Elements of pharmacy, materia medica, and therapeutics / by William Whitla.

  • Whitla, William, 1851-1933.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of pharmacy, materia medica, and therapeutics / by William Whitla. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with the alkaline juices, and the drug has a certain amount of anodyne or pain-relieving power. It has also been used as a remedy against round and tape worms, which it sometimes has destroyed by its digestive action. It has been used with varying success as a local remedy in diphtheria^ where its application as a powder causes the disintegration of the false membrane. It has also been employed to destroy warts, epitheliomas, &c. Schwimmer has successfully used a solution (i in lo) to cure fissures of the tongue. Recently papain has been proved to be a powerful galactagogue when given internally, or even applied locally, and the writer has satisfied himself of the great value of Finkler's papain in dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, and cancer of the stomach in doses of 2 to 3 grains. He obtains such excellent results with the drug that he seldom now uses pepsin. He com- bines it with dried carbonate of soda, carbonate of bismuth, and a little morphia. There is also contained in the leaves a poisonous alkaloid called Carpaine which is not yet used in medicine. Papaverine is one of the colourless, crystalline alkaloids of opium. Owing to impurities and difficulties in isolating these alkaloids, the greatest diversity of opinion exists about their action. Thus the ordinary dose of this substance is given as ^ gr. Hoffmann affirmed he took 50 times this quantity without experiencing any effects whatever. Fronmiiller states that it is narcotic, and that it dilates the pupil, and does not affect pulse, temperature, or respiration. Other observers find it markedly diminishes these. In our present state of knowledge its adminis- tration to man is not to be advocated. ParacreSOtate of Phenol, or Methylsalol, is isomeric with cresalol. It exists as fine crystalline needles, or as a colourless crystalline powder, sparingly soluble in cold water. The paracresotate of soda has been used as a new antipyretic by Demme in acute rheumatism, and various forms of fever, as a substitute for salicylate of soda. It has been given in doses as high as 60 grs. without producing any toxic action, and children have taken 15 grs. to 30 grs. It produces profuse perspiration, i oz. boiling water will dissolve 20 grs. of the salt. Parrish's Syrup (Syr. Ferri Phos. Co.) is one of the best known and most extensively employed of non-official remedies. It is known as Chemical food, and is a valuable and agreeable method whereby the virtues of iron are combined with the restorative action of calcium and other salts. Each fluid drachm contains :— Phosphates of iron, I gr.; of calcium, 2}j grs.; of sodium, -^^ gr., and potassium, i gr. Dose—i to 2 drs., diluted. ^ ' The B.P.C. formula is much weaker than this.