Thomson's Conspectus of the British pharmacopoeias.

Anthony Todd Thomson

Date:: 1852

Credit: Thomson's Conspectus of the British pharmacopoeias. Source: Wellcome Collection.

166/248 page 138

$TABACUM. L. E. D. Nicotiana Tabacum, D. The Leaves of To- bacco. (Pentand. Monogynia. N. O. Solanacece. America. ©.) Prop. Odour of the dried leaves strong, foetid, narcotic ; taste bitter, extremely acrid ; burns with a sparkling light, owing to the nitrate of potassa which it contains. Active principles, a volatile oil, which is soluble both in water and alcohol, and nicotina, a peculiar substance, on which its virtues are supposed to depend. Oper. Narcotic, sedative, inducing intense muscular and vascular de- pression, diuretic, emetic, cathartic, errhine, a violent poison, whether externally applied, or taken into the stomach. Use. In ileus, and incarcerated hernia, in the form of clyster of the in- fusion, or the smoke ; in spasmodic asthma, dropsy, and dysuria ; chewing it relieves the pain of toothache; and, as an errhine, it forms the basis of all the snuffs in common use. The infusion has been used as a lotion in scabies, tinea capitis, and other eruptions ; but it is apt to induce sickness. Off. Prep. Vinum Tabaci, E. Enema Tabaci, L. E. D. TAMARINDUS. L. E. Tamarindus; Leguminis Pulpa, D. The Pulp of the Tamarind. ^Tamarindus Indica, the Tamarind Tree. Monadelph. Triand. N. O. Leguminoscs. {Fabacece, Lindley.) East and West Indies. T?.) Prop. Inodorous; taste acid, sweet; juicy, when fresh and good; the seeds are hard; and the blade of a knife thrust into the pulp should not become coated with copper. The pulp contains citric acid 9'4'% tartaric acid 1*55, malic acid 0*45, bitartrate of potassa 3*25, gelatine, mucilage, pectin, fecula, and sugar. Oper. Laxative, refrigerant. Use. In dysentery and fevers, particularly those attended with an in- creased secretion of bile, and putrid symptoms. Tamarind whey,made by boiling 3ij. of the fruit with Ojss. of milk, and straining, is an ex- cellent diluent in fevers. Dose. 3ss. to 3ij., often added to senna and to manna. Jncomp. Carbonates, and acetates of potassa, and soda; the resinous cathartics; infusum sennae. TAPIOCA. E. Janipha Manihot, D. Tapioca. (Fecula of the rhizomes of Janipha Manihot.) A modification of starch. Use. As nutritious and unstimulating articles of diet in fevers, pyrexiae, and irritable conditions of stomach and bowels. TARAXACUM. L. E. Taraxacum Dens Leonis, D. Taraxacum. (Dens Leonis.) The Root of Dandelion. (Syngen. Poly gain JEquaL N. O. Compositce. (Asteracece, Lindley.) Indigenous. Comp. Caoutchouc; bitter matter, sugar, gum, salts of potash and lime. Prop. Inodorous ; taste at first slightly sweetish and acidulous, then bitter. Oper. Tonic, aperient, diuretic, resolvent. Use. In chronic inflammation, and functional and organic disease of the liver; chronic derangements of the stomach; dropsy; pulmonary tubercles; and jaundice. Dose. f^ij. of the following decoction three or four times a day : R the full grown roots sliced 5jv., water Oij. Boil gently to a pint, strain, and add bitaitrate of potassa 3iij. Jncomp. Infusion of galls, nitrate of silver, bichloride of mercury, acetates of lead, sulphate of iron. Off. Prep. Decoctum Taraxaci, L. E. Extractum Taraxaci, L. E. TARTARI CRYSTALLI. D. Tartar. (Potassae bitartras impura.) Encrusted on wine casks. Comp. Potassa, tartaric acid, and, generally, lime. Prop. Taste acid, rather unpleasant; colour dirty white, red, or brown, according to the nature of the wine depositing it. It is brittle, soluble in cold water, but much more so in boiling water; decomposed by heat. Use. In the preparation of bitartrate of potassa.$

Thomson's Conspectus of the British pharmacopoeias.

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