PRINCIPAL ALCOHOLS.

ETHYLIC ALCOHOL, Ethyl Hydrate, C,H,O,-Grain-spirit.

METHYLIC ALCOHOL, Methyl Hydrate, CH,O,-Wood-spirit.

AMYLIC ALCOHOL, Amyl Hydrate, C,H,,O,-Potato-spirit, Fusel Oil. Occurs also in the excessive distillation of fermented grain, after the ethylic alcohol has distilled over.

PHENYLIC ALCOHOL, Phenol, Carbolic Acid, CH,O,-from coal-tar (see page 60).

Composition, etc., of Alcohols.

An Alcohol is a volatile organic compound, which contains no N, has a great affinity for water, and reacts with acids, forming H2O and ethers. Alcohols are therefore analo. gous to the metallic hydrates, and Ethers to salts. They are obtained by distillation from the fermented product of grape-sugar, or some substance (as starch) easily converted into grape-sugar, which, in the presence of certain low vegetable organisms (as the yeastplant), splits up into Alcohol and CO2; and may be made synthetically by shaking Olefiant gas (CH) with strong Sulphuric Acid), then diluting and distilling. C2H1 + H ̧O = C2HO, Ethylic Alcohol. Absolute Ethylic Alcohol, which is only used for chemical testing, is made by shaking Rectified Spirit with Potassium Carbonate, decanting, and distilling with slaked lime.

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Alcohol very slowly oxidized forms Aldehyde (C2HO), if less slowly, Acetic acid (CHO), if quickly as in burning, CO, and H2O, which are in all cases the ultimate products of its continued oxidation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.

Alcohol is a cerebral excitant and depressant and a narcotic poison. It is anæsthetic, antiseptic, and antiparasitic, a mild counter-irritant, and it coagulates albumen by abstracting its water. It is very diffusible, and is partly oxidized by the organism, part being excreted unchanged.

In small doses, Alcohol relaxes the vessels, stimulates the gastric glands, promotes appetite and digestion, lessens the elimination of waste-products (urea and CO), causes a subjective sensation of heat, and slightly raises the body temperature. It briefly stimulates the heart, prolonging its systole and reducing the length of the diastole, and increases the functional activity of all the organs. A portion is oxidized by the organism (about 3js in twenty-four hours), yielding force which is utilized as nervous, muscular and glandular power.

The continued use of small or moderate doses congests the stomach and liver, over-stimulating the gastric glands and the hepatic cells to the production of pathological secretions, causing gastric catarrh and morningvomiting of mucus, and impairing digestion. By irritation it sets up hyperplasia of the submucous connective tissue (sclerosis), especially in the stomach, brain, kidneys and liver (cirrhosis); produces fatty degenera'ion (steatosis) of the blood, the arterial walls, and the various organs, and depresses the heart and the arterial tension. Epilepsy, paraplegia, ・ amaurosis and insanity may result from the long-continued use of spirits, alcohol having an especial affinity for the nervous system. The malt liquors (beer, ale, etc.) are less prone than the spirituous to affect the

brain, but are even more apt to set up fatty degeneration of the liver and heart.

In large doses Alcohol precipitates pepsin and destroys its activity as a ferment, arrests digestion, produces exhilaration, intoxication, hallucinations, delirium, muscular incoördination, depression of the heart, lowered arterial tension and body temperature, abolished reflexes and coma.

A toxic dose, after a very brief period of excitement, produces insensibility, stertorous breathing, dilated or contracted pupils, complete muscular resolution, and death by paralysis of the heart and respiration.

Acute Alcoholism may be confounded with apoplexy, opium narcosis, concussion of the brain, and even acute pneumonia,-the differential diagnosis being impossible to make in the stage of deep coma. The pupils are not a trustworthy indication, as in alcoholism they may be either dilated or contracted.

Alcohol is a food within narrow limits, 3jss per diem being the probable quantity which the adult organism can oxidize, more than this being probably poisonous, as it sets up structural changes in the various organs, and lowers the power of resistance to morbific influences. It has frequently caused an intractable form of phthisis. The very young and the very old stand more alcohol relatively than the adult. It has been proven to exist normally in the human organism.

Treatment of Acute Alcoholism.

The stomach should be evacuated, Ammonia by inhalation cautiously, warmth applied to the extremities, cold affusion to the head, faradism of the muscles of respiration. Milk, mucilaginous drinks, black coffee, are useful afterwards. Lupuline as a substitute stimu lant, Chloral (cautiously) to secure sleep, but is dangerous in old topers. Capsicum is excellent for the same purpose in 20 to 30-grain doses. Nutritious, digestible diet in fluid form and small quantity frequently repeated.

THERAPEUTICS.

