This section is from the "Encyclopedia Of Practical Receipts And Processes" book, by William B. Dick. Also available from Amazon: Dick's encyclopedia of practical receipts and processes.
Medicated Waters. These are aqueous solutions of different substances for medicinal and other purposes. The methods of preparing them generally require special arrangements to dissolve the oils, etc.. otherwise insoluble in water. (See No. 1070, etc..)
4754. Camphor Water. Pulverize 120 grains camphor in a mortar with 40 minims alcohol; triturate it first with 1/2 troy ounce carbonate of magnesia, then with 2 pints distilled water, added gradually. Filter through paper. (U. S. Ph.)
4755. Bitter Almond Water. Rub 16 minims oil of bitter almonds with 1 drachm carbonate of magnesia, adding 2 pints water gradually. Filter through paper. ( U. S. Ph.)
4756. Cinnamon Water. Treat 1/2 fluid drachm oil of cinnamon in the same manner as in the last receipt. Or, by distilling 18 troy ounces coarsely powdered cinnamon in 16 pints water, preserving only the first 8 pints of the distillate. ( U. S. Ph.)
4757. Fennel Water. Treat 1/2 fluid drachm oil of fennel in the same way as last receipt. Or, by distillation from fennel in coarse powder. ( U. S. Ph.)
4758. Peppermint Water. Same as last, using 1/2 fluid drachm oil of peppermint, or 18 troy ounces peppermint. ( U. S. Ph.)
4759. Spearmint Water. Same as last, from oil of spearmint.
4760. Lime Water. Take of lime, 2 minces; distilled water, 2 quarts. Slack the lime with a little of the water; pour on the remainder of the water and stir them together; then immediately cover the vessel and let it rest for 4 hours. Keep the solution, with the undissolved lime, in glass-stoppered bottles, and when wanted for use, pour off the clear liquor. It is an anti-acid tonic, kills worms, and frees the bowels from slimy and morbific matter. It promotes digestion; it is valuable in looseness, scrofula, diabetes, and whites. Mixed with a decoction of Peruvian bark, it wonderfully strengthens the debilitated, and those threatened with atrophy.
4761. Lobelia Water. Lobelia leaves and capsules, or powder, 1 ounce; boiling water, 1/2 pint; brandy, 1/4 pint. Infuse a week. Good for sore and inflamed eyes, erysipelas, ringworms, etc..
4762. Fever Drink. The juice of a lemon; cream of tartar, 1 tea-spoonful; water, 1 pint. Sweeten with loaf sugar. "When the patient is thirsty, let him drink freely.
4763. Saline Mixture. Take fresh lemon juice, 11/2 ounces; carbonate of potassa, 1 drachm; white sugar, 3 drachms; pure water, 12 ounces; essence of peppermint, 30 drops. Mis. A tea-cupful to be taken often in inflammatory fevers and sore throat.
4764. Tar Water. Take of tar, 2 pints; water, 1 gallon. Mix, by stirring them with a wooden rod for a quarter of an hour, and, after the tar has subsided, strain the liquor, and keep it in well-corked-phials. Tar-water should have the color of white wine, and an empyreumatic taste. It is frequently used as a remedy in chronic bronchitis. It acts as a stimulant, raising tho pulse and increasing the discharge by the skin and kidneys. It may be drunk to the extent of a pint or two in the course of a day.
4765. Tar Water. M. Magnes Lahens suggests a method of preparing this water, which is more expeditious and convenient than the plan commonly followed. He mixes the tar with sand, previously washed and dried, throws the mixture into a percolator, and shakes the instrument gently to secure proper adjustment of the mixture. Water is then poured on, tho first part of the filtrate is rejected, and the latter portion is kept for use. He uses 1/2 ounce tar and 26 ounces of sand to obtain 2 pints of the medicated water, which corresponds in strength with that of the Paris-codex.
4766. Camphor Water. Take 1/4 ounce of camphor and enclose it with a glass marble in a muslin bag; put this into a wide-mouthed bottle, such a one as is used for preserved fruit. Now fill up the bottle with water that has boiled a few minutes and has been allowed to become cold. The glass marble is used to keep the camphor from floating, which it otherwise would do. After about 3 days tho water will become saturated with the camphor, and may be poured off as required. A wine-glassful is a dose. It is very useful as an anti-spasmodic in hysteric and nervous affections.
4767. Barley Water. Wash away with cold water all extraneous matter from 2 ounces pearl barley; then boil for a short time in 1/2 pint water, throw this away, and boil the parboiled barley in 4 pints water down to 2 pints, and strain.
4768. Distilled Water. Take 10 gallons of spring water; distill it, rejecting the first quart that comes over, and preserving tho next 8 gallons of the remainder.
 
Continue to: