Pills, Matthew’s. Syn. Pilulæ matthæi, P. pacificæ, L. Prep. 1. (Dr Paris.) Black hellebore, Castile soap, liquorice, opium, saffron, and turmeric, equal parts; made into pills with oil of turpentine.
2. (Ph. E. 1744.) Opium and saffron, of each 1 dr.; castor, 2 dr.; soap of turpentine, 3 dr.; balsam of copaiba (or oil of turpentine), q. s. to form a mass. Alterative and anodyne.—Dose, 3 to 10 gr.
Pills, McKinsey’s. See McKinsey’s katapotia, among Patent medicines.
Pills, Meglin’s. Syn. Pilules de Meglin, Fr. See Pills of Henbane (Compound).
Pills, Mercu′′rial. Syn. Blue pill; Pilula hydrargyri (B. P.), Pilulæ hydrargyri (Ph. L.), Pilulæ h. (Ph. E. & D.), P. mercuriales, L.; Pilules mercurielles, Fr. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Mercury, 4 dr.; confection of roses, 6 dr.; rub them together until globules can no longer be seen; then add of liquorice powder, 2 dr., and beat the whole together, so that a proper mass may be formed.
2. (Ph. E.) As the last; afterwards dividing the mass into 5-gr. pills.
3. (Ph. D.) As the Ph. L. formula, but taking four times the quantity of the respective ingredients.
4. (B. P.) Mercury, 2; confection of roses, 3; decorticated liquorice root, in fine powder, 1; rub the mercury with the confection of roses until metallic globules are no longer visible, then add the liquorice, and mix the whole well together.—Dose, 3 to 6 gr. as an alterative, 10 gr. as a purgative.
Obs. The remarks under ‘Mercurial ointment’ (p. 1179), for the most part, also apply here. This pill, when properly prepared, presents no globules of mercury when moderately rubbed on a piece of white paper, and immediately communicates a white stain to a piece of bright gold or copper. It possesses considerable density, and has a dark blue or slate colour. It contains 1-3rd of its weight of
mercury, which may be ascertained from its sp. gr.; or, more exactly, by an assay for the metal. It is the mildest and the most extensively used of all the mercurial preparations.—Dose. As an alterative, 1 to 3 gr.; as a purgative, 10 to 15 gr.; and as a sialogogue, 5 or 6 gr., or more, twice or thrice daily. To prevent it affecting the bowels, it is commonly combined with either rhubarb or opium. A blue pill taken over-night, and a black draught in the morning, is a popular remedy in bilious complaints. See Abernethy medicines.