Though Alcohol is decidedly injurious in health, in disease it is a most useful agent. It is invaluable in diphtheria, poisoning by cardiac depressants and snake-venom, adynamic fevers and cardiac failure from any cause. It is an excellent dressing to wounds and bed-sores, may prevent colds from exposure by relaxing the peripheral vessels and restoring the balance of the circulation, and in phthisis it does good if it promotes digestion and assimilation. In atonic indigestion of nervous and depressed subjects, cholera infantum, diarrhoea, etc., brandy is universally found to be beneficial. In the vomiting of yellow fever or of sea-sickness iced champagne is very efficient. In anæmia and chlorosis good red wines are almost indispensable, as also in convalescence from acute diseases, sudden and profuse hemorrhage, and in many other morbid conditions.

KOUMISS is an excellent food and stimulant in feeble digestion, phthisis, chronic bronchitis, and in all adynamic states in which the effects of alcohol and nutrients are indicated. The stomach is very tolerant of kou

miss even when it will bear nothing else, and as it increases the body nutrition remarkably it is of great value in the treatment of all the cachexia. Each quart is estimated to contain 4 ounces of solid food, besides 1 to 3 per cent. of alcohol. (See also under KUMYSS.)

ALLIUM, Garlic,-is the bulb of Allium sativum, a plant of the nat. ord. Liliacea, indigenous to Asia, but cultivated in Europe and America. It is sub-globular and compound, consisting of eight bulblets, covered by dry, membranous scales. Its odor is pungent and disagreeable and its taste is warm and acrid. It contains a Volatile Oil, which consists mainly of the Sulphide of Allyl (C,H),S, on which its qualities depend. Allied species are ALLIUM CEPA, the Onion, and ALLIUM PORRUM, the Leek. Syrupus Allii,--contains 15 per cent. of Garlic, Sugar 60, Dilute Acetic Acid 40 parts. Dose, 3j-iv, according to age.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION AND THERAPEUTICS.

Garlic, Leeks and Onions are stimulant to the digestion and to the nervous system, and are supposed to have a special influence upon the bronchial secretion. Garlic is also thought to be emmenagogue and anthelmintic. It promotes diaphoresis and diuresis, and acts as a tonic and carminative. Many persons use it as a condiment. Large doses will often produce gastric irritation, flatulence, hemorrhoids, headache and fever. In domestic practice it is frequently employed as an external application in the cutaneous eruptions of children, and as a poultice or liniment in infantile disorders of many kinds. Internally it is of real benefit in feeble digestion and flatulence, chronic catarrhal affections of children, in nervous and spasmodic coughs and in nervous vomiting.

ALNUS, Alder-Bark (Unofficial), is the bark of Alnus serrulata, the common American Alder, a small tree of the nat. ord. Betulaceæ. It has similar properties to those of A. glutinosa, the European Alder, and A. urcana, the Tag Alder, and contains a tannic acid, an oil and a resin. The bark and leaves are astringent and bitter, and are chiefly used as gargles for the throat, as local applications to wounds and ulcers, and to restrain the secretion of milk. Dose of the powdered bark gr. x, in decoction or infusion, several times a day. The Tag Alder is highly recommended as a hemostatic.

ALOE, Aloes,-is the inspissated juice of the leaves of Aloe socotrina, a plant of the nat. ord. Liliaceæ, inhabiting the island of Socotra and the eastern coast of Africa near the southern shore of the Red Sea. It has orange-colored flowers and resembles in appearance the American

aloe or century-plant (Agave americana). It occurs in soft masses, hard exteriorly, of a yellowish-brown color, fragrant odor and bitter taste, soluble in alcohol and in boiling water, and containing a peculiar volatile oil, a resin and Soaloin, C5H16O7, a variety of the principle Aloin, which is common to all varieties of aloes,—also Aloetic and Chrysammic Acids. Dose, gr. j-v.

Other varieties are ALOE BARBADENSIS, Barbadoes Aloes, from Aloe vulgaris; and ALOE CAPENSIS, Cape Aloes, from Aloe ferox, the first of which is official in the Br. Phar.

Preparations.

Aloe Purificata, Purified Aloes,--prepared by heating with alcohol, straining and evaporating. Is almost entirely soluble in alcohol. Dose, gr. j-v.

Extractum Aloes Aquosum,--prepared by mixing I with 10 parts of Boiling Distilled Water, standing 12 hours, decanting, straining and evaporating. Dose, gr. ss-v.

Tinctura Aloes,—has of Aloes 10, extract of Glycyrrhiza 10, Diluted Alcohol to 100 parts. Dose, 3 ss-ij.

