The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pharmacologia, by J. A. Paris

413. This opinion has lately received ample confirmation from the experiments of Dr. Christison, (Edinb. Med. and Surg. Journal, July, 1824) who has shewn that the process of Orfila is objectionable on the three following grounds, viz.

1st. The colour is very seldom so entirely destroyed but that the precipitates produced by some of the tests still deviate to a certain degree from their characteristic tints; and although the colour of the fluid be even destroyed entirely, it often re-appears in the precipitates.

2d. Although the Chlorine destroys the colour, it does not also take from the fluid its solvent action on the arsenical precipitates.

3d. In fluids decolorized by Chlorine, and containing no Arsenic, some of the tests produce precipitates, not only precisely the same with those which they cause in the decolorized solutions of Arsenic, but likewise very similar in appearance to those caused in a pure aqueous solution of Arsenic.

414. The experiments by which I ascertained this fact were made soon after the publication of Mr. Phillips’s paper, and long before I saw Dr. Christison’s communication in the Edinburgh Journal. I merely mention this circumstance to add greater weight to the experimental evidence, for when different persons arrive at the same conclusion without any communication with each other, the strongest possible testimony is afforded. I may also add that my suspicions were raised to the probability of the fact by a knowledge of the action of charcoal upon lime water. In a philosophical point of view the fact is one of great interest; it seems to connect the phenomena of mechanical and chemical attraction. We have evidently a body removed from the state of solution by mechanical means.

415. The following is the formula for its preparation. Dissolve ten grains of lunar caustic in ten times its weight of distilled water, to this add, guttatim, liquid ammonia, until a precipitate is formed: continue cautiously to add the ammonia, repeatedly agitating the mixture until the precipitate is nearly redissolved. The object of allowing a small portion to remain undissolved is to guard against an excess of ammonia. Wherever the test is used, the liquid to which it is added ought to be quite cold.

416. This is very important, for an excess of ammonia redissolves the yellow precipitate, and therefore defeats the object of the test. The fixed alkalies, in excess, have not such a property.

417. The great impression made upon the public mind in Cornwall, by the above trial, produced a disposition to regard the cause of every sudden death with more than usual jealousy. See a Report of this trial in the Appendix of our work on Medical Jurisprudence.

418. In consequence of a report having arisen that a young woman had died after an illness of forty-eight hours, and been hastily buried at Madron, the magistrates of that district issued their warrant for the disinterment of the body, and requested my attendance at the examination. It appeared upon dissection that the immediate cause of death had been inflammation of the intestines; the stomach was found to contain a considerable portion of liquid, which was carefully collected and examined; no solid matter could be discovered in it. It appeared to consist principally of the remains of a quantity of penny-royal tea, which had been the last thing administered to the deceased. This was divided into several portions, and placed in separate wine glasses, and submitted, in the presence of the sheriff and other gentlemen, to a series of experiments, amongst which the following may be particularized, as bearing upon the question at issue.

1st. A few drops of a solution of sub-carbonate of potass were added to the liquid, in one of the glasses, when its colour, which was before of a light hazel, was instantly deepened into a reddish yellow; the sulphate of copper was then applied, when a precipitate fell down, which every one present immediately pronounced to be of a vivid green hue, but in pouring off the supernatant liquid, and transferring the precipitate upon white paper, it assumed a blue colour, without the least tinge of green; the explanation of the phenomenon, and the fallacy to which it gave rise, was obvious: the yellow colour, imparted to the liquid by the alkali, was the effect of that body upon vegetable extract, and will generally take place on adding it to the infusions of vegetable substances.

2nd. To another portion of the liquid, the ammoniaco-nitrate of silver was added; a slight turbidness arose, but no yellow precipitate occurred.

3rd. After adding a fixed alkali, the surface of the liquid was touched with a stick of lunar caustic, but no yellow precipitate was produced.

4th. The liquid was next assayed in a watch-glass, for a phosphate of soda, by endeavouring to form a triple salt with magnesia and ammonia, as suggested by Dr. Wollaston; the result proved that phosphate of soda was not present. It is unnecessary to pursue the relation of the experiments; I conceive that sufficient evidence has been adduced to establish the truth of the explanation. I have frequently repeated the first experiment, substituting for the gastric infusion, a decoction of onions, and with similar results.

