A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    infusion growths of bacteriological origin were rapidly destroyed A cup of coffee left in a room remains almost free from micro-organism- for a week or more. The antiseptic property of coffee is probably not due to the caffeine but to the empyreumatic oils developed by roasting. yjour. Amer. Med. Ass'n, 1890, p. 692.) Diseases of the Ear, Throat, etc.-Coffee is in good repute as an agent to cover the odor of iodoform. M. Gougenheim {Le Progres Midi- cale, Oct. 31, 1885, P- 337) employs it for its analgesic properties in Laryngeal Phthisis. F. Guerder {^Brit Med. Jour., Julv 31, 1886) adds to dried, finely pulverized coffee an equal proportion of boric acid as an insufflation in Whooping Cough. H. McNaughton Jones recom- mends for Aural Eczema an ointment of iodoform and fresh coffee one two parts, and vaseline ten parts. CALCII CARBONAS PR^CIPITATUS. Precipitated Carbonate of Calcium. Precipitated Chalk. Precipitated carbonate of calcium is made by the mutual decomposition of solutions of carbonate of sodium and chloride of calcium. A very fine, white, impalpable pow- der, permanent in the air, odorless and tasteless, and insoluble in water or alcohol (U. S. P.) Creta Pr^parata.. Prepared Chalk. Native friable carbonate of calcium, freed from most of its impurities by elutriation. (U. S. P.) It usually occurs in the form of small cones of a dirty white color, soft, free from grit, and readily pulverized under the fingers. It is an impure carbonate of calcium, containing a proportion of magnesium salts, usually a small proportion of iron salts, and some sulphate of calcium. Precipitated carbonate of calcium is a purer product, and hence is preferable for most purposes. Chalk is employed as a desiccant and mild astringent, also as a mild alkali to neutralize acids and to assuage the irritative effects of fatty decomposition. General Surgery.—Precipitated chalk is often used in dusting-pow- ders, and as a desiccant and protective application to old Burns and Ulcers. Dr. Hood {Lancet, October i, 1887), recommends the follow- ing ointment for the treatment of Cancer as bland and unirritating : R. Cret^ prjepar., ^iij; olei amygdal., ^ij. The chalk is to be intimately mixed with the oil, then two ounces of lanoline are to be added. This may be applied twice daily, spread on lint. Diseases of the Skin.—The dry powdered chalk is an ingredient of several powders employed in Erythematous Eczema, particularly about the genitalia where the free secretion of sweat and the natural heat of the parts tends to keep up irritation and to hasten the decomposition of such applications as may be made. The rapid formation of fatty acids in