, very  little  fmell;  not that
the odorous matter is diffipated ;
but on  account  of its not being
communicated from  the  perfedly
dry fubjed to dry air ; for as foon
as a watery vehicle is fupplied, whe-
ther by iufufing the plant in water,
or by expofing it Sor a little time to
a moift air, the odorous parts  begin
to be extraded by virtue  of the a-
queous moifture, and difcover. them-
felves in their full force.
  Of the ufe of heat in the drying
of plants, we have an inftance in
the treatment of tea  among  the
Chinefe.  According to  the  ac-
counts of travellers, the leaves,  as
Soon as gathered, are brought into
an apartment furnifhed with a num-
ber of little furnaces, or ftoves, each
of which is  covered  with a clean
Smooth iron plate;  the leaves  are
Spread  upon the  plates,  and  kept
rolling with  the hands till they be-
gin to curl up  about the edges •
             U 3          they 
                          l    3
they  are  then immediately fwcpt
off on tables, on which one perSon
continues  to roll them, while  ano-
ther Sans them that they may cool
haftily :   this proceSs is repeated
two or three times, or oftener,  ac-
cording as the leaves are difpofed
to unbend on ftanding.

 Exsiccation of Herbs and
           Flowers.

   Herbs and flowers are to be dri-
ed by the gentle heat  of a ftove or
common  fire,   and only  in that
quantity at a time by which the ex-
frccation may be very foon finiflied.
By this means their ftrength is beft
preferved  ; and this is indicated in
proportion as they retain their na-
tive colour.
   But the leaves of hemlock, and
fome  other herbs  replete with  a
fubtile volatile  matter, are  to be
beat immediately after the exficca-
tion, and preferved in  glaSs-veffels,
well fhut.

           Flowers.

Flo*wers are to be gathered when
   moderately expanded, on a clear
   dry day, beSore noon.  Red roSes
   are taken before they open, and
   the white heels clipped off and
   thrown away.

   The quick-drying,above recom-
mended for the leaves of plants, is
more  particularly proper for flow-
ers ; in moft of which  both the co-
lour and fmell are  more perifhable
than in leaves, and more fubjed to
be impaired by  flow  exficcation.
Of the flowers which come frefh in-
to  the apothecaries hands, the only
ones employed dry in  the London
Pharmacopoeia are red rofes ; and
thefe,  iu  all the compofitions in
which they are ufed in a  dry ftate,
IO   ]
 are exprefsly  ordered  to be dried
 haftily.   One of the moft valuable
 aromatics of  European  growth,
 faffron, is a part of a flower,  dried
 on paper, on a kind of kiln, with a
 heat  fufficient to make it Sweat,
 taking care only not to endanger
 thefcorching of it.
   It may here be obferved, that the
 virtues of flowers are  confined to
 different parts of the flower in dif-
 ferent plants.  Saffron is a Angular
 produdion growing  at  the end of
 the ftile or piflil.   The adive  part
 of camomile flowers is the yellow
 difk, or button in  the middle ; that
 of lilies, rofes, clove-julyflowers,
 violets, and many others, the peta-
 la or flower-leaves ;  while rofema-
 ry  has little virtue in any of theSe
 parts, the fragrance admired in the
 flowers of this plant refiding chiefly
 in the cups.

       Seeds and  Fruits.

 Seeds fliould be colleded when ripe
   and beginning to grow dry,  be-
   fore they fail off fpontaneoufly.
   Fruits  are  alfo to be gathered
   when ripe, unlefs ihey are order-
   ed to be otherwiSe.

   Of the fruits  whoSe  colledion
 comes under the notice  of the apo-
 thecary,  there are few which  are
 uSed in an unripe ftate :  the princi-
 pal is the  floe, whoSe virtue asamild
 aftringent is  much  diminifhed by
 maturation. The Sruit oS the orange
 tree, raiSed in our gardens or green
 houSes, is Sometimes gathered in a
 ftate of much  greater immaturity,
 Soon after it is  formed on the tree,
 before it has acquired its acid juice;
 at tin's  time it proves  an elegant
 aromatic  bitter, nearly  refembling
 what  are  called Curaftao  oran-
 ges, which  appear to be no other
 than  the  Same  fruit   gathered
                               at 
                          L   3^
at the fame period in a warmer cli-
mate.
   The rule for colleding feeds  is
more general than any  of the o-
thers, all the officinal feedsbeingin
their greateft perfedion atjthe time
of their maturity.  As feeds contain
little watery moifture, they require
no other warmth  for drying them
than that of the  temperate air in
autumn;  fuch  as abound  with a
grofs expreflible oil, as thofe com-
monly called the cold feeds, fliould
never be expofed to any confiderable
heat; fortius would haften the ran-
cidity, which,  however carefully
kept,  they are  very liable  to con-
trad.   Seeds are  beft preferved in
their natural hufks or coverings,
which  fliould   be Separated only
at the time of ufing ;  the hufk,
or cortical part, Serving to  defend
the feed from being injured by the
tir.

       Woods and Barks.

The  moft  proper feafon  for the
   felling of woods, or fhaving off
   their barks, is generally the win-
   ter.

   No woods of our own growth are
now retained  by the  London or
Edinburgh colleges. The only two
which  had formerly a place in the
catalogues of fimpleswere the juni-
per and box ; the firft of which is
never kept in the fliops, or employ-
ed in  pradice; the other may be
procured from  the turner; and it
is indifferent at what feafon it has
i    3
been  cut down, being at all times
fiifficiently  fit for the only ufe to
which it was applied, the yielding
an empyreumatic oil by diftillation
in a ftrong fire.
  It may be doubted, whether barks
are not generally more replete with
medicinal matter in the fummer and
fpring than in winter.  The barks
of many  trees  are in fummer fo
much loaded with refin and gum, as
to burft  fpontaneoufly, and dif-
charge the redundant quantity. Itis
faid that the bark of the oak anfwers
beft for the tanners at the time of the
rifing of  the fap in fpring ;  and as
its ufe in  tanning depends  on the
fame aftringent quality for which it
Is ufed in medicine, it fhould feem
to be fitteft for  medicinal purpofes
alfo in the Spring. It may be obser-
ved  likewiSe, that it is in  this laft
Seafon that barks  in general are
moft conveniently peeled off.

   Animals and Minerals.

Animals  and  minerals are to be
  chofen in their moft perfed ftate,
  unlefs they be ordered otherwife.

  Whatever  virtues thefe  bodies
may  have,  they are SuppoSed to be
beft when they haveattained totheir
common  full growth. As there are
no diftindions  of  maturity or im-
matury in  the  mineral  kingdom,
the  only  rule   for  direding our
choice here muft be  the purity of
the fubjeds from any mixture of o-
ther  bodies: none of them are ever
to be ufed in an impure ftate.
U 4           A 
[   3*»   1
AJhort View of Different  Arrangements^
               the Materia  Medica.


  IN the beginning of this part, in which the different articles of thcma-
   tcria medica are confidered, we have afligned reafons for giving the
preference to the alphabetical mode of arrangement:  but as other modes
of arrangement alfo, though liable to greater objtdions, are not without
fome peculiar  advantages, it  may not  be improper  to fubjoin a gene-
ral view  of fome of thofe plans  of arrangement, which have either
been followed by the moft eminent writers  on the materia medica, at dif-
ferent periods, or which feem to us to be of confiderable utility in prac-
tice ; not only as conjoining together articles  which have nearly the
fame operative effeds, fuch as emetics, cathartics, or the like: but as
fubdividing thefe claffes into  fuch inferior aflbciaiions as may lead the
rational praditioner to thefeledionof thdt particular article which is beft
accommodated to the difeafe, or to the circumftances of his patient.


  m  ■■■■ '  '       ,   i .        —.                  ----------   ■------—


The Arrangement o/Dioscorides, as  tranflated into
   Latin from the orginal  Greek,  by Janus  Anto-
   Nius Saracenus,

  I. De aromatibus, oleis, unguen- et feminibus,  turn naturae noftrac
tis, arboribus et nafcentibus ex eis familiaribus,  turn etiam medica-
Jiquoribns lachrymis ac frudibus.   mentolis.
  2.  De  animalibus, cerealibus,   4. De iis quas reliant herbis at-
oleribus et acrimonia prseditis her- que radicibus.
bis.                             5. De vinis et iis quas metallka
  3. De radicibus, Succis,  herbis dicuntur.


 The  Arrangement  of  Stephanus   Franciscus
  Geoffroy, in his Tra&atus de Materia Medica,

  I. De Soflilibus.                 6. De amphibiis.
  3. De vegetabilibus exoticis.       7. De avibus.
  3. De vegetabilibus indigenis.      8. De quadrupedibus.
  4. De infedis.                   9. De homine.
  J. De pifcibu».
The 
                        [   3*3   1
The Arrangement of John Frederick Carthev-
    ser, in  his Fundamenta Materia? Medicae.
  i. De infipidis terreis et  terro
gelatinofis.
  2. De infipidis, et Subdulcibus
mucilagineis et gelatinofis.
  3. De dulcibus, Subdulcibus, le-
niter amaricantibus  aufteriuSculis,
atque balSamicis unguinoSo-oleofis et
pinguibus.
  4. De acidis ct acidulo-dulcibus.
  5. De Salinis alcalicis, tam Axis
quam volatilibus urinofis.
  6. De Salinis explicitis mediae
naturae.
  7. De aufteris ftypticis.
  8. De dulcibus.
  9. De acribus alterantrbus.
 10. De amaris  et amaricantibus.
 11. De acribus et amaris pur-
gantibus,  tam emeticis, quam ca-
thartic is.
  12. De  vaporofis  inebriantibus
et narcoticis.
  13. De  balSamicis et aromati-
cis.
  14. De  amaricantibus,  aufteri-
uSculis, blandis balSamicis, acriuScu-
lis, Subdulcibus, terreo-aut  mucila-
gineo-Subadftringentfous,   aliiSque
fapore mixto donatis.
  15. De ficcis Sulphnreis,  mercu-
rialibns,  Sulphureo-mercurialibus,
fulphureo-regulinis, et metallicis,
Semimetallicis ac terreis martiali-
bus.
  16. De aqua fimplici, aqua ma-
rina, et aquis medicatis mineralibus.
The Arrangement of'Dr  Murray, from ^Appara-
   tus Medicaminum tam Simplicium quam Praepa-
   ratorum et Compofitorum, Vol. I, II,  III, & IV,
1. Coniferae.	22.
2. Amentaceas.	23.
3. Coinpofitae.	24.
4. Aggregate.	25-
5. Conglomerate.	26.
6. Umbellatae.	2 7.
7. Hederaceae.	28.
8. Sarmentaceas.	29.
9. Stellatse.	SO.
10. CymoSae.	3i-
11. Cucurbitaceas.	32
12. Solanaceas.	33-
13. Campanaceae.	34
14. Contortae.	35-
ic. Rotaceae,	36.
16. Sepiariae.	37-
17. Bicornes.	38.
18. ASperiSoliae.	39
19. Verticillatae.	40.
30. Perfonatse.	41
21. Rhceades.	42
    Putamineas.
    SiliquoSae.
24. Papilonaceae.
    Lomentacex.
26. Multililiquae.
    SenticoSae.
    Pomaceae
    HeSperideae.
    Succulemte.
    ColumniSeraa,
    Gruinales.
    Caryophyllese.
    Calycanthemae.
    Afcyroideae.
    Coadunatae.
    DumoSae.
    Trihilatae.
    Tricoccae.
    Oleraceae.
    Scabridae.
    Veprcculae. 
                        [   3*4   J
The  Arrangement o/Dr  Cvllek from his Materit
                          Medica.

    MATERIA  MEDICO  TABULA GENERALIS,

[n qua Metticamenta ad Capita quaiam fecundum indicationes morbo-
           rum curatorias quibus refpondentt referuntur.

        MATERIA  MEDICA  conftat ex
i
Nutrimentis quae Sunt.
    Cibi.
    Potus.
    et qux cum his affumuntur Condimenta.
Medicamentis quas agunt in.
    Solida.
          fSimplicia
          }     Aftringentia.
                Tonica.
                Emollient iu.
                Erodentia.
  I       (.Viva.
                Stimulantia.
                Sedantia.
                      Narcotica.
                      Refrigeraniia.
                Antifp afmodica.
   LFluida.
        Immutantia.
              fFluiditatem.
              {     Attenuantia.
              \     Infpiftantia
              (jMifturam.
                 Acrimoniam corrigcntia.
                     In genere.
                         Demulcentia.
                     In fpecie
                         Antacida.
                         Antalkalina.
                         Autifeptica.
        Evacuantia.
             Errhina.
             Sialagoga.
             ExpecJorantia.
             Emetica.
             Cathartica.
             Diuretica.
             Diaphoretica.
             Mniagoga.
I
The 
t   315   ]
The Arrangement of Dr  Home, from his Methodus
                    Materia? Medicse.
Clafs 1. Auxilia adjicentia.
     2. -------evacuantia.
     3. ——----alterantia fluida.
     4. -------Alterantia folida.
     c.         permutantiamotus
                folidorum et fiui-
                 dorum.
Clafs 6. Auxilia aflicicntia fenfus.
topica interna.
expellentia vel de-
  ftruentia corpo-
  ra extranea.
The Arrangement of Dr  Duncan, from his Heads of
           Lectures on the Materia Medica.
 I. Emetica.
    1. Irritantia.
    2. Calefacientia.
    3. Naufeofa..
    4. Narcotica.

 II. Cathartica.
    1. Stiinulantia.
    2. Rcfrigerantia.
    3. Reftringentia.
    4. Emollientia.
    5. Narcotica.

III. DlAPHORETICA.
    1. Calefacientia.
    2. Stimulantia.
    3. Pungentia.
    4. Antifpafmodica.
    5. Diluentia.

IV. Epispastica.
    1. Rubefacientia.
    2. Velicantia.
    3. Suppurantia.

 V. Diuretica.
    1. Stimulantia.
    2. Refrigerantia.
    3. Diluentia.
    4. Narcotica.

VI. ExPECTORANTIA,
    1. Stimulantia.
    2. Naufeofa.
     3. Antifpafmodica.
     4. Irritantia.

VII.  Errhina.
     1. Stcrnutatoria.
     2. Evacuantia.

VIII. Sialagoca.
     1. Topica.
     2. Interna.

 IX.  Emmenagoga.
     I. Stimulantia.
     2. Irritantia.
     3. Tonica.
     4. Antifpafmodica.

  X. Anthelmintics
     1. Vcnenofa.
     2. Lubricantia.
     3. Tonica.
     4. Cathartica.

 XI.  LlTHONTRIPTlCA.
     I. Antacida.
     2. Reftringentia.

XII.  Antacida.
     1. Eccoprotica.
     2. Reftringentia.

XIII. Antalkalina.
     1.  Refrigerantia.
     2.  Antifeptica.
XIV. At- 
316   ]
XIV. Attenuantia.
     i.  Diluentia.
     2.  Solventia.

XV.  Inspissantia*
     i.  Farinofa.
     2.  Mucilaginofa.

XVI. Anjtiseptica.
     I.  Refrigerantia,
     2.  Tonica.
     3.  Stimulantia.
     4.  Antifpafmodica.

XVII.AD9TRINOENTIA.
     I.  Styptica.
     2.  Corrigentia.
     3.  Tonica.

XVIII. Emollientia*
      I. Hume&antia.
     2. Laxantia.
     3.  Lubricantia.

XIX. Corrosiva.
     J.  Frodentia.
     **  Cauftica.
XX.  Demulcentia*
     1.  Lenientia.
     2.  Diluentia.

XXI. Stimulantia.
     1.  Topica.
     2.  Diffufibilia.
     3.  Calefacientia.
     4.  Cardiaca.
     5.  Tonica.
     6.  Carminativa.

XXH.Sedativa.
     1.  Soporifica.
     2.  Narcotica.
     3.  Refrigerantia.

XXIII. AntispasmodIca.
     1.  Stimulantia.
     2.  Sedativa.
     3.  Tonica.

XXIV.  Sanguinis Missioned
     1.  Generates.
     t.  Topicas.
PART 
PART      III.
Preparations and  Compofitions*
                CHAP.    I.

  PREPARATIONES   SI MPLIC10 R ES,

THE  MORE SIMPLE  PREPARATIONS.
  QUORANDUM  IN   AQJJA
NON SOLUBIL1UM PRiEPA-
RATIO.  Lond.
  The preparations ef fome Sub-
ftances not foluble in water.

   POUND  thefe fubftances firft in
    a mortar;   then, pouring on
a little water, levigate them upon a
hard and polifhed, but not calcare-
ous,  ftone, that they may be made
as fine as poflible. Dry this pow-
der  upon blotting-paper  laid on
chalk, and fet it in a warm, or at
leaft a dry, place, for fome days.
  In this manner are to be pre-
pared,
  Amber,
  Antimony,
  Calamine,
  Chalk,
  Coral,
  Oyfter-fhells,  firft cleanfed from
their impurities,
  Tutty.
  Crabs claws,  firft  broken  rhto
fmall pieces, muft be wafhed with
boiling  water before they be levi-
gated.
  Verdegris muft be prepared  in
the fame manner.

  Where  large quantities of the
foregoing powders are to be pre-
pared, it is  cuftomary, inftead  of
the ftone and muller,  to employ
hand-mills made for this purpofe,
confifting of two ftones; the upper-
moft of which turns horizontally
upon the lower, and has an aper-
ture in the middle for the conveni-
ency of fupplying frefli matter, or of
returning that which lias already
pafled, till it be reduced toa proper
degree of finenefs.
  For the levigation of hard bo-
dies, particular care fliould be ta-
ken, whatever kindof inftruments
be made ufe of, (hat they be of fuffi-
cient hardnefs, otherwife they will
be abraded by the powders.   The
hematites, a hard iron ore,  is moft
conveniently levigated between two
iron  planes;  for if the common
levigating ftones be made  ufe of,
the preparation, when finiflied, will
contain alrneft a-, much of foreign
                          mat- 
318         Preparations ai

matter from  the inftrument as of
the hematites.
  It has been cuftomary to moiften
feveral powders in levigation, with
rofe, balm, and other diftilled wa-
ters : thefe, nevertheless, have no
advantage above common  water,
fmce  in the Subsequent exficcation
they muft neceffarily exhale,leaving
the medicine poflcffed oS no other
virtue than what might  be equally
expected from  it when  prepared
with the cheaper element.
  Some Sew Subftances, indeed, are
more advantsgeoufly levigated with
fpirit oS  wine  than with  water.
Thus bezoar has the green colour
ufually expecfed  in this coflly pre-
paration,  confiderably  improved
thereby.   A  little  fpirit may be
added to the other  animal fubftan-
ces, if the weather be very hot, and
large quantities of them are prepa-
red at once,  to  prevent  their run-
ning into putrefaction;  an acci-
dent which, in thofe circumftances,
Sometimes happens when they are
levigated with water only.  Crabs-
eyes, which  abound with  animal
gelatinous matter, are particularly
liable to this inconvenience.
  The caution given above for re-
ducingantimony,calamine, and tut-
ty,  to the greateft fubtilty poffible,
demands particular attention. The
tendernefs of the parts to which the
two laft are ufually applied, requires
them to be perfectly free from any
admixture of grofs irritating parti-
cles. The firft, when not thorough-
ly comminuted, might not only, by
its fharpneedle-like fpicula, wound
the  ftomach, but likewife anfwers
little valuable purpofe as a medicine,
proving either an ufelefs load upon
the viScera,  or at  beft pafling off
without any  other  Senfible effecf
than an increafe  of the groffer eva-
cuations; whilft, if  reduced  to a
great degree of finenefs, it turns
out  a medicine of confiderable effi-
cacy.
d Compofitions.    Part III.

   The moft fuccefsful method of
 obtaining theSe powders of ihe re-
 quifite tenuity,  is, to waih off the
 finer parts by means of water, and
 continue levigating the remainder
 till the whole become fine enough
 to remain for fome time fufpended
 in the fluid; a  procefs received in
 the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia, and
 there directed in the preparation of
 the following article.

  ANTIMONIUM  PR^PARA-
             TUM.
           Edinburgh.
       Prepared Antimony.
 Let the antimony be firft  pounded
  in an iron mortar, and then levi-
  gated on a porphory with a little
  water.  After this, put it into a
  large veflel, and pour a quantity of
  water upon it.  Let the veflel be
  repeatedly fhaken, that the finer
  part of  the powder may be diffu-
  fed through the water; the liquor
  is then to be poured off, and fet
  by till the powder fettles.  The
  grofs part, which the water would
  not take up, is to be further levi-
  gated, and treated in the  Same
  manner.

  By  this method,  which is that
 commonly practiSed  in the prepa-
 ration  oS  colours Sor the  painter,
 powders may  be obtained  of any
 required degree of  tenuity ;   and
 without the leaft mixture of the
 grofsparts, which are always Sound
 to remain  in them after long conti-
 nued levigation: all  the  coarSer
 matter Settles at firft, and the finer
 powder continues SuSpended in the
 water, longer and longer, in pro-
 portion to the degree oSitsfineneSs.
 The Same proceSs may likewiSe be
 advantageonfly  applied to  other
 hard pnlverable bodiesof the mine-
 ral  kingdom, or artificial prepara-
 tions oT them ;  provided  they be
 not Soluble in, or Specifically lighter
 than water.   The animal and ab-
                          forbent 
Chap.  i.   Ihe more fimple Preparations\
forbent powders,crabs-claws,crabs-
eyes, oyfter-fhells, egg-fhells, chalk,
pearl, coral, and bezoar,  arc  not
well adapted  to this treatment;  nor
indeed do they require it.  . Thefe
fubftances are readily foluble in a-
cid juices without much comminu-
tion :  if no acid be contained in the
firft  paflages,  they  are apt to con-
crete, with the mucus matter ufu-
ally lodged there, into hard indif-
folublc maffes ;  the  greater degree
of finenefs they are reduced to,  the
more they are difpofed to form Such
concretions,  and enabled  to  ob-
ftru<5t the orifices of the Small veS-
fels.

CALAMINARIS LAPIS
         PR^PARATA.
              Edin.
       Prepared Calamine.
   Calamine previoufly calcined for
the  ufe  of thofe who make brafs,
is to be treated in the fame manner
as antimony.

   •  CRETA PRjEPARATA.
              Edin.
         Prepared Chalk.
Chalk firft triturated and then  fre-
   quently wafhed  with water, till
   it imparts to it neither  tafte nor
   colour, is to  be  treated in the
   fame manner as antimony.

   As calamine is intended for exter-
nal application,  ann often  to parts
very eafily irritated, too much pains
cannot be beftowed  in reducing it to
a fine powder:  and  the  Srequent
wafhing of the chalk may  have the
effecT: of freeing it from the foreign
matters: But  with regard to this
fobftance, the after part of the pro-
cefs, if not improper, is,  in our o-
pinion at leaft,  unneceflkry:  and
this observation may alSo  be made
with reSpect to  the oculi,  or more
properly lapilli  cancrorum, which
the  Edinburgh college direct to be
 treated in the Same manner.
                          3*9
ADIPIS  SUILL^!,  SEVIQUE
   OVILLI PR.EPARATIO.
             Lond.
The preparation of hog's-lard and
          mutton-fuet.
Cut  them  in  pieces,  and  melt
  them over  a  flow fire; then Se-
  parate them from the membranes
  by ftraining.

  These articles had formerly a
place  alfo among the  preparations
of the Edinburgh college.  But now
they introduce them only into their
lift of the materia medica;  as the
apothecary  will in general  find it
more  for his intereit to purchaSe
them  thus  prepared, than to pre-
pare them Sor himfelf: for the pro-
cefs requires to be \ery cautioufly
conduct ed,  to prevent the fat from
burning or turning black.

AMMONIACI  CUMMI PURI-
           FICATIO.
Th e purification of gum ammoniacum
              Lond.
If gum ammoniac do not feem to be
  pure, boil it in water till it become
  foft; then fqueeze  it through a
  canvas bag, by means of a prefs.
   Let it remain at  reft till the re-
  finous part Subfide;  then  evapo-
  rate the water ; and towards the
   end of  the  evaporation  reftore
   the refinous part, mixing it with
  ■the gummy.

   In the Same manner are purified
 aflafoetida  and fuch like gum-re-
 Sins.
   You  may  alSo purify  any gum
 which melts eafily,  fuch as  Galba-
 num;  by putting  it in an ox-blad-
 dtr, and holding it in  boiling water
 till it be fo foft that it can be fepa-
 rated from  its impurities by preffing
 through a hempen cloth.
   In the ftraining of  all the gums,
 rare fliould be taken that the heat
 be neither greaf,  nor long continu-
 ed ; othcrwiiu  a  confiderable  por-
                             tion. 
 3 % o          Preparations a

 tion  of  their more adive volatile
 matter will be loft; an inconveni-
 ence which cannot, by any care, be
 Wholly avoided.  Hence the purer
 tears, unftrained, are in general to
 hp  preferred, for internal ufe, to
 the ftrained gums.
   As an additional  reafon for this
 preference, we may add, that fome
 of the gum-refins,  purified in  the
 common svay, by folution in water,
 expreflion, and evaporation, are not
 fo eafily foluble in aqueous  men-
 ftrua  after, as before, fuch depura-
 tion.   On thefe accounts this  pro-
 ofs is entirely omitted  by the E-
 djnburgh  college;   and in every
 cafe where a gummi-refinous  fub-
 ftance, beSore it be taken, is to be
 diffolved in water, it may  be as ef-
 fecfually freed from  impurities  at
 the time of the folution as by this
 procefs.  And when it is to be em-
 ployed in a folid ftate, care fhould
 be taken that the purer parts alone
 be Sclecfed.

  CORNU CERVI USTIO.
    The burning of hartfhorn.
              Lond.
Rurn  pieces of hartfhorn  till they
  become perfectly white; then re-
  duce them to a very fine powder.

  The  pieces of  horn generally
 employed in this operation are thoSe
leSt after diftillation.
  In  the burning of hartfhorn, a
ftrong fire and the free admiffion of
air  are neceffary.   The  potter's
furnace was formerly directed for
the fake of conveniencs;  but  any
common  furnace or  ftove  will do.
If fame lighted charcoal be fpread
on the bottom of the grate,  and
above  this  the pieces of the horns
are laid, they will be  burnt  to
whitenefs,  ftill retaining their ori-
ginal  form.
  Burnt  hartfhorn is not now con-
nd Compofitions,   Part III*

 fidered as a pure earth, having been
 found to be a compound of calcare-
 ous earth and  phofphoric acid. It
 is the weakeft of the animal abfor-
 bents, or foluble in acids witty moft
 difficulty;  but whether it be of e-
 qual or fuperior ufe in diarrhoeas to
 more  powerful  abforbents muft be
 left to obfervation.

 HERBARUM et FLORUM  EX-
           SICCATIO.
              Loud.
  The drying of herbs and flowers.
 Let tbefe, fpread out lightly,  be
   dried by a gentle  heat.

              Edin.
 Herbs and flowers muft be dried by
   gentle heat, from a ftove or com-
   mon fire.  They  muft be taken
   in fuch quantities at a time, that
   the procefs will be fpeedily fini-
   nilhed ;  for by this means their
   medical powers are beft prefer-
   ved.   The moft certain  teft of
   this is the perfect  prefervation of
   the natural colour: but the leaves
   of  cicuta, and  of other plants
   containing a volatile matter, muft
   be  immediately pounded, after
   being dried,  and   afterwards
   kept in  a phial with a ground
   Stopper.

   The  directions  given by the
 London college are  here lefs  ex-
 plicit, and perhaps lefs proper  than
 thofe  of the  Edinburgh college: for
 there can be no doubt of the pro-
 priety of drying thefe  fubftances
 haftily, by the aid of  artificial heat,
 rather than by the heat of  the fun.
 In the application of artificial heat,
 the only caution  requifite is' to a-
 void burning ;  and  of  this a  fuffi-
 cient  teft is afforded  by  the prefer-
 vation of colour.   And the direc-
 tion given  with  regard to cicuta
 may  perhaps with  advantage  be
                              fol- 
Chap. I.    The more Simp

followed with  moft of  the other
flowers and herbs, afterwards to be
exhibited in powder.

   MELLIS DESPUMATIO.
             Lond.
     The purifying of honey.
Melt the honey by the heat of a wa-
  ter bath, and  remove the fcum.

  The intention of this procefs is
to purify the honey from wax,  or
other drofly  matters that have been
united  with it  by the violence  of
the prefs in  its feparation from the
comb, and from meal and  fuch like
fubftances,  which  are  fometimes
fraudulently mingled with it. When
the honey is rendered  liquid and
thin by the heat, thefe lighter mat-
ters rife freely to the furface.
  This  preparation is  not  fo ne-
ceffary for honey that is to be ufed
as an article of diet as for that
which is employed in the prepara-
tion of oxymels ; hence the Edin-
borgh  college, who have rejected
all the oxymels, have omitted this
procefs.

  MILLEPEDE PR,EPARA-
             TIO.
             Lond.
    The preparation of [later s.
  Millepeda praparata.  Edin.
The millepedes are to be inclofed
  in a thin canvas cloth, and Sus-
  pended over hot  Spirit of wine,
  in a  clofe veflel,  till  they  be
  killed by the fteam, and ren-
  dered friable.

  This is  a convenient  way  of
rendering millepedes pulverable,
without endangering  any lofs  of
fuch virtues  as they may poffefs.
  The  directions  given  by both
colleges are here precifely the Same,
and delivered in almoft the Same
words.
k Preparations.          321

  PULPARUM EXTRACTIO.
            Lond.Ed.
     The extraction of pulps.
 Unripe pulpy fruits, and ripe ones,
   if they be dry,  are to be boiled
   in a finall quantity of water un-
   til they become foft: then prefs
   out  the   pulp through a  ftrong
   hair Sieve, and afterwards boil it
   down to due confiftence  (as to
   that  of  honey)  in an earthen
   veffel, over a gentle fire ; taking
   care  to keep the matter continu-
   ally ftirring, to prevent its burn-
   ing.
 The pulp of caflia fiftularis is in like
   manner to be boiled out from the
   bruifed pod, and  reduced after-
   wards to a proper confiftence, by
   evaporating the water.
 The pulps of fruits that arc both
   ripe and frefh, are to be prefled
   out  through the  fieve, without
   any previous boiling.

   In the extraction of pulps, the
 directions sf both colleges fo nearly
 agree, that it is unneceffary to give
 a feparate tranflation of each.  We
 may only obferve,  that the London
 college, in place of foftcning the
 fruits by boiling in a fmall quantity
 of water, direct them to be put in
 a moift place.  But  this direction,
 though with  fome particular  fub-
 ftances it may be preferable, is, we
 think, very generally the leaft pro-
 per.

     SCILLiE EXSICCATIO.
            Lond.  Ed.
      The drying of fquills.
 Let the Squill, cleared  from its
   outer fkin, be  cut tranfverfely
   into thin dices, and dried with a
   very gentle heat. When proper-
   ly managed, the fquill is friable,
   and  retains its  bitternefs and a-
   crimony.

               X             Bt 
Preparations and Compcfitions.    Part ill.
3M
  By this method the fquill dries
much fooner than when only its fe-
veral coats are feparated, ashas been
ufually directed ; the internal  part
being here laid bare, which, in each
of the entire coats,  is covered with
a thin fkin, which impedes  the ex-    This  medicine has  been in ufe
halation of the moifture.   The  root  for  a confiderable  time,  and em-
loSes in this proceSs  four-fifths oS  ployed againft'Scrophulous diforders
itsoriginal weight;  the parts which  and cutaneous foulneffcs,  in dofes
fire, and let it be ftirred fre-
quently till it becomes black and
friable ; then reduce it to a pow-
der in a glafs  or  marble mor-
tar.
exhale appear tobe merely watery:
hence fix grains of the dry root are
equivalent  to half  a dram  of it
when frefli; a circumftance to be
particularly regarded in the exhibi-
tion of this medicine. In the pre-
ceding editions of our pharmacopoe-
ias, a particular caution was given,
not to ufe an iron  knife for cutting
fquills, but one of wood, ivory, or
of*a fcruple and upwards.   Its vir-
tues feem to depend upon a volatile
fait, juft formed, and combined with
its own oil. If the fponge he diftil-
led with a ftrong heat, it  yields a
large proportion  of that Salt in its
proper  Sorm.   The fait  is  in  this
preparation So far extricated, that if
the burnt fponge be ground in a
brafs mortar, it corrodes the metal,
other bone:  the foundation of this  fo as tocontract a difagreeable taint,
caution is faid to be,  not fo  much  and fometimes an emetic quality.
that the fquill would receive any ill    Bees, earthworms, and other ani-
qualities  from the iron ;  as, that its  mal fubftances,  have by Some been
acrid juice,  adhering to the knife,  prepared in the fame manner, and
might render a wound received by  recommended in different difeafes :
it extremely painful,  or  even dan-  but as thefe  fubftances fall  much
gerous.   But from this,  little, we  fhort  of fponge in the quantity of
imagine, is to be apprehended, and  volatile fait producible from  them
the direction appears unneceffary.  by fire, they  are probably inferior
Dried fquills furnifli ns with a me-
dicine,  Sometimes advantageoufly
employed as an emetic, often as an
expectorant, but ftill more Srequent-
ly as a powerful diuretic.

      SPONGLE USTIO.
             Lond.
     The burning of fponge.
                                 alfo in medicinal efficacy. Of all the
                                 animal matters that have been tri-
                                 ed, raw filk is the only one which
                                 exceeds, or  equals fponge, in the
                                 produce of Salt.
                                    A good deal of addreSs is requi-
                                 fite for  managing  this  proceSs in
                                 perfedion.   The fponge fhould be
                                 cut fmall, and beaten for fome time
Beat the fponge, after cutting it in in a mortar, that all the ftony mat-
  pieces ; and,when feparated from ters may be  got out,  which  com-
  its  gritty matter,  burn it  in a
  clofe iron veffel, until it becomes
  black  and friable ;  afterwards
  rub it to a very fine powder.

             Edinb.
Put the fponge, cut  into fmall pie-
  ces, and  well freed from adher-
  ing earthy matters,  into a clofe
  earthen  veflel.   Place it on the
pared with the weight of the fponge
when prepared,  will fometimes a-
mount  to a confiderable  quantity.
The burning fhould be difcontinued
as foon as  the  matter is become
thoroughly  black.  If the quantity
put into the veffel at once  be large,
the outfide will be fufficiently burnt
before  the infide be affected ; and
the volatile Salt of the former will
                              in 
Chap. i»    The more Simple Preparations.
*m
 in part efcape,  before  that in the
 latter is begun to be formed.  The
 beft method of avoiding this incon-
 venience feems to be,  to  keep the
 fponge continually ftirring  in fuch
 a machine as is ufed for the roaft-
 ing of coffee.
  And from this circumftance, the
 iron veflel  directed by the London
 college is preferable to  the earthen
 one directed by  that of  Edinburgh.
 But  the  pounding  in  a  glafs  or
 marble mortar,  directed by the lat-
 ter, is a neceflary caution which the
 former college have omitted.

  STYRACIS  PURIFICATIO.
              Lond.
     The purification of ftorax.
 Diflblve the ftorax in rectified fpi-
  rit of wine,  and ftrain the fo-
  lution ;  afterwards reduce  it to
  a proper thicknefs with a gentle
  heat.

  STORAXwas formerly directed to
 be purified  by  means  of water ;
 hence it was Styled ftyracis colatio :
 but the method now adopted is much
 preSerable,for the active parts of ihe
 ftorax  totally diflblve in  fpirit of
 wine,the impurities alone being left.
 And as thefe active  parts  do  not
 riSc in diftillation, the Spirit may be
 again recovered in reducing it to a
 proper  thickneSs.

  FERRI  LIMATURA. PURI-
           FICATA.
             Edinb.
     Purified filings of iron.
 Apply a magnet to a Sieve placed
  upon filings oS iron, So  that the
  filings may be attracted  upwards
  through the fievc.

 FERTvI RUBIGO, vulgo FERRI
  LIMATURA PREPARATA.
  Ruft of iron, commonly called
   fhavings of iron, prepared.
Set purified  jiliiij;sof iron in a moift
   place,that they may turn to f uft,
   which is to be ground into an1 im-
   palpable powder.

   The clcanfing of iron filings by
 means of a magnet is very tedious,
 and does not anfwer  fo well  as
 might be  expected ; for if they are
 riifty, they will not be attracted by
 it, or not ftifficiently : nor "will they
 by this means be entirely freed from
 brafs, copper,   or other metallic
 fubftances which  may  adhere to
 them. It appears from the experi-
 ments of  Henckel, that if iron be
 mixed by  fufion with even its own
 weight of any of  the other metals,
 regulus of antimony alone  excep-
 ted, the  compound will be vigo-
 roufly attracted by the loadltone.—■
 The rut of iron is to be procured
 at a moderate rate from the dealers
 in iron, free from any impurities,
 except fuch as may be wafhed off by
 water.
  The ruft of iron is by fome prefer-
 red as a medicine to the calces, or
 croci, made by a ftrong fire.  Hoff-
 man relates, that he has frequently
 given it with remarkable fuccefs in
 obftinate chlorotic cafes, accompa-
 nied with exceffive headachs and o-
 ther violent fymptoms; and that he
 ufually joined with it pimpinella,
 arum root, and fait of tartar, with
 a little cinnamon and fugar.  The
 dofe is from four or five grains to
 twenty or thirty ;  fome have gone
 as far as a dram : but all the  prepa-
rations of this metal anfwer beft in
fmall dofes, which fhould rather be
often repeated than enlarged.

  FERRI  SQJUAJVLE PURIFI-
            CATM.
            Edinb.
      Scales of iron purified.
 Let the fcales of  iron,  which may
  be had at the anvils of the  work-
  men, be purified by the magnet;
  for the  magnet only attracts the
             X 2       fmaller 
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part .III.
4324
   imaller and purer parts, leaving
:'   the more thick and impure be-
   hind.

   This  is, perhaps, of all the
 forms the moft eligible for obtain-
 ing the pure metal in fuch  a divided
 ftate as to render it eafily aded up-
 on by different menftrua; and the
 mode of purification  here propoSed
 is not only very  effedual, but alSo
 very eafily put into  pradtice.

 MUCAGINUM EXTRAC-
              TIO.
               Gen.
   The extrattion of mucilage.
Boil the gums or mucilaginous Seeds
  in a Sufficient quantity of water,
  till it becomes vifcid,  nearly re-
  fembling the white of an egg ;
  and then  rtrain  it by  preflurc
  through a.linen cloth.

  By this means vegetable muci-
lage  may be eafily obtained from
many different fubftanccsin its pure
ftate.   And although this procefs
is  not direded  in  our pharmaco-
poeias, yet we think that it might
with advantage be adopted.
          CHAP.    II.

        CONSERVE.

CONSERVES.
    Conserves are compofitions of
     recent vegetable matters and
fugar beaten together into an uni-
form mafs.
  This managemet is introduced
for  preferring certain fimples, un-
dried,  in an agreeable  form,  with
aslittle alteration as poffiblein their
native virtues; and to fome fubjeds
it is very advautagcoufly applied.
Vegetables,  whofe virtues are loft
or deftroyed  in drying,  may in this
form be kept uninjured  for a length
of time; for, by carefully Securing
the mouth oS the containing veflel,
the alteration, as wellasdiffipation,
oS their adive principles, is gene-
rally prevented ; and the Sugar pre-
serves  them Srom  the corruption
which juicy vegetables would other-
wiSe undergo.
  There are, however, Sundry ve-
getables whoSe virtues arc impaired
by  this treatment.   Mucilaginous
fubllances,hy long lying with fugar,
become lefs glutinous ; and aflrin-
gents Senfibly become SoSter upon
the p j late.   Many oS the Sragratit
flowers are of fo tender and delicate
a texture, as almoft entirely to lofe
their peculiar qualities on being
beaten or bruifed.
  In general, it is obvious,  that in
this form, on account oS the large
admixture of fugar, only fubftances
of confiderable adivity can be taken
to advantage  as medicines.  And,
indeed, confervesare at prefent con-
fidered chiefly as auxiliaries to me-
dicines of great efficacy, or as in-
termediums for joining them toge-
ther.   They are very convenient
                             for 
 Chap. 2.               Con)

 for reducing  into bolufes  or  pills
 the more ponderous powders, as
 mercurius dulcis,  the calces of i-
 ron, and other  mineral  prepara-
 tions; which, with liquid or lefs
 confiftent matters,  as lyrnps,  will
 not cohere.
   The fhops were formerly encum-
 bered with many conferves altoge-
 ther infignificant; the few now re-
 tained have in general either an a-
 greeable  flavoir to  recommend
 them, or are  capable of anSwering
 fome aSefi.il  purpofes as medicines.
 Their common doSe is the bulk of
 a nutmeg, or as much as can be ta-
 ken up at once or tvice  upon the
 p.-''nt of a knife. There is in gene-
 ral no great  danger oS exceeding in
 this particular.

 CONSERVE Lond.
     LUJUL/E,
     Of wood forrel;
     ABSINTHil MARITIMI,
     Of fea wo: uiW'Od;
     ROSIER UKR/i',
     Of the  red rofe ;
     CORTICIS EXTERIORIS
       AURANT1I  HISPA-
       LENSIS;
     Of the outer rind of the Seville
       orange.
Pluck the leaves  Srom  the ftalks,
  the unblown petals Srom the cups,
  taking off the  heels.   Takeoff
  the outer rind of the oranges by
  a grater ; then beat each of them
  with a wooden peftle in  a marble
  mortar, firft by themfelves,  af-
  terwards with  three times their
  weight of  double  refined Sugar,
  until they  be mixed.

CONSERVE Edinb.
    MENTHA  SATIViE FO-
      LIORUM RECENTIUM,
    Of the frefh leaves of mint ;
    ROSARUM  RUBRARUM
      NONDUM   EXPLICA-
      TARUM ;
    Of red rofes not blown.
erves.                      yi§

      AURANTIORUM    H1S-
        PALLNSIUM  CORTI-
        CIS EXTERIORIS RE-
        CENT1S RADULA AB-
        RASI,
      Of the outer rind of Seville o-
        ranges rafpedojf by a grater.
 TheSe  are directed to be prepared
    with triple their weight of Sugar
    in the fame manner as the con-
    ferves of  the  London college.
    The fugar fhould be pounded by
    itfelf, and pafled through a tieve
    before ii be mixed  with the ve-
    getable mafs,  for without  this it
    cannot be properly incorporated.
    Rofe buds, and Some other vege-
    table's, are uSually  prepared lor
    mixing wiih .Sugar by  a  Small
    wooden mill  contrived tor that
    purpoSe.
    In the  Same manner co-.iServes
 may be prepared Srom many  o.hcr
 vegetables.  But  befides  he con-
 Serves Sor which geueral directions
 are given, there  are  others, ior
 which, either on account ot the par-
 ticular  mode oS preparation, cr of
 the proportion, our pharmacopoeias
 lnve thought it  ncccflary  to give
 particular  diredions.    But before
 taking  notice oSthtSe,  it is neceffary
 to  mention  the medical  properties
 of the conServes above enumerated

 CONSERVA  Soliorum  LUJU-
              LJE.
              Lond.
 Conjerve of the leaves of  wood-for-
              rel.
   This isa very elegant and grate-
 ful conServe ; in talte  it  is lightly
 acidulous, with a peculiar flavour,
 which fome  compare  to that of
 green-tea.   It is taken occafionally
 Sor quenching thirlt,  and cooling
 the mouth and Sauces, in diftem-
 pers where the heat oS the body is
 much increafed.

   CONSERVA fnrrmitatum  AB-
     SINTHil maritimi, Lond.
              X  3          Cou- 
326         Preparations ai

Qouferve of the tops of fea worm-
              wood.
  The conferve of wormwood has
been celebrated in dropfies:  Mat-
thiolus relates, that Several perSons
were cured by it of that diftemper
without the  afliftance oS any other
medicine.  Where the dilbrder in-
deed proceeds from a fimple laxity
or flaccidity  of the folids, the con-
tinned  ufe of this  medicine may be
of fome fervice ; as it appears to be
a not inelegant mild  corroborant.
Ir is direded to  be  given in  the
dofe of half an ounce about  three
hours before meals.

CONSERVA florum ROSARUM
     rubra rum immaturarum,
          Land. Edinb.
  Conferve of the buds of red rofes.

  This is a very agreeable and ufe-
ful conferve.  A dram or two dif-
folved  in warm milk, are frequently
given as a light reftringentjin weak-
nefs of the Stomach, and likewiSe in
coughs  and  phthifical complaints.
In the German ephemeridcs, exam-
ples are related oS very dangerous
phfhifis cured by the continued uSe
of this medicine :   In  one of thefe
cafes, twenty  pounds  of the  con-
ferve were taken in the fpace of a
month; and  in another, upwards
of thirty.  Riverius mentions feve-
ral  other inftances of  this  kind.
There is, however, much room for
fallacy  in fuch observations;   as
phthilis has not at all times been ac-
curately diftinguifhed from obftinate
catarrhs, and fome other affedions :
the antifeptic property of the fugar
may perhaps have fome fhare in the
effed,

CONSERVA  flavedinis  CORTI-
   CUM  AURANTIORUM
         Hifpalenfium,
         Lond. Edinb,
i Compofitions.    Part III.

Conferve of the yellow rind of Seville
          orange-peel.

   This conferve is a very  elegant
one, containing all the virtues of
the peel in a  form fufficiently a-
greeable,  both  with regard  to the
dofe and the conveniency of taking.
It is  a pleafant warm ftomachic;
and with this intention is frequently
made ufe of.

  CONSERVA  foliorum  MEN-
         THA vulgaris.
             Edinb.
Conferve of the leaves offpearmint.

   The conferveof mint retains the
tafte and virtues of the herb.  It is
given in weaknefs of the ftomach
and retchings to vomit; and not un-
freqnently does fervice in fome cafes
of this kind, where the warmer and
more  adive preparations  of mint
would be lefs proper.

       CONSERVA ARI.
        Conferve of arum.
Take of
   The  frefh root of arum bruifed,
     half a pound ;
   Double  refined fugar, a pound
    and a half;
   Beat them together in a mortar.

   The root of arum, in its recent
ftate,  is a fubftance of great acti-
vity;   but  this adivity is almoft
entirely loft on  drying. Hence the
compound  powder which had for-
merly a place in our pharmacopoei-
as is now rejeded.   And as neither
water nor fpirit extrad its adivity,
this  conferve  is perhaps the beft
Sorm in which it can be preServed
in our  fhops.   It may be given to
adults in doSes of a dram
CON- 
Chiapv 2'*               C-onft
  CONSERVA CYNOSBATI.
             Lond.
       Conferve of the hip.
Take of
  Pulp of ripe hips one pound;
  Double refined  fugar powdered,
     twenty ounces.
  Mix  them into a conferve.

  The conferve of hips is of fome
efteem  as a foft cooling  reftrin-
gent ;  three or four drams  or more
are given at a time, in bilious fluxes,
fharpnefs of urine, and hot indifpo-
fitions  of the ftomach:   A  good
deal of care is requifite on the  part
of the  apothecary in  making this
conServe: the  pulp is apt  to carry
with it Some of  the  prickly fibres,
with which  the infide of the fruit
is lined;  if thefe be  retained  in
the conferve,  they will irritate  the
ftomach,  fo as  to occafion vomit-
ing.

CONSERVA  PRUNI SYLVES-
             TRIS.
          Lond. Edin.
       Conferve of the floe.
Put the floes in water upon the fire
  that  they may foften,  taking
  care  that they  be  not broken ;
  then, the floes being taken out of
  the  water,  prefs out the ^?ulp,
  and  mix it with three times  its
  weight of  double-refined  fugar
  into  a conferve.

  This  preparation is a gentle a-
flringent, and may be given as fuch
in the dofe of two or  three drams.
The degree of its aftringency will
vary according  to the maturity of
the  floes, and the length  of time
for  which  the  conferve has been
kept.

     CONSERVA SCILL/E.
        Conferve of fquill.
Take of
  Frefh fquills, one ounce:
rves.                      327
   Double-refined Sugar five ounces.
   Beat them together in a mortar,
     into a conServe.

   This conServe is direded to be
 prepared  in  a  Small  quantity, to
 guard againft its variation in ftrength
 It  may be given, to  adults, from
 half a  dram to  two fcruples, efpe-
 cially when freih.
   But  the conferve of fquills is a
 more  uncertain and lefs agreeable
 mode of exhibiting this article, than
 the powder of the dried root, par-
 ticularly when made into  pills, or
 given in the form of bolus with any
 other conferve.

 CONSERVA FOLIORUM CE-
           REFOLII.
              Suec
        Conferve of chervil.
 Take of
   Frefh leaves of chervil,
   Double-refined fogar, each equal
     parts.
   Beat them together into a con-
     ferve.

   Chervii- has by fome been ex-
 tolled as an ufeful diuretic ; and this-
 is perhaps one of the moft pleafant
 forms  under which it can be exhi-
 bited.

 CONSERVA  MILLEPEDA-
             RUM.
             Brun.
      Conferve of millepedes.
 Take of
   Live flaters,  one pound ;
   Double-refined fugar, twopounds
     and an half.
   Beat them together into  a con-
     Serve.

   If  the  millepedes poffefs thofe
 virtues which  Some  have alleged,
 this is perhaps one of the beft forms
 under which they can be exhibited.
 And by  children, to whom  they
                             arc 
.328          Preparations at

 are frequently  prefcribed,  it may
 be esfily taken,  when  other forms
 cannot be introduced.

 CONSERVA  ROSARUM   VI-
       TRIOLATA.   Brun.
     Vitriolated conferve of rofes.
 To each pound of the conferve  of
    rofes add  two drams of the  di-
    luted vitriolic acid.
 C   H   A

     s    u

J    U    I
   JUICES are obtained from the
    fucculent parts of plants, by in-
cluding them,  after being properly
cut, bruifjd,,&c. in  a  hair bag,
and preffing them, betwixt  wooden
checks, inthecommon Screw-preSs,
as long as any liquor drops 1 torn them
  The harder fruits  require to  be
previoufly well beaten or ground;
but herbs are to be only moderately
bruiSed, Sor if thefe are over brui-
fed,  a  large quantity of the herba-
ceous matter  will be forced out a-
long with  the juice.   Hempen or
woollen bags are apt to communi-
cate a  difagreeable flavour;  the
threads of  thefe  likewiSe Swell in
proportion as they imbibe moifture,
fo as in a great meaSure to  prevent
the free percolation of the juice.
  The  fluids  thus  extraded from
fucculent fruits,  both of the acid
and  fweet kind, from moft of the
acrid herbs, asfcurvy-grafs and wa-
tcr-crefles, from the acid herbs, as
forrel and wood-forrel,  from the 3-
i Compofitions.    Part III.
   This may be in fome caSes an
nSeSul means of increafing Somewhat
the aftringency of the conferve of
rofes:  But for thefe purpofes for
which the vitriolic acid is in gene-
ral  employed,  the  quantity  that
can thus be  introduced is too in-
confiderable  to  be of  much Ser-
vice.
 P.     III.

   C   I.

C    E    S.
peri en t ladefcent plants, as dande-
lion and hawkweed, and from fun-
dry other vegetables, contain great
part of the peculiar tafte and  vir-
tuesof the refpedive fubjeds.  The
juices, on the other hand, extrad-
ed  from   moft of the  aromatic
herbs, as thofe  of mint and the fra-
grant Turkey balm, commonly call-
ed balm of Gilead, have Scarcely any
thing of the flavour of the plants,
and feem  to  differ little  from de-
codions of them made  in  water
boiled till the volatile odorous  parts
have been diffipated.   Many of the
odoriferous flowers, as the lily, vio-
let, hyacinth, net  only impart no-
thing of their  fragrance to  their
juice, but have it  totally deftroyed
by  the  previous bruiting.   From
want  of fufficient attention to  thefe
particulars, praditioners have been
frequently deceived in the effeds of
preparations of  this clafs: juice of
mint  has often been prefcribed as a
ftomachic, tho' it wants thofe quali-
                             ties 
Chap.  3
Juices.
3*9
tics by which mint itfelf and its 0-
thtr preparations operate.
  The juices thus  forcibly preffed
out  from plants, differ from thofe
which flow fpontaneoufly,  or from
incifions; theft laft confifting chief-
ly ot fuch fluids as art not diffufed
through the whole fubftance of the
vegetable Subject, but  elaborated in
diftinet veffels, or fecreted into par-
ticular receptacles.   Frum  poppy
heads, (lightly  wounded,  there if-
fues a thick milky liquor, which
dries by a  moderate  warmth into
opium ; whilft  the juice  obtained
from them  by preflure is oSa dark-
green colour, and far weaker vir-
tue.
  Juices newly expreffed are gene-
rally thick, vifcid, and very  im-
pure :  By  colature,  a quantity of
  frofs matter is feparated,  the juice
  ecomes thinner, limpid, and better
fitted for  medicinal purpofes, tho'
as yet not entirely pure : on ftand-
ing, it becomes again turbid,  and
apt  to run  into a  fermentative or
putrefadive ftate. Clarification with
whites of  eggs renders the juices
more perfedly fine ;  but there are
few that will bear this treatment
without a manifeft injury  to their
flavour, tafte, and  virtue.
  The moft effedual method of pu-
rifying and preferving thefe liquors,
is to let the ftrained juices ftand in
a cool place till  they  have depofi-
ted   their  groffer feces, and  then
gently pafs  them feveral times thro'
a fine ftrainer till perfedly clear  ;
when about one-fortieth part their
weight of good  fpirit  of wine may
be added, and the whole fuffered to
ftand as before :  a frefh  Sediment
will now be depofited, Srom which
the  liquor is to be poured off, ftrain-
ed again, and put into Small bottles
which  have been  wafhed  with Spi-
rit and dried.  A  little oil is to be
poured on the  SurSace, So as very
nearly to  fill the bottles, and  the
mouths cloSed with leather,  paper,
or flopped with ftraw, as the flafks
in which florence wine is brought
to us: this Serves to keep out duft,
and Suffers the air, which in  proceSs
of time arifes from all vegetable li-
quors,  to efcapc ; which air would
otherwiSe endanger the burfting of
the  glaffes ; or, being imbibed a-
frefh, render their  contents vapid
and Soul. The bottles are to  be kept
on  the bottom  oS a good cellar or
vault, placed up to the necks  in Sand.
By this method Some juices  may be
preferved  for a year  or two;  and
others for a much longer time.
  It has already been obferved, that
there are great differences in juices,
in regard to their beingr.ccompani-
edinthe expreflion with the virtues
of the fubjeds.  There are equal
differences in regard  to their pre-
ferving  thoSe  virtues, and  this in-
dependently oS the volatility oS the
adive matter,  or its  diSpolition to
exhale. Even the volatile virtue of
Scurvy-graSs may by the above  me-
thod be preScrved almoft entire in
its  juice Sor a confiderable time ;
while the  adive parts oS the juice
of the wild cucumber  quickly fepa-
rate and fettle  to the bottom, leav-
ing the fluid part inert.  Juices of
arum root,  iris root, bryony root,
and fundry other vegetables, throw
off in like  manner their medicinal
parts to the bottom.

    SUCCUS COCHLEARLE
        COMPOSITUS.
             Lond.
  Compound juice offcurvy-graft.
Take of
  Juice of garden fcurvy-grafstwa
     pints ;
  Brook lime and
  Water creffes, of each one pint;
  Seville oranges twenty ounces by
     meafure.
                            Mix 
 33^         Preparations a

   Mix them ; and, after the feces
     have Subfided,  pour off the li-
     quor, or ftrain it.

   SUCCI AD SCORBUTICOS.
             Edinb.
 Take of
   Juice of garden feurvy-grafs,
   Water-creffes,  both  expreffed
     from the frefh herbs ;
   Seville oranges,  of each  two
     pounds;
   Spirituous nutmeg-water ; half a
     pound.
 Mix them, and let them  ftand till
   the feces have fubfided, thenpour
   out the clear liquor.

   By  this formula the Edinburgh
 college  have  rejeded  the brook-
 lime and the fugar of their former
 editions.  The fugar was certainly
 a.very improper addition ; for tho'
 it may preferve dry vegetable mat-
 ters, yet when  added  to  juices
 largely  impregnated with  watery
 and  mucilaginous matter,  it would
 no doubt furnifh that  very principle
 moft favourable to the produdion
 of the  vinous  fermentation.  To
 the  compound  horfe-radifh  water
 they have fubftituted the fpirituous
 water  of n-jtmegs :  Befides  that,
 this  water has  the  Same  property
 oS preserving the juices from fer-
 mentation ;  it is  alSo much more
 agreeable to the  palate,  and will
 make the juices  fit  eafier on the
 ftomach.
   The London college have retain-
 ed nearly their former formula, gi-
 ving it only a more proper name.

   Both  thefe compofitions are of
 confiderable  ufe  for the purpofes
 expreffed in the title :  the orange
juice is an excellent afliftant to the
 feurvy-grafs and other  acrid anti-
 scorbutics ; which, when thus mix-
 ed, have  been found from  expe-
 rience  to produce  much better ef-
 d Compofitions.   Part III.

 feds than when employed by them-
 felves.  Thefe juices may be taken
 from an ounce or two to a quarter
 of a pint, twoor three times a-day :
 they generally increafe the urinary
 fecretion, and Sometimes introduce
 a laxative habit. PreServed with the
 cautions abovementioned, they will
 keep good Sor a confiderable time ;
 though, whatever care  be taken,
 they are  Sound  to  anSwer better
 when Srefh;  and Srom the difficulty
 oS preServing them  So,  they have
 oS late been very much laid afide,
 eSpecially fince we have been pro-
 vided  with more convenient and
 uSeSul remedies.

      Inspissated Juices*

   When vegetable juices, or wate-
 ry or Spirituous decodions or infufi-
 ons, are expofed toacontinuedheat;
 the  fluid gradually evaporating,
 carries off with it fuch volatile mat-
 ters as it was impregnated with, and
 leaves the more fixed united toge-
 ther  into  one mafs.  The  mafs
 which remains from the evapora-
 tion of the expreffed juiceof a plant
 is called infpiffated juice ; from wa-
 tery decodions or infufions,  an ex-
 trail; from fpirituous  tindures, a re-
 fin, or effential extratf.  The term
 extract is frequently ufed alfo as a>
 general appellation of all  the three
 kinds.  Infpiffated juices and wa-
 tery  decodions,  particularly the
 former,  when evaporated  no fur-
 ther than to the confiftence of oil
 or honey, are called rob  or fapa ;
 and  fpirituous tindures,  reduced
 to a like confiftence,  are called bal-
fam.
   What relates to the expreflion of
 juices, has already been delivered
 with the moft effedual  means of
 preferving them in their liquid ftate,
 and a general account of  what fub-
 ftances do or do not  give out their
 virtues with their juices.  In the in-
                        Spiffation 
 Chap. 3.

 fpiffation of juices there is further
 to be confidered the volatility or
fixity of their medicinal parts : if a
plant lofes its virtue,  or part of its
virtue, in being dried, it is obvious
that  the juice muft lofe as much in
being infpiffated to dryneft; how
gentle  foever  the  heat be  with
which the infpiffation is performed,
It is  likewife  to be obferved, that
 the  medicinal  part of fome juices
are  kept in a date of  perfed folu-
 tion  by the watery fluid,  fo as to be
completely retained  by it after the
liquor has been made fine  by  fet-
ling, ftraining, or other means ;
while the medicinal pins of others,
 not diffoluble by watery menftrua,
are only diffufed thro' the liquor in
 the fame manner as the feculencies
are,  and feparate  along with thefe
on ftanding.

 SUCCUS  BACCiE   SAMBUCI
          SPISSATUS.
             Lond.
  Infpiffated juice of the elder-berry.
 Take of
  Expreffed and depurated juice of
     elder-berries two pints.
  Infpiffate it in a water-bath, Sa-
     turated with Sea-Salt.

  SUCCUS  SPISSATUS  BAC-
CARUM SAMBUCI, vulgo ROB
           SAMBUCI.
             Edinb.
Infpiffated juice,  commonly called
      rob,  of elder-berries.
Take of
  Juice of  ripe elder-berries, five
     pounds ;
  Pure ft fugar, one pound.
  Evaporate with a gentle  heat to
     the confiftence of pretty thick
     honey.

  This preparation, made with or
without   fugar,  keeps  well, and
proves a  medicine of confiderable
importance as an aperient, gcnc»
Juices.
33l
rally promoting the  natur^excre-
tions by ftoo], urine, or Sweat. The
doSe is  Srom a dram or two to an
ounce or more.  A SpoonSul, diluted
with water, isuSually taken in com-
mon colds at bed time.

   SUCCUS  SPISSATUS  ACO-
             NITE
              Edinb,
   Infpiffated juice of  wolfsbane,

BrniSe tbeSrefh leaves  of aconitum ;
   and including them in a hempen
   bag, ftrongly comprefs them in a
   prefs, fo that they  may give out
   their  juic-; :  let  the juice  be
   forthwith exhaled,  in open vef-
   fels expofed to the vapour of boil-
   ing water, to the confiftence  oi
   pretty thick honey: An empy-
   reuma is to be avoided  by con-
   ftantly ftirring towards the end
   of the procefs.
After the matter has  become cold,
   let  it  be put up in glazed earthen
   veflels, and moiftened with redi-
   fied Spirit of" wine.

   In the fiime manner  are prepared
inSpiflatcd juices of
   Belladona, or deadly nightfhade,
     and
   Hyofciamus, or henbane.

   In  thefe infpiffated juices, the
adive parts of the plant are  obtain-
ed in a concentrated ftate,  and  in
a condition which  admits of pre-
paration for a confiderable length
oS time.   They furnifh therefore a
convenient form for exhibiting thefe
articles which,in the pradice of me-
dicine, are perhaps more frequently
ufed in the ftate of  infpiffated juice
than any other.  This is  particu-
larly the cafe with the hyofciamus,
which may often be advantageoufly
employed  when opium  is  indica-
ted, but  difagrees with the patient.
But the  acconite and belladona may
                              in 
  332        Preparations an

 in genec&l, with greater advantage,
 be  exhibited  under the form  of
 powder made from the dried leaves.
   We have already,  in the hiftory
 of the materia medica, exprelfed our
 furprife, that the London  college
 have given  no place to thefe ar-
 ticles.  And we cannot help think-
 ing,  that   their  pharmacopoeias
 would be enriched by introducing
 not only the articles themfelves,but
 likewife thefe  preparations,  efpe-
 cially as they are not unfreqnent-
 ly prefcribed by Bntifh pradition-
 ers.

   Succus  spissatus cicuta:.
             Edinb.
   Infpiffated juice of hemlock.
 Having expreffed the juice  of the
   leaves and ftalksof hemlock when
   flowering, in the fame manner as
   direded  for  that of the aconi-
   tum, evaporate it to the  confift-
   ence of pretty thin  honey ; when
   it is coolled, add of the powder
   of the dried leaves of the plant
   as much as to make it into a mafs
   fir. for forming pills.  Care, how-
   ever, is tebe taken, that the eva-
   poration   proceed  only to  fuch
   length,that as much of the powder
   can be mixed  with the infpiifited
  juice  as  fhall make up about  a
   fifth part of the whole mafs.

   A preparation fimilar to this was
pnbliflied at  Vienna by Dr Stoerk,
who recommends it as an efficacious
refolvent in many obftinate difor-
ders,where the common remedies a-
vail nothing. He obferves, that Small
dofes fhould always be begun with,
as two grains, made into a pill twice
a day; and  that by gradually in-
creafing the doSe, it may be given
to two,  three, or even four drams
a day, and  contiued in fuch quan-
tities for feveral weeks : that it may
be ufed with  fafety in infancy, old
age, and pregnancy: that  it nei-
d Compofitions.    Part.  III.

 ther  accelerates nor iiifturbs the
 circulation;  neither  heats,  nor
 cools,  nor affeds the animal func-
 tions:  that  it incre^fes the fecre-
 tions, and renders the mouth moift;
 feldom purges; very rarely vomits;
 fometimes  augments perfpiration ;
 often produces a copious difcharge
 of vifcid  urine; but in many pa-
 tients does not increafe any of the
 fenfible evacuations; that it removes
 obftrudions  and their  confequen-
 ces ; relieves rheumatic pains, tho'
 of long continuance ; difcufles lcir-
 rhous  tumours, both inttrnal and
 external;  and cures dropfies and
 consumptions proceeding from feir-
 rhofities: that it oten diflblves ca-
 taracts, or flops their  prog re is, and
 has Sometimes removed  the  gutta
 Serena:  that inveterate  cutaneous
 eruptions,  Scald heads, malignant
 ulcers, cancers, the malignant fluor
 albus and gonorrhoea oS long ftand-
 ing, obftinate remains oS the vene-
 rtal difeafe, and caries of the bones,
 generally yield to it:  that  for  the
 molt part it is neceffary to continue
 this medicine for a confiderable time
 before the cure be effedcd,or much
 benefit perceived from it:  that in
 fome cafes  it failed of giving any
 relief;  that he met with fome per-
 fons who could not bear  its effects :
■ and that consequently there muft be
 Some latent difference in the habit,
 the diagnoftic Signs oS which are at
 preSent unknown;  that  though  it
 is by no means infallible  any more
 than other medicine,  yet the great
 number  of deplorable  cafes  that
 have  been  happily cured by it, is
 fufficient to recommend it  to  fur-
 ther trials.  The  efficacy of this
 medicine is confirmed by many emi-
 nent praditioners abroad ; though
 the trials hitherto made of it in this
 country  have not been  attended
 with much fuccefs. Somewhat, per-
 haps, may depend upon the time of
 the plants being gathered, and the
                           man- 
Chap. 3.
Juices.
333
manner of the  preparation of the
extrad.  Dr Stoerk himfelf takes
notice of fome miftakes committed
in this refped : fome have left the
herb in  a  heap for  feveral days,
whence  part of it withered, part
rotted, and the juice became thick
and mucilaginous : others have ta-
ken a  very  large quantity of the
juice, and  boiled it down  in cop-
per veflels with a great heat ; by
which means a ftrong fetor was dif-
fufed to a confiderable diflance, and
the moft efficacious parts diffipated :
others, with officious care, have cla-
rified the juice, and thus obtained a
black  tenacious extrad,  retaining
but a  Small degree  of the fpecific
fmell of  the  plant.   The extrad,
duly prepared,  according to the a-
bove prefcription is of a  greenifh
brown colour, and a very difagree-.
able fmell, like that of mice.   But
though  there be reafon  to  believe
that much of the extra.lt ufed here
had been ill prepared, we can by no
means admit that its peneral inefli-
cacy was owing to this caufe ; for
though there are not many inftances
of its difcovering any  valuable me-
dicinal powders, there are Several of
its having activity enough, even in
finall  dofes,  to produce alarming
fymptoms.
   Modern pradice, however, feems
to hold a middle place;  being nei-
ther influenced by the extravagant
encomiums  of  Dr  Stoerk,  nor
frightened by the  wary  fufpicions
of Dr Lewis. The inlpiflatedjuice
of the hemlock is accordingly given
with freedom in a great variety of
complaints, without our experien-
cing the wonderful etteds afcribed
to it by the former,  or the baneful
confequences  dreaded by the lat-
ter.   Like other preparations of
this valuable herb, it is no doubt a
very ufeful addition to our pharma-
copoeia ;  nor does its ufe feem to be
more hazardous than that of opium
and Some other narcotics.
  The London college  dired  the
infpiffated juices oS cicuta to be pre-
pared  in the Same manner as^at of
the elder-berry, and without  the
addition of any of the powder. This
is the moft pure  extrad, and  the
powder may eafily  be occafionally
added.  They dired the cicuta to
be colleded as Soon as the flowers
appear : And at that time the leaves
are moll  fully  impregnated with
their adive powers.

  SUCCUS SPISSATUS RIBIS
            NIGRI.
             Loud.
Infpiffated juice  of black currants.

  SUCCUS SPISSATUS LIMO-
             NIS.
             Lond.
    Infpiffated juice of lemons.

  These two alSo the London col-
lege dired to be prepared  in  the
Same  manner with the elder-berry
juice.  And under this form the a-
greeable and ufeful acid of thefe ve-
getables,  in  a concentrated ftate,
maybe preferved for a confiderable
length of time.
CHAP- 
334          Preparations and Compofitions.   Part  III
            CHAP.    IV.

 EXTRACTA  et  R E S I N JE.

EXTRACTS  and   RESINS.
                Obfervations on Extracts with Water.

    THESE extrads  are  prepared   flavour,  and aromatic quality, are
     by  boiling the fubjed in wa-   either not extraded at all, or ex-
 ter, and evaporating the  ftrained ' hale  along  with  the menftruum.
 decodion to a thick confiftence.      Thus gentian  root, which is al-
   This procefs affords us  fome  of   moft  fimply  bitter, yields  an  cx-
 the more adive parts of the plants,   trad  poffelfmg  in  a fmall  volume
 free from  the ufelefs indiflbluble   the whole tafte and virtues of the
 earthy matter, which  makes the   root.   Wormwood, which has  a
 largeft fliare of their bulk.   There   degree of warmth and ftrong fla-
 is a great difference in vegetable   vour joined to the bitter, lofes the
 fubftances,  with regard to their fit-   two lirft  in  the evaporation, and
 neSs Sor this operation;  Some yield-   gives  an  extrad not greatly diffe-
 i:ig to it all their virtues, and others   rent Srom the Soregoing : the aro-
 fcarce any.  ThoSe parts in which   made  quality of cinnamon is difli-
 the Sweet,  glutinous,  emollient,  pated  by  this treatment, its aftrin-
cooling, bitter, auftere, aftringent  gency remaining;  whilft an extrad
virtues refide, are for the moft part  made  from the flowers of  lavender
 totally extraded by  the  boiling  and rofemary, difcovers nothingei-
water, and remain almoft entire up-  ther of the tafte, fmell, or virtues
on evaporating it:  whilft  thofe  of the  flowers.
which  contain the  peculiar odour,

           General Rules for making Extracts with  Water.
   i. It is indifferent, with regard
tothe medicine, whetherthefubjed
be ufed frefh or dry ;  Since nothing
that can be preferved in  this  pro-
cefs will be loft by drying.  With
regard to the facility of extrac-
tion, there is a  very confiderable
difference; vegetables  in general
giving out their virtues more readi-
ly when  moderately  dried  than
when frefli.
  2. Very compad  dry Subftances
fhould be reduced into exceeding
Small parts, previous to the affulion
of the menftruum.
  3. The quantity of water ought
                              to 
Chap. 4.  Pules for making Extracts with Water.  335
to be no greater than is  neceffary
for  extrading  the  virtues of the
fubjed.  A difference herein  will
fometimes occafion  a variation in
the  quality of the produd: the lar-
ger the quantity of liquor, the  lon-
ger the fire will be requifite for  eva-
porating  it, and confequently  the
more of  the  volatile parts of  the
fnbjed will be diffipated.  A long-
continued  heat likewiSe  makes a
confiderable alteration in  the  mat-
ter  which is not volatile.  Sweet
Subftances, by long boiling with wa-
ter, become nauSeous ; and the draS-
tic  purgatives lofe  their virulence,
though wkhout any remarkable Se-
paration of their parts.
  4. The  decodions are to be de-
purated  by colature ;  and after-
wards fuffered to ftand  for a day or
two, when a confiderable quantity
of Sediment is ufually found at the
bottom.  If the liquor  poured off
clear be boiled down a little,  and
afterwards fuffered to cool again, it
will depofite a frefh fediment, from
which it may  be decanted before
you proceed to finifh the evapora-
tion.   The decodions of very  refi-
nous fubftances do  not  require this
treatment,  and are  rather injured
by it;  the  refin  fubfiding  along
with the inadive dregs.
  5. The evaporation is moft con-
veniently performed in broad {hal-
low veflels ;  the larger the furface
of the liquor, the fooner will the a-
qucous parts exhale:   This effed
may likewife be promoted by agi-
tation.
  6. When the matter "begins to
grow thick,  great  care is neceffary
to prevent its burning.  This ac-
cident,  almoft  unavoidable  if the
quantity be  large,  and the fire ap-
plied as ufual under the evaporating
pan, may be effedually fecured a-
gainft, by carrying on the infpiffa-
tion after the common manner,  no
farther than to the confiftence of a
fyrup,  when the  matter is to  be
poured into fhallow tin or earthen
pans; and placed in an oven, with
its door open, moderately heated ;
which  ading  uniformly  on every
part of the liquid,  will foon reduce
it to any degree of confiftence re-
quired.  This may  likewife be done,
and morcfecurely, in balneo-marise,
by fetting the evaporating veffel in
boiling water,  but the evaporation
is in this way very  tedious.
Obfervations on Extracts with Reclified Spirit.
  Rectified fpirit  of winedif-
folves the eflential oils and refins of
vegetables, and does not readily car-
ry off the oil in its exhalation; the
heat fufficient to exhale pure  fpirit
being much lefs than that in which
water evaporates to any confiderable
degree, or moft effential oils diftil.
Hence, a refinous or Spirituous ex-
trad of wormwood, contrary to that
made  with  water,   contains the
warmth and flavour, as well as bit-
ternefs of the herb; one made from
cinnamon poffeffes  its  aromatic vir-
tue, as well as its aftringency ; and
one  from lavender and  rofemary
flowers,  retains great part of their
flavour and  virtues;  the volatile
parts, which are carried off by wa-
ter in its evaporation being left be-
hind by the fpirit.
  The fpirit employed for this pur-
pofe fhould be perfedly free from
any  ill flavour,  which  would  be
communicated  in part to the prepa-
ration ; and from any admixture o
phlegm or water,  which would not
only vary its diflblving power, but
likewife, evaporating towards  the
end of the infpiffation,  would pro-
                           mote
    1 
336          Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
mote the diffipation of the volatile  ly in the other.  Hence fundry ve-
parts of the  fubjed.  Hence, alfo,  getables, extremely refinous,  and
the fubjed itfelf ought always to be  whofe virtues confilt chiefly in their
dry:  thofe  fubftances  which  lofe
their virtue by drying, lofe it equal-
ly on being fubmitted to this treat-
ment with the pureft fpirit.
  The infpiffation fhoald be  per-
formed from the beginning, in the
gentle heat of a  warm bath.   It  is
not needful to fuffer the fpirit to e-
refin, afford neverthelefs very ufe-
ful extracts with water, though not
equal to thofe  which  may be ob-
tained  by a prudent application of
Spirit.   Hence, alio, the extrads
made from moft vegetables by pure
fpirit, are  not mere refins ; a part
of the gummy  matter, if the fiib-
vaporate in the air:  greaieit part of  jed  contained  any fuch, is taken
it  may  be recovered by colleding  up along with the refin, an admix-
the vapour in the  common diftilling  ture  of  great advantage to it  in a
veffels.   If the diftilled  fpirit be
found to have brought over any fla-
vour  from  the fubjed, it may be
advantageoufty refcrved for the Same
purpoSes again.
  It is  obfcrvable, that tho' redi-
fied Spirit be the proper menftruum
of the pure volatile oils, and of the
groffer  refinous matter  of  vege-
tables, and water of the  mucilagi-
nous and faline; yet  thefe princi-
ples are, in almoft  all plants,  fo
intimately combined together,  that
whichever  of thefe liquors  is ap-
plied  at firft, it will take up a por-
tion of what is diredly foluble on-
mcdicinal view. The fpirituous ex-
trads of  feveral  vegetable fub-
ftances, as  mint leaves, rhubarb,
faffron,  diffolve in water as well as
in fpirit.
  Pure refins are prepared by mix-
ing with fpirituous tindure  of ve-
ry refinous  vegetables,  a  quantity
oS water.  The refin, incapable of
remaining  diflblved in the  watery
liquor,  Separates  and falls  to the
bottom; leaving in  the  menftruum
fuch other principles of the plant as
the fpirit might have extraded at
firft along with it.
Obfervatious on Extracls with Spirit and Water.
  There  are fundry vegetables,
particularly thofe of a refinous na-
ture, which are treated, to  better
advantage with  a  mixture ©f wa-
ter and fpirit, than  with  either of
them fingly.   The virtues of refi-
nous woods, barks,  and roots may
indeed be in a great  part extraded
by long boiling in  frefh portions of
water; but at  the  fame time they
fuffer a confiderable injury from the
continued heat neceffary for the ex-
tradion,  and for the fubfequent e-
vaporation of fo large a quantity of
the fluid.  Redified  fpirit  of wine
is not liable  to this inconvenience ;
tyic the extrads obtained by it from
the fubftances here intended, be-
ing almoft purely refinous, are lefs
adapted to general  ufe than  thofe
in which the refin  is divided by an
admixture of the  gummy retailer,
of which water  is  the dired men-
ftruum.
   There are two ways of obtain?
ing  thefe compounds, or gummy-
refinous  extracts:  one,  by  ufing
proof-fpirit,   that is  a mixture of
about equal part  of fpirit  and wa-
ter, for the menftruum ; the other,
by digefting the  fubjed firft in pure
fpirit and then in water, and after-
wards uniting into one  mafs the
parts which  the two menftrua have
                       -Separately 
Chap.  4.    .  Extracts by Long Digefiion.          237
feparately extraded. Infomecafes,  luiion of any fimple gum, as muci-
where a Sufficiency oS gummy mat-  lage of gum arabic, and exficcating
ter is wanting in the Subjed, it may
be artificially fupplied, byinfpiffa-
ting  the  fpirituous tindure  to the
confiftence of a balfam,  then  tho-
roughly mixing with it a thick So-
the compound with a gentle heat.
By this  method are obtained ele-
gant gummy refins, externporane-
oufly niiScible with water into milky
liquors.
             Obfervations on Extracts by Long Digeftion.
  It has been obServed, that the  tho' without Specifying, or giving
virtues of  vegetable decodions are  any intimation of, the continuance
altered by long boiling. Decodions  of boiling requifite Sor producing the
or inSufionsoSdraftic vegetables, by  due mildnef's in different Subjects.
long continued boiling or digeftion,
loSe more and more of their viru-
lence ; and at the fame time depofite
more and more of a grofs Sediment,
reSulting probably Srom the decom-
position of their adive parts.  On
this foundation it has been attempt-
ed to obtain Safe and mild prepara-
tions from fundry virulent drugs ;
and  fome  of the chemifts have
ftrongly recommended the procefs,
M. Baume, in his Elemensde Phar-
macie, lately publifhed, has given a
particular account of  an extrad of
opium prepared on this principle;
of which extrad,asit-is alleged to be
very ufeful in pradice, it may not
be improper  to give a  fhort de-
fcription :  And this we fliall accor-
dingly fubjoin to our account of the
opium purificatum of the London
college.
Obfervations on particular Extracls.
 EXTRACTUM CHAMiEME-
              LI.
Extratf of chamomile.
  CACUMINIS GENISTA.
  Broom tops.
  GENTIANS.
  Gentian.
  GLYCYRHIZ^E.
  Liquorice.
  HELLEBORI NIGRI.
  Black hellebore.

  Of Rue.
  SABINE.
  Savin.
             Lond.
Boil the article in diftilled water,
  prefs out the decodion, ftrain it,
  and fet it apart  that  the  feces
  may fubfide ; then boil it  a^ain
  in  a water bath Saturated with
  Sea Salt to a confiftence proper for
making pills.

  Tus. fame kind  of bath is to be
ufed in the preparation  of all the
extrads, that the evaporation may
be properly performed.

 EXTRACTUM GENTIANVE.
             Edinb.
       Extratl of gentian.
Take of
  Gentian  root,  as  much as you
     pleafe.
  Having cut and bruifed it, pour
     upon it four times its quantity
     of water.   Boil to the con-
     fuinpiion of one half of the li-
     quor;  and ftrongly  exprefling
     it, ftrain. Evaporate the decoc-
     tion to the cofiftence of pretty
     thick honey, in veffels expofed
     to the vapour of hot water.

  In preparing thisand every other
extrad, it is neceffary to kttp up a
conftant ftirring towards the end of
the procefs, in order  to prevent an
einpyrsuma, and  that the extrad
               Y           may 
338           Pharmaceutic

may be of an uniform confiftence,
and free of clots.
   In the fame manner are prepa-
pared
   Extrad of the
               roots of black hel-
                 lebore ;
              leaves of the pul-
                 fatilla nigricans;
               leaves of rue ;
               heads of white
                 poppies  ;
               feeds of hemlock,
                 whilft not per-
                 fedly ripe.

   All the above extrads contain
the virtues  of the vegetables in  a
ftate of tolerable perfedion.
   The extrad of chamomilelofes in
its formation the fpecific flavour of
the plant ; but it is faid to furnifh a
bitter remarkably antifeptic, and to
be given with advantage in different
ftomach aliments to the extent of a
fcruple or two, either by itfelf, or in
conjundion  with  other  remedies.
The extrad of broom tops is chiefly
employed  in hydropic cafes  ; and
when  taken to  the quantity of  a
dram or fo, it is Said to operate as a
powerful diuretic.
   The mode of preparing thefe ex-
trads direded by the  London and
Edinburgh colleges is not effentially
different:  But fome advantage will
arife from employing the  diftilled
water direded by the former ; and
the diredions given by the latter
with regard to the quantity of wa-
ter to be ufed, and  the  degree  of
boiling to be employed before ex-
preflion, are not without fome ufe.
   The extrad is the only prepara-
tion of the ptilfatilla  nigricans, and
it Seems Sufficiently well Suited tube
brought into this form.  The ex-
trad of the white poppy-heads is
not perhaps fuperior  in any refped
to opium ;  but  to thofe who may
think otherwiSe, it is convenient to
/ Preparations.    Par 111L

preServe them in this form for-pre-i
paring the fyrup occafionally.  >The
feeds of hemlock have  by  fome
been  thought ftronger, or at leaft
that they produce giddinefs fooner>
than the leaves; but this extrad has
not hitherto come into general ufe.

 EXTRACTUM  COLOCYN-
   THIDIS  COMPOSITUM.  , ;
            • Lond.
Compound extrad ef coloquintida.
Take of
   Pith  of coloquintida, cut Small,
   Six drams ;
   Socotorine aloes, powdered, an
     ounce and  a half ;
   Scammony,  powdered, half an
     ounce ;
   Smaller cardamon feeds, hulked
     and powdered, one dram ;:,
   Proof fpirit, one pint.
Digeftthe coloquintida in the fpirit,
   with  a gentle heat,  during Sour
   days.  To the expreffed tindure
   add  the aloes and fcammony,:;
   when theSe are diffolved, dra^,c$f
   the Spirit,  So that what  remains
   may be of a confiftence proper for
   making pills, adding  the feedfl
   towards the end of the procefs,

   This compofition anfwers very
effedually  as a cathartic, Sp as to
be relied on in cafes where the pa-
tient's HSe depends on  that effect
taking place : the dofe is Srom fif-
teen grains to half a dram.   The
proof-fpirit is a very proper men-
ftruum for the purgative materials;
diflblving nearlythe whole fubftance
oS the aloes and Scammony, except
the impurities: and extrading Srom
the colocynth,  not only the irrita-
ting refin, but  great part of the
gummy  matter.  In our former phar-
macopoeias three fpices were era-
ployed in this compofition, cinna-
mon, mace, and cloves: the carda-
mom Seeds, now introduced,are pre-
ferable, on account of their aroma- 
Chap. *jL     Extracts by Long Digefiim.
 tie- matter being of a lefs volatile
 nature;  though a>confiderable part
 of the flavour, even of theSe, is diS-
 ftpated  during the evaporation of
 the phlegmatic part of the proof-
 fpirit.

         ELATERIUM.
           Elaterium.
 Slit ripe  Wild cucumbers,  and  pafs
  the juice,  vtry tightly prefl'tJ,
  through a very fine Sieve, into a
  glafs v<ifel; then  fet it by for
  fome lio.irs until the thicker  part
  has iubiided.   Pour off the thin-
  ner part fwiinming at  the  top,
  and Separate the reft by filtering :
  cover tljie-thicker part, which re-
  mains after filtration, with a li-
  nen cloth, and dry it with a gen-
  tle heat.

 , What happens in part in prepa-
 ring the extrad of hemlock, happens
 in this preparation completely,  viz.
 the Spontaneous Separation of  the
 medicinal matter of  the  juice on
 ftanding for a little time : and the
 cafe is r-hfe fame with  the juices of
 feveral other vegetables, as rhofe of
 arum root^ iris -root, and bryony
 root.  Preparationsof this kind have
 been commonly caUedfecul*. The
 filtration above direded, for drain-
 ing off fuch part of the watery fluid
 as canrtot be feparated by decanta-
 tion,  is not the common  filtration
 thro'  paper,  for this does  not fuc-
 cded here : The'groffer parts of the
juice, falling to the-bottom, form a
 Vifcid cake upon the paper, which
 the liquidcannot pafs thro*. The Se-
 paration is to  be attempted in ano-
 ther manner,  foasto drain the fluid
 from the top : This is  effeded by
 placing one end of fome moiftcned
 ftrips  of  woollen cloth,  fkains of
cotton, or the  like, in the juice,  and
hying the otht-r end over the edge
of the veffel, So  as to hang down
lowcrihari the forface oF the liquor:
                           329
 by this management the Separation
 fucceeds in perfedion.
   Elaterium is a very violent hydra-
 gogue cathartic.  In general, pre-
 vious to its operation, it excites con-
 siderable ficknefs at ftomach,  and
 not unfrequently it produces Severe
 vomiting.  Hence it is Seldom em-
 ployed till other remedies have been
 tried in vain.   But in Some inftan-
 cesof ftagnantaScitesit will produce
 acompleteev8cuationoS water where
 other cathartics have had  no effed.
 Two or three grains are in general
 a fufficient dofe.  And perhaps the
 beft  mode of exhibiting it is by gir
 ving it only to the extent of half a
 grain at a time, and repeating that
 dofe every hour till it begins to o-
 perate.

 EXTRACTUM  LIGNl  CAM-
         PEC HENSIS.
             Lond.
       Extract of Logwood.
 Take of
  Shavings of logwood, onepound.
 Boil  it four times, or oftener, in a
  gallon of diftilled water, to one
  half; then, all the liquors being
  mixed and  ftrained, boil them
  down to a proper confiftence.

  The extradoflogwoodhasbeen
ufed  for a confiderable time in fome
of our hofpitals.  It has  an agree-
able fveet tafte, with fome degree
of aftringency;  and hence becomes
ferviceable in diarrhoeas, for mode-
rately  conftringing the inteftines
and orifices of  the fmaller veffels :
Itmay be given from a fcruple to half
a dram, and repeated five or fix
times a-day with  advantage.  Du-
ring the ufe of  this  medicine,  the
ftools are frequently tinged  red  by
ir, which has occaSioned Some to be
alarmed as if the colour proceeded
from blood : the praditioner there-
fore  ought to caution the patient a-
gainft any furprife of this  kind.
               Y 2         The 
340           Pharmaceutical

  The adive parts of the logwood
are difficultly extraded by means of
water alone : Hence the Edinburgh
college call in the acid of fpirit of
wine,  direding this extrad to be
prepared in the fame manner as that
of jalap, afterwards to be mention-
ed.  And of the two modes, we are
inclined to confider the latter as in-
titled to the preference.

EXTRACTUM CORTICIS PE-
           RUVIANI.
              Lond.
    ExtraB of Peruvian bark.
Take of
   Peruvian bark,coarfely powdered,
     one pound:
   Diftilled water, twelve pints.
Boil it for one or two hours, and
   pour off the liquor, which, while
   hot, will be red  aud pellucid ;
   but, as it grows cold, will become
   yellow and  turbid.   The fame
   quantity  of  water being  again
   poured on, boil the bark as before,
   and repeat this boiling until the li-
   quor, being cold, remains clear.
   Then  reduce all thefe liquors,
   mixed  together and  ftrained,  to
   a proper thicknefs,  by evapora-
   tion.

   This extrad muft be prepared un-
 der two forms; one foft, and fit for
 making pills ;  the other hard, that
 it may be reducible to  a powder.

 EXTRACTUM  CORTICIS PE-
    RUVIANI CUM  RESINA.
               Lond.
 Ext rati of Peruvian bark with the
               refin.
 Take of
    Peruvian bark, reduced to coarfe
      powder, one pound;
    Redified fpirit  of   wine, four
      pints.
 Digeft it for four days, and pour off
    the tindure; boil the refiduum in
    ten pints of diftilled water to two;
Preparations.     Part III.

  then ftrain the  tindure and de-
  codion Separately,  evaporating
  the water from the decodion, and
  diftilling off the Spirit from the
  tindure, until each begins to be
  thickened.  Laftly, mix the re-
  finous with the  aqueous  extrad,
  and make the mafs fit for forming
  into pills.

EXTRACTUM CORTICIS PE-
          RUV1ANI.
             Edind.
    Extratt  of Peruvian bark.
  The  Edinburgh college, who
have not  given a  place to any pure
watery extrads of the bark, direct
their extrads of this midicine to be
prepared in the fame manner as their
extrad of jalap, that is, almoft pre-
cisely in the Same manner as the ex-
trad with refin oS the London col-
lege.  It is,  however, we  think
with propriety, that the London col-
lege have given a place to both ex-
trads ;  for each is not without its
ufe.
   Peruvian  bark is a refinous drug:
the refin melts out by the heat, but
is not perfedly diffolved.by tbewa-
ter; hence, in cooling, it Separates,
renders  the liquor turbid, aud in
part falls to  the bottom, as appears
manifeftly upon examining the Sedi-
ment by Spirit of wine. This extract
might be made to better advantage
by the affiftance of fpirit  of wine,
after the fame manner as that of ja-
lap ; and this method the Edinburgh
 college  have direded.  But all the
 fpirits which can be cxpeded to be
 employed for this procefs amongui,
 are accompanied  with fome degree
 of a bad flavour:  this adheres moft
 ftrongly to  the phlegmatic part  of
 the fpirit, which  evaporating laft,
 muft communicate this ill flavour to
 the extrad; a circumftance of very
 great confequence, as this medicine
 is  defigned for thofe whofe Stomachs
 are too weak to bear a due quantity 
Chap.  4.      Extracts by Long  Digefiion".
34*
 of bark in fubftance. Ten or twelve
 grains of the  hard extrad are rec-
 koned equivalent  to about half a
 dram of the bark itfelf.
   In the Peruvian  bark, however,
 we may readily diftinguifh two dif-
 ferent kindsof taftes, an aftringent
 and a bitter one ; the former feems
 to refide principally in the refinous
 matter, and the latter chiefly in the
 gummy.   The  watery  extrad is
 moderately  ftrong in point of bit-
 ternefs; but of  the aftringencyit has
 only a fmall degree.  The pure re-
 fin on the other hand, is ftrong in
 aftringency, and weak in bitternefs.
 Both qualities  are united in the ex-
 trad with refin;  which appears to
 be the beft preparation of this  kind
 that can  be obtained from this va-
 luable drug.

   EXTRACTUM  CASCARIL-
              LM.
              Lond.
       Ext rail of cafcarilla.

   This extrad, which is now for
 the  firft  time  introduced into the
 pharmacopoeia of the London col-
 lege, and which has not yet obtain-
 ed a place in that of Edinburgh, is
 directed  to  be prepared by fpirit
 and water  in the fame manner as
 the extrad of  bark with the refin.
 It poffeffes in  a  concentrated  ftate
 the active conftituent parts of the
cafcarilla, and has accordingly been
 already received  into Several of the
 beft foreign pharmacopoeias.   In
 fome of thefe, as  the Pharmaco-
 poeia Suecica, it isa mere watery ex-
 trad: but mothers, as the pharma-
 copoeia Roflica,  the aid both  of
fpirits and water  are conjoined;
 and  this  we confider as the beft
preparation.

  EXTRACTUM   JALAPPjE.
            Edinb.
          Extract  of jalap.
 Take of
   Jalap root, one pound ;
   Redified fpirit  of  wine,  four
     pounds.
 Digeft  four days,  and pour out
   the tindure.  Boil the remaining
   magma in ten pounds of  water to
   two pounds ;  then ftrain the de-
   codion, and  evaporate it to the
   confiftence of pretty  thin honey.
   Draw off the  fpirit from the tinc-
   ture by diftillation till it becomes
   thick in like  manner. Then mix
   the liquor thus infpiffated ; and
   keeping them  conftantly  ftir-
   ring, evaporate to a  proper con-
   fiftence.

   The extrad of jalap is direded
to be  prepared  by the London col-
lege in the fame manner as their ex-
trad of Peruvianbark with the refin,
which differ in nothing from the
mode of preparation above direc-
ted.
   This  extrad  is an ufeful purga-
tive; by fome thought preferable to
the crude  root,  as being of  more
uniform ftrength, and as the dofe,
by the rejedion  of the woody parts,
is rendered fmaller : the mean dofe
is twelve grains.  If the fpirituous
tindure  were infpiffated by itfelf, it
would afford a refinous mafs, which,
unlefs thoroughly divided by proper
admixtures, occafions violent  gri-
ping,  and yet does  not prove fuffi-
ciently cathartic; the watery decoc-
tiotisyicldanextrad which operates
exceedingly weakly : both joined to-
gether, as in this preparation, com-
pofe an effedual  and  fafe purge.
This  method of making extrads
might be advantageoufly applied  to
feveral  other refinous  fubftances,,
as the dry  woods,   roots, barks,
&c.   A fmall  quantity of  fpirit
takes  up the refin;  and much leSs
water than would otherwiSe be ne-
               Y  3       ceffary, 
 342         Preparations  a

eeffary, extrads all the other foluble
 parts.
   In a former edition of the Edin-
 burgh  Pharmacopoeia, a little fixed
 alkaline fait was ordered to be added
 to the water in  which  the jalap is
 boiled  after the adion of  fpirit, on
 a fuppofition that this would enable
 the  water to extrad more from tne
 root than it could by itfelf.  But, fo
 far as the quantity of  the alkaline
 fait could go, it had the oppofite  ef-
 fed, impeding the adion  of  the
 water.   The refinous parts of  the
 jalap are diffolved by the fpirit; and
 little other than the gummy matter
 remains for water to extract.  Now,
 if pure gum arabic  be  put into
 water along with any  alakine fait,
 the  fait will render  the water  in-
 capable of  diflblving  the gum:  if
 the gum be diffolved firft, the addi-
 tion of any alkaline fait will preci-
 pitate it.

   EXTRACTUM SENNjE.
              Lond.
        Extrad of fenna.
 Take of
   Senna, one  pound ;
   Diftilled water, one  gallon ;
 Boil the fenna in  the diftilled wa-
   ter,  adding after its decodion a
   little redified fpirit of wine. Eva-
   porate the ft rained liquor to a pro-
   per thicknefs.

   This extrad had  no place in
 our  former  pharmacopoeias,  but
 may be confidered as an ufeful ad-
 dition.
   The refinous parts  of Senna are
 in So Small a proportion to the gum-
 my, that they are readily boiled out
 together.  The Spirit may be added
 when the decodion is reduced to one
 halSor to three pints.
   This extrad is given as a  gentle
 purgat ve  from  ten   grains to a
 fcruple;  or, in lefs quantity,   as
d Catiptifiiims    Part HI.

an  affittam  to  the   milder texn
lives.

   OPIUM PUR1FICATUM.
         Purified bpium.
Take of
  Opium cut into fmall pieces,  one
     pound;
  Proof fpirit of wine, twelve' pints-.
Digeft  the opium with  a gentle
  heat, ftirring now and then till it
  be diflblved,  and  filter  through
  paper.  Diftil  the  tindure, fo
  prepared, to a proper thicknefs.

  Purified  opium  muft be kept
in two forms;  one foft, proper for
forming into pills ; the other hard,
which may be reduced into pow-
der.
  Opium was formerly purified by
means of water, and  in this ftate it
had the nameinonr pharmacopoeia
of extradum thebaieum.' Bm'proof
fpirit hasbeen found by experiments*
to be the beft menftruum for opium,
having diffolved  nine-twelfths of
dried opium, which wasmudl more
than was taken up either by redified
Spirit or water.  Hence wc thus ob*
tained moft entirely the constituents
of opium free from airy adbcrmgim-
purities :  But it bas'been imagined
that Idnie particular advantages arHSJ
from obtaining thofe parts which
are extraded by wattr,efpccial!y aft
ter long digeftion ; and accordingly
the following extrad of opiiitn has
been recommended by Banme.

Extrad of opium prepared by lohg
           digeftion.
Let five pounds of good opium, cul
  in pieces, be boiled about half aft
  hour in twelve or  fifteen quart*
  of water : ftrain the decodion,
  and boil the remainder once or
  twice in  frefh water,  that  So
  much of the opium as is  dif-
  foluble in water may be got  our. 
Chap,  4r     Extracts by Long Digefiion.            343

  Evaporate the ftrained decodions  fet in the cold till next day, it yields
  to about fix quarts;  wui.h being  a brownifh  earthy-Saline  matter,
  put into a tin cucurbit, placed in a  called the effential Salt of opium, in
  Sand-bath keep up Such a fire as  figure nearly like the Sedative Salt
  may make the liquor nearly boil,  obtained Srom borax, intermingled
  for three months together, if the  with fmall  needled cryftals.   He
  fire is  continued  day and night,  givesan account of his having made
  and for fix months iS it is inter-  this preparation fix or Seven times.
  mitted in the night; filling up the  The veffel he made nSeoS was about
  veffel with water  in proportion to  two inches  and  a half diameter in
  the evaporation, and Scraping the  the mouth; the quantity  oS water
  bottom  with  a wooden  Spatula  evaporated  was about  twenty-four
  from time to time, to get off the  ounces a-day, and from a hundred
  Sediment which begins to  preci-  and thirty  to a hundred and forty
  tate after Some days digeftion.  quarts  during the whole digeftion.
  The Sediment needs not to be ta-  Out oS fixty-Sonr ounces oS opium,
  ken out till the boiling is  finifli-  Seventeen ounces remained undiffol-
  cd ; at which  time the  liquor is  ved in the water : the quantity of
  to be ftrained when cold, and c-  refinous matter precipitated during
  vaporated to an extrad oS  a due  the digeftion, was twelve ounces :
  confiftence for being formed into  from  the liquor,  evaporated  to a
  prtls.                           quart, he obtained a dram of effen-
                                  tial fait, and might, he fays,  have
  The  author  obferves, that by  feparated more; the  liquor being
keeping the liquor ftrongly boiling,  then further evaporated to a pilalar
the tedious procefs may be confide-  confiftence, the weight of the ex-
rably expedited, and the fix months  trad was thirty-one ounces.
digeftion reduced to  four months:    It is fuppofed  that the narcotic
that in the  beginning of the dige-  virtue of opium  reSides in the  oily
ftion,  a  thick,  viScous, oily matter  and  refinous parts:  and  that the
riies to the top,  and forms a tena-  gummy extrad  prepared by  the
cious fkin as the liquor cools; this  above procefs is endowed  with the
is foppofed to be analagous to effen-  calming, fedative, or anodyne  pow-
tial oils, though wanting their vola-  ersof the opium, diverted  of the
lility : that  the  oil  begins to dif-  narcoic quality as it is of the fmell,
appear about the end of  the  firft  and no longer produdive of the dif-
month, but  ftill continues fenfible  orders which opium itfelf, and the
till  the end of thethird, formingoily  other preparations of it, frequently
clouds as often as the liquor cools:  occafion. A eaSe is mentioned, Srom
that the refin at the Same time Settles  which the innocence and mildneSs
to the bottom in cooling, preServing  of the medicine are apparent; fifty
for a long while its refinous Sorm,  grains having been taken  in a day,
but by degrees becoming powdery,  and Sound to agree well, where the
and incapable  of being any longer  common opiate preparations  could
foftened, or made to cohere by the  not be borne. But what fhare it pof-
heat:  that when  the  procefs is fi-  feffes of the proper virtues of opium
nifhed, part of it ftill continues a  is not So clear ;  Sor the cure of con-
perfed refin, diflbluble in Spirit of  vulfive motions of the ftomach and
wine, and part an indiflbluble pow-  vomitings, which at length happen-
der; that when the digefled liquor  ed after the extrad had been comi-
js evaporated to about a quart, and  nued daily  in the above dofes for
                                                                Co- 
344            Preparations

Several years (plufieurs annees) can-
not perhaps be afcribed fairly to the
medifiine.
   If the theory of the procefs, and
of the alteration produced by it in
the opium, be juft, a preparation e-
quivalent  to  the above may be ob-
tained in  a much fhorter time.  If
the intention is to feparate the refi-
nous and oily parts of opium, they
may be feparated by means of pure
Spirit of wine, in as many hours as
die digeftion requires months. The
Separation will alio be as complete,
in regard  to the remaining  gum,
though Some part of  the  gum will
in this method be loft,  a little of it
being taken up  by the fpirit along
with  the other principles.
   In what particular part of opium
its particular virtues refide, has not
perhaps been inconteftably  ascer-
tained ; but this much Seems clear
from experiment, that the pure gum,
freed from albthat Spirit can diffolve,
does  not differ effeiitially in its fopo-
rific power from the refinous  part.
   There  are grounds alfo to pre-
fume, that by whatever  means we
deftroy or diminifh  what is called
the narcotic, Soporific, virulent qua-
lity  of opium,  we fhall deftroy or
ditninilh likewife. its  Salutary opera-
tion.  For the  ill effeds which  it
produces' in certain cafes, feem to
be no other than  the neceffary con-
fequences of the fame  power, by
which  it  proves fo beneficial in
others.

  EXTRACTUM  ABSINTHII.
              Suec.
      Extrads of wormwood.
Take any quantity  of the tops of
   wormwood,  and  pour upon  it
   double its weight of water. Boil
   it for a little over a gentle fire,
   then prefs out  the liquor.  Boil
   the refiduum  again in a  frefli
   quantity of water, and  after ex-
   preflion, ftrain it.  Let the ftrain-
md Cvtofti/itions.    Part II.

   ed liquor be evaporated in a wa-
   ter-bath to a proper confiftence.

   In this extrad we  have one of
the ftrongeft vegetable bitters in its
moft concentrated ftate: and altho'
it is not perhaps to be  confidered as
Superior to the extrad of gentian,
yet it furnifties a good variety, and
is a more agreeable form for exhi-
biting the wormwood than that of
ftrong tindure.

  EXTRACTUM TARAXACI.
              Suec.
       Extrad of dandelion
   This is directed to be prepared
from the roots of the dandelion, col-
leded early in the fpring,or late in
the autumn, in the fame manner as
the extradnm abfinthii.  And as Sar
as the dandelion really poffeffes a
reSolvent, aperient, or diuretic pow-
er, it Surnifh.es a  convenient Sorm for
obtaining thefe effeds from it.  But
as the dandelion is well known to
abound with a milky juice, itis pro-
bable that the adivity of the medi-
cine would be increafed  from em
ploying fpirit alfo in the extradion
of its medical virtues.

EXTRACTUM ALOES AQJJO-
              SUM.
              Suec
     Watery extrad of aloes:
Take of
   cold fpring-water, four pounds,
   juice of citrons, one pound,
Macerate them in a glafs veffel  for
   one or two days, fhaking the vef-
   fel from  time to time.  When
   the refinous and fceculent parts
   have fubfided, pour off the liquor ;
   and  to the refiduum add  Srefh
   water,  till  by this treatment  it
   obtains little impregnation.   Let
   the ftrained liquors be then eva-
   porated in a warm  bath to the
   coniiftence of  honey.

                            Al- 
Chap.~4'        Extracts by
  Although aloes are perhaps
Upon the whole a better medicine,
in their crudeftate, where the gum-
my  and refinous matters are united,
than in thofe preparations where
cither is retained Separately, yet the
gummy extrad which is thus  ob-
tained  is at leaft lefs difagreeable,
having little fmell or tafte, while at
the  fame time it is a very powerful
purgative ; hence it may be ufeful-
ly employed at leaft on fome occa-
sions.

  EXTRACTUM MYRRHS
        GUMMOSUM.
             Brun.
    Gummy extrads of myrrh.
TakeoS
  myrrh,  half a pound ;
  fpring-water, four pounds.
Let the myrrh be diffolved by gen-
  tle digeftion and repeated agita-
  tion of the veffel for four or five
  days : let the water fwiinming a-
  bove the myrrh be then poured
  off, ftrained, and evaporated to
  the confiftence of an extract.

  This watery extrad of the gum-
myrrh may be ufeful in fome cafes,
as being  much deprived  of  the
heating qualities which it has in its
crude ftate : and if it furniflies usin
phthifis pulmonalis with that uSeSul
remedy which Some imagine, it may
probably  be  moft  advantageoully
exhibited under this form.

 SUCCUS LIQJJORITLE DE-
          PURATUS.
             Dan.
        Refill liquorice.
Take  any quantity of Spanifh li-
  quorice, cut it into  fmall frag-
  ments, diffolve it in tepid water,
  and ftrain the folution.   Let  the
  liquor be poured  off from  the
  feculent part after it has  fiibfi-
  ded,  and iufpiffated  by a gentle
  heat.
long Digefiion.          345

   The extrad of liquorice already
mentioned, when it is prepared with
due fkill and attention, is unquef-
tionably an article fuperior to this ;
but it is very rarely met with in the
fhops of our druggifts or apotheca-
ries, as prepared by themfelves. In
its place they very commonly em-
ploy either the extrad brought from
Spain, or that prepared by the ma-
kers of liquorice at home ;  and both
thefe very commonly  abound with
impurities.  It has even been faid,
that a portion of .fand is not unfre-
quently mixed with it, to increafe
the weight : but  whether the im-
purities arife from this  caufe,  or
from the flovenly mode of prepar-
ing it, confiderable advantage muft
arife from freeing it from all thefe,
before it be employed for any pur-
pofe in medicine. And in modern
pradice, it is frequently ufed, not
only in troches and pills, but alfo for
Suipending powders in water ; Such
as the powder of Peruvian bark:
and the powder of bark, when thus
fufpended, is in general taken more
readily by children than in any c-
ther form.  Hence confiderable'ad-
vantage muft arife  from  a proper
and eafy mode of purifying it, which
the above procefs affords.   We are
of opinion, therefore, that although
a place be with propriety given to
the extrad of liquorice prepared by
the apothecaries themfelves, refined
liquorice ought alfo to be introduced
into  our pharmacopoeias : and  it
would be very convenient tokeepit
in the fhops in a foft confiftence, fit
for making  pills ;  as  it would not
only anSwer that purpoSe,  but ad-
mit oS a ready  Solution in water
when requifite. To this confiftence
indeed, an objedion occurs,  frcm
its being apt to grow mouldy : but
this  may be effectually prevented
by the addition of a" fmall  propor-
tion of fpirit.
                         Bcfide* 
546.
Preparations arid Compofitions.   Part IIL:
 *  Befides the cxtfads  which we
have here feleded from the foreign
pharmacopoeias, many others  alfo
ftill retama place in feveral of thefe;
fetch, for example, as the extradum
arnicas, artemifije, bryonias, cdrdui,
centa^rei,  cochlesriae, croci,  &c.
Several of  thefe had  formerly  a
place in our  pharmacopoeias,   but
are now with propriety rejeded;
becanfe -\here thofe jubilances are
to be  employed, they  may v\::h
nr.tch nv»re advantage be exhibited
un ler other forms.   And  indeed,
although under the form of extrad
we have a condenfuionof fome ac-
tive prin ipies, yet by the adion of
fire otliers are very apt  to  be  loft.
Hcn:e, where any  article can be
conveniently exhibited in fubftance,
that form is in general preferable ;
and recourfe  fhould  be bad to  ex-
trads only with a view to fome par-
ticular  intention,  Our colleges,
therefore,have, with propriety,di-
minifhed the number of them ; and
even thofe which they have adopted
arc but feldom to be had recourfe, to
in preference to other forms. In the
formation of many of thofe extrads
retained by the foreign colleges, the
moft valuable principles are either
entirely diffipated  or deftroyed by
the fire. We think, however, that
advantage may fometimes  be ob-
tained from  adopting thefe which
are here feleded.
  The chapter on extrads and re-
fins in the London pharmacopoeia
is concluded with the two following
general diredions:
  i. All  the extrads, during  the
time of infpiffation,  muft be gently
agitated.
  2. On all the SoSter watery ex-
trads, a fmall  quantity of fpirit o£,
wine muft be Sprinkled.
CHAP.     V.
EXPRESSED   OILS.
    EXPRESSED oils are obtained
     chiefly from certain feeds and
kernels of  fruits,  by thoroughly
pounding them in a ftone mortar,
or, where the quantities are large,
grinding them  in mills, and  then
including them in a canvas bag.
which is wrapt in a hair cloth, and
ftrongly preffed between iron plates.
The canvas,  if  employed alone,
would  be Squeezed'So clofe to the
plate's of the prefs,  as to prevent
the oil from running down : by the
interpofitionof the hair-cloth a free
yaffage is allowed it.
  Sundry machines have been con-
trived, both for grinding the ftrbjed
and preffing out the oil, in the way
of bufinefs.  To facilitate the ex-
preflion, it is cuftomary to warm ci-
ther the plates of the prefs,  or the
fubjed itfelf after tht grinding, by
keeping it ftirring in a proper vef-
fel over the fire ; the oil,  liquefied
by the heat, feparates more freely
and more plentifully.   When  the
oil is defigned for medicinal purpo-
fes, this pradice is not to  be al-
lowed ; for heat, efpecially if its de-
gree be fufficient to be of any con-
                        fiderable 
ChapJ-5-              Expreffed Oils.                   342

fiderable advantage for promoting    The oil of almonds is prepared
the Separation, renders the oil lefs  from the Sweet and  bitter almond*
foft and  palatable, impreffes a dif-  indifferently ; the oils obtained from
agreeable flavour, and  increafes its  both forts being altogether the fame.
difpofition to grow  rancid : hence  Nor are the differences or theother
the colleges both of London  and  oils very  confiderable, tht difcri-
Edinburgh  exprefsly  require the  minating  qualities of  the fubjeds
operation to be performed  without  not refiding in the oils that are thus
heat.                             obtained by expreflion.   The  oil of
  Nor are the oils to be kept in a  linSeed acquires indeed Some peculi*
warm  place after their expreflion.  arities from containing a proportion
Expofed but fox' a few days to a heat  of vegetable mucilage ; but the oil
no greater than that  of the human  of niultard-feed is as foft, infipid, and
body, they lofe their  emollient qua-  void of pungency, as  that of  fweet
lity, and become  highly rancid and  almonds, the pungency of the muf-
acrimonious.  Too much care can-  tard remaining  entire in the cake
not  be taken for preventing  any  left after  the expreflion.  The fe-
tendency to this acrid irritating  veral  oils differ in Some of" their pro-
ftate in medicines, fo often ufed for  pcrties  from each other;  but in
abating immoderate irritation.       medicinal qualities they appear to
   So much  are  thefe  oils  difpofed  be all nearly alike, and agree in
to  this  injurious  alteration,  that  one common emollient virtue.  They
they  frequently contrad  an acri-  foften and relax the folds,  and ob-
mony and rancidity while contained  tund  acrimonious  humours; and
in  the  original  fubjeds.  Hence  thus become ferviceable  internally
• great care is requifite  in the choice  in pains, inflammations, heat of u-
of the unduous  feeds and kernels,  rine, hoarfeiufs, tickling  coughs,
 which  are often met with  very  &c. in glyfters, for lubricating the
rancid ;  almonds are  particularly  inteftines, and promoting the ejec-
liable  to  inconveniences of this  tion of indurated feces;  and in ex-
kind,                            ternal applications,  for tenfion and
   Expreffed oils are prepared for  rigidity of particular parts.   Their
mechanic ufes from fundry different  common dofe is  half an ounce : in
 fubjeds, as nuts, poppy-feed, hemp-  fome cafes, they are  given  to the
 feed, rape-Seed, and others.  ThoSe  quantity of rhree or  four ounces.
 direded for medicinal  purpofes  in  The  moft  commodious  forms  for
 the London and Edinburgh phar-  their exhibition, wc fhall fee here-
 macopoeias are the following:      after in the chapter of Emulfions.
    OLEUM  AMYGDALA.
           Lond. Ed.
           Almond oil.
Pound frefh almonds, either fweet or
  bitter, in a mortar, then prefs out
 i the oil in a cold prefs.
In She fame manner is to be expref-
  fed,
 . 01. e fern. Lini contufis ;
  Oil of flax-feed.
  01. e fern, finapeos contufis;
  Muftard-feed.
OLEUM E  SEMINIBUS  R I-
CIM  DEMTO  PRIUS  CQR-
             TICE.
             Lond.
           Caftor oil.
  This oil is direded by  the Lon-
don  college to be prepared  in  the
Same manner as that of almonds, ihe
Seeds or nuts being taken  Srom the
hufks before putting  them into the
mortar.  Palma  Ofrifli,  or  caftor
oil, as has been already obfervcd.iu
                             the 
 348         Preparations a,

 the Materia Medica, under the ar-
 ticle Ricinus, is a gentle and ufeSul
 purgative: it  in  general  produces
 its effeds without griping, and may
 be given with fafety where acrid
 purgatives are improper.  With a-
 dults, Srom half an ounce  to  an
 ounce is  in general requifite for a
 dofe. This article, however, is very
 Seldom prepared by our apothecaries,
 being in general imported under the
 form of oil  from the Weft-1 tidies :
 hence the Edinburgh college have
 not  mentioned it among tbeir pre-
 parations, but merely given it a place
 in their lift of the materia medica.
 But when our apothecaries prepare
 ir for themfelves, they are more cer-
 tain of obtaining a pure oil, and one
 too  obtained  without  the aid  of
 heat, which is often employed, and
 gives a much  inferior oil.   It is
 therrfore with propriety  that the
 London college have  given direc-
 tions for  the  preparation  of  it  by
 the apothecary himfelf.  But even
 the London college have not thought
 it neceffary to give diredions for the
 preparation of the following expref-
 fed oils, which, as well as the oleum
 ricini, are alfo introduced into the
 lift of the materia medica  by the
 Edinburgh college.

 Oleum expreffum   Expreffed oil  of
   Baccarum lauri;   bay berries.
   Nucis mofchata;   mace.
   Olharum;         olives.
   Palmce;           palm oil.
   Thefe  alfo  are  principally con-
 fidered as  poffefling only an emolli-
 ent virtue  ; but as far as they have
 been fuppofed to exert any peculiar
 qualities, thefe we have already had
 occafion to mention in the materia
 medica, when treating of the arti-'
cles from which they are obtained.

       OLEUM CACAO.

      Oil -of chocolate nuts.
id Compofitions.    Part III:

 Exprefs the oil from the nuts flight-
   ly toafted, and freed from their
   coverings.

   In  this oil we have the nutritious
 part of chocolate, free from thofe
 aromatics with which itis united in
 the ftate in which it is kept in our
 fhops.   And  although under  the
 form of chocolate it fits perhaps more
 eafily on the ftomach than in moft
 other Sorms ; yet where,  from any
 particular  circumftance, aromatics
 are contraindicated, the  oil in  its
 pure ftate gives us  an opportunity
 of employing in different ways this
 mild nutritious article.

 OLEUM E SEMINIBUS HYOS-
             CIAMI.
              Suec
         Oil of hyofciamus.
 This oil is directed  to be obtained
   by expreflion from  the feeds of
   the hyofciamus, in the fame man-
   ner as that of almonds.

   Of the narcotic  powers of the
 hyofciamus fome obfervations have
 already been ottered.  This oil, al-
 though an expreffed  one,  is Said  to
 retain theSe virtues; and according-
 ly it has entered the compofition  of
 Some anodyne ointments and  pla-
 tters.  We are however inclined  to
 think, that when the Sedative power
 of hyofciamus is  wanted under the
 form of  oil, it may be beft obtained
 from impregnating olive oil by the
 leaves of the plant.

         OLEUM OVI.
              Suec
            Egg oil.
 Take any  quantity of frefh eggs,
   boil them till they  be quite hard,
   then  take out the yolks, break
   them in pieces, and  roafl them
   gently in a frying-pan, till, when
   preffed between the fingers, they
  give out a certain fatnefs ; put
                           them 
Chap.  5.
Expreffed Oils.
  them, while warm, into a bair
  bag, and cxprefs the oil.

  The  yolk of the egg is well
known to be a mild nutritious fub-
ftance :  but  notwithftanding  the
many virtues at one time attributed
to it, of being paregoric and Styptic,
as externally applied ; and of being
ufeful in ftomach complaints, dyfen-
lery, and different affedions of the
alimentary canal,  when taken in-
ternally ; it is much to be doutbted
whether it  be in any other way ufe-
ful in medicine than as an article of
diet:  and  we are very uncertain
whether any particular purpofe in
medicine will be anSwered by this
expreffed oil: but as it holds a place
in moft oS the  Soreign  pharmaco-
poeias oS modern date, it may juftly
be confidered as deferving Some at-
tention.
  Notwithftanding the juftice oS the
observation made  reSpeding the
great Similarity oS expreifed oils in
general, yet there can be no dobut,
that in Some inftances they obtain a
peculiar impregnation. This mani-
feftly appears in the oleum  ricini,
oleum nucismoSchatse, and Some of
Lite others mentioned above.  In-
deed oils expreffed Srom aromatic
Subftances,  in  general retain Some
admixture  of the effential oil of the
fubjed from which they are expref-
fed.   Nor is this Surprifing, when
we confider that in Some caSes the
effential oil exifts in a Separate ftate
even in the growing plain.
   The rinds of the Several varieties
oS oranges,  femons,  and  citrons,
yield, by a kind of expreflion, their
ftifential oils almoft pure, ami nearly
fimilar to thoSe which are obtain', d
Srom them by diftillation.  The cS-
                           349
Sential oils, in which the Sragrance
and aromatic warmth  theSe Sruits
refide, arc contained  in numerous
little veficles, which may be diftin-
guifhed by the naked eye, Spread all
over the Surface oS the  peel.  If the
rind be cut in flices,  and the flices
Separately doubled or bent  in dif-
ferent parts, and Squeezed between
the fingers, the veficles burftat the
bending, and difcharge the oil in a
number of fine flender jets. A glafs
plate  being fet upright in a glafs or
porcelaine  veffel, and the  flices
Squeezed  againft  the  pistes,  the
little jets unite into drops upon the
plate,  and trickle down into  the
veffel  beneath.   But  though this
procefs  affords the true native oil,
in the fame ftate  wherein it exifted
in the fubjed, unaltered by  fire or
other agents,  it  is not practicable
to  advantage, unlefs  where  the
fruit  is very  plentiful; as only a
fmall part of  the oil  it contains
can thus  be  extraded or collec-
ted.
   The oil is more perfedly fepara-
ted by rubbing the rind upona lump
ol fugar.   The fugar,  by  the ine-
quality of its furface, produces  the
effect of a rafp, in tearing.upon the
oily vetides ; and in proportion  as
the  veficles are opened,  the Sugar
imbibes  the oil.   When the out-
ward part of the lump is fufficiemly
moiftened, it is feraped off, and the
operation  continued on the frefh
furface.   The oil  thus combined
with the fugar, is fit for moft of the
ufes to vv hich it is applied in a fluid
ftate.   Indeed  the  pure  tffential
oils,  obtained by  diftillation,  are
often purpofely mixed  with  Sugar,,
to render their ufe the more com-
modious.
CHAP. 
350          Preparations \
Us:
C   H   A
0 L  E A  D  I S
E S  S  E N  T  I
     ESsemtial oils are obtained on-
     ly from odorifero'isfubftances;
 but not equally from all of thisclafs,
 nor  in quantity  proportionable to
 their  degree  of  odour.   Some,
 which, if we were to reafon  from
 analogy, fliould feem very well fitted
 for this proceSs, yie'd extremely lit-
 tle oil, and others none at all. RoSes
 aud camomile flowers, whoSe ftrong
 and  lading Smell promiSes abun-
 dance, are found upon experiment
 to contain but a fmall quantity : x\m
 violet and jeffamine flower, which
 perfume  the air with their odour,
 lofe  their fmell«upon the gentleft
 codioa, and do'not afford the leaft
 perceptible  mark of oil upon being
 diftilled,  unlefs imrneivfe qnanfites
 are  Submitted   ro  the operation at
 once; whihtfavin, whofe diSagrec-
 able Scent extends to no great di-
 ftance,givcs out the largeft propor-
 tion of oil of almoft any vegetable
 known.
   Nor are the Same plants  equally
'fit Sor this operation,  when produ-
 ced in different Soils or feaSons, or
 at different times of their growth.
 Some yield more oil if gathered
 when  the flowers begin to fall off
 than at any other time.   Of  this
 we have examples.in lavender and
 rue; others, as  fage,  aff-rd  the
 largeft quantity  when young, before
Compofitions.   Part III;
P.      VI.
T I L  L A T A.
A  L   OILS.
they have fent  forth any flowerj;?
and  others, as thyme, when the*
flowers have juft appeared. All fra-
grant herbs yield a greater propor-
tion  of oil when produced in dry
foils and warm Summers, than in She'
oppofite circumftances":  On tfreo-
ther hand, Some oS the difagreeable
ftrong-fcented ones, as  wormwood,'
are  Said  to  contain  moft  in rainy
Sea Sons and when growing in moift
rich  grounds.                  ;
   Several of the chemifts  have
been of opinion, that herbsand flow-
ers, moderately dried, yield a great-
er quantity of  effential oil, than if
they were diftilled  when frefh.  It
is  fuppofed, that the oil being' al-
ready blended, in frefh plants, with
a watery  fluid,  great part of it re-
mains diffufed through the;warer aS-
ter the diftillation, divided into par-
ticles too  minute touniteand be col-'
leded ; whereas in  drying, the oily
parts, on  the exhalation of the  moi-
fture which kept them divided and
diSperScd, run  together into globo*1
les, which have little diSpofition to
mingle with watery fluids, and eafily '
Separate  Srom the  water employed
in  the diftillation.
  This theory, however, does not
appear to be altogether fatisfodory:
Sor though the oil be colleded in the'
fubjed into diftind  globules, it does
                             not 
(Jiap. 6:
Juices i
35V
not rife in that form, but is reSolved
into vapour, and blended and coagi-
tated by the heat with the vapour of
the water ; and if the oil in a dry
plant was lefs difpofed to unite with
aqueous fluids than in  a frefh one,
the dry ought to yield a weaker in-
fufion than the  Srefh; the contrary
of which is generally found to ob-
tain.  As the oil of the dry plant is
moft perfedly extraded, and kept
diffolved by the water before the di-
ftillation, it is difficult  to  conceive
any  reafon why  it fhould have a
greater tendency to  feparate from
the water afterwards.
   The opinion of dry plants yield-
ing molt oil,  feems  to have arifen
from  an observation of Hoffman,
which has probably been mifunder-
ftood : " A pound (he fays) of dry
" fpikc flowers yields an ounce of
"oil;  but  if they were diftilled
" frefh, they  would Scarcely yield
" above half" an  ounce ; and  the
" eaSe  is  the  Same in balm, Sage,
" &c.   The reaSon is, that in dry-
" ing,  the  watery humidity ex-
«' hales; and  as from two pounds
" of a frefli plant we do not  ob-
*< tain above one. pound of dry, and
" little of the  fubtile oil evaporates
" in the drying, it follows,  that
 " more oil ought to be afforded by
 " the dry than by the  frefh."  The
 meaning of which feems to be no
more than this, that if two pounds
of a frefh plant are by drying redu-
ced to one, without any lofs of the
oil,  then the one pound dry ought
 to be equivalent  to the two frefli.
 A late writer quotes an experiment
 of Neumann,  which appears to be
 mifunderftood  in the fame manner;
 for Neumann,  in the place referred
 to, fays only, that dry wormwood is
 found to yield  much more oil than
 an equal weight  of the frefh plant.
 Trials  are yet wanting  in which
 frefli and  dry  plants have  been
 brought to a fair comparison, by'di-
                          - :>  ■
viding a quantity of the fubjed in-
to two equal weights, and diftilling
one while frefli,  and the other af-
ter it has been carefully and mode?
rately dried.
  But whatever may be the effed
of moderate exficcation, it is cer-
tain, that if the drying be longcon-
tinued,  the produce of  oil will be
diminilhed, its colour altered, and
its fmell impaired.  ,

  With regard to the  proportion
of water to be employed, if whole
plants, moderately dried, are ufed,
or the fhavings of woods, as much
of either may be put into the vclfel
as, lightly preffed, will occupy half
its cavity ; and as much water may
be added,  as will  rife up to  two-
thirds its height.  The  water and
ingredients, altogether,  fhould ne?
ver take up more than three-fourths
of the ftill;  there fliould be liquor.
enough to prevent any dangerof an
empyreuma, but not fo much as to be
too apt to boil over into the receiver.

  The maceration fhould be con-
tinued fo long, that the water may
fully  penetratctke  parts of the fub-
jed.  To promote this effed, woods
fhould be thinly ftuved  acrofe  ib^
grain, or  fawed, roots  cut  tranf-
verfely into thin flices, barks redu-
ced  into coarfe powder, and f«ds
lightly bruiSed.  Very compad and
tenacious   Subftances require the
maceration to be continued  a week
or two, or longer ;  Sor thofe of a
Softer and loofer texture,  two or
three days are  fufficient ;  whilft
fome tender  herbs and flowers  r.ot
only ftand  not in need of any at all,
but are even injured by it.
   Whether the addition of Sea-fair,
which Some have recommended, l-c
of any  real fervice,  is  nn-.ch u>hc
 doubted. The ufes generally afiign- •
 cd to it are, to penetrate and unlock
 the texture of the  fiibied more x-f-
           .._<-■■     tcdway'V'- 
 352         Preparations a,

 fedually than Simple water could
 do; and to prevent the fermentation
 or putrefadion, which the matter is
 apt to run into during the length of
 time for which the maceration is of-
 ten continued.  But  fea-falt feems
 rather  to harden and  condenfe,
 than to foften and refolve, both ve-
 getable and animal fubjeds; and if
 it prevents putrefadion, it muft, on
 that very account, be rather injuri-
 ous than of Service. The reSohttion
 here aimed at, approaches near  to
 a beginning putrefadion ;  and fa-
 line Subftances, by retarding this,
 prolong the maceration Sar beyond
 the time  that would otherwiSe be
 neceffary. It is in the power of the
 operator,  when he  perceives the
 procefs  coming neir  this pitch,  to
 put a  ftop to it at pleafure, by  pro-
 ceeding immediately  to diftillation:
 by this  means the whole  affair will
 be finiflied in  a very  little time,
 with at  leaft  equal advantage in e-
 very  other refped ;  provided the
 manual  operationsof pounding,rafp-
 ing, and the like, which are equal-
 ly neceffary in either cafe, be fei-
 cntifically complied with.
  Bodies of a very vifcous and corn-
 pad tedure, were direded,  in the
 Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia,  to be
 fermented for Some  days with  a
 little yeft; half their  quantity of
 water is  fufficietu for performing
 the fermentation.  As much more
 as is neceffary is to be added after-
 wards before the diftillation. This
 procefs  undoubtedly  promotes the
 refolution of  the  fubjed, and the
 extrication of the oil ;  it rarely
happens, however, that afliftances
 of this kind are needful. Particular
care  mull be  had not to continue
 the fermentation  too long ;  or to
give a bad flavour to  the  oil  by an
ill-chofea  ferment,  or ufing too\
large a quantity of any.
  b >me  chemifts  pretend, that by
id Compofitions.    Part III.

 the addition of falts and acid fpirits,
 they have been enabled to gain more
 oil from certain  vegetable matters
 than could poflibly be got from them
 without fuch afliilance.   Experi-
 ments made on purpofe to fettle this
 point feem  to prove the contrary ;
 this at leaft is conftantly found to
 be true,  that where  there  is any
 reafon to think the yield to be great-
 er than ufual, the quality of the oil
 is  proportionably  injured.   The
 quantity of true effential oil in ve-
 getables can by no means  be in-
 creafed ; and what is really contain-
 ed in them may be eafily feparated
 without any addition  of this kind.
 All  that  faline matters can do in
 this refped,  is, to make the  water
 fufceptible of a greater  degree ef
 heat than it can fuftain  by itSelf,
 and thus enable it tocarry up a grofs
 unduous matter not volatile enough
 to  arife  with pure  water; this
 grofs matter, mingling with  the
 pure oil, increafes the quantity, but
 at  the  fame time  muft neceffa-
 rily debafe its quality.  And indeed,
 when  water alone is made  ufe of,
 the oil which conies  over about the
 end of the operation is remarkably
 lefs fragrant,and of a thicker conliS-
 tonce,  than that which ariSesat the
 beginning ;  diftilled a Second time,
 with a gentle heat, ij leaves a large
 quantity of grofs almoft infipid re-
 finous matter behind.

