THE COMPOUND SPIRIT OF ETHER (Hoffman's Anodyne) is an admirable agent in gastralgia, colic, flatulence, syncope, etc., also in the various manifestations of the hysterical paroxysm. In combination with the camphorated tincture of Opium it is often remarkably efficient in checking the diarrhoea of hot weather.

SPIRIT OF NITROUS ETHER is used as a diaphoretic, a diuretic and a carminative; also in expectorant mixtures, as an antipyretic in febrile affections, and to relieve pain in angina pectoris, dysmenorrhoea and asthma.

HYDRIODIC ETHER may be obtained in glass capsules containing five minims each, and is used by inhalation in chronic pulmonary disorders, cardiac dyspnoea, spasmodic affections of the bronchi and larynx, asthma, and in catarrhal laryngitis with dyspnoea. It is not employed as an anæsthetic.

AGARICUS ALBUS, Purging Agaric (Unofficial),—is a fungus, occurring in large white spongy pieces, obtained from the European larch. It contains Agaricin, a crystalline substance, and Agaric Acid; also from 40 to 70 per cent. of resins.

The taste of Purging Agaric is first sweetish, then becoming very acrid and bitter. The powder inhaled causes violent sneezing, and taken internally in full doses it produces watery stools. Small doses check diarrhoea and dysentery, and diminish the secretions of the bronchi and mammæ.

Agaricus Albus was formerly employed as a drastic purgative, in doses of gr. xxx to 3j. It has lately been used, with much success, in 15-grain doses of the powder, or 3 grains of the alcoholic extract, to check the night-sweats of phthisis.

AGARICUS CHIRURGORUM, Surgeon's Agaric (Unofficial), is the interior portion of the fungus Polyporus fomentarius, which grows on the trunks of beeches, birches, and oaks in Europe. It is prepared for use by boiling in weak lye and beating with mallets, and then occurs in light, thin, yellowish-brown pieces, soft and pliable, without odor or taste. It is almost pure cellulose. It was formerly used as a mechanical hemostatic, and for the purpose of moxa. When soaked in a strong solution of Potassium Nitrate or Potassium Chlorate and dried, it is very inflammable, and is then called Spunk.

AGARICUS MUSCARIUS, Amanita Muscaria, Fly-Agaric (Unofficial), is a poisonous mushroom, of a disagreeable odor and a burning, acrid taste, used in infusion with milk for poisoning flies, and used by the Tartars as an intoxicant. It contains an actively toxic alkaloid, Muscarine CH1NO2, of syrupy consistence, odorless and tasteless, soluble in water and alcohol, and readily dissolved out by water and dilute acetic acid, so that a doubtful mushroom may be easily rendered innocuous. It may also be produced synthetically, but it is doubtful whether the article so prepared is as active as the natural product. It has been made from Choline by Schmiedeberg.

Preparations.

Muscarina, Muscarine (Unofficial).-Dose, gr. gr. ij. It may be used hypodermically in watery solution. Muscarina Nitras, Nitrate of Muscarine (Unofficial),—may be used hypodermically, in doses of from gr. to gr. 4.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.

Muscarine is a powerful respiratory and cardiac depressant, paralyzing the respiratory centre and arresting the heart in diastole by paralyzing its motor ganglia while stimulating its inhibitory apparatus. It lowers the arterial tension, produces profound salivation, lachrymation and sweating, contracts the pulmonary vessels, causing intense dyspnoea, and increases the intestinal, hepatic and pancreatic secretions, but markedly diminishes It disturbs the gastro-intestinal tract, causing tetanic intestinal contractions, severe colic, vomiting and purging. It produces spasm of the accommodation, marked myosis and contraction of the pupil when given internally, but dilates the pupil widely when locally applied. [Gelsemium does so also.] Under its action the body temperature is decidedly reduced, and the excretion of waste-products is lessened. eliminated unchanged by the kidneys.

Agaricus acts as an intoxicant to the cerebrum, producing more vertigo and delirium than Alcohol, followed by profound sopor with lowered reflexes, perhaps coma and death.

Antagonists.

Atropine exactly opposes Muscarine, and vice versa; no example of physiological antagonism being so complete in all particulars. When a frog's heart is arrested by the topical action of a minute quantity of Muscarine, the application of a little Atropine will immediately paralyze the inhibition and restore the pulsations. An equally prompt antagonism runs through their entire spheres of action. Digitaline is to some extent antagonistic; so also is Eserine.

THERAPEUTICS.

Muscarine has been as yet little used in medicine, but it will probably prove to be a valuable drug. It has been long used, with marked benefit, in the night-sweats of phthisis. A tincture of Agaricus has been found beneficial in ataxic typhus, chorea, and chilblains. Muscarine promises

to be of great value in inflammations characterized by copious exudation, especially eye-inflammations, catarrhal jaundice, recent hemorrhoids, acute bronchitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, incipient pulmonary congestion, diabetes of both forms, and in constipation due to intestinal torpor and deficient secretion, accompanied by a torpid liver and difficult digestion. of fats. In the latter affection it should be given in small doses, gr. o, thrice daily.

