Syllabus of the course of lectures on materia medica and pharmacy : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania / by George B. Wood.

  • George Bacon Wood
Date:
1840
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Syllabus of the course of lectures on materia medica and pharmacy : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania / by George B. Wood. 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.)

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    Shape, size, general aspect, and consistence of the pieces—difference between the cor- tical and central portion—colour—odour—taste—colour of the powder—relations to water and alcohol. Active ingredient, a peculiar principle called colombin. Besides this, a large proportion of starch, according to Planchc 33 per cent.—also mucilage, and a little volatile oil. Nothing incompatible chemically, which is likely to be associated with it in prescription, unless, perhaps, iodine. Medical properties and uses. Frequently combined with other tonics, purgatives, aromatics, and antacids. Used in powder, infusion, and tincture. Dose of the powder, 10 to 30 grains—of the infusion made in the proportion of §ss. to Oj., from fgj. to fgij.—of the tincture, f^j. to fgss. The infusion soon undergoes spontaneous change from the presence of starch. Numerous other bitters analogous to those mentioned; but at present little used, and not wanted. 2. Bitters of peculiar or modified properties. These may be subdivided into 1. those having a peculiar alkaline principle, as Peruvian bark, 2. those in which the bitter principle is modified by combination with a sedative prin- ciple, as wild-cherry bark, and 3. those in which it is associated with a stimulant principle, usually a volatile oil, as serpentaria. PERUVIAN BARK.—CINCHONA. U.S. Bark of different species of Cinchona—natives of the Andes—and extending from La Paz in Bolivia, to Santa Martha on the North Coast. Not certainly known from what particular species the different varieties of bark are de- rived. The classification of the British Pharmacopseias in this respect entirely erroneous. Three officinal varieties; 1. pale bark (cinchona pallida), 2. yellow bark (cinchona flava), and 3. red bark (cinchona rubra). All the varieties strictly officinal are brought from the Pacific Coast of South America. Those brought from the northern ports arc considered inferior, and thrown together under the name of Carthagena barks. 1. Pale bark. Embraces the commercial varieties called Loxa and Lima barks. Named from the colour of the powder. Called gray bark by the French. Description of the pale bark—colour of the powder—sensible properties. 2. Yellow bark. This is the variety denominated in commerce Callisaya bark. Wholly different from the commonyellow, which is a variety of Carthagena bark, and should not be considered as properly officinal. Called by the French writers royal yellow bark. Description of the yellow or Callisaya bark. Two varieties, the quilled and the flat— differences between them—colour of the powder—sensible properties of yellow bark. ' 3. Red bark. Quilled and flat—description—colour of the powder—sensible properties. Of these varieties the most efficient arc the yellow and red—the least disagreeable, the pale. Carthagena barks. Varieties—signs by which distinguished. Active ingredients of bark, two alkaline principles called quinia and cinchonia, combined with kinic acid. Other principles of bark. Difference in composition between the pale, yellow, and red barks. ■' Quinia. Description of its properties—outline of the mode of preparing it—sulphate of quinia one of the officinal preparations of bark. V Cinchonia. Differences between it and quinia. Both alkalies form salts of difficult solubility with tartaric, oxalic, and gallic acids. v^ lncompatibles. All substances which occasion precipitates with bark are not incompati- ble in prescription, as the substance precipitated is frequently not the active principle. The alkalies and alkaline earths and astringent infusions, may be considered as incompatible— the former precipitating the alkaline principles in a separate state, the latter forming with them insoluble compounds. Effects of bark on the system. At the same time that it is tonic, it exerts an influence peculiar to itself, and this influence is found to be incompatible with the existence of perio- dical or intermittent diseases. There are, therefore, two different and highly important properties of bark, therapeutically considered, viz. the anti-intermittent and tonic. Expla- nations on this point. Diseases to which bark is applicable as anti-intermittent, and speculations on its mode of action. Therapeutical applications as a tonic. Bark most powerful in substance. Disadvantages of this mode of administration. Only given in cases where a powerful anti-intermittent operation is required. Power increased by combination with opium and aromatics. Dose, £j. repeated so frequently that from ^j. to ]|ij. may be taken between the paroxysms. Best mode of administering bark in sub- X H