 The choice of proper inftruments
 is of great confequence for the per-
 formance  of this procefs  to advan-
 tage. There are fome oils which pafs
 freely over the Swan neck  of  the
 head of the  common  ftill: others,
 lefs volatile,  cannot eafily be made
 to riSe So high. For obtaining thefe
 laft, we would recommend a large
 low  head, having a rim  or hollow
 canal round it: in this canal the oil
 is detained on its firft aSccnt, and
                          thence 
Chap.  6.
Effential Oils.
3S3
 thence conveyed at once into the
 receiver, the advantages of which
 are Sufficiently obvious.
   With regard to the fire, the ope-
 rator ought to be expeditious in rai-
 fing it  at firft, and to keep  it up,
 during the whole procefs, of fuch a
 degree that the oil may  freely dif-
 til ; otherwife the oil will be  expo-
 fed to an unneceffary heat; acircum-
 ftance which ought as much as pof-
 fible to be avoided.  Fire commu-
 nicates to all theSe oils a disagreea-
 ble impreffion, as is evident  Srom
 their being much leSs grateful  when
 newly  diftilled,   than  after  they
 have flood for fome time in a cool
 place ;  the longer the heat is conti-
 nued, the more  alteration it  muft
 produce in them.
   The greater number  of oils re-
 quire for their diftillation the heat
 of water ftrongly boiling ; but there
 are many alfo which rife with a heat
 confiderably left?; Such as thoSe  of
 lemon and citron-peel, of the flow-
 ers of lavender aud  rofemary, and
 of almoft  all  the more odoriferous
 kinds of flowers.  We have already
 obferved, that thefe flowers have
 their fragrance  much injured,  or
 even deftroyed, by beating or brui-
 ting them ; it is  impaired  alfo by
 the immerfion in water in the pre-
 fent procefs,  and the  more fo  in
 proportion to the  continuance of the
 immerfion aud the  heat:   hence
 thefe oils, diftilled in the common
 manner, prove much lefs agreeable
 in Smell thanthe fubjed themfelves.
 For the diftillation of fubftances  of
 this clafs, another method has been
 contrived ; inftead of being immer-
 fed in water, they are expofed  only
 to its vapour. A proper quantity of
 water being pot into the  bottom  of
 jhe ftill,  the odoriferous herbs  or
 flowers are laid lightly in a bafket,
 of fuch a Size that it may  enter into
 the ftill, and reft againft its fides,
juft above the water. The head be-
 ing then fitted on, and  the water
 made to boil, the fteam, percolating
 through the Subjed,  imbibes the
 oil, without impairing its Sragrance,
 and carries it over into the receiver.
 Oils thus obtained potfeSs the odour
 of the Subjed in an exquifite degree,
 and have nothing of the difagreea-
 ble fcent perceivable in thofe diftil-
 led by boiling them in water in the
 common manner.
   It may be proper toobServe, that
 thoSe oils  which rife with a  lefs
 heat than  that  of boiling water,
 are generally called, by the chemi-
 cal and pharmaceutical writers,//^/
 oils ;  and thofe which require the
 heat of water ftrongly boiling, are
 called ponderous. We have avoided
 thefe expreflions, as they might be
 thought to relate to the comparative
gravities of the oils ; with, which
 the volatility or fixednefs have  no
 connedion.  Olive  oil is  lighter
 than moft of the eflential oils ; but
 the beat requifite  to make ii diftil
 exceeds that in which  the heavitft
 effential oil diftils,confiderably more
 than the heat oS boiling water ex-
ceeds that of ice.

  The water employed  in the di-
ftillation of effential oils always im-
bibes fome  portion of the  oil ;* as is
evident from the fmell, tafte, and
colour, which it acquires.  It can-
not,  however, retain above a cer-
tain quantity ; and  therefore, fuch
as has been already ufed and almoft
faturated itfelf, may be advantage -
oufly employed, inftead of common
water, in  a Second, third, or any
future diftillation of the  fame fub-
jed.
  Some late chemical  writers re-
commend,   not  the water which
comes over, but that which remains
in the  ftill, to  be ufed  a -Second
 time.  This can be of no Service ;  •;
containingonly fuch parts of the ve-
getable as are not capable  oS arifing
               Z              in 
  354          Preparations a

  in diftillation, and which ferve only
  to impede  the adion of the water
  as a menftruum,  and  to endanger
  an empyreuma.
   After the diftillation ©f one oil,
  particular care fhould  be had  duly
  to clcanfe the Worm  before it be
  employed in the diftillation of a dif-
  ferent plant.   Some oils,  thofe of
  wormwood  and  anifeeds  for in-
  stance, adhere to it fo tenacionfly,
  as not to be melted  out by heat, or
  wafhed off by water : the  beft  way
  of clcanfing  the  worm from thefe,
  is to run  a  little  fpirit  of wine
  through it.

   Effential oils,  after  they are di-
  ftilled, fhould be  fuffered  to ftand
  for fome days, in  veflels loofely co-
  vered with paper, rill they  have loft
  their difagreeable fiery odour,  and
 become limpid : then put  them up
 in fmall bottles,  which are to be
 kept quite full, clofely flopped, in a
 cool  place ;  with  theSe cautions,
 they will retaintheir virtues in per-
 fedion for many years.
   When careleSsly  kept, they in
 time gradually loSe of their flavour,
 and become groSs  and thick. Some
 endeavour to recover them again
 aSter they  have  undergone   this
 change, by grinding them with a-
 bout  thrice their  weight  of com-
 mon  fait, then adding a large pro-
 portion of water, and diftilling them
 afrefh :  the purer part arifes thin
 and limpid, poffeffing a great degree
 of the priftine fmell and tafte of the
 eil, though inferior in both  refpeds
 to what the oil was at firft.  This
 rcdification, as it is called, Succeeds
 equally without the Salt: the oils,
 when thus altered, are nearly in  the
 fame ftate with the turpentines, and
 other thickened oily juices, which
 readily  yield their purer oil in  di-
ftillation with  water  alone.
   When effential oils have entirely
loft their fmell, Some recommend
\d Compofitions.    Part Iff.,

 adding tfocm in the diftillation- oi a
 frefh quantity of ibe oil of the fame
 plant ; by which means they are
 Said to  Satiate themfelves amw with
 the odorous matter, ard become en-
 tirely  renovated.  This pradice,
 however,  ought doobtlefs, to be dis-
 approved,  as being no other than a,
 fpecious fophifticarion; for h can do
 more than divide, between the ojd
 and  the new,  the adive matter
 which  belongs to the new alone*.

   Effential oils, medkiiBaHT'confi-
 dered,  agree in general qualities
 of pungency and heat ; in partica-
 lar virtues, they differ as much-1»
 the  Subjects  from which they are
 obtained,  the oil being the dircfi
 principle in which the virtues,  or
 at leaft a  confiderable part of the
 virtues, of the  feveral fubjeds rt-
 fide. Thus the carminative virtue
 of the warm feeds, the diuretic  «f
 juniper berries, the emmenagogue
 of Savin, the nervine  of rofemary,
 the ftomachic ©f mint, the antiscor-
 butic of Scurvy-grafs, the cordial »f
 aromatics,  &c.  are fuppofcd co be
 concentrated in  their oils.
   There is another remarkable dif-
 ference in effential oils, the founda-
 tion  of which is lefs obvious, that of
 the  degree of their pungency arid
 heat. TheSe are by no meansin pro-
 portion, as might be  cxpeded, t»
 thoSeof  the Subjed tbey were drawn
 from. The oil of cinnamon, for in-
 ftance,  is exceflfvely  pungent aid
fiery; inks undiluted ftate it is almoft
cauftic; whcreasclovcs,afpice which
in fubftance is far more pungent than
the other, yields an oil which m fas
lefs fo. This difference feems to de-
pend partly upon the quantity of oil
afforded, cinnamon yielding much
lefs than cloves,  and consequently
having its adive matter concentra-
ted into a fmaller volume;  partly,
upon a difference in the nature of the
adive parts them Selves iforthough
                        effentia 
Chap.  6.
Effential OH*.
  effential oils contain always the fpe-
  cific odour and flavour of their fub-
  jeds, whether grateful or ungrate-
  ful, they do not  always contain the
  tvhole pungency ;  this refides fre-
  quently in  a more  fixed refinous
  matter, and does not rife with  the
.  oU. After the diftillation of cloves,
  pepper, and Soma other fpices, a part
  of  their pungency is  found  to  re-
  main behind: a fimple  tindure of
  them in redified fpirit of wine is
  even more pungent than their pure
  effential oils.
   The  more grateful oils are fre-
 quently made ufe of for reconciling
 «e  the ftomach medicines of them-
 felves difguftful.   It has  been cuf-
 tomary to employ them as correc-
 tors for the refinous purgatives ; an
 tife  which  they do  not Seem  to be
 well adapted to.  All the Service
 they can here be of is to make the
 refin fit more eafily at firft on the
 ftomach: far from abating the irri-
 tating quality, upon which the vi-
 rulence  of its operation  depends,
 thefe pungent oils Superadd a frefh
 ftimolus.
   Eflential oils are never given  a-
 lone, on account  of their extreme
 heat and pungency; which in  Some
 Is So great, that a  fingle  drop let
 fall  upon the tongue, produces a
 gangrenous cSchar.   They are rea-
 dily imbibed by pure dry Sugar, and
 in this Sorm may be conveniently ex-
 hibited.  Ground with eight or ten
 times their weight of the  Sugar,
 they become Soluble in aqueous li-
quors, and thus may be diluted  te
any  affigned degree. Mucilages alSo
render them mifcible with water in-
to an uniform milky liquor.  They
diffolve likewiSe in  Spirit of wine;
the  more  fragrant  in  an equal
weight, aud  almoft all of  them in
lefs than four times their own quan-
tity ;  thefe folutions may be either
taken on fogar, or mixed with Sy-
rups, or the like:  on mixing them
                            3SS
 with water, the liquor grows milky,
 and the oil Separates.
    The  more  pungent oils are em-
 ployed externally againft paralytic
 complaint?, numbneSs,  pains, and
 aches, cold tumours, and in other
 caSes where particular parts require
 to be  heated or  Stimulated.  The
 tooth»ach is Sometimes relieved by a
 drop of thefe almoft cauftic oils, re-
 ceived on cotton, and cautioufly in-
 troduced into the hollow tooth.

     OLEUM ESSENTIALE.
              Lond.
          Effential oil of
  I. Amifi,            Anife
  2. Carui,           Caraway
  3. Lavandula,       Lavender
  4. Mentha piperitidis, Peppermint
  $. Mentha fativa,   Spearmint
  6. Origaniy         Origanum
  7. Pulegii,          Pennyroyal
  8. Rartfmarini,      Rofemary
  9. Bacca juniperi,   Junip.berry
 10. Radicis faffafras, Saffaf. root.
 Let thefe oils be drawn off by dif-
   tillation,  from an alembic with a
   large refrigeratory; but, to pre-
   vent an empyreuma, water muft
   be added to the ingredients; and
   in this they  muft be  macerated
   before diftillation.
   The water which comes over with
 the oil in diftillation is to kept for
 ufe.

     OLEA ESSENTLALIA.
             Edin.
          Effential »ils.
 Herba mentha fativa, of the herbs
   of garden  mint.
—■mentha piper itidis, of Peppermint
—fabina, of Savin.
Summitatum rofimarini, of the tops
  of rofemary.
Spicarunt fiorentium lavendula,  of
  fpikes of lavender.
Seminum etnifi,  of Anifeeds.
Bacarum juniperi, of junip. berries,
Radicis [affafras, of Saffafras root.
              Z 2           Pi- 
3$6         Preparations a?

Piperis Jamaicenfis, of Jamaica pep-
   per.
TheSe are  prepared  almoft in the
   fame manner as the fimple diftil-
   led  waters, excepting  that for
   procuring the oil a Somewhat leSs
   quantity of water is  to  be uSed.
   Seeds and woody matters are firft
   to be bruifed or fhaved.  The oil
   arifes with  the water;  and as it
   is lighter  or  heavier, Swims on
   the SurSace, or links to the bot-
   tom, Srom which it is afterwards
   to be feparated.
It is,  however,  to be  remarked,
   that, in preparing thefe diftilled
   waters and oils, fo many varieties
   muft neceffarily take place from
   the  goodnefs of the fubjed itfelf,
   its texture, the time of the year,
   and fuch like circumftances,  that
   a certain and general rule, which
   fliould  ftridly  apply to each ex-
   ample, canfcarccly belaid down,;
   wherefore we have only explained
   the  general method, leaving ma-
   ny  things to be varied by the
   judgment of the operator.

   To  the diredions  for  preparing
thefe effential oils given by the Lon-
don aud Edinburgh colleges, we fliall
here next fubjoin a few remarks on
their medical properties.

OLEUM SEMINUM  ANISI  ES-
           SENTIALE.
           Lond. Edin.
     Effential oil of anifeeds.
   This oil poffeffes the  tafte  and
fmell of the anifeeds in perfedion.
It is one of the mildeft of the diftil-
led oils;  15 or 20 drops may be ta-
ken at a time  without danger,  tho'
common pradice  rarely goes fo far
as half this number.   Its fmell is
extremely  durable and  diffufive:
milk drawn Sromt the breaft  aSter
taking it is found impregnated with
its odour; and poffibly this may be,
in part, the foundation of the pec-
i Compofitions.    Part. III.

toral virtues ufually afcribed to it: in
flatulencies and colics, it is Said by
Some to  be leSs effedual  than the
Seeds themfelves.
   It is remarkable of this oil, that it
congeals, even when the air is not
Senlibly  cold,  into  a butyraceous
confiftence :  and hence, in the dis-
tillation  of it, the operator ought
not to be over-folicitous in keeping
the water in  the refrigeratory too
cool: it behoves him rather to let it
grow fomewhat hot, particularly to-
wards the end of  the procefs; o-
therwife the oil congealing, may fo
ftop up the worm,  as to  endanger
blowing  off the head of the ftill, or
at leaft a confiderable quantity of oil
will remain in it.

OLEUM SEMINUM CARUI ES-
          SENTIALE.
              Lond.
   Effential oil of caraway feeds.
   The flavour of this exadlyrefcm-
bles that oS the caraway itfelf. It is
a very hot and pungent oil; a fingle
drop is a moderate dofe, and five or
fix is a very large one. It is not un-
frequently made ufe of as a carmi-
native ; and fuppofed by fome to be
peculiarly ferviceable for promoting
urine, to which it communicates
fome degree of its fmell.

OLEUM fiorum LAVENDUL^
         ESSENTIALS.
          Lond. Edinb.
 Effential oil of lavender flowers.
   This oil when in perfedion, is
very limpid,  of a pleafant yellowilh
colour, extremely fragrant, >poffef-
fing in an eminent degre§ the pe-
culiar fmell  generally admired in
the flowers.   It is a medicine of
great ufe, both externally  and in-
ternally,  in paralytic and lethargic
complaints, rheumatic pains,  and
debilities of  the  nervous  fyftem.
The dofe is  from  one drop to five
or fix.
                          Lavcn- 
Effential Oils.
Chap:  6.             Effential Uils.                   357
  Lavender flowers yield the moft  likewife employed  externally for
fragrant oil, and in confiderably the  the fame purpofe; and  is an ufeful
largeft quantity, when they arerea-  ingredient in the ftomachic plafter
dy to fall off fpontaneoufly, and the  of the fliops.
leaves  begin  to fhew themfelves:
 the feeds give out extremely little.
 The flowers may be feparated from
 the reft of the plant, by drying it a
 little, and then gently beating it:
 they fhould be immediately commit-
 ted to  diftillation, and the procefs
 •conduded  with a well regulated
 gentle heat;  too  great heat would
 not  only change the  colour of the
 oi), but likewife make a difagreeable
 alteration in its fmell.

 OLEUM  MENTHA  PIPERI-
     TIDIS  ESSENTIALE.
          Lond. Edinb.
 ■Effential oil of the leaves ofpepper-
             ment.
   This poffeffes  the  fmell,  tafte,
 ■and virtues of the peppermint in
 perfedion;   the colour  is a  pale
 greenifh yellow.  It is a medicine
 of great pungency and  fubtilty: and
 diffues, almoft as foon as taken,  a
 glowing warmth through the whole
 fyftem. In colics, accompanied with
 great coldnefs, and in Some hyfteric
-complaints, it is of excellent fervice.
 A drop or two are in general  a fuf-
 ficient dofe.

 OLEUM MENTHA SATIVS
         ESSENTIALE.
          Lond. Edinb.
 Effential oil of the leaves  of comihon
              mint.
 __ This oil fmells and taftes ftrongly
 of the mint, but is in both refpeds
 S»mewhat lefs agreeable than  the
 herb itfelf. .It is an ufeful ftomachic
 medicine ; and not unfrequently ex-
 hibited in want of  appetite, weak-
 nefs of the ftomach, retching to vo-
 mit and other like diforders, when
 not accompanied with heat or  in-
 flammation : two or three drops, or
 mere are given for a dofe.   It is
      OLEUM ORIGANI
        ESSENTIALE.
           v  Lond.
Effential oil of the leaves of origa-
              num.
   This oil has a very pungent acri-
monious tafte, and  a  penetrating
fmell.  It has been chiefly employed
externally as  an crrhine,  and for
eafing pains of the teeth.

      OLEUM PULEGII.
        ESSENTIALE.
              Lond.
Effential oil of the leaves of penny-
              royal.
   This oil, in fmell and tafte, re-
femblcs the  original  plant;  live
virtues which it likewife poffefl'es.
It is given in hyfteric cafes from
one to four or five drops.

   OLEUM  ROS1MARINI.
        ESSENTIALE.
         Lond. Edinb.
    Effential oil of rofemary.
   The oil of rofemary is drawn
from the "plant inflower. When in
perfedion, it is very light and thin,
pale, and almoft colourlefs ; of great
fragrancy,  though  not quite fo a-
greeable as  the rofemary itfelf.  It
is recommended in the dofe of a
few drops, in  nervous and hyfteric
complaints.  Boerhaave holds it in
great efteem againft epilepfies, and
Suppreffions oS the  uterine purga-
tions occaSioned by weaknefs  and
inadivity.

  OLEUM baccarum JUNIPERI
        ESSENTIALE.
          Lond. Edinb.
  Effential oil of juniper-berries.
   This oil is a very Warm and pun-
gent one; oS a ftrong  flavour t:pt
              Z 3          m> 
358        Preparations and Compofitions.    Part.  lit/
Unlike that of the berries.  In the
dofe of  a drop or two, it proves a
ferviceable carminative and ftoma-
chic : in one of fix, eight,or more,
ftimulating,detergent, diuretic,and
emmenagogue:  it feems to have
fomewhat of the nature of the tur-
pentines, or their diftilled oil; like
which it communicates  a violent
fmell to the urine.
   The oil of thefe  berries refides
partly in veficles fpread through the
lubtiancc of the fruit, and partly in
little cells contained  in the feeds :
when the berry is dry, and the oil
hardened into a refinous Subftance,
it b< cotses vifible, upon  breaking
the Seeds, in Sorm of little tranfpa-
rent drops.  In  order therefore to
obtain  this  oil  to  advantage  we
ought, previous to the diftillation, to
bruife the berry thoroughly, fo  as
to break the feeds, and entirely lay
open the oily receptacles.

      OLEUM SASSAFRAS
         ESSENTIALE.
          Lond. Edinb.
      Effential oil offaffafras.
   This is the moft ponderous of all
the known effential oils, but rifes in
diftillation with fufficient eafe :  it
appears limpid as water, has a mo-
derately pungent tafte, a very fra-
grant Smell, exadly refembling that
of the faffaSras.  It  ftands greatly
commended as a Sudorific, and for
 fmrifyingthe blood and juices : it is
 ikewife fuppofed to be oS Service
in humoral  afthmas  and coughs.
The doSe is Srom one drop to eight
or ten ;  though Geoffroy goes as far
as twenty.
   The  decodion remaining after
the diftillation of the oil, affords by
inrpiffation an ufeful  extrad, of  a
mild bitterifh, fubaftringent  tafte.
Hoffman fays, he has given it with
great benefit, in dofes of a fcruple,
as a corroborant  in cachcdic cafes,
in the decline of intermitting fe-
vers,  and for abating hypochon-
driacal fpafms.

      OLEUM SABINJ2
         ESSENTIALE.
          Loud. Edinb.
   EffeutiaJ oilvf fnvin leasts.
  Savin is one of the plants which,
in former editions of the Edinburgh
Pharmacopoeia, were direded to be
lightly fermented before the diftil-
lation: this, however, is not very
neceffary ; for favia yields, without
fermentation, and even without any
fuch maceration, a very large qxian-
tityof oil: the foregoing herb ftands
more in need of a treatment of this
kind.   The oil of favin is a cele-
brated uterine  and emmenagogue:
in cold phlegmatic habits, it  is un-
doubtedly a medicine of great Ser-
vice,  though not  capable of per-
forming  what it has been often re-
prefented to do.  The dofe is, two
or three drops, ©r more.

OLEUM ESSENTIALE  PIPE-
      RIS JAMAICENSIS.
            Edinb.
 Effential vit of Jamaica pepper*
  This is a very elegant oil, and
may be ufed  as a  foccedanenm  to
thofe of Some of the dearer fpices.
It is of a fine pale colour ; in fla-
vour more agreeable than the oil of
cloves, and not far fhort of that of
nutmegs.  It finks in water, like
the oils of fome of rheeaftern fpices.

     OLEUM  PETROLEI.
             Loud.
         Oil of fofiil tar.
Diftil  foffil  tar, the bitumfirrpetro-
  leum, in a Sand heat.

 The oilobtainedfrom thisrarwiill
be more or lefe thin  according to the
continuance of the diffrihuion ; a*d
by its  continuance the tar will at
laft be reduced to a black coal; and
then the oil will be pretty  deep in
                             CO- 
Chap« 6.
Effential Oils.
colour, though ferfedly fluid.  This
oil has  a property  fimilar  to that
of tfoe wndure of nephritic wood in
water, appearing blue when looked
upon, bet of an orange colour when
held betwixt the eye and the light.
By long  keeping it lofes this pro-
perty.  It is lefs diSagreeable  than
fomeof the other empyreumatic oils
which had formerly  a place in our
pharmacopoeia, Such as the oleum
latcriiium, though very acrid and
ftwnuhitiag.

 OLEUM TEREBINTHINA.
             Loud.
        Oilt ofturpentine.
Take of
   Common turpentine, five pounds.
   Water, Sour pounds,
.Diftil the turpentine with the water
   from an alembic of copper.  Af-
   terthe diftillation of theoil, what
   remains is yellow refin.

  OLEUM TEREBINTHINA
       RECTIFICATUM.
             Lond.
     Redified oil of turpentine.
Take of
   Oil of turpentine, one pound $
   Diftilled water, four pints.
Diltil.

   The procefs here propafed for
redfyingthisoil,is not only tedious
but accompanied with danger. For
wnlefs the luting be very clofe, Some
oS the vapour will be  apt  to get
through •; and if this catch Jfire,  it
will infalliblyburfttheveffels. This
redified oil, which in many phar-
macopaias is ftyled asthereal,  does
not confiderably  differ  in Specific
gravity,  Smell,  taSte, or medical
qualities, from the former.
   The fpirit of turpentine, as this
eflential oil has been  ftyled, is not
tinfrequently taken internally as a
diuretic  and fudorific.   And  in
thefe ways it has fometimes aeon-
                           359
fiderable effed when taken even to
the extent of a few drops only.  It
has, however, been given in much
larger dofes, efpecially when mixed
with honey.  Recourfe has priuci-
pally been had to fuch dofes in cafes
of chronic rheumatifm, particularly
in thofe modifications of it which are
ftyled fciatka and lumbago.  But
they have not been often fuccefsful,
and  fometimes they have had the
effed of inducing bloody urine.

      OLEUM ANIMALE.
             Loud.
           Animal oil.
Take of
   Oil of  hartfhorn, one pound.
Diftil three times.

OLEUM e CORNUBUS REC-
  TIFICATUM,  five OLEUM
         ANIMALE.
            Edinb.
Redified  oil of horns, or animal oil.
Take of
   Empyreumatic oil, newly diftilled
     from the horns of animals aa
     much as you will.
Diftil with a gentle hear, in a ma-
   trafs furnifhed with  a  head, as
   long as a thin colourlefs oil,comes
  over, which is to be freed of al-
  kaline fait and fpirit by means of
  water.  That this oil may remain
  limpid  and good, it ought be put
  up in fmall phials completely fill-
  ed and  inverted, having previouf-
  ly put into each phial a few drops
  of water, that  on inverting it
   the water may interpofe itfelf be-
  twixt the oil and the mouth of the
  phial.

  The quantity of oil employed in
this procefs fhould be confiderable :
for it leaves So much black matter
behind in the feveral  diftillations,
that  itis reduced at laft to a Small
portion of its  orignal quantity.   It
is faid, that the produd is got more
              Z 4          lim- 
360          Preparations and Compofitions.   Part  III.
limpid, by mixing the oil with quick-
lime into a foft pafte ; the lime keep-
ing down more of the grofs matter
than would remain without fuch an
addition.  The quicklime may here
alfo, perhaps, ad by abftfading fix-
ed air;  to the absorption of which
we are difpofed to reScr in Some mea-
fure the fpoiling of the oil on expo-
sure to the atmoiphere.
  This oil was firft  introduced by
Dippiiius,  whofe name it has Since
generally bom.
  Animal oils thus redified, are thin
and limpid, of a Subtle, penetrating,
not  diSagreeable Smell  and tafte.
They are ftrongly recommended as
anodynes and antifpafmodics, in do-
fes from  15 to 30 drops.  Hoffman
reports,  that they procure a calm
and  fweet  fleep, which  continues
often for  20 hours,  without being
followed by any languor or debility,
\>-,n rather leaving the patient more
alert and cheerful than before :  that
they procure likewifea gentle Sweat,
without  increafing the heat of the
blood: that given to 20 drops or
more,  on  an empty ftomach,  fix
hou.s U-i'ore the acceflion of an in-
termittent fever, they frequently re-
move the diforder;  and  that they
are likewife a very generous remedy
in inveterate and chronical epiiep-
fies, and in convulfive motions, espe-
cially if given before the nfual time
of the attack, and preceded by  pro-
per evacuations.
  The empyreumatic oils of vege-
tables, redified in the fame manner
by repeated diftillations, fuffer a like
change with the animal; lofing their
darkcolourand offenfive fnuell, and
becoming limpid, penetrating, and
agreeable :  in  this  ftate they are
fuppofed, like the animal oil, to be
anodyne, antifpafmodtc, and diapho-
retic, or Sudorific.  It is obfervable,
that all the empyreumatic oils  dif-
folve in Spirit of wine, and that the
cfter.cr they arc redified or redistil-
led they diflbve the more  readily ;
a circumftance in which they differ
remarkably  from  effential  oils,
which by repeated diftillations, be-
come more and more difficult of fo-
lution.
   How far thefe preparations really
poffefs the virtues that have beena-
Seribed to them, has not  yet been
Sufficiently determined  by experi-
ence;  the tediouSncSs  and trouble
oS the redification having prevented
their coming into general uSe, or be-
ing oSten made.  They are liable
alSo to a more material  inconveni-
ence in  regard to their medicinal
uSe,  precariouSneSs in their quality
Sor how  perSedly  Soever  they be
redified,  they  gradually  loSe, in
keeping, the qualities they had re-
ceived Srom that proceSs, and -return.
more and more  towards their origi-
nal SetidncSs.

  OLEUM ET SAL SUCCINI.
             Edinb.
      Oil and fait of amber.
Take
■   Equal parts of amber  reduced ta
    a powder and of pure Sand.
Mix them, and put them into a glaSs
   retort, of which the mixture may
   fill one half:  then adapt a large
   receiver, and diftil in a fand-fur-
   nace, with a fire gradually in-
   creafed.   At firft  a fpirit will
   come  over,  With fome yellow
   oil;  then more yellow oil, a-
   long with a little fait; and upon
   railing the heat, more of the fait,
   with a reddifh and black coloured
   oil.
When the diftillation is  finiflied,
   empty the liquor out of the recei-
   ver;  and having colleded toge-
   ther the fait which adheres to the
   fides,  dry  it  by gentle preffure
   between the folds of fome fpongy
   paper;  then  purify  it  by folu-
   tion in warm  v.atci and  iy cryf-
   t alligation.
                       OLEUM 
Chap.  6.
OLEUM
   Effential Oils.
RECTIFI-
361
          SUCCINI
           CATUM
             Edinb.
Diftil the oil in a glafs retort with
                                it is  lefs  fubjed to  this TareSac-
                                tion, and  the  fire may be  raifed
                                Somewhat  more expeditioufly; tho'
                                this little advantage is perhapsmore
fix times its quantity of water till  than counterbalanced by the room
two-thirds of the water have pafs-  which the fand takes up in the re-
                                tort.
                                  Our chemifts generally leave the
                                receiver unluted, that it may be oc-
                                cafionally removed as the Salt riSes
                                and concretes in the neck of the re- '
                                tort; from whence it is every now
                                and then feraped out to prevent the
                                oil from carrying it down  into the
                                receiver.  When a grofs"thick oil
                                begins to arife, and no more Salt sp-
                                pears, the diftillation is ftopt, tho'
                                it  might,  perhaps,  be continued
                                longer to advantage.
                                  Mr Pott inSorms us (in a curious
                                differtation on  the Salt of amber,
                                publifiied  in  the  ninth  volume of
                                the Memoirs of the Academy of Sci-
  cd into the receiver ;  then fepa-
  rate the redified oil from the wa-
  ter,  and keep  it for ufe in clofe
  flint veffels.

OLEUM SUCCINI RECTIFICA-
             TUM.
              Loud.
      Redified oil of amber.
Take of
  Oil of amber, one pound.
Diftil three times.

  The London  college introduce
their diredions  for the  prepara-
tion  of  the  fal and oleum fucci-
ni at an after part of their  work,
under the head of fales.   Here we  ences of Berlin), that the  Prt:ffun
may only obferve,  that they di-  workmen, who prepare large <]tian-
red it to be prepared from the am-  tities of this  fait  for exportation,
ber alone, without the intervention  from cuttings and  Small  pieces of
of fand.   But  this makes no efl'en-  amber, perform the diftillation with-
tial difference in the article when
prepared.

  The Edinburgh college have re-
jeded what was formerly called the
                                  out any  intermedium,  and in art.
                                  open fire : that fweeping out the fait
                                  from the^ncck of the retort being
                                  found  too troublefome, they fuffer
                                  the oil to carry it down to the re-
fpirit, as being nothing  elfe than  ceiver, and  afterwards  feparate it
the watery parts, fraught with the  means oS bibulous paper, which im-
inert impurities oS the bitumen and
a very Small portion of the fait.  In
the diftillation of  arnber,  the fire
muft  for fome time  be continued
bibes the oil, and leaves the fait dry;
which paper is afterwards Squeezed
and diftilled:  that  they continue
the diftillation till all  that can  be
gentle, Scarce exceeding the degree  forced over has ariSen, taking care
at which water boils, till the aque-
ous phlegm and thin oil have ariSen ;
after which  it is to be flowly in-
creased.  IS the fire were urged haf-
tily, the amber would Swell up, and
riSe in its whole  Subftance into the
only to catch the laft thick oil in a
Separate  receiver; and  that Srom
this  they  extrad  a confiderable
quantity  of fait, by  fbaking  it in a
ftrong veflel with three or four frefh
portions of hot water, and  evapo-
receivcr, without undergoing the  rating and  cryftallifing the filtered
required decompofition  or  fepara-  waters.
tion of its parts.   When f3nd or fi-    The fpirit of amber So called, is
mihr intermedia are mixed with it,  no more than a Solution oS a Small
                                                              por- 
 |6$           Preparations m

partioaof the fah in phlegm or wa-
wr j;«nd*th«-«fore is very properly,
ewptojKd for diflblving che fiik in
or-der to its cryftailizatbn.
   The fait, fretd from as mttch of
the oil as Spongy paper will imbibe,
retains fomuch  as  to appear of a
<fark bw»wn cotour.  Mr Pott fays,
the method he has found to fucceed
beft, and with  the  leaft lofs, is, to
diflblve <fee fak in hot water, and
put into the paper, through which
tie folution is to be filtered, a little
cotton Higbtly moiftened with oil of
awiber: this, he fays, detains agood
deal of the oil of the Salt, and  the
folution paffes  through  the  more
pare.   The liquor being evaporated
with a very gentle fire, as that of a
water-bath,  and  fet to  Shoot,  the
firft cryftals prove tranfparent, with
a flight yellowifh tinge ; but  thofe
wfeich follow are brown, oily, and
bitter,  and are therefore to be fur-
ther depurated in the fame manner.
The whole quantity of  cryftals  a-
mounts to about one-thirtieth of the
weight of the crude amber employ-
ed.  By fublimation from  fca-falt,
aa direded in former edkionsof the
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia,  the  fait
is thought to be more perfedly and
more  expeditioufiy  purified :  Mr
Pott objeds  to fuWitnation, that  a
part of the Salt is decompofed  by it,
a coaly matter  being left  behind,
even though the fait was previoufly
purified by cryftallization: it may
be  prefuraed, however,  that this
coal proceeds rather from the  burn-
ing of fome remains of th* oily mat-
tier, than from the decompofition of
any part of the true fait.
   Pure fall of anrber has a penetra-
ting, fubaft rim gent acid, tafte.   Jt
diJWves both In water and in  recti-
fied fpirit; though not readHyb ri»
ther, andifcarcely at all ratbci.it-
ter without the afliftamcc of  heat:
•f eold water in fummer, it requires
fbr its folution about twenty  times
sa/ Compofitions.   Part III.

 its  own weight;  of boiling  wa-
 ter  only about  twice its  weight.
 Expofed in  a  glafs  veffel,  to  a
 heat  a  little greater than that of
 boiling water, it firft melts,  then
 rifes  in a  white funic, and  con-
 cretes again in the upper partoftiie
 glafs into fine whit* flakes, leaving,
 mikfs it was perfedly pure, a little
 coaly matter  behind.  it effervefoes
 with  alkalies both fixed and vola-
 tile, and forms with  them neutral
 compounds, much refembling thofe
 compofed of the fame alkalies  and
 vegetable acids.  Mixed with acid li-
 quors, it makes no  fenfible com mo-
 tion.   Ground  with  fixed alkaline
 felts, it does not exhale any urinous
 odour.  By  thefe charaders, it is
 conceived this fait  may  be readily
 diftinguifhed  from all  the other mat-
 ters that have been  mixed with, or
 vended  for it.   With regard to its
 virtue, it is accounted  aperient, diu-
 retic, and, on account of its retain-
 ing fome portion of th* oil, antiby-
 fteric :  Boerhaave gives it the cha-
 rader of dinreticorum et autU)yfieri-
 cor urn princeps.   Its great price,
 however, has prevented its coming
 much into ufe ;  and perhaps its real
 virtues are not equal to the opinion
 generally entertained of them.
  The  redified oil  has a ftrong hi*
 turaiiious fmell,and a  pungent acrid
 tafte.  Given in a dofe of ten or
 twelve  drops, it  heats,  fiimuktes^
 and promotes the fluid fecretions.:
 It is chiefly celebrated in hyfterkal
 diforders, and in deficiencies of the
 uterine  purgations.   Sometimes it
 is ufed externally,  in liniments Sor
 weak or paralytic limbs and rheu-
 matic pains.  This oil differs from
 dl thofe of the vegetable kingdom,
 and agrees with the mineral petro-
 fea, in  not being Soluble, either in
 its  redified or unredified ftate, by
 Spirit oS wine, fixt  alkaline lixivia,
 or volatile  akaline fpirits;  the  oil,
 after long digeftion or agitation, fe-
                         parating 
Chap.  6.
Effe/itial Oils.
$H
palling  as  freely as common  oil
iJoeaf'rem water.

        OLEUM VINI.
             Loud.
           0*1 efvsine.
Take of
 - Alcohol,
  Vitriolic acid, of each one pint.
Mix them by degrees, and diftil;
  taking  care that no black foam
  paffes into the receiver. Separate
  the oily part of the diftilled li-
  quor  from the volatile vitriolic
  acid.~-To the oily  part add a£
  much water of pure-kali as is fuf-
  ficient to  take away the fulphu*
  reous fmell : then diftil the ather
  With a gentle heat.  The oil  of
  wine remains in the retort., fwiin-
  ming on the watery liquor, from
  which  it is to be feparated.

  Some caution is requifite in mix-
ing the two liquors, that the conse-
quent heat  and  ebullition, which
would not only diffipate  a part of
the mixture, but hazard the break-
ing of the veffel and the hurt of the
operator, may be avoided.  The  Se-
cured way is to add the vitriolic a-
cid  to the fpirit of wine by a little
at a time, waiting till the firft addi-
tion be incorporated before another
quantity be put in. By this, the en-
Suing heat is  inconfidcrable, and
the mixture is effeded without in-
convenience.

   OLEUM ABSINTHII DE-
         STILLATUM.
              Rof
     Effeuthil -oil »fwormwood.
Let the frefli leaves  of wormwood
  ifitghtly dried be macerated with
  a  fofficient  quantity of  water,
  and then fubjed to diftillatioa ;
  and let the oil which conves over
  be Separated from the water which
  accompanies it,
   This is one of Hie more un-
gratetul oils :  it Swells ftrongly of
the wormwood,,  and contains  its
particular naufeous tafiej  but has
little or nothing of it bitternefs; this
remaining  in tire  in  the  decodiwn
left after the diftillation: its colour,
when drawn from the  frefli herb,
is a dark  green; from the1 dry, a
brownifli yellow.'' This  oil is re-
commended by Hoffman as a mild
anodyne in Spafmodic contra&ions:
Sor this purpoSe, he direds a dram
of it to be  diffolved in an ounce of
redified fpirit of  wine, and fevea
or eight drops of the mixture taken
for a dofe in any  convenient vehi-
cle.  Boerhaave greatly com meads
in terrain fevers, a medicated liquor
compofed of about feven grains of
this oil ground  firft with a dram of
fugar, then  with two drains of the
Salt of wormwood, and afterwards
diffolved in fix ounces of the diftil-
led water of the fame  plant :  two
hours before the fit isexpeded, the
patient is to bathe his feet and legs
in warm water, and then to drink
two ounces of the liquorevery quar-
ter of an hour till  the two hoursane
expired :  by this means,  he fays*
all enfes of this kind are generally
cured with eafe and Safety, provi-
ded there be no fcarrhofity or fopptw
ration.   The oil  of wormwood is
employed  chiefly as a vermifuge i
and for this purpofe is fometimes
both applied externally to th«beAby
and taken  internally : k is  moft
conveniently exhibited in the form
of pills, which it may be reduced
into by mixing it  wkh cjuira  utf
bread.

   Is the faanemanaer with ttreo-
letun abfinibii, the following oils,
mentioned  on the authority of the
pharmacopoeia Rofiica,  are alfo di-
reded  to be pw-pared.

                       OLEUM 
364
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
  OLEUM AURANTII COR-
            TICUM.
             Rofs.
   Effential oil of orange-fkins.

 OLEUM CORTICUM LIMO-
             NUM.
        Effence of lemons.
  Of thefe effential oils, as exifting
in a feparate ftate in  the growing
vegetable, we have already offered
fome obfervations. They are obtain-
ed in a very pure ftate by  diftilla-
tion.  They are now rejeded from
our pharmacopoeias, being employ-
ed rather as perfumes than as medi-
cines.' This is particularly the cafe
with the effence oSlemons, which is
a pleaSant oil, of a fine Smell, very
near as agreeable as thatof thefrelh
peel ; it is one of the lighteft and
mM volatile effential  oils we have,
perfedly limpid, and almoft colour-
lefs.  It is taken in dofes of two or
three drops, as a cordial, in weak-
nefs of the ftomach, &c. tho' more
frequently ufed  as a  perfume.   It
gives a fine flavour to the officinal
fpiritus  volatilis  aromaticus of the
Edinburgh college, or  the fpiritus
ammoniae compofitus, as it is now
ftyled by that of the London : and
it may be  remarked,  that it enters
this formula of both  colleges,  al-
though neither of them has given it
a place among their  preparations,
probably as it is one of thofe articles
which  the apothecary rarely  pre-
pares Sor himSelf. When foap is
given in the form of pills,  by the
addition of a few drops  of this oil
they are  thought to fit more eafily
on  the ftomach.

  OLEUM CARYOPHYLLO-
   RUM AROMATICORUM
         ESSENTIALE.
              Roff.
      Effential oil of cloves.
  This  oil is fo ponderous as to
fink in water, and is not eafily ele-
vated in diftillation :  if  the water
which comes over be returned on
the remaining cloves, and the di-
ftillation  repeated, fome more oil
will generally  be obtained, though
much inferior in quality to  thefirft.
The oil of cloves is ufually defcribed
as being " in tafte exceflively hot
" and fiery, and of a gold yellow
"colour."  (Boerh.proceff.)  Such
indeed is the compofition which wc
receive under this name  from Hol-
land ; but the genuine oil of cloves
is one of the milder oils : it may be
taken with great fafety (duly dilu-
ted) to the quantity of ten or twelve
drops or more.  Nor is its colour at
all yellow,  unlefs it has been long
and carelefsly kept,  or diftilled by
too violent a fire : when in perfec-
tion, it is limpid and colourlefs, of a
pleafant, moderately warm  and
pungent tafte, and a very agreeable
fmell, much refembling that of the
fpice itfelf.  The Dutch oil of cloves
contains a large quantity of exprefs-
ed  oil,  as  evidently appears upon
examining it by diftillation. This,
however, cannot be the addition to
which it owes its acrimony. Afimart
proportion of a refinous  extrad  of
cloves communicates  to a large one
of oil a  deep colour, and a great
degree of acrimony.

OLEUM CHAMOMILLI FLO-
            RUM.
              Roff.
     Effential oil of camomile.
  An oil of camomile had formerly
a place in our pharmacopoeias made
by infufion of the recent plant, and
its  flowers in olive oil ;  and again
feparating it by preffure after im-
pregnating it with the adive parts
of the plant by heat.   This, how-
ever, was intended only for exter-
nal application ; but  the  effential
oil is meant to be ufed internally.
                              It 
Chap. 6.
Effential Oils.
3&
  It  is a very  pungent oil, of a
ftrong not ungrateful fmell, refem-
bling that of the flowers : its colour
is yellow, with a eaft of greenifh or
brown. It is fometimes given in the
dofe of a few drops, as a carmina-
tive, in hyfteric diforders, and like-
wife as a vermifuge : it may be con-
veniently made  into  pills  with
crumb of bread.

 OLEUM CINNAMOMI COR-
             TICIS.
               Roff.
        Oil ofcinna?non.
  This valuable oil is extremely hot
and pungent, of a moft agreeable
flavour, like that of the cinnamon
itfelf. In cold languid cafes,and de-
bilities of the nervous  fyftem, it is
one of the moft immediate cordials
and reftoratives.  The dofe is one,
two or three drops;  which muft
always be carefully diluted by  the
mediation of  fugar, &c ;  for. fo
great is the  pungency of this  oil,
that a fingle drop  let fall upon the
tongue, undiluted, produces, as  Bo-
erhaave obferves, a gangrenous ef
char.  In the diftillation of  this
oil a fmart fire is required ; and the
low head, with  a channel round
it,  recommended  for  the diftilla-
tion of the lefs volatile oils, is parti-
cularly neceffary for this, which is
one of the leaft volatile, and which
is  afforded  by the  fpice in  ex-
ceeding fmall  quantity.  The di-
ftilled water retains no fmall  por-
tion of the oil; but this oil being
very  ponderous,  great  part  of it
fubfides from the  water,  on ftand-
ing for two or three weeks ina tool
place.

 OLEUM SEMINUM  FCENI-
     CULI  ESSENTIALE.
             Eof
    Effential oil of fennel feeds.
  The oil obtained  from  fweet fen-
nel  feeds is much more elegant  and
agreeable,than  that  of the  com-
mon fennel. It is one of the mildeft
of thefe preparations;  it is nearly of
the  fame degree of warmth with
that of annifeeds ;  to  which it is
likewiSe Similar  in flavour,  though
far  more grateful. It is given from
two or three drops to ten or twelve,
as a carminative,  in cold indjfpofi-
tions of the ftomach ;   and in fome
kinds of coughs for promoting ex-
pedoration.

  OLEUM LIGNI  RHODII
        ESSENTIALE.
             Roff.
     Effential oil of rhodium.
  This oil is extremely odoriferous,
and principally employed as a. per-
fume in Scenting pomatums, and  the
like. Cuftom has not  as yet recei-
ved any preparation of this elegant
aromatic wood into internal ufe a-
mong us.

  OLEUM DISTILLATUM
           MACIS.
             Roff.  ,
      Effential oil of'  mace.
  The effential oil of mace is mode-
rately pungent,  very  volatile, and
of a ftrong aromatic fmell, like that
of the fpice itfelS.  It is  thin and
limpid,  of a pale yellowifli colour,
with a portion of thicker and dark-
er coloured oil at the bottom. This
oil taken internally to the extent of
a few  drops,  is  celebrated in  vo-
miting, lingolms,  and colic pains ;
and in the fame complaints it  has
alfo been advifed to be applied  ex-
ternally to the umbilical region. It
is,  however,  but  rarely to ba met
with in the fhops.

    OLEUM  MAJORANiE
        ESSENTIALE.
             Puff.
 Effential oil of mar j or am leaves.
  This oil is very hot and penetra-
ting, in flavour  not near fo  agree-
                            able 
 "$66         Preparations a

  able  is the marjoram itfelf; when
  in perfedion, it is of a  pale yellow
  •ofour; by long keeping,  it turns
1  Wddifh :  if diftiHed with too great
  a heat, it arifes  of this colour at
  ftrft.   It is fuppofed by fome to be
  freuliarty ferviceable in relaxations,
  obftrudions, and mucous difcharges
  of tlie uterus: the dofe is one or two
  drops.

  OLEUM  NUCIS MOSCHAT^E
         ESSENTIALE.
               Roff.
      Effential til of uutmegs.
   The effential oil of nutmegs pof-
 feffes the flavour and aromatic vir-
 tues of the Spice in an eminent de-
 gree.  It is Similar in quality to the
 ail of  mace,  but fomewhat ltfs
 grateful.

   OLEUM RUTiE ESSEN-
            TIALE.
              Roff.
    EffeutiaJ oil of rue leaves.
   The oil of rue has a very acrid
-tafte, and a penetrating  fmell, re-
fembling thatW the herb, but ra-
ther more unpleafant.  It is fome-
times made ufe of in hyfteric difor-
ders andasananthelmintic;  and al-
fo in epilepfies proceeding  from a
relaxed ftate of the nerves.
   Rue yields its oil  very fparing-
ly.  The largeft  quantity  is ob-
tained from  it  when the flowers
are ready to fall off,  and  the feeds
begin  to  fhow  themfelves:  fuit-
tble maceration, previous tothe di-
ftillation, is here extremely necef-
izry.

   OLEUM  DISTILLATUM
         SATUREIjE.
               Roff
     EffeutiaJ til of favory.
   Savory yields on diftillation   a
fmall quantity of effential oil, of
great fubtility and volatility;  and
 id Compofitions.   Part III.
  it is unqucfti. nably an adive article,
  but among us it  is not cniployad
  in medicine.

    OLEUM  DISTILLATUM.
           TANACETI.
               Roff.
        Effential on of tanfy.
   Tanfy yields on diftillation an oil
 ofagreenilh colour inclining to yel-
 low. It fmells ftrongly of the herb,
 and poffeffes  at leaft its aromaric
 property  in a concentrated ftate.

        OLEUM  CER;£.
              Dan.
           Oil of  wax.
 Melt yellow bees-wax with twice irs
   quantity of fand, and diftil in a
   retort placed in  a fand-furnance.
   At firft an acid liquor arifes, and
   afterwards  a thick oil,  which
   flicks in the neck of the retort,
   unlefs it be heated by applying
   live coal»  This may be redified
   into a thin oil, by diftilling it fe-
   veral times, without addition, in
   a  fand-heat.

  Boerhaave direds the wax, cut
 in pieces,  to be put into the retort
 firft,  So as to fill  one half of  it;
 when as much  fand may be poured
 thereon as will fill the remaining
 half.   This is a neater, and much
 lefs troublefome way, than melting
 the wax,  and mixing it  with the
 fand before they  are put into the
 retort.  The author abovemention-
 cd highly commends this oil againft
 rough nefs  and chaps of the fkin,at!d
 other like  purpofes: the  college of
 Strafburgb fpeak alfo of its being
given internally, any fay it  is a
powerful diuretic  (ingens diureti-
cumj  in dofes  from two to four or
more  drops;  but   its difagreeable
Smell has prevented its confine into
ufe among us.
 The number of effential oils which
                           have 
 Chap, 6.             Effenti

 have now a place in the  London
; and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias, and
 KkewiSe in  tbe foreign ones of mo-
 dern date, is much lefs confideraWe
 than formerly ;  and perhaps  thofe
 ftill retained afford a fofficient varie-
 ty of the more adive and ufeful oils.
 Moft of the oils mentioned above,
 particularly thofe which have a  place
 i« the London and Edin burgh phar-
 macopoeias,are prepared by our cbe-
Jnifts in Britain, and are eafily pro-
 curable in a tolerable degree of per-
 fedion : But the ©Usfrora the  more
 expenfive fpiceriesr though ftill in-
 troduced among the preparations in
 the  foreign pharmacopoeias,  are,
 when employed among us,  uSually
 imported from abroad.
   Thefe are frequently fo much a-
 dulterated,  that it  is  not  an eafy
 matter  to meet with Such as arc  at
 all fit Sor ufe.  Nor are theSe adul-
 terations eafily difcoverable.   The
 groffer abafes, indeed, may be rea-
 dily deteded: thus, if the oil  be
 mixed with fpirit of wine,  it will
 turn milky  on the addition of wa-
 ter; if with expreffed oils, redified
 Spirit will diflblve the effential, and
 leave the other behind ; if with oil
 of turpentine, on dipping  a piece
 of paper in the mixture, and drying
 it with a gentle heat, the turpen-
 tine will be betrayed by its fmell.
 But the more fubtile  artifts  have
 contrived other methods of fophifti-
 cation,  which elude all  trials of this
 kind.
   Some have looked upon the fpe-
 cific gravity of oils as a certain cri-
 terion of their genuincnefs ; and ac-
 cordingly we have given a table of
 the gravity of feveral.  This, how-
 ever, is not to be abfolutely depend-
 ed on:  for the genuine oils, obtain-
 ed from the  fame  fubjeds, often
differ in gravity as much  as thofe
 drawn from different ones.  Cinna-
 mon and cloves, whole oils ufyr.lly
tf Oils*                  367

 S>ak in water, yiel£, jfifiewty a«<*
 warily diftilled, an oil of g*eat fita-
 grancy,  whjcbanevert&ele&,ff$ci-
 fically lighter than the aqueous fl^id
 employed in the diftillation of k ;
 whilft,  on the other hand, the 4aft
 runnings.of fome of  the lighter oils
 prove fometimes fo  ponderous as to
 fink in water.
   As all effential oils agree ia the
 general  properties  of folubility  in
 fpirkof wine, indiflblubilky in ^Wi-
 ter, mifcibility with water by the
 intervention of eertaia intermedia,
 volatility in the heat of boHkig wa-
 ter, &c it  is plain  that they may
 be varioufly mixed with each other,
 or the dearer fophifticatt d wkh the
 cheaper, without aay poffibility  of
 difcovering the abufe by any trials
 of  this kind.   And,  indeed*  it
 would not be of much advantage to
 the purchafer, if he had infallible
 criteria of the genuinenefs of every
 individual oil.  It is of as much im-
 portance that they be good,  as that
 they be genuine; for genuine oils,
 from inattentive diitiUation andlojjg
 and. care lefs keeping,  are  often
 weaker both in fmell acid tafte than
 the common fophifticated ones.
   Tiie Smell and  tafte  Seem to be
 the only certain tefts of which the
 nature of the thing will admit.   If
 a bark fhould have in every refped
 the appearance of good cinnamon,
 and fhould  be proved indifpuiably
 to be  the genuine bark of  the cin-
 namon  tree ;  yet if it  want the
 cinnamon flavour, or has it but in a
 low degree, we rcjed it;  and the
 cafe is the Same with the oil.  It h
 only from ufe and habit, or compa-
 rifons with fpecimensof known qua-
 lity, that we can judge of  the good-
 neSs,  either of the drugs themfelves
 or of their oils.
   Moftof the eflential oils indeed,
 arc too hot  and  pnngcnr to be  ta-
 iled wit'i f.:fe.ryj. and the Smell of
                             lilt 
 368         Preparations a;

 the fubjed is fo much concentrated
 in them, that a Small variation in
 this reSped is not eafily diftinguifh-
 ed : but we can readily dilute them
 to any  affignable degree.   A drop
 of the oil may be diffolved in fpirit
 of wine, or received on a bit of fu-
 gar, and diffolved by that interme-
 dium in water.  The'quantity of
 liquor which it thus impregnates
■ with its flavour, or  the degree of
 flavour which it communicates to a
 certain determinate quantity,  will
 be the  meafure of  the degree of
 goodnefs of the oil.
   We  fliall  here  Subjoin  the re-
 fult of fome  experiments,  fhow-
 ing the quantity of effential oil ob-
 tained from different vegetables, re-
 duced into the  form of a table.
 The firft column contains the names
 of the  refpedive  vegetable fub-
 ftances; the fecond, the quantity of
 each  which  was Submitted to the
 diftillation; and the third, the quan-
 tity of oil obtained. In every other
 part of  this book,  where pound
 weights are mentioned, the Troy
 pound of twelve ounces is meant:
 but thefe experiments having been
d Compofitions.    Part III.

all  made by a  pound of  Sixteen
ounces, it was thought expedient to
fet down the matter of  fad in the
original weights;  efpecially as the
feveral materials, in the large quan-
tity commonly required for the di-
ftillation of oils, are purchafed  by
weights of the fame kind.  But to
remove any ambiguity which might
arife from hence,  and enable the
reader to judge more readily of the
yield, a redudion of theweights is
given  in the next column ; which
fhows the number of parts of each
of the fubjeds from  which one part
of oil  was obtained.  To each ar-
ticle is affixed  the  author's name
from whom the experiment  was ta-
ken. Thedifferentdiftillationsof one
fubjed, feveral of which are infert-
ed in the table, fhow how variable
the yield of oil is, and that the ex-
otic fpices, as well as our indigenous
plants,  do  not always  contain the
fame proportion of  this adive prin-
ciple ;  though it muft be obferved,
alfo, that part  of  the  differences
may probably rife from the opera-
tion itfelf having been more or lefs
carefully performed.
Tabls 
Chap. 6.           Effential Oils.                   369


Table  of the Quantity  of Essential Oil obtained from different
                      Vegetables.
Agallochum wood	10 lb. ~]		4 dra.		320 i	Hoff.
Angelica root	i lb.		1 dra.		128 \Carth,	
Anifeed	i lb.		4 dra.		32 \Nenm.	
Anifced	3 lb.		1 oz.		48 Lewis.	
Anifeed	4 lb.		I oz.		64	Lewis.
Afafoetida	4 oz.		1 dra.		32	Neum.
Calamus aromaticus -	50 lb.		•2 oz.		185	Hoff.
Calamus aromaticus	1 lb.		2 fer.		192	Neum\
Caraway feeds	4 lb.		2 oz.		32	Lewis,
Caraway feeds	2 lb.		9 dra.		28^	Lewis.
Caraway feeds	1 cwt.		83 OZ.		214	Lewis.
Caroline thiftle root	1 lb.		24 fer.		*53	Neum.
Cardamom feeds	I oz.		1 fcr.		24	Neum.
Carrot feeds	2 lb.		i^dra.		171	Lewis.
CaScarilla - < -	I lb.		1 dra.	S	128	Carth.
Camomile flowers	I lb.		30 gra.	0	256	Garth.
Common camomile flowers	6 lb.		5 dra.	~X3	153	Lewis.
Wild camomile flowers	r lb.	"5	20 gra.	s	384	Carth.
Wild camomile flowers	6 lb.	^»	2^dra.	n	307	Lewis.
Chervil leaves, Srefh	0 lb.	■n	30 gra.	^	2304	Neum.
Cedar-wood	1 lb.		2 dra. , 1 dra.	o5	64 ^ 128	Margg
Cinnamon	1 lb.			O		Sal a.
Cinnamon	1 lb.	0	2* fcr.		-153	Neum.
Cinnamon	4 lb.	T3 U	6 dra.		85^	Lemery
Cinnamon	1 lb.	T3	2 dra.	U	64	Carth.
Cinnamon	r lb.	>%	8 fcr.	O	AS',	Carth.
Clary feeds	4 lb.		2 dra.	J3	256	Lewis.
Clary in flower, frefli	130 lb.		3^oz.		594	Lewis.
Cloves	1 lb.		I^OZ.	£	10*	Teichm
Cloves	1 Ib.		2iOZ.		7i	Carth.
Cloves	2 lb.		5 oz.		°T	Hoff.
Copaiba balfam	1 lb.		6 oz.		2t	Ho.
Copaiba balfam	1 lb.		8 oz.		2	Lewis.
Cummin-feed	1 bufli.		21 oz.			Lewis.
Didamnus Creticus	1 lb.		30 gra.		256	L ewis.
Dill-Seed	4 lb.		2 oz.		32	Lewis.
Elecampane root	2 lb.		3; fcr.		245	Neum.
Elemi	1 lb.		I oz.		16	Neum.
Fennel-Seed, common	2 oz.		1 fcr.		48	Neum.
Fennel-Seed, Sweet	1 bufli.		18 oz.			Levjis.
Galangal root	1 lb.		1 dra.		128	Carth.
Garlic root, frefli	2 lb.		30 gra.		256	Neum.
Ginger	1 lb.		1 dra.		128	Neum.
Horferadifli root, frefli	8 oz.		15 gra.		256	Neum.
Hyflbp leaves - . -	1 2 lb.	J	(^ lidra.		w 237	Neum.
A a              •         Hyflbp 
37°        Preparations and
Hyflbp leaves	1 lb. ~)
Hyflbp leaves	1 lb.
Hyflbp leaves, frefh	2 cwt-
Hyflbp leaves, frefh	10 lb.
Hyflbp leaves, frefh	30 lb.
Juniper-berries	8 lb.
Juniper-berries	1 lb.
Lavender in flower, frefh	48 lb.
Lavender in flower, frefh	30 lb.
Lavender in flower, frefh	I3«lb.
Lavender flowers, frefh	2 lb.
Lavender flowers, dried	4 lb.
Lavender flowers, dried	2 lb.
Lavender flowers, dried	4 lb.
Broad leaved lavender 7 flowers, dry 3	4 lb.
	1 lb.
Lovage-root	1 lb.
Mace	1 lb.
Mace	1 lb.
Marjoram in flower, frefli	81 lb.
Marjoram in flower, frefli	134 lb.
Marjoram in flower, frefh	34 lb.
Marjoram leaves, frefh	i8ilb.
Marjoram leaves, dried	4 lb.
Maftervvort root	1 lb. y
Milfoil flowers, dried	r4 lb.
Mint in flower, frefh	6 lb.
Mint leaves, dried	4 lb.
Peppermint, frefh	4 lb.
Myrrh	1 lb.
Myrrh	1 lb-
Nutmegs	1 lb-
Nutmegs	1 lb.
Nutmegs	1 lb.
Nutmegs	1 lb.
Nutmegs	1 lb.
Parfley feeds	2 lb.
Parfley leaves, frefli	238 lb.
Parfnip feeds	8 lb.
Pennyroyal in flower, frefh	13 lb.
Black pepper	2 lb.
Black pepper	1 lb.
Black pepper	I lb.
Black pepper	1 lb.
Black pepper	6 lb.
Pimehto	I oz.
Rhodium wood	1 Ib.
Rhodium wood	1 lb.
Rhodium wood	1 lb.
Rhodium wood	lib. J
I Compofitions.			Part III.	
	" U dra.*)		r 85	Carth,
	2 dra.		64	Carth.
	6 oz.		597	Lewis.
	3 dra.		427	Lewis.
	9 dra.		427	Lewis.
	3 oz.	1	427	Hoff.
	3 dra.		42^	Carth.
	12 oz.		64	Lewis.
	6* oz.		72	Lewis.
	60 oz.		403	Lewis.
	4 dra.		64	Hoff.
	2 oz.		32	Lewis.
	1 oz.		32	Hoff.
	3 °z-		2Ij	Hoff.
	I oz.		64	Hoff.
	2 dra.		64	Carth.
	1 dra.		128	Carth.
	5 dra.	6	25^	Neum.
	6 dra.	>-.	2IT	Carth.
	3| oz.	-a u	347	Lewis.
_	3t dra.	•I	493	Lewis.
■5	11 oz.	cd 2	362	Lewis.
1	4 dra.	°	592	Lewis.
.5	1 oz.	%	64	Hoff.
*5<	30 gra.	>~<	: 256	Neum.
0	4 dra.	O	448	Neum.
T3	4t dra.	O	177	Neum.
	1; oz.		421	Hoff.
U	3 dra.	Cu	1705	Hoff.
>>	2 dra.	C O	64	Hoff.
	3 dra.		421	Neum.
	1 oz.	"5	16	Hoff.
	1 oz.	£	16	Geoff.
	4 dra.		32	Neum.
	6 dra.		2It	Sala.
	5 dra.		25!	Carth.
	1 dra.		256	Carth.
	2 oz.		I904	Garth.
	2 dra.		512	Carth.
	6 dra.		277	Carth.
	6 dra.		42t	Carth.
	2; dra.		82	Neum.
	4 fcr.		96	Carth.
	1 dra.		128	Heifier
	3 dra.		256	Geoff.
	30 gra.		l6	Neum.
	3 dra.		42^	Neum.
	2 dra.	1	64	Sala.
	3 dra. 3 dra,J	!	42' - 42}	Sala. Carth.
 
X
>
  h- —— S a a  oo  o  a. ^
  tofujuN.  „. —.  <!  5  <; yj"  o

  2  S  S a » a1*  *  -                  B=>as --
 >■  "  »  Sooo-jj                Sop5

 q^^ p 2.Q     P?     ,   •      •  «  3

           £3 n n
______eT&p
   MM     ©non*,                              MUJ       ^jOnihmihOO-~»
Mv^004^4».00i-tU'>»j'-^MM»0ONON00^j4i>HMj0O4!»OOMOOOi-tMUjiH

o-o*a-3-o-u*crcr2 crcrv?o^crNrcra^cro"crcrlrcra^crcr                             cr   **
........S.........................*  •    Si
—  ^
~Y"
 yielded  of  effential oil
_________.a.__________
 ^'JJ--MUOSJrt^OlMMK)N^K>M-HONWN^W^jK>l-l4itOOl-H4^NVlMl-l<JJN)OM  00 Ja.
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 a.oopppoa-on-^ic-oooD-o-o^»a.oDQ-ci- an  o  d-o  a. a. a- n. a. e  ex.
 6»......(U  t   p»  7* »  •  •  *  MP-   "(l".HMP»!»'   HI IU u W  CI  .   gu
I__                    *______*______*____________*            '________*         ______"______                   * J

                              fo that one  part of oil was  obtained from
                                                                                 P-l uo
*Hp-hhhV^CnonK>  Ono.> i-t              Ov«fl^       U)«<^U)Os>lOiW»     pim        M
W >-t nQ Onv*,  Wn^nOv^, onv^, On   4n, nv,  00^1 -** ^4 00 00 O  w  K> 4*.  OnO O K> OOIO  K> Jn,  Onkjuj
004:. K> 4^- n*, ^j oj  00 K> 004s. 4*. On OOv^  >-»  On4>. >g u< ^. v4  m  O  O  OOO 04^ fc>  00—  K> _^  -U K>
 
372           Preparations and Compofitions    Part III.
C  H
SAL
 ACIDUM  VITRIOLICUM DI-
            LUTUM.
              Lond.
   Diluted or weak vitriolic acid.
 Take of
   Vitriolic  acid, one  ounce  by
   weight;
   Diftilled water, eight ounces by
    weight.
   Mix them by degrees.

   ACIDUM VITRIOLICUM
   TENUE, vulgo SP1RITUS
      VITRIOLI TENUIS.
              Edin.
 Weak vitriolic acid commonly call-
      ed weak fpirit of vitriol.
 Take of
*  Vitriolic acid, one part;
   Water, feven parts.
 Mix them.

   In the  former editions of our
 pharmacopoeias, directions were gi-
 ven  for the preparation of the vi-
 triolic acid by the apothecary him-
 felf, under the heads of Spiritus&r
 Oleum Vitrioli, Spiritus Sulphuris
per  campanam,  &c :  But as it is
 now found that all thefe modes are
 expenfive, and that this  acid may
 be furnifhed at a cheaper rate from
 the  trading  chemifts preparing it
upon a large fcale, it  is with pro-
priety that both colleges have now
VII.
T   S.
rejected  it from  the preparations,
and introduced it only into the lift
 of the materia medica.
  When, however, it is of the degree
of concentration  there  required, it
canbe employed for very  few pur-
pofes in medicine. The moft fimple
form in which it can be advantage-
oufly employed internally, is that in
which it  is merely diluted with wa-
ter ;  and it is highly  proper that
there fhould be fome fixed ftandard
in which the acid in this ftate fhould
be kept.   It is, however,  much to
be regretted, that the London and
Edinburgh colleges have not adopt-
ed the fame ftandard with refpecf to
ftrength: for  in the one, the ftrong
acid conftitntes an eighth ; and in
the other, only a ninth of the mix-
ture. The former proportion, which
is that of  the Edinburgh college,
weare inclined to prefer, as it gives
exactly a dram of acid to the ounce;
but the dilution by means of diftil-
led water, which is directed by the
London,  is preferable to fpring-wa-
ter ; which, even in its pnreft ftate,
is rarely free from impregnations in
part affecting.the acid.
   The acid of vitriol  is  the  moft
ponderous of  all the liquids we arc
acquainted  with,  and the  moft
powerful  of the acids.  If any other
acid  be united with a fixt alkaline
                            fait 
-Chap. 7-
Salts.
573
fait or earth, upon  the addition of
the vitriolic,  fuch acid will be  dif-
lodged, and arife on applying a mo-
derate heat, leaving the vitriolic in
poffeflion  of  the   alkali; though
without this addition it would not
yield to the  moft vehement fire.
Mixt with water, it inftantly creates
great heat, infomuch that glafs vef-
fels are apt to crack from  the mix-
ture, unlefs it be very flowly per-
formed : expofed to the air, it  im-
bibes moifture, and foon acquires a
remarkable increafe of weight.   In
medicine, it  is employed chiefly as
fubfervient to other preparations:  it
is Hkewife not unfreqnently mixed
with juleps and the  like,  in  fuch
quantity as will be fufficient to give
the liquor an agreeable tartnefs with
the intentions of a  cooling antifep-
tic, reftringent, and ftomachic.
  It is particularly  ufeful for allay-
ing inordinate actions of th e ftomach,
when under  the form of  fingultus
or vomiting; but its  medical pro-
perties have already been mention-
ed under the article Acidum Vitri-
*licum in  the materia medica.

     ACIDUM NITROSUM.
              Lond.
          Nitrous  acid.
Take of
  Purified nitre, by  weight, fix-
     ty-nine ounces;
  Vitriolic acid, by weight, twen-
     ty-nine ounces.
Mix and diftil.

  The fpecific gravity of this is to
the  weight of  diftilled water  as
1,550  to 1,000.

ACIDUM NITROSUM,  vulgo
   SPIRITUS NITRI GLAU-
             BERI.
             Edinb.
Nitrous acid, commonly called Glau-
        ber's fpirip of nitre.
Take of
   Pureft nitre, bruifed, two pounds;
   Vitriolic acid, one pound.
Having put  the  nitre  into a glafs
   retort, pour on it the fpirit; then
   diftil in a fand-heat,  gradually
   increafed,  till the iron fand-pot
   becomes of a dull red colour.

   Here  the  vitriolic  acid  expels
that of the nitre, in red  corrofive
vapours,which begin to iffue imme-
diately upon mixture; and which the
operator ought cantioufty to avoid.
A pound  of  acid of  vitriol is fuffi-
cient to expel all the acid from about
two ponndsof nitre, not from more :
fome direct equal parts of the two.
The fpirit, in either cafe,  is in qua-
lity the fame; the difference in this
refpcct, affecting only the refiduum.
If two parts  of nitre  be  taken to
one of acid of vitriol, the remain-
ing alkaline  hafis  of the nitre is
completely faturated with the  vi-
triolic  acid;   and  the  refult is a
neutral  fait,  the fame  with  vitri-
olated tartar, as we fhall fee  here-
after.  If more nitre be ufed, a part
of the nitre in fubftance will remain
blended with  this  vitriolated fait :
if lefs nitre,  it cannot afford alkali
enough  to faturate the vitriolic acid,
and the refiduum will not be a neu-
tral fait, but a very  acid one.  In
this laft cafe there is one conveni-
ency ; the acid fait being readily dif-
foluble in  water, fo  as to be got  out
without breaking the retort,  which
the others are not.

ACIDUM NITROSUM DILU-
             TUM.
             Lond.
   Diluted or weak nitrous acid.
Take of
   Nitrous acid,
   Diftilled water, each one pound.
Mix them.
Aa 3
ACI- 
 374         Preparations ar

     ACIDUM  NITROSUM
            TENUE.
              Edinb.
        Weak nitrous acid.
 Take of
   Nitrous acid,
   Water, equal weights.
 Mix them, taking care to avoid the
   noxious vapours.

   In the old editions both of  the
 London and  Edinburgh pharmaco-
 poeias, directions were given for the
 preparation  of aquafortis   fimplex
 and duplex;  but thefe  were no
 more than different  forms of pre-
 paring an impure nitrous acid, unfit
 for medical  purpofes.  They   are
 therefore, with  propriety, fuper-
 feded by  the more fimple formulae
 of acidum nitrofum, and acidum ni-
 trofumdilutum, ortenue, mentioned
 above.  In making the diluted acid,
 diftilled water is preferable to com-
 mon water.
   The  vapours  feparated during
 the mixing of nitrous acid  and  wa-
 ter,, are the permanently elaftic fluid
 called nitrous acid air, which is  de-
 leterious to animal life.
   The  acid  of  nitre  is next  in
 ftrength to the  vitriolic,  and  dif-
 lodges all others  from  alkaline
 falts or earths.  It differs from all
 the other acids in deflagrating with
 inflammable  matters: if a folution
 of  any  inflammable  fubftance,  as
 hartfhorn, &c. in this acid be fet to
 evaporate, as foon as  the matter
 approaches to drynefs, a violent  de-
 tonation enfues.   The chief ufe  of
 this acid is as a menftruum for cer-
 tain minerals, and as the bafis of
 fome particular  preparations to be
 mentioned hereafter.  It has been
 given likewife,  diluted with  any
convenient vehicle, as a  diuretic,
from ten to fifty drops.

   ACIDUM MURIATICUM.
             Loud.
i Compofitions.    Part. III.

          Muriatic acid.
 Take of
   Dry fea-falt, ten pounds;
   Vitriolic acid, fix pounds;
   Water, five pounds.
 Add, by degrees, the vitriolic acid,
   firft mixed with the water, to thi
   fait; than diftil.

   The fpecific gravity of  this is
 to that of diftilled water  as 1,170
 to 1,poo.

   ACIDUM  MURIATICUM,
     vulgo SPIRITUS  SALIS
            MARINI.
              Edinb.
 Muriatic acid,  commonly  called
        Spirit of fea-fa ft.
 Take of
   Sea-falt, two pounds;
   Vitriolic acid,
   Water, each one pound.
 Let the fait firft be  put into a pot,
   and brought to a red heat, that
   the oily impurities may be con-
   fumed ; then commit  it  to the
   retort.   Next mix the acid with
   the water, and when  the mixture
   has cooled, pour it upon the fait.
   Laftly, diftil in fand  with a mid-
   dling heat, as long as  any acid
   comes over.

   The  marine, or muriatic acid,
 arifes, not in red fumes  like  the ni-
 trous, but in white ones.  The ad-
 dition of  water is more  neceffary
 here than in the foregoing procefs;
 the  marine vapours being fo vola-
 tile, as fcarcely to condenfe without
 fome adventitious humidity.  The a-
 cid of vitriol is  moft conveniently
 mixed with the water in an earthen
 or ftone-ware veffel:  for unlefs the
 mixture be made exceedingly flow-
 ly, it  grows fo hot as to endanger
 breaking a glafs one.
  The fpirit of fea-falt is the weak-
 eft of the mineral acids, but ftronger
 than any  of  the vegetable:  It re-
                           quires 
  Chap.  7.

  quires a greater fire to diftil it than
  that of  nitre, yet is  more readily
 diffipated by  the action of the air.
 Itis ufed chiefly  as a menftruum for
 the making of other preparations ;
 fometimes, likewife,  it  is given,
 properly diluted, as an antiphlogif-
 tic, aperient,  and diuretic, from ten
 to fixty or feventy drops.

   ACETUM DISTILLATUM.
               Lond.
         Diftilled vinegar.
 Take of
   Vinegar, five  pints.
 Diftil with a gentle fire, in  glafs
   veffels,  fo  long as the drops fall
   free from empyreuma.

               Edin.
 Let eight pounds of vinegar be di-
   ftilled in  glafs veffels with a gen-
   tle heat.  Let the two firft pounds
   that come over be thrown away
   as containing  too much water ;
   let four pounds next following be
   rcferved  as the diftilled vinegar.
   What remains is a ftill ftronger
   acid,  but too  much acted on by
   the heat.

   This procefs maybe performed
 either in a common ftill with its
 head,  or in a retort.  The better
 kinds  of wine-vinegar fhould be
 made ufe of:  thofe prepared  from
 nialt liquors, however fine and clear
 they  may  feem  to  be, contain  a
 large quantity of a vifcous fubftance,
 as appears from the  fliminefs  and
 ropinefs  to  which they  are  very
 much fubject :  this not only  hin-
 ders the acid parts from ariling
freely, but likewife is  apt to make
 the vinegar  boil over into the reci-
pient, and at the fame time difpofes
it to receive a  difagreeable impref-
fion  from the fire.  And indeed,
with the beft kindof vinegar, if the
diftillation be carried on to any great
length, it is extremely difficult to
Salts.                         37s

    avoid an  empyreuma.  The  beft
    method of preventing this inconve-
    nience is,  if a retort be made ufe of,
    to place the fand but a little  way
    up its fides, and when fomewhat
    more than half the liquor is come
    over, to pour on the remainder a
    quantity of frefli vinegar equal to
    that of the liquor drawn off.  This
    may be repeated three or four times;
    the vinegar fupplied  at each  time
    being previously made hot.   The
    addition of cold  liquor would not
    only prolong the operation,  but al-
    fo  endanger breaking  the  retort.
    If the common ftill be employed, it
    fhould likewife be occafionally fup-
    plied  with frefh  vinegar in  pro-
    portion as  the fpirit runs off; and
    this continued until the procefs  can
    be conveniently carried no farther;
    The diftilled fpirit muft be rectified
    by a  fecond diftillation in a retort
    or glafs alembic ; for although  the
    head  and  receiver be of glafs  or
    ftone ware, the acid  will contract
    a metallic  taint from the pewter
    worm.
     The refiduum of this procefs is
    commonly  thrown away as ufelefs,
    although, if fkilfully  managed, it
   «iight be made to turn to  good  ac-
    count ; the moft acid  parts of the
    vinegar ftill remaining in it.  Mix-
    ed with about three times its weight
    of fine dry  fand, and committed to
    diftillation in 2 retort,  with a well-
   regulated fire, it yields an exceed-
   ing ftrong acid fpirit, together with
   an empyreumatic oil,  which taints
   the  fpirit with a difagreeable odour.
   This acid is neverthelefs,  without
   any rectification,  better for fome
   purpofes  (as a little of it will go a
   great  way) than the pure fpirit;
   particularly for making the fal diu-
   reticus or kali acetatumof the Lon-
   don college  ; for there the oily mat-
   ter, on which its ill flavour depends,
   is burnt out by the calcination.
     The fpirit of  vinegar is a purer
                A a 4          and 
376         Preparations an

and ftronger acid than vinegar it-
felf, with which it agrees in other
refpects.  The medical virtues of
thefe liquors may be feen in the
Materia Medica, under  the article
Acetum,  page 116.  Theirprin-
cipal  difference from the mineral
acids confifts in their being milder,
lefs ftimulating, lefs difpofed to af-
fect the kidneys and promote the
urinary fecretions, or to  coagulate
the animal juices.  The matter left
after the diftillation in glafs-veffels,
tho' not ufed  in medicine, would
doubtlefs prove a ferviceable deter-
gent faponaceous acid ; and in this
light  it ftands recommended by
Boerhaave.

    ACETUM CONCENTRA-
             TUM.
              Suec.
      Concentrated vinegar.
Let white-wine vinegar be frozen
   in a wooden veffel in cold winter
   weather ;  and  let the fluid in
   the middle feparated from the ice
   be preferved for ufe.  This  may
   be confidered as fufficiently ftrong
   if one dram of it be capable of
   faturating a fcruple of the fixed
   vegetable alkali.

   Th 1 s is a very eafy mode for ob-
taining the acid of vinegar in a  con-
centrated ftate, and  freed from  a
confiderable proportion of its  wa-
ter.  But at the fame time we do
not thus obtain the acid  either fo
much concentrated,  or in fo pure a
 ftate as by the  following procefs.

     ACIDUM  ACETOSUM.
               Lond.
           Acetous acid.
 Take of
   Verdegris, in coarfe powder, two
      pounds.
 Dry it perfectly by means of a wa-
   ter-bath  faturated with fea-falt ;
/ Compofitions.   Part III.

  then  diftil in a fand-bath,  and
  after that diftil the liquor.
Its  fpecific gravity is to that of di-
  ftilled water as 1,050 to 1000.

  By this procefs it may be readily
concluded that  we obtain the  ace-
tous acid in its  moft concentrated
ftate, and with  the leaft admixture
of water. And after the re-diftilla-
tion, it may alfo be fuppofed that it
will be  free from all mixture of the
copper.  But the  internal life  of it
has been objected to by fome, on
the fuppofition  that it may ftill re-
tain a portion of the  metal;  and
hitherto it has,we believe, been but
little employed.

  ACIDUM TARTARI CRYS-
         TALLISATUM.
              Suec.
     Cryftallifed acid of tartar.
Take of
  Prepared chalk, frequently wafh-
  ed  with  warm   water,   two
  pounds ;
  Spring water, thirty-two pounds.
After flight boiling, by degrees add
  of cream of tartar feven  pounds,
   or as much as is fufficient for fa-
   turation.  Removing the veffel
   from the fire, let it ftand for half
   an hour, then cautioully pour the
   clear liqnor on the furface into a
   glafs veffel.   Wafli the refiduum
   or tartarous felenites by pouring
   water upon it three or four times.
    To the refiduum afterwards add
   of  weak vitriolic  acid fixteen
    pounds, let it be  digefted for a
    day, frequently agitating it  with
   a  wooden fpatula.   After  this
   pour the acid liquor into a  glafs
   veffel: But with the refiduum mix
   fixteen pounds of fpring water :
    Strain it through paper, and a-
    gain  pour water  upon the  refi-
    duum till it become infipid.   Let
                              the 
Chap. 7.                   Sal

  the acid liquors mixed together
  in a glafs veffel be boiled  to  the
  confiftence of a thin fyrup; which
  being ftrained, muft be fet apart
  for the formation of cryftals. Let
  the cryftals collected after repeat-
  ed diftillations be dried upon pa-
  per, and afterwards kept in a dry
  place.
     If before cryftallization a little
  of the infpiffated acid liquor be di-
  luted with four  times its quanti-
  ty of pure water,and a few dropsof
  vinegar of litharge be put  into it,
  a  white fedimentwill immediate-
  ly be depofited.   If  a few drops
  of thediluted nitrous acid be then
  added, the mixture  will become
  limpid  if the'tartarous liquor be
  pure  and entirely free from the
  vitriolic acid ; but if it be not,  it
   will become white.   This fault,
   however, may be corrected, if the
   acid of tartar be diluted with fix
   pounds of water and a few oun-
   ces of  the tartarous felenites ad-
   ded to  it.   After this it  may be
   digefted,  ftrained, and  cryftal-
   lized.

   By this procefs, the acid  of tar-
 tar  may be obtained in a pure  folid
 form.  It would,  however, be per-
 haps an  improvement of the  pro-
 cefs, if quicklime be employed  in
 place of chalk.  For  Dr Black has
 found  that  quicklime abforbs the
 whole  of the tartarous  acid, and
 then the fupernatant liquor contains
 only the alkaline part of the tartar;
 whereas  when chalk is employed, it
 contains a folution of foluble tartar,
 the chalk obtaining only the fupera-
 bundant acid.  By this method then
 a greater quantity of tartarous acid
 might  be obtained from  the  fedi-
 ment.   The tartarous acid has not
 hitherto  been much em ployed in its
 pure ftate.  But befides being ufe-
 ful for fome purpofes  in medicine,
u-                          311
for which the cream of tartar is at
prefent in ufe, and where that fuper-
faturated neutral may be lefs proper,
there is alfo reafon  to fuppofe, that
from the employment  ot  the pure
acid, we fhould arrive at more cer-
tainty in the preparation ot the an-
timonium tartarizatum, or tartar e-
metic, than by employing the cream
of tartar,  the proportion of acid in
which varies very much from diffe-
rent circumftances.  The pure acid
of tartar might alfo probably be em-
ployed with advantage for bringing
other metallic fubftances to a faline
ftate.

   ACIDUM TARTARI  DI-
          STILLATUM.
               Suec.
      Diftilled acid of tartar.
 Let pounded crude tartar be put in-
   to a tubulated earthen or iron re-
   tort till it fills about two-thirds of
   it, and let diftillation be perform-
    ed by gradually increafing the
    heat.  Into the recipient, which
    fliould be very large, an  acid li-
    quor will pafs over together with
    the oil;  which  being feparated
    from the oil, muft again be diftil-
    led from a glafs retort.
 If the refiduum contained  in  the
    earthen or iron retort be diluted
    with  water ftrained through pa-
    per and boiled todrynefs, it gives
    what is called the alkali of tartar.
    If this do  not  appear white, it
    may become  fuch  by  burning,
    folution,  ftraining, and evapora-
    tion.

    This is another mode of obtain-
  ing both the acid and alkali of tar-
  tar  in a pretty pure  ftate, and,  as
  well as the former, it is not unwor-
  thy of being adopted into our phar-
  macopoeias.

                           AQUA 
  378         Preparations a

    AQUA  AERIS FIXI.
               Rofe.
        Aerated water.
  Let fpring water be faturated with
    the fixed air, or aerial acid,  ari-
    fing from  a folution of chalk in
    vitriolic acid, or in any fimilar a-
    cid. Water may alfo be impreg-
    nated  by  the fixed air  arifing
    from fermenting liquors.

    The aerial acid, of which we
 have already had occafion to make
 fome obfervations,  (vide page 65),
 befides the great influence which it
 has as affecting different faline  bo-
 dies into the compofition of which
 it enters, is alfo frequently employ-
 ed in medicine, with a view to its
 own action on the human  body.
 The late ingenious Dr Dobfon in
 his Commentary on Fixed Air, has
 pointed out many purpofes for which
 it may be ufefully employed,  and
 feveral different forms under which
 it may be  ufed.  But  there  is no
 form under which it is  at prefent
 more frequently had recourfe to than
 that of aerated  or  mephitic  water,
 as it has often  been called.  And
 although not yet received either into
 the London or  Edinburgh pharma-
 copoeias, it  is  daily employed in
 practice, and is we think juftly in-
 titled to a place among the  faline
 preparations.
   The  moft convenient  mode  of
 impregnating water with the aerial
 acid, and  thus having  it in our
 power  to  exhibit that acid  as it
 were in a diluted ftate, is by means
 of  a well  known and fufficiently
 fimple  apparatus, contrived by that
 ingenious  philofopher  Dr Nooth.
 Such a machine ought, we think,
 to be kept  in  every fhop for tho
 more ready preparation of this fluid.
  Water properly impregnated with
the aerial acid,has an agreeable aci-
dulous tafte.   It is often employed
with great advantage in the way of
 id Compofitions.   Part. 11L

  common drink,  by thofe who are
  fnbjected to {ftomach ailments,  and
  by calculous patients.  But, befides
  this,  it furnifties an excellent ve-
  hicle for the exhibition of many o-
  ther medicines.
   Befides the fimple aerated water,
  the Pharmacopoeia Rolfica contains
  alfo an aqua aeris fixi martialis, or
  ferruginous ae'rated water. This is
  prepared by fufpending iron wires in
  that water till  the water be fully
  faturated with the metal.  And in
  confequence of this acid, fimple wa-
  ter  becomes a menftruum both for
  different metallic and earthy  fub-
 ftances.  But water in  this ftate
 may be confidered rather as  fitted
 for thofe purpofes for which chaly-
 beates  are  in ufe,  than as a pre-
 paration of the aerial acid.

   SAL ET OLEUM SUCCINI.
              Lond.
      Salt and oil of amber.
 Take of
   Amber, two pounds.
 Diftil in a heat of fand, gradually
   augmented :  an acid liquor, oil,
   and fait fouled  with oil, will  a-
   feend.

   Of  this article we have already
 offered fome obfervations under the
 head of Effential  Oils. The direc-
 tions here given by the London col-
 lege differ chiefly  from thofe of the
 Edinburgh college formerly  men-
 tioned, in no fand being employed:
 But when care was  taken that the
 fand be pure, it can  give no impro-
 per impregnation to the medicine,
 and may prevent fome inconvenien-
ces in the diftillation, particularly
 that of the amber rifing in fubftance
into the receiver.

  SAL SUCCINI PURIFICA-
             TUS.
            Lond.
     Purified fait of amber.
                          Take 
Chap. 7.                   S

Take of
  Salt of amber, half a pound ;
  Diftilled water, one pint.
Boil the fait in the diftilled water,
  and fet afide  the folution to cry-
  ftallize.

  Salt  of amber when perfectly
pure, is white, of an acid tafte, and
not ungrateful.   It requires for its
folution, of cold water,  in  fum-
mer, about twenty times its weight;
of  boiling water about twice  its
weight  ; it is  fearcely  foluble  in
rectified fpirit without  the affiftance
of heat.
  It is  given as a cooling  diuretic
in dofes of a few grains, and alfo in
hyfterical complaints.

     FLORES BENZOES.
            Edinb.
      Flowers of Benzoine.
Take of
  Benzoine, in  powder, one pound.
Put it into an earthen  pot placed in
  fand ; and, with a flow fire, fub-
  lime  the flowers into a proper
  cone  fitted to the pot.
If the flowers  be of a yellow co-
  lour,  mix them with white clay,
  and fublime them a fecond time.
     FLORES  BENZOINI.
            Edinb.
Put any quantity of powdered ben-
  zoine into an earthen  pot,  to
  which,  after filling it with  a
  large conical paper cap,  apply  a
  gentle heat that the flowers may
  fublime.   If  the  flowers be im-
  pregnated with oil, let them  be
  purified by folution in warm wa-
  ter and cryftallization.

  Benzoine,  expofed in a retort
to a gentle fire,  melts and fends up
into the neck white,  fhiningcryftal-
line flowers, which are followed by
any oily fubftance.  Thefe flowers,
'Its.                       319
which are at- prefent confidered as a
peculiar acid,  are by  fome termed
acidum benzoicum.  On raifmg the
heat a little (a recipient being ap-
plied to the neck of the  retort) a
thin yellowifh oil comes over, inter-
mingled  with  an acid liquor,  and
afterwards a thick butyraceous fub-
ftance: this laft, liquefied in boiling
water, gives out to it a confiderable
quantity of faline  matter (feparable
by filtration and proper exhalation),
which appears in all refpects fimilar
to the flowers.
   It  appears, therefore,  that the
whole quantity  of flowers which
benzoine  is  capable  of  yielding,
cannot be obtained by the  above
proceffes,  fince a confiderable por-
tion arifes after the time  of  their
being difcontinued.   The greateft
part of the flowers arife with a lefs
degree of heat  than what  is necef-
fary to elevate the oil; but if theo-
peration   be  haftily  conducted,
or  if the fire  be not  exceedingly
gentle, the oil will arife along with
the flowers, and render them foul.
Hence in  the way of trade, it is ex-
tremely difficult to prepare them of
the requifite whitenefs and purity ;
the heat which becomes neceffary,
when large q .amities of the ben-
zoine are  employed, being fo great
as to force over fome  of  the oil a-
long with  them.
   In order,therefore,toobtain thefe
flowers in perfection,  only a fmall
quantity  of benzoine fhould be put
into the veffel at a time ;  and that
this may not be any impediment to
the  requifite difpatch, a number of
fhallow, flat-bottomed,earthen difh-
es  may be employed, each fitted
with another veffel inverted over it,
or a paper cone.  With thefe you
may  fill   a fand  furnace ; having
frefli difhes charged in readinefs to
replace thofe in the  furnace, as foon
as  the procefs fliall appear finiflied
in them :  the refiduum of the ben-
                           zoine 
 380          Preparations a,

zoine fliould be feraped out  of each
of the veffels before a frefh parcel
be put in.
  Thefe flowers,when made in per-
fection, have an agreeable tafteand
fragrant fmell.  They totally dif-
folve in fpirit of wine; and likewife,
by the aCiftance of heat, in  water ;
but feparate  again from  the latter
upon  the liq'ior's growing  cold,
fliooting into feline fpicula, which
unite together into irregular maffes.
By the mediation of  fugar they re-
main fufpended in cold water,  and
thus form  an elegant balfamic fy-
rup.  Some have held them in great
efteem as pectoral and fuJorific, in
the dofe of half a fcruple  or more :
but the prefent practice rarelymakes
ufe of them, on account of  the of-
fenfive oil which, as ufually prepa-
red, they are tainted with,and from
which a frefli fublimation from to-
bacco pipe clay, as formerly practi-
fed, did not free them fo effectually
as might be wifned.  The obferva-
tions above related, point out the
method of  depurating them  more
perfectly, viz. by folution, filtra-
tion, and cryftallization.
  They enter the compofition of the
paregoric elixir,  or  tindtura  opii
camphorata, as  it is.now called.

        SAL TARTARI.
             Edinb.
         Salt of tartar.
Take of
  Tartar, what quantity you pleafe.
Roll it up in a piece of moift bibu-
  lous paper,  or  put it into a cru-
  cible, and furroundingit with live
  coals,  burn it into  a coal; nsxt,
  having beat this coal,  calcine  it
  in an open crucible with a mid-
  dling  heat, taking care  that  it
  do  not melt, and continue the
  calcination till the  coal becomes
  of a white,  or at  leaft of an afh
  colour. Then diflblve it in warm
  water ;. ftrain the liquor through
\d Compofitions.    Part III.

   a cloth, and evaporate  it  in  a
   clean iron veffel;  diligently ftir-
   ring it towards the end  of the
   procefs with an iron fpatula, to
   prevent it from  fticking to the
   bottom of the veffel.   A  very
   white fait will remain, which is
   to  be left a little longer  on the
   fiie, till the bottom of the veffel
   becomes   almoft  red.   Laftly,
   when the  fait is grown cold, let it
   be put up in glafs veffels well fhut.

   Native  tartar is a faline fub-
 ftance, compounded of an acid, of
 a fixt alkali, and of oily, vifcous,
 and colouring matter.  The purpofe
 of  the  above procefs  is,  to free it
 from every other matter but the fix-
 ed alkali. From the miflaken notion,
 that tartar  was effentially  an acid
 mixed only with impurities, it has
 been  generally fuppofed  that  the
 effect of this operation was thecon-
 verfion of an acid into an alkali by
 means  of  heat.    But  fince  Mr
 Scheele  has  difcovered,   that  the
 proper matter of tartar, freed from
 the oily and colouring parts, is real-
 ly  a  fait compounded of an acid,
 which is predominant, and a fixt al-
 kali, we have no farther need of fuch
 anobfeure theory. The acid of the
 tartar by this procefs is diffipated by
 means of the  heat ; and the oily,
 vifcous, and  colouring matters, are
 partly diffipated, and  partly brought
 to the ftate of infoluble earthy mat-
 ter, eafily  feparable by the future
 lixiviation from the alkali,  where-
 with they were loofely combined.
 But by the laft of thefe  proceffes,
 fomethingfartheriscarried on than
 the fepiration of the  more palpable
 foreign matters.  By allowing the
 fait, freed from the water of the lix-
 ivium,  to remain upon the fire till
 the bottom of the veffel become al-
 moft red, any oily matter that may
 ftill be prefent feems to be decom-
 pofed by the united  action of  the
                             heat 
Chap. 7.                   Sal

heat and fixt alkali forming with a
part of the latter, by their recipro-
cal  action, a volatile  alkaline fait,
forthwith difcharged  in elaftic va-
pours.   Befides  the  complete dif-
charge of the above principles,  the
remaining fixt alkali alfo fuffers a
confiderable lofs  of its fixed air, or
aerial acid; with which, when fully
faturated, it  forms the  imperfect
neutral fait,  denominated by Dr
Black, mild fixed alkali; on this ac-
count it is fomewhat cauftic,  confi-
derably deliquefcent, and in propor-
tion to its poffefling thefe properties
more or lefs, it more or lefs nearly
approaches to the ftate of pure alka-
li.  It is not, however, fo effectually
deprived of fixed  air as to be fuf-
ficiently cauftic  for  a  number of
purpofes.  Where caufticity  is not
required, the fait thus purified is a-
bundantly fit for moft pharmaceuti-
cal purpofes:  but as a native  tartar
generally contains fmall portions of
neutral falts befides the foreign mat-
ters already noticed, it is neceffary,
if we with to have a very pure alka-
li for nice operations, to employ cry-
ftallization, and other means befide
the procefs here directed.
   The white and red forts of tartar
arc equally  fit  for the  purpofe of
making fixt fait; the only difference
is, that the white affords  a  fome-
what larger quantity than the other ;
from fixteen ounces of this  fort, up-
wards of four ounces of fixt alkaline
fait may be obtained.   The  ufe of
the paper is to.prevent the fmaller
pieces of the tartar from dropping
down into the afh-hole,  through the
interftices of the coals, upon firft
injecting it into  the furnace.
   The calcination of the fait  (if the
tartar was fufficienfly burnt at firft)
does Hot increafe  its ftrength fo
much as  is fuppofed: nor  is the
greenifh or blue colour any certain
mark either of its ftrength, or of its
ts.                          381

having been, as was formerly fup-
pofed, long expofed  to a vehement
fire : for if the crucible be perfectly
clean, clofe covered, and  has flood
the fire without  cracking, the  fait
will turn out white, though  kept
melted and  reverberated ever fo
long :  whilft, on the other hand, a
flight crack happening in the cruci-
ble,or a fpark of coal falling in,fhall
in a few minutes give the fait theco-
lour admired. The colour in effect,
is a mark rather of its containing
fome inflammable matter, than of
its ftrength.
   The  vegetable alkali prepared
from tartar has now  no place in the
London Pharmacopoeia,  or at leaft
it is included .under the  following
article.

    KALI PR^PARATUM.
              Lond.
           Prepared kali.
 Take of
   Pot-afh, two  pounds;
   Boiling diftilled water, three pints.
 Diflblve and filter through paper;
    evaporate the liquor till a pellicle
    appears on the furface ; then fet
    it afide for a  night, that the neu-
    tral falts may cryftallize ; after
   which pour  out the  liquor, and
   boil away the whole of the water,
   conftantly ftirring, left any fait
    fliould adhere to the pot.
 In like manner is  purified impure
   kali from the afhes of any kind of
   vegetable.
 The fame fait may be prepared from
    tartar burnt till it becomes of an
    afh colour.

  SAL  ALCALINUS   fixus VE-
    GETABILIS  PURIFICA-
    TUS.
              Edinb.
  Fixed vegetable alkaline .fait  pu-
              rified.
  Let the fixed alkaline felt, called in
                             Eug- 
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
      Englifh pearl-afhes,  be  put into
      a crucible, and  brought  to  a
      fomewhat red heat, that the oily
      impurities, if there be any, may
      be confumed ; then having beat
      and  agitated it  with an  equal
      weight of water, let them  be
      well mixed.    After the-  feces
      have fubfided, pour the  fey into
      a very clean iron pot, and boil to
      drynefs,  diligently ftirring the
      fait  towards the end of the pro-
      cefs, to prevent  its  fticking to
      the  veffel.
   This fait,  if it hath been rightly pu-
      rified, tho' it be  very dry, if beat
      with an equal weight  of  water,
      can  be diffolved  into a liquor void
      of colour  or fmell.

      The potafh ufed in commerce is
   an alkali mixed with a conftlerable
   quantity of remaining charcoal, ful-
   phur,  vitriolated tartar, and oily
   matter. In the large  manufactories,
   the alkaline part is  indeed confider-
   ably freed from thefe impurities by
   mixing the weed-afhes with water,
   evaporating the clear ley, and burn-
   ing the remaining  part in an oven;
   but befides that this  procefs is in-
   fufneient for the complete feparation
   of the  impurities,  it alfo fuperadds
   a quantity of ftony matter, giving
   to the alkali  the peart appearance
   (whence its name), and rendering
   it  altogether unfit for pharmaceuti-
   cal purpofes.  By the proceffes  here
   directed,  the alkali  is  effectually
   freed from all thefe heterogeneous
   matters, excepting  perhaps  a fmall
   proportion of vitriolated  tartar, or
*  other neutral fait, which may  very
   generally be neglected.   As in this
   procefs no after calcination is direc-
   ted, it is probable that the fixed al-
   kali thus prepared will not prove fo
   cauftic,  that is to  fay,   is not fo
   confiderably deprived  of  fixed air,
   as in the procefs directed for  pre-
   paring  the fal tartari. It is, how-
 ever,  fufficiently  pure  for moft
 purpofes;  and we confider  the  a-
 bove procefs as the moft convenient
 and cheap method of obtaining the
 vegetable  fixed alkali, in its mild
 ftate.

   The purified  vegetable  alkali,
 has been known  in our pharmaco-
 poeias under the different names of
fal abfinthii, fal tartari,  &c.  But
 all thefe being now known to be at
 bottom the fame, the terms, as lead-
 ing tp error, have been  with juf-
 tice expunged;  and it  has been a
 defideratum to difcover fome fhort
 name equally applicable to the whole.
 The  term employed by the Edin-
 burgh college is  too long, being ra-
 ther a defcription than a name. But
 to that employed by the  London col-
 lege, Kali, objections have alfo been
made. And it muft be allowed, that
 befides the inconveniences which a-
 rifes from its being an indeclinable
 word, the foffil alkali is equally en-
 titled to the fame appellation.  Be-
fides this,  as a confiderable portion
of the foffil alkali  is prepared from
burning a  vegetable growing on
the fea coafts,  which has the nama
of kali, the kali fpinofum of Linnse-
tis, fome apparent contradiction and
ambiguity from thence arife.  And
the London college would perhaps
have done better, if they had adopt-
ed the term Potaffa; a name which
has been appropriated to this fait by
fome of the  moft eminent modern
chemifts.
  The purified potaffa is frequently
employed in medicine,  in conjunc-
tion with other articles, particularly
for the  formation of faline neutral
draughts and mixtures :  But it is u-
fed alfo by itfelf in  dofes from three
or four grains to fifteen or twenty ;
and it frequently operates as a pow-
erful  diuretic,  particularly  when
aided by proper dilution.

                         AQUA 
Chap.  7.
         AQUA KALI.
              Lond.
         Water of kali.
Take of
   Kali, one pound.
Set it by in a moift  place till it be
   diffolved, and then ftrain  it.

  THisarticlehadaplace informer
editions of our pharmacopoeias un-
der the titles of lixivium tartari, li-
quamen falis tartar is, oleum  tartari
per deliqnium, &c. It is, however,
to be confidered as a mere watery
folution of the mild vegetable alkali,
formed by  its attracting  moifture
from the air; and therefore it is
with propriety ftyled the aqua kali.
  The folutions of fixt alkaline falts,
effected by expofing them to a moift
air,  are generally looked upon as
being purer than thofe made  by ap-
plying water directly: for though
the fait be repeatedly diffolved in
water, filtered, and exficcated ; yet
on being liquefied by the humidity
of the air, it will ftill depofite a por-
tion of  earthy matter : but it muft
be obferved, that the exficcated fait
leaves always an earthy matter on
being diffolved in water,as well as on
being deliquated in the air.  Whe-
ther it leaves more in the one way
than in the other, is not determined
with precifion. The deliquated lix-
ivium is faid to contain nearly one
part of the alkaline fait to three of
an aqueous fluid.   It is indifferent,
in regard  to  the lixivium  itfelf,
whether the white afhes of tartar,
or the fait extracted from them, be
ufed ; but as the afhes leave a much
greater quantity of earth,the repara-
tion of the ley proves more trouble-
fome.
  The aqua kali of the prefent edi-
tion of the London pharmacopoeia
then may be  confidered as an im-
provement of the lixivium tartari of
their former edition.   But the Ed-
inburgh college confideringthisfolu-
tion as being in no refpect different
Salts.                      383

  from that made by pure water, have
  entirely  rejected this preparation
  from their pharmacopoeia, and pro-
  bably with juftice.

       AQUA KALI PURI.
               Lond.
         Water of pure kali.
  Take of
    Kali, four pounds;
    Quick-lime, fix pounds;
    Diftilled water, four gallons.
  Put four pints of water to the lime,
    and  let them ftand together for
    an hour;  after which,  add the
    kali  and the reft of the water;
    then boil for a quarter of an hour:
    fuffer  the liquor to  cool, and
    ftrain.  A pint of  this liquor
    ought  to  weigh fixteen ounces.
    If the liquor effervefces with any
    acid, add more lime.

    A preparation  fimilar  to  this
  had a place in the former edition of
  the London  pharmacopoeia, under
  the  title of lixivium faponarium.
  Quicklime, by depriving the  mild
  alkali of its  aerial acid,  renders it
  cauftic: hence this ley is much more
  acrimonious, and  ads more power-
  fully as a menftruum of oils,  fats,
  &c. than a  folution of the potaffa
  alone.   The lime fhould be ufed
  frefh from  the  kiln;   by  long
  keeping, even in clofe  veffels, it
  lofes of its ftrength : fuch fhould
  be made choice of as is thoroughly
  burnt or calcined, which may  be
  known by  its comparative light-
  nefs.
    All the inftruments employed in
  this procefs,  fliould  be  either  of
  wood, earthen ware,  or  glafs : the
  common metallic ones would be cor-
  roded by the ley, ft>  as  either to
  difcolour or  communicate difagree-
  able qualities to it.  If it  fhould  be
  needful to filtre or ftrain the liquor,
  care muft be taken that the filtre or
  ftrainer  be  of  vegetable  matter:
  woollen, filk,and that fort of filter-
                               ing 
384          Preparations a

ing paper which is made of* animal
fubttances, arc quickly corroded and
diffolved by it.
  The liquor^ is moft conveniently
weighed in a narrow-necked glafs
bottle, of fuch a iizc, that the mea-
fure of a wine pint may arife fome
height  into  its  neck;  the  place
to  which  it  reaches  being marked
with  a  diamond.  A pint  of the
common leys of our  foapmakers
weighs  more than fixteen ounces :
it has been found that  their  foap-
ley will be reduced to the  ftandard
here propofed,  by mixing  it with
fomething lefs than equal  meafure
of water.
  Although this  liquor is indeed
pure alkali diffolved  in water, yet
we are  inclined to give  the prefer-
ence to  the name employed by the
Edinburgh college, as well as to the
modes of preparing it,  directed in
the following formulae.

  LIXIVIUM  CAUSTICUM.
             Edinb.
          Cauftic ley.
Take of
   Frefh-burnt   quicklime,   eight
     ounces;
  Purified fixed vegetable alkaline
    fait, eight ounces.
Throw  in  the  quicklime,  with
  twenty-eight  ounces of warm wa-
  ter, into an iron or earthen veffel.
  The  ebullition and extinction of
  the lime being perfectly finiflied,
  inftantly add  the  alkaline fait;
  and  having  thoroughly mixed
  them, fhut the veflel till  it cools.
  Stir the cooled matter, and poi.r
  out the whole into a glafs funnel,
  whofe throat muft be ftopt  up
  with a piece of  clean rag.   Let
  the upper mouth of the funnel be
  covered, whilft the  tube  of it
  is inferted into  a glafs veffel, fo
  that the ley may gradually  drop
  through the rag into that veffel.
  Compofitions.    Part IIL

  When  it firft gives over drop-
  ping, pour upon it into the fun-
  nel fome ounces  of water ; but
  cautioully, and in  fuch  a man-
  ner, that the water fhall fwim a-
  bove the matter.   The  ley  will
  again begin to drop, and  the af-
  f ufion of water is to be  repeat-
  ed  in  the  fame  manner, until
  three pounds have dropped,which
  takes up the fpace of  two or
  three days; then  agitating  the
  fuperior and inferior parts of the
  ley together, mix them, and put
  up the liquor in awell-fhut veffel.
If the ley be  rightly prepared,  it
  will be  void of colour or fmell;
  nor will it raifean effervefcence
  with  acids,  except, perhaps, a
  very flight  one.  Colour  and 0-
  dour denote  the  fait not fuffi-
  ciently  calcined ;   and  effervef-
  cence, that the quicklime has not
  been good.

  The reafons and propriety of the
different fteps in the above procefs
will be beft underftood by ftudying
the theory on which  it is founded.
The principle of mildnefs in all al-
kaline falts, whether fixed or vola-
tile, vegetable or foffil, in very evi-
dently fixed air,  or the aerial acid :
But as quicklime has  a greater at-
traction for fixed air than any of thefe
falts,fo if this fubftance be prefented
to any of them, they arc thereby de-
prived of their fixed air, and forth-
with become cauftic.   This is what
precifely happens in the above pro-
cefs (fee Analysis of the Vege-
tables by Fire,  page 40.   The
propriety of clofely {hutting the vef-
fels through almoft every ftep of the
operation,  is fufficicntly  obvious;
viz. to prevent the abforption of fix-
ed air from the atmofphere which
might defeat our intentions. When
only a piece of cloth is put into the
throat of the funnel,  the operation 
 Chap. 7.                   Si

 is much more tedious, becaufe the
 pores of the cloth are foon blocked
 up with the wet powdery matter.
 To prevent this, it may be conveni-
 ent to place above the cloth apiece
 of fine  Fly's  wire-work;  but  as
 metallic matters are apt to be cor-
 roded,  the  method ufed  by  Dr
 Black is of all propofed the moft e-
 ligible.  The Doctor firft drops a
 rugged  ftone into the tube of the
 funnel,  in a certain place of which
 it forms itfelf a  fine bed, whilft the
 inequalities on its furface afford in-
 terfticesof fufficient fizefor-the paf-
 fage of the filtering liquor. On the
 upper furface of this ftone he lightly
 impedes a thin layer of lin»or clean
 tow ; immediately above this,  but
 not in contact with it, he drops  a
 ftone fimilar to the former,  and of
 a fize proportioned to 'the fwell in
 the upper part  of the tube of the
 funnel.  The  interftices between
 this fecond ftone and the  funnel are
 filled  up with  ftones of a lefs di-
 menfion, and  the gradation  uni-
 formly  continued till pretty fmall
 fand is employed.  Finally,  this is
 covered with a layer of coarferfand
 and fmall ftones to fuftain the weight
 of the  matter,  and to prevent its
 being  invifcated in the minute in-
 terftices of the fine fand.   The
 throat of the funnel being thus built
 up,  the ftony fabric is to be freed
 of clay and other adhering impuri-
 ties, by making clean water  pafs
 through it till the water comes clear
 and tranfparent from the  extremity
 of the funnel. It is obvious,  that in
 this contrivance the author has, as
 uftial, copied nature in the means
 flie employs to depurate watery mat-
 ters in the bowels of the earth ; and
it might be nfefitlly applied  for the
 filtration of various other fluids.
  It is a very neceffary  caution to
pour the water gently into the fun-
nel ; for if it be thrown in a forcible
ftaream, a quantity  of the powdery
'its.                       38$

 matter will  be warned down, and
 render all our  previous labour ufe-
 lefs.   The part of the ley holding
 the greateft quantity of fait in folu-
 tion, will no doubt be heavieft, and
 will confequently fink loweft in the
 veflel: the agitation of the ley is
 therefore neceffary, in order pro-
 cure a folution  of uniform ftrength
 through all its parts.  If the fait has
 been previoufly freed  of oily and
 other inflammable matters, this ley
 will be colourlefs and void of fmell.
 If the quicklime has been fo effec-
 tually deprived of its own fixed air,
 as to be able to abforb the whole of
 that in the alkali, the ley will make
 no effervefeence with acids, being
 now  deprived of fixed air, to the
 difcharge of which by acids this ap-
 pearance  is  to  be afcribed in  the
 mild or aerated alkalies.
   The<auftic ley is therefore to be
 confidered as a folution of pure al-
 kali in water.  See article Fixed
 Air, page 65.
   It may be proper to obferve,  for
 the fake of underftandingthe whole
 of the theory of the  above procefs,
 that whilft the alkali has become
 cauftic, from being deprived of fix-
 ed air by the quicklime, the lime
 has in its turn become mild and in-
 foluble in water from  having  re-
 ceived the fixed air of alkali.
   The cauftic  ley,  under various
 pompous names, has been much ufed
 as a lithontriptic ; but  its fame is
 now beginning to decline.  In aci-
 dities in the ftomach,  attended with
 much flatulence and laxity, the cau-
 ftic ley is better adapted than mild
 alkalies; asin its union with the acid
 matter it does  not feparate air.
 When  covered with mucilaginous
 matters, it may be  fafely taken into
 {he ftomach ; and by ftimulating^ it
 coincides with the other intentions
 of cure ; by fome dyfpeptic patients
 it has been employed with advan-
 tage.
                B b        KALI 
  $%6.         Preparations  a

          KALI  PURUM.
               Lond.
             Pure kali.
  Take of
    Water of  pure  kali,  one gal-
      lon.
  Evaporate it to drynefs; after which
    let the fait melt on the fire, and
    pour it out.

    CAUSTICUM COMMUNE
          ACERRJMUM.
               Edinb.
    The ftrongeft commou cauftic
  Take of
    Cauftic ley, what quantity you
      pleafe.
  Evaporate  it in  a very clean iron
    veffel upon a gentle fire, till, on
    the  ebullition ceafing, the faline
    matter gently flows like oil,
    which happens before the veffel
    becomes red.  Pour out the cau-
    ftic, thus liquefied, upon a fmooth
    iron plate ;  let it  be divided into
    fmall pieces before it hardens,
    and thefe are  to  be put up into
    well- fhut phials.

    These preparations may be con-
  fide red as  differing in no  effential
  particular.  But the directions given
  by the Edinburgh college are the
  moft precife and  diftinct.
    The effect of  the  above proceffes
  is fimply to difcharge the  water of
  the folution, whereby thecaufticity
  of the  alkali is more concentrated
  in any given quantity.  Thefe pre-
  parations  are  ftrong and  fudden
  cautlics-   The cauftic prepared in
  this way has  an inconvenience of
,  being apt to liquefy  too much upon
  the parr to which it-is applied,  fo
  that it  is not eifily confined within
  the limits  in which it is intended
  to openre ; and indeed thefndden-
  ncfe of its action depends on this
  difpofition to liquefy.
\d Compofitions    Part III,

  CAL1X CUM KALI PURQ.
              Loud.
       Lime with pure kali.
 Take  of
   Quick-lime, five pounds and four
     ounces ;
   Water of  pnre  kali,  fixteen
     pounds by weight.
 Boil away the water of pure kali to
   a fourth part ;  then  fpriokle in
   the  lime, broken to powder by
   the affulion  pf water.  Keep it
   in a veffel clofe flopped.

 CAUSTICUM COMMUNE MJ-
              TIUS
              Edinb.
    The milder common cauftm
 Take of
   Cauftic ley, what quantity yon
     pleafe.
 Evaporate in an iron veflel till one-
   third remains ; then mix with i\
   as much  new-flaked quicklime
   as will bring  it  to the  confift-
   encc of pretty folid pap, which
   is to be kept in  a veffel clofely
   ftopt.

   These preparations do not essen-
 tially differ from each other, while
 the chief difference between the
 prefent  formula  and  that  which
 flood in the laft edition  of the Lon-
 don pharmacopoeia  is in the name.
 It was  then ftyled  the  caufticum
 commune acerrimum.
   Here  the  addition  of lime  in
 fubftance  renders the  preparation
 lefs apt to liquefy than the forego-
 ing, and confequently  it  is more
 eafily confinable within the intend-
 ed limits, but proportionably flower
 in its  operation.  The defign  of
 keeping or of  flaking  the lime  is,
 that its  acrimony maybe fomewhat
 abated.
   Expofed  long to  the air, thefe
 preparations gradually refume  their
 power of eficrvefcence, and lofe pro-
                      portionably 
 Chap. 7.

 portionably of the additional acti-
 vity which the  quicklime had pro-
 duced in them.

  NATRON  PRiEPARATUM.
              Lond.
         Prepared natron.
 Take of
   Barilla, powdered, two pounds;
   Diftilled water, one gallon.
 Boil the barilla into four pintsof wa-
   ter for half an hour,  and  ftrain.
   Boil the part which remains after
   draining with the reft of the wa-
   ter, and ftrain.   Evaporate  the
   mixed  liquors to two pints, and
   fet them by for eight days: itrain
   the liquor again ;  and, after due
   boiling, fet it  afide to cryftallize.
   Diflblve  the  cryttais in diftilled
   water;  ftriin  the  folution, boil
   and fet it afide to cryftallize.

   The name of natron, here ufed
 by the London college  for the fix-
 ed foffil  alkali,  has,  as well  as
 their name for the vegetable alkali,
 been  by  fome objected  to.   And
 although  they are  here fupported
 by the authority  of the ancients, yet
 perhaps they would have done bet-
 ter in following the  beft modern
 chemifts by employing the term [at
foda.   This article differs in name
 only from the following.

 SAL   ALCALINUS  fixus   FOS-
     SILIS  PUR1FICATUS.
             Er'inb.
  Fhed foffil alkaline [alt purified.
 Take of
   Afhes of Spanifh kali, commonly
     called foda or barilla, as much
     as you pleafe.
 Bruife them ; then boil in water till
   all the fait be diff.lved in the wa-
   ter.   Strain it thro'  paper, and
   evaporate in an iron veffel, fothat
   after the liquor has cooled the fait
   may concrete  into cryftals.
Salts.                       387

    By  the above proceffes, the foffil
  alkali  is obtained fafficiently  pure,
  being  much  more  difpofed to cry-
  ftallize than  the vegetable alkali;
  the admixture of this laft, objecled
  to by Dr Lewis, is hereby in a great
  meafure prevented.
    It is with great propriety, that in
  this, as well as many other procef-
  fes,  the London college direct the
  ufe of diftilled water, as being free
  from every impregnation.
    The natron, or  foffil  alkali, is
  found lying upon the ground in the
  ifland of Tencriff,  and fome other
  countries.  The native productions
  of this  fait feem to have been better
  known to the ancients than to late
  naturalifts; and it  is,  with  good
  reafon, fuppofed to be the  nitre  of
  the Bible.  Huw far the native na-
  tron may fuperfede artificial means
 to procure it from mixed bodies, wc
 have not been  able to  learn  with
 certainty.
    The foffil  alkali  is  not only a
 conftituent of different neutrals, but
 is alfo fometimes employed as a me-
  dicine by itfelf.  And in its purified
 ftate it has been by fome reckon-
 ed ufeful in  affections of the  fcro-
 phuloiis kind.

   AMMONIA PRyEPARATA.
              Lond.
         Prepared Ammonia.
 Take of
   Sal  ammoniac,  powdered, one
      pound;
   Prepared chalk,  twopounds.
 Mix and fublime.

      AQUA  AMMONITE.
              Lond.
         Water of ammonia.
 Take of
    SjI ammonica, one pound ;
    Pot-afli, one pound and  a half;
    Water, four pints.
  Draw off two  pints, by diftillation,
    with a flow fire.
              B b 2          AL- 
388          Preparations a?

ALCALI  VOLATILE  ex  SA-
  LE AMMONIACO,  vulgo
  SAL AMMONIACUS  VOLA-
  TILIS.
             Edinb.
Volatile alkali from fal ammoniac,
  commonly called Volatile fal am-
  moniac.
Take of
  Sal ammoniac, one pound ;
  Chalk, very pure aud dry, two
     pounds ;
Mix them well, and fublime from a
  retort into  a  refrigerated  recei-
ver.

SPIRITUS  SALIS  AMMONI-
              ACI.
               Edinb.
      Spirit of fal ammoniac
Take
  Sal ammoniac,
  Purified vegetable fixed alkali,
     of each fixteen ounces;
  Water, two pounds.
Having  mixed the falts,  and  put
  them into a glafs retort, pour  in
  the water; then diftil to drynefs
  with a fand-bath, gradually rai-
  ling the heat.

  These articles, which in  the
laft edition of the London  Pharma-
copoeia were ftyled fpiritus et fal vo-
latilisfalis ammoniaci, were then di-
rected to  be prepared in the fame
manner.
  Sal ammoniac is  a  neutral felt,
compofed of volatile alkali and ma-
rine acid.  In thefe proceffes the a-
cid is abforbed by the fixt alkali or
chalk ; and the volatile  alkali is of
courfe fet at liberty.
  The volatile alkali  is, however,
in its mild ftate,  having catched
the fixed  air, or atrial acid,  dif-
charged  from  the  fixed alkali  or
chalk on their uniting with the mu-
riatic acid.
  The fixt alkali begins fcp act upon
the fit ammoniac,  and extricates a,
d Compofitions.    Part III.

pungent  urinous  odour as  foon as
they arc mixed.   Hence it is moft
convenient not to mix them till put
into the diftilling veffel: the  two
falts may  be diflolved feparately in
water, the  folutions poured into a
retort, and  a receiver immediatly
fitted on.   An equal weight of the
fixt fait is fully, perhaps more than
fufficient,  to extricate all the vola-
tile.
  Chalk does'not begin to act up-
on the the fal ammoniac  till a  con-
fiderable heat be applied.   Hence
thefe may be without inconvenience,
and  indeed ought to be thoroughly
mixed together before they are put
into the retort.   The furface of the
mixture may be covered with a little
mote powdered chalk, to prevent
fuch particles of the fal ammoniac
as  may  happen  to lie  uppermoft
from fubliming unchanged.  Tbo'
the fire muft here be much greater
than when fixt alkaline fait is ufed,
it muft not be ftrong,  nor fuddenly
raifed ; for if it be, a part of the
chalk (though of itfelf  not capable
of being elevated  by any  degree
of  heat) will be carried up along
with the volatile  fait.   M. du Ha-
mel experienced the juftnefs of this
obfervation : He relates, in the  Me-
moirs  of the French Academy of
Sciences for the year 1735, that he
frequently found his  volatile  fait,
when a very ftrong fire  was made
ufe of in the fublimation, amount to
more, fometimes onehalf more, than
the  weight of the crude fal ammo-
niac employed : and that, though it
is certain  that not  three-fourths of
this concrete are pure, volatile fait,
the  fixt  earthy matter,  thus  once
volatilifed  by the  alkali, arofe  a-
long with it again upon the gentleft
refublimation,  diffolved  with  it in
water, and exhaled with' it in the
air.
   When all the fait has fublimcd,
and the receiver grown cool, it may
                              b« 
 Chap. 7.

 be taken off, and  luted to another
 retort charged with frefh materials.
 This procefs  may be repeated  till
 the recipient appears lined with  vo-
 latile fait to a  confiderable  thick-
 nefs ; the  veffel muft then be bro-
 ken, in order to get out the fait.
   The  volatile fait and fpirit of fal
 ammoniac are the  pureft of all  the
 medicines of this kind.   They  are
 fomewhat  more acrimonious than
 thofe produced directly from animal
 fubftances, which always contain a
 portion of the oil of the fubject, and
 receive from thence fome degree of
 a faponaceous  quality.   Thefe laft
 may be reduced to the fame degree
 of purity,  by combining them with
 acids into  ammoniacal  falts;  aud
 afterwards recovering the volatile
 alkali from thefe compounds by the
 procefs above directed.
   The matter which remains in  the
 retort  after the diftillation of  the
 fpirit, and fublimation of the felt of
 fal ammoniac, is found to confift of
 marine  acid united with the fixt al-
 kali or chalk employed.  When fixt
 alkaline falts has been ufed as the  in-
 termedium, the refiduum,  or caput
 mortuum as it is called, yields,  on
 folution and cryftallifation,  a fait
 exactly  fimilar to the fpiritus falis
 tnarini coagulatus after wards defcri-
 bed ; and hence we may judge of
 the extraordinary  virtues formerly
 attributed to this  fait,  under the
 names of fal antihyft ericum, antihy-
pochondriacum, febrifugum, digefti-
 cum Sylvii, 4rc
   The caput mortunm of the vola-
 tile fait, where chalk is employed
 as an  intermedium, expofed to a
 moift air, runs into a pungent  li-
quor, which proves nearly thefame
 with a  folution of chalk made  di-
rectly in the  marine acid ;  it  is
 called by fome oleum creta ; oil of
chalk.   If  calcined fhells,  or  o-
ther animal limes,  be miagled with
fal ammoniac,  a mafs will be ob-
^alts.                       389

 tallied, which likewife deliquefces
 in the  air, and forms a liquor of the
 fame kind.

  AQUA AMMONLE PUR^
             Lond.
     Water of pure ammonia*
 Takof
   Sal  ammoniac,one pound;
   Quicklime, two pounds";
   Water, one gallon.
 Add to  the  lime  two pints of the
   water.  Let them ftand together
   an hour; then add the fal ammo-
   niac and  the other fix  pints of
   water boiling, and immediately
   cover the veffel. Pour out the li-
   quor when cold,  and diftil off
   with a flow fire one pint.

 ALCALI VOLATILE  CAU-
    STICUM,  vulgo SPIRITUS
    SALIS AMMONIACI  cum
   CALCEVIVA.
             Edinb.
 Cauftic volatile  alkali, commonly
   called fpirit offal ammoniac with
   quicklime.
 Take of
   Quicklime,  frefh   burnt,   two
     pounds ;
  Water one pound.
 Having put the water into  an iron
  or  ftone-ware  veffel, add the
  quicklime, previoufly beat; co-
  ver  the veffel  for twenty-four
  hours, whilft the lime falls into a
  •fine  powder,  which commit to
  the retort.   Then  add  fixteen
  ounces of fal ammoniac,  diluted
  with four times its weight of wa-
  ter ;  then Quitting the mouth of
  the  retort, mix them together
  by agitation.   Laftly, diftil into
   a refrigerated receiver, with a
  very gentle heat, fo that the ope-
  rator can eafily bear the heat of
   the retort applied to his  hands ;
   twenty ounces of liquor are to be
   drawn off.   In this  diftillation
   the  veffels are to be fo luted as
            &  b 3     tkoivjjjhjy 
Preparations and Compofitions.     Part. III.
 39°
   thoroughly  to  exclude the moft
   penetrating vapours.   After the
   diftillation,  however, they are to
   be opened, and the alkali poured
   out before the retort hath  altoge-
   ther cooled.

   The  theory of  this procefs is
 precifely  the feme with that direc-
 ted for the preparation of lixivium
 caufticum.  The effect of the quick-
 lime on the fal ammoniac,  is  very
 different from that of the chalk and
 fixt alkali on the foregoing procefs.
 Immediately on mixture, a very pe-
 netrating vapour  exhales;  and in
 diftillation the whole of the volatile
 fait arifes in a Jiqiid form; no part
 of it appearing in a concrete ftate,
 how gently foever the liquor be re-
 diftillcd.  This fpirit is far more
 pungent  than   the other, both  in
 fmell and tafte; aud,  like fixt al-
 kalies rendered cauftic by the fame
 intermedium,  it raifes no efferve-
 feence on  the  admixture of acids.
 The whole of thefe phenomena are
 to be afcribed  to the abforption  of
 fixed air from the alkali by  means
 of the quicklime ;  and from being
 thus deprived of the aerial acid, the
 volatile alkali is brought  to a  cau-
 ftic ftate.
   This fpirit is held to be too acri-
 monious  for internal ufe,  and has
 therefore been chiefly employed for
fin el ling to in faintings, &c. tho'
 when properly diluted,  it  may be
given inwardly with fafety.   It  is
 a powerful menftruum for fome ve-
 getable fubftances,as Peruvian bark,
 from which the other fpirits extract
little.  It is  alfo moft  convenient
 for the  purpofe of rendering oils
 mifcible  with water; as in the pre-
 paration  of what is  called  in ex-
temporaneous practice the oily mix-
 ture.
   Some  have  mixed a quantity of
 this with the officinal fpirits both of
fal  ammoniac   and of  hanlhorn:
which thus become more pungent;
fo as to bear an addition oi a een-
fiderable quantity of water, without
any danger of  the difcovery from
the tafte or fmell.  This abule would
be prevented, if what has been for-
merly laid down as a mark of  the
ftrength of thefe "fpirits  (fome of
the volatile fait remaining undiffol-
ved  in Ahem)  were attended  to.
It may  be detected by adding to a
little  of the  fufpected  fpirit about
one-fourth its quantity  or more of
rectified fpirit of wine: which, if
the volatile fpirit be genuine,  will
precipitate a part  of   its  volatile
fait,  but  occafions no vifible fepa-
ration or change in the  cauftic fpi-
rit, or in thofe which are fophifti-
cated with it.
  Others have  fubftituted  to the
fpirit of fal ammoniac a folution of
crude fal ammoniac and fixt alka-
line  fait  mixed  together.   Tbii
mixture depofites a faline matter on
the addition of  fpirit of  wine,  like
the genuine  fpirit; from  which,
however, it  may be diftinguifhed,
by the fait which is thus feparated
not being a volatile alkaline, but a
fixt neutral fait.  The abufe may be
more  readily detected by a drop or.
two of folution of filver  made in a-
quafortis, which  will  produce no
change in  the  appearance of the
true fpirit, but will render the coun-
terfeit turbid and milky.

 LIQUOR  VOLATILIS  SAL
  ET OLEUM, CORNU CER-
  VI.
             Lond.
The volaiile liquor, fait, and oil,  of
           hartfhorn.
Take of
  Hartfhorn, ten pounds.
Diftil with a  fire gradually increa-
  fed.  A volatile liquor, fait,  and
  oil, will a feen d.
The  oil and felt  being feparated,
  diftil the liquor three  times.
                             T» 
  Chap* "ji                  Salts.                          391

  To the fait add an equal weight of  firft  a watery liquor arifes ;  the
    prepared  chalk,  and  fublime  quantity of which  Will be fmaller
    thrice, or till it become white.     or  greater according as the horns
  The fame volatile liq.ior, fait,  and  were more or lifs dry : this is fuc-
    oil may be  obtained from  any  ceeded by  the fait and oil;  the fait
    parts  (except the fat)  of any  at firft diflblves as it comes over in
    kind of animals.                 the phlegm, and thus forms what
                                    is called fpirit.  When the phlegm
   The volatile alkali obtained from  is faturated,  the remainder of  the
  hartfhorn, whether in a folid or fluid  fait concretes in a folid form to'the
  ftate, is  precifely  the  fame with  fides of the recipient.  IF it be re-
  that obtained  from  fal ammoniac,  quired to have the Whole of the fait
  And as that'procefs is  the ealieft,  folid and undiffolved, the  phlegm
  the Edinburgh college have entirely  fliould be. removed  as  foon  as the
  rejected the prefent. While, how-   fait begins  to arife,  which  may be
  ever, the  names of fpirit and fait of  known  by  the appearance of white
  hartfhorn are ftill in daily ufe, am-   fumes:  and that  this may be done
  monia, or the volatile alkili, is ftill   the  more commodioufly, the recei-
  preparcd from bones and other ani-  vcr fhould be left unluted,  till this
  raal fubftances  by feveral very ex-  firft part of the procefs be finiflied.
  tenlive traders.                    The white vapours which now arife^
   The wholefale dealers have very  fometimes  come with  fuch  vehe-
 large pots for  the diftillation of  mence,  as to throw  effor burft the
  hartfhorn, with earthen heads  al-  receiver ;  to prevent this accident;
 moft like thofe of the common ftill:  it is convenient to have a fmall hole
 for receivers, they  ufe a couple of  in the luting ;  which may be occa-
 oil jars, the mouths of which are  fionally  ftopt with  a wooden peg,
 luted together; the pipe that comes  or opened as the operator fhall find
 from  the  head  enters  the lower-  proper.  After the  fait has all a-
 raoft jar through  a hole made  on  rifen,   a thick  dark-coloured  oil
 purpofe  in its bottom.   When a  comes over  :  the procefs is now to
 large  quantity  of  the fubject is to  be difcontinued ;  and the veflels^
 be diftilled, it is cuftomary to con-  when grown cold, unluted.
 tinue the operation for feveral days    All  the  liquid matters  being
 fucceffively; only unlutmg the head  poured out of the receiver,  the fait
 occafionally to put in frefli materi-  which remains adhering to its  fide*
 als.                               is to be wafhed out with a little wa-
   When only  a fmall quantity  of  ter, and added to the  reft.   It is
 fpirit or fair is wanted, a common  convenient  to let the whole ftand
 iron pot, fueh as  is  ufually  fixed   for a few hours,  that the oil  mar
 in fand furnaces, may be employ-   the better difengage  itfelf from the
 ed ;  an  iron head being fitted to it.   liquor, fo as to be firft feparated by
 The  receiver ought  to  be large,   a funnel, and afterwards more per-
 and a glafs, or rather tin adopter,   fectly by filtration  through  wetted
 inferred between it and the pipe of  paper. The fait and fpirits are then
 the head.                          to be farther purified  as above di-
  The diftilling veffel being char-  rented.
ged With pieces of the horn, a mo-     The fpirit of hartfliorn met with
derate fire is applied, which is flow-   in the fliops is extremely precarious
ly increafed,  and  raifed at length  in point of ftrength ;  the quantity
almoft to the  utmoft degree.   At  of fait contained in it (oa which iis
                                              B b 4        efficacy 
 392          Preparations at

 efficacy depends) varying  accord-
 ing as the  diftillation in rectifying
 it is continued for alongeror fliori-
 er time. If after the volatile fait has
 arifen,. fo  much of  the phlegm  or
 watery part bedrivenover as is juft
 fufficient  to diffolve  it, the fpirit
 will be fully faturated, and as ftrong
 as it can be made.  If the  procefs
 be not at this inftant flopped, the
 phlegm, continuing to arife, muft
 render the fpirit continually weaker
 and weaker. The diftillation there-
 fore  ought to be discontinued  at
 this period ; or rather whilft fome
 ef the fait ftill remains undiflblved :
 the fpirit will  thus prove always  e-
 qual, and  the buyer  be furnifhed
 with  a  certain  criterion   of  its
 ftrength. Very few have taken any
 norice of the  abovementioned in-
 convenience of thefe  kinds of fpi-
 rits; and the remedy  is firft hinted
 at in the Pharmacopoeia Reformata.
 The purity of the fpirit is eafily de-
 termined   from its ckarnefs and
 grateful odour.

