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

  • Whitla, William, 1851-1933.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    111/656 (page 107)
    The action of some medicines is increased by combining^ with them substances, the preyiously known qualities of which would have given no clue to their usefulness in this respect; thus, the diuretic power of digitalis and squill is intensified by mercury. By the judicious combination of two or more remedies we are often enabled to correct undesirable qualities possessed by one of them; thus alkalies correct the griping of aloes, and hyoscyamus that of colocynth; arsenic prevents the acne- which follows the administration of bromide of potassium j and atropine corrects the unpleasant symptoms caused by a hypodermic dose of morphine. By a proper regulation of the dose of various remedies of the same class, though differing in their methods of action,, occasionally, a better compound may be obtained, as pointed out by Paris ; thus by giving a cholagogue with a saline, more effectual purgation is obtained ; or by combining bromide of potassium with a narcotic, a hypnotic can be procured, which is more satisfactory in its operation than most sleep producers. WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND SYMBOLS USED IN PRESCRIBING-.* The weights used in prescribing and dispensing are of the oflicial system, which starts with the Troy grain and ends with the Avoirdupois pound. 1 Grain, gr. = 1 grain. 1 Ounce, oz. = 437*5 grs. 1 Pound, lb. = 7,000 grs. v^^^hV^^^''^ .Measures of Capacity which are generally met witn m prescriptions are :— j 1 Minim ^in. = i minim = .91 grs. of water. 1 i^luid Dram, Jl. drm. =60 minims = 54-68 1 Fluid Ounce, ^. oz. = S fluid drams = 437-5 J) the SffltwVeigVte and Ku^^aT '^ '^ble ot