Cooley's Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I

by Arnold James Cooley; Richard Vine Tuson

Decoction for Ene′mas. Syn. Decoctum pro enema′te, L. Barley-water, or thin gruel, is commonly used under this name. See Decoction of Mallows, &c.

Decoction for Fomenta′tions. Syn. Decoctum pro fomento, L. Prep. (Ph. L. 1788.) Dried leaves of southern wood, tops of sea wormwood, and chamomile flowers, of each 1 oz.; laurel or bay leaves (dried), ¹⁄₂ oz.; water, 1 pint, boil a few minutes, and strain.

Decoction of Galls. Syn. Decoctum gal′læ, (Ph. L.) Prep. From galls (bruised), 2¹⁄₂ oz.; water, 1 quart; boiled to one half, and strained. As an astringent, fomentation, enema, or injection, in prolapsus ani, piles, and leucorrhœa.

Decoction of Guaiac′um. Syn. Decoctum guaiac′i (Ph. E.), D. g. compositum (Ph. D. 1826), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. E.) Guaiacum shavings, 3 oz.; raisins (chopped), 2 oz.; water, 8 pints; simmer down to 5 pints, adding towards the end, sassafras (rasped or sliced), and liquorice root (bruised), of each 1 oz.

2. (Ph. D.) Guaiacum wood, 3 oz.; sassafras, 10 dr.; liquorice root, 2¹⁄₂ oz.; water, 10 pints, as the last; to strain 5 pints.

Obs. The above form the once celebrated ‘Decoction of the Woods,’—Dose. A teacupful 3 or 4 times daily, or oftener, in chronic rheumatism, cutaneous diseases, after a course of mercury, &c. Although its virtues are of a very dubious kind, there is no doubt that it frequently does good, especially when persevered in with a sudorific regimen.

Decoction of Hairy Horehound. Syn. Decoctum ballotæ lanatæ, L. Prep. (Rehmann.) Siberian or woolly horehound (Ballota), 1¹⁄₂ oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to one half.—Dose. A tumblerful, or more, twice a day; in rheumatic, gouty, and dropsical affections, especially the latter. See Decoction of Horehound.

Decoction of Harts′horn. See Mixtures.

Decoction of Hel′lebore. 1. (Decoction of Black hellebore; Decoctum hellebori nigri, L.) Prep. 1. (A. T. Thomson.) Black hellebore root, 2 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil 15 minutes.—Dose, 1 fl. oz., every 4 hours; in dropsy, worms, chronic skin diseases, &c., occurring in non-irritable habits.

2. (Decoction of white hellebore; Decoctum veratri, Ph. L. & D.) Prep. (Ph. L. 1836.) White hellebore (bruised), 10 dr.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint, and when cold, add of rectified spirit, 3 fl. oz. Used as a lotion, in itch, lepra, psoriasis, scald-head, &c.; and to destroy pediculi. In most cases it should be diluted with water, and should never be applied to the unsound skin.