419. This explanation applies equally to the objection lately advanced by Dr. Porter, of the University of South Carolina, who in observing on the tests for arsenic, remarks, that an appearance similar to Scheele’s Green, is produced by the carbonate of potass when added to a solution of copper containing coffee, but without arsenic, more striking than if a weak solution of arsenic be used. Silliman’s Journal, iii. 365.

420. Annals of Philosophy, New Series, No. III. for March, 1821.

421. The habitudes of arsenious acid with the nitrates were first observed by Kunkel; nitrous vapour is disengaged, part of the oxygen being absorbed by the arsenious acid, by which an arsenite of potass is formed.

422. Dr. Bostock confesses that where less than three-fourths of a grain were used, he could not say that the metallic crust was clearly perceptible; and Dr. Black considered that one grain was the smallest quantity which could be distinctly recognised by such a process. Dr. Jaeger (Dissertatio Inauguralis, Stuttgard, 1808) also observes, that he has been enabled to recognise the tenth of a grain of arsenious acid, although mixed with sugar, by its odour, when thrown upon burning coals! I must be allowed to question this fact; Dr. Jaeger, no doubt, believed that he recognised the alliaceous odour, but it must have been the effect of imagination. Dr. Bostock observes that, if Arsenic be mixed with either an animal or vegetable substance, the smoke and smell arising from those bodies, when heated, will altogether prevent our recognising its odour. He found that when a quantity of Arsenic was mixed with an equal weight of flour, and placed upon iron at a low red heat, so as not to cause the flour to inflame, the suffocating smoke that arose from the latter could be alone perceived; nor was it possible to discover that any thing had been mixed with it (Edinb. Med. Journal.) This objection of Dr. Bostock is true in fact, although it admits of a different explanation, for at a low temperature the Arsenious acid would be volatilized without decomposition; in which case no alliaceous odour can be developed. Dr. Traill has lately asserted (Annals of Philosophy, Feb. 1824) that he has recognised the alliaceous odour during the volatilization of 1/78th of a grain of the metal. I do not question the truth of this assertion, but there must have been an address in the manipulation which we cannot expect to find in ordinary experimenters.

423. Assafœtida was used by the ancients as a condiment, under the name of σιλφὶον, Laserpitium, (Pliny); and according to Kempfer, the Persians use it for the same purpose. The Arabian writers on the materia medica class this article among their Mobehyat (Aphrodisiaca). The term Assafœtida is derived from the monks of the Salernian school; some of the writers of the middle ages call it Opium Cyrenaicum, i. e. the Juice from Cyrene.

424. Tolu Lozenges. Sugar 8 oz. Cream of Tartar 1 oz. Starch 2 drachms. Tinct. Toluiferæ Balsami E. one fluid-drachm, mucilage of Gum Tragacanth q. s.

425. Belladonna, so called from the juice of its berries being used as a cosmetic by the Italian women, to make their faces pale.

426. The root of this plant seems to partake of the same qualities as the leaves, but is perhaps less virulent:

“Or have we eaten of the insane root,
That takes the reason prisoner.”
Macbeth.

The Belladonna is supposed by Sauvage to be the plant that produced such extraordinary effects upon the Roman Soldiers during their retreat, under the command of Anthony, from the Parthians, when they are said to have “suffered great distress for want of provisions, and were urged to eat unknown plants; among others they met with a herb that was mortal: he that had eaten of it lost his memory and his senses, and employed himself wholly in turning about all the stones he could find, and after vomiting up bile, fell down dead.” (Plutarch’s Life of Anthony.) The Scotch historian Buchannan relates, “that the Scots mixed a quantity of the juice of the Belladonna (Solanum Somniferum) with the bread and drink which by their truce they were to supply the Danes with, which so intoxicated them that the Scots killed the greater part of Sweno’s army.”

