$2atment.

Water. 2; Benzoinated Lard, 93.

ses to the tincture of iodine, but is enetrates the tissues more deeply.

SULPHUR.

Suris; lodure de Soufre, Fr.; Jod

4 Rubbed together and heated.

ss very easily decomposed, setting free iodine, parts to it irritant properties. It has been eczema, lepra, and lupus, and applied exterbe ezen of ointment in the same class of cases. It is ats present. Is made into an ointment with from three

to owelve parts of excipient.

SINAIS ALBA White Mustard.

So 129 in diameter (Nat. Ord. Cruciferæ, Siliquosæ).

SINAPIS NIGRA-Black Mustard.

Sodiwm in diameter.

Fach of these seeds, when reduced to powder and mixed with warm water, gives rise, from the action of myrosin upon two dderent principles, sinalbin and sinigrin, to two oils containing sulphur, and possessing acrid properties. That from black mustard is officinal (see below). Both kinds contain a bland fixed

The grocer's ground mustard is usually a mixture of the two kinds, and may be more or less adulterated in addition.

Mustard is employed as an irritant by mixing into a paste with warm (not cold or hot) water, to be enclosed between two layers of cloth. It rapidly produces rubefaction, with considerable burning sensation, and, if left too long, may blister. This accident is undesirable, as the surface is likely to be slower in healing than if caused by some other means, and is to be avoided by tunely removal. The average time for which the paste may be lett on is half an hour, but many delicate skins will not bear so much as this. On the other hand, the mustard, especially if adulterated, will often produce no decided effect in a considerably longer time than this.

If a diluent is desired, any convenient domestic meal may be employed.

If a gentle rubefaction over a large surface is desired, the mustard may be mixed with the water of a foot, or even a full bath.

Fow preparations are more frequently employed, both by the

physician and the laity, for the relief of thoracic or abdominal pain, with slight regard to its origin.

Applied over a considerable surface, as in a bath or cloths wrung out in mustard water, the amount of blood which may be drawn to the skin from the deeper organs is very considerable. This procedure is of value in congestion of the brain, or in the forming stage of some acute thoracic affections. An extensive. but mild application, as in a full bath with a small amount of mustard, is said to act as a hypnotic.

CHARTA SINAPIS.-Mustard Paper.

Consists of black mustard powdered, from which the fixed oil has been removed by benzine, attached to paper by solution of gutta percha.

This paper should be dipped in warm water for about fifteen seconds, and then makes a convenient and cleanly form of application.

OLEUM SINAPIS Volatile.-VOLATILE OIL OF (BLACK) MUSTARD

is too intense in its action for practical use. It is an ingre

dient of

LINIMENTUM SINAPIS COMPOSITUM.-COMPOUND LINIMENT OF MUSTARD. Vol. Oil of Mustard, 3; Extract of Mezereum, 2; Camphor, 6; Castor Oil, 15; Alcohol to 100.

Which may be used as a counter-irritant.

MEZEREUM.

Cortex Thymelea vel Coccognidii-Mezereon Bark, E.; Ecorce de Mézéréon, de Garou, de Lauréole, de Thymelée, Fr.; Seidelbastrinde, Kellerhalsrinde, G. The bark of Daphne Mezereum, and of other species of Daphne (Nat. Ord. Thymelacea).

This bark contains an acrid resin and is a gastro-intestinal irritant and cutaneous vesicant. Its retention in the materia medica is rather dependent upon tradition than upon its proved usefulness.

EXTRACTUM MEZEREI.-EXTRACTUM MEZEREI FLUIDUM.

UNGUENTUM MEZEREI.-MEZEREUM OINTMENT.

Pommade Epispastique au Garou, Fr.; Seidelbastsalbe, G.

Fluid Extract of Mezereum, 25; Lard, 80; Yellow Wax, 12.

An irritant which may be used to keep up the discharge from blisters or issues.

Sabing Cucumina; Summitates Herba) Sabing; Savin Tops, E.; Sabine, Fr.; Saudebaumspitzen, Serenkraut, G.

The tops of Juniperus sabina (Nat. Ord. Conifera). A tree of Northern United States, Europe, and Asia.

The activity of savin depends upon its volatile oil, and hence the dried drug is much less efficient than the fresh.

The symptoms produced by it are those of irritation of the alimentary canal as well as of the kidneys and bladder, together with, in extreme cases, dyspnoea, general anesthesia, convulsions, and coma. Death may take place from large doses in twelve or fourteen hours.

It has been used in amenorrhoea, and to produce abortion, and has been recently recommended in menorrhagia and to avert abortion.

It is used externally in an ointment as an irritant in order to continue the discharge from a blistered surface.

DOSE.-Five to fifteen grains, thirty-three centigrammes to one gramme (0.33 to 1).

OLEUM SABINE.-Oil of Savine.

Essence de Sabine, Fr.; Sadebaumöl, G.

The volatile oil distilled from savine.

This oil quickens the pulse and produces rectal and vesical irritation. It is eliminated by the skin, breath, and urine. Larger doses cause continued vomiting. It has been used to produce abortion, and with fatal effect to the mother as well as the child.

DOSE. Two to ten drops.

