Mr. Phillips attempts to account for this apparent anomaly “from the effect which heat sometimes produces of increasing instead of diminishing the attraction of cohesion. In the present case, he continues, the affinities which are brought into play are, the attractions of aggregation of the particles of the lime upon each other, the attraction of the lime to form a hydrate with a small portion of the water, and the mutual affinity existing between that hydrate and the water of solution.” And at the high temperature he thinks that the former affinities may be so heightened as to overpower the latter.
[554]. Upon this fact Dr. Alton founded his ingenious process for preserving water from putrefaction; in the first place he impregnated the water with lime, which from its antiseptic property answered the purpose of keeping it most completely, and then, in order to get rid of the lime, he merely added the carbonate of magnesia, which by transferring its carbonic acid, rendered the lime insoluble, and consequently the water tasteless and fit for economical purposes. Mr. Henry, however, proposed the introduction of a current of carbonic acid into the cask, and this expedient has been found equally effective, and far more economical.
[555]. Mrs. Stephen’s Remedy for the Stone consisted of lime, which was produced by calcining the shells of eggs and snails, and made into pills with Soap. A decoction was also administered, consisting of Chamomile, Fennel, Parsley and Burdock, together with a portion of Alicant Soap. This is a very rational practice, and is very much what the practitioners of the present day depend upon: the observations of Mrs. Stephens respecting their administration, are equally judicious. “If,” says she, “these medicines produce pain, it will be necessary to give an opiate with them, and it must be at all times a principal care to prevent a looseness, for if this should happen it would carry off the medicines; under such circumstances the quantity of the Decoction, since it is laxative, must be diminished, and other suitable means must be taken by the advice of a Physician.” The credit of introducing alkaline medicines for the cure of calculous disorders, does not however rest with Mrs. Stephens. It has been before stated in this work, that Basil Valentine employed a fixed alkaline salt in such cases; and I may here add, that Sennertus, in his Praxis Medica, mentions a lithonthryptic that was in great esteem and general use in his time, which consisted of one ounce of Salt of Tartar dissolved in a pint of parsley water, and afterwards tinged yellow with orange peel.
[556]. Virgin’s Milk. A preparation is sold under this name, which is a Sulphate of Lead, and is prepared as follows. To a saturated solution of Alum, add of Goulard’s extract one third part. Shake them together;—see Benzoinum for a very different cosmetic bearing the same name.
[557]. Hankay’s Lotion, or Preventive Wash. This famous nostrum for the prevention of venereal infection, was nothing more than a solution of caustic potass.
[558]. Dr. Chittick’s Remedy for the Stone. This celebrated nostrum consisted of a fixed alkali in veal broth; the broth was usually made by his patients, and sent to him fresh every day, in order to be medicated. A. D. 1766.
[559]. Magnesia was originally a general term, expressive of any substance which had the power of attracting some principle from the air, from Magnes, the Loadstone. The peculiar body which we now denominate Magnesia, was first sold as a panacea, by a canon at Rome, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, under the title of Magnesia alba, or Count Palma’s Powder.
[560]. Dalby’s Carminative. This consists of carbonate of magnesia ℈ij, oils of Peppermint, ♏︎j, of Nutmeg, ♏︎ij, of Aniseed ♏︎iij, of the tinctures of Castor ♏︎xxx, of Assafœtida ♏︎xv, Tincture of Opium, ♏︎v, Spirit of Pennyroyal ♏︎xv, of the Compound Tincture of Cardamoms ♏︎xxx, Peppermint water f℥ij. There are cheaper compositions sold under the same name. In examining the pretensions of this combination, it must be allowed that it is constructed upon philosophical principles; this however is no reason why the physician should recommend it; the mischievous tendency of a quack medicine does not depend upon its composition, but upon its application; we ought to remember, says an eminent physician, that in recommending this nostrum we foster the dangerous prejudices of mothers and nurses, who are unable to ascertain the circumstances under which it should be given, or even the proper doses; if its composition is judicious, why do not physicians order the same in a regular prescription, rather than in a form in which the most valuable remedy will be abused?
[561]. “Manna, vox chaldaica est, admirantis interjectio, deducta ab Hebraico Manhu, sive quid est hoc?” Chrystom. Magneni Exercitat. de Manno.
[562]. Honey Water.—The article usually sold under this name is a mixture of Essences coloured with Saffron; some add a small quantity of Honey, the effect of which is to communicate a clamminess which retains the scent longer.