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

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

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

.—

, from five grains to two drachms, mixed in wine, water, milk, syrup, or solution of liquorice;

, from one to three ounces;

, from one to three ounces;

and

, each from one to three drachms.

.—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.

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.

, from twenty minims to one drachm.

.—An overdose produces apoplectic symptoms.

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

, from two to twenty grains.

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

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

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

, 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.

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

, from one to six grains twice a day.

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

, 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 guaiacum, 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.

, 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.

.—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.

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, quassia, gentian, camomile, wormwood, and angostura bark.

Quassia 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.

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

, of the

, from one and a half to two ounces, three times a day.

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

It is

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 diarrhœa, it proves a useful tonic. Its infusion is sometimes applied

to foul ulcers.

, of the

, one and a half to two ounces; of the

, one to four drachms; of the

, from ten to thirty grains.

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

They are

as fomentations, in colic, faceache, and tumours, and to unhealthy ulcers.

They are

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.

, of the

flowers, from ten grains to one drachm, twice or thrice a day; of the

, from one to two ounces, as a tonic, three times a day: and from six ounces to one pint as an emetic; of the

, from five to twenty grains.

Wormwood is a tonic and anthelmintic.

It is

as a discutient and antiseptic.

It is used

in long-standing cases of dyspepsia, in the form of infusion, with or without aromatics. It has also been used in intermittents.

, of the

, from one to two ounces, three times a day; of the

, from one to two scruples.

Angostura Bark, or Cusparia, is a tonic and stimulant. It expels flatulence, increases the appetite, and produces a grateful warmth in the stomach.

It is

in intermittent fevers, dyspepsia, hysteria, and all cases of debility, where a stimulating tonic is desirable, particularly after bilious diarrhœa.

, of the

, from ten to fifteen grains, combined with cinnamon powder, magnesia, or rhubarb; of the

, from three to ten grains; of the

, from one to two ounces.

. —This drug should never be given in inflammatory diseases or hectic fever.

Astringents are medicines given for the purpose of diminishing excessive discharges, and to act indirectly as tonics. This class includes catechu, kino, oak bark, log wood, rose leaves, chalk, and white vitriol.

Catechu is a most valuable astringent.

It is

, when powdered, to promote the contraction of flabby ulcers. As a local astringent it is useful in relaxed uvula, a small piece being dissolved in the mouth; small, spotty ulcerations of the mouth and throat, and bleeding gums, and for these two affections it is used in the form of infusion to wash the parts.

It is

in diarrhœa, dysentery, and hemorrhage from the bowels.

, of the

, from one to three ounces; of the

, from one to four drachms; of the

, from ten to thirty grains.

.—It must not be given with soda or any alkali; nor metallic salts, albumen, or gelatine, as its property is destroyed by this combination.

Kino is a powerful astringent.

It is

to ulcers, to give tone to them when flabby, and discharging foul and thin matter.

It is

in the same diseases as catechu.

, of the powder, from ten to fifteen grains; of the

, from one to two drachms; of the

, from ten to twenty grains; of the

, from a half to one and a half ounce.

.—Kino is used in combination with calomel, when salivation is intended, to prevent, by its astringency, the action of the calomel on the bowels, and thereby insure its affecting the constitution.— (See

Oak Bark is an astringent and tonic.

It is

in the form of decoction, to restrain bleeding from lacerated surfaces. As a local astringent, it is used in the form of decoction, as a gargle in sore throat and relaxed uvula.

It is

in the same diseases as catechu, and when combined with aromatics and bitters, in intermittent fevers.

of the

, from fifteen to thirty grains; of the

, from two to eight drachms.

Logwood is not a very satisfactory astringent.

It is

in diarrhœa, the last stage of dysentery, and a lax state of the intestines.

, of the

, from ten grains to one drachm; of the

from one to three ounces, three or four times a day.

Rose Leaves are stringent and tonic.

They are

in spitting of blood, hemorrhage from the stomach, intestines, &c., as a gargle for sore throat, and for the night sweats of consumption. The infusion is frequently used as a tonic with diluted sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol), after low fevers, or in combination with Epsom salts and sulphuric acid in certain states of the bowels.

of

, from two to four ounces.

Chalk, when prepared by washing, becomes an astringent as well as antacid.

It is

in diarrhœa, in the form of mixture, and

as an application to burns, scalds, and excoriations.

of the

, from one to two ounces.

White Vitriol, or Sulphate of Zinc, is an astringent, tonic, and emetic.

It is

as a collyrium for ophthalmia (See

Local stimulants comprise emetics, cathartics, diuretics, diaphoretics, expectorants, sialogogues, errhines, and epispastics.

Emetics are medicines given for the purpose of causing vomiting, as in cases of poisoning. They consist of ipecacuanha, camomile, antimony, copper, zinc, and several others.

Ipecacuanha is an emetic, diaphoretic, and expectorant.

It is

to excite vomiting, in doses of from ten to twenty grains of the powder, or one to one and a half ounce of the infusion, every half hour until vomiting takes place. To make it act well and easily, the patient should drink half pints of warm water after each dose of the infusion. As a diaphoretic, it should be given in doses of three grains, mixed with some soft substance, such as crumbs of bread, and repeated every four hours.

of the

from twenty minims to one drachm as a diaphoretic, and from one drachm to one and a half ounces as an emetic.

—Do not give more than the doses named above, because, although a safe emetic, yet it is an acrid narcotic poison.

Mustard is too well known to require describing. It is an emetic, diuretic, stimulant, and rubefacient.

It is

as a poultice. Mustard poultices are made of the powder, bread crumbs, and water; or of one part of mustard to two of flour; or, especially for children, of linseed meal, mixed with a little of the powder, or having some of the powder slightly sprinkled on the surface. Sometimes a little vinegar is added under the idea that it increases the strength of the poultice, but this is not necessary. In all cases where a stimulant is required, such as sore throats, rheumatic pains in the joints, cholera, cramps in the extremities, diarrhœa, and many other diseases. When applied it should not he left on too long, as it is apt to cause ulceration of the part. From ten to thirty minutes is quite long enough.

When

as an emetic, a large teaspoonful mixed with a tumbler of warm water generally operates quickly and safely, frequently when other emetics have failed. In dropsy it is sometimes given in the form of whey, which is made by boiling half an ounce of the bruised seeds in a pint of milk, and straining off the curd.

From three to four ounces of this is to be taken for a dose three times a day.

Cathartics are divided into laxatives and purgatives. Manna, tamarinds, castor oil, sulphur, and magnesia are

; senna, rhubarb, jalap, colocynth, buckthorn, aloes, cream of tartar, scammony, calomel, Epsom salts, Glauber's salts, sulphate of potash, and Venice turpentine are

.

Manna is a very gentle laxative, and therefore used for children and delicate persons.