427. Fumigating Pastilles. Benzoin generally constitutes the chief ingredient in these compositions, to which may be added any variety of odoriferous substances; the following formula may be offered as a specimen: ℞. Benzoin ʒj, Cascarillæ ʒss, Myrrh ℈j, Olei nuc. moschat. ol. Caryophyll. āā gr. x. potassæ nitratis ʒss, carb. ligni ʒvj. mucilag. gum. Trag. q. s.

428. Virgin’s Milk. A spirituous solution of Benzoin mixed with about twenty parts of rose water, forms a cosmetic long known by this name. Under the same title also a very different preparation is sold, vid. Liquor Plumbi sub-acetatis.

Friar’s Balsam, Wade’s Drops, Jesuit’s Drops.—These preparations are nothing more than the Tinctura Benzoini composita.

Pectoral Balsam of Honey.—Is merely the tincture of Benzoin, or that of Tolu.

Essence of Coltsfoot.—This preparation consists of equal parts of the Balsam of Tolu, and the Compound Tincture of Benzoin, to which is added double the quantity of rectified Spirit of Wine; and this forsooth is a Pectoral for Coughs! If a patient with a pulmonary affection should recover during the use of such a remedy, I should certainly designate it as a lucky Escape, rather than as a skilful Cure.

429. The Pearl Powder of Perfumers is obtained from the nitric solution of Bismuth, by adding a proportion of muriatic acid, and then precipitating by a small quantity of water. In this way it is obtained in the form of minute scales of a pearly lustre.

430. The gas which arises from the combustion of mineral coal will produce the same effect. It is related of a lady of fashion, who had incautiously seated herself too near the fire, at a quadrille party, that her countenance changed on a sudden from a delicate white to a dark tawney, as though by magic. The surprise and confusion of the whole party had such an effect upon the disfigured fair one, that she was actually dying from apprehension, when the physician dispelled their fears by informing his patient that nothing more was necessary than for her to abstain from the use of mineral cosmetics, and to trust in future to those charms which Nature had bestowed upon her.

431. L. F. Jacobi de Bismutho. Erford, 1697.

432. Journal de Medicine, 1786, T. 68. p. 49.

433. Vol. iv. p. 156.

434. In this country Bismuth has enjoyed for some years a reputation exceedingly high. Dr. Samuel W. Moore, of New-York, was the first to call the attention of the American medical public to it, in a valuable dissertation which was published in the year 1810. In this Essay are recorded a number of cases illustrative of the salutary effects of this medicine in spasmodic pain and other troublesome affections of the stomach. In addition to its use in gastric disorders, Dr. Carmichael, of Virginia, has administered it with success in the treatment of Intermittents. Ed.

435. Very lately our attention has been particularly called to this plant by Dr. E. G. Ludlow of New-York, who speaks of it in terms of high commendation. He says “the diseases in which I have used it are exclusively those of the Chylopoietic viscera, as dyspepsia, diarrhœa and cholera. For the removal of pain and flatulence in the bowels, which may be enumerated among the most frequent and distressing symptoms of the first stage of indigestion, Calamus is superior to any other carminative; by virtue of its aroma it creates a strong sensation of warmth in the stomach, increasing its action without sensibly augmenting the force of the circulation, while its powerful bitter principle gives permanent tone to the relaxed state of the fibres.” New-York Med. & Phys. Journal, No. 11. p. 321. The Tincture is the preferable form of administering the Calamus. The dose is from ℥ss to ℥j. Ed.

436. The Specific of Herrenschwand, which formerly excited so much interest in Germany, consisted of 10 grains of Camboge with 20 of Sub-carbonate of Potass; although it is said, that on its being analyzed by order of Elizabeth of Russia, there were also found in it both Mercury and Arsenic.

Camboge is also the basis of the Specific of Clossius.

