A dispensatory, or commentary on the pharmacopoeias of Great Britain : comprising the natural history, description, chemistry, pharmacy, actions, uses, and doses of the articles of the materia medica / by Robert Christison.

  • Christison, Robert, Sir, 1797-1882.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dispensatory, or commentary on the pharmacopoeias of Great Britain : comprising the natural history, description, chemistry, pharmacy, actions, uses, and doses of the articles of the materia medica / by Robert Christison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    97/1042 (page 39)
    College has directed the mimate of baryta to be used for sulphu- ric acid, instead of the nitrate; but it is less convenient, because after adding the nitrate of baryta for sulphuric acid, the silver salt may be used for miu-iatic acid in the same quantity of material, but not if mm-iate of baryta be employed. The additional characters given by the same College, namely, the absence of any residuum after evaporation, and the neutralizing power, are scarcely neces- sary. In point of fact, the commercial acid is at present prepared of great pm'ity except in so far as it is somewhat diluted. The precipitates occasioned by niti'ate of silver or of baryta are always scanty, and sometimes scarcely perceptible; nor does it seem pro- bable that adu.lterations of a fixed nature obtain admission either accidentally or intentionally. If they did, a necessity would arise for checking the test of the density by the degi'ee of acidity, as proposed in the London Pharmacopoeia. Actions and Uses.—Nitric acid is iu its action corrosive, uritant, tonic, refrigerant, and according to some, specific in respect of two diseases, syphilis and chronic hepatitis. As a corrosive it is a very dangerous poison, producing death sometimes in a brief space from general constitutional distm'bance, or more slowly from exhaustion consequent on extensive organic mischief in the gullet, stomach, or intestines. Its proper antidote is magnesia, carbonate of magnesia, chalk, or bicarbonate of potash or of soda. The diluted acid may also prove poisonous by inducing inflammation as an ii-ritant, though it should not be strong enough to corrode. Its corrosive and irritant actions have been extensively applied in the treatment of diseases. It may be used for destroying warts. It is one of the best applications for the cm'e of phagedenic ulcers (Welbank); for wliich purpose the sm'face of the sore, after removal of the slough, is covered with a pledget soaked in the strong acid, until a firm dry crust be formed; and the sore is then treated with calamine ointment or weak lotions of nitrate of silver. It has been also employed by some for destroying the crust of porrigo of the scalp, and restoring healthy action to the affected integument. It is farther at times rubbed on the skin for exciting brisk counter- in-itation in urgent circumstances, such as in malignant cholera, where very speedy action is desired; but it is probably inferior in this respect to boiling water. Another common application of it externally is in the treatment of poisoned wounds; which must first be laid well open to the bottom, so that the acid may reach every part of them. In a diluted state advantage has been derived from it in the treatment of indolent ulcers, especially for destroy- ing their callous edge, and likewise