[675]. The Guestonian Embrocation for Rheumatism. ℞. Ol. Terebinth: f℥iss—Ol: Oliv: f℥iss—Acid: Sulph. dilut: fʒiij.
[676]. Scouring Drops. The peculiar odour which distinguishes oil of turpentine, may be destroyed by the addition of a few drops of some fragrant volatile oil, as that of lemons: a combination of this kind is commonly sold under the name of Scouring Drops, for the purpose of removing paint, oil, or grease from cloth.
[677]. Dutch, or Haerlem Drops. The basis of this nostrum consists of the residue of this redistillation, which is a thick, red, resinous matter, to which the name of Balsam of Turpentine has been given; a preparation, however, is frequently vended as “Dutch Drops,” which is a mixture of oil of turpentine, tincture of guaiacum, spirit of nitric ether, with small portions of the oils of amber and cloves. Serapion, the younger, one of the earlier Arabian writers on the Materia Medica, describes them as bearing some analogy to “Pine nuts.”
[678]. The reader will find an account of the Botanical Literature of this plant, by J. Frost, Director of the Medico-Botanical Society, in the 17th volume of the Medical Repository, p. 461.
[679]. Rumphius, (Herb: Amboinense) in speaking of the Grana Molucca, observes that women who are desirous of getting rid of their husbands, give them four grains at one dose.
[680]. See Ainslie’s Materia Medica of Hindostan.
[681]. I state this fact on the authority of a communication made by order of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to the College of Physicians, enclosing the extract of a letter from Mr. Conwell.
[682]. Journal of Science and Arts. No. xxvi.
[683]. I understand that to the Veterinary Surgeon this oil has proved an article of great utility, as it uniformly purges the horse, and may be employed, for that purpose, in those cases in which Aloes would be inadmissible.
[684]. In making such a tincture we should employ a fluid-drachm of Rectified Spirit, to two drops of the oil. They should be digested for some time and then filtered. With all the care that can be used, a certain portion of the spirit will be evaporated, and half a fluid-drachm of the tincture may be thus considered as nearly equivalent to a drop and a half of the oil.