Pharmacologia / by J.A. Paris.

Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmacologia / by J.A. Paris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    particles of the aloes, and modifies the solubility of the mass. The Pilulce Opii of the former Pharmacopoeia of London, consisted of equal proportions of opium and extract of liquorice, and the mass was so insoluble that its effects were extremely uncertain and precarious; in the present edition, soap has been very judiciously substituted; but in certain cases where we wish to protract the influence of opium, or that of any other active body, so as not to obtain its full effects at once, we may very advantageously modify its solubility, by combining it with a gum resin or some substance which will have the effect of retarding its solution in the sto- mach. The Pilula e Styrace of the Dublin college, presents itself as an efficient example of this species of pharmaceutical address ; see also Form. 10, 113 12. I am well acquainted with many formulae whose utility has been sanctioned by experience, and I have no hesitation in believing that their salutary mode of ope- ration would receive a plausible explanation from this simple law of combination. Dr. Young has very justly stated in his Medical Literature,* that the balsam of copaiba envelopes metallic salts, so as to lessen their activity ; he says that the sub-carbonate of iron, made into pills with copaiba, was given for some weeks with- out any apparent effect; and that a few hours after the same quantity had been given, with gum only, the faeces were perfectly black. I do not know a more striking and instructive proof of the influence of a glu- tinous or viscid constituent, in wrapping up a metallic salt, and defending the stomach from its action, than is presented in the case published by the medical atten- * Edition 2. 1823.—I shall avail myself of the present opportu- nity to recommend this work to the perusal of every student who is ambitious to become acquainted with the Literature of his profession.