PART II

DRUGS

In this age of antitoxins, serums, vaccines and organotherapy, and the consequent tendency to drug nihilism, it is well to study from a therapeutic standpoint the really useful drugs. These drugs are presented in three ways:

First, as the valuable drugs and preparations of the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Second, as a classification of useful drugs, based on their therapeutic uses.

Third, as a brief description of the action, uses, and methods of administration of the most therapeutically active of these drugs.

ALPHABETICAL LIST

OF

VALUABLE DRUGS AND PREPARATIONS OF THE U. S. P.

ACACIA-Gum Arabic

Preparations. Mucilago Acacia; Syrupus Acacia.

Comment. All preparations of acacia should be freshly

made.

ACETANILIDUM-Antifebrin

Acetanilid occurs as a white crystalline powder, which is slightly soluble in water.

Comment. The average dose is 0.10 Gm. (11⁄2 grains), best administered in powder or in tablet (to be crushed before swallowing) and taken with plenty of water.

ACETPHENETIDINUM-Phenacetin

Acetphenetidin occurs as a white crystalline powder, is insoluble in water, and the average dose is 0.30 Gm. (5 grains). Comment. It is best administered in powder or tablet (to be crushed before swallowing) and taken with plenty of water.

ACIDUM ACETICUM GLACIALE

Comment.-Glacial acetic acid is a colorless liquid used only as an escharotic.

ACIDUM BORICUM-Boracic Acid

Boric acid occurs as transparent scales or white powder, and is soluble in 4 or 5 per cent. of water.

Preparations. Glyceritum Boroglycerini; Unguentum Acidi

Borici.

Comment.-Boric acid should not be used internally. It is very valuable locally in inflammations of mucous membranes, on wounds and local infections, best in saturated solutions, which is about 4 per cent. in cold water. It is used as a dusting powder and for dressings. The ointment contains 10 per cent. of boric acid.

ACIDUM CITRICUM

Citric acid is obtained from the juice of limes or lemons, and occurs as colorless prisms or as a white powder, is very soluble in water, and the average dose is 0.50 Gm. (71⁄2 grains). Preparation.-Syrupus Acidi Citrici.

Comment. The syrup of citric acid contains 1 per cent. of citric acid and I per cent. of tincture of lemon peel, and is a very useful addition to prescriptions that need a little sweetening, but not the sweet furnished by a thick nauseating syrup.

ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUM DILUTUM—Diluted Muriatic

Acid

Diluted hydrochloric acid is a colorless liquid representing 10 per cent. of hydrochloric acid.

Comment. It aids gastric digestion, stimulates intestinal secretions, and increases the acidity of the urine. It is useful in all cases of insufficient hydrochloric acid in the stomach, is often useful in anorexia, and is of benefit when there is a flabby, coated tongue. The average dose is 0.5 mil (7 minims), which should be taken well diluted, after meals. More water should be taken afterwards to thoroughly cleanse the mouth.

ACIDUM NITRICUM

Nitric acid is a fuming liquid, which is used only as an escharotic.

ACIDUM PHENYLCINCHONINICUM-A tophan-Cinchophen Phenylcinchoninic acid occurs as small needles or as a yellowish-white powder, has a bitter taste, and is soluble in

water.

Comment. It is best given in powder or capsule, and the average dose is 0.30 Gm. (5 grains). Large doses are likely to cause a large output of uric acid in the urine.

ACIDUM PHOSPHORICUM DILUTUM

Diluted phosphoric acid is a clear, colorless liquid representing 10 per cent. of phosphoric acid.

Comment. This preparation has no other action than that of a pleasant acid. The dose is 1 mil (15 minims), given well diluted.

ACIDUM SALICYLICUM

Salicylic acid occurs in fine needles or as a crystalline powder, has a disagreeable, sweet taste, and is slightly soluble in water. The average dose is 0.75 Gm. (12 grains).