Golden Spirit of Scurvy Grass. This is merely a solution of Camboge in the Spir: Armoraciæ comp:

437. Although the Camphor of commerce is generally furnished by the Laurus Camphora, yet it is abundantly yielded by many other plants. It is said that what is imported from Sumatra is the product of the Dryobobans Camphora. It is also contained in the roots of the Cinnamon, Cassia, and Sassafras laurels, and in those of Galangale, Zedoary, and Ginger; in Cardamom seeds and Long Pepper. The essential oils of Lavender, Sage, Thyme, Peppermint, Rosemary, and those of many other labiate plants yield camphor by distillation. Camphor may be also artificially formed by driving a stream of muriatic gas through oil of turpentine; this factitious product, however, is to be distinguished from native camphor in not being soluble in weak nitric acid, and also in not being precipitated by water from its solution in strong nitric acid.

438. The collection of the Materia Medica at the College of Physicians contains a beautiful specimen of native Camphor in the wood: having selected from it as perfect a crystal as I could find, I requested my friend and publisher Mr. W. Phillips, well known for his researches in crystallography, to undertake its examination; and he observes that “The crystal of native Camphor (in the wood) appears as a flat octohedron; but the primary form is a right rhombic prism of 51° 36′ and 128° 24′. by measurement with the reflective goniometer on cleavage planes: the octohedral appearance arises from the deep replacement of four of the solid angles of the prism, by as many planes.”

439. An Odontalgic Remedy in great repute consists of a solution of camphor in oil of turpentine; a fluid-ounce of which will dissolve two drachms.

440. Although the London College, for reasons sufficiently weighty, were induced on a former occasion to transfer the Blistering fly from the genus Cantharis to that of Lytta, the Committee for revising the late Pharmacopœia determined, on the authority of Latreille, to restore it to its former genus. The work of Latreille, “Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum” holds the highest rank in Entomology of any hitherto published.

441. Cantharidin may be obtained by the following process: Boil the cantharides in water until all the soluble parts are extracted; filter the decoction, and evaporate to the consistence of an extract. Digest this extract in concentrated alcohol, then pour off the alcohol and evaporate it; if sulphuric acid be then added to this extract, it will take up the Cantharidin, which may be obtained in a tolerably pure state by evaporation. The crystalline plates may be afterwards freed from the adhering colouring matter by alcohol.

442. Annales de Chémie, tom. lxxvi.

443. It forms the basis of the once celebrated diuretic of Tulpius, called Lithonthrypticum Tulpii, from its supposed efficacy in stone. The other ingredients were Cardamoms, made into a Tincture with Rectified Spirit, and Spirit of Nitric Æther.

444. He was cited before the censors of the College of Physicians in 1693, and committed to Newgate by a warrant from the President; but he was acquitted upon the plea that—bad practice must be accompanied with a bad intention to render it criminal. He published his vindication in a small tract, entitled “De tuto Cantharidum usu interno.” The issue, says Dr. Quincey (Pharm: p. 152) ruined the unhappy Doctor, but taught his prosecutors the safety and value of his practice. The following was his formula. Of egg-shells calcined ʒss; Camphor ℈j; Spanish flies ℈ss; and Venice turpentine q, s, to make nine pills; three of which were to be swallowed every three hours.

445. Not less than sixteen species of the genus Cantharis have already been discovered in this country, by the industry of our Entomologists; most, if not all, of which possess vesicating powers. Of these the most common is the Lytta vittata, or potatoe fly. The medicinal virtues of this insect were first discovered in 1797, and found to be fully equal to those of the Spanish fly. Dr. Barton says “from frequent employment of the two articles, I cannot hesitate to prefer the American to the foreign fly. Long keeping, provided it be carefully kept, does not materially impair the blistering property of the Lytta vittata. At the end of three or four years after being collected, I have found it equal in power to the shop Cantharides.” By the late Dr. Dana, Prof. of Chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New-York, the Lytta vittata was made the subject of analysis, and found to contain Cantharidin. Ed.

446. Journal de Physique, p. 173, 1820.

447. Rymer’s Cardiac Tincture. In the earlier editions of this work an erroneous account of this medicine has been given, in consequence of a spurious specimen having been examined: the following analysis is now confidently presented to the profession. It is an infusion of Capsicum, Camphor, Cardamom seeds, Rhubarb, Aloes, and Castor in Proof Spirit, with a very small quantity of Sulphuric acid.

