2. (Compound; Infusum buchu compositum, I. diosmæ c., L.—(Radius.) Leaves of buchu and whortleberry, of each 1⁄2 oz.; boiling water, 8 oz. (say 1⁄2 pint); digest for half an hour, strain, and add of syrup of senega, 1⁄2 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls every hour; in atony of the bladder and mucous discharges.
Infusion of Buck′bean. Syn. Infusum menyanthis, L. From the herb or root of buckbean or marsh trefoil (Menyanthes trifoliata). Bitter, stomachic, tonic, and diuretic; in large doses, purgative, vermifuge, and emetic. It has been recommended in agues, gout, dropsy, scurvy, worms, &c. The chief consumption of this plant is by the brewers; “2 oz. being equal to 1 lb. of hops.” (Gray.)
Infusion of Bur′dock. Syn. Infusum bardanæ, L. From the root of common burdock. Aperient, diuretic, diaphoretic, and tonic; in gout, rheumatism, skin diseases, &c. See Decoction and Extract.
Infusion of Calum′ba. Syn. Infusum calumbæ (B. P.) L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Calumba, in coarse powder, 1 oz.; cold distilled water, 2 oz.; macerate one hour, and strain. Infusion of calumba is a good tonic and stomachic bitter.—Dose, 1 to 3 fl. oz.; in dyspepsia, &c., and for restraining vomiting and diarrhœa during pregnancy or dentition. It is preferably joined with small doses of the carbonates of soda, potassa, ammonia, or magnesia, when there is acidity; or with chalybeates, when there is paleness and a low pulse; with all of which substances it may be mixed without suffering any sensible alteration.
2. (Concentrated; Infusum calumbæ concentratum, L.)—a. Calumba, in coarse powder, 51⁄2 oz.; cold distilled water, 12 fl. oz.; digest with frequent agitation, for 3 or 4 hours, then express the liquor, and repeat the digestion with 51⁄2 fl. oz. more of tepid water; after another hour, express this portion also, using as much force as possible; next mix the liquors, heat them quickly to the boiling-point in a shallow vessel, and pour the infusion, whilst still hot, into a strong bottle, and when it has cooled a little add of rectified spirit, 4 fl. oz., secure down the stopper or cork, and agitate well for a few minutes; the bottle must now be set aside for a week, after which the clear portion is to be decanted from the dregs. Very superior.
b. (Wholesale.) From calumba (reduced to coarse powder), 51⁄4 lbs.; rectified spirit, 5 pints; (diluted with) water, 12 pints; digest for a week, or precede by displacement. Should there be any difficulty in obtaining it free from cloudiness, the whites of 4 or 5 eggs, previously mixed with about a 1⁄4 pint of cold water, may be added to the infusion, which, after being well agitated for about ten minutes, must be allowed to repose for 7 or 8 days, and then decanted from the dregs. Should it not be perfectly transparent, it may be filtered through blotting paper.—Product, 20 lbs.
Obs. The concentrated infusion produced by the above formulæ is of very superior quality, and has acquired an extensive sale in the wholesale trade. 1 part added to 51⁄4 parts of water makes a perfectly transparent liquid, possessing exactly similar virtues to the INFUSION OF CALUMBA—B. P.
Infusion of Canthar′ides. Syn. Infusion of Spanish flies; Infusum cantharidis, I. lyttæ, L. Prep. (Soubeiran.) Spanish flies (powdered) 20 gr.; boiling water, q. s. (about 31⁄2 fl. oz.) to yield 3 fl. oz., after expression and filtration.
Infusion of Cap′sicum. Syn. Infusum capsici, L. Prep. 1. (Pereira.) Capsicum (powdered), 1⁄2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint.—Dose, 1⁄2 fl. oz.
2. (Stephen’s ‘Pepper Medicine’—Pereira.) Red pepper (Capsicum fructescens), 2 table-spoonfuls (or 3 of cayenne pepper); common salt, 2 teaspoonfuls; boiling water, 1⁄2 pint; to the strained liquor, when cold, add of very sharp vinegar, 1⁄2 pint.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful, slowly swallowed, every half hour, in cholera, malignant sore throat, scarlatina, &c.