Tamarinds are generally laxative and refrigerant. As it is agreeable, this medicine will generally be eaten by children when they will not take other medicines.

, from half to one ounce. As a refrigerant beverage in fevers it is extremely grateful.

Castor Oil is a most valuable medicine, as it generally operates quickly and mildly.

It is

combined with citron ointment, as a topical application in common leprosy.

It is

as an ordinary purgative for infants, as a laxative for adults, and in diarrhœa and dysentery. In colic it is very useful and safe; and also after delivery.

for

from forty drops to two drachms; for

from half an ounce to one and a half ounces.

Sublimed sulphur is laxative and diaphoretic.

It is

in skin diseases, especially itch, both in the form of ointment and as a vapour bath.

It is

in hemorrhoids, combined with magnesia, as a laxative for children, and as a diaphoretic in rheumatism.

from one scruple to two drachms, mixed in milk or with treacle. When combined with an equal proportion of cream of tartar, it acts as a purgative.

possesses the same properties as the carbonate.

from ten to thirty grains, in milk or water.

is an antacid and laxative, and is very useful for children when teething, and for heartburn in adults.

from a half to two drachms, in water or milk.

is a useful preparation by whose use is avoided the grittiness that is inseparable from magnesia when taken in the form of powder.

Senna is a purgative, but is apt to gripe when given alone; therefore it is combined with some aromatic, such as cloves or ginger, and the infusion should be made with

instead of hot water. It usually acts in about four hours, but its action should be assisted by drinking warm fluids.

of the

commonly called

from one to three or four drachma at bedtime; of the

from one to two ounces; of the

from one to two drachms; of the

(used for children), from one drachm to one ounce.

—Do not give senna, in any form except confection, in hæmorrhoids, and never in irritability of the intestines.

Rhubarb is a purgative, astringent and stomachic.

It is

in the form of powder to ulcers, to promote a healthy action.

It is given

in diarrhœa, dyspepsia, and a debilitated state of the bowels. Combined with a mild preparation of calomel, it forms an excellent purgative for children.

of the

from one to two ounces; of the

, from one scruple to half a drachm as a purgative, and from six to ten grains as a stomachic; of the

and

from one to four drachms; of the

from ten to twenty grains.

Jalap is a powerful cathartic and hydrogogue, and is therefore apt to gripe.

of the

from ten to thirty grains, combined with a drop or two of aromatic oil; of the

from fifteen to forty grains; of the

from one to three drachms; of the

from ten to twenty grains. The watery extract is better than the alcoholic.

Colocynth is a powerful drastic cathartic, and should never be given alone, unless ordered by a medical man, as its action is too violent for some constitutions.

of the

from five to fifteen grains; of the

from five to fifteen grains; of the

the best of all its preparations, from ten to twenty grains.

Buckthorn is a brisk purgative for children in the form of syrup.

of the

, from one to six drachms.

Aloes is a purgative and cathartic in large, and tonic in smaller doses.

of

from two to ten grains, combined with soap, bitter extracts, or other purgative medicines, and given in the form of pills; of the

from five to twenty grains; of the

and

from five to twenty grains; of the

, from four drachms to one ounce; of the

, from one to four drachms; of the

, from six to ten grains; of the

, from four drachms to two ounces.

Cream of Tartar is a purgative and refrigerant. It is

in dropsy, especially of the belly, in doses of from one scruple to one drachm. As a refrigerant drink it is dissolved in hot water, and sweetened with sugar, and is used in febrile diseases, care being taken not to allow it to rest too much upon the bowels.

, as a

, from two to four drachms, as a

, from four to six drachms, mixed with honey or treacle.

—Its use should be followed by tonics, especially gentian and angostura.

Scammony is a drastic purgative, generally acting quickly and powerfully; sometimes producing nausea, and even vomiting, and being very apt to gripe.

It is

, to produce watery evacuations in dropsy, to remove intestinal worms, and correct the slimy motions of children.

, of the

, from five to sixteen grains, given in liquorice water, treacle, or honey; of the

, from twenty to thirty grains.

—Do not give it in an irritable or inflamed state of the bowels.

Epsom Salts is a purgative and diuretic. This medicine generally operates quickly, and therefore is extremely useful in acute diseases. It is found to be beneficial in dyspepsia when combined with infusion of gentian and a little ginger. It forms an excellent enema with olive oil.

, from a half to two ounces, dissolved in warm tea or water. Infusion of roses partially covers its taste and assists its action.

, that with regard to Epsom salts, the

is the amount of water in which they are taken, the

the dose of salts required: thus, half an ounce properly dissolved may be made a strong dose. The action and efficacy of Epsom salts may be greatly increased by adding one grain of tartar emetic to a dose of salts.

Glauber's Salt is a very good purgative.

, from a half to two ounces, dissolved in warm water

Sulphate of Potash is a cathartic and deobstruent. It is

, combined with aloes or rhubarb, in obstructions of the bowels, and is an excellent saline purgative in dyspepsia and jaundice.

, from ten grains to one drachm.

Venice Turpentine is cathartic, diuretic, stimulant, and anthelmintic.

It is

as a rubefacient, and is given

in flatulent colic, in tapeworm, rheumatism, and other diseases.

, as a

, from ten grains to one drachm; as a

, from ten to twelve drachms; as an

, from one to two ounces every eight hours, till the worm be ejected.

Diuretics are medicines which promote an increased secretion of urine. They consist of nitre, acetate of potassa, squills, juniper, oil of turpentine, and others, vegetable and mineral.

Nitre is a diuretic and refrigerant.

It is

as a detergent when dissolved in water, and as a lotion to inflamed and painful rheumatic joints.

It is given

in doses of from ten grains to half a drachm, or even one drachm; in spitting blood it is given in one drachm doses with great benefit. It is beneficial in sore throat, a few grains being allowed to dissolve in the mouth.

Acetate of Potassa is diuretic and cathartic.

It is given

as a diuretic, in combination with infusion of quassia; in dropsy, in doses of from one scruple to one drachm, every three or four hours.

, as a

, from two to three drachms.

Squills is diuretic and expectorant when given in small doses; and emetic and purgative when given in large doses.

It is

in dropsy, in combination with calomel and opium; in asthma, with ammoniacum; in catarrh, in the form of oxymel.

, of the

, from one to two grains every six hours; of the

, from ten to fifteen grains; of the

, from ten minims to half a drachm; of the

, from a half to two drachms; of the

, from twenty minims to two drachms.

Juniper is diuretic and stomachic.

It is given

in dropsy.

, of the

, from two to three ounces every four hours, of the

, from one to five minims.

Oil of Turpentine is a diuretic, anthelmintic, and rubefacient.

It is

in flatulent colic, sprinkled over flannels dipped in hot water and wrung out dry.

It is

in the same diseases as

Diaphoretics are medicines given to increase the secretion from the skin by sweating. They comprise acetate of ammonia, calomel, antimony, opium, camphor, sarsaparilla.

Solution of Acetate of Ammonia is a most useful diaphoretic.

It is

as a discutient, as a lotion to inflamed milk-breasts, as an eye-wash, and a lotion in scald head.

It is given

to promote perspiration in febrile diseases, which it does most effectually, especially when combined with camphor mixture. This is the article so frequently met with in prescriptions, and called spirits of mindercrus.

, from a half to one and a half ounces every three or four hours.

is diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, alterative, and rubefacient.

It is

as an irritant in white swellings and deep-seated inflammations, in the form of an ointment.

It is given

in pleurisy, bilious fevers, and many other diseases, but its exhibition requires the skill of a medical man, to watch its effects.

, from one-sixth of a grain to four grains.

. —It is a

, and therefore requires great care in its administration.

Antimonial Powder is a diaphoretic, emetic, and alterative.

It is given

, in febrile diseases, to produce determination to the skin, and is useful in rheumatism, when combined with opium or calomel.