2. (Ph. D.) Winter-green (dried leaves), 1⁄2 oz.; water, 1⁄2 pint; boil 10 minutes in a covered vessel, and strain. Tonic, stomachic, alterative, and diuretic.—Dose, 1 to 2 fl. oz.; in dropsies, scrofula, debility, loss of appetite, &c.; and in those affections of the urinary organs in which uva-ursi is commonly given.
Decoction of Worm′seed. Syn. Decoctum santonici, L. Prep. 1. Wormseed, bruised, 2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil down to 16 fl. oz., and strain.
2. (Dr R. E. Griffith.) Fresh leaves of wormseed(Chenopodium anthelminticum),—Linn.), 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; orange peel, 2 dr.; boil (10 minutes), and strain. The above are bitter, stomachic, and vermifuge.—Dose. A wine-glassful twice a day; in worms. It is also used as an injection against ascarides.
Decoction of Yar′row. Syn. Decoctum millefolii, L. Prep. From milfoil or yarrow tops, 11⁄2 oz.; water, 11⁄4 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Astringent, tonic, and vulnerary.—Dose. A wine-glassful thrice daily; in dropsies, &c. It is also used as a fomentation to bruises, &c.
Decoction of Black Snake Root. Syn. Decoctum Cimicifuge. Black snake root, 1 oz.; water, 16 oz.; boil for 10 minutes.—Dose, 1 oz. to 2 oz. in rheumatism and dropsy.
Decoction of Stavesacre. Syn. Decoctum Staphisagriæ. Stavesacre seed, 1 oz.; water, 2 pints; boil for a few minutes, and strain. For external use.
Decoction of Snails. Syn. Decoctum Limatum (Mars mouchon). Flesh of vine or garden snails (cleansed from shell and intestines), 5 oz.; water, 2 pints; simmer gently for 2 hours, adding towards the end, maiden hair 2 oz., and strain.
Decoction of Soapwort. Syn. Decoctum Saponariæ (Swediaur). Soapwort, 2 oz.; water, 4 lbs.; boil to 2 lbs., and strain.
Decoction of Wood-Soot. Syn. Decoctum Fuliginis (Dr Neligan). Wood-soot, 4 oz.; water, 11⁄2 pint.
DECOLORA′TION. The blanching or removal of the natural colour of any substance. Syrups and many animal, vegetable, and saline solutions are decoloured or whitened by agitation with animal charcoal, and subsequent subsidence or filtration. Many fluids rapidly lose their natural colour by exposure to light, especially to the direct rays of the sun. In this way castor, nut, poppy, and several other oils are whitened. Fish oils are partially deodorised and decoloured by filtration through animal charcoal. Cottons and linens are still commonly bleached by the joint action of light, air, and moisture. The peculiar way in which light produces this effect has never been satisfactorily explained. The decoloration of textile fabrics and solid bodies generally is called bleaching. See Blanching, Bleaching, Oils, Tallow, Syrups, Sugar, &c.