Whisky is made by subjecting fermented grains to distillation. Rum is made by distilling fermented molasses. Gin is prepared by distilling fermented grain and adding oil of juniper berries to the distillate.
Brandy is a spirit produced by the distillation of a wine.
Whisky, rum, gin, and brandy contain from 40 to 50 per cent. of alcohol. The dose of each is from 1 to 4 drams (4-15 c.c.).
Beer, ale, and porter are made from an infusion of malt—that is, fermented barley, flavored with hops. They each contain from 4 to 6 per cent. of alcohol.
In large doses alcohol in any form causes mental excitement, delirium, loss of co-ordination, and finally stupor and coma. Death may result from paralysis of the heart or respiration.
Aloes.—This is cathartic and stimulant, and is given in chronic constipation, amenorrhea, and atonic dyspepsia. The laxative dose is from ½ to 2 grains; the purgative and emmenagogue dose is 2 to 5 grains.
Ammonia.—This is a gas employed medicinally in the form of a watery solution (water of ammonia) or an alcoholic solution (spirit of ammonia).
These preparations are used internally as heart stimulants, respiratory stimulants, gastric antacids, and externally as counterirritants. The dose of the Aromatic Spirit (Spiritus Ammoniæ Aromaticus) is from ½ to 1 dram (2-4 c.c.), well diluted. Large doses of ammonia preparations cause burning pain in the throat and abdomen, vomiting, purging, and collapse.
Antipyrin.—This drug has about the same action and uses as acetanilid, and may be given in the same dose.
Antitoxin of Diphtheria.—This is obtained from healthy horses which have been rendered artificially immune to diphtheria from having received a prolonged course of treatment with diphtheria toxin in doses gradually increased. The immunity is due to the formation in the blood of a substance which in some way counteracts the poison or toxin of the disease. This substance is known as the antitoxin. It exists in the serum of the blood, and so far has not been separated from it. The dose of the serum is measured in units, a unit being ten times the amount of antitoxin required to save the life of a guinea-pig which has been injected with 100 fatal doses of diphtheria toxin.