Supplement to a textbook of pharmacology, therapeutics and materia medica.

  • Brunton, T. Lauder (Thomas Lauder), 1844-1916.
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Supplement to a textbook of pharmacology, therapeutics and materia medica. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    This has been long known to nurses, and soap suppositories are commonly used for infants (p. 967). In 1887 Vamossy discovered that injections of 1 or 2 fluid drachms of glycerine into the rectum have a similar action, and in a few minutes bring on in adults a desire to evacuate the bowels. Glycerine is now very extensively used as a laxative, small syringes made specially for the purpose, and holding 1 or 2 fluid drachms, being employed. It has the advantage over ordinary purgatives that it acts in a few minutes, so that if a patient on trying to obtain a movement finds that he is consti- pated, he simply uses an injection of glycerine instead of having to wait hours before an ordinary purgative taken by the mouth will act. In place of injecting pure glycerine, a suppository containing it may be used, and as some persons require more and some less, the suppositories of the Pharmacopoeia are made in different sizes. In order to make them gelatine has been introduced. G-elatinum. Gelatine. The air-dried product of the action of boiling water on gelatigenous animal tissues, such as skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Characters.—In translucent sheets or shreds. The solution in hot water is colourless and inodorous, and solidifies to a jelly on cooling. Gelatine is insoluble in alcohol and ether. It dissolves in acetic acid. Its aqueous solu- tion is not precipitated by diluted acids, alum, acetate of lead, or perchloride of iron ; it is precipitated by tannin. Uses.— See p. 1086. It is introduced into the * Additions ’ in order to make glycerine suppositories. Suppositorla Glycerinl. Glycerine Suppositories. Gelatine cut small, £ ounce ; Glycerine, by weight, ounces ; Distilled Water, q.s. Soften the gelatine with water, then add the glycerine. Dissolve over a water-bath, and evaporate until the mixture weighs 1560 grains. Pour the product into suppository moulds holding thirty, sixty, or one hundred and twenty grain-measures, or having other capacities, as required. Each sup- pository contains seventy per cent, by weight of glycerine. Cholagogues. We have two cholagogues in the ‘ Additions,' euonymus (p. 894) and hydrastis (p. 888), both of which are officinal in the United States Pharmacopoeia, and have therefore been noticed in this book. Euonymi Cortex. Euonymus Bark. The dried root bark of Euonymus; atropurpureus. Characters.—See p. 894. Preparation.—Extractum Euonymi Siccum. Extractum Euonymi Siccum. Dry Extract of Euonymus (com- monly known as ‘ Euonymin ’). This is a new form of extract. It is pre- pared by exhausting the powdered bark with diluted spirit, mixing with milk sugar, and evaporating to dryness. Dose.—1 to 4 grains.