The treatment may consist of the administration of gentle saline aperients, and in severer cases a gentle emetic, followed by the copious use of acidulated diluent drinks, as weak lemon-juice-and-water, effervescing potassa-draughts, &c., and, when required, diaphoretics. The clothing should be light, but warm, and the itching, when severe, may be allayed by
the application of a lotion of water to which a little vinegar or camphorated spirit has been added; the latter must, however, be employed with caution. A hot knee-bath is useful in drawing the affection from the face and upper part of the body. A ‘compress,’ wrung out of cold water until it ceases to drip, and kept in contact with the stomach by means of a dry bandage, has been recommended to relieve excessive irritation of the stomach and bowels. It has been stated that decoction of Virginian snake-root is particularly useful in relieving chronic urticaria.
3. Red-rash, RED-BLOTCH, or FIERY SPOT, is commonly the consequence of disordered general health, of dyspepsia, and particularly, of females, of tight lacing. Sometimes it is slight and evanescent; at others it approaches in severity to the milder forms of erysipelas, there being much swelling and inflammation. Chaps, galls, excoriations, and chilblains are varieties of this disease produced by cold, excessive moisture, or friction. The treatment is similar to that of nettle-rash.
4. Rose-rash, FALSE MEASLES, or ROSEOLA, is an efflorescence, or rather a discoloration of a rose-red tint, in small irregular patches, without wheals or papulæ, which spread over the surface of the body, and are ushered in by slight febrile symptoms. There are several varieties. The causes are the same as those which produce the preceding affections, and the treatment may be similar. In all of them strict attention to the diet, and a careful avoidance of cold applications, or exposure to cold, so as to cause a retrocession, are matters of the first moment.
RASP′BERRY. Syn. Hindberry. The fruit of Rubus Idæus (Linn.), a small shrub of the natural order Rosaceæ. It is cooling, antiscorbutic, and mildly aperitive. It is frequently used to communicate a fine flavour to liqueurs, confectionery, wine, &c. See Fruits and Vegetables.
Fresenius gives the following as the composition of raspberries:
| Cultivated. | |||
| Wild Red. | Red. | White. | |
| Soluble Matter— | |||
| Sugar | 3·597 | 4·708 | 3·703 |
| Free acid (reduced to equivalent in malic acid) | 1·980 | 1·356 | 1·115 |
| Albuminous substances | 0·546 | 0·544 | 0·665 |
| Pectous substances, &c. | 1·107 | 1·746 | 1·397 |
| Ash | 0·270 | 0·481 | 0·318 |
| Insoluble Matter— | |||
| Seeds, Skins, &c. | 8·460 | 4·106 | 4·520 |
| Pectose | 0·180 | 0·502 | 0·040 |
| [Ash from insoluble matter included in weights given] | [0·134] | [0·296] | [0·081] |
| Water | 86·860 | 86·557 | 88·180 |
| ———— | ———— | ———— | |
| 100·000 | 100·000 | 100·000 | |
RATAFI′A. Originally a liquor drank at the ratification of an agreement or treaty. It is now the common generic name in France of liqueurs compounded of spirit, sugar, and the odoriferous and flavouring principles of vegetables, more particularly of those containing the juices of recent fruits, or the kernels of apricots, cherries, or peaches. In its unqualified sense this name is commonly understood as referring to cherry-brandy or peach-brandy.
Ratafias are prepared by distillation, maceration, or extemporaneous admixture, in the manner explained under the head LIQUEUR. The following list includes those which are commonly prepared by the French liquoristes:—
Ratafia d’Angelique. From angelica seeds, 1 dr.; angelica stalks, 4 oz.; blanched bitter almonds, bruised, 1 oz.; proof spirit or brandy, 6 quarts; digest for 10 days, filter; add, of water, 1 quart; white sugar, 31⁄2 lbs.; mix well, and in a fortnight decant the clear portion through a piece of clean flannel.