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

by Arnold James Cooley; Richard Vine Tuson

Oxymel of Col′chicum. Syn. Oxymel colchici cormi, Oxymel colchici, L. Prep. (Ph. D. 1826.) Fresh corms (roots) of meadow

saffron, 1 oz.; distilled vinegar, 1 pint (wine measure); macerate for 2 days, press out the liquor, filter, add of clarified honey, 2 lbs., and boil down the mixture to the consistence of a syrup, frequently stirring.—Dose, 1 to 3 dr., twice or thrice a day; in gout, rheumatism, dropsy, &c.

Oxymel of Gar′lic. Syn. Oxymel alii, L. Prep. (Ph. L. 1746.) Sliced garlic, 1¹⁄₂ oz.; caraway seed and sweet fennel seed, of each 2 dr.; boiling vinegar, 8 fl. oz.; infuse, strain, and add of clarified honey, 10 oz. In hooping-cough, chronic diarrhœa, rheumatism, &c.

Oxymel of Narcissus. (Van Mons.) Syn. Oxymel Narcissi. Prep. Vinegar of Narcissus (made with 1 part of fresh flowers of daffodil to 8 of vinegar), 1 part; honey, 4 parts. Dissolve.—Dose. A teaspoonful. In hooping-cough and spasmodic asthma.

Oxymel, Pec′toral. Syn. Oxymel pectorale, O. inulæ compositum, L. Prep. (Ph. Br.) Elecampane, 1 oz.; orris root, ¹⁄₂ oz.; water, 1¹⁄₂ pint; boil to ¹⁄₂ pint, strain, add of honey, 16 oz.; ammoniacum, 1 oz.; (dissolved in) vinegar, 3 fl. oz.; lastly, boil to an oxymel.—Dose, 1 spoonful, occasionally; in coughs, humid asthma, &c.

Oxymel, Sim′ple. Syn. Vinegar syrup, Acetated honey; Oxymel (Ph. L. & D.), Oxymel simplex, Mel acetatum, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Acetic acid (sp. gr. 1·048) 7 fl. oz.; distilled water, 8 fl. oz.; mix, and add them to honey, 5 lbs., previously made hot. This contains only one half the acid ordered in the Ph. L. 1836.

2. (Ph. D.) Clarified honey, 1 lb.; acetic acid (sp. gr. 1·044), 3 oz.; as before. Stronger than the last.

3. (Ph. L. 1836.) Honey, 10 lbs.; acetic acid (1·048), 1¹⁄₂ pint; as before. This contains too much vinegar. (See No. 1.)

4. (Wholesale.) From honey (thick and good), 12 lbs.; melt it by a gentle heat, add of distilled vinegar (of fully 5%), 2 quarts, and strain the mixture through flannel. No evaporation is required.

Uses, &c. Demulcent and refrigerant.—Dose, 1 to 4 fl. dr., either gradually sucked from the spoon or dissolved through some simple liquid. Dissolved in water, it forms a useful and pleasant cooling drink or gargle in fevers, sore throats, hoarseness, &c.; but in some individuals it occasions griping. It is commonly used as an adjunct, in mixtures, &c.