dose is rather small, and the following combination for a pill or tablet is suggested. In place of the belladonna, atropine sulphate could be used, 0.0003 Gm. (200 grain) to each pill or tablet. Many other combinations of so-called "A.B.S." pills or tablets are offered. ALUMEN-Alum Alum occurs as colorless crystals or white powder. It has a sweetish, astringent taste. Comment.-Alum is an astringent and an emetic. There is no use for this preparation internally. Alum pencils or cakes are used as an astringent in cankers, on the face after shaving, or to harden any part of the skin; they are, also, used on granular eye-lids and on herpes zoster (cold sores). Alum curds have been used for inflammations of the eye (2 Gm. of alum to the white of one egg). Alum should not be used as a mouth wash or as a gargle, as it is not good for the teeth. It may be used in 1 or 2 per cent. solution as a vaginal douche for leucorrhea, and in stronger solutions for pruritus ani and vulvae. It should probably be used more frequently as a sedative astringent in skin diseases. The official Alumini Hydroxidum is an efficient dusting and drying powder. The official Alumen Exsiccatum (Dried Alum-Burnt Alum) is a mild escharotic. AMMONII CARBONAS Ammonium carbonate occurs in hard white masses, having a strong odor of ammonia. It is soluble in water. Comment. This preparation is irritating and nauseating, of doubtful value as a stimulant, and as an expectorant ammonium chloride is better. The official preparation (Spiritus Ammonia Aromaticus) so long used as a cardiac stimulant, is of doubtful value, except for the action of the alcohol that it contains. AMMONII CHLORIDUM Ammonium chloride occurs in white crystals or granular powder, has a disagreeable saline taste, and is very soluble in water. The average dose is 0.30 Gm. (5 grains). Preparation. Trochisci Ammonii Chloridi. Each troche contains 12 grains of ammonium chloride. Comment. This salt is generally given combined, and should be taken well diluted. As an expectorant it may be given in the above dose every two or three hours. As it is disagreeable, it is best given in a sour preparation, as: Ammonium chloride.. Syrup of citric acid.. Water up to...... 5 Gm. 25 mils 100 mils Mix and sign: A teaspoonful, in plenty of water, every two or three hours. If it is desired, codeine sulphate may be added to this mixture for sedative purposes. AMYLIS NITRIS Amyl nitrite is a clear or yellowish liquid, has a pungent, fruity odor, and is very volatile. Comment. This preparation is best obtained in glass ampules, to be crushed and the contents inhaled. ANTIMONII ET POTASSII TARTRAS-Tartar Emetic Antimony and potassium tartrate occurs as colorless crystals or a white powder and has a sweet but disagreeable taste. Comment. It is an emetic, is depressant to the circulation and nervous system, and increases the secretions. Small doses long continued may cause serious chronic poisoning, simulating that of arsenic and phosphorus. Acute poisoning causes collapse. The treatment of such poisoning is to wash out the stomach, give tannic acid, and cardiac supporting treatment. There is no use for this drug. The official preparation which contains it, Mistura Glycyrrhiza Composita (Brown Mixture), is not needed. ANTIPYRINA-Phenazone Antipyrine occurs as a white crystalline powder, has a slightly bitter, disagreeable taste, and is very soluble in water. Comment. The average dose is 0.50 Gm. (71⁄2 grains), best administered in a capsule. The capsule may be uncapped before taking with plenty of water. APOMORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDUM Apomorphine hydrochloride is the salt of an alkaloid prepared from morphine, and occurs in minute whitish prisms. It is not very soluble in water. Comment. This preparation should be used only as an emetic, and best hypodermatically, in the dose of 0.006 Gm. (10 grain). AQUA HAMAMELIDIS-Distilled Extract of Witchhazel Witchhazel water is a colorless liquid, is mildly astringent, and is very popular for use on the skin and mucous membranes. ARGENTI NITRAS Silver nitrate occurs as colorless crystals, which are very soluble in water. Both crystals and solutions soon turn black on exposure to