  Volatile  alkaline falts,  and
 their folutions caWea* fpirits, agree,
 in many refpects, with fixt alkalies,
 and  their  folutions or leys ; as  in
 changing the colour of blue flowers
 to a green; effervefcing with and
 neutralifing acids when in their mild
 ftate; liquefying the animal juices;
 and corroding the flefhy parts, foas
 when applied to the fkin, and pre-
 vented from exhaling by a proper
 covering, to act as cauftics ; diflbl-
 ving oils and fulphur,  though lefs
 readily than the fixed alkalies, on
 account, probably,  of their not be-
 ing able to  bear  any  confiderable
 heat, by which their activity might
 be promoted.  Their principal dif-
ference from   the  other  alkalies
feems to confift in their volatility :
they exhale or emit pungent va-
pours in the coldeft ftate of the at-
iuofphere;  and by their ftimulating
d Compofitions.   Part III_

fmell they prove ferviceable in laur
guors and faintings.  Taken inter-
nally, they difcover a greater cp)li*
quating as well as ftimulating pow-
er ;  the blood drawn from a vein,
after their ufe has been continued
for fome time, is faid to be remark-
ably more fluid  than before ;  they
are likewife  more -difpofed to ope-
rate by perfpiration, and to act on
the nervous fyftem.  They are par-
ticularly ufeful  in lethargic cafes ;.
in hyfterical  and  hypochondriacak
diforders, and in the languors, head-
achs, inflations of the ftomach, fla-
tulent colics, and  other fymptom3
which attend them ; they are gene-
rally found more ferviceable to aged
perfons, and  in phlegmatic habits,
than in the oppofite circumftances..
In fome fevers, particularly thpfeof,
the low kind, accompanied with a
cough, hoarfenefs,  and a redun-
dance of phlegm,  they are of great
utility -T raifing  the  vis vitae, aud
exciting a falutary diaphorefis; but
in putrid fevers,fcurvies,and where-
ever the mafs of blood is thin and
acrimonious, their ufe is ambiguous..
As they are more powerful than the
fixt, in liquefying tenacious  hu-
mours ; fo they prove more hurtful,
where the fluids are already in a col-.
liquated ftate.  In vernal intermit-
tents, particularly  thofe of the flow
kind, they are often of the moft ef-
ficacious  remedy.  Dr  Biffet ob-
ferves, in his Effay on the Medical
Conftitution of Great Britain,  that
though many cafes, occur which
will yield to no other medicine than
the bark, ytt he has met with ma-
ny which were only fuppreffed from
time to time by  the bark,  but were
completely cured by alkaline fpi-
rits:  He  tells  us, that thefe fpi-
rits will often carry off vernal  in-
termittents,  without any previous
evacuations; but that they are gene-
rally  more effectual,  if a purge be
premifed ; and in plethoric or  in-
                         flanima- 
Chap.  j.
Salts.
393
flammatory cafes, or where the fe-
ver perfonates a remittent, venefec-
tron is neceffary.
  Thefe falts arc moft commodiouf-
ly taken in a liquid form, largely
dilated;  or  in that of  a bolus,
which fliould be made up only as it
is wanted.  The dofe is from a grain
or two to ten  or  twelve.  Ten
drops of a well  made fpirit, or fatu-
rated folution, are reckoned to con-
tain about a grain of the  fait.  In
intermittents,  fifteen  or  twenty
drops of the fpirit  are  given in a
tea-cupful of cold fpring water, and
repeated five or fix times in each
intermiffion.

  The volatile falts and fpirits pre-
pared from different animal fubftan-
ces,  have been fuppofed capable of
producing different  effects upon the
human body, and to receive fpecific
virtues from the fubject.   The  fait
of vipers has been efteemed particu-
larly ferviceable in the diforders oc-
cafioncd by the bite  of that animal;
and a fait drawn from the human
fkull, in difeafes of  the head.  But
modern practice acknowledges no
fuch different effects from thefe pre-
parations;  and chemical  experi-
ments have  fhown their  identity.
There is, indeed, when  not fuffi-
ciently  purified, a very perceptible
difference in the fmell, tafte, degree
of pungency, and volatility of thefe
falts ; and in this ftate their medi-
cinal  virtues vary confiderably e-
nough to deferve notice :  but this
difference they have in common, ac-
cording  as  they are more or lefs
loaded with  oil, not as  ihey  are
produced from this  or that animal
fubftance.  As  firft  diftilled, they
may be looked  upon as a kind of
volatile  foap, in which the  oil is
the  prevailing principle •,  in this
ftate they  have much lefs of  the
proper alkaline  acrimony  and pun-
gency than when they have under-
gone repeated diftillations, and fuch
other preparations as difengage the
oil  from  the  fait;   for  by  thefe
means they lofe their faponaceous
quality, and acquiring greater de-
grees of acrimony,  become  medi-
cines of a different clafs.   Thefe
preparations therefore do not differ
near  fo much from each other,  as
they  do  from themfelves in diffe-
rent flates of purity.  To  which
may be added, that when we con-
fider them as  loaded with oil, the
virtues of a diftilled animal oil itfelf
are likewife to be brought into the
account.
  Thefe oils,  as firft diftilled, are
highly fetid and offenfive, of an ex-
tremely heating quality, and of fuch
activity,  that, according to  Hoff-
man's account, half a drop diffolved
in a dram  of fpirit of wine, is fuffi-
cient to raife a copious fwcat. By
repeated   rectifications, they lofe
their offenfivenefs, and at the fame
time become mild in their medicinal
operation.  The rectified oils may
be given to  the quantity of twenty
or thirty drops, and  are faid  to be
anodyne and antifpafmodic, to pro-
cure' a calm fleeep and gentle fweat,
without heating or  exagitating the
body, as has been obferved in treat-
ing of the oleum  animale.  It  is
obviors,   therefore,  that the falts
and  fpirits muft  differ,  not only
according to  the  quantity  of  oil
they contain,  but according  to the
quality of the  oil itfelf in its diffe-
rent ftates.
  The volatile falts and fpirits,  as
firft  diftilled, are of a brown co-
lour, and a very offenfive fmell: by
repeated rectification, as directed in
the  proceffes above fet down, they
lofe great  part of the oil on which
thefe qualities depend, the fait be-
comes white,  the  fpirit limpid  as
water, and of a grateful odour; and
this  is the mark of fufficient  rectifi-
cation.
                               It 
394-         Preparations and Compofitions.   Part.  IItt
   It  has  been objected  to  the re-
peated rectification of  thefe prepa-
rations, that, by feparating the  oil,
it renders them fimilar to the pure
fait  and  fpirit of fal ammoniac,
which are procurable  at an  eatier
rate.   But the intention is  not to
purify them wholly from  the  oil,
but to feparate the  groffer part,
and  to fubtilize  the felt, fo as to
bring it towards the fame  ft.ue  as
when the oil is rectified  by  itfelf.
Tfae rectification of fpirit of  hartf-
horn,  has  been repeated twenty
times  fiicceifively,  and found ftill
to participate  of  oil,  but  of  an oil
very different  from what it was  in
the firft diftillation.
   The rectified oils, in long-keep-
ing, become again fetid.  The falts
and fpirits alfo,  however  carefully
rectified,  fuffer in  length of time
the  fame change;  returning their
original brown colour and ill fmell;
a proof that the rectification is far
from having divefted  them of  oil.
Any  intentions,  however, which
they are thus capable of anfwering,
may be as effectually  accomplished
by a mixture of the volatile  alkali
with the oleum animale,  in its rec-
tified itate,  to any extent that may
be thought neceffary.

    KALI VITRIOLATUM.
              Lond.
         Vitriolated kali.
Take of
   The fait which remains after the
     diftillation of the nitrous  acid,
     two pounds.
   Diftilled water,  two gallons*
Bura out the fuperfluous acid, with
   a ftrong fire, in a:i -open veflel:
   then boil  it a little while in the
   water;  {train, and fet the liquor
   afide to cryftallize.

   The fait thus formed, is the fame
with  the  vitriolated tartar of  the
iaft edition of  the Loudon Pharma-
copoeia; but it is now prepared in
a cheaper and eafier manner, at leaft
for thofe who diftil the nitrous a-
cid.   In both ways a neutral is
formed, confifting of the fixed ve-
getable alkaii,  united to the vitrio-
lic  acid.  But  a fimilar compound
may alfo be obtained by the rollout
ing procefs of the Edinburgh Phar-
macopoeia.

ALKALI FIXUM  VEGETABI-
  LE  VITRIOLATUM,  vulgd
  TARTARUM    VITRIOLA-
  TUM.
             Edinb.
Vitriolated fixed vegetable alkalit
  commonly called Vitriolated tar-
  tar.
Take of
  Vitriolic  acid,  diluted  with  fix
     times its quanti'y of water, aa
     much as you pleafe.
Put it into a capacious glafs veffel,
  and gradually drop into it,  of
  purified fixed vegetable  alkali j
  diluted with fix times its weight
  of  water,  as much as  is fuffi-
  cient  thoroughly  to  neutralize
  the acid.   The effervefcence  be-
  ing  finifhed,  ftrain  the  liquor
  through paper; and after proper
  evaporation,  fet it apart to cry-
  ftallize.

  The operator ought to  take care
tii.t the vapour  feparated during the
effervefcence fliall  not be applied to
his noftrils;  as  fixed air, when ap-
plied  to the olfactory nerves,  is
highly deleterious to life.
  This is an elegant, and one* of
the  leaft troublefome  ways of pre-
paring this  fait.   The Edinburgh
college, in their former  editions,
ordered the acid liquor to be drop-
ped into the alkal.net by the con-
verfe  procedure now received, it
is obvioufiy more eafy to  fecure a-
gainft a redundance of acidity ; and
for  the greater certainty in this
                           point. 
Chap. 7.
Salts.
395
point,  it may be expedient,  as in
the foregoing procefs,  to drop in a
little more of the alkaline ley than
the ceffktion of  the effervefcence
feems to require.
  In a former edition of the fame
Pharmacopoeia, the acid was direc-
ted to be  diluted only with  equal
its quantity  of water, and the al-
kali with that quantity  of water
which  it  is  capable  of imbibing
from theatmofphere.   By that im-
perfection there was not near enough
of  water  to  keep vitriolated  tartar
diffolved ; on which account, as fall
as the alkali was neutralized by the
acid, a great part fell to the bottom
in  a  powdery  form.   In order to
obtain perfect and well formed cry-
ftals, the liquor fliould  not be fet in
the cold,  but  continued  in mo-
derate heat, fuch as the hand can
fcarcely bear,  that the water may
flowly evaporate.
   It  is remarkable, that  although
the vitriolic acid and fixed alkaline
fait do each readily unite with wa-
ter, and ftrongly attract moifture,
even from the air, yet the neutral
refulting  from the combination of
thefe two, vitriolated tartar, is one
of the falts moft difficult of folution,
very little of it being taken  up by
cold water.
   Vitriolated tartar, in fmall  dofes,
«s a fcruple or half a dram, is an
ufeful aperient;  in larger ones,  as
four or five drms, a mild cathartic,
which does not pafs off fo haftily j.s
the fal catharticus amarus, or fal
Glauberi, and feems  to extend its
action further.  The wholefale deal-
ers  in medicines have commonly
fubflituted to it an article otherwife
almoft ufelefs in their fliops, the re-
iiduum of Glauber's fpirit of nitre.
This may be looked upon as a  venial
fraud,  if  the fpirit has been prepa-
red as formerly directed, and the
refidiiuin diffolved and  cryltallized :
but it  isa  very  dangerous one if the
vitriolic acid has been  ufed in an
over proportion, and the caput lucr-
um m employed without cryftalliza-
tion; the fait in  this cafe, inftead
of a .mild neutral one,  of a mode-
rately  bitter tafte, proving  highly
acid.  The pwrcoafer ought there-
fore to in lift upon the f-Ai being in
a cryftalline form.  The  cryftals,
when perfect, are oblong, with fix
flat  fides, and termin-tted at each
end  by a fix-fided pyramid : fome
appear compofed of two pyramids
joined together by the bafes; and
many, in the moft perfect cryfialli-
zations I have feen, are very irre-
gular. They decrepitate in the fire,
fomewhat like thofe of lea-felt, for
which they have fometimes been
miftaken.

     SAL POLYCH11ESTUS.
             Edinb.
       Salt of many virtues.
Take
   Nitre in powder,
   Flowers of fulphur, of each equal
     parts.
Mingle them well together, and in-
   ject, the mixture, by little and
   little at a time, into a red-hot
   crucible:  the deflagration being
   over, let the faltcool, after which
   it is to be put  up in a glafs veflel
   well fliut.   The fait mjy be pu-
   rified  by diflblving it  in  warm
   water, filtering the folution, and
   exhaling it todrynels ; or  byery-
   ftallization.

   This is another method of uni-
ting the vitriolic acid \\ ith .he com-
mon vegetable fixt alkali. Koth the
nitre and the fulphur  are decom-
pounded in the eperrirri : the acid
of the nitre and the  iurUiuinable
principle  of  the fulphur, dcutMte
together, and are dilTipteci ; while
 the acid of  the fuinliur (which, as
we  have  already  feen, is no other
 titan  the  vitriolic -acid)  renuir.s
                            C'-1:tt- 
396
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
combined with the alkaline bafis of
the nitre.  The fliops, accordingly,
have fubftituted to the fal polyehreft
the foregoing preparation.

  NATRON VITRIOLATUM.
              Lond.
        Vitriolated natron.
Take of
   The fait which remains after the
     diftillation  of  the muriatic a-
     cid, two pounds;
   Diftilled water, two pints and an
     half.
Burn out the fuperfluous acid with
   a ftrong fire,  in an open veffel ;
   then boil it for a little in the wa-
   ter: ftrain the folution, and fet it
   by to cryftallize.

  SODA VITRIOLATA, vulgo
     SAL  CATHARTICUS
          GLAUBERI.
              Edinb.
Vitriolated foda, commonly called
   .  Cathartic fait of Glauber.
Diffolve in  warm water the mafs
   which remains after the diftilla-
   tion of fpirit of fea-falt:  filtre
   the  folution, and cryftallize  the
   fait,         *

   The  directions given for  the
preparation of this fait, long known
by the name of  Sal mirabile Glau-
beri,  are nearly the fame in  the
pharmacopoeias  of both colleges,
but thofe of the London  college
are to be preferred,  as being moft
accurate and explicit.
 :  In  a former  edition  of the  E-
dinburgh pharmacopoeia, it was or-
dered, ttutifthe cryftals (obtained
as above) proved too lharp, they
fliould be again diffolved in water,
and the filtered liquor evaporated to
fuch  a j itch only as  may difpofe
the fait to cryfb.liize.  But there
is no  great danger of the cryftals
proving too fharp, even when  the
fpirit of fait is made with  the lar-
geft proportion of oil of vitriol di-
rected under that procefs.  The li-
quor which remains after the cry-
ftallization ismdeed very acid ; and
with regard to this preparation, it
is convenient it  fliould be fo;  for
otherwife the  cryftals will be very
fmall, and likewife in a fmall quan-
tity.  Where a fufficient proportion
of oil of vitriol has not been em-
ployed in the diftillation of the fpi-
rit,  it is neceffary to add fome  to
the liquor, in order to promote the
cryftallization of the fait.
   The title of fal catharticus, which
this  fait has often had, expreffes its
medical virtues.  Taken from half
an ounce to an ounce, or more,  it
proves a mild and ufeful purgative;
and  in fmaller  dofes,  largely dilu-
ted,  a ferviceable aperient and diu-
retic.  The fhops frequently fubfti-
tute  to it the fal catharticus amarus,
which is nearly of the fame quality,
but  fomewhat  more  unpleafant,
and, as is faid, lefs mild in opera-
tion.  They are very eafily diflin-
guifliable  from each  other, by the
effect  of  alkaline falts upon folu-
tions of them.   The folution of
Glauber's  fait fnffers no  vifible
change from this addition, its own
bafis being a  true fixt alkali: but
the  folution of the fal catharticus
amarus grows inftantly white and
turbid, its bafis, which is an earth,
being  extricated  copioufly  by the
alkaline fait.

  NITRUM  PURIFICATUM.
             Lond.
          Purified nitre.  •
Take of
   Nitre, two pounds,
   Diftilled water, four pints.
Boil  the nitre in the water till it be
   diffolved ; ftrain the folution, and
   fet it apart to cryftallize.

   Common nitre contains ufually a
confiderable proportion of fea-falt,
                          which 
 Chap. 7;                  Salts.

 which in this procefs is  feparated,
 the fea-falt remaining diffolved after
 greateft  part of the nitre has cry-
 ftallized. The cryftals which flioot
 after the firft evaporation are large,
 regular,  and pure: but when the re-
 maining liquor is  further evapora-
 ted, and  this repeated a fecond or
 third time,  the cryftals prove at
 length fmall, imperfect, and  tipt
 with little cubical glebes  of fea-falt.
   When rough nitre,  in the ftate
 wherein it is firft extracted from the
 earths impregnated with  it, is treat-
 ed in this manner, thjere  remains at
 laft,  a  liquor called  mother-ley,
 which will no longer afford  any
 cryftals.   This appears  to partici-
 pate of  the nitrous  and marine a-
 cids, and to contain an earthy mat-
 ter  diffolved  by thofe acids.  On
 adding alkaline lixivia,  the earth
 is precipitated ; and when thorough-
 ly walhed with water,  proves infi-
 pid.  If the liquor be evaporated to
 drynefs,  a bitterifh faline matter is
 left; which being ftrongly calcined
 in a crucible,  parts with the acids,
 and  becomes, as in the other cafe,
 infipid.
   This earth has been celebrated as
 an excellent purgative, in the dofe
 of a dram  or two;  and  in fmaller
 dofes, as an alterant in hypochon-
 driacal and  other diforders.  This
 niedicine was for fome time kept a
 great fecret,  under  the  names of
 Magnefia alba, Nitrous panacea,
 Count  Palma's powder,  II polvere
 albo  Romano,  Poudre de  Sentinelli,
 &c.  till  Lancifi made it public in
 his notes on  the Metallotheca Vati-
cana. It has been fuppofed, that  this
 earth is no  other than a portion of
the lime  commonly added in  the e-
lixation of  nitre at  the  European
nitre-works: but though the fpeci-
mensof magnefia examined by Neu-
mann,  and fome of that  which has
lately been  brought hither from a-
broad, gave plain marks of  a cal-
397
careous nature;  yet the true  mag-
nefia muft be an earth of a different
kind, calcareous earths being rather
aftringent than purgative. The ear-
thy bafis of the fal catharticus amarus
is found  to  have the properties a-
fcribed to the true magnefia of nitre,
and appears to be the very fame fpe-
cies of earth : from that fait  there-
fore this medicine is now prepared,
as will be feen hereafter, The mag-
nefia  alba differs from calcareous
earths, in having a iefs powerful at-
traction for fixed air, and in not be-
coming cauftic by calcination.

      KALI ACETATUM.
              L ond.
          Acetated kali.
Take of
  Kali, one pound.
Boil it  with a (low fire, in four  or
  five times  the quantity of diftil-
  led  vinegar;  the effervefcence
  ceafing, let there be added, at dif-
  ferent times, more diftilled vine-
  gar, until the firft vinegar being
  nearly  evaporated, the addition
  of frefli will excite no  effervef-
  cence,  which will happen when
  about  twenty  pounds of diftilled
  vinegar  are  con fumed;  after-
  wards let it be dried flowly.  An
  impure fait will be left,  which
  melt  for  a little  while  with a
  flow fire ; then let it be diffolved
  in  water,  and  filtered through
  paper.
If the fufion has been rightly per-
  formed, the ftrained liquor  will
  be colourlefs;  if otherwife, of a
  brown colour.
Laftly, evaporate this liquor with %
  flow fire,  in a very fhallow glafs
  veffel; the fait whilft it dries be-
  ing fometimes ftirred, that it may
  fooner grow  dry, which fhould
  be kept in a veffel clofe ftopt.
The fait ought to be of the greateft
  whitenefs, and  diffolve wholly,
  both in water  and fpirit of wine,
                         without 
 j;d$          Preparations a>

   without leaving any  feces.   If
   the felt, although  white, fliould
   depofite  any  feces in  fpirit  of
   vAne,  that  folution  in  the fpi-
   rit fliould be  fi'tered through pi-
   per, aud the fait again dried.

 ALCALI FIXUM VEGETABI-
    LE  ACETARUM,  vulgo.
      TART A RUM REGE-
          NERATUM.
               Edinb.
 Acetated fixed vegetable alkali, com-
   moiily called Regenerated tartar.
 Take of
   Salt of tartar, one pound.
 Boil it with a  very gentle  heat  in
   four or five times its quantity of
   diftilled vinegar ; add more dif-
   tilled vinegar, at different times,
   till  on  the  watery  part of the
   former quantity being nearly dif-
   fipated by evaporation, the new
   addition  of   vinegar  ceafes  to
   raife any  effervefcence.  This
   happens,   when  about   twenty
   pounds by weight  of  diftilled
   vinegar has beenconfumed.  The
   impure felt  remaining after the
   exficcation, is ro be liquefied with
   a  gentle  heat for a fhort time,
   and it  is  proper that it fliould
   only be for  a fhort time;  then
   diflblve it in water, and  ftrain
   through  paper.   If  the lique-
   faction has  been properly  per-
   formed, the  ftrained liquor will
   be limpid ; but, if otherwife, of
   a brown colour.
 Evaporate this  liquor with  a very
   gentleheat in a llullowglafi*vef-
   fel,  occafionally  ftirring the fait
   as it becomes dry, that its moi-
   fture may  foon or be  diffipated.
   Then put it  up into a veffel very
   rlofery ftopt,  to prtvent  it from
   liquefying in the air.

   This filt had formerly the name
•f ftl  diurcticjs  in the  London
id Compofitions.    Part III m

 pharmacopoeia;  boi  (hat which
 they now employ,  or perhaps  in
 preference to it, the name of Potaffa
 acetata gives a clearer idea o&hs
 nature.
   The purification of  this fak ia
 not a little iroublefome.   The ope-
 rator mull be particularly careful
 in melting it, not  to ufe a great
 heat, or  to  keep it  long liquefied :
 a little fliould be occafionally taken
 out, and  put into  water;  and as
 foon as it begins to part freely with
 its black colour, the whole is to be
 removed from the fire.  In the laft
 drying,  the  heat muft  not  be fo
 great as  to  melt it;  otherwife it
 will  not  prove totally foluble.  If
 the  folution  in fpirit  of wine  be
 exficcated, and the remaining fait
 liquefied with  a  very  foft  fire, it
 gains the  leafy appearance which
 has  procured it  the name Terra
foliata.
   In  the fonrth volume of the Me-
 moirs of the correfpondents of the
 French  Academy, lately publifhed^1
 Mr Cadet  has given a method  oi
 making the fait white at  the firft
 evaporation,  without the trouble of
 any  further  purification.   Ke ob-
 ferves,  that  the  brown  colour de-
 pends upon  the oily matter of the
 vinegar being  burnt by  the  heat
 commonly  employed in the evapo-
 ration;  and his improvement con-
 fifts in diminifliing the heat at the
 time that this burning  is  liable  to
 Iuppen.   The  procefs he recom-
 mends is as follows :

 Diffolve a pound of fait of tartar in
   a fufficient quantity  of cold wa-
   ter; filtre  the folution, and add
   by degrees as much diftilled vi-
   negar as will faturate it, or s lit-
   tle more.   Set  the liquor to eva-
   porate in a  ftone-ware  veffel in a
   gentle heat,  not  fo  ftrong as to
   make it boil.  When a pellicle ap-
                           pears 
  Chap,  7.                   i

    pears on the furfac*, fh*,.reft of
    the procefs muft be finiflied in a
    waierbath. The liquor acquires
    by  degrees an oily confiftence,
    and a pretty deep brown colour;
    but the  pi Hide or feuin on the
    top looks whitifh, and when ta-
    ken off and cooled, appears a con-
    geries or little brilliant li'vcr-like
    plates.  The matter is to be kept
    continually  ftirring,  till  it  be
    wholly ciianged into  this white
   flaky matter;  the complete dry-
    ing of which is moft convenient-
    ly effected in a warm oven.

    We fliall not take upon us  to de-
 termine  whether the pure or im-
 pure fait is preferable as a medicine;
 obferving  only,  that the latter is
 more of  a  faponaceous  nature, the
 former more acrid, though  fome-
 what more agreeable to the ftomach.
 Mr Cadet  reckons the fak prepared
 in  his mtthod fuperior both  to the
 brown aud white forts made  in the
 common way, as poffefling both the
 oily quality of the one  and  the a-
 greeablenefsof the other, and as be-
 ing always uniform or of the fame
 power ; whereas the others are lia-
 ble to vary coniidenbly,  according
 to the degree of  heat employed in
 the evaporation. They are  all me-
 dicines of great efficacy, and may be
 fo  dofed and managed as to  prove
 either midly cathartic, or power-
 fully diuretic : few of the faline de-
 obftruents come up to them in vir-
 tue. The dofe is from half a fcruple
 10 a dram or two.   A bare mixture,
 however, of alkaline fait and vine-
 gar without exficcation,  is not per-
 haps much inferior as a medicine to
 the  more  elaborate  fait.   Two
 drams of the alkali,  faturated with
 vinegar,  have been known to oc-
 cafion ten  or twelve ftools in hy-
dropic cafes,  and a plentiful dif-
                          3
\olts.                      399

 charge of urine, without any incon-
 venience.

    AQUA AMMONLE AC&-
             TAT^.
              Loud.
    Water of acetated ammwia.
 Take of
    Ammonia, by weight, two oun-
     ces;
    Diftilled vinegar, four pints; or
     as  much as is  fufficient tofa-
     turate the ammonia.
 Mix.

    SPIRITUS MINDERERI.
              Edinb.
       Spirit of mindenrus.
 Take any quantity  of the  volatile
   alkaline fait of  fal  ammoniac,
   and gradually  pour upon it  di-
   ftilled vinegar  till the  effervef-
   cence ceafes ;  occafionally ftir-
   ring the mixture  to promote the
   action of the vinegar on the fait.

   Though this article has long
 been known by the name of Spiri-
 tus Mendereri, fo called from  the
 inventor;  yet  that employed  by
 the London college  is undoubtedly
 preferable, as giving a proper idea
 of its conftitueut parts.
   This is an excellent aperient fa-
 line liquor.   Taken  warm in bed,
 it  proves commonly a powerful dia-
 phoretic  or fudorifie ; and as it o-
 peratts without heat, it has place
 in febrile and inflammatory difor-
 ders, where medicines of the warm
 kind, if they fail of procuring fweat,
 aggravate  the difteinper.   Its ac
 tion may likewife be determined to
 the kidneys,  by  walking about in
 a coul  air.   The.  common  dofe  is
 half au ounce, cither by itfelf, or a-
 long with other medicines adapted
 to  the intention.   Its ftrength  is
 not a  little precarious, depending
                           much 
400          Preparations a

much on  that of  the vinegar ; an
inconvenience which  cannot eafily
be obviated,  for the  faline matter
is not reducible to  the form of a
concrete fait.

   KALI TARTARISATUM.
              Lond.
          Tartarifed kali.
Take of
  Kali one pound.
  Cryftals of tartar,  three pounds;
  Diftilled water,  boiling, one gal-
     lon.
To  the  fait, diffolved  in  water,
  throw ;n gradually  the  cry fills
  of tartar,  powdered :  filtre the
  liquor, when cold, through pa-
  per;  and, after  due evaporation,
  fet it apart to cryftallize.

  ALCALI FfXUM VEGETA-
   BLE TARTARISATUM,
       vulgo TART ARUM
          SOLUBILE.
             Edinb.
  Tartarifed vegetable fixed alkali,
  commonly  called Soluble tartar.
Take of
  Purified fixt vegetable alkaline
     fait, one pound ;
  Water, fifteen pounds.
To the fait diflblved in  the  boiling
  water gradually  add cryftals of
  tar in fine  powder, as long as
  the addition thereof r.iifes any
  effervefcence,which almoftceafes
  before three times the weight of
  the alkaline fait  hath been injec-
  ted ;  then  ftrain the cooled  li-
  quor  through a paper,  and after
  due  evaporation fet it afide to
  cryftallize.

  Common white  tartar is perhaps
preferable for this  operation to the
cryftals ufually  met with.   Its im-
purities can here be no objection ;
fince it will be fufficieatly depura-
ted  by thefubfequent filtration.
  The preparation  of this medicine
by either of the above methods is
\d Compofitions.   Part III.

 very( eafy;  though fome chemifts
 have.rendered it fufficienly trouble-
 fome, by a nicety which is not at all
 wanted.  They infill upon  hitting
 the very exact  point  of faturation
 between the alkaline fait and thea-
 cid of the tartar;  and caution  the
 operator to be  extremely careful,
 when he comes near this mark, left
 by imprudently adding too large  a
 portion of either, he renders the fait
 too acid or too alkaline.  If the li-
 quor be fuffered fo cool a little  be-
 fore it be committed to the filtre,and
 then properly exhaled and cryftalli-
 zed, no  error of this kind can hap-
 pen,  though the  faturation fhould
 not be very  exactly hit: for fince
 cryftals of tartar are very.difficultly
 foluble even in  boiling water, and
 when diffolved' therein concrete a-
 gain upon the liquor's growing cold,
 if any more of  them has been em-
 ployed than is taken up by the  al-
 kali, this fuperfluous quantity'will
 be left upon the filtre; and  on  the
 other hand, if too much of the al-
 kali has  been made ufe of,  it will
 remain uncryftallized.  Thecryftal-
 lization of  this fait indeed  cannot
 be effected without a  good deal of
 trouble:  itis therefore moft con-
 venient to let  the acid  fait prevail
 at firft ; to feparate the fuperfluous
 quantity,  by fnffering the liquor to
 cool a little before filtration; and
 then proceed to the total evapora-
 tion of the aqueous fluid which will
 leave behind it the neutral fait re-
 quired.  The moft proper veffel for
 this purpofe is a flone-ware one;
 iron difcolours the fait.
  Soluble tartar in dofes of a fcruple,
 half a dram, or a dram, is a mild
 cooling  aperient:  two  or  three
 drams commonly loofen  the belly;
 and an ounce proves pretty ftrongly
 purgative.   It has been particular-
 ly recommended as a purgative  for
 maniacal and melancholic patients.
 Malouin fays,  it  is equal in purga-
     i                       tive 
 Chap. 7;                  Sal

 rive virtue to the  cathartic fait of
 Glauber.  It  is an ufeful  addition
 to the purgatives  of the  refinous
 kind, as it promotes their opera-
 tion, and at the fame time tends to
 correct their griping  quality.   But
 it mull never be given in conjunc-
 tion with any acid ; for all acids de-
 compound it, alfforbing its alkaline
 fait, and precipitating the tartar.
 On this account it is improper to
 join  to  it tamarinds, or fuch  like
 acid  fruus ;  which   is too often
 done in the extemporaneous prac-
 tice  of  thofe piiyficians  who  are
 fond of mixing different cathartics
 together.

 NATRON TARTARISATUM.
              L ond.
        Tartarifed natron.
 Take of
   Natron, twenty ounces ;
   Cryftals of tartar, powdered, two
     pounds ;
   Diftilled  water,   boiling,   ten
     pints.
 Diffolve  the natron  in the water,
   and gradually add the cryftals of
   tartar: filtre the liquor through
   paper ; evaporate,  and fet it a-
   fide to cryftallize.

 SODA  TARTARIZATA, vulgo
      SAL RUPELLENSIS.
             Edinb.
 Tartarifed foda,  commonly called
           Rochet fait.
 The fal Rupellenfis may be prepar-
   ed  from  purified  foffile alkaline
   fait and cryftals of tartar, in  the
   fame manner as directed for the
   tartarurn folubile.

   This  is a fpecies of foluble tar-
 tar,  made with  the fait  of kali or
 foda,  which is  the  fame with  the
 mineral alkali, or bafis of fea-falt.
 It  cryftallifes far more eafily than
the preceding preparation, and does
not, like  it,  grow moift in  the air.
>s.                         401

 It is alfo confiderably lefs purgative,
 but is  eqiully  decompounded  by
 acids.  It appears to be a very ele-
 gant felt, and begins now to com*
 into efteem  in  this country, as it
 has long  been in Fran^

   ALUMINIS PURIFICATIO.
              Lond.
        Purification of alum.
 Take of
   Alum,  one pound ;
 .  Chalk, one dram by weight j
   Ditiilled water, one pint.
 Boil them a little,  liruin,  and fit
   the liquor alidc to cryftallize.

   WE  have already  offered fome
 obfervations on alum in the Materia
 Mtdica ;  and in  general ii  comes
 from the alum  works in  England
 in a ftate  of fuch  purity as to be fit
 for every purpofe in medicine :  ac-
 cordingly we do  not  obferve that
 the purification of alum has a place
 in any  other pharmacopoeia ;  but
 by the  prefent procefs it  will  be
 freed, not only from  different im-
 purities, but alfo from fuperabun-
 dant acid.

      ALUMEN USTUM.
           Lond. Edinb.
          Burnt alum.
 Take of
   Alum,  half a pound.
 Burn it  in an earthen veffel folong
   as it bubbles.

   THis,with drift propriety,ought
 rather,  perhaps, to be called  dried
 alum than burnt alum : for the only
 effect of the burning here direct-
 ed is to expel the water. In this ftate
 it  is  fo acrid as  to be frequently
 employed  as an efcharotic ;  and it
 is  with this intention, chiefly, that
 it  has a place  in our pharmaco-
 poeias :  but  it has fometimes alfo
 been taken internally, particularly
 in cafes of cholic.
              C  c           SAL 
40 2        Preparations ana

  SAL five SACCHARUM LAC-
              TIS. "
              Suec
Take of the whey of milk,  prepa-
   red by  run net,  any  quantity :
   let it broiled  over a moderate
   fire to tn^confiflence of a fyrup;
   then put it in a cold place, that
   cryftals may be  formed.  Let the
   fluid which remains  be  again
   managed in the fame manner,
   and let the cryftals formed  be
   wafhed with cold water.

   It has been by fome  imagined,
 that  the  fuperiority  of  one milk
over another  depends on its con-
taining a  larger proportion of this
faline or faccharine part; and par-
ticularly,  that upon this the repu-
ted   virtues of afs milk depend.
Hence this  preparation  has been
greatly celebrated  in diforders of
the breaft,  but is far from anfwer-
ing what has been expected from it.
It has little fweetnefs, and is diffi-
cult of folution in water.   A  faline
fubftance,  much better  deferving
the nanie of fugar, may be obtained
by evaporating new milk, particu-
larly that of the afs, to drynefs, di-
gefting the dry matter in water till
the water has extracted its foluble
parts, and  then infpiffating the fil-
tered  liquor.  This preparation is
of great fweetnefs,  though neither
white nor cryftalline; nor is it per-
haps in the pure cfyftallizable parts
of milk that its  medicinal  virtues
lie;  and  fo  little  reliance  is put
upon it as  a medicine, that it has
no  place in the London  or  Edin-
burgh pharmacopoeias; although it
long has flood,  and ftill ftands, in
the foreign ones.

     SAL ACETOSELL,E.
              Suec
         Salt of forrel.
Take any  quantity of the  expreffed
  juice of the leaves of wood-for-
 Compofitions.    Part. IIL

   rel;  let it boil gently, that tho
   feculent matter  may be fepara-
   ted ; then ftrain it till it be clear,
   and after this boil it on a mode-
   rate fire to the  confiftence  of a
   fyrup.   Put  it into long necked
   glafs veffels, and place it  in a
   cold  fituation that it  may  cry-
   ftallize.   Let thefe  cryftals  be
   diffolved in  water,  and  again
   formed into purer ones.

   To make the forrel yield its juice
 readily,  it  fhould  be  chopt  to
 pieces, and well bruifed in a fmall
 mortar,  before  it  be committed to
 the prefs.  The magma which re-
 mains in the bag ftill retaining no
 inconfiderablc quantity  of faline
 matter, may be advantageoufly boil-
 ed in water, 2nd the decoction add*,
 ed to  the expreffed juice.   The
 whole may be afterwards depurated
 together, either by  the method.a-
 bove directed, or by running the li-
 quor feveral times through a linen
 cloth.   In fome cafes, the addition
 of a confiderable portion  of water
 is neceffary, that the juice,, thus
 diluted, may part  the more freely
 from its feculencies ; on the fepara^
 tion of which  the fuccefs of the,
 procefs much depends.            ,
   The  evaporation  fhould be per-
 formed  either in ftiallow glafs ba-
 tons, or in fuch earthen ones as arc
 of a compact clofe  texture ;  fuch,
 are thofe ufually called ftone-ware.
 The common earthen  veffels are
 fubject to have their glazing  cor-
 roded,  and arefo extremely porous,
 as readily  to imbibe and retain a
 good quantity of the liquor ;  me-
 tallic veffels are particularly apt to
 be corroded by thefe acid kinds  of
juices.
   Thefe juices  are  fo vifcid,  and
 abound fo much with heterogene-
 ous matter, of a quite different na-
 ture from any thing faline,  that a
 pellicle, or pure faline incruftation
                          # upon 
Chap. 7.
Salts.
4^3
upon the furface,  is in vain expec-
ted.  Boerhaave therefore, and the
more expert writers in pharmaceu-
tical chemiftry, with great judg-
ment direct the evaporation of the
fuperfluous moifture to be continued
until the  matter  has acquired the
confiftence ot cream. * If it be now
fuffered to ftand for an hour or two
in a warm place,  it will,  notwith-
standing the  former  depurations,
depofitc a frcfhfedimcnt, from which
it fliould be warily decanted before
it be put into the veffel in  which it
is defigned to be cryftallized.
  Some  recommend an unglazed
earthen veffel as preferable for this
purpofe to a glafs one ; the fmooth-
nefs of the latter being fuppofed to
hinder the fait from fticking there-
to; whilft the  juice eatily infinua-<
ting itfelf into the pores of the for-
mer, has a great ad vantage  of flioot-
ing its  faline fpicula to the fides.
Others flightly  incrnftate  the fides
and bottom of whatever veffel they
employ with a certain mineral felt,
which greatly difpofes the juice to
cryftallize, to which of itfelf it  is
tery averfe: but this addition is,
with regard to  its medical virtue,
quite  different  from the fait  here
intended.
  The liquor which remains  after
the cryftallization  may be  depura-
ted by a gentle  colature, and  after
due infpiffation fet to flioot again ;
when a farther yield of cryftals will
be obtained.
  The procefs for obtaining  this
fait is very tedious;  and the quan-
tity of fait which  the juices afford
is extremely fmall: hence  they are
hardly ever made  or expected in
the fhops.  They may be fome-
what  foonet  feparated  from  the
mucilaginous and other feculencies,
by clarification with whites of eggs,
and by adding very pure white clay.
   In the manner above defcribed,
falts may be alfo  obtained lrom o-
ther acid,  auftere,  and  bitteriih
plants, which contain  but a fmall
quantity of oil.
   The virtues of  the effential falts
have not  been fufficiently determi-
ned from experience.  Thus much,
however,  is certain, that they d6
not, as has been  fuppofed, poffefs
the virtues of the fubjects entire,
excepting only the acids and fweets.
The others feem to be, almoft all of
them,nearly fimilar, whatever plant
they were obtained  from.  In wa-
tery extractsof wormwood, carduus,
camomile, and many other vegeta-
bles, kept for fome time  in a foft
ftate, there may be obferved fine fa-
line dflorefcences on the furtace,
which have all nearly the fame tafte,
fomewhat of the nitrous kind. They
are fuppofed by fome to be at bot-
tom no more than  an impure fpecies
of volatile nitre (that is, a fait com-
pofed of the nitrous acid and vola-
tile alkali) : thofe  which were exa*
minedby the chemifts of the French
academy  deflagrated in  the fire,
and being triturated with fixt alka-
li, exhaled an urinous odour ; plain
marks of their containing thofe two
ingredients.

   SAL ACIDUM  BORACIS.
             Suec
       Acid fait of borax.
Take of
   Borax, an ounce and a half,
   Warnl fpring-water, one pound.
Mix them in a glafs veffel, that  the
   borax  may be  diffolved; then
   pour into it three drams of the
   concentrated acid of vitriol:  e-
   vaporate the liquor till a pellicle
   appears upon it;  after this let it
   remain at reft till the cryftals be
   formed. Let them be wafhed with
   cold water and kept for ufe.
             C c a       This 
404         Preparations at

  This fait, which has long been
known by the title of Sal fedativus
Hombergii, is not untrequently for-
med by fublimation: but the pro-
cefs by cryltallization here directed
is lefs troublefome, though the fait
proves generally lefs white,  end is
apt likewife  to  retain  a part of
Glauber's fait, efpecially if the eva-
poration be long protracted.
  The fait of borax to the tafte ap-
pears to be a neutral; but when it
is examined by alkalies, it fhows the
properties of an acid, tfferyefcing,
uniting, and cry ftallizing with them,
and it deftroys their alkaline qua-
lity.  It diflblves both in water and
fpirit of  wine, although not very
readily in either.
  The virtues attributed to it may
in fome degree be inferred from the
name of [e dative, by which  it was
long  diftinguifhed.   It has been
fuppofed  to be a mild anodyne, to
diminifh  febrile heat, to prevent or
remove delirium ; and to allay, at
leaft  for  fome time, fpafmodical
affections, particularly thofe  which
are the attendants of hypochondri-
/ Compofitions.    Part III.

afis  and  hyfteria.    It  may  be
given in dofes from two to twenty
grains.

SAL  AMMONIACUM  DEPU-
            RATUM.
              Suec.
      Purified fal ammoniac.
Diffolve  fal ammoniac in  fpring-
   water; ftrain the liquor through
   paper; evaporate it  to drynefs
   in a glafs veffel  by means of a
   moderate fire.

   The   fal ammoniac  imported
from the Mediterranean often con-
tains  fuch impurities  as to render
the above procefs  neceffary;  but
that which  is prepared in  Britain
from foot and fea-falt, is in general
brought  to  market in  a ftate of
very great  purity.    Hence  this
procefs  is now altogether omitted
both in the London and Edinburgh
pharmacopoeias. It  furnifhes, how-
ever, when neceffary, an eafy and
effectual  mode of obtaining a pure
ammonia muriata.
CHAP. 
Chap. 8.
C   H   A
MAG
M  A   G  N
       MAGNESIA ALBA.
               Lond.
          White magnefia.
 Take of
    Bitter purging fait,
    Kali, each two pounds ;
    Diftilled water, boiling, twenty
      pints.
 Diflblve  the bitter fait and the kali
    feparately in ten pints of water,
    and  filter  through  paper; then
    mix them.   Boil the  liquor a
    little  while, and ftrain it whilft
    hot through  linen, upon which
    will remain the white magnefia;
    then with away, by repeated af-
    fufions of diftilled water, the vi-
    triolated kali.

       MAGNESIA ALBA.
              Edinb.
          White Magnefia.
 Take of
    Bitter purging fait,
    Purified  fixed vegetable alkali,
      equal weights.
 Diffolve them feparatcly in double
    their quantity of warm water, and
    let the  liquor be ftrained or o-
    therwife freed  from  the feces;
    then mix them, and inftantly add
V  eight  times their  quantity of
    warm  water.   Let   the  liquor
    boil for  a  little on the fire, ftir-
    ring it rt the  fame time; then
Ha.                     405
P.     VIII.
E   S   I  A.
E  S  I  A.
  left it reft till the heat be fome-r
  what diminifhed:  after which
  ftrain it through  a  cloth :  the
  magnefia will remain  upon  the
  cloth, and it is to be wafhed with
  pure water till it be  altogether
  void of  faline tafte.

  The proceffes here  directed by
the London and Edinburgh colle-
ges are nearly the fame ; but  the
former  feem  to have improved
fomewhat  on the latter, both in fim-!
plifying the procefs, and in the em-
ployment of diftilled water.
  The fal catharticus  amarus, or
Epfom fait, is a combination of the
vitriolic acid and magnefia.  In  this
procefs then,  a  double elective at-
traction takes  place: the  vitriolic
acid forfakesthe  magnefia and joins
to the mild alkali, with which it has
a greater   attraction;  whilft  the
magnefia in its turn unites with the
fixed air difcharged  from the mild
alkali, and ready to be abforbed by
any  fubftance with  which if  can
combine.
  We have therefore two new pro-
ducts, viz. a vitriolated tartar,  and
magnefia  united  with   fixed  air.
The former is diffolved in the  wa-
ter, and may  be preferved for ufe ;
the latter,  as being much lefs foluble,
links  to the  bottom of the veffel.
             C c 5         The 
406          Preparations art

The intention of  employing fuch a
large quantity ol  water and of  the
boiling is,  that the vitriolated tar-
tar may be ad thoroughly diffolv-
ed, this fait being fo feantily foluble
in water, that  without this expedi-
ent a part of if might be precipitated
along With the magnefia.  It mighf
perhaps be more convenient to em-
ploy the mineral alkali; which form-
ing a Glauber's fait with  the vitrio-
lic acid, would require lefs water for
its fufpenfion.  By the after ablu-
tions, however, the magnefia is fuf-
ficiently  freed oi" any portion of vi-
triolated tartar which may have ad-
hered to it.
   The  ablutions  fhould be  made
with very  pure water;  for  nicer
purpofes diftilled water may be ufed
with advantage; and foft water is
in every  cafe neceffary.   Hard wa-
ter for^hisprocefs is peculiarly in-
admiffible,  as the principle in wa-
ters g'Ving the property tailed hard-
nefs, is generally owing to an'im-
perfect nitrous felenite, whofe bafe
is capable of being difengaged' by
magnefia united with fixed air.  For
though the  attraction of magnefia
itfelf  to  the nitrous  acid, is  not
greater  than  that  of  calcareous
earths;  yet when  combined  with
fixed air, a peculiar  circumftance
intervenes, whereon it is deduciole,
that the  fum of the forces tending to
join  the calcareous earth with the
air of the magnefia, and the magne-
fia with the acid, is  greater than
the fum of the  forces  tending to
join  the calcareous carth with the
acid,  and  the magnefia with  the
fixed air.
   This phenomenon muft therefore
depend on  the prefence ot fixed air,
and its greater attraction for lime
than for magnefia.   On  this ac-
count, if hardwaier benfed,a quan-
tity of calcareous earth muft  infal-
libly be  depofited  on the magnefia;
d Compofitions.   Part  III.

 whilft the nitrous acid with which
 it was combined in the water, fliall
 in its  turn attach itfelf to a portion
 of the magnefia, forming what may
 be called a nitrous magnefia.
   All the alkalies, and alfo calcare-
 ous earths, have a greater attraction
 for fixdd air  than  magnefia has:
 Hence,  if this  laft be precipitated
 from its folution in acids  by cauftic
 alkali, it is then  procured free of
 fixed air;  but  for  this purpofe cal-
 cination is more generally employ-
 ed  in the manner defcribed in the
 proctfi which next follows.   Mag-
 nefia is fcarcely foluble in  any quan-
 tity whatever  in  water: the infi-
 nitely fmall portion which this fluid
 is capable of taking up, is owing to
 the  fixed air of the magnefia; and
 it has been lately difcovered, that
 water impregnated with  this acid,
 is capable of diflblving a confider-
 able portion;  for  this pnrpofe it is
 neceffary  to employ magnefia al-
 ready faturated  with fixed air, as
 magnefia deprived of this air would
 quickly  dbftract it  from the water,
 whereby  the  force  of  the  latter
 would be  very  confiderably dimi-
 nifhed.  Such a folution of magne-
 fia  might be ufeful for feveral pur-
 pofes in  medicine.

   Magnesia  is the fame fpecies of
 earth  with that  obtained  from the
 mother-ley of nitre, which was for
 feveral years a celebrated fecret in
 the  handsof fomt  particularperfons
 abroad.   Hoffman,  who  defcribes
 the  preparation of the nitrous mag-
 nefia, gives it the character of an
 ufetnl antacid, a fafe andinoffenfive
 laxative in dofes of  a dram or two,
 and a diaphoretic and diuretic when
 given in fmaller dofes of  fifteen or
 twenty  grains.-  S>nce  his time, it
 has had a  confiderable  place in the
 practice of foreign phyficians; ai!H
 is now  in great efteem among us,
                             •par- 
Chap. 8.
Magnefia)
407
 particularly in heart-burns, and for
 pr vmting or removing  the manj
 diforders which children are fo fre-
 quently thrown into from a redun-
 dance of acid humours in the  firft
 palfiges:  it  ib preferred, on  ac-
 count of its laxative quality, to the
 common ablorbents,  whicn, unlefs
 gentle purgatives be given occafion-
 allv  to carry them off,  are apt to
 lodfcfo 'a the  body, and occafion a
 coftivenefs very detrimental to in-
 fants.
   Magnefia alba, when prepared in
 perfection, is a white and very fub-
 tile cartn, perfectly void of fmell or
 taftj, of the clafs of thofe which
 diffolve in acids.  It diflblves freely
 even  in the  vitriolic  acid ; which,
 in the common way of making folu-
 tions, takes up only an uiconfidcr-
 able portion of other earths. Com-
 bined with this acid, it  forms  the
 bitter purging, or Epfom fait, very
 eafily foluble in water ;  while  the
 common ablorbents form with  the
 fame  acid almoft infipid concretes,
 very  difficult of  folution.  Solu-
 tions  of magnefia  in all acids  are
 bitter and  pnrgative; while  thofe
 of the other earths are more or lefs
 auftere  and aftringent.   A large
 dofe  of magnefia, if the ftomach
 contain no acid to  diffolve it, does
 not purge or produce any fenfible
 effect: a moderate one,  if an acid
 be lodged there, or if acid liquors
 are taken after it,  procures feveral
ftools; whereas the common abfor-
bents, in the  fame circumftances,
inftead of loofening, bind thebelly.
It is obvious, therefore, that mag-
nefia  is fpecifically different from
the other earths, and that it is  ap-
plicable to ufeful purpofes in medi-
cine.
  Magnefia was  formerly  made
with the mother-waterof nitre eva-
porated to drynefs, or precipitated
by a fixed alkali.   It has gone un-
der different names,  as  the  White
powder of the Count of Palma, pow-
der of Seutinelle, polyehreft,Laxative
p\uder, &c.  It  feems to have got
the character alba, to diftinguifh it
from the dark coloured mineral call-
ed alfo Magnefia, or  manganefe ; a
fubftance poffelfing very different
properties.   We  have  not  heard
that pure native  magnefia has been
found  in its uncombined ftate:  A
combination of it with  fulphur has
been difcovered  to cover a ftratum
of coal at  Littry in Lower Nor-
mandy.  It has alfo been found  in
certain ferpentine earths in Saxony,
and in marly and alum earths.

      MAGNESIA USTA.
              Lond.
        Calcined magnefia.
Take of
  White magnefia, four ounces.
Expofe it  to a ftrong heat fof tw«
  hours ; and when cold, fet it by.
  Keep it in a veffel clofely ftopt.

      MAGNESIA USTA.
              Edinb.
        Calcined magnefia.
Let magnefia, placed in a crucible,
  be continued  in a red heat for
  two hours;  then put it  up  in
  clofe glafs veffels.

  By this  procefs th? magnefia is
freed of fixed air; which, according
to Dr  Black's experiments, confti-
tutes about T7T of its weight.   A
kind of opaque foggy vapour is ob-
ferved to efcapeduring the calcina-
tion,  which is nothing elfe  than a
quantity of fine  particles of mag-
nefia buoyed off along with a ftream
of the  difengaged air.   About the
end of the operation, the magnefia
exhibits a  kind of luminous,  or
phofphorefcent property;  and this
may be confidered  a pretty exact
criterion of .its  being deprived ofaii\
         '   " C c 4          Ch).. 
408
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part  III.
   Calcined  magnefia  is  equally
mild  as when faturated with toxtd
air; and  this circumftance is fuffi-
cient  to  eftablilh a difference be-
tween it and calcareous earth ; all
of which is converted, by calcina-
tion, into a cauftic quicklime.
  The magnefia  ulta is ufed for
the fame  general purpofes  as the
magnefia combined with fixed air.
In certain affections of the ftomach,
accompanied with much flatulence,
the calcined magnefia is found pre-
ferable,not only ascontaining more
of the real earth  of magnefia in  a
given q.taiuiiy, but as being alfo
deprived of us air.  It  neutralize!
the  acid of  the  ftomach,  without
that extrication of air, which isolttn
a iroubidome . confequo.cr in em-
ploying  the  aerated  mag  e. a  in
thi fe complaints.  It  is piopcrio
obferve,  that  uagntfi«,  whether
combined with, or  deprived of fixt
air, is fimilar to the mild calcareous
earths in promoting and increafing
putrefaction.  The lame has even
been obferved with refpect  to the
Epfom and fome other falts which
have this earth for their bafe.
CHAP.   IX.
PRE'PARATA  E  SULPHURE.
PREPARATIONS  OF  SULPHUR.
  ELORES SULPHURIS LOTI.
               Lond.
    Wafhed flowers  of fulphur.
 Take of
   Flowers of  fulphur, ope pound ;
   Diftilled water, four pints.
 Boil the flowers of  fulphur a little
   while in the  diftilled water;
   then pour off this water, and wafh
   off the acid with  cold water;
   laftly, dry  the  flowers.

   In the  former editions of our
pharmacopoeias, directions were gi-
ven for the preparation of the flow-
ers of fulphur themfelves :  But as a
large apparatus is neceffary for do-
ing it with  any advantage, it is now
almoft never attempted by  the apo-
thecaries.   When the flowers are
 properly  prepared, no  change is
 made  on the qualities  of the ful-
 phur.   Its impurities  only are fe-
 parated ;  and at the fame time it is
 reduced to  a finer powder than it
 can eafily be brought  to by  any
 other means.  But as the flowers
 of fulphur are generally fubiimed
 into very capacious rooms, which
 contain a  large quantity of air, or
 in viffels not perfectly 'clofe;  fome
 of thofe that arife at firft are apt to
 take fire, and thus are changed in-
 to  a volatile acid vapour,  which
 mingling with the flowers that fub-
 lime afterwards,  communicates to
 ihem a confiderable degree of aci-
 dity.    In this  cafe,  the ablution
 here directed is for the general ufe
of the  medicine  abfolutely necef-
                            fary 
Chap. 9.
Of Sulphuu
409
 fary; for the flowers, thus lainud
 with acid,fometimesocct.fiongripts,
 and may, mother rdp.cts, be pro-
 ductive 01  cti cts  afferent  from
 thofe of pure fuiphur.  There are,
 however, fome particular combina-
 tions, to which ihey are fuppofed to
 be  better adapted when imwalhed,
 fuch as  their union  with mercury
 into aethiops mineral; and accord-
 ingly for  that  preparation the un-
 Waflicri flowers are directed by the
 London college.

    KALI SULPHURATUM.
              Lond.
         Sulphurated kali.
 Take of
   Ffowtfs of fulphur, one ounce;
  Kali, five ounces.
 Mix the fait  with the  melted ful-
  phur, by frequently ftirring, un-
  til  they unite into  an uniform
  mafs.

  This preparation  in the former
 editions of our pharmacopoeias had
 the name of hephar fulphuris.
   It is  much  more  convenient  to
 me t the fulphur firft by itfelf, and
 add the fait of tartar  by degrees,  as
 lure directed, than to  grind  them
 together, and  afterwards endeavour
 to inelt them  as ordered in former
 editions:  For in  this lilt cafe the
 mixture  will  not flow fufficie-prly
 thin to be properly united by  ftir-
 ring;  and die fulphur cither takes
 fire, or fublimes in flowers: which
 probably has been the reafon  why
fo large a proportion of  it has  ot en
commonly directed.   Even in the
prefent method  a  confiderable  part
of the  fulphur  will  be diffipated;
and if it were not, the hepar would
not  be  of its due quality:  for one
parr of fulphur  requires two of the
alkaline  fait  to render it perfectly
 foluble in  water,  which  this pre-
paration ought  to be.
   The hepar fulphuris has a fetid
fmell,  and a naufeous tafte.  Solu-
tions ol it in water, made with fu-
ga\inio a fyrup, have been  recom-
nituitd in coughs and other difor-
ders o\the brcaft.  Our Pharmaco-
poeias, neverthelefs, have deferved-
ly rejected this fyrup,. as common
practice has almoft  done  the^al-
fams.  Solutions ot  the hepar, in
water, have been alfo recommend-
ed in htrpc tic and other cutaneous
affections.  Some phyficians have
even  employed this  folution,  in a
large  quantity, as a bath  for the
cure of pfora; and in cafes of  te-
nea  capitis, it has often been ufed
by way of lotion.
   The hepar, cigefted in rectified
fpirit of  wine, imparts a rich  gold
colour, a warm, fomewhat aroma-
tic tafte,  and a  peculiar, not  un-
grateful fmell.  A tincture of this
kind is kept in the fliops under  the
nameof another mineral.   Thehe-
par  fulphuris has been  by  fome
ftrongly  recommended to  prevent
the effects of  mineral poifons.

OLFUM SULPHURATUM
   et  PETROLELM SULPHU-
   RATLM.
              Lond.
Sulphurated oil and fulphuratedpe.
            troleum.
Take of
   Flowers of fulphur, four  oun«
     ces;
   Olive  oil, fixteen ounces.
Boil the flowers of brimftone, with
   the oil, in a pot (lightly covered,
  until they be united.
In the fame manner is made fulphu-
  rated petroleum.

   These articles are analogous to
what had formerly  a place in our
pharmacopoeias inder  the  titles of
half mtum fulphuris [implex, craffum
et Barbadenfe.   And befides thefe, 
  410           Preparations a

  a place was alfo given to the palfa-
  nuin  fulpntiris  anifiitum, terebin-
  thinaf'un,&c.  While thefe articles,
  however, are  now bamfhed /rom
  our pharmacopoeias, even thofe re-
  tained  are  lets m ufe rjian for-
  merly.                *,
   Thefe preparations are more con-
 veniently and iifeiy  made in a tall
 glafs body, with the  mouth at leaft
 an inch india'ucur, than in the cir-
 culatory or ciofe veffels in  which
 they commonly have  been directed
 to be prepared : for when the ful-
 phur and oil begin to  act vehement-
 ly upon each other,  they not only
 rarity into a large volume, but like-
 wife throw  out  impetuoufly  great
 quantities of an elaftic vapour; which
 if the  veffels be clofed,  or the ori-
 fices not fufficient to allow it a free
 exit, will infallibly  burft  them:
 Hoffman relates a very  remarkable
 hiftory  of the effects of an accident
 of this kind.   In the veffel  above
 recommended,  the procefs may be
 completed, without  danger, in four
 er five hours, by duly  managing the
 fire, which fhould  be very gentle
 for fome time,  and  afterwards  in-
 creafed fo as  to make the oil juft
 bubble or boil; in  which ftate  it
 fliould  be kept till  all the fulphur
 appears to be taken  up.
   Effential oils employed as a men-
 ftrua for fulphur, undergo a great
 alteration from  the  degree of "heat
 neceffary for enabling them to dif-
 folve the fulphur;  and  hence the
 balfams  have not near fo much of
 their flavour as  might be expected.
 It fhould therefore  feem more eli-
 gible to add  a  proper  quantity of
 the effential oil  to the fimple bal-
fam ; thefe readily  incorporate by
a gentle warmth, if  the veffel be
now and then  fliaken.   We may
thus compofe a balfam  more elegant
than thofe made in the manner for-
merly  recommended,  and which
nd Compofitions.   Part III.
 retains  fo much of the flavour of
 the oil,  as is in fome  meufuir Hit".
 ficient to cover the talte  of the ful-
 phur, and render it lupportable.
   The balfams of fulphur have in. en
 ftrongly recommended in coughs,
 confumptions, and other diforders
 of the breaft and lungs: But the re-
 putation  which  they  have had in
 thefe cafes, does not appear to have
 been built upon  any fair trial or ex-
 perience of their virtues.  They are
 manifeftly hot,  acrimonious,  and
 irritating; and  therefore fliould be
 ufed with the utmoft caution.  They
 have frequently been found to in-
 jure  the appetite, offend the  fto-
 mach and  vifcera, parch the body,
 and occafion thirft and febrile heats.
 The  dofe of the fimple  balfam is
 from ten to forty drops:  thofe with
 effential  oils are not given in  above
 half  thefe quantities.  Externally,
 they are employed for cleanfingand
 healing foul running ulcers.   Boer-
 haave conjectures,  tbar their ufe in
 thefe cafes gave  occafion to the vir-
 tues afcribed to them when taken
 internally.

    SULPHUR  PRiECIPITA-
             TUM.
             Lond.
       Precipitated fulphur.
 Take of
   Sulphurated kali, fix ounces;
   Diftilled water, one pound and
     an half;
   Vitriolic acid, diluted, as much
     as is fufficient.
 Boil the fulphurated kali  in the di-
   ftilled  water until it be diffolved.
   Filter  the  liquor through paper,
   to which add  the vitriolic acid.
   Wafh the precipitated powder by
  often pouring on water till it be-
   comes  infipid.

  This  preparation is not fo white
   that of the laft pharmacopoeia,
                          which 
Chap.  10.
Of Antimony.
411
which was made with quicklime ;
and which in fome pharmacopoeias
had the name lac fulphuris.
  Pure lac fe'phuris is not different
in quality from pure fulphur itfelf :
to wnich  it  is preferred in ungu-
ents, &c. only en  account of its
colour.   The  whitenefs does not
proceed  from the fulphur having loft
any ot its parts in the operation, or
from any new matter  fuperadded :
for ii common fulphur be ground
with alkaline falts, and fet to fub-
lime, it  arifes  of a like white co-
lour, the whole quantity of the al-
kali remaining unchanged ; and if
the lac  be  melted with  a  gentle
fire,  it returns into yellow fulphur
again.
   It  may  be  obferved,  that the
name lac fulphuris, ox milk  of ful-
phur, applied among us to the pre-
cipitate, is by  the French writers
confined to  the white  liquor be-
fore the principitate has fallen from
it.
               CHAP.    X.


   PREP AR AT A  E  ANTIMON IS.

PREPARATIONS  of  ANTIMONY.
    ANtimony is compofed of a
     metal, united with fulphur or
common brimftone.
If powdered  antimony be expofed
  to a gentle fire, the fulphur ex-
  hales ; the metallic part remain-
  ing in form of a white calx, re-
  ducible, by proper  fluxes, into a
  whitifli brittle metal, called re-
  gulus.   This is readily diftin-
  guifhed  from the other bodies of
  that clafs, by its  not  being fo-
  luble  in aquafortis ; its proper
  menftruum is aqua regia.
If aqua regia be poured upon crude
  antimony, the metallic  part will
  be diffolved  ;  and the  fulphur
  thrown out, partly to the fides of
  the veffel, and partly to the fur-
  face of the liquor, in the form  of
  a greyifh yellow fubftance. This,
  feparated  and purified by fubli-
  mation, appears on all trials the
  fame with pure common  brim-
  ftone.
The metal, freed from the fulphur
  naturally blended with it,  and
  afterwards  fufed with  common
  brimftone,  refumes the appear-
  ance and qualities of crude anti-
  mony.

  The antimonial metal is  a  me-
dicine of the greateft power of any
known  fubftance ;  a quantity  too
minute  to be  fenfible on  the  ten-
dereft balance, is capable of  produ-
cing virulent effects, if taken dif-
folved, or in a foluble ftate.  If gi-
ven in fuch a  form  as to be  imme-
diately  mifcible with the  animal
fluids, it proves violently emetic;
if fo managed as to be more flowly
acted  on, cathartic; and in  either
cafe, if the dofe be extremely fmall,
diaphoretic.  Thus, though vege-
                           table 
412          Preparations  a

rable  acids  extract fo little from
this metal, that the remainder feems
to have loll nothing ot its weight,
the  tinctures  prove in no  larger
dofes ftrongiy <metic, and in fnidi-
!cr ones  p.,v.-dully  diaphoretic.
'fhe reguli-s has been eaft into the
form ot pills, which acted as viru-
lent cathartics, though without fuf-
fering any  feiilible diminution  of
wcigiu in their paffage through  the
body  ; and  this repeatedly, for  a
great number of times.
   This metal, divefted of the in-
flammable principle which it has in
common with  other metallic bodies
that  arc reduced to a calx, becomes
indiflbluble and inactive.  The c^Jx
nevertheless,  urged with a  ftrong
fire, melts into a glafs, which is as
eafy of folution, and as virulent  in
operation, as the regulus itfelf: the
glafs, thoroughly mingled with fuch
fibflances as prevents its fokibility,
as wax, refins, and the like, is again
rendered mild.     .

   Vegetable acids, as has already
been  obferved, diflblve but an ex-
tremely minute portion of this me-
tal .-.thefolution neverthelefs  proves
powerfully emetic  and cathartic.
The nitrous and vitriolic acids only
corrode it into a powder, to  which
they adhere fo flightly as to be fe-
parable in a confiderable degree by
water, and totally by fire, leaving
the regulus in form of a calx fimilar
to that prepared by  fire alone. The
marine acid has a very different ef-
fect ;  this reduces the  regulus into
a violent corrofive ; and  though it
i'JiIicoltly unites,  yet  very clofely
adheres to it, infomuch as  not to be
f-parable  by any ablution, r.or  by
fire,  the regulus cri ting along with
it.  The nitrous  or vitriolic  acids
expel the marine, and  thus reduce
the corrofive  into a calx fimiLr to
the forc^c;::g.
2d Compofitions.    Part III.

   Sulphur remarkably abates  the
 power ot this metal :  and  in uce
 crude aiuimoi.y, in which the regu-
 lus appears, to be combined : with
 fulpnur, from  one-fourth  to one-
 half  its  weight,-proves altogether
 mild.  If  a pait ot the fulphur be
 taken away, by fuch operations as
 do not deftroy or calcine the metal,
 the  remaining  mafs becomes pro-
 portionably more active.
   The fulphur of antimony may be
 expelled by deflagration with nitre:
 the larger the quantity of nitre, to
 a  certain point, the  more of  the
 fulphur will  be diffipated, and  the
 preparation will be the more aclive.
 If  the  quantity of  nitre be  more
 than  fufficient  to  confume the  ful-
 phur, the reft  of it,  deflagrating
 with  the inflammable principle of
 the regulus itfelf, renders it  again
 mild.
   The fulphur of antimony is like-
 wife  abforbed, in fulion, by certain
 metals, and by alkaline falts. Thefe
 laft,  when united  with fulphur,
 prove a menftruum for all the me-
 tals (zinc excepted); and hence, if
 the fufion be long continued,  the
 regulus  is taken up, and rendered
 foluble in water.

   From thefe particulars with  re-
 fpect  to antimony, it may naturally
 be-concluded, that it not only fur-
 nifties ns with an ufeful  and aclivc
 medicine, but that it may alfo  be
 exhibited for medical  purpofes  unr
 der   a  great  variety  of different
 forms, and that the effects of thefe
 will  be confiderably   diverfified.
 And  this has in redity been  the
 cafe.  When treating of antimony in
 the materia medica, we have  not
 oily  offered feme  obfervations on
 its medical, but have alfo exhibited
 ;i view of its different preparations
 for medical purpofes,  thrown into
 a tabojaiifom by Dr Biack. But al-
                          though 
Chap. 10.
Of Antimony.
though there is perhaps no prepa-
ration there  mentioned,  which is
not fitted to ferve fome ufeful  pur-
pofe ; yet the colleges both of Lon-
don and Edinburgh have now re-
ftricted the number of preparations
in their  pharmacopoeias  to a few
only. And  it is highly probable,
that from the proper employment
of thefe every ufeful purpofe to be
anfwered by antimony may be ac-
complifhed.

  ANTIMONIUM CALCINA-
            TUM.
             Lond.
       Calcined antimony.
Take of
   Antimony, powdered, eight oun-
     ces.
   Nitre, powdered, two pounds.
Mix them, and eaft the mixture by
   degrees into  a red hot crucible.
   Burn the white matter about half
   an hour ; and, when cold, pow-
   der it; after which wafh it with
   diftilled water.

   In the laft edition of the London
Pharmacopoeia this preparation had
the name of calx antimonii ; and it
may be confidered as at leaft very
nearly  approaching to fome other
antimonials of the old pharmaco-
poeias,  particularly  to the antimo-
nium diaphoreticum nitratum, an-
timonium diaphoreticumlotum, and
thenitrum ftibiatnm ; none of which
are now received as feparate formu-
lasofour pharmacopoeia, and indeed
even the calx ami moniiitfelf,at leaft
 as thus  prepared, has now no place
in the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia.
    The calx of antimony,  when
 freed by wafliing  from the faline
 matter,  is  extremely mild, if  not
 altogether inactive.  Hoffman, Lc-
 mery,  and  others,  affiire us, that
 they have never experienced from
 it any fuch effects  as iis ufual title
 imports : Boerhaave declare:, that
                          413
it is a mere metallic earth, entirely
deftitute of all  medicinal virtue;
and the Committee of the London
College admit,  that it has no fen-
fible operation.  The common dole
is from five grains to a fcruple, or
half a dram ; though  Wilfcn re-
lates, that  he  has known it given
by half ounces, and repeated t'.voor
three times a-day, for feveral days
together.
  Some report, that  this calx, by
keeping for a length of time, con-
tracts  an emetic quality :   From
whence it has been concluded, that
the powers of the reguline part are
not entirely deftroyed ; that the
preparation has the v irtues of other
antimonials which are given  as al-
teratives ;  that is,  in fuch  fmall
dofes as not to ftimulate the prim ss
viae ; and  that  therefore  diapho-
retic  antimony, or  calcined anti-
mony, as it  is now more properly
ftyled, is certainly among themild-
eft: preparations of  that  mineral,
and may be ufed for children, and
fimilar delicate conftitutions where
the ftomach and inteftines are eafi-
ly affected. The obfervation, how-
ever, from which thefe conclufiors
are drawn, does  not  appear to be
well  founded :  Ltidovici  relates,
that  after keeping the powder for
four years, it' proved as mil J as at
firft: and the Strafburgh pharma-
copoeia, with good reafon, fofpefts
that  where the calx has proved c
metic, it had either been given in
fuch  cafes as would of themfelves
have been attended wjth this fymr-
tom,  for the great  alexipharmnc
virtues attributed to it have occafi-
oned it to be exhibited even  in. the
moredangerous malignant fevers,
and other diforders which are fre-
quently  accompanied  with vomit-
 ing ; or that it  had net been fufli-
 ciently calcined, or^>enVctly freed
 from fuch part  of  the reg'this''**.
 might  remain uncalcint;^.   The 
414          Preparations a,

uncalcined part being groffer than
the true  calx, the feparation is ef-
fected by wafhing over with water,
in the fame manner as directed for
feparating  earthy powders  from
their  groffer parts.
   It has  been obferved, that when
diaphoretic  antimony  is prepared
with nitre abounding with  fea-falt,
of which all the common nitre con-
tains  fome portion,  the medicine
has proved  violently emetic.  This
effect is not owing to *ny particular
quality of  the  fea-falt, but to its
quantity, by which  the proportion
of the nitre to the antimony is ren-
dered lefs.
  The nit rum ftibiatum, as it was
called, is produced by the deflagra-
tion of the fulphur of the antimo-
ny with the nitre, in the fame man-
ner as t\\cfalpolychreft,from which
it differs  no otherwife  than in re-
taing fome  portion of the antimo-
nial calx.
  Notwithftanding the  doubts en-
tertained by feme refpecting the
activity of the antimonium calcina-
tum, yet the London college have
in our opinion  done  right in re-
taining it.  For while it is on  all
hands allowed, that it is the mildeft
of our antimonials;  there are fome
accurate obfervers who confider it
as by no means inefficacious. Thus
Dr Healde tells us, that he has been
in the habit of employing it for up-
wards of  forty years, and is much
deceived, if when genuine, it  be
not productive of good  effects.

CALX ANTIMONII NITRA-
              TA.
             Edinb.
    JVitrated calx of antimony.'
Take of
  Antimony, calcined for making
    the glafs of antimony ;
  Nitre,  equal«veights.
Having mixed,  and put them into
  a crucible,  lei  them be toafted,
id Compofitions.    Part III.

   fo that the matter  fliall be of a
   red colour for an hour ;  then  let
   it be  takefi out of the  crucible,
   and, after beating it, wafh it re-
   peatedly with warm water till  it
   be iniipid.

   Although this preparation a«
 grees nearly in name with the pre-
 ceding,  and h;;s been confidered as
 being nearly a complex calx of an-
 timony,  yet  th'.re  can be no doubt
 that  it  is a medicine  of  a much
 more  active nature than  the for-
 mer;  and in place  of  being one of
 the  mildeft of the antimonials, it
 often  operates with great  violence
 when given in dofes of a few grains
 only.
   But as the effects of every pre-
 paration  of antimony,  not  already
 conjoined  with  an acid,  muft de-
 pend on  the quantity and condition
 of the acid in the ftomach, fo the
 ablution  of the bafe of  the  mtre  in
 this procefs, gives full  power ro the
 acid of the ftomach to act as far as
 poffible on the calx; whereas when
 the unwalhed  calx  i^  employed, a
 great quantity of the acid in the fto-
 mach is  neutralifed by  the alkaline
 bafe of  the  nitre adhering to the
 calx.  The calx  antimonii nitrata
 is fuppofed to be  nearly the fame
 with  the article which has been fo
 much celebrated, and  has had fuch
 an extenfivc  tale under the title  of
 Dr James's fever powder.   And it
 was as an article which might be
 employed in  the  place  of  James's
 powder,  that the Edinburgh col-
 lege introduced this intoiheir phar-
 macopoeia.   There is, however,
 reafon to believe, that  the prepara-
 tion of Ja i.es'spowder  is fomewhat
 different  from that here directed;
 but their effects, as far as  our »b-
 fervation goes, appear to  be very
 nearly the fame.
  The calx  antimonii  nitrata has
 been thought by fome preferable to
                           emetic 
Chap.  10.
Of Antimony.
emetic tartar, where the permanent
effects of a long-continued naufea
are required,  and where we wilh
our antimonials to pafs the pylorus
and produce  purging.   But, like
every other preparation where the
reguline part  is  only rendered ac-
tive by the acid in the ftomach, the
calx antimonii nitrata is in all cafes
of uncertain operation ;  fometimes
proving perfectly inert, and at other
times very  violent in  its effects.
The dofe is generally tenor twelve
grains,  and this  is often given all
at once ;  an inconvenience not at-
tending theemetic tartar ; the quan-
tity and effects of which we can ge-
nerally meafure with furprifing mi-
nutenefs.
   There is, however, reafon to be-
lieve,  that by means  of  James's
powder,  and the calix nitrata, an
artificial  termination of  fever is
fometimes accomplifhed, and that
too more frequently than by emetic
tartar. This perhaps may fometimes
be the confequence of  the violence
with which  they operate.  At the
fame  time it muft be admitted, that
even  the moft violent operation by
no means enfures an immediate re-
covery, but that on the contrary it
is fometimes  manifeftly  attended
with  bad effects.

    CROCUS ANTIMONII.
              Lond.
       Crocus of antimony.
Take of
  , Antimony, powdered;
   Nitre,  powdered, of  each one
     pound ;
   Sea-falt, one ounce.
Mix,  and put them  by  degrees
  . into a red-hot  crucible,  and
   melt^them with  an  augmented
   heat."  Pour out the melted mat-
   ter ; and, when cold, feparate it
   from the fcorisc.
                          4'5
             Edinb.
The mixture of antimony and nitre,
  made as above, is to be injected
  by degrees into  a red-hot  cru-
  cible ;  when the  detonation is
  over, feparate the reddifh metal-
  lic matterfrom the  whitifheruft;
  beat it into powder, and edul-
  corate it by  repeated vvaftiings
  with hot  water, till the water
  comes off infipid.

  Here the antimonial  fulphur is
almoft  totally  confumed, and  the
metallic part left diverted of its cor-
rector.  Thefe preparations, given
from two to  fix grains, generally
act as violent emetics, greatly dis-
ordering the conftitution.  But the
operation, like that of every prepa-
ration of  antimony whofe reguline
part is not joined with an acid,
muft be liable 10 variations accord-
ing to the quantity and condition
of the acid in the ftomach.  Their
principal  ufe is in maniacal cafes,
as the  bafis of fome other prepara-
tions;  and  among  the farriers,
who frequently give to horfes an
once  or two  a day, divided in-
to different dofes as an alterative:
in thefe and  other quadrupeds,  this
medicine acts chiefly as a diapho-
retic.
  The chemifts have  been accu-
ftomed to make the crocus  with a
lefs proportion of  nitre  than what
is directed above ; and without any
farther melting than what enfues
from the heat which the matter ac-
quires by deflagration, which when
the quantity is large, is very cc-nfi-
derabk:  a little  common  fait is
added to promote the fufion.  The
mixture is put. by degrees into an
iron pot or mortar, fomewhat heat*.
ed,  and placed  under a  chimney :
when the firft ladleful is in, a piece
of lighted  charcoal is thrown to it,
which fets the matter on fire; the
                             reft 
 416          Preparations a

 reft of the mixture is ihen added
 by little arid  little; the deflagra-
 tion is foon over, and the whole ap-
 pears in perfect fufion :  wnen cold,
 a confiderable quantity of feorise is
 found upon the furface;  which fco-
 rias  are eafily knocked  off with a
 hammer.   The crocus prep ired af-
 ter this manner, is  of a redder co-
 lour than that of the former edi-
 tions of the London  pharmacopoeia.
 And indeed the method  no.v direc-
 ted by the  London  college  may be
 confidered  as  founded  on  this:
 It   differs  principilly   from   that
 of  the Edinburgh  college in the
 employment  of the  fea-falt,  by
 which the procefs  is much facili-
 tated.

   ANTIMONIUM MURIA-
             TUM.
             Lond.
       Muriated antimony.
 Take of
   The crocus of antimony, powder-
     ed ;
   Vitriolic acid, each one pound;
   Dry fea-falt, two  pounds.
 Pour the vitriolic acid into a retort,
   adding by  degrees the fea-falt
   and  crocus  of  antimony,  pre-
   v?oufly  mixed ; then  diftil  in a
   fand-bath.  Let the diftilled  mat-
   ter be expofed to  the  air  feveral
  days, and then let the fluid  part
   be poured off from the dregs.

   CAUSTICUM  ANTIMO-
   NIALE vulgo BUTYRUM
     ANTIMONII.
             Edinb.
       Butter of antimony.
Take of
  Crude antimony, one part;
  Corrofive mercury fublimate, two
     parts.
Grind  them firft fepantely  ; then
  thoroughly  mix them together,
  taking the utmoft  care to avoid
   Compofitions.    Part III.

   the vapours.   Put the mixture
   into a coated glafs retort (having
   a  lhort  wide neck),  fo as to till
   one half of it:  the retort  being
   placed in a fand-furnace, and  a
   receiver adapted  to it, give firft
   a gentle heat,  that only a devvy
   vapour may arife : the fire be-
   ing then increafed,  an  oily li-
   quor will afcend  and  congeal in
   the neck of the retort, appearing
   like ice, which is  to be  melted
   down  by  a  live-coal cautiou.ly
   applied.   This oily matter is to
   be  redified in a  glafs retort into
   a pellucid liquor.

   The procefs here directed by the
Edinburgh college, and which ii
nearly the fame with what 'food in
the fomer edition of the  London
pharmacopoeia, is extremely dange-
rous,  infomuch, that even the life
of  the operator,  though tolerably
verfed in common pharmacy, may
be  much endangered for »vant of
due care.   Bo rhaave relates,  that
one,  who  from  the title he gives
h'm is not to be fuppofed inexpert
in  chemical operations, or  unac-
quainted  with the danger attend-
ing this, was fiffocated for want
of proper care to prevent  the burft-
ing of the retort.  The fumes which
arifej  even  upon  m;xin'g the anti-
mony with  the fublinnte, are high-
ly noxious,  and fometimes iffue fo
copioufly  and fuddenly, as very dif-
ficultly to  be avoided.  The ut-
moft circumlpection  therefore is ne-
ceffary.
  The cauftic, or  butter, as it is
called, appears to be a  folution of
the metallic pirt of the antimony
in the marine acid of the fublimate :
the fulphur of the antimony,  and
the mercury of the f iblimate re-
main  at  the bottom of the  retort,
united into an ethiops.   This  folu-
tion does not fuccecd with fpirit of
                             fait 
Chap. to.
Of Antimony.
fait in its liquid ftate, and cannot
be effected, unlefs (as in the cafe of
making  fublimate)  either the acid
be highly concentrated,  and both
the ingredients ftrongly heated; or
when  the  antimony is expofed to
the vapours of the acid diftilled from
the black calx of manganefe.  By
this laft procefs a perfect folution of
the regulus of antimony in the mu-
riatic  acid  is  effected.   Of this
more fimple, more fafe, and lefs ex-
pensive method of preparing muri-
ated antimony, an account is given
'by Mr Ruilel in the Transactions
of  the  Royal Society of  Edin-
burgh.
  ■If regulus of antimony were add-
ed  in  the dirtillaiion  of  fpirit of
fea-falt without  water, a folution
~WOuld alfo be made.
  The method, however, now di-
rected by the London college, in
Which vitriolic acid and fea-falt are
etnpldyed to give a  double elective
attraction, is perhaps to  be confi-
dered  as preferable  to any of the
others.  In this they have followed
Very nearly the directions given in
the Pharmacopoeia  Suecica,  which
are taken from the procefs of Mr
Scheele.
  When the congealed matter that
arifes into the neck of the retort is
liquified  by the moifture of the air,
it proves lefs corrofive than when
melted down and rectified by heat;
though,  it feems, in either cafe, to
be Efficiently ftrong for the purpo-
fes it is intended for, as the confu-
ming of fungous flefh and the cal-
lous lips of Ulcers.   It is remark-
able,  that though this- faline con-
crete rea'dlly and almoft entirely dif-
folves by the  humidity of the air,
only a  fmall quantity of white pow-
der feparating,  it neverthelefs will
not  diffolve on putting water to it
directly : even when previoafly li-
quified by the air, the addition of
water will precipitate the folution.
And accordingly,  by the addition
of water is formed that once cele-
brated article known by the title of
mercurius vita, or Algeroth's pow-
der. This preparation, although noc
now ufed by itfelf, is employed both
by the Edinburgb college and  alfo
by fome of the foreign ones, in the
formation of  emetic tartar,  the
moft ufeful of all the antimonials.
And although chemifts are not al-
together agreed with regard to the
beft mode of forming the antimo-
nium tartarizatum, yet we fhall af-
terwards have occafion to obferve,
When treating of that article,  the
preparation of it from the antimo-
nium muriatum, or rather from its
precipitate.  Algeroth's powder is
perhaps the beft mode which  has
yet been  prepared.  And were it
even with no other intention, a fafe,
eafy, and cheap method,  of form-
ing an antimonium muriatum, may
be confidered as an important  im-
provement in our pharmacopoeias.

  PULVIS  ANTIMONIALIS.
             Lond.
       Antimoniul powder.
Take of
  Antimony, cosrfely powdered,
  Hartfhorn-fhavings,  each  two
     pounds;
Mix, and put them into a  broad red
  hot iron pot, ftirring conftantly
  till the mafs acquires a  grey  co-
  lour.   Powder the matter when
  cold,  and  put  it into  a coated
  crucible.   Lute  to  it  another
  crucible  inverted, which  has a
  fmall hole  in its bottom : aug-
  ment the fire- by degrees to a red
  heat, and  keep  it fo for  two
  hours.  Laftly, reduce the matter,
  when cold, to a very fine powder.

  In this preparation, the metal-
lic part of the antimony in  a ftate
             D  d           of 
4i 8          Preparations a>

of calx,  will be united with  that
part of the hartfhorn which is indi-
ftructible by the action of fire,  viz.
its abforbent earth.  If this powder
he properly prepared, it is of a white
colour.  It is a mild antimonial pre-
paration, and is given as an altera-
tive from three to fix grains for a
dofe.   In this quantity, however, it
fometimes creates naufea, and even
vomits.  In larger dofes it proves e-
metic, and operates by ftool.

    SULPHUR ANTIMONII
      PRvECIPITATUM.
             Lond.
Precipitated fulphur of antimony.
Take of
  Antimony,powdered,two pounds;
  Water of pure kali, four pints ;
  Diftilled water, three pints.
Mix, and boil them with a flow fire
  for three hours, conftantly ftir-
  ring, and adding the diftilled wa-
  ter ayt fhall be  wanted ; ftrain
  the hot ley through a double linen
  cloth, and into the liquor, whilft
  yet hot, drop  by degrees as much
  diluted vitriolic acid as is fuffi-
  cient  to  precipitate the fulphur.
  Wafh off, with warm water, the
  vitriolated kali.

SULPHUR  ANTIMONII
  PR/ECIPITATUM,  vulgo
  SULPHURAURATUM AN-
  TIMONII.
             Edinb.
    Golden fulphur of antimony.
Boil,  in an iron pot, four pounds of
  cauftic ley diluted with three pints
  of water, and throw in by degrees
  two pounds of powdered antimo-
  ny ; keeping them continually
  ftirring, with an iron fpatula, for
  three hours,  over a gentle fire,
  and occafionally fupplying more
  water.  The liquor loaded with
  the fulphur  of  antimony being
  then ftrained  through a  woollen
  cloth,  drop  into  it gradually,
d Compofitions.   Part III.

   whilft it continues hot, fo much
   fpirit  of nitre,  diluted with an
   equal quantity of water, as  fliall
   be fufficient  to precipitate  the
   fulphur, which is afterwards to
   be carefully  wafhed with  hot
   water.

   The  foregoing preparations are
not ftrictly fulphurs ; they contain
a confiderable quantity of the metal-
lic part of the antimony, which is re-
ducible from them by proper fluxes.
Thefe medicines muft needs be li-
able to great variation in point of
ftrength  ; and in this refpect they
are, perhaps, the  moft precarious,
though fome have affirmed that they
are the moft certain of the antimo-
nial medicines.
   They prove emetic when taken on
an empty ftomach, in a dofe of four,
five, or fix grains; but  in the pre-
fent practice they are fcarce prefcri-
bed with this intention ;beingchief-
ly ufed as alterative deobftruents,
particularly in cutaneous diforders.
Their emetic quality is eafily blun-
ted, by making  them up into pills
with refins or extracts,  and giving
them on a full ftomach :  with thefe
cautions, they have been increafed
to the rate of fixteen grains a-day,
and  continued  for a confiderable
time, without occafioning any dif-
turbance upwards  or downwards.
As their ftrength is precarious, they
fhould be taken at firft in very fmall
dofes,  and  increafed by degrees
according to their  effect.

   A compofition of the  fulphur au-
ratum, with  mercurius  dulcis, has
been found a powerful,  yet fafe al-
terative,  in   cutaneous  diforders;
and has completed  a cure after fali-
vation had failed.  In venereal caf-
es, likewife, this medicine has pro-
duced excellent  effects.  A mixture
of equal parts of  the fulphur and ca-
lomel (well triturated together and
                           made 
Chap: 10.
Of Antimony.
 made into pills with extracts, &c.)
 may be taken from four to eight or
 ten grains, morning and night;  the
 patient  keeping moderately warm,
 and  drinking after  each  dofe a
 draught of a decoction of the woods,
 or other like liquors.  This  medi-
 cine generally promotes perfpiration,
 fcarce  occafioning any tendency to
 vomit  or  purge, or affecting the
 mouth.

 ANTIMONIUM TARTARISA-
             TUM.
             Lond.
       Tartarifed antimony.
 Take of
   Crocus of antimony, powdered,
     one pound and an half;
   Cryftals of tartar,  two pounds;
   Diftilled water, two gallons.
 Boil in a glafs veffel about a quarter
   of an hour : filter through paper,
   and  fet alidc the ftrained liquor
   to cryftallize.

 TARTARUS  ANTIMONL&LIS
   vulgo  TARTARUS  EMETI-
   CUS.
             Edinb.
          Emetic tartar.
 Take of
   The caufticum antimoniale what
     qnantity you choofe; pour it
     into warm water, in which fo
     much of the purified vegetable
     fixed alkali has been previoufly
     diffolved, that  the antimonial
     powder  may be precipitated,
     which after being well wafhed
     is to be exficcated.
Then to five pounds of water add
  of this powder nine drams of cry-
  ftals of tartar, beat into a very
  fine  powder, two  ounces  and a
  half; boil for a little till the pow-
  ders be diffolved.
Let the ftrained folution be flowly
  evaporated in a  glafs veffel to a
  pellicle, fo that cryftals may  be
  formed.
                            419

   We have  here  two  modes of
 forming the moft common, and per-
 haps we may add the moft ufeful, of
 all the antimonial preparations that
 has been long known in the fliops
 under  the name of emetic t artar.
 Thefe  modes  differ confiderably
 from each other; but in both, the re-
 guline part of the antimony is unit-
 ed with the acid of  the tartar. It is
 perhaps  difficult  to  fay  to  which
 mode of preparation the preference
 is to be given ; for on this fubject the
 beftchemifts are ftill divided in their
 opinion.  The mode directed by the
 London college is nearly the fame
 with that in former editions of their
 Pharmacopoeia,  while that now a-
 dopted by the Edinburgh college, in
 which they have nearly fol lowed the
 Pharmacopoeia Roffica,  is of later
 date. That in  both  ways good eme-
 tic tartar may be formed, is very cer-
 tain : But in our opinion, when it is
 formed of the  precipitate from the
 muriatic acid, or the poudre d'Alge-
 rotti, as it has been  called, there is
 the leaft chance  of its being uncer-
 tain in its operation:  and this me-
 thod comes recommended to  us on
 the authority of Bergman, Scheele,
 and fome others of the firft names in
 chemiftry.   Bergman advifes, that
 the calx be precipitated by fimple wa-
 ter, as being leaft liable to variation ;
 and  this is the direction followed
 in the Pharmacopoeia Roffica.   But
 when the calx is precipitated by an
 alkaline ley, as it is  directed by the
 Edinburgh college,  it is more cer-
 tainly freed from the muriatic acid,
 and will of courfe be milder.
  In the  after part  of the procefs,
 whether precipitate  or crocus have
 been ufed, the quantity of the anti-
 monial ought always  to  be   fome
drams more than is abfolutely necef-
fary  for faturating the acid of tar-
tar, fo that no cryftals  may  fhoot
which are not impregnated with the
active metallic part of the antimony.
             Dd 2         And 
 420          Preparations d

 And in order to fecure an uniform
 ftrength, fome attention is neceffary
 in collecting the cryftals,  as  fome
 may contain more metal than others.
 After they are all  feparated  from
 the liquor, they ought to be beat to-
 gether in  a glafs mortar into a fine
 powder, whereby the medicine may
 be of uniform ftrength.
   Emetic tartar is,  of all  the pre-
 parations of antimony,  the  moft
 certain in its operation.
   It will be fufficient, in confidering
 the medicinal effects of antimonials,
 that we fliould obferve, once for all,
 that their emetic property  depends
 On two different  conditions of the
 reguline part:  the firft is where the
 reguline part is only active, by be-
 ing rendered fo from meeting with
 an acid in the ftomach ; the fecond
 is, where the reguline part is already
 joined with an acid, rendering it ac-
 tive.  It is obvious,  that thefe pre-
 parations,  reducible  to   the  firft
 head,  muft always be of uncertain
 operation.   Such then is the equal
 uncertainty in  the chemical condi-
 tion and medicinal effects of the cro-
 ci, the hepata, and the calces;  all
 of which proceffes are different fteps
 or degrees  of freeing the reguline
 part from fulphur and phlogifton.
 It is equally  plain, that the prepa-
 rations  coming under the  fecond
 head,  muft be always conftant and
 certain in their operation.  Such a
 one  is emetic tartar, the dofe and
 effects of which  we can meafure
 with great exactnefs.
   The  title  of this   medicine ex-
preffes its principal operation.  It is
one of the beft of the antimonial  e-
metic?, acting more powerfully than
the quantity of  crocus contained  in
it would do by itfelf, though it does
not fo much ruffle the conftitution.
And  indeed antimonials in general,
when thus rendered foluble by vege-
nd Cbmpofitions.    Part III,

 table acids, are more faff alio Cer-
 tain in their effects than  the \,olent
 preparations of that mineral  exhi-
 bited by themfelves; the former ne-
 ver varying in their action  from a
 difference in the 100-!  taken during
 their ufe,  or  other  fimif.r circum-
 ftances; which occ timing more or
 lefs of the others to  be diffolved,
 make them operate with  different
 degrees of force.  Thus, crude an-
 timony, where acid food has been
 liberally taken, has fometimes pro-
 ved violently emetic;  whilft in o-
 ther circumftances,  it has no fuch
 effect.
   The dofe of emetic tartar, when
 defigned  to produce the full effeft
 of an emetic, is from two to  four
 grains.  It may likewife be advan-
 tageoufly given in much finaller do-
 fes, as a naufeating and fiidorific
 medicine.

 ANTIMONIUM VITRIFICA-
              TUM.
              Lond.
        Vitrified antimony.
 Take of
   Powdered antimony,  four  oun-
     ces.
 Calcine it in a broad  earthen veffel,
   with a fire gradually raifed, ftir-
   ring with an  iron  rod until it
   no longer emits  a fulphureous
   fmoke.   Put this  powder into a
   crucible, fo as to  fill two-thirds
   of it.  A cover being  fitted on,
   make a fire under it, at firft mo-
   derate, afterwards ftronger, until
   the matter be melted.   Pour out
   the melted glafs.

    VITRUM  ANTIMONII.
              Edin.
        Glafs of antimony.
Strow antimony, beat into a coarfe
   powder like fand, upon a fliallow
   unglazed earthen veffel, and apply 
Chap,  i o.               Of Antimony.                 421
    a gentle heat undcrneafh,that the
    antimony may be heated flowly ;
    keeping at the fame  time con-
    tinually ftirring to prevent from
    running into lumps.  White va-
    pours of a fulphureous finell will
    arife trom it.  When at the fame
    degree of heat thefe ceafe  to ex-
    hale, increafe  the fire a little, fo
    that the vapours may again  arife ;
    goon in this manner till the pow-
    der, when brought to a red heat,
    exhales no more vapours.  Melt
    the calx in a crucible with  anin-
    tenfe heat, till it takes on the ap-
    pearance  of melted glafs; then
    pour it out on a heated brafs plate
    or difh.

   The  calcination of antimony, to
 fit it for making a tranfparent glafs,
 fucceeds very flowly, unlefs the o-
 perator be  very  wary and circum-
 fpect in the management of it. The
 moft convenient veffel  is  a  broad
 fhallow dilh, or a  fmooth  flat title,
 placed under a chimney.  The  an-
 timony  fhould be the purer fort,
 fuch as is ufually found at  the apex
 of the cones; this,  grofsly  pow-
 dered,  is to be evenly fpread over
 the bottom of the  pan,  fo as not  to
 lie above a quarter off an inch  thick
 on any part.  The fire fhould be at
 firft no greater than is juft  fufficient
 to rafe a fume from the  antimony,
 which is to be now and then ftirred:
 when thefiimes begin to decay, in-
 creafe the heat, taking care not to
 raife it fo high as to  melt the anti-
 mony  or  run the  powder  into
 lumps:  after fome time the veffel
 may be made  red hot, and kept in
 this ftate until the matter will not,
 upon being ftirred,any longer fume.
 If this part  of the procefs be duly
conducted, the antimony will appear
in an uniform powder, without any
lumps and of a grey colour.
   With this powder fill  two-thirds
of a crucible, which  is to he cover-
 ed with a tile, and placed in a wind-
 furnance.   Gradually increafe the
 fire till the calx be in perfect fufion,
 when it is to be now and then exa-
 mined by dipping a clean iron wir»
 into it.  If the matter which ad-
 heres to the end of the wire appears,
 fmooth and equally tranfparent, the
 vitrification is completed, and  the
 glafs may be poured out upon a hot
 fmooth ftone or copperplate, and
 fuffered to cool by flow degrees to
 prevent  its cracking and flying in
 pieces. It is of a tranfparent yellow-
 ifh red colour.
   The glafs of antimony ufually met
 with in the fhops, is faid to be pre-
 pared with certain additions;  which
 may, perhaps, render it not fo fit
 for the purpofe here defigned.   By
 the method above directed,  it may
 be eafily made of the requifite  per-
 fection without and addition.
   As antimony may be rendered
 nearly or altogether inactive by cal-
 cination, it might  be expected that
 thecalxand glafsof the prefent pro-
 cefs would be likewife  inert.  But
 here the calcination is  far lefs per-
 fect than in  the other cafe, where
 the inflammable principle of the re-
 gulus is totally burnt out by defla-
 gration with nitre: there the calx is
 of perfect  whitenefs,  and  a glafs
 made from that calx (with the addi-
 tion of  any faline flux, for of ifelf
 it will not vitrify) has little colour:
 but herefio  much of the inflammable
principle is left, that the calx  is
grey and  the glafs of a high co-
lour. The calcined antimony is faid
by Boerhaave to be violently emetic.
 Experience hasfhown that the glafs
 is fo, infomuch as  to be unfafe for
 internal ufe.  At prefent it is chiefly
 employed in forming fome other an-
 timonial preparations,  particularly
 the vitrum antimonii ceratum,  the
 next article to be mentioned ;  and
 ihe vinum antimonii, afterwards to
 be treated  of under  the  head of
             D d 1      Wines, 
422        Preparations an

Wines.  It is alfo not unfreqnently
employed in the formation ot eme-
tic tartar; and  it was directed for
that purpofe in the laft  edition  of
the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia, be-
ing perhaps even fuperior to the cro-
cus antimonii.

 VITRUM ANTIMONII CE-
           RATUM.
              Edinb.
     Cerated glafs of antimoy.
Take of
   Yellow wax, a dram;
   Glafs of  antimony, reduced into
     powder, an ounce.
Melt the wax in an iron veffel,
   and throw into it  the powdered
   glafs: keep the mixture over a
   gentle fire for half an hour, con-
   tinually ftirring it; then pour  it
   out upon a paper, and when cold
   grind it into powder.

   The glafs melts in the wax with
a very foft  heat:  after it has been
about twenty minutes on the fire, it
begins to change its colour, and in
ten  more come? near  to  that  of
Scotch fnuff,  which  is a  mark of
its being fufficiently prepared :  the
quantity fet down above, lofes a-
bout one dram of its  weight in the
procefs.
   This medicine was for fome time
much efteemed in dyfenteries: feve-
ral inftances of its  good effects in
thefe cafes may be feen in the fifth
volume of the Edinburgh Effays,
from which the above remarks on
the preparation are taken. The dofe
is from two or three grains to twen-
ty, according to the age and ftrength
of the patient. In this operation, it
makcsfome perfonsfick, and vomit;
it purges almoft every one ; though
it has fometimes effected a cure with-
out  occafioning  any  evacuation or
ficknefs. It is now, however, much
lefs ufed than formerly.
   Mr Geoffroy gives two pretty fin*
f Compbfitions.    Part.  III.

gillar preparations of glafs of anto-
mony,wnich feem to have fome affi-
nity with this.  One is made by di-
gefting the glafs, moft fubtilely levi-
gated, with a folution  of maftich
made in  fpirit of wine, for three or
four days, now and then fluking the
mixture; and at laft  evaporating the
fpirit fo  as  to  leave the maftich
and glafs exactly mingled.  Glafs
of  antimony  thus prepared, is faid
not  to prove  emetic,  but  to act
merely as a cathartic, and that not
of  the violent  kind.  A prepara-
tion like  this was firft publifhed by
Hartman,underthe nameof C by lifta.
  The other preparation is made by
burning  fpirit  of wine  upon the
glafs three or four times, the pow-
der being  every time exquifitcly
rubbed upon a marble. The dofe of
this medicine is from ten grains to
twenty or thirty : it  is faid to ope-
rate mildly both upwards and down-
wards, and fometimes to  prove fu-
dorific.

    CERUSSA  ANTIMONII-
             Brun.
       Ceruffe of antimony.
Take of
  Regulus of antimony, one part;
  Nitre, three  parts.
Deflagrate them together in the
  manner directed  for  the antimo-
  num calcinatum.

  The  refult of this  procefs and
that formerly directed for the calci-
ned antimony are nearly  the fame.
   It is not neceffary  to  ufe fo much
nitre here, as when antimony itfelf
is employed ; for the fulphur which
 the crude mineral   contains,  and
which requires for its  diffipation
nearly an equal weight of nitre to
the antimony,  is. here already fe-
parated.   Two parts  of nitre to
one of the regulus are fufficient. It
is better, however,to have an over-
proportion of nitre  than an under
                            one, 
Chap.  10.
Of Antimony,
one, left fome parts of the regulus
fhould efcape being fufficiently cal-
cined.
   It may be proper to obferve, that
though crude antimony and the re-
gulus yield the fame calces, yet the
falts feparated in wafhing the calces
are very different.   As crude anti-
mony contains common fulphur, the
acid of the fulphur unites with the
alkaline  bafis of the nitre, and the
refult is a neutral fait.    As the re-
gulus contains the phlogiftic, or in-
flammable principle, but no fulphur,
the nitre is alkalifed, as it would be
by charcoal or fuch like inflammable
bodies, and is at the fame time ren-
dered  more acrimonious than the
common alkaline  falts ; probably
owing to the calx abforbing the air
of the alkali.  If only equal parts of
the regulus and nitre be employed,
and the fire kept up ftrong for an
hour or more, the fait will  prove
more cauftic than even the potential
cautery of the fhops.   But the cau-
fticity of the fait will ftill be far
greater, if, inftead of the fimple re-
gulus of antimony, the martial re-
gulus be  ufed.

    KERMES MINERALIS.
              Gen.
        Kermes  mineral.
Take of
  Any fixed alkaline fait, four oun-
     ces ;
  Water, one pint.
Boil  them together  for two hours,
  then filtre the warm liquor;  as it
  cools, the kermes will precipitate.
  Pour off the water, and add to it
  three ounces of frefh alkaline fait,
  and a pint more of water: in this
  liquor,  boil the remaining anti-
  mony as before;  and repeat the
  procefsa third time,  with the ad-
  dition  of only two ounces of al-
  kaline fait, and another pint of
  water ; filtering the liquor as at
  firft, and collecting the powders
                           423
  which fubfide from them in cool-
  ing.

  This medicine has of late been
greatly efteemed in  France efpeci-
ally, under  the names of Kermes
mineral pulvis, Carthufianus, pou-
dre des Chartreaux, &c.  It was,
originally,  a preparation of Glau-
ber, and for fome time kept a great
fecret, till at length the French
king  purchafed  the  preparation
from M. de la Ligerie, for a confi-
derable  fum, and communicated it
to the public in the year 1720.  In
virtue, it is not different from  the
fulphurs  abovementioned;  all  of
them owe their efficacy to a part of
the regulus of the antimony, which
the alkaline fait,  by the mediation
of the fulphur, renders foluble in
water.
  Chemifts are, however, divided
in their opinions with refpect to the
precife chemical condition of  the
reguline part in  the preparations
called  hepata o[  antimony.  Some
have alleged that  they contain not
a particle of the alkaline fait : It is
at any rate certain, that the quanti-
ty and  condition of the reguline
part muft vary according to the dif-
ferent proportions of the  ingredi-
ents, the time of the precipitation,
the greater or Jefs degree of caufti-
city of the alkali employed, and fe-
veral other circumftances.  At beft,
the whole of them are liable to the
fame uncertainty in  their operation
as the calces of antimony.

   PANACEA ANTIMONII.
      Panacea of antimony.
Take of
  Antimony, fix ounces;
  Nitre, two ounces ;
  Common fait, an ounce and a half;
  Charcoal, an ounce.
Reduce them into a fine  powder,
  and put  the mixture into a red-
  hot crucible, by half  a  fpoonful
             D d a             at 
Preparations and Compofitions   Part I&T.
424
  at a time, continuing, the fire a
  quarter of an hour after the laft
  injection : then  either  pour the
  matter into a cone, or let it cooi
  in the crucible ; which when cold
  muft be broken to get it out.  In
  the bottom will be found a quan-
  tity of regulus; above this a com-
  pact  liver-coloured  fubftance  ;
  and on the  top, a  more fpongy
  mafs :  this laft is to  be reduced
  into powder,  edulcorated  with
  water,and dried, when it appears
  of a fine golden colour.

  This  preparation is  fuppofed to
have  been the bafis of Lockyer's
ptlls, which were formerly a cele-
brate d purge.  Ten grains of the
powder, mixed  wiih an ounce of.
white fugar-candy, and made up
into a mafs with a mucilage of gum
tragacanth, may be divided into an,
hundred fmall pills ; of which oney
two, or three, taken at  a time, are
faid  to work gently by ftool and
vomit. The compact liver-coloured
fubftance, which lies immediately
above the regulus, operates  more
feverely.  This laft appears to be
nearly of the fame nature with the
crocus antimonii, and the former
with the fulphur aaratum.
              CHAP.    XI.


   P RE P A RATA EX  A R CENTO.

PREPARATIONS  of   SILVER
  ARGENTUM  NITRATUM.
             Lond.
        Nitrated filver.
Take of
  Silver, one ounce ;
  Diluted nitrous acid, four oun-
    ces.
Diffolve the filver in the nitrous a-
  cid, in a glafs veffel, over a fand-
  heat; then  dry it by  an heat
  gently raifed : afterwards melt it
  in a crucible,  that it  may  be
  poured into proper forms, care-
  fully avoiding too great  heat.

SAL  ARGENTI,  vulgo CAU-
     STICUM LUNARE.
            Edinb.          *'
Salt of filver, commonly called Lu-
          nar cauftic
Take of
  Pnreft  filver, flatted into plates,
     and  cut in pieces, four oun-
     ces :
  Weak nitrous acid, eight oun-
     ces ;
  Pnreft water, four ounces.
Diffolve the  filver in a phial with a
v gentle heat, and evaporate the fb-
 ' lution to drynefs.  Then put the
  mafs  into a large crucibie, and
  apply the  heat, at firft  gently,
  and  augment  it  by degrees till
  the maft  flows like oil ; then
  pour it  into  iron pipes made for
  this purpofe, prcvioufly, heated.
                       These 
Chap. 11.

   These proceffes do not differ in
any material  particular.  But  the
name of argentum nitratum is pre-
ferable to the more indefinite one of
fal argenti.
   Strong fpirit of nitre will diffolve
fomewhat more than half its weight
ofpurelilver ; andrhe weaker of the
aquge fortes,formerly defcribed,pro-
portionably lefs, according to their
quantity of pure nitrous acid. Some-
times this  fpirit contains  a  portion
of. the  vitriolic, or  marine acids ;
which, however minute, renders it
unfit for dilfolving this  metal,  and
fliould therefore be carefully fepara-
ted before the folution be attempt-
ed.  The  method which the re-
finers employ for examining the pu-
rity of their aquafortis,  and purify-
ing it if neceffary, is to let fall into
it a few drops of a perfect folution
of filver already made :  if the liquor
remain clear, and grow not in the
leaft turbid or whitifli,  it is fit for
ufe ; otherwife, they add a fmall
quantity moreof the folution, which
immediately turns the  whole of a
milky  white colour ;  the mixture
being then fuffered to reft' for fome
time,  depofites a  white fediment;
from which  it is warily decanted,
examined  afrefh,  and,  if need be,
farther purified by a frefli addition
of the folution.
   The filver flatted into thin plates,
as directed in the  fecond  of the a-
bove proceffes, needs not be cut in
pieces : the folution will go on the
more  fpeedily, if they are only
turned round into fpiral circumvo-
lutions, fo as to be conveniently got
into the glafs, with care that the fe-
veral furfaces do not touch  each o-
ther. By this management, a great-
 er extent of the furface is expofed
to the action of the menftruum, than
when the plates are cut in pieces and
laid above each other.  Good aqua-
fortis will  diffolve  about half its
Of Silver.                      425;

        weight of filver ;  and it is not ad-
        vifable to ufe a greater quantity of
        the menftruum than is fufficient for
        effecting the  folution, for all the
        furplus muft be evaporated in the
        fubfequent fufion.
          It  is  neceffary  to employ  very
        pure  water; for if hard water were
        ufed  in this procefs, the nitrous acid
        would forfake a part of the filver to
        join  with  the  calcareous earth of
        the   imperfect nitrous   felenite ;
        whereby a  part of the filver would
        be precipitated.
          The crucible ought to be  larg«
        enough  to hold five or fix times the
        quantity ot the dry matter; for it
        bubbles and fwells up greatly, fo as
        otherwife to  be  apt to run  over.
        During this time, alfo, little  drops
        are now and then fpirted up, whofe
        caufticity is increafed by their heat,
        againft  which  the  operator ought
        therefore to be on his guard.  The
        fire muft be kept moderate till this
        ebullition ceafes, and till the matter
        becomes confiflent in the beat that
        made it boil before : then quickly
        increafe the fire till the matter flows
        thin  at the bottom like oil, on which
        it is  to be immediately poured into
        the mould,  without waiting till the
        fumes ceafe to appear ; for  when
        this happens, the preparation proves
        not only too thick io run freely into
        the mould, but likewife lefs  corro-
        five than it is expecltd to be.
          In want of a proper iron mould,
        one may be formed of tempered to-
        bacco-pipe clay, not too moift, by
        making in a lump of it, with a fmooth
        ftick firft greafed, as many holes as
        there is occafion for: pour the liquid
        matter into thefe cavities, and  when
        congealed  take it out by breaking
        the  mould.   Each piece is  to be
        wiped clean from  the greafe, and
        wrapt up in foft dry paper, not only
        to keep the air from acting upon
        them, but likewife to prevent their
                                     cor- 
 426          Preparations a

 corroding or difcolouring the fin-
 gers in handling.
   This preparation is a ftrong cau-
 ftic ;  and frequently employed as
 fuch, forconfuming warts and other
 flefhy  excrefcenes, keeping down
 fungous flefh in wonnds or ulcers,
 and other fimilar ufes.  It is rarely
 applied where a deep efchar is re-
quired, as  in  the laying open of
impofthumations and tumours ; for
the quantity neceffary for thefe pur-
pofes,  liquefying  by the moifture
of the fkin, fpreads beyond  the li-
mits in which it is  intended to ope-
rate.

     PILUL/E LUNARES.
         The lunar pills.

Diffolve pure filver in aquafortis, as
  in the foregoing  procefs; and af-
  ter due evaporation, fet the  liquor
  apart to cryftallize. Let the cryf-
  tals be again diffolved in common
  water, and mingled with a foluti-
  on of equal their  weight of nitre.
  Evaporate this mixture  to dry-
  nefs,  and  continue the exficca-
  tion with a gentle heat,  keeping
nd Compofitions.   Part III.

    the matter conftantly ftirring till
    no more fumes arife.

    Here it is neceffary to continue
 the fire till the fumes entirely ceafe,
 as more of the acid is required to be
 diffipated than in the preceding pro-
 cefs.  The preparation is,  never-
 thelefs, in tafte very fharp, intenfely
 bitter and naufeous : applied to ul-
 cers, it  acts as  a cauftic,  but  it is
 much milder than  the foregoing.
 Boerhaave, Boyle,and others,com-
 mend it  highly in hydropic cafes.
 The former affures us,  that  two
 grains of it made into a  pill with
 crumb of  bread and a little fugar,
 and  taken on  an empty ftomach
 (fome warm water, fweetened with
 honey, being drank immediately af-
 ter), purge gently without griping,
 and bring  away a large quantity of
 water, almoft without the patient's
 perceiving it: that it kills worms,
 and cures many inveterate ulcerous
 diforders.  He neverthelefs cautions
 againft ufing it too freely,  or in too
 large a dofe; and obferves, that it
 always proves corrrofive and weak-
 ening, efpecially to the ftomach.
CHAP. 
Chap.  12.
Of Iron.
427
CHAP.     XII.
PREPARATA  E  FERR®.
PREPARATIONS   of  IRON.
  FERRUM  AMMONIACALE.
             Lond.
        Ammoniacal iron.
Take of
  Iron filings, one pound ;
  Sal ammoniac,  two pounds.
Mix, and fublime.  What remains
  at the bottom of the veffel mix by
  rubbing together with the fub-
  limcd  matter,  and  again  fub-
  lime.

 FLORES MARTIALES, vulgo
        ENS  VENERIS.
             Edinb.
Martial flowers, commonly called
          Ens veneris.
Take of
  Colcothar of martial vitriol, wafh-
     ed and well dried,
  Sal ammoniac,  equal weights.
Having mixed them well, fublime.

  Though  the mode of prepara-
tion directed by the two colleges is
here different, yet the preparation is
at bottom the fame; and it  is per-
haps difficult to fay which mode of
preparation is to be preferred as the
eaficft and beft.
  The name of ens veneris  has by
fome been very improperly applied
to this preparation,  as it contains
not a particle of copper. The proper
ens veneris  is prepared from  the
blue vitriol; but,  as  we fliall foon
fee, is often not materially different
from the [lores mart tales.
   The fuccefs of  this procefs  de-
pends principally upon the fire being
haftily  raifed, that the fal ammoniac
may not fublime before the heat be
fufficient to enable it to carry up a
fufficient quantity of the iron  Hence
glafs veffels are not fo proper as ear-
then or iron ones : for when the for-
mer are made ufe of, the fire cannot
be raifed quickly  enough, without
endangering the breaking of them.
The moft convenient veflel is an irsn
pot; to which may be luted  an in-
verted  earthen jar, having  a fmall
hole in its bottom  to fuffer the elaf-
tic vapours,  which arife during the
operation, to efcape.   It  is  of ad-
vantage to thoroughly mix  the in-
gredients  together,  moiften them
with a  little water, and then gently
dry them ; and to  repeat the pulve-
rifation, humectation,  and exficca-
tion two or three times, or ofttner.
If this method h".  followed,  the fal
ammoniac may be increafed to three
times the quantity of the iron,  or
farther;  and a fingle  fublimation
will often be fufficient to raife flow-
ers of a very deep orange colour.
  This preparation is fuppofed to be
                          highly 
  428          Preparations a

 highly aperient and attenuating;
 though no othtrwife fo than the reft
 of the chalybeates, or at moft only
 by virtue of the faline matter joined
 to the iron.  It has been found of
 fervice in hyfterical and hypochon-
 driacal cafes, and in diftempers pro-
 ceeding from a laxity  and weaknefs
 of the folids, as the rickets.  It may
 be coveniently taken in the form of
 bolus,  from  two or three grains
 to ten:  it is  naufeous in a liquid
 form (unlefs in fpirituous tincture);
 and  occafions   pills to  fwell and
 crnmble,  except fuch as are  made
 of the gums.

       FERRI  RUBIGO.
              Lond.
          Ruft of Iron.
 Take of '
   Iron filings,  one pound.
 Expofe them to the air, often moift-
   eniug them with water, until they
   lie corroded  into ruft;  then pow-
   der them in  an  iron mortar,
   and wafli off with diftilled water
   the very fine powder.  ,
 But the remainder, which will not
   by moderate rubbing be  reduced
   into a powder eafily wafhed off,
   muft be  moiftened, expofed to
   the air for a longer  time,  and
   again  powdered and wafhed as
   before.   Let the wafhed powder
   be  dried,

FERRI RUBIGO,  vulgo  FER-
  RI LIMATURA  PR/EPARA-
  TA.
             Edinb.
Ruft of iron, commonly called Sha-
      pings of iron prepared.
Set purified filings of iron in a moift
  place, that they, may turn to ruft,
  which is to be ground iutoan im-
  palpable powder."

  The clcanfing of iron filings by
means of a magnet is very tedious,
nd Compofitions.    Part III,

 and does not anfwer fo well as might
 be expected;  for  if  they be nifty,
 they will not be attracted  by it,  or
 not fufficiently: nor  will  they  by
 this means be  entirely freed from
 brafs, copper, or other metallic fub-
 ftances which may adhere to them.
 It appears from  the experiments of
 Henckel,  that if iron be mixed by
 fufion with even its own weight of
 any of the other metals, regulus of
 antimony alone excepted,  the com-
 pound will be  vigoroufly attracted
 by the loadftone.—The ruft of iron
 is to be procured at a moderate rate
 from the dealers in iron,  free from
 any impurities, except fuch as may
 be wafhed off by water.
    The ruft of iron is preferable as
 a medicine to the calces,  or croci,
 made by a ftrong fire. Hoffman re-
 lates, that he has frequently  given
 it with remarkable fuccefs  in obfti-
 nate chlorotic  cafes  accompanied
 with exceffive headachs and other
 violent fymptoms; and that  he u-
 fually joined with it pimpinella, a-
 rum root, and fait of tartar, with a
 little cinnamon  and   fugar.  The
 dofe is from four  or five grains to
 twenty or thirty.   Some have gone
 as far  as a  dram: But all the pre-
 parations of this  metal anfwer beft
 in  fmall  dofes,  which fliould  ra-
 ther be often repeated than enlar-
 ged,

 FERRUM TARTARISATUM.
             Lond.
         Tartarifed iron.
 Take of
   Filings of iron,  one pound.
   Powdered cryftals of tartar, two
     pour. iis.
 Mix them with diftilled water into a,
   thick pafte.   Expofe it to the
   air in au open earthen veflel  for
   ei^ht days; then rub tjie matter,
   dried in a bath of fand, to the
   fineft powder.
                          This 
Chap.  12.
Of Iron.
4*9
  Th is is an ufeful preparation of
iron, in Which that metal is chiefly
brought to a faline ftate by means
of the cream of tartar.  It has now
for  the  firft  time  a place in the
London pharmacopoeia ; but it had
before been introduced into fome of
the foreign ones, particularly the
Pharmacopoeia Genevenfis,  under
the title of mars tartarizatus ;  and
indeed  it  is  almoft  precifely the
fame with the mars[olubilis of the
old editions of the Edinburgh phar-
macopoeia.

  FERRUM  VITRIOLATUM.
              Lond.
         Vitriolated iron.
Take of
  Filings of iron,
  Vitriolic acid, each eight ounces;
  Diftilled water, three pints.
Mix them  in a glafs veffel ; and,
  when  the effervefcence has cea-
  fed, place  the mixture  for fome
  time upon  hot fand  ; then pour
  offthe liquor, ftraining it through
  paper ; and,  after due exhala-
  tion, fet it afide to cryftallize.

VITRIOLUM  MARTIS,  feu
        SAL CHALYBIS.
              Edinb.
  Vitriol of iron, or fait of fteel.
Take of
  Purified filings of iron, fix oun-
     ces ;
  Vitriolic acid, eight ounces ;
  Water, two pounds and a half.
Mix them, and when the effervef-
  cence ceafes, let the mixture ftand
  for fome time upon warm fand ;
  then  ftrain the liquor through
  paper, and after due  evaporation
  fet it at reft to cryftallize.

  During the diffolution of the
iron an elaftic vapour arifeo, which
on the approach of flame catchesfire
and explodes, fo as  foaietiniss  to
burft the veffel.   To  this particu-
lar therefore the operator ought to
have due regard.
  This vapour  is alfo  noxious to
animal life.   It is the inflammable
air of Dr Prieftley.
   The chemifts are feldom at tire
trouble  of preparing  this felt ac-
cording to the directions  above gi-
ven ; but in its ftead fnbftitutc com-
mon green vitriol, purified by folu-
tion  in water, filtration,  and cry-
ftallization.   The only difference
between the two  is, that the com-
mon vitriol contains fomewhat more
metal in proportion to  the  acid :
and hence in keeping, its green co-
lour is much fooner debafed by  a
nifty brownifh eaft. The  fuperflu-
ous quantity of metal may be eafily
feparated, by fuffering the foliitio'n
of the vitriol to ftand for fome time
in a cold place,  when a  brownifh
yellow ochery fediment will  fall to
the bottom ; or it may be perfectly
diffolved,  and kept  fufpended by
a fuitable addition of  oil of vitriol.
If the vitriol be fufpected tocontain
any cupreous matter,  which it does
not appear that  the common En-
glifh vitriol  ever does, though al-
moft all the foreign vitriols do, the
addition of fome bright iron wire ro
the folution will  both difcover, and
effectually feparate, that metal: for
the acid quits the copper to diffolve
a proportionable quantity of the
iron; and the copper,  in its fepara-
tion from the acid, adheres  to the
undiffolved iron,  and forms a fkin of
a true copper  colour upon its fur-
face.   Even a vitriol  of  pure cop-
per may, on this principle, be con-
verted into a pure vitriol of iron.
  But though  the vitriolic acid ap-
pears in this operation to have fo
much ftronger a difpofition to unite
with iron than with cofper,  that it
totally  rejects the latter upon prc-
fenting the former for it to act upon ;
                             the 
43°          Preparations m

the operator may, neverthelefs, gi ve
a dangerous impregnation of copper
to the pureft and moft faturated fo-
lution of iron in the vitriolic acid,
by the ufe of copper veffels.  If the
martial folution  be boiled in a cop-
per veffel, it never fails to diffolve a
part of the copper, diftinguilhablc
by its giving a cupreous ftain to a
piece of bright iron immerfed in it.
By the addition of  the  iron, the
copper  is feparated ;  by  boiling it
again  without  iron,  more of the
copper is diffolved  ; and  this may
in like manner be feparated by ad-
ding more iron.
   The fait of  fteel  is one of the
moft efficacious preparations of this
metal ; and not unfrequently made
ufe of in cachcdic  and chlorotic
cafes,  for exciting the uterine pur-
gations, ftrengthening the tone of
the vifcera, and deftroying worms.
It may be conveniently  taken in a
liquid  form,  largely diluted with
aqueous fluids:  Boerhaave directs
it to be diffolved in an hundred times
its weight  of water,  and the folu-
tion to be taken  in  the  dofe of
twelve ounceson anempty ftomach,
walking gently after it.  Thus ma-
naged, he fays,  it opens  the body,
purges, proves diuretic, kills and ex-
pels worms, tinges the excrements
black, or forms them  into a matter
like clay, ftrengthens thefibres, an J
thnscurcs many different diftempers.
The quantity  of vitriol in the above
dofe of  the folution,  is fifty-feven
grains and a half ;  but in common
practice, fuch large  dofes  of this
ftrongchalybeatc are never ventured
on. Four or five grains, and in many
cafes half a grain, are fufficient for
the intentions in which chalybeate
medicines are given.   Very dilute
folutions,  as that of a grain of the
fait in a pint of water, may be ufed
as fuccedanea to  the natural chaly-
d Compofitions.   Part III.

 beate  waters, and will  in many
 cafes produce fimilar effects.

   COLCOTHAR VITRIOLI.
              Edinb.
       Colcothar of vitirol.
 Let calcined vitriol be urged with
   a violent fire till it puffes into a
   matter of a very red colour.

   In  this  preparation,  the iron
 which had been brought to a faline
 ftate by means of the acid of vitriol,
 is again deprived of that acid by the
 action of fire.   It may  be confider-
 ed therefore as differing in nothing
 from the refiduum which remains in
 the retort, when vitriolic acid is di-
 ftilled from  martial vitriol.  The
 colcothar is very rarely employed by
 itfelf for medical purpofes ; but it  is
 ufed in the preparation of fome o-
 ther  chalybeates, particularly the
 floresmmiales, when prepared ac-
 cording to the method  directed by
 the Edinburgh college.

   iETHIOPS MARTIALIS.
               Gen.
        Martial JEthiopu
 Take of
  The ruft of iron, as much as yea
     incline ;
  Olive  oil, a fufficient quantity ts
     make it into a pafte.
 Let this be diftilled in a retort by a
  ftrong fire to drynefs. Keep the
  refiduum  reduced to  a fine  pow-
  der in a clofe veffel.

  An  article under this name had
 formerly a place  in fome of the old
 pharmacopoeias, and is defcribed by
 Lemery  in  the   Memoirs  of the
 French Academy ; but it was form-
 ed by  a tedious procefs, continued
 for fever.il month? by  the aid of
 water.  Here the procefs  is much
 fhorter,  and  is  fuppofed  to  give
                          nearly 
Chap.  13.
Of Mercury.
nearly  the fame  product.  Some
have recommended it, upon the fup-
pofition that die iron is here obtain-
ed in a very fubtle ftate :  but it is
not in general fuppofed to have any
advantage over the other more com-
mon chaly beates.

  CROCUS MARTIS APERI-
   ENS  ET ASTRINGENS.
Opening  and aftringent crocus  of
             iron.

   These are prepared by mixing
iron filings with twice their weight
of powdered fulphur, deflagrating in
a red hot crucible; and in the one
cafe keeping the preparation over
the fire till it affumes a red colour;
in the other, by reverberating it  for
along time in the moft extreme de-
gree of heat.
   Preparations under thefe names
                          43*
ftill retain a place in feme of the fo-
reign pharmacopoeias, but they are
varioufty  prepared.  They  may
however be confidered as poffefling
the fame medical powder: and al-
though the preparations mentioned
above  probably  differ  fomewhat
from each other in their virtues, yet
that difference is not of fuch a nature
as is imported by the titles by which
they are ufually diftinguiftied. For
all the preparations of iron probably
act by an aftringent quality ; and
that which is above denominated the
aftringent crocus,has probably leaft
effect  in that way.  At one period,
thefe preparations were not unfre-
qnently in ufe; and they were given
in the form of  bolus, electuary, or
pill,from  a few grains to a fcruple;
but among us they are at prefent fo
little  in  ufe, as  to have now no
place in our pharmacopoeias.
CHAP.     XIII.
P RjEP arata ex  hydrargtro.
PREPARATIONS of  MERCURY.
      WE have  already treated  of
      mercury at fome length in
the Materia Medica, and have there
given a full view of the different
mercurial preparations, reduced to
the form of a table.  FromMhat
table it is evident,  that therffs no
article which has been employed for
medical purpofes in a greater va-
riety of  forms.  The  colleges of
                             1
London and Edinburgh  have ad-
mitted  into their  pharmacopoeias
only a few of thefe ; but from the
felection they  have made, there is
reafon to  believe that every  ufeful
purpofe for which mercury has been
employed may  be anfwered ;  and
thefe purpofes  are both  numerous
and confiderable.  For it is at leaft
very generally allowed among intel-
                          ligent 
 432          Preparations a

 light practitioners,  that there  are
 very few articles kept in the fhops
 of oar apothecaries  which can  be
 confidered as fo extenfively ufeful.
  Mercury or quickfilver, in its crude
 ftate, is a ponderous  metallic  fluid,
 totally volatile in a ftrong fire, and
 calcinible by a  weaker one (though
 very difficultly) imo a red po" dery
 fubftance. It diffolves in the nitrous
 acid, is corroded by  the vitriolic,
 but  not  acted on by the marine in
 its liquid ftate : it neverthelefs may
 be combined with this  laft, if fkil-
 fully applied in the form  of  fume.
 Quickfilver unites, by trituration,
 With earthy, unctuous, refinous, and
 t>ther fimilar fubftances, fo as to lofe
 its fluidity : triturated with fiilphur,
 it forms a black mafs, which by fub-
 limation changes into a beautiful
 red one.
  The general virtues of the mer-
 curial preparations we have already
 endeavoured  to ftate under  the ar-
 ticle  Hydragyrus in the Materia
 Medica.    Here it  is  fufficient  to
 obferve,  that while  in certain cir-
 cumftances they act as ftimulants,
 and even as corrofives, to the parts
 to which they are applied; under a
 different management, when intro-
 duced into  the  habit, they feem to
 forward  circulation through  even
 the fmalleft and moft remote veffels
 of the body; and  may be  fo mana-
 ged as to promote excretions th rough
 all theemunctories. But while they
 thus operate as a powerful  ftimulus
 to the fanguiferous, and  probably
 alfo to the lymphatic fyftem,  they
 feem to exert but little influence on
the nervous fyftem.  By this means
they prove  eminently ferviceable in
certain inveterate chronical  difor-
ders, proceeding from obftinate ob-
ftructions of the glands. Crude mer-
cury has no effect this way. Refolved
into  fume,  or divided into minute
panicles, and prevented from re-
id Compofitions.    Part III.

 uniting by the intcrpofition of otlicr
 fubftances,  it operates  very  po ver-
 fully; unlefs the  dividing body be>
 fulphur,  which reftrains iis action.
 Combined  with  a fnall quantity
 of the mineral acids, it acts  effectu-
 ally, though in  general mildly;
 with a larger, it  proves violently
 corrofive.