AILANTHUS, Tree of Heaven (Unofficial),-is the bark of Ailanthus glandulosa, a well-known shade tree, of the nat. ord. Simarubaceæ, indigenous to China, but cultivated elsewhere. It contains an oleo-resin and a volatile oil, on which its properties probably depend. Dose, gr. x-3j.

Preparations.

Extractum Ailanthus Fluidum (Unofficial),-Dose, m x-3j.
Tinctura Ailanthus (Unofficial),-Dose, m x-3 ij.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION AND THERAPEUTICS.

Ailanthus is a decided nauseant, and a drastic purgative, causing also vertigo, weakness, cold sweats, dull headache, pains in the back, numbness and tingling in the limbs. It paralyzes the cerebrum and spinal cord of animals, impairment of motility beginning in their hind extremities. The cardiac action, at first increased, soon slows, the pulse becoming small and weak, and the respiration depressed, death occurring from paralysis of respiration. It is a good tæniafuge.

Ailanthus is used against tapeworm, a decoction of the fresh bark (3j ad iv), or the oleo-resin in drachm doses, being very efficient. It has also been well employed in malignant scarlatina, with dark and partial eruption, insensibility, delirium and other cerebral symptoms.

ALCOHOL,-is a liquid composed of 91 per cent. by weight (94 per cent. by volume) of Ethyl Alcohol, CH,HO, and 9 per cent. by weight (6 per cent. by volume) of water. Sp. gr. 0.820 at 60° F., and 0.812 at 77° F. An inflammable, transparent, colorless, mobile and volatile liquid, of agreeable odor and burning taste. Obtained by the distillation of fermented saccharine fluids. Used in making all the Tinctures and Spirits; also in some of the Liniments, Liquors and Mixtures.

Preparations.

Alcohol Dilutum, Diluted Alcohol,-consists of Alcohol and Distilled Water, equal parts of each. Sp. gr. 0.928 at 60° F.

Spiritus Frumenti, Whiskey,-obtained from the distillation of fermented grain, rye or corn (U. S.), barley (Scotch), and at least two years old. Sp. gr. 0.917 to 0.930. Has an alcoholic strength of 44 to 50 per cent. by weight; also Ethers developed by

the action of acetic and butyric acids on the alcohol, and traces of Amylic Alcohol (fusel-oil) even in the best.

Spiritus Vini Gallici, Brandy,--obtained from the distillation of fermented grapes, and at least four years old. Sp. gr. 0.925 to 0.941. Has an alcoholic strength of 39 to 47 per cent. by weight, and (Enanthic and other Ethers developed by age. Pale Brandy is colored by the cask, the dark has caramel to color it. Is often prepared artificially by adding to high wines Acetic or Nitric Ether, Caramel, and Logwood or Catechu for astringency.

Spiritus Odoratus, Perfumed Spirit, Cologne-water,-prepared by adding to 800 parts of Alcohol, Water 158, Acetic Ether 2, Oil of Bergamot 16, Oil of Lemon 8, Oil of Rosemary 8, Oil of Lavender Flowers 4, and Oil of Orange Flowers 4 parts. A perfume or ingredient of lotions.

Vinum Album, White Wine,-should contain from 10 to 12 per cent. by weight of absolute alcohol, and is made by fermenting the unmodified juice of the grape, freed from seeds, stems and skins.

Vinum Album Fortius, Stronger White Wine,-should contain 20 to 25 per cent. by weight of absolute alcohol, and is made by adding I part of Alcohol to 7 of Vinum Album. Is simply a formal recognition of the fact that the stronger sherries are artificially made. Used to prepare the official Vina (Wines).

Vinum Rubrum, Red Wine, should contain from 10 to 12 per cent. by weight of absolute alcohol, and is made by fermenting the juice of colored grapes in presence of their skins.

Vinum Aromaticum, Aromatic Wine,-consists of Stronger White Wine 94 per cent., with Lavender, Origanum, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage and Wormwood, of each 1 per

cent.

Unofficial Alcoholic Preparations.

Rectified Spirit, sp. gr. 0.835,-has 85 per cent. by weight of absolute alcohol, and no fusel oil. Is often spoken of as "56 over proof," meaning that to reduce 100 volumes of it to the strength of proof spirit, requires 56 volumes of water.

Proof Spirit, sp. gr. 0.920,-contains 49 per cent. by weight of absolute alcohol, with a peculiar oil and other foreign matters.

Rum,-is obtained from the distillation of fermented molasses, and has about 42 per cent. by weight of alcohol.

Gin, has about the same alcoholic strength as rum, and approaches very nearly to the official Spiritus Juniperi Compositus. It is usually distilled from rye or barley, and flavored, in Holland, with juniper berries and hops, in England, often with oil of turpentine, various cheap aromatics, acetate of lead, sulphate of zinc, cayenne pepper, etc. Pure gin is slightly diuretic, from the oil of juniper contained in it.

