“The Antivenereal Drops,” so famous at Amsterdam, were analysed by Scheele, who found they were composed of muriate of iron, with a small proportion of corrosive sublimate.
Marsden’s Antiscorbutic Drops. A solution of sublimate in an infusion of Gentian.
Green’s Drops. The basis of these also is sublimate.
Solomon’s Anti-Impetigines. A solution of sublimate.
Rob Anti-Syphilitique, par M. Laffecteur, Medicin Chemiste. This popular nostrum of the French contains as a principal ingredient, corrosive sublimate. A strong decoction of Arundo Phragmitis (the bull rush) is made, with the addition of sarsaparilla and aniseeds towards the end, which is evaporated, and made into a rob, or syrup, to which the sublimate is added.
Sirop de Cuisiniere. This consists of decoctions of sarsaparilla, burrage flowers, white roses, senna, and aniseed, to which sublimate is added, and the whole is then made into a syrup with sugar and honey.
Terre Feuilletee Mercurielle of Pressavin. This is Tartarized Mercury, for it is made by boiling the oxyd of mercury (obtained by precipitating it from a nitric solution, by potass) with cream of tartar.
Velno’s Vegetable Syrup. There has been a great obscurity with respect to the genuine composition of this nostrum; it has generally been supposed to consist of sublimate rubbed up with honey and mucilage. I have lately received from my friend Mr. Brodie a formula, by which a medicine perfectly analogous in its sensible characters, and medicinal properties, to the Syrup in question, may be prepared; and I am assured that, wherever it has been tried, its effects are in every respect similar to those produced by the original nostrum. Take of Burdock root (young and fresh) sliced, ℥ij; Dandelion root ℥i; Spear Mint (fresh) ℥j; Senna Leaves, Coriander Seeds (bruised), Liquorice Root (fresh) of each ʒiss; Water oiss: boil gently until reduced to oj; then strain, and, when cold, add ℔ of lump sugar, and boil it to the consistence of a syrup, and add a small proportion of the solution of Oxy-muriate of Mercury. Swediaur says that volatile alkali enters into this nostrum as an ingredient; this alkali was proposed by Dr. Peyrile, as a substitute for mercury, and it constitutes the active ingredient of the following composition, which was proposed by Mr. Besnard, Physician to the King of Bavaria.
Tinctura Antisyphillitica. Sub-carb. potass, ℔j. dissolved in Aq. Cinnam, oj. Opii puri, ℥ij. dissolved in Spir. cinnamom. f℥iv. mix these separate solutions, and put them on a water-bath for three weeks, taking care to shake the vessel frequently; to this add Gum arabic ℥ij, Carb. Ammoniæ ℥j, dissolve in Aq. Cinnamomi; mix, filter, and keep for use. Dose, twenty-four drops three times a day, in a glass of the cold decoction of Marsh Mallow root.
The external use of these drops is also advised for local syphilitic complaints!