EXTRACTUM SABINE FLUIDUM.-FLUID EXTRACT OF SAVINE.

Contains the volatile oil, resin, and tannic acid of the drug. DOSE.-Five to fifteen minims, thirty-two centigrammes to one gramme (0.32 to 1).

THUJA.-ARBOR VITÆ.

Arbre de vie, Fr.; Lebensbaum, G.

The fresh tops of Thuja occidentalis (Nat. Ord. Conifera).

This drug contains a volatile oil, tannin, and resins. An ointment made with either the leaves or the oil has been used in rheumatism. The crude drug and the oil have been given internally and the action is undoubtedly closely analogous to that of savine. The oil has been used as a vermifuge.

DOSE. One drachm, four grammes, in infusion.

EMPLASTRA-EMPLASTRUM RESINÆ.

OLEUM SUCCINI.-OIL OF AMBER.

Huile volatile de succin, Fr.; Bernsteinöl, G.

41

The volatile oil obtained by the destructive distillation of amber, and purified by subsequent rectification. Amber is a fossil resin obtained chiefly, though not exclusively, from the Baltic Sea. It is readily soluble in alcohol.

An external irritant. Internally it has the usual stimulant action of volatile oils, and, like many other drugs of offensive odor and taste, is reputed "antispasmodic."

DOSE. From five to ten drops in capsule.

EMPLASTRA.-Plasters.

The plasters as directed by the Pharmacopoeia consist, with the exception of isinglass plaster, of material to be spread when warm upon sheepskin, chamois, leather, linen, muslin (cotton), or paper. A plaster designed for local stimulation or protection, is usually spread upon leather or stout cotton, while for surgical purposes, where long strips are required, cotton is the best. A margin of leather, not spread, should be left around the plaster. Their removal may be facilitated by a few drops of turpentine applied at the junction of the plaster and (patient's) skin. The therapeutic action of these very popular appliances, aside from the surgical uses of adhesive plaster, depends upon a certain amount of mechanical support, protection from cold, protection from pressure or abrasion, a local astringent, stimulating, or irritant effect, and in a very few cases upon the absorption of the drug employed. The latter takes place with the plasters containing mercury. The amount of absorption is, of course, much increased if they are applied to an abraded surface.

The number of plasters retained in the Pharmacopoeia is much greater than necessary for any purpose but to gratify personal preferences.

EMPLASTRUM PLUMBI.-Lead Plaster.

Diachylon Plaster; Litharge Plaster; Emplâtre Simple; Emplâtre de plomb; Bleipflaster.

Oxide of Lead, 32; Olive Oil, 60; Water, q. s.; boiled together. Entirely soluble in warm oil of turpentine.

A basis for many other plasters.

EMPLASTRUM RESINÆ.--Resin Plaster.

Adhesive Plaster.

Resin, 17; Lead Plaster, 80; Yellow Wax, 6.

The ordinary surgical plaster, not intended to be irritating though sometimes proving so on delicate skins. Spread upon stout cloth. Some of the non-officinal "rubber" (caoutchouc) plasters are excellent for surgical purposes. Rubber plasters,

42

EMPLASTRUM CAPSICI.

however, will probably always be made in large establishments and not by the pharmacist.

PIX BURGUNDICA.-Burgundy Pitch.

Poix de Bourgogne, Poix blanche, F.; Burgunder Harz, G.

The prepared resinous exudation from the spruce fir, Abies excelsa (Norway spruce) (Nat. Ord. Conifera).

This pitch is used exclusively as an external application in the form of a plaster. It is slightly irritating, and its efficacy in various chronic inflammations is due to its support and protection of the parts with some congestion of the skin. A hairy part should be shaved before applying an adhesive plaster, and the plaster should be warmed before an attempt is made to remove it.

EMPLASTRUM PICIS BURGUNDICE.-Burgundy Pitch Plaster. Burgundy Pitch, 90; Yellow Wax, 10.

PIX CANADENSIS.-CANADA PITCH.
Hemlock Pitch.

From Abies canadensis, hemlock spruce.

This may be used to make plasters, but is a little softer than the preceding. A volatile oil distilled from it or from the hemlock branches resembles closely the volatile oils derived from the other coniferæ and might be used internally in much the same way as oil of turpentine.

EMPLASTRUM PICIS CANADENSIS.-HEMLOCK PITCH PLASTER.

Canada Pitch, 90; Yellow Wax, 10.

EMPLASTRUM PICIS CUM CANTHARIDE. - PITCH PLASTER WITH CAN

THARIDES.

Warming Plaster.

Burgundy Pitch, 92; Cerate of Cantharides, 8.

This preparation is not intended to blister but is very likely to do so, and would be more useful if made of half the officinal strength.

EMPLASTRUM CAPSICI.-Capsicum Plaster.

Resin plaster with a thin layer of oleoresin of capsicum.

AMMONIACUM.-AMMONIAC.

A gum resin obtained from Dorema ammoniacum (Nat. Ord. Umbellifera). A native of Persia and Tartary. (See Nervines.)

EMPLASTRUM AMMONIACI.-AMMONIAC PLASTER.

Ammoniac, 100; diluted Acetic Acid, 140; emulsionized, strained, and evaporated.