Volume 1

General therapeutics and materia medica adapted for a medical text-book with indexes of remedies and of diseases and their remedies / by Robley Dunglison.

  • Dunglison, Robley, 1798-1869.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: General therapeutics and materia medica adapted for a medical text-book with indexes of remedies and of diseases and their remedies / by Robley Dunglison. 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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    the fact, that in England, and we believe in this country also, the duty on the dried bulb is no higher than on the fresh. The fresh bulb is pear-shaped, and consists of concentric lamellae, the outer ones of which are thin, membranous, and of a brownish- red color, whilst those within are whitish, thick, fleshy, and juicy. In English pharmacy, two kinds of squill are met with,—the white and the red, the former of which is preferred. The average weight of the bulb is from half a pound to four pounds, but it has been seen weighing ten pounds and a half. The fresh bulb is kept in dry sand; and before drying it the dry rind is removed ; after which the bulb is cut transversely into thin slices, and dried as quickly as possible with a gentle heat. Dried squill of the shops is in yellowish-white, or white, slightly diaphanous pieces, which are brittle when dry, but generally flexible, owing to their high hygrometric property; on which account, it ought to be kept in a dry place, or in well-stopped bottles. It is inodorous; and of a bitter, nauseous, extremely acrid taste. It yields its virtues to water, alcohol, and vinegar. Its best solvents are dilute alcohol and vinegar, which are, consequently, used in various officinal formulae. Squill has been subjected to analysis by diflerent chemists; but the results have not been satisfactory, and it is not admitted that the ac- tive principle has been isolated. In large doses, squill belongs to the acro-narcotic class of vegetable poisons. When given to a less extent, it operates as an emetic, gene- rally producing catharsis also. As an emetic, it is rarely prescribed, except in affections of the respiratory organs; over which—as will be shown under the head of Expectorants—it is conceived to exert some special agency. Is is rarely, however, given, except in croup, to such an extent as to produce emesis, as it is exceedingly uncertain in its action, and the vomiting induced by it is, at times, of the most harsh and disagreeable kind. The dose of powdered squill, as an emetic, is from six to twelve grains; but it is scarcely ever prescribed in this form to the adult; and to children one of the following preparations is selected. If it be desirable to nauseate by the powder, one or two grains may be given three or four times a day, gradually increasing the dose until the eAfect is induced. TINCTU'RA SCILLiE, TINCTURE OF SqUILl.—(AS^c^7/. §iv; Alcohol, dilut. Oij. Prepared either by maceration, or b}’^ the process of displacement.) As a nauseant, this tincture may be given in the dose of 30 to 40 drops, two or three times a day. It is rarely, however, prescribed with this view, being generally added to expectorant mixtures. It is not administered as an emetic. ACE'TUM SCILLiE, VIN'EGAR OF SQUILL.—cont. siv; Acet. distillat. Oij ; Alcohol f.?j. Prepared either by maceration or by the process of displacement.) Two fluidrachms will usually induce nausea. The alcohol is added to prevent decomposition. OXTMEL SCILLiE, OXYIllEL OF SQUILL.—(JAZ. despumat. Ibiij ; Acct. Scillce Oij. Keduce to the specific gravity 1-32.) This preparation is occa-