light. Comment. There is no excuse for using silver nitrate internally. It may be used externally in solutions of various strength for its stimulating and escharotic action. The official preparation, Argenti Nitras Fusus (Lunar Caustic), occurs as white soluble pencils, which are used for escharotic purposes. ARSENI IODIDUM Arsenous iodide occurs as orange-red crystals or powder, which are soluble in water. The average dose is 0.005 Gm. (2 grain). Comment. The action of this salt is that of arsenic. Its only preparation, Liquor Arseni et Hydrargyri Iodidi (Donovan's Solution), is superfluous and unnecessary. ARSENI TRIOXIDUM-Arsenous Acid-White Arsenic Arsenic trioxide occurs as an opaque white powder or in It is soluble in water, and the average dose is 0.002 Gm. (30 grain). masses. Preparation.—Liquor Potassii Arsenitis (Fowler's Solution). This is a 1 per cent. solution of trioxide of arsenic, the average dose of which is 0.2 mil (3 minims). ASAFETIDA Asafetida occurs as a gum-resin. Comment.-Asafetida is a carminative like onions and garlic, and is of no use in medicine, except in flatulence and intestinal inertia. It has been thought to be of special value for tympanites after laparotomy, but hypodermatic injections of ergot and pituitary extracts are much more efficient. Intestinal paresis will not as frequently occur when strong purgation is not caused before operation. The best method of administering asafetida is by means of the official pill. Each pill contains 3 grains of asafetida and the dose is one or two pills. ASPIDIUM-Male Fern Aspidium occurs as the rhizome and stipes of the plant. Preparation. Oleoresina Aspidii. Comment. This drug is used only for the eradication of tapeworms, and generally in the form of the oleoresin. An overdose may cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and convulsions. In the treatment of tapeworm the method is to starve, purge, give the dose of the oleoresin of aspidium, then to purge again, as the drug must not be allowed to remain long in the bowels lest a poisonous amount be absorbed. Oil should not be administered before, with, or directly after the oleoresin. The oleoresin is well given in capsules, each capsule containing 0.50 Gm. (71⁄2 grains). Two of these capsules, representing I Gm., should be taken at the time directed, with plenty of water, and just before swallowing the capsules should be uncapped. The same dose should be repeated in two hours, namely, two capsules (1 Gm.). In two more hours a purgative should be administered. ASPIDOSPERMA-Quebracho Comment. This drug has been recommended for use in asthma. It is of doubtful efficiency, and is used only as the official fluid-extract, Fluidextractum Aspidospermatis, in doses of about a teaspoonful. It has also been used in the form of the alkaloid, aspidospermine. ATROPINA Atropine is an alkaloid of belladonna. Comment.-Atropine is used mostly in the form of the sulphate, Atropina Sulphas, which occurs as a white crystalline powder, very soluble in water. The average dose is 0.0005 Gm. (120 grain). BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM Balsam of Peru is a viscid liquid of a dark brown color, and has a pleasant odor. Comment. It is used externally as a mild antiseptic and stimulant to indolent ulcerated surfaces. It is an efficient parasiticide in scabies. BALSAMUM TOLUTANUM Preparation.-Syrupus Tolutanus. Comment.-Balsam of Tolu is used principally in the form of the syrup as a pleasant menstruum in cough mixtures. BELLADONNÆ FOLIA_BELLADONNÆ RADIX-Deadly The leaves and root of Atropa Belladonna. Preparations.-Emplastrum Belladonna; Unguentum Bella donna. Comment. There are other preparations of belladonna, but as atropine represents the whole activity of belladonna, there is no necessity for the use of any preparations except those above named. The ointment of belladonna contains 10 per cent. of the drug and is slightly sedative to the part to which it is applied. The plaster of belladonna is sedative. Too large a plaster should not be used at once, as the atropine in the plaster can be absorbed and cause belladonna and atropine poisoning. The official liniment of belladonna is an inexcusable preparation. It is too dangerous for use. |