Ferula Assafœtida. Gummi Resina.
Qualities. Form, small irregular masses, adhering together, of a variegated texture, and containing many little shining tears of a whitish, reddish, or violet hue. Taste, bitter and sub-acrid. Odour, fœtid and alliaceous, but this latter property is very much impaired by age. Chemical Composition. Gum (or according to Brugnatelli, extractive) 60, resin 30, and essential oil 10 parts. Solubility. It yields all its virtues to alcohol and æther; if triturated with water it forms a milky mixture, but which is not permanent, unless some intermede be employed for the suspension of the gum-resin; for this purpose egg may be added, in the proportion of one yolk to a drachm of assafœtida, or a permanent mixture may be effected by carefully triturating the gum resin with double its weight of mucilage. If ʒvj of assafœtida be triturated with ʒss of camphor, a mass results of a proper consistence for a plaster; if triturated with carbonate of ammonia, it is easily reduced to powder, but undergoes no other change. Forms of Exhibition; in mixture or in pills. The Indian physicians have an idea that on account of its stimulating powers, it will, if administered to a pregnant woman, produce abortion. Dose, gr. v. to ℈j. Form. 23, 29. Medicinal Uses, stimulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, and anthelmintic; in coughs, attended with pulmonary weakness, and a tendency to spasm, it is very beneficial; in cases of flatulent cholic, it has, in the form of enema, acted like a charm; in habitual costiveness it often proves an invigorating aperient, and may be advantageously combined with resinous purgatives in torpor of the bowels connected with nervous symptoms. Officinal Prep. Mist: Assafœtid: L.D. Tinct: Assafœtid: L.E.D. Spir: Ammoniæ fœtid: (B) L.E.D. Tinct: Castori, comp: (B) E. Pil: Aloes cum Assafœtid: (G) E. Pil: Galbani: comp: (B) L. Enema Fœtid: D. Impurities. Its characteristic odour should be powerful, and when broken, its fracture ought to exhibit a bluish-red appearance. It ought not to be brittle.
AURUM.
(Auri Murias.) Muriate of Gold.
[Gold was early used as a medicine. It fell however into total disrepute until its use was a few years since revived in France. Although it has attracted some attention lately, it can hardly be said to have reclaimed a permanent place in the materia medica. The most striking effects which it produces on the system, are an increase of urine and perspiration. It has been recommended in glandular swellings, gleets, schirrus of the uterus, scrofula, and dropsy. It is however as an antisyphilitic remedy that it has been principally celebrated. According to Dr. Chrestien of Montpelier, it would appear that gold was not merely adequate to the cure of syphilis in all its forms, but that it possesses very great advantages over mercury—It does not affect the gums, nor does it in any way disturb the general health of the patient. Notwithstanding this warm recommendation of Dr. Chrestien, it is still doubtful whether gold is adequate to the cure of syphilis. The best form in which the gold can be given is that of the muriate, prepared according to the directions of the Pharmacopœia of the United States; of this the dose is one fifteenth to one fourth of a grain, in pills, given every six, eight, or twelve hours.]
BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. L.E.D.
(Myroxylon Peruiferum). Peruvian Balsam.
Qualities. Form, a viscid liquid of a reddish brown colour. Odour, fragrant and aromatic. Taste, hot and bitter. Chemical Composition. Resin, volatile oil, and benzoic acid; it is therefore a true balsam: this term was formerly applied to every vegetable resin having a strong scent and the fluidity of treacle, and which was supposed to possess many medicinal virtues; it is now restricted to those resins which contain the benzoic acid in their composition, of which there are only three, viz. the Balsams of Peru, Tolu, and Benzoin. Solubility. Water when boiled upon it dissolves only a portion of benzoic acid; æther is its most complete solvent; alcohol dissolves it completely, but the quantity of this menstruum must be considerable. Properties, stimulant and tonic, on which account in certain chronic affections of the lungs, it has been found a serviceable expectorant; Sydenham gave it in Phthisis, but wherever any inflammatory action is to be apprehended Dr. Fothergill wisely cautions us against its use. Forms of Exhibition. Diffused in water by means of mucilage, or made into pills with any vegetable powder. Dose, gr. v to ʒj. Adulterations. A mixture of resin and some volatile oil with benzoin, is often sold for Peruvian Balsam, and the fraud is not easily detected, and is probably of but little importance.
BALSAMUM TOLUTANUM. L.E.D.
(Toluifera Balsamum.) Balsam of Tolu.