Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan.
- John Neligan
- Date:
- 1849
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
163/504
![caused by paralysis of the neck of the bladder, and when it occurs in young persons during sleep. They have also been highly praised by many as a remedy for gleet, leucorrhcea, and chronic mucous dis- charges from the urinary organs. Dose and Mode of Administration.—Cantharides are seldom employed internally in the form of powder, the dose is gr. ss. to gr. ij. made intopill with extract of liquorice or conserve of roses.—Tinctura Cantharidis, D. L. E. (Cantharides, (in powder, D. bruised, L.), 5ij- (§ss. L. E.) [§i. U. S.]; proof spirit, by measure ftuss. (Oij., [U. S.] L. E.) ; digest for 7 (14, L.) days, strain (express strongly the residuum and filter the liquor, E.) This tincture may be ob- tained more conveniently and expeditiously by percolation, provided the cantharides be reduced to coarse powder, and left with a little of the spirit in the state of pulp for 12 hours before the process of perco- lation is commenced, E.). Dose, min. x. gradually increased to min. xl.; it should be given in an ounce at least of some emulsion, or of decoction of linseed or barley. In cases of poisoning with cantharides, we are not acquainted with any antidote; but emetics, emollient and mucilaginous drinks, blood- letting general and local, opiates by the mouth and rectum, and general antiphlogistic treatment, should be resorted to. Digitalis purpurea, folia, D. Digitalis folia et semina, T,. Digitalis, E.—[U. S.] The leaves {and seeds, L.) of Digitalis purpurea. Fox-glove. An indigenous, biennial herb ; belonging to the Natural family Scrophulariaceoe, and to the Linnsean class and order Didynamia Angiospermia. Botanical Characters.—Stem erect, three to four feet high, with a pur- plish hue ; Leaves, large, veiny, ovato-lanceolate, crenate, downy, purplish on their under surface; Flowers, numerous, purple, spotted within, drooping, in very long spikes. Preparation.—The leaves are gathered in the months of June and July, just before the plant comes into flower, and the mid-rib and stalk removed ; they are dried with stove heat, in a dark place. The seeds are gathered when fully ripe, they are very seldom employed. Physical Properties.—The dried leaves of digitalis when proper- ly preserved, are of a bright green colour, they have scarcely any odour, but the taste is nauseous and acrid. Chemical Properties.—They consist of volatile oil, a concrete flocculent volatile matter, fatty matter, extractive, tannin, &c, and a peculiar principle recently discovered by M. M. Homolle and Quevenne and named by them digitaline, which will be described in the chapter on Sedatives. The leaves yield their active properties to water, alcohol, ether, and the weak acids. The sesqui-salts of iron produce a dark, and solution of gelatin a white flaky precipitate with infusion of digitalis, indicating the presence of tannin. Adulterations.—The leaves of several species of Verbascum are often offered for sale for those of digitalis ; the botanical characters should be therefore attended to. The powder should be of a fine green colour, and possess the acrid taste of the fresh plant. Therapeutical Effects.—Digitalis, in small doses gradually aug- mented, operates as a special stimulant to the kidneys, increasing the secretion of urine ; in somewhat larger doses, or when its use is con-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21143602_0163.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
