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.

    174/554 (page 162)
    LOCAL THERAPEUTICS. at s liniment, the latter containing one part of camphor and four parts of cotton-seed oil. These are to be found in ahnost every household and are used for the relief of Bruises, Sprains, etc. Soap liniment is a mild liniment, popular by itself or combined with more stunulating preparations, and is used largely both by the profession and laity. Soap liniment cleanses the skin from adhesive substances tha may be left after removing plasters, etc. Shampooing of a limb in cam- phorated soap liniment after the removal of a Fracture Dressing adds greatly to the comfort of the patient. After the embrocation is used, the parts should be washed with soap and water, dried with gentle friction' and just before the reapplication of the dressing be sponged with equal parts of alcohol and water, or with bay rum*. Camphorated mercurial ointment (Scott's dressing) is composed as follows: Camphor, ; mercurial ointment, gj. Its use is indicated in Synovitis with effusion. The ointment is applied to the affected parts on lint; over this are laid four strips of adhesive plaster and the whole is enveloped with a starch or plaster bandage, thus immobilizing the joint, and allowed to remain in position for a week or more. Camphor is used in combination in many tooth powders, and leaves a fresh, pleasant taste in the mouth. The persistent use of it is said, however, to cause the teeth to become brittle. A preparation composed as follows: Camphor, five parts; chloral hydrate, two parts, and cocaine hydrochlorate, one part, is recommended as a local application in Neuralgia. Diseases of the Skin.—Camphor is employed chiefly as an anses- thetic in diseases of the skin accompanied by burning and itching. Powdered camphor forms an ingredient of a very useful dusting powder known as McCall Anderson's Powder, used in Erythema, Erythematous Eczema (Intertrigo), and Urticaria. This is composed as follows: R. Pulv. camphorse, ^j-ij; pulv. amyli, pulv. zinci oxidi, aa 5ss. M. It is important that the camphor should be in an impalpable powder. Powdered camphor has been used with success in Foul Ulcers, and particularly in Hospital Gangrene. It also enters into the composition of several very useful lotions. (See Kummerfeld's Lotion, under Sulphur.^ Diseases of the Ear, Throat, and Nose.—The vapor of cam- phor has been employed by Keene in the treatment of Tinnitus. It is blown into the middle ear by means of the Eustachian catheter. Camphor is an ancient remedy for Acute Coryza. It can be used by inhalation, one drachm in a tumbler of boiling water or an ingredient of a powder, and is of especial value in the first stage of the attack. The sniffing of the vapor from the crude gum is of repute in the treatment of Fetid Coryza, for a long time neglected, but of late years its reputation has been revived.