   HYDRARGYRUS PURIFI-
             CATUS.
              Loud.
        Purified quickfilver.
 Take of
   Qjiick filver,
   Filings of iron, each four pounds.
 Rub them together, and diftil from
   an iron veffel.

   As in the di filiation of quickfil-
 ver glafs retorts are very liable to be
 broken, an iron one  is here With
 propriety directed; and by the  ad-
 dition of the filings of iron, matters
 which  might otherwife arife with
 the quickfilver will be more apt to
 be retained in the  retort: But ftill
 this happens fo readily, even  merely
 with that degree of heat  which is
 neceffary  to elevate the mercury,
 that it  is very  doubtful  whether
 much advantage be obtained from
 this procefs ; and accordingly it  has
 now no place in the pharmacopoeia
 of the Edinburgh college.

   HYDRARGYRUS ACETA-
             TUS.
             Lond.
       Acetated quickfilver.
 Take of
   Purified quickfilver, one pound ;
   Diluted nitrous acid, two pounds ;
   Water of kali, as much as is fuf-
     ficient.
 Mix  the  quickfilver with the acid
   iast glafs veifel, and  diffolve it in
   aTand-bath ; then drop in by  de-
   grees the water of kali, that the
                            calx 
Chap.  13             Of Mercury.
  calx of quickfilver may be preci-
  pitated ; wafluhis calx with plen-
  ty of diftilled water, and dry it
  with a gentle heat. Thefe things
  being done,
Take of
  The calx of quickfilver, juft now
     defcribed, one poand.
  Acetous acid,  as much as is ne-
     ceffary to  diffolve the calx.
Mix them in a glafs veffel; and the
  folution being  completed, ftrain
  it through paper ; then evaporate
  it till a pellicle  appears, and fet it
  afide to cryftallize.
Keep thefe cryftals in a veffel clofe
  ftopt.
                        433
bath, till it becomes a red pow»
der.
   Of all the faline preparations of
mercury, it has long been the opi-
nion of the beft chemifts, that thofe
in which it was brought to a faline
form, by means of acetous acid,
would be the mildeft; andfuchapre-
paration was conjectured to be the
bafis of a celebrated pill, prepared
and fold by  Mr Kcyfer.   It was
however found to be avery difficult
matter to imitate his pill, or to ob-
tain a combination of mercury with
the  acetous  acid:  but not long
fince, the procefs for preparing thefe
pills was publifhed by authority at
Paris, after being purchafed by the
French  King.  The procefs here
defcribed, though in fome particu-
lars much lefs operofe than that of
Mr Keyfer,  yet nearly approaches
to it, and furnifhes us with the mild-
eft of the fiiline mercurials.

HYDRARGYRUS  CALCINA-
             TUS.
             Lond.
      Calcined q uickfilver.
Take of
  Purified quickfilver,  one pound.
Expofe the quickfilver, in a flat-bot-
  tomed glafs cucurbit, to an heat
  of about 600  degrees in a fand-
   This preparation  may now be
made in a fhorter time than by the
procef*  formerly directed in  the
London pharmacopoeia, which in
general require1!!  feveral months ;
for the accefs of air,  without which
calcination cannot be performed,
was then very much excluded. Still,
however,  the procefs is a tedious
one,  and might perhaps be imprO"
ved.  A veflel might be fo con-
trived,  as  to occafion a continual
flux  of air  over the furface of the
mercury.
   Thispreparation isby fome high-
ly efteemed in venereal cafes, and
fuppofed to  be the moft efficacious
and certain of all the mercurials. It
may be advantageoufly given in con-
junction with  opiates: a bolus or
pill,  containing from half a grain to
two grains of this calx, and a quar-
ter or half a grain or more of opium,
with the addition of fome warm a-
romatic ingredient,  may be taken
every night. Thus managed, it acts
mildly, though powerfully, as an al-
terative and diaphoretic : given by
itfelf in larger dofes, as four or five
grains, it proves a rough emetic and
cathartic.

      PULVIS MERCURII
          CINEREUS.
             Edinb.
 Afh-coloured powder of mercury.
Take of
  Qjiickfilver,
  Weak nitrous acid,equalweights.
Mix them fo as to diffolve the quick-
  filver ;  dilute  the folution with
  pure water,  and add fpirit of fal
  ammoniac as much as is fufficient
  to feparate the mercury perfectly
  from the  acid ; then  wafh the
  powder in pure water, and dry
  it.
              E  e             In 
43 4       Preparations and Compofitions.       Part 111..
   In this procefs the mercurial ni-
 tre is decompofed; the precipitate,
 therefore, isa calx of mercury, and
 the clear liquor a folution of nitrons
 ammoniac.   From the great attrac-
 tion which the nitrous acid has for
 phlogifton, or from its ready difpo-
 fition to part with pure air,  the pre-
 cipitates of mercury, from its folu-
 tion in this acid, are more complete-
 ly in the ftate of a calx than thofe
 from any other menftruum. There
 are, however, feveral niceties to be
 obferved in conducting this procefs.
 If we employ too fmall a proportion
 of acid,  and alfift  the folution by
 heat, the  folution will contain  an
 Cxcefs of calx capable of being fepa-
 rated by the water ; and the whole
 precipitate  from  fuch  a  folution
 would be of a white colour.   If, on
 the other hand, we employ too large
 a proportion of acid,  the mercury is
 then fo far calcined as to be capable
 of being diffolved'by the volatile al-
 kali : and this might happen in pro-
 portion as the  quantity fliould  be
 niperabundant to the neutralization
 of the acid.  The ufe of the water
 is to diflblve the nitrous ammoniac
 as faft as it is formed, and  thereby
 prevent it  from falling down and
 mixing with the precipitate.  It is
 neceffary to employ the pureft wa-
 ter ; as if fuch was ufed as contains a
 nitrous* felenite, not only a part of
 the mercury may be precipitated by
 the bafe of the felenite, but this
 laft" might alfo be depofited by the
 fucceeding addition of the  alkali.
   The pulvis mercurii cinereus has
 of late years been much celebrated
 for the cure of venereal affections.
 It was  firft propofed by  Dr Saun-
 ders to be made by precipitating
 the mercury  from calomel, as the
 beft fubftitute for the tedious and
 expenfive procefs of'the precipitatus
per fee, and of the grey powder pro-
 duced  by triture with gum arabic.
 F?om the teftimony of Dr Home,
and feveral other praditioners, we
have no doubt of its being a very
valuable preparation of mercury. It
may be given in a bolus or wafer,
from one to fix or feven grains ;  the
dofe being gradually increafed ac-
cording to its effects upon the per-
fon.

HYDRARGYRUS CUM CRE-
              TA
              Lond.
      Quickfilver with chalk.
Take of
   Purified quickfilver, three oun-
   ces; Powdered chalk, five oun-
   ces.
Rub them together until  the glo-
   bules difappear.

   In this preparation, as well asthe
two former, we have alfo the mer-
cury in aftate of calx ;  butin place-
of being  brought to  that  ftate by
the aid of fire or of acids, what may
here be confidered  as calcination is
effected by triture.
   This preparation had no place in
the former editions of the London
pharmacopoeia.  A   preparation,
nearly fimilar indeed, under the title
of Mercurius Alcalifatus,  in which
crabs eyes were  employed in place
of chalk,  had a place in the old edi-
tions of the  Edinburgh pharmaco-
poeia, but was rejected from that
publifhed  in IT44> and has never
again been reftored.   One reafon
for rejecting it was its being liable
to grofs abufe in the preparation, by
the addition of fome intermedium,
facilitating the union of mercury
with the abforbent earth, but dimi-
nilhing or altering its power.  The
prefent preparation is liable to the
fame objection.  Some, however,
are of opinion, that when duly pre-
pared,  it  is an  ufeful  alterative.
But there  can  be  little  doubt,
that the abforbent earth, by deftroy-
ing acid  in  the alimentary canal,
                            will 
Chap.  13.
Of Mercury.
435
  will diminifh the activity  of  the
  mercurial calx.

     HYDRARGYRUS  MURIA-
               TUS
               Lond.
         Muriated quickfilver.
  Take of
    Purified quickfilver,
    Vitriolic acid, each two pounds ;
    Dried fea-falt, three pounds and
    an half.
  Mix the quickfilver with the acids
    in a glafs  veffel, and boil in a
    fand-heat until  the  matter be
    dried.  Mix it, when cold, with
    the fea-falt, in a glafs veffel; then
    fublime in a glafs cucurbit, with
    a heat gradually raifed.  Laftly,
    let the fublimed matter be fepa-
    rated from the feoriae.

  MERCURIUS   SUBL1MATUS
         CORROSIVUS.
             Edinb.
    Sublimate corrofive mercury.
  Take of
    Quickfilver,
    Weak nitrous acid, of each four
      ounces ;
   Calcined fea-falt,
   Calcined vitriol, of each  five
      ounces.
 Diffolve the quickfilver in the ni-
   trous  acid, and evaporate the fo-
   lution to a white and thoroughly
   dry mafs ; then add the fea-falt
   and vitriol.  Having ground and
   mixed them well together, put
   the whole into a phial,  one half
   of which they ought to fill; then
   fublime in fand, firft witha gentle
   heat, but afterwards to be gradu-
   ally increafed.

  The fublimate prepared by either
of  thefe methods is the  fame, as
the fublimate in both confifts only
of mercury and the acid of the fea-
falt united together.  In the pro-
cefs directed by the Edinburgh col-
  lege, the materials being mixed and
  expofed to the fire, firft the vitriol
  parts with its acid, which, diflod-
  ging thofe of  nitre and  marine
  fait, take their place.  The marine
  acid, refolved into fume and aflifted
  by the nitrous, diflblves the  mercu-
  ry, now alfo ftrongly heated. This
  acid, though it very difficultly acts
  on mercury,  yet when thus once
  united with it, is more ftrongly re-
  tained thereby than any other acid.
  The nitrous fpirit, therefore,  ha-
  ving nothing to retain it (for its own
. bafis and that of the fea-falt are both
 occupied  by the vitriolic, and that
 which the vitriolic forfook to unite
 with thefe, is now fearcely  combi-
 able  with it ) arifes ;  leaving  the
 mercury and marine acid to fublime
 together  when the  heat fliall be
 ftrong enough to  elevate  them.
 Some fmall portion of the marine
 fpirit arifes along with the nitrons;
 and  hence this compound acid has
 been ufually employed,  inftead of
 the aquafortis compofita, to  which
 it is fimilar, for  making  the  red
 corrofive.
   It appears, therefore, that the  vi-
 triol, and the bafes of the nitre and
fea-falt, are of no farther ufe in this
procefs, than as convenient  inter-
mediums for facilitating the union
of the mercury with the marine a-
cids.  They likewife ferve to afford
a fupport  for the fublimate  to reft
upon, which thus affumes  the form
it is expected in,  that of a placenta
or cake.
  The  procefs, however, now a-
dopted by the London college is a
more fimple and better  one. There
the mercury, corroded by the vitri-
olic acid into a white mafs, is mixed
with about an equal quantity of fea-
falt, and fet to fublime ; the vitriolic
acid quits the mercury to unite with
the bafis  of the fea-falt;  and the
acid of the fea-fiilt, now fet at  li-
berty, unites with the mercury, and
             E  e 2          fu- 
536          Preparations at

fuolimes with it into the compound
required.   The difcovery of this
method is generally  attributed  to
Boulduc ; though it is found alfo in
Kuiikel's Laboratorium Chymicum.
When the procefs is conducted in
this way, the refiduous matter isa
pure Glauber's fait, and the fubli-
mate is alfo free of ferruginous mat-
ter ; a greater or lefs quantity of
which is very generally carried  up
alongwith the mercury when vitri-
ol of iron is employed.  Boulduc's
method has therefore the advantage
in this, that the proportion of mer-
cury in a  given quantity of fubli-
mate muft be lefs liable to variation.
   If the  mercury be corroded  by
the nitrous acid inftead of the vitri-
olic, the event will be the fame; that
acid equally quitting the mercury,
and feitiug loolc the marine ; and
the fublimate made by this method
is the fame with the foregoing ; but
as  the quantity of  fixt matter is
fmaller, it more difficultly affumes
the form of a cake. It requires  in-
deed fome fkill in the operator to
give it this appearance when either
procefs is followed.   When  large
quantities are made, this form may
be eafily obtained, by placing the
matrafs no deeper in the  fand than
the furface of the matter  contained
in  it;  and removing a little of the
fand from the fides of the glafs, as
foon as the flowers begin to appear
in  the neck ; when the heat fhould
likewife be fomewhat lowered, and
not at all raifed during the whole
procefs.  The fublimation is known
to  be completed by the edges of the
cryftalline cake, which  will form
upon the furface of the caput mor-
tuum,  appearing fmooth and even,
and a  little removed from it.
   Our apothecaries rarely, and few
even of the chemifts, attempt the
making of this preparation  them-
felves ; greateft part of what is ufed
a •;:ong us comes from Venice and
d Compofitions.   Part III.

Holland.  This foreign fublimate
has been reported to be adultered
with arfenic. Some affirm that this
dangerous fraud may  be difcovered
by  the fublimate turning black  on
being moiftoned with alkaline ley j
which by others is denied.  As this
point feemed of fome importance to
be determined, fundry experiments
have been  made with this view,
which prove the infufliciency of al-
kalies tor difcoveriitg arfenic. Al-
kaline ley, poured into a folution of
pure  fuhlhTiUte, into  a  folution  of
pure arfenic, and into a mixture of
the two  folutions in  different pro-
portions, produced no blacknefs  in
any : and though the pure fublimate,
and the mixtures of it with arfenic,
exhibited fome differences in thefe
trials,yet thefe differences were nei-
ther fo conftant, nor  fo  ftrongly
marked, as to be laid downuniver-
fally for criteria of" the prefence or
abfence of arfenic : different fpeci-
mens of fublimate, known   to  be
pure, have been found to differ con-
fiderably in this refpect ; probably
from their holding a little more or
lefs mercury in proportion to the
acid, or from their retaining fome
fmall portion of thofe  acids which
were employed in the preparation
as intermedia
   Some chemifts deny the practica-
bility of thisadulteration.  There is
a procefs common in books of che-
miftry, wherein fublimate and arfe-
nic being mixed together and fet to
fublime, they  do not arife in one
mafs,  or yield  any thing fimilar to
the preparation here intended :  the
 arfenic abforbstbe acid of the fubli-
 mate, and is reduced thereby into
 a liquid or bntyraceous confiftence ;
 while the mercury, thus freed from
 the acid, diftils in its running form:
 if the quantity of arfenic be infufli-
 cientto  decompound  the whole of
 the fublimate, the  remainder  of
 the fublimate concretes diftinct from
                              the 
  Chap.  13.            Of Mercury.                    437

  the arienical butter.  From whence  tion, fofteued with fyrup of violets,
  they conclude, that arieafc and fub-  taken twice or thrice a-day,  it will
  Jimate cannot be  united together  perform wonders in many reputed
  into a cryftalline cake, the form in  incurable diftempers;  but he par-
  which this preparation is broqght  ticularly cautions us not to venture
  to U£.                             upon it, unlefs the method of ma-
    The above experiment is not at-  nag'uig it be well known.
  together decifive ;  for though arfe-    Sublimate diffolved in vinous fpi-
  nic aiid fulphur do not afliime  the  rit has of late been given internally
  required form by the common pro-  in larger dofes; from a quarter of a
  cefs, it is poffible they may by foine  grain to half a grain. This method
 other management.  It will there-  of ufing it was brought into,repute
 fore be proper  to  point out means  by Baron Van Swieten at Vienna,
  for the fatisfactiou of  thofe who  particularly for venereal maladies;
  may be defiroas of convincing them-  and feveral  trials of it have been
  felves of the geauinenefs of rhis im-  made in this  kingdom alfo wirh fuc-
  porauit preparation.   Let fome of  cefs. Eight grains of the fublimate
  the fublimate, powdered  in-a glafs  he  diffolved in  fixteen ounces of
 mortar, be well mixed with twice its  rectified fpirit of wine or proof-fpi-
 weighr of black flux, and a little fi-  rit; the redified fpirit diflblves it
 lings or fhavings of iron : put the  more perfectly, and feems to make
 mixture into a crucible capable of  the medicine milder in its operation
 holding four or five times as much ;  than the proof fpirit of the original
 give a gradual fire till the ebullition  prefcrlption of Van  Swieten.  Of
 ceafes, and then haftily increafe it to  this folution, from one to two fpoon-
 a white heat.   If no fumes of a  fuls, that is,  from half an ounce to
 garlic fmell can be perceived during  an ounce are given twice a-day,
 the procefs, and if the particles of  and  continued till all the fymptoms
 iron retain  their  form, without any  are removed; obferving to ufe a low
 of them being melted, we may be  diet, with plentiful dilution, other-
 fecure  that the mixture contained  wife the fublimate is apt to purge,
 no arfenic.                        and  gripe feverely.   It generally
                                   purges more or lefs at  the begin-
   Subi.im a TEisamafi violent cor-   ning, but afterwards feems to ope-
 rofive, prefently corrupting and de-   rate  chiefly by urine and perfpira-
 ftroying all the parts of the body it   tion.
 touches. A  folution of it in water,     Sublimate confifts of mercury uni-
 in the  proportion of about a dram   ted with a large quantity of marine
 to a quarts is made  uie of for keep-   acid.  There are two general me-
 ingdown proud fleifh, and clcanfing   thods of deftroying  its corrofive
 foul ulcers ; and a more dilute Tola-  quality, and rendering it mild ; the
 tion as a cofmetic. and for deftroy-   one is, combining with it as much
 ing  cutaneous infects.  But a great   frefh mercury as the acid is capable
 deal of  caution is requifite even in   of taking up  ; and the other, by fe-
 rhefe external ufes  of it.            parating a part of the acid by means
   Some have never-ihelefs ventured   of alkaline falts, and the like. On
 tngive it internally, in the dofe of  the firft principle, mercurius dulcis
 one-tenth or one-eighth of a grain,   is formed; on the latter, white pre-
 Boerhaave relates, that if a grain of  cipitate.   But before entering on
 it he diflblved in  an ounce or more   thefe, it  is proper to give the foJ*
pf water, and a dram of rhuy&u-   lowing formula.
                          ^**                  E e 3         SO- 
 43 8          Preparations a

 SOLUTIO  MERCURII  SUB-
     LIMATI CORROSIVI.
              Edinb.
 Solution of fublimate corrofive mer-
              cury.
 Take of
   Sublimate corrofive mercury, fix
     grains;
   Sal ammoniac, twelve grains.
 Diffolve in a pound of diftilled water.
 If hard water be ufed for this pur-
   pofe, the folution fuffers a kind of
   decompofition  from the  nitrous
   felenite of the water.

   The folution of corrofive fubli-
 mate in water is very much affifte^
 by fal ammoniac.   There was a
 practice fome years ago, of mixing
 up this  folution  with wheat-flour
 into the confiftence of pills for in-
 ternal ufe ; . and the  quantity of
 fublimate in each pill was  eafily
 afcertained.
   This  folution  may alfo be ufed
 for  wafhing  venereal  and  other
 fores ;  but in many  inftances it
 will be found too acrid for that pur-
 pofe, and will require to be weak-
 ened by the addition of a portion
 of water.

         CALOMELAS.
              Lond.
            Calomel.
>Take  of
   Muriated quickfilver, one pound;
   Purified quickfilver, by Weight,
   nine ounces.
 Rub them together till the globules
   difappear, and fublime.  In the
   fame manner repeat the fublima-
   tion four times. Afterwards rnb
   the matter into the fineft powder,
   and wafh it by pouring on boil-
   ing diftilled water.

    MERCURIUS DULCIS.
             Edinb.
         $weet mercury.
d Compofitions.    Part III.

 Take of
   Corrofive mercury fublimate, re-
     duced to a powder in a glafs
     mortar, four ounces;
   Pure quickfilver, three ounces
     and a half.
 Mix them well together, by long
   trituration in a glafs or marble
   mortar, until the quickfilver cea-
   fes to appear.  Put the powder
   into an oblong phial, of  fuch a
   fize, that  only one-third of it
   may be filled ; and fet the glafs
   in fand.  By degrees of fire, fuc-
   ceffively applied, almoft all the
   mercury will fublime, and adhere
   to the upper part of  the  veflel.
   The glafs being then broken, and
   the red powder which is  found
   in its bottom,  with the whitifh
   one  that flicks about the neck,
   being thrown away, let the white
   mercury be fublimed again three
   or four  times,  and reduced  to a
   very fine powder.

   The trituration of corrofive fub-
 limate  with quickfilver is a very
 noxious operation:  for it is almoft
 impoffible, by any care, to prevent
 the lighter particles of the former
 from arifing fo as to affect  the ope-
 rator's eyes and mouth. It is never-
 thelefs of the utmoft confequence,
 that the ingredients be perfectly u-
 nited before the fublimation is be-
 gun. It isneceflary to pulverifethe
 fublimate before the mercury is ad-
 ded to it;  but this  may be fafely
 performed, with a little caution ef-
 pecially if during the pulverization
 the matterbenow and tneiifprinkled
 withalittle fpirit of wine ; this ad-
 dition  does not at all impede the
 union of the ingredients, or  preju-
 dice the fublimation r  it will be
 convenient not to clofe  the  top of
 the fubliming veffel with a cap of
paper at firft (as is ufually pradifed),
buttodefer this till the mixture be-

 W"                    2ina> 
 Chap. 13.            Of Ml

 gins to fublime,  that the fpirit may
 efeape.
   The rationale of this procefs de-
 .ferves.particular attention; and the
 more fo, as a miftaken theory herein
 has been productive of feveral errors
 with regard  to  the operation  of
 mercurials in general. Itisfuppofed,
 that the dulcitication, as it is called,
 of themercurius corrofivus, is owing
 to the fpiculae or fliarp points,  on
 which itscorrofivenefs depends, be-
 ing broken and worn off by the fre-
 quent fublimations.  If this opinion
 were juft, the corrofive would be-
 come mild, without any addition,
 barely by repeating the fublimation,
 but this is contrary wall experience.
 The abatement of the corrofive qua-
 lity of the  fublimate  is entirely ow-
 ing to the  combination of fo much
 frefh mercury with  it as is capable
 of being united ; and by whatever
 means this combination be effected,
 the preparation will be fufficiently
 dulcified.   Triture  and  digeftion
 .promote the  union of the two,
 whilft fublimation tends  rather to
 difunite them.  The prudent ope-
 rator, therefore, will not be felici-
 tous about feparating fuch mercurial
 globules as appear diftinct after the
 firft fublimation: he  will endeavour
 rather to combine them with  the
 reft,  by repeating the triture and
 digeftion.
   The college of Wirtemberg  re-
 quire their mercurius  dulcis to be
 only  twice fublimed; and the Au-
 guftan  but once ; and  Neumann
 propofes making .it directly by a
 fingle fublimation, from the ingre-
 dients whichthe corrofive fublimate
 is prepared from, by only taking the
 quickfilver in alarger proportion.
   Mr Selle  of Berlin has lately
 propofed a method of making mer-
 curius dulcis nearly fimilar to that of
 Neumann.  He directs, that to four
^ounces  of pure quickfilver  there
ihould be added as much ftrong vi-
wcury.                     439

 triolic acid.  Thefe are to be mixed
 over a ftrong fire till they become a
 folid hard mafs.  This mafs is to. be
 triturated in a ftone mortar with two
 ounces and a half of quickfilver and
 four ounces and  an half of dried
 common fait.  And by a fingle, or
 at moft two fublimations,  an excel-
 lent mercurius dulcis is, he affures
 us,  obtained.
   If the medicine, made after either
 of thefe methods, fliould prove in
 any degree acrid, water boiled on it
.for fome time will.diffolve and fepa-
 rate that part in which its acrimony
 confifts.   The marks of the prepa-
 ration being .fufficiently dulcified
■are, its being  perfectly infipid to
 the  tafte, and indiflbluble by  long
 boiling  in  water.  Whether  the
 water, .in which it has been boiled,
 has taken up any part of it, may be
 known by dropping into the liquor
 a ley of any fixt alkaline fait, or any
 volatile alkaline fpirit: if thedecoc-
 tion has any mercurial impregnati-
 on,  it will grow turbid on this addi-
 tion : if otherwife, .itvv ill continue
 limpid. But here care muft be taken
 not to be deceived by an extraneous
 faline matter in the water itfelf; moft
 of. the common fpring waters  turn
 milky on the addition of alkalies :
 and therefore, for experiments of
 this kind, diftilled  water or  rain
water ought to be ufed.
   This name of calomel., though for
 a confiderable time banifhed from
.our  beft pharmacopoeias, is  again
 rcftored  by the   London  college.
 But we cannot help thinking, that
 they might  eafily have invented a
 name better exprefling the confij-
 tuent parts, and nature  of the pre-
 paration.
   Calomel, or mercujrius dulcis,may
 be confidered as one of the moft
 nfefulof the mercurial preparations;
 and it may be eftimated as holding
 an intermediate place between the
 hydrargyrus acetatus, one of the
              Ee.4      mildfiii 
44°         Preparations at

mildeft of the  faline  preparations,
and the hydrargyrus muriatus, or
corrofive fublimate, one of the moft
acrid of them.

  HYDRARGYRUS MURIA-
          TUS MITIS.
              Lond.
     Mild muriated quickfilver.
Take of
   Purified quickfilver,
   Diluted nitrous acid, of each half
     a pound.
Mix in a glafs  Veflel,  and fet it afide
   until the quickfilver be diffolved.
   Let them, boil, that the fait may
   be diffolved.  Pour out the boil-
   ing liquor into a glafs veffel, into
   which another boiling liquor has
   been put before, confifting of,
      Sea-fait,  four ounces ;
      Diftilled  water,  eight pints.
After a white poWder has fublided
   to  the bottom of the  veflel, let
   the liquor fwimming at  the t6p
   be poured out, and the remaining
   powder be Wafhed till it becomes
   infipid, with frequentaffufions of
   hot water ; then dried on blotting
   paper with a gentle heat.

   This preparation  had a place in
former editions of the London and
Edinburgh pharmacopoeias, under
the name of mercurius dulcis precipi-
tatus.  Bnt the procefs as now gi-
ven is fomewhat altered, being that
of Mr Scheele of Sweden, Who has
recommended this as an eafy and
txpeditioas method  of preparing
fweet mercury or calbmel.
   It  appears from feveral tefts, that
this precipitate is equal in every re-
fped to  that prepared by the pre-
ceding proceffes ;  it is left trouble-
fbme and expenfive,  and the opera-
tor is not expofed to  the noxious
duft arifing from the triture of the
quickfilver With the corrofive fubli-
mate, which neceffarily happens by
the common method.   The powder
is alfo finer than can be made from
d Compofitions   Part.  III.

thecommoh fublimed fweet mercu-
ry  by  any trituration whatever.
The clear liquor ftanding over the
precipitate, is  a folution of cubic
or rhomboid al nitre,
   Mercurius dulcis, which may be
confidered as precifely the  fame
with the calotnelas and hydrargy-
rus  muriatus mitis,  appears  to be
on of the beft  and fared prepara-
tions of this mineral, When intended
to act as a quick and general ftimu-
lant.  Many of thfe more elaborate
proceffes are no other than attempts
to produce  from mercury fuch a
medicine as this really is. The dofe,
recommended by fome for railing a
falivation,  is ten or  fifteen grains
taken in the form of a bolus or pills,
every night or oftener, till the pty-
alifm begins.   As an alterant and
diaphoretic, it has been given in do-
fes of five or fix grains; a puf gative
being occafionally interpofed, to
prevent its affecting the mouth. It
anfwers,  however,  much  better
when given in fmaller quantities, as
one, two, or three grains every mor-
ning and evening, in conjunction
with fuch fubftances as determine its
action to the fkin,  as the extract or
refin of guaiacum ; the patient at
the  fame time keeping warm, and
drinking liberally of warm diluent
liquors.  By this infcthod of mana-
ging it, obftinate cutaneous and ve-
nereal diftempers have been fuccefs-
fully cured, without any remarkable
increafe of the fenfible evacuations.
 It is fometimes^ however, difficult
 to meafure its effeds in this Way ;
and it  is fo very apt  to run off by
the  Inteftines,  that we can feldom
adminifttr it in fuch a manner as to
produce fuch  permanent effeds as
are  often required,  and as we are
able to do by other preparations. It
has  lately been propofed to rub the
gums and infide of the month with
this preparation, as a ready and ef-
fedual  method of producing faliva-
tion : this pradice has been parti-
                          cularly 
Chap.  13.            Of Mi

cularly recommended in the internal
hydrocephalus, where it is exceed-
ingly difficult to excite a falivation
by other means. The advantages of
this pradice are not fully confirmed
by experience •, and when mercury
is attended with ad v aiitage in hydro-
cephalus, this is not  probably  the
confequence of any difcharge under
the  form of falivation, but merely
of the mercury being introduced in-
to the fyftem in an adive ftate, and
thus promoting  abforption.  And
of this, falivation, when it arifes
from the internal ufe of mercury,
may be confidered as the ftrongeft
teft: But this is by no means  the
cafe when  falivation  arifes from a
topical adioti on the excretories of
faliva.

  HYDRARGYRUS  NITRA-
        .TUS RUBER.
              Lond.
     R*d nitrated quickfilver.
Take of
  Purified quickfilver,
  Nitrous acid, of each one pound ;
  Muriatic acid,  one  dram.
Mix in a glafs veffel,  and diffolve
  the quickfilver in  a fand-bath ;
  then raife the fire until the matter
  be formed into  red cryftals.

 MERCURIUS   CORROSIVUS
  RUBER, vulgo PRECIPITA-
   TUS RUBER.
             Edinb.
 Redcorrefive, com moidy called  Red
       precipitate meicury.
 Take of
  Qjiickfiiver,
  Weak nitrous  acid, of each one
     pound.
 Let tie quickfilver be diffolved  in
   the acid, and then let the folu-
   tion be evaporated to a white dry
   mafs.    This  being beat into a
   powder, muft be put into a glafs
   retort,  and fubjeded to a  fine
   gradually encreafed, till a final!
rcitry.                   441

quantity of  it,  taken out in a
glafs fpooii and allowed to cool,
 aliumes the  form of fhining red
fquamae.   Let  the veflel be then
removed from  the fire.   During
the  procefs  the  matter muft be
carefully agitated  by a glafs  rod,
that k may be equally heated.

   The marine acid  in the men-
ftruum, ordered in the firft procefs,
difpofes the mercurial calx to affume
the bright fparkling look admired in
it; which, though perhaps no ad-
vantage to  it as a medicine, ought
neverthelefs to  be infifted on by the
buyer as a mark of ks goodnefs
and ftrength.   As foon as the mat-
ter has gained  this appearance, it
fliould be immediately removed from
the fire, otherwife it will foon lofe it
again. The preparation of this red
precipitate, as  it  is called,  in p«r-
rcdion, is fuppofed by fome to be a
fecret not  known to our chemifts ;
infomuch,  that  we are under the ne-
 ceffity of importing it from abroad.
 This refledion feems tot>e founded
 on mifinformation :  we fometimes
 indeed receive  confiderable quanti-
 ties of it from Holland; but this de-
 pends upon the ingredients being
 commonly cheaper there than with
 us,  and not upon any fecret in the
 manner of the preparation.
   This precipitate is, as its title im-
 ports, an efcharotic, and with this
 intention  is frequently  employed
 by the fiirgcons with bafilicum ar d
 other dreifings, for confirming fun-
 gous flcfli  in ulcers,  and the  like
 purpofes.  It is fubjed to great un-
 certainty in point of ftrength ; more
 or lefs of the acid exhaling, accord-
 ing to the degree and continuance
 of the fire. The beft criterion of
 ks ftrength, as already obferved, is
 its brilliant appearance ;  which is
 alfo the mark of its gemirnencfs : if
 mixed with minium, which  it  is
 fometimes faid  10 be, the duller hue
                             will 
 442         Preparations an

 will difcover the abufe.  This ad-
 mixture may be more certainly de-
 teded by means of fire :  the mer-
 curial part will totally evaporate,
 leaving the\ minium behind.
   Some have ventured to give this
 medicine internally, in venereal,
 fcrophulous,  and other  obftinate
 chronic diforders, in dofes of two or
 three grains, or more. But certainly
 the milder mercurials, properly ma-
 naged, are capable of anfwering all
 that can be expeded from this with-
 out  occaiioniiig violent anxieties,
 tormina of the bowels, and fimilar ill
 confequences,  which the  beft ma-
 nagement can fcarcely prevent this
 corrofive preparation  from  fome-
 times inducing. The chemifts have
contrived fundry methods of correc-
 ting and rendering it milder, by di-
 verting it of a portion of the acid ;
 but to no very good, purpofe, as they
 cither leave  the medicine ftill too
 corrofive, or render it  fimilar to o-
 thers which are  procurable  at an
 ealier rate.

    CLAX  HYDRARGYRI
             ALBA.
               Lond.
     White clax of quickfilver.
Take of
   Muriated  quickfilver,
   Sal ammoniac,
   Water of kali each, half a pound.
Diffolve firft the fal ammoniac, af-
   terwards the muriated quickfil-
   ver  in diftilled water,  and add
   the  water of kali.  Wafh the
   precipitated powder until it be-
   comes infipid.

MERCURIUS    PRECIPITA-
         TUS ALBUS.
             Edinb.
     White precipitate of mercury.
Diffolve fublimate corrofive mercu-
   ry in a fufficient quantity of hot
   water, and gradually dropinto the
   folution fome fpirit of fal ammo-
   niac as long as any precipitation
d Compofitions.    Part. III.

    enfues.  Wafh  the precipitated
    powder with feveral frefli quan-
    tities of warm water.

    These preparations  are  ufed
 chiefly in ointments ; with which
 intention their fine white colour is
 no fmall recommendation to them.
 For internal purpofes they are rare-
 ly employed, nor is it at all wanted ;
 they are nearly fimilar to mcrcuriiui
 dulcis, but lefs certain in their ef-
 feds.
   Though the proceffes directed by
 the London and Edinbugh colleges
 be here fomewhat different,  yet the
 preparations are ultimately the fame.
 The procefs defcribed  by the Edin-
 burgh college is the moft fimple;
 but is liable to fome objedions.
   Corrofive fublimate, as we have
 already  feen, confifts of  mercury
 united with a large proportion of
 acid : it is there dulcified by  adding
 as much frefli mercury as is  fuffici-
 enttofatiate all the acid; here, by fe-
 parating all the acid that is  not fa-
 fatiated.  This laft way feems an un-
 frugal one, on account not only of
 the lofs of the acid,  but of the vola-
 tile fpirit neceffary for abforbing it.
 The operator, may, however, if it
 ihould be thought worth while, re-
 cover the volatile fait from the  li-
 quor, by adding to it, after the preci-
 pitate has been  feparated,  a  proper
 quantity of potafh,and diftilling with
 a gentle heat, in the fame manner as
 for the fpirit or volatile fait of fal
 ammoniac ; for a true fal ammoniac
 is regenerated, in the precipitation,
 from the union of the volatile fpirit
 with the marine acid of  the fubli-
 mate.  It is by  no means advifable
 to ufe the liquor itfelf  as a folution
 of fal ammoniac, or to  feparate the
 fal ammoniac from it by evaporation
 and cryftallization,  as a part of the
 mercury might  be  retained,  and
 communicate dangerous qualities :
 but the volatile  fait feparated  by
                             di- 
Chap.   13.            Of Mercury.

diftillation,  may be ufed  without
fear of its containing any mercury;
none of which will arife with the
heat by which volatile falts are di-
ftilled.
  Fixt alkalies aafwers as effedual-
ly,  for precipating folutions of fub-
limate,  as the volatile ;  but  the
precipitate,  obtained by means of
the former,  inftead of being white,
as with the latter, is generally of a
rcddilh yellow or orange colour.   If
fal  ammoniac be diflblved  along
with the fublimate, the addition of
fixt alkalies will  now, extricating
the volatile alkali of the fal ammoni-
ac, occafion as  white precipitation
as if the volatile fait had been pre-
viouily feparated and  employed in
its  pure ftate : and this compendi-
um is now allowed  by the London
college in the procefs which they
have adopted.
  There the fal ammoniac, befides
its ufe in  the capital intention, to
make a white precipitation,  pro-
motes the folution of the fublimate ;
which of itfelf, is  difficultly,  and
fcarce at all  totally, foluble by re-
peated boiling in water : for howe-
ver fkilfully it  be prepared, fome
part of it will have an under-pro-
portion of acid,  and confequently
approach to  the  ftate of mercurius
dulcis.   A good deal of care is re-
quifite in  the precipitation ; for  if
too large a quantity of the fixt alka-
line folution be imprudently added,
the precipitate will loofe the elegant
white colour for which it is valued.

HYDRARGYRUS CUM SUL-
            PHURE.
              Lond.
     Quickfilver with fulphur.
Take of
  Purified quickfilver,
  Flowers  of fulphur,  each  one
     pound.
Rub them together until  the glo-
  bules difappear.
                          443
  ETHIOPS MINERALIS.
            Edinb.
        JEthiops mineral.
Take of
  Quickfilver,
  Flowers of fulphur, each equal
     weights.
Grind them together in a glafs or
  ftone mortar, with a glafspeftle,
  till the mercurial globules totally
  difappear.
An ethiops  is made alfo  with  a
  double quantity of mercury.

  We need hardly remark, that
thefe preparations, though now dif-
ferring in name, are in reality the
fame.  Nor need we add,  that the
diredion given by the Edinburgh
college, of ufing a glafs or  ftone
mortar and peftle, is neceffary and
proper.
  The union of the  mercury and
fulphur might be much facilitated
by the afliitance of a little warmth.
borne are  accuftomed to make this
preparation  in  a very expedions
manner by melting the fulphur  in
an iron ladle, then adding the quick-
filver, and ftirring them together
till the mixture be completed. The
fmall degree of heat here fufficient,
cannot reafonably be fuppofed to do
any injury to fubftances which have
already undergone  much  greater
fires,  not only in the extradion
from their ores, but likewife in the
purifications of them  direded  in
the pharmacopoeia.  In the follow-
ing  procefs, they are expofed  in
conjundion to a ftrong fire, without
fufpicion of the compound receiving
any ill quality from it. Thus much
is certain, that the ingredients are
more perfedly united by heat than
by the degree of triture ufually be-
llowed upon them. From the ethi-
ops prepared by triture, part of the
mercury is apt to be fpued out on
making it into an eleduary or pills ;
                           from 
 444         Preparations a

 from that made by fire, no fepara-
 tion is obferved to happpen.
   Ethiops mineral is one of  the
 moft inactive of the mercurial pre-
 parations. Some praditioners, how-
 ever, have reprefented it as polfef-
 fmg  extraordinary  virtues;  and
 moft people imagine it is a medicine
 of fome efficacy.   But what bene-
 fit is to be expeded from it in the
 common dofes of eight or ten grains,
 or a fcruple, may be judged from
 hence, ihat it his been taken in do-
 fes of feveral drams, and continued
 for a  confiderable time,  without
 producing  zxiy remarkable  cffed.
 Sulphur eminently abates the power
 of all the more adive minerals, and
 feems to be at the fame time reftrain-
 ed by them from  operating in the
 body itfelf.   Boerhaave^ who is in
 general fifficiently liberal  in the
 commendation of medicines, difap-
 provesof the ethiops in very ftroug
 terms." It cannot enter the abforb-
 **-ent veffels, the ladeals, or lym-
 *' phatics ; but paffesdiredly thro'
 (< the inteftinal tube, where it may
 " happen to deftroy  worms, if it
4e operates luckily. They are decei-
 %< ved who expedany other effeds
 " from it; at leaft I  inyfclf could
 <( never find them.  I am afraid it
 " is unwarily given,  in fuch large
 " quantities, to children  and per-
 <: fons of tender conftitutions, as be-
 " ing  a fe-reign mafs, nnconquer-
 " able by the body, the more  to be
4t fufpectsd,  as it there  continues
 " long fluggifh and  inadive.   It
** does not raife a falivation, becaufe
 te it cannot  come  into the  blood.
" Who knows the effeds of a fub-
" ftance,  which fo long as it re-
" mains compounded, feems no
« more adive  than  any ponder-
** ems infipid earth?" The ethiops,
with a double proportion of mer-
cury now received into our phar-
macopoeias,  has a greater ckmce
nd Compofitions.    Part 111.

 for operating as a mercuiial ; and
 probably the quantity ot mercury
 might be ftill  further increafed t«
 advantage.

  HYDRARGYRUS  SULPHU-
        RATUS RUBE?..
               Loud.
    Red fulphurat\tt quickfilver.
 Take of
   Qitickfilvcr  purified, forty oun-
      ces ;
   Sulphur, eight ounces.
 Mix the quickfilver with the melt-
   ed fulphur ;  and  it the  mix-
   ture takes fire, extinguith it by
   covering the veffel; afterwards
   reduce the mafs to powder, and
   fublime  it.

   It has been cuftomary to order
 a larger quantity of fulphur than
 here direded :  but fmaller propor-
 tions anfwer better ; for  the lefs
 fulphur, the finer coloured is the
 cinnabar.
   As foon  as the mercury and ful-
 phur begin to unite, a confiderable
 exploiion frequently happens, and
 the mixture is very apt to take fire,
 efpecially if the procefs be fome-
 what haftily conduded. This acci-
 dent the operater will have previous
 notice of, from the matter fwell-
 ing up, and growing fuddenly con-
 fiftent : as foon as this happens, the
 veflel muft be immediately  clofe co-
 vered.
   During  the fublimation,  care
 muft be had that the matter rife not
 into the neck of the veffel, fo as to
 block up and burft the glafs: to pre-
 vent this, a wide necked bolt head,
 or rather an oval earthen jar, coated,
 fhould be chofen for the fubliming
 veflel.  If the former be employed,
 it will be convenient to introduce at
 times an iron wire, fomewhat heat-
 ed, in order to be the better allured
 that thepaiiageis cor blocking up;
                             the 
Chap.  13.            Of Mercury.                    445

the danger  of which may be pre-  given cinnabar in large quantities to
vented by cautiouily railing the vef-  a dog, it produced no fenfible effed,
fel higher from the fire.           but was partly voided along with
  If the ingredients were pure, no  the feces unaltered, and partly found
feces will remain : in fuch cafes, the  entire in the ftomach and inteftines
fublimation may be known  to be  upon opening the animal.  Thece-
over, by introducing a wire as be-  Itbrared Frederick Hoffman, after
fore, and feeling therewith the bot-  bellowing high encomiums on this
torn of the veilel, which will then  preparation, as having, in many in-
be perfedly fmooth : if any rough-  fiances within his own knowledge,
nefs or inequalities are preceived,  perfedly cured epileptics and veni-
either the mixture was impure, or  goes from contufions of the head
the fublimation is not completed; if  (where it is probable, however, that
the latter be the cafe, the wire will  the cure did not  fo much depend
foon be covered over with the rifing  upon the cinnabar as on the fpon-
cinnabar.                        taneous recovery of the parts ircm
   Thepreparersofcinnabarinlarge  the external injury), obferves, that
quantity,employearthenjars,Which  the large repeated dcfes, neceffary
in fhape  pretty much refemble an  for having any effed,  can be borne
egg.  Thefe are of different fizes,  only where the firft  pafiages  are
according to the quantity intended  ftrong ; and that if thefbrcs of the
to  be made   at one  fublimation,  ftomach and inteftines arc lax  and
which fometimes amounts to two  flaccid, the cinnabar, accumulated
hundredweight. The jar is ufually  and concreting  with the mucous
coated from the fmall end almoft to  matter of the parts, occafions great
the middle, to prevent its breaking  oppreflion ;  which feems to be an
from the vehemence or irregularity  acknowledgment that the cinnabar
©f the fire.  The greater part, which  is not fubdued by the powers of di-
is placed uppermoft, not being re-  geftion, and has no proper medicinal
ceived within the  furnace, has no  adivity.  There are indeed fome
occafion  for  this  defence.   The  inftances of the daily ufe of cinnabar
whole fecret, with regard to this  having brought on a falivation -, per-
procefs,  is the management  of the  haps from the cinnabar, made ufe
fire, which  Ihould be fo ftrong as  of in thofe cafes, having contained
to keep the matter continually fub-  a lefs proportion of fulphur than the
liming to the  upper part of the jar,  forts commonly met with. The re-
without  coming out at its mouth,  gulus of antimony, and even white
which is covered with an iron plate;  arfenic, when combined with a cer-
care fliould  alfo be taken  to put  tain quantity of common fulphur,
into the  fubliming veflel only fmall  feem tohave their deleterious power
quantities of the mixture at a time,  deftroyed : on feparating more and
   The principal ufe of cinnabar  is  more  of the fulphur,  they exert
as-a pigment.  It was formerly held  more and more of their proper vi-
 in  great efteem as a medicine incu-  rulence.  It dees not feem unrtc-
taneous foulneffcs, gouty and rheu-  fonable to prefume, that mercury
matic pains, epileptic cafes, &c. but  may have its adivity varied in the
of late it has  loft  much of its re-  fame manner ;  that when perfedly
 putation.  It appears to be nearly  fatiated with fulphur, it may be
fimilar to the ethiopsalready fpoken  inert:  and that when the quantity
•f.  Cartheufer relates, that having of fulphnr is mere and tnore- leffcncd. 
 446          Preparations a,

 the compound may have greater and
 greater degrees of the proper effica-
 cy of mercurials.
   Cinnabar is fometimes ufed in fu-
 migations againft venereal ulcers in
 the nofe, mouth, and throat.  Half
 a dram of it burnt,  the fume being
 imbibed with the breath, has occa-
 iioned a violent falivation.  This ef-
 fed is by no means owing to  the
 medicineas cinnabar : when fet on
 fire, it is no longer a mixture of
 mercury and fulphur ; but  mercury
 refolved into fume,  and blended in
 part with the volatile vitriolic acid ;
 in cither of which  circumftances,
 this mineral, as already obferved,
 has very powerful effeds.

 HYDRARGYRUS  VITRIO-
           LATUS.
             Lond
      Vitriolated quickfilver.
 Take of
   Quickfilver,  purified,
  Vitriolic acid, each one pound.
 Mix in a glafs veffel, and heat them
  by degrees, until  they unite into
  a white mafs, which is to be per-
  fedly dried with a flrong  fire.
  This matter, on the aff'ufion of a
  large quantity of hot diftilled wa-
  ter,immediately becomes yellow,
  and falls to powder.  Rub  the
  powder carefully with this water
  in a  glafs mortar.  After  the
  powder has fubfided, pour off the
  water ;  and,  adding more diftil-
  led water feveral times, wafh the
  matter till it become infipid.

   MERCURIUS  FLAVUS,
             vulgo
 TURPETHUM MINERALE.
             Edmb
Yellow  mercury, commonly called
        Turbith mineral.
Take of
  Qjiickfilver, four ounces ;
  Vitriolic acid, eight ounces,
   Compofitions.    Par 1111.

   lutioufty mix them together, and
   diftil in a retort, placed in a land-
   furnace,  to  drynefs : the white
   calx,  which is left at the bottom,
   being ground topowder, muft be
   thrown into warm water. It im-
   mediately affumes a yellow  co-
   lour,  but muft afterwards be pu-
   rified by repeated ablutions.

   The  quantity of oil of vitriol,
 formerly direded,was double to that
 now  employed by the Edinburgh
 college.  The redudion made in this
 article greatly facilitates  the  pro-
 cefs; and the proportions of theLon-
 don college are perhaps preferable.
   Boerhaave direds this preparati-
 on to be made in an open glafs, flow-
 ly heated, and then placed immedi-
 ately uponburningcoals; care being
 taken to avoid the fumes which are
 extremely noxious.  This method
 will fucceed very well with a little
 addrefs when the ingredients are in
 fmall quantity : but where the mix-
 ture is large, it is better to ufe a re-
 tort, placed in a fand-furnace, with
 arecipient, containing a fmall quan-
 tity of'water luted to it. Great care
 fliould be taken, when the oil of vi-
 triol begins to bubble,  to fteadily
 keep up the heat, without at all in-
 creafing it, till the ebullition ceafes,
 when the fire fhould  be augmented
 to the utmoft degree, that as much
 as poflible of the redundant acid may
 be expelled.
   If the matter be but barely exfic-
 cated, it proves  a cauftic fait, which
 in the ablution  with water will al-
 moft all   diffolve, leaving  only a
 little quantity of turbith : the more
 of the acid that has beeii diffipated,
 the lefs of the  remaining mercury
will diffolve, and confequently the
yield of turbith will be greater ; fire
expelling only fuch part of the acid
as is not completely  fatiated with
mercury,  while water takes up al-
                          ways, 
Chap 13.
Of Mercury.
447
ways.along with the acid, a propor-
tionable quantity of the mercury it-
felf.  Even when the  matter  has
been ftrongly calcined, a part will
ftill be foluble :  this evidently ap-
pears upon pouring into the wafh-
ings a little folution of fixt alkaline
fait, which will throw down a con-
fiderable quantity of yellowprecipi-
tate, greatly refembling the turbith,
except that it is lefs violent in ope-
ration.
  From this experiment it appears,
that the beft method of edulcorating
this powder is, by impregnating the
water, intended to be ufed  in its ab-
lution,  with a determined propor-
tion of  fixt alkaline  fait : for by
this means, the wafhed turbith will
not only turnout greater in quanti-
ty,  but, what is of more confe-
quence,always have an equal degree
of ftrength ; a circumftance which
deferves particularly to  be confider-
ed, efpecially in making fuch pre-
parations as,  from an error in the
procefs, may  prove  too  violently
corrofive to be ufed with any tole-
rable degree  of fafety.   It is ne-
ceffary to employ warm water if we
are anxious for a fine colour.  If
cold water be ufed, the precipitate
will be white.
   It is obfervablc, that though the
fuperfluous acid  be here abforbed
from the mercury by the  alkaline
fait; yet in fome circumftances this
acid forfakes that fait to itnke with
mercury.  If tartarum  vitriolatum,
or kali vitriolatum, as it is now call-
ed, which is  a combination of vi-
triolic acid with fixt alkalies, be dif-
folved in water, and the folution ad-
ded  to a folution of mercury in a-
quafortis,the vitriolic acid will unite
with the mercury, and  form withit
a turbith, which falls to the bottom;
leaving only the alkali diffolved in
the aquafortis, and united with its
acid into a'regenerated nitre. On
this principle depends the prepara-
tion defcribed by Wilfon,under the
title of An excellent precipitate of
mercury ; which is no other than a
trne turbith, though not generally
known to  be fuch.  It is made by
diflblving four ounces of kali vitrio-
latum in fixteen ounces of fpirit of
nitre ; diflblving in this  compound
liquor four ounces of  mercury ;
abftrading the menftruum  by a
fand-heat  ; and edulcorating with
water the gold-coloured mafs which
remains.
  Turbith mineral is a ftrong eme-
tic, and with this intention operates
the moft powerfully of all the mer-
curials that can be fafely given in-
ternally. Its adion, however, is not
confined to the primae viae ; it  will
fometimes excite a falivation,  if a
purgative be not taken foon after it.
This medicine is ufed chiefly in vi-
rulent gonorrhoeas, and other vene-
real cafes,where there is a great flux
of hmuours to the parts.  Its chief
ufe at prefent is in fwellings of the
teftiele from a venereal  affedion ;
and it feems not  only to ad  as a
mercurial, but alfo, by the fevere
vomiting it occafions,to perform the
office of a difcutient, by accelera-
ting the motion of the blood in the
parts affeded.   It is faid likewife
to have been employed with fuccefs,
in robuft conftitiitions, againft  le-
prous diforders, and obftinate glan-
dular obftrudions ; the dofe is from
two grains to fix or eight. It may
be given in dofes of a grain or two
as an alterative and diaphoretic, in
the fame manner as the  mercurius
calcinatus already  fpoken of.   Dr
Hope has  found,  that the turbith
mineral is the moft convenient er-
rhine he has had occafion to employ.
   This medicine was lately recom-
mended as the moft effedual prefer-
vative againft  the hydrophobia.  It
has been alleged  there are feveral
examples of its preventing madnefs
in dogs which had been bitten j and"
                            fome 
448       Preparations and

fome of its performing a cure after
the madnefs was begun : from fix
er feven grains to a fcruple may be
given  every day, or  every" fecond
day, for a little time,and repeated at
the two or three fiiceeding fulls and
changes of the moon. Some fewtrials
have likewife been made on human
fubjeds bitten by mad dogs; and in
thefe alfo the turbith, ufed either as
an emetic or alterative,  feemed to
have good effeds.
  The warnings of turbith mineral
are ufed by fome, externally,for the
cure of the itch and other cutaneous
foulnefs.  In fome cafes mercurial
lotions may be proper, but they are
always to  be ufed with great cau-
tion  : this is by no means an eligi-
ble one, as being extremely unequal
in point of ftrength ; more or lefs of
the mercury being diflblved, as has
been obferved above,  according to
the  degree  of  calcination.  The
pharmacopoeia of Paris direds a
mercurial wafh  free from  this in-
convenience,under the title of Aqua
■mercurialis, or Mcrcurius Uquidus.
It is compofed of one ounce of mer-
cury, diflblved in a fufficient quan-
tity of fpirit of nitre, and  diluted
with thirty ouncesof diftilled water.
In want of diftilled water, rain wa-
ter may be ufed ; but of fpring wa-
ters there  are very few which will
mix  with  the  mercurial  folution,
without growing turbid and preci-
pitating a part  of the mercury.

SOLUTIO MERCURIALIS
          SIMPLEX.
         J of.  fac. Plenck.
       Simple mercurial folution.
Take of
  Pnreft quickfilver, one dram ;
  Gum arabic, two drams.
Beat  them  in a ftone   mortar,
  adding by little and little diftil-
  led water of  fumitory,  till  the
  mercury thoroughly aifappear xu
  the murilage.
Compofitions.      Part.  III.

 Having beat and mixed them  tho-
   roughly, add by degrees, and at
   the fame time rubbing the whole
   together,
 Syrup of kermes, half «n ounqfc ;
    Diftilled  water  of fumitory,
        eight ounces.

   This  mixture was much cele-
 brated by its author  as an effedual
 preparation of mercury,  unatten-
 ded with the inconvenience of pro-
 ducing a falivation ;  and he imagi-
 ned that this depended upon a pe-
 culiar  affinity  exifting between
 mercury and mucilage. Hence fuch
 a  conjunction, the  hydrargyrum
 gummofum, as it  has been ftyled,
 has  been the foundation of  mix ■
 tures, pills, fyrups, and feveral o-
 ther formulae, as may be feen from
 the  table of mercurial preparati-
 ons in the materia medica.
   By a long continued triture, mer-
 cury feems to undergo a degree of
 calcination ; at leaft its globular ap-
 pearance is not to be difcerned by
 the beft microfcope :  its colour is
 converted  into that  of a greyifh
 powder ; and from the inadive fub-
 ftance in its globular form, it is now
 become one of the moft powerful
 preparations of this metallic body.
 The ufe of the gum feems to be no*-
 thing more, than to  afford the in-
 terpofition of a vifcid fubftance to
 keep the particles at a diftancefrom
 each other, till the triture requifite
 to produce this change be perform-
 ed. Dr Saunders has clearly proved,
 that no real folution takes place in
 this  procefs,  and that though a
 quantity of mercurial particles are
 ftill retained in the mixture after the
 globular parts have been depofited
 by dilution with watcr,yet that this
 fufpended mercurial  matter is only
 diffufed in the liquor, and capable of
 being perfedly feparated by  filtra-
 tion.  That long triture is capable
 of affecting the above change  on
                            mer- 
Chap. 13.
mercury,  is fully evinced from the
well-known experiment of Dr Boer-
haave, in producing a kind of cal-
cined mercury by expofing  quick-
filver inclofed in a phial to the agi-
tation  produced  by keeping the
phial tied to a wind mill for four-
teen years.  By iaclofing a pound
of quickfilver in an iron box, with a
quantity  of iron nails and a fmall
quantity of water, by the addition of
which a greater degree of inteftine
motion is given  to the particles of
the mercury, and fixing the box to
the wheel of a  carriage, Dr Saun-
Of Mercury.                    449
         to a calciform nature ; but as this
         will be accomplifhed more or lefs
         completely, according to the diffe-
         rent circumftances during  the tri-
ture, it is certainly preferable, in-
ftead of Plenck's folution, to dif-
fufe  in mucilage,  or other vifcid
matters, a determinate quantity of
the Pulvis  cinereuSf  or other calx
of mercury.
  It is proper to take notice, that
there is in many inftanses a real ad-
vantage in employing mucilaginous
mattersalong with mercurials, thefe
being found topreventdiarrhceaand
ders obtained, during a journey of  falivation to a remarkable  degree.
four hundred miles, two ounces of  So far, then, Mr Plenck's folution is
a greyifli powder,  or calx of mer-
cury.
  On the above accounts we are not
to afcribe the effeds of Plenck's fo-
lution to an intimate divifion of the
globules of mercury, nor to any af-
finity,  nor eledive attradion,  be-
twixt gum  arabic  and  mercury;
which laft Mr Plenck has very un-
philofophically fuppofed. The fame
thing can be done by means of gum
tragacanth,  by honey,  and by fun-
dry balfams.   It is evidently owing
to the converfion of the quickfilver
agood preparation of mercury, tho*
his chemical rationale is perhaps er-
roneous. The diftilled water and fy-
rup are of no confequence to the pre-
paration, either as  facilitating  the
procefs,  or for medicinal ufe.
   It is always  moft expeditious to
triturate the mercury with the gum
in the ftate of mucilage. Dr Saun-
ders found that the addition of honey
was an excellent auxiliary ; andthe
mucilage of gum tragacanth  feems
better fuited for this purpofe than
that of gum arabic.
rf
CHAP.
» 
459
Preparations ana juompoftttons.    l'art ill.
          C    H    A   P.     XIV.

     P RJEP ARATA  EX  PLUMBO.

PREPARATIONS  of   LEAD.
    LEAD readily melts in the fire,
    and  calcines into a dufky pow-
der : which, if the flame is reverbe-
rated on it, becomes at firft yellow,
then red, and at length melts into a
yitreous mafs.  This metal diflblves
eafily in the nitrous acid, difficultly
in the vitriolic, and in fmall quan-
tity in the vegetable acids; it is al-
fo foluble in expreffed oil, efpecially
when calcined.
  Lead and itscalces, whilft undif-
folved, have no confiderable effeds
as medicines. Diffolved in oils, they
are fuppofed to be (when externally
applied)  anti-inflammatory and der
ficcatiye. Combined with vegetable
acids, they are remarkably fo;  and
taken internally, prove a powerful
but dangerous ftyptic.
  There are  two  preparations of
lead, red and white lead, as they are
commonly called, which are much
more extenfively employed in other
arts than in medicine, and of courfe
they are  prepared in large quanti-
ties.  Thefe formerly flood among
the preparations in our pharmaco-
poeias.   But they are now referred
to the materia medica. Accordingly
we have already  had occafion to
make fome obfervations with refped
to them.   But we fhall here infert
from the old editions of the Edin-
burgh pharmacopoeia, the diredions
there given for preparing them.

           MINIUM.
            Red lead.
i et any quantity of lead be melted
  in an unglazed earthen veffel, and
  kept ftirring with an iron fpatula
  till it  falls into powder,  at firft
  blackifh, afterwards yellow, and
  at length of a deep red colour, in
  which laft ftate it is called mini-
  um; taking care not to raife the
  fire fo high as to run the calx in-
  to a vitreous mafs.
  The preparation of red-leadisfo
troublefome  and tedious, as fcarce
ever to be attempted by the apothe-
cary or chemift; nor indeed is this
commodity expeded to be made by
them, the preparation of it being a
diftind  branch of bufinefs.   The
makers melt large quantities of lead
at once, upon the bottom of a re-
verberatory  furnace built  for this
purpofe, and fo contrived,  that the
flame ads upon alarge furface of the
metal, which is continually changed
by the means of iron rakes drawn
backwards  and forwards, till the
fluidity of the lead is deftroyed; af-
ter which, the calx is only now and
then turned, By barely ftirring the
calx, as above direded, in a veffel
over the fire, it acquires no rednefs;
the reverberation of flame upon the
furface being abfolutely neceffary for
this effed.   It is faid,  that twenty
pounds of lead gain, in this procefs,
five pounds ; and that the calx, be-
ing reduced  intolead again,isfound
one pound  lefs than  the  original
weight of the metal.
  Thefe calces are employed in ex-
ternal applications, for abating in-
flammations, clcanfing and healing
                          ulcers, 
 Chap. 14.              Of.

 ulcers,  and  the  like.  Their ef-
 feds, however, are not very confi-
 derable ; nor are they perhaps of
 much farther real ufe, than as they
 give confiftence to the plafter, un-
 guent, &c.

           CERUSSA.
       Ceruffe,  or -white lead.
 Put fome vinegar into the bottom
   of an earthen veffel, and fufpend
   over the vinegar very thin plates
   of lead, in fuch a manner that the
   vapour which arifes from the a-
   cid  may  circulate  about  the
   plates.  Set the containing vef-
   fel in the heat of horfe-dung for
   three weeks; if at the end of
   this  time the plates be not to-
   tally  calcined,  fcrape  off the
   white powder, and expofe them
   again to the fteam of vinegar, till
   all the lead be thus corroded in-
   to powder.

   The making of white lead alfo is
 become a trade by itfelf,  and con-
 fined to a  few perfons, who have
 large conveniences for this purpofe.
 The general  method which they
 follow, is nearly the fame with that
 above defcribed.   See  the Philofo-
 phical Tranfadions, N° 13-7.
   In this preparation, the lead is fo
 far opened by the  acid, as to  dif-
 cover, when taken internally, the
 malignant  quality  of  the  metal;
•and   to  prove  externally, when
 fprinkled on running fores, or ul-
 cers, moderately cooling, drying,
 and  aftridive.

     CERUSSA ACETATA.
             Lond.
         Acetated  ceruffe.
 Take of
   Ceruffe,  one pound ;
   Diftilled vinegar, one gallon and
     an half.
Boil the ceruffe with the vinegar un-
   til the vinegar is faturated;  then
Lead.                      451

   filter through paper; and, after
   proper evaporation, fet it afide to
   cryftallize.

   SAL PLUMBI, vulgo SAC-
     CHARUM  SATURNI.
             Edinb.
Salt, comm only call e d Sugar, of lead.
Put  any quantity of ceruffe  into a
   cucurbit,  and pour upon  it ten
   times its quantity of diftilled vi-
   negar.  Let the mixture  ftand
   upon warm fand till the vinegar
   becomes fweet; when it is to be
   poured off, and frefh vinegar ad-
   ded as often as it comes off fweet.
   Then let all  the vinegar be eva-
   porated in a  glafs-veffel to the
   confiftence of pretty thin honey,
   and fet it afide in  a cold  place,
   that cryftals maybe fornied,which
   are to be afterwards dried  in the
   fhade.  The remaining liquor  is
   again to be evaporated, that new
   cryftalsmay be formed ; theeva-
   poration of the refiduous liquor is
   to be repeated till no more cry-
   ftals concrete.

   Cerusse (efpecially thatfort cal-
led flake lead, which is not, like the
others,  fubjed  to  adulteration)  is
much preferable either to minium or
litharge, for  making the  fugar of
lead  : for thecorrofion, which it has
already undergone from the fteam of
vinegar, difpofes it to diffolve more
readily. It fliould be finely powder-
ed before the vinegar be put  to it;
and during the digeftion, orboiling,
every now and then ftirred upwith a
wooden fpatula,  to promote its dif-
folution, and prevent its concreting
into  a  hard  mafs at  the  bottom.
The ftrong acid obtained from the
caput mortuum of vinegar may be
employed for this purpofe to better
advantage than the weaker, though
purer acid, above  direded.   If  a
fmall quantity of redified fpirit of
wine be prudently added to the fo-
            F.f 2         liuioj? 
45 2         Preparations an

lution as foon as it is duly exhaled,
and  the mixture fuffered  to grow
cold  by flow degrees, the fugar will
concrete into very large and tran-
fparent cryftals, which  are fcarce-
ly to be obtained by any other me-
thod.
   If the cryftals  be  dried ju  fun-
fhine,  they acquire a blackifh. or li-
vid colour.  This feems to happen
from the abforption of light and its
converlion into phlogifton.    If it
be owing  to the efcape of pure air,
why are the rays or the fun necef-
fary to thisdifcharge f On whatever
principles we account for it, the fad
is the  fame ; that the cryftals  foon
lofe  their faline condition, and the
lead gradually re-affumcsitsnietallic
form.   From  this property of lead
readily abforbingphlogifton,or part-
ing  with pure air, a folution of the
faccharum faturni becomes a  very
convenient fympathetic  ink ; onthe
fame grounds it is alfo ufed  for a
more  important purpofe.  As  lead
communicates a fweetnefsandaftrin-
gency very fimilar to the produd of
the  vinous fermentation, a pradice
fbrmerlyprevailedamong fraudulent
dealers, of correding the too great
fliarpnefs of acid wines by adultera-
ting them  with this metal.  The a-
bufe may be deteded in two diffe-
rent ways : a piece of paper may be
wrote upon, or moiffened, with the
liquor to be examined, and then ex-
 pofed  to the vapours of  liver of ful-
 phur : the writ, or moiftcned paper,
 will become of a livid  colour, and
 this will happen though twoor three
 hundred leaves of a book were in-
 fterpofed between the paper and the
 vapours; by this m%thod, then, we
 make a kind  of fympathetic  ink.
 But the beft way of making the teft
 is, to  drop a fmall quantity of a fo-
 lution of the liver of fulphur  into
 the fufpeded liquor: if there beany
 lead prefent, this addition will in-
i Compofitions.    Part III.

ftantly occafion the precipitation of
a livid or dark coloured cloud.
   The fugar of lead is much more
efficacious than tlje foregoing pre-
parations, in anfwering the feveral
intentions  to which  they  are ap-
plied.   Some have ventured upon it
internally, in dofes of a few grains,
as a ftyptic, in  hasmorrhagies, pro-
fufe colliquative  fweats,  feminal
fluxes, the fluor albus, &c. nor has
it failed  their expedatipns. It very
powerfully reftrains the difcharge;
but  almoft  as certainly as it docs
this, it occafions fymptoms of ano-
ther kind,  often  more dangerous
than thofe removed by it, and fome-
times  fatal.  Violent pains jn the
bowels or through the whole body,
and obftinate conftjpations,  fome-
times  immediately  follow, efpecial-
ly if the dofe has been confiderable:
cramps, tremors, and weaknefs of
the nerves, generally,  fooner or
later,  enfue.
   Boerhaave is of opinion, that this
 preparation proves malignant only,
 as far as its acid happens to be ab-
forbed in the body ; for in fuch cafe,
 he fays, " it returns again into ce-
 " ruffe, which is violently poifon-
 " ous."  On this principle it would
 follow,  that in habits where acidi-
 ties abound, the fugar of lead would
 be  innocent.  But this is  far from
 being the cafe.  Lead and its pre-
 parations ad in the body only in as
 far as they are combined with acid ;
 ceruffe poffeffes the qualities of the
 faccharum only in a low  degree;
 and either of them freed from the
 acid,  has little, if any, effed at all.
 For the fame reafons, the fal plumbi
 is preferable to the pompous extrad
 and vegeto-mineral water of Goul-
 ard, in which the lead is much lefs
 perfedly combined in a faline ftate.
 It is  fometimes convenient to aflift
 the folution of the faccharum faturni
 in water, by adding a portion of vi-
                            negar. 
Ctiapi  it;.
negar.  The effeds of the external
application of lead feems to differ
from the ftrength of the folution :
thus a  ver^ Weak folution feems to
dimifh diredly the adion  of the
veffels, and is therefore more pecu-
liarly proper in adive inflim'mations,
as of the eyes; whereas a ftrong fo-
lution operateyas a dired ftimulant,
and i§ therefore more fuccefsful in
paffive ophthalmia.

 AQUA LITHARGYRI ACE-
            TATE
              Lond.
   Water of acetated litharge.
Take of
  Litharge,  two pounds arid four
    ounces;
  Diftilled vinegar, bne gallon.
Mix and  boil to  fix pints, con-
  ftantly ftirring;  then  fet  it a
Of Tim                     453
       fide.   After the feces have fub-
       fided, ftrain.
   This preparation! may be confi-
dered  as nearly the fame with the.
extrad and vegeto-mineral water of
Mr Goulard.   And  it is probably
from the circumftances of his prepa-
rations having come into a common
ufe, that the  London college  have
given  this article a place in their
pharmacopoeia.  Itmay, however,
be a ma'iter of doubt whether  it be
really  entitled to a place.  For as
we have  already obferved, every
purpofe tobeanfwered by it  maybe
better  obtained  from the employ-
ment of a folution of the ceruffa a-
cetata in fimple water.   The  aqua
lithargyri  acetata is intended for
external ufe only.
CHAP.    XV.
PRJEPARATA  E  STANNO.
P R E P A R A T I O N S  of   TIN.
    TIN eafily melts in the fire, and
     calcines into a dufky powder;
Which, by a farther continuance of
the heat, becomes white.   A mafs
of tin heated till it be juft ready to
melt, proves extremely brittle, fo as
to fall in pieces from a blow ; and by
dexterous agitation, into powder. Its
proper menftruum is  aqua regia;
though the other mineral acids alfo
may be made to diflblve it, and the
vegetable ones in fmall quantity.  It
cryftallizes with the vegetable and
vitriolic acids ; bit with the others,
deliquates.
  The virtuesofthis metal are little
known. It has been recommended
as an antihyfteric,  antihectic, &c.
At  prefent it is chiefly ufed as an
anthelmintic.

 STANNUM PULVERATUM.
             Lond,
         Powdered tin,
       F f 3               Take 
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
454
Take of
  Tin fix pounds.
Melt it in an iron veffel, and ftir it
  with an iron rod until a powder
  floats on the furface.Take off the
  powder, and, when cold,  pafs if
  through a fieve.

  This preparation may be confi-
dered as nearly the fame with the
calx Jovis, which had a place in the
former editions of the  Edinburgh
pharmacopoeia;  but  from the late
editions the calx has been expunged,
and the limatura,  or pulvis  ftanni,
has  a place  only in their lift of the
materia medica.  But although fel-
dom prepared' by  the  apothecary
himfelf, it is not unfrequently em-
ployed as a remedy againft  worms,
particularly  the  flat kinds,  which
too often elude the force of other
medicines. The general dofe is from
a fcruple to a dram; fome confine it
to a few grains. But Dr Alfton af-
fnres us, in  the Edinburgh  Effays,
that its fuccefs chiefly depends upon
its being given in much larger quan-
tities :  he direds an ounce  of the
powder on an empty ftomach, mixed
with four ounces of molaffes ; next
day  half an ounce;  and the day
following, half an ounce more: af-
ter which a cathartic is adminiftcr-
ed: he fays the worms are ufually
voided during the operation of the
purge, but that pains of the ftomach
occafioned by them are removed al-
moft immediately  upon taking the
firft dofe of the tin.
  This padice is fometimes fuccefs-
ful in the expulfion of taenia, but
by no  means fo frequently as Dr
Alfton's obfervations  would lead us
to hope.

   STANNI AMALGAMA.
              Dan.
        Amalgam of tin.
Take of
   Shavings of pure tin, two oun<
    ces.
  Pure quickfilver, three drams.
Let them be rubbed to a powder in
   a ftone mortar.

  Some have imagined that tin thus
aded  upon by mercury, is in a more
adive condition than when exhibited
in the ftate of powder: and  accord-
ingly  ithas been given in worm ca-
fes.   But as  both are  equally info-
luble in the animal fluids, this is not
to be expeded'; and to  obtain any
peculiar properties which tin may
poffefs to their full extent, it will
probably be neceffary to exhibit it in
fome faline ftate.
CHAP. 
Chap.  16.                Of Zinc.                    455^
CHAP.     XVI.
P R MP ARATA  E   ZINCO.
PREPARATIONS   of   ZJNC.
   buftion may be  more complete:
   when the zinc ceafes  to flame,
   take  the calx out of the crucible.
   Having  put  in  another piece of
   zinc, the operation may  be re-
   peated as  often as  you  pleafe.
   Laftly, the calx is to be prepared
   like antimony.

  These flowers, as ufed external-
ly, are preferable for medicinal pur-
pofes to tutty, and the: more impure
fubliniates of zinc, which are obtain-
ed in the brafs works ; and likewife
to calamine,  the natural ore of this
metal, which contains a large quan-
tity of earth,  and  frequently a por-
tion of heterogeneous metallic mat-
ter.   But befides being applied ex-
ternally, they have alfo of late  been
ufed internally.   The flowers  of
zinc,  in dofes from one to feven or
eight grains, have been much cele-
brated of late years in  the cure of
epilepfy and feveral fpafmodic affec-
tions : and  there are fufficient tefti-
monies of their good effeds,  where
tonic remedies in thofe affedions arc
proper.

    VITRIOLUM ALBUM.
             Edinb.
          White Vitriol,
             F f 4        Take
   ZINCUM CALCINATUM.
             Lond,
          Calcined zinc.
 Take of
   Zinc,  broken into fmall pieces,
     eight ounces.
 Caft the pieces of  zinc, at feveral
   times, into an ignited, large, and
   deep,  crucible, placed  leaning,
 .  or half-upright,  putting upon it
   another crucible in fuch a manner
   that the air may have free accefs
   to the burning zinc.
Take out the calx as foon  as  it ap-
   pears, and fift its white and light-
   er part.

CALX  ZINCI  vulgo FLORES
            ZINCI.
            Edinb.
        Flowers of zinc.
Let a large crucible be placed in a
  furnace, in an inclined fituation,
  only half upright; when the bot-
  tom of the veffel is moderately
  red, put a fmall piece of zinc, a-
  bout the  weight of  two drams,
  into it.  The  zinc  flames in a
  fhort time, and is at the  fame
  time converted  into a fpongy
  calx, which is to be  raked  from
  the furface of the  metal  with
  an iron fpatula,  that the  com- 
45*
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
 Take of
   Zinc, cut into fmall pieces, three
     ounces;
   Vitriolic acid five, ounces;
   Water,  twenty ounces;
 Having mixed  the  acid and water,
   add the zinc, and when the ebul-
   lition is finiflied ftrain the liquor;
   then after proper evaporation fet
   it apart in  a cold place,  that it
   may fhoot into cryftals.

   This fait is an elegant white vi-
 triol.  It differs  from the common
 white vitriol, and the fal vitrioli of
 the fhops, only in being purer, and
 perfedly free from any admixture
 of copper, or fuch other foreign me-
 tallic bodies as the others generally
 contain.

 ZINCI VITRIOLATI PURIFI-
            CATIO.
             Lond.
  Purification of vitriolated zinc.
 Take of
  White vitriol, one pound j
  Vitriolic acid, one dram;
  Boiling diftilled water,three pints.
Mix,  and falter through  paper.
  After  a  proper evaporation, fet
  it  afide in a cold place to cryftal-
  lize.
   Although  the Edinburgh col-
 lege have given a formula for the
 preparation  of  white  vitriol, yet
 their diredion is very rarely follow-
 ed by any of the apothecaries or che-
 mifts,  who  in  general  purchafe it
 as obtained from the Gofler mines.
 When, however, it is  got in this
 way, it is often a very  impure fait,
 and requires that purification which
 is here direded, and which  isby
 no means neceffary for the white vi-
 triol artificially   prepared,  in the
 manner  above  direded.   But by
 this procefs, the  ordinary white vi-
 triol, in its common ftate of impu-
 rity, will be freed from thofe im-
 pregnations  of  earthy  and other
 matters which  it often contains.
 And in this purified ftate it anfwers
 many ufeful purpofes, not  only ex-
 ternally but internally; and parti-
 cularly in dofes from  ten grains to
 half a dram, it  operates almoft in-
 ftantly as an emetic, and is at the
 fame time perfedly fafe.   By em-
 ploying it internally in fmaller dofes,
 we may obtain,  and  perhaps even
 more effedually, all the tonic power
of the zinc; and fome  think it iff
every cafe  preferable to  the calx
zinci.
CHAP. 
Chap. 17.        Simple JDifiilled Water.
457
           CHAP.     XVII.


      AQUM  DISTILLATM.

                      London.

AQJJM STILtATlTIM  SIMPLICES.

                    Edinburgh.


  SIMPLE  DISTILLED WATERS.
    THE effluvia which exhale into
    the air from many vegetables,
particularly from thofe of the odo-
rous kind,confift apparently of prin-
ciples of great fubtility and adivity,
capable of ftrongly and fuddenly af-
fecting  the  brain  and nervous fy-
ftem,efpecially in thofe whofe nerves
are of  great fenfibility ;  and like-
wife of operating in a flower man-
ner upon the fyftem of groffer vef-
fels. Thus Boerhaave obferves, that
in hyfterical and hypochondriacal
perfons, the  fragrant odour of the
Indian  hyacinth  excites ftrange
fpafms,which the ftrong fcent of rue
relieves: that the effluvia of the
walnut-tree occafion headachs,  and
make the body coftive ;  that thofe
of poppies procure fleep ;   and  that
the fmell of bean bloffoms,long con-
tinued, diforders the fenfes.   Le-
mery relates, from his own know-
ledge,  that  feveral perfons were
purged- by flaying long in a room
where  damafk rofes were drying.
   Some of the chemifts have indul-
ged themfelves in the pleafing  fur-
vey of thefe prefiding fpirits, as they
are called, of vegetables; their pe-
culiar nature in the different fpecies
of plants ;  their exhalation into the
atmofphere by  the fun's heat,  and
difperfion by winds; their rendering
the air of  particular places medici-
nal, or otherwife, according to the
nature of the  plants that abound.
They have contrived alfo different
means for colleding thefe fugitive
emanations, and concentrating and
condenling them into a liquid form;
employing either  the native moi-
fture of the fubjed, or an addition
of water, as a vehicle or matrix for
retaining them.

  The procefs which  has been
judged moft analagoils to that of na-
ture, is the following.  The fubjed
frefli gathered  at  the feafon of its
greateft vigour, with the morning
dew upon it, is laid lightly and un-
bruifed ina fhallow veflel, to which
is adapted a low head  with a reci-
pient; under the veffel a live coal is
placed, and occafionally  renewed
fo as to keep up an  uniform heat, no
greater than that which obtains in
                            the 
 4$ 8         Preparations a

 the atmofphere in fummer, viz.  a-
 bout 85 degrees of Farenheit's ther-
 mometer.  In  this degree of heat
 there  arifes, exceeding  flowly,  an
 invifible  vapour, which condenfesin
 the head into dewy drops, and  falls
 down into the receiver ; and which
 has  been fuppofed to be that  very
 fubftance that the plant would have
 fpontaneoufly emitted  in  the open
 air.
   But on fubmitting  to this  pro-
 cefs  many kinds of odoriferous ve-
 getables, the liquors obtained by it
 have been found to be very different
 from  the natural effluvia of the re-
 fpedive fubjeds: they have had  very
 little fmell, and no remarkable tafte.
 It appears that a  heat, equal  to
 that of the atmofphere, is incapable
 of raifing in clofe veffels thofe parts
 of vegetables which they emit in the
 open air.  It may therefore be  pre-
 fumed, that in this laft cafe fome o-
 ther caufe concurs to the effed: that
 it is not the fun's heat alone which
 raifes and impregnates the air with
 the odorous principlesof vegetables,
 but that the air  itfelf, or the watery
 humidity with which it abounds, ac-
 ting as a true  diffolvent, extrads
 and imbibes them ; fo that the na-
 tural  effluvia of  a plant may be
 looked upon as  an infufion  of the
 plant  made in air.   The purgative
 virtue of the damafk-rofe,  and the
 aftringency  of  the  walnut-tree,
 which as above obferved, are in
 fome  degree communicated  to the
air, may  be totally  extraded by in-
fufion both in watery and fpirituous
menftrua, but never rife in diftilla-
tion with any degree of heat:  and
 the volatile odours of aromatic herbs,
which are diffufed  through the at-
mofphere in  the  loweft  warmth,
cannot be made to diftil without a
heat much greater than is ever
found to obtain in a fhaded air.
  We apprehend,  that the effluvia
 arifing from growing vegetablcs,are
nd Compofitions.    Part III.

 chiefly exhaled by the living energy
 of the plant:  the odorous matter is
 a real  fecretion, which  cannot be
 performed  independent  of  adive
 veffels; and it is reafonable to allow
 the fame powers  for the  exhalation
 of thefe effluvia  as for the tranfpi-
 ration of their watery parts.
 '  The above procefs, therefore, and
 the theory on which it is built, ap-
 pear  to be faulty  in two points:
 1. In fuppofing that all thofe prin-
 ciples, which naturally exhale from
 vegetables may be colleded by di-
 ftillation ;  whereas there are many
 which the air extrads in virtue of
 its diffolving power;  fome are  alfo
 incapable of being colleded in a vi-
 fible and inelaftic form;  and there
 are thofe which are artificially fepa-
 rable by diffolvents only ; 2. In em-
 ploying a degree of heat fufficient
 for  feparating  even  thofe  parts'
 which are truly exhalable by heat.

   The foregoing method of diftil-
 lation is commonly called  diftillation
 by the cold ftill; but thofe who have
 pradifed it, have generally employ-
 ed a confiderable  heat.   A  fhallow
 leaden veffel is filled with the frefh
 herbs, flowers,&c. which are heap-
 ed above it; fo that when the head
 is fitted on, this alfo may be filled
 a  confiderable way.  A  little fire
 is made under the veffel, fufficient
 to make the  bottom  much hotter
 than the hand can bear, care being
 taken only not to heat it fo far as
 to endanger fcorching any part of
 the fubjed.   If the bottom of  the
 veffel be not made fo hot  as to have
 this effed on the part contiguous to
 it, it  is  not  to be feared that  the
 heat  communicated to the  reft: of
 the included matter will  be  great
 enough to do  it  any injury.   By
 this management, the volatile parts
 «f feveral odorous plants, as mint,
 are effednally  forced  over; and if
 the procefs has been carefully mana- 
Chap. 17.        Simple dij^

gcd, the diftilled liquor proves rich-
ly impregnated with the native o-
dour and flavour of thefubjed, with-
out having received any kind of dif-
agreeable  impreffion from the heat
made ufe of.
  This procefs  has been  chiefly
pradifed in private families ; the
flownefsof the diftillation, and the
attendance and care  neceffary for
preventing the fcorching of fome
part of the plant, fo as to communi-
cate an ungrateful  burnt flavour to
the liquor, rendering it inconfiftent
with  the  difpatch  requifite  in the
larger way of bufinefs.

  Another method has therefore
been had recourfe to, that  by the
common ftill, called, in diftindion
from  the foregoing,  the  hot ftill.
Here a quantity of water is  added
to the plant to prevent its purging;
and the liquor is kept nearly of a
boiling heat, or made  fully to boil;
fo that the  vapour rifes plentifully
into  the head, and paffing  thence
into  a fpiral  pipe  or  worm  placed
in a veffel of cold water, is there
condenfed, and  runs out in drops
quickly fucceeding each other, or
in a continued ftream.   The addi-
tional water does not at  all weaken
the produce;  for  the moft volatile
parts  of the fubjed  rife firft, and
impregnate the liquor that firft dif-
tils: as foon as the plant has given
over its virtue fufficiently, which is
known by examining  from time to
time the liquor, that runs from the
nofe of the worm, the diftillation is
to be flopped.
  This is the method  of diftillation
commonly pradifed for the officinal
waters.  It is accompanied with
one imperfedion,  affecting chiefly
thofe  waters whofe principal value
confifts in the delicacy of their fla-
vour; this being not a little injured
by the boiling heat ufually employ-
ed, and  by the coagitation of the
illed Waters.             459

odorous particles of the fubjed with
the water.  Sometimes alfo  a  part
of the plant flicks to the fides of the
ftill, and is fo far fcorched as to give
an ungrateful taint to the liquor.

   There is  another method  of
making this operation, which has
beenrecommened for the diftillation
of  the  more volatile effential oils,
and which is equally  applicable  to
that of the waters. In this method,
the ad vantages of the foregoingones
are united,and their inconveniences
obviated.  A quantity of water be-
ing poured into the ftill, and the
herbs or flowers placed in a bafket
over it,  there can be no poflibility
of burning; the water may be made
to boil, but fo as not  to rife up into
the bafket, which would  defeat the
intention of this contrivance.  The
hot vapour of  the  water  pafling
lightly through all the interftices of
the fubjed matter,   imbibes  and
carries  over the volatile  parts un-
altered in their native flavour.  By
this means the diftilled waters of  all
thofe fubftances  whofe oils are of
the more volatile kind, are obtained
in the  utmoft perfedion,  and  with
fufficient difpatch ; for which laft
intention the ftill may be filled quite
up to the head.

   In the diftillation of effential oils,
the water, as was obferved in the
foregoing  fedion, imbibes always
part of the oil. The diftilled liquors
here treated of,  are  no  other than
water thus impregnated with the  ef-
fential oil of the fubjed ; whatever
fmell, tafte, or virtue,  is here com-
municated to water, or obtained  in
the form of a watery liquor,  being
found in a concentrated ftate in the
oil.   The effential oil, or fome part
of it, more attenuated and fubtilized
than the reft, is the dired principle
on which the title of fpiritus reftor,
                               or 
460          Preparations a

or  prefiding fpirit,  has  been be-
llowed.
  All  thofe vegetables  therefore
which contain an effential oil,  will
give over  feme virtue to water by
diftillation: but the degree of the
impregnation of the  water, or the
quantity of  water  which a plant is
capable of fatiating with its virtue,
are by no means  in proportion to
the quantity of its oil.  The oil fa-
tiates  only the  water that comes
over at the  fame time with  it:  if
there be more oil than is fufficient
for this faturation,  the furplus  fepi-
rates  and  concretes  in  its proper
form  not mifcible  with the water
that arifes afterwards.  Some  odo-
riferous flowers, whofe oil is in fo
fmall quantity, that fcarcely any vi-
fible mark of it appears, unlefs fifty
or an hundred pounds or more are
diftilled at once, give neverthelefs,
as ftrong an impregnation to water
at thofe plants which abound moil
with oil.

  Many have been of opinion, that
diftilled waters may  be more and
more impregnated  with the virtues
of the  fubjed, and  their ftrength
increafed to any afligned degree, by
eohobation, that  is,  by rcdiftilling
them a number of times from  frefh
parcels of the plant.   Experience,
however, fliows the contrary ; a wa-
ter fkilfully drawn  in the firft diftil-
lation, proves on every repeated one
not ftronger but more difagreeable.
Aqueous liquors are not capable of
imbibing above a certain quantity of
the votatile oil of vegetables ; and
this they may be made to take  up
by one, as well as by any number of
diftillations: the oftenerthe procefs
is repeated, the ungrateful impreffi-
on  which they  generally receive
from the fire, even  at the firft time,
becomes greater and greater. Thofe
plants which do not yield at  firft
id Compofitions.   Part IIL

 waters  fufficienly  ftrong,  are  not
 proper fubjeds for this procefs, fince
 their virtue may be obtained mucbl
 more advantageoufly by others.

 General Rules for the Distilla-
   tion of the Officinal Simpli
   Waters.
                I.
 Where they are direded frefli, fuch
   only muft be employed : but fome
   are allowed to be ufed dry, as be-
   being ealily  procurable  in this
   ftate all times of theyear, though
   rather more elegant waters might
 .  be obtained  from them whilft
   green.

   When  frefhand juicy herbs are
 to be diftilled, thrice their weight
 of water will be fully fufficient; bun
 dry  ones require  a much larger
 quantity.  In general there fhould
 be fo much water,  that after all in-
 tended to be diftilled hascomeover,
 there may  be liquor enough left to
 prevent the matter from burning to
 the ftill.
               II.
 The diftillation  may be performed
   in an alembic with a refrigerato-
  ry, the jundures being luted.
               HI.
   Plants differ fo much, according
 to the foil and feafon of which they
 are the  produce, and likewife ac-
 cording  to their own age,  that it
 is impoflible to fix  the  quantity of
 water to be drawn from a certain
 weight  of  them to any  invariable
 ftandard.  The diftillation  may al-
 ways be  continued as  long as the
 liquor runs well-flavoured off the
 fubjed, and no longer.

 If the herbs are of  prime goodnefs,
  they muft be taken in the weights
  prefcribed : but when frefh ones
  are fubftuuted to dry,  or  when
  the  plants  themfelves are the
                         produce 
Chap.  17.       Simple Difii

  produce of unfavourable feafons,
  and weaker than  ordinary, the
  quantities are to be varied ac-
  cording to the difcretion of the
  artift.

  After the odorous water, alone
intended for ufe, has come over, an
acidulous liquor arifes, which has
fometimes extraded  fo much from
the copper head  of the ftill as to
prove- emetic.  To this are owing
the anthelmintic virtues  attributed
to certain diftilled waters.
               IV.
In a preceding edition of  the Edin-
  burgh  pharmacopoeia,  fome ve-
  getables were ordered to be night-
  ly fermented with  the addition
  of yeft, previoufly to the  diftilla-
  tion.

  Th e principle on which this ma-
nagement is founded, is certainly
juft;  for the fermentation fome-
what opens  and unlocks  their tex-
ture,  fo as  to make thein  part with
more in the fubfequent diftillation
than could be drawn over from them
without fome affiftance of this kind.
Thofe plants, however,  which re-
quire this treatment, are not proper
fubjeds for  fimple  waters to be
drawn from, their virtues being ob-
tainable to better advantage by other
proceffes.
               V.
If any drops of oil fwim on  the fur-
  face of the water, they are to be
  carefully taken off.
               VI.
That the waters may keep  the bet-
  ter, about  one-twentieth  part
  their weight of proof-fpirit  may
  be added  to each after they are
   diftilled.

   A great number of diftilled wa-
ters were formerly kept in the fhops,
and are ftill  retained in  foreign
pharmacopoeias.   The  Faculty of
llei Waters.             461

 Paris dired, in the laft edition of
 their Codex Medicamentarius,  no
 lefs  than one hundred and twenty-
 five  different waters, and one hun-
 dred and thirty differentingredients
 in one fingle water.  Near one half
 of thefe preparations have fearcely
 any  virtue or  flavour from the fub-
 jed, and many of the others are in-
 fignificant.
   The Colleges of  London and E-
 dinburgh  have rejeded thefe often-
 tatious fuperfluities, and  given an
 elegant and compendious fet of wa-
 ters, fufficient for  anfwering  fuch
 purpofes as thefe kinds of prepara-
 tions are applied to  in pradice. Di-
 ftilled waters are employed chiefly
 as grateful diluents, as fuitable ve-
 hicles for  medicines of greater effi-
 cacy,  or  for rendering difguftful
 ones more acceptable to the palate
 and  ftomach ;  few are depended on,
 with any intention of confequence,
 by themfelves.

      AQJJA DISTILLATA.
              Lond.
          Diftilled water.
 Take of
   Spring-water,  ten gallons.
 Draw off by diftillation,  firft,  four
   pints; which being thrown away,
   draw off four gallons. This  wa-
   ter is to be kept in a glafs or
   earthen bottle  with  a glafs Hop-
   per.

      AQJJA  DISTILLATA.
              Edinb.
          Diftilled water.
 Let well or river water be diftilled
   in very clean veffels till about two
   thirds are drawn off.

   Native water is feldom or never
 found pure, and generally contains
 earthy, faline,  metallic, or other
 matters.   Diftillation  is  therefore
 employed as a means of freeing it
 of thefe heterogeneous parts.   For
                            fome 
 &fi%          Preparations a

 fome pharmaceutical purpofes diftil-
 led water is abfolutely neceffary :
 thus, if we employ hard undiftilled
 water for diffolving fugar  of lead,
 inftead of a  perfed folution,  we
 produce  a milky-like cloud, owing
 to a rc'al decompofition of parts.
   Diftilled water is now employed
 by the London college for a great
 variety of purpofes; and there can
 be no doubt, that in many chemical
 and pharmaceutical  proceif«s, the
 employment of  a  heterogeneous
 fluid, in place of the pure element,
 may produce an effential alteration
 of qualities, or fruftrate the inten-
 tion in view.  While the London
 college have made more ufe of dif-
 tilled water than any  other, their
 diredions for preparing it feem to
 be the beft.   For as fome impreg-
 nation may be  more volatile than
 pure water, it is freed  from thefe
 by throwing away what comes firft
 over; and by keeping it afterwards
 in a  clofe  veffel, abforption from
 the air is prevented.

       AQJJA ANETHI.
              Lond.
           Dill-water.
 Take of
   Dill-feed, bruifed, one pound  ;
  Water, fufficient  to prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.

 AQJJA  SEMINUM   ANETHI
          SIMPLEX.
             Edinb.
      Simple dill-feed water.
 Take of
  Dill-feeds, one pound ;
Pour on as much  water as when ten
  pounds have been  drawn  off by
  diftillation, there may remain as
  much as is fufficient to prevent an
  empyreuma.
After proper  maceration,  let ten
  pounds be drawn off.  .
nd Compofitions.    Part III.

    Although the dill-water holds
 a place, not only in the London and
 Edinburgh pharmacopoeias, but alfo
 in moft of the foreign ones; yet it
 is not much employed in pradice.
 It obtains, indeed, a pretty ftrong
 impregnation from the feeds, and is
 fometimes  employed  as  a carmi-
 native, particularly as the bafis of
 mixtures and juleps; but it is lefs
 powerful and lefs agreeable  than
 that of peppermint, cinnamon, and
 fome others.

     AQJJA  CINNAMOMI.
           Lond. Edinb.
         Cinnamon-water.
 Take of
   Cinnamon,  bruifed, one pound;
   Water, fufficient to prevent aa
     empyreuma.
 Macerate for t wenty-four hours, and
   draw of one gallon.

   From one  pound of cinnamon
 the Edinburgh college dired ten
 pounds of water  to be drawn  off;
 and if the cinnamon employed be of
good  quality,  it may yield that
quantity with  a ftrong impregna-
tion ;  but what  comes over firft is
unqueftionably the ftrongeft.
   This is a very grateful and ufeful
water, poffefling in an eminent de-
gree  the  fragrance  and  aromatic
cordial virtues of the fpice. Where
real cinnamon-water is wanted, care
fhould be had  in the choice df the
cinnamon, to avoid  the too common
impofition of caffia being fubftituted
in its room.  The  two drugs may
be  eafily diftinguifhed  from each
other by the marks laid down under
the refpedive articles in the Second
Part of this work:  but the effential
oils of the two approach  fo  near,
that after diftillation it is perhaps
impoffible to diftinguifh the waters;
and it is ftill more doubtful how far
                            the 
Chap. 17.       Simple difiilled Waters.
4^3
the one is in any degree preferable
to the other.
   The oil of cinnamon is very pon-
derous, and arifes more difficultly
than that of any of the other vege-
table matters from which fimple wa-
ters are ordered to be drawn.  This
obfervation direds us, in the diftilla-
tion of this water, to make ufe of a
quick fire and a low veffel.  For
the fame reafon, the water does not
keep fo well as might  be wiflicd ;
the ponderous oil  parting from it  in
time, and  falling to the  bottom,
when the liquor lofes its milky hue,
its fragrant fmell, and aromatic tafte.
Some recommend a fmall propor-
tion of fugar to be added, in order
to keep the oil united with the wa-
ter.

  AQJJA CASSLE LIGNEiE.
             Edinb.
          Caffia-water.
From a pound and a  half of the
   caffia bark, ten  pounds of wa-
   ter are direded to be drawn off
   in the fame manner  as  the dill
   water.

  This diftilled water, as we have
already obferved, when properlypre-
pared, approaches fo near to that of
cinnamon,  that it is almoft, if not
altogether,  impoffible to diftinguifh
the difference between the two. And
although the London college have
given it noplace in their pharmaco-
poeia, yet we may venture to affert,
that it is no ftranger to the fhops of
the apothecaries.  Nay, fo great is
the difference of price, and fo little
of fenfible qualities, that what is fold
under the name of cinnamon-water
is almoft entirely prepared from caf-
fia alone ; and not  even  prepared
from the caffia bark, as direded by
the Edinburgh college, but from the
caffia buds, which may  be had at a
ftill cheaper rate, and which yield
precifely the fame effential oil,  al-
though in lefs quantity.  Whencaf-
fia water is prepared rrecifely ac-
cording to the diredions of the E-
dinburg college, from containing a
larger proportion of the fubjed, it
has in general a ftronger impregna-
tion than their genuine  cinnamon
water, and is probably in no degree
inferior in its virtues.

     AQJJA FUNICULI.
             Loud.
         Fennel-water.
Take of
  Sweet fennel-feeds, bruifed, ons
    pound,
  Water fufficient to prevent  an
    empyreuma.
Draw off one gallon.

  The water of fennel-feeds is not
unpleafant.   A water has alfo been
diftilled from the leaves.  When
thefe are employed, they fhould be
taken before the plant has run into
flower ; for after this time they are
much weaker, and lefs agreeable.
Some have obferved, that the upper
leaves and tops, before the flowers
appear, yield a more elegant water,
and a remarkably finer eflential oil
than the lower ones ; and that the
oil obtained from the one fwims on
water, whilfVthat of the other finks.
No part of the herb, however, is e-
qual  in flavour to the feeds.

  AQJJA MENTHA PIPERI-
            TIDIS.
             Lond.
        Peppermint-water.
Take of
  Herb of peppermint,  dried, one
     pound and an half;
  Water, fufficient to prevent  an
     empyreuma.
Draw off one gallon.
Edinb. 
464         Preparations ar,

             Edinb.
From three pounds of the leaves of
  peppermint, ten pounds of water
  are to be drawn off.

  T h 1 s is a very elegant and ufeful
xwter ; it hasa warm pungent tafte,
exadly refembling that of the pep-
permint itfelf.  A fpoonful or two
taken at a time, warm the ftomach,
and give great relief in cold, flatu-
lent colics.  Some have fubftituted
a plain infufion of the dried leaves
of the plant,  which  is  not greatly
different in virtue from the diftilled
water.
  In the diftillation of this water, a
confiderable quantity of effential oil
in general comes over in its pure
ftate.  And it is not uncommon to
employ this for impregnating other
water, with which itmay be readily
mixed by the acid of a little fugar.

  AQJJA MENTHA  SATIVtE.
              Lond.
        Spearmint-water.
Take of
  Spearmint, dried, one pound and
     an half;
  Water  fufficient to  prevent an
     empyreuma.
Draw off one gallon.

  The  Edinburgh college dired
this water to be  made  in   the
fame proportion as the preceding.
But probably three  pounds of  the
frefli herb will not give a ftronger
impregnation than a pound and  a
half of the dried : So that the water
of the London college may be con-
fidered as being as ftrongly impreg-
nated as that of the Edinburgh col-
lege.
   This water fmells and taftes very
ftrongly of the mint; and proves in
many  cafes  an ufeful  ftomachic.
Boerhaave commends it(cohobated)
as  a prefent  and incomparable  re-
medy for ftrcngthening a weak fto-
d Compofitions.   Part III.

mach, and curing vomiting  pro-
ceeding from cold vifcous phlegm;
and alfo in lienteries.

       AQJJA PIMENTO.
          Loud. Edinb,
         Atl-fphe water.
Take  of
  All-fpice, bruifed, half a pound.
  Water  fufficient to prevent aif
     empyreuma.
Macerate for twenty-four hours,
  and draw off one gallon.
From half a pound of the pimento,
  the Edinburgh college dired ten
  pounds of water to be drawn off;
  fo that the impregnation is there
  fomewhat  weaker than the a-
  bove,

  This diftilled water is a very ele-
gant one, and has of late come pret-
ty much into ufe: the hofpitals em-
ploy it as a fuccedaneuin to the more
coftly fpice waters.  It is, however,
inferior  in  gratefulnefs to the fpi-
rituous water of the fame fpice here-
after direded-

        AQJJA PULEGII.
            Lond.Ed.
        Pennyroyal-water.
Take of
   Dried  herb  pennyroyal,  one
     pound and an half;
   Water, fufficient  to  prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.

   The pennyroyal water is dired-
 ed to be prepared by the Edinburgh
college in the fame proportions as
 they have ordered with the mint and
peppermint.   Whether  prepared
from the recent or dried plant, itpof-
 feffes  in a confiderable degree the
 fmell, tafte, and virtues, of the pen-
 nyroyal.  It  is not unfrequcntly
 employed in hyfterical cafes, and
 fometimes with a good effed.

      2                      A- 
 Chap.  17.      Simple Dij

        AQUA ROStE.
          Lond. Edinb.
           Rofe water.
 Take of
 Frefli  petals of the damafk rofe,
     the white  heels being cut off,
     fix pounds ;
   Water, fufficient to prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.
 From  the fame quantity the Edin-
   burgh college dired  ten  pounds
   to be drawn off.

   This water is principally valued
 on account of its fine flavour, which
 approaches to thatgenerally admired
 in  the  rofe itfelf.   The purgative
 virtue of the rofes remains entire in
 the liquor left in the ftill, which has
 therefore been generally employed
 for making the folutive honey and
 fyrup, inftead of a decodion or in-
 fufion  of  frefh rofes  prepared on
 purpofe : And this piece of frugality
 the college have now admitted. A
 diftilled water of red rofes has been
 fometimes called for in the fhops,
 and fupplied by that of damafk rofes,
 diluted with common water :  this is
a very venial fubftitution ;  for  the
water drawn from the red rofe has
no  quality  which  that of  the da-
mafk does not poffefs in a far fupe-
rior degree ;  neither the purgative
virtue of the one, nor the aftringen-
cy of the other, arifing in diftilla-
tion.

 AQJJA  CORTICIS  MALO-
   RUM LIMONIORUM  RE-
   CENTIUM.
             Edinb.
        Lemon-peel water.
From two pounds of recent  lemon-
  peel  ten  pounds of water are to
  be drawn off by diftillation.

AQJJA CORTICIS   AURAN-
  TIORUM HISPALENTIUM
  RECENTIUM.
h'lled Waters.             465

              Edinb.   .
         Orange-peel water.
  From two pounds of orange-peel,
    ten pounds of water alfo are di-
    reded to be drawn off.

  Neither of thefe diftilled waters
  are now to be met with in the Lon-
  don pharmacopoeia;  and it is pro-
  bable that no great lofs arifes from
  the want of them.  For both the
  one and  the other obtain only a
  very weak impregnation. They are
  chiefly employed as diluters in fe-
  vers and other diforders where the
  ftomach and  palate are very apt to
  be difgufted.  And perhaps the only
  circumftance for which they are va-
  luable is the  flightnefsof the im-
  pregnation.   For in fuch affedions,
  any flavour, however agreeable at
  other times, often becomes highly
  difguftful to patients.

   The diftilled  waters above taken
  notice of are  the whole that have
  now a place in the  pharmacopoeias
  of the London and Edinburgh  col-
  leges. And perhaps this feledion is
  fufficiently large for anfwering eve-
  ry ufeful purpofe. But befides thefe,
  a confiderable number of others  are
 ftill retained  even  in the modern
 foreign  pharmacopoeias;  fome of
 which at leaft it may not be impro-
  per to mention.

     AQJJA ALEXITERIA.
              Brun.
        Alexiterial water.
 Take of
   Elder flowers, moderately dried,
     three pounds;
   Angelica leaves,  frefh gathered,
     two pounds;
   Spring water, forty pounds.
 Draw off,  by  diftillation,  thirty
   pounds.
   This water is fufficiently elegant
 with regard to tafteand fmell; tho'
 f«w exped from it fuch virtues as
               G g           its 
465         Preparations a>

\s title feems to imply.  Itis  ufed
occafionally  for  vehicles of alexi-
pharmac medicines, or in juleps to
be drank after them, as coinciding
with the intention ;but in general,
is not fuppofed to be  itfelf of any
confiderable efficacy.

     AQJJA CAMPHORS.
             Brun.
         Camphor-water.
Take of
  Camphor, an ounce  and an half.
Let it be diffolved in half an ounce
  of the fpirit of  rofemary,  then
  pour upon it two pounds of foun-
  tain water, and  draw off by di-
  ftillation a pound and an half.

  This diftilled  water,  which has
no place in our pharmacopoeias, is
introduced into fome of the foreign
ones.  And fince camphor may be
confidered  as a  concrete effential
oil, it  naturally  occurs as a form
under which that medicine  may be
introduced with advantage in a di-
luted ftate.

       AQJJA CASTOREL
             Brun.
          Caftor water.
Take of
  Ruflia caftor, one ounce;
  Water, as  much as will prevent
     burning.
Draw off two pints.

  Castor yields almoft all its fla-
vour in  diftillation  to water;  but
treated  in  the fame manner with
fpirit of wine, gives over nothing.
The fpirit of caftor formerly kept
in the fhops had  none^of the fmell
or virtues of  the drug;  whilft the
water here direded proves, when
frefh drawn very ftrong of it.
  It is remarkable, that the  virtues
of this animal fubftance refide in a
Volatile oil, analogous  to the effen-
d Compofitions.   Part  III.

tial oils of vegetables: fome are re-
ported to have obtained,  in  diftil-
ling large quantities of the drug, a
fmall portion  of oil,  which fmelt
extremely ftrong of the caftor, and
diffufed  its  ungrateful fcent to a
great diftance.
   This water is  made ufe of in hy-
fteric cafes, and  fome nervous com-
plaints,  though  it  has not  been
found to anfwer  what many  people
exped from it: it lofes greatly of
its flavour in keeping.
   And it is probably from this cir-
cumftance  that  it has no place ei-
ther  in  our pharmacopoeias or in
the modern foreign ones.   But at
the fame time,   as holding to  a
high  degree the fenfible qualities
of the caftor,  it may be confider-
ed as  jufty deferving future  atten-
tion.

      AQJJA  CEREFOLIL
              Gen.
         Chervil-wate'r
Take of
   Frefh  leaves  of chervil,  one
    pound ;
   Fountain  water,  as  much as is
    fufficient  for allowing  eight
    pounds to be drawn off  by di-
    ftillation, at the fame time a-
    voiding empyreuma.

   Although  the chervil be but
little  employed in Britain,  yet  a-
mong fome of  the foreigners it is
held in high efteem.  And  the di-
ftilled water is perhaps one  of the
moft elegant forms under which its
adive parts can be introduced. But
there  isreafon to believe, that thofe
diuretic  powers  for which it has
been chiefly celebrated, will be moft
certainly obtained from exhibiting
it in fubftance, or under the form of
the expreffed  juice of the recent
plant.
                             A- 
  Chap.  if.       Simple Di,

         AQJJA CERASI.
               Suec.
        Black-cherry water.
 Take of
   Ripe black cherries bruifed with
      the kernels, 20 pounds;
   Fountain water, as much as is
      fufficient for  avoiding empy-
      reuma.
 Draw off 20 pounds by diftillation.

   This water, although now ba-
 riifhed: from  our  pharmacopoeias,
 has long maintained a place in  the
 foreign ones, and even in Britain it
 is not unfreqnently to be met with
 in  the fhops. It has often been em-
 ployed  by  phyficians as a vehicle,
 in preference to the other diftilled
 waters ; and among nurfes who have
 the careof youngchildren, has been
 the firft remedy againft the convul-
 five diforders to which infants are
 fo often fubjed.
   This  water has  neverthelefs of
 late been  brought  into difrepute,
 and by  fome looked upon as poi-
 fonous.   They obferve, that it re-
 ceives it's flavour principally from
 the cherry ftones;  and that thefe
 kernels, like many others, bear a
 refemblance in tafte to the leaves of
 the lanro-cerafus,  which have been
 difcovered  to yield,  by infufion or
 diftillation, the moft  fudden  poifon
 known ; fome phyficians of Worcef-
 ter  have already found by trial pur-
 pofely made,  that  a diftilled water
 very ftrongly impregnated with the
 flavour of the cherry kernels (no
 more than two pints being diftilled
 from fourteen pounds of the cherry
 ftones) proved in like manner poi-
 fonous to brutes.  The London col-
 lege repeated the fame experiment,
and found the  effeds agreeable to
thofe gentlemen's report.
  It by no means follows from thefe
trials,  nor  after fuch  long expe-
rience can  it  be  imagined, that
filled Waters.            467

 black-cherry water, when no ftrong-
 er than the fhops have been  accuf-
 tomed to prepare it, is unfafe. Thefe
 kernels plainly refemble opium, and
 fome other things, which poifon only
 when taken in too great a quantity ;
 the water from the very laurel leaves
 is harmlefs when duly diluted ;  and
 even fpirit of wine proves a poifon
 of it's kind, not greatly different, if
 drank to a certain degree of excefs.
 Nor can it be concluded,  from the
 trials with the  ftrong black-cherry
 water on dogs, &c. that  even this
 will  have the   fame  effeds in the
 human  body ; that kernels of many
 forts  of fruits  being  rn fubftance
 poifonous to brutes though innocent
 to man.
   Itispoflible, however,  that this
 water in any degree of  ftrength may
 not be altogether fafe  to the tender
 age of infants, where the  principles
 of life are but juft beginning as it
 were to move :  it  is poflible, that it
 may there have  had pernicious ef-
 fects, without being fufpeded : the
 fymptoms it  would produce, if it
 fliould prove hurtfulf,  being fuch as
 children are often thrown into from
 the difeafe which it is imagined to
 relieve.  On thefe confiderations,
 both the  London and Edinburgh
 colleges have chofen to lay it afide ;
 more  efpecially  as it  has been  too
 often counterfeited with a water di-
 ftilled from bitter almonds, which
 are known to communicate a  poi-
 fonous  quality.  It is,  however,
 one of thofe  adive articles which
 may perhaps  be confidered as de-
 ferving  farther attention.

    AQJJA  CHAMOMILLjE
           FLORUM.
              Dan.
      Camomile flower water.
 Take of
  Camomile flowers,  dried in the
    fhade, eight pounds;
             Gg  2         Wa- 
468         Preparations and Compofitions.    Part. III.

Water, feventy-two pounds; draw
  off by gentle diftillation forty-
  eight pounds.
  Camomile flowers were former-
ly ordered  to  be fermented pre-
vioufly to the diftillation, a treat-
ment  which they  ftand  little in
need of: for they give over without
any fermentation as much as  that
procefs is capable of enabling them
to do.  In either cafe the fmell and
peculiar flavour of the flowers arife
without any thingof the bitternefs;
this remaining behind in the decoc-
tion •? which, if duly depurated and
infpiffated, yields an extract fimilar
to that prepared from the flowers in
the common manner. The diftilled
water has been ufed in flatulent co-
lics, and the like, but is at prefent
held in no great efteem

     AQJJA FRAGORUM.
             Suec.
       Strawberry-water.
From twenty pounds of ftrawber-
  ries, twenty  pounds of diftilled
  water are drawn off, according to
  the  .fame  diredions  given for
  the  preparation of the  black-
   cherry.

  Water thus impregnated with
the effential oil of the ftrawberries,
will have what to fome people  will
be a very  agreeable flavour;  but
any confiderable medical power is
not to be expeded from it.

       AQJJA  HYSSOPI.
              Suec.
          Hyffop-water.
From  four pounds of  the  frefh
   leaves of hyffop, fix  pounds of
   water are drawn off.

   Hyssop waterhas been held by
fome in confiderable  efteem as an
uterine and a pedoral medicine.  It
was direded in a former edition of
the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia for
making up the black pedoral tro-
ches, but is now exchanged for com-
mon water. Few at prefent exped
any fingular virtues from it, nor is
it often to be met with in our fhops,
being now expunged from our phar-
macopoeias.  It holds a place, how-
ever in moft of the foreign  ones,
and among ourfelves there  are ftill
fome  practitioners  who frequently
employ it.  But  there can  be  no
doubt  that  thofe medical  proper-
ties which the hyffop contains, may
be more readily and effedually ex-
traded by fimple infufion.

 AQJJA LILIORUM  ALBO«
             RUM.
             Brun.
         White-lily water.

   AQJJA LILIORUM CON-
          VALLIUM.
             Brun.
         May-lily water.
To any quantity of thefe flowers,
   four times their weight of water
   is to be added, and water drawn
   off by diftillation  in the  propor-
   tion of two pounds to each pound
   of the  flowers.

   These waters muft obtain fome
impregnation of that elegant effen-
tial oil, on which the odour of flow-
ers  in their growing  ftate de-
pends.  But  they  do  not poffefs
any remarkable  medical  proper-
ties.

      AQJJA MELISSA.
             Brun.
          Balm-water.
The green leaves of the balm are to
   be macerated  with double their
   weight of water ; and from each
   pound of the  plant a pound and
   an half of water is to be drawn
   off.
                           This 
 Chap.  17.       Simple Dtj

   This water obtains a confider-
 able impregnation from the balm,
 which yields its eflential oil pretty
 freely on diftillation.  Though now
 baniflied from our pharmacopoeias
 it has ftill a place in moft of the fo-
 reign ones.   In the old editions of
 the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia, this
 water was ordered to be cohobated,
 or re-diftilled from frefh quantities
 of the  herb.  This  management
 feems  to have  been   taken  from
 Boerhaave, who has  a very high
 opinion of the water thus prepared:
 he fays, he has experienced  in him-
 felf extraordinary effeds from it,
 taken on  an  empty ftomach ; that
 it has fcarce its equal in hypochon-
 driacal  and hyfterical  cafes,  the
 chlorofis,  and  palpitation  of  the
 heart, as often as thefe difeafes pro-
 ceed from a difurder of the fpirits,
 rather than from any colledion of
 morbific matter.
   But whatever virtues are  lodged
 in balm,  may be  much more per-
 fedly and advantageoufly extraded
 by cold infufion in aqueous or fpi-
 rituous menftrua:  in  this laft pro-
 -cefs,  the  liquor fuffers no injury
 from  being returned on frefh par-
 cels of the herbs ; a few repetitions
 will load  ir with the virtues of the
 fubjed, and  render it very  rich.
 The impregnation here is  almoft
 unlimited ; but in diftilled waters it
 is far otherwife.
   And as far as any advantage can
 be obtained from it,  this may  be
 had perhaps to its fulleft extent by
 a fimple diftillation in  the manner
 here direded.

        AQJJA  RUT^E.
             Rofe,
           Rue-water.
JFrom each pound of  rue,  with  a
   fufficient quantity of fpring wa-
   ter to prevent empyreuma, two
   pounds  of diftilled water are to
   Jje drawn.
 'Hied Waters.            469

   Rue gives over in this procefs
 the whole of its fmell,  and  great
 part of its pungency.  The diftilled
 water ftands recommended in epi-
 leptic cafes, the hyfteric paffion, for
 promoting perfpiration, and  other
 natural fecretions. But though ftill
 a good deal employed abroad,  it is
 with us falling into difrepute.

        AQJJA  SABINE.
          Savin-water.
 This is diftilled from the frefli leaves
   of favin, after the fame  man-
   ner as the other  already  men-
   tioned.

   This water- is by fome held -in
 confiderable  efteem  for  the  fame
 purpofes as the diftilled oil of favin.
 Boerhaave relates, that he has found
 it (when prepared by  cohobation)
 to give an almoft incredible motion
 to the whole nervous fyftem; and
 that when properly ufed,  it proves
 eminently ferviceable for promo-
 ting themenfes and the hasmorrhoi-
 dal flux.
   It  has  now, however,, fallen £b
 much into difreptite  as to have no
 place either in our pharmacopoeias
 or in the beft modern foreign ones;
 But at the fame time, y.hen we re-
 fled howreadilyfavinyieldsalarge
 proportion of adive effential oil on
 diftillation,  it may perhaps be con-
 fidered as better intitled to attenti-
 on  than fome other diftilled waters
 which are ftill retained.

       AQJJA SAMBUCI.
             Brun.
       Elder flower  water.
 This is  diftilled from frefh elder
  flowers, after the fame manner as
  the white-lily  water.

  This waterfmells confiderably
 of the flowers;  but js rarely mad'a
■ufe of among us.
              G & 3           $ 
47o         Preparations and Compofitions.   Part. III.
       AQJJA  SALVIjE.
              Brute,
          Sage-water.
This is direded to be prepared from
   the green leaves of the fage in the
   fame manner as  the balm water.

   Sage leaves contain a confider-
able  proportion of  effential  oil,
which  they yield pretty  freely on
diftillation. But their whole  medi-
cal properties may with ftill greater
cafe and advantage be extracted by
fimple infufion.
  We haye ordered the  waters to
be  diftilled  from the dried herbs,
ibecaufe frefli are not ready at  all
times of the year.   Whenever the
frefh  are ufed,  the  weights are to
be  increafed.  But, whether the
frefli or dried herbs be employed,
the operator may  vary the weight
according to the feafon in wHich
they  have been produced  and col-
leded.
  Herbs and feeds, kept beyond
the fpace of a year,  are improper
for the diftillation of waters.
  To every gallon of thefe waters
  To the fimple diftilled waters the  add  five  ounces,  by meafure, of
London college have annexed  the  proof-fpirit.
following remarks*
CHAP.    XVIII.
SPIRITUS  DISTILLATI.
DISTILLED  SPIRITS,
    THE flavour  and virtues of di-
     ftilled waters  are  owing, as
obferved in  the preceding chapter,
to their being  impregnated  with a
portion  of the eflential oil of the
fubjed from which they are drawn.
Spirit of wine, confidered as  a ve-
hicle for thefe oils, has this advan-
tage above water,  that it is their
proper menftruum,  and keeps all
the oil  that rifes with it perfedly
diffolved into an uniform limpid li-
quor.
  Neverthelefs,  many fubftances,
which on  being diftilled with wa-
ter,  impart  to it their virtues  in
great perfe"dion ; if treated in the
fame manner with fpirit  of wine,
fcarce give over  to it  any fmell or
tafte. This difference proceeds  from
hence, that fpirit is not fufceptible
of fo great a degree of heat as  wa-
ter.   Liquids  in  general, when
made to boil, have received as great
a heat as they are capable of fu-
ftaining : now, if the extent of heat
between  freezing and  boiling wa-
ter, as meafured  by thermometers,
be taken  for a ftandard,  fpirit of
wine will be found to boil with lefs
than four-fifths of that  heat, or a-
bove one-fifth lefs than the heat of
                         boiling 
Chap. 18.            Difiilh

boiling water. It is obvious there-
fore, that fubftances may be vola-
tile enough to rife with the heat of
boiling water, but not  with that of
.bpjling fpirit.
   Thus, if cinnamon, for inftance,
be committed to diftillation with a
mixture  of fpirit of wine  and wa-
ter,  or  with a pure  proof-fpirit,
which is no other than a mixture of
about equal parts  of the two ; the
fpirit will  arife .firft, clear, colour-
lefs,  and tranfparent,  and almoft
without any tafte of the fpice ; but
as foon as the more ponderous wa-
tery  fluid  begins  to arife, the oil
comes freely over  with it,  fo as to
render the liquor  highly odorous,
laped, and of a milky hue.
  The proof-fpirits ufually met with
in the fhops are accompanied with
a degree of ill flavour; which, tho"
concealed by means of certain ad-
ditions, plainly difcovers itfelf in di-
ftillation. This naufeous relifh does
not begin to arife   till after the pu-
rer  fpirituous part has come over ;
which is the very  time  that the vir-
tues of the ingredients begin alfo
moft plentifully to diftil; and hence
the liquor  receives  an ungrateful
taint.  To this caufe principally is
owing the general complaint, that
the cordials of the apothecary are
lefs  agreeable  than thofe  of the
fame  kind prepared by  the  di-
ftilter ; the latter being extremely
curious in  redifying or purifying
the fpirits (when defigned for what
he calls fine goods) from all ill fla-
vour.

          ALCOHOL.
             Lond.
          Ardent fpirit.
Take of
   Redified fpirit  of wine, one gal-
     lon  ;
   Kali,  made hot, one pound and
     an half:
   Pare kali,  one ounce.
d  Spirits.               All

 Mix  the fpirit of wine with the
   pure  kali,  and afterwards  add
   one pound of the hot kali; fhake
   them,  and  digeft for twenty-
   four hours.   Pour off the fpirit,
   to which add the reft of the ka-
   li,  and  diftil in a  water-bath.
   It is to be kept in a veflel  well
   flopped.

   The fpecific gravity of the alco-
 hol is to that  of diftilled water as
 815 to 1000.
   We have already  offered fome
 obfervations on fpirit of wine  both
 in the ftate of what is called redi-
 fied  and  proof fpirit.   But in the
 prefent formula we have ardent fpi-
 rit ftill more freed from an admix-
 ture of water than even the former
 of thefe.   And  in  this ftate  it is
 unqueftionably beft fitted for an-
 fwering  fome purpofes.   It  may
 therefore juftly be confidered as an
 omiffion  in the prefent edition of
 the Edinburgh-Pharmacopoeia, that
 they  have no analogous form. In
 former editions of this work, alco-
 hol was  direded  to  be  prepared
 from French brandy. But this is ra-
 ther too dear an article in this coun-
 try for diftillation ; nor is the fpi-
 rit obtained from it any ways  pre-
 ferable  to  one  procurable  from
 cheaper liquors.  The coarfer in-
 flammable fpirits may be  rendered
 perfedly pure, and fit for the niceft
 purpofes, by tbe following method.
   If the  fpirit be exceedingly  foul,
 mix it with about  an equal quan-
 tity  of water,  and  diftil  with  a
 flow fire ;  difcontinuing the opera-
 tion as foon as the liquor begins to
 run milky,  and difcovers,  by its
 naufeous tafte, that the impure and
 phlegmatic part is arifing. By this
 treatment, the fpirit leaves a confi-
 derable portion of its foul oily  mat-
 ter behind it in the water,  which
 now appears milky and  turbid, and
 proves highly difagreeable in tafte.
             G  g 4            If 
Preparations and Compofitions.
472
If the fpirit be not very foul at firft,
this  ablution is not neceffary ;  if
extremely  fo,  it will  be needful
to repeat it  once,  twice,  or of-
terter.
  As vinous fpirits arife with a lefs
degree of fire than watery liquors,
we are  hence direded to employ,
in the diftillation  of them, a heat
lefs than that in which  water boils:
and if due regard be had to thiscir-
cumftance, very weak  fpirits may,
by one or two wary diftillations, be
tolerably well freed from their aque-
ous phlegm j efpecially  if the diftil-
ling veflels are of fuch a height, that
the fpirit,  by  the heat of a  water-
bath, may but juft pafs over them :
in this cafe, the phlegmatic vapours
which arife for a little  way along
with the fpirit, will condenfe and
fall  back again  before they can
come to the head.  Very pompous
inftruments have been contrived for
this purpofe, and carried in a fpiral
or ferpentine form to an extraordi-
nary height.  The fpirit, afcending
through thefe,  was to leave all the
watery parts it  contained, in its paf-
fage, and come over perfedly pure
and free from phlegm.   But thefe
inftruments are built upon errone-
ous  principles,  their   extravagant
height  defeating  the  end  it  was
defigned to  anfwer: if the liquor
be  made to  boil,  a  confiderable
quantity of mere phlegm will come
over  along with the fpirit ; and if
the heat be not raifed to this pitch,
neither phlegm no fpirit will diftil.
The moft convenient inftrument is
the common  ftill ; between the bo-
dy  of which and its head an adop-
ter or copper tube may be fixed.'
   The  fpirit being  wafhed, as  a-
bove direded, from its foul oil, and
freed from the greateft part of the
phlegm by gentle diftillation  in  a
water-bath ;  add to every gallon  of
it a pound or two of pnre, dry, fixt
alkaline fait.  Upon digefting thefe
Part III.
together for a little time, the alka-
li, from its known  property of at-
trading water and oils, will im-
bibe the remaining phlegm, and
fuch part of the difagreeable unc-
tuous matter as may ftill be left in
the fpirit,  and fink with them  to
the bottom of the  veffel.   If the
fpirit  be  now again gently drawn
over, it will arife entirely free from
its phlegm  and naufeous flavours ;
but fome particles of the alkaline
fait are apt to be carried up with
it, and give what the workmen call
an urinous relifh : this may be pre-
vented by  adding, previous  to the
laft diftillation, a fmall  proportion
of calcined vitriol, alum, or fal ca-
tharticus amarus ; the acid of thefe
falts will unite with,  and  neutra-
lize the alkali, and cffedually pre-
vent it  from arifing ;  while  no
more of the acid of the falts is ex-
tricated than  what  the  alkali ab-
forbs.
   The fpirit obtained by this means
is extremely pure, limpid, perfedly
flavourlefs, and fit for the  fineft
purpofes.   It  may  be reduced to
the ftrength commonly underftood
by  proof,  by  mixing twenty oun-
ces of it  with  feventeen ounces
of water.   The diftilled  cordials
made  with thefe fpirits prove much
more elegant and agreeable,  than
when  the common  redified  or
proof-fpirits of the fliops are  made
ufe of.
   If the redified fpirit be diftilled
afrefh from dry alkaline fait, with a
quick fire,  it brings over a  confi-
derable quantity of the fait ; and
in this  ftate  is fuppofed  to be a
more powerful menftruum for cer-
tain fubftances  than  the pure  fpi-
rit.  This  alkalized fpirit is called
tartarized spirit of  wine.
  The procefs here defcribed,which
was long fince recommended byDr
Lewis, will fufficiently explain the
intention of the London  college, in
                             the 
Chap.  18.
Diftilled Spirits.
473
the diredions they have now given
for the preparation of alcohol. And
there can be no doubt, that by their
procefs  a very pure alcohol may be
obtained.  Of this we have a fuffi-
cient teft in the fpecific  gravity of
the fluid which comes over, which
is to that of diftilled  water only as
815 to 1000, while the fpecific gra-
vity of proper redified fpirit,  is as
835 to 1000.

SPIRITUS jETHERIS VITRL
            OLICI.
              Lond.
      Spirit of vitriolic ather.
Take of
   Redified fpirit of wine,
   Vitriolic acid, each one pound.
Pour in by a little at a time the
   acid to the  fpirit, and mix them
   byfhaking; then  from a retort
   into  a tubulated  receiver,  to
   which another recipient is fit-
   ted, diftil the fpirit of vitriolic
   aether till  fulphureous  vapours
   begin to rife.

ACIDUM  VITRIOLICUM VI-
   NOSUM,   vulgo   SPIRITUS
   VITRIOLI DULCIS.'
            Edinb.
Vinous  vitriolic  acid,  commonly
   called Dulcified fpirit of vitriol.
Take of
   Vitriolic aethereal  liquor,  one
     part;
   Redified fpirit  of  wine,  two
     parts.
Mix them.

