•170
APPENDIX.
I
lV
pound of the volatile aromatic spirit for four or five days, frequentlyshaking the bottle; afterwards strain the elixir.—This is an agreeableand safe way of administering opium. It eases pain, allays ticklingtoughs, relieves difficult breathings, and is useful in many disorders ofchildren, particularly the hooping cough.—The dose to an adult is fromfifty to a hundred drops.
Elixir of Aloes and rhubarb.—Take of rhubarb cut small, ten drachms;succotrine aloes, in powder, six drachms; lesser cardamom seeds, half anounce: French brandy, half a pint. Infuse for two or three days, thenstrain the elixir.—This useful stomachic purge may be taken from oneounce to an ounce and a half.
Stomachic Elixir.—Take of gentian root, two ounces; Curacoaoranges, one ounce; Virginian snake-root, half an ounce. Let the in-gredients be bruised, and infused for two or three days in two pints ofFrench brandy; afterwards strain out the elixir.—This is an excellentstomachic bitter. In flatulencies, indigestion, want of appetite, and suchlike complaints, a small glass of it may be taken twice a-day. It like-wise relieves the gout in the stomach, when taken in a large dose.
Acid Elixir of Vitriol.—Take of the aromatic tincture, one pint;vitriolic acid, three ounces. Mix them gradually, and after the faeceshave subsided, filter the elixir through paper in a glass funnel.—This isone of the best medicines which I know for hysteric and hypochondriacpatients, afflicted with flatulencies arising from relaxation or debility ofthe stomach and intestines. It will succeed where the most celebratedstomachic bitters have no effect. The dose is from ten to forty drops,in a glass of wine or water, or a cup of any bitter infusion, twice or thricea-day. It should be taken when the stomach is most empty.
Camphorated Spirit of Wine.—Dissolve an ounce of camphor in a pintof rectified spirits.—This solution is chiefly employed as an embrocationin bruises, palsies, the chronic rheumatism, the rickets, and for prevent-ing gangrenes.—The above quantity of camphor, dissolved in half apound of the volatile aromatic spirit, makes Ward's Essence.
Water of Acetated Ammonia, or Spirit of Mindererus.—Take of pre-pared ammonia, any quantity. Pour on it gradually distilled vinegar,till the effervescence ceases.—This medicine is useful in promoting a dis-charge both by the skin and urinary passage. It is also a good externalapplication in strains and bruises.—When intended to raise a sweat, halfan ounce of it in a cup of warm gruel may be given to the patient in bedevery hour till it has the desired effect.
Tincture of Wormwood.—Take of the flowering tops of wormwoodproperly dried, four ounces; rectified spirit of wine two pounds: mace-rate for two days; then press out the spirit, and pour it upon two ouncesof wormwood. Macerate again for four days ; then press the tincturethrough a cloth, and afterwards strain it through paper. This prepara-tion may be considered as containing the whole virtues of a plant tha*was highly extolled by the illustrious Boerhaave.—In the tincture ofwormwood we have one of the strongest vegetable bitters. It is some-times used as an anthelmintic, and still more frequently in stomach ail-ments, but to most people it is a very disagreeable medicine.