A manual of practical therapeutics : considered with reference to articles of the materia medica / by Edward John Waring ; edited by Dudley W. Buxton.

  • Edward John Waring
Date:
1886
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of practical therapeutics : considered with reference to articles of the materia medica / by Edward John Waring ; edited by Dudley W. Buxton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    with 30 parts of glycerine. In some cases in my own practice it acted beneficially. To Bed Sores and Bidolent Ulcerations, M. Delioux^ found a solution of aloes (i part) in alcohol (2 parts) a very efficient application. Mr. H. Wattan^ testifies to the value of Vinum Aloes as a local application in Ulceration, It should be applied on lint, covered with oil-silk, and each dressing should remain on twenty-four hours. 96. Alumen. Alum. Alumen Exsiccatum. Dried Alum. Med. Prop, and Action. Alum is astringent and styptic, whether employed internally or externally. Its local effects depend upon a chemical action on the albuminous and gelatinous constituents of the tissue. When administered internally, it is absorbed into the system, and has been detected in the liver, spleen and urine. After its absorption, says Pereira, alum appears to act as an astringent on the system generally, and to produce more or less general astriction of the tissues and fibres, and a diminution of secretion. Its astringent influence is chiefly directed upon mucous surfaces; applied locally to relaxed or bleeding surfaces, it constricts the surrounding tissues, and causes contractions of the capillaries; in this manner it arrests the discharge, and acts as an astrin- gent. In large doses, ^j and upward, it has been used as an emetic, but it does not seem to possess any advantage over better known articles of the same class. For internal use it is best given reduced to fine powder and incorporated with honey or treacle in the form of electuary; the addition of cream of tartar is said to prevent its causing constipation. Thus given, the effects of the medi- cine soon evidence themselves. (Sir J. Murray.) Another mode of administering alum is in the form of whey, which is made by boiling gr. cxx of powdered alum for a few minutes in Oj of milk. A tea- cupful of this thrice daily is a popular astringent and tonic in many parts of England. The Liq. Aluminis Co. (Alum., Zinci. Sulph., aa 5J, Aq. Ferv., Oiij) is an excellent form for injections, coUyria, etc. Dose of Alum, gr. x-xx. Dried alum is only used externally as an astringent and mild escharotic. 97. Therapeutic Uses. Diseases of the Abdominal Viscera. In Colica Pictonum, alum has long been held in high repute, and since its introduction from Holland by Dr. Percival, in 1774, it has been extensively employed. The theory of its ac- tion is, that it converts the poisonous salt of lead in the system into a comparatively innocuous sulphate. Dr. Brachet employed it in 150 cases with complete success, giving 5iss-ij daily, with gtt. xl-1 T. Opii, and with an occasional dose of castor or croton oil to procure one or two motions daily. It may be advanta- geously combined with sulphuric acid, as advised by Briquet.^ K. Alum, 5j, Acid. Sulph., Z], Aq., lb iv. M. This, sweet- ened to the taste, should be drunk during the day. To this he added gr. j of opium at bedtime, and sulphurous baths. 98. In Chronic Dysentery I have often seen benefit from it, in doses of gr. xxx daily, in conjunction with Dover's powder, in the asthenic dysentery of Asiatics. ^ Bull, de Therap., vol. Ixvi, p. 24. * Med. Times, vol. xii, 1870. ^ Bui. de Therap., vol. liii, p. 97.