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.

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    nor too soft, and it seems to retain its properties indefinitely. It is, how ever, open to the serious objection of being irritating, if kept long in contact with the skin, especially when it is employed for extension, main- tained in the treatment of fractures of the lower extremity. All stages of irritation, from an erythema to deep ulceration of the skin, may be produced. In conditions where a plaster is to be kept loner in contact with the skin, resin plaster is to be preferred. Rubber plaster*^ from its very adhesive properties, is of service when applied over a band- age, assisting to keep the turns in place. It is especially useful retaining fracture dressings in the case of young children. HEMATOXYLON. Hematoxylon. Logwood. Logwood is the heart-wood of Hcematoxylon campechianum'' (U. S. P.) Its impor- tant constituents are a resin, haematoxylin, a volatile oil, and tannic acid. An extract (Extractum Hsematoxyli) of uncertain strength is official. Hematoxlyon is astringent. It enters into the composition of a lozenge, each lozenge to contain two grains of the drug. \ HAMAMELIS. Witch-hazel. The leaves of Hamainelis virginica. (U. S. P.) The only official preparation is the fluid extract, which contains in each cubic centimetre the activity of one gramme of the drug. The articles sold in this country under the various names of Pond's Extract, Distillate of Witch-hazel, Hamamelis, etc., originated in homoeopathic practice, and are believed to be weak alcoholic distillates. The volatile oil contained in the drug imparts a peculiar odor to the distillate, but it is not known to possess medicinal properties. The virtues of hamamelis are in the main dependent on the tannic acid therein contained and on the alcohol by which it is dissolved. Its preparations, therefore, are astringent and stimulant. The properties other than those above named are sedative, soothing, slightly anodyne, refrigerant and hemostatic. The local effect of hamamelis is secured in convenient form by mixing equal parts of the fluid extract and glycerin; the mixture should be thoroughly shaken each time before using. General Surgery.—As a topical application for Sprains, Bruises, Superficial Inflammations, etc., the distillate has an extensive domestic use. It is much inferior to lead water and laudanum. Hamamelis has attained some reputation as a hemostatic. Consequently it is regarded as a valuable dressing for superficial Wounds and as a reliable agent in the treatment of Capillary Hemorrhage, the bleeding from the sockets of extracted teeth, etc.