Pharmacologia: comprehending the art of prescribing upon fixed and scientific principles : together with the history of medicinal substances (Volume 2).

  • Paris, John Ayrton, 1785-1856.
Date:
1823-24
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmacologia: comprehending the art of prescribing upon fixed and scientific principles : together with the history of medicinal substances (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Itconsistsof twodistmctbodieswhich appear to exist together in a state of mechanical mixture, viz. Stearin (from <r1e*p, tallow) which is white, brittle, and in appearance somewhat resem- bling wax; and Elain (from e*«ia». oil) very similar to vegetable oil in appearance, and is liquid at 59°. According to the experiments of Braconnot, the proportion of Elain is to that of Stearin, in hog's lard, as -62 : 38. Solubility. It is inso- luble in water, and alcohol; with the alkalies it unites, and forms soaps. Incompatible Substances. Extracts, Spiri- tuous Preparations, Tinctures, and Infusions, are incapable of uniting perfectly with lard, without some intermedium ; the following substances on the contrary are capable of contracting with it a most intimate union. 1. All dry powders, whether of a vegetable or mineral nature. 2. Fixed and Volatile Oils. 3. Balsams. 4. Camphor. 5. Soaps. It is principally em- ployed in the formation of ointments, .plasters, and lini- ments. JERUGO. L.D. /Sub-acctas Cupri\ Sub-acetis Cupri. V fmpura. ' E. Verdigris. Qualities. Form, a dry mass composed of minute chrvs- ials, not deliquescent; Colour, bluish green. Chemical Com- position. Several constituents enter into its composition, viz. Acetate and sub-acetate of copper, carbonate of copper, and copper partly metallic and partly oxidized; it contains also the stalks of grapes and other extraneous substances. Solubility. Boiling water dissolves it in part, and produces in it a chemical change, by transforming one portion of the sufc-acetate into the soluble acetate, and another into an oxyd of copper, which is precipitated; with cold water this substance demeans itself differently, the acetate is dissolved by it, whilst that portion which is in the state of sw6-salt remains suspended in the form of a fine green powder. Vinegar con- verts all the JErugo into a soluble acetate, this liquid therefore ought never to be employed for favouring vomiting in cases where an overdose has been swallowed, for the reasons stated m the first volume of this work, p. 167. SuJphuric acid poured on powdered verdigris decomposes it with effervescence and vapours of acetic acid are disengaged. It appears from the experiments and observations of Duval and Orfila, that sugar exercises a chemical action on it, by which its solubility is diminished, and that on this account it acts as a specific again«t