Comment. Salicylic acid is used externally as an antiseptic and as a mild escharotic. To remove warts, corns and callous skin it may be used in 10 to 20 per cent. ointment, or in a solution of collodion, 1 Gm. to 30 mils. When administered internally it should be ordered in powder to be taken with a large amount of water, but, as it is likely to cause nausea and vomiting, it is much better to use the salt, sodium salicylate, rather than this preparation.

ACIDUM TANNICUM-Tannin

Tannic acid occurs as a yellowish-white powder, is disagreeably astringent in taste, and is soluble in water and glycerin. The average dose is 0.50 Gm. (71⁄2 grains).

Preparations. Glyceritum Acidi Tannici; Trochisci Acidi Tannici; Unguentum Acidi Tannici.

Comment.-Tannic acid is disagreeable and nauseating, and for action on the bowels is best administered in capsule. It is not much used internally, as pleasanter preparations of tannic acid can be obtained. I or 2 per cent. solutions of tannic acid, or a 5 per cent. solution of glycerite of tannin may be used as mouth washes or gargles, and tannic acid troches may be dissolved in the mouth for local astringent effect. Each troche contains I grain of tannin. The ointment contains 20 per cent. of tannin.

ACIDUM TARTARICUM

Tartaric acid occurs as a white powder, has an acid taste, and is very soluble in water. The average dose is 0.50 Gm. (71⁄2 grains).

Comment.-Tartaric acid is rarely given internally, except in effervescing combinations. It is contained in the white paper of the official Compound Effervescing Powder (Seidlitz Powder).

ACIDUM TRICHLORACETICUM

Trichloracetic acid occurs in crystals, which are very soluble in water.

Comment. This acid is used only externally, in saturated solution, as an escharotic, and is said to be a specific for Vincent's angina. After a thorough application it should be neutralized with a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate.

ACONITUM-Monkshood

Aconite is used only in its preparations, the best of which is Tinctura Aconiti.

Comment.-The tincture of aconite contains 10 per cent of aconite, and the average dose of an active preparation is one drop every half hour until there is evidence of its physiologic action. The official alkaloid Aconitina is too strong a preparation to be used in medicine; a very small dose has no value and a larger dose may cause toxic symptoms.

ADEPS BENZOINATUS

Comment.-Benzoinated lard contains 1 per cent. of benzoin.

ADEPS LANE-Wool Fat

Comment.-Anhydrous lanolin is used externally only, and will take up twice its weight in water, with which it readily mixes.

ADEPS LANE HYDROSUS-Lanolin

Comment.-Hydrous wool fat contains 25 to 30 per cent. of water. It is very soothing to the skin.

ETHER-Ether

Comment.-There is no use for ether or its official preparation, Spiritus Etheris, internally.

ÆTHYLIS CHLORIDUM

Ethyl chloride occurs as a white volatile liquid in hermetically sealed containers. It is sprayed upon a part to cause freezing and local anesthesia.

ALOE

Aloes occurs as a yellowish or brownish powder.

Preparations. Pilula Aloes; Pilula Rhei Compositæ, Aloinum, which occurs as a fine, crystalline yellow powder, of an intensely bitter taste, and represents the activities of aloes.

Comment.-Aloes is a stimulant to the muscular coat of the intestine, especially the large intestine, and may congest and irritate the rectum and pelvic organs; hence it is generally best not to administer aloes, except in small doses, during pregnancy, when there are hemorrhoids, or when there is rectal or pelvic inflammation. Large doses cause colicky pains, and hence it is not a good purgative, but aloes, best in the form of aloin or in one of the pills, is a good laxative, generally best given in combination. It should be given in pill, in capsule, or in tablet, either at bedtime or directly after the evening meal. Aloes should not be given to nursing mothers, as it is excreted in the milk. Each official pill of aloes contains 2 grains. The dose is one or two pills. Each of the compound rhubarb pills contains 11⁄2 grains of aloes and 2 grains of rhubarb. The dose is one or two pills. The average dose of aloin is 0.015 Gm. (14 grain). This