This section is from the book "Facts Worth Knowing", by Robert Kemp Philip. Also available from Amazon: Inquire Within for Anything You Want to Know.
Dose from one-sixth of a grain to four grains.
Caution. It is a poison, and there fore requires great care in its administra-tion.
2754. Antimonial powder is a diaphoretic, emetic, and alterative.
It is given internally in febrile diseases, to produce determination to the skin; in rheumatism, when combined with opium or calomel, it is of great benefit.
Dose from three grains to one scru ple every four hours, taking plenty of warm fluids between each dose.
2755. Sarsaparilla is diaphoretic alterative, diuretic and tonic.
It is given internally in cutaneous diseases, old - standing rheumatism, scrofula, and debility.
Dose of the decoction, from four to eight ounces; of the compound decoction, from four to eight ounces; of the extract, from five grains to one drachm.
2756. Expectorants are medicines given to promote the secretion from the windpipe, etc. They consist of an timony, ipecacuanha, squills, ammonia-cum, and tolu.
2757. Ammoniacum is an expecto rant, anti-spasmodic, and deobstruent.
It is used externally as a discutient, and is given internally, with great be nefit, in asthma Lysteria, and chronid catarrh.
Dose, from ten to thirty grains.
2758. Tolu is an excellent expecto rant, when there are no inflammatory symptoms.
It is given internally in asthma and chronic.
Dose of the balsam, from five to thirty grains, combined with mucilage and suspended in water; of the tincture, from a half to two drachms; of the syrup, from a half to four drachms.
2759. Sialogogues are given to increase the flow of saliva or spittle. They consist of ginger and calomel.
2760. Ginger is a sialogogue, carminative, and stimulant.
It is used internally in flatulent colic, dyspepsia, and to prevent the griping of medicines. When chewed, it acts as a sialogogue, and is therefore useful in relaxed uvula.
Dose, from ten to twenty grains of the powder; of the tincture, from ten minims to one drachm.
2761. We shall pass over the class of errhines or medicines to cause sneezing, to consider Epispastics and Rubefacients; or those remedies which are applied to blister and cause redness of the surface. They consist of cantharides, ammonia, Burgundy pitch, and mustard.
9762. Cantharides or Spanish flies, when used internally, are diuretic and stimulant; and epispastic and rubefacient when applied externally.
Mode of Application. - A portion of the blistering plaster is spread with the thumb upon brown paper, linen, or leather, to the size required; its surface then slightly moistened with olive oil and sprinkied with camphor, and the plaster applied by a light bandage.
Caution. - If a blister is to be applied to the head, shave it at least ten hours before it is put on; and it is better to place a thin piece of gauze, wetted with vinegar, between the skin and the blister. If a distressing feeling be experienced about the bladder, give warm and copious draughts of linseed-tea, milk, or decoction of quince-seeds, and apply warm fomentations of milk and water to the blistered surface.
The period required for a blister to remain on varies, from eight to ten hours for adults, and from twenty minutes to two hours for children: as soon as it is removed, if the blister is not raised, apply a "spongio-piline" poultice, and it will then rise properly When it is required to act as a rubefacient, the blister should remain on from one to three hours for adults, and from fifteen to forty minutes for children.
To dress a blister: - Cut the bag of cuticle containing the serum at the lowest part, by snipping it with the scissors, so as to form an opening like this - V; and then apply a piece of calico spread with spermaceti or some other dressing.
Caution. Never attempt to exhibit cantharides internally, as it is a poison, and requires extreme caution in its use even by medical men.
2763. Burgundy pitch is warmed and spread upon linen or leather, and applied over the chest in cases of catarrh, difficult breathing, and hooping-cough , over the loins in debility or lumbago; and over any part that it is desirable to excite a mild degree of inflammation in.
 
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