448. Lardner’s Prepared Charcoal consists of cretaceous powder, or chalk finely powdered, rendered grey by the addition of charcoal, or Ivory black.

449. Concentrated Solution of Charcoal. A preparation is sold under this absurd name for cleaning the teeth, and is nothing more than a tincture of Catechu. The name was probably suggested by the experiments of Mr. Hatchett, who succeeded in producing artificial tannin by the action of Nitric acid upon Charcoal.

450. In cases of obstinate constipation of the bowels, charcoal is one of the most efficient remedies in the whole Materia Medica. Many cases have yielded to it which had resisted every other cathartic medicine previously used. Dr. Daniell, of Savannah, to whom we are indebted for an interesting paper on this subject, states as the result of his experience, “that the most speedy, as well as the most certain relief, is to be obtained from the free use of Charcoal. If it does not wholly relieve, it always very much mitigates the pain in six or eight hours from the period of its first administration; and within my observation,” he adds, “the patient has always been entirely composed before the operation of the medicine upon the bowels.” “In relation to the dose of this medicine,” he states that “the rule which I have pursued is to give it as freely and as frequently as the stomach will allow. The quantity required is considerable. It has a happy influence in lulling the irritability of the stomach, when nothing else which I have used, would control the nausea and vomiting of the patient; thus fulfilling the double intention of first alleviating a very distressing symptom, and then removing the disease itself. I usually give from one to three table-spoonsful of Charcoal every half hour or hour: whenever the stomach becomes overcharged with the medicine, the excess is thrown off, and the stomach is again quiet. I give it in lime water, milk, or water alone—the vehicle having appeared to me unimportant.” Philadel. Journal of Med. and Phys. Science, Vol. 5. p. 120. Ed.

451. See an account of Charcoal, as a test for Arsenic, and remarks thereon, p. 308.

452. Dr. Maton in a learned critical and botanical note to a paper on the Cardamom, by Mr. White, Surgeon of Bombay, (Trans: Lin: Soc: v. x, 229,) called the genus, of which it consists, Elettaria, a nomenclature which was accordingly adopted by the College in their late Pharmacopœia; but, says Sir James Smith, as this name is of a barbarous origin, (viz. from Elettaria, the Malabar name of the plant.) we should greatly prefer that of Matonia; a suggestion which has been since adopted by Mr. Roscoe of Liverpool, in his description of the Scitamineœ. The College has therefore the gratifying task of erasing the term Elettaria from their Materia Medica, and of substituting for it a name no less known than respected by the Medical profession.

453. Essence of Coffee. The Cassia pulp is said to form the basis of this article.

454. The ancients erroneously considered them as the testicles of the beaver, and Æsop relates that the animal bit them off, when pursued by the huntsman, whence some have derived its name, a castrando; the true origin however of the word is from γαστωρ, i.e. animal ventriculosum, from his swaggy and prominent belly.

455. Bateman’s Pectoral Drops consist principally of the Tincture of Castor, with portions of camphor and opium, flavoured by anise seeds, and coloured by cochineal.

456. It was formerly supposed to be a mineral production: and hence the term Terra Japonica. Hagedorn and Boulduc were among the first who opposed this error, and who established the fact of its vegetable origin (Mem. de l’Acad. des Sciences de Paris, A. 1709. p. 228.)

457. So called from Chiron the Centaur, who is said to have employed it to cure himself of a wound accidentally received by letting one of the arrows of Hercules fall upon his foot.

458. Kirkland’s Neutral Cerate. Is formed by melting together ℥ viij of Lead Plaster with f℥iv of olive oil, into which are to be stirred ℥iv of prepared chalk; when the mixture is sufficiently cooled f℥iv of acetic acid, and ʒiij of pulverized Acetate of lead are to be added, and the whole is to be stirred until nearly cold.

Marshall’s Cerate. ℞. Palm. Oil ℥v. Calomel ℥i, Acetate of Lead ℥ss, Nitrate of Mercury ℥ij.

Cold Cream (Ceratum Galeni.) Ol: Amygdal: ℔j, Ceræ alb: ℥iv; melt, pour into a warm mortar, and add, gradually, Aq: Ros; oj. It should be very light and white. Gray’s Supplement.

