440

uvu

counteracting its effects ; (seepage 139). Dose, must be varied accordingto the intention of the prescriber, the constitution of the patient, and thenature of the disease. A quarter of a grain, frequently repeated, will keepup its exhilarating influence ; (Form. 15) from gr. j to ij acts as a narco-tic ; its power on the system soon becomes weaker; and from habitualuse it is so much impaired that very large doses are required to produceits usual effects. Russel observes that the effects of opium on thoseaddicted to its use. are at first obstinate costivei.ess, succeeded by diar-rhoea and flatulence, with loss of appetite and a sottish appearance ; theteeth decay, the memory fails, and the unhappy sufferer prematurely sinksinto the grave. Officinal Prep. Gr. j of opium is contained in Con-feet. Opii. L. grs. 36. Elect. Opii. E. grs. 43. Elect. Catechu. E. grs.193. [F.) Elect. Catechu, comp. D. grs. 199. (P.) Pil. saponis cumopio.L. grs. 5. Pil. Opiat. E. grs. 10. Pil. e Slyrace D. grs. 5. Pulv. Corn,ust. cum Opio. L. grs. 10. Pulv. Cret. comp. cum Opio. L. grs. 40. Puh.Ipecac comp. L. E. grs. 10. (H.) Pulv. Kino. comp. L. grs. 20. (P.)Tinct. Opii. L. rrj. 19. Tinct. Camphor, comp. L. i"3ss. Tinct. Opiiatnmon. E- f3j. Troch. Glycyrr. cum Opio. E. 3j. Vinum Opii L. 1TJ,17 The Medicinal Dynameter will at once shew the quantity of opiumin any proportion of the above preparations. Adulterations. TheTurkey Opium, when good, is covered with leaves, and the reddish cap-sules of some species of rumex; the inferior kinds have none of thesecapsules adhering to them. It is frequently adulterated with the extractof liquorice ; it should be regarded as bad when it is very soft and friable,of an intensely black colour, or mixed with many impurities, when it hasa sweetish taste, or marks paper with a brown continuous streak whendrawn across if, or when it melts like wax, and makes a yellow solutionin water. It frequently happens that in cutting a mass of opium, bulletsand stones have been found imbedded in it, a fraud which is committedby the Turks, from which the retailer alone suffers. It is also adulte-rated with the extract of poppy capsules, or of the whole plant •, withthat of chelidonium majus, with gum arabic or tragacanth, with the oil oflinseed, and even with the dung of oxen.

OVUM. L. (Phasianus Gallus. Ovum.)

The Egg of the Domestic Fowl.

Vitellus. The Yolk or Yelk, is principally employed in pharmaceu-tical operations, for rendering oils and balsams miscible with water. Itis gently laxative.

Oleum e vitellis, Oil of Eggs. Obtained by boiling the yelks, and thensubmitting them to pressure ; fifty eggs yield about 5 oz. of oil. It is in-troduced into the Paris Pharmacopoeia, being much employed on the Con-tinent for killing mercury

Albumen. Used principally for clarifying turbid liquors.

Testa. Similar to other absorbents.

almost of constipating, properties. He made a very good substitute, " by maceratingthe dregs, remaining after making tincture of opium, in a solution of Tartaric acid."The preparation formed a tolerably deep tincture, and 40 drops acted, he thought, inall respects, like 20 of the liquor opii sedativus. It neither stimulated, nor produce' 7 !coativenes?