   The laft of thefe proceffes is  a
very ready and convenient method
of preparing the  dulcified fpirit of
vitriol, which only differs from e-
ther by the acid being more predo-
minant,  and lefs intimately com-
bined.
   In the firft procefs, a good deal
©f caution is requifite in mixing the
two liquors.  Some dired the fpirit
of wine to be put firft into the retort,
and the oil of vitriol  to  be poured
upon it all  at  once; a method of
procedure by no means advifeable,
as a violent  heat and ebullition  al-
ways enfne, which  may  not only
diflipate a psrt of the mixture, but
hazard alfo the breaking of the vef-
fel, to the great danger of the ope-
rator.   Others put the oi! of vitriol
into the retort  firft; then  by means
of a funnel, with a long pipe that
may reach down juft to the furface
of the acid, pour in the fpirit of wine:
if this be done with fufficient cau-
tion, the  vinous  fpirit fpreads  it-
felf on the furface of  the oil of vi-
triol,  and  the two liquors appear
diftind.   On ftanding for a week
or two, the vinous fpirit gradual-
ly imbibed, without  any commo-
tion, and  the  veffel  may then  be
fafely fhaken to complete the mix-
ture':  but if the  fpirit be  poured in
too  haftily at firft, or if  the veffel
be moved  before the two liquors
have in fome degree incorporated,
the fame effed enfuesasin the fore-
going cafe.  The only feeure way
is to  add the  oil of vitriol to the
fpirit of wine by a little quantity
at a time, waiting till the firft ad-
dition  be  incorporated before ano-
ther quantity  is put  in :  by  this
management,  the heat that enfues
is inconfiderable, and the mixture
is effeded  without  any inconve-
nience.
  The  diftillation fhould be per-
formed with an  equable  and very
gentle  heat, and  not continued fo
long as till a black froth begins to
appear •. foj before this time, a li-
quor will  arife of a very different
nature from the fpirit here intend-
ed.   The feveral produds are moft
commodioufly kept apart by ufing a
tubulated  receiver, fo placed, that
its  pipe may  convey  the  matter
which fhall come over into a vial fet
underneath.  The jundure of the
                             re- 
 474          Preparations a?\

 retort  and recipient  is to be luted
 with a pafte  made of linfeed meal,
 and further  fecured by a piece of
 wet bladder;  the  lower jundure
 may be clofed only  with  fome  foft
 wax, that the wax may be occa-
 fionally removed with eafe.
   The true dulcified fpirit arifes in
 thin fubtle vapours, which condenfe
 upon the fides  of the  recipient in
 ftraight itriae.   It  is colourlefs as
 water,  very volatile,  inflammable,
 of an extremely fragrant fmell, in
 tafte fomewhat aromatic.
   After the  fire has been kept up
 for fome time,  white fumes arife;
 which either form irregular ftriae,
 or  are  colleded into  large round
 drops like oil:  On  the firft appear-
 ance of thefe, the vial, or the re-
 ceiver, if a common one  is made
 ufe of, muft be taken away. If ano-
 ther be fubftituted,  and the diftilla-
 tion continued, an acid liquor comes
 over, of an exceeding pungent fmell,
 like the fumes of burning brimftone.
 At length a black froth begins haf-
 tily to arife,  and prevents carrying
 the procefs further.
   On the furface of the fulphureous
 fpirit is found  fwiinming a fmall
 quantity of oil, of  a  light yellow
 colour,  a  ftrong, penetrating,  and
 very  agreeable  fmell.  This  oil
 feems to be nearly of the fame  na-
 ture with the effential oils of vege-
 tables.  It readily  and totally  dif-
 folves in redified fpirit of wine, and
communicates to a large quantity of
 that menftruum the tafte and fmell
 of the aromatic  or  dulcified fpirit.
  The  matter  remaining after  the
diftillation is of a dark blackifli co-
lour, and ftill highly acid.  Treated
with frefh fpirit of wine, in the fame
manner as before, ityieldsthe fame
produdions;  till at  length  all  the
 acid that remains unvolatilized  be-
ing fatiated  with the inflammable
oily matter of the fpirit, the corn-
 round proves a  bituminous fulphti-
l Compofitions.    Part.  JII.

 reous mafs; which,  expofed  to the
 fire in open veffels,  readily burns,
 leaving a  confiderable  quantity of
 fixed afhes; in  clofe ones, it  ex-
 plodes  with  violence;  and with
 fixt alkaline falts, forms a compound
 nearly fimilar to one compofed of
 alkalies and fulphurr.
   The new names adopted by  the
 London and Edinburgh  colleges for
 denominating this fluid, the one
 employing the term of  Spiritus a-
 theris  vitriolici,  the other of Aci-
 dum vitriolicum  vinofum, feem to us
 to  be  equally exceptionable; and
 perhaps the old  term of  Spiritus vi-
 trioli dulcis is not lefs properly fit-
 ted  to diftinguifh it  from  other
 fluids, and to convey a proper idea
 of  its nature than either.
   Dulcified fpirit of vitriol has been
 for fome time greatly efteemed, both
 as a menftruum  and a medicine.  It
 diflblves fome refinous and  bitumi-
 nous fubftances  more readily than
 fpirit of wine alone, and extrads
 elegant tindures from fundry  vege-
 tables.   As  a  medicine,  it pro-
 motes  perfpiration and the urinary
 fecretion, expels flatulencies, and
 in  many  cafes abates fpafniodic
 ftridures, eafes pains, and procures
 fleep.  The dofe is from  ten  to
 eighty or ninety drops in any con-
 venient vehicle.  It is noteffentially
 different from the celebrated ano-
 dyne liquor of Hoffman ; to which
 it is,  by the  author himfelf,  not
 unfrequently direded as a fucceda-
 neum.
   Of this fluid,  however, or at leaft
 of an  article  probably  ftill  more
 nearly refembling it, we fhall  af-
 terwards have  occafion  to fpeak,
 when we treat of the Spiritus athe-
 ris vitriolici viuofus.

   .ETHER VITRIOLICUS.
             Lond.
         Vitriolic eether.
                           Take 
 Chap, 18.            Diftill

Take of
  The fpirit of vitriolic aether, two
     pounds,
  Wa*cr of pure kali, one ounce.
Shake  them  together, and  diftil,
  with a gentle heat, fourteen oun-
  ces by meafure.

    LIQJJOR .ETHEREUS
        VITRIOLICUS.
              Edinb.
     Vitriolic athereal liquor
Take of
  Redified fpirit.of wine,
  Vitriolic acid, of each thirty-two
     ounces.
Pour afie fpirit  into a glafs retort
  fit for fuftaining  a  fudden heat,
  and  add to it the acid in an uni-
  form ftream. Mix them by de-
  grees, frequently fhaking them
  moderately: this done, inftantly
  diftil from fand previoufty heated
  for that purpofe, into a receiver
  kept cool  with  water or fnow.
   But the heat is to be fo mana-
  ged, that the liquor fhall boil at
  firft and continue to boil till fix-
  teen ounces are drawn off;  then
  let  the retort be raifed out from
  the fand.
To the  diftilled   liquor add  two
  drams of the caufticum commune
  acerrimum ; then diftil again in a
  highly raifed retort with a very
  gentle heat, into a cool receiver,
  until ten ounces have been drawn
  off
If fixteen ounces of  redified fpirit
  of wine  be poured upon the acid
  remaining  in the retort after the
  firft  diftillation, an  ethereal li-
  quor may be obtained by repeat-
  ing  the  diftillation.   This may
  be done pretty often.

  The preparation of this fingular
fluid,  now  received into  public
pharmacopoeias, was  formerly con.
fined to a few hands;  for though fe.
d  Spirits.               47$

 veral proceffes have been publifhed
 for obtaining it, the fuccefs of moft
 of  them is precarious, and fome of
 them are  accompanied  alfo with
 danger to the operator.   Theprin.-
 cipal difficulty confifts in the firft
 part of the diftillation.
   It  has  been ufual  to  dired the
 heat to be kept up till a black froth
 begins to appear; but if it  is ma-
 naged in the manner here direded^
 the quantity of aether which  the li-
 quor can afford will be formed and
 drawn off before  the fulphureous
 froth appears.  The  ufe .of  the
 cauftic alkali,  is to engage any un-
 combined vitriolic acid which may
 be prefent in  the firft diftilled li-
 quor.  If a mild alkali were em-
 ployed for this  purpofe, the fepa-
 ration of its air  by  the acid might
 endanger the  burfting of the vef-
 fels.  This laft is indeed an  incon-
 venience  which attends the whole
 of this procefs. It might in a great
 meafure be obviated by employing
 a  range of receivers, fuch as the
 adopter defcribed in the firft  part of
 this work.

   The sether, or setherial fpirit, is
 the lighteft, moft volatile and  in-
 flammable, of all known liquids. It
 is lighter than the moft highly redi-
 fied fpirit of wine,  in the proporti-
 on of about 7 to 8 : a drop let fall on
 the hand, evaporates  almoft in an
 inftant, fearcely rendering the part
 moift.  It does not mix,  or only in
 a fmall quantity, .with water, fpirit
 of  wine,  alkaline  lixivia, volatile
 alkaline fpirits, or acjds ; but  is a
 powerful diffolvent for oils, balfams,
 refins, and other analogous fubfian-
 ces:  it is the only known,fubftance
 capable of diffolving the elafiicgum.
 It has a fragrant odour,  which, in
 confequence of the volatility of the
 fluid, is  diffufed through a large
 fpace.  It has often been  fonnd to
                            give 
 476          Preparations a,

 give eafe in violent headachs,  by
 being applied externally to the part;
 and to  relieve the  toothach,   by
 being laid on the afflided jaw.   It
 has been given alfo internally,with
 benefit, in whooping coughs,  hy-
 fterical cafes, in afthma, and indeed
 in almoft every fpafniodic affedion,
 from  a  few  drops to the quantity
 of half an ounce, in a glafs of wine
 or water; which fhould be fwallow-
 ed  as quickly as pofftble,  as  the
 aether fo fpeedily exhales.

  SPIRITUS  ^ETHERIS NI-
             TROSI.
               Lond.
       Spirit of nitrous ather.
 Take of
   Redified  fpirit of wine,  two
     pints,
   Nitrous acid, half a pound.
 Mix them by  pouring in the acid
   to the fpirit,  and diftil with  a
   gentle heat  one pound ten oun-
   ces.

 ACIDUM  NITRI  VINOSUM,
     vulgo SPIRITUS NITRI.
            DULCIS.
               Edin.
 Vinous acid of nitre, commonly call-
  ed Dulcified fpirit  of nitre.
 Take  of
   Redified  fpirit of  wine, three
     pounds ;
  Nitrous acid, one pound.
Pour  the  fpirit  into a  capacious
  phial, placed in  a veffel  full of
  of cold water, and add the acid by
  degrees,   conftantly  agitating
  them. Let the  phial be (lightly
  covered, and laid by  for feven
  days in a cool place ; then diftil
  the liquor  with the heat of boil-
  ing  water  into a  receiver kept
  cool with water or fnow,  till no
  more fpirit comes over.

  By allowing  the acid and redi-
fied  fpirit to ftand  for fome time,
id Compofitions.    Part III.
 the union of  the two is not only
 more complete, but the danger alfo
 of the veffels giving way to the ebul-
 lition and heat confequent on their
 being mixed, is in a great meafure
 prevented. By fixing the degree of
 heat to the boiling point,  the fu-
 perabundant acid matter is left in
 the retort, being too ponderous to
 be raifed by thai degree of  heat.
   Here the operator muft take care
 not to invert  the order of  mixing
 the two liquors, by pouring the vi-
 nous fpirit into the acid ; for if he
 fliould, a violent  effervefcence  and
 heat would enfue, and  the  matter
 be difperfed in highly noxious red
 fumes.   The moft convenient  and
 fafe method of performing the mix-
 ture feems to be, to put the  inflam-
 mable fpirit into a large glafs body
 with a narrow mouth, placed under
 a chimney, and to pour upon it  the
 acid, by means of a glafs funnel, in
 very fmall quantities at a time ; ma-
 king the veffel as foon as the effer-
 vefcence enfuing upon each addition
 ceafes,before a frefh quantity is put
 in : by  this  means the  glafs  will
 heat equally,and be prevented from
 breaking. During the adion of the
 two fpirits  upon each  other,  the
 veffel fhould be lightly covered : if
 clofe ftopt, it will burft ;  and if  left
 entirely open, fome of the more va-
 luable parts will exhale.  Leniery
 direds the mixture to be made in
 an openveffel:  by which unfeienti-
 fical procedure, he ufually loft, as
 he himfelf obferves, half his  liquor;
 and  we may prefume, that the  re-
 mainder was not the medicine here
 intended.
  Several methods have been con-
 trived for obviating the  inconveni-
 ences arifing from the  elaftic fluid
 and violent explofions produced on
 the mixture of  the nitrous acid and
 redified  fpirit of wine : for  prepa-
 ring the nitrous aether they are  ab-
 folutely  neceffary, and might per-
                            haps 
 Chap. 18.           Diftil lee

 haps be conveniently ufed for ma-
 king the dulcified fpirit.  The me-
 thod  we judge  to be  the beft, is
 that employed by Dr Black.  On
 two ounces of the ftrong acid put
 into a  phial, the  Dodor  pours,
 flowly and gradually, about an equal
 quantity of water ; which, by being
 made to trickle  down the fides of
 the phial,  floats  on  the  furface of
 the acid without  mixing with it ;
 he  then adds, in the fame cautious
 manner, three ounces of highly rec-
 tified fpirit of wine, which in its
 turn floats on the furface of the wa-
 ter.  By this means the three fluids
 are kept feparate on account of their
 different fpecific gravities,  and a
 ftratum of  water is interpofed be-
 tween the  acid  and fpirit.   The
 phial is now fet in a cool place : the
 acid gradually afcends, and the fpi-
 rit defcends through the water, this
 laft ading as a boundary toreftrain
 their violent adion on  each  other.
 By this method  a quantity  of ni-
 trous  aether is formed,  without the
 danger of producing elaftic vapours
 or explofion.
  B'or the preparation  of the dul-
 cified  fpirit, the liquors, when mix-
 ed together, fhould be fuffered to reft
 for  fome time, as above  direded,
 that the fumes may entirely fubfide,
 and the union be in fome meafure
completed.    The diftillation fhould
be performed with a very flow  and
well regulated fire ;  otherwife the
 vapour will expand  with fo  much
force as to burft the veflels. Wilfon
feems to have experienced the juft-
nefs of this obfervation, and hence
 direds  the jundure  of the  retort
and receiver not  to be luted, or but
flightly : if a tubulated recipient,
with its upright long pipe, be made
ufe  of, and  the diftillation perform-
 ed with the heat of a water-bath,
the veffels may be luted without any
danger  : this method has likewife
 Spirits.                 ^i-j'-j

another advantage, as it afcertains
the time when the operation is fi-
niflied : "examining the diftilled fpi-
rit every now and  then  with alka-
line falts, as direded above, is fuf-
ficiently  troublefome ;  whilft in a
water-bath we may fafely draw over
all that will arife ;  for this heat will
elevate no more of the acid than
what is dulcified by the vinous fpirit.
  Dulcified fpirit of nitre has been
long held, and not  nndefervedly, in
great efteem.  It  quenches  thirft,
promotes the  natural fecretions, ex-
pels flatulencies,  and  moderately
ftrengthens the ftomach : it may be
given from twenty drops to a dram,
in any convenient vehicle.   Mixed
with a fmall  quantity of fpirit of
hartfhorn,  the fpiritus volatilis aro-
maticus, or any other  alkaline fpi-
rit, it proves a mild, yet efficacious,
diaphoretic, and often remarkably
diaretic ;  efpecially in fome febrile
cafes, where  fuch a falutary evacu-
ation is wanted.   A  fmall propor-
tion of this fpirit added to malt fpi-
rits, gives them a flavour approach-
ing to that of French brandy.

    SPIRITUS AMMONLE.
             Lond.
       Spirit of ammonia.
Take  of
  Proof-fpirit, three pints ;
  Sal  ammoniac, four ounces j
  Pot-afli,  fix ounces.
Mix, and diftil with a flow fire one
  pint and an half.

 SPIRITUS  SALIS AMMONI-
        ACI  VINOSUS.
             Edinb.
  Vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac.
Take  of
  Quicklime, fixteen ounces ;
  Sal ammoniac, eight ounces ;
  Redified fpirit of wine,  thirty-
    two ounces.
Having flightly bruifed and mixed
                             the 
  47 8          Preparations a,

    the  quicklime and  ammoniacal
    fait, put them into a glafs retort;
    then add the fpirit, and diftil in
    the manner direded for the vola-
    tile cauftic alkali, till all the fpi-
    rit has paffed over.

    This fpirit has lately come much
 into efteem, both as a medicine and
 a menftruum.   It is  a folution of
 volatile fait  in  redified  fpirit of
 wine ;  for though proof-fpirit  be
 made ufe  of, its phlegmatic part
 does not arilc in the diftillation, and
 ferves  only to facilitate the  adion
 of the  pure  fpirit upon the ammo-
 niacal fait.  Redified fpirit of wine
 does not diffolve volatile alkaline
 falts by fimple mixture : on the con-
 trary, it  precipitates them,  as has
 been already obferved,  when they
 are pfeviou'fl'y diffolved in water :
 but by  the prefent procefs, a  confi-
 derable proportion of the volatile al-
 kali is combined  with the fpirit. It
 might perhaps,  for fome  purpofes,
 6e more advifable to  ufe  with this
 intentibii the  volatile fpirits  made
 with quicklime ; for this may be
 mixed at once with redified fpirit
 of wfrie, in any proportions,  with-
 out the  leaft danger of any fepara-
 tion of  the volatile alkali.
   The  name here employed by the
 London college,  particularly  when
 put in contradiftindion to the aqua
 ammonia, conveys a  clear idea of
 the article, and is,  we think, pre-
 ferable  to  that   employed by  the
 Edinburgh college.
   As a menftruum, the fpiritus am-
 monias is employed to diffolve  ef-
fential oils, thus forming  the fpiri-
 tus volatilis aromaticus, ox fpiritus
 ammonia compofitus, as it is now
 called'by the London college, which
 again is employed in  forming the
 tindures of guaiac,  valerian,  &c.
   The chief medical virtues which
 the fpiritusamm6niae,pofftffes,when
id Compofitions.   Part III.

 exhibited by itfelf, are thofe of the
 volatile alkali.

  SPIRITUS AMMONLE FOE-
             TIDUS.
              Lond.
      Fetid fpirit of ammonia.
 Take of
    Proof-fpirit of wine, fix pints ;
    Sal ammoniac,  one pound ;
    Afafoetida, four ounces.
    Pot-afli, one  pound and an half.
 Mix them, and  draw off by diftilla-
    tion five pints,  with a flow fire.

              Edinb.
 Take of
    Vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac,
     eight ounces ;
    Afafoetida, half an ounce.
 Digeft in a clofe veffel twelve hours;
    then  diftil off" with the heat of
   boiling water eight ounces.

   This fpirit,  the laft formula of
 which is in our opinion the beft, as
 being moft eafily prepared  without
 any rifk of being injured in the pre-
 paration, is deligned as an antihy-
 fteric, and is undoubtedly a very
 elegant one.  Volatile fpirits, im-
 pregnated -for thefe purpofes with
 different fetids,  have been ufually
 kept in the fhops:  the ingredient
 here made choice of, is the beft cal-
 culated of any for general ufe, and
 equivalent in  virtue to them  all.
 The fpirit is pale when newly  di-
 ftilled,  but acquires a confiderable
 tinge in  keeping.

 SPIRITUS ANISI COMPOSI-
             TUS.
             Lond.
    Compound fpirit of anifeed.
 Take of
   Anifeed,
   Angelica feed, of each, bruifed,
     half a pound ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon,
                         Water, 
Chap.  18.
Drilled Spirits.
479
   Water,  fufficient to prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon by diftillation.

   This compound fpirit is now di-
 reded to be prepared by the Lon-
 don college in the fame manner as
 in their former edition.   It has no
 place in the Edinburgh  pharmaco-
 poeia ;  but it may jultly be con-
 fidered as a  very elegant anifeed
 water.  The' angelica feeds greatly
 improve the flavour of the anife. It
 is often employed  with advantage,
 particularly  in  cafes of flatulent
 cholic ; but it has been alledged to
 be fometimes too frequently  ufed
 with  this intention as a domeftic
 medicine, efpecially by old ladies :
 for unlcfs it be prudently and cau-
 tioufly employed, it  may foon be
 attended with  all the  pernicious
 confequences  of dram-drinking.

      SPIRITUS CARUI.
             Lond.
       Spirit of caraway.
 Take of
   Caraway-feeds,  bruifed,-  half a
     pound  ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon ;
   Water, fufficient to prevent an
    empyreunra.
 Draw off'one gallon.

 AQJJA CARVI SPIRITUOSA.
            Edinb.
     Spiritous caraway water.
 fake of
   Caraway feeds, half a pound,
   Proof-fpirit, nine pounds.
 Macerate two days in a clofe veffel;
  then pour on as much water as
  will prevent an empyreuma,-and
  draw  off by  diftillation   nine
   pounds.

   By this procefs the fpirit obtains
in great perfedion the  flavour of
ihe caraway-feeds ; and with fome
 if is  a cordial not uncommonly in
 ufe.

   SPIRITUS CINNAMOMI.
             Lond.
       Spirit of cinnamon.
 Take of
   Bruifed cinnamon one pound ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon ;
   Water, fufficient  to  prevent  an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.

 AQJJA CINNAMOMI SPIRI-
           TUOSA.
             Edinb.
    Spirituous cinnamon  Water.
 From one pound of cinnamon, nine
   pounds of fpirit are to be drawn
   off, in the fame  mann'dr as irt the
   caraway fpirit.

   This is a very agreeable and ufe-
 ful cordial, but not fo ftrong1 of the
 cinnamon as  might be  expeded ;
 for very  little of the virtues of the
 fpice arifes till after the pure fpiri-
 tuous part has  diftilled.   Hencem
 the former editions of the Loudon
 Pharmacopoeia, the diftillation was
 ordered  to be protraded  till two
 pints more than here direded were
come  over.  By  this means,  the
 whole virtue of the cinnamon was
 more  frugally than judicioufly  ob-
 tained; for the difagreeable flavour
 of the feintsof proof fpirits, and
 the acidulous liquor  arifing' from
 cinnamon as well as other vegetables
 when their diftillation is long conti-
 nued, give an ill relifh to the whole;
 at  the fame time that the oil which
 was  extraded  from  the fpice was
 by thi; acid thrown down'.
  In the Pharmacopoeia-Reformatio
 it is propofed to make this fpirit by
 mixing the a'quacinnamomi {implex
 with  fomewhat lefs  than an equal
 quantity of redified fpirit : oil fha-
king them together, the liquor lofeV
                             it* 
  480          Preparations c

  its milky hue,  foon becomes clear,
  and  more elegant than the water
  diftilled  as  above :  it is  equally
  ftrong of the cinnamon, and  free
  from the naufeous taint with which
  the common proof-fpirits are im-
  pregnated.

  SPIRITUS JUNIPERI COM-
           POSITUS.
             Lond.
    Compound fpirit of Juniper.
 Take of
   Juniper-berries,   bruifed,   one
     p jund;
   Caraway-feeds, bruifed,
   Sweet-fennel feeds,  of each one
     ounce and  an half;
   Proot-fpirit of wine, one gallon;
   Water,  fufficient to  prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw offone gallon.

  AQJJA  JUNIPERI COMPO-
             SITA.
             Edin.
     Compound juniper  water.
 Take of
   Juniper-berries, well bruifed,one
     pound ;
   Seed of caraway,
            fweet-fennel, each an
     ounce and a half ;
   Proof-fpirit, nine pounds.
 Macerate two days ; and having ad-
   ded as much  water as will  pre-
   vent an empyreuma, draw off by
   diftillation nine pounds.

  THiswater,mixed  with aboutan
 equal quantity of the rob of juniper
 berries, proves an ufeful medicine in
 catarrhs,  debility of  the ftomach
 and inteftines, and fcarcity of urine.
 The water by itfelf is a good cordial
 and carminative : the fervice which
 this and other fpirituous waters do
with thefe intentions is  commonly
known ; though the ill confequences
that  follow from their conftant ufe
 are too little regarded.
    Compofitions.    Part III.

    SPIRITUS LAVENDUL^E.
              Lond.
         Spirit of lavender.
 Take of
    Frefli  flowers of lavender, one
      one pound and an half;
    Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon.
 Draw off by diftillation in a water-
    bath, five pints.

   SPIRITUS LAVENDULiE
           JSIMPLEX.
             Edinb.
      Simple fpirit of lavender.
 Take of
   Flowering  fpikes of lavender,
     frefh gathered, two pounds;
   Redified fpirit  of wine,  eight
   pounds.
 Draw off by the heat of boiling wa-
   ter, feven pounds.

   This fpirit, when made in per-
 fedion  is very grateful and fra-
 grant :  It is frequently rubbed on
 the temples, &c. under the notion
 of  refrefliing and  comforting the
 nerves ; and it probably operates as
 a powerful ftimulus to their fenfible
 extremities : it  is likewife taken
 internally, to the quantity of a tea-
 fpoonful, as  a warm cordial.

 SPIRITUS MENTHA PIPE-
            RITIDIS.
             Lond.
      Spirit of peppermint.
 Take of
  The  herb peppermint,  dried,
     one pound and an half.
  Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon;
  Water, fufficient  to  prevent an
     empyreuma.

 AQJJA  FOLIORUM  MEN-
    THA PIPERITIDIS SPI-
          RITUOSA.
             Edinb.
  Spirituous peppermint-water.
From a poum: and a half of thefe
  leaves, nine pounds of fpirit are
                         drawn 
 Chap. 18.          Difiillet

   drawn off, as from the caraway-
   feeds.

   This fpirit receives a ftrong im-
 pregnation from  the peppermint.
 It is employed in flatulent cholics
 and fimilar diforders ; and in thefe
 it fometimes gives immediate relief;
 but where it is indicated, there are
 few cafes in which the peppermint
 water is not preferable.

  SPIRITUS MENTHA SATI-
              VJE.
             Lond.
        Spirit offpear mint.
 Take of
   Spearmint dried, one pound and
     an half;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon;
   Water, fufficient to  prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.

   This fpirit has no place in the
 Edinburgh pharmacopoeia. It,how-
 ever, turns out avery elegant one,
 and preferable,  in weaknefs of the
 ftomach, retching to vomit, and the
 like, to many more elaborate pre-
 parations. Where the diforder is not
 accompanied with heat or inflam-
 mation, half an ounce of this water
may be given diluted with fome a-
greeable aqueous liquor:  but, as
was  already obferved with regard
 to the preceding article, there are
many cafes in which the  prudent
practitioner will be difpofed to give
 the preference to the fimple diftil-
led water.

 SPIRITUS NUCIS MOSCHA-
             TyE.
             Lond.
        Spirit of nutmeg.
Take of
  Bruifed nutmegs, two ounces ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, one gal-
     lon ;
^Spirits.                 481

   Water, fufficient to prevent an
     empyreuma.
 Draw off one gallon.

  AQUA NUCIS MOSCHAT.E
         SPIRITUOSA.
              Edinb.
     Spirituous nutmeg-water.
 By two  ounces of the nutmeg well
   bruifed, nine pounds of fpirit are
   impregnated.

   This is an  agreeable fpirituous
 liquor,  highly impregnated  with
 the nutmeg flavour.  It  was for-
 merly celebrated in nephritic dif-
 orders, and when combined with a
 few hawthorn flowers, it had  even
 the title of aqua  nephritica.  At
 prefent  it is employed only  as  a
 cordial liquor, and is not even very
 frequently in ufe.

     SPIRITUS PIMENTO.
              Lond.
   Spirit of pimento, or Ailfpice.
 Take of
   All-fpice, bruifed,  two ounces ;
   Proof-fpirit  of wine,  one  gal-
     lon ;
   Water fufficient  to prevent aft
     empyreuma.
 Draw  off one gallon.

 AQJJA PIPERIS JAMAICEN-
       SIS SPIRITUOSA.
             Edinb.
 Spirituous Jamaica-pepper water.
 By half a pound of pimento, nine
   pounds of  fpirit are to be  im-
   pregnated.

   T h 1 s water is far more agreeable
 than a fimple water drawn from the
 fame fpice ; and had long a place
 among the cordials of  the diftiller
 before  it  Was received  into any pu-
 blic pharmacopoeia: but although
 now adopted both  by  the London
 and Edinburgh colleges, it is not
              H h          very 
  482         Preparations a

  very frequently ordered from the
  fhops of the apothecary.

       SPIRITUS PULEGII.
               Lond.
         Spirit of pennyroyal.
  Take of
    The herb pennyroyal, dried, one
      pound and an half ;
    Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon ;
    Water, fufficient to prevent an
       empyreuma.
  Draw off one gallon.

    This  fpirit has no place in the
  Edinburgh pharmacopoeia.  It pof-
  feffes, however, a confiderable fliare
  of the  flavour of the pennyroyal,
  and by  fome it  is a good deal  em-
  ployed  as a carminative and anti-
  hyfteric.

   SPIRITUS RAPHANI COM-
             POSITUS.
              Lond.
  Compound fpirit of horfe-radifh.
  Take of
    Frefh horfe-radifli root,
    Dried oiiter-rihd of  Seville o-
      ranges, each two pounds ;
    Frefh  herb of garden fcurvy-
      grafs, four  pounds  ;
    Bruifed nutmegs, one ounce ;
    Proof-fpirit of wine, two gal-
      lons ;
    Water, fufficient to prevent an
      empyreuma.
 Draw off two ■ gallons.

   This'fpirit haslongbcen cbnfi-
 dered as an elegant one, and is per-
 haps as well adapted for the purpofes
 of an antifcorbutic  as any  thing
 that can  be  contrived in  this form.
 It  has  been  alledged,  that   the
 horfe-radifh and  fcurvygrafs join
 very well together, giving a fimilar
 flavour,  though  not a little difa-
 greeable  -,  that  the nutmeg fup-
preffes this flavour very fucccfsfully,
Without fuperadding any of its own,
id Compofitions    Part III.

 and that to this, orange-peel adds
 a flavour very agreeable^   Arum
 root had formerly a  place in this
 Water,but is here defervedly thrown
 out  ; for it  gives nothing of its
 pungency over the helm, notwith-
 ftanding what is  afferted by fome
 pharmaceutical writers to the con-
 trary.   Muftard feed, though not
 hitherto employed in  thefe kindsof
 compofitions, would feeem to be ah
 excellent ingredient; it gives over
 the whole of its pungency,  and is
 likewife lefs perifhable than moft
 of th e other fubftances of this clafs:
 this feed wants no addition, except-
 ing  fome aromatic material to fur-
 hifh an agreeable flavour.
   But  although this procefs may
 furnifh an agreeable compound fpi-
 rit,  yet it is much to  be  doubted,
 whether it poffefs thofe antifcorbu-
 tic  powers for which  It was once
 celebrated.   And with this  inten-
 tion the Edinburgh college place f<j
 little confidence in it, that they
 have now rejeded it frofli  their
 pharmacopoeia.

  SPIRITUS RORISMARINL
             Lond.
        Spirit of rofemary.
Take of
  Frefh tops of  rofemary, one
     pound and an half ;
  Proof-fpirit of  wine, one gal-
     lon.
Diftil in a water-bath, five-.pints.

            Edinb.
Take of
  Flowering tops of rofemary, frefh
     gathered, twopounds;
  Redified fpirit  of  wine,  eight
    pounds.
Diftil in the heat of boiling water
  till feven pounds come over.

  A fpirit fimilar to this is gene-
rally brought to us from abroad,
                          under 
 Chap.  1.8.          Difiilla

 under the name of Hungary  wa-
 ter.
   Thi6 fpirit is very fragrant,  fo as
 to be in common ufe as a perfume :
 that brought from abroad  is iupe-
 rior in  fragrance to fuch as is gene-
 rally made among u,s.  In order to
 prepare it in perfedion, the vinous
 fpirit  fliould be  extremely pure ;
 the rofemary tops gathered when
 the flowers  are  lull  blown upon
' them, and committed immediately
 to  diftillation, particular care be-
 ing taken not  to bruife or prefs
 them.   The beft method of ma-
 naging the diftillation, is that for-
 merly recommended for the diftilla-
 tion of the more volatile  eflential
 oils and fimple waters, viz. firft to
 place the fpirit in the ftill, and then
 fet in,  above the liquor,  either an
 ironhoop, with a hair-cloth ftretch-
 ed over it, upon which the flowers
 are  to be lightly fpread, or earlier a
 bafket,  fupported  on three pins,
 reaching down to the  bottom.  A
 gentle boat being applied,  j uft fuifi-
 ,cient to raife the fpirit, its vapour
 lightly  percolating  through  the
 flowers, will imbibe their finer parts
 without making that  difagreeable
 alteration, which liquors applied to
 fuch tender fubjeds, in their groffer
 form, generally do.   Probably the
 fuperiority of the French Hungary
 water,  to that prepared among us,
 ■is owing  to fome fkilful  manage-
 ment of this kind, or to employing
 a.perfedLy pure fpirit.
   In the Wirtemberg pharmaco-
 poeia, fome fageandgihger areadd-
 ed,  in  the  proportion of  half a
 pound of-the former,  and two oun-
 ces  of the.latter,;to four pounds of
 the  rofemary.
   But  the peculiar  agreeable fla-
vour of this water in all probability
 depends on the rofemary alone.
'Spirits.                 ,483

   AQUA CARMELITANA.
               Dan.
 Carmelite water, or compound Mm-
              water.
 Take of
   Frefli-gathered leaves of balm, a
     pound and a half ;
   The recent yellow rind of le-
     mons, four ounces ;
   Nutmeg,
   Coriander,  each two ounces ;
   Cloves,
   Cinnamon, each one ounce.
 The ingredients  being tliced  and
   bruifed, pour upon them
   Redified fpirit  of  wine,  fix
     pounds ;
   Balm-water, three pounds.
 Digeft for three days, then draw off
   fix pounds by diftillation.

   This  fpirit has been a good deal
 celebrated, particularly among the
 French, under the title of Eau de
 Carmes.   Mr Baume, in his Ele-
 ments de  Pharmacie, propofes fome
 improvements on the procefs.  Af-
 ter the fpirit added  to the ingre-
 dients has been drawn* off in  the
 heat of a  water-bath, he orders the
 diftilled liquor to be  redified by a
 fecond diftillation,   drawing off
 fomewhat lefs than nine-tenths of
 it.  He recommends, that all  the
 aromatic fpirits fhoud be prepared in
 the fame-manner.   When the com-
 mon fpirits of this kind are rubbed
 on the hands,  &c.  they leave, after
 the  more volatile parts have exha-
 led, a difagreeable empyreumatic
 fmell;  and when diluted with wa-
 ter, and  taken medicinally, they
 leave in like manner a naufeous fla-
 vour in. the mouth.   To  remedy
 thefe imperfedions, he made many
 experiments, whicbfliowed, that in
 order  to obtain thefe liquors  of the
 defirable  qualities, the fpirit muft
 not  only  be perfectly pure at firft,
            H h 2           but 
484
Preparations and Compofitions   Part. III.
 but that the liquor ought always to
 be redified after it has been diftil-
 led from the fubjeds.  In this rec-
 tification,  only the  more volatile,
 fubtile, aromatic parts of the ingre-
 dients arife : there remains behind
 a white liquor, acrid, bitter, load-
; ed only with the groffer oil,  and de-
 prived of all the fpecific flavour of
 the fubjeds.   Indeed the very im-
 perfedion complained of, naturally
 points out this fecond diftillation
 as the  remedy; for it fhows the
 fpirit to contain a grateful arid un-
 grateful matter ; the firft of which
 exhales^ while the other is  left be-
 hind.  The author fays, that when
 the aqua mehffa is prepared as above
 direded,  it has fomething  in it
 more perfed than any of the odori-
 ferous fpirits,  whofe excellence is
 cryed up, and which have the repu-
 tation of being the  beft.
    Aromatic fpirituous liquors have
' in general lefs fmell,  when newly
 diftilled, than after they have been
 kept about fix months.  M. Baume
 fufpeds that  the  preparations of
 this kind ^hich have  been moft in
 vogue, were fuch as have been thus
 improved  by keeping : and found
 that  the good effeds of age might
 be produced  in a  fhort time by
 means of cold.  He plunges quart
 bottles of the liquor into a mixture
 of pounded ice and fea-falt: the
 fpirit, after having fuffered, for fix
 or eight hours, the cold thence re-
 fulting, proves as  grateful as that
 which has been kept for  feveral
 years.   Simple waters alfo, after
 being frozen, prove far more agree-
 able than they were before, thongh
 they are always lefs fo than  thofe
 Which have been drawn writh fpirit,
 and expofed to a like degree of cold.
 This melioration of diftilled waters
 by froft was  taken notice  of  by
 Geoffroy.
SPIRITUS COCHLEARLE.
             Suec.
      Spirit of fcurvygrafs.
Take of
  Frefh fcurvygrafs,  bruifed,  tea
     pounds ;
  Rectified fpirit  of wine, eight
     pints.
With the heat of a water-bath, di-
  ftil off four pints.

  This fpirit is  very ftrong of
the fcurvygrafs ; and has been gi-
ven, in thofe cafes where the ufe of
this herb is proper, from twenty to
one hundred drops.   The  virtues
of fcurvygrafs refide in a very fub-
tile, volatile oil, which arifes in di-
ftillation both with water and pun
fpirit; and if the liquors are expo-
fed  to the air, foon exhales from
both.  The fpirit, newly diftilled,
is.extremely pungent; but if long
kept, even in clofe veflels, it  be-
comes remarkably lefsfo : But itis
not probable, that with fuch a pun-
gent vehicle we can ufe a fufficient
quantity of the herb to produce any
pcrmament or confiderable  effed :
it has been much recommended as a
diuretic in dropfies.
  The makers of this fpirit have
frequently added to the fcurvygrafs
a quantity of hofcradifli root, and
fometimes  fubftituted  to   it one
drawn entirely from thehorferadifh:
the flavour of thefe two fimples be-
ing fo much alike, that their diftil-
led  fpirits are fcarce diftinguifhablc
from each other.   Here it may be
obferved,  that  though arum and
dracunculus are ufually ranked in
the fame clafs with the two forego-
ing vegetables, and looked upon as
fimilar to them ; this procefs difco-
vers a remarkable differnce : whilft
the former yield all their pungency
in diftillation both to water and fpi-
rit ; the latter give over nothing to
                          cither, 
 Chap.  18.         Difiillei
 either, and yet their virtues  are
 deftroyed in the operation.

  SPIRITUS AURANTII.
              Suec.
       Orange-peel water.
 Take  of
  Recent orange fkins, one peund ;
  Proof-fpirit, three pounds.
 Draw  off two pounds by the heat
  of a water-bath.

  This fpirit, which is now rej ec-
 ted from our pharmacopoeias, had
 formerly a place in them under the
 title of aqua corticum aurantiorum
fpirituofa. It is confiderably ftrong-
 er of the orange peel than the fimple
 water ; and it  is ufed as an ufe-
 ful cordial, ftomachic, and  carmi-
 native.

  SPIRITUS  AROMATICUS.
              Suec.
         Aromatic fpirit.
 Take of
   The tops of rofemary, a pound
     and an half;
   Tops of milfoil,
   Thyme, each half a pound ;
   Proof-fpirit, fixteen pounds ; ma-
     cerate for two days, and draw
     off by diftillation eight pounds.
 If before  diftillation eight pounds
   of vinegar be added, it forms the
 fpiritus aromaticus acetatus.

   These  preparations do not dif-
'Spirits.                  4&5 ;.
 fer materially  from the  fpirit of
 rofemary or Hungary  water ; for
on the effential oil of the rofemary
their medical properties may be con-
fidered as chiefly depending.  They
are often employed, particularly for
external purpofes, and for impreg-
nating the air with their vapours,
to deftroy the influence of febrile
 contagions.

   SPIRITUS ANTICTfiRl-
              cus.
              Gen.
         Antifieric fpirit.
Take of
   Spirit  of  turpentine, an ounce
     and an  half;
   Redified fpirit of wine, half a
     pound.
Diftil with a gentle heat. Let the
   oil fwiinming above  in the re-
   ceiver be  feparated from the fa-
   turated fpirit, which is to be pre-
   ferved for ufe.

   It has been imagined, that this
combination of oil of  turpentine
with ardent fpirit will furnifh an ef-
fedual folvent for biliary calculi.
Hence the origin of the name here
given it; but although it may have
fuch an effed when copioufly ap-
plied to the calculi in a glafs veffel;
yet  this is  not  to be expeded
when it is taken into the ftomach,
and can only  reach them in the
courfe,of circulation.
C  H   A  P„ 
485         Preparations attd Compofitions.   Part.  III.*
C  H   A
DECOCT A  ET
DECOCTIONS
      WATER,  the dired  men-
      ftruum of  gums and  falts,
extrads readily the gummy and fa-
liae parts ol vegetables. Its adion,
however, is not  limited to thefe ;
the refinous and oily principles be-
ing,  in moft vegetables, fo inti-
mately blended with the gummy
and faline, as to  be in part   taken
up along with them : fome of the
refinous cathartics, and moft of the
aromatic herbs,  as  well as bitters
and aftringents, yield to water the
greateft part of  their fmell, tafte,
and medicinil virtue.  Even of the
pure effeiuial oils, and odorous re-
fins of vegetables,  feparated  from
the other principles, water imbibes
apart of the flavour ; aiid by  the
artificial admixture of  gummy or
faline matter, the whole fubftance
of the oil or refin is made diflbluble
in water.
   Of pure falts, water diflblves on-
ly certain determinate quantities :
by applying heat, it is generally en-
abled to take up more than it  can
do in the cold, and this in  propor-
tion to the degree of heat ;  but as
the liquor cools,  this  additional
quantity feparates,  and  the  water
retains no more than it would have
diffolved without heat. Wi th gum-
XIX.
A.
nd  INFUSIONS.
my fubftances, on the other hand,
it  unites  unlimitedly,  diffolving
more and more of them till it lofes
its fluidity.   Heat  expedites the
adion of the Water,  but cannot en-
able it  to take  up more than it
would do by allowing it longer  time
in the cold.   The active parts ex-
traded from moft vegetables by wa-
ter, and oils and refins made foluble
in water by the artificial admixture
of gum, partake of this property of
pure gums, being dilfsluble without
faturation.
   It has been imagined, that vege-
tables in a frefh ftate, while  their
oily,refinous,and other adive parts,
are already blended  with a watery
fluid,  would yield their  virtues to
water more freely and more plenti-
fully, than when their native moi-
fture has been diffipated by drying.
Experience, however, fhows, that
dry vegetables in general give out
more than frefh ones, water Teeming
to have little adion upon them in
their recent  ftate.   If,  of two e-
qual quantities of mint,  one be in-
fufed  frefh in water, and the other
dried, and then infufed in the like
quantity of  water  for the  fame
length of time, the  infufion of the
dry herb will be remarkably the
                      ftrongeft  ; 
Chap. 19       Tkcoclions

ftrongeft :  and the cafe appears to
be tlie fame ia all the vegetables
that have been tried.
  In all the preparations defcribed
in this chapter, it is to be under-
ftood  that  the fubjeds  muft be
moderately and newly dried, un-
lefs when they are exprefsly order-
ed to  be  taken  frefh; ia which
cafe  it is to be judged that their
virtues are deftroyed or impaired by
drying.
  The native colours  of many ve-
getables are communicated to water
along with their medicinal matter ;
many impart a colour different from
their  own ; and others, though of
a beautiful and deep colour them-
felves, give  fcarcely  any to the
menftruum.   Of the firft kind are
the yellow  and  red  flowers;  of
the fecond,  the  leaves  of  moft
plants;  of the third,  fome of the
blue flowers, as thofe of cyanus and
larkfpur.  Acid liquors change the
infufions of moft flowers,  the yel-
low ones excepted, to a red ; and
alkalies, both fixed and volatile, to
a green.
  From  animal-fubftances, water
extrads the gelatinous and nutri-
tious parts ; whence glues, jellies,
broths, &c. ; and along with thefe,
it takes up principles of more  adi-
vity,  as the acrid matter of  can-
tharides. It diffolvesalfo fome por-
tion  of calcined calcareous earths,
both of the animal and of the mi-
neral kingdom,  but has no adion
on any other kind of  earthy  mat-
ter.

  Th e effedof boiling differs  from
that of infufion  in fome  material
particulars.  One of the moft obvi-
ous differences is, that as the eflen-
tial oils of vegetables, in which
their fpecific odours refide, are vo-
latile in the heat of boiling water,
they  exhale in the boiling  along
with the watery fteam, and thus are
and Infufions.           487

 loft to the remaining  decodion;
 whereas  both in cold,  and fome-
 times ia hot infufions, they are pre-
 ferved ; although in the latter  they
 are by no means perfedly fo.   O-
 doro.us fubftances, and thofe in ge-
 neral whofe virtues depend on their
 volatile parts, are  therefore  unfit
 for this treatment.   The loluble
 parts of thefe may, neverthelefs, be
 united in this form with thofe bo-
 dies of a more fixt  nature, by
 boiling the latter till their virtues
 be fufficiently extraded, and  then
 infufing the former in this decoc-
 tion.
   The extradion of the virtue of
 the fubjeet is ufually promoted or
 accelerated by a boiling heat; bur,
 this rule  is lefs general than  it is
 commonly fuppofed  to  be.   We
 have already obferved, that Peru-
 vian bark  gives out its virtue more
 perfedly by  cold infufion than by
 codion.   In  fome   cafes,  boiling
 occafions a manifeft dii'union of the
 principles of the  fubjed :  thus,
 when  almonds are  triturated  with
 cold water, their oil, blended  with
 the mucilaginous or other  foluble
 matter of the almond, unites  with
 the water into a milky liquor called
 an emulfion : but on boiling them
 in water, the oil feparares and rifes
 to the furface ; and if the moft per-
 fed emulfion be  made to boil, a like
 reparation happens.
    This alfo  appears to  take place,
 though in  a lefs  evidenrlnanner, in
 boiling fundry  other  vegetables ;
 thus tobacco, afarum, and ipecacu-
 anha,  lofe their adive powers by
 boiling :  nor does it appear  that
 this change  is effeded  merely by
 rhe  difcharge  of  volatile  parts.
 t rom fome late experiments, it has
 been found,  that the diftilled water
 of ipecacuanha-was infinitely lefs
 emetic than the infufion from which
 it was, diftilled, and  that the  boil-
 ing liquor gradually affumes a black
              H h 4          co- 
488         Preparations at

colour, indicating fome kind of de-
compofition of parts :  the fame cir-
cumftances probably  take place in
boiling tobacco, afarum,  and  per-
haps all vegetables whatever, tho'
from their not producing fuch fen-
fible operations on the living body,
they cannot be fo clearly difcovered
as in ipecacuanha,  tobacco, or afa-
rum.  The experiments we allude
to, were made by Dr Irving, when
a ftudent  jti the college of Edin-
burgh ; and  they gained him the
prize given by the Harveian Society
of that place,' for  the beft experi-
mental inquiry concerning ipeca-
cuanha.
   It is for  the  abovementioned
reafons that we think many of the
infufions fhould be made with cold
water : it is, however,  to be ac-
knowledged, that this is not always
abfolutely neceffary,  and in extem-
poraneous pradice it may be  often
very inconvenient; it is, however,
proper to point out the advantages
to be expeded from  this more te-
dious, but much more complete and
elegant, method.

   Vinegar extrads the virtues of
feveral medicinal fubftances in to-
lerable perfedion : but at the fame
time its acidity makes a  remark-
able  alteration in them, or fuper-
adds a  virtue of a different kind ;
and hence it is more rarely employ-
ed with this intention than purely a-
queous or fpirituous menftrua. Some
drugs, however, vinegar, for parti-
cular purpofes, excellently aflifts,
or coincides with,  as fquills, gar-
lic,  ammoniacum, and others  : and
in many cafes where this acid is it-
felf principally depended on, it may
be advantageoufly impregnated with
the flavour of certain vegetables ;
moft of the odoriferous flowers im-
part  to it their fragrance, together
with a fine purplifh. or red coloqr;
d Compofitions.    Part III.

violets, for inftance, if frefh parcels
of them are infufcd in vinegar in
the cold for a little time, communi-
cated to the liquor a pleafant fla-
vour,  and deep purplifh red colditr.
Vinegar, like  other  acids, added
to watery  infufions or decodions,
generally precipitates a part of what
the water had diffolved.

   DECOCTUM  ALTH^EjE.
             Edinb.
    Decoction ofmarfhmallows.
Take  of
   Dried marfhmallow roots, four
     ounces ;
   Raiiins of the fun, ftoned,  two
     ounces ;
   Water feven pounds.
Boil  to five  pounds ; place apart
   the ftrained liquor  till the feces
   have fubfided, then pour out the
   clear liquor.

   The Edinburgh   college  have
fubftituted  this to the more compli-
cated formula of the  DecoBum ad
Nephriticos of their former phar-
macopoeia and it fully anfwers the
intentions of that preparation : it is
intended chiefly as an emollient, to
be liberally drank of in nephritic
paroxyfms  ; in which cafes, by foft-
ening  and relaxing  the parts, it
frequently relieves the pain,  and
procures an eafy paffage for the fa-
bulous matter.   This medicine is
now made more fimple than before,
without any diminution of its vir-
tue, by the rejedion of wild-carrot
feed, reftharrow root, figs, linfeed,
and  liquorice.  The  carrot feeds
were indeed unfit  for this form, as
they give out  little of their virtue
to watery liquors.

 DECOCTUM CORNU  CER-
              VI.
             Lond.
     Decoction of hartfhorn.
                           Take 
Chap.  19.       DecoBions c

Take of
  Burnt  and prepared hartfhorn,
    two ounces ;     ,
  Gum arabic, fix drams ;
  Diftilled water, three pints.
Boil, conftantly ftirring, to  two
  pints, and ftrain.

  This decodion is ufed as com-
mon drink in acute difeafes attend-
ed with a loofenefs, and where a-
crimonious humours abound in the
primae viae. The gum is added, in
order  to render the liquor lightly
glutinous, and thus < nablc it to fu-
itain more of the clax; which  is
the ingredient on which the colour,
but probably not the  virtue, of the
medicine depends upon.  Calcined
hartfhorn has no qualityfrom which
it feems  capable either of conftrin-
ging and ftrengthening the veffels,
giving a greater degree of confift-
ency  to thin fluids,  or  obtunding
acrimonious  humours.  It blunts
and ablbrbs acid juices ; but acri-
mony  and  acidity are very diffe-
rent ; there are few (perhaps none
of  the acute) diforders of adults
attended with the latter ; and few
of infants are unaccompanied there-
with.  Some  have propofed ftarch
as an  ingredient  in  thefe kinds of
decodions ; a fmall quantity of this
foft gelatinous,  farinaceous fub-
ftance would feem  to be  greatly
preferable to the earthy calx.  It
may be obferved, that the water is
not enabled  by the boiling to dif-
folve any part of the clax ; and that
in  the decoction, the earth is only
diffufed  in fubftance through  the
water, as it would  be  by  agita-
tion.
   For thefe reafons, this formula is
now rejeded by the Edinburgh col-
lege, notwithftanding the  reputa-
 tion in which it "was held by Dr
 Sydenham, and other names of the
 firft eminence. But as an abforbent
 of a fimilar nature, the Edinburgh
md Infufions.           489

college have introduced the follow-
ing formula.

   POTIO CRETACEA.
         C'Uik julep,
             Edinb.
Take of
   Prepared chalk, one ounce ;
   Pureft refined fugar,   half an
     ounce  ;
   Mucilage of  gum  arabic,  two
     ounces ;
Rub them together ;  and  add  by
     degrees,
   Water, two pounds and a half;
   Spirituous cinnamon water, two
     ounces.
 Mix them.

   In' the former edition of the, E-
 dinburgh pharmacopoeia,a prepara-
 tion of  this kind had the title  of
 DecoBum cretaceuvr, and the chalk
 was direded to be boiled with the
 water and gum.  In the prefent for-
 mula, the chalk is much more com-
 pletely fufpended by the  mucilage
 and fugar, which laft gives alfo to
 the mixture an  agreeable tafte ; it
 is proper to employ  the  fineft fu-
 gar, as the redundant acid in the
 coarfer kinds might form with the
 chalk a kind of phofphoric fait. It
 would perhaps have been more pro-
 per to have added an  aromatic, by
 fufpending the  entire powder of
 cinnamon, or its oil,  by means of
 the mucilage  and fugar : the me-
 thod here direded is, however, lefs
 exceptionable in this  than in many
 other preparations, as the precipi-
 tated matter of the fpirituous water
 will probably be invifcated in the
 faccharine andmucilaginous matter.
 This is a very  elegant form of ex-
 hibiting chalk, and is an ufeful re-
 medy in difeafes arifing from, or ac-
 companied with, acidity in the pri-
 mae viae. It hasbeenmoftfrequently
 em ployed in fluxes proceeding from
 that caufe.  At the fame lime that
                             the 
 490       Preparations and

 the mucilage ferves to keep  the
 chalk  uniformly diffufed, it alfo
 confiderably improves its virtues by
 fheathingthe internal furface of the
 inteftines fo often abraded in thefe
 affedions.   It is indeed probable,
 that chalk,  as being fomewhat a-
ftringent, is in fome of thefe com-
plaints preferable  to  magnefia ;
both, however, are improper ia dy-
fentery,  or other fluxes  attended
with putrefcent matter intheprimae
viae, or a general tendency to a pu-
 trefadion of the fluids.

 DECOCTUM  CORTICIS PE-
         RUVIANI.
            Lond
    Decoction of Peruvian bark.
Take of
  Peruvian  bark, powdered,  one
   ounce ;
  Diftilled water,  one pint and
    three ounces.
 Boil, for ten minutes,  in a cover-
  ed veffel,  aiid ftrain the liquor
  whilft hot.

  Although a cold watery infu-
fion of bark is in general preferable
to any decodion, yet this form has
at leaft the advantage of being more
quickly prepared. And the decoc-
tion here direded, which is boiled
only for  a fhort time,  and ftrain-
ed while hot, is  preferable to any
other.
  This decodion fhould be pafl'ed
only through a courfe ftrainer, and
 drank whilft turbid  : if fuffered to
ftand till clear, the more efficacious
parts of the  bark will fubfide. We
 have  formerly obferved,   that  the
virtues of this drug  confift  chiefly
in its refinous fubftance, which, tho'
 it may be totally melted out  by
 the heat of boiling water, remain
 only  partially fufpended  in that
.menftruum.
Compofitions      Part  III.
   DECOCTUM   PRO   ENE-
            MATE.
            Lond
     Decoction.for a clyfter.
 Take of
   The dried leaves of mallow., one
     ounce ;
   Dried  camomile-flowers,  half
     an ounce;
   Water, one pint.
 Boil, and ftrain.

   The title of this decodion fuffi-
 ciently expreffes its ufe, as the ba-
 fis of glyfters.  The ingredients
 fhould be very lightly boiled, or at
leaft the camomile flowers fhould
not be put in till towards the end, a
part of  the virtue  of thefe  being
foon loft  by boiling.

 DECOCTUM PRO  FOMEN-
              TO.
              Lond
     Decoction for fomentation.
 Take of
   The  dried leaves of fouthern-
     wood,
   The dried tops of fea-wormwood,
   Dried camomile-flowers,  each
     one ounce ;
   Dried bay-leaves, half an ounce;
   Diftilled water,  fix pints.
 Boil them a little,  and ftrain.

 DECOCTUM COMMUNE,
            Edinb.
       Common decoction.
 Take of
   Camomile-flowers, one ounce ;
   Carvy feeds, half an ounce;
   Water, five pounds.
 Boil a quarter of  an hour, and
   ftrain.

   This decodion  is intended to
 anfwer   the  purpofes of  both the
 foregoing.  It is lefs loaded with
 the ingredients than either, but not
 perhaps  for  that  xeafon. the kfs
 ufefuL
                              it 
Chap.  19.    Decotlions and Infufions.
491
  It is indeed to be acknowledged,
that thefe impregnations are for the
moft part unneceffary for  the pur-
pofe of glyfters ;  and  in  ordinary
cafes the weight of the water ufu-
ally folicits a difcharge before thefe
medicines caa  produce any effed.
  As fomentations, their virtues in
our opiaioa are totally to be afcri-
bed to the  influence of the warm,
water.  And when the herbs them-
felves are applied, they ad only as
retaining heat  and moifture  for a
longer time.

   DECOCTUM  HELLEBORE
              Lond.
      DecoBion of hellebore.
Take of
   The root of white hellebort,pow-
    dered,  one ouace;
   Diftilled water, two piats ;
   Redified fpirit of  wiae,  two
     ounces.
   Boil the water with the  root to
one pint :  and,  the   liquor  be-
ing cold  and  ftrained, add to it
the fpirit.

   White hellebore, as we former-
ly obferved, is now very rarely em-
ployed internally; and the prefent
formula is eatirely iateaded for ex-
ternal ufe.   Recourfe  is fometimes
had to it with advantage in cutaneous
eruptions, particularly in tinea capi-
tis.   But where  the  incruftations
are eatirely removed,leaviag a very
tender fkin, it is neceffary that the
decodion fliould be diluted previous
to its employment.

    DECOCTUM  HORDEI.
              Lond.
       DecoBion of barley.
Take of
   Pearl-barley, two ounces ;
   Diftilled water, four piats.
The barley being firft waflied with
   cold water  from the  adhering
   impurities,pour upon it about half
  a pint of water, and boil the bar-
  ley a little time. This water be-
  ing thrown  away, add the di-
  ftilled water, boftiag, to the bar-
  ley ; boil it to two piats, aad
  ftrain,

DECOCTUM HORDEI COM-
          POS1TUM.
             Lond.
  Compound decoBion of barley.
Take of
  The decodion of  barley, tW#
    pints;
  Raifins, ftoaed,
  Figs,  fticed, each two ounces ;
  Liquorice root, fliced and brui-
    fed, half an ounce ;
  Diftilled water, one pint.
Boil to two piats, aad ftrain.

   DECOCTUM HORDEI.
             Edinb.
         Barley-water.
Take of
  Pearl-barley, two ounces ;
  Water, five pints.
Firft wafh the barley from the mealy
  matter that adheres to it with
  fome cold water ; then boil ir a
  little  with  about half  a pint of
  frefli water,  which will acquire
  a coafiderable tinge  from it.
  Throw away this tinged water ;
  put the  barley  into the water
  prefcribed, madefirft to  boil; and
  continue the boiling till half the
  water be wafted.

  These liquors are to  be drank
freely, as a diluter, in fevers aad
other diforders : heace it is of con-
fequeace that they  fliould be pre-
pared fb as to be as elegant aad  a-
greeable as poflible ; for this reafon
they are inferred in the pharmaco-
poeia, aad thefeveral circumftances
which contribute to their elegance
fet down ; ifany one of them be omit-
ted, the beverage will be lefs grate-
ful.   However trivial medicines of
                            tills 
49 2        Preparations ana

this clafs may appear to be, they are
of greater importance in the care of
acute difeafes than many more ela-
borate preparations.
  Barley-water, however, is much
more frequently prepared by nurfes
than apothecaries, particularly in
its fimple ftate.  The compound de-
codion coataias a large proportion
of  faccharine  and  mucilagiaous
matter,  aad may  be employed for
the fame purpofes as the decodum
althese of the Ediaburgh pharma-
copoeia.

 DECOCTUM LIGNORUM.
             Edinb.
     DecoBion of the woods.
Take of
  Guaiacum faw-duft, three  oun-
     ces ;
  Raifias of the fua, ftoned, two
     ounces ;
  Saffafras wood, fhaved,
  Liquorice, fticed,each one ouace,
  Water, tea pounds.
Boil the guaiacuai aad raifias with
  the water, over a gentle fire, to
  the  coafumptioa of one  half:
  adding, towards the end, the faf-
  fafras aad liquorice.   Straia out
  the liquor ; aad haviag fuffered
  it to reft for fome time, pour off
  the clear from the feces  with-
  out exprelfioa.

  This decodion is very well con-
trived ; and if its ufe be duly con-
tinued,  it will do great fervice in
fome cutaaeous difeafes, ia what has
beea called foulnefs of the blood aad
juices, and in fome diforders of the
breaft ; particularly in phlegmatic
habits. It may be taken by itfelf to
the quantity of a quarter of a pint
two or three times a day, or ufed as
A. afliftaat in a courfe of mercurial
or antimonial alteratives : the pa-
tient in either cafe keeping warm,
ia order to  promote  the operation
of the medicine. The faw-duft ex-
Compofitions.    Part. III.
pofes a larger furface to the adion
of the water than the fhavings, di-
reded in the former edition of the
pharmacopoeia.

   DECOCTUM SARSAPA-
            RILL.E.
             Lond.
    DecoBion  of farfaparilla.
Take of
  The root of farfaparilla, fliced,
     fix ounces;
  Diftilled water, eight pints.
Macerate for two hours,  with an
  heat of about  1950 ; then take
  out the root, and bruife it;  re-
  turn the  bruifed root to the li-
  quor,  and again macerate it for
  two hours.   Then, the liquor
  being  boiled to the  meafure of
  four pints,  prefs it out,   and
  ftrain.

  The farfaparilla decodion is an
article in very common ufe, particu-
larly in venereal  aftedioas.   Aad
there can be little doubt, that by this
procefs the medical powers of the
farfaparilla are fully extraded.  But
it has of late been much queftioned,
whether thisarticlebeinany degree
ia titled to the high charader which
was oace  givea  of it.  Some, as
we have  already obferved, are even
difpofed  to deay its poffeffing  any
medical property whatever: But the
general opinion is, that it has fome-
what of  a diaphoretic  effed ;  and
this effed is more readily obtained
when itis exhibited under the form
of decodion than under any other.

  DECOCTUM SARSAPARIL-
      L^E  COMPOSITUM.
              Lond
Compound decoBion of farfaparilla.
Take of              J
   The  root of farfaparilla,  flicee!
     and bruifed,  fix ounces ;
   Bark of the root of faffafras,
   Shavings of gtiaiacum-wood,
                             Li- 
Chap.  19.     Decofiions and Infufions.
493
  Liquorice-root, bruifed, of each
   ' one ounce ;
  Bark of the root of mezereon,
    three drams ;
  Diftilled water, tea piats.
Macerate, with a gentle heat, for
  fix hours ;  thea boil it dowa to
  fivepiats, ad cling towards theead
  of the  boiling  the bark  of the
  root of mezereon, aad ftrain the
  liquor.

  This compouad decodioa is aa
elegaat mode of preparing aa ar-
ticle once  highly  celebrated under
the title of the Lijbon  diet drink.
That formula, for a longtime after
its firft introdudion iato Britain,
was kept a fecret; but aa accouat
of the method of preparation  was
a\ length publifhed in the Phyfical
aad Literary  Eakys of Edinburgh,
by Dr Donald Monro.  And of the
formula there given, which  is in
many refpeds aa unchemical one,
the prefent may juftly be confidered
as an  improvement.  Even ia its
original form, but ftill more in the
prefent ftate,  there can be no doubt,
that it furnifhes us with a very ufe-
ful medicine, particularly ia thofe
obftinate  ulcers  originating from
veaereal iafedion, which refift the
power of mercury. And itis high-
ly probable, that  its good  effects,
principally depead oa the impreg-
nation it receives  from the meze-
reon. Perhaps, however, even thus
improvcd,it is more complicated and
expenfive than is neceffary : At
leaft we are inclined to thiak, that
every  advantage  derived from ir,
may with equal eafe aad certainty
be  obtaiaed,  from impregnating
with the mezereon  in the  manner
here direded, a fimple decodion of
the guaiacum, bardana,  or althea,
without having recourfe to feveral
articles, or employing one foexpen-
iive as the farfaparilla.
  DECOCTUM SENEK.E.
            Edinb.
       DecoBion of feneka.
Take of
  Seneka, or rattlefnake-root,  one
    ounce ;
  Water two pounds.
Boil to fixteen ounces, aad ftrain.

  The virtues of this  decodion
will be eafily uaderftood from thofe
of the root from which it is pre-
pared. The dofe, ia hydropic cafes-
aad  rheumatic, or arthritic com-
plaints, is two ounces, to be repeat-
ed three or four times a day, ac-
cording to its effed.

     DECOCTUM ULMI.
             Lond.
        DecoBion of elm.
Tcke of
  The frefh inner-bark of elm,
     bruifed, four ounces ;
  Diftilled water,  four pints.
Boil to two piats,  and ftrain.

  It  has been chiefly,  if not en-
tirely, under this form  of  decoc-
tion,  that the  elm-bark has been
employed for combating thofe cu-
taneous eruptions  againft which it
has of late been fo highly celebra-
ted.  Any experience  which we
have  had of it,  however, ia adual
pradice,  by no meaas confirms the
very favourable account which-fomc
have given of its ufe.

     MUCILAGO AMYLI.
             Lond.
       Mucilage of ftarch.
Take of
   Starch three drams ;
   Diftilled water,  oae piat.
Rub the  ftarch, by degrees adding
   the diftilled water ;  then boil it
   a little time.

   The mucilage  thus formed  of
 ftarch is very ufeful for anfwering
                           thefe 
 494        Preparations ant

 thefe purpofes where a glutinous
 fubftaace is required, and in parti-
 cular it is often fuccefsfully employ-
 ed under the form of glyfter.

     MUCILAGO ARABICI
            GUMMI
              Loud
     Mucilage of gum arabic.
 Take  of
   .■Gum  arabic,  powdered,  four
     ounces;
   Boiling  diftilled  water,  eight
     ounces.
 Rub the gum with the water uatil
   it be diffolved.

  MUCILAGO  GUMMI ARA-
              BICI.
             Edinb.
       Mucilage of arabic.
 Take  of
   •Gum  arabic,  beat into powder,
     and warm water, each equal
     weights.
 Digeft, and frequently ftir themtill
   the  gum be diffolved, then  prefs
   the  folution through linen.

   It -is  very neceffary to pafs the
 mucilage thro' linen in order to free
 •itfrompieces of wood and other im-
 purities, which alway adheres to the
 gum ;  the  linen may be placed in
 a funnel.
   Mucilage of gum arabic is  very
 ufeful  in many operations in phar-
 macy ; it is alfo much ufed for pro-
 perties peculiar to thefe fubftan-
 ces of its own clafs, and of all the
 gums  it feems to be the pureft.

  MUCILAGO  GUMMI TRA-
         GACANTHiE.
             Edinb.
   Mucilage of gum tragacanth.
 Take  of
   Gum tragacanth, powdered, one
     ounce ;
   rHot water, eight ounces.
"Macerate twenty four hours ;  then
   -anix them, by  rubbing brifkly,
'Compofitions.    Part III.

   that the gum may be diffolved ;
   and prefs the mucilage through
   linen cloth.

   This gum is more difficultly fo-
luble in water than gum arabic, aad
feems to be confiderably more adhe-
five ; it is therefore fitter for form-
ing troches, aad fuch like purpofes.
It has been thought  to be more pe-
culiarly  what  has  been called a
pedoral,  thaa the other gums:
but this does  not fceai to be cer-
tainly founded.  This mucilage is
perhaps preferable to the foregoing
in thofe operations ia pharmacy
where much tenacity is required ;
as ia the fufpeafion of mercury,
or other ponderous bodies.

   MUCILAGO SEMINIS CY-
        DONII MALI.
             Lond.
     Mucilage of quince-feed.
Take of
   Seeds of the quince,  one dram ;
   Diftilled water, eight ounces, by
     meafure,
Boil with a flow fire until the water
   thickens; then pafs it thro' linen,

   Th is is a pleafant foft mucilage,
of a fomewhat fweetifli tafte, and a
light agreeable fmell: in thefe re-
fpeds, aad in its eafy folubility in
water, it differs from the mucilage
of gum tragacanth, to which fome
have  fuppofed it  fimilar:  it has
another difference, to its difadvaa-
tage, being apt  to  grow  mouldy
in-keeping.

INFUSUMGENTIANtE COM-
          POSITUM.
             Lond.
   Compound infufions of gentian.
Take of
   The root of gentian, orrexlrani ;
   Frefh outer .rind of lemons, half
     aa oaace ;
   Dried outer-rind of Seville  o-
     ranges, one dram and an half;
                            Boii 
Chap.  19.       Decotlions
   Boiling water, twelve ounces, by
     meafure.
Macerate for an hour, and ftrain.

    infusum amarum.
              Edinb.
          Bitter infufion.
Take of
   Gentian root, half an  ounce ;
   Dried -peel of Seville oranges,
     one dram ;
   Coriander feeds,  half a dram ;
   Proof-fpirit, four ouaces ;
   Water, one pound.
 Firft pour on the fpirit, aad three
   hours'thereaf'ter add the water ;
   then macerate without heat for a
   night, and ftrain.

   ThESEformuIce do not material-
ly differ. Thatof the London college
is the moft expeditious mode of pre-
paration : But thatof the Edinburgh
-college poileffes other advantages,
which are in our opinion-more than
■fufficient to outweigh that circum-
ftaace.
   In the 'fb'rmer edition of the E-
•diabtirgh Pharmacopoeia, the water
•was direded to be boiling.; this was
iat leaft uaneccilitry, ynd  was pro-
bably liable to the objedioas obfer-
ved againft decodions. The proof
fpiritisalfo tan ufeful  addition to
the infufum ;amarum,  as'it-now
ftands in the Edinburgh pharmaco-
poeia : befides thatit affifts in ex-
trading the refinous parts, and pre-
ferving the infufion from fermen ra-
tion, it communicates an agreeable
^pungency to the liquor : to anfwer
in fome meafure thefe intentions, it
was formerly direded to add to  the
filtrated liquor a quantity of aqua
aromatica.  This was  certainly a
piece of very bad pharmacy ; for,
befides that'the fpirit in this prepa-
ration, when diluted with the water
of the-infufion,-was now no longer
able roretain the fufpended matter,
it Would alfo difpofe the  infufion
r«o part with its proper extradive
                     3
and infufions.          495

matter ;  and in this way the refi-
nous matter of the aqua aromatica,
and the gummy parts of the iaf'u-
fum amarum, would both in fome
degree  feparate  to the  bottom of
the veflel; by the formula now laid
down, the  infufion  contains  the
different priacipks of the  ingre-
dients iaa manner more nearly ap-
proaching to their natural and  en-
tire ftate.

INFUSUM SENN^E SIMPLEX.
             Lond.
     Simple infufion of fenna.
Take of
   Senna, an ounce and a half;
   Giuger, powdered, oae dram :
   Boiling diftilled water, onepinr.
Macerate them for one hour, kua
   covered veffel ;  and,  the liquos
   being cold, ftrain it.

   This, although a fimple, is a
 very elegant infufion of fenna, the
.ginger  ading as,aa  ufeful corri-
-geas. .But if the fenna were em-
 ployed to the quantity  of  a dram
and ahalf ortwo drams only, -with
 the fame menftruum in place of the
 quantity here ordered,  it would be
a no lefs ufeful medicine, and might
. be employed for one dofe, as it is
 of advantage that it fliould be ufed
frefli ashere prepared. Of thepre-
fent infufion, aa ounce or two  is  a
fufficient dofe.

 INFUSUM SENN^E  TARTA-
           RISATUM.
              Lond.
     Tartarifed infufion cf fenna.
Take of
   Senna, one ounce and :a' half;
   'Coriander-feeds,bruifed, fralfsn
     ounce;
   Cryftals-of tartar, two drams ;
   Diftilled-water,-, one  pint.
 Diflblve the cryftals of tarttar by
   boiliag in the water ; then pour
   the water,as yet boiling, oa the
   fenna and feeds. Macerate for an
                           hour 
496        Preparations anc

hour in a covered veffel, and ftrain
when cold.

   In the laft edition of the London
pharmacopoeia this had the name of
infiifum fenna commune.
   Formerly an alkaline fait was u-
fed ia the iafufioa of feana, iaftcad
of the acid oae here direded. The
firft was fuppofed to  promote the
operatioa of  the medicine, by fu-
peradding a degree of purgative vir-
tue of its owa, and by enabling the
water to extrad fomewhat more
from the capital  ingredient than it
would be  capable  of  doiag by it-
felf;  whilft acids  were alleged to
have rather a contrary effed.  Ex-
perience, however, has fufficiently
fliown,  that alkaliae falts  increafe
the ofteafiveaefsofthefeaaa, whilft
cryftals of tartar confiderably im-
prove  the  colour of the infufion,
aad  likewife render  the  tafte to
fome perfoas lefs difagreeable. So-
luble tartar fliould feem a good in-
gredient in thefe kinds  of  compo-
fitions ; as it not only improves the
tafte, but promotes the purgative
virtue of the medicine ;  this addi-
tion alfo renders the iafufioa lefs apt
to gripe, or occafioa flatuleacies.

  INFUSUM TAMARINDO-
      CUM cum SENNA.
             Edinb.
  Infufion of tamarinds with fenna.
Take of
   Tamarinds, fix drams;
   Cryftals of tartar,
   Senna,  each one dram ;
   Coriander feeds, half a dram ;
   Red candied fugar, half aa ounce;
   Boiliag water, eight ounces.
Macerate in a clofe earthen veffel,
   which has not been vitrified with
   lead ;  ftir  the  liquor now  and
   then, aad  after it has flood four
   hours ftrain it.   It may alfo be
   made with double, triple,  &c.
   the quantity of fenna.
Compofitions.   Chap. III.

  Both this and the former infu-
fions might be made with cold water,
By this means the aromatic quality
of the coriander feeds would proba-
bly be extracted ia a more perfed
ftate ; but the cryftals of tartar are fo
difficultly folubie in cold water, that
for extemporaneous ufe it is in fome
meafure neceffary to prepare them
in the manner here  directed ; it is
not indeed  probable, that  when
fuch foluble matters as  acids and
fugar are prefented  to water, the
water  fliall be able to extrad fuch
a quantity  of the  finer  volatile
part of aromatics, as to afford any
confiderable flavour  to the liquor :
where an aromatic is required, we
would therefore propofe, that fome
agreeable aromatic water fliould be
mixed  with the liquor immediately
before fwallowing  it; or that a
quantity of an aromatic oil fliould
be iacorporated with the cold infu-
fion by means of gum, or  a part of
the fugar which we might referve
for that purpofe. It is a very necef-
fary caution not to make this infu-
fion in veffels glazed with lead, o-
therwife the acid might corrode the
lead, and  communicate its poifon-
oas effeds to the infufions.
  Both thefe infufions are mild and
ufeful purges,  the latter in particu-
lar is excellently fuited for delicate
ftomachs,  at  the fame time, that it
is very much calculated for febrile
and other acute difeafes.   It is ob-
fervable, that fugar added to neu-
tral falts, rather increafes than dimit
nifhes their naufeoufnefs ; but when
ufed along with an acid, fuch as  ta-
marinds, or a fait wherein the acid
predominates, as in cryftals of tar-
tar, it is found very much to im-
prove their tafte : the acid in this
infufion, or rather the combination
of acid and fweet, are found to co-
ver the tafte of the fenna  very  ef-
fedually ; the aromatic ferves alfo
the fame purpofe, but would per-
                            haps 
Chap. 19.     Decotlions and Infufidns.
 haps be better applied in the way
 above propofed.

       INFUSUM  ROS.E.
              Lond.
        Infufion of the rofe.
 Take of
   Red rofe-buds, the heels being
     cut off, half an ounce ;
   Vitriolic  acid,  diluted, three
     drains ;
   Boiling diftilled water, two pints
     and a half;
   Double-refined fugar, one ounce
     and a half.
 To the water, firft poured on the
   petals in a  glafs "veffel, add the
   diluted vitriolic  acid, and  ma-
   cerate for half an hour.  Strain
   tke liquor when cold, and  add
   the fugar.

 INFUSUM  vulgo  TINCTURA
          ROSARUM.
             Edinb.
 Infufion commonly called tiuBure
            of rofes.
 Take of
   Red rofes, dried, one ounce ;
   Boiling water, five pounds ;
   Vitriolic acid, one dram ;
   White fugar, two ounces.
 Macerate the rofes with the boiling
   water in an unglazed veffel four
   hours ; then having poured on
   the  acid,  ftrain the liquor,  and
   add the fugar.

   Some have direded the vitriolic
 acid to  be dropped upon the rofes
 before the water is put  to  them ;
 but this method is certainly faulty ;
 for fuch of the rofes as this cauftic
 liquor falls upon undiluted, will be
 burnt up by it, and have their tex-
 ture deftroyed.  Others have made
 an infufion of the rofes in water
firft, and then  added the acid, from
an apprehenfion, that if this acid be
added to the water, it would wea-
ken its power as a menftruum ; but
                           497
 whatever the acid fpirit will hinder
 the  water from extrading, it mull
 precipitate if  added  afterwards ;
 though, in this preparation, the vi-
 triolic acid bears fo  fmall a propor-
 tion to the water, that its effeds in
 this refped will be very little ; and
 it  appears  to  be of little confe-
 quence which  of  the two ways be
 followed, only that by  the above
 formula the veffels  are expofed a
 fhorter time to the adion of the a-
 cid.  The infufion fhould be made'
 in a glafs or ftone-ware  veffel, ra-
 ther  than  a glazed earthen one ;
 for  the acid will be apt to corrode
 the glazing of the latter.
   This infufion is of an elegant red
 colour, and makes a very grateful
 addition to the juleps in haemorrha-
 gies, and in all cafes which require
 mild coolers and fubaflringents : it
 is fometimes taken with  bolufes or
 eleduariesof the bark, and likewife
 makes a good gargle ; but although
 in our pharmacopoeias it has its name
 from the rofes, yet its virtues are to
 be afcribed chiefly, or perhaps fole-
 fy, to the vitriolic acid.

       INFUSUM RHEI.
             Edinb.
       Infufion of rhubarb.
Take of
  Rhubarb, half an ounce ;
  Boiling water, eight ounces  ;
  Spirituous cinnamon  water, one
     ounce.
Macerate  the  rhubarb  in  a glafs
  veffel  with  the  boiling  water
  for a night ;  then having added
  the cinnamon water,  ftrain  the
  liquor.

  In this infufion cold water might
perhaps be employed with  advan-
tage ; we alfo objed to the fpiritu-
ous cinnamon  water on the fame
grounds as we  did before to the a-
qua aromatica in the infufum ama-
rum of
the former
       Ii
edition of the
        Edin- 
498           Preparations at

Edinburgh pharmacopoeia :  this,
however,  appears to be one of the
beft preparations of rhubarb, when
defigned as a purgative ; water ex-
trading its virtue more  cffedually
than  cither  vinous or  fpirituous
menftrua : in this refped rhubarb
differs from moft of the other vege-
table  cathartics ; and we think the
London college might have given it
a place in their Pharmacopoeia as
well  as the vinum or tindura rha-
barbari,

        AQUA CALCIS.
              Lond.
           Lime-water.
Take of
  Quicklime, half a pound ;
  Boiling  diftilled water,  twelve
    pints.
Mix,  and  fet it afide in a covered
  veffel for one hour ;  then  pour
  off  the  liquor, which keep in a
  clofe veffel.

             Edinb.
Take half a  pound of frefh-burnt
  quicklime, put it into an earthen
  veffel, and gradually fprinkle up-
  on it four ounces of water,  keep-
  ing the veflel fhut whilft the lime
  grows hot and falls into powder.
  Then pour upon it twelve pounds
  of  water,  and  mix  the  lime
  thoroughly  with  the  water by
  ftirring. After the lime has fub-
  fided renew the ftirring ; and let
  tbis be  done about ten times, al-
  ways keeping the veffel flint (du.
  ring the ebullition), that the ac-
  pefs of the air may be the more
  cffedually prevented.  Laftly, let
  the water be filtered thro' paper
  placed in a funnel clofe fhut at its
  top  ; and it muft be kept in very
  clofe veffels.

  The reafon of adding the water
by degrees to the lime is, that when
poured on  at once, it reduces the
d Compofitions.    Part III.

 external part to a kind of muddy
 fubftance,  or foft pafte, which in
 fome meafure defends the  internal
 part from beisg aded upon by  the
 water.   It. does not appear that the
 different proportions  of water in
 the  two above prefcriptions  occa-
 fion any fenfible difference in  the
 ftrength of the produd; the quick-
 lime is  far from yielding all its fo-
 luble parts to either proportion ;
 the  remainder giving a ftrong im-
 pregnation to many frefh quantities
 of  water, though not fo ftrong as
 to the firft. The caution of keeping
 the water in clofe-ftopt veffels ought
 to be ftridly attended to  ; for in
 open ones the calcareons matter
 diflblved in the liquor foon begins
 to feparate, and forms a white cruft
 upon the furface.  This cruft is not
 of a faline nature, as fome  have i-
 magined ;  but an infipid earth,  no
 longer mifcible with watery liquors.
 The theory  of the  produdion of
 this earth will be eafily underftood
 from what we have faid on the  ar-
 ticle Fixed  Air. The feparation
 firft takes place at the furface, as
 being the part immediately applied
 to the common air :  as long as the
 cruft remains entire, the cloffnefs
 of  its texture fo excludes the air,
 that the reft  of the matter ftill re-
 mains impregnated with lime ; but
 when this pellicle is broken by any
 means,  it foon finks to the bottom,
 and  expofes a new furface for the
 feparation of the lime. In this way
 a fucceflion of crufts and precipita-
 tions are formed, till  the whole of
 the once cauftic and foluble quick-
 lime is now found at the bottom of
 the veffel in the ftate of a  mild  in-
 foluble  earth, leaving the  water
 perfedly infipid.
  The  formation  of thefe crufts,
 and  their fucccflive precipitations,
 are  owing to the abforption of fix-
 ed  air  or aerial acid  from the  at-
 mofphere:  and the mild infoluble 
 Chap. 19.-      DecoBions 1

 ftate of thefe precipitations is alfo
 owing to the fame caufe.
   The diftilled water recommend-
 ed by the London college is certain-
 ly preferable to common  fountain
 water;  the purity  of which can
 rarely be depended upon.
   Lime-water  has been thought of
 great fervice in fcrophulous  com-
 plaints ; but perhaps  on no  very
 good  foundation.   It has alfo been
 ufed both internally and externally
 for various  affedions of the fkin. It
 feems  to be very  confiderably  a-
 ftringent, and  has  been ufeful  in
 fome kinds  of alvine fluxes,  in dia-
 betes, leucorrhcea,  and in  fundry
 other diforders proceeding from  a
 laxity or debility of the folids.
   Its more common ufe is in af-
 fedions of the ftomach accompanied
 with acidity and  flatulence.  For
 which laft complaint, the mild,  or
 aerated  earths,  are  lefs  proper on
 account  of  the  feparation of air on
 their  meeting with  an acid in the
 ftomach.  Lime-water is  alfo ca-
 pable of diffolving mucus; and may
 therefore be ufed where a redun-
 dance of the inteftinal mucus affords
 a nidus for worms, or  gives rife to
 other complaints.  It has alfo been
 found, that  lime-water injeded in-
 to the anus immediately kills afca-
 rides.   The lithontriptic powers of
 lime-water  feem at  prefent to be
 much doubted.   Lime-water is gi-
 ven in dofes proportioned to the na-
 ture of the complaints; in fome ca-
 fes,  as ia diabetes it may be given
 in divided portions to the extent of
 two quarts a-day.  It is ufed exter-
 nally for wafhing what are called
foul or ill-conditioned ulcers :  it  is
 alfo  injeded into the  vagina  and 0-
 ther parts affeded with preternatu-
 ral difcharges from laxity.
   The ufe of lime-water in fcurvy
  very doubtful.
md Infufions.             499

       ACETUM SCILLiE.
               Lond.
         Vinegar of fquills.
 Take of
   Squills, frefh dried, one pound i
   Vinegar,  fix pints;
   Proof-fpirit, half a pint.
 Macerate the fquills in the vinegar,
   with  a gentle heat,  in a  glafs
   veffel, for four-and-twenty hours;
   then  prefs out the liquor, and fet
   it by that the feces may fubfide :
   laftly, pour off the liquor,  and
   add to it ihe fpirit.

   ACETUM SCILLITICUM.
              Edinb.
          Squill vinegar.
 Take of
   Dried root  of  fquills,  two  oun-
     ces;
   Diftilled vinegar, two pounds and
     ahalf;
   Redified fpirit of wine, three
     ounces.
 Macerate the fquills  with the vine-
   gar eight  days;  then  prefs out
   the vinegar, to which add  the
   fpirit;  and  when ihe feces have
   fubflded, pour  out the clear li-
   quor.

   Vinegar of fquillsisamedicine
 of great antiquity;   we  find in a
 treatife attributed to Galen, an  ac-
 count of  its  preparation,  and  of
 many  particular  virtues  then  af-
 cribed to it.   It is a very powerful
 ftimulant, aperient, and what is call-
 ed an attenuant of tenacious juices:
 and hence is  frequently ufed  with
 great fuccefs,  in  diforders of the
 breaft, occafioned by a load of thick
 vifcid phlegm, and for promoting  u-
 rine in hydropic cafes.  The dofe
 of this medicine is from a dram  to
 half an ounce: where crudities a-
 bound  in the  firft paffages, it may
 be  gjven at firft in a large dofe, to
 evacuate them by vomiting.   It is
             I i  2          moft 
$00       Preparations and Compofitions.    Part. III.
moft conveniently exhibited along
with cinnamon, or other agreeable
aromatic waters, which prevent the
naufea it would otherwife, even in
fmall dofes,  be apt to occafion.

  ACETUM AROMATICUM.
             Suec.
        Aromatic vinegar.
Take of
   Tops of Rofemary,
   Leaves of fage, each four oun-
     ces;
   Flowers of lavender, two ounces;
   Cloves, two drams;
   Vinegar,  eight pounds.
Macerate for four hours, exprefs the
   liquor, and ftrain it.

   This may be confidered as an e-
legant  improvement of what had
formerly  a  place in  the  foreign
pharmacopoeias,  under the  title of
Acetum prophylaBicum, which con-
tained not only the prefent articles,
but alfo  a confufed  farrago of o-
thers, as  wormwood, rue,  garlic,
cinnamon, &c.
   It is faid,  that during the  plague
at Marfeilles, four perfons,  by  the
ufe of the acetum prophyladicum as
a  prefervative,  attended unhurt,
multitudes of thofe who were infed-
ed; that under colour of thofe fer-
vices, they robbed both the fick and
the dead ; and that one of them  be-
ing afterwards apprehended, faved
himfelf from the gallows by difeo-
vering the remedy.   The prepara-
tion was hence called Vinaigre  des
quatre voleurs ;  lt The vinegar of
" the fonr thieves."   It is  not to
be  doubted, that  vinegar impreg-
nated with  antifeptic vegetables,
will contribute   greatly to pre-
vent the effeds of contagious  air.
And in the  prefent acetum  aroma-
licum,  we have a ftronger and bet-
ter impregnation,  than  from  the
numerous articles  which were be-
fore employed.   Wc are far, how-
ever, from imaging that  it  will
be able to counterad the contagion
of the plague: but it may on diffe-
rent occafions be  more powerful
than vinegar in its fimple ttate, for
impregnating with antifeptic vapours
the chambers of the tick.

    ACETUM ROSACEUM.
              Suec.
        Vinegar of rofes.
Take of
  The flowers of red  rofes dried,
     any quantity;  add to them
     twelve times  their weight of
     vinegar.
Macerate for four dyas, and ftrain
  through paper.

  This has been chiefly made ufe
of for embrocating the head  and
temples  in fome kinds of headach,
&c.  in which it has now and then
been of  fervice.  It has alfo been
ufed for certain cafes of ophthal-
mia.  But before it can be applied
to the eyes, it  will in general re-
quire to  be diluted with water.

  ACETUM  LYTHARGYRI.
              Suec.
      Vinegar of litharge.
Take of
  Litharge, triturated, half a pound;
  Vinegar, two pounds.
Digeft them together frequently,
  ftirring the mixture with a wood-
  en rod, till  the colour of  blue
  paper be not changed by the vi-
  negar; preferve for ufe the clear
  liquor  which is  above the fedi-
  ment.

  This liquor is of the fame  na-
ture with folutions of faccharum fa.
turni, or ceruffa  acetata, ?s  it is
now called.  It is only  ufed exter-
nally, againft  cutaneous eruptions,
rednefs,  inflammations,  &c.  But
even ia thefe cafes fome think it is
not void  of danger; and  it is al-
                        ledged, 
Chap.  19.        Decotlions and Infufions,           501
                                 more elegant, but ftronger than the
                                 prefent, might  be  obtained, from
                                 employing  cold  water in place  of
                                 boiling water, and from continu-
                                 ing the maceration for a greater
                                 length of time.   But in whatever
                                 manner  it be formed,  an infufion
                                 will often fit upon the  ftomach,
                                 when the bark  either in fubftance
                                 or decodion cannot be retained.
leged,that there are examples of its
continued  ufe  having occafioned
fundry ill  confequences.  Of this,
however,  we  are very  doubtful.
But by means of the ccruffa acetata
every purpofe to be anfwered  by
this  may  be accompliflied.  This
liquor differs only in the propor-
tions from the aqua lythargyri ace-
tati of the London  pharmacopoeia.
     ACETUM COLCHICI.
              Rofe.
       Vinegar of colshicum.
 Take of
   The recent  root of colchicum,
     cut into flices, one ounce;
   Vinegar one pound.
 Macerate with a gentle heat for
   two days; then ftrain after flight
   expreflion.

   Although  in  our pharmaco-
 poeias a place be given to the oxy-
 mel and fyrup of colchicum,  both
 of which are formed from the vine-
 gar,  yet the vinegar itfelf is not
 direded to be kept  in its feparate
 ftate:  Under this form however it
 may often be employed with advan-
 tage.

     INFUSUM KINKING.
             Suec.
    Infufion of Peruvian bark.
 Take of
  Peruvian bark, bruifed, an ounce
     and a half.
  Spring water, boiling, a pound
     and a half.
 Digeft for two  hours, fluking the
  veffel frequently;  then ftrain the
  liquor with expreflion.

  The Preuviaa bark, as We have
already had occafion  to obferve,
gives out its medical properties to
water not lefs readily inthe way of
infufion than of decodion.  And
in the former,the extradive matter
is even more in  a ftate of  folution.
An  infufion, however,  not only
        AQUA PICE A.
           Tar-water.
 Take of
   Tar, two pounds;
   Water, one gallon j
 Stir them ftrongly together with a
   wooden rod ; and after ftanding
   to fettle for  twelve hours,  pour
   off the water for ufe.

   Tar-water, has lately been re-
 commended to the world as a cer-
 tain and fafe medicine in almoft all
 difeafes; a flow yet effedual altera-
 tive in cachexies, fcurvies, chloro-
 tic, hyfterical, hypochondriacal,and
 other chronical complaints; and  a
 fudden remedy  in acute diftempers
 which demand immediate relief, as
 pleurifies,peripneamonies,the fmall-
 pox, and all kinds of fevers in ge-
 neral.  The medicine, though cer-
 tainly far inferior to the charader
 that has been given of it, is doubt-
 lefsinmany cafes of confiderable u-
 tility : it fenfibly rarfes the  pulfe  ;
 and occafions fome  confiderable e-
 vacuation, generally by perfpiration
 or urine, though fometimes by ftool
 or vomit.  Hence it is fuppofed to
 ad by increafing the vis  vitas, and
 enabling nature to expel the morbi-
fic humours.
  We fhall here infert, from  the
firft public recommender of this li-
quor  (Bifhop  Berkley),  fome  ob-
fervations on the [manner of ufing
it. " Tar-water, when right, is not
 "  paler thanFrench, nordeeperco-
 "  loured than Spanifh white wine,
 "  and full as clear; if there be no
        I i 3               "a 
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
•«
502
'• a fpirit very fenfibly perceived in
" drinking you may conclude the
"  tar-water is not good.   It may
"  be drank either cold or warm. In
"  colics,  I take it  to beft warm.
"  As to the  quantity,  in common
"  chronical indifpotitions,  a pint
"  a-day may fuffice, taken on  an
"  empty ftomach, at two  or four
"  times,  to  wit,  night or morn-
u  ing, and about two  hours  after
"  dinner and breakfaft: more may
"  be taken by ftronger ftomachs.
4<  But thefe who labour under great
"  and inveterate maladies,  muft
"  drink a greater quantity, at leaft
   a quart every twenty-four hours.
   All of this clafs muft have much
"  patience and perfevcrance in the
"  ufe of this, as well as of all other
"  medicines,  which, though  fure,
"  muft yet in the nature of things
"  be flow in the cure of inveterate
"  chronical diforders.  In acute ca-
"  fes, fevers of all kinds,  it muft
"  be drank in bed, warm, and in
"  greatquantity (the fever ftill en-
"  abling the patient to drink),per-
"  haps a pint every hour,  which I
"  have known to work furprifing
" cures.   But it works fo quick,
" and gives  fuch fpirits,  that the
" patients often think themfelves
"  cured  before the fever has  quite
" left them."
   Notwithftanding  thefe  encomi-
ums, tar-water feems to be  faft lo-
fing its  reputation.  It is  not pro-
bable that water can take up any of
the more adive principles of the
tar; and it would perhaps be  more
convenient to feparate its acid by
diftillation, and mix it with water
occafionally:  for it is pretty cer-
tain that the water can only  take
up  the  "acid  of  the  tar,  perhaps
charged with a very fmall  quantity
of oily matter in the ftate of an acid
foap.

   DECOCTUM  CATECHU.
              Gen.
      DecoBion of catechu.
Take of
  Catechu, three drams;
  Spring-water, tuo pounds.
  Boil it to one pound ; and add to
     the ftrained liquor.
  Syrup of quinces, three  ounces.

  This decodion may be confider-
ed as nearly fimilar to the decodnm
japonicum, and decodum terras ja-
ponicaeof the former editions of our
pharmacopoeia :  and like  thefe it
will be found a very agreeable and
ufeful medicine  in fluxes that are
not critical or fymptomatic, and in
a weaklaxftate of the inteftines. A
fpoonful or two may be taken every
hour, or oftener: thus managed, it
produces much better effeds than if
larger dofes are given at once.  But
for extradingthe powers of the ca-
techu, boiling is not requifite.  By
fimple infufion in warm water,  all
its adive parts are readily and com-
pletely  diffolved.  It may in  this
manner alfo be readily united with
cinnamon or  other aromatics. And
an infufum japonicum is, we think,
a formula juftly entitled  to a place
in our pharmacopoeias.
CHAP. 
Chap.  20.
C   H
VINA
MEDIC  AT
     TH E original intention of medi-
     cated wines  was,  that  medi-
cines which were to be continued
for a length of time, might be ta-
ken in the moft familiar and agree-
able form; by  this means a  courfe
of  remedies was complied  with,
notwithftanding the repugnance and
averfion which  the  fick often ma-
nifeft  to  thofe diredly  furnifhed
from the fhops; and hence the in-
ferior fort of people had  their me-
dicated ales.  Neverthelefs,  as vi-
nous liquors excellently extrad the
virtues of feveral fimples, and are
not ill fitted for keeping, they have
been employed as  officinal menftrua
alfo; and fubftances of the greateft
efficacy are trufted in this form. As
compounds of water and inflamma-
ble fpirit, they take up fuch parts
of vegetables and animals as are
foluble in thofe  liquors, though
moft of  them abound at the  fame
time with a mucilaginous or vifcous
fubftance, which renders them lefs
effedual  menftrua than purer mix-
tures of  water  and fpirit.   They
contain likewife a moft fubtle acid,
which  fomewhat  further obftruds
their adion on certain vegetable and
animal matters;  but enables  them,
in proportion to its quantity, to dif-
folve fome bodies of the metallic
Wines.                 503
A   P.     XX.
MEDICA TA.
D   WINES.
kind, and thus impregnate them-
felves with the corroborating virtues^
of fteel, the alterative and emetic
powersof antimony,and the noxious
qualities of lead.
  To all the medicated wines, after
they have been ftrained, you may
add about one-twentieth their quan-
tity of proof-fpirit, to preferve them
from fermentation.  They may be
conveniently kept in the fame kind
of glafs bottles that wines generally
are for common ufes, which  fhould
likewife be  corked with the fame
care.

        VINUM ALOES.
              Lond.
         Wine of aloes.
Take of
  Socotorine aloes, eight ounces j
  White canella,  commonly  called
    Winter's bark, two ounces;
  Spanifh white-wine, fix pints;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Powder  the aloes and white canella
  feparately ;  when mixed, pour
  on them the wine: afterwards
  digeft  for  fourteen days, now
  and them fhaking them; laftly,
  ftrain.
It  will not be amifs to mix  white
  fand,  cleanfed  from impurities,
  with  the powder, in  order  to
             I i  4         pre- 
£04         Preparations am

  vent the moiftened  aloes from
  getting into lumps.

VINUM  ALOETICUM,  vulgo
     TINCTUllA SACRA.
             Edinb. %
  Aloetic wine, or Sacred tincture.
Take of
  Socotorine aloes,  one ounce;
  Leffer cardamom feeds,
  Ginger,  each one dram;
   Spanifh white wine, twopounds.
Digeft for feven days, ftirring now
  and  then, and afterwards ftrain.

  This medicine has long been in
great efteem,  not only as a cathar-
tic,  but likewife as a ftimulus; the
wine diffolving all  that part of the
aloes in which thefe qualities refide,
a portion only of  the lefs adive  re-
finous matter being left.  The aro-
matic ingredients are added to warm
the  medicine, and  fomewhat alle-
viate the ill flavour of the aloes:  ca-
 nella alba,  or cloves, are faid, a-
mong numerous materials that have
 been made trial  of, to anfwer this
 end the  moft fuccefsfivUy; hence
 the  introdndion  of the former of
 thefe into the formula of  the Lon-
 don college.
   The tinBurafacra appears from
 long experience to be  a medicine of
 excellent fervice in languid, phleg-
 matic habits, not only for  cleanfing
 the primas viae, but likewife for fti-
 mulating the folids,  warming  the
 habit, promoting or exciting the u-
 terine purgations,  and the hasmor-
 rhoidal flux. The dofe, as a purga-
 tive,  is from one to two ounces, or
 more.  It may be introduced into
 ihe habit, fo as to be  produdive of
 excellent  effeds as an alterant, by
  giving it in fmall dofes,  at proper
  intervals: thus managed, it does not
  for a confiderable time operate re-
  markably by ftool; but at  length
  proves purgative,  and occafions a
  lax habit of much longer continu-
l Compofitions.   Part III.

ance than that  produced by the o«
ther common cathartics.

      VINUM AMARUM.
             Edinb.
           Bitter wine.
Take of
   Root of gentian, half an ounce ;
   Peruvian bark, once ounce ;
   Seville orange-peel,  dried,  two
     drains;
   Canella  alba, 6ne dram ;
   Proof-fpirit,  four ounces;
   Spanifh  white-wine,  two pounds
     and a half.
 Firft pour  on the fpirit, and after
   twenty-four hours add the wine;
   then macerate for three days, and
   ftrain.

   This wine is intended  to fupply
 the place of the TinBura ad ftoma-
 chicos,  as it was formerly called.
 The wine is a  menftruum fully ca-
 pable of extrading the adive poweri!
 of the different ingredients; and it
 fupplies us with a very ufeful and
 elegant  ftomachic medicine,   an-
 fwering the purpofes intended much
 better than the celebrated elixir of
 Van  Helmont, and other unche-
 mical and uncertain  preparations,
 which  had formerly a place in our
 pharmacopoeias.

     VINUM  ANTIMONII.
             Lond.
         Wine of antimony.
 Take of
    Vitrified antimony, powdered,
      one ounce;
    Spanifh white-wine, a  pint  and
      an half.
 Digeft for twelve days, frequently
    making the veffel,  and filtre the
    wine through paper.

    VINUM ANTIMONALE.
              Edinb.
          Antimonial wine

                            Take 
Chap.  20.
Medicated /FJs&r.
S°5
Take of
  Glafs of antimony, finely pow-
     dered, one ounce ;
 Spanifh white-wine, fifteen ounces.
Macerate  for  three  days, ftirring
  them now  and then, and after-
  wards ftrain the liquor  through
  paper.

  However carefully the fettling
and  decantation are performed, the
filtration of the wine through paper
appears to be  neceffary, left fome
of the finer parts of the glafs fhould
chance to remain fufpended in fub-
ftance.    It is not here, as in moft
other wines and tindures, where the
matter left undiflblved by the men-
ftruum is of little confequence : the
antimonial glafs, after the  adion of
the wine,  continues as virulent as
ever, and capable of impregnating
frefh parcels of the liquor as ftrong-
ly as the  firft, and this, in appear-
ance,  inexhanftibly.  After thirty
repeated infufions, it has been found
fcarce fenfibly diminifhed in weight.
   The antimonial wine poffeffes the
whole virtues of  that mineral, and
may he fo dofed  and managed as to
perfarm all that can be effeded by
any antimonial  preparation,; with
this  advantage,  that as the adive
part of the antimony is here already
diflblved and rendered mifcible with
the  animal fluids, its operation  is
more certain.   Given from  ten to
fifty or fixty drops, it ads generally
as an alterative and diaphoretic ; in
larger dofes,  as a diuretic and ca-
 thartic ; whilft three or four drams
prove for the moft part  violently e-
metic. It  has been chiefly ufed with
 this laft intention, in fome maniacal
 and apopledic cafes  ; and hence it
 gained the name of emetic wine.
   The quantity of the reguline part
 muft,however, vary according to the
 proportions of the acid matter in
 different  wines, and the operation
of the medicine  muft be thereby lefs
certain in  degree ; the vitrum is
preferable to the crocus for making
this preparation.  See the different
preparations of Antimont .

VINUM  ANTIMONII  TAR-
          TARISATI.
             Lond.
  Wine of tartarifed antimony.
Take of
  Tartarifed antimony, two fcru-
     ples ;
  Boiling diftilled water, two oun-
     ces ;
  Spanifh  white  wine,  eight oun*
     ces.
Diffolve the tartarifed antimony in
  the  boiling  diftilled water,  and
  add to it the  wine.

VINUM  e TARTARO  ANTI-
           MONIALE
             Edinb.
    Wine of antimonial tartar.
Take of
Antimonial, commonly  called  E»
  metic tsrtar, twenty-four grains;
   and diffolve it in a pound of Spa-
   nifh white-wine.

   Watery folutions of emetic tar-
 tar, on ftanding,  precipitate a  part
 which is lefs completely in a faline
 ftate ;  by this means, and efpecially
 if the folution be  not fhaken before
 ufing it, the dofe of that medicine
 is fomewhat ambiguous : in  the a-
 bove formula, the acid matter of
 the wine increafes the faline ftate of
 the antimony, and therefore its fo-
 lubility,  whereby the operation of
 the medicine is morecertain, and in
 many cafes more  powerful.  From
 the certainty of its effeds, this  pre-
 paration might be very convenient
 in large hofpitals  or armies, where
 great numbers of  the fick, and inac-
 curate nurfing, frequently impofe an
 uncertain or dangerous pradice.
                              In 
  506          Preparations a

    In  the formula employed by the
  Edinburgh college, each ounce of
  the wine contains two grains of the
  tartarized antimony ; but in that of
  the London college, each ounce of
  the menftruum contains four grains:
  hence, while an ounce of the  one
  may be employed for exciting full
  vomiting,  the fame quantity of the
  other would be  too ftrong a dofe.
  It is much to be regretted, that in
  articles  of this  adive nature,  the
 proportions employed by the two
 colleges Ihould differ fo  confidera-
 bly ; and  it would perhaps have
 been bitter, had the London col-
 lege adopted  the proportions  em-
 ployed by that of Edinburgh, as
 they have  followed them  in adop-
 ting this formula.

        VINUM FERRI.
              Loud.
           Wine  of iron.
 Take of
   Filings of iron, four ounces ;
   Spanifh white  wine, four pints.
 Digeft for  a month, often fhaking
   the veffel, and then ftrain.

   This formula of the  London
 pharmacopoeia is now not only Am-
 plified, -but improved, when com-
 pared  with their  former vinum
 chalybeatum : for the cinnamon and
 other  articles which were then
 conjoined with the iron, were cer-
 tainly rather prejudicial than other-
 wife: but  at the fame time, Rhe-
 nifh wine,  formerly employed, is
 perhaps to  be confidered as a  bet-
 ter  menftruum than the  Spanifh
 wine now direded.  It  may ftill,
 however, be juftly confidered as a
 good chalybeate ; and we think.the
 Edinburgh college have clone wrong
 in rejeding the formula from their
 pharmacopoeia.
   By the Loudon college ic  was
formerly prepared by marceratton,
without heat; now,  however, they
 'd Compofitions.    Part  III.

  dired digeftion for the fpace of a
  month. Some have objected  to the
  ufe of heat, that it impregnated the
  wine more ftrongly with the metal,.
  and thus rendered it more unplea-
  fant to the tafte :  but if this was
  the only inconvenience, the remedy
  would be eafy, diluting it with more
  wine.   Heat has another  effed,
  much lefs  defirable, and which art
  cannot  remedy ;  making a difa-
  greeable alteration in the quality of
  the  wine  itfelf :  hence it is necef-
  fary that it fhould  be very mode-
  rate.
   Steel wiheis a very ufeful prepa-
  ration of this metal, and frequently
  exhibited  in  chlorotic and  other
 indifpofitions where chalybeates are
 proper.  Boerhaave recommends it
 as one of  the nobleft medicines he
 was acquainted with, for promoting
 that power in  the  body by which
 blood is made, when weakened by a
 bare debility of the over-relaxed fo-
 lids, and an indolent, cold, aqueous
 indifpofiticn of the juices :  for in
 this cafe, fays he, no  virtue of any
 vegetable  or animal fubftance, no
 diet, nor regimen, can effed that
 which is effeded by iron : but it
 proves hurtful where the vital powers
 are already too ftrong, whether this
 proceeds from  the  fluids or the fo-
 lid"    The dofe is  from a  dram to
 ha    a ounce ; which may be re-
 pt   d two or  three times a-day.
  Some  dired folutions of  iron,
 made in  wine or other vegetable a-
 cids, to be evaporated to the confift-
 ence of an extrad, under the title of
 Extractum martis. Thefe pre-
 parations have no advantage,  in
 point of virtue, above the common
 chalybeates ; though in fome forms,
 that of pills in particular, they may
 be rather more commodioufly exhi-
 bited  than moft of the officinal cha-
 lybeates of equal efficacy.  They
 may be made  into pills by them-
felves, and  arc tenacious enough to
                         reduce 
Chap.
10.
Medicated Wines.
 reduce other  fubftances  into that
 form.

   VINUM IPECACUANHA.
              Lend.
       Wine of ipecacuanha.
 Take of
   The root of ipecacuanha,  bruif-
     ed, two ounces;
   Spanifli white wine,  two pints.
 Digeft for ten days, and  ftrain.

  VINUM, vulgo TINCTURA
        IPECACUANHA.
             Edinb.
 Wine, or TinBure of ipecacuanha.
 Take of
   Ipecacuanha,  in powder,  one
      ounce ;
   Spanifh white  wine,  fifteen oun-
     ces.
 After three days maceration, let the
   tindure be filtrated for ufe.

   Both thefe winesare  very mild
 and fafe emetics, and  equally  fer-
 viceable,  in dyfenteries alfo, with
 the ipecacuanha in  fubftance ;  this
 root  yielding  nearly all  its virtues
 to the Spanifli white wine, here or-
 dered, as it does a good fliare of
 them even to aqueous liquors.  The
 common dofe is  an  ounce, more or
 lefs, according  to the  age  and
 ftrength of the patient.  The college
 of Edinburgh added  formerly  a
 fcruple of cochineal, which imparts
' a fine red colour to the  liquor:  this
 article is now omitted, on a com-
 plaint, that the  red colour of the
 matters evacuated, fometimes  a-
 larmed the patient,  as ifit proceed-
 ed from a difcharge of blood.

  VINUM  MILLEPEDARUM.
              Edinb,
        Wine of millepedes.
 Take of
   Live millepedes, bruifed,  one
      ounce  ;
   Rhenifh wine, eight ounces.
                          507

Infufe them together for feven days,
  and  afterwards prefs  the liquor
  through a ftrainer.

  This wine has been commended
as an admirable cleanfer of all the
vifcera, yielding to nothing ia the
jaundice, and  obftrudions of the
kidneys or urinary paffrges,  of ex-
cellent fervice in almoft all chroni-
cal diftempers, even in fcrophuloirs
and ftrumous fwellings, and in de-
fluxions of rheum upon the eyes. But
thofe  who  expeded thefe extraor-
dinary virtues from it, have often
been deceived ; and at prefent there
are few who have any great depen-
dence on it : and hence it is omit-
ted by  the London college, proba-
bly without any  lofs.   It is dired-
ed to be give* from half an ounce
to two  ounces.

   VINUM RHABARBARL   *
             Loud.
        Wine of rhubarb.
Take of
  Sliced rhubarb, two ounces and
    ,an half;
  Leffer cardamom-feeds, bruifed
     and hufked, half an oiince ;
  Saffron,  two drams ;
  Spanifli white  wine, two pints ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, eight oun-
     ces.
Digeft for ten days, and ftrain.

        VINUM RHEI.
             Edinb.
         Rhubarb wine.
Take of
  Rhubarb, two ounces ;
  Canella alba, one dram ;
  Proof-fpirit, twb outtces ;
  Spanifh white wine, fifteen ona-
     ces.
Macerate for feven days, and ftrain.

  By aflifting the folvenr power of
the menftruum,  the proof-fpirit in
the above formula? is-, a very ufeful
                            ad- 
508         Preparations a

addition.  This  is  a warm, cor-
dial, laxative medicine. It is ufed
chiefly in weaknefs of the  ftomach
and bowels, and fome kinds of loofe-
neffes, for evacuating the offending
matter, and ftrengthening  the tone
of the vifcera.   Jt  may be  given
from  half  a fpoonful to  three or
four fpoonfuls or more, according
to the circumftances of the diforder,
and the purpofes  it is intended to
anfwer.

    VINUM NICOTIANS.
         Tobacco wine.
Take of
  The dried leaves of the beft Vir-
     ginian tobacco, one ounce ;
  Spanifli white wine, one pound,
Macerate for four days, and then
  ftrain the liquor.

  We have already, under the ar-
ticle Nicotiana in the  Materia
Medica,  offered  fome obfervations
on its  late  introdudion into  prac-
tice by Dr Fowler, as a very ufeful
remedy in the cure of dropfies and
dyfuries. From this treatife on that
fubjed the  prefent formula is ta-
ken ;  and we may  obferve,  that
while in practice we have frequent-
ly experienced from  the  tobacco
thofe good  effeds for  which Dr
Fowjer recommends it, we are in-
clined to give the prefent formula
the preference to  every other which
he has propofed.  It feems to ex-
trad more fully the adive princi-
ples of the tobacco than either wa-
ter or fpirit taken feparately.

   VINUM SCILLITICUM.
             Suec.
          Squill wine.
Take of
  Dried  fquills, fliced, one ounce ;
  Ginger, one dram;
id Compofitions.   Part III.

   French white wine, two pounds.
 Macerate for three days, and then
   ftrain.

   By the wine employed as a men-
 ftruum,  the adive properties of the
 fquills may be readily  extraded ;
 and in fome cafes at leaft the  pre-
 fent formula may juftly be confider-
 ed as intitlcd to a preference over
 either the acetum or oxymel fcillas,
 which have a place in our pharma-
 copoeias.   The ginger here added
 to the fquills operates as an  ufeful
 corrigent ; and on this account the
 prefent formula is preferable to the
 vinutn feilliticuin  of fome other
 pharmacopoeias, where  the fquills
 alone  are  ufed :  For it  is chiefly
 ufed in thofe cafes  where it  is in-
 tended that the fquills fliould exert
 their effeds, not on the alimentary
 canal, but  on the kidneys or  other
 excretions.

    VINUM ZEDORARLE.
             Dan.
          Zedoary wine.
 Take of
   The root  of  zedoary, gently
     bruifed, two pounds ;
   Spirit of wine,  eight pounds.
 Let them be macerated for a month;
   then add
   Spring water, eight ponnds.
 Diftil from thence twelve pounds.

   Though this formula has  the
 name of a wine, yet it is in reality
 a diftilled fpirit, nothing from the
 zedoary but a portion  of its  effen-
 tial oil being united with  the ardent
 fpirit: and we are inclined to think;
 that the  adive powers of this  ar-
 ticle, both  as depending  on aroma
 and bitternefs, might be better ob-
 tained by a fimple  infufion in Spa-
 nifli white-wine.
CHAP. 
Chap. 21.              Tintlures.                      5d<jJ
C   H   A
T   I   N   C
T    I    N    C
    Rectified fpirit of wine is the
     dired menftruum of the re-
fins and effential oils of vegetables,
and  totally extrads  thefe adive
principles from  fundry vegetable
matters, which yield them to water
either not at all, or only in part.
It diflblves likewife the fweet fac-
charine matter of vegetables ; and
generally  thofe parts of animal bo-
dies, in which their peculiar fmell
and tafte refide.
  The virtues of many vegetables
are extraded almoft equally by wa-
ter and redified  fpirit; butin the
watery  and  fpirituous  tindures of
them there is this difference, that
the adive parts in the watery ex-
tradions are blended with a large
proportion of inert gummy matter,
on which their  folubility in this
menftruum in great  meafure de-
pends, while rectified fpirit extrads
them almoft pure from gum. Hence,
when the fpirituous tindures are
mixed with watery liquors, a part of
what the  fpirit had  taken  up  from
the fubjed generally feparates and
fubfides,  on account of its  having
been freed from that matter which,
being blended with  it in the origi-
nal vegetable, made it  foluble  in
water.   This, however, is not uni-
P.      XXI.
t   u   r    m.
U    R     E   S.
verfal; for the adive parts of feme
vegetables, when extraded by rec-
tified fpirit, are not precipitated by
water, being almoft equally diflblu-
ble in both menftrua.
   Redified fpirit may be tinged by
vegetables of all  colours, except
blue : the leaves of plants in gene-
ral, which give out but little of their
natural  colour to  watery  liquors,
communicate  to fpirit the whole of
their green tindure,  which for the
moft part proves elegant, though'
not very durable.
   Fixed  alkaline falts  deepen  the
colour of fpirituous tindures ;  and
hence have been fuppofed to«pro-
mote the  diffolving power of the
menftruum, though this does not ap-
pear  from experience :  in the trials
that have been  made to determine
this affair, no more was found to be
taken up in the deep-coloure"d tinc-
tures than  in the  paler ones,  and
often  not fo much ; if the alkali be
added after the  extradion of the
tindure,  it will  heighten the  co-
lour as much  as  when  mixed with
the ingredients at firft.   Nor is the
addition  of thefe  falts in making
tindures,  ufelefs only, but likewife
prejudicial, as they in general injure
the flavour of aromatics,  and  fu-
                          peradd 
  jf i o          Preparations a

 peradd  a  quality,  fometimes Con-
 trary to the intention  of  the medi-
 cine.  Volatile  alkaline  falts,  in
 many  cafes  promote  the   adion
 of   the  fpirits.   Acids  generally
 weaken it;  unlefs when  the acid
 has  been previoufly combined with
 the  vinous fpirit into a compound
 of new qualities,  called dulcified
 fpirit.

    TINCTURA ABSINTHII.
              Edinb.
      TinBure of wormwood.
 Take of
   the  flowering  tops  of worm-
      wood, properly  dried,  four
      ounces;
   Redified  fpirit  of wine,  two
      pounds;
 Macerate for two days; then prefs
   out the  fpirit, and pour it up-
      on,
   Of wormwood, two ounces.
 Macerate again for four days ; then
   prefs the tindure through a cloth,
   and afterwards ftrain it through
   paper.

   The  aromatic  parts of worm-
 wood are more efpecially  found in
 the flowering tops,  and its bitter-
 nefs in the leaves: but as the latter
 are replete with a mucilaginous mat-
 ter, which might impede the adion
 of the menftruum on the aromatic
 parts  in this very  elegant formula,
 the flowering tops arc infufcd firft,
 aud their tindure made  to extrad
 the bitter parts of the leaves and
 ftalks. This preparation may there-
 fore be confidered ascontaining the
 whole virtues of the plant.
  In  the  tindure of  wormwood
 we  have one of the ftrongeft of the
 vegetable bitters.   It is  fometimes
 ufed as au anthelmintic,  aud ftill
 more  frequently  in ftomach  ail-
 ments : But  to  moft people it is a
very difagreeable medicine.
 i Compofitions.    Part HI.

       TINCTURA ALOES.
               Lond.
         TinBure of aloes.
 Take of
    Socotorine aloes, powdered, half
      an ounce;
    Extrad  of liquorice, an  ounce
      and an half;
   Diftilled water,
   Proof-fpirit of wine,  of each
      eight ounces.
 Digeft in a  fand-bath, now and then
   fhaking the veffel, until  the ex-
   trad be diffolved, and then ftrain.

   In  this  fimple tindure,  all the
 adive parts of the aloes, whether
 of a gummy or refinous nature, are
 fufpended in the menftruum.  The
 extrad of  liquorice ferves  both  to
 promote the fufpenfion and to co-
 ver the tafte of the aloes;  and  in
 thefe cafes where we wilh  for the
 operation of the aloes alone, with-
 out the aid either of the adjuvans or
 corrigens, this is perhaps one of the
 beft formulas under which, they can
 be exhibited in a fluid ftate.

 TINCTURA ALOES COMPO-
             SITA.
             Lond.
   Compound tinBure of aloes.
 Take of
  Tindure of myrrh, two pints;
  Saffron,
  Socotorine aloes,  of  each  three
     ounces.
 Digeft for eight days, and ftrain.

 ELIXIR ALOES,  vulgo  PRO-
          PRIETATIS.
             Edinb.
Elixir  of aloes,  commonly  called
       Elixir proprietatis.
Take of
  Myrrh, in powder, two ounces;
  Socotorine aloes, an oui.ee and a
    half;
                        Englifli 
Chap.  21.              Tinclures.                      511
  Englifh.faffron, one ounce;       phlegmatic habits.  Where the pa-
  Redified fpirit of wine,          tient is of a hot, bilious conftitution,
  Proof-fpirit, of each one pound.   and florid complexion,  this warm
Digeft the myrrh with the fpirit for  ftimulating medicine is lefs proper,
  the fpace of four days ;  then add  and fometimes prejudicial.   The
  the aloes in powder,  and the faf-  dofe may be from twenty drops to
  fron :  continue the digeftionfcfor  a tea-fpoonful  or  more,  two  or
  two days  longer, fuffer the feces  three times a-day, according to the
  to fubfide, and pour of  the  clear  purpofes  which it is  intended to
  elixir.                          anfwer.
   These two formulae, though the
mode of preparation be fomewhat
varied, do not materially differ from
each other ;  and both may  be con-
fidered as being the elixir proprieta-
tis of Paracelfus, improved with re-
gard to  the manner  of preparation.
The myrrh, fafforn, and aloes, have
been ufually direded to be digefted
in the fpirit together: by this me-
thod the menftruum foon loads it-
felf with the latter,  fo as fcarce to
take up any of the myrrh ;  whilft a
tincture  extraded  firft from the
myrrh,   readily  diflblves  a  large
quantity of the others.   The alka-
line fait, commonly ordered  ia thefe
preparations with a view to promote
the diffolution of the  myrrh, we
have already obferved to be  ufelefs;
and accordingly it is now omitted.
Inftead  of employing the redified
fpirit alone, the Edinburgh  college
have  ufed aa equal proportion of
proof-fpirit,  which  is  not  only  a
more  complete   menftruum,  but
alfo renders the medicine lefs heat-
ing.
  This  medicine  is highly  recom-
mended, and not undefcrvedly, as a
warm ftimulant and aperient.  It
ftrengthens  the ftomach and  other
vifcera,  cleanfes the firft paffages
from  tenacious phlegm,  and pro-
motes the natural fecretions in ge-
neral.   Its continued ufe has fre-
quently  done much fervice in cahec-
tic and  ideric  cafes,   uterine ob-
ftrudions, and  other fimilar difor-
ders; and particularly in cold, pale,
  ELIXIR ALOES five PRO-
    FRIETATIS VITRIOLI-
             CUM.
             Edinb.
 Vitriolic elixir of aloes or Froprie-
             tatis.
Take of
  Myrrh,
  Socotorine aloes, of each an ounce
     and a half ;
  F.nglilh faffron, one ounce ;
  Dulcified  fpirit  of  vitriol,  one
     pound.
Digeft the myrrh with the fpirit for
  four days, in a clofe veffel; then
  add the fiffron and aloes.
Digeft again four days ;  and when
  the feces have fubfided, pour  out
  the elixir.

  The  Edinburgh College have
reformed this preparation confider-
ably;  and efpecially  by direding
the myrrh to be digefted firft,  for
the fame reafons as were obferved
on  the preceding  article.  Here
the dulcified fpirit of vitriol  is very
judicioufty  fubftituted to the fpirit
of fulphur, ordered in other books
of pharmacy to be added to the fore-
going preparation :  for that  ftrong
acid  precipitates from the  liquor
great part of what it had before  ta-
ken up from the other ingredients ;
whereas, when the acid isprevioufJy
combined with the vinous fpirit,and
thereby dulcified, as it is called, it
does not impede its diffolving power.
This elixir poffeffes the general vir-
tues of the  preceding,  and is, in
                           virtue 
 512         Preparations a

 virtue of the menftruum, preferred
 to it in hot conftitutions, and weak-
 neffes of the ftomach.

  TINCTURA AROMATICA.
             Edinb.
        Aromatic tinBure.
 Take of
   Cinnamon, fix drams ;
   Leffer   cardamom-feeds,   one
     ounce ;
   Garden-angelica   root,   three
     drams;
   Long-pepper, two drams;
   Proof-fpirit,  two pounds  and a
     half.
 Macerate  for feven days,  and filtre
     the tindure.

  This  preparation is improved
 from the preceding editions by the
 omiffion of fome articles, either fu-
 perfluous or foreign  to the inten-
 tion ; galangal,  gentian,  zedoary,
 bay-berries, and calamus  aromati-
 cus.   As now reformed, it is  a fuf-
 ficiently elegant warm aromatic.
  This very  warm  aromatic  is
 too hot to be given without  dilu-
 tion.   A tea-fpoonful or two may
be taken in wine, or any other con-
venient vehicle, in languors, weak-
nefs  of the ftomach, flatulencies,
and  other fimilar complaints ; and
in thefe cafes it is often employed
with advantage.

TINCTURA  AS.E  FGETID^E
            Lond.
      TinBure of afafoetida.
Take of
  Afafoetida, four ounces;
  Redified  fpirit of  wine,   two
    pi its.
Digeft with a gentle  heat for fix
     days, and ftrain.

   TINCTURA FCETIDA.
            Edinb.
          Fetid tinBure.
nd Compofitions.    Part III.

 Take of
   Alafoetida, two ounces;
   Vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac,
      one pound.
 Macerate for fix days in a clofe fhut
   veffel, and ftrain.

 .  Of  thefe two formulas,  the Iaft
 is perhaps moft generally ufeful:
 The vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac
 is not on4y a more powerful  men-
 ftruum  than the  redified fpirit of
 wine,  but alio  coincides with the
 general virtues of  the remedy.
   This tindure poffeffes the virtues
 of the afafoetida itfelf; and may be
 given from ten drops to fifty or fix-
 ty. It was firft propofed to be  made
 with  proof-fpirit:  this diflblves
 more of the afafoetida than a redi-
 fied one;  but  the tindure proves
 turbid ; and therefore redified fpi-
 rit, which extrads a tranfparent one,
 is very juftly preferred  where ar-
 dent  fpirit is to be employed : and
 with this menftruum we can at leaft
 exhibit  the  afafoetida in a liquid
 form to greater extent.

   TINCTURA  BALSAMI  PE-
           RUVTANI
             Lond.
   TinBure of balfam of Peru.
 Take of
   Balfam of Peru,  four ounces ;
   Redified fpirit  of  wine, one
     pint.
 Digeft until thebalfam be diffolved.

   The whole of the Peruvian bal-
 fam is diffolved by fpirit of  wine :
 this therefore may be confidered as
 a good method of freeing it  from
 its impurities ; while at the  fame
 time it is thus reduced to a  ftate
 under which it may be  readily ex-
 hibited : but  at prefent  it is  very
 little employed, unlefs in compofi-
 tion, either under this or any other
 form.
                        TINC- 
Chap.  31.
TincJures.
5*3
  TINCTURA BALSAMI TO-
            LUTANI.
              Lond,
    TinBure of balfam of Tolu.
 Take of
   Balfam of Tolu, one ounce and
     an half;
   Redified  fpirit  of wine,  one
     pint.
 Digeft until the balfam be diffolved,
   and ftrain.

  TINCTURA TOLUTANA.
             Edinb.
    TinBure of balfam of Tolu.
 Take of
   Balfam of Tolu, an ounce and a
     half;
   Redified fpirit  of wine,  one
     pound.
 Digeft until the balfam be diffolved;
   and then ftrain the tindure.

   This folution of balfam of Tolu
 poffeffes all the virtues of the  bal-
 fam itfelf.   It may be taken inter-
 nally,  with the feveral iateations
 for which  that valuable  balfam  is
 proper, to  the quantity  of a  tea-
 fpooaful or two, ia aay convenient
 vehicle.  Mixed with the plaia fy-
 rup of fugar, it forms an elegant
 balfamic fyrup.

 TINCTURA BENZOES COM-
           POSITA.
             L ond.
  Compound tinBure of benzoine.
 Take of
  Benzoine, three ounces ;
  Storax, ftrained, two ounces;
  Balfam of Tolu, one ounce ;
  Socotorine aloes, half an ounce ;
  Redified  fpirit of  wine,   two
    pints.
Digeft with a gentle heat for three
  days, and ftrain.
   BALSAMUM TRAUMATI-
              SM.
              Edinb.
        Traumatic balfam.
 Take of
   Benzoine, three ounces:
   Balfam of Peru, two ounces ;
   Hepatic aloes, half an ounce;
   Rectified fpirit of wine,  two
     pounds.
 Digeft them in a fand-heat, for the
   fpace of ten days, and then ftrain
   the balfam.

   Although the London college
 have changed the name of this com-
 pofition, yet they have made  very
 little  alteration  on  the  formula
 which, in their laft edition, had the
 name of Traumatic b a if am,- a name
 which it ftill retains in the Edin-
 burgh pharmacopoeia; and both may-
 be confidered  as elegant contrac-
 tions of fome very complicated com-
 pofitions, which Were celebrated un-
 der different names ; fuch as Beaume
 de Cornmadeur,  Wade's  balfam,
 Friar's balfam, Jefuits drops,  &c.
 Thefe, in  general, confifted  of a
 coafufed farrago  of difeordant  fub-
 ftances.  They,  however, derived
 confiderable activity from the ben-
 zoine and  aloes ; and every thing
 to be expeded from them  may
 readily be obtained from the prefent
 formulas.
  The compound tindure of ben-
 zoine,  or traumatic balfam, ftands
highly recommended, externally,
for cleanfing and healing wounds
and ulcers, for difcuffing cold tu-
mours, allaying gouty, rheumatic,
and  other  old pains and  aches;
 and    likewife   internally,   for
wanning and  ftrengthening  the
ftomach  and  inteftines,  expel-
ling flatulencies,  and relieving co-
licky complaints.  Outwardly, it is
applied cold  on the part with a fea-
              K k         ther 
514         Preparations an

ther ; inwardly, a few drops are ta-
ken at a time, in- wine or any other
convenient vehicle.
  There  is,  however, reafon to
think that its virtues have been con-
fiderably over-rated ; and at prefent
it is  much lefs employed than for-
merly, recourfe beiag chiefly had to
it, ia cafes of recent wounds, with
the view of flopping haemorrhagies,
and of promoting  healiag  by the
firft  iatention, as it is called.

  TINCTURA  CANTHARI-
              DIS.
              Lond.
    TinBure of the Spanifh fly.
Take of
  Bruifed cantharides, two drams ;
  Cochineal,po\vdered,half a dram;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, one pint and
     an half.
Digeft for eight days, and ftrain.

              Edin.
Take of
  Cantharides, one dram;
  Proof-fpirit, one pound.
Digeft  for  four  days, and ftrain
  through paper.

  These  tindures  poffefs  the
whole virtues of the fly, and are the
only preparations of it defigned for
internal ufe ; tindures being by far
the moft commodious and fafe form
for the exhibi tion of this adive drug.
The two tindures are fcarcely dif-
ferent  ia  virtue  from each other.
The cochineal is ufed only as a co-
louring ingredient: the gum guaia-
cum, camphor, and eflential oil of
juaiperberries,which were former-
ly added,  however well adapted* to
the intentions of  cure, could be of
little confequence in a medicine li-
mited to fo fmall a dofe.  If any ad-
ditional fubftances fhould be thought
requifite for promoting the effed of
toe cantharides, whether as a diu-'
I Compofitions.    Part III.

 retic, as a detergent in ulcerations
 of the urinary paffages, or as a fpe-
 cific reftringent of feminal gleets
 and the fluor albus, they are more
 advantageou fly joined extemporane-
 oufly to the tindure, or interpofed
 by themfelves at proper intervals.
 The ufual  dofe of thefe tindures,
 is from ten to twenty drops; which
 may be taken in a glafs of water, or
 or any other more agreeable liquor,
 twice a-day ; and increafed by two
 or three drops at a time, according
 to the cffed.
   The tindure of cantharides has
 of late been highly celebrated as a
 fuccefsful remedy in diabetic cafes;
 and in fome inftances of this kind,
 its ufe has been pufhed to a very
 confiderable extent, without giving
 rife to any ftrangurious affections;
 But we have not  found  it produc-
 tive of a change for the better in
 any of  thofe cafes of  diabetes in
 which we have tried it.

  TINCTURA CARDAMOML
             Lond.
      TinBure of cardamom.
 Take of
   Leffer cardamom feeds,  hulked
     and bruifed,  three ounces ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two  pints.
 Digeft for eight  days, and ftrain.

             Edinb.
 Take of
   Leffer cardamom-feeds, fix oun-
     ces ;     *
   Proof-fpirit,  two pounds and a
     half.
 Macerate for eight days, and ftraia
   through paper.

