A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    254/554 (page 242)
    employed as a wash in Leucorrhcea. Its use is for the most part con- fined to domestic medicine. Diseases of the Nose, etc.—T, F. Rumboldt (S^. Louis Med. Archives, 1873) fi'>ds the fluid extract of geranium, in the strength of one drachm to eight ounces of water, a vahiable astringent in acute cases of Naso-Pharyngeal Catarrh, accompanied with excessive secretion. Whenever a mild impression is indicated, this drug will answer a useful purpose. « GLYCERINUM. Glycerin. A liquid obtained by the decomposition of fats or fixed oils and containing not less than ninety-five per cent, of absolute glycerin. A clear, colorless liquid, of syrupy con- sistence, oily to the touch, hygroscopic, without odor, very sweet and slightly warm to the taste, and neutral in reaction. It is soluble in all proportions in water and in alcohol, also in a mixture of three parts of alcohol and one part of ether, but insoluble in ether, chloroform, benzol, or fixed oils. Its specific gravity should not be less than 1.250. (U. S. P.) It dissolves bromine, iodine, the iodide of sulphur, the chlorides of potassium and so-lium, the fixed alkalies, and some of the alkaline earths, and a large number of neutral salts (U. S. D.), as well as pepsin and the vegetable acids, creasote, carbolic acid, quinine, tannic acid, morphine, and nearly all substances which are in themselves soluble in water. Glycerin is used in order to increase the . specific gravity of fluids which are exceedingly diffused, such as tincture chloride of iron, etc. It is often mixed with carbolic acid, equal parts, and from this fifty per cent, mixture the various solutions of carbolic acid are made for disinfecting instruments, etc., the glycerin rendering the acid more readily dissolved in water than would otherwise be the case. Glycerin is bland and unirritating as a rule, but in some subjects the drug will produce severe smarting, either of the skin or mucous membrane. When diluted, one to five, this objection no longer obtains. It must be remembered that the preparations of the shops may contain glucose, alkalies, lime, chlorine, etc. The sweet taste of glycerin is conveniently covered by water or lemon juice. Glycero-gelatin contains ten per cent, of gelatin, and solidifies on cooling. ■ Glycerin is protectant, antiseptic, and relieves cedematous congestion by abstracting moisture from the tissues. General Surgery.—Glycerin is valuable as a preventive against Bed-sores. The part exposed to pressure should be washed twice daily with tepid water, carefully dried with a soft towel, and gently rubbed over with glycerin, or, if the skin be broken, glycerin-cream. A draw sheet made of linen, of sufficient width to admit of firmly tucking it into both sides of the bed, prevents the formation of folds or creases. It is important that this treatment should begin before the onset of red- ness or tenderness. In the treatment of Cold Abscess injections of iodo- form and glycerin (i-io) after the manner of Billroth are satisfactory. After the cavity is evacuated the fluid is thrown through the cannula ot the aspirator. The application is to be repeated as long as iodoform is