25. Compound powder of ipecacuanha, ten grains; powdered guaiac.u.m, four grains: in a powder at bedtime.

26. Brandish's solution of potash; thirty drops twice a day in a winegla.s.s of beer.

27. Disulphate of quina, half a drachm; dilute sulphuric acid, ten drops; compound infusion of roses, eight ounces: two tablespoonfuls every four hours, and as a tonic in the stage of weakness succeeding fever.

28. Flowers of sulphur, two ounces; hog's lard, four ounces; white h.e.l.lebore powder, half an ounce: oil of lavender, sixty drops.

29. Hydriodate of pota.s.s, two drachms; distilled water, eight ounces.

30. Flowers of sulphur, half a drachm; carbonate of soda, a scruple; tartarized antimony, one-eighth of a grain: one powder, night and morning, in eruptions of the skin or face.

31. Milk of bitter almonds, seven ounces; bichloride of mercury, four grains; spirits of rosemary, one ounce: bathe the eruption with this lotion three times a day.

32. Sulphate of zinc, two scruples; sugar of lead, fifteen grains; distilled water, six ounces: the parts to be washed with the lotion two or three times a day.

33. Carbonate of iron, six grains; powdered rhubarb, four grains: one powder night and morning.

34. Elecampane powder, two ounces; sweet fennel-seed powder, three ounces; black pepper powder, one ounce; purified honey, and brown sugar, of each two ounces; the size of a nutmeg, two or three times a day.

35. Sulphate of zinc, twelve grains; wine of opium, one drachm; rose water, six ounces.

36. Sulphate of magnesia, six drachms; sulphate of iron, ten grains; diluted sulphuric acid, forty drops; tincture of cardamoms (compound), half an ounce; water, seven ounces: a fourth part night and morning.

37. Decoction of oak bark, a pint; dried alum, half an ounce: for an injection, a syringeful to be used night and morning.

38. Compound gamboge pill, and a pill of a.s.safoetida and aloes, of each half a drachm: make twelve pills; two twice or three times a week.

39. Griffiths' mixture--one tablespoonful three times a day.

40. Ergot of rye, five grains; in a powder, to be taken every four hours. This should only be taken under medical advice and sanction.

41. Powdered opium, half a grain; camphor, two grains in a pill; to be taken every three or four hours whilst in pain.

42. Syrup of balsam of tolu, two ounces; the muriate of morphia, two grains; muriatic acid, twenty drops: a teaspoonful twice a day.

43. Salts of tartar, two scruples, twenty grains of powdered cochineal; 1/4 lb. of honey; water, half a pint; boil, and give a tablespoonful three times a day.

44. Calomel, ten grains; Castile soap, extract of jalap, extract of colocynth, of each one scruple; oil of juniper, five drops: make into fifteen pills; one three times a day.

45. Infusion of orange peel, eight ounces; carbonate of soda, one drachm; and compound tincture of cardamoms, half an ounce: take a tablespoonful three times a day, succeeding the pills.

46. Carbonate of iron, three ounces; syrup of ginger, sufficient to make an electuary: a teaspoonful three times a day.

47. Take of Castile soap, compound extract of colocynth, compound rhubarb pill, and the extract of jalap, each one scruple; oil of caraway, ten drops; make into twenty pills, and take one after dinner every day whilst necessary.

48. Spirit of rosemary, five parts; spirit of wine, or spirit of turpentine, one part.

49. Take of thick mucilage, one ounce; castor oil, twelve drachms; make into an emulsion: add mint water, four ounces; spirit of nitre, three drachms; laudanum, one drachm; mixture of squills, one drachm; and syrup, seven drachms; mix; two tablespoonfuls every six hours.

652. Medicines (Aperient).

In the spring time of the year, the judicious use of aperient medicines is much to be commended.

653. Spring Aperients.

For children, an excellent medicine is

i. Brimstone and treacle, prepared by mixing an ounce and a half of sulphur, and half an ounce of cream of tartar, with eight ounces of treacle; and, according to the age of the child, giving from a small teaspoonful to a dessertspoonful, early in the morning, two or three times a week.

As this sometimes produces sickness, the following may be used:

ii. Take of powdered Roch.e.l.le salts one drachm and a half, powdered jalap and powdered rhubarb each fifteen grains, ginger two grains, mix. _Dose_, for a child above five years, one _small_ teaspoonful; above ten years, a _large_ teaspoonful; above fifteen, half the whole, or two teaspoonfuls: and for a person above twenty, three teaspoonfuls, or the whole, as may be required by the habit of the person.

This medicine may be dissolved in warm water, mint, or common tea. The powder can be kept for use in a wide-mouthed bottle, and be in readiness for any emergency. The druggist may be directed to treble or quadruple the quant.i.ties, as convenient.

654. Aperient Pills.

To some adults all liquid medicines produce such nausea that pills are the only form in which aperients can be exhibited; the following is a useful formula:

i. Take of compound rhubarb pill a drachm and one scruple, of powdered ipecacuanha ten grains, and of extract of hyoscyamus one scruple; mix, and beat into a ma.s.s, and divide into twenty-four pills; take one or two, or if of a very costive habit, _three_ at bedtime.

ii. For persons requiring a more powerful aperient, the same formula, with twenty grains of compound extract of colocynth, will form a good purgative pill. The ma.s.s receiving this addition must be divided into thirty, instead of twenty-four pills.

655. Black Draught.

The common aperient medicine known as black draught is made in the following manner:

i. Take of senna leaves six drachms, bruised ginger half a drachm, sliced liquorice root four drachms, Epsom salts two and a half ounces, boiling water half an imperial pint. Keep this standing on the hob or near the fire for three hours, then strain, and after allowing it to grow cool, add of sal volatile one drachm and a half, of tincture of senna, and of tincture of cardamoms, each half an ounce. This mixture will keep a long time in a cool place. _Dose_, a winegla.s.sful for an adult; and two tablespoonfuls for young persons about fifteen years of age. It is not a suitable medicine for children.

656. Tonic Aperient.

The following will be found a useful medicine for persons of all ages.

i. Take of Epsom salts one ounce, diluted sulphuric acid one drachm, infusion of qua.s.sia chips half an _imperial_ pint, compound tincture of rhubarb two drachms. _Dose_, half a winegla.s.sful twice a day.

657. Infants' Aperient.

The following may be used with safety for young children.

i. Take of rhubarb five grains, magnesia three grains, white sugar a scruple, grey powder five grains; mix. _Dose_, for an infant from twelve to eighteen months of age, from one-third to one-half of the whole.

ii. A useful laxative for children is composed of calomel five grains, and sugar a scruple, made into five powders. _Dose_, half of one of these for a child from birth to one year, and a whole one from that age to three years.