459. There are no less than twenty-five distinct species of Cinchona, independent of any additions which we may owe to the zeal of Humboldt and Bonpland; and Mr. A. T. Thomson, in his London Dispensatory, states that in a large collection of dried specimens, of the genus Cinchona, in his possession, collected in 1805, both near Loxa and Santa Fé, he finds many species which are not mentioned in the works of any Spanish botanist.

460. See London Medical and Physical Journal. Vol. v. p. 33.

461. Essential Salt of Bark. It is highly necessary that the public should know that the preparation sold under this empirical title, has no relation whatever to the late discoveries of Pelletier. It is merely an extract prepared by macerating the bruised substance of bark in cold water, and submitting the infusion to a very slow evaporation.

462. The designation of Cinchonin, consistent with the principles of chemical nomenclature, must now have a termination in a, and the name Cinchonia appears preferable to that of Cinchonina.

463. The following is the process by which Cinchonia may be prepared. Take a pound of Pale Bark, bruised small, and boil it for an hour in three pints of a very dilute solution of pure Potass. After the liquid has cooled, it must be strained through a fine cloth with pressure, and the residuum be repeatedly washed and pressed. The cinchona, thus washed, is to be slightly heated in a sufficient quantity of water, adding muriatic acid gradually until litmus paper is slightly reddened. When the liquid is raised nearly to the boiling point, it is to be strained, and the cinchona again pressed. To the strained liquor, while hot, add an ounce of sulphate of magnesia, and after this add a solution of potass, till it ceases to occasion any precipitate. When the liquor is cold, collect the precipitate on a filtre, wash and dry it, and dissolve it in hot alcohol. On evaporation of the spirit, the cinchona will crystallize.

464. Thus, as we have stated, 100 parts of Cinchonia unite with 13·021 of Sulphuric acid, while the same weight of Quina requires for saturation not more than 10·91 of the same acid.

465. Sulphate of Quina. As this preparation is considered the most active form of the salifiable principle of bark, I have subjoined the most approved formula for its preparation. Boil for half an hour two pounds of the appropriate bark in powder, in sixteen pints of distilled water, acidulated with two fluid-ounces of sulphuric acid; strain the decoction through a linen cloth, and submit the residue to a second ebullition in a similar quantity of acidulated water; mix the decoctions, and add by small portions at a time, powdered lime, constantly stirring it to facilitate its action on the acid decoction. (Half a pound is near the quantity requisite.) When the decoction has become slightly alkaline it assumes a dark brown colour, and deposits a reddish brown flocculent precipitate, which is to be separated by passing it through a linen cloth. The precipitate, is to be washed with a little cold distilled water and dried. When dry it is to be digested in rectified spirit, with a moderate heat for some hours; the liquid is then to be decanted, and fresh portions of spirit added till it no longer acquires a bitter taste. Unite the spirituous tinctures, and distil in a water-bath till three fourths of the spirit employed has distilled over. After this operation there remains in the vessel a brown viscid substance covered by a bitter, very alkaline and milky fluid. The two products are to be separated and treated as follows. To the alkaline liquid add a sufficient quantity of sulphuric acid to saturate it; reduce it by evaporation to half the quantity; add a small portion of charcoal, and after some minutes ebullition, filter it whilst hot, and crystals of Sulphate of Quina will form. The brown mass is to be boiled in a small quantity of water, slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid, which will convert a large portion of it into Sulphate of Quina. The crystals are to be dried by bibulous paper. Two pounds of bark will, it is said, yield 5 to 6 drachms of the sulphate; of which eight grains are considered equivalent to an ounce of bark. It has been prepared in this country by several manufacturing chemists, especially by Mr. Pope of Oxford Street, whose zeal and industry in Pharmaceutic experiments entitle him to great commendation. The superior price of the bark, however, from the duty in this country, as well as that of alcohol, must prevent us from entering into competition with the French in its manufacture, and it has accordingly been found more œconomical to import, than to prepare it.

