[539]. This fact has been lately confirmed by M. F. Cartier, who found 4 gr. of oxide of iron in 1000 gr. of red roses.
[540]. A valuable paper upon this subject is to be found in the first volume of “The Reports of the Philomatic Society of Paris:” by Bouillon La Grange. It has been lately supposed, but without much probability, that the griping property of Senna depends upon its admixture with some foreign leaf.
[541]. Selway’s Prepared Essence of Senna. This is a concentrated infusion of Senna, in combination with an alkali.
[542]. The plant yielding the Ipecacuanha of the shops, is more probably a species of Viola than that of Callicocca. According to Linnæus, it is not unfrequently obtained from the Psycotria Emetica. The word Ipecacuanha signifies any emetic substance.
[543]. A formula for its preparation is introduced into the new Codex of Paris, being the one used by M. Pelletier; it is as follows. Let ℥i of the powder of Ipecacuan be macerated in ℥ij of æther with a gentle heat for some hours, in a distilling apparatus; let the portion which remains be triturated and boiled with ℥iv of alcohol; it having been previously macerated in it; filter and let the remainder be treated with fresh portions of alcohol, as long as any thing is taken up from the root; mix these alcoholic solutions and evaporate to dryness; let this alcoholic extract be macerated in cold distilled water, in order that every thing soluble in that menstruum may be dissolved; filter, and evaporate to dryness; this extract is Emetine. In this state however it contains a small quantity of gallic acid, but which is too inconsiderable to affect its medicinal qualities.
[544]. We agree with the author in his estimate of the value of Emetine. As a general remedy, it possesses no advantage over the Ipecacuanha itself, and will probably never supersede it. Cases may occur, however, in which its use will be desirable, and it may then be given in the following doses. As an Emetic, from four to five grains dissolved in a couple of ounces of some aromatic water; as a Diaphoretic, about half a grain repeated every four hours; and as an Expectorant, one-fifth or one-fourth of a grain repeated every two or three hours. These doses apply only to the impure or coloured Emetine, the form in which it is commonly found. Ed.
[545]. Ipecacuanha Lozenges. Each Lozenge contains half a grain of Ipecacuanha.
[546]. Sapo Jalapinus. It is prepared by taking equal parts of Castille Soap and of resinous extract of Jalap, and digesting them in a sufficient quantity of alcohol, with moderate heat, and evaporating to the consistence of a conserve.
[547]. The plant which yields Kino is at length satisfactorily proved to be the Pterocarpus Erinacea; the London College have accordingly made the alteration which I anticipated in the former edition of this work.
[548]. Dr. Pemberton makes the interesting statement in relation to the operation of Kino upon the system, that unless Diarrhœa be actually present, “it appears to have no tendency to confine the bowels. In this drug, therefore,” he adds, “you have a medicine which exerts its powers to restrain the discharges of the glands when they are secreting too much, without exerting any such powers over them when they are acting naturally.” Practical Treatise on the various diseases of the abdominal viscera, p. 112, Am. Ed.