Minor ailments : their medical and surgical treatment / by a medical practitioner.

Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Minor ailments : their medical and surgical treatment / by a medical practitioner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    29/208 (page 17)
    good results are to ensue. A modification of the nitre paper contains also iodide of potassium with or withoufc a little chlorate. Of stramonium asthma powders, that of Sir J. Sawyer has proved reliable :— R Fol. stramon. . . . . . 51.1 Fruct. aiiisi 3] Potass, nitrat. ..... M. f. Pulvis. The leaves are coarsely powdered, as also the aniseed and nitre. To this powder mullein, tea, and tobacco are sometimes added, as also a minute proportion of arsenic. A better method of preparation than the simple mixing, is to dis- solve the nitre and arsenic (two or three grains per lb. of the powder) in a minimum quantity of hot water, mix the leaves with this, taking care that they are all uni- formly wetted by it, dry, and reduce to a coarse powder. Pyridine has been warmly recommended, but its nau- seous odour is a serious disadvantage. Niti'ite of amyl is sometimes of great value, though its effect is transient. Other remedies used by inhalation are chloroform (also transitory in effect and not free from risk), ether (safer but less eifective), ethyl iodide, and steam, either alone or in combination with antiseptic essential oils, tinctura benzoini composita, etc. Internally cliloral hydrate is very highly spoken of by some authors; doses of 15 to 20 g]*ains repeated every four hours until the spasm is relieved will often prove permanently beneficial. Other remedies of the same class are iodide of potassium (5 to 8 grains every four hours) sodium or potassium nitrite (in small repeated doses), alum (10 to 15 grns. placed dry on the tongue), stramonium or belladonna extracts {\-\ grn. before the expected attack), extract of gelsemium, grindelia, euphor- bia (1 grn.), liquid extract of quebracho (15 minims), nitroglycerine, apomorphine (J^ ^^'i^-)? antipyrine (80 grns.), caffeine, hyoscine, morphine, sti-ychnine, quinine, etc. Antispasmodics are also largely used ; it is recommended to try each in succession, in the hope that the successful remedy will be hit upon after repeated trials. C