Decoction of Tar. Syn. Tar water; Decoctum pi′cis liq′uidæ, L. Prep. Tar, 1 oz.; water, 11⁄2; pint; boil to 1 pint.—Dose. A pint or more daily; in chronic catarrh; and as a wash in chronic skin diseases, especially those of the head, in children.
Decoction, Ton′ic. Syn. Strengthening decoction; Decoctum roborans, L. Prep. 1. Peruvian bark (bruised), 1⁄2 oz.; Virginian snake root, 2 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil to one half, strain whilst hot, and add, spirit of cinnamon, 11⁄2 fl. oz.; diluted sulphuric acid, 11⁄2 dr.—Dose, 2 oz. two or three times a day.
2. Decoction of bark, 5 oz.; tincture of bark, 6 dr.; aromatic confection, 1⁄2 dr.; salvolatile, 1 dr.—Dose, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls night and morning; especially in diarrhœa.
Decoction of Tor′mentil. Syn. Decoctum tormentil′læ (Ph. L.), L. Prep. (Ph. L.) Tormentil root (bruised), 2 oz.; water, 11⁄2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Astringent.—Dose, 1 to 2 fl. oz., in chronic diarrhœa, &c.
Decoction of Tur′meric. Syn. Decoctum curcu′mæ, L. Prep. From turmeric root (in powder), 11⁄2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 5 minutes, and strain. A mild aromatic stimulant and stomachic.—Dose. A wine-glassful ad libitum. It is principally used as a test for alkalies, which turn it brown. Unsized paper dipped into it and dried forms the turmeric test-paper of the chemist.
Decoction of Verbe′na. Syn. Decoctum verbe′næ, L. From verbena (vervain), 2 oz.; water, 11⁄2 pint; boil to 1 pint, and strain.
Obs. The Verbena officinalis was formerly highly recommended by Etmuller, Hartman, De Haën, Morley, and others, in scrofula, cephalalgia, &c., but afterwards fell into neglect. More recently, a decoction of the plant has been highly extolled by Boshanov and others as an anti-febrile.
Decoction, Vul′nerary. Syn. Decoctum vulnera′′rium, L. Prep. From ground ivy and broad-leaved plantain, of each 1⁄2 oz.; water, 3 pints; boil to 1 quart, strain, and add sugar, 1 oz. A popular pectoral and tonic, especially in old coughs; also to heal wounds.—Dose, 1⁄2 a teacupful or more twice a day.
Decoction of Wal′nut Bark. Syn. Decoctum jugland′is, L. Prep. (Ph. Gen.) Green bark of walnuts, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 15 minutes, and strain. As an anti-syphilitic. Before the general introduction of sarsaparilla it was much esteemed in most cases in which that drug is now taken.—Dose, &c. The same as those of comp. dec. of sarsaparilla. Pearson says that “when the putamen (green rind) of the walnut has been omitted, either intentionally or by accident (from Decoctum Lusitanicum),
the same good effects have not followed its use as when it contained this ingredient.