   Tincture of  cardamoms  has
 been in ufe for a confiderable time.
 It is a pleafant, warm cordial; and
 may be taken, along with any pro-
 per vehicle, from a dram to a fpoon-
 ful or two.
                         TINC 
Chap.  21              Tinfi

 TINCTURA CARDAMOMI
         COMPOSITA.
             Lond.
 Compound tinBure of cardamom.
Take of
   Leffer cardamom-feeds, hufked,
   Carraway-feeds,
   Cochineal, each, powdered, two
     drams;
   Cinnamon,  bruifed,  half  an
     ounce;
   Raifins, ftoned, four ouaces ;
   Proof-fpirit,  two piats.
Digeft for fourteen days, and ftrain.

   This  tindure contains fo fmall a
proportion of cardamoms  as  to be
hardly entitled to  derive its name
from that article ; and from the
large proportioa of raifins w hich it
contains, the iaflueuce of the aro-
matics muft be almoft entirely pre-
vented ;  while, at the fame time,
from thefe it cannot be fuppofed to
obtain any adive  impregaatioa.

 TINCTURA  CASCARILL^E.
             Lond.
      TinBure of cafcarilla.
Take of
   The bark of cafcarilla, powder-
     ed,  four ouaces ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Digeft wich  a gentle heat for eight
   days,  and ftrain.

   Proof-spirit readily extrads
the adive powers of the cafcarilla ;
aad the tiadure may be employed to
anfwer moft of  thofe  purpofes for
which the bark itfelf is recommend-
ed :  But in  the cure  of intermit-
tents, it  in ge'aeral requires to be
exhibited in fubftance.

   TINCTURA CASTOREI.  .
             Lond.
       TinBure of caftor.
Take of
Ruffia caftor, powdered, two oun-
     ces ;
ires.                     £i$

   Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Digeft for two days,  and ftrain.

             Edinb.
Take of
   Ruffia caftor,  an ounce  and  a
     half;
   Redified  fpirit  of  wine,  one
     pound.
   Digeft them with a gentle heat
     for fix  days, and  afterwards
     ftrain off the liquor.

   A n alkaline fait was formerly ad-
ded in this laft preferiptioa,  which
is herejudicioully rejeded, as being
at leaft an ufelefs, if not prejudical,
iagredieat.  It has been difputed,
whether a weak or redified fpirit,
aad whether cold or warm digeftion
are preferable for making this tinc-
ture.  To determine this poiat, the
followiag experiment  has been
mentioaed.   " Some  fiae  Sibera
" caftor having been iafufediagood
" French braady, without beat, for
" twenty days, the tindure proved
" 'very weak oa the fame iadividu-
" al caftor (the magma or refiduum
<l of the former tiadure) the fame
" quantity of redified  fpirit  was
" poured as before of brandy ; and
" after a few hours warm digeftion
'• a tiadure was extraded  much
" ftroager than the other."  But
this experiment is not fatisfadory;
the effeds of the two menftrua, and
of heat, having been refpedively
compared in very different circum-
ftances.
   From other trials, it appears, that
caftor,  macerated  without heat,
gives out its finer and moft grateful
parts to either fpirit, moft perfectly
to the redified. That heat enables
both menftrua to extrad  greateft
pan of its groffer aad more  naufe-
ous matter;  aad that proof-fpirit
extrads this laft more readily than
redified.
            K k a         The 
516         Preparations a

  The tindure of caftor is recom-
mended in moft  kinds  of nervous
complaints and hyfteric diforders :
In the latter it fometimes does fer-
vice, though many have complained
of its proving ineffedual. The dofe
is from twenty drops to forty, fifty,
or more.

   TINCTURA CASTOREI
        COMPOSITA.
            Edinb.
   Compound tinBure of caftor.
Take of
  Ruffia caftor, one ounce ;
  Afafoetida, half an ounce ;
  Vinous  fpirit  offal  ammoniac,
     one pound.
Digeft for fix days in a clofe flop-
  ped phial, frequentlyfhakingthe
  veffel;  and then ftrain the tinc-
  ture.

  Th is compofition is  a medicine
of real efficacy, particularly inhy-
fterical  diforders, and  the feveral
fymptoms  which accompany them.
The fpirit here ufed is an excellent
menftruum,  both for the caftor and
the afafoetida,  and greatly adds to
their virtues.

   TINCTURA CATECHU.
              Lond.
       TinBure of catechu.
Take of
  Catechu, three ounces ;
  Cinnamon, bruifed, two ounces;
  Proof-fpirit of wine,  two pints.
Digeft for three days, and ftrain.

  TINCTURA JAPONICA.
            Edinb.
        Japonic  tinBure.
Take of
  Japan earth, three ounces ;
  Cinnamon, two ounces;
  Proof-fpirit, two  pounds and a
     half.
After digeftion for  eight days, let
d Compofitions.   Part III.

   the tindure be paffed through a
     ftrainer.

   A tindure of thiskind, with the
addition ef Peruvian bark, amber-
gris, and mufk,  to the ingredients
above direded, was formerly kept
in the fhops.  The  tindure here
received, is preferable for general
ufe : where any other ingredients
are required, tindures of them may
be occafionally mixed  with this in
extemporaneous prefcription. The
cinnamon is a  very  ufeful addition
to  the  catechu,  not  only as it
warms the ftomach, &c. but likewife
as it improves the roughnefs and a-
ftringency of the other.
   This tindure is of fervice in all
kiadsofdefluxions, catarrhs, loofe-
nefles, uterine fluors, and other dif-
orders, where mild aftringent medi-
cines are indicated.  Two or three
tea-fpoonfnls may be taken every
now and  then  in red wine,  or any
other proper vehicle.

 TINCTURA CINNAMOMI.
             Lend.
      TinBure of cinnamon.
Take of
   Cinnamon,  bruifed, one ounce
     and an half,
   Proof-fpirit  of wine, one pint.
Digeft for ten days, and  ftrain.

             Edin.
Take of
   Cinnamon,  three  ounces,
   Proof-fpirit, two  pounds and a
     half,
Macerate fcr eight days, and ftrain.

   The tindnre of cinnamon poffef-
fes the reftringent  virtues of the
cinnamon,  as well as  its  aromatic
cordial ones ; and in this refped it
differs from the diftilled waters of
that fpice.

                        TINC- 
Chap. 21.                Tintlures.

 TINCfURA  CINNAMOMI
        COMPOSITA.
              Lond.
  Compound tinBure of cinnamon.
Take of
  Cinnamon, bruifed, fix drams;
  Leffer cardamom-feeds, hulked,
     three drams ;
  Long pepper,
  Ginger, of each, in powder, two
     drams,
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Digeft for eight days, and ftrain.

  From the different articles which
this tindure contains, it muft necef-
farily be of a more hot and fiery na-
ture than the former, though  much
lefs ftrongly impregnated with the
cinnamon.
S*7
  TINCTURA COLOMBO.
            Lond.
       TinBure of colomba.
Take of
  Colomba-root, powdered,  two
     ounces and an half ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Digeft for eight days, and ftrain.

  The colomba readily yields its
adive qualities to the  menftruum
here employed : and accordingly,
under this form, it may be advan-
tageoufly employed againft  bilious
vomitings, and  thofe different flo-
mach ailments, in which the colom-
ba has been found ufeful: but where
there does not occur fome objedion
to its ufe in fubftance, that form is
in general preferable to the tindure,
which is now for the firft time in-
troduced into the Edinburgh phar-
macopoeia.
TINCTURA  CORTICIS
        RANTII.
            Lond
      TiBure of orange-peel
AU-
 Take of
   The frefh ext«rior peel of Seville
     oranges,  three ounces ;
  *Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
 Digeft for three days, and ftrain.

   Bv this menftruum, both the bit-
 ter quality of the orange fkins, and
 likewife their peculiar effential oil,
 is extraded : Hence it may be em-
 ployed for any purpofe in medicine
 which thefe are capable of anfwer-
 ing. It is, however, but rarely ufed;
 and, as well as the former, has now
 only for the firft time a place in the
 London pharmacopoeia.

 TINCTURA   CORTICIS   PE-
           RU VIANI.
             Lond.
   TinBure of Peruvian  bark.
 Take of
   Peruvian bark, powdered,  four
     ounces;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
 Digeft with a gentle heat for eight
   days, aad ftrain.

 TINCTURA   CORTICIS   PE-
          RUVIAN!.
             Edinb.
     TinBure of Peruvian bark.
 Take of
  Peruvian bark,   four  ounces*
  Proof-fpirit, two pounds and a
     half.
 Digeft for ten days, and ftrain.

  Amedicine of this kind has been
 for a  long time pretty much in
 efteem, and ufually k~pt in the
 fhops, though but lately received in -
 to the pharmacopoeias. Some have
 employed  highly-redified fpirit of
 wine as a menftruum ; which they
 have  taken care fully to faturate,
 by digeftion on a large quantity of
 the bark.  Others have thought of
 aflifting the adion of the fpirit by the
.addition of a little fixed alkaline falt^,
           K  k 3        which 
518          Preparations a

which does not however, appear to
be of aay advantage;  aad others
have given the preference to the vi-
triolic acid which was fuppofed, by
giving a greater confiftence  to the
fpirit, to enable it lo fuftain  more
than it would be capable of doing
by itfelf; at the fame time that the
acid improves the medicine  by in-
creafing the roaghaefs of the  bark.
This Iaft tindure, aad that  made
with redified fpirit, have their ad-
vantages ; though for  general ufe,
that above direded is the moft con-
venient of any,  the proof-fpirit ex-
trading nearly all the virtues  of the
bark.  It may be given from  a tea-
fpoonful  to half an ounce,  or an
ounce, according to the  different
purpofes it is intended  to anfwer.

TINCTURA  CORTICIS  PE-
  RUVIANI COMPOSITA.
             Lond.
Compound tinBure of Peruvian bark.
T?.keof
  Peruvian  bark, powdered, two
     ounces;
  Exterior peel of Seville oranges,
     dried, one ounce and an  half;
  Virginian  fnake-root,  bruifed,
     three drams ;
  Saffron, one dram,
  Cochineal, powdered, two fcrti-
     ples ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, twenty oun-
     ces.
Digeft for fourteen days, and ftrain.

  This has been for a confiderable
time celebrated tinder  the title of
JIuxham's tinBure of bark.
  The fubftances here joined to the
bark, in fome cafes, promote its ef-
ficacy ia the care of intermittents,
and not  unfrequentlyare abfolutely
neceffary. In fome ill habits,'~par-
ticularly where the vifcera and ab-
dominal glands are obftruded, the
bark, by itfelf, proves unfuccefsful,
ifnounjuriousjwhilftgivenincom-
nd Compofitions.    Part III.

jundion withftimulating ftomachics
and deobftruentSjit more rarely fails
of the due effed.  Orange-peel and
Virginian fnake-root are among the
beft additions for this purpofe;  to
which it is thought by fome necef-
fary to join chalybeate medicines
alio.
   As a corroborant and ftomachic,
it is given ia dofes of  two or thee
drams; but when employed for the
cure of intermittents,  it  muft  be
taken  to  a greater  extent.  For
this purpofe, however, it is rarely
employed, unlefs with thofe who are
averfe to the ufe of the bark in fub-
ftance, or whofe  ftomachs will not
retain it under that form. '

     TINCTURA  CROCI.
             Edinb.
        TinBure offajfron.
Take  of
   Englifh faffron, one ounce ;
   Proof-fpirit, fifteen ounces.
 After digefting them for five days,
   let the tindure be ftrained thro'
   paper.

   This tindure is fimilar in virtue
to the  faffron wine.   A fpirituous
menftruum is here preferred to the
wine,  as a tindure drawn with the
former retains its  elegant colour
longer, and is not apt  to depofite in
keeping any part of what it had ta-
ken up from the faffron. The fhops
have been accuftomed to  employ
treacle-water as a menftruum for
faffron, with a view to the promo-
ting its efficacy with the intention of
operating as an alexipharmac ; but
 the acid in that compound water
foon deftroy s the colour of  the tinc-
ture.

   TINCTURA FERRI MURI-
             ATE
              Lond.
     TinBure af muriated iron.
                           Take 
Chap. 21.
Tinclures.
5X9
 Take of
   The ruft of iron, half a pound;
   Muriatic acid, three pounds ;
   Redified  fpirit of wine,  three
     pints.
 Pour the muriatic acid upon the ruft
   of ironin a glafs veil'el; aad fhake
   the mixture now and then during
   three days.  Set it by that the
   feces may fubfide ;  then pour off
   the liquor : evaporate this to one
   pint, and,  when cold, add to it
   the vinous fpirit.

     TINCTURA  MARTIS.
              Edinb.
        TinBure of iron.
 Take of
   The  fcales of iron, purified and
     powdered,  three ounces ;
   Muriatic acid, as much as is fuf-
     ficient to diffolve the powder.
 Digeft with a geatle heat; and the
   powder  being diffolved, add of
   redified fpirit of wine  as much
   as will make up of the whole li-
   quor  two pounds and a half.

   Of thefe two formulae, that of
 the Ediaburgh college  is, in our
 opinion, in feveral refpeds intitled
 to the preference.   The fcales are
 much fitter for giving a proper fo-
 lution thaa the ruft.  The ftrength
 of the muriatic acid is fo variable,
 that the quantity is left to the judg-
 ment of the operator.   If the acid
 be fuperabundaat, the folutioa is of
 a greca colour ;  if it be fully fatu-
 rated with the iroa, it is more or lefs
 of a reddifh or yellow colour ;  aad
 this ferves as a pretty accurate cri-
 terioa.  As the muriatic acid com-
 bines lefs intimately with redified
 fpirit than any of the foffil acids, fo
 the after-procefs of  dulcification
fcarcely, if atall, impairs the folvent
power of the acid ;  though, when
thedulcificatioa happeas to be more
than ufually complete, a fmall quan-
tity of ferruginous matter is fome-
 times precipitated on  adding the
 redified fpirit to the folutioa.  .but
 as the rectified fpirit iacreafes the
 volatility of the acid, fo if it was ad-
 ded at  firft, we  fhould lofe much
 more of the meaftruum  by the heat
 employed  during  the  digeftion.
 When this tindure is wellprepared,
 it is of a yellowifh-red  colour ;  if
 the acidbe fuperabuadaat, it is more
 or lefs of a greenilh hue ; aad if die
 redified fpirit has beea impregnated
 with the aftringent  matter of oak
 cafks, it affumes an inky colour.
  All the  tindures of iron are no
 other thaa real folutions of the me-
 tal made  ia acids, and combined
 with vinous fpirits.  The tindures
 here direded differ from each other
 only in ftrength, the acid being the
 famein both. In our former pharma-
 copoeias, there was a tincture from
 the matter which remains after the
 fublimation  of the martial flowers ;
 which  though it  appears to  be a
 good one, is now  expunged as fu-
 perfluous.  'Some have recommend-
 ed dulcified  fpirit of nitre as a men-
 ftruum ; but though  this  readily
 diflblves the metal, it does not keep
 it fufpended.  The  marine is the
 only acid that caa be employed for
 this purpofe.
  Thefe tiadures are greatly pre-
 ferable to the calces or croci of iron,
 as beiag not  oaly more fpeedy, but
 likewife more certain ia their opera-
 tion.  The  latter, in fome cafes,
 pafs off through the inteftinal tube
 with little effed ; whilft the tinc-
 tures fcarce ever fail.  From tea to
 tweaty drops of either of the tiac-
 tures  may be  taken two or  three
 times a-day, in any proper vehicle ;
 though it  is  feldom advifable to
 extend the dofe of any tindures of
 iron fo far as the  laft of thefe quan-
 tities, efpecially  with the tindure
in fpirit of fait, which is exceeding-
ly ftrong of  the iroa.
             K k  4      TINC- 
 4 2 o         Preparations an

   TINCTURA  FULIGINIS.
             Edinb.
         TinBure of foot.
 Take of
   Shining wood-foot, one ounce ;
   Afafoetida, half an ounce;
   Redified fpirit of wine,
   Proof-fpirit, of each hal fa pound.
 Digeft for fix days, and ftrain.

   The proof-fpirit is not liable to
 any objection here, as giving a tur-
 bid tindure ; for when  foot is ad-
 ded, whatever fpirit be  employed,
 the tind'-ire will not prove tranfpa-
 rent. Fuller, in his Pharmacopoeia
 Domeftica, has a medicine under the
 title of Hyfteric tinBure,  fimilar to
 this, only with a little myrrh, which
 is no very material addition to afa-
 foetida and foot.   Thefe medicines
 are found ferviceable, not only  in
 hyfteric cafes, but likewife in other
 nervous diforders.  They may be
 given from  a tea-fpoonful  to a
 table-fpoonful twice a-day.
   This  medicine has by  fome been
 thought ferviceable in obftrudions
 of the menfes ; but its adivity may
 be confidered  as  depending much
 more on the afafoetida than on the
 foot.

   TINCTURA GALBANI.
             Lond.
      TinBure of galbanum.
 Take of
  Galbanum, cut into fmall pieces,
     two ounces ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
 Digeft with a gentle heat for eight
  days,  and ftrain.

  This tindure is now for the firft
 time introduced by the London col-
lege, and may be ufefully  employed
for anfwering  feveral purpofes in
medicine.   It is one of the ftrongeft
of the fetid gums ; and  although
fefs adive,yet much lefs difagreeable
d Compofitions.     Part  III.

 than afafoetida : and under the form
 of tindure it may  be fuccefsfully
 employed in cafes of flatulence and
 hy f teria, where its effeds are imme-
 diately required, particularly with
 thofe who cannot bear afafoetida.

   TINCTURA GENTIANS
         COMPOSITA.
              Lond.
   Compound tinBure  of gentian.
 Take of
   Gentian-root, fliced and bruifed,
     two ounces ;
   Exterior  dried peel of Seville o-
     raages, one ounce ;
   Leffer cardamom-feeds, hufked
     and bruifed, half an ounce ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine,  two pints.
 Digeft  for eight days, and ftrain.

  TINCTURA AMARA,  five
  ELIXIR  STOMACHICUM.
              Edinb.
 Bitter tinBure, or ftomachic elixir.
 Take of
   Gentian-root, two ounces :
   Seville orange-peel, dried, one
     ounce ;
   Canella alba, half an ounce ;
   Cochineal, half a dram ;
   Proof fpirit, two pounds and a
     half.
 Macerate for four days,  and ftrain
     through paper.

   These are very elegant fpiritu-
 ous bitters. As the preparations are
 defigned for keeping,  lemon-peel,
 an excellent  ingredient in the wate-
 ry bitter infufions, has, on account of
 the perifliablenefs of its flavour, no
 place in thefe.  The aromatics are
 here a very commodious ingredient,
 as in this fpirituous menftruum they
 are free from the  inconvenience
 with which  they are  attended  in
 other liquors,of rendering them un-
 tranfparent.

                       ELIXIR 
Chap.  21.
Tindlures.
5«*
    ELIXIR GUAIACINUM.
             Edinb.
        Elixir of guaiacum.
 Take of
   Gum guaiacum, one pound ;
   Balfam of Peru, three drams ;
   Redified  fpirit  of wine, two
      pounds aad a half.

   This tiadure may be confidered
 as nearlyagreeable in medical virtues
 with the two following.  It is, how
 ever, lefs ia ufe ; but it may be em-
 ployed with  advantage in thofe ca-
 fes where an objedioa occurs to the
 meaftruum  ufed ia forming the o-
 thers.

     TINCTURA GUAIACI.
               Lond.
    TinBure of gum guaiacum.
 Take of
   Gum guaiacum, four ounces ;
   Compouad fpirit of ammonia,  a
     pint and a half.
 Digeft for three days, and ftrain,

 ELIXIR GUAIACINUM  VO-
           LATILE.
              Edinb.
    Volatile elixir of guaiacum.
 Take of
   Gum guaiacum, four ounces ;
   Balfam of Peru, two drams ;
   Diftilled oil of faffafras, half a
     dram :
   Vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac, a
     pound and a half.
 Macerate for fix days iaa clofe vef-
   fel, and ftrain.

   In the laft of thefe formulas, the
 vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac is lefs
 acrimoaious than the menftruum di-
 reded by the London College ; and
 the Balfam of Peru, and diftilled oil
 of faffafras, are ufeful additions, by
 increafing the perniaaeace of its o-
peration as a general ftimulant, or
more particularly as a diaphoretic.
   Thefe are very elegant and effi-
 cacious tindures : the volatile fpi-
 rit excellently diffolving the gum,
 and at the fame time promoting its
 medicinal virtue.  In rheumatic ca-
 fes^ tea, or even table, fpoonful, ta-
 ken every morning and evening in
 any co'aveaicnt  vehicle, particu-
 larly iamilk, has proved of lingular
 fervice.

   TINCTURA HELLEBORI
            NIGRI.
              Lond.
    TinBure of black hellebore.
 Take of
   Black hellebore root,  ia coarfe
     powder, four ounces ;
   Cochiaeal, powdered, two fcru-
     ples :
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
 Digeft with a gentle heat for eight
   days, aad ftraia.

  TINCTURA MELAMPODII.
              Edinb.
 TinBure of melampodiutn, or black
           hellebore.
 Take of
   Black hellebore root, four oun-
     ces ;
   Cochineal half a dram ;
   Proof-fpirit, two pounds and a
     half.
Digeft them together for eightdays,
   and afterwards filtre  the tinc-
  ture, through paper.

   T h i s i s perhaps the beft prepara-
tion of hellebore,whea defigaed for
an alterative, the meaftruum here
employed extrading  the whole of
its  virtues.   It has  been found,
from experience, particularly fer-
viceable in uterine obftrudions ; in
faaguiae conftitutions, where cha-
lybeatesare hurtful, it hasbeeafaid
that it feldom fails of exciting the
menftrual evacuations, and remov-
ing the ill confequences of their ftip-
                        preffion, 
522         Preparations a.

preifioa.   So great, according  to
fome, is the power of this medicine,
that wherever, from an ill confor-
mation of the parts, or other caufes,
the expeded difchargedoes not fttc-
ceed upon the ufe of it, the blood,
as Dr Mead has obferved, is fo for-
cibly propelled, as to make its way
through  other  paffages.  A tea-
fpoonful of the tindure may be ta-
ken twice in a day in warm wa-
ter, or any other convenient ve-
hicle.
   The college of Edinburgh had
formerly a tindure of this root with
wine.  Proof-fpirit is undoubtedly
preferable, both  as a  meaftruum,
and as being better fitted for keep-
ing.

    TINCTURA JALAPIf.
             Lond.
       TinBure of jalap
   Take of
   Powdered jalap root, eight oun-
     ces;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two piats.
Digeft with a gentle heat for eight
   days, aad ftraia.

   TINCTURA JALAPP^.
             Edinb.
       TinBure of jalap.
Take of
   Jalap,  in coarfe powder,  diree
     ounces;
   Proof-fpirit, fifteen ounces,
Digeft them for  eight days, and
   ftrain the tindure.

   Rectified fpirit of wine was
formerly ordered for the preparati-
on of this tiadure ; but redified fpi-
rit diflblving little more than the
pare refinous parts  of the jalap,
rendered the ufe of the medicine
fomewhat lefs commodious than that
of the tindure prepared with proof-
fpirit.  Moft of the tindures made in
redified fpirit, diluted with water,
d Compofitions.   Part  111.

fo as to be fit for taking, form a tur-
bid \\ like n ixture.  Many of them
are fafely taken in this form, with-
out any farther addition ; but the ca-
thartic ones are never tobe vcatured
oa without an admixture  of  fyrup
or mucilage to keep the refin united
with the liquor ; for if it ft pirates
in its pure undivided ftate, it  never
fails to produce violent gripes.
  Some have preferred to the tinc-
tures of jalap, a folution in fpirit of
wine of a known quantity of the
relin extraded from the root; and
obferve, that this folution  is more
certain in ftrength than any tindure
that can  be drawn  from  the root
diredly. For, as the purgative vir-
tue of jalap  refides in its refia, and
as all jalap appears from experiment
not to be  equally refinous, fome
forts  yielding five, and others not
three, ounces of refinfrom fixteen ;
it follows, that although the root be
always taken in the fame proportion
to the menftruum, and the  menftru-
um  always exadly of the  fame
ftrength, it may neverthelefs, ac-
cording to  the degree of  goodness
of the jalap, be impregnated with
differeat quantities  of refin, and
confequeatly prove different ia de-
gree of efficacy. Though this objec-
tion againft the tiadure  does not
reach fo far as fome feem to fuppofe,
it certainly behoves the apothecary
to be careful in the choiceof the root.
The inferior forts maybe employed
for making refinajaltappa, which
they yield in as great  perfedion,
though not  in fo large quantity, as
the beft.  Newmann thinks even
the worm eaten jalap as good for
that purpofe as any other.

     TINCTURA eKINO.
             Edinb.
      TinBure of gum kino.
Take of
  Gum  lino, two ounces;
                         Proof- 
Chap. 21.
Tinclures.
S*3
  Proof-fpirit,  a  pound and  an
    half.
Digeft eight days, and ftrain.

  The  fubftance  called gum kino
feems to be really a gum-refin ;  on
which account proof-fpirit is  the
moft proper menftruum.  This pre-
paration muft therefore poffefs the
virtues of the fubftance ; and it  is
perhaps one of the beft forms under
which it can be'exhibited in obfti-
nate diarrhojas, and ia cafes of liea-
teria ; but ia hemorrhagies,  it is ia
general proper to exhibit it either in
fubftance or diffufed ;  yet we can-
not help thiakiag  that the want  of
this tiadure is aa omiffion  in the
Londoa pharmacopoeia.

TINCTURA  LAVENDULAE
       COMPOSITA.
              Lond.
  Compound tinBure of lavender.
Take of
  Spirit of laveader three pints;
  —----Rofemary, one pint;
  Ciaaamoa, bruifed,
  Nutmegs, bruifed, of  each half
    an ounce;
  Red faunders, one ounce.
Digeft for ten  days,  and ftrain.

  SPIRITUS  LAVENDULAE
        COMPOSITUS.
            Edinb.
  Compound fpirit of lavender.
Take of
  Simple fpirit of lavender, three
    poaads;
  Simple  fpirit of rofemary, one
    pouad.;
  Ciaaamoa, one ounce ;
  Cloves, two drams;
  Nutmeg, half an ounce ;
  Red launders, three drams.
Macerate fevea days, aad ftraia.

  These two compofitioas, altho'
varying a little from  each  other,
both with refped to their ingredi-
ents aad names, may yet be con-
fidered as precifely  the fame. Al-
though the London college, in the
prefent edition of their pharmaco-
poeia, have made many ufeful altera-
tions with refped to names, yet the
propriety of the change here -adopt-
ed  may  perhaps be doubted : For
it  cannot with  juftice be ftyled a
tindure of lavender, when the diftil-
led fpirit of that plant is employed
only as a meaftruum. If, therefore,
it feemed neceffary  to refer it to the
head of tindures, it ought to have
beea deaomiaated from the cinna-
mon or nutmegs ; but fiace the ac-
tivity of this article very muchde-
peads on the fpirit of lavender, the
old name is in our  opinion juftly
preferable to the new one.
   The red faunders is of no farther
ufe ia thefe compofitions thaa as a
colouriag iagredieat.  If a yellow
fpirit was liked, the yellow fauaders
would be aa excellent article, as it
not ojily  communicates  a  fine co-
lour, but  likewife  a confiderable
fhare of medicinal virtue.  A fpirit
diftilled from the flowers of laveader
and fage, ia due proportion,  and
digefted ia the cold for a little time
with fome cianamon, nutmegs, and
yellow fauaders, proves a very ele-
gaat and grateful oae. Where ef-
featial oils are employed, particular
care muft be had in the choice  of
them ; for on their goodnefs that of
the medicine depends. The  dige-
ftioa of the fpirit with the fpices,
&c. fhould be  performecLj|without
hear, otherwife the flavour of the
medicine will be injured.
   Thefe fpirits are grateful  revi-
ving cordials:  though confiderably
morefimple,theyarenot lefs elegant
or valuable, than many other more
elaborate preparations. This medi-
cine has  long been  held ia great e-
fteem, under  the  name of Palsy
                         drops. 
 524        Preparations am

 Drops, in all  kinds of  languors,
 weaknefs of the nerves, and decays
 of age. It may be conveniently ta-
 ken upon fugar, from ten to eighty,
 or a hundred drops.

    TINCTURA MOSCHI.
             Edinb.
       TinBure of mufk.
 Take of
   Mufk, two drams ;
   Redified  fpirit  of  wine,  one
     pound.
 Digeft for ten days, and  ftrain.

   Rectified fpirit is  the moft
 complete menftruum for mufk ;  but
 in this form it  is often impoffible
 eft give fuch a quantity of the mufk
 as is  neceffary for  our  purpofe ;
 and hence this article is more fre-
 quently employed under  the form
 of julep or bolus.

   TINCTURA MYRRH.E.
              Lond.
       TinBure df myrrh.
 Take of
   Myrrh, bruifed, three ounces  ;
   Proof-fpirit of wine,  a pint  and
    aa half;
  Redified fpirit of  wine, half a
    pint.
Digeft with a gentle heat for eight
   days, aad ftraia.

   TINCTURA MYRRHiE.
            Edinb.
       TinBure of myrrh.
Take of
   MyrrJi, three ounces ;
  ProoWpirit, two pounds and a
    half.
  After digeftion for  ten days,
    ftrain off the tiadure.

  The pharmaceutical writers in
general have been of opinion, that
no good tindure can be drawn from
I Compofitions.    Part  III.

 myrrh by fpirit of wine alone, with-
 out the affiftance of fixed alkaline
 falts.   But it appears from proper
 experiments, that thefe faks only
 heighten the colour of the tindure,
 without enabling the menftruum to
 diffolve^ny more than it would by
 itfelf. Redifiedfpirit extrads, with-
 out any addition, all that part of the
 myrrh in which its peculiar fmell
 and tafte refide, viz. the refin : and
 proof-fpirit  diffojves  almoft  the
 whole of the drug, except its impu-
 rities :  hence  the combination of
 thefe two direded by  the London
 college,  is perhaps  preferable to
 either by itfelf.
   Tindure of myrrh is recommen-
 ded internally for warming the ha-
 bit, attenuating vifcidjuices, ftreng-
 thening the folids, openingobftruc-
 tions, particularly thofe of the ute-
 rine veflels, and refitting putrefac-
 tion. Boerhaave greatly efteems it
 in  all languid  cafes,* proceeding
 from fimple inadivity ; in thofe fe-
 male diforders which are occafioned
 by art aqeous, mucous,  fluggifh in-
 difpofition  of the humours, and a
 relaxation  of the  veffels ; in the
 fluor albus, and all difeafes arifing
 from a like caufe.  The  dofe  is
 from fifteen drops to forty or more.
 The medicine may doubtlefs be gi-
 ven in thefe cafes to advantage ;
 though with us, it is more common-
 ly ufed externally, for clcanfing
 foul ulcers, and promoting the ex-
 foliation of carious bones.

     TINCTURA OPIL
           Lond.
        TinBure of opium.
 Take of
  Hard purified opium, powdered,
     ten drams,
  Proof-fpirit of wine,  one pint.
 Digeft for ten days, and ftrain.

                  TINCTURA 
Chap.  21.
Tincfures.
$*$
   TINCTURA THEBAICA,
 Vulgo  LAUDANUM LIQUI-
             DUM.
             Edinb.
TinBure of opium, commonly called
       liquid laudanum.
Take of
   Opium, two ounces ;
   Spirituous  cinnamon-water, one
     pound and a half.
Digeft four days, and ftrain off the
   tindure.

   These are very elegant liquid
opiates, the menftruum in the laft
diflblves nearly the whole fubftance
of the opium, and effectually covers
its ill flavour. It  were to be wilhed
that the fhops were furnifhed with
a liquid opiate, in which the pro-
portionof menftruum was ftill much
larger, fo as to admit of the dofe be-
ing determined by weight or mea-
fure, the method by  drops fecming
too precarious for a medicine of fo
powerfula kind. The following pre-
paration is contrived with thisview.

Take of
  Thebaic extrad, half a dram ;
  Highly redified fpirit of wine,
     called alcohol, ten ounces ;
   Simple cinnamon-water, twenty
     ounces.
  Digeft them together until the
  opium be diffolved, and then fil-
   tre the folution through paper.

  T h is preparation is apprehended
to be free from all the inconvenien-
ces attending the common opiate
tindures. The menftruum diflblves
the whole of the  opium except the
impurities, and  confequently  the
tindure is not liable  to any uncer-
tainty in point of ftrength.  The
dofe  may  be afcerrained to  the
greateft exadnefs :  one grain  of
opium is contained in one ounce by
meafure, which is equal nearly  to
feven drams by weight.  Neither
 the tindures in wine  not  proof-
 fpirit are fo well adapted for keep-
 ing as could be  wilhed :  in long
 ftanding, a part of the opium is gra-
 dually thrown off from both, and
 confequently the  tindures become
 gradually weaker : the  part which
 thus feparates, amounts fometimes,
 it is faid, to near one-fourth ot the
 quantity of opium at firft diflblved :
 it floats on the furface of the vinous
 tindure, and  in the fpirituous finks
 to the bottom.  In the preparation
 here recommended,  it has not been
 obferved that any feparation hap-
 pens.
  Inftead of the cinnamon-water,
 pure water may be employed in the
 mixture ; and where aromatic ad-
 ditions are  wanted,  either   with h
 medicinal intention, or for covering
 the ill fmell of the opium, any pro-
 per tindure or diftilled  water may
 be extemporaaeoufly joined.  Saf-
 fron, an addition once employed by
 the Edinburgh  College, has been
 looked upon as a corrector of opium ;
 but the qualities it was  fuppofed to
 corred are  merely imaginary ; nor
 iadeed can  that article be of much
 importance with aay intention ia
 the fmall quantity that enters a dole
of the tindure : a graia of  opium
being accompanied with only half a
 grain of faffron.
  A preparation in  fome  refpeds
fimilar to that here recommended,
 was introduced into the  Edinbnrgh
 pharmacopoeia publifhed in 1774,
 under the title of TinButa meconii.
 Each ounce of this  tindure con-
 tained four  grains of opium; and it
 was  propofed, that  the dofes of it
 fhould be meafurcd,  not by drops
 but by weight :  But  as  modern
phyficians are much more  bold in
giving opium than their predecef.
 fors, fnch a fcrupulous accuracy in
 the dofe is not thought at all necef-
 fary : And it is not probable that any
 dangerous  confequence will ever
                          arife, 
526          Preparations a

arife, merety fromadifference in the
fize of drops.  This however might
be the cafe, where the tindura the-
baica is by accident taken  for the
tindurameconii. To fuch miftakes,
however,  it was feared that the a-
nalogy of the articles, as well as the
caution neceffary  with refped to
both, might lead ; and it was upon
the whole reckoned fafer  to have
but one liquid laudanum only.  It
is, however, much to be regretted,
that  the liquid laudanum  of the
London and Edinburgh colleges,
which  by the  former is now ftyled
TinBura oppii,by the latter  TiuBu-
ra thebaica, fliould differ fo much
from each other ia point of ftrength.

 TINCTURA OPII CAMPHO-
           RATA.
            Lond.
  Camphorated tinBure of opium.
Take of
  Hard purified opium,
  Flowers of Benzoine, of each one
     dram ;
  Camphor, two fcruples;
  Effential oil  of  anifeed,  one
     dram  ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
Digeft for three days.

  ELIXIR PAREGORICUM.
            Edinb.
        Paregoric elixir.
Take of
  Flowers of benzoine,
  Englifli  faffron, of each three
     drams ;
  Opium,  two drams ;
  Effential oil of anifeeds,  half  a
     dram;
  Vinous  fpirit of fal ammoniac,
    fixteen ounces.
Digeft for  four days ia a clofe vef-
  fel,  and ftrain.

  These two, though differing not
merely hi. name,  may yet be con-
id Compofitions.   Part III.

 fidered as agreeing very nearly in
 their nature.
   The moft material difference in
 the  laft formula  from  the firft
 are the fttbftitution of the vinous
 fpirit of fal ammoniac to the proof-
 fpirit of wine, and a larger pro-
 portion of opium; the vinous fpirit
 of fal ammoniac is not only, perhaps,
 a more powerful menftruum, but in
 moft  inftances coincides with the
 virtues of the preparation  ; but as
 the opiam is the  ingredient on
 which we place the principal depen-
 daace, fo its proportion is increafed,
 in order that we may give it in fuch
 a  dofe as that  the acrimony of the
 menftruum fhall not prove hurtful
 to the ftomach.
   The London  formula  is  taken
 from Le Mort, with the omiffion of
 three unneceflary iagredients, hon-
 ey, liquorice, and alkaline fak.  It
 was originally prefcribed under the
 title of Elixir asthmaticum,
 which it does not ill deferve. It con-
 tributes to allay the tickling which
 provokes frequent coughing ; and
 at the fame time, is fuppofed to open
 the breaft,  and give greater liberty
 of breathing :  the  opium procures
 (as it does by itfelf) a temporary
 relief from the fymptoms; whilft the
 other ingredients tend to  remove
 the caufe, and prevent their return.
 It is  given to children againft the
 chincough, &c. from five drops to
 twenty: to adults, from twenty to
 an hundred.   In the London for-
 mula, half an ounce by meafure con-
 tains  about a grain of opium ;  but
 in the Edinburgh formula, the pro-
 portion of opium is larger.

 TINCTURA RHABARBARI.
              Lond
      TinBure of Rhubarb.
 Take of
   Rhubarb, fliced, two ounces ;
                          Leffer 
Chap. 21.              Tint

  heifer cardamom feeds, hufked
    and bruifed half an ounce ;
  Saffron, two drams ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine,  two pints.
Digeft for eight days, and ftraia.

      TINCTURA RHEI.
            Edinb.
       TinBure of rhubarb.
Take of
  Rhubarb,  three ouaces;
  Leffer cardamom  feeds, half an
    ounce ;
  Proof-fpirit, two  pouads and a
    half.
Digeft for feven days,  and ftrain.

 TINCTURA  RHABARBARI
         COMPOSITA.
             Lond.
  Compound tinBure of rhubarb.
Take of
  Rhubarb,  fliccd, two ounces ;
  Ginger, powdered,
  Saffroa, each two drams ;
  Liquorice-root, bruifed, halfau
    ounce ;
  Diftilled water, one  pint ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, twelve oun-
    ces.
Digeft for fourteen days, and ftrain.

TINCTURA  RHEI  AMARA.
            Edinb.
  ■ Bitter tinBure of rhubarb.
Take of
  Rhubarb,  two ouaces;
  Gentian-root, half an ounce ;
  Virginian faake-root, one dram;
  Proof-fpirit, two  pounds  aad a
    half.
Digeft for feven  days, and  then
 . ftrain the tindure.

TINCTURA  RHEI  DULCIS.
            Edinb.
    Sweet tinBure of rhubarb.
It is made by adding to two pounds
  and a half of the ftrained tindure
  of rhubarb, four ounces of fugar-
  candy.
ures.                     527

  The laft of thefe preparations is
improved from the foimer editions.
Two ouaces ot liqnonc and one of
raifins are fupplied by an increafe of
the fugar-candy.
  All  the  foregoing  tindures  of
rhubarb are defigned as ftomachics
and corroborants, as well as purga-
tives : fpirituous liquors excellently
extrad thofe parts  of the rhubarb
in which the two firft; qualities re-
fide, and the additional ingredients
confiderably promote their efficacy.
In weaknefs of the ftomach,  indi-
geftion, laxity of the inteftines, di-
arrhoeas, colicky and other fimilar
complaints, thefe medicines are fre-
quently of great fervice : the fecond
is alfo, in many cafes, an ufeful ad-
ditioa  to the  Peruvian  bark, in
the  cure of intermittents, particu-
larly ia cachedic habits, where the
vifcera are  obftrnded ; with  thefe
intentions,  a fpoonful  or two may
be taken for a dofe, and occafionally
repeated.

ELIXIR ex  ALOE  et RHEO,
       vulgo SACRUM.
            Edinb.
Elixir  of aloes and rhubarb,  com-
    monly called facred elixir.
Take of
  Rhubarb, cut fmall, ten drams ;
  Socotorine aloes, in powder, fix
    drams  ,
  Leffer cardamom feeds,  half an
    ounce  ;
  Proof-fpirit,  two pounds and a
    half:
Digeft for  feven  days,  and  then
  ftraia the elixir.

  This preparation is very much
employed  as  a warming  cordial
purge, and for the general purpofes
of aloetics ; with which, however,
it combines the medical properties
of rhubarb.

                         TINC- 
 528          Preparations a

 TINCTURA  SABIN.E  COM-
            POSITA.
              Lond.
    Compound tinBure of favin.
 Take of
   Extract of favin, one ounce,
   Tincture of caftor, one piat ;
   ---------myrrh, half a piat.
 Digeft till  the extrad of favin be
   diffolved, and then ftraia.

   This preparation had a place in
 the laft edition of  our  pharmaco-
 poeia,  under the title of Elixir myr-
 rha compofitum.
   This preparatioa is improved
 from one defcribed in fome former
 difpenfatories under the name  of
 Elixir uterinum. Itis a medi-
 cine of great importance in uterine
 obftrudions, and in hypochondria-
 cal cafes ;  though, poffibly, means
 might be contrived of fuperaddiag
 more effedually the virtuesof favin
 to a tindure of myrrh and caftor. It
 may be given from five drops to
 tweaty or thirty, or more, in penny-
 royal water,  or any other fuitable
 vehicle.

    TINCTURA SCILLjE.
             Lond.
        TinBure of fquills.
 Take of
   Squills, frefh dried, four ounces ;
   Proof-fpirit, of wine, two pints.
 Digeft for ei«hr. days, and pour off
   the liquor.

   For  extrading  the  virtues of
fquills, the menftruum which has
hitherto been almoft folely employ-
ed is vinegar. There, arc, however,
cafes ia which ardent fpirit may be
more proper; aad by the menftruum
here dirededits virtues are fully ex-
traded. Hence it is with propriety
that the London college have intro-
duced this form, as well as the vine-
gar and oxymel.   But, ia general,
the purpofes to be anfwered  by
fquills may be better obtained by
id Compofitions.    Part III.

 employing  it in fubftance than in
 any other form.

   TINCTURA  SATURNIA,
    vulgo ANTIPHTHISICA.

            Edinb.
        Autiphthifical tinBure.
 Take of
   Sugar of  lead,  an  ounce and a
     half:
   Vitriol of iron, one ounce ;
   Redified  fpirit  of wine,  one
     pound.
 Let a tindure be extraded without
   heat.

   The reducing of the falts fepa-
 rate ly into powder, and performing
 the digefton without heat, are very
 neceflary circumftances ;  for if the
 iagredieats  be attempted to be pul-
 verized together, they  will grow
 foft and almoft liquid ; and if heat
 be made ufe of, fcarce any tindure
 will be obtained.
   This tindure is fometimes given
 from twenty to thirty drops,  for
 reftraining immoderate fecretions,
 particularly  the colliquative fweats
 attending hedic fevers and phthifi-
 cal diforders ; whence the name  au-
 tiphthifical tindure.  It is undoubt-
 edly a medicine of great efficacy in
 thefe cafes,  but too dangerous to
 be rafhly ventured on. Some have
 fuppofed, that it does, not contain
 any of the fugar of lead : but expe-
 riments made for that purpofe have
 fhown the contrary.
   We muft, however, confider  the
 aboye preparations as very unfeien-
 tific.  Both  the acetous and vitrio-
 lic acid have a greater  attradion
 for iron thaa for lead : and though
 the vitriolic  be capable of difchar-
 ging  the  acetous  acid,  yet   it
 makes not oaly in its entire ftate
 a  lefs perfed union   with lead
 than  the  acetous  acid,  but it is
 now alfo combined with iron,  for
 which it has a greater attradion,
                            and 
Chap.  ai.
TinMuns.
5*9
 and can therefore only ad on the
 fait  of  lead in  proportion as  it
 is fuperabundant in the fait of cop-
 peras ; but in proportion as the vi-
 triolic difengages the acetous acid
 from the lead, the laft in  its turn,
 will attach itfelf to the iron.  Upon
 the whole, it is difficult to afcemin
 the prccife nature of this prepara-
 tion;  it feems always, however, to
 contain a quantity of lead in a faline
 ftate, fufficient to expunge it from
 prudent pradice :  or, at leaft, if in
 thefe cafes in which it has hitherto
 been employed, lead be thought ne-
 ceffary,  the fal plumbi may with
 more fafety and advantage be given
 in its folid  ftate, particularly as com-
 bined with opium:  And it is pro-
 bably on this account that the pre-
 fent formula has now no  place in
 the London pharmacopoeia.

     TINCTURA SENN.E.
             Loud.
        TinBure of fenna.
 Take of
   Senna, one pound;
  Caraway-feeds, bruifed, one ounce
     and an half :
   Raifitis,  ftoned, fixteen ounces  :
   Leffer cardamom-feeds,  hufked
     and bruifed,  half an  ounce;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, one gallon.
 Digeft for fourteen days, and ftrain.

   TINCTURA SENN.E  COM-
   POSITA,  vulgo  ELIXIR SA-
   LUTIS.
             Edinb.
 Compound tinBure of fenna, com-
   monly called Elixir of health.
 Take of
  Senna leaves, two  ounces;
  Jalap root, one ounce;
  Proof-fpirit,  two pounds and a
    half.
Digeft for  feven  days, and to the
  ftrained liquor add four ounces of
  fugar-candy.
    Both  thefe tindures are ufeful
 carminatives and cathartics, efpe-
 cially to thofe who have accuftomed
 themfelves to  the ufe of fpirituous
 liquors; they oftentimes relieve fla-
 tulent and colicky complaints, where
 the common cordials have little ef-
 fed :  the dofe  is  from one  to two
 ounces.   Several preparations  of
 this kind have been offered to  the
 public under the name of Daffy's e-
 Jixir; the two above are  equal  to
 any, and fuperior to moft of them;
 The laft in particular is a very ufe-
 ful addition to the caftor oil, in or-
 der to take off the mawkifh tafte;
 and as coinciding  with the virtues
 of the oil, it is therefore much pre-
 ferable to brandy, fhrub, and fuch
 like liquors, which  otherwife are
 often  found  neceffary  to make the
 oil fit upon the ftomach.

   TINCTURA SERPENTA-
             RLE.
              Lond.
      TinBure of fnake-root.
 Take of
   Virginian fnake-root, three ou<n»
     ces;
   Proof-fpirit of wine, two pints.
 Digeft for eight d2ys, and ftrain.

             Edinb.
 Take of
   Virginian  fnake-root, two oun-
     ces ;
   Cochineal, one dram;
   Proof-fpirit,  two pounds and  a
     half.
Digeft in a gentle heat for four days^
   and then ftrain the tindure.

   The tindure of fnake-root was in
a former pharmacopoeia direded to
be prepared with the tindura falis
tartari, which being now expunged^
it was propofed to the college to em-
ploy redified fpirit; but as the heat
of this fpirit prevents the medicine
from being taken in fo large a dofe as
              LI             it 
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
S3°
it might otherwife be, a weaker fpi-
rit was made choice of.   The tinc-
ture made in this menftruum, which
extrads the  whole virtues of  the
root, may be taken to the quantity
of a fpoonful or more every five or
fix hours ; and to this extent it of-
ten operates as an  ufeful  diapho-
retic.

  TINCTURA VALERIANAE.
             Lond.
       TinBure of valerian.
Take of
  The root of wild valerian, in coarfe
     powder, four ounces;
  Proof-fpirit of  wine, two pints.
Digeft with a gentle heat for  eight
   days, and ftrain.

  The valerian root ought to be re-
duced  to a pretty fine powder, o-
therwife the fpirit will not fuflicicnt-
]y extrad  its virtues. The tindure
proves  of a deep colour, and  confi-
fiderably ftrong of the valerian ; tho'
it  has  not been found to anfwer fo
well in the cure  of epileptic  difor-
ders as the root in fubftance, exhi-
bited in the form of powder or bo-
lus. The  dofe of the tindure is,
from half a fpoonful to a fpoonful or
more two or three times a-day,

  TINCTURA  VALERIANAE
          VOLATILIS.
             Lond.
   Volatile tinBure of valerian.
Take of
   The root of wild valerian, four
     ounces;
  Compound  fpirit  of  ammonia,
    two pints.
Digeft for  eight days, and  ftrain.

             Edinb.
Take of
  Wild valerian root,  two ounces;
  Vinous fpirit of fal ammoniac, one
    pound.
Macerate  for fix days in a  clofe
  veffel,  and ftrain.
  Both the compound and vinous
fpirit offal ammoniac  are here ex-
cellent menftrua, and at the  fame
time confiderably promote the vir-
tues of the valerian, which in feme
cafes wants an affiftance of this kind.
The dofe may be a tea-fpoonful or
two.

TINCTURA  VERATRI,   five
      HELLEBORI ALBI.
             Edinb.
TinBure  of Veratrum,  or  white
            hellebore.
Take of
  White hellebore root, eight oun-
     ces ;
  Proof-fpirit, two  pounds  and a
     half.
Digeft them together for ten days,
  and  filtre the  tindure through
  paper.

  This tindure is fometimes ufed
for acuating cathartics, &c.  and as
an emetic  in apopledic and mania-
cal  diforders.  It may likewife be fo
managed,  as to prove a powerful al-
terative and  deobftruent, in cafes
where milder remedies  have little
effed.   But a great deal of caution
is requifite in its ufe : the dofe, at
firft ought to be only a few drops;
if confiderable, it proves violently
emetic or cathartic.

   ELIXIR VITRIOLI ACI-
             DUM.
             Edinb.
     Acid Elixir of Vitriol.
Take of
  Redified  fpirit of  wine,  two
     pounds;
Drop into  it by little and little fix
  ounces  of vitriolic acid;  digeft
  the mixture with a  very  gentle
  heat  in  a clofe veffel for three
  days, and then add of
Cinnamon, an ounce and a half;
Ginger, one ounce.
Digeft again in a clofe veffel for fix
  days, and then filtre  the tindure
                        through 
Chap.  21.
Tinclures.
S31
  through paper placed in a glafs
  funnel.

  The intention in this procefs is,
to obtain a tindure of aromatic ve-
getables, in fpirit of wine, combi-
ned with a confiderable proportion
of vitriolic acid. When the tindure
is firft drawn with vinous fpirits, and
the acid added afterwards, the acid
precipitates  great part of what the
fpirit had before taken up ; and on
the other hand,  when the acid  is
mixed with the fpirit immediately
before the extradion, it prevents
the diffolution of  all that it  would
have precipitated by the former way
of treatment: by previoufly uniting
the acid and the vinous fpirit toge-
ther by  digeftion,  the inconveni-
ence is fomewhat leffened.
  This is a valuable  medicine in
weaknefs and relaxations of the fto-
mach  and  decays of conftitution,
particularly in thofe which proceed
from irregularities, which are ac-
companied with flow febrile  fymp-
toms, or which follow the fuppref-
fion of intermittents.  It frequent-
ly fucceeds after bitters and aroma-
tics by themfelves had availed no-
thing ; and, indeed, great part of
its virtues depend on the vitriolic
acid ; which, barely  diluted with
water,  has,  in thefe cafes, where
the  ftomach could bear the acidity,
produced happy effeds.
  Fuller relates  (in  his Medicina
Gymnafiica) that he was recovered
by Mynficht's elixir, from an ex-
treme  decay of conftitution, and
continual retchings  to vomit.  It
may be given from ten to thirty or
forty drops or  more, according to
the quantity of acid, twice or thrice
a-day,  at fuch times as the ftomach
is moft empty.   It is very ufefully
conjoined with the bark, both as co-
vering its difagreeable tafte and co-
inciding with its virtues.
 ELIXIR  VITRIOLI  DULCE.
             Edinb.
       Sweet elixir of vitriol.
 This is made of the fame aromatics^
   and in the fame manner as the
   tindura  aromatica ; except that,
   in place of the vinous fpirit, the
   dulcified  fpirit of vitriol is em-
   ployed.

   This is defigned for perfons
 whofe ftomachsaretoo weak to bear
 the foregoing acid elixir ; to the
 tafte, it is gratefully aromatic, with-
 out any perceptible acidity.  The
 dulcified fpirit of vitriol, here di-
 reded, occafions little ornoprecipi-
 tation upon  adding it to the tindure^
   A medicine of this kind was for-
 merly in great efteem under the title
 of Vigam's volatile elixir of vitriol;
 the compofition of which was firft
 communicated to  the public in the
 Pharmacopoeia reformata. It is pre-
 pared by digefting fome volatile fpi-
 rits of  vitriol upon a fmall quantity
 of mint leaves curioufly dried, till
 the liquor has acquired a fine green
 colour. If the fpirit, as it  frequently
 does,  partakes too much of the a-
cid, this colour will not fucceed : in
fuch cafe, it fliould be redified from
a little  fixed alkaline fait.

 SPIRITUS VINOSUS  CAM-
         PHORATUS.
             Edinb.
   Camphorated fpirit of wine.
 Take of
   Camphor, one ounce 5
   Redified  fpirit of wine,   one
    pound.
Mix them together,  that the cam-
   phor may be diffolved.
 It  may alfo be made with a double,
   triple, &c. proportion of  cam-
   phor.

   This folution of camphor is em-
             L 1  2       ployed 
$3*
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
ployed chiefly for external ufes,  a-
gainft  rheumatic pains,  paralytic
numbneffes, inflammations, for dif-
cuffing  tumors,  preventing   gan-
grenes^ reftraining their progrefs.
It is too pungent to be exhibited
internally, even  when diluted, nor
does the folution  fucceed well; for
on  the admixture  of  aqueous  li-
quors,  the camphor  gradually fepa-
rate s and  runs together into  little
maffes.
  Hoffman, Rothen,  and others,
mention a camphorated fpirit not
fiibjed to this inconvenience.   It is
prepared by grinding the camphor
with fomewhat more than an equal
Weight of fixed alkaline fait,  then
adding a proper  quantity of proof-
fpirit,  and drawing off one half of
it by diftillation.   This  fpirit was
propofed to be  received into our
pharmacopoeias,  under the title of
Spiritus camphoraetarf-arizatus. But
upon trial, it did  not anfwer expec-
tation :  fome of  the camphor rifes
with the fpirit in diftillation, though
but a fmall quantity ; whence, mix-
ed with a  large portion of water, it
does not fenfibly  render it turbid ;
but in a proper quantity, it exhibits
the fame  appearance as the  more
common camphorated fpirit: it did
not appear, that fpirit diftilled from
camphor, with or without the alka-
line fak, differed at all in  this re-
fped.
  The moft convenient method of
uniting camphor with aqueous li-
quors,  for internal ufe, fecnas to be
by the  mediation  of almonds,  or of
mucilages ;■ triturated with thefe, it
readily mingles with water into the
form of an emulfion, at the  fame
time that its pungency is confider-
ably abated.  It  may alfo be com-
modioufly exhibited in the  form of
an oily draught,  expreffed  i.iis to-
tally diflblving it„
 LINIMENTUM ANODYNUM,
   vulgo BALSAMUM ANODY-
   NUM.
             Edinb.
 The anodyne liniment, commonly
      called Anodyne balfam.
 Take of
   Opium, one ounce;
   White Caftile foap, four ounces;
   Camphor, two ounces;
   Effential oil of rofemary, half an
     ounce;
   Redified fpirit  of wine,  two
     pounds.
 Digeft the opium and foap in the
   fpirit for three days ;  then to the
   ftrained liquor add  the camphor
   and oil, diligently fhaking the
   veffel.

   The feveral ingredients in  this
 formula are exceedingly well fuited
 for the purpofes expreffed in the title
 of this preparation ;  the anodyne
 balfam has accordingly been ufed
 with much fuccefs to allay pains in
 ftrained limbs, and fuch like topical
 affedions.

 LINIMENTUM   SAPONACE-
   UM  vulgo  BALSAMUM  SA-
   PONACEUM.
             Edinb.
 Saponaceous balfam or liniment.
 This is made in the  fame manner
   and of the fame ingredients as the
   anodyne balfam, only omitting
   the opium.

   It is intended as a Amplification
 and improvement of what had for-
 merly the name of Opodeldoc, and
 is  employed with the  fame inten-
 tions as the two preceding.

   TINCTURA ANTIMONII.
             Rofe.
      TinBure of antimony.
Take of
  Antimony,  in powder,  half a
    pound ;
                            fait 
Chap.  21
TUnUures.
   Salt of tartar, one pound ;
  Redified fpirit of wine three pints.
 Mix  the antimony with  the fait of
   tartar, and injcd them by little
   and little into a crucible placed in
   a ftrong fire.  Let the mixture
   melt thin, and continue in  this
   ftate  for  half an hour; after
   which it is to be poured out  into
   a hot and dry iron mortar. Pow-
   der the mafs while hot, put it in-
   to a heated matrafs, and pour the
   fpirit npon it. Digeft them toge-
   ther for three days,  and  then
   ftrain the tindure.

   In this procefs, the alkaline fak
 unites with the fulphur of the anti-
 mony into a hepar ; which commu-
 nicates to the fpirit a tindure fimilar
 to the tindura fulphuris. This anti-
 monial tindure is fuppofed  to contain
 likewife fome of the reguline parts
 of the mineral, and is faid to /have
 fometimes provoked a puke when
 taken on an empty ftomach, even in
 a fmall dofe.  It ftands recommend-
 ed in dofes from ten to fixty drops
 or more, as a deobftruent,  promoter
 of urine, and purifier of the blood.
 But there is probably no purpofe to
 be anfwered by it, which may not
 be more effedually obtained by other
 antimonial preparations, particular-
 ly the  vinum e tartaro antimoniali.

 TINCTURA   COLOCYNTHL
              DIS.
             Suec.
      TinBure of cokey nth.
 Take of
  Colocynth, cut fmall,  and freed
     from the feeds, one ounce ;
  Anifeed, one dram ;
  Proof-fpirit, fourteen ounces.
 Macerate for four days, and ftrain
  through paper.

  In this tindure we have the ac-
 tive purgative power of the colo-
cynth.  And  althpugh it be feldom
 ufed as a cathartic by itfelf, yet e-
 ven in  a fmall quantity it may be
 advantageoufly employed to  brifk-
 en the operation of others.

 TINCTURA  CUPRI  VOLA-
             TILIS.
              Gen.
    Volatile tinBure of copper.
 Take of
   Filings of copper,  one dram ;
   Spirit offal ammoniac, an ounce
    and a half.
 Mix them,  and keep them in a
   veffel  clofely ftopt, which is to
   be frequently agitated till the li-
   quor becomes of a beautiful violet
   colour.

   In  this  formula the  copper is
 brought to a faline  ftate by means of
 the volatile alkali.   It may there-
 fore be confidered as very analogous
 to the cuprum ammoniacum.  And
 where recourfe is had to it in prac-
 tice, it is employed with  the fame
 intentions.

    TINCTURA  OJJASSLE.
             Suec.
       TinBure of quaffia.
 Take of
   Ojiaffia, bruifed, two ounces ;
   Proof-fpirit, two pounds and an
    half.
 Digeft. for  three  days,  and then
   ftrain through paper.

   B* proof-fpirit  the medical pro-
perties, as well as  the fenfible qua-
lities of the quaffia, are readily ex-
traded.  And under  this form  it
may be  advantageoufly  employed
for anfwering  different purpofes in
medicine.

    TINCTURA  LACCiE.
             Suec.
        TinBure of  lac.
Take of
   Gum lac, powdered, one ounce ;
            JL 1  3      Myrvhf 
534          Preparations an

  Myrrh, three drams;
  Spirit of fcurvy-grafs, a pint and
    an half.

Digeft in  a fand-heat for fix days ;
  after which, ftrain off the  tinc-
  ture for ufe.

  This tindure is principally em-
ployed for ftrengthening the gums,
and in bleedings and fcorbuticexul-
cerations of them  : it may be fitted
for ufe with  thefe intentions,  by
mixing it with honey of rofes, or
the like.  Some recommend it in-
ternally againftfeorbutic complaints,
and as a corroborant in  gleets, fe-
male  weakneffes,  &c. Its warmth,
pungency, and manifeftly  aftrin-
gent bitterifh tafte, point out its vir-
tues in thefe cafes to be confidera-
ble, tho'  common pradice among
us has not yet received it,

   TINCTURA  NUCIS VO-
             MICAE.
              Rofe.
     TinBure of  nux vomica.
Take of
   Nux vomica,  an ounce and a
     half;
   Proof-fpirit, two pounds.
Digeft for  fome days, and  then
   ftrain it.

   The nux vomica, a  very adive
 vegetable, has of late,  as we have
 already had occafion to obferve, been
 introduced into pradice as taken in-
/ Compofitions.   Part  III.

ternally, for the cure of  intermit-
tents and of contagious dyfentery.
In thefe affedions it may be employ-
ed under the  form of  tincture as
well as in fubftance ; and in this way
it moft readily admits of being com-
bined with other articles, either as
adjuvantia or corrigentia.

     TINCTURA SUCCINI.
              Suec.
       TinBure of  amber.
Take of
   Yellow  amber,  pounded,  one
     ounce ;
   Vitriolic aether, four ounces.
 Digeft for three days in a veffel ac-
   curately clofed, frequently  flu-
   king the veffel, and after this
   ftrain through paper.

   The tindure of amber was for-
 merly prepared with redified fpirit
 of wine ; but the menftruum here di-
 reded gives a  more complete foluti-
 on,  and forms a more elegant and
 adivetindure. It poffeffes the whole
 virtues of the  concrete  ; and altho'
 it has  at  prefent no place in our
 Pharmacopoeia, yet it is perhaps to
 be confidered  as one of  the moft
 valuable preparations of amber. It
 has been recommended in a variety
 of affedions,  particularly thofe of
 the nervous kind, as hyfterical and
 epileptic complaints. It may be ta-
 ken from a few drops to the extent
 of a tea-fpoonful  in a glafs of wine
 or any fimilar vehicle.
CHAP. 
Chap.  22.              Mixtures.                     535
C   H  A
MIS
M   I   X   T
  MISTURA CAMPHORATA.
             Lond.
      Camphorated mixture.
 Take of
   Camphor one dram.
  Redified  fpirit  of  wine,  ten
     drops;
   Double-re fined fugar,  half  an
     ounce;
  Boiling diftilled water, one pint.
 Rub the camphor firft with the fpi-
  rit of wine, then with the fugar;
  laftly add the water by degrees,
  and ftrain the mixture.

  While  camphor is often exhi-
 bited in a folid ftate, it is frequently
 alfo advantageous  to employ it as
 diffufed in watery fluids. And with
 this intention the prefent formula is
 perhaps one of the moft fimple, the
 union being effeded merely by the
 aid of a fmall quantity of  fpirit of
 wine and a little  fugar. But  per-
 haps the more common form of e-
mulfion in which the union is effec-
ted, by triturating the camphor with
a few almonds,isnot to be confider-
ed as inferior to this.  For the unc-
tuous quality of the almonds fervcs
to a confiderable degree to cover the
pungency of the  camphor  without
diminifliing its adivity. Camphor
under the prefent form as well as that
P.     XXII.
U R  JE.
U   R   E   S.
of emulfion, is very often ufeful in fe-
vers,taken to the extent of a table-
fpoonful every three or four hours.

    MISTURA  CRETACEA.
             Lond.
         Chalk mixture.
Take of
  Prepared chalk, one ounce ;
  Double-refined fugar, fix drams;
  Gum  arabic,  powdered,   two
     ounces ;
  Diftilled water, two pints.
Mix them.

     POTIO  CRETACEA.
            Edinb.
          Chalk drink.
Take of
  Prepared chalk, one ounce ;
  Pureft  refined  fugar, half  an
     ounce ;
  Mucilage of gum  arabic,  two
     ounces ;
Rub them together, and add by de-
     degrees.
  Water, two pounds and an half;
Spirituous  cinnamon water, two
     ounces.

  These  two preparations  agree
pretty much both in their name and
in their nature.  But of the two
formulas that of the Edinburgh col-
            L 1 4         lege 
536        Preparations and Compofitions.     Part III.
lege is moft agreeable to the palate,
from containing a proportion of cin-
namon water, by  which  the  difa-
greeable tafte of the  chalk  is ta-
ken off.
  In the former edition of the E-
dinburgh puarmacopoeia, a prepara-
tion of  this kind flood  among the
decodions, and the chalk was direc-
ted to be boiled with the water and
gum: by  the prefent formula, the
chalk is much more  completely fu-
fpended by the mucilage and fugar;
which laft gives alfo to the mixture
an  agreeable tafte.  It is proper to
employ  the fineft fugar, as the re-
dundant  acid in the coarfer  kinds
might form with the chalk a kind of
phofphoric fak.   It would perhaps
have been more proper to have add-
ed an aromatic, by fufpending the
entire powder of cinnamon,  or its
oil, by means of the  mucilage, and
fugar: The method here direded is,
however, lefs exceptionable in this
than in many other preparations, as
the  precipitated matter of the fpi-
rituous water will probably be invif-
cated in thefaccharine and mucila-
ginous matter.   This is a very ele-
gant form of exhibiting chalk, and
isan ufeful remedy in difeafes arifing
from, or accompanied with acidity
in the primae viae.  It is frequently
employed in diarrhoea proceeding
from that caufe.  The mucilage not
only ferves to keep  the chalk uni-
formly defufed, but alfo improves its
virtues  by fheathing the internal
furface of the inteftines.  The dofe
of this medicine requires no nicety.
It may be  taken  to  the extent  of
a pound or two in  the courfe of a
day.

   MISTURA MOSCHATA.
             Lond.
         Mufk-mixture.
TF/ake of
  Mufk, two fcruples;
  Gum arabic, powdered,
  Double-refined fugar, of each one
     dram;
  Rofe-water, fix ounces by mea-
     fure
Rub the mufk firft with  the fugar,
  then with the gum, and add the
  rofe-water by degrees.

  This had  formerly the name of
Julepume mofcho, and was intended
as an improvement upon the hyfte-
ric julep with mufk of Bates.   O-
range-flower water is  direded by
that author ;  and indeed this more
perfedly coincides with the  mufk
than rofe-water: but as the former
is difficultly procurable in perfec-
tion,  the  latter  is here preferred.
The julep appears turbid at firft :
on  ftanding a little time, it depo-
fites a brown powder, and becomes
clear,  but at the fame  time  lofes
great part of  its  virtue.   This in-
convenience may be  prevented by
thoroughly grinding the mufk with
gum arabic before the  addition of
the  water: by means of the gum,
the  whole fubftance of the mufk is
made to remain fufpended in the wa-
ter.   Volatile fpirits  are  in many
cafes an ufeful addition to mufk, and
likewife enable water to keep fome-
what  more of the mufk diflblved
than it would otherwife retain.

      LAC AMYGDALAE.
             Lond,
          Almond-milk.
Take of
  Sweet  almonds, one ounce  and
    an half;
  Double-refined  fugar, half an
    ounce;
  Diftilled water, two pints.
Beat the almonds  with the fugar ;
  then9 rubbing them together, add
  by degrees the water,  and ftrain
  the liquor.
                       EMUL- 
Chap. 22.
    EMULSII  COMMUNIS.
             Edinb.
        Common emulfion.
 Take of
   Sweet almonds, one ounce;
   Bitter almonds, one dram ;
   Common water, two pounds and
     a half.
 Beat  the blanched almonds in  a
   marble mortar, and gradually pour
   on them  the  common  water,
   working the whole  well  toge-
   ther;  then ftrain off the liquor.

     EMULSIO ARABICA.
             Edinb.
         Arabic emulfion.
 This is made  in the fame manner as
   the  preceding;   only   adding,
   whilft beating the almonds.
 Of mucilage  of gum Arabic, two
     ounces.

   All  thefe may be confidered as
 poffeffing nearly the fame qualities.
 But of the three the laft is the moft
 powerful demulcent.
   Great  care fhould be taken, that
 the almonds  be not  become rancid
 by keeping;  which  will  not only
 render the  emulfion extremely un-
 pleafant,  a  circumftance  of great
 confequence in a medicine that re-
 quires to  be taken in large quanti-
 ties, but  likewife give it injurious
 qualities  little expeded from pre-
 parations of this clafs.   The addi-
 tion of the bitter almonds now order-
 ed by the Edinburgh college in pre-
 paring thefe emulfions, may perhaps
 preferve them in fome degree from
fuffering the above changes ; but it is
 much more  ufeful as giving the e-
mulfion an agreeable flavour.   And
 although  the  fubftance of bitter al-
monds be of a deleterious nature, yet
 nothing is to be apprehended from
 the quantity here employed.
  Thefe liquors are principally made
 ufe of for diluting and obtnnding a-
Mixtunes.                      537

       crimonious humours; particularly in
       heat of urine and  ftranguarits ari-
       fing either from a natural lharpnefs
       of the juices, from the operation of
       cantharides or other irritating medi-
       cines : in thefe cafes, they are to be
       drank frequently, to the quantity of
       half a pint or more at a time.
         Some have ordered  emulfions to
       be boiled,  with  a view to deprive
       them  of fome imaginary crudity;
       but  by this procefs  they quickly
       ceafe to be emulfions,  the oil fepa-
       rating from the water,  and floating
       diftindly upon the furface.   Acids
       and vinous fpirits produce a like de
       compofition.  On  ftanding alfo for
       fome days, without addition,  the
       oily matter feparates and rifes to the
       top, not in a pure form, but in  that
       of a thick cream.  Thefe experiments
       prove  the compofition of the  emul-
       fions made from  the oily feeds of
       kernels, and at the fame time point
       out fome cautions to be attended to
       in their preparation and ufe.

           LAC  AMMONIACI.
                   Lond.
              Ammoniacum milk.
       Take of
         Ammoniacum, two drams;
         Diftilled water, half a pint.
       Rub the gum-refin  with the water,
         gradually poured on, until it be-
         comes a milk.
       In the fame manner may be made a
         milk of afafoetida, and of  the
         reft of the gum-refins.

         The ammoniacum milk is em-
       ployed for attenuating tough phlegm,
       and  promoting  expedoration, in
       humoural afthmas, coughs, and ob-
       ftrudions of the vifcera.  It may bej
       given to the quantity of two fpoon-;
       fuls twice a-day.
         Thelacafafoetidse is employed in
       fpafmodical, hyfterical, and  other
       nervous affedions.  And it is alfo,
                                   n»,« 
 538          Preparations a

 not unfrequently ufed under the form
 ofinjedion.  It anfwers the fame
 purpofes as afafoetida in fubftance.

 SPIRITUS yETHERIS VITRI-
     OLICI COMPOS1TUS.
             Lond.
   Compound of vitriolic ather.
 Take of
   Spirit  of vitriolic  aether, two
     pounds;
   Oil of wine,  three drams.
 Mix them.

   This is fuppofed  to be,  if not
 precifely  the fame,  at leaft very
 nearly, the celebrated liquor anody-
 nus mineralis of Hoffman: as we
 learn from his own writings, that
 the liquor which he  thus denomi-
 nated, was formed of dulcified fpirit
 of vitriol  and  the  aromatic  oil
 which arifes after it: But he does
 not tell us in what proportions thefe
 were combined. It has been highly
 extolled as an anodyne and antifpaf-
modic medicine  ; and with thefe in-
 tentions it is not unfrequently em-
ployed in pradice.

SPIRITUS  AMMONLE  COM-
         POS1TUS.
            Lond.
  Compound fpirit of ammonia.
Take of
  Spirit of ammonia,  two pints;
  Effential oil of lemon,
  ---;—   ■    nutmeg, of each
     two drams.
 Mix them.

  This differs almoft only in name
from the following.

SPIRITUS VOLATILIS  ARO-
  MATICUS,   vulgo  SPIRITUS
  VOLATILIS OLEOSUS,  et
  SPIRITUS  SAL1NUS  ARO-
  MATICUS.
            Edinb.
Volatile aromatic fpirit, commonly
nd Compofitions.   Part III.

   called volatile oily fpirit, and fa-
   line aromatic fpirit.
 Take of
   Vinous  fpirit of fal ammoniac,
      eight ounces;
   Diftilled oil of  rofemary,  one
      dram and a half;
   Diftilled oil  of lemon-peel, one
      dram.
 Mix them, that the oils maybe dif-
   folved.

   By the method here direded, the
 oils  are as completely diffolved as
 when diftillation is employed.
   Volatile falts, thus united with a-
 romatics,  are not only more agree-
 able in flavour, but likewife more
 acceptable  to the ftomach,  and lefs
 acrimonious than in their pure ftate.
 Both the   foregoing compofitions
 turn out excellent ones, provided the
 oils  are good, and the diftillation
 fkilfully performed.  The  dofe is
 from five  or fix drops  to fixty or
 more.
   Medicines of this kind might be
 prepared   extemporaneoufly,  by
 dropping any proper effential oil in-
 to the dulcified fpirit of  fal ammo-
 niac, which will readily diffolve the
 oil without the affiftance of diftilla-
 tion.  But  it  is perhaps preferable
 that  they fhould be kept in the fliops
 ready mixed.

 SPIRITUS AMMONLE SUCCI-
           NATUS.
            Lond.
   Succinated fpirit of ammonia.
 Take of
  Alcohol, one ounce;
  Water of pure -ammonia, four
     ounces by meafure;
  Redified oil of amber, one fcruple;
  Soap, ten grains.
 Digeft the foap and oil  of amber
  in  the alcohol till they  be dif-
  folved ;  then  add  the water of
  pure ammonia, and mix them by
  lhaking.
                          This 
Chap. 22.             Mixtures.

   This compofition is extremely
penetrating, and haslately come in-
to efteem, particularly for fmclling
to in lowneffes and faintings, under
the name of Eau de luce.   It has
been hitherto brought from France.
It is not quite limpid, for the oil of
amber diflblves  only imperfedly in
the fpirit: if the volatile fpirit be not
exceedingly ftrong,  fcarcely any of
the oil will be imbibed.
   The Eau de luce is not only ufed
with the viewof making an impref-
fion upon the nofe, but is taken in-
ternally in  the fame cafes.   It has
likewife of late been celebrated as a
remedy for the  bite  of the rattle-
fnake, when ufed internally, and
applied externally to the wounded
part.

   SPIRITUS CAMPHORA-
             TUS.
             Lond.
       Camphorated fpirit.
Take of
   Camphor,  four ounces ;
   Redified  fpirit  of wine,  two
     pints.
Mix them,  fo  that the camphor
   may be diffolved.

   Of this we have already had oc-
cafion  to fpeak in  the preceding
chapter under the title given  to it
by the Edinburgh college.

   EMULSIO OLEOSA  SIM-
            PLEX.
             Gen.
       Simple oily emulfion.
Take of
  Almond oil, one ounce ;
  Syrup of  althea, an ounce and a
     half;
   Gum arabic,  half an ounce ;
  Fountain water, fix ounces.
Mix, and make an emulfion accord-
   ing to art.
539
  EMULSIO OLEOSA VOLA-
             TILIS.
              Gen.
      Volatile oily emulfion.
Take of
  Almond oil, an ounce and a half;
  Syrup of althea, one ounce ;
  Gum  arabic, half an onnce ;
  Volatile alkaline fait, one dram ;
  Fountain water, feven ounces.
Mix them according to art.

  Both thefe are elegant and con-
venient  modes of exhibiting oil  in-
ternally. And under thefe forms it
is often  advantageoufly employed in
cafes of cough, hoarfenefs, and fi-
milar affedions.   By means of  the
alkali, a more intimate union of oil
with water is obtained than can be
had with the intermedium either of
fyrup or vegetable mucilage ; and
in fome  cafes,  the alkali both con-
tributes  to anfwer the  intention in
view, and prevents the oil from ex-
citing ficknefs at  ftomach : But in
other inftances, the pungency which
it imparts is difagreeable to the  pa-
tient and unfavourable  to the dif-
eafe.  According  to thefe  circum-
ftances,  therefore, where  an  oily
mixture is to be employed, the prac-
titioner  will be determined in  his
choice to have recourfe either to the
one or the other formula.

     JULAPIUM  ACIDUM.
              Gen.
           Acid julep.
Take of
  Weak vitriolic acid, three drams j
  Simple fyrup, three ounces ;
  Fountain water,  two pounds.
Mix them.

  In this ftate, the vitriolic acid in
fufficiently diluted  to be taken with
eafe in confiderable dofes.  And it
may rhus be advantageoufly employ,
ed in various affedions; concerning
                         which 
 540         Preparations a

 which we have already  had occa-
 fion to make fome remarks in  the
 Materia Medica, and which are to
 be anfwered, either by its adion
 on the ftomach, or on the fyftem in
 general.

   JULAPIUM .ETHEREUM.
              Gen.
           JEther julep.
 Take of
   Pure vitriolic aether, two feruples;
   Fountain water,  fix ounces ;
   Refined fugar,  half an ounce.
 Mix  them according to art.

   Although it  is ingeneral pro-
 per that  sether fhould be diluted on-
 ly when it is to be immediately u-
 fed, yet it  is fometimes neceffary
 that it fhould be put into the hands
 of the patient in the ftate in which
 it is to be taken.  In fuch inftances
 the prefent formula is a very proper
 one ;  but the addition of a little mu*'
 cilage tends both to cover the pun-
 gency of the sether in the  mouth,
 and to retain it in a ftate of mixture
 with  the water.

  JULAPIUM  SUCCINATUM.
              Gen.
          Amber juleps.
 Take of
   Tindure of amber, two drams ;
   Refined fugar, half an ounce ;
   Fountain water, fix ounces.
 Mix them according to art.

   Under this form the tindure of
 amber is  fo far diluted and fweeten-
 ed, as to form an agreeable mixture;
 and in this manner it may often be
.advantageoufly employed  for coun-
tterading nervous affections, and an-
swering  thofe  other purpofes for
 which we have already mentioned
 that this article is had.recourfe to in
■■pradice.
id Compofitions.   Part III.

      M1XTURA SALINA.
              Suec.
     Saline mixture, or julep.
 Take of
   Fixed vegetable alkali,onc ounce;
  ' Fountain water, five ounces.
 To this lixivium add,
   Lemon .juice, two ounces, or as
     much as is fufficient to faturate
     the alkali ;
   Simple  fyrup, half an ounce.

   This mixture is frequently pre-
 fcribed in febrile difeafes as a means
 of promoting a flight difcharge by
 th* furface :  For where the fkin is
 parched with great encreafed heat,it
 generally operates as a gentle dia-
 phoretic.   It often alfo promotes a
 difcharge by the kidneys, and is not
 unfrequently employed to reftrain
 vomiting.  With thefe intentions it
 is in daily ufe among Britifh pradi-
 tioners, although it has no place in
 our pharmacopoeias, from its being
 entirely an extemporaneous  pre-
 feription.

  SOLUTIO MINERALIS  AR-
            SENICI.
    Mineral folution of arfenic.
 Take of
  White arfenic, reduced to a fub-
     tile powder,
  Fixed vegetable alkali,  each fix-
     ty-four grains;
  Diftilled water, half a pint.
 Put it into a florentine flafk, and let
  this be placed in a fand-heat, fo
  that the water  may boil gently
  till the arfenic be completely dif-
  folved ; then add to the folution
  when cold half an ounce of fpirit
  of lavender, and as much diftilled
  water as to make  the folution a-
  mount to a pint by  meafure, or
  fifteen ounces and  an half by
  weight.

  For the introdudion of this re-
                          medy 
Chap. 23.
Syrups.
54*
medy we are indebted to Dr Fowler
of Stafford.  We have already had
occafion to mention it when treating
of arfenic in the Materia Medica:
and we  then obferved, that if it be
not  precifely the fame, it is at leaft
fuppofed to be very analogous to a
remedy  which has  had a very ex.
tenfive  fale in fome parts  of Eng-
land under the name of the Tafle-
lefs ague drop; and which has been
employed with very great fuccefs in
the cure of obftinate intermittents.
But whether the prefent formula in
any degree approaches to the tafte-
lefs ague drop or not,  there can be
no doubt, from the concurring tef-
timony of many eminent praditiofi>-
ers, that it is equally fnccefsfully in
combating intermittents.  For this
purpofe it is given according to the
age and other circumftances of the
patient in dofes from two to twenty
drops, once,  twice, or oftener in
the courfe of the day :  And its ufe
has been found to be attended with
remarkable fuccefs, although  with
fome patients even very fmall dofes
have been found to excite fevere vo-
miting.   Befides diftindly marked
intermittents, this folution has alfo
been fometimes fuccefsful in obfti-
nate periodical headachs, and in cu-
taneous affedions of  the leprous
kind, refilling every other mode of
cure.   And perhaps in every cafe
where arfenic can be employed with
fafety or advantage internally, this
preparation is preferable to any other
with which we are yet acquainted.
CHAP.     XXIII.
R   U
Y    R     U    P    S.
   SYRUPS  are faturated folutions
   of fugar, made in water, or wa-
tery vinous infufions, or in juices.
They were formerly confidered as
medicines of much greater import-
ance than they are thought to be at
prefent. Syrups and diftilled waters
were  for  fome ages made ufe of as
the great alteratives; infomuch that
the evacuation of any peccant hu-
mour was never attempted, till by
a due courfe  of thefe it had firft been
fuppofed to be regularly prepared for
expulfion.Hence arofe the exuberant
colledion of both,  which we meet
with in pharmacopoeias, and like er-
rors  have prevailed in each.  As
multitudes of diftilled waters have
been compounded from materials un-
fit to give any virtue over the helm ;
fo numbers of fyrups have been pre-
pared from  ingredients, which  in
this form cannot be taken in fuffi-
cient dofes to exert their virtues; for
                            two 
54^
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
 two-thirds of  a  fyrup confift of fu-
 gar, and greateft  part of the  re-
 maining third is an aqueous  fluid.
   Syrups are at prefent chiefly  re-
 garded  as  convenient vehicles  for
 medicines of greater efficacy ;  and
 made ufe of forfweeteningdranghts
 and juleps, for reducing the lighter
 powders into bolufes, pills, or elec-
 tuaries, and other fimilar purpofes.
 Some likewife may not improperly
 be confidered  as  medicines  them-
 felves;  as  thofe of fiffron, buck-
 thorn berries, and  fome others.

   To the  chapter on fyrnps  the
 London college in their pharmaco-
 poeia have  premifed the following
 general obfervations.
   In the making of fyrups, where
 we have not  direded either the
 Weight of the fugar, or the manner
 in which it fliould be diffolved,  this
 ts to be the rule :
 Take of
   Double-refined  fugar,   twenty-
     nine ounces;
   Any kind of liquor, one pint.
 Diffolve the fugar in the liquor, in a
  water-bath;  then  fet  it afide
  for twenty-four hours;  take off
  the  feum, and pour  off" the fy-
  rup from the  feces if there be
   any.

  The following  are the general
 rules  which have  commonly been
 given with  refped to the prepara-
 tion of fyrups.
               I.
All the rules laid down for making
  decodions are likewife to be ob-
  ferved in the  decodions for fy-
  rups.   Vegetables, both for  de-
  codions and infufions, ought to
  be dry, unlcfs they are exprefsly
  ordered otherwife.
              II.
In both  the London  and   Edin-
  burgh Pharmacopoeia, only  the
   pureft or double-refined fugar is
   allowed.
   In the fyrups prepared by boiling,
 it has been cuftomary to perform the
 clarification with whites of eggs af-
 ter the fugar had been diffolved in
 the decodion of the vegetable. This
 method is apparently  injurious  to
 the preparation; fince  not only the
 impurities of the fugar  are thus dif-
 chargtd ; but a  confiderable  part
 likewife of the  medicinal  matter,
 which the  water had before taken
 up from the ingredients, is feparated
 along with  them.  Nor indeed is
 the clarification and defpuination of
 the fugar, by itfelf, very advifable;
 for its purification by this procefs is
 not fo perfect as might be expeded:
 after it has undergone this procefs,
 the refiners ftill feparate from it a
 quantity of oily  matter, which is
 difagreeable to weak  ftomachs.   It
 appears therefore moft eligible to
 employ  fine fiigar for all the fyrups;
 even the purgative ones (which have
 been ufually made with coarfe fu-
 gar, as fomewhat coinciding with
 their intention) not excepted ;  for,
 as purgative medicines arc in gene-
 ral ungrateful  to  the ftomach, it is
 certainly improper to employ an ad-
 dition which  increafes  their offen-
 fivenefs.
              III.
Where,  the weight of  the fugar is
   not expreffed, twenty-nine oun-
   ces are to be taken in every  pint
   of liquor. The fugar is to be re-
   duced into powder,  and  diffol-
   ved in the liquor by the heat of a
   water-bath, unlefs ordered other-
   wife.
Although in the formula of  feveral
   of the fyrups, a double weight of
   fugar  to that of the liquor is di-
   rected, yet lefs will generally be
  fufficient.   Firft, therefore,  dif-
  folve in the liquor an equal weight
  of fugar, then gradually add fome
                           more 
Chap. 23.
Syrups.
543
   more in powder,  till a little re-
   mains undiflblved at the bottom,
   which is to be afterwards  incor-
   porated by fetting the  fyrup in a
   water-bath.
   The quantity of fugar fliould be
 fo much as the liquor is  capable of
 keeping diffolved  in  the cold : if
 there  is more,  a part of it will fe-
 parate, and concreteintocryftals, or
 candy; if lefs,  the  fyrup will  be
 fubjrd to  ferment,  efpecially  in
 warm weather,  and change into a
 vinous, or four liquor.  If  in cry-
 ftallifing, only the fuperfluous fugar
 feparated,  it would be of no incon-
 venience ; but when part of the fu-
 gar has candid, the remaining fy-
 rup is found to have  an under pro-
 portion, and is  as  fubjed to fer-
 mentation as if it had wanted fugar
 at firft.
               IV.
 Copper-veffels, unlefs they be well
   tinned fhould not be employed in
   the  making  of  acid  fyrups, or
   fuch as are compofed of the juices
   of fruits.
   The confedioners, who are the
 moft dexterous people at thefe kinds
 of preparations,  to  avoid the  ex-
 pellee  of  frequently new-tinning
 their veffels, rarely make ufe of any
 other than copper ones untinned, in
 the preparation even of the moft a-
 cid fyrups,  as of oranges and  le-
 mons.  Neverthelefs,  by taking due
care,  that  their coppers be well
fcoured and  perfectly clean, and
 that the fyrup remain no  longer in
them than is abfolutely  neceffary,
they avoid  giving  it  any ill tafte
or quality  from the  metal.   This
pradice,  however, is by  no means
to be recommended to the apothe-
cary.
              V.
The fyrup,  when made, is tobe fet
  by till next day ; if any faccha-
  rine cruft  appears upon the fur-
  face, it is to be taken off.
      SYRUPUS  ACETII.
             Edinb.
        Syrup of vinegar.
Take of
   Vinegar, two pounds and an half;
   Refined fugar, three ponnds and
     an half.
Boil them till a fyrup be formed.

   This is tobe confidered as fimple
fyrup merely acidulated,  and is by
no means  unpleafant.  It is often
employed in mucilaginous  mixtures,
and the like; and on account of its
cheapnefs it is often preferred to fy-
rup of lemons.

    SYRUPUS ALTUMM.
             Lond.
     Syrup  of  marfemallow.
Take of
   Frefli root of marfhmallow, brui-
     fed one pound :
 Double-refined fugar, four pounds;
 Diftilled water, one gallon.
Boil the water with the marfhmal-
   low  root to one half,  and prefs
   out  the liquor when cold.   Set
   it by twelve hours; and, after
   the feces have fnbfided, pour off
   the liquor.   Add  the fugar, and
   boil   it  to  the  weight of  fix
   pounds.

            Edinb.
Take of
   Marfhmallow  roots, fomewhat
    dried, nine ounces;
   Water ten pounds ;
   Pnreft fugar,  four pounds ;
Boil the water with the roots to the
   confumption of one half,  and
   ftraia the liquor,ftrongly exprefs-
   ing it. Suffer the  ftrained liquor
   to reft till the feces  have fubiid-
  ed, and when it is free of  the
   dregs, add the fugar ;  then boil
   fo as to make a fyrup.

 The fyrup of marfhmallows feems
to  have been a fort of favourite a-
                          mong 
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
 544
 mongdifpenfatory writ rs, who have
 taken great paias to alter and amend
 it, but have been wonderfully tender
 in retrenching any of its articles. In
 the laft prefcription, it is lopt of its
 fuperfluities, without any injury to
 its virtues. It is ufed chiefly in  ne-
 phritic cafes, for fweetening emol-
 lient decodions, and  the like : of
 itfelf it  can do  little  fervice, not-
 withftanding the high opinion which
 fome  have  entertained of it;  for
 what can be cxpeded from two  or
 three fpoonluls of the fyrup, when
 the decodion, from  which two or
 three pounds are made, may be  ta-
 ken ata draught or two? It is fome-
 times ufeful in tickling coughs,  by
 invifcating irritating matter diftill-
 ing in  the fauces:  in this way it
 fometimes affords conftderasble relief

  SYRUPUS CARYOPHILLI
            RUBRI.
              Lond.
    Syrup of clove July-flower.
 Take of
  Frefli clove July-flowers,the heels
    being cut off, two pounds;
   Boiling diftilled water, fix pints.
 Macerate the flowers  for  twelve
   hours  in  a glafs veffel; and, in
   the ftrained liquor,  diffolve the
   double-refined fugar, that it may
   be  made a fyrup.

 SYRUPUS  CARYOPHILLO-
             RUM.
              Edinb.
   Syrup of clove July-flower.
 Take of
   Clove July-flowers, frefh gather-
    ed and freed from the  heels,
    one pound ;
   Pureft fugar, feven pounds and a
    quarter;
   Boiling water four pounds.
Macerate the flowers  ia the water
   for  a night; then to the ftrained
   liquor  add  the fugar previoufly
   beat, and diffolve it by a  gentle
                          I
   heat, to make the whole into a
   fyrup.

   This  fyrup  is of an  agreeable
 flavour, and a fine red colour; and
 for thefe it is chiefly valued. Some
 have fubftituted to it one eafily pre-
 parable at  feafons when the flowers
 are  not to be procured : an ounce
 of clove fpice is iniufed for fome
 days in twelve  ounces  of white
 wine, the liquor ftrained, and, with
 the addition of twenty ounces of fu-
 gar, boiled to a proper confiftence;
 a little cochineal renders the colour
 of this fyrup exadly fimilar  to that
 prepared from the clove July-flow-
 er;  and its flavour is ot •the fame
 kind, though not fo pleafant.  The
 abufe may be readily deteded by ad-
 ding to a  little  of the fyrup fome
 alkaline fak  or  ley;  which will
 change the genuine fyrup to a green
 colour; but inthecountcrfeit,it will
 make  no fuch alteration, only va-
 rying  the thade of the red.
  As  the beauty of the colour is a
 principal quality  in this fyrup,  no
 force in the way of expreflion fhould
 be ufed in feparating the liquor from
 the flowers.

     SYRUPUS COLCHICI.
              Edinb.
       Syrup of colchicum.
 Take of
  Colchicum root,  frefh and  fuccu-
     lent, cut into fmall pieces, one
     ounce:
  Vinegar, fixteen ounces;
  Pureft fugar, twenty-fix ounces.
 Macerate  the  root in the vinegar
  two days, now and then fhaking
  the veffel ;  then ftrain  it with a
  gentle preffure.  To the ftrained
  liquor add the fugar, and boil a
  little, fo  as to form a fyrup.

  This fyrup feems to be the beft
preparation of the colchicum;  great
care is required to take up this root
                             in 
Chap. 23.
Syrups.
545
 in the proper feafon:  and from er-
 rors of this kind we  are to afcribe
 the uncertainty in the effeds of this
 medicine as found in the fhops.
   The fyrup of colchicum is often
 fuccefsfully employed as a diuretic,
 and may be taken from a dram or two
 to the extent of an ounce or more.

 SYRUPUS CORTICIS AURAN-
               TII.
             Lond.
      Syrup of orange-peel.
 Take of
   Frefh onter-rind  of Seville oran-
     ges, eight ounces -r
   Boiling diftilled water, five pints.
 Maceratefor twelve hours in a clofe
   veffel;  and,  in the ftrained li-
   quor, diffolve the double-refined
   fugar to make a fyrup.

              Edinb.
 Take of
   Yellow  rind of Seville orange-
   peel, frefh, fix ounces;
   Boiling water,  three pounds.
 Infufe  them  for a night in a clofe
   veffel; then ftrain the liquor; let
   it ftand to fettle;  and  having
   poured it off  clear from the fedi-
   ment,  diffolve in it four pounds
   and a quarter of  white fugar, fo
   as to make it into a  fyrup with a
   gentle heat.

   In making  this fyrup,  it is parti-
cularly neceffary that the fugar be
previoufly powdered, and diffolved
in the infufion with as gentle a heat
as poffible, to prevent the exhalation
of the volatile partsof the peel. With
thefe cautions,  the  fyrup proves a
very elegant and agreeable one, pof-
feffing great fliare of the fine flavour
of the orange-peel.

      SYRUPUS CROCI.
             L ond.
       Syrup of faffron,
 Take of
   Saffron, one ounce
   Boiling diftilled water, one pint.
 Macerate the faffron, in the water,
   for twelve hours, in a clofe veflel;
   and diflblve the double refined
   fugar in the ftrained liquor that
   it may be made a fyrup.

   Saffron  is very  well fitted for
 making a fyrup, as in this form a
 fufficient dofe of it is contained in a
 reafonable compafs.  This fyrup is
 at prefent frequently prefcribed ; it
 is a  pleafant cordial,  and gives a
 fine colour to juleps.

  SYRUPUS  SUCCI LIMONIS.
              Lond.
       Syrup  oflejnon-juice.
 Take of
   Lemon-juice, ftrained, after the
     feces have fubfided, two pints ;
   Double-refined fugar, fifty oun-
     ces.
   Diffolve the fugar, that it may
     be made a fyrup.

 SYRUPUS e  SUCCO  MALO-
     RUM LIMONIORUM.
            Edinb.
       Syrup  of lemon-juice.
Take of
  Juice of lemons, fuffered to ftand
    till the feces have fubfided, and
    afterwards flrained,two pounds
    and a half.
  Double-refined  fugar, fifty oun-
    ces.
Diffolve the fugar  in the juice, foas
  to make a fyrup thereof.

SYRUPUS FRUCTUS   MORI.
             Lond.
  Syrup-of the juice $f 'mulberries. .

SYRUPUS  FRUCTUS   RUBI
            ID.EI.
             Loud.
 Spup of the juice of rafpberries.
             M m           SY- 
546
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part III.
 SYRUPUS FRUCTUS RIBIS
            NIGRI.
             Lond.
     Syrup of black currants.
Thefe three are direded by theLon-
  don college to be prepared in the
  fame manner as fyrup of lemons,
  which  immediately  precedes
  them.
  All thefe four are very pleafant
cooling  fyrups; and  with  this in-
tention are occafionally made ufe of
in draughts and juleps, for quench-
ing thirft, abating heat, &c. in bi-
lious or inflammatory  diftempers.
They are fometimes  likewife  em-
ployed in gargurifms for inflamma-
tions of the mouth and  tonfils.

    SYRUPUS PAPAVERIS
             ALBI.
             Lond.
     Syrup of the white poppy.
Take of
  The heads of white poppies dried,
     and the feeds taken out, three
     pounds and an half;
  Double-refined fugar, fix pounds.
  Diftilled water,  eight gallons.
Slice and bruife the heads, then boil
  them  in the water to three  gal-
  lons,  iti a  water-bath faturated
  with fea-falt, and prefs out the li-
  quor.  Reduce this by boiling to
  about the meafure of four pints,
  and ftrain it whilft it is hot,  firft
  through a fieve, then through a
  thin woollen cloth, and fet  it a-
  fide for twelve hours, that the fe-
  ces may fubfide.  Boil the liquor,
  poured off from the feces, to three
  pints, and diffolve the fugar in it
  that it may be made a fyrup.

SYRUPUS PAPAVERIS  ALBI,
  feu de MECONIO, vulgo DIA-
  CODION.
            Edinb.
Syrup of white poppies, or of meco-
n\um} commonly called diacodium.
Take of
  White poppy heads, dried, and
  freed  from   the  feeds,   two
  pounds;
  Boiling water, thirty pounds;
  Pureft  fugar, four pounds.
Macerate the bruifed heads in the
  water for a night; next boil till
  only one-third  part of  the liquor
  remain; then  ftrain it; exprefs-
  ing it ftrongly.  Boil the ftrain-
  ed liquor  to the confumption of
  one half, and  ftrain again;  laft-
  ly, add the fugar, and boil to a
  fyrup.
It may alfo be made by diffolving in
  two pounds and a half of fimple
  fyrup, one dram of the  extrad of
  white poppies.

 This fyrup,impregnated with the
opiate matter  of  the poppy heads,
is given to children in dofes of two
or ihreedrams; to adults, from half
an ounce  to an ounce and upwards,
for eafing pain, procuring reft, and
anfwering the other intentions of
mild opiates.  Particular care is re-
quifite in  its preparation, that it may
be always made, as nearly as pof-
fible, of the fame ftrength; and ac-
cordingly the colleges have  been
very minute iri their defcription of
the procefs.

SYRUPUS PAPAVERIS ERRA-
            TICI.
             Lond.
      Syrup of the red poppy.
Take of
  The frefh flowers of the wild, or
     red poppy, four pounds;
  Boilingdiftilled water, four pints
     and  an half.
Put the flowers, by degrees, into the
  boiling water,  in  a  water-bath,
  conftantly ftirring them.  After
  this, the veffel being taken out
  of the bath,  macerate for twelve
  hours; then prefs out the liquor,
                            and 
Chap. 23.
Syrups.
547
   and fet it apart,  that the  feces
   may fubfide.  Laftly, make it into
   a fyrup,  with double-refined fu-
   gar.

   The defign of putting the  flow-
ers into boiling water in a water-
bath is, that they may be  a  little
fcalded,  fo as to fhrink enough to
beall immerged in the water; with-
out this artifice,  they can fcarce be
all got in: but they are no longer to
be continued over the fire than till
this effed is produced, left the liquor
become too thick, and the fyrup ren-
dered ropy.
   This fyrup li3S been recommend-
ed in diforders of the breaft, coughs,
fpitting of blood, pleurifies,  and o-
ther difeafes, both as an emollient
and as an opiate.  It is one of the
lighteft of the opiate medicines; and
in this refped  fo weak, that  fome
have doubted of its having any ano-
dyne quality. We indeed prefume,
that it might be very fafely fuperfe-
ded altogether :  and accordingly it
has now no place either in  the E-
dinburgh pharmacopoeia, or fome of
the beft foreign ones, though ftill re-
tained by the London college.

       SYRUPUS ROS^E.
             Lond,
           Rofe-fyrup.
Take of
   The dried petals of  the damafk
    rofe, feven ounces ;
   Double refined fugar, fix pounds;
   Boiling diftilled water, four pints.
Macerate the petals  of the  rofe in
   water  for  twelve hours,   and
   ftrain.  Evaporate  the ftrained li-
   quor to two pints and an half, and
   add  the  fugar, that  it  may be
   made a fyrup.

     SYRUPUS ROSARUM
        PALLIDARUM.
            Edinb.
       Syrup of pale rofes.
Take of
   Pale  rofes,  frefh gathered,  one
     pound ;
   Boiling water,  four pounds ;
   White fugar, three pounds.
Macerate the rofes in the water fora
   night; then to the liquor ftrained,
   and freed from the dregs, add the
   fugar ;  boil them into a fyrup.
This fyrup may likewife be made
   from  the liquor remaining after
   the diftillation of rofe-water, de-
   purated from its feces.

   The liquor remaining after the
diftillation of rofes (provided the
ftill has been perfedly clean), is as
proper for making this fyrup as a
frefh infufion ;  for  the diftillation
only colleds  thofe volatile parts
which are  diflipated in the air whilft
the infufion is boiling to its confift-
ence : This fyrup is an agreeable
and mild purgative for children, in
the dofe of half  a fpoonful,  or a
fpoonful.  It likewife proves gently
laxative to adults ; and  with  this
intention may be of fervice in cof-
tive habits.  Its principal ufe is In
folutive  glyflers.

  SYRUPUS e ROSIS SICCIS.
             Edinb.
        Syrup of dry rofes.
Take of
   Red rofes, dried, feven ounces ;
   White fugar, fix pounds ;
   Boiling  water, five pounds.
Infufe the rofes in the water for -a
   night, then boil  them a little ;
   ftrain out the liquor,  and adding
   to it  the fugar, boil them to the
   confiftence of a fyrup.

   This fyrup is fuppofed  to be
mildly aftringent: but is principally
valued on  account of its red colour.
The London college have omitted
it, having  retained others at leaffc
equal to it in that refped.
            M m »         SY- 
54&       Preparations and Compofitions.       Part III.
   SYRUPUS SCILLITICUS.
             Edinb.
         Syrup of fquills.
 Take of
   Vinegar of fquills, two pounds ;
   White fugar,  three pounds and
     a half.
 Make  them  into a fyrup with  a
   gentle heat.

   This fyrup was formerly prepa-
 red with fome fpices, intended to
 alleviate the offenfivenefs of  the
 fquills.  But while they had not this
 effed, they often counteraded  the
 intention in view, and are therefore
 omitted.  It is ufed chiefly in dofes
 of a fpoonful or two, for promoting
 expectoration, which it does very
 powerfully.

   SYRUPUS SIMPLEX,  five
         COMMUNIS.
             Edinb.
     Simple or common fyrup.
 Take of
   Pureft fugar,  fifteen parts ;
   Water, eight  parts.
 Let the fugar  be diffolved by a
   gentle heat.

   This preparation is a plain li-
 quid fweet, void of flavour or co-
 lour.   It is  convenient  for fun-
 dry purpofes  where thefe qualities
 are not wanted, or would be excep-
 tionable.

    SYRUPUS  SPIN.E CER~
            VIN.E.
             Lond.
       Syrup of buckthorn.
 Take of
   The juice of ripe and frefh buck-
     thorn berries, one gallon ;
   Ginger, bruifed, one ounce ;
   All-fpice, powdered,  one ounce
     and an half;
   Double - refined  fugar,  feven
    pounds.
Set by the juice for fome days, that
   the feces may fnbfide, and ftrain.
   Macerate the ginger and all-fpice
   in a pint of the ftrained juice, for
   four hours, and ftrain. Boil away
   the reft of the juice to three pints;
   then add that part of the juice in
   which the ginger and all-fpice
   have been macerated ; and, laft-
   ly, the fugar, that it maybe made
   a fyrup.

SYRUPUS  e  RHAMNO   CA-
   THARTICO  feu  e  SPINA
   CERVINA.
             Edinb.
       Syrup of buckthorn.
Take of
   The juice of ripe  buckthorn ber-
     ries, depurated, feven pounds
     and a half;
   White fugar, three pounds and
     a half.
Boil them to the  confiftence  of a
   fyrup.

   Both  thefe preparations, in do-
fes of three or four fpoonfuls,  ope-
rate as brifk cathartics.  The prin-
cipal inconveniences attendingthem
are, their being very unpleafant, and
their occafioning a thirft and dry-
nefs of the mouth and fauces,  and
fometimes violent gripes : thefe ef-
feds may be prevented by drink-
ing liberally of water-gruel, orother
warm liquids, during the operation.
The ungratefulnefs of the  buck-
thorn is endeavoured tobe remedi-
ed in the firft of the above prescrip-
tions, by the addition of aromatics,
which, however, are fearcely fuf-
ficient for that purpofe.   The  fe-
cond alfo had formerly an aromatic
material for the  fame intention, a
dram of the effential oil of cloves;
which  being found  ineffedual, is
now rejected.

  SYRUPUS TOLUTANUS.
            Lond.
    Syrup of balfam of Tolin
                          Take 
 Chap. 23-                 Sj

 Take of
   The balfam of Tolu, eighr oun-
     ces;
   Diftilled water, three pints.
 Boil for two hours.  Mix with the
   liquor, ftrained after  it is cold,
   the double-refined fugar,  that it
   may be made a fyrup.

   SYRUPUS  BALSAMICUS.
              Edinb.
         Balfamic fyrup.
 Take of
   The fyrup of fugar, juft made,
     and warm from the fire, two
     pounds ;
   Tindure of balfam of Tolu, one
     ounce.
 When  the fyrup has grown almoft
   cold, ftir into k  the  tindure, by
   little at a  time, agitating them
   well together,till perfedly united.

   This laft  method of making the
 balfamic fyrup was dropt  in one of
 the preceding editions of the Edin-
 burgh  pharmacopoeia,  on  a com-
 plaint that the fpirit fpoiled the tafte
 of the fyrup; which it did in a great
 degree when the tindure was drawn
 with mak-fpirits, the naufeous oil
 which  all the common mak-fpirits
 are accompanied with communicat-
ing that quality; and this was par-
 ticularly the cafe when the  fpiritu-
 ous part was evaporated from the
 fyrup, as was direded in the former
 edition of the  Edinburgh pharmaco-
poeia.  Particular  care  therefore
 fhould be taken, that  the fpirit em-
 ployed for making the tindure, be
 perfedly clean, and  well redified
from all ill flavour.
  The intention of the contrivers of
the two foregoing proceffes feems to
have been fomewhat different.  In
the firft, the more fubtile  and fra-
grant parts of the balfam are extrac-
ted from the groffer refinous matter,
and alone retained in  the  fyrup:
 the other fyrup contains jhe whole
rups.                      549

 fubftance  of  the  balfam in larger
 quantity. They are both moderately
 impregnated with the agreeable fla-
 vour of the balfam.
   In fome pharmacopoeias, a fyrup
 of this kind is prepared from atinc~
 ture of balfam of  Peru, with rofe-
 water, and a proper quantity of fu-
 gar.

       SYRUPUS VIOL^E.
              Lond.
         Syrup of violets.
 Take of
   The frefh petals of the violet,
   two pounds.
   Boiling diftilled water, five pints.
 Macerate for twenty-four hours; af-
   wards ftrain the liquor, without
   preffing, through thin linen. Add
   refined fugar,  that  it  may  be
   made a fyrup.

    SYRUPUS VIOLARUM.
              Edinb.
        Syrup of violets.
 Take of
   Frefh violets, one pound ;
   Boiling water, four pounds.
   Pureftfugar, feven pounds and.£
     half.
Macerate the  violets  in the water
   for twenty-four hours in a glafs,
   or at leaft a glazed earthen veffel,
   clofe covered ;  then ftrain with-
   out expreflion, and to the ftrain-
   ed liquor add the fugar, beat, and
   make into a fyrup.

   This fyrup is of a very agreeable
flavour; and  in the quantity of a
fpoonful or two proves to children
gently laxative. It is apt to lofe, in
keeping, the elegant blue colour,for
which it is chiefly valued ; and hence
fome have been induced to counter-
feit it with materials whofe colour is
more permanent.   This abufe may
be readily difcovered,by adding to a
little of the fufpeded fyrup any acid
or alkaline liquor.   If the fyrup be
           M hi 3           £.c- 
5$0         Preparations and Compofitions.   Part  III.
genuine, the acid  will change its
blue colour to a red, and the alkali
will change it to a green; but if
counterfeit, thefe changes will not
happen.  It  is obvious,  from this
mutability of the colour of the vio-
let,that the prefcriber would be de-
ceived if he  fhould exped to  give
any blue tinge to acidulated or alka-
lifed juleps or mixtures,  by the ad-
dition of the blue fyrup.

    SYRUPUS ZINGIBERIS.
                Lond.
         Syrup of ginger.
Take of
   Ginger, bruifed, four ounces ;
   Boiling diftilled water,three pints
Macerate for four hours, and ftrain;
   then add the refined fugar,  that
   it may be  made a fyrup.

             Edinb.
Take of
   Beat ginger, three ounces;
   Boiling water, four pounds;
   Pureft fugar, feven pounds and a
     half
Macerate the ginger in the water in
   a  clofe veffel, for twenty-four
   hours ; then to the liquor ftrain-
   ed, and freed  from the feces, add
   the  beat  fugar, and make them
   into a fyrup.

   These are agreeable and mode-
 rately aromatic fyrups, lightly im-
 pregnated with the flavour and vir-
 tues of the ginger.

       SYRUPUS  ACIDUS.
              Gen.
           Acid fyrup.
 Take of
   Weak fpirit of vitriol,two drams;
   Syrup of lemons, fix ounces.
 Mix them.

    Where we  wifh to obtain a  fy>
 rup,  not only ftrongly  acidulated,
but alfo powerfully aftringent,  this
formula may be confidered as well
fuited to anfwer the purpofe.

   SYRUPUS  ALKALINUS
              Gen.
        Alkaline fyrup.
Take of
  Salt of tartar, three drams ;
  Simple fyrup, fix ounces.
Mix them.

  In this fyrup we  have in fome
degree  the  converfe of  the pre-
ceding ; and it may be ufefully em-
ployed, either for thedeftrudionof
acid in the ftomach, or  for the for-
mation of neutral  or effervefcent
mixtures.

       SYRUPUS ALLII.
             Suec.
         Syrup of garlic.
Take of
   The frefh  root of  garlic, fiiced,
     one pound  ;
   Boiling water, two pounds.
Macerate them in a clofe  veffel for
   an hour ;  add to the ftrained li-
   quor,
   Refined fagar two pounds.
Boil them to a  fyrup.

   This fyrup formerly held a place
in our pharmacopoeias, and was re-
commeded for  promoting expedo-
ration in cafes of  chronic catarrh,
and other affedions of thebreaft:
But, as well as the oxymel ex alio,
it is now baniflied from them ; and
there can be  little  doubt that the
fame intentions may in general be
anfwered by lefs difagreeable medi-
cines.  Yet where we wifh to em-
ploy garlic  as  aded  upon by a wa-
 tery  menftruum,  this formula is
 perhaps one of the beft under which
 it can be exhibited.
                      SYRUPUS 
Chap. 23.
  SYRUPUS AMYGDALINUS.
              Suec,
        Syrup of almonds.
 Take of
   Sweet almonds, one pound ;
   Bitter almonds,  two drams.
 Let the almonds be blanched and
   beat  in  a ftone  mortar, with a
   wooden  peftle;  then by degrees
   add barley-water,  two pounds ;
   ftrain the liquor,'and form it into
   a fyrup,  with as much  double-
   refined fugar as  may be necef-
   fary.

   Th e agreeable flavour of the al-
 monds,isin this formulacommunica-
 ted to a fyrup, which maybe advan-
 tageoufly employed to fweeten mix-
 tures, or to form a pleafant drink
 when diffuffed  in water;  and the
 flavour  is not a  little improved by
 the additionof the proportion of bit-
 ter almonds here directed. But even
 thefe cannot be fippofed to commu-
 nicate any adive quality to this fy-
 rup, as they are employed info fmall
 a quantity;  aud ftill  lefs is to be
 expeded from the  fweet almonds,
 which can communicate little more
 to the fyrup  than their mild oil.

   SYRUPUS CINNAMONI.
             Rofe.
       Syrup of cinnamon.
 Take of
  Cinnamon, bruifed,  five ounces;
  Spirituous cinnamon-water,  two
     pounds.
Digeft  them in a clofe glafs veffel
  for twenty-four hours; then add
  to the ftrained  liquor double-
  refined fugar, three pounds; boil
  it to a fyrup.

  This fyrup is ftrongly impreg-
nated with  the cinnamon;  and
where  we   wifh to fweeten  any
mixture, at  the fame  time adding
to it an agreeable aromatic, it is
Syrups.                        551

        perhaps one of the beft articles
        we can employ.

         SYRUPUS EMETICUS.
                 Brun.
              Emetic fyrup.
     Take of
        Glafs of  antimony,  finely pow-
         dered, two drams ;
        Rhenilh wine, twelve ounces.
     Let them be digefted for three days
        in a gentle  heat, then ftrain the
        liquor  through paper, and mix
       with the ftrained liquor  rhirty
        ounces of double-refined  fugar.
        Let it be formed into a fyrup and
       kept in a  clofe  veflel.

       There  can be no doubt of this
     fyrup being ftrongly impregnated
     with the emetic quality of the anti-
     mony ; and it will  at leaft have fo
     far the advantage of being very a-
     greeable to the tafte, that it may be
     readily taken by very young people.
     But every good effect to be obtained
     from it may he had with more cer-
     tainty, by adding to fimple  fyrup
     any quantity that may be thought
     neceffary of the tartarus antimonia-
     lis, previoufly diffolved in a fmall
     proportion of water.

      SYRUPUS HYDRARGYRI.
                 Suec.
           Syrup of quickfilver.
     Take of
       Purified quickfilver, one dram ;
      Gum arabic, three drams;
       Rofe water, as much as is fuffici-
         ent for reducing the gum to a
         mucus.
     Let them be rubbed in a mortar, till
       the quickfilver totally difappears;
      then  by  degrees  mix  with  it
      fimple fyrup four ounces.

      In this we have a preparation fi-
     milar to the mercurial  folution  of
     DrPlcnk, formerly mentioned ; and
                 M m 4      which 
552       Preparations and Compofitions.      Part  III.
which while it does not poffefs any
other advantage than mere fweet-
nefs  of tafte, is liable to the objec-
tions formerly urged  againft that
preparation.
CHAP.     XXIV.
M EL L  A   M E D  I C AT A.
MEDICATED   HONEYS.
    TH E more fixed parts of vege-
     tables, diffolved in watery li-
quors,  may be thence  transferred
into honey, by mixing the honey
with the watery  decodion or juice
of the plant, and boiling them toge-
ther till the aqueous part has exha-
led, and the honey remains of its
original  confiftence.   Honey  has
not probably,  however, any very
peculiar advantage over fugar ;  and
it is liable to many inconveniences
whicli fugar is free from : in parti-
cular, it is much more liable to  run
into fermentation, and in many con-
ftitutions produces gripes, and often
violent effeds : TheEdinburgh col-
lege have  therefore rejeded  the
whole of the oxymels from their laft
edition of the pharmacopoeia. And
the number of preparations with ho-
ney in moft of the foreign pharma-
copoeias is  now much  diminifhed.
Still, however, there   are feveral
much employed by praditioners of
eminence, and of courfe retained in
the Lonion pharmacopoeia.
         MEL ROSiE.
            Lond.
         Honey of rofes.
Take of
  Red rofe-buds, with the heels cut
     off and dried, four ounces ;
  Diftilled water, boiling,  three
     pints;
  Clarified honey, five pounds.
Macerate the rofe-petals in the wa-
  ter for fix hoiirs ;  then mix the
  honey  with the ftrained liquor,
  and boil the mixture to the thick-
  nefs of a fyrup.

  This  preparation  is not unfre-
quently made ufe of as a mild  cool-
ing detergent, particularly in garga-
rifms for ulcerations and inflamma-
tion of the mouth and tonfils.  The
rofe buds here ufed fhould be haftily
dried ; the defign  of doing  fo is,
that they may  the  better preferve
their aftringency.

                           MEL 
 Chap.  24.         Medicate

         MEL SCILL^E.
              Lond.
         Honey of fquills.
 Take of
   Clarified honey, three pounds;
   Tindure  of fquills, two pints.
 Boil them in a glafs veffel to the
   thicknefs of a fyrup.

   The honey will here be impreg-
 nated with all the adive parts of the
 fquills which the  tindure before
 contained, and may be employed as
 an ufefnl expedorant or diuretic.

    OXYMEL  iERUGINIS.
              Lond.
       Oxymel of verdegris.
 Take of
   Prepared verdegris,  one ounce ;
   Vinegar, feven ounces;
   Clarified honey, fourteen ounces.
 Diffolve the verdegris in the vine-
   gar, and ftrain it through linen ;
   then add the honey,  and boil the
   whole to a proper thicknefs.

   This is an improvement of what
 was formerly known in our pharma-
 copoeias under the title of Mel JE-
gyptiacum; which, however, was, as
 then prepared, very uncertain with
 refped to ftrength.  It is ufed only
 externally for cleanfing foul ulcers,
 and keeping down fungous flefh.  It
 is alfo often ferviceable in venereal
 ulcerations of the mouth and tonfils:
 But there  is fome danger from its
 application to places from the fitua-
 tion of which it is apt to be fwallow-
 ed ; for even a fmall  quantity of
 verdegris  paffing into the ftomach
 may be produdive of diftreffing,  if
 not deleterious effeds.

    OXYMEL  COLCHICI.
             Lond.
    Oxymel of meadow faffron.
 Take of
  The frefh root of meadow faf-
l Honeys.                553
     fron, cut into thin flices, one
     ounce ;
   Diftilled vinegar, one pint;
   Clarified honey, two pounds.
 Macerate the root of meadow-faf-
   fron, with the vinegar, in a glafs
   veffel,  with a  gentle heat,  for
   forty-eight hours.   Strain the li-
   quor, preffed out  ftrongly from
   the  root,  and  add  the honey.
   Laftly,  beil  the  mixture,  fre-
   quently ftirring it  with a wooden
   fpoon,  to  the thicknefs of a fy-
   rup.

   Th is oxymel may be confidered
 as very analogous to the fyrupus col-
 chici of which we have already made
 feme obfervations. Under this form
 it was firft introduced by Dr Stoerk.
 Andakhough  with certain conftitu-
 tions the fyrup is unqueftionably pre-
 ferable, yet it well deferves a place
 in our pharmacopoeias, as being an
 adive medicine.

      OXYMEL  SCILLjE.
              Lond.
        Oxymel of fquills.
 Take of
   Clarified honey, three pounds;
   Vinegar of fquills, two pints.
 Boil them in a glafs  veffel,  with a
   flow fire, to the thicknefs of a
  fyrup.

  T h e hon ey was form erlyemploy-
 ed for this preparation  unclarified,
 and the fcum, which in fuch cafes
 arifes in the boiling,  taken off;  by
 this means the impurities of the ho-
 ney were difcharged  ; but fome of
 the medicinal parts of  the  fquills,
 with which the vinegar was impreg-
 nated, were alfo feparated. For this
 reafon the college of  London have
 now judicioufly ordered the honey
 for all  thefe kinds of preparations
 to be previoufly clarified by itfelf.
  Oxymel of  fquills  is an ufeful a-
                        perient, 
 554          Preparations a

 pcricnt, detergent,and cxpedorant,
 and of great fervice in humoral afth-
 mas,  coaghs,  and other diforders
 where thick phlegm abounds. It is
 given in dofes of twoor three drams,
 along with fome aromatic water, as
 that of cinnamon, to prevent  the
 great naufea which it would other-
 wife be apt to excite.  In large do-
 fes, it proves emetic.

     OXYMEL  SIMPLEX.
             Lond.
         Simple oxymel.
 Take of
   Clarified honey, two pounds ;
   Diftilled vinegar, one pint.
 Boil them in a glafs-veffel, with a
   flow fire, to the thicknefs of a
   fyrup.

   This preparation may be confi-
 dered as analogous to the fyrupus
 aceti of  the Edinburgh pharmaco-
 poeia.  It is not inferior in efficacy
 to many more elaborate compofi-
 tions.  It  is an agreeable, mild,
 cooling medicine.   It is often ufed
in cooling,  detergent, gargarifms,
 and not unfrequently as an expec-
 torant.

    OXYMEL ex ALLIO.
             Dan.
        Oxymel of garlic.
Take of
  Garlic, cut in  flices,  an ounce
    and a half ;
  Caraway feeds,
  Sweet fennel feeds,  each two
    drams ;
  Clarified  honey, ten ounces ;
  Vinegar,  half a pint.
Boil the vinegar for a little time,
  with the  feeds bruifed,  in a gla-
nd Compofitions.   Part  III.

   zed earthen veffel; then add the
   garlic, and cover the veffel clofe ;
   when grown cold, prefs out the
   liquor, and diffolve in it the ho-
   ney by the heat of a water-bath.

   This  oxymel is recommended
 for attenuating vifcid juices, promo-
 ting expedoration, and the  fluid
 fecretions in general.   It is doubt-
 lefs a medicine of  confiderable ef-
 ficacy, though very unpleafant, the
 flavour of  the garlic  prevailing,
 notwithftanding the addition of the
 aromatic feeds.

   OXYMEL  PECTORALE.
              Brun.
         PeBoral oxymel.
 Take of
   Elecampane roots, one ounce ;
   Florence orris roots,halfan ounce;
   Gum ammoniacum, one  ounce ;
   Vinegar, half a pint ;
   Clarified honey,  one pound  ;
   Water, three pints.
 Let  the roots, cut and  bruifed, be
   boiled in the water till one-third
   is wafted  ; then ftrain off the li-
   quor ;  let it ftand to fettle ;  and
   having  poured  it off clear from
   the feces, add to it the honey and
   the ammoniacum, previoufly dif-
   folved in the vinegar. Mix them
   together, by boiling them a little.

  The title of this compofition ex-
 preffes its medical  virtues.   It is
 defigned for thofe diforders of the
 breaft that proceed  from a load of
 vifcid phlegm and  obftrudions of
 the pulmonary veffels. Twoor three
 fpoonfuls may be taken every night
 and  morning, and  continued  for
 fome time.
CHAP. 
Chap.  25.
C   H   A
P   U  L  V
P   o   w
    THIS form receives fuch mate-
     rials only as are capable of be-
ing fufficiently dried tobecame pul-
verable,  without the  lofs of their
virtue. There are many fubftances,
however, of thiskind, which cannot
be conveniently taken in powder :
bitter, acrid, fetid  drugs,  are too
difagreeable: emollient and mucila-
ginous herbs and roots are too bul-
ky : pure gums cohere, and become
tenaceous in the mouth ;  fixt alka-
line falts liquefy upon expofing the
compofition to the air ; and volatile
alkalies exhale. Many of the aroma-
tics, too, fuffer a greater lofs  of
their odorous principle when kept
in powder ; as in that  form they no
doubt expofe a much larger furface
to the air.
   The  dofe of powders in  extem-
poraneous prefcription, is  generally
about half a dram : it rarely exceeds
a whole dram ; and is  not often lefs
than a fcruple.   Subftances which
produce powerful effeds in  fmaller
dofes are not trufted to this form,
unlefs their bulk be increafed by ad-
ditions of lefs efficacy ; thofe which
require to be given in larger ones
2re better fitted for other forms,
]ers.                       SSS
P.     XXV.
E  R   E   S,
E   R    S.
  The ufual vehicle for taking the
lighter powders,  is any agreeable
thin liquid.   The ponderous pow-
ders,  particularly  thofe  prepared
from  metallic fubftances, require a
more confiftent  vehicle, as fyrups ;
for from thinonesthey foonfubfide.
Refinous fubftances likewife are moft
commodioufly  taken in  thick  li-
quors : in thin  ones,  they  are apt
to run into lumps,  which  are not
eafily again diflbluble.

General rules for making powders'.

               I.
Particular care ought  to be taken
   that nothing  carious, decayed,or
   impure, be mixed in the compo-
   fition of powders: the ftalks and
   corrupted parts of plants are to be
   feparated.
               II.
The  dry  aromatics  ought to be
   fprinklcd, during  their pulveri-
   zation, with a tew drops of any
   proper water.
               III.
The moifter aromatics may be dried
   will a very  gentle heat, before
   they are committed to the mortar.
                      IV. Gums, 
 556         Preparations a)

              IV.
Gums, and fuch other fubftances as
  are difficultly pulverable, fhould
  be pounded along with the drier
  ones, that they may pafs thefieve
  together.
               V.
No part fhould be feparated for ufe,
  until the whole quantity put into
  the mortar has paffed the fieve,
  and f'ne feveral fittings been mix-
  ed together;  for thofe parts  of
  one and the fame fubjed, which
  powder firft, may prove different,
  at leaft in degree of efficacy, from
  the reft.
              VI.
 Powders oftaromatics are to be pre-
  pared only in fmall quantities at
  a time, and  kept in glafs-veffels
  very clofely ftopt.

  If  powders are long kept,  aad
 not carefully  fecured from the air,
 their virtue is in great meafure de-
 ftroyed,althought the parts in Which
 it confifts fliould not in other circum-
ftances prove volatile. Thus, though
the virtues of ipecacuanha are fo fixt
as to remain eatire even ia extrads
made with proper menftrua, yet if
the powdered root be expofed for a
long time to the air,  it lofes it eme-
tic quality.

    PULVIS  ALOETICUS.
             Lond.
         Aloetic powder.
Take of
  Socotorine aloes, one pound ;
  White canella, three ounces.
Rub them feparately  to  powder,
  then mix them.

  This compofition has long been
known in the fliops under the title
of hie r a pier a.  It furnifties us with
an ufeful aloetic purgative, the ca-
nella operating as a good corrigent
for the aloes.   But it is more  fre-
quently employed as the bafis ©fan
d Compofitions.   Part III.
 eleduary  of pills, or of a tindure,
 which was for a long time diftin-
 guifhed by the appellation offacred
 tinBure.

 PULVIS ALOETICUS CUM
           FERRO.
              Lond.
     Aloetic powder with iron.
 Take of
  Socotorine  aloes, powdered, an
     ounce and an half;
  Myrrh, powdered, two ounces ;
  Dry extrad of gentian ;
  Vitriolated  iron,  of each, in
     powder, one ounce.
 Mix them.

  In this powder we  have an aloe-
 tic  and chalybeate conjoined.  It
 confifts of nearly the fame articles
 which formerly entered the compo-
 fition of  the  Pilulae Ecphradicas
 Chalybeatae, as  they were called ;
 and it is perhapsmorefrequently em-
 ployed when brought  to the form of
 pills by means of fyrups, than under
 that of powder :  But  in either way
 it isan ufeful medicine, and is parti-
 cularly employed with advantage in
 cafes of obftruded menftruation.

 PULVIS ALOETICUS CUM
          GUAIACO.
             Lond.
  Aloetic powder with guaiacum.
 Take of
  Socotorine aloes, one ounce and
     an half;
  Gum guaiacum, one ounce ;
  Aromatic powder, half an ounce.
 Rub the aloes  and gum guaiacum
  feparately to powder  ; then mix
  all the ingredients  together.

  In the guaiacum, as well as  the
 aloes, we have  a warm gummi-refi-
 nous purgative  ;  and  both are  cor-
 reded, as well  as more minutely di-
 vided, from their combination with
 the  aromatics.  This therefore fur-
                         nifhes 
Chap. 25.               Powders.

nifhes us with an ufeful purgative :
But when taken only in fmall dofes,
its chief effed is that of promoting
perfpiration.  It is, however, more
frequently employed reduced to the
form of pills than in the ftate of
powder;  and indeed it confifts of
nearly the  fame ingredients which
conftituted  the pilulae aromaticas of
the former edition of the London
pharmacopoeia.

   PULVIS AROMATICUS.
             Lond.
        Aromatic powder.
Take of
   Cinnamon, two ounces;
   Smaller cardamom-feeds, hufked,
   Ginger,
   Long pepper, of each one oUnce.
Rub them together to a powder.

PULVIS   DIAROMATON, five
   SPECIES AROMATICiE.
             Edinb.
  Aromatic powder, or Aromatic
            fpecies.
Take of
   Nutmegs,
   Leffer card a mom-feeds,
   Ginger,  of each two ounces.
Beat them  together into a powder,
   to be kept in  a phial well fliut.

   Both thefe  compofitions are a-
greeablc,hot, fpicy medicines; and
as fuch maybe ufe fully taken in cold
phlegmatic habits and decayed con-
ftitutions, for warming the ftomach,
promoting digeftion,and ftrengthen-
ing the tone of the vifcera. Thedofe
is from ten grains to a fcruple and
upwards.   The firft is confiderably
the warmeft. This principally arifes
from the quantity  of  long  pepper
which it contains; but it is perhaps
to be doubted whether from this ar-
ticle any advantage be derived : and
a powder not inferior to either might,
we think,  be formed by fubflituting
caffia to the cinnamon employed by
557
the one college, or the nutmegs by
the other.

  PULVIS ASARI COMPOSI-
             TUS.
             L ond.
Compound powder of afarabacca.
Take of
  The dry leaves of afarabacca,
                Sweet marjoram,
                Syrian herb-ma-
                  ftich,
  Dry flowers of lavender, of each
     one ounce.
  Powder them together.

PULVIS STERNUTATORIUS,
      five CEPHALICUS.
            Edinb.
Sternutatory,  or  Cephalic powder.
Take of
  The leavesof afarum, three parts;
  Marjoram,  one part.
Beat them together into a powder.

  Though  the former  of thefe
powders be more  compounded than
the latter, yet they differ very little.
They arc both agreeable and effica-
cious errhines, and fuperior to moft
of thofe ufually fold under the name
of herb fnuff.  They are often em-
ployed  with great advantage in ca-
fes of obftinate headach, and of oph-
thalmias refitting other modes of
cure. Taken under the form of
fnuff to the extent offive or fix grains
at bed-time,  they will operate the
fucceeding day as a powerful er-
rhine, inducing frequent fneezing,
but ftill more a large difcharge from
the nofe. It is, however, neceffary,
during their operation,  to avoid ex-
pofure to cold.

     PULVIS e  CERUSSA.
             Lond.
       Powder of ceruffe.
Take of
  Ceruffe five ounces 3
  Sarcocol, one ounce and a half;
                          Tra- 
558          Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
  Tragacanth, half an ounce.
Rub them together into powder.

