[CHAPTER II.]
ON THE ACTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS, &C.
In October, 1835, a paper of mine appeared in the London Medical and Surgical Journal, stating the beneficial action of a concentrated tincture of capsicum for diseases of the eye, by rubbing it for a few minutes daily over the forehead and temples with a sponge.
Soon after this I was induced to try what effect essential oils, possessing powerful stimulating properties, might possess in removing amaurosis and diseases generally of the eye. The formulæ which I use are—
| EMBRO. CARYOPH. CO. | |
| ℞—Ol. Caryoph. | |
| — Lavand | āā Ʒiv. |
| — Cinnamom. | Ʒss. |
| Sp. Vin. Rect. | ℥iij. |
| M. Ft. Embro. | |
| EMBRO. PIMENT. CO. | |
| ℞—Ol. Piment. | |
| — Rosmar. | āā ℥ss. |
| — Cinnamom. | Ʒss. |
| Sp. Vin. R. | ℥iij. |
| M. Ft. Embro. | |
Finding great utility to arise from the use of the cloves and pimento, it appeared by no means undesirable or hopeless to administer them internally for the same complaints. In order to shield the pungency of these oils I united them with calcined magnesia, which, by its very strong affinity with these essential oils, forms a body nearly solid, and thereby removes all pungency, warmth, and even smell; for, in this state, it requires to be held in the mouth for a considerable time before it produces any warmth or pungency. They are thus rendered easily taken, in sufficient quantity, without heat or uneasiness.