Sudorific Powder.
Take purified nitre and vitriolated tartar of each half an ounce; opium and ipecacuanha, of each one drachm. Mix the ingredients, and reduce them to a fine powder.
This is generally known by the name of Dover’s Powder. It is a powerful sudorific. In obstinate rheumatisms, and other cases where it is necessary to excite a copious sweat, this powder may be administered in the dose of a scruple or half a drachm. Some patients will require two scruples. It ought to be accompanied with the plentiful use of some warm diluting liquor.
Worm-powders.
Take of tin reduced into a fine powder, an ounce; Æthiop’s mineral, two drachms. Mix them well together, and divide the whole into six doses.
One of these powders may be taken in a little syrup, honey, or treacle, twice a-day. After they have been all used, the following anthelmintic purge may be proper.
Purging Worm-powder.
Take of powdered rhubarb, a scruple; scammony and calomel, of each five grains. Rub them together in a mortar for one dose.
For children the above doses must be lessened according to their age.
If the powder of tin be given alone, its dose may be considerably increased. The late Dr. Alston gave it to the amount of two ounces in three days, and says, when thus administered, that it proved an egregious anthelmintic. He purged his patients both before they took the powder and afterwards.