Vinum Portense, Port Wine, -is not a natural wine, spirit being added during the process of manufacture, and the alcoholic strength raised to 30 or 40 per cent.

Vinum Xericum, Sherry Wine,—a dry, spirituous white wine, generally made to order by the dealers, and having from 20 to 35 per cent. of alcohol.

Sparkling Wines, as Champagne, Hock, Catawba,-are more or less sweet, and charged with carbonic acid, being bottled before fermentation is completed and the grape sugar all converted into alcohol. They contain 8 to 10 per cent. of absolute alcohol.

Sweet Wines, as Burgundy, Tokay, Muscatel, Malaga, Angelica, Madeira, etc.,—are of low alcoholic strength, 6 to 7 per cent. unless fortified.

Light Red Wines, as Claret, Red Rhine, Concord,-have 5 to 7 per cent. alcohol, tannic acid, grape coloring matter, etc.

Dry Acid Wines, as Rhine and Moselle wines, California Hock, Ohio, and KelleyIsland Catawba,—in these fermentation is complete, and the alcoholic strength from 5 to 7 per cent.

Beer, Ale and Porter,-are fermented liquors, made from malted grain, with hops and other bitters added. Beer is made by slow fermentation, the yeast sinking; Ale by rapid fermentation, the yeast floating. Their alcoholic strength is from 2 to 3 per cent. in beer, to 4 to 6 per cent. in ale and porter,-and they also contain malt extract, carbonic acid, lactic acid, various aromatics, potassium and sodium salts, etc.

Koumiss,--is obtained by the fermentation of milk, that of the mare being used in Tartary, where it is largely employed as a food. It contains from 1 to 3 per cent. of alcohol, sugar, lactic acid, casein, fat, salts, carbonic acid and ethers. (See, per INDEX.)

PRINCIPAL ALCOHOLS.

ETHYLIC ALCOHOL, Ethyl Hydrate, C,H,O,-Grain-spirit.

METHYLIC ALCOHOL, Methyl Hydrate, CH,O,-Wood-spirit.

AMYLIC ALCOHOL, Amyl Hydrate, C¿H12O,-Potato-spirit, Fusel Oil. Occurs also in the excessive distillation of fermented grain, after the ethylic alcohol has distilled over.

PHENYLIC ALCOHOL, Phenol, Carbolic Acid, CH,O,—from coal-tar (see page 61).

Composition, etc., of Alcohols.

An Alcohol is a volatile organic compound, which contains no N, has a great affinity for water, and reacts with acids, forming H2O and ethers. Alcohols are therefore analo gous to the metallic hydrates, and Ethers to salts. They are obtained by distillation from the fermented product of grape-sugar, or some substance (as starch) easily converted into grape-sugar, which, in the presence of certain low vegetable organisms (as the yeast plant), splits up into Alcohol and CO,; and may be made synthetically by shaking Olefiant gas (CH) with strong Sulphuric Acid), then diluting and distilling. CH ̧ + HOCHO, Ethylic Alcohol. Absolute Ethylic Alcohol, which is only used for chemical testing, is made by shaking Rectified Spirit with Potassium Carbonate, decanting, and distilling with slaked lime.

Alcohol very slowly oxidized forms Aldehyde (C,H,O), if less slowly, Acetic acid (CHO), if quickly as in burning, CO, and H2O, which are in all cases the ultimate products of its continued oxidation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.

Alcohol is a cerebral excitant and depressant and a narcotic poison. It is anesthetic, antiseptic, and antiparasitic, a mild counter-irritant, and it coagulates albumen by abstracting its water. It is very diffusible, and is partly oxidized by the organism, part being excreted unchanged.

In small doses, Alcohol relaxes the vessels, stimulates the gastric glands, promotes appetite and digestion, lessens the elimination of waste-products (urea and CO1), causes a subjective sensation of heat, and slightly raises the body temperature. It briefly stimulates the heart, prolonging its systole and reducing the length of the diastole, and increases the functional activity of all the organs. A portion is oxidized by the organism (about 3jss in twenty four hours), yielding force which is utilized as nervous, muscular and glandular power.

The continued use of small or moderate doses congests the stomach and liver, over-stimulating the gastric glands and the hepatic cells to the production of pathological secretions, causing gastric catarrh and morning-vomiting of mucus, and impairing digestion. By irritation it sets up hyperplasia of the submucous connective tissue (sclerosis), especially in the stomach, brain, kidneys and liver (cirrhosis); produces fatty degeneration (steatosis) of the blood, the arterial walls, and the various organs, and depresses the heart and the arterial tension. Epilepsy, paraplegia, amaurosis and insanity may result from the long-continued use of spirits, alcohol having an especial affinity for the nervous system. The malt liquors (beer, ale, etc.) are less prone than the spirituous to