466. Journal de Physiologie. No. 1, p. 90.

467. Upon this point however a difference of opinion has existed; M. Halle entertained considerable fears on the subject, which were supported by M. M. Larrey, Emery, Duponchel, and others, who communicated to the Société Médicale d’Emulation, facts which excited their apprehensions. The question, however, has been set at rest both in this country and on the Continent. They are perfectly harmless.

468. Cinchonia has been detected in other vegetables besides the Bark, as in the root of Cusparia, and in the berries of Capsicum, while in the bark of Cascarilla, a substance bearing a much nearer relation in medicinal effect to the Bark, its presence has not yet been discovered. It is said that experiments have been lately made by M. M. Robiquet and Petroz on the Bark of the Carapa, which has been successfully used in several parts of America in the cure of agues, and that they have found in that bark a salifiable basis analogous to Quina.

469. In Brande’s Journal for January 1830, it is announced that Serturner has discovered other vegeto-alkalies in the Bark, besides the Cinchonia and Quinia.—One in particular he has ascertained, which he calls Chinioidia, existing in combination with a resinous sub-acid substance. This exists in the red and yellow bark with the Cinchonia and Quinia. It has more alkaline power and capacity of saturation, as well as greater medical power than any other vegeto-alkali in the Cinchona, but it resembles them in its insolubility in water, its colour and taste. According to Serturner, the febrifuge power of the Chinioidia is as superior to that of the Cinchonia and Quinia as these are to the Bark.—In his hands it succeeded in many cases where the Sulphate of Quinia had failed. Ed.

470. It was under this form that the celebrated empiric Talbor used to administer it in the paroxysms of Intermittents, and so successful was his practice, that Louis XIV. was induced to purchase at a large price the secret of his specific; and Charles the Second very unjustly protected him against the power of the College, and appointed him one of his physicians.

471. Mr. Thompson has suggested the probability of this circumstance having arisen from the admixture of a species of bark, lately introduced into Europe from Martinique, resembling the Cinchona Floribunda, and which, by an analysis of M. Cadet, was found to contain iron. (London Disp. Edit. 3. p. 247.)

472. This plant is found in abundance in Piedmont, principally in the marshes, where of course it is most needed. Nature is very kind in this respect, for the particular situation which engenders endemic diseases, is generally congenial to the growth of the plants that operate as antidotes to them.

473. Dr. Davy, in a letter to me upon this subject, says, “there are two kinds of oil of cinnamon procured in Ceylon, one of greater, the other of less specific gravity than water. In distillation they come over together. On what the difference depends I do not know, nor am I aware that the subject has yet been investigated.”

474. From experiments made with Veratria, it appears that its effects on the human system are analogous to those of the Colchicum itself. In chronic rheumatism comparative trials to a great extent were instituted by Dr. Bardsley, and with very similar results. The Veratria was generally administered in doses of from 1/4 gr. to ½ gr. three times a day. Ed.

475. With this opinion Mr. A. T. Thomson coincides, for in the 3d edition of his Dispensatory, he says, “the thick old bulb begins to decay after the flower is perfectly expanded, and the new bulbs, of which there are always two formed on each old bulb, are perfected in the following June; from which time until the middle of August, they may be taken up for medicinal use.”

476. Eau Medicinale De Husson. After various attempts to discover the active ingredient of this Parisian remedy, it is at length determined to be the colchicum autumnale which several ancient authors, under the name of hermodactyllus, have recommended in the cure of gout, as stated in the historical preface to this work. The following is the receipt for preparing this medicine. Take two ounces of the root of colchicum, cut it into slices, macerate it in four fluid-ounces of Spanish white wine, and filter. See Veratri Radix (note).

Dr. Wilson’s Tincture for the Gout. This is merely an infusion of colchicum, as Dr. Williams of Ipswich has satisfactorily shewn. Since the discovery of colchicum being the active ingredient of the Eau medicinale, numerous empirical remedies have started up, containing the principles of the plant in different forms.

The expressed juice of the colchicum is used in Alsace to destroy vermin in the hair: it is very acrid, and excoriates the parts to which it is applied.