  This compofition is the trochifei
albi of Rhazes brought  back to its
original fimplicity with regard to
the ingredients,  and without  the
needlefs trouble of making it into
troches. It is employed for external
purpofes, as in collyria, lotions, and
injedions, for repelling acrimonious
humours, and in inflammations.

PULVIS e  CHELIS CANCRO-
     RUM COMPOSITUS.
             Lond.
Compound powder of crabs  claws.
Take of
  Crabs claws,prepared,one pound;
  Chalk,
  Red coral, each, prepared, three
     ounces.
Mix them.

  These powders have loft feve-
ral of their ingredients, without any
injury to their virtues; and poffibly
they would  ftill  bear a  farther re-
duction;  for the crabs eyes  and
chalk are by themfelves at leaft as
effedual as any compofition of them
with coral: and perhaps every pur-
pofe to be obtained from them may
be accomplifhed  by a more  fimple
abforbent, as the pulvis cretaceus,
afterwards to be mentioned, or the
powderof the lapilli ca ncrorum.

  PULVIS CONTRAYERViE
         COMPOSITUS.
              Lond.
Compound powder of contrayerva.
Take of
  Contrayerva, powdered, five oun-
ces;
  Compound powderof crabs-claws,
     one  pound and an half.
Mix them.

  This powder was formerly di-
reded to be  made up intobills with
water,  and was then called Lapis
contrayerva ; a piece of trouble
now laid afide as needlefs, for it was
neceffary to reduce the balls  into
powuer again before they could be
ufed. Nor did that form contribute,
as has been imagined, to their  pre-
fervation ; for it is fcarce to be  fup-
pofed   that the  powder will  lofe
more by being kept for a reafonable
length  of time in a clofe-floptglafs,
than the balls will in the humeda-
tion with water, and exficcation in
the air, before they are fit for being
put by to keep.  This medicine has
a much better  claim to the title of
an alexipharmac and fudorific than
the foregoing  compofitions.  The
contrayerva by itfelf proves very fer-
viceable in low fevers, where the vis
vitasis weak, and a diaphorefistobe
promoted.  It  is poffible,  that the
crabs-claw powders are of no farther
fervice than as they divide this pow-
erful ingredient,  and  make it fit
more eafily on the ftomach.

PULVIS  e CRETA  COMPO-
            SITUS.
             Lond.
    Compound powder of chalk.
Take of
   Prepared chalk, half a pound;
   Cinnamon four ounces;
   Tormentil,
   Gum arabic,of each,three ounces;
   Long pepper, half an ounce.
Powder them feparately,  and  mix
   them.

    PULVIS  CRETACEUS.
            Edinb.
          Chalk powder.
Take of
   White chalk prepared, four  oun-
     ces;
   Nutmeg, half a dram;
   Cinnamon, one dram.
Mix and make  them into powder ;
   which  may fupply the place of
   the cardialgic troches.
                          The 
Chap.  25.
Powders.
559
  The addition of thearomatics in
the above formula, coincides with
the general intention of the remedy
which is indicated for weaknefs and
acidity in the ftomach; and inloofe-
nefs from acidity.

 PULVIS  e CRETA COMPO-
      SITUS CUM OPIO.
             Lond.
Compound powder  of chalk with
             opium.
Take of
  Compound powder of   chalk,
     eight ounces ;
  Hard purified opium, powdered,
     one dram and an half.
Mix  them.

  From the addition of the opium
this remedy becomes ftill more pow-
erful than the above in reftraining
diarrhoea.

  PULVIS  IPECACUAN  HE
        COMPOSITUS.
             Lond.
  Compound powder of ipecacu-
             anha.
Take of
  Ipecacuanha.
  Hard purified  opium,  of  each,
     powdered, one dram ;
  Vitriolated kali,  powdered, one
     ounce.
Mix  them.

 PULVIS SUDORIFICUS, five
           DOVERI.
             Edinb.
  Sudorific, or Dover's powder.
Take of
  Vitriolated tartar, three drams ;
  Opium,
  Root  of  ipecacuanha,  beat, of
     each one fcruple.
Mix  and grind them accurately to-
  gether, fo as to make an uniform
     powder.

  The vitriolated tartar, from the
grittinefsof its cryftals, is perhaps
better  fitted for tearing and divid-
ing the tenacious opium than any o-
ther fait ; this feems to be  its only
ufe in the preparation. The opera-
tor ought to be careful that the opi-
um and ipecacuanha fliall be equally
diffufed through  the whole mafs  of
powder, otherwife different portions
of the powder muft have differences
in degree of ftrength.
 The hard purified opium, direded
by the London college, is, from this
circumftance preferable to opium in
its ordinary ftate, employed by the
Edinburgh college.
  This powder is one of the moft:
certain fudorifics  that we know of;
and as fuch,  was recommended by
Dr Dover as an effedual remedy ia
rheumatifm.  Modern pradice con-
firms  its reputation, not only in
rheumatifm, but alfo in dropfy and
fundry other difeafes, where it is of-
ten difficult by other means to pro-
duce a copious fweat. The dofe is
from five to ten or twelve grains,ac-
cordingas the patient's ftomach and
ftrength bear it.  It is convenient
to avoid much drinking immediate-
ly after taking it, otherwife  it is
very apt to be rejeded by vomiting
before anyotbereffeds are produced.

     PULVIS e JALAPA.
        COMPOSITUS.
            Edinb.
    Compound powder of jalap.
Take of
  Jalap root, one ounce ;
   Cryftals of tartar, two ounces.
Mix, and diligently grind them to-
  gether for fome  time, fo  as to
  form a very fine powder.

   The ufe of the  cryftals in this
preparation i- to break down and di-
vide thejalapinto very minute par-
ticles,  whereby  its  operation  is
thought to be meliorated  ;  and 011
this account the two articles are di-
                         rrded 
560         Preparations a

reded to be pounded together, and
not feparately.  But whether from
this circumftance  any advantage
arifes or not, there can be no doubt
that this  combination  furnifties us
with a very ufeful and  adive pur-
gative in every cafe where it is ne-
ceffary to produce both a full eva-
cuation of the inteftinal canal,and a
freedifcharge from the fyftem iuge-
neral, under the iorm of catharfis.

 PULVIS e  MYRRHA COM-
          POS! f US.
              Lond.
    Compound powder of myrrh.
Take of
  Myrrh,
  Dried favin,
----rue,
  Ruffian caftor, of each one ounce.
Rub them together into a powder.

 This is a reformation of the tro-
chifei e myrrha, a compofition con-
trived by Rhazes againft uterine ob-
ftrudions.  It may be taken in any
convenient vehicle, or made into
bolufes, from a fcruple to a dram or
more, two or three times a-day.

      PULVIS OPIATUS.
             Lond.
        Opiate powder.
Take of
  Hard  purified opium, powdered,
     one dram;
  Burnt  and  prepared hartfhorn,
     nine drams.
Mix them.

   The hartfhorn is here intended
merely to divide the opium, and to
give it the form of powder, altho'
it  may perhaps have alfo fome in-
fluence in rendering the opium more
adive from  deftroying acid in the
ftomach. But whether in this way
it  has any effed or not,  there can
be no doubt that it is a very conve-
nient formula for the exhibition of
'd Compofitions.   Part III.

 opium in powder;  which on fome
 occafions is preferable to its being
 given either in a liquid form or in
 that of pills.  As ten grains of this
 powder contain precifely one of the
 opium, the requifite dofe may be ea-
 fily adapted to the circumftances of
 the  cafe. It is often fuccefsfully
 employed as a  fweating powder ;
 and has not, like the Pulvis Doveri,
 the  effed of  inducing ficknefs at
 ftomach, or vomiting.

  PULVIS e SCAMMONIO
        COMPOSITUS.
           Lond.
  Compound powder of fcammony.
 Take of
  Scammony,
  Hard extrad of jalap, of each two
     ounces;
  Ginger, half an ounce.
 Powder them  feparately, and mix
     them.

             Edinb.
 Take of
  Scammony,
  Cryftals of  tartar, of each two
     ounces;
 Mix, and grind them diligently into
  a powder.

  It is much to  be regretted,  that
 in the pharmacopoeias publifiied by
 authority  in Britain, two compofi-
 tions fhould be diftinguifhed by  the
 fame name,  differing confiderably
 from each other in their nature and
 degree of adivity.
  The compound powder of fcam-
 mony in the laft edition of the Lon-
 don  pharmacopoeia  differed confi-
 derably from the prefent: For there
 the only addition was calcined hartf-
 horn, intended merely for the divi-
 fion of the fcammony.   This pur-
 pofe is ftill better anfwered by  the
 cryftals of tartar, which at the fame
 time confpire with the operation of
 the fcammony as a purgative.   But
                             the 
Chap. 25.
Powders.
561
the addition of jalap  and ginger,
according to the prefent formula of
the London pharmacopoeia, gives
not only a purgative  confiderably
different, butincreafea  alfo the heat-
ing quality of the medicine, while
the cream of tartar  has an evident
refrigerant power. Both may on oc-
cafions be ufeful, but we think that
in moft cafes the Edinburgh formula
will be found preferable.
  In editions of our pharmacopoeias
of ftill older dare, this powder was
prepared with  another very adive
ingredient, diaphoretic antimony. It
was much celebrated as diftinguifh-
ed by the  name of its inventor,  be-
ing called from  its  firft publiflier,
PULVIS  CORNACHINI.   In a
former edition of the Edinburgh
pharmacopoeia it was thus direded
to be prepared  :

Take of
  Diaphoretic antimony,
  Cream of tartar,
  Scammony, each equal parts.
Make them into a powder.
                          >.
  This maybe given  to the quan-
tity of a dram or more.  In other
prefcriptions, the tartar and anti-
monial calx  bear nearly  the fame
proportion to the fcammony as  the
calcined  hartfhorn did in  the Lon-
don pharmacopoeia.  It appears pro-
bable, that neither  of thefe ingre-
dient, are of any farther ufe, than as
they divide the texture of the fcam-
mony; though Cornachini fuppofes
very confiderable advantage from
fome deobftruent quality in the tar-
tar, whereby the veffels fliall be 0-
pened, and the noxious humours pre-
pared for expulfion ; and from  the
preparation of antimony, though it
have  no fenfible operation, he  ex-
peds fome fhare of the  fame fuccefs
which fometimes attends the rough-
er preparations of that  mineral.
   Both the prefent .formulae may,
however, beconlidered as poffeffing
all the advantages  of the  pulvis
Cornachini.

PULVIS e  SCAMMONIO CUM
            ALOE.
            Loud.
  Powder of fcammony with aloes.
Take of
   Scammony, fix drams;
   Hard extrad of jalap,
   Socotorine aloes, of each an ounce
     and an half;
   Ginger, half an ounce.
Powder them feparately,  and mix
  them.

   In this formula, the combination
of fcammony, jalap, and aloes, fur-
nifhes a very adive purgative,which
with fome intentions at leaft, may
be preferable to either of the pre-
ceding.  Taken  from five  to ten
grains, it will operate as a purga-
tive, even in cafes of obftinate cof-
tivenefs.

PULVIS e SCAMMONIO CUM
       CALOMELANE.
             Lond.
Powder of fcammony with calomel.
Take of
  Scammony, half an ounce ;
  Calomel,
   Double-refined  fugar,  of each
     two drams.
Rub  them feparately  to a powder,
  and then mix them.

   In this formula,  we  have the
fcammony in a more fimple ftate,
united with fuch a proportion of ca-
lomel as muft very confiderably aid
its purgative  power.  And accord-
ingly it may  be employed with ad-
vantage, both  in cafes of obftinate
coftivenefs, and in  dropffical affec-
tions,  where a  confiderable dif-
charge is required from the fyftem.
             N  n         PUL- 
562
PULVIS
Preparations and  Compofitions.   Part III.
         e SENNA
            TUS.
            Lend.
   Compound powder of fenna.
Take of
  Senna,
  Cryftals of tartar,  of each two
    ounces;
  Scammony, half an ounce;
  Ginger, two drams.
Rub the fcammony by itfelf, rub the
  reft together into a  powder, and
  then mix them all.

  This powder is given as cathar-
tics,  in the dofe of two fcruples,  or
a dram.  The fpice is added,  not
only to divide, but to warm the me-
dicine, and make it fit eafieron the
ftomach.  The fcammony is ufed as
a ftimulus tothe fenna; the  quan-
tity  of the latter neceffary  for  a
dofe, when nor affifted by fome more
powerful  material,  being too bulky
to be conveniently taken in this
form.
  The compofition of this medicine
is now confiderably Amplified,  by
the rejedion both of cinnamon and
cloves, as the ginger alone is found
fully  to  anfwer the  intention  in
view.

     PULVIS STYPTICUS.
             Edinb.
         Styptic powder.
Take of
,  Alum, an ourtce and a half;
  Gum kino, three drams.
Grind them together into a fine
   powder.

   In former editions  of our phar-
macopoeia, a powder of this kind
was direded to be made with alum
and  dragon's blood,  and was long
in repute as an aftringent, under the
title  of  Pulvis  Jtypticus  Helvetii.
The gum kino is judicioufly fubfti-
tuted to the dragon's  blood,  as be-
 ing; a much more powerful and cer-
COMPOSI-   tain aftringent. Thechief ufe of this
             powder is in haemorrhagies,  efpe-
             cially of the uterus.
 PULVIS e TRAGACANTHA
       COMPOSITUS.
            Lond.
  Compound powder of tragaoanth.
Take of
  Tragacanth, powdered,
  Gum arabic,
  Starch, of each an ounce and ax
     half;
  Double-refined fugar, three oun-
     ces.
Rnb them together into a powder.

  This  compofition is fomewhat
Amplified by the rejedion  of the
marfh-mallow,  and liquorice-roor,
which formerly entered it. But this
has not probably produced any di-
minution of its medical properties.
It operates as a mild emollient; and
hence becomes ferviceable in hedic
cafes, tickling  coughs,  ftrangury,
fome kinds of alvine fluxes, and 0-
ther  diforders  proceeding from  a
thin  acrimonious  ftate  of the hu-
mours, or an abrafion of the mucus
of the inteftines:  they foften, and
give  a greater degree of confiftency
to the former, and defend the latter
from being irritated or excoriated
by them. All the ingredients coin-
cide in thefe gencrarintentions. The
dofe  is from half a dram to two or
three drams,  which may be fre-
quently repeated.

   PULVIS ANTHELMINTI-
             cus.
              Gen.
      Anthelmintic powders.
Take of
   The flowers of tanfy,
   Worm-feed, each three drams j.
   Sal martis, one dram.
Mix them.

   Both the tanfy and worm-feed
                           pof- 
Chap.  25.
Powders.
S63
poffefs a confiderable degree of an-
thelmintic power,  which  is not a
little increafed by the fak of fteel.
And from  this combination more
effed in the expulfion of worms,
particularly of the lumbrici, may be
expeded, than from any of the ar-
ticles taken by itfelf. This powder
may be taken to the extent of half
a dram or upwards for a dofe, pro-
portioned to the  age  and  circum-
ftances of the patient.

    PULIVS ANTILYSSUS.
             Brun.
Powder againft the bite of a  viad-
             dog.
Take of
  Afh-coloured ground liverwort,
     two ounces ;
  Black pepper one ounce.
Beat them together  into a powder.

  The virtue which this medicine
has been celebrated for, is expreffed
in its title ;  the dofe is a dram and
a half, to be taken in the morning
falling, in half a pint of cows milk
warm, for four mornings together.
  At one period it was held, on the
recommendation of Dr Mead  and
other eminent praditioners in very
high efteem.  NoW, however it has
fallen into fuch difrepute, as to be
baniflied from moft of the modern
pharmacopoeias.

  PULVIS   ARI  COMPOSI-
             TUS.
             Suec.
    Compound powder of arum.
Take of
  Arum  root,  frefh  dried,  two
     drams ;
  Yellow water-flag roots,
  Burnet faxifrage roots,  each one
     dram ;
  Canella alba, a dram ;
  Salt of wormwood, one fcruple.
Beat them into a powder, which is
  to be kept in a clofe veffel*
   In former editions of the London
 pharmacopoeia, one of the ingre-
 dients in this compofition was called
 Acorus vulgi or vulgaris ,• a name
 which has been applied, by different
 writers, both to calamus aromaticus,
 and to ihe gladiolus iuteus, or com-
 mon yellow water-flag. In this un-
 certainty/ the compounder gene-
 rally  took the former.  But as the
 medicine was  firft contrived by a
 German phyfician, Birkmann, and
 as in fome of the German pharma-
 copoeias the acorus vulgaris is ex-
 plained  to be the water-flag, the
 Swedifli college have, rather in con-
 formity tothe original prefcriptiou,
 than from  any opinion of the virtues
 of the water-flag (which appear,
 when the root is dried and powder-
 ed, to be very inconfiderable) made
 choice of this laft, and expreffed it
 by the name which more clearly di-
 ftinguifties it from the other.   The
 caution of keeping the powder in a
 clofe veffel is a very neceffary one ;
 for if expofed to  the air, the alka-
 line fait, imbibing moifture from it,
 would run  into a liquid ftate.  Two
 alkaline falts have been  generally
 direded ;  but  as  they differ  from
 each  other only in  name,  one
of them is  here juflly omitted, and
fupplied  by  a proportionable in-
creafe of  the  other.   Crabs-eyes
were  originally an article in  this
compofition,  but  probably  ferved
little other purpofe than to increafe
its volume.
  Agreeably to the above remark^
 the college of Edinburgh, in a revi-
fal of their  pharmacopoeia, had omit-
 ted the crabs-eyes,  and continued
 the former pradice of ufing calamus
 aromaticus for the acorus vulgaris.
 They had likewife exchanged the
 cinnamon for the canella alba ; and
 the alkaline fak for a neutral  one,
 better fuited to the form of a pow-
 der. Their formula was as follows 1
             N n a        Taka 
564         Preparations at

Take of
   Arum roots, newly  dried, two
     ounces ;
   Caiamus aromaticus,
   Burnet faxifrage roots, each one
     ounce  ;
   Canella alba, fix drams ;
   Vitriolated tartar, two drams.
Mix and make them into a powder.

  Th is article, which had formerly
a place alfo in the London pharma-
copoeia, is ftill retained in fome of
the  beft foreign ones  : But it is
now altogether  rejeded from our
pharmacopoeias.
   The pulvis ari compofitus was ori-
ginally intended as a ftomachic: and
in weakneffes and relaxations of the
ftomach, accompanied  with  a fur-
charge  of vifcid humours,  it  is
doubtlefs a very ufeful medicine.  It
frequently  alfo has good effeds in
rheumatic  cafes : the dofe may be
from a fcruple to a dram, two or
three times a-day, in any conve-
nient liquor.   It fliould be ufed  as
frefh as poffible, for its virtue fuffers
greatly in keeping: the arum root
in particular, its capital ingredient,
foon loofes the pungency, in which
its efficacy principally confifts.

    PULVIS   DIGESTIVUS.
             Suec.
        Digeft ive powder.
Take of
   Bitter  purging faks,  ~
  Rhubarb, each equal parts.
Mix them*

   In this compofition, the fak will
brifken the operation of the rhu-
barb as a cathartic, and the aftrin-
gency of the latter  will  tend to in-
creafe  the  tone  of the ftomach:
hence in confequence of evacuating,
and at the fame time ftrengthening
the alimentary canal, it maybe pre-
fumed  to have  confiderable influ-
ence in promoting digeftion.
d Compofitions.   Part Hi,

  PULVIS.  DYSENTERICUS.
              Dan.
       Dyfenteric powder.
 Take of
   Rhubarb, one ounce :
   Calcined hartfhorn, half an ounce;
   Gum Arabic, three drams ;
   Cafcarilla bark, two drams.
 Mix them,  and reduce them  to a
   very fine powder.

   Here the rhubarb is combined
 with  another powerful tonic,  the
 cafcarilla ; and  while the calcined
 hartfhorn ferves to neutralize acid,
 the gum arabic will operate as a de-
 mulcent.   This compofition there-
 fore may be very ufeful in dyfenteric
 cafes, after the violence of the dif-
 eafe has been overcome, and when
 there remains a debilitated  and a-
 braded ftate of the inteftinal canal.

      PULVIS FUMALIS.
              Roff
       Fumigation powder.
 Take of
   Olibanum,
   Amber,
   Maftich, each three parts ;
   Storax, two parts j
   Benzoine,
   Labdanum, each one part.
 Mix them into a grofs powder.

   This powder is intended for the
 purpofe of fumigation ;  and when
 burnt it gives out a fragrant odour:
 hence it may be fuccefsfully employ-
 ed forcombating difagreeable fmells,
 and counterading putrid or other
 noxious vapours diffufed in the at-
 mofphere.

    PULVIS INFANTUM.
             Suec.
       Powder for infants.
 Take of
   Magnefia alba, one ounce :
   Rhubarb, reduced to a very fins
    powder, one dram. 
Chap.  25.
Powders.
5%
Let them be mixed.
  This powder is very ufeful for
deftroying acid, and at the fame
time reftoring diminifhed  tone of
the alimentary  canal: hence it is
often advantageoufly employed  in
cafes of diarrhoea, which depend on
thefe morbid conditions.  And it is
in general  a  circumftance  of con-
fiderable advantage, that it  does not
tend to check loofenefs very fudden-
ly.   It  is particularly ufeful with
infants, and hence the origin of the
name here affixed to it.

     PULVIS  NITROSUS.
             Suec. .
        Nitrous powder.
Take of
  Purified nitre, three ounces;
  Salt of forrel, one ounce ;
  Double-refined fugar, ten ounces.
Let them be mixed.

  This is a very  convenient and
agreeable form of exhibiting nitre:
for  while the fugar ferves not only
to divide and diffufe it, but  alfo to
corred  its tafte ; the fak of forrel
adds to its refrigerant power.

PULVIS PERUVIANUS  PUR-
            GANS.
             Gen.
    Purging Peruvian powder.
Take of
  The powder of Peruvian bark,
     one ounce;
  Powder of rhubarb,
  Powder of  fal ammoniac, each
     one dram and a half.

  It has been imagined  by many,
that  particular advantage refuked
from uniting the Peruvian bark with
fal ammoniac ; and there can be no
doubt, that in fome cafes inconveni-
ence refults from the bark in con-
fequence of its binding the bcily.
 There are therefore  circumftances
 in which the combination here pro-
 pofed may perhaps be proper: but
 there is reafon  to  believe that the
 benefit of the fal ammoniac is more
 imaginary than real; and it not un-
 frequently happens,  that we  are
 difappointed of the benefit which
 might otherwife be derived from the
 bark, in confequence of its proving
 even of itfelf a purgative.  Hence,
 in perhaps a majority of  cafes,  the
 exhibiting it with the additions here
 propofed will be rather prejudicial
 than otherwife.

    PULVIS  SEDATIVUS.
             Suec.
        Sedative powder.
 Take of
  Opium, half a fcruple ;
  Purified nitre, five feruples and
    a half;
  Refined-fugar, one ounce.

  In  this powder thofe inconveni-
 ences which fometimes refult from
 opium may with certain  conftitu-
 tions be correded, in confequence
 of the refrigerant power of nitre;
 and hence it may prove a very ufe-
 ful fedative powder.  The fugar is
 intended merely to give form to the
 medicine; and in this ftate of com-
bination, each dram of it contains
 a grain of opium ; Jo that a pradi-
 tioner has it in his power  eafily  to
 regulate the dofe  according to cir-
cumftances.

     PULVIS e SPONGIA.
             Gen.
        Sponge-powder.
 Take of
  Burnt fponge, powdered,
  Common fak, each three drams.
 Mix them, and divide into tweUe
  powders.

  We have formerly mentioned in
 the Materia Medica the ufe of burnt
             N n  3       (P°nge 
S66
Preparations and Comp ofitions.   P a r t 111.
fponge in fcrophulous affedions, and
particularly in the cure of the bron-
chocele.  It has of late been highly
celebrated for thefe purpofes by Mr
Wilmer,  under  the  title  of the
Coventry remedy.  There  it was
fometimes  employed merely in its
pure ftate, combined with a fufficient
quantity of honey, to form it into a
bolus; fometimes  it  was  given
united with calcined cork and pu-
mice ftone.  What advantages, how-
ever, it  could  have derived  from
thefe additions is difficult to con-
ceive ;  nor can we readily fee how
it  will  be improved by the addi-
tion of common fea-falt here  pro-
pofed :  for this may probably lead
to new combinations, materially al-
tering  the qualities of thofe  falts
which  the fponge itfelf contains;
and on which its virtues, as far as it
has any, muft depend.  At the fame
time, for any experience which wc
ourfelves have had, we are inclined
to think, that thefe  virtues which
have been attributed to burnt fponge
are more imaginary than real.
CHAP.     XXVI.
TROCHISCI.
TROCHES.
    TROCHES  and lozenges are
     compofed  of  powders made
up  with  glutinous fubftances  into
little cakes,  and  afterwards dried.
This form is principally made.ufe of
for the more commodious exhibition
of certain medicines, by fittingthem
to diffolve flowly in the mouth, fo
as to pals by degrees into the fto-
mach ; and hence thefe preparations
have generally a confiderable  pro-
portion of fugar or other materials
grateful to the palate.   Some  pow-
ders have likewife been reduced in-
to troches, with a view to their pre-
fervation: though  poffibly  for no
very good reafons : for the moiften-
ing, and afterwards drying them in
the air,  muft in this light  be  of
greater injury, than any advantage
accruing from this form can coun-
terbalance.

  General Rules for making
          Troches.

               I.
  The three firft rules laid  down
  for making powders, are alfo to
  be obferved in the powders for
  troches.
               II.
If the mafs proves fo glutinous  as
  to ftick to the fingers in making
  up, the hands may be anointed
  with any convenient fweet or  a-
                         romatic 
 Chap.  26.   .

   romatic oil;  or  elfe  fprinkled
   with powder of ftarch, or with
   that of liquorice.
               III.
 In order to thoroughly  dry the tro-
   ches, put them on  an inverted
   fieve, in a fhady airy place, and
   frequently turn them.
               IV.
 Troches  are to be kept in  glafs
   veffels, or in earthen ones well
   glazed.

     TROCHISCI AMYLL
             Lond.
        Troches of ftarch.
 Take of
   Starch an ounce and  an half;
   Liquorice, fix drams.:
   Florentine orris, half an ounce ;
   Double-refined fugar, one pound
     and an half.
 Rub thefe to powder, and, by the
   help  of tragacanth,  diflblved in
   water, make troches.
 They may be made, if fo chofen,
   without the orris.

 TROCHISCI  BECHICI ALBI.
             Edinb.
       White pcBoral troches.
 Take of
   Pureft fugar, one pound ;
   Gum arabic,  four ounces ;
   Starch, one ounce;
   Flowers of benzoine,half a dram
 Having beat  them all into a pow-
   der, make them  into  a proper
   mafs  with rofe-water,  fo as  to
   form troches.

   These compofitions  are verya-
 grecable pedorals and may be  ufed
 at pleafure.  They are calculated
 for foftening acrimonious humours,
 and  allaying the ticklkig  in  the
 throat which provokes coughing.
   Although not only the name  but
 the compofition alfo in the London
and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias be
troches.                      567

     fomewhat different, yet their effeds
     are very much the fame.

      TROCHISCI GLYCYRRHI-
                  ZM.
                 Lond.
           Troches of ,liquorice. .
     Take of
       Extrad of liquorice,
       Double-refined  fiigar, of each ten
         ounces.
       Tragacanth, powdered,   three
         ounces.
     Make troches by adding water.

       TROCHISCI BECHICI NI-
                  GRI.
                 Edinb.
          Black peBoral troches.
     Take of
       Extrad of liquorice,
      Gum arabic, each four ounces;
       White fugar eight, ounces.
     Diffolve them  in warm water, and
       ftrain :  then evaporate the mix-
       ture over a gentle fire till it be of
       a  proper confiftence for being
       formed into  troches.

      These compofitions are defigned
    for the fame purpofes as the white
    pedoral troches above defcribed. In
    foreign  pharmacopoeias  there are
    fome other troches of this kind, un-
    der the titlesof Trochifci bechici fla-
    vi and rubri; the firft are coloured
    with faffron, the  latter with  bobs
    armenic. The diffolving and ftrain-
    ing the extrad of liquorice and gum
    arabic, as now ordered in the laft
    of the above prefcriptions, is a con-
    fiderable improvement; not only as
    they are by that means more uni-
    formly mixed than they can well be
    by beating; but lrkewife as  they
    are thereby purified from the hete-
    rogeneous matters, of  which both
    thofe  drugs have commonly  no
    fmall admixture.
,Nn 4
TRp- 
568          Preparations afa

   TROCHISCI BECHICI cum
           OPIO,
           Edinb.
  PeBoral troches with opium,
Take of
  Pure opium, two drams ;
  Balfam of Peru, one dram ;
  Tindure of Tolu, three drams.
Grind the opium with the  balfam
  and tindureprevioufly mixed, till
  it be thoroughly diffolved, then
  add by degrees,
 Of
  Common fyrup, eight ounces ;
  Extrad of liquorice, foftened in
    warm water, five ounces.
Whilft beating them diligently,gra-
  dually fprinkle upon the mixture
  five ounces  of powdered  gum
  arabic.  Exficcate fo as to form
  troches,each weighing ten grains

  The diredions for preparing the
 above troches are fo full  and par-
ticular, that no farther explanation
is neceffary.  Six of the troches pre-
 pared in the  manner here ordered,
 contain about one grain of  opium.
 Thefe troches are medicines of ap-
 proved efficacy in tickling  coughs
 depending on an irritation  of the
 fauces. Befides the mechanical ef-
 fed of the invifcating matters and
 involving acrid  humours, or lining
 and  defending  the  tender  mem-
 branes, the opium muft, no  doubt,
 have a confiderable fliare, by  more
 immediately diminifliing the irrita-
 bility of the parts themfelves.
   The compofition or thefe troches,
 Iiowever, would perhaps be impro-
 ved by the omiffion of the balfam
 of Peru: for  although here direded
 only in fmall  quantity, yet it gives
 a tafte to the troches which is to
 many people very difagreeable; and
 it is  at the fame time probable, that
 it adds very  little, if  any thing, to
 the efficacy of the medicine.
I Compofitions.    Part  III.

    TROCHISCI e NITRO.
             Lond.
        Troches of nitre.
 Take of
   Purified nitre, powdered, four
     ounces;
   Double-refined fugar, powdered,
     one pound j
   Tragacanth,  powdered, fix oun-
     ces.
 With the  addition of water,  make
   troches.

    TROCHISCI e NITRO
             Edinb.
        Troches of nitre.
 Take of
   Nitre, purified, three ounces ;
   Double-refined fugar, nine oun-
     ces.
 Make them into troches with  muci-
   lage of gum tragacanth.

   This  is  a very agreeable form
 for the exhibition of nitre; though,
 when   the   fak  is  thus   taken
 without any liquid  (if the quarftity
 be confiderable), it is apt tooccafion
 uneafinefs about the ftomach,  which
 can only be  prevented by large di-
 lution with  aqueous liquors.  The
 trochifci enitro have been faid to be
 employed with fuccefs in fome cafes
 of difficult deglutition.

  TROCHISCI  e SULPHURE.
             Lond.
        Troches of fulphur e.
 Take of
   Wafhed flowers of fulphur,  two
     ounces ;
   Double-refined fugar, four oun-
     ces.
 Rub them together ; and with the
   mucilage of quince-feeds, now
   and thenadded, make troches.

   TROCHISCI e SULPHURE,
      five DIASULPHURIS.
          1  Edinb.
                         Troches 
Chap.  26.
troches.
5^9
       Troches of fulphur.
Take of
  Flowers of fulphur, two ounces;
  Flowers of benzoine, one fcruple ;
  White fugar, four ounces;
  Faditious cinnabar, half a dram.
Beat them together, and add muci-
  lage of gum tragacanth as much
  as is fufficient.
Mix and make them into troches
  according to art.'

  These  compofitions  are to be
confidered  only as agreeable forms
for the exhibition of fulphur, no al-
teration or addition being here made
to its  virtue; unlefs that, by the
flowers of benzoine  in  the fecond
prefcription, the medicine is fuppo-
fed to be  rendered more efficacious
as a pedoral.
  The faditious  cinnabar  feems
chiefly intended as a colouring in-
gredient.

    TROCHISCI e CRETA.
             Lond.
         Troches of chalk.
Take of
  Chalk, prepared,  four ounces;
  Crabs-claws, prepared, two oun-
     ces;
  Cinnamon, half an ounce ;
  Double-refined fugar, three oun-
     ces.
Thefe  being rubbed to powder, add
  the mucilage of gum arabic, and
  make troches.

  TROCHISCI  e MAGNESIA. N
             Lond.
       Troches of magnefia.
Take of
  Burnt  magnefia, four ounces;
  Double-refined fugar,  two  oun-
     ces;
  Ginger powdered, one fcruple
With the addition of the mucilage
  of gum arabic make troches.
  These compofitions are calcu-
lated againft  that uneafy  fenfation
at the  ftomach, improperly called
the heartburn,  in which they of-
ten give immediate relief, by ab-
forbing and neutralizing  the acid
juices  that occafion this  diforder.
The abforbent powders here  made
ufe of, are of  the  moft  powerful
kind.  The former has in general
the effed of binding, the  latter ot
opening, the belly;  and from this
circumftance  the  praditioner will
be determined in his choice,  ac-
cording to the nature  of  the cafe
which  he has  occafion to treat.

    TROCHISCI de MINIO.
             Dan.
        Red-lead troches.
Take of
  Red-lead, half an ounce ;
  Corrofive mercury fublimate, one
     ounce;
  Crumb of the fineft bread, four
     ounces.
Make them up with rofe-water into
   oblong troches.

  These troches are employed  on-
ly for  external purpofes as efcharo-
tics: they are powerrully fuch, and
require a good  deal of caution in
their ufe.
   TROCHISCI  CATECHU.
             Brun.
        Troches  of catechu.
Take of
   Catechu, one ounce;
   White fugar-candy, two Ounces;
   Ambergris,
   Mufk, each ten grains;
   Mucilage of gum tragacanth, as
     much as is fufficient.
Make  them into troches.

   This medicine has long been in
efteem as  flight reftringent; and
reftringents thus gradually received
                            into 
570       Preparations and Compofitions.    Part. III.
into the ftomach produce better ef-
feds than when an equal quantity is
taken down at once. Thefe troches
would be more palatable, and per-
haps no lefs ferviceable, were the
mufk and ambergris omitted.
CHAP.     XXVIL
P   I  L  U  L  JE.
S.
     TO  this  form  are  peculiarly
     adapted  thofe  drugs which
 operate in a fmall dofe,  and whofe
 naufeous and offenfive tafte or fmell
 require them to be concealed from
 the palate.
   Pills diffolve the  moft difficultly
 in the  ftomach, and produce  the
 moft gradual and lafting effeds, of
 all the internal forms.   This is, in
 fome cafes  of great advantage; in
 others, it is a quality  not at all de-
 ferable ; and fometimes may even be
 of dangerous confequence,  particu-
 larly with regard to emetics; which,
 if they pafs the ftomach undiflblved,
 and afterwards exert themfelves in
 the inteftines, operate there as vio-
 lent cathartics.  Hence emetics are
 among us fcarce ever given  in pills j
 and hence to the refinous and diffi-
 cultly  foluble fubftances,  fapona-
 ccous ones ought to be added, in or-
 der to promote their folution.
   Gummy  refins,  and  infpiffated
juices, are  fometimes foft  enough
 to be made into pills without ad-
 dition: where any  moifture is re-
 quifite, fpirit of wine  is  more pro-
 per than fyrups or conferves, as it
 anitcs more readily with  them, and
does not fenfibly increafe their bulk.
Light dry powders require fyrup or
mucilages: and the  more ponde-
rous, as  the  mercurial and  other
metallic preparations, thick honey,
conferve, or extrads.
   Light powders require about half
their weight  of fyrup; of honey,
about three-fourths their weight;
to reduce them into a due confift-
ence for forming pills. Haifa dram
of the mafs will make five  or  fix
pills of a  moderate fize.

General RuLEsyir making Puis.

               I.
Gums and infpiffated juices,  are to
   be firft  foftened  with  the  liquid
   prefcribed:  then add  the pow-
   ders, and continue beating them
   altogether till they be perfedly
   mixed.
               IL
The maffes for pills are beft kept in
   bladders, which fliould be moift-
   ened now and then with fome of
   the fame kind of liquid that  the
   mafs was made up with, or with
   fome proper aromatic oil.
                            PI- 
Chap.  27.
Pills.
   PILULE jETHIOPICjE.
            Edinb.
         JEthiopic pills.
Take of
  Quickfilver, fix drams;
  Golden fulphur of antimony,
  Refin of guaiacum,
  Honey, each half an ounce.
Grind the quickfilver with the ho-
  ney,  in a glafs  mortar, until the
  mercurial globules entirely difap-
  pear;  then add the  golden ful-
  phur and guaiacum, with as much
  mucilage of  gum arabic as is fuf-
  ficient to make  the mixture into
  a mafs of the proper confiftence
  for forming pills.

  These pills are much more effi-
cacious  than thofe of a  former edi-
tion •, the sethiopsmineral, there or-
dered, being exchanged for a more
adive compofition.  In their pre-
fent form, they refemble Dr Plum-
    's pills, defcribed in the Edin
                           571
    PILULE ALOETIC^.
            Edinb.
          Aloetic pills.
Take of
  Socotorine aloes, in powder,
  Thick extrad  of  gentian, each
     two ounces ;
Make them into a mafs with fimple
  fyrup.

  These  pills were formerly di-
reded tobe made with Caftilefoap;
from a notion which Boerhaave and
fome others were very fond of, that
foap promoted the folution of refi-
nous and feveral other fubftances in
the ftomach. This, however, feems
to be a miftake; and, on the contra-
ry,  it is highly probable, that  the
alkaline part of  the  foap is in moft
inftances feparated from the oily by
the acid in the  ftomach ;  by which
decompofition the foap  may  come
to retard inftead  of  promoting  the
folution of the  aloes.  Thefe pills
burgh Effays, and afterwards to  be  have  been much ufed as warming
_____:____4   T„ :.  .1____________      1 n.____u:_ 1____:___    1      **
mentioned.  To it  they  are  pre-
ferable in one refped,  that they are
lefs apt to  run off by ftool.  They
are an ufeful alterative both in cu-
taneous and venereal diforders.  One
fourth part of the" quantity above
and ftomachic laxatives:  they are
very well fuited for the coftivenefs
fo often attendant on people of fe-
dentary lives.  Like other prepara-
tions of aloes,  they are alfo ufed in
jaundice, and in certain cafes of ob-
----...  r—    — ^     j —.„  j---------, — -_.-------------„ „A ^,_,-
prefcribed may be made into fixty  ftruded menfes.   They are feldom
pills; of which  from one to  four  ufed for producing full purging;
may be taken every night and morn-  but if this be required, a fcruple or
ing, the patient keeping moderately  half a  dram of  the mafs maybe
warm  during  the whole time that  made into pills of a  moderate fize
this courfe is continued.            for one  dofe.
     PILULE ex ALOE.
             Lond.
          Pills of aloes.
Take of
  Socotorine aloes,  powdered, one
     ounce;
  Extrad of gentian, half an ounce;
  Syrup of ginger, as much as is
     fnfficient.
Beat them together.
  PILULAE  ex ALOE CUM
          MYRRHA.
             Lond.
    Pills of aloes with myrrh.
Take  of
  Socotorine aloes,  two ounces ;
  Myrrh,
  Saffron, of each one ounce;
  Syrup of faffron,  as much as  is
    fufficient.
Rub the aloes and myrrh feparately
                              t« 
 5 7 2          Preparations a

 to  powder; afterwards beat them
 all  together.

 PILULE COMMUNES,  vulgo
             RUFI.
            Edinb.
 The common pills, vulgarly called
          Rufus's pills.
 Take of
  Socotorine aloes, two ounces;
 ■ Myrrh, one  ounce ;
 ' Saffron, half an ounce.
 Beat them into a mafs  with  a pro-
  per quantity of fyrup.

  These pills have long continued
 in pradice, without any other alte-
 ration than in  the fyrup which the
 mafs is made  up With,  and  in the
 proportion of  faffron.   In our laft
 Pharmacopoeia, the fyrup of worm-
 wood was ordered, which is here ju-
 dicioufly exchanged for that of faf-
 fron ; thisprefervingand improving
 the brightnefs  of colour in  the me-
 dicine, which is ufually looked upon
 as the charaderiltic of itsgoodnefs.
The faffron,   in  the  compofition
which  is  attributed  to Rufus,  is
 equal in quantity to the myrrh j and
in thefe proportions the pill was re-
ceived in  our firft Pharmacopoeia.
As the diminution afterwards made
in the faffron was grounded on very
abfurd reafons, (viz. "  left the for-
" mer  quantity fhould occafion  a
" fpafmus cynicus,")  the  London
College have now again increafed it,
and reftored the  pili to its  original
 form. The virtues of this medicine
 may be  eafily  underftood from  its
 ingredients.  Thefe pills, given to
 the quantity of half a  dram or  two
fcruples, prove confiderably cathar-
 tic, but they anfwer much  better
 purpofes in fmaller dofes as laxa-
 tivesor alteratives.

PILULAE  ex   COLOCYNTHI-
  DE cum ALOE, vulgo PILU-
        L^  coccle.
id Compofitions.    Part III.

            Edinb.
 Colocynth pills with aloes, commonly
          called Coeeix.
 Take of
   Socotorine aloes,
   Scammony, of each two ounces:
   Sal polyehreft,  two drams;
   Colocynth,  one ounce;
   Oil of cloves, two drams.
 Reduce the aloes and fcammony in-
   to a powder with the fait; then
   let the colocynth, beat into a very
   fine powder, and the oil be add-
   ed ; laftly, make it into a proper
   mafs with mucilage  of gum ara-
   bic.

   In thefe pills we have a very ufe-
 ful and adive purgative; and where
 the fimple aloetic pill is not fufficient
 for obviating coftivenefs,  this will
 often effedually anfwer the purpofe.
 Little of their adivity can depend
 upon the fak which enters the com-
 pofition ; but  it may affift in  divid-
 ing the adive parts of  the other  ar-
 ticles,  particularly  the aloes and
 fcammony.  Thefe pills often pro-
 duce a copious difcharge in cafes of
 obftinate coftivenefs, when taken to
 the extent only offive or ten grains;
 but they  may be employed in much
 larger dofes.   They are, however,
 feldom ufed with the view of pro-
 ducing proper catharfis.   Half a
 dram  of the  mafs  contains about
 five grains of the colocynth,  ten of
 the aloes, and ten of the fcammony.

     PILULiE e CUPRO.
             Edinb.
         Copper pills.
 Take of
   Cuprum ammoniacum,  fixteen
    grains;
   Crumb of bread, four fcruples:
   Spirit of fal ammoniac, as much
    as is fufficient to form them in-
    to  a mafs,  which is to be  di-
    vided  into thirty-two   equal
    pills.
                        Th*se 
Chap.  27.                PiL

  These pills had formerly the
name of Pilula carulete, but they
are now with greater propriety de-
nominated from the metal which is
their bafis.
  Each of thefe pills weigh  about
three grains, and contain fomewhat
more than half a grain of the cuprum
ammoniacum.  The above pills feem
to be the beft form of exhibiting
this medicine ; for the effeds of
which,feeCuPRUM AMMONIACUM.

     PILULAE  e GUMMI.
              Lond.
           Gum-pills.
Take of
   Galbanum,
   Opopanax,
   Myrrh,
   Sagapenum, of each one ounce;
   Afafoetida,  half an ounce ;
   Syrup of faffron, as  much as is
     fufficient.
 Beat them together.

     PILULE GUMMOSA,
             Edinb.
           Gum-pills.
 Take of
   Afafoetida,
   Galbanum,
   Myrrh, each  one ounce ;
   Redified oil of amber, one dram.
 Beat them into a mafs  with  fimple
   fyrup.

   These pills  are  defigned for
 antihyfterics and emmenagogues,
 and very well calculated for anfwer-
 ing thofe intentions; half a fcruple,
 a fcruple, or more, may be taken
 every night or oftener.  The fetid
 pills of our former pharmacopoeia
 were confiderably purgative: the
 purgative ingredients are now omit-
 ted, as the phyfician may eafily, in
 extemporaneous prefcription, com-
 pound  thefe  pills with cathartic
 medicines,  in fuch proportions as
 particular cafes fhall require.
                      I
*•                        573
  PILULE ex HYDRARGY-
              RO.
             Lond.
         Quickfilver-pills.
Take of
   Purified quickfilver,
   Extrad of liquorice, having the
     confiftence of honey,  of each
     two drams.
   Liquorice, finely powered, one
     dram.
Rub the quickfilver with the extrad
   of liquorice until the globules dif-
   appear;  then, adding the  liquo-
   rice-powder, mix them together.

  PILULE e HYDRARGYRO,
      five MERCURIALES.
             Edinb.
         Mercurial pills.
Take of
   Quickfilver,
   Honey,  each one ounce  ;
   Crumb of bread, two ounces.
Grind the quickfilver  with the ho-
   ney in a glafs mortar till the glo-
   bules difappear,  adding occafion-
   ally a little fimple  fyrup ; then
   add the crumb of bread,  and beat
   the whole with water intoa mafs,
   which is to be immediately divi-
   ded into four hundred and eigh-
   ty equal pills.

   The quickfilver was formerly
 direded to be ground wifh refin of
 guaiacum  and caftile foap.   The
 former  was fuppofed  to  coincide
 with the virtues  of the  mercury,
 and the latter was ufed chiefly to
 divide the globules of mercury. For
 this laft intention Dodor Saunders
 found  that honey,  the  fubftance
 here ordered by the Edinburgh col-
 lege, is of all he tried the  moft ef-
 fedual : But we would fuppofe, with
 this gentleman, that fomething far-
 ther is done in this procefs than the
 mere divifion of the mercurial glo-
 bules,  and that part of the  quick-
 filver is as it were amalgamated with
                             the 
 574        Preparations a)

 the  honey,  or brought  to a  ftate
 fimilar to that in Plenck's folution.
 The fame effed will take  place
 when the pills are prepared  with
 extrad of liquorice now direded
 by the London college.
   The mercurial pill is one of the
 beft preparations of mercury, and
 may in general fuperfede molt other
 forms of this medicine. It is necef-
 fary to form the mafs  immediately
 into pills, as the crumb foon becomes
 too  hard  for that purpofe.   Soap
 was undoubtedly a very improper
 medium  for triturating the mercu-
 ry ;  it is not only too hard for that
 purpofe,  but when the preparation
 entered the ftomach,  the alkaline
 part of the foap being engaged by
 the acid in that vifcus,  the mercury
 would in all probability be immedi-
 ately feparated.   The honey and
 bread can only be changed  by  the
 natural powers of digeftion, and can
 never opprefs  the ftomach.  The
 dofe of the pills is from two to four
 or fix in the day,  according to the
 effeds we wifli to produce.

    PILULiE e JALAPPA. t
             Edinb.
          Jalap-pills.
 Take of
  Extrad of jalap,  two ounces;
  Aromatic powder, half an ounce.
 Beat them into a mafs  with fimple
  fyrup.

  Th is is an ufeful and adive pur-
 gative, either  for evacuating the
contents of the inteftinal canal, or
producing a difcharge from the fy-
ftem in general.
  One of the fame kind, with  pow-
dered jalap in fubftance  inftead of
the extract,  is ufed in  fome of our
hofpitals, as  a  cheap and effedual
purge.
d Compofitions.     Part III.

     PILULE  PLUMMERI.
            Edinb.
         Plummer's pill.
 Take, of
   Sweet mercury,
   Precipitated  fulphur of antimo-
     ny, each fix drams ;
   Extrad of gentian,
   White  Spanifh  foap,  each two
     drams
 Let the mercury be triturated with
   the fulphur till they be thoroughly
   mixed, than add the extrad, and
   form a mafs with fimple fyrup.

   These pills were  recommended
 to the attention of the public about
 forty years  ago by Dr Plummer,
 whofe name they ftill  bear.  He re-
 prefented  them in a paper which
 he publifhed in  the Edinburgh Me-
 dical Effays, as  a very ufeful alter-
 ative ; and  on  his authority they
 were at one  time much employed ;
 but they are now  lefs extenlively
 ufed than formerly.   And although
 they  ftill retain a place in the E-
 dinburgh pharmacopoeia,  yet it is
 probable that every purpofe  to be
 anfwered by them may be  more  cf-
 fedually obtained from the common
 mercurial pill,  or  from calomel in
 a more fimple ftate.

      PILULAE ex OPIO.
             Lond.
          Opium pills.
 Take of
   Hard purified opium, powdered,
     two drams:
   Extrad of liquorice, one ounce.
 Beat them until they  are perfedly
   united.

 PILULE THEBAIC^, vulgo
          PACIFIC^.
            Edinb.
 Thebaic, commonly called Pacific
            pills'.
                          Take 
Chap.  27.                I
Take of
  Opium, half an ounce;
  Extrad of liquorice, two  oun-
    ces;
  Caftile foap,an ounce and a half;
  Jamaica pepper, one  ounce.
Soften the opium and! extrad fepa-
  rately with proof-fpirit,  and ha-
  ving  beat them into a pulp, mix
  them ; then add the foap, and the
  pepper beat into a powder; and
  laftly, having beat them well to-
  gether, form the whole into a
  mafs.

  These two compofitions, altho'
differing in feveral particulars, may
yet be confidered as at bottom very
much the fame. The firft is a fimple
opiate, in which every five grains of
the  mafs contains one  of opium;
and in the opium alone can we fup-
pofe that the adivity of the medi-
cine depends.
  Although  fome of the articles
contained in the latter compofition
may perhaps be fuppofed to operate
as corrigenda, yet the former com-
pofition, which  is the moft fimple,
is in general preferable.
  Pills  fimilar to the fecond were
contrived by  a  chemical  empiric,
Starkey, and communicated by him
to Matthews,  under whofe name
they were fome time ago greatly ce-
lebrated. The form here given dif-
fers confiderable from the original,
in omitting many ingredients of no
great fervice.  Nor indeed are any
of the ingredients of much confe-
quence, except the  opium ;  their
quantity being too inconfiderable to
anfwer any ufeful purpofe.   Nine
grains  of the  compofition contain
nearly one of opium.

     PILULjE e SCILLA.
             Lond.
          Squill-pills.
Take of
 Frefli dried fquills, powdered, one
    dram ;
r//'-                       575
   Ginger, powdered,
   Soap, of each three drams;
   Ammoniacum, two drams;
   Syrup of ginger,  as much as ia
     fufficient.
 Beat them together

    PILULE SCILLITICiE.
             Edinb.
           Squill-pills.
 Take of
   Gum ammoniac.
   Leffer cardamom feeds, in pow-
     der,
   Extrad of liquorice, each one
     dram ;
   Dried root of fquills, in  fine pow-
     der, one fcruple,
 Mix, and form  them into  a mafs
   with  fimple fyrup.

   These are elegant and commo-
 dious forms for  the  exhibition  of
 fquills,  whether  for promoting ex-
 pedoration, or with the other in-
 tentions to which  that medicine is
 applied. As the  virtue of the com-
 pound is chiefly from the fquills, the
 other ingredients are often varied in
 extemporaneous  prescription: and
 probably no material difference takes
 placein  the two forms here propofed,
 excepting in the  proportion of the
 fquills, which in  the former confti-
 tutes one eight,  in the  latter one
 ninth of the mafs.

   PILULE STOMACHICS.
             Edinb.
         Stomachic pills.
 Take of
   Rhubarb, one  ounce ;
   Socotorine aloes, fix drams ;
   Myrrh, half an ounce ;
   Vitriolated tartar one dram ;
   Effential oil of  mint, half a dram;
   Syrup of orange-peel, a fufficienr
     quantity.
 Make them into  a mafs.

   ThIs pill is intended for mode-
                          rately 
  576         Preparations &

 rately warming and ftrengthening
 the ftomach, and evacuating crude
 vifcid humours.  A fcruple of the
 mafs may be taken twice a-day.

      PILULE BACHERI.
              Gen.
          Backer's pill.
 Take of
   Extrad of black hellebore,
   Purified myrrh, each one ounce;
   Powder of carduus benedidus,
     two fcruples.
 Mix them into a mafs according to
   art, to be dried in the air till  it
   be fit for the formation  of pills,
   each weighing one grain.

   These pills have been  ftrongly
 recommended as a moft effedual re-
 medy  in  dropfical cafes, and have
 been  alleged to unite an evacuant
 and tonic power. Hence they have
 been confidered as particularly fuit-
 ed to thofe cafes where remarkable
 weaknefs and laxity occurs. Under
 the hands of Mr Bacher the inven-
 tor, they acquired fo great reputa-
 tion, that after a trial in the milita-
 ry hofpitalsat Paris, the receipt was
 purchafed by the French king, and
 publifhed by authority.  But  like
 many other noftrumsfince this pub-
 lication,  Bacher's  pill has by no
 means fupported  the  reputation
 which it had when kept a  fecret.
 The dofe is varied according to cir-
 cumftances, from one to thirty pills
 being taken in the courfe of the day.

   PILULE ex ELATERIO.
             Suec.
        Pills of elaterium.
 Take of
  The pureft gum ammoniac,  two
    ounces,
  Socotorine aloes,
  Gamboge, each two drams ;
  Elaterium  haK a dram.
Mix them by means of bitter tinc-
  ture,  into  a mafs for  the forma-
mdCompofitions.   Part  III.

   tion of pills, each weighing two
   grains.

   This,  as well as the former, is
 alfo a pill celebrated for the cure of
 dropfical affedions.  And the  elate-
 rium from which it derives its name,
 is one of the moft powerful eva-
 cuants in  the  way of catharfis.
 Here, however,  it is united with
 fuch adive articles, particularly  the
 gamboge,  as muft  make its  effed
 fomewhat  doubtful.  And  we  are
 inclined to think that a preferable
 formula for making the Pilulae ex
 Elaterio,  is to form it into  a  mafs,
 with the extrad of gentian.   This
 is imagined to have fome influence
 as correding its  effed, in  exciting
 ficknefs  at  ftomach.  And  when
 each pill is made to contain half a
 grain of the elaterium, the dofe may
 be eafily accommodated to the cir-
 cumftances  of the patient,  one  or
 two pills being taken every hour  till
 they begin to operate;
   The elaterium, whether under
 the form abovementioned, or in the
 more fimple ftate,  which has now
 been fuggefted, operates as a  very
 powerful cathartic,  often inducing
 the  difcharge of ftagnant  ferum,
 when other  remedies are found in-
 effedual. But  it can be  exhibited
 only in thofe cafes where the  pati-
 ent ftill retains a confiderable de-
 gree of ftrength.

     PILULAE  FOETIDiE.
             Suec.
          Fat id-pills.
 Take of
   Afafoetida.
   Caftor each a dram and a half;
   Salt of amber, half a dram.
   Oil of hartfhorn, half a fcruple;
 Make them into a mafs, with tinc-
   ture of myrrh, to be divided into
   pills of two grains each.

   These like the  gum-pills  for-
                          merly 
 Chap. 27.                Pills.

merly mentioned, are chiefly ufed
as an antihyfteric and antifpafmodic
medicine; and they are particular-
ly ufeful in counterading fpafmodic
affedions of the alimentary canal,
efpecially thofe conneded with fla-
tulence. But the afafoetida is no lefs
fuccefsful when exhibited in a more
fimple flare, particularly when form-
ed info  o.ili with an equal quantity
of i ,yj, by the aid of fimple fy-
rup.

   PILULE de GAMBOGIA.

              Dan.
         Gamboge pills.
Take of
   Socotorine aloes,
   Extrad of black hellebore,
   Sweet mercury,
  Gamboge, each two drams ;
   Diftilled oil of  juniper,  half  a
     dram ;
   Syrup of buckthorn, as much as
     is fufficient for forming a mafs
     of pills.

  From the ingredients of which
thefe pills are conftituted, we need
hardly remark, that they muft prove
a very powerful purgative.   The
gamboge, from which they derive
their name, is unqueftionably a very
adive one. But it is not morefo than
the mercurius dulcis ;  and perhaps
from an union of thefe two, as much
might  be  expeded as  from the
more compounded formula here a-
dopted.    Yet  it is not improbable,
that  the effential oil of juniper may
in fome  degree operate as a corri-
gent.

PILULE  e MERCURIO  COR-
       ROSIVO ALBO.
              Suec.
 Pills of corrofive fublimate mer-
              cury.
Take of
  Corrofive fublimate,
                            577
   Purified fal ammoniac, each one
      fcruple ;
   Diftilled water,  as  much  as  is
     fufficient to melt them  ;
   Powder of the root of althea, fix-
     teen fcruples;
   Honey, two drams.
 Mix them into a mafs for  the for-
   mation of pills, each weighing
   three grains.

  Corrosive fublimatein fubftance
 was long confidered as being fo vio-
 lent in its effeds, that  it could not
 with fafetybe taken internally; but
 for a  confiderable time it has been
 ufed with advantage under the form
 of folution, either in water or fpi-
 rits.  But to both thefe a cofidera-
 ble objedion occurs from their difa-
 greeable  braffy tafte. This objedi-
 on is however entirely obviated, by
 reducing  the  folution after it is
 formed to.a folid mafs, by means of
 the crumb of bread,  or any proper
 powder:  And by the aid of a  little
 fal ammoniac, the folution  may be
 made in a very fmall quantity of wa-
 ter; fo that lefs of any folid inter-i
 medium will be fufficient to bring it
 to the form of pills.   The formula
 here direded feems  well fuited for
 the purpofe intended.  Each of the
 pills contains about an  eight  of  a
 grain of the corrofive; thus the dofe
 maybe eafily regulated according to
 the intention in view.  And thefe
 pills are not unfrequently employed
 with advantage, both in combating
 venereal  and cutaneous affedions,
 and for the expulfion of worms from
 the alimentary canal. With  the lat-
 ter of thefe intentions, a fimilar pill
was particularly recommended by
Dr  Gardner, in  a paper publifhed
in the Edinburgh Phyfical and Li-
terary Effays. And although  not re-
ceived into our pharmacopoeia, it has
been frequently ufed at Edinburgh.
Po
PI- 
578         Preparations a)

       PILULE  PICi^E.
             Dan.
           Tar-piils.
Take any quantity of tar, and mix
   with it  as much powdered ele-
   campane root as will reduce it to
   a  proper  thicknefs  for  being
   formed into pills.

   The powder  here mixed with
the  tar, though of no  great vir-
tue,  is neverthelefs a very  ufeful
addition, not only  for procuring it
a due confiftence, but likewife as
it divides the refinous texture of the
tar, and thus* contributes  to promote
its folution by the animal juices. In
the Edinburgh   infirmary, half a
dram of the mafs, made into mid-
dle-fized pills, is  given every morn-
ing and evening  in diforders of the
breaft, fcurvies, Sec.

   PILULE  SAPONACEjE.
             Suec.
           Soap-pills.
Take of
   Hard white foap, two ounces  ;
   Extrad of birch, one ounce.
Let them be formed into a mafs, to
   be  divided into pills, eackcon-
   taining three grains.

  Although   many virtues have
been attributed tothe birch,yet wc
are inclined to  think, that it here
ferves little other  purpofe than to
aid in giving the  form of pills tothe
d Compofitions.    Part III.

foap.  And this article, even when
taken in fmall quantity with  fome
conftitutions, operates as a gentle
laxative. But befides this, it has al-
fo been fuppofed to be highly ufeful
both in cafes of jaundice and of cal-
culus.'  There can,  however, be
little doubt, that  the theories on
which it has been  inferred, that it
may be ufeful in fuch complaints, are
not'well founded ; and we may per-
haps add, that the nfe of it even to
a great extent, is  by no means at-
tended  with  thofe  confequences
which were once  alleged to  arife
from it.

     PILULE e  STYRACE.
              Suec.
           Storax-pills.
Take of
   Strained ftorax, five fcruples ;
   Extrad of liquorice, three drams;
   Opium,  one dram.
Let  the opium, diffolved  in wine,
   be added to the other ingredients,
   fo as  to form a  mafs of proper
   confiftence,  to be made into pills,
   each weighing three grains.

   Til e s e pills arc principally 3dive
in confequence of the opium which
they contain.  And they are chiefly
meant with a view to a flow folution
in the ftomach, and confequently
producing more gradual and lafting
effeds.  One grain of opium is con-
tained in fix grains of the mafs,
CHAP. 
Chap.«#S.            Electuaries.                    579
C   H 'A   P.
E   E  L  E  C
ELECT
    Electuaries are compofed
     chiefly of powders  mixed  up
with  fyrups, &c.  into fuch a con-
fiftence, that the  powders  may not
feparate in keeping, that a dofe may
be eafily taken up on the point of a
knife, and  not  prove  too ftiff to
fwallovv.
  Eleduaries  receive chiefly  the
milder alterative medicines,and fuch
as are not ungrateful to the  palate.
The more powerful drugs,  as  ca-
thartics, emetics,  opiates,  and the
like, (except in officinal  eleduaries
to be difpenfed by  weight), are fel-
dom trufted in this form,  on account
of  the uncertainty of  the  dofe j
difguftful ones, acids,bitters, fetids,
cannot be conveniently taken into it;
nor is the form of an eleduary well
fitted  for the more ponderous fub-
ftances, as mercurials, thefe being
apt  to fubfide in keeping, unlefs the
compofition be made very ftiff.
  The  lighter powders  require
thrice their weight of honey or fy-
rup, boiled to the thicknefs  of ho-
ney, to make them into the confift-
enccof an eleduary; of fyrups of
the  common  confiftence,  twice the
weight of the powder is fufficient.
XXVIII.
T  U  A  R  I  A.
U   A   li   I  E   S.
   Where the common fyrups are
employed, it is  neceflary to add
likewife a little conferve, to prevent
the  compound  from  drying  too
foon. Eleduaries of Peruvian bark,
for inftance, made up with fyrup
alone, will  often in a day or two
grow too dry for taking.
   Some powders, efpecially thofe of
the lefs grateful kind, are more con-
veniently made up  with mucilage
than  with  fyrup,  honey,  or  con-
ferve.  The three latter ftick about
the mouth and fauces,  and  thus oc-
cafion the tafte of  the  medicine to
remain  for  a confiderable time^
whilft mucilages pafs freely, with-
out leaving any tafte in the mouth.
A little  foft extrad of liquorice,
joined to  the mucilage, renders the
compofition   fufficiently  grateful,
without the  inconveniences of the
more adhefive fweets.
   The quantity of an eleduary di-
reded at  a time, in extemporaneous
prefcription,  varies  much  accord-
ing to its conftituent  parts, but it
is rarely lefs than the fize of a nut-
meg, or  more  than two  or three
ounces.

            O o  2       General 
580          Preparations a?

General rules for making eleBuaries.

               I.
The rules already laid down for de-
  codions and powders in general,
  are likewife to  be obferved  in
  making decodions and powders
  for electuaries.
               II.
dums, infpiffated juices, and fuch
  other fubftances as are not pnlve-
  rable,  fliould be  diffolved in the
  liquor  prefcribed : then add the
  powders by little and little, and
  keep the whole  brifkly  ftirring,
  fo as to make an equable and  u-
  niforni mixture.
               III.
Aftringent eleduaries,  and fuch as
  have pulps of fruits in their com-
  pofition, fhould be prepared on-
  ly in  fmall quantities at a  time :
  For aftringent  medicines lofe
  greatly of  their virtue on being
  kept in this form, and the pulps
  of fruits are apt  to become four.
               IV.
The  fuperfluous  moifture of the
  pulps fhould  be  exhaled over  a
  gentle fire, before the other in-
  gredients are added to them.
               V.
Eleduaries,  if they grow dry  in
  keeping, are to be reduced to the
  due confiftence, with the addition
  of a little Canary wine, and not
  with  fyrup or honey :  by this
  means, the dofe will be the leaft
  uncertain; a circumftance defer-
  ving particular  regard,  in thofe
  efpecially which are made up with
  fyrup  and contain a proportion
  of opium.

  ELECTUARIUM e CASSIA.
             Lond.
       EleBuary of Caffia.
Take of
  The frefh  extraded  pulp of caf-
     fia, half a pound;
  Manna, two ounces;
i Compofitions.   Part III.

  Pulp of tamarinds, one ounce;
  Rofe-fyrup, half a pound ;
Beat the manna, and diffolve it o-
  ver a flow fire in the rofe-fyrup ;
  then add the pulps; and with a
  continued heat,  evaporate  the
  whole to the proper thicknefs of
  an eleduary.

  ELECTUARIUM e  CASSIA.
       vulgo DIACASIA.
             Edinb.
EleBuary of caffia, commonly called
           Diacafia.
Take of
  Pulp  of cafia fiftularis, fix oun-
    ces;
  Pulp of tamarinds,
  Manna,  each   an ounce  and  a
    half;
  Syrup of pale  rofes, fix ounces;
Having beat the manna in a mortar,
  diffolve it with a gentle heat in
  the fyrup; then  add the  pulps,
  and  evaporate  them  with  a re-
  gularly continued heat to the con-
  fiftence of an eleduary.

  These  compofitions  are very
convenient officinals, to ferve as  a
bafis for purgative eleduaries  and
other fimilar purpofes; as the pulp-
ing a fmall quantity  of the  fruits,
for extemporaneous prefeription, is
very troublefome.  The tamarinds
give them a pleafant tafte, and do
not fubjed them,  as  might be ex-
peded, to turn four. After ftanding
for four months, the  compofition
has been found no fourer than when
firft made  up.   They  are likwife
ufefully  taken  by themfelves, to
the quantity of two or three  drams
occafionally,  for gently  loofening
the belly in coftive habits.

ELECTUARIUM  e SCAMMO-
             NIO.
             Lond.
     EleBuary of fcammony.
                           Take 
Chap. 28.               Electuaries.

Take of
  Scammony, in powder one ounce
     and an half;
  Cloves,
  Ginger, of each fix drams;
  Effential oil of caraway, half a
     dram ;
  Syrup of rofes, as much as is fuffi-
     cient.
Mix the fpices,  powdered together,
  with the  fyrup ;  then add  the
  fcammony, and  laftly the oil of
  caraway.

  This eleduary is a warm, brifk
purgative.  It is a  reform of  the
EleBuarium  caryocofiinum of  our
preceding difpenfatories, a compo-
fition which was greatly complained
of, as being inconvenient  to  take,
on account of the largenefs of its
dofe.  A  dram and a half  of this,
which  contains  fifteen grains  of
fcammony, is equivalent to half an
ounce of the other.

   ELECTUARIUM e SEN-
             NA.
             Lond.
       EleBuary of fenna.
Take of
  Senna, eight ounces ;
  Figs, one pound ;
  Pulp of tamarinds,
  -----of caflia,
  -----of  prunes, of  each half a
     pound;
  Coriander-feeds, four ounces;
  Liquorice three ounces ;
  Double-refined fugar, twopounds
     and an half.
Powder the fenna with the corian-
  der-feeds, and fift out ten ounces
  of the mixed  powder.  Boil  the
  remainder  with the figs and li-
  quorice, in four pints of diftilled
  water, to  one half; then prefs
  out and ftrain the liquor.  Eva-
  porate this  ftrained  liquor to the
  weight of  about a pound and an
58s
   half:  then  add the fugar, and
   make a fyrup ;  add this fyrup by
   degrees to  thd pulps, and laftly
   mix in the powder.

   ELECTUARIUM LENITI-
             VUM.
             Edinb.
       Lenitive eleBuary,
Take of
   Pulp  of  French  prunes,  one
     pound.
   Pulp of caffia.
   Pulp of tamarinds, each two oun-
     ces and a half;
Black  fyrup of fugar, commonly
   called  molaffes, one pound and
   a half  ;
Senna leaves in fine  powder, four
     ounces ;
   Coriander feeds in fine powder,
     half an ounce.
Having boiled the pulps with the
   fyrup to the confiftence of honey,
   add  the powders,  and beat the
   whole  into an electuary.

 This eleduary,the name of which
is  with propriety changed by the
London college, is now freed from
fome fuperfluous ingredients which
were left  in it at former revifals, viz.
polypody  roots,  French mercury
leaves, fenugreek feeds,and linfeed.
Molaffes  is  preferable  to either
honey or  fugar, as it coincides with
the intention, and is not only of it-
felf inapt to ferment, but likewife
prevents fuch fubftances as  are this
way  difpofed  from running into
fermentation.
   It  is a very convenient laxative,
and has long been  in common ufe
among praditioners.  Taken to the
quantity of a nutmeg or more, as
occafion may require,  it is an excel-
lent laxative for loofening the belly
in coftive habits.
Oo
EL EC- 
583
Preparations and  Compofitions.   Part III
 ELECTUARIUM JAPONI-
   CUM,  vulgo CONFECTIO
   JAPON1CA.
            Edinb.
Japonic eleBuary, commonly called
      Japonic confeBion.
Take of
  Japan earth, four ounces ;
  Gum kino, three ounces ;
  Cinnamon,
  Nutmeg, each one ounce ;
  Opium diffufed in a  fufficient
    quantity  of    Spanifli white
    wine,one dram and a half;
Syrup of dried rofes boiled to  the
  confiftence of honey, two pounds
  and a quarter.
Mix and form them into an elec-
  tuary.

  The ingredients in the eleduary
feem extremely well chofen, and are
fo proportioned to one another, that
the quantity of  opium is the fame
as  in the diafcordiumof the former
pharmacopoeias of  Edinburgh, viz.
one grain in ten fcruples.  The gum
kino, nowfubftituted to the tormen-
til  root, is an excellent improvement
in the formula.

 ELECTUARIUM JOVIALE.
             Brun.
         Tin eleBuary.
Take of
   Pure tin,
  Quickfilver, each one oance.
Let them be formed into an amal-
  gam ; then add
  Oyfterfhells,prepared,one ounce.
Reduce the whole to a powder.
Take of
   This powder,
   Conferve of wormwood, each one
     ounce, and form an eleduary
     with fyrup of mint.

   Tin, aswe'havealready had oc-
cafion to obferve under the article
Stannum Pulveratum,has long been,
celebrated for the expulfion of tse-
nia.  And it is alfo well known,
that in mercury we have one of the
moft powerful of the tribe, of anthel-
mintics. Such a combination as the
prefent,  then, might  be fuppofed
well fuited for the removal of that
animal from the alimentary canal;
and accordingly it has been alleged,
that this electuary has fometimes
fucceeded after other remedies have
failed.  It may be taken twice a-
day, to the extent of two or three
drams for a dofe.

   ELECTUARIUM  GINGI-
           VALLE.
             Suec.
      EleBuary for the gums.
Take of
   Powdered myrrh, three drams;
   Cream of tartar,
   Cochineal, each a dram and  a
    half.
Grind them together in a glafs mor-
   tar: then add
   Melted honey, four ounces ;
   Cloves, in powder, one dram.

   Myrrh,  particularly under the
form of tindure, has long been a fa-
vourite  application  to the gums,
when in a fpongy or ulcerated ftate.
But the fpirituous menftruum there
employed, although fometimes fa-
vouring the intention in view, in o-
ther inftances occurs as an objedion
to its ufe. In thefe cafes, the bene-
fit  to be derived from the myrrh
may be obtained from this eleduary,
which may always be applied  with
fafety, and fometimes  with advan-
tage.

 ELECTUARIUM e  MANNA.
             Suec.
       EleBuary of manna.
Take of
   Manna.
   Refined fugar, pounded,
                        Fennel- 
Chap.  28.      '      Elefti

  Fennel-water, each two ounces.
Strain the mixture, ufing exprefli-
  on ;  then add
  Fine  powder of the root of flo-
    rentine orrice, one dram-;
  Frefli  drawn  almond,  9il,  one
    ounce.

  In this eleduary we have a gent-
ly emollient laxative, which is very
ufeful in thefe cafes,  where obfti-
patio either arifes from  indurated
feces, or is fupported by that caufe.
But its cathartic powers are by  no
means confiderable.

  ELECTUARIUM NITRO-
             SUM.
             Gen.
        Nitrous eleBuary.
Take of
  Purified nitre, half an ounce  ;
  Conferve of rofes, four ounce?.
Mix them.

  Under this formula,  nitre may
be introduced to a confiderable ex-
tent, without giving uneafinefs at
ftomach, while at the fame time its
refrigerant power is combined with
the aftringency of the rofes. From
thefe circumftances it may beadvan-
tageoufly employed in different ca-
fes, but particularly in inftances of
hsemoptyfis.

  ELECTUARIUM TEREBIN-
         THINATUM.
             Suec.
     Terebinthinate eleBuary.
aries.                    583,

 Take of
   Spirit of turpentine, halfan ounce;
   Honey, one ounce ;
   Powder of liquorice,  as much as
     is fufficient for the formation
     of an eleduary.

   Under this form, the oil of tur-
 pentine may be introduced with lefs
 uneafinefs, than  perhaps under al-
 moft any other.  And it may thus
 be employed for different purpofes,
 but particularly with a view to its
 diuretic power.   But it  has been e-
 fpecially celebrated for the cure of
 obftinate rheumatifms,  and above
 all, for that modification of rheu-.
 matifm which has  the name of if
 chias, and which is found in many
 inftances, obftinately to refift other.
 modes of cure.

     LINCTUS LENIENS.
              Suec.
         Lenient LinBus.
 Take of
   Gum arabic, bruifed, two drams ;
   Cherry-water, half an ounce.
 By trituration in a mortar, mix with
   them
   Almond oil, frefh drawn,
   Syrup  of almonds,  each feven
     ounces.

   In this we have a very agreeable
 emollient lindus, highly ufeful in
 recent catarrhal affedions, for lu-
 bricating the throat and fauces.  It
 may be taken at pleafure to any ex-
 tent that the ftomach will eafilybear.
O o  4       CHAP. 
584
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
CHAP.     XXlt.
CONFECTIONES.
CONFECTIONS.
    Although theLondoncollege
    have feparated thefe from elec-
tuaries, yet they differ fo little, that
in moft pharmacopoeias they  are
ranked under the fame head.  And
in that of Edinburgh, there are fe-
veral  articles which have promif-
cuoufly the name either of confeBion
or eleBuary.  But as no inconveni-
ence  arifes  from  the  feparation ;
and as we  have followed  the order
of the Edinburgh pharmacopoeia in
other  particulars, it would be  im-
proper to deviate  from it in this.

    CONFECTIO AROMA-
            TICA.
             Lond.
       Aromatic confeBion.
Take of
  Zedoary,  in coarfe powder,
  Saffron, of each half an odnce ;
  Diftilled water, three pints.
Macerate  for twenty-four hours ;
  then  prefs and ftrain.  Reduce
  the ftrained liquor, by evaporati-
  on, to a  pint and a half, to which
  add the following, rubbed to a
  very fine powder :
  Compound powder of  crabs-
    claws,  fixteen ounces;
  Cinnamon,
  Nutmegs, of each two ounces ;
  Cloves,  one ounce;
  Smaller cardamom-feeds, hulked,
    half an ounce ;
  Double-refined fugar,two pounds.
Make a confedion.

  This confedion is compofed of
the more unexceptionable ingredi-
ents of a compofition formerly held
in great efteem, and which was cal-
led,  from its author, Confectio
Raleigh ana. The original con-
fedion was compofed of no lefs than
five and' twenty particulars; each of
which were examined apart, except
one,  ros folis,  the flower of which
is too fmall to  be gathered in fuffi-
cient quantity for the general ufe of
the medicine,  and the plant is pof-
feffed of hurtful qualities,  as is ex-
perienced in cattle that feed where
it grows. In this examination, ma-
ny of the extrads came out fo very
naufeous, that it was impoffible to
retain them,confiftent with any  re-
gard to the tafte of the compofition.
But  fome  few,  of equal efficacy
with any of the reft, being of a  to-
lerable tafte and flavour, were com-
pounded in different proportions;
and when, after many trials, a com-
pofition was approved, the quantity
of each material,  that would  yield
the proportion of extrad which en-
tered that compofition, was calcula-
                           ted. 
Chap.  29.             Confe

ted,  and from thence  the  propor-
portions were colleded as now fet
down: after  which the compound
extrad was made, and found to an-
fwer expedation. The London col-
lege, in the prefent edition of their
pharmacopoeia, have  ftill  farther
Amplified this formula, by rejeding
the rofemary, juniper, and carda-
moms, which formerly entered it.
  The confedion, as now reformed,
is a fufficiently grateful and mode-
rately warm cordial; and frequent-
ly given with that intention,  from
eight or ten grains to  a fcruple or
upwards, in bolufes and draughts.
The formula might perhaps be ftill
more  Amplified without any lofs.
The crabs-claw powder does not ap-
pear  to be very neceffary, and is in-
ferred  rather in compliance  with
the original, than from its contri-
buting any thing to the intention of
the medicine;  and  the following
formula of the Edinburgh pharma-
copoeia feems to  us preferable to
that of the London, even in its pre-
fentimproved ftate.   *

  ELECTUARIUM CARDIA-
  CUM   vulgo   CONFECTIO
  CARDIACA.
             Edinb.
Cordial eleBuary, commonly called
       Cordial confeBion.
Take of
  Conferve of  orange-peel,  three
    ounces;
  Preferved nutmegs, an ounce and
     a half;
  Preferved ginger, fix drams;
  Cinnamon, in fine powder, half
     an ounce;
  Syrup of orange-peel, as much as
    will form the whofe into an e-
     leduary.

   In the above fimple and elegant
formula, a number of trifling ingre-
dients are rejeded, and thofe fubfti-
tuted in their place are medicines
lions.                    585

of approved efficacy.  We  there-
fore confider this preparation as an
ufeful remedy for the purpofes ex-
preffed in its title.

    CONFECTIO  OPIATA.
             Lond.
       ConfeBion of opium.
Take of
  Hard purified opium,  powdercdj
     fix drams;
  Long pepper,
  Ginger,
  Caraway feeds, of each 2 ounces;
  Syrup  of white  poppy,  boiled
     to the  confiftence  of honey,
     three times the weight of the
     whole.
Mix the purified opium  carefully
  with the heated fyrup:  then add
  the reft rubbed to powder.

  ELECTUARIUM THEBAI-
             CUM.
             Edinb.
       Thebaic eleBuary.
Take of
  Powder of aromatics, fix ounces;
  Virginian fnake-root, in fine pow-
     der, three ounces;
  Opium,  diffufed  in  a  fufficient
     quantity of Spanifh white-wine,
     three drams;
  Clarified honey thrice the weight
     of the powders.
Mix them,  and form an  eleduary.

  These compofitions confift of ve-
ry powerful ingredients, and are
doubtlefs capable of anfweri ng every
thing that can be reafonably expeded
from the more voluminous theriaca
of Andromachns. The London col-
lege alfo had  formerly their the-
riaca compofed of the lefs excep-
tionable ingredients  of  Androma-
chus's. But as thefe  medicines have
for a long  time  been chiefly  em-
ployed for external purpofes, by the
way of caiaylafm, the TheriacaLcn-
dinenfis  is  now omitted, and  its
                           place 
 586         Preparations a

 place fupplied by a cataplafni  com-
 pofed of a few well-chofen articles,
 under the name of Caiaplafma e cy-
 m'tno;  of  which hereafter.   For
 internal ufe,  none of the theriacas
 are at prefent fo  much regarded as
 they have been heretofore; pradi-
 tioners having introduced in their
 room extemporaneous bolufes of Vir-
 ginian  fnake-root, camphor,  con-
 trayerva, and the like; which an-
 fwer all their inteutions, with  this
 advantage, that they may be given
 either with or without opium ; an
 ingredient which renders the others
 prejudicial,  in  cafes   where  they
 might otherwife be proper.
   With regard to the quantity of
 opium in the foregoing compofitions,
 one  grain thereof is coutaincd  in
 thirty-fix grains of the Confedio o-
 piata,  and  in five fcruples of  the
 Thebaic eleduary.   The propor-
 tion of opium will vary a little, ac-
 cording to the time that they have
 been kept; their  moifture by  de-
 grees exhaling, fo as to leave the re-
 mainder ftronger of the opium than
 an equal weight  was  at  firft.   A
 change of this kind is taken notice
 of by many writers,  but falfely at-
 tributed to an imaginary fermenta-
 tive  quality of the ingredients; by
which they were fuppofed,  from
 their multiplicity and contrariety, to
be continually exhaling and improv-
 ing the virtues of each other.
  A  good deal of care is requifite in
 making-thefe compofitions,  to pre-
 vent the wafte,Svhich is apt to hap-
 pen  ia  the  pounding,  and  which
 would render the proportion of o-
 pium to the other  ingredients  pre-
carious.  The intention of diffolv-
 ing the opium in wiiie, for thefe
 and  other elednariee,  is, that  it
 may  be more uniformly mingled
 with the reft.

  These compofitions fully  fupply
id Compofitions.   Part III.
 the  place  of  two articles,  which
 though  long  baniflied  from  the
 fhops, we fliall here fubjoin;  as ex-
 amples  of  the  amazing height to
 which compofition in medicine had
 at one time proceeded.

 MITHRIDATIUM, five CON-
   FECTIO DAMOCRATIS.
 Mithridate, or the confeBion of De-
            mocrates.
 Take of
   Cinnamon,  fourteen drams:
   Myrrh,  eleven drams;
   Agaric,
   Indian nard,
   Ginger,
   Saffron,
   Seeds of  mithridate muftard,
   Frankincenfe,
   Chio turpentine, each ten drams;
   Camels hay,
   Coitus, or in its ftead zedoary,
   Indian leaf, or in its ftead mace,
   Stechas,
   Long pepper,
   Hartwort feeds,
   Hypociftis,
   Storax ftrained,
   Opoponax,
   Galbanum ftrained,
   Opobalfam, or  in  its ftead ex-
    preffed oil of  nutmegs,
  Ruffia caftor each one ounce;
  Poley mountain,
  Scordium,
  Carpobalfam, or in its ftead cu-
    bebs,
  White pepper,
   Candy carrot feed,
  Bdellium ftrained,  each   feven
    drams;
  Celtic nard,
  Gentian root,
  Dittany of Crete,
  Red rofes,
  Macedonian parfley feed,
  Leffer cardamom feeds, hulked,
  Sweet fennel ieeo],
  Gum arabic,
                            O- 
Chap. 29.              Confections.

Opium ftrained, each five drams;
Calamus aromaticus,
Wild valerian root,
Anifeed,
Sagapenum, ftrained, each  three
  drams ;
Meum athamanticnm,
St John's wort,
Acacia, or in its ftead terra Japo-
  nica,
Bellies of  fkinks, each two drams
  and a half;
Clarified honey, thrice the weight
  of all the other ingredients. _
Warm the honey, and mix with it
   the opium diffolved in wine : melt
   the ftorax, galbanum, turpentine,
   and opobalfam  (or expreffed  oil
   of nutmegs) together in another
   veffel, continually ftirring them
   about to prevent their  burning ;
   with thefe fo melted, mix the hot
   honey, at firft by fpoonfuls,  and
   afterwards in larger quantities at
   a time;  when the whole is grown
   almoft  cold, add by degrees the
   other fpecies reduced into pow-
   der.
587
   THERIACA  ANDROMA-
             CHI.
Theriaca of Andromachus, or Venice
           treacle.
Take of
  Troches of fquills, half a pound ;
  Long pepper,
  Opium, ftrained,
  Vipers, dried,  each threeounces;
  Cinnamon,
  Opobalfam,  or in its ftead ex-
     preffed oil of nutmegs,  each
     two ounces;
   Agaric,
   Florence oris root,
   Scordium,
   Red rofes,
   Navew feeds,
   Extrad of  liquorice,  each   an \
     ounce and a half;
   Indian nard,
Saffron,
Amomum,
Myrrh,
Coitus, or in its ftead zedoary,
Camel's hay, each one ounce ;
Cinquefoil root,
Rhubarb,
Ginger,
Indian leaf, or in its ftead mace,
Dittany of Crete,
Horehound leaves,
Calamint leaves,
Stechas,
Black pepper,
Macedonian parfley feed,
Olibanum,
Ohio turpentine,
Wild  valerian root,  each
   drams ;
Gentian root,
Celtic nard,
 Spignel,
 Poley mountain p
 St John's wort >leaves,
 Ground pine    j
 Germander tops, v.ith the feed,
 Carpobalfam,  or in its ftead cu-
   bebs,
 Anifeed,
 Sweet fennel  feed,
 Leffer cardamom feeds, hufked,
 Bifhops-weed     ~)
 Hartwort         >  feeds,
 Treacle muftard    )
 Hypociftis,
 Acacia, or  in its ftead J a pa a
   earth,
 Gum arabic,
 Storax, ftrained,
 Sagapenum, ftrained,
 Terra Lemnia, or  in its ftead bole
   armenic, or French bole,
 Green vitriol calcined, each  half
    an ounce;
 Small (or in  its ftead, the long)
   birthwort root,
 Leffer centaury tops,
 Candy carrot feed,
 Opopanax,
 G-tlbamini, ftr*i:>fv.. 
 5 8 8          Preparations a

   Ruffia caftor,
   Jews pitch,  or in its ftead white
     amber, prepared;
  Calamus  aromaticus, each  two
     drams;
  Clarified honey, thrice the weight
     of all the other ingredients.
 Let thefe ingredients be mixed to-
  gether, after the fame manner as
  direded in  making the mithri-
  date.

  Th ese celebrated eleduaries are
 often  mentioned  by medical wri-
 ters,  and may ferve as examples of
 the  wild exuberance of compofi-
 tion which the fuperftition  of  for-
 mer ages brought into vogue.  The
 theriaca is a reformation of mithri-
 date, made by Andromachus phyfi-
 ciantoNcro:  the  mithridate itfelf
 is faid  to have been found in  the ca-
 binet of Mithridates king of Pon-
 tus.   The firft publifhers  of  this
 pompous arcanum were very extra-
 vagant in their commendations of
 its virtues ;  the principal of  which
 was made to  confift in its being a
 moft powerful prcfervative  againft
 all kinds of venom; whoever took
 a proper quantity in a morning, was
 enfured from being poifoned during
 that whole day : this was confirmed
-by the example of its fuppofed in-
 ventor, who,  as Celfus informs us,
 was by  its conftant  ufe fo fortified
 againft the commonly reputed poi-
 fons, that none of them would have
 any effed upon him when he want-
 ed their affiftance.  But the notions
 of poifons which prevailed in thofe
 ruder ages were manifeftly errone-
 ous. Before experience had furnifh-
 ed mankind with a competent know-
 ledge of the powers of fimples, they
 were under perpetual  alarms from
 an apprehenlion of poifons, and bu-
 ffed themfelves in contriving compo-
 fitions which fhould counterad their
 effeds, accumulating together  all
id Compofitions.   Part III.
thofe fubftances which they imagin-
ed tobe poffeffed of any degree of
alexipharmac power.  Hence pro-
ceed the voluminous antidotes which
we meet with in the writings of the
ancient phyficians: yet it does not
appear that they  were acquainted
with any real poifon, except the ci-
cuia,  aconitum, and bites of veno-
mous beafts;  and to thefe  they
knew of no antidote whatever. Even
admitting the reality of the poifons,
and the efficacy of the feveral anti-
dotes feparately,  the compofitions
could no more anfwer the purpofes
expeded from them, than the accu-
mulating of all tbcmedicinalfimples
into one form could make a remedy
againft all difeafes.
  Yet, notwithftanding the abfurdi-
ty in the original intention of thefe
medicines, and their enormity in
point of compofition, as they contain
feveral powerful  materials, whofe
virtues, tho' greatly prejudiced, yet
are not deftroyed, by their multipli-
city and contrariety, the compounds
have been found, from repeated ex-
perience,  to produce very cofider-
able effeds, as warm opiate diapho-
retics.
  Thefe compofitions might with-
out doubt be lopt  of numerous fu-
perfluities, without any diminution
of their virtues; yet as the effeds of
them, in their prefent form,  are fo
well  known,  fo  much regard has
been paid  to ancient authority, as
not to attempt a reformation of that
kind. Altho' thefe forms were origi-
nally complex, yet fubfequent addi-
tions had crept into them.  Neither
the defcription in  verfe of the elder
Andromachus, nor the profejexplana-
tion of the younger,make any men-
tion of the white pepper afterwards
added tothe theriaca; and the orris
root,  in the mithridate of our for-
mer pharmacopoeias, is alfo a fuper-
numcrary ingredient, not warranted
                              by 
Chap.  29.
Confections.
589
by the original: thefe threfore are
rejeded.  Nor is the afarum in the
mithridate grounded  on any good
authority: the verfe it is taken from,
is mutilated and corrupt:  and the
word which fome, upon conjedure
only, fuppofe to  have been  alarum,
others, alfo upon conjedure, choofe
to read differently :  till fome ernen*
dation fhall be  better founded  than
merely  upon critical gueffes,  this
fingle fpecies may be fafely paffed
over  without any  prejudice to the
medicine. None of the  ancient de-
fcriptions afford any other light in
this  particular; for they  either o-
mitrhis ingredient,  and  others "alfo,
or abound with additions.
   Another innovation on both thefe
medicines alfo took place. In each of
thefe compofitions were found  both
cinnamon and caffialignea ; and it is
very evident, from feveral parts of
Galen's works, that the latter was u-
fed  by the ancients only upon ac-
count of the great difficulty of pro-
curing the other ;  fo that to retain
the caffia, now  that cinnamon is fo
common, is a   blind following of
thefe writers, without any attention
to their meaning : the caffia there-
fore is now rejected,  and  half the
quantity of cinnamon put in its room;
which is the proportion  that Galen
direds to be obferved infubftituting
the one for the other.   It is proba-
ble, that the cafe is the fame  with
regard to the Celtic and the Indian
nard ;  that the firft had a place in
thefe compofitions, on  account of
the difficulty of procuring the Indi-
an :  for  Galen exprefsly  prefers
the latter.
   There is a material  error in re-
gard to the theriaca,  which  has
paffed through  feveral  editions of
our  Pharmacopoeia :  this is, the
fubftituting  Roman  vitriol to the
ancient chalcitis, now not certain-
ly known ;  and, in the catalogue
©f fimples  defcribing  the Roman
                           1
to be a blue vitriol; whereas the I-
talian writers are unanimous it is a
green vitriol ;  and were it not,  it
would not anfwer to the effeds of
the chalcitis, which was certainly
a chalybeate, and gives the me-
dicine its black colour.  What has
chiefly occafioned chalcitis to  be
fuppofed a cupreous vitriol,  feems to
be its name, derived from  ^axx-cc,
copper:  but.it is to be obferved,
that all vitriols were formerly ima-
gined to proceed from copper, and
were named accordingly : the green
or martial vitriols are ftill called
by  the  Germans  kupjfer-waffer,
and  by us coperas.   It is proba-
ble,  that  the ancient chalcitis was
no other  than a native martial vi-
triol,  calcined by the heat of thofe
warm climates to a degree of yel-
lowifli red or coppery colour : and
therefore the common  green  vitri-
ol, thus calcined by art, very pro-
perly fupplies its place.
  The preparation  of thefe medi-
cines  has been fomewhat facili-
tated   by  omitting  the  trochifci
cypheos ufed  in  the  mithridate,
and the  hedychroi and viperini for
the theriaca ; and  inferting their
ingredients, after Zwelffer's man-
ner, in the compofitions  they  are
intended  for.    This  is  done  in
the theriaca very commodioufly ;
the  ingredients  in  thefe  troches
uniting with thofe in  the theria-.
ca itfelf   into unbroken numbers.
But to render the numbers equal-
ly fimple in the mithridate, it was
neceflary to retrench  a few odd
grains from fome of  the articles,
and make a fmall addition to fome
others. The proportions of the in-
gredients in the trochifci cypheos
are adjufted from the  original de-
fcription in Galen; the  numbers
in our former pharmacopoeia  being
very erroneous.
   Both the London and Edinburgh
colleges ventured at length todifcard
                            thefe 
Preparations and Compofitions.    . Part III.
39°
thefe  venerable  reliqties.    The
Edinburgh college at firft fubftitu-
ted in their  room an elegant and
fimple form, equivalent to them both
in efficacy, under the title of The-
riaca Edinenfis, Edinburgh Theria-
ca. Inlattereditions, however, they
have entirely banifbed the name of
theriaca from their book, and have
pnt in its  place the more elegant
compofition already mentioned,  the
Eleduarium Tkcbaicum.
CHAP.     XXX.
A HU M  MEDICATE..
MEDICATED   WATERS.
      WE have already taken notice
       of  many articles which  are
either diffolved in water or commu-
nicate  their virtues  to it.  And in
one fenfe of the word, thefe may be
called medicated waters. Sometimes
this impregnation is effeded by  the
aid of heat,  fometimes without it:
and thus are formed  decodions, in-
fufions, and the like.  But among
thofe  articles referred  to in  this
chapter, there  takes place  mere
watery folution only, and they  are
ufed folely with the intention of ac-
ting  topically ia the  way of lotion,
injedion, or at the utmoft  of gar-
garifm.

 AQUA ALUMINIS COMPO-
              SITA.
             Lond.
     Compound alum-water.
Take of
  Alum,
  Vitriolated zinc, of each half an
    ounce ;
   Boiling diftilled water, twopints.
Pour  the water  on  the faks in a
   glafs veffel, and ftrain.

   This water was long known in
our fliops under the title of Aqua a-
luminofa Bateana.
   Bates direded  the falts to be firft
powdered and melted over the fire ;
but this is needlefs trouble, fince the
melting only evaporates the aqueous
parts, which are reftored again on
the addition of the water.  This li-
quor is ufed for clcanfing and heal-
ing ulcers and wounds ; and for re-
moving  cutaneous eruptions,   the
part being bathed with it hot three
or four times a-day. It is fometimes
likewife employed as a collyrium ;
and as an injection  in the gonorr-
hoea and fluor albus, when not ac-
companied with virulence.

                        AQJJA 
Chap.  30.         Mediated Water*.
      AQJJA STYPTICA.
            Elbnb.
          Styptic water.
Take of
  Blue  vitriol,
  Alum, each three ounces;
  Water, two pounds.
Boil them until the falts be diffol-
  ved ;  then filtre the liquor, and
  add one ounce and a half of vi-
  triolic acid.

  This water, though made with
the blue in place of the white vitriol,
cannot be confidered as differing ve-
ry much from the former.  It is
formed  upon the  ftyptic, recom-
mended by Sydenham, for flopping
bleeding at the nofe, and other  ex-
ternal hsemorrhagies:  for this pur-
pofe cloths or doffils are to be dipt in
the liquor, and applied to the part.

 AQJJA CUPRI AMMONIATI.
             Lond.
    Water of ammoniated copper.
Take of
   Lime-water, one pint ;
   Sal ammoniac,  one dram.
Let them ftand together,  in a cop-
   per veffel, till  the ammonia be
   faturated.

     AQJJA SAPHARINA.
             Edinb.
     Sapphire coloured water.
 Take of
   Lime-water, newly made, eight
     ounces ;
   Sal ammoniac,  two fcruples  ;
   Verdegris,  beat, four  grains.
 Mix them,  and  after twenty-four
   hours ftrain the liquor.

   This is-a much more elegant
 arid convenient  method  than  the
 preceding.
   This water is  at prefent  pretty
 much in ufe as a detergent of  foul
 and obftinate ulcers, and for taking
 away fpecks or films  in  the eyes.
                          59*
The copper contribntes more to ifs*
coloar than to its medicinal effica-
cy ; for the quantity of the metal
diffolved is exiremely fmall.

 AOUA  LITHARGYRI ACE-
   ~TATI COMPOSITA.
             Lond.
  Compound water of acetated li-
             tharge.
Take of
  Acetated water of litharge,  t\v6
    drams ;
  Diftilled water, two pints ;
  Proof-fpirit of wine, two drams.
Mix the fpirit of wine with the ace-
  tated waterof litharge; then add
  the diftilled water.

  This liquor is of thefame nature
with folutions of faccharum faturni,
and is analogous to  the Vegeto-mi-
neral water'of Mr  Goulard.   It is
only ufed externally,  as a cofmetic
againft cutaneous eruptions, rednefs,
inflammation,&c.  But even here,
it is alleged that it is not altogether
void of danger ;  and that there are
examples of its continued employ-
ment  Having  occaiioned fundry ill
confequences. But at the fame time
the very  frequent ufe that  is made
of it with perfect impunity, would
lead us  to  conclude,  that in thefe
obfervations  there muft  be fome
miftake.

 AQJJA ZINCI VITRIOLATI
      CUM  CAMPHORA.
             Lond.
   Water of vitriolated zinc with
            camphor. ■
Take of
   Vitriolated zinc, half an ounce ;
   Camphorated fpirit,half an ounce;
   Boiling water, two pints.
Mix, and fiker through paper.

   This is an improved method of
forming the Aqua vitriolicacampho-
rata of the former editions of the
                           Lon- 
592         Preparations a

London pharmacopoeia.  It is ufed
externally as a lotion for fome  id-
cers, particularly thofe in which it
is neceffary to reftrain a great dif-
charge.  It is alfo not unfrequently
employed as a collyrium in fome ca-
fes of opthalmia, where a large dif-
charge of watery fluid takes  place
from the eyes with but little inflam-
mation.  But when it is to be ap-
plied to this tender organ, it ough
at firft, at leaft, to be diluted by th
addition of more water.

     AQJJA VITRIOLICA.
            Edinb.
         Vitriolic water.
C   H    A
E   M  P   L
P   L   A   S
   PLasters are compofed chiefly
    of oily and  unduous fubftan-
ces, united with  powders into fuch
a confiftence,  that the compound
may remain firm in the cold without
fticking to the fingers ; that it may
be foft and pliable in a low degree
of heat,  and that by the warmth
of the human body it be fo  tena-
cious as readily to adhere bo-h to
the part  on which it is applied,
and to the fubftance on which it is
fpread.
d^Compofitions.    Part III.

Take of
  White vitriol, Cw en grains ;
  Water, eight ounce;
  Weak vitriolic acid,axteen drops.
Diffolve  the  vitriol in the  water,
  and then adding the acid, ftrain
  through paper.

  Where the syes are watery or
inflamed, this folution of white vi-
triol is a very ufeful  application :
the  flighter inflammations will fre-
quently  yield  to   this  medicine,
without any other affiftance : u: the
more violent ones, venaefecronand
cathartics are to be premifed to its
ufe.
P.     XXXI.
ASTRA.
T   E   R    S.
  There is, however, a difference
in the confiftence of plafters,accord-
ing to the purpofes they are to be ap-
plied to:  Thus, fuch as are intend-
ed for the breaft and ftomach fhould
be very foft and yielding;  whilft
thofe  defigned  for the limbs are
made firmer and more adhefive. An
ounce of expreffed oil, an ounce of
yellow wax, and half an ounce of
any proper  powder,  will make a
plafter of the firft confiftence; fora
hard one, an ounce more  of wax,
                            and 
Chap.  31
and half an ounce more of powder
may be added.   Platters may like-
wife be made of refins, gummy-re-
finsj &c.  without wax, efpecially in
extemporaneous prefeription:   for
officinals, thefe compofitions are lefs
proper, as  they  foon  grow too foft
in keeping, and fail flat in a warm
air.
  It has been  fuppofed,  that pla-
tters might be impregnated with the
fpecific virtues of  different vege-
tables, by boiling the recent vege-
table with the oil employed for the
compofition of the plafter. Thecoc-
tion was  continued till the herb was
almoft crifp, with care to  prevent
the matter  from contrading a black
colour: after which the liquid was
ftrained  off,  and fet  on  the  fire
again, till all the aqueous moifture
had exhaled. We have already ob-
ferved, that this treatment does not
communicate to the oils  any very
valuable qualities even when to  be
ufed  in a fluid ftate : much lefs can
platters,  made with fuch oils re-
ceive any confiderable  efficacy from
the herbs.
  Calces of lead, boiled with oils,
unite with them into a plafter of an
excellent confiftence,  and which
makes a proper bafis for feveral  o-
ther  plafters.
  In the  boiling  of  thefe compofi-
tionsy a  quantity of water muft be
added, to prevent the plafter from
burning and growing black.  Such
water, as it may be neceflary to add
during the  boiling,  muft be previ-
oufly  made  hot;  for cold liquor
would  not only prolong the procefs,
but likewife occafion the matter to
explode,  and be thrown about with
violence, to the great danger of the
operator : this accident will equally
happen upon  the addition  of hot
water, if the plafter be extremely
hot.
Plafiers.                      593

     EMPLASTRUM  AMMONIACI
         CUM HYDRARGYRO.
                  Lond.
     Ammoniacum  plafier  with quick'
                  filver.
     Take of
       Strained ammoniaeum,otie pound;
       Purified quickfilver,  three oun-
          ces ;
       Sulphurated oil,  one dram, or
          what is fufficient.
     Rub  the quickfilver with the ful-
       phurated oil until the  globules
       difappear ;  then  add, by a Hale
       at  a time,  the  melted ammonia-
       cum, and mix them.

       This is a  very well contrived
     mercurial plafter.   The ammonia-
     cum  in general affords a good bafis
     for the application of  the mercury.
     In fome  cafes, however, it is  not
     fufficiently adhefive.  But this  in-
     convenience,  when it  does occur,
     may  be readily remedied by the  ad-
     dition of a fmall quantity of tur-
     pentine.

     EMPLASTRUM  CANTHARI-
                  DIS.
                  Lond.
          Plafter of Spanifh flier.
     Take of
       Spanifli flies, one pound ;
       Plafter of wax, two'pounds ;
       Prepared hog'slard, half a pound.
     Having melted the plafter and lard,
       a   little before  they  coagulate,
       fprinkle  in the  flies, reduced to a
       very fine powder.

     EMPLASTRUM  VESICATO-
                RIUM.
                Edinb.
     Bliftering plafter, or  Epifpaftic
                plafter.
     Take of
       Hog's lard,
       Yellow wax,
       White refin,
                   Pp         Can- 
594         Preparations at,

  Cantharides, each equal weights.
Beat the  cantharides into a fine
  powder, and add them to the o-
  ther ingredients, previoufly melt-
  ed, and removed from the fire.

  Both  thefe formulas  are  very
well fuited to anfwer the  intention
in view, that of exciting blifters;
for both are of a proper confiftence
and fufficient degree  of  tenacity,
which are here the only requifites.
Cantharides of  good quality,  duly
applied  to the  fkin, never fail of
producing blifters.   When, there-
fore, the defired effed does not take
place, it is to  be  afcribed to the
flies either being faulty at firft, or
having their adivity afterwards de-
ftroyed by fome accidental circum-
ftance;  fuch as too great  heat in
forming, in fpreading the plafter,or
the like.  Aud when due attention
is paid to thefe particulars, the fim-
ple compofitions  now introduced
anfwer the purpofe better than thofe
compound  platters with  muftard-
feed, black pepper, vinegar, verde-
gris, and  the like, which had  for-
merly a place in our pharmacopoeias.
It is aot however improbable, that
the paia of bliftering-plafters might
be  confiderably  diminilhed by the
addition of a proportion of opium,
without  preventing the good effeds
otherwife  to be drived from them.

    EMPLASTRUM  CERjE.
             Lond.
          Wax-plafter.
Take of
  Yellow-wax,
  Prepared  mutton-fuet,   of  each
     three pounds;
  Yellow refin, one pound.
Melt them together, and ftrain the
     mixture whilft it is fluid.

  EMPLASTRUM CEREUM.
            Edinb,
          Wax-plafter.
d Compofitions.   Part III,

 Take of
   Yellow wax, three parts;
   White refin,
   Mutton-fuet, each two parts.
 Melt them together into a plafter;
   which fupplies the place of meli-
   lot plafter.

   This plafter had formerly the
 title of Emplaftrum attrahens, and
 was chiefly employed as a  dreffing
 after blifters,  to fupport fome dif-
 charge.
   It is a very well contrived plafter
 for that purpofe.  It is calculated
 to fupply the place of melilot pla-
 fter ; whofe great irritation, when
 employed for the dreffing of blifters,
 has been continually complained  of.
 This was owing to the large qnan-
 ty of refin contained in it, which
 is here on that account retrenched.
 It would feem  that, when defigned
 only for dreffing blifters, the refin
 ought to be entirely omitted, unlefs
 where a continuance of the pain and
 irritation, excited by the veiicatory,
 is required. Indeed plafters of any
 kind are not very  proper  for this
 purpofe:  their  confiftence makes
 them fit uneafy,and their adhefive-
 nefs renders  the taking them  off
 painful.  Cerates, which are fofter
 and lefsadhefive, appear much more
 eligible:  the  Ceratum fpermatis
 cati will ferve for general ufe ; and
 for fome particular  purpofes, the
 Ceratm refina flava may  be ap-
 plied.

   EMPLASTRUM CUMINI.
             Lond.
        Cummin-plafier.
 Take of
   The feeds of cummin,
   ------------caraway,
   Bay-berries, of each three oun^
     ces;
   Burgundy pitch, three pounds;
     Yellow wax, three ounces.
 Mix,with the melted pitch and wax,
                            tj&e 
Chap. 31.
Plafiers.
595
   the reft of the ingredients, pow-
   dered, and make a plafter.

   This plafter ftands recommend-
 ed as a moderately warm difcutient;
 and is direded by fome to be ap-
 plied to the  hypogaftric region, for
 ftrengthening the  vifcera, and ex-
 pelling flatulencies: but it is a mat-
 ter of great doubt, whether it de-
 rives any virtue either from the ar-
 ticle from which  it is named, or
 from  the caraway or bay-berries
 which enter its compofition.

 EMPLASTRUM  FOETIDUM,
   vulgo  ANTIHYSTERICUM.
             Edinb.
 Fetid, commonly called Antihyfte-
          ric plafter.
 Take of
   Common plafter.
   Afafoetida,  ftrained, each two
     parts;
   yellow wax.
   Strained  galbanum,  each one
     part.
 Mix, and make them into a plafter.

   This plafter  is  applied  tothe
 umbilical region, or over the whole
 abdomen, in  hyfteric  cafes; and
 fometimes with  good  effed;  but
 probably more from  its effed  as
 giving an additional degree of heat
 tothe part, thanfrom any influence
 derived from the fetid gams. It has
 indeed been  alleged, that from the
 application of this plafter to the ab-
 domen, the tafte of afafoetida can be
 diftindly perceived in  the mouth ;
 and ir is  not improbable, that fome
 abforption of its adive  parts  may
 take place by the lymphatic veffels
 of the furface; while,  at the fame
 ti me,the afafoetida thus applied muft
 conftantly,  in fome degree,  ad on
 the nerves of the nofe.  But, in both
 thefe ways, its influence can be in-
confiderable only;  and  mush more
 effed may be obtained  from a very
 fmall quantity taken internally. And
 we are upon the whole  inclined to
 think that the addition of the fetid
 gums to the common plafter is here
 more difagreeable than ufeful.

   EMPLASTRUM LADANI.
             Lond.
        Ladanum-plafter.
 Take of
   Ladanum, three ounces;
   Frankincenfe, one ounce;
   Cinnamon, powdered,
   Expreffed oil, called oil of mace,
     of each half an ounce;
   Effential oil, of fpearmint, one
     dram.
 To the melted frankincenfe add firft
   the ladanum, foftened by heat;
   then the oil of mace.   M;x thefe
   afterwards with thecinnamonand
   oil of mint, and beat  them toge-
   ther  in a warm mortar,  into a
   plafter.  Let  it be kept in a clofe
   veffel.

   This has been confidered as a
 very elegant ftomach patter.  It is
 contrived fo as to be eafily made oc-
 cafionally (for thefe kinds of com-
 pofitions, oa  account of their vola-
 tile ingredients,  are not fit for keep-
 ing),  and to be but moderately ad-
 hefive,  fo as not to offend the fkin,
 and that it may without difficulty
 be frequently taken off and renew-
 ed ; which thefe forts of applicati-
 ons, in order to their producing any
 confiderable effed, require  to be.
 But after all, it  probably ads more
 from  the  mere  covering which it
 gives to  the ftomach, than from any
of the articles abounding with ef-
fential oil which it contains.

  EMPLASTRUM  LITHAR-
            GYRI.
             Lond.
        Litharge-plafter.
             P P 3        Take 
5.96          Preparations a)

Take of
  Litharge, in very  fine powder,
    five pounds.
  Olive-oil, a gallon.
Boil them with a flow fire, in about
  two pints of water,  conftantly
  ftirring until the oil and litharge
  unite, and have the confiftence of
  a plafter.  But it will be proper
  to add more boiling water, if the
  water  that was firft  added be
  nearly confumed before the end
  of the procefs.

EMPLASTRUM  COMMUNE,
             Edinb.
        Camnion plafter.
Take of
  Oil olive, two parts ;
  Litharge, one part.
Boil them, adding water, and con-
  ftantly ftirring the mixture till
  the oil  and  litharge be formed
  into a plafter.

  The heat in the proceffes fhould
be gentle, and the matter kept.con-
tinually ftirring, otherwife it fwells
up, and is apt to run over the veffel.
It the compofition proves  difcolour-
ed, the addition of a little white lead
and oil will improve the colour.
  Thefe plafters, which have long
been known under the name of Di-
achylon, are the common application
in excoriations of the fkin, flight
flefh wounds, and the like.   They
keep  the part foft,  and fomewhat
warm, and defend it from the air,
which is  all that can be expeded
in thefecafes from any plafter. Some
of our induftrious medicine-makers
have thought thefe purpofes might
be anfwered by a cheaper compofi-
tion,  and  accordingly have  added
a large quantity of common whiting
and hogs-lard : this, however, is by
no  means allowable, not only as it
does not  ftick fo well, but likewife
as the lard  is apt to grow rancid
d Compofitions.   Part III.

and acrimonious.  The counterfeit
is diftinguifhable by the eye.

   EMPLASTRUM   LITHAR-
      GYRI CUM GUMMI.
           Lond.
     Litharge-plafter with gum.
Take of
  Litharge-plafter, three pounds ;
  Strained galbanum,  eight oun-
     ces;
  Turpentine, ten drams ;
  Frankincenfe, three ounces.
The galbanum and turpentine being
  melted with a flow  fire, mix with
  them the powdered frankincenfe,
  and afterwards the litharge-pla-
  fter, melted alfo with a very flow
  fire, and make a plafter.

  EMPLASTRUM   GUMMO-
             SUM.
             Edinb.
            Gum-plafter.
Take of
  Common plafter, eight parts;
  Gum ammoniacum, ftrained,
  Strained galbanum,
  Yellow wax, each one part.
Make them into a plafter according
  to art.

  Both thefe plafters are ufed  as
digeftives and fuppuratives ; parti-
cularly in abfeeffes, after a part of
the matter has been maturated and
difcharged,  for fuppuratiiig or dif-
cuffing the  remaining hard  part;
but itis very doubtful whether they
derive any advantage from the gums
entering  their compofition.

  EMPLASTRUM    LITHAR-
    GYRI CUM HYDRAR-
           GYRO.
             Lond.
  Litharge-plafter with quickfilver.
Take of
  Litharge-plafter, one pound ;
  Purified  quickfilver, three  oun-
     ces ;
                            Sul- 
Chap. 31.              Plafters.
  Sulphurated oil, one  dram, or
    what is fufficient.
Make the plafter in the fame man-
  ner as the ammoniacum-plafter
  with quickfilver.
  EMPLASTRUM e HYDRAR-
  GYRO, five COERULEUM.
             Edinb.
    Mercurial, or blue plafler.
 Take of
   Olive oil,
   White refin, each one fart;
   Qiiikfilver, three parts;
   Common plafter, fix parts.
 Let the quickfilver be ground  with
   the  oil and refin, melted toge-
   ther, and then cooled till the glo-
   bules difappear ; then add by de-
   grees the common plafter, melt-
   ed, and let the whole be accurate-
   ly mixed.

   These mercurial plafters  are
 looked  on as  powerful  refolvents
 and difcutients, ading with much
 greater certainty with thefe inten-
 tions than any compofition of vege-
 table fubftances alone ; the mercu-
 ry exerting itfelf  in a confiderable
 degree, and being fometimes intro-
 duced into the habit in fuch quanti-
 ty as to affed the mouth.  Pains in
 the joints and limbs from a venere-
 al caufe,  nodes, tophi, and  begin-
 ning indurations of the glands, are
 faid fometimes to yield to  them.

  EMPLASTRUM LITHAR-
     GYRI CUM  RESINA.
             Lond.
    Litharge plafter with reftn.
Take of
  Litharge-plafter, three pounds ;
  Yellow refin,  half a pound.
Mix the powdered refin with the li-
  tharge-plafter, melted with a ve-
  ry flow fire, and make a plafter.
                           597
    EMPLASTRUM ADHiESI-
              VUM.
              Edinb.
          Sticking-plafter.
 Take of
    Common plafter, five parts ;
    White refin,  one part.
 Melt them together, fb as to make
    a plafter.

    These plafters are  ufed chiefly
 as adhefives for keeping on other
 dreflings, &c.

  EMPLASTRUM PICIS BUR-
          GUNDIC.E.
              Lond.
    Plafter of Burgundy Pitch.
 Take of
   Burgundy pitch, two pounds ;
   Ladanum, one pound ;
   Yellow refin,
   Yellow wax, of each four ounces;
   The expreffed oil,commonly cal-
     led the oil of mace, one ounce.
 Tothe pitch, refin, and wax, melt-
   ed together, add firft the lada-
   num, and then the oil of mace.

   This  plafter was at one  time
 much celebrated under the title of
 Emplafirutfi cephal'icum, the  name
 which it formerly held in our phar-
 macopoeias. It was applied in weak-
 nefs or pains of  the head, to the
 temples,  forehead, &c. and fome-
 times likewife to  the feet.  Schulze
relates, that an inveterate rheuma-
 tifm in the temples, which at times
extended to the teeth, and occafion-
ed intolerable pain, was completely
cured in  two days by a plafter of
this kind  (with  the addition of a
little opium)  applied to the part,
after many other remedies had been
tried in vain.  He adds, that a large
quantity  of  liquid matter exuded
under the plafter in drops, which
were fo acrid as to corrode the cu-
ticle : but it is probable, that this
           Pp  3           was 
598          Preparations and Compofitions.    Pr.rt  III.
was much more  the  cffed of the
Burgundy pitch than  of any other
part of the compofition ;  for when
applied to very tender fkin, it often
produces even vefication,  and in
moft inftances  operates  as  a rube-
facient  or emplaftrum  callidum  :
and as far as it has arty good effed
in headach, it is  probable  that its
influence is to be explained on this
ground.

   EMPLASTRUM  SAPONIS.
             Lond.
          Soap-plafier.
Take of
   Soap,  half a pound ;
   Litharge-plafter,  three pounds;
Mix the foap  with the melted li-
   tharge-plafter,  and boil  them to
   the thicknefs of a plafter.

   EMPLASTRUM  SAPONA-
             CEUM.
             Edinb.
       Saponaceous plafter.
 Take of
   Common plafter,  four parts ;
   Gum plafter,  two  parts ;
   Caftile foap, fliced, one part.
 To  the  plafters, melted together,
   add the foap ;  then boil for a lit-
   tle, fo as to form a plafter.

   These plafters have been fuppo-
 fed to derive a refolvent power from
 the  foap ; and in the laft, the ad-
 dition of the gums  is fuppofed  to
 promote the refolvent virtue of the
 foap : but it is  a matter of great
 doubt,  whether  they  derive  any
 material advantage from either ad-
 dition.

   EMPLASTRUM THURIS.
              Lond.
        Fran kincenfe -p laft er
  Take of
   Frankincenfe, half a pound ;
   Dragon's  blood, three ounces ;
   Litharge-plafter,  two pounds.
To the melted litharge-plafter add
   the reft, powdered.

   This plafter had formerly in the
London pharmacopoeia the title of
Emplaftrum roborans, and is a refor-
mation of  the complicated and in-
judicious  compofition  defcribed in
former pharmacopoeias,  under the
title of Emplaftrum ad  herniam.
Though far the  moft elegant and
fimple, it is as effedual for that pur-
pofe as any of the medicines of this
kind.  If conftantly worn with a
proper bandage, it will, in children,
frequently do fervice ; though, per-
haps, not fo much from any ftrength-
ening quality of the  ingredients, as
from its being a foft, clofe, and ad-
hefive covering.  It has been fup-
pofed  that  plafters  compofed of
ftyptic medicines conftringe and
ftrengthen the part to which they
are applied, but on no very juft
foundation ; for plafters in general
relax rather thanaftringe,the undu-
ous ingredients  neceffary in their
compofition counterading and de-
ftroying the effed of the others.

   EMPLASTRUM DEFENSI-
    VUM,  five ROBORANS.
              Edinb.
Defenftve, or Strengthening plafter.
Take of
   Common  plafter,  twenty-four
     parts ;
   White refin,  fix  parts ;
   Yellow wax,
   Oil olive, each three parts ;
   Colcothar of vitriol, eight parts.
 Grind the colcothar with the oil,
   and then add it to the other in-
   gredients when they are melted.

   This plafter is laid round the lips
 of wounds and ulcers over the other
 dreffings, for defending them from
 inflammation and a fluxion of hu-
 mours ;  which, however, as Mr
 Sharp very juftly obferves, plafters,
                              on 
Chap.  31.
Plafiers.
599
on account of their confiftence, tend
rather to bring on than to prevent.
It is alfo ufed in weakneffes of  the
large  mufcles, as of the loins ; and
its effeds feem to proceed from  the
artificial mechanical  fupport given
to the part; which may alfo be done
by any other plafter which adheres
with equal firmnefs.

 EMPLASTRUM de BELLA-
           DONNA.
            Brun.
   Deadly night-fhade plafter.
Take of
     and  again  infpiffated,  one
     ounce;
  Pitch, half an ounce ;
  Diachylon,  or common plafter,
     two drams.
Let them be melted together; and
  then mix with them,
  Verdigris, powdered,
  Sal ammoniac, each one fcruples
And make them into a plafter.

  Of this plafter, as well as the for-
mer, we can fay nothing from our
own experience.  It has been cele-
brated for the removal of corns, and
The juice of the recent herb of  for alleviating that pain which they
                               occafion ;  and it is not improbable
                               that it fometimes may have a good
                               effed from  the corrofive articles
                               which it  contains;  but in  other
                               cafes, from this very circumftance,
                               it may tend to aggravate the pain,
                               particularly in the firft inftance.
    belladona,
  Linfeed oil, each nine ounces;
  Yellow wax, fix onnces ;
  Venice turpentine, fix drams;
  Powder of the herb of belladona,
    two ounces.
Let them be formed into a plafter
  according to art.

  There can be no doubt, that the
belladona, externally applied, has
a very powerful influence,  both on
the nerves and blood-veffels of the
part;  and thus it has very confi-
derable effed  both on  the  circula-
tion and ftate  of fenfibility of the
part;  and when applied under the
form of this plafter, efpecially inaf-
fedionsof the mammas and ferotum,
it has been  faid  to have very pow-
erful influence in  alleviating pain,
in difcufling tumours, and  in  pro-
moting a favourable fuppuration. It
has however been but little employ-
ed in this country ; and we can fay
nothing  of it from our own experi-
ence.

 EMPLASTRUM ad CLAVOS
           PEDUM.
             Dan.
   Plafter for corns in the feet.
Take of
  Galbanum,  diffolved in vinegar,
  EMPLASTRUM e CONIO.
             Suec.
        Hemlock -plafter.
Take of
  Yellow wax,  half a pound;
  Oil olive, four ounces ;
  Gum ammoniacum,half an ounce;
After they are melted together, mix
  with them,
  Powdered herb of hemlock,  half
     an ounce.

 This correfponds very nearly with
the Emplaftrum  de cicuta cum am-
moniaco,which had formerly a place
in our pharmacopoeias, and was fup-
pofed to be a powerful cooler and
difcutient,  and  to  be particularly
ferviceable againft fwellings of the
fpleen and  diftentionsof the hypo-
chondres.  For  fome time  paft,  it
has been among us entirely negled-
ed ;  but  the high refolvent power
which Dr Stoerk has difcovered in
hemlock, and which he found it to
exert in  this as well as  in other
           Pp  4          forms 
6oo
Preparations and Compofitions.   Part III.
                            veffel, fo as to form a
forms, intitle it  to  further trials.
The plafter appears very well con-
trived, and the additional ingredi-
ents well chofen for affifting the ef-
ficacy of the hemlock.

  EMPLASTRUM  CORROSI-
            VUM:
             Gen.
        Corrofive-plafter.
Take of
  Corrofive fublimate mercury, half
     a dram ;
  Hog's-lard, half an ounce;
  Yellow wax, two drams.
Mix them according to art.

  There can be no doubt that the
hydrargyrus muriatus here employ-
ed is avery powerful corrofive; and
there may be fome cafes in which it
is preferable to other articles of the
tribe  of canities:  But this  would
feem to  be a very unoeconomical
mode of applying it, as but a very
fmall  portion of  what  enters the
plafter can ad; and  even that por-
tion muft have its  adioa much re-
ftrained by the  unduous matters
with which it is combined.

  EMPLASTRUM  e FOENU-
    GRJECO, vulgo  de MUCI-
         LAGINIBUS.
             Gen.
Plafter of Fenugreek, or of Muci-
             lages.
Take of
  Foenugreek-feed, two ounces;
  Linfeed-oil, warm, half a pound.
Infufe them according to art,  and
  ftrain; then,
Take of
  Yellow wax, two  pounds  and a
    half;
  Gum ammoniacum, ftrained, fix
    ounces;
  Turpentine, two ounces.
Melt  the gum ammoniacum with
  the turpentine,  and  by degrees
  add the oil and Wax, melted in
another
plafter.
  This plafter had formerly a place
in our pharmacopoeias, but was re-
jeded: and  although ftill  held in
efteem by fome, it is probably of no
great value ;  at leaft, it would feem
to derive  but little either from the
faenugreek-feed, with which it is
now made, or from the oil of muci-
lages which  formerly entered  its
compofition.

 EMPLASTRUM ex HYOSCI-
             AMI.
             Suec.
       Henbane-plafter.
This is direded to be prepared in
  the fame manner  as the empla-
  ftrum e conio, orhemlock-plafter.

  From  the well known fedative
power of  this plant, as affeding the
nervous energy of the part to which
it is applied,  we  might reafonably
conclude  that good effeds  may be
obtained from it when ufed under
the  form  of plafter; and according-
ly it has  been with advantage em-
ployed in this manner, for allaying
pain and refolving fwelling, in cafes
of feirrhus and cancer.

  EMPLASTRUM  PICEUM.
             Rofe.
         Pitch-plafter.
Take of
  White  refin, fix ounces ;
  Ship-pitch, feven ounces;
  Yellow wax,  five ounces.
Melt them,  and form them into a
  plafter.

  Pitch, applied externally,  has
been fuppofed to ad upon two prin-
ciples,  by its warmth and  by  its
adhefive  quality.   In the former
way it may have fome effed; but it
has  much more influence in the lat-
ter ; and  particularly it  has thus
                          been 
Chap.  32.      Ointments and Liniments.
601
been  found  to produce  a  cure in thus done to the parts.  Hence this
cafes  of  tinea  capitis.   When a mode of cure is rarely had recourfe
pitch plafter is applied to the affed- to till others have been tried with-
ed part of the hairy fcalp,  and  al- out effed: and when it is employed,
lowed  to remain there for a  few if the  difeafe  be extenfive, pru-
days,  it becomes fo attached to the dent praditioners dired its  appli-
parts,  that  it cannot be removed cation only to a fmall portion at a
without bringing with it the bulbs time, the fize of a  crown-piece or
of the  hair in which  the difeafe is fo; and after one part is fully cured,
feated: and  by this means a radical by application to another in fuccef-
cui.1 is not unfrequently obtained, fion,  the affedion may in no long
after  every  other remedy has been time be completely overcome. With
tried in vain.  But the cure is both this intention it is moft common to
a painful one, and not without dan-
ger,  for in fome inftances, inflam-
mations, even ©fan alarming nature,
have been excfted by the injury
employ the pitch in its pure ftate :
but the plafter here direded, while
it is no lefs adhefive, is more  ma-
nageable and flexible.
CHAP.    XXXII.
UNGUENTA  et  LINIMENT A.
OINTMENTS  and   LINIMENTS.
    OINTMFNTS  and  liniments
     differ  from plafters little o-
therwife than in confiftence.  Any
of the officinal plafters, diluted with
fo much oil as will reduce it  to the
thicknefs of ftiff honey, forms an
ointment: by farther increafing the
oil, it becomes a liniment.
  In making thefe preparations, the
Edinburgh college  dired, that fat
and refinous fubftances  are  to be
melted with a gentle heat; then to
be conftantly ftirred, fprinkling in
at the fame time the dry ingredients,
if any fuch are ordered, in the form
of a very fine powder, till the mix-
ture  on  diminifliing the heat be-
comes ftiff.
  It is to be underftood that the
above general diredions are meant
to apply to each  particular compo-
fition contained in  the prefent edi-
tion  of the Edinburgh Pharmaco-
poeia. It is alfo to be obferved, that
where any compofitions are ordered,
as bafes or ingredients of others ;
the College  always refer  to thofe
made according  to  their own for-
mula.

                           UN, 
 602       Preparations and

 UNGUENTUM  ADIPIS   SU-
             ILLM.
             Lond.
     Ointment of hog's lard.
 Take of
  Prepared hog's lard, twopounds;
  Rofe-water, three  ounces.
 Beat the lard with the rofe-water un-
  til they be mixed ;  then melt the
  mixture with a flow fire, and fet
  it apart that  the water may fnb-
  fide;  after which pour off the
  lard from the  water, conftantly
  ftirring until it be cold.

  In the laft edition of the London
 pharmacopoeia,  this was ftyled Un-
guentum [implex, the name given by
 the Edinburgh college to the follow-
 ing.

  UNGUENTUM SIMPLEX.
           Edinb.
       Simple ointment.
 Take of
  Olive oil,  five parts ;
  White wax, two parts.

  Both  thefe  ointments may be
 ufed for foftening the fkin and heal-
 ing chaps.  The laft  is, however,
 preferable, as being  more fteadily
 of one uniform  confiftence.   For
 the fame reafon  it is alfo to be pre-
 ferred  as  the bafis of other more
 compounded ointments.

  UNGUENTUM ex AERU-
             GINE.
             Edinb.
     Ointment of verdegris.
 Take of
  Bafilicon ointment,fifteen parts;
  Verdegris, one part.

  This ointment is ufed for clean-
 ing fores, and keeping down fun-
 gous flefh.  Where ulcers  continue
 to run from a weaknefs in the veffels
 of the part, the tonic powers of cop-
 per promife confiderable advantage.
Compofitions.       Part III.

   It is alfo frequently nfcd with ad-
 vantage in cafes of ophthalmia, de-
 pending on ferophula, where the
 palpebrse  are  principally affeded ;
 but when it is to be thus applied, it
 is ia general requifite that it fhould
 be fomewhat weakened by the  ad-
 dition of a proportion of fimple oint-
 ment or hog's lard.   An  ointment
 fimilar  to the above, and celebrated
 for the cure of  fuch  inftances of
 ophthalmia, has long been fold un-
 der the name of SmeHorn's eye-falvc.

 UNUEGNTUM CALCIS   HY-
      DRARGYRI  ALB^E.
             Lond.
 Ointment of the white calx of quick-
             filver.
 Take of
   The  white calx of quickfilver,
     one dram ;
   Ointment of hog's lard, one ounce
     and a  half.
 Mix, and make an ointment.

   This is a very elegant mercurial
 ointment, and frequently made ufe
 of in the cure of obftinate cutaneous
 affedions.  It is an improvement of
 the Unguentum e mercurio precipi-
 tate of  the laft London pharmaco-
 poeia; the precipitated fulphur being
 thrown out of the compofition, and
 the quantity of mercury increafed.

   UNGUENTUM e  CALCE
            ZINCI.
            Edinb.
     Ointment of calx of zinc.
 Take of
   Simple liniment,  fix parts;
   Calx of zinc, one part.

   Th is ointment is chiefly  ufed in
 affedions of the eye, particularly in
 thofe cafes  where rednefs arifes ra-
 ther from relaxation than from ac-
 tive inflammation.

                           UN- 
Chap.  32.      Ointments  and Liniments.
603
UNGUENTUM  CANTHARI-
              DIS.
              Lond.
  Ointment of the Spanifh flies.
Take of
  Spanifli flies, powdered, two oun-
     ces ;
  Diftilled water, eight ounces ;
  Ointment of yellow refin, eight
     ounces.
Boil the water  with the Spanifh
  flies to one half, and ftrain.  To
  the ftrained liquor add the oint-
  ment of yellow refin. Evaporate
  this mixture in a water-bath, fa-
  turated with fea-falt, tothe thick-
  nefs of an ointment.

  UNGUENTUM   EPISPASTI-
    CUM ex INFUSO CAN-
          THARIDUM.
              Edinb
with propriety, ftill retain an oint-
ment containing thefliesinfubftance.

