Dr. Pereira's Elements of materia medica and therapeutics : abridged and adapted for the use of medical and pharmaceutical practitioners and students and comprising all the medicines of the British Pharmacopœia, with such others as are frequently ordered in prescriptions or required by the physician / edited by Robert Bentley and Theophilus Redwood ; with an appendix.

  • Jonathan Pereira
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Pereira's Elements of materia medica and therapeutics : abridged and adapted for the use of medical and pharmaceutical practitioners and students and comprising all the medicines of the British Pharmacopœia, with such others as are frequently ordered in prescriptions or required by the physician / edited by Robert Bentley and Theophilus Redwood ; with an appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    64/1180 (page 32)
    Therapeutics.—It is used in similar cases to those which are benefited by solution of ammonia, but it is less caustic and also less stimulant. In epilepsy I have extensively employed it, and in many cases with obvious benefit. It should be given in large doses in properly diluted solutions : to adults from ten grains to a scruple. It frequently proves successful in hysterical epilepsy, and in that syncopal form of epilepsy, which Sauvages called lipothymia, and which, patients describe as ' dying away,' but the connection of which with ordinary epilepsy is shown by its occasional transition into the latter. In hysteria also it is one of our most useful and valuable remedies ; given either alone or in combination with a bitter infusion. In asthenic pneumonia and in chronic bronchitis of old persons it affords the same relief as solution of ammonia ; and in the latter disease, when expectoration is difficult, it is sometimes used as an emetic. In diabetes this salt has been recommended by Dr. Barlow, and several cases of this disease are said to have been relieved, if not cured by it. I regret that I cannot confirm Dr. Barlow's favourable notice of it. Although in some cases I have seen patients temporarily improve under its use, yet the amend- ment has been brief, and was probably referable to other circum- stances. In some cases it failed to give any relief, even after a very prolonged trial. In some cases of scrofula it has been employed with excellent effect. It is best adapted for those cases attended with a languid circulation and a dry state of skin. Combined with citric or tartaric acid it is a useful remedy in febrile cases, where the object is to promote cutaneous circulation and exhalation. Full doses of this salt have been employed in paralysis, to occasion vomi- ting. Mixed with some aromatic oil (as the oil of bergamot or lavender), it is used as & smelling salt, against syncope, hysteria, &c. As a topical agent it has been employed in aqueous solution, or made into ointment with lard. Its operation in these cases is that of a topical stimulant and rubefacient. It proves useful in rheumatic pains, sprains, &c. Administration.—As a stimulant and diaphoretic, it is used in doses of from five to twenty grains. It is usually given in solution, but sometimes in the form of pill. As an emetic, the dose is thirty grains, properly diluted, and repeated if necessary. [§ Solution of Cabbonate of Ammonia. Take of carbonate of ammonia in small pieces half an ounce ; distilled water, ten fluid ounces. Dissolve and filter.] Pharmaceutic Use.—As a test.