The following examples of prescriptions for emulsions will represent those generally met with: Cod-liver Oil Emulsion. Alkaline Emulsion of Copaiba. Liq. Potassæ, R. Copaibæ, Vini, Albi, 3iss. Ac. Phos. Dil., 3iij. Aq. Amygd. Amar, ad 3viij. Aq. Menth, Viridis, ad Misce, et fiat emulsio. Misce, et fiat emulsio. Sig.-Tablespoonful doses. Sig.-Tablespoonful doses, Elixirs (Elixiria),—are mixtures containing alcohol, water and sugar, with certain medicinally active ingredients, and supposed to be so prepared as to be particularly palatable, which is seldom true. There is one official elixir, Elixir Aurantii (see ante, page 91), which may be used as a basis for the extemporaneous prescribing of these preparations. The manufacturers have put on the market a great variety of elixirs, and most druggists keep a stock of them on hand prepared in the shop; but they may be ordered by prescription just as any other mixture would be. The substances generally used in this form are as follows: Many of these agents are combined with each other, as in the Elixir of Bismuth and Strychnine; Elixir of Calisaya, Iron and Strychnine; Elixir of Gentian with Tincture of Chloride of Iron; Elixir of Iron, Quinine and Strychnine, etc., etc. A Draught (Haustus),—is an extemporaneous mixture consisting of a single dose, and usually ordered in a vial containing from one to two fluidounces. Effervescing Draught is one of the best known. It is prepared by neutralizing a watery solution of Potassium Bicarbonate with Lemon-juice or Citric Acid, and may be drank during effervescence. When the CO, has escaped it is a solution of Potassium Citrate in water, and corresponds to the official Mistura Potassii Citratis, or Neutral Mixture. (See ante, page 310.) Black Draught is another well-known preparation of this class. It is official as Infusum Sennæ Compositum. (See ante, page 354.) EXTEMPORANEOUS PREPARATIONS. 493 A Drink (Potus),—is a solution or a mixture intended to be used ad libitum, and generally consists of a Potassium or Sodium salt, or a mineral acid, in dilute solution, sweetened and flavored. The "Imperial Drink" is made after the following formula: R. Potassii Bitartratis, zij; Olei Limonis, mv; Aquæ Bullientis, q. s. ad 3xx. M. Fiat potus. Sig.-Use as a drink. A Gargle (Gargarysma),—is a mixture or solution for application to the pharynx or to the mouth (mouth-wash). It should never contain any active drug, which would produce dangerous symptoms if swallowed; nor any agent which would injure the teeth or the mucous membrane. Gargles are ordered and compounded in the same manner as mixtures. They usually contain astringent or disinfecting salts (Alum, Borax, Sulphate of Zinc, Chlorate of Potassium), with a vegetable astringent, and often Honey. The following formulæ will illustrate prescriptions of this class. A Lotion (Lotio) or Wash,—is a solution or mixture of medicinal agents, intended for external application; and usually consists of some soluble, astringent salt, dissolved in water, with perhaps some glycerin or alcohol. A Fomentation (Fotus) is a similar preparation used hot. A Collyrium is an eye-wash, and generally contains a soluble astringent salt dissolved in rose-water or distilled water, in the proportion of gr. j-iv to the 3. The only official preparation suitable for a lotion is the Liquor Plumbi Subacetatis Dilutus, or Lead-water. A well-known anodyne, refrigerant and astringent lotion is that represented by the first two of the following prescriptions. Liniments (Linimenta),—are mixtures intended for external application to the skin with friction. The official liniments are solutions of various substances in oily liquids or in alcoholic liquids containing fatty oils, and are enumerated on page 457. Extemporaneous liniments may correspond to the official ones or they may be simple mixtures of fluids without either fat or soap. A prescription for each kind is appended. The official Linimentum Saponis (Soap Liniment) is a good basis for extemporaneous preparations of this class. An Embrocation is a similar preparation, but of thinner consistence. The term is almost obsolete. Injections (Injectiones), -are liquid preparations intended for introduction into the cavities of the body by means of a syringe. When thrown into the rectum they are termed Enemas (Enemata), or Clysters, and are usually prepared at the bedside. Enemata may be demulcent, laxative, nutritive, stimulant, or vermifuge in character; and always have warm or tepid water as their diluent, with which are incorporated such medicaments as may be EXTEMPORANEOUS PREPARATIONS. 495 desired. They may consist simply of water to act as a wash for the cleansing of the bowel. Injections are termed vaginal, urethral, vesical, nasal, hypodermic, etc., according to the locality in which they are employed. Special forms of syringes are employed for each kind, the discussion of which belongs rather to the domain of surgery than that of medicine. Those used for the nasal cavities are often arranged with small holes or an atomizing attachment, so as to deliver the injection in the form of a fine spray. A Collunarium is a nasal douche or wash. In the appendix will be found a list of formulæ for hypodermic injections; a few prescriptions for other forms are appended below. Baths (Balnea),-are often medicated, and then become medicinal preparations. The ingredients only are ordered in a prescription, as per the following examples, each of which is intended for a bath of 25 to 30 gallons: SOLID EXTEMPORANEOUS PREPARATIONS. Pills (Pilulæ),—are described on page 460, where also the official pills are enumerated. They constitute a form of medicine very much used in extemporaneous pharmacy, and one with the preparation of which the compounder should be perfectly familiar, for it will constitute fully one-third of his work at the dispensing counter. Pills should not exceed 5 grains in weight, unless the ingredients are very heavy, as Bismuth, Calomel, Hydrargyrum cum Creta, etc., of which 6, 8 or 10 grains may be made into a pill which may be readily swallowed. A Bolus is a similar mass, but larger than a pill, while the names Granule and Parvule are given to masses smaller than the average pill. THE PROCESS OF PILL-MAKING is briefly as follows: The ingredients ordered in the prescription are separately weighed out in the order of their bulk, commencing with that one of which the smallest quantity is to be used. If any require pulverization they should first be placed in the mortar, and reduced to powder; then the other dry ingredients, next the soft extracts and the excipient selected, and the whole is worked up into a mass, the Pill-mass, by the aid of the mortar and pestle. The perfect pillmass should be uniform throughout, should not show any particles of any one ingredient, should have such a consistence that the pills made from it will retain their shape, should not be too hard, nor too dry, nor should it stick to the fingers. The mortar should be large and shallow, of unpolished wedgwood ware; having a thick, smooth and well-formed bottom, and a pestle which fits it. The operation of working up the mass is one of kneading it between the end of the pestle and the side of the mortar, and if proper ingredients and excipient are used, and if the work is well done, the mass will eventually loosen itself from both mortar and pestle. If it does not do so it should be removed with a spatula when sufficiently worked, and may then be kneaded for a few minutes between the fingers. It should then be placed upon the tile or slab previously dusted with a little Lycopodium or Starch |