Tinctura Aloes et Myrrha,-Aloes 10, Myrrh 10, Alcohol to 100 parts. Dose, 3 ss-ij. Vinum Aloes,-has of Aloes 6, Cardamom I, Ginger 1, Stronger White Wine to 100 parts. Dose, 3 j-iv.

Pilula Aloes, each has of Aloes gr. ij with the Pilula Aloes et Asafetida,—each contains gr. 1 Pilula Aloes et Ferri,-each pill contains gr. j Aromatic Powder, with Confection of Rose.

same quantity of Soap.
of each ingredient.

each of Aloes, Sulphate of Iron and

Pilula Aloes et Mastiches, Lady Webster's Pill,-each has of Aloes gr. ij, Mastic gr. ss, Red Rose gr. ss.

Pilula Aloes et Myrrha,-each contains of Aloes gr. ij, Myrrh gr. j, Aromatic Powder gr. ss, mixed with Syrup.

Pulvis Aloes et Canella (Unofficial),-contains the powdered bark of Canella alba. Dose, gr. v-XX.

Aloes is also a constituent of Pilula Rhei Compositæ and Tinctura Benzoini Composita (which see.)

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.

Aloes is a tonic-astringent and resin-bearing purgative, an emmenagogue and an anthelmintic against the thread-worm. As a cathartic it acts chiefly on the lower half of the large intestine, in doses of gr. j-iv producing in about 10 hours copious soft evacuations with some griping pain. This effect is produced whether the drug be taken internally or absorbed from an exposed surface, so that it probably diffuses into the blood and is eliminated by the mucous membrane of the colon. It is a stomachic tonic in small doses, a stimulant of the hepatic functions, and an excitant of the pelvic circulation. It may cause abortion in the female and priapism in the male, and is said to have frequently produced hemorrhoids, which if existing it will certainly aggravate. Given to nursing mothers. it imparts a purgative quality to their milk.

THERAPEUTICS.

Aloes is chiefly used in combination with Iron, Myrrh, Nux-vomica, etc., for amenorrhoea and chronic constipation with atonic dyspepsia and hypochondriasis. It is curative in certain forms of hemorrhoids, especially those occurring after delivery and where the condition is not one of active

pelvic congestion. It is also used internally and as an injection in gonorrhoea, and for simple atonic jaundice. It must be avoided in irritable rectum, hemorrhoids of active form, menorrhagia and pregnancy, unless given in small doses and with care. The Pil. Aloes et Ferri is perhaps the most generally useful agent in anæmia, amenorrhoea and constipation of girls at the period of puberty.

ALTHÆA, Marsh-mallow,-is the peeled root of Althea officinalis, a European plant of the nat. ord. Malvaceæ, occurring in dry cylindrical pieces, of white color, without pith, of faintly aromatic odor and sweetish mucilaginous taste. It contains about 35 per cent. each of vegetable mucus and starch, with 2 per cent. of Asparagin, also pectous matter, sugar, fixed oil, but no tannin. It is a constituent of Massa Hydrargyri and Pilula Phosphori, and is much used as an excipient in extemporaneous pharmacy. Dose, indefinite.

Syrupus Althea,-has of Althea 4 per cent., and should be freshly made. Dose, indefinite.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION AND THERAPEUTICS.

ALTHEA is one of the best mucilaginous drugs, but has no active medicinal properties. It is used in Europe to make pectoral teas and syrups, and is extensively employed as a mucilaginous demulcent. The powdered root makes a good emollient poultice. In the German Pharmacopoeia a Compound Althea Tea is official, which under the common name, "German Breast Tea," is a popular demulcent drink in bronchial affections, coughs, colds, etc.

ASPARAGIN is an organic principle, occurring in large rhombic crystals, and found in many other plants, as in the shoots of asparagus, vetches, potatoes, liquorice, the sweet almond, the root of the locust, etc. It is considered a derivative of Succinic Acid, and has diuretic properties, besides being sedative to the circulation. It may be used in ascites, especially in children, in the anasarca of Bright's disease, and in gout. Dose, gr. ij-iij, in water.

ALUMEN, ALUM, Potassa-alum,-is the Sulphate of Potassium and Aluminium, K,Al(SO,),. 24H,O, which, when the 24 molecules of water are driven off, becomes Alumen Exsiccatum, Dried Alum, K2AL(SO,).. Alum occurs in large, octahedral crystals, or cubes, of sweetish astringent taste and acid reaction. It is soluble in 101⁄2 parts of water at 59° F., and in 0.3 part of boiling water, but is insoluble in alcohol. The Ammonia-alum (Aluminii et Ammonii Sulphas) was formerly official, and is still sold and dispensed as "Alum." Dose, gr. x-xx,-as an emetic 3j for a child.