PREPARATIONS
AQUA CAMPHORAE—CAMPHOR WATER
Tincture camphor 8, with alcohol 8 and purified talc 15; then with water to make 1000 filter.
Camphor water has this advantage over camphor in substance, that the latter is with difficulty dissolved by liquids of the stomach; but it is too feeble a preparation for use when a decided effect is desired; it is, however, an excellent vehicle for the administration of more active substances.
Dose.—Ad lib.
SPIRITUS CAMPHORAE—SPIRIT OF CAMPHOR
Made by dissolving gum camphor, 100, in alcohol, 800; filter and add alcohol to make 1000.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 30 grs. to 1 dr. Spirit of camphor is frequently prescribed in colic mixtures.
LINIMENTUM CAMPHORAE—CAMPHOR LINIMENT—CAMPHORATED OIL
Made by adding camphor, 200 parts to cottonseed oil, 800 parts.
It is a mild rubefacient; is used in cough mixtures, also used locally in liniments.
CERATUM CAMPHORAE—CAMPHOR CERATE
Composed of camphor liniment, 100 parts, white wax 350 parts, white petrolatum 150 parts, lard 400 parts.
For external use only.
LINIMENTUM SAPONIS—SOAP LINIMENT
Composed of soap 60 parts, camphor 45 parts, oil of rosemary 10 parts, alcohol 725 parts, water to make 1000 parts; for external use only, as a mild stimulating and anodyne liniment, usually combined with other medicines and used for its stimulating properties.
CAMPHORA MONOBROMATA—MONOBROMATED CAMPHOR
Derivation.—Made by heating camphor and bromine in the proper chemical proportions for three hours in a sealed tube, in a water bath. The crystalline masses washed with water, recrystallized from alcohol after treatment with animal charcoal, washed with an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide, then with much water and finally recrystallized from a mixture of alcohol and ether. It is very easy to prepare the monobromide on a small scale in this way.
Properties.—Colorless, prismatic needles or scales, permanent in air, almost soluble in water, freely soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform and fixed and volatile oils; used frequently as an anaphrodisiac.
Dose.—Dogs, 2 to 10 gr.
Actions.—Antispasmodic or nerve stimulant, anodyne, antiseptic, diaphoretic, a stimulant, expectorant, a cerebral excitant or narcotic, a gastro-intestinal irritant, a rubefacient or counter-irritant and also carminative. It has an acrid hot taste, irritates the skin and mucous membrane, large doses causing gastro-intestinal inflammation.
Medical doses stimulate the vaso-motor system and the cardiac-motor ganglia, and lessens the influence of the pneumogastric (inhibitory nerve); afterwards stimulates the accelerator apparatus, thus increasing the circulation and raising arterial tension; it also stimulates respiration, and in man stimulates mental activity even to intoxication.
Uses.—In catarrhal conditions, cough mixtures, acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia. The spirits of camphor is used in colic mixtures; also locally to stop secretions of milk applied frequently; in cardiac weakness; strangury may be relieved by one to two ounce doses of the spirits for the horse. Spirits of camphor is used in Thumps.
Camphor is a valuable medicine in diarrhoea, particularly in serious variety, and in that form following exposure to cold. It is not useful in inflammatory conditions, but checks secretions and pain.
Spirit of camphor and nitrous ether are efficient in relieving irritation of the genito-urinary tract. Camphor has proven of service in purpura hemorrhagica of horses given three times daily in capsules or pills.