[447]. Rymer’s Cardiac Tincture. In the earlier editions of this work an erroneous account of this medicine has been given, in consequence of a spurious specimen having been examined: the following analysis is now confidently presented to the profession. It is an infusion of Capsicum, Camphor, Cardamom seeds, Rhubarb, Aloes, and Castor in Proof Spirit, with a very small quantity of Sulphuric acid.
[448]. Lardner’s Prepared Charcoal consists of cretaceous powder, or chalk finely powdered, rendered grey by the addition of charcoal, or Ivory black.
[449]. Concentrated Solution of Charcoal. A preparation is sold under this absurd name for cleaning the teeth, and is nothing more than a tincture of Catechu. The name was probably suggested by the experiments of Mr. Hatchett, who succeeded in producing artificial tannin by the action of Nitric acid upon Charcoal.
[450]. In cases of obstinate constipation of the bowels, charcoal is one of the most efficient remedies in the whole Materia Medica. Many cases have yielded to it which had resisted every other cathartic medicine previously used. Dr. Daniell, of Savannah, to whom we are indebted for an interesting paper on this subject, states as the result of his experience, “that the most speedy, as well as the most certain relief, is to be obtained from the free use of Charcoal. If it does not wholly relieve, it always very much mitigates the pain in six or eight hours from the period of its first administration; and within my observation,” he adds, “the patient has always been entirely composed before the operation of the medicine upon the bowels.” “In relation to the dose of this medicine,” he states that “the rule which I have pursued is to give it as freely and as frequently as the stomach will allow. The quantity required is considerable. It has a happy influence in lulling the irritability of the stomach, when nothing else which I have used, would control the nausea and vomiting of the patient; thus fulfilling the double intention of first alleviating a very distressing symptom, and then removing the disease itself. I usually give from one to three table-spoonsful of Charcoal every half hour or hour: whenever the stomach becomes overcharged with the medicine, the excess is thrown off, and the stomach is again quiet. I give it in lime water, milk, or water alone—the vehicle having appeared to me unimportant.” Philadel. Journal of Med. and Phys. Science, Vol. 5. p. 120. Ed.
[451]. See an account of Charcoal, as a test for Arsenic, and remarks thereon, p. 308.
[452]. Dr. Maton in a learned critical and botanical note to a paper on the Cardamom, by Mr. White, Surgeon of Bombay, (Trans: Lin: Soc: v. x, 229,) called the genus, of which it consists, Elettaria, a nomenclature which was accordingly adopted by the College in their late Pharmacopœia; but, says Sir James Smith, as this name is of a barbarous origin, (viz. from Elettaria, the Malabar name of the plant.) we should greatly prefer that of Matonia; a suggestion which has been since adopted by Mr. Roscoe of Liverpool, in his description of the Scitamineœ. The College has therefore the gratifying task of erasing the term Elettaria from their Materia Medica, and of substituting for it a name no less known than respected by the Medical profession.
[453]. Essence of Coffee. The Cassia pulp is said to form the basis of this article.
[454]. The ancients erroneously considered them as the testicles of the beaver, and Æsop relates that the animal bit them off, when pursued by the huntsman, whence some have derived its name, a castrando; the true origin however of the word is from γαστωρ, i.e. animal ventriculosum, from his swaggy and prominent belly.
[455]. Bateman’s Pectoral Drops consist principally of the Tincture of Castor, with portions of camphor and opium, flavoured by anise seeds, and coloured by cochineal.
[456]. It was formerly supposed to be a mineral production: and hence the term Terra Japonica. Hagedorn and Boulduc were among the first who opposed this error, and who established the fact of its vegetable origin (Mem. de l’Acad. des Sciences de Paris, A. 1709. p. 228.)