 UNGUENTUM   EPISPASTI-
  CUM   e  PULVERE  CAN-
  THARIDUM.
            Edinb.
Epifpaftic ointment, from powder
         of cantharides.
Take of
  Bafilicon ointment, feven parts ;
  Powdered cantharides, one part.

  This  ointment  is employed  in
the dreflings for blifters, intended
to be made perpetual as  they are
called, or to be kept running for a
confiderable time,  which in many
chronic,  and fome acute cafes, is of
great fervice. Particular care fhould
be taken, that the cantharides em-
ployed in thefe compofitions be re-
Epifpafftc ointment from infufion of duced into very fubtile powder, and
          cantharides.
Take of
  Cantharides,
  White refin,
  Yellow wax, each one ounce ;
   Hog's-lard,
  Venice turpentine, eachtwooun-
     ces ;
   Boiling water, four ounces.
Infufe the cantharides in the water,
  in a clofe veffel, for a night; then
  ftrongly prefs out and ftrain the
  liquor, and boil it  with the lard
   till the watery moifture be confu-
   med ; then add the refin, wax,
   and turpentine, and  make  the
   whole into an ointment.

  These ointments, containing the
 foluble partsof thecantharides, uni-
 formly blended with the other in-
 gredients, are more commodious,
 and in general occafion lefs  pain,
 though not lefs effedual with its in-
 tention than the compofitions with
 the fly in fubftance. This, however,
 does not uniformly hold ;  and ac-
 cordingly  the Edinburgh college,
that the mixtures be made as equal
and uniform as poffible.  But with
thefe precautions,  there  are  fome
particular habits in which this oint-
ment operates with even lefs pain
than the former, while at the fame
time it is generally more effedual.

   UNGUENTUM  CEKJE.
             Lond.
          Wax-ointment.
Take of
  White wax, four ounces ;
  Spermaceti, three ounces ;
  Olive-oil,  one pint.
Stir them, after being melted with
  a flow fire, conftantly  and brifk-
  ly, until cold.

   This ointment had formerly the
 title of Unguentum  album  in  the
 London pharmacopoeia.  It differs
 very  little  from  the Unguentum
 fimplex of the Edinburgh pharma-
 copoeia, and in nothing from  the
 Unguentum fpermatis caeti of the
 London pharmacopoeia, excepting
 that in this ointment the proportion
                              of 
 604          Preparations a

 of fpermaceti is fomewhat lefs. It
 is an ufeful cooling  ointment for
 excoriations and other frettings of
 the fkin.

   UNGUENTUM CERUSSA
          ACETATE.
             Lond.
   Ointment  of  acetated  ceruffe.
 Take of
   Acetated ceruffe, two drams ;
   White wax, two ounces ;
   Olive-oil, half a pint,
 Rub the acetated ceruffe,  previoufly
   powdered, with fome part of the
   olive-oil ;  then add it  to the
   wax, melted with the remaining
   oil.   Stir the mixture until it be
   cold.

 UNGUENT.   SATURNINUM.
             Edin.
       Saturnine  ointment.
 Take of
   Simple ointment, twenty parts ;
   Sugar of lead, one part.

   Both thefe ointments are ufeful
 coolers and deficcatives ;  much fu-
 perior both in elegance and efficacy
 to the nutritum or tripharmacum,
 at one time very much celebrated.

  UNGUENTUM e CERUSSA
        vulgo ALBUM.
            Edinb.
Ointment of ceruffe, commonly called
         White ointment.
Take of
  Simple ointment, five parts;
  Ceruffe, one part.

  This is an ufeful,cooling, emol-
lient ointment,  of great fervice in
excoriations  and other fimilar fret-
 tings of the fkin.  The ceruffe has
been objeded to by fome, oa a fuf-
picion that it might produce fome ill
effed,  when applied,  as thefe  un-
guents frequently are, to the tender
 bodies of children,  Though there
id Compofitions.    Part III.

 does not feem to be much danger in
 this external ufe of ceruffe,  the ad-
 dition of itis the lefs neceffary here,
 as we have another ointment  con-
 taining a more adive preparation of
 the  fame metal, the unguentum fa-
 turnintyim juft  mentioned ; which
 may be occafionally  mixed  with
 this, or employed by  itfelf, in ca-
 fes where faturnine applications are
 wanted.

    UNGUENTUM  ELEMI.
              Lond.
        Ointment of elemi.
 Take of
   Elemi, one pound ;
   Turpentine,  ten ounces ;
   Mutton-fuet,   prepared,   two
     pounds ;
   Olive-oil, two ounces.
 Melt the elemi with the fuet ; and
   having removed it from the fire,
   mix it immediately with the tur-
   pentine and oil, after which ftrain
   ihe mixture.

   This  ointment, perhaps beft
 known by the name of Linimentum
 arcei, has long been in ufe for di-
 gefting, cleanfing, and incarnating;
 and  for thefe purpofes is preferred
 by fome  to all the other compofiti-
 ons of this kind.
   Thefe, however,  are much more
 proceffes  of  nature than  of  art ;
 and   it is much  to  be  doubted,
 whether it has in reality  any in-
 fluence.

 UNGUENTUM   HELLEBORI
             ALBI.
             Lond.
    Ointment of white hellebore.
 Take of
   The  root  of white hellebore,
     powdered, one ounce ;
   Ointment of hog's  lard,  four
     ounces;
   Effence of lemons, half a fcruple.
 Mix them, and make an ointment.
                       White 
Chap.  32.      Ointments and Liniments.
605
  White hellebore externally ap-
plied has longbeencelebrated in the
cure of cutaneous affedions ;4 and
this is perhaps one of the beft for-
mulae under which it can be applied,
the hog's-lard ointment  ferving as
an excellent bafis for it,  while the
effence of lemons communicates  to
it a very agreeable fmell.

UNGUENTUM HYDRARGY-
        RI  FORTIUS.
            Lond.
  Stronger ointment of quickfilver.
Take of
  Purified quickfilver, two pounds ;
  Hog's  lard,  prepared, twenty-
    three ounces ;
  Mutton-fuet, prepared,one ounce.
Firft rub  the quickfilver with the
  fuet and a little of the hog's-lard,
  until the globules difappear ; then
  add what remainsof the lard, and
  make an ointment.

  UNGUENTUM  HYDRAR-
        GYRI MITIUS.
             Lond.
  Weaker ointment of quickfilver.
Take of
  The ftronger ointment of quick-
    filver, one part;
  Hog's lard, prepared,  two parts.
Mix them.

UNGUENTUM ex HYDRAR-
  GYRO, five CiERULEUM.
              Edinb.
  Quickfilver, or blue ointment.
Take of
  Quickfilver,
  Mutton fuet, each one  part;
  Hog's-lard three parts.
Rub them carefully in a mortar till
  the globules entirely difappear.

  This  ointment may  alfo  be
made with  double  or  treble the
quantity of quckfilver.
  Thefe  ointments are principally
employed, not with a view to their
topical adion,  but  with the inten-
tion of introducing mercury in an ac-
tive ftate into the circulating fyftem.
And this may be effeded by gentle
fridion on the found fkin of any parr,
particularly on the infide of the
thighs or legs. For tbispurpofe, thefe
fimple ointments are  much  better
fuited than  the  more compounded
ones with turpentine and the like,
formerly employed.  For by any a-
crid fubftance topical  inflammation
is apt tobe excited, preventing far-
ther fridion, and giving much un-
eafinefs. To avoid this, it is necef-
fary,  even  with the mildeft and
weakeft ointment,  fomewhat  to
change the place at which the fric-
tion  is performed.   But by  thefe
ointments properly managed, mer-
cury may in moft inftances be  as
advantageoufly introduced,  either
for eradicating fyphilis, or comba-
ting other obftinate difeafes, as un-
der any form uhatever.  But  to
obtain  thefe effeds, it  is requifite
that theointment fhould be prepared
with very great care ; for upon the
degree of triture which has been
employed, the adivity of the mer-
cury  muft  entirely depend.  The
addition of the mutton-fuet, now
adopted by both colleges, is an ad-
vantage to the ointment, as it pre-
vents it from running into the ftate
of oil, which the hog's  lard alone
in warm weather, or  in a warm
chamber is fometimes apt to do,and
which is followed by a feparation of
parts.  We  are even inclined  to
think  that  the proportion of fuet
direded by  the London college is-,
too  fmall for this purpofe, and in-
deed feems to be principally intend-
ed for more effectual  triture of the
mercury :  But  it is much more  to
be regretted, that in a medicine of
fuch adivity, the two colleges fliould
not have .direded the fame propor-
tion of mercury to the fatty matter.
For  although both baVe direded
                           oint- 
606          Preparations a

ointments of different ftrength, nei-
ther the weakeft nor the ftrongeft by
nomeans agree in the proportion of
mercury which they contain.

  UNGUENTUM HYDRAR-
     GYRI NITRATE
              Lond.
  Ointment of nitrated quickfilver.
Take of
  Purified  quickfilver, one  ounce
  Nitrous acid, two ounces ;
  Hog's lard, prepared, one pound.
Diffolve the quickfilver in the ni-
  trous acid ;  and whilft  it is yet
  hot, mix it with the hog's lard,
  previoufly melted, and now grow-
  ing cold.

 UNGUENTUM CITRINUM.
            Edinb,
        Tellow ointment.
Take of
  Ckiickfilver, one ounce ;
  Spirit of nitre, two ounces ;
  Hog's-lard, one pound.
Diffolve the quickfilver in the fpirit
  of nitre, by digeftion  in a fand-
  heat ; and,  whilft the folution is
  very  hot, mix with it the lard,
  previoufly melted by itfelf, and
  juft beginning to grow ftiff. Stir
  them brifkly together, in a mar-
  ble mortar,  fo as  to form the
  whole into an ointment.

  These ointments differ only in
name ;  and that  employed by the
London college is certainly the pre-
ferable  appellation: For here  the
quickfilver, previous  to its  union
with the lard, is brought to a  faline
ftate by means of the nitrous acid.
And although its  adivity be very
confiderably moderated by the ani-
mal fat with which it is afterwards
united, yet it ftill afford-s us a very
adive  ointment; and  as fuch it
is  frequently  employed  with fuc-
cefs  in cutaneous and other topical
affedions, *In this condition,  how-
id Compofitions.   Part III.

 ever, the mercury does  not fo rea-
 dily enter the fyftem, as in the pre-
 ceding form.  Hence it may even
 be employed  in  fome  cafes with
 more freedom; but in other inftan-
 ces it is apt to excoriate and inflame
 parts.  On this account a redudion
 of its ftrength is fometimes  requi-
 fite ; and it is often alfo neceffary,
 from the hard confiftence which it
 acquires,  in confequence of the ac-
 tion of acid on the lard.

     UNGUENTUM  PICIS.
              Lond.
           Tar ointment.
 Take of
   Tar,
   Mutton-fuet, prepared, of each
     half a pound.
 Melt them together and ftrain.

    UNGUENTUM e  PICE.
             Edinb.
          Ointment of tar.
 Take of
   Tar, five parts ;
   Yellow wax, two parts.

   These compofitions, though the
 one be formed into an ointm«nt by
 means of fuet,  the other by wax,
 cannot be confidered as differing ef-
 fentially from  each other.  As  far
 as they have any peculiar adivity,
 this  entirely depends on the tar.
 And this article, from the empyreu-
 matic oil  and  faline matters which
 it contains, is undoubtedly, as well
 as  turpentine,  of  fome  adivity.
 Accordingly, it has been fuccefsful-
 ly employed againft fome cutaneous
 affedions, particularly thofe of do-
 meftic animals.  At one  time, as
 well as the black bafilicon, it wasa
 good  deal employed as a dreffing
 even for recent wounds. But alt ho'
 it ftill retains a place in our phar-
 macopoeias, it is at prefent little u-
 fed with any intention.
                           UN- 
Chap.  32.     Ointments ancTLinimcnts.
  unguentum resins
           flav^:.
             Lond.
    Ointment of yellow refin.
Take of                J
  Yellow refin,
  Yellow wax, of each one pound ;
  Olive oil,  one pint.
Melt the refin and wax with a flow
  fire ; then add the oil, and ftrain
  the mixture whilft hot.

 UNGUENTUM  BASILICUM
          FLAVUM.
             Edinb.
    Yellow bafilicon ointment.
Take of
  Hog's-lard, eight parts;
  White refin, five parts ;
  Yellow wax,  two parts.

  These are commonly employed
indreffings, fordigefting,cleanfing,
and incarnating wounds and ulcers.
They differ very little, if at all, in
their effeds, from the Linimentum
arcai, or unguentum elemi, as it
is now more properly ftyled. But it
is probable that no great effed is to
be attributed to  either.  For there
can be  no doubt that the fuppura-
tive and adhefive inflammations are
proceffes of nature,  which will oc-
cur  without  the  aid of any oint-
ment.

  UNGUENTUM SAMBUCI.
             Lond.
        Elder ointment.
Take of
  Elder-flowers, four pounds.
  Mutton-fuet,   prepared,  three
    pounds ;
  Olive-oil,  one pint.
Boil the flowers in the fuet and oil,
  firft melted together, till they be
  almoft  crifp ;  then ftrain with
  expreflion.

  This ointment does not feemfu-
pcrior to fome  others, which  arc
607
much neater, and preparable at lefs
expence. It can fearccly be fuppofed
to receive any confiderable virtue
from the ingredient which it takes
its name from.  And, accordingly,
it is not without propriety that it is
rejeded from the pharmacopoeia of
the Edinburgh college.

 UNGUENTUM SPERMATID
            CETI.
             L ond.
     Ointment of fpermaceti.
Take of
  Spermaceti,  fix drams ;
  White wax, two drams ;
  Olive-oil, three ounces.
Melt them together over a flow fire,
  ftirring them conltantlyand brifk-
  ly until they be cold.

  This had formerly the name of
Lin:7.<:entui;i album,  and it is  per-
haps only in confiftence that it can
be confidered as differing from the
unguentum fimpiex,  already men-.
tioned ,or the ceratum fimplex, af-
terwards to be'taken notice of.

 UNGUENTUM SULPHURIS.
             Lond.
        Sulphur ointment.
Take of
  Ointment of hog's-lard,  half a
  pound ;
  Flowers of fulphur, four ounces.
Mix them, and make an ointment.

 UNGUENTUM  e SULPHU-
      RS,  five ANTIPSO-
           RICUM.
            Edinb.
Ointment of fulphur, or anUpforie^
           ointment.
Take of
  Hog's-lard,  four parts ;
  Sulphur, beat into a very  fine
     powder, one part.
To each pound of this ointment, add
  Effence of lemons, or
  Oil of lavender, half a dram.
                          Sut- 
608         Preparations and Compofitions.    Part Ilf.
  Sulphur isa certain remedy for
the itch, more fafe than mercury.
Sir John Pringle obferves, that un-
lefs a mercurial undion was to touch
every part of the fkin, there can be
no certainty of fuccefs ;  whereas
from a fulphureous one, a cure may
be obtained by ouly partial undion,
the animalcula, which  are fuppofed
to occafion this diforder, being, like
other infeds, killed by the fulphu-
reous fleams which exhale by the
heat of the body.  As  to the inter-
nal ufe of mercury,  which fome
have accounted a fpecific, there are
feveral inftances of men undergoing
a complete falivation for the cure of
the lues vencrea,without being freed
from the itch : but there are alfo a
multitude of inftances  of men un-
dergoing a long courfe of fulphur
without effed, and  who  were af-
terwards readily cured  by mercury.
  The quantity of ointment, above
direded, ferves for four undions :
the patient is to be rubbed every
night ; but to prevent any diforder
that might arife from flopping too
many pores at once, a  fourth part
of the  body  is to be rubbed at one
time.   Though  the  itch may thus
be cured by one pot of ointment, it
will be proper to renew the applica-
tion, and  to  touch the parts moft
affected, for a few nights longer, till
a fecond quantity alfo be exhaufted ;
and in the worft cafes, to fubjoin the
internal ufe of fulphur,  not with a
view to purify the blood, but to dif-
fufe the fleams more certainly thro'
the fkin;  there being reafon to
believe, that the animalcula  may
fometimes lie too deep to be tho-
roughly deftroyed by external ap-
plications.

   UNGUENTUM TUTLE.
             Lond.
         Tutty ointment.
Take of
  Prepared tutty, one dram ;
  Ointment of fpermaceti,  what is
    fufficient.
Mix them fo as to make a foft oint-
  ment.

  UNGUENTUM e TUTIA.
             Edinb.
        Ointment of tutty.
Take of
  Simple liniment, five parts ;
  Prepared tatty, one part.

  These ointments have long been
celebrated, and are ftill much em-
ployed againft affedions of the eyes.
But they cannot, we imagine, be
efteemed elegant.
  Both calamine and tutty  ad only
by means of the zinc  they contain,
and calamine appears to contain the
moft of the two, and likewife to be
the leaft variable in its contents.
But the pure flowers prepared from
zinc itfelf are donbtlefs preferable to
either. Hence the ointment of tut-
ty may be confidered  as  inferior
both to the Unguentum  e lapide ca-
laminari, and to the Unguentum e
calce zinci, which have alfo a place
in our pharmacopoeia.

  LINIMENTUM SIMPLEX.
             Edinb.
        Simple liniment.
Take  of
  Olive oil, four parts  ;
  White wax, one part.

  This confifts of the fame articles
which form the Unguentum fimplex
of the Edinburgh  pharmacopoeia,
but merely in a different proportion,
fo as to give a thinner confiftence ;
and where a thin confiftence is re-
quifite, this may be confidered as a
very elegant and ufeful application.

 LINIMENTUM  AMMONIA.
             Lond.
      Liniment of ammonia.
                          Take 
 Chap. 3*.     Ointments  a
 Take of
   Water of  ammonia, half  an
     ounce;
   Olive-oil, one ounce and an half.
 Shake them together in a phial,
   till they are mixed.

   Th is has long been known in the
 fhops under the title of Linimentum
 volatile, but is now more properly
 denominated from the principal ac-
 tive article which enters its  compo-
 fition. It has been much employed
 in pradice, particularly on  the re-
 commendation of Sir John Pringle
 in his Obfervations on theDifeafes of
 the army. He obferves, that in the
 inflammatory quinfey, or ftrangula-
 tion of the fauces, a piece of flan-
 nel, moiftened with this mixture,
 applied to the throat,  and renew-
 ed every four or five hours,  is one
 of the moft efficacious remedies.
 By means of this warm ftimulating
 application, the neck, and fometimes
 the whole body, is put into a fweat,
 which, after  bleeding, either car-
 ries off, or leffens the inflammation.
 Where the fkin cannot bear the a-
 crimony of this mixture, a  larger
 proportion of oil may be ufed.

 LINIMENTUM  AMMONLE
          FORTIUS.
           Lond.
   Stronger liniment of ammonia.
 Take of
  Water of  pure  ammonia, one
    ounce;
   Olive-oil, two ounces.
 Shake them together in a phial.

  This article differs from thefore-
 geing in ftrength only.  This arifes
 both from its being  formed of a
more acrid fpirit, and from its con-
 taining that fpirit in a larger propor-
 tion to the oil.   It is ufed to fupply
the place of  the Epithema et Em-
plaftrum volatile of our former phar-
nd Liniments.           609

 macopoeias,  and is a very acrid
 ftimulating  compofition.   When
 largely applied, it often excites in-
 flammation, and even vefication, on
 tender fkin.   It is often, however,
 fuccefsfully employed againft obfti-
 nate rheumatic and ifchiadic pains.

   LINIMENTUM  CAMPHO-
              RS.
              Lond.
        Camphor liniment.
 Take of
   Camphor, two ounces ;
   Water of ammonia, fix ounces ;
   Simple fpirit of lavender, fixteen
     ounces.
 Mix the water of ammonia with the
   fpirit, and  diftil  from a glafs re-
   tort, with a  flow  fire,  fixteen
   ounces.  Then diflblve the cam-
   phor in the diftilled liquor.

   This formula, which has now
 for  the  firft time a  place  in  the
 London pharmacopoeia, approach-
 es to  the volatile effence of  that
 celebrated  empyric   the late  Dr
 Ward : But  the above is a more
 elegant  and adive formula than
 either of the reaeipts publifhed by
 Mr Page, from Dr Ward's book of
 receipts ; and there is no reafon to
 doubt  that it  will be equally effec-
 tual in removing fome local pains,
 fuch  as  particular kinds of head-
 ach, in confequence of external ap-
 plication.

   LINIMENTUM  SAPONIS.
              Lond,
         Soap-liniment.
 Take of
   Soap, three ounces ;
   Camphor, one ounce ;
   Spirit of rofemary, one pint.
 Digeft  the   foap in  the fpirit  of
   rofemary   until  it be diffolved,
   and add to it the camphor.

             Q_q         This 
Preparations and Compofitions.    Part IIL
610

  This is  the linimentum fapona-
ceum of the former edition of  the
London pharmacopoeia, without any
alteration ; and it differs very little
from the balfamnm faponaceutn of
the Edinburgh college already men-
tioned.  Though a lefs adive and
penetrating  application  than  the
preceding, it is perhaps no lefs ufe-
ful ; and it is often fuccefsfully em-
ployed for external purpofes againft
rheumatic pains, fprains,  bruifes,
and fimilar complaints.

 UNGUENTUM  SGYPTIA-
             CUM.
              Gen.
       Egyptian ointment:
Take of
   Honey, one pound ;
   Strong vinegar, half a pound ;
   Verdegris, powdered, five oun-
     ces.
Let the ingredients  be boiled toge-
   ther  till the verdegris be  diffol-
   ved,  fo that  the  ointment may
   have a due degree of thicknefs
   and a purple colour.

   This preparation had formerly a
place in our pharmacopoeias under
the title of Mel JEgyptiacum ■„• and a
fimilar preparation has now a place
under the title of Oxymel aruginis\
But in that  formula the  proportion
is much lefs than in the  above.  It
may juftly be confidered as a very
powerful application for cleanfing
and deterging foul ulcers, as well as
for keeping  down  fungous  flefh.
But thefe purpofes may  in general
be anfwered by articles lefs acrid and
exciting lefs pain. Befides this, the
above  preparation is alfo  liable to
confiderable uncertainty with  ref-
ped to ftrength  ; for a large pro-
portion of the verd egris will in a fhort
time, fubfide to  the bottom: thus,
what is in the top of the pot is mnch
lefs adive than that in the bottom.
  UNGUENTUM  ANODY-
            NUM.
             Gen.
        Anodyne ointment.
Take of
  Olive-oil, ten drams ;
  Yellow wax, half an ounce ;
  Crude opium, one dram.
Mix them according to art, fo as td
  form  an ointment.

  Opium thus  externally applied,
will in fome degree be produdiveof
the fame effed as when ufed under
the form of the anodyne balfam. In
that ftate it produces its effeds more
immediately; but under the prefent
form its effeds are more permanent.
Befides  this, the prefent ointment
furnifhes us with an ufeful dreffing
for fores attended with feVerepain;
to which opium when diffolved in
fpirit cannot be applied. Hence
the prefent, or fome analogous for-
mula, is well intitled to  a place in
our pharmacopoeias.

UNGUENTUM ad  CANCRUM
      EXULCERATUM.
             Brun.
 Ointment for ah ulcerated cancer.
Take of
  The recently expreffed juice of
     the ricinus, one pound.
Let it be expofed to the rays of the
  fun in a leaden  veffel till  it ac-
   quire  the confiftence of an oil;
   then  toone pound of this infpif-
   fated juice, add
   Calcined lead>
  White precipitate mercury, each
     one pound.
Let them be properly mixed.

   This acrid application muft pof-
fefs a confiderable degree of corro-
five  power.  And  in fome cafes of
cancer,  by  the  proper  application
of corrofives, much benefit may be
                          done : 
Chap. 32.       Ointments and Liniments.
611
done:  But where  the  difeafe has
made any  confiderable, progrefs,
thefe will in general have the effed
rather of haftening its progrefs than
of removing k ; particularly if there
be a large indolent tumour below
the ulcer.

  UNGUENTUM DIGESTI-
             VUM.
             Rofe.
       Digeftive ointment.
Take of
  Venice turpentine, one pound;
  The yolks of eight eggs.
Mix  them  together, according to
  art.

  This warm ftimulating applica-
tion is  well fuited  to promote  the
fuppurative inflammation, and may
be advantageoufly had recourfe to,
where it is neceflary to encourage a
large difcharge of pus.

  UNGUENTUM HSMOR-
        RHOIDALE.
     Hemorrhoidal ointment.
Take of
  Saturnine ointment, fix drams;
  Oil of Hyofciamus, obtained by
    boiling, two drams;
  Camphor,powdered,two fcruples;
  Saffron,  one fcruple.
Mix.them into an bintment.

  Tme name affixed to this oint-
ment expreffes the purpofe for which
it is applied.  From the articles of
which it confifts, it  may  be conclu-
ded,  that it poffeffes a gently emol-
lient and anodyne powder; and may
therefore afford confiderable relief,
where much pain arifes from exter-
nal hasmorrhoidal tumours.

 UNGUENTUM  NERVINUM.
             Suec.
        Nervine ointment.
 Take of
   Prepared mutton-fuet, eight oun-
     ces.
After it is melted and removed from
   the fire, add to  it
   Oil of bays, one pound ;
   iEtherial oil of turpentine, one
     ounce;
   Redified oil of amber, half an
     ounce.
Let them be mixed and rubbed to-
   gether till they form an  oint-
   ment.

   This is an improved mode of
formingan ointmentwhich had for-
merly a place in our pharmacopoe-
ias under the fame title. And it fur-
hifhes a warm ftimulating nervine
application, which may be in fome
ffegree inftrumenial  in  reftoring
fenfe and motion to paralytic limbs.
And while it at leaft ferves to lead
to the careful ufe of fridions, it
may  fomewhat increafe the  benefit
which would refult from it.

  UNGUENTUM  de NICO-
           TIANA.
             Dan.
      Ointment of tobacco.
Take of
  The leaves of tobacco, cut down,
     three pounds;
   Juice of tobacco, nine ounces j
  Hog's-lard, a pound and  a  half.
Let  them be macerated  for the
  fpace of a night, and then boiled
   over a gentle fire till the humi-
  dity beconfumed. Having ftrain-
   ed the fluid obtained by expref-
     fion, add to it
   Refin, three ounces;
   Yellow wax,  half  an ounce;
   Powder of the root of birthwort,
     three ounces.
Mix them into an ointment.

   There can be  no doubt that to-
bacco externally applied has very
             ^qs       POW 
612          Preparations an

powerful effeds upon the human
body ;  and that not merely from
its  topical  adion,  but  fometimes
even as affeding the fyftem in ge-
neral.  From  this laft circumftance
it  requires  to be ufed with great
caution.  It has, however, been
found under proper management, to
afford an effedual cure in obftinate
cutaneous affedions.  But were it
to be ufed with this intention, we
would have a more elegant formula,
by  merely  impregnating  either
hog's-lard, or the unguentum fim-
plex, with  the adive qualities ex-
traded by the aid of heat, from the
leaves of the prepared  tobacco in
the ftate in  which it   is ufually
brought to us from  America, than
by  having recourfe to  the recent
juice, and  to the ariftolochia  and
other additions here direded.

 UNGUENTUM  e STYRACE.
              Suec.
       Ointment of ftorax.
Take of
  Olive-oil, a pound and ahalf;
  White refin;
  Gum  elemi,
  Yellow wax, each feven ounces.
After they are melted together  and
  ftrained, add
  Liquid ftorax, feven ounces.
Mix them together, and agitate the
  mixture till it concretes into an
  uniform ointment.

  An ointment fuppofed to derive
its adivity from  the ftarax, altho'
it have no place in  our pharmaco-
poeias is received  into moft of  the
foreign  ones.   And it  has been
much celebrated not only  as a
ftrengthening application to weakly
children, but  even for the removal
of affedions of the bones, as in cafes
of rachitis and the like.  It is, how-
l Compofitions.     Part HI.

 ever, very doubtful how far thefe
 properties depend upon the ftorax.
 If it have really any good  effed, it
 is  probable  that this is more  the
 confequence of the fridion merely,
 than of any of the articles which
 enter  the compofition of  the oint-
 ment.  But there is reafon to  be-
 lieve that the virtues attributed to
 this ointment are  more imaginary
 than real.

 UNGUENTUM  SUPPURANS.
              Suec.
     Suppurative ointment.
 Take of
   Yellow wax,
   Refin, each half a pound.
 To thefe melted, add
   Onion roafted under the afhes;
   Honey,  each  two pounds and a
     half;
   Black foap, half a pound.
 Let them be gently boiled together
   till all the moifture beconfumed,
   then ftrain the liquor, exprefling
   it from the materials, and after-
   wards agitate it  with a wooden
   peftle that it may unite  into one
   uniform mafs.

   This  ointment is applied with
 the  intention of promoting fuppu-
 ration.  And it has long been fup-
 pofed, that the onion,  efpecially in
 its roafted ftate,  has a  remarkable
 influence in this way : but there is
 reafon to think, that  the  powers
 attributed to it  have been  greatly
 over-rated.  And  there  is even
 ground to prefume that thefe effeds
 totally depend on beat and moifture.
 Hence no application  is  perhaps
 better fuited for promoting fuppu-
 ration than a poultice of bread  and
 milk,  applied of fuch  a degree of
 warmth as can be borne with cafe,
 and frequently repeated.
CHAP. 
Chap.  3^.
Cerates.
613
CHAP.     XXXIII.
C    E   R   ATA.
CERATES.
    CERATES are  fubftances in-
     tended for external applica-
 tion, formed of nearly the fame ma-
 terials which conftitute  ointments
 and plafters.  And they differ prin-
 cipally from thefe in being merely
 of an intermediate confiftence be-
 tween the two.  Accordingly, they
 are feldom the fubjed of  a feparate
 chapter by themfelves, but are claf-
 fed either with the one or the other.
 In the  Edinburgh pharmacopoeia
 they are  claffed among the oint-
 ments :  But as the London college
 have referred them to a feparate
 head, we fhall  here  alfo confider
 them by themfelves.

    CERATUM SIMPLEX.
            Edinb.
          Simple cerate.
 Take of
  Olive oil, fix parts;
  White wax, three parts;
  Spermaceti, one part.
 Unite them according to art.

  This differs from the fimple oint-
 ment in containing  a greater pro-
 portion of wax to the oil, and  in
 the  addition of  the fpermaceti.
-But by thefe means  it obtains only
 a more firm confiftence, without any
 effenfial change of properties.
   CERATUM CANTHARI-
             DIS.
            Lond.
Cerate of cantharides,orSpanifh flies.
Take of
  Cerate of fpermaceti,  foftened
     with heat, fix drams ;
  Spanifh  flies,  finely  powdered,
     one dram.
Mix them.

  Under  this  form  cantharides
may be made to ad to any extent
that is requifite.  It may fupply the
place either of the bliftering plafter
or ointment; and there are cafes in
which it is preferable to either. It
is particularly more convenient than
the Emplaftrum cantharidnm,where
the fkin to which the blifter is to be
applied is previoufly much affeded,
as  in cafes of fmall pox; and in
fupporting a drain under the form
of iffue, it is lefs apt to fpread than
the fofter ointment.

CERATUM LAPIDIS CALAMI-
            NARIS.
             Lond.
        Calamine-cerate.
Take of
  Calamine, prepared,
  Yellow wax, of each half a pound;
  Olive-oil, one pint.
           Q,q ?          Melt 
614         Preparations an

Melt the wax with the oil; and, as
  foon as the mixture  begins to
  thicken, mix with it the cala-
  mine, and ftir the cerate until it
  be cold.

CERATUM e LAPIDE CALA-
           MINARI.
            Edinb.
       Cerate of calamine.
Take of
  Simple cerate, five parts;.
  Calamine prepared, one part.

  These compofitions are form-
ed  upon  the cerate  which Turner
ftrongly recommends in cutaneous
ulcerations and excoriations,  and
which has been ufually diftinguifh-
ed by his name. They appear from
experience tobe excellent epulotics,
and as fuch are frequently made ufe
of in pradice.

  CERATUM LITHARGYRI
           ACETATE
             Lond.
    Cerate of acetated litharge.
 Take" of
   Water of acetated litharge,  two
     ounces and an half;
   Yellow wax, four ounces;
   Olive-oil, nine ounces;
   Camphor, half a dram.
 Rub the  camphor with  a little of
   the oil.   Melt the wax with the
   remaining oil, and as foon as the
   mixture begins to thicken, pour
   in by degrees the water of  ace-
   tated litharge, and ftir conftantly
   until it be cold ; then  mix in
   the camphor before rubbed with
   oil.

   This application  has been ren-
 dered famous by the recommenda-
 tions of Mr Goulard.  It is unquef-
 tionably in  many cafes very ufeful.
 It cannot, however,-be confidered
 as varying  eflentially from the fa-
 turnine ointment,  or Unguentum e
d Compofitions.   Part III.

ccruffa acetata, formerly mention-
ed. It is employed with nearly the
fame intentions, and differs from it
chiefly in confiftence.

  CERATUM RESINS FLA-
              VJE.
             Lond.
       Cerate of yellow refin.
Take of
   Ointment of yellow refin, half a
     pound;
   Yellow wax, one ounce.
Melt  them  together, and make a
   cerate.

   This had formerly the name of
Ujtguentium citrinum'. It is no other-
wife different from the yellow bafi-
licum, or Unguentum refinjE flavse,
 than being of a ftiffer confiftence,
 which renders it for fome purpofes
 more commodious.

     CERATUM SAPONIS.
              Lond.
           Soap cerate.
 Take of
   Soap, eight ounces;
   Yellow wax,  ten ounces  ;
   Litharge, powdered, onepound;
   Olive oil, one pint;
   Vinegar, one gallon.
 Boil the vinegar with the litharge,
   over a flow fire, conftantly ftir-
   ring until the mixture unites and
   thickens; then mix in the other
   articles,  and make a cerate.

   This, notwithftanding the name,
 may  rather be  confidered  as ano-
 ther  fatnrnine application than one
 whofe adivity depends upon foap.
 And  it may be held as varying in
 little  elfe but confiftence from  the
 Emplaftrum  lythargyri.    It can
 hardly be thought  to  differ  in  its
 properties from  the cerate of ace-
 tated litharge juft mentioned. For
 neither the  fmall proportion   of
 camphor which  enters the compofi- 
Chap. 33.               Cert

tion of the one, nor the foap which
gives name to the other, canbe con-
fidered as having much influence.

   CERATUM  SPERMATIS
            CETL
             Edinb.
      Cerate of fpermaceti.
Take of
  Spermaceti, half an ounce;
  White wax, two ounces.
  Olive-oil,  four ounces.
Melt them together, and ftir until
  the cerate be cold.

  This had formerly the name of
Ceratum album, and it differs in no-
thing  from the'Unguentum fper-
matis ceti,  or Linimentum  album,
asit  was formerly called, excepting
in confiftence, both  the wax and
the  fpermaceti bearing a greater
proportion to the oil.

     CERATUM LABIALE.
              '■Rofe.
            Lip falve.
Take of
   Olive oil,  eighteen ounces ;
   White wax, one pound ;
   Spermaceti, an ounce and a half;
   Oil of rhodium, half a dram.
 Form a cerate, tinging it with  al-
   kanet, fo  as  to give a red co-
   lour.

   The name affixed to this cerate
 points out the ufe for which it is  in-
 tended. Itischieflyemployedagainft
 thofe chops and excoriations of  the
 lips, which  are often the  confe-
 quence of  cold weather ; and it is
 very well fuited for removing affec-
 tions of that kind.   But excepting
 in the colour and fmell which it  de-
 rives from the alkanet and rhodium,
ites.                       615

it differs in nothing from the cerate
of fpermaceti, and cannot be confi-
dered as more effedually anfwering
the intention in view.

      CEREI MEDICATE
              Suec.
            Bougies.
Take of
   Yellow wax, melted, ond pound;
   Spermaceti, three drams ;
   Vinegar of litharge,  two drams.
Mix them, and upon removal from
   the fire immerfe into the mixture
   flips of linen, of which bougies
   are to be formed according to the
   rules of art.
Thefe may alfo be made with dou-
   ble,  triple, or quadruple,  the
   quantity of the vinegar.

   It is perhaps rather furprifing,
that no formula for the preparation
of bougies has a place in our phar-
macopoeias :  For there can  be no
doubt,  that although the  prepara-
tion of them has  hitherto been prin-
cipally  trufted* to empirics; yet in
the hand of the fkilful  praditioner
they are of great fervice in comba-
ting obftinate affedions.  Although
it has been pretended by  fome that
their influence is to be afcribed to
certain  impregnations;  yet  it  is
 on better grounds contended,  that
 they ad  entirely upon mechanical
 principles.   The great  objed  is
 therefore to obtain the union of a
 proper degree of firmnefs and flex-
 ibility.   Thefe qualities  the above
 compofition poffeffes; and it does not
 probably derive any material bene-
 fit from being prepared with an ad-
 ditional proportion  of  the Acetum,
 lithargyrites.
a q. 4      CHAP. 
616          Preparations
C   H    A
E  P IT H
E   P   I   T
   BY epithems, or cataplafms, are
     in  general underftood  thofe
external applications,  which are
brought to a due confiftence or form
for being properly  applied, not by
means of oily or fatty matters, but
by water or watery fluids. Of thefe
not a few  are  had recourfe to  in
adnal pradice ; but they are fel-
dom  prepared in the fliops of the
apothecaries ; and in fome of the
beft  modern pharmacopoeias, no
formnlse of this kind are introdu-
ced.   The London college,  how-
ever, although they have abridged
the number of epithems, ftill retain
a few.   And it is not without fome
advantage that there are fixed forms
for the preparation of thefe,

   CATAPLASMA CUMINL
            Lond.
      Cataplafm of cummin.
Take of
  Cummin-feed, one pound;
  Bay-berries,
  Dry leaves of water-germander,
     or fcordium,
  Virginian fnake-root,  of  each
     three  ounces j
Compofitions.   Fart 111.
XXXIV.
E  M AT A.
HEMS.
  Cloves,  one ounce.
Rub them  all together;  and, with
  the addition of three times the
  weight of honey,  make a cata-
  plafm.

  This is adopted into the prefent
edition  of the London  pharmaco-
poeia  with very little alteration
from the laft.  It was then intended
as a reformation of the Theriaca
LoNDiNENSis,which for fome time
pafthas been fcarce otherwife made
ufe  of than as a  warm  cataplafm.
In place of the numerous articles
which formerly entered that com-
pofition, only fuch of its ingredients
are  retained as contribute moft to
this intention : But even the article
from which it now derives its name,
as well as feveral  others  which ftill
enter  it, probably contribute  very
little to  any medical  properties k
may poffefs.

  CATAPLASMA SINAPEOS.
           ^Lond.
      Mufiard cataplafm.
Take of
  Muftard-feed, powdered,
                        Crumb 
Chap.  34.                Ept

  Crumb of bread, of each half a
    pound ;
  Vinegar, as much as is fufficient.
Mix, and make a cataplafm.

  Epithems of this kind are com-
 monly known by the name of Si-
napifms.  They were formerly not
unfrequently prepared in a more
complicated  ftate, containing  gar-
lic, black foap,  and  other fimilar
articles;  but the above fimple form
will anfwer every pnrpofe  which
they are capable of accomplifhing.
They are employed only as ftimu-
lants :  they often inflame the part
and raife blifters,  but  notfo  per-
fedly  as  cantharides.  They are
frequently applied  to the foles of
the feet  in  the low  ftate of acute
difeafes,  for raifing the pulfe and
relieving the head. Thechief ad-
vantage they have  depends on the
fuddennefs of their adion.
                           2
thens.                    617

  COAGULUM  ALUMINIS.
              Lond.
          Alum-curd
Take
   The white of two eggs ;
Shake them with a piece of alum
   till they be coagulated.

   This preparation is taken from
Riverius. It is an ufeful aftringent
epithem  for fore, moift eyes, and
excellently cools and repreffes thin
defludions.  Slighter inflammations
of the eyes, occafioned by duft, ex-
pofure to the fun, or  other fimilar
caufes,  are  generally removed by
fomenting them with warm milk
and water, andwafhing them with
folutions of white vitriol.  Where
the complaint is more violent, this
preparation, after  the inflammation
has yielded  a little to bleeding, is
one of  the beft external remedies.
It is tobe fpread on lint, and appli-
ed at  bed-time. 
[   6i8   ]
 ^Table fhowing in whai
                Opium  enter


PULVIS e creta compofitus cum
  opio.   Lond.   In about  forty-
  three grains, one grain of opium
  is contained,
Pulvis   ipecacuanha   compofitus.
  Lond.  In ten grains, one grain
  of opium.
Pulvis  fudorificus.   Ed.   In eight
  grains one grain of opium.
Pulvis  opiatus. Lond. In ten grains,
  one grain of opium.
Pulvis  e fcammonio cum calomela-
  ne.  Lond.  In  four  grains, one
  grain of  calomel.
Pilula ex opip. Lond. In five grains,
  one grain of opium.
Pilula  thebaic.?. Ed.  In ten grains,
  one grain of opium.
Pilula  ex hydrargyro. Lond.   In
  two grains and a half, one grain
  of mercury.
Pilula  ex hydrargyro. Ed. In four
  grains, one grain of mercury.
Pilula  plummeri. Ed.  In  three
  grains  and a  half, one grain of
  calomel.
ConfeBio  opiata.  Lond. In thirty-
  fix grains, one grain of opium.
EleBuarium Japonicum. Ed. In a-
  bout  one hundred  and ninety-
  three grains, one grain of opium.
EleBuarium  thebaicum.  Ed.   In
  feventy-three grains, one grain
  of opium.
Trochifci  bechici  cum  opio. Ed.  In
  fifty-five  grains, one grain of o-
  pium.
Thefe trochifci are not unfrequent-
  ly ordered cum duplici opio, and
  under this form are kept in many
  (hops.
Emplaftrum ammoniaci cum hydrar-
  gyro. Lond. In five ounces, one
  ounce of mercury.
 Proportions Mercury or
different Formulae.


Emplaftrum lithargyri cum hydrar-
  gyro. Lond. In five ounces, one
  ounce of mercury.
Emplaftrum e hydrargyro. Ed. In,
  about three ounces  and  a half,
  one ounce of mercury.
Unguentum   hydrargyri  fortius.
  Lond.   In two drams, one dram
  of mercury.
Unguentum hydrargyri mitius.Lond.
  In five drams, one  dram of mer-
  cury.
Unguentum ex hydrargyro.  Ed. In
  five drams, one dram of mercury.
Unguentum hydrargyri nitrati. Lon.
  in one drain, twelve grains of ni-
  trated quickfilver.
Unguentum  citrinum.  Ed.  In one
  dram,  twelve grains of nitrated
  quickfilver.
Unguentum calcis hydrargyri alba.
  Lond. In one  dram, four grains
  and  an half of the calx hydrar-
  gyri alba.
TinBura opii. Lond.  is made with
  opium, in  the proportion of one
  grain to about eleven of the men-
  ftruum.
TinBurathebaica, Ed. is made with
  opium, in the proportion of one
  grain to about eleven  and a half
  of the menftruum.
TinBura opii camphorat a, Lond. is
  made with opium in the propor-
  tion of one grain  to  about one
  hundred of the menftruum.
Elixir  paregoricum,  Ed. is made
  with opium in the  proportion of
  one  grain  to  fixiy-four of  the
  menftruum.
Balfamum anodynum, Ed. is made
  with opium in the proportion of
  one  grain  to about twenty-five
  of the menftruum.
TABLE 
[   6'9   1
TABLE  of  Names changed in  the  London  and
          Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias.
Names in former Pharmaeopoeias.

    ACETUM feilliticum.
     Ethiops mineralis.
Aqua aluminofa Bateana.
     calcis fimplex.
     cinnamomi fimplex.
     ----------fpirituofa.
     hordeata.
     juniperi corapofita.
     menthae  piperitidis fimplex.
              ■■         fpiritu-
             ofa.
             vulgaris fimplex.
             —-----fpirituofa.
     nucis mofehatae.
     piperis Jamaicenfis,
     pulegii fimplex.
     pulegii fpirituofa.
     raphani compofita.
     rofarum damafcenarum.
     fapphirina.
     feminum  anethi.
     .--------anifi compofita.
— carui.
Aqua vitriolica campborata.

Argenti vivi purificatio.
Axungiae porcinas curatio.

              B.

Balfam fulphuris barbadenfe.
               fimplex.
       traumaticum.
       anodynum.
       faponaceum.
Butyrum antimonii.
          New Names.
Acetum fcillae.  Lond.
Hydrargyrus cum  fulphure.  Lond.
Aqua aluminis compofita.   Lond.
     calcis.  Lond.
     cinnamomi.   Lond.
Spiritus cinnamomi.  Lond.
Decodum hordei.  Lond.
Spiritus juniperi compofitus. Lond.
Aqua menthae piperitidis.   Lond.
Spiritus menthas piperiditis.  Lond.

Aqua menthae fativsp.   Lond.
Spiritus menthse fativje.  Lond.
       nucis mofchat?e.  Lond.
Aqua pimento.  Lond.
     pulegii.   Lond.
Spiritus pulegii.  Lond.
       raphani compofitus. Lond.
Aqua rofsc. Lond.
     cupri ammsniati.  Lond.
     anethi.  Lond.
Spiritus anifi compofitus.  Lond.
       carui.   Lond.
Aqua zinci vitriolati cum campho-
  ra.   Lond.
Hydrargyri purificatio. Lond.
Adipis fuilla? praparatio.  Lond.
Petroleum fulphuratum.  Lond.
Oleum fulphuratum.   Lond.

Tindura beqzoes compofita. Lond.
Linimentum anodynum.   Ed.
Linimentum faponaceum.   Ed.
Caufticum antimonale.  Ed.
Calx 
[   620   ]
Names in former Pharmacopoeias.

              C.

Calx antimonii.
Caufticum antimoniale.
         commune fortius.

          lunare.

Ceratum album.
        citrinum.
        epuloticum.
Chalybis rubigo prseparata.
Cinnabaris faditia.
Confedio cardiaca.
Confedio Japonica.
Cornu cervi calcinatio.
Crocus metallorum.

              D.
Decodum album.
         commune
         pedorale.

              E.
pro clyftere
Eleduarium lentivum.
Elixir aloes.
      myrrhas compofitum.
      paregoricnra.
      proprietatis.
      facrum.
      falutis.
Emplaftrum  ex  ammoniaco  cnm
              mercurio.
            antihyftericum.
            attrahens.
            cephalicum.
            commune.
            — adhefivum.
            — cum gum mi,
            — cum mercurio.
            e cymino.
            roborans.
            e fapone.
            ftomachicum.
            veficatorium.
New Names.
Antimonium calcinatum.  Lond.
           muriatum.  Lond.
Calx cnm kali puro.  Lond.
C Argentum nitratum.   Lond.
£ Sal argenti.  Ed.
Ceratum fpermatis ceti.  Lond.
        refinae flavae.   Lond.
        lapidis calaminaris. Loni>
Ferri rubigo.  Lond.
Hydrargyrus fulphuratus ruber. L.
C Confedio aromatica, Lond..
£ Eleduarium cardiacum, Ed.
Eleduarium Japonieum.  Ed.
Cornu Cervi uftio.  Lond.
Crocus antimonii,   Ed.
Decodum coma cervi.  Lond.
         pro cnemate.   Lond.
         hordei compofitum.  L.
Eleduarium e fenna*  Lond.
Tindura aloes compofita.  Lond.
        fabinae compofita.  Lond.
      opii camphorata.  Lond.
Elixir aloes.   Ed.
      ex aloe et rheo.   Ed.
Tindura fennse compofita.  Ed.
Emplaftrum  ammoniaci  cum  hy-
              drargyro.  Lond.
           foetidum.   Ed.
            cerse.   Lond.
            picis burgundicas. L.
            lithargyri.  Lond.
            — cum refina. Lond.
            — cum gummi.   L.
            — cum hydrargyro. L
            cumini.   Lond.
            thuris Lond.
            faponis.   Lond.
            ladani.  Lond.
           cantharidis.  Lond.
                       Emulfio 
                         [   621    ]
Natrtes informer Pharmacopceias.            New Names.
Emulfio communis.
Ens veneris.
Extradicum catharticum.

           thebaicum.

               F.

Ferri rubigo.
Flores benzoini.
       martiales.
       zinci.
Fotus communis.
Hiera pier a.

               I.

Infufum amarum fimplex.
        fennae commune.
Julepum e camphora.
        e creta.
        c mofcho.

               L.

Laudanum liquidum.
Linimentum album.
           faponaceum.
           volatile.
Lixivium faponarium.
         tartari.

               M.

Mei ^gyptiacum.
     rofaceum.
Mercurius calcinatus.
           corrofivus fublimatus.
           .----.----ruber.
           dulcis fublimatus.
           emeticus flavus.
           praecipitatus albus.
           ----— ruber.
Lac amygdalae.  Lond.
Flores martiales.  Ed.
Extradum e colocynthidc  compo-
  fitum.   Lond.
Opium purificatum.  Lond.
Ferri limatura prasparata.   Ed,
Flores benzoes.   Lond.
Ferrum ammoniacale.   Lond.
Calx zinci.  Lond.
Decodum pro fomento.  Lond.
Pulyis aloeticus.  Lond.
Infufum gentianae compofitum.  L.
        fennae tartarifatum. Lond.
Miftura camphorata.   Lond.
        cretacea.  Lond.
        mofchata.  Lond.
Tindura thebaica.  Ed.
Unguentum fpermatis ceti. Lond.
Linimentum faponis.  Lond.
            ammonias.  Lond.
Aqua kali puri.   Lond.
     kali.   Lond.
Oxymel aeruginis.  Lond.
Mel rofae.  Lond.
Hydrargyrus calcinatus.  Lond.
           muriatus.  Lond.
           nitratus ruber.  Lond.
Calomelas.   Lond.
Hydrargyrus vitriolatus.  Lond.
Calx hydrargyri alba.  Lond.
Mercurius corrofivus ruber.  Edin.
                        Nitrura
H. 
                          [    622    ]

 Names informer Pharmacopoeias.             New Names.

               N.

Nitrum vittiolatum.                Kali vitriolatum.   Lond.

               O.
Oleum animale.
       petrolei barbadenfis.
       terebinthinas aethereum.
Opium colatum.
Oxymel fcilliticum.

               P.

Philonium Londinenfe.
Pilulas aromaticas.
       cocci as.
       mercuriales.
       pacificas.
       rufi.
Pulvis e bolo compofitus.
      ---------cum opio.
      ccphalicus.
Pulvis e ceruffa compofitus.
      Doveri.
      fternutatorius.

               R.

Rob baccarum fambuci.
               S.


Saccharum faturni.

Sal abfinthii.
   ammoniacus volatilis.


   catharticus glauberi.

   diureticus.
   martis.
   rupellenfis.
   tartari.
   vitriolL
   volatilis falis ammoniaci.
Species aromaticas.
Spiritus cornu cervi.
Oleum e corubus redificatum.  Ed.
       petrolei.   Lond.
       terebinthinaeredificatum.L.
Opium purificatum.  Lond.
Oxymel fcillae.  Lond.
Confedio opiata.   Lond.
Pulvis aloeticus cum guaiacd.  Lon.
Pilulae ex colocynthide cum aloe. E.
      ex hydrargyro.  Edin.
      thebaicas.   Edin.
     ex aloe cum myrrha.   Lond.
Pulvis e creta compofitus.  Lond.
      ---------cum opio.   Lond.
      fternutatorius.   Edin.
Pulvis e ceruffa.   Lond.
      fudorificus.  Edin;
      afari compofitus.   Lond.
Succus  baccas  fambuci  fpiffatus.
  Lond.  Ed.
   Ceruffaa cetata,  Lond.
   Sal plumbi,  Edin.
Kali, Lond.
Alcali volatile ex fale ammoniaco.
   Edin.
   Natron vitriolatum, Lond.
   Soda vitriolata, Edin.
Kali acetatum.   Lond.
Ferrum vitriolatum
Soda tartarizata.  Edin.
Kali.   Lond.
Zincum vitriolatum.   Lond.
Ammonia.   Lond.
Pulvis aromaticus.  Lond.
Liquor volatilis cornu cervi. Lond.
                         Spiritus 
                           E   623
Names in former  Pharmacopoeias.
Spiritus lavendulae compofitus.
       ■---------fimplex.
1
nitri dulcis.
—— glauberi.
falis ammoniaci.
falis ammoniaci cum calce
  vivo.
falis ammoniaci dulcis;
falis marini glauberi.
Vinofus camphoratis.
vitrioli dulcis.
tenuis.
       volatilis aromaticus.
       —------fcetidus.
Succi fcorbutici.
Sulphur auratum antimonii.
Syrupus ex althaea.
       e corticibus aurantiorum.
        balfamicus.
        e meconie.
        rofarum folutivus.

               T.

Tabellac cardialgicas.
Tartarum emeticum.
         regeneratum.


         folubile.
         vitriolatum.

Tindura amara.
         antipbthifica.
         aromatica.
         foetida.
         guaiacina volatilis.
         ipecacuanhas.
         japonica.
         martis in fpiritu falis.
         melampodii.
         rhabarbari  fpirituofa.
         -------vinofa.
                           3
          New Names,

Tindura lavendulae.  Lond.
Spiritus lavendulas.   Lond.
 \ Spiritus astheris nitrofi.  Lond.
 \ Acidum nitri vinofum.  Edin.
Acidum nitrofum.  Lond.  Edin.
Aqua ammonias.  Lond.
Alkali volatile caufticum.  Edin.

Spiritus ammonias.   Lond.
Acidum muriaticum.   Lond.
Spiritus camphoratus.   Lond.
 C Spiritus astheris vitriolici, Lond.
 \ Acidum vitriolicum vinofum, Ed.
 J Acidum  vitriolicum dilutum, L.
 \ Acidum vitriolicum tenue,   Ed.
 Spiritus ammonias compofitus.   L.
         -------foetidus.   Lond.
 Succus cochleariae compofitus. Lon.
 Sulphur antimonii prascipitatum. E.
 Syrupus  altheas.  Lond.
         corticis aurantii.   Lond.
         tolutanus.   Lond.
         papaveris albi.   Lond.
         rofas.   Lond.
Trochifci c creta.   Lond.
 T Antimonium tartarifatum. Lond.
 ( Tartarus antimonialis.  Edin.
Alkali fixum vegetabile  acetatum.
   Edin.
•C Kali tartarifatum.  Lond.
< Alkali fixum  vegetabile tartari-
(^   fatum.   Edin.
T Kali  vitriolatum.  Lond.
< Alkali fixum vegetabile vitriola-
d   turn, Edin.
Tindura gentianas compofita.  L.
        faturnina.  Edin.
        cinnamomi compofita.  L.
         afas foetidas.   Lond.
        puaiaci.   Lond.
Vinum ipecacuanhas.   Edin.
Tindura catechu.  Lond.
         ferri muriati.  Lond.
Tindura hellebori nigri.  Lond.
         rhabarbari.  Lond.
Vinum rhabarbari.   Lond.
                         Tindura 
                         [   6a4   ]

Names in former Pharmacopeias.             New Names.
Tindura rofarum.

         facra.

         ftomach ica.
Trochifci bechici albi.
         -------nigri.
Turpethum minerale.

            V. U.

Vinum antimoniale.
       chaly beam m.
Unguentum album.
           album.
           antipforicum.
           bafilicum flavum.
           casruleum.
           ..  .  -----fortius.
           .         mitius.
c mercurioprascipitato.

faturninnm.
fimplex.
ad veficatoria.
J Infufum rofae, Lond.
|        rofarum,  Edin.
f Vinum aloes, Lond.
\ Vinum aloeticum, Edin.
Tindura cardamomi compofita. L.
Trochifci amyli. Lond.
         gfycyrrhizae. Lond.
Mercurius flavus. Edin.
Vinum antimonii. Lond.
      ferri. Lond.
Unguentum cerae. Lond,
           e ceruffa. Edin.
           e fulphure.  Edin.
           refinae flavae.  Lond.
           ex hydrargyro.   Edin.
           hydrargyri fortius.  L.
           --------mitius. Lond.
           calcis hydrargyri albas.
             Lond.
           ceruffas acetatas. Lond.
           adipis fuillae.  Lond.
           cantharidis. Lond.
ENGLISH 
ENGLISH     INDEX.
                           Page
    ACetated ceruffe        451
              kali           397
              quickfilver     432
              vegetable alkali 398
Acetous acid                 376
       fermentation          37
Acids in general               62
      aerial                  65
      aqua regia               64
      of borax                ib.
muriatic	374
nitrous	373
vinous	476
weak	373
of tartar diftilled	3.77
of tartar cryftallized	376
elixir of vitriol	403
vitriolic	117
vinous	473
weak	372
fait of borax	403
julep	539
Aconite, infpiffated juice of    331
Aerial acid                   65
iEtherjulep                 540
.fluhiops mineral             443
Affinities                     67
Agaric                      118
       female               119
Agrimony                    ib.
Alder                       122
Alexiterial water             465
Alkali, fixed foffil  purified     387
       fixed vegetable purified 381
Alkanet                     128
AH-fpice water               464
Almond,  bitter               127
Almond,  fweet                ib.
Aloes,  Barbadoes             122
      caballine, or horfe       ib.
     fetid                   ib,
                           Pag.
Aloes hepatic                12a
      focotorine               ib.
Aloetic powder with iron      556
              with guaiacum  ib.
      wine                  504
Alum                       124
     curd                   617
     burnt                  401
     purified                 ib.
Aluminous earth               59
Amalgam of tin               454
Amber                      291
Amber julep                 540
Ambergris                   12 c
Ammonia, prepared           387
Ammoniacal iron             427
Ammoniacum milk           537
Anemone meadow            261
Animal calcareous earths       59
       matters in general      54
       oil                   359
Angelica                    128
Anife                       129
Anodyne balfam              53?
        liniment             ib.
Antideric fpirit               485
Antimonial cauftic            4:^
          powder           4*7
          wine              5°4
Antimony                    I29
         butter of           4J6
         calcined            4*3
         ceruffe of          422
         crocus of           415
         muriated           4*6
         nitrated calx        4M
         panacea            423
         precipitated fulphur  418
         prepared           3*^
         tartarifed           419
         vitrified            420
         Vitrified            423
             R r          Ami- 
626.               E  N
G  L  I  S  H
	Page
Antimony, cerated	420 Biftort
Antiphthifical tindure	528 Bitter infufion
Ants	190 fweet
Aqua regia	64 wine
Ardent fpirit	471 * Birthwort
Argillaceous eartb Armenian bole	60 Bitumens
	149 Blackc-herry wat,
Aromatic powder	557 hellebore
fpirit	485 Bleffed thiftle
volatile	538 Bloodftone
tindure	512 Bluebottle
vinegar	560 Bohemian bole
Arfenic	138 Bole armenic
mineral, folution of	540 of Blois
Amichoke	172 Bones, earth of
Afarabacca	137 Bougies
Afh tree	190 Boxtree
Afparagus	138 Buck-bean
Attradions, tables of	70 Buckthorn
Avens	164 Buglofs
	Burdock
B.	Burgundy pitch
	Burnt alum
Balm	229 Burnet faxtfrage
water	468 Butcher's-broom
Balfam, anodyne	532 Butter-bur
of cauada	140 Butter of antimony
ofcopaiva	ib. Bramble
of Gilead	141 Brooklime
of Peru	142' Broom
faponaceous	532
of Tolu	143 c.
Barbadoes tar	255
Barberry	146 Cabbage
Barilla	149 bark tree
Bark, Peruvian	I.50 Cajeput oil
Barley	201 Calamine, prepared
water ,	491 Cal amy
Baths	86 Calcination
Bay	218 Calcined antimony
Beans	187 quickfilver
■Bears-foot	198 zinc
grape whortleberry	305 Calomel
Beet	146 Camphor
Betony	ib. Camphor
Benzoine	145 wafe1'
flowers of	379 Camphorated mixture
Bezoar ftone	147 fpirit
Birch	ib. fpirit of wine
Bifmuth	148 tindure of op
Page
 148
'495
 184
 504

  58
 407
 199
 161
 197
 f8,
 M9
  ib.
  ib.
  59
 614
 153
 298
 484
 152
 M3
 257'
 401
. 256
 267
 254
 416
 267
 144
 193
 151
 194
 159
 319
 ?54
 in
 413
 433
 455
 438
  46
 156
 466
 535
 539
 5li
n 526
 Cha- 
Camomile
Camomile-flower water
Canella alba
Candy carrot
Caperbufh
Caraway
Cardamom leffer
Carline thiftle
Carmalite water
Carpobalfam
Catechu
Cafcarilla
Caflia
      of the cane
water
 Caftor
       oil
       water
 Caffumunar
 Cataplafms
 Cataplafm of cummin
          of muftard
 Catmint
 Cauftic, common ftrongeft
                milder
        ley
        volatile alkali
 Celandine
 Centaury,  greater
           lefs
 Cerates
 Cerate of acetated litharge
       of calamine
       of'cantharides
       for  the lips
       fimple
       of Spanifh flies
       of fpermaceti
       of foap
       of yellow refin
 Cerated glafs of antimony
Ceruffe
        of antimony
 Chalk prepared
      julep
     mixture
Chafte tree
 Cherry
Chervil
       water
S   N   D
      Page
      169
      4^7
      15,8
      182
      160
      163
      161
      162
      4^3
      162
      167
      164
      166
      165
      463
      166
      347
      466
      166
      615
       ib.
      616
      235
      386
       ib.
      3«4
      389
      170
      167
      168
      613
      614
      613
       ib.
      615
      613
       ib.
      615
      614
      ib.
      422
      451
      422
      319
      499
      535
      119
      168
      169
      466"
China root
Chocolate ntfts
Cinereal powder of marcury
Cinnabar native
Cinnamon
          water'
Cinquefoil
Citron
Civet
Cloves
Clove July-flowers
Coating of glaffes
Cochineal
Coffee
Colcothar of vitriol
Coloquintida
Colomba
Colouring matter of vegetables
#27
Page
170
153
433
172
173
462
249
173
306
ids
104
 86
173
174
430
175
 ib.
 5i
299
176
108
490
Colt's foot
Comfrey
Comminution
Common decodion
Compound balm-water
          decodion of barley  491
          infufion of gentian  495
         juniper-water      480
          tindure of aloes    51JD
          fpirit of annifeed    478
               of horferadifh  482
               of juniper     480
Concrete effential oil           46
Confedion, aromatic          584
           cordial            585
           of Damocrates     586
           Japonic           582
-*         opiate             585
Conferves                    324
Conferve of anjm             326
        of chervil           327
        of hips              ib.
        of millepedes        'ib.
        of mint             326
        of orange-rind       325
        ofrofe-buds          326
        of rofes, vitriolated   328
        of floes             327
        of fquills            ib.
        of wood-forrel       325
        of wormwood        326
Contrayerva                 176
            R r .2       Copal 
628
t    K    G
Copal
Copper
Coral, red
Coraline
Coriander
Coltmary
Cowhage
Cowflips
Crab's-claws
Crab's-eyes
Creffes, water
Crocus of antimony
       of iron
Cryftallization
Cryftalline earth
Cubebs
Cummin
Currants
Currant, black
        red
        infpiffated juice of
 Curfuta
Cyperus

               D

Dandelion
 Date
Deadly nightfhade
 Decoctions
 Decodion of barley
          of catechu
          of elm
          of hartfhorn
          of hellebore
          of marfh-mallows
          of Peruvian bark
          of farfaparilla
          of fenika
          of the woods
          for fomentation
          for glyfters
 Depuration
 Devil's bit
 Dill
 Dill-water
 Diftillation
 Diftilled waters
         fpirits
 Dittany of Crete
 Dog^rofe
Page
 I76
 179
 177
 176
 177
 140
 184
 248
 157
 158
 234
 415
 431
 IOO
  60
 178
 179
 305
 265
  ib.
 333
 181
 182
   I   S   H

Dragon's blood
Dropwort hemlock
Dulcified fpirit of nitre
              of vitriol
Earths
Egg, pullet's
Elaterium
Elecampane
Eleduary of caflia #
            Japonic
            lenitive
            of manna
            nitrous
            of fcammony
            of fenna
            terebinthinate
            thebaic
            tin
            for the gums
Elder, black
       dwarf
294
182
144
486
49 i
502
493
488
491
488
490
49 2
493
492
490
 ib.
 99
231
128
462
105
457
470
183
i8x
Page
 274
 188
 476
 473
 58
246
339
185
580
582
581
582
583
580
581
583
585
588
582
273
184
berry,infpiffatedjuiceof33i
      flower-water
Elixir of aloes
      of aloes and rhubarb
      of guaiacum
                 volatile
      of health
      paregoric
      {acred
      of vitriol,  acid
              ■fweeq
Elm-tree
Emetic tartar
Emulfion, Arabic
         common
         fimple, oily
         volatile, oily
Endive
Englifh herb mercury
Ens veneris
Epithems
Eryngo
Effential oils
Effential oil of anife
           of camomile flowers 364
           caraway-feeds     356
                        Effential
469 .
510
527
521
 ib.
529
526
527
530
53i
3°4
419
537
 ib.
539
 ib.
185,
150
427
616
186
350
356 
                 I    N

Iffential oil cloves
           of cinnamon
           of fennel
           of Jamacia pepper
           ofjuniper
  D
page
 364
 365
  ib.
 358
 357
of lavender flowers 356
  E    X.                 629

                          page
Extrad of the feeds of hemlock 338
       offenina             342
       of wormwood        344
Extradion                   Q8
Eyebright                  ^7
          of mace          465
          of marjoram       ib.
          of mint          357
          of nutmeg        366
          of orange fkins    364
          of origanum      357
          of pennyroyal      ib.
          of peppermint      ib.
          of rhodium       365
          of rofemary      357
          of rue           366
          of faffafras       358
          of favin           ib.
          of favory         366
          of tanfy           ib.
          of vegetables      45
          of wormwood     364
jfeuphorbium                 186
Evaporation                 104
Expreffed oils               346
Expreflion                  IQ7
Exficcation                  ib.
Extrads                    334
Extrad of aloes              344
       of black hellebore     337
       of black hellebore    231
       of broom tops         337
       of cafcarilla          341
       of camomile  -      337
       of coloquintida       338
       of dandelion         344
       of gentian           337
       of the heads of white
         poppies           338
       of jalap             34r
       of liquorice          337
       of logwood          339
       of myrrh           345
       of opium            342
       of Peruvian bark     340
       .------— I... w ith
         the refin            ib.
       of rue               337
       of favin               ib.
Farina of vegetables
Featherfew, wild
Fennel, common
      flower
      water
      fweet
Foenugrek
Fermentation
Fern, male
Fig
Figwort
Fir, Scotch, or common
Fire, productions from yegeta.
  blesby
Foetid fpirit of ammonia
      tindure
Fixed air
       vegetable alkali
      vegetable falts
Flax purging
Flag yellow
Fleawort
Flowers of fulphur, wafhed
Flowers of zinc
Foxglove
Frankincenfe
French bole
       lavender
Fumitory
Furnace
Fufion
 50
327
189
236
463
189
190
 35
188
162
28 r
114

 40
478
512
 65
 4*
  ib
222.
213
260
40&
455
i33
297
149
288

19«
  78
1.10
Galangal                   tot
Galbanum                   ib.
Galls                       192
Gamboge                    ib.
Garden cucumber            178
Garden clary                201
Garlic                     121
Gentian                    J93
           R r 3     Germander 
630
£   W   G   L
S   H
	page
Germander	169
Ginger	306
Ginfeng	194
Glafs of antimony	426
Glauber's fak	396
fpirit of nitre	373
Goats rue	192
Gold	140
Golden-rod	302'
Golden fulphur of antimony	418
Gourd	179
Grains of paradife	195
Gromwell	223
Ground-ivy	198
Ground-pine	170
Grofs oil of vegetables	44
Guaiacum	196
Guinea-pepper	256
Gum	47
ammoniac, the prepara-	
tion of	319
ammoniac	^26
Arabic	196
Arabic tree	H5
elemi	18 f
kino	215
lac	216
maftich	227
refin	48
tragacanth	19/
Gypfeous earth	60
H.	
Hartfliorns	177
Hartfhorn, burning of Harts-tongue	320
	222
Hedge-muftard	186
Hemlock	171
drop wort	240
infpiffated juice of	332
Hemp	159
agrimorry'	186
Henbane	107
Herbs, drying of	320
Hermodadyl	200
Hips	181
Hog's lard.	ri8
prepared	319
Honey	228
purifying of	321
of rofes	552
of %ull&	553
	Pa£5.,
Hops	224
Horfe-chefnuf	200
Horehound, white	226
Horferadrfh	263
Hound ftongue	181
Hyffop	209
hedge	195
water	468
Hypocyllis F.	209
Imperfed metals	61
Indianleaf	225
pink	284
root	262
Infufions	486
Infufion of rhubarh	497
of rofes	ib.
of Peruvian bark	501
of tamarindswith fenna 496	
Infpiffated juices	330
Ipecacuan	211
Iron	187
fillings of, purified	323'
Ifinglafs	2TO
Ivy Jack by the hedge	T97
	120
Jala?	209
Jamaica pepper	256
Japan-earth	210
Japonic tindure	516
Jeflamin	2IO
Jerufalem oak	151
futees	328
Jujubes	214
Juniper	268
K,	•
Kali, pure water of	383
Kermes grains	214
mineral	423
Kino, gum	215
Lac, gum	2l6
Ladanum	217
LJdies bed-ftraw	I92
mantle	120
fmock	■• l6l
	Laudanum,
 
I N	D	E %.	63!
Labcianum, liquid	Page 525	Marjoram, wild	Page 246
Lavender	218	fweet	225
Lead	2-S8	Marfhmallows	124
Lemnian earth	149	Martial asthiops	439
Lemon	222	flowers	427
peel water	465	Mafterwort	210
infpiffated juice of	333'	Maftich, Syrian herb	226
Lentifc tree	219	May-lily water	468
Leopards-bane	132	Mayweed	i7?
Lettuce, garden	217	Meadowfweet	304
ftrong fceiited	ib.	Meafures	91
Lilly-white	221	Mechoacan	227
white watei*	239	Medicated honeys'	552
of the valley	222	Medlar tree	230
Lime tree	297	Meiam podium	199
Lime with pure kail	386	Melilot	228
water	498	Melon	229
Liridus lenient	583	Mercury	201
Lirtknents	601	herb	239
Liniment of ammonia	608	acetated	432
ftronger	609	calcined	433
Linfeed	223	cinereal	ib.
Liquid amber	ib.	with chalk	434
laudanum	525	•muriated	435
Liquorice	194	mild muriated	44°
Litharge	223	nitrated	441
Liverwort, eryngo leaved afh-coloured groun	220	Plenck's folution	'448
	d 219	purified	432
Lobelia	223	red precipitate	441
Logwood Lopez root	220	red fulphurated	446
	262	fublimate	435
Lovage Lunar cauftic	219 424	——-— folhtiori fimple folution	438 448
pills	426	fweet	438
Lungwort, fpotted	261	with fulphur	443
Lupines, white Lutes	224 86	white calx white precipitate	442 ii>;
		vitriolated	446
M.		yellow	ib*
		Metals in general	60
Mace	224	Mezereon	230'
Madder Magnefia alba alba calcined*	266 59 405 407	Milk Mild muriated quickfilver Milfoil Minerals in general	215 440 231 58
Maidenhair Mallow IVJandrake Manna • Marigold	298 225 ib. 226 *55	Mineral acids calcareous earths oils Miffekoc Mithridate R. r 4 Mom	tsl 302 586 ;ywort
 
6 $8
N
Moneywort
Monklhood
Motherwort
Mother of thyme
Mucilage of gum Arabic
              N.

Natron, prepared
Navew, fweet
Nephritic wood
Nettle
       dead
Nitrated calx of antimony
        filver
        quickfilver
Nitre
     purified
Nitrous acid
           diluted
Noble liverwort
Nutmeg
Nux vomica
Tage
238
H7
161
283
493
         of gum tragacanth  494
         of ftarch           493
         of quince-feed      49 4
Mugwort                   136
Mulberry                   231
Mullein                    300
Muriatic acid               374
Muriated antimony          416
         quickfiver         435
Mufk                      232
      mixture               536
      feed                  114
Muftard                    297
        feed                283
Mutton-fuet prepared        319
Myrrh                     233
Myrobalans                   ib.
Myrtle                    234
L   I   S   H

 Oil of eggs
    of flax-feed
    of foffil tar
    of hartfhorn
    of muftard-feed
    of turpentine
    of wax
    of wine
 Ointments
          ^Egyptian
          anodyne
          antipforic
          bafilicon
          blue
          digeftive
          epifpaftic
          for cancers
38?
234
235
304
218
414
424
44*
236
396
373
 ib.
200
238
239
              O.

Oak                       262
Oat                        138
Ochre,  yellow              239
Oil of almonds              347
   of amber           360, 378
   of chocolate-nuts         348
                 rage
                  348
                  347
                  358
                  39°
                  347
                  359
                  366
                  363
                  601
                  609
                   ib.
                  607
                   ib.
                  605
                  610
                  603
                  610
for the haemorrhoids ib.
nervine             ib.
of acetated ceruffe  604
of calx of zind     602
of ceruffe          604
of elder           607
of elemi           604
of hog's-lard       602
of infufion of cantha-
  rides            603
of nitrated quick-
  filver           606
of   quickfilver,
  ftronger         605
  weaker          ib.
of Spanifh flies     603
of fpermaceti       607
of fulphur          ib.
of ftorax          6 n
of tar             606
of tobacco         611
of tutty            608
of verdegris       602
of white  calx  of
  quickfilver        ib.
of white hellebore 604
of yellow refin     607
faturnine          604
fimple            608
fimple-            6021
fuppurative        612
wax              603
White             604
             Ointment 
M
Ointment yellow
Olibanum
Olive
Onion
Opium
Opopanax
Orange curaffoa
       Seville
       peel water
 Oris florrentine
Orchis
Oxymel of garlic
       of meadow faffron
       ©f fquills
       of verdegris
       pedoral
        fimple
 Oyfler fhetts

               P.

 Palma chrifti
 Palm-tree
 Panacea of antimony
 Paregoric elixir
 Pareira brava
 Parfley
 Parfneps
 Peach tree
 Pearl afhes
 Pellitory of Spain
        of the wall
 Pennyroyal
              water
 peony
 Pepper, long
 Peppermint
              water
 Perfed metals
 Peruvian bark
 Pharmaceutical operations
               apparatus
  Pilewort
  Pills asthiopic
      of aloes
               with myrrh
       Bacher's
       common
       of colocynth with aloes
       •fcopper
  v
Page
 606
 240
  ib.
 168
 241
 242
 139
  ib.
 465
 213
 278
 554
 553
  ib.
  ib.
 554
  ib.
 296
X.
265
247
423
526
248
255
249
 ib.
269
262
249
261
464
246
257
229
463
 60
250
 94
  78
170
57i
 ib.
 ib.
 576
 572
  ib.
   ib
                           633
                          Page
Pills of corrofive fublimate    577
    of elaterium            576
    of gamboge            577
    foetid                  57^
    of gums                 573
    of jalap                 574
    of opium                 ib.
    pacific                   ib.
    Plummer's              ib.
    of quickfilver            573
    of fquills                575
     ftomachic                ib.
     of tar                  578
     thebaic                 574
 Piftachio nut                239
 Plantain                    258
 Plafters                #    592
 Plafter of ammoniacum with
        quickfilver
       antihyfteric
       biftering
       blue
       of Burgundy pitch
       cantharides
       common
       of corrofive fublimate
       for corns
       of cummin
       of deadly nightfhade
       defenfive
       of Foenugrek
       foetid
       of Frankincenfe
       of hemlock
       of henbane
        of ladanum
        of litharge
               with gum
               with mer-
                cury
               with refin
        mercurial
        of mucilages
        of pitch
         faponaceous
        foap
        fticking
        ftrengthening
        of wax
  Polypody
 593
 595
 593
 597
  ib.

 596
 600
 599
 594
 599
 598
 600
 595
 598
 599
 600
 595
  ib.
 596

  566
  597
  ib.
  600
   ib.
  598
   ib.
  597
  £98
  594
  259
Pome- 
634
ENGLISH
		Page		Page
Pomeg	ranate	195	Preparations of antimony	4tf
Poplar,	black	259	of iron	427
Poppy,	white	247	Prepared kali	318
	red	248	Preparations of lead	450
Potafhes		41	of mercury	431
Potafh,	Ruffian	172	of filver	424
Potfdei	•, Aloetic	556	of fulphiir	408
	with iron	ib.	of zinc	455
	with guaiac	ib.	Prim rofe	260
	anthelmintic	562	Prune	ib.
	aromatic	557	Puff-ball	224-
	of arum, compound	563	Pnlps, extradion of	321
	of afarabacca	557	Pure kali	386
	cephalic	ib.	Purification of white vitriol	456
	ofceruffe	' ib.	Purified opium	342
	of chalk ■	55S	falammor.»ac	404
	with opium	559	Purflane	260
	of contrayerva	558	Putrefadive fermentatibn	3»'
	of crab's claws	ib.		
	digeftive	564	0;	
	of Dover	559		
	dyfenteric	564	Quaffy	402
	fedative	565	Quick grafs	!95
	of fenna, compound	562	Quicklime	*S5
	fponge	565	Quickfilver	201
	fternutatory	557	with chalk	434
	ftyptic	562	purified	432.
	fudorific	559	Quince	181
	tin	453		
	of tragacanth, com-		R.	
	pound	562		
	fumigation	564	Raifins	3°4
	for infants	ib.	Rafpberry	266
	of ipecacuan com-		Red corrofive mercury	441
	pound	559	precipitate mercury	ib.
	of jalap, compound;	, ib.	lead	45o
	againft the bite of a		fulphurated quickfilver	444
	mad dog	563	Redified oil of amber	3°i..
	of myrrh, compound 560		oil of turpentine	359
	nitrous	565	Refined liquorice	345,
	opiate	560	Regenerated tartar	39s
	Peruvian purging	565	Refin	47
	of fcammony	560	Refins	334
	with aloes	56i	Reft harrow	241
	with calo-		Rhubarb	263
	mel	ib.	\vihe	507
Precipitation		103	Rhododendron	264
Precipitated fulphur		410	Rhapontic	ib.
	of anti-		Rice	246
	mony	418	Rice water	469 Rob
 
N
   D
Page
Rob .of elder berries	33»
Rocket	185
Rock-oil	254
Rochelle fak	401
Rofe damafk	265
red	ib.
Rofemary	266
Rofe water	465
wood	221
Rue	267
Rupturewort	200
Ruft of iron	428
prepared	328
S. Sacred elixir	527
tindure	504
Saffron	178
baftard	163
meadow	»74
Sagapenum	269
Sage	273
water	470
Sago	' 269
St' John's wort	208
Saline aromatic fpirir	538.
julep	540
matter	48
Sal ammoniac	270
polyehreft	395
Salts	270
Salty fixed vegetable	akalli
purified	381
of amber	360
of amber	378
purified	ib.
of hartfhorn	272
of hartfhorn	39°
of lead	45i
of milk	402
of filver	424
of forrel	402
of fteel -	429
of tartar	380
fea	272
Sanicle	275
Saponaceous balfam	532
Safaparilla	277
Saflafras	278
Sauce alone	120
Saunders, white	275
   E    X.

Saunders, red
         yellow
Savin water
Savory,  fummer
Scabious
Scales of iron purified
Scammony
Scorbutic juices
Scufvy-grafs, garden
            fea
            Scots
            compound juice
              of
Sea colewort
   mofs
Sebeftens
Self-heal
Semi-metals
Seneka
Senna
Shavings of iron prepared
Shepherd's purfe
Silefian earth
Silver
Simarouba "           4
Simple diftilled waters
       infufion of fenna
       mercurial folution
       fpirit of lavender
Skerret,  creeping-
Slaters
       preparation of
Sloe
Smallage
Snake-weed
Sneezewort
Soap, white, Spanifh, -
 v     common, ft ft
      black ditto
Soapwort
Soda
Solomon's feal
Soluble tartar
Solution
        of corrofive fublimate
Sorrel
      wood
 Southernwood
 Sowbread
 Spanifh flies
 Spearmint
 °"35:
Page
 175
  ib.
 469
 278
 279
 323
 279
 33o
 174
  ib.
 151
329
I5i
176
281
260
 61
281
282
428
152
149
i3l
283
457
495
448
480
283
231
321
260
131
148
261
 276
  ib.
  ib.
 277
  42
 176
 400
  94
 438
 116
 224
 114
 136
 *59
 229
Spear- 
636            I   N
G    L   I   S   H
	Page		Pagt
Spearmint water	464	Storax	289
Speedwell, male	301	liquid	290
Spermaceti	284	purification of	323
Spignel	230	Strawberry water	468
Spikenard	234	bum	190
Spirit of ammonia	477	Sublimate corrofive mercury	435
compound	538	Sublimation	106
fuccinated	ib.	Succinated fpirit of ammonia	538
antideric	485	Sugar	268
aromatic	ib.	candy	ib.
of caraway	479	of lead	457
of cinnamon	ib.	of milk	402
of hartfhorn	285	Sulphur	291
of lavender	380	wort	256
©f mindererus	399	Sulphurated kali	409
of nitrous sether	476	oil	ib.
of nutmeg	481	petroleum	ib.
of orange-peel	485	Sumach, common	292
ef penny-royal	482	Swallow wort	301
of peppermint	4R0	Sweet-fcented flag	154
of pimento	481	mercury	438
©f rofemary	482	Syrup, acid	55o
©f fal ammoniac	388	alkaline	ib.
ef fal ammoniac with	1	of almonds	551
quicklime	3^9	of balfam of Tola	548
©f fea fak .	374	balfamic	549
of fcurvy-grafs	484	of black currants	546
of fpearmint	481	of buckthorn	548
of vitriol, weak	372	of cinnamon	551
of vitriolic sether	473	of clove july-flower	544
com-		of colchicum	ib.
pound	538	emetic	■■ 557
of wine, redified	286	of garlic	550
proof	287	of ginger	ib.
Spirituous caraway water	479	of lemon-juice	545
cinnamon water	ib.	of marfhmallow	543
Jamaica pepper water 481		of mulberries	545
nutmeg water	481	of orange-peel	ib.
peppermint water	480	of quickfilver	551
Sponge	287	of rafpberries	545
burning of	322	of red poppies	546
Squill	280	of rofes, pale	ib.
vinegar	499	dry	ib.
Squills, drying of	321	fimple	548
Stavefacre	288	of fquills	ib.
Steel	187	of vinegar	543
comfits	227	of violets	549
Stinking orach	*38	of white poppies	546
Stomachic elixir	520	Tacha-	
 
                           page
Tachamahaca              293
Table of effential oils        369
    of mercurial preparations 262
Talky earth                 60
Tamarinds                 293
Tanfy                       ib.
Tar                       258
    water                 501
Tartar                     294
Tartarifed antimony         419
        kali               400
        iron               428
        natron             401
        infufion of fenna    495
        foda               401
        vegetable  alkali     400
Tea                       296
Thebaic tindure             524
Theriaca of Andromachus    587
Thorn-apple                289
Thyme                     297
Tincal                     150
Tindures                   5°9
        of aloes            51°
        of amber           534
        of antimony        532
        antiphthifical       528
        aromatic           5*2
        of affafoetida        ib.
        of balfam of Peru    512,
                 of Tolu    513
        benzoine, compound » ib.
        bitter              520
        of catechu          516
        of cantharides      514
        of cafcarilla        515
        of caftor, compound  516
        ofcardamom       514
        of cardamom, com-
             pound         515
        of cinnamon        516
               compound    517
        of galbanum        520
        of gentian, compound ib.
        of colomba          ib.
        of guaiacum        521
        colocynth           533
        of black hellebore     ib.
        ef copper vols tile     ib.
N    D    E     X.                637

                                   Page
         Tindure of iron             519
                 of muriated iron     518
                 japonic             516
                 of jalap             522
                 of ipecacuanha       507
                 of gum kino        522
                 of lac              533
                 of lavender, com-
                   pound            ib.
                 of mufk            524
                 of myrrh            ib.
                 ef nux vomica       534
                 of opium            524
                       camphora-
                          ted        526
                 of Peruvian bark     517
                            com-
                              pound 518
                 of quaffia           533
                 of rhubarb          526
                       compound    527
                 of rhubarb, bitter     ib.
                            fweet     ib.
                 of rofes             497
                 of faffron           518
                 of favin, compound   528
                 of fenna            529
                     compound        ib.
                 of fnake-root         ib.
                 of foot             520
                 of fquills            528
          *-      thebaic             524
                 of valerian          530
                       volatile        ib.'
                 of whitehellebore     ib.
                 of wormwood       51°
         Toad flax                   222
         Tobacco                    235
               wine                 508
         Tormentil                  298
         Traumatic balfam            513
         Troches of magnefia          569
                 black pedoral       567
                            with o-
                              opium 568
                 of catechu          5°9
                 ofchalk             ib.
                 of liquorice          567
                 of nitre             568
               white pedoral        567
                                Troches 
-63?
N
H
	Page		Page
Troches of red lead	569	Vitriolic acid	117
of ftarch	567	acid diluted	372
of fulphur	568	elixir of aloes	5H
Turmeric	180	Volatile alkali from fal ammo-	
Turbith	299	niac	388
mineral	446	liquor of hartfhorn	390
Turpentine	294	W.	
cyprus Venice Strafbiirgh common	29J ib. ib. ib.	Wakerobin Wall-flower Wall-ftone-pepper, or crop	136 170 281
Tutty	299	Walnut Water-dock	214 206
y.		germander	280
		pepper	249
Valerian wild	300	of acetated litharge	453
Vegetables, general properties 33		of acetated litharge	59i
Vegetable earth	42	of acetated ammonia	399
Venice treacle	587	aerated	378
Verdegris	Ii8	of alum, compound	590
Veffels	88	of ammonia	387
Vine	3°3	of pure ammonia	389
Vinegar	116	of ammoniated copper	59i
Vinegar, concentrated	376	of kali	383
diftilled -	375 .	faphire, coloured	591
of colchicum	501	ftyptic	ib.
of litharge	500	ofvitriolated zinc	ib.
of rofes	ib.	vitriolic	592
of fquills	499	Wax, bees yellow	168
Vinous acid of nitre	476	white	ib.
fermentation	36.	Weights	91
fpirit of fal ammoniac	477	Wheat	298
vitriolic acid	473	White calx of quickfilver	443
Violet	302	chalk	177
Viper	ib.	dittany	182
Viper's grafs	280	hellebore	198
Virgins bower	189	lead	45o
•Virginian fnake-root	283	lily-water	468
Vitrified antimony	420	magnefia	405
Vitriol, white \ blue }		vitriol	455
	103	Whortlc-berry	3°5
green	304	Wild carrot	182
Vitriolated kali	394	cucumber	179
iron	429	fuccory	171
natron	396	. Willow	273
quickfilver	446	Wine	301
foda	396	Wines, medicated	503
tartar	394	Wine of aloes	ib.
vegetable alkali	ib.	of antimony	504
Vitriolic sethereal liquor	v 475	of anticionial tartar	505 Wine
 
N
X.
P>
Wine of ipecacuanha
     of iron
     of millepedes
     of rhubarb
     of tarrarifed antimony
     of tobacco
     of zedoary
Winter's bark
"Winter cherry
Wolffbane, large blue
         infpiffated juice of
 Wood-foot
page		page
5^7	Wormwood, common	U5
506	fea	ib.
507	Worm feed	276
ib.		
505	Y.	
508		
ib.	Yellow mercury	446
305		
120	Z.	
117		
331	Zedoary	3P.6
191	Zinc	jb.
LATIN    INDEX.
	page		Page
A Belmoschus IX Abies	114	Acidum tartari cryftallizatuni	376
	ib.	tartari diftillatum	377
Ahrotonum	ib.	vitriolicum	117
Abfinthium maritimum	H5	.---------dilutum	372
vulgare	ib.	----------tenue	ib.
Acacia vera	ib.	----------vinofum	473
Acetofa	116	Aconitum	117
Acetum aromaticum	500	napelhis	ib.
colchici	501	Acorns calamus	154
concentratum	376	Adepsfuiila	118
diftillatum	375	Adipis fuillae praeparatio	319
lythargyri	500	Mrugo	118
rofaceum	ib.	yEfculus hippocaftanum	200
fcillae	499	/Ether vitriolicus	474
fcillaticum	ib.	Ethiops martialis	43°
virii	u6	mineralis	443
Achillea millefolium	231	Mihafa meum	230
ptarmica	261	Agaricus	118
Acidum acetofum	376	chirurgorum	119
muraticura	374	Agnus caftus	ib.
nitri vinofum	476	Agrimonia	ib.
nitrofum	373	eupatoria	ib.
-------dilutum	ib.	Alcali fixum vegetabile aceta-	
-------tenue	374	tum	398
Alcali 
640                    LATIN
                           page
Alkali fixum vegetable tartari-
     zatum                  4°°
                    vitriola-
  turn                       394
Alcali volatile caufticum      389
     ----- ex fale ammoniaco 388
Alchemilla                  120
         vulgaris             ib.
Alcohol                     471
Alkekengi                  120
Alliaria                      ib.
Allium                      121
       cepa                 168
       fativum               121
Alnns                       122
Aloe                        ib.
     Barbadenfis              ib.
     caballina                123
     bepatica                122
     perfoliata                ib.
     focotorina                ib.
Alfhea                      124
      officinalis               ib.
Alamen                      ib.
     'uftum                 401
 Almuminis purificatio         ib.
 Ambra ambrofiaca           125
 Ambragrifea                 ib.
 Amomum granum paradifii   195
          cardamomum       161
          zingiber           306
 Ammoniacum gumini        126
 Ammoniaci gunimi purificatio 319
                            387
                            127
                             ib.
                             ib.
                            249
                            185
                             141
                             162
                             128
                            152
                             128
                             234
                             261
                             123
                            i?9
                              ib.
        graveolcns            128
Ammonia prasparata
Amygdala amara
         dulcis
Amygdalus comunis
         Perfica
Amyris elemifera
       gileadenfis
       gileadenfi?
Anchufa
       officinalis
       tindoria
Andropogon nardus
Anemone pratenfis
Ancthum
       foeniculum
       ---------var. B.
Angelica
         archangelica
Anifum
Anthemis cotnla
         nobilis
         pyre thrum
Antimonium
         calcinatum
         muriatum
         praepiratum
         tartarifatum
         vitrificatum
Antirrhinum linare
Apium
      graveolens
      petrofellinum
Aqua aeris fixi
     alexiteria
     aluminis compofita
     ammonias
     ammonias acetatse
     ammonias purae
     anethi
     calcis
     carmelitana
     camphoras
     carvi fpirituofa
     caflias lignse
     caftorei
     cerafi
     cerefolli
     chamomillas florum
     cinnamomi
     ---------fpirituofa
     corticis aurantiorum
     -------limoniorum
     cupri ammcmiati
     diflillata
     foeniculi
     fragorum
     hyffopi
     Juniperi compofita
     kali
     kali puri
     lythargyri acetati
     --------------compo-
       fita
     liorum alborum
         -<- convallium
page
 128
  ib.
 139
 177
 169
 262
 129
 413
 416
 318
 419
 420
 222
 131
  ib.
 255
 378
 465
 590
 387
 399
 389
 462
 498
 483
 466
 479
 463
 466
 467
 466
 467
 462
 479
 465
  ib.
  591
 461
 463
 468
  ib.
  480
  383
  ib.
  453

  591
  468
  ib.
Aqua
3 
Aqua meliffae
    menthae piperitidis
tuofa
fpiri-
N   D
 Page
  468
  463
X;
fativae
    nucis mofchaue fpirituofa
    picea
    pimento
    piperis Jamaicenfis fpiri-
      tuofa
    pulegii
    ro fas
    rutas
    fabinae
    fapharina
    falviae
    fambuci
    ftyptica          *
    vitriolica
    zinci vitriolati cum cam-
      phora
Arabicum gum mi
Ardium lappa
Argentum
          vivum
          nitratum
Ariftolochia
           dlematis
           longa
           rotunda
           ferpentaria
           tenuis
Arnica
     montana
Arfenicum
Arthanita
Artemifia
    N   abrotanum
        abfinthium
        Auftriaca
        maritima
        fantonicum
        Vulgaris
Arum
     maculatum
Arundo facharifera
Afafoetida
Afarum
       Europasum
Afclepias vincetoxicum
480
464
481
501
464

481
464
465
469
 ib.
591
470
469
59i
592

59^
196
M3
131
201
424
131
132
131
132
282
132
 ib.
 ib.
133
136
 ib.
114
H5
276
H5
276
136
 ib.
 ib.
268
137
 ib.
 ib.
301
 Afparagus officinalrs
 Afplcnium fcolopcndrium
          trichomames
 Athamanta cretenfis
 Atriplex fcetida
 Atropa belladonna
       mandragora
 Aurantia curaflavenfia
 Aurantium Hifpalenfe
 Auruni
Avena
      fativa
 Axurfgia porcina

               B.

 Balfamita
Balfamum anodynum
         Canadenfe
         copaiva
         Gileadenfe
         Peruvianunt
         rakafiri
         faponaceum
         Tolutanum
         traumaticum
 Bardana
 Barilla
 Bdellium
 Becabunga
 Belladonna
 Benzoe
 Berberis '..
        vulgaris
 Beta
    vulgaris
 Betonica
        officinalis
 Betula
      alba
      alnus
 Bezoar
 Bifmuthum
          nativum
 Biftorta
 Bituriien petroleum
 Boletus  igniarius
      pini laricis
 Boli
 Bolus Armena
              S s
 64t
Page
 138
 222
 298
 l82
 138
 I44
 225
 139
 ib/
 140
 138
 ib.
 118
  140
  532
  140
  ib.
  I4r
  142
  M3
  533
  M3
  513
  M3
  270
  144
  ib.
  ib.
  M5
  146
  ib;
 , ib.
  ib.
  ib.

  *;
  147
  ib.
  122
  147'
  148
  ib.
  ib.
  254
  119
  118
  149
  ib.
Bolus 
642               LATIN.
	Page		Page
Bolus Blefenfis	149	Capparis	160
Bohemica	ib.	fipinofa	ib.
Gallica	ib.	Capficum annuum	256
Bonus Henricus	150	Cardamine	161
Boragof	ib.	pratenfis	ib.
v"J^Scinalis	ib.	Cardamomum minus	ib.
Bor*^	ib.	Cardiaca	ib.
Botrys	151	Carduus benedidus	ib.
Braffica	ib.	Carica	162
eruca	185	Carlina	ib.
marina	I5i-	acaulis	ib.
napus	234	Carpobalfamum	ib.
oleracea	151	Carthamus	163
Bryonia	152	tindorius	ib.
alba	ib.	Caruon	ib.
Bubon galbanum	191	Carum carvi	ib.
Bugloffum	152	Caryophyllata	164
Burfa paftoris	ib.	Caryophyllum rubrum	ib.
Butyrum antimonii	416	aromaticum	163
Buxtis	153	Caryophyllus aromaticus	ib.
fempervirens	ib.	Cafcarilla	164
		Caflia fiftularis	165
C.		fiftula	ib.
		lignea	166
Cacao	153	fenna	282
Cajeput	ib.	Caffumunar	160
Calaminaris lapis	154	Caftoreum	166
praeparata	3*9	Caftor fiber	ib.
Calamus aromaticus	154	Cataplafma cum mini	615
Calculus caprse bezoardicae	M7	finapeos	616
Calendula	155	Catechu	167
officinalis	b.	Caufticum antimoniale	416
Calomelas	438	commune acerrimum 386	
Calx antimonii nitrata	414	mitius	ib.
hydrargyri	442	lnnare	424
cum kali puro	386	Centaurea benedida	161
viva	155	centaureum	167
zinci	455	cyanus	181
Cambogia gutta	I92	Centaurium major	167
Camphora	156	minus	168
Cancer pagurus	157	Cepa	ib.
aftacus	ib.	Cera flava	ib.
Cancrorum chelae	ib.	alba	ib.
calculi	ib.	Ceraffus	ib.
lapilli	ib.	Cerata	612
oculi	ib.	Ceratum canthridis	613 615
Canella alba	158	labiale	
Cannabis	'59	lapidis calaminaris	614
fativa	ib.	lithargyri acctati	ib.
Cantharis	ib.	refinae flavae	614 Cera-
 
INDEX.                   643
Ceratum faponis
        fimplex
        fpermatis ceti
Cerei medicati
Ceruffa
      acetata
      antimoni
Chalybs
Chamaedrys
Chamasmelum
Chamaspithys
Cheiranthus cheiri
Cheiri
Chelidonium majus
            minus
Chenopodium bonus henricus
             botrys
      ,      vulvaria
China
Cichoreum
          intybus
          endivia
Cicuta
Cinara
       fcolymus
Cineres clavellati
        clavellati
Cinchona officinalis
Cinnabaris
Cinnamomum
Citrullus
Citrus
      aurantium
      medica
     medica
Ciffampetos pareira
Clematis reda
Coccinella
Coccus cadi
       querci
Cochlearia hortenfis
           officinalis
           marina
           Anglica
           armorica
 Coffea
      Arabica
 Coagulum aluminis
Colcothar vitrioli
 Colchicum
Page
614
612
615
 ib.
45i
 ib.
422
187
169
 ib.
170
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
150
151
138
170
171
 ib.
 185
171
172
 ib.
 ib.
 269
 250
 172
 173
 ib.
 ib.
 139
 173
 222
 248
 189
 173
  ib.
 214
 174
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 263
 174
  ib.
 616
 430
 174
                           Page
Colchicum autumnale         174
Colocynthis                  175
Colomba                     ib.
Coluber berus                302
Confediones                 584
Confedio aromatica            ib.
         cardiaca            585
         Damocratis         586
         Japonica           582
         opiata              585
Conium maculatum           171
Confervas                    324
Conferva abfinthii martimi    325
        ari                 326
        .cynofbati           327
        flavedinis corticnm au-
           rantiorum         326
        foliorum cerefolii    327
        lujulae              325
        foliorum menthae vul-
          garis
        millepedarum
        pruni fylveftris
        rofarum vitriolata
        rofae rubrae
Confolida
Contrayerva
Convallaria
           polygonatum
Convolvulus jalappa
           mechoachanna
           fcammonia
           foldanella
           turpethum
Copaifera balfamum
Copal
Corallina
         officinalis
Cordia myxia
Coriandrum
           fativum
Cornu cervi
           uftio
Corrallium rubrum
Creta
      prasparata
Crocus
       fativus
       antimonii
       martis aperiens
              Sf a
326
327
 ib.
328
326
176
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
209
227
279
151
229
140
176
 ib.
 ib*
281
177
 ib.
 ib.
320
177
 ib.
319
 173
 ib.
41$
431
Cfo- 
644

Croton cafcarill*
       laccifernm
Cotnla fcetida
Cubeba
Cucumis
        agreftis
        colocynthis
        hortenfis
        melo
        fativus
Cucurbita
         lagenaria
         citrullus.
Cumminum
            cyminum
Cuprum
        nativum
Curcuma
         longa
Curfuta
Cyanus
Cycas circinalis
 Cyclamen Europaeuiii
 Cydoniurh malum
 Cynogloffus
            officinalis
 Cynofbatus
 Cyperus
         longus
 Cytinus hypociftis

                D,
LA    T   I   N
Page
 164
 216
 177
 178
  ib.
 179
 175
 178
 229
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 173
 T79
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 180
  ib.
 181
  ib.
 269
 136
 i8t
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
  182
  ib.
 209
Dadylus
Daphne mezereon
Datura ftramonium
Daucus
       carota
     '  creticus
       fylveftris
Decoda
Decodum altheas
          catechu
          commune
          cornu cervi
          corticis Peruviani
          hellcbbri
          hordei
                compofitum
          lignorum
Decodum pro enemate
             fomento
             farfaparilla;
               compofitum
             fenekae
             ulmi
Dianthns caryophillns
Didamnus albus
          creticus
Digitalis
         purpurea
Dolichos
         pruriens
Dorftenia contrayerva
Dulcamara

               E.
Page
 490
  ib.
 492
  ib.
 493
  ib.
  164
  183
  183
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
  176
  184
182
230
289
182
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
486
488
502
490
488
490
481
491
 ib.
49a
Ebulus                     184
Elaterium                  339
Eleduaria                  579
Eleduarium  cardiacum      585
            diacaflia        580
            e caffia           ib.
            e manna       582
            e fenna          581
            e feammonia     580
            gingivale       582
            japonicum        ib.
            joviale           ib.
            lenitivum       581
            nitrofum        583
            terebinthinatum  ib.
            thebaicum       58 5
Elemi                      185
Elixir aloes                  510
      ex aloe et rheo        527
      guaiacinum             521
                volatile      ib.
      facrum                529
      paregoricum           526
      proprietatis            510
                vitriolicum   511
      ftomachicum           526
      vitrioli acidum          530
             dulce            531
Emplaftra                    592
Emplaftrum adhefivum        597
          antihyftcricum      595
                           Em- 
t    N     D.     E     X.
64$
Emplaftrum ad clavos pedum
            ammoniaci  cum
              hydrargyro
            cantharidis
            cerae
            cereum
            coernleum.
            commune
            corrofivura
            cummini
            de belladonna
            defcnfivum
            e conio
            e foenugraeco
            e hydrargyro
            e mucilaginibus
            ex hyofciamo
            foetidum
            gummofum
            hydrargyri cum
              refina
            ladani
            lithargyri
                cum gummi
                cum hydrar-
                   gyro
            piccum
            picis Bjrgundicae
            roborans
            faponis
            faponaceum
            thuris
            veficatorium
 Emulfio Arabica
        communis
        oleofa fimplex
             volatilis
 Endivia
 Ens veneris
 Enula campana
 Epithemata
 Eruca
 Eryngum
         maritimum
 Eryfimum
         officinale
         alliaria
 Euphorbinm
 Euphorbia  ofncinarunj
 Eupatorium
Page
 599

 593
  ib.
 594
  ib.

 S9l
 596
 600
 594
 599
 598
 599
 600
 597
 690
  ib.
 595
 596

 597
 59S
  ib.
 S9&

  ib.
 600
 597
 59s
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 593
 537
  ib.
 539
  ib.
 185
 427
 185
 615
 185
 186
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 120
 1S6
  ib.
  ib.
               >            Page
Eupatorium cannabinum       186
Euphrafia                    187
         officinarum         ib.
Extrada                     334
Extradum abfinthii           344
         aloes aquofnm      ib.
         cacuminis genifta?   337
         capitum papaveris
            albi
         cafcarillas
         chamaemeli
         colocynthidis com-
            pofitum
         corticis Peruviani
                cum  refina
         gentianas
         glychyrhizae
         hellebori nigri
         jalappae
         ligni campechenfis
         myrrhse gummofum 345
         pulfatillae nigricantis338
         rutas              337
         fabinae             ib.
         feminum cicutae     338
         fennae             342
         taraxaci            344
338
341
337

338
34o
 ib.
337
 ib,
 ib.
341
339
              F.
Faba
Ferula afafoetida
Ferri limatura praeparata
             purificata
    rubigo
    fquamae purificatas
Fcrrum
      ammoniacale
      tartarifatum
      vitriolatum
Ficus carica
Filipendula
Filix
Flamula jovis
Flores benzoes
Florum exficcatio
Flores martialis
     fulphuris loti
     zinci
Fceniculuin
          duke
Ss  3
       J87
       137
       428
       323
       428
       323
       187
       497
       428
       429
       163
       188
        ib,
       189
       379
       320
       427
       408
       455
       189
        ib.
Foeniculum 
64*
N
	Page		PaKe
Foeniculum vulgare	' 189	Gummi rubrum aftringens	215
Fbenum graecum	190		
Formicas cum acervo	190	H.	
Formica rufa	ib.		
Fragaria	ib.	Haematites	*97
vefca	ib.	Haematoxylum campechanum	220
Fraxinus	ib.	Hedera arborea	197
excelfior	ib.	helix	ib.
ornus	226	terreftris	198
Fuligo ligni	291	Helenium	*95
Fumaria	ib.	Helleborafter	198
officinalis	ib.	Helleborus albus	ib.
		foetid us	ib.
G.		niger	199
		Herbarum exficcatio	320
Galanga minor	191	Herniaria	200
Galbanum	ib.	glabra	ib.
Galla	192	Hermodadylus	ib.
Galega	ib.	Hibifcus abelmofchus	114
officinalis	ib.	Hordeum	201
Gallium luteum	ib.	diftichon	ib.
verum	ib.	Hormium	ib.
Gambogia	ib.	fativa	ib.
Genifta	193	Humulus lupulus	224
canarienfis	221	Hydrargyrus	201
Gentiana	193	acetatus	432
centaurium	168	calcinatus	433
lutea	ib.	cum creta	434
purpurea	181	muriatus	435
Geoffraea	194	muriatus mitis	440
inermis	ib.	nitratus ruber	441
Geum urabanum	164	purificatus	432
Ginfeng	194	cum fulphure	443
Guilandina moringa	235	fulphuratus ruber	444
Gladiolus	213	vitriolatus	446
Glechoma hederacea	198	Hydrolapathum	206
Glycyrrhiza	194	Hepatica nobilis	200
' glabra	ib.	Hyofciamus	207
Gramcn	195	Hypericum	208
Grana paradifii	ib.	perforatum	ib.
Granatum	ib.	Hippocaftanum	200
Gratiola	ib.	Hypociftis	209
officinalis	ib.	Hyffopus	ib.
Guaiacum	196		
officinale	ib.	I.	
Gummi ammoniacum	126		
Arabicum	196	Ichthiocolla	210
cambogia	192	Imperatoria	ib.
elemi	197	oftrutheum	ib.
tragacanthi	ib.	Infufa 486 tnfufum	
 
INDEX.              647
	Page		Page
Infufum amarum	495	Lac amygdale	536
gentianae compofitum	494	Lacca	2l6
kinkinae	501	Laduca fativa	217
rhei	497	virofa	ib.
rofas	ib.	Ladanum	ib.
fennae fimplex	495	Lamium	218
fennas tartarifatum	ib.	album	ib.
tamarindorumcumfer	1-	Lapilli cancrorum	157
na	496	Lapis calcalcareus purus recens	
Inula heleninm	185	uftus	iSS
Ipecacuanha	211	Laudanum liquidum	525
Iris florentia	213	Laurus	218
nobilis	177	nobilis	ib.
paluftris	ib.	camphora	156
pfeud acorus	ib.	caflia	166
tuberofa	200	cinnamomum	173
Jalappa 1 Japonica terra	209	faffafras	278
	167	Lavendula	218
Jafminum officinale Juglans regia Jujuba Julapium acidum asthereum	210	fpica	ib.
	214	ftcEchas	288
	ib.	Lentifcus	219
	ib.	Leonurus cardiaca	161
	539	Leontodon taraxacum	294
	540	Levifticum	219
fuccinatum	ib.	Lichen cinereus	ib.
Junipems	214	caninus	ib.
communis	ib.	iflandicus	220
lycia	240	Lignum campechenfc	ib.
fabina	268	rhodium	221
		Ligufticum levifticum	219
K.		Lilium album	221
		candidum	ib.
Kasmpferia rotunda	306	convallium	222
Kali acetatura	397	Limon	ib.
impurum	172	Linaria	ib.
impurum	269	Linimenta	601
nitratum	236	Linimentum ammonias	609
praeparatum	381	fortius	ib.
purum	386	anodynum	532
fulphuratum	409	camphoras	609
tartarifatum	400	faponaceum 532	
vitriolatum	394	faponis	609
Kermes grana	214	fimplex	608
mineralis	423	Lindus leniens	583
Kino	215	Lingua cervina	222
		Linum catharticum	ib.
U		fativum	223
		ufitatiffimum	ib.
Lac	215	Liquidambra	ib.
ammoniaci	537	ftyraciflua	ib.
 
643
L   A
N.
	Page	page
Liquidambra ftyraciflua	290 Meloe veficatorius	159
Liquor aethereus vitriolicus	745 Mentha piperitis	229
volatilis cornu cervi	390 fativa	ib.
Lithargyrus	223 fpicata	ib.
Lithofpermum	ib. viridis	ib.
officinale	ib. pulegium	261
Lixivium caufticum	384 Menyanthes trifoliata	298
Lobelia	223 Mercurialis	230
fyphilitica	ib. annua	ib.
Lopezinana radix	262 Mercurius corrofivus ruber	441
Lujula	224 dulcis	438
Lupinus	ib. flavus	446
albus	ib. . praecipitatus albus	442
Lnpulus	ib. ----- ruber	441
Lycoperdon	ib. fublimatus corrofivus 435	
bovifla	ib. Mefpilla	230
Lyfimachia nummutaria	238 Meum	ib.
	Mezereum	ib.
. M.	Millepeda	231
	Millepedas prseparatio	321
Macis	224 Millefolium	231
Magnefia alba	405 Mimofa catechu	167
vitriolata	270 nilotica	196.
ufta		> '96
		
Majorana	225 Minium	450
Malabrathum Maleleuca leucadendron	ib	231 535
	153 Mifturas	
Natricaria	227 Miftura camphorata	ib.
parthenium	ib. cretacea	ib.
Malva	225 mofchata	536
fylveftris	ib. falina	540
Mandragora	ib. Mithridatum	586
Manna	226 Momordica elaterium	179
Maranta galanga	191 Morfus diaboli	231
Marrubium	226 Morum	ib.
vulgare	ib. nigrum	ib.
Mers facharatus	227 Mofchus	232
Maftiche	ib. mofchi ferns	ib
Marum Syriacum	226 Mucilago amyli	493
Mechoacanna	227 feminis cydonii mal	i 494
Melampodium	119 Mucilaginum extradio	324
Mel	228 Mucilago gummi Arabici	494
rofas	552 gummi tragaaanthas Yb".	
fcillae	553 Myrrh a	233
Melilotus	228 Myrtus	234
Meliffi	229 communis	ib.
officinalis	ib. ' pimenta	256
Mellis defpumatio	321 Myriftica mofchata	238
Melo	229 My	riftica
 
                   I     N    D
                           Page
Myriftica mofchata           224
Myrobalani                  233
Myroxylon peruiferum        142

              N.

Napus                      234
Nardus indica                ib.
Nafturiium                   ib.
Natron                     270
     boracciatum             150
     impurum               143
     prxparaturn   ,          387
     tartarifetum       '      401
     vitriolatum              396
Natrum antiquoruin          143
Nepeta                     235
     cataria                  ib.
Nephriticum lignum          ib.
Nicotiana                    ib.
        tabaccum              ib.
 Nidus cynipidis               192
 Nigella                    236
        fativa                ib.
 Nitrum,                     ib.
        purificatum            396
 Nummularia                2j8
 Nux mofchata                ib.
      piftacia                 239
      vomica                  ib,
 Nymphasa alba                ib.
O.
Ocnli cancrorum              239
Ochra                        ib
Oenanthe crocata        *     240
Olea Europea                 ib.
    diftillata                350
    expreffa                 346
Oleum animale               359
     amygdalas               347
     cacao                   348
     ccras                   366
     cornu  cervi             390
     e cornubus redificatum   359
Oleum cffentiale abfinthii     363
             femen anfii     356
    ft     X.               649
                           Page
Oleum effentiale aurantium
              corticum      364
            femen carui      356
            caraphyllorum
             aromaticoruin    364
            chamomilli no-
             rum             ib.
            cinnamomi cor-
             ticis            365
            feminum foeniculi ib.
            piperis Janiai-
            cenfis
           bac. junip,
           flor. lavendulas
           corticum limo-
            num
           macis
           majoranas
           menthae piper-
            itidis
           menthas fativas
           origani
           pulegii
           rhodii ligni
           rorifmarini
           rutas
           fabinae
           faffafras
            fatureias
           tanaceti
Oleum hyofciami
       lini
       ovi
       petrolei
       ricini
       finapeos
       fuccini
       fuccini
       fuccini redificatum
       fulphuratum
       terebinthinse
       ---------redificatum
358
357
356

364
365
 ib.
      vim
Olibanum
Oliva
Onifeus affellus
Ononis
    fpinofa
Opium
  357
   ib.
   ib.
   ib.
  365
  357
  366
  358
   ib.
  366
    ib
  348
  347
  348
  358
  347
   ib.
  360
  378
  361
  4C9
  359
   ib.
  363
  240
   ib.
  231
  241
   ib.
   ib.
Opium 
650              L
A    T    I   N
	Page		Page
Opium purificatum	342	Petafitis	254
Opopanax	245	Phoenix dadilifera	182
Orchis	246	Phyfalis alkekengi	120
mafcula	278	Phyfeer macrocephalus	284
Origanum	246	Pilulae	570
didamnus	183	./Ethiopicae	571
majorana	225	ex aloe	571
vulgare	246	ex aloe cum myrrha	ib.
Oryza	ib.	aloeticae	ib
' fativa	ib.	Bacheri	576
Oftrea edulis	296	ex colocynthide cum	iloe572
Ovum	246	communes	ib.
gallinaceum	ib.	ecu pro	ib.
Oxalis	ib.	ex elaterio	576
acetofella	224	foetidae	ib.
Oxycantha	246	e gambogia	577
Oxylapathum	ib.	e gummi	573
Oxymel asrugis	553	gummofac	ib.
ex allio	554	ex hydrargyro	ib.
colchici	553	e jalappa	574
pedorale	554	lunarei	426
fcillas	553	mercuriales	573
fimplex	554	e mercurio corrofivo	577
		ex opio	574
P.		pacificae	ib.
		piceae	578
Paeon i a	246	Plumme"	574
officinalis	ib.	run"	572
Palma ^	ib	faponaceas	578
Panacea antimonii	423	ftomachiae	575
Panax quinquefoliutn	194	efcilla	ib.
Papaver alum	246	fcilliticas	ib.
erraticnm	248	e ftyrace	578
fomniferum	241	thebaic*	574
Paralyfis	248	Pimento	256
Pareira brava	ib.	Pimpinella	ib.
Parietaria	249	faxifraga	ib.
officinalis	ib.	ahifum	129
Paftinaca	ib.	Pinus abies	114
fativa	ib.	balfamea	140
Pentaphyllum	ib.	larix	295
Perfica	ib.	Piper indicum	256
Perficaria	ib.	longum	257
Peruvianus coxtex	250	nigrum	ib.
Petroleum	254	cubeba	178
Barbadenfe	255	Piftacia lentifcus	219
fulphuratum	409		
			227
Petrofellintim	255	opoponax	245
Peucedanum	256	vera	239
officinale	ib.		Pix
 
INDEX.                 651
	Page
Pix Burgundica	257 1
liquida	258
Primula veris	248
----	260
Pfychotria emetica	211
Pfyllium	260
Plantago	258
pfyllium	200
Plumbum	258
Polygala Senega	28l
Polyganum biftorta	I48
hydropiper	249
Polypodium	259
filix mas	188
Pompholyx	259
Populus	ib.
balfamifera	293
Portulaca	260
oleracca	ib.
Potentilla rcptans	249
Potio cretacea	535
■	489 411
Praeparata ex antimonio	
ex argento	424
e ferro	427
ex hydrargyro	. 43i
e plum bo	450
e ftanno	453
e zinco	455
Prunella vulgaris	266
Prunum gallicum	260
fylvellre	ib.
domefticum	ib.
fpinofum	ib.
Prunus cerafus	168
Ptarmica	261
Pulegium	ib.
Pulmonaria maculofa	ib.
officinalis	ib.
Pulfatilla nigricans	ib.
Pulparum extradio	321
Pul veres	555
Pulvis aloeticus	556
cum ferro	ib.
cum guaiaco	ib.
anthelmintics	562
antimonialis	417
antilyffus	563
ari compofitus	ib.
aromaticus	557
                           Page
Pulvis afari compofitHS        557
      cephalicus             ib.
      e ceruffa               ib.
      e chelis cancrocrum    558
      contrayervas compofitus ib.
      cornachini            56r
      cretaceus             558
      e creta compofitus     558
                   cum opio 559
      diaromaton            557
      digeftivus             564
      dyfentericus            ib.
       Doveri               559
      fumalis               564
       infantum              ib.
       ipecacuanhas compofitus 559
       jalappas compofitus      ib.
       Peiuvianus purgans     565
       mercurii cinereus      433
       e myrrha compofitus   560
       nitrofns               565
       opiatus               560
       e fcammonio compofitus  ib.
                    cum aloe 561
             cum calomelane  ib.
       fedativus             565
       e fenna  compofitus      562
       fternutatorius           557
       ftypticus               562
       fudorificus            559
       tragacanthae compofitus  562
Punica granatum
Pyrethrum
Pyrus cydonia
Quaffia
       amara
       fimarouba
Quercus
        robur

               R.

Radix Indica
Ranunculus ficaria
Refina
Rhabarbarum
Rhamnus catharticus
         zizyf hus
i95
262
262
 ib.
283
262
 ib.
262
170
334
263
264
214
Rha 
652                 L

Raphanos rnfticanus
Rhaponticum
Rheum palmatum
        raponticum
Rhododendron
Rhus coriaria
      copallinum
Ribes nigrum
      rubrum
Ricinus
        communis
Rob fambuci
Rofa canina
      Damafcena
      centifolia
      rubra
      gallica
Rofmarinus officinalis '
Rubia tindorum
Rubigo ferri praeparata
Rubus idasus
       niger
Rumex acetola
        aquaticus-
Rufcus aculeatus
Ruta graveolens
Page
 263
 264
 263
 264
  ib.
 292
 176
 265
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 33i
 181
 265
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 266
  ib.
 323
 266
 267
 116
 a 06
 267
  ib.
Sabina                       268
Sacharum                    |D-
         non purificatum      ib.
         prrificatum          ib.
         bis codum          ib.
         cantum rubrum      ib.
                album        ib.
         ladis                402
         faturni              451
Sagapenum.                  269
Sago                         'b.
Sal acetofellae                 402
    acidum boracis            4°3
    alcalinus foffilis purificatus  387
            purificatus        381
    alkalinus fixus foffilis       a70
                 vegetabilis  269
            volatilis';        273
    amarus                   270
    ammoniacus              271
    ammoniacum depuratum    404
 I    N

Sal ammoniacus volatilis
   argenti
   Catharticus Glauberi
   Chalybis
   cornu cervi
   Hifpanus
   ladis
   marinus
   muriaticus
   plumbi
   polychreftns
   rupellenfis
   foda
   fuccini
   fuccini
          purificatus
   tartari
Salvia officinalis
Salix
Satyrion
Sambucus ebulus
          nigra
Sandix cerefolium
Sanguis draconis
Sanicula Europasa
Santalum  album
          citrinum
          rubrum
Santonicum femen
Sapo
     albus Hifpanus
     mollis
     niger
 Saponaria
         officinalis
 Sarcocolla
 Sarfaparilla
 Saffafras 4
 Satureia
 Scabiofa
         fucciffa
 Scammonium
 Scilla
      maritima
 Scillae exficcatio
 Scolopendrium
 Scrophularia nodofa
 Scordium
 Scorzonera
Page
 308
 424
 396
 429
 39°
 272
 402
 272
  ib.
 451
 395
 401
 270
 378
 360
 378
 38c
 273
  ib.
 278
 184
 273
 169
 274
 275
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
 276
  ib.
  ib.
  ib.
  ib. 
INDEX.                  653
Scorzonera Hifpanica	Page 280
Sebeftena	281
Sedum acre	ib.
Sevi ovilli preparatio	3^9
Seneka	281
Senna	282
Serpentaria	ib.
Serpyllum	283
Simarouba	283
Smilax China	170
farfaparilla	277
Sinapi	283
alba	ib.
nigra	ib.
Sium diflorum	ib.
Sifymbrium nafturtium	234
Spirea filipendula	188
Soda tartarifata	401
vitriolata	396
Solanum lethale	284
dulcamara	184
Soldanella	151
Solidago virga aurea	302
Solutio mercurialis fimplex	448
       mercurii fublimati cor-
         rifivi                438
       mineralis arfenici       540
Spartium feoparium            193
Species aromaticas            557
Spermaceti                   284
Spigelia marilandica            ib.
Spina cervina                 284
Spirea  ulmaria                304
Spiritus aurantii               485
        ammonias             477
                 compofitus   538
                fcetidus      478
                fuccinatus    538
        antidericus           485
        anifi compofitus       478
        aromaticus            485
        astheris nitrofi        476
            -  vitriolici       473
                      compo-
                        fitus 538
        carui                 479
        cornu cervi           285
        cochlcarias           484
        cinnamomi           479
        canvolioratus          538
                            Page
Spiritus diftillati              470
       f ruft us rubi idaei      545
       nitri Glauberi         373
       juniperi compofitus    480
       lavendulas            480
                 compofitus  523
                fimplex     480
       menthae piperitidis      ib.
               fativae        481
       mindereri            399
       nitri dulcs           476
       nucis mofchatas        481
       pimento                ib.
       Pulegii               482
       Raphani compofitus     ih.
       roris marini            ib.
       falis ammoniaci       388
                   cum calca
                     viva     389
           ammoniaci vinofus 477
       falinus aromaticus      538
       falis marini            374
       vinofus camphoratus   531
              reftificatus     286
              tenuis          287
       vitrioli dulcis          473
             tenuis          372
       volatilis aromaticus    538
                oleofus         ib.
 Spongia                      287
 Spongias uftio                32a
 Stanni amalgama             454
 Stannum                     287
          pulveratum         453
 Staphifagria                  288
 Stibium                       ib.
 Stoechas                      ib.
"Styracis purificatio            323
 Strammonium                289
 Strychnos nux vomica         239
 Styrax benzoe               145
       calamita              289
       officinalis              ib.
       liquida                290
 Succi                        32S
 Succi ad feorbuticos          330
       baccas fambuci fpiffatus 3:1
 Succinum                    29*
 Succus liqouritiae depuratus    345
       cochfeariae compclitns  $2q
                           Succus 
 654                  LA
                            Page
 Succus fpiffatus limonis         333
             ribis nigri       331
              aconiti         ib.
             cicutae         331
 Sulphur                   '   291
        flores                 ib.
        antimonii praecipita
          turn               418
        auratum antimonii     ib.
       praecipitatum          410
 Sumach                     292
 Symphitum officinale          176
 Scrpyllum                   283
 Syrnpi                       541
 Syrupus aceti                543
        acidus                55o
        althae                543
        alkalinus             550
        allii                  ib.
        amygdalinus          55*
        bal (amicus           549
        caryophilli rubri      544
       caryophillorum         ib.
        cinnamomi           551
        croci                545
        colchici              544
        communis            548
        c'orticis aurantii       545
        diacodion            546
        emeticus             551
        frudus ribis nigri     546
              mori          455
        hydrargyri          551
        fucci limonis          545
        de meconio _          546
Syrupus papaveris albi        546
                 erratici      ib.
        e rhanino cathartico   548
        rofae                547
            pallidae           ib.
            ficcae            ib.
        fcilliticus             548
        fimplex               ib.
       fpinae cervinae         ib.
        tolutanus             ib.
        violae                549
        zingiberis            550

              T.

Tabula oleum effentialium     369
r   1    n.

 Tacamahaca
 Tamarindus
            indica
 Tanacetum
            vulgare
            balfamita
 Tapfus Barbatus
 Taraxacum
 Tartarum
 Tartarus antimonialis
          emeticus
 Tartarum regeneratum
          folubile
          vitriolatum
 Terebinthina
             argentoratenfis
             chia
             communis
             cyria
             Veiieta
 Terminalia benzoe
 Terra japonica
       Japonica
       lemnia
       Silefiaca
 Teftae otreorum
 Teucrium chamaedrys
          chamapitbys
          marum
          fcordium
 Thea
 Theobroma cacao
 Theriaca Andromachi
 Thlapfi arvenfe
        burfa paftoris
 Thus mafculum
      vulgare
 Thymus
        ferpyllum
 Tilia Europea
 Tincal
 Tindurae
 Tindura abfinthii
         aloes
              comjiofita
              amara
              antiphthifica
              aromatica
              afafoetida
Page
292
293
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
140
293
294
 ib.
419
 ib.
398
400
394
294
295
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
145
167
296
149
 ib.
296
169
170
226
280
296
153
587
297
152
297
 ib.
 ib.
283
297
 ib.
509
510
 ib.
ib.
520
528
512
 ib.
conicis aurantii 517
             Tine- 
INDEX,                655
                           Page
Tindura balfami Peruviani    512
                Tolutani    513
         benzoes compofita     ib.
         cantharidis         514
         cardamomi          ib.
                   compofita 515
         cafcarillas            ib.
         catechu            5*6
         caftor ei            5*5
                compofita    516
         cinnamomi          ib.
                   compofita 517
         Colombae            ib.
         colocynthidis       533
         croci               518
         cupri volatilis       533
         ferri muriati       518
         foetid a            512
         fuliginis           520
          gentianae compofita   ib.
         galbani              ib.
         guaiaci             521
         hellebori albi        53°
                 nigri       521
          ipecacuanhas        5° 7
         jalappae             522
         japonica            5IQ
          e kino             522
          laccas               533
          lavendulae compofita 523
          martis             5*9
          melampodii         521
          mofchi             524
          myrrhas             ib.
          nucis  vomicae       534
          opii camphorata     526
          opii                 525
          corticis Peruviani    517
                    compofita  518
          quaffias              533
          rhabarbari          526
                    compofita  527
rhei
    amara w
    dulcis
rofarum
fabinas compofita
facra
faturnina
feillas
fennae
 ib.
 ib.
 ib.
497
528
504
528
 ib.
529
                           Page
Tindura fennas compofiias     529
         ferpentarias          ib.
         fuccini              534
         thebaica            525
         Tolutana           513
         Valerianae           530
                 volatilis     ib.
         veratri              ib.
Toluifera balfamum          143
Torroentilla ereda           298
Trichomanes                 ib.
Trifolium melilotus          228
         paludofum          298
Trigonella foenura graecum   190
Triiicum                   298
         hybernum           ib.
         repens              195
Trochifci                    566
         amyli               567
         bechici albi          ib.
         -----nigri          ib,
         —— cum opio       568
         catechu             569
          e creta             ib.
         glycyrrhizas         567
         e magnefia          569
          de minio            ib.
          e nitro              568
          e fulphure          ib.
 Turpethum                  299
            minerale         446
 Tuffilago                    299
         faffara               ib.
         petafitis             254
 Tutia                       299
                U.

 Ulmari                     303
 Ulmus campeftris            304
 Unguenta                   601
 Unguentum ad cancrum  cxul-
               ceratum       610
            adipis fuillas      602
            ^Egyptiacum      609
            album            604
            anodynum       609
            antipforicum      607
            bafilicum           ib.
            casrulenm        605
            calcis  hydrargyri
             ilbae            602
Unguentum 
656
L  A T
Unguentum cantharidis
            cerae
            cernffas acctatas
            citrinutn
            de ntcotiana
            digeftiyum
            e calce zinci
            e ceruffa
            elemi
            epifpaftfcura
            e fly race
            e tutia
            ex aerugine
            exinfufocanthari-
              dum
            expulverecantha-
              ridum .
       '     hasmorrhoidale
            helebori albi
            hydrargyri fortius
                      mitius
                      nitrati
            nervinum
            picis
            e pice
            refinae flavas
            fambuci
            faturnium
            fpermatis ceti
            fimplex
            fulphuris
            e fulphure
            fuppurans
            tutias
tJrtica dioica
Uva paffa
     urfi

               V.

Valeriana fylveftris
Veratrum
Verbafeum thapfus
Veronica becabunga
         officinalis
Vicia faba
Vifcus albus
Vincefoxicum
V iuum
       album Hifpanicum
I N Page	INDEX.	Paga
603	Vinum Canarium	301
ib.	Rhenanum	ib.
604	rubrum	ib.
606	Vina medicata	503
611	Vinum aloes	ib.
610	aloeticum	504
602	amarum	ib.
604	antimoniale	ib.
ib.	antimonii	ib.
603	tartarifatl	505
6n	e tartara antimonja.i	ib.
608	ferri	506
602	ipecacuanhas	507
	millepedarura	ib.
603	nicotianas	508
	rhabarbari	507
ib.	rhei	ib.
610	feilliticum	508
604	zedoarias	ib.
605	Viola odorata t	302
ib.	Vipera	ib.
606	Virga aurea	ib.
610	Vitex agnus callus	119
606	Vitis vinifera	303
ib.	Vitriolum album 303}	455
607	coeruleum	3°3
ib.	cupri	ib.
604	ferri	304
607	martis	4-9
602	viride	304
607	zinci	3©3
ib.	Vitrum antimonii	420
612	ceratum	422
608	Viverra zibetha	306
3©4		
ib.	W.	
ib.		
	Winterania canella	158
	aromatica	305
	Winteranus cortex	ib.
300
 ib.
 ib.
144
301
187
302
301
 ib.
 ib.
                 Z.

  Zedoaria    ~                306
  Zibethum                     ib.
  Zinci vitriolati purificatio      456
  Zincum                      306
          calaminaris           154
  Zingiber                     306


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