Handbook of materia medica, pharmacy, and therapeutics : including the physiological action of drugs, the special therapeutics of disease, official and practical pharmacy, and minute directions for prescription writing / by Sam'l O.L. Potter.
- Samuel Otway Lewis Potter
- Date:
- 1897
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Handbook of materia medica, pharmacy, and therapeutics : including the physiological action of drugs, the special therapeutics of disease, official and practical pharmacy, and minute directions for prescription writing / by Sam'l O.L. Potter. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![Strychnine, the latter being absorbed more rapidly per rectum than by the stomach. Acid solutions, if not too frequently repeated, are also well administered by this channel. Nutritive enemata must be small, not exceeding three or four fluid ounces, or they will not be retained. They become necessary in many cases, especially in cases of gastric ulcer, in order to afford rest to the stomach. It is often found advantageous to have the food predigested before being administered by the rectum, for which purpose Pancreatin is used. [Compare the articles entitled Injec- tiones and Suppositoria in Part II and Enemata in Part III.|] The Respiratory Tract admits of the rapid absorption of medicinal substances through its extensive blood-supply. The inhalation of vapors or atomized fluids, the insufflation of powders into the nares, fauces, larynx, etc., and the use of a medicated nasal douche, are methods whereby this channel may be utilized. [Compare the article entitled Inhala- tiones, in Part II.] The Veins are only used as a route of medication in emergencies, when the other channels are not available, and where immediate action is necessary to the preservation of life, the operation being a highly dan- gerous one. The injection intravenously of Saline Solutions in the col- lapse of cholera, diabetic coma, etc.,—Blood or Milk as a last resort in excessive hemorrhage, epilepsy, uraemia, the collapse of cholera, etc., and a solution of Ammonia for the bites of venomous reptiles. Hydro- cyanic-acid poisoning. Opium narcosis. Chloroform asphyxia, etc., are the instances admitted in practice. Arterial Transfusion has also been performed successfully in a number of cases, and is considered safer than venous transfusion when a large quantity of fluid has to be in- troduced into the circulation. A special apparatus is employed for these purposes, known as Aveling’s Transfusion Syringe, but the ordinary Dieulafoy’s aspirator slightly modified, may be used with safety and convenience. The danger of the operation lies in the liability of the introduction of air into the circulation, an occurrence which may cause instant death in the human subject. The Hypodermic Method is the introduction of medicines into the organism by injecting them into the subcutaneous areolar tissue, from which they are quickly absorbed by the lymphatic and capillary vessels. The great advantage of this method is the absolute certainty as to the quantity of drug actively affecting the organism, a very essential question when using small quantities, as when powerful alkaloids are employed. Another is the avoidance of reactions between the drug and the secretions of the stomach, which may destroy the activity of the former, or seri- ously change its character. The medicines must be in solution, of neu- tral reaction and freshly prepared, the usual menstruum being distilled water; though filtered spring water will answer just as well, and much better than distilled water which has been standing several days, and ex- posed from time to time to the air. The solution is to be injected beneath](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24907303_0031.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
