Snuff, Asarabac′ca. Syn. Cephalic snuff, Compound powder of asarabacca; Pulvis asari compositus, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. D. 1826.) Asarabacca leaves, 1 oz.; lavender flowers, 1 dr. (both dried); mix and powder them.
2. (Ph. E. 1817.) Asarabacca leaves, 3 dr.; leaves of marjoram and flowers of lavender, of each 1 dr.; as before. Both are used as errhines in headaches and ophthalmia. See Snuff, Cephalic, Asarabacca, &c.
Snuff, Cephal′ic. Prep. 1. From asarabacca leaves and Lundyfoot snuff, of each 2 oz.; lavender flowers, 1⁄4 oz.; essence of bergamotte and oil of cloves, of each 2 or 3 drops; mixed and ground to a powder, the perfume being added last.
2. (Boeli’s.) From tobacco or pure snuff and valerian root, of each 1⁄2 oz.; reduced to powder, and scented with the oils of lavender and marjoram, of each 5 or 6 drops.
Obs. The first formula is an excellent one; and the product is very useful in nervous headaches, dimness of sight, &c. See Snuff, Asarabacca (above).
Snuff, Eye. Prep. From finely levigated tribasic sulphate of mercury (‘Turpeth mineral’), 1⁄2 dr.; pure dry Scotch or Lundyfoot snuff, 1 oz.; triturate them well together. A pinch of this, occasionally, has been recommended in inflammation of the eyes, dimness of sight, headache, polypus, &c.; but it should be used with caution, and not too often.
SOAP. Syn. Sapo, L.; Savon, Fr. Spanish, Castile, or HARD SOAP, made with olive oil and soda (SAPO, SAPO EX OLIVÆ OLEO ET SODÂ CONFECTUS—Ph. L.; SAPO DURUS—B. P., Ph. E., & D.), and SOFT SOAP, made with olive oil and potash (SAPO MOLLIS—B. P., Ph. L., & E., SAPO EX OLIVÆ OLEO ET POTASSÂ CONFECTUS—Ph. L.), are the only kinds directed to be employed in medicine. The former is intended whenever ‘soap’ is ordered, and is the one which is principally employed internally; the latter is used in ointments, &c., and in some of the officinal pills.
Prep. The fatty or oleaginous matter is boiled with a weak alkaline lye (soap-lye) rendered caustic by quicklime, and portions of stronger lye are added from time to time, the ebullition being still continued, until these
substances, reacting on each other, combine to form a tenacious compound, which begins to separate from the water; to promote this separation and the granulation of the newly-formed soap, some common salt is generally added, and the fire being withdrawn, the contents of the boiler are allowed to repose for some hours, in order that the soap may collect into one stratum, and solidify; when this happens it is put into wooden frames or moulds, and when it has become stiff enough to be handled it is cut into bars or pieces, and exposed to the air, in a warm situation, to further harden and to dry.
In the print works of Alsace, where an immense quantity of egg albumen is consumed, there collect, as a necessary result, enormous quantities of the yolks of egg. Amongst other purposes to which these are applied that of soap-making is one. According to Kingzett, the olein is not the only ingredient of the yolk which reacts upon the soda or potash, and thus produces soap; but the yolk also contains another body, which, absorbing water under the influence of the bases, splits up into oleic and margaric acids.