A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines : the whole adapted to physicians and pharmaceutists / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith.

Griffith, R. Eglesfeld (Robert Eglesfeld), 1798-1850.

Date:: 1874

Credit: A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines : the whole adapted to physicians and pharmaceutists / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$medicines, however, the alterative action is only displayed when they are administered in small, but long-continued doses, and does not take place when they are taken in such quantities as to excite much local action. It is erroneous to suppose that a medicine is devoid of power, or does not exert an influence on the system, because no marked effect immediately follows its exhibition ; for, as is observed by Dr. Barlow, it is veiy possible that prac- titioners often eiT, especially in the treatment of chronic maladies, from requiring an obvious efiect from each dose administered; where it is ascer- tained that a medicine actually possesses inherent powers, the slow and almost imperceptible exercise of these powers should not be despised. There is often more wisdom in seconding the efforts of nature than in superseding them. In fully admitting the truth of this remark, we are far from advo- cating the doctrine of Hahnemann, or his invisible doses ; nor does it, in fact, accord with his views, for he gives a long catalogue of symptoms, caused by the administration of the minutest quantity of the articles of his materia medica. So many circumstances influence the effects of medicines, that it is almost impossible to say what dose will produce identical efi'ects in different indi- viduals ; but it has been sufficiently ascertained that, in the generality of patients, we may reasonably expect certain results from certain doses. The circumstances that influence the action of medicines, and the doses in which they are to be given, are:— Age.—This exercises much influence; the young require smaller doses of a medicine to produce the desired effect than an adult; and the aged, al- though less susceptible to impressions than formerly, are unable to bear any forcible shock on their system. Various formulas or tables have been pub- lished for the graduation of doses to the respective ages; but none of them are as generally adopted as that attributed to Gaubius, which is as follows:— Dose for a person in adult age being 1 drachm or 1. That for a person from 14 to 21 years would be 2 scruples or f. Uo 14 4 to T 4 » 3 u 2 1 This table, although mainly correct, is often found to be erroneous, when applied to particular cases. Dr. Paris, in his Pharmacologia, gives a formula devised by Dr. Young, which is simple and has been found to be generally correct; this is :— For children under twelve j^ears, the doses of most medicines must be diminished in the proportion of the age, to the age increased by twelve; thus:— At two 3'ears to \, viz.:— 2 _,. 2+12 ^' At 21 the full dose to be given. But no scheme can be devised, founded on age alone, to which there are not many exceptions. Thus, children require proportionably larger doses of castor oil or calomel to affect them than adults, whilst, and especially when very ^^oung, they are exceedingly susceptible to the action of opium and its preparations. Sex.—It is genei-ally admitted that females require smaller doses of medi- cines than males, and, as a general rule, this may be correct; but so much ^ drachm or 1 2 1 scruple or 1 3- 15 grains or 1 4' 10 grains or 1 8 grains or 1 8- 5 grains or ^ 1$