PART II.

Materia Medica. — Curcuma Zedoaria.

211

according- to Chenevix, it consists of 42*6 parts of hydrate 1 ofcopper, 33-0 of acid, and 25 - 4 of water of crystallization.

Sulphate of copper is soluble in four parts of water at 60°,and less than two at 212°. It is insoluble in alcohol. Thesolution reddens litmus paper, the salt being truly a bi-sulphate.It is decomposed by the alkalies and alkaline carbonates, thesub-borate of soda, acetate of ammonia, the acetate and super-acetate of lead, and acetate of iron, nitrate of silver, oxyreuriateof mercury, tartrate of potass, muriate of lime ; and is precipi-tated by all the astringent vegetable infusions and tinctures;all which substances are therefore incompatible in prescriptionswith this salt.

Medical properties and uses. — Sulphate of copper is emetic,astringent, and tonic, when taken internally. With a view toits emetic effect, it has been given in the early stage of phthisis,and where laudanum has been taken as a poison*; and as anastringent and tonic, in alvine hemorrhages, intermittent fever,epilepsy, and some other spasmodic affections: but as the listof materia medica contains equally powerful and less injuriousremedies, its internal exhibition ought to be altogether discon-tinued. Externally it may be employed to give a healthy sti-mulus to indolent foul ulcers, in which I have found itextremely beneficial ,• and as an escharotic, to consume fungus.Pledgets dipped in a weak solution of it are also sometimesused as a styptic in epistaxis, and other external haemorrhages ;and a still weaker solution is a useful collyrium in some kindsof ophthalmia. It forms the base of a very unchemical prepar-ation, Bate's aqua camphorata 3 , which the late Mr. Warerecommended, diluted with sixteen parts of water, in the puru-lent ophthalmia of infants.

As an emetic the dose is from grs. ij. to xv., in f^ij. of

water; but as a tonic it should be given in the form of pill,

beginning with gr. £., and gradually increasing the dose to grs. ij.

Officinal preparation. Solutio Capri Sulphatis composita, E.

Cuprum Ammoniatum, L. E. D.

CURCUMA. Boscoe, Linn. Trans, viii. 354.CI. 1. Ord. 1. Monandria Monogynia. Nat.ord. Scitaminea?, Linn.

Drymyrrhizae, Juss.Gen. Char. Anther double, two spurred. Filament petal-like, three-Iobed, bearing the anther in the middle.

1 The hydrate consists of copper 25 '6, oxygen 6'4, and water (which is intimatelycombined with the oxide) 10'6 parts. This water, as well as the water of crystal,lization, is expelled when the sulphate is decomposed by heat.

- See Medico-Ckirurgical Transactions, vol. i.

3 The following is the formula for Bate's preparation:—IJ. Cupri sulph. boligall.ua. grs. xv. Camphorte grs. iv. Solve in ag. fen: i^W., dilueque cum aq. frig.O. iv. ut Jkit Collyrium,

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