708. Peruvian Bark

Bark, or, as it is commonly called, Peruvian bark, is an antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, and stomachic.

_Used externally_, it is an excellent detergent for foul ulcers, and those that heal slowly.

_Used internally_, it is particularly valuable in intermittent fever or ague, malignant measles, dysentery, diarrhoea, intermittent rheumatism, St. Vitus's dance, indigestion, nervous affections, malignant sore throat, and erysipelas; its use being indicated in all cases of debility.

_Doses of its preparations_.--_Powder_, from five grains to two drachms, mixed in wine, water, milk, syrup, or solution of liquorice; _infusion_, from one to three ounces; _decoction_, from one to three ounces; _tincture_ and _compound tincture_, each from one to three drachms.

_Caution_.--If it causes oppression at the stomach, combine it with an aromatic; if it causes vomiting, give it in wine or soda water; if it purges, give opium; and if it constipates give rhubarb.

709. Sulphuric Ether

Sulphuric Ether is given internally as an antispasmodic in difficult breathing and spasmodic asthma; also in hysteria, cramp of the stomach, hiccough, locked jaw, and cholera. It is useful in checking sea-sickness.

_Dose_, from twenty minims to one drachm.

_Caution_.--An overdose produces apoplectic symptoms.

[TO-DAY HE'S CLAD IN GAUDY, RICH ARRAY]

710. Camphor (2)

Camphor is given internally as an antispasmodic in hysteria, cramp in the stomach, flatulent colic, and St. Vitus's dance.

_Dose_, from two to twenty grains.

711. Opium (2)

Opium is employed internally in spasmodic affections, such as cholera, spasmodic asthma, hooping cough, flatulent colic, and St. Vitus's dance.

_Dose_, from one-sixth of a grain to two grains of the solid opium, according to the disease.

712. Oxide of Zinc

Oxide of Zinc is an antispasmodic, astringent, and tonic.

_Used externally_, as an ointment, it forms an excellent astringent in affections of the eyelids, arising from relaxation; or as a powder, it is an excellent detergent for unhealthy ulcers.

_Used internally_, it has proved efficacious in St. Vitus's dance, and some other spasmodic affections.

_Dose_, from one to six grains twice a day.

713. Calomel

Calomel is an antispasmodic, alterative deobstruent, purgative, and errhine.

_Used internally_, combined with opium, it acts as an antispasmodic in locked jaw, cholera, and many other spasmodic affections. As an alterative and deobstruent, it has been found useful in leprosy and itch, when combined with antimonials and guaiac.u.m, and in enlargement of the liver and glandular affections. It acts beneficially in dropsies, by producing watery motions. In typhus it is of great benefit when combined with antimonials; and it may be given as a purgative in almost any disease, provided there is not any inflammation of the bowels, irritability of the system, or great debility.

_Dose_, as a deobstruent and alterative, from one to five grains, daily; as a cathartic, from five to fifteen grains; to produce ptyalism, or salivation, from one to two grains, in a pill, with a quarter of a grain of opium, night and morning.

_Caution_.--When taking calomel, exposure to cold or dampness should be guarded against, as such an imprudence would bring out an eruption of the skin, attended with fever. When this does occur, leave off the calomel, and give bark, wine, and purgatives; take a warm bath twice a day, and powder the surface of the body with powdered starch.

714. Tonics.

Tonics are given to improve the tone of the system, and restore the natural energies and general strength of the body. They consist of bark, qua.s.sia, gentian, camomile, wormwood, and angostura bark.

715. Qua.s.sia

Qua.s.sia is a simple tonic, and can be used with safety by any one, as it does not increase the animal heat, or quicken the circulation.

_Used internally_, in the form of infusion, it has been found of great benefit in indigestion and nervous irritability, and is useful after bilious fevers and diarrhoea.

_Dose_, of the _infusion_, from one and a half to two ounces, three times a day.

716. Gentian

Gentian is an excellent tonic and stomachic; but when given in large doses, it acts as an aperient.

It is _used internally_ in all cases of general debility, and when combined with bark is used in intermittent fevers. It has also been employed in indigestion, and it is sometimes used, combined with sal volatile, in that disease; but, at other times alone, in the form of infusion. After diarrhoea, it proves a useful tonic. Its infusion is sometimes applied _externally_ to foul ulcers.

_Dose_, of the _infusion_, one and a half to two ounces; of the _tincture_, one to four drachms; of the _extract_, from ten to thirty grains.

717. Camomile.

The flowers of the camomile are tonic, slightly anodyne, antispasmodic, and emetic.

They are _used externally_ as fomentations, in colic, faceache, and tumours, and to unhealthy ulcers.

They are _used internally_ in the form of infusion, with carbonate of soda, ginger, and other stomachic remedies, in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, debility following dysentery and gout. Warm infusion of the flowers acts as an emetic; and the powdered flowers are sometimes combined with opium or kino, and given in intermittent fevers.

_Dose_, of the _powdered_ flowers, from ten grains to one drachm, twice or thrice a day; of the _infusion_, from one to two ounces, as a tonic, three times a day: and from six ounces to one pint as an emetic; of the _extract_, from five to twenty grains.

[TO-MORROW, SHROUDED FOR A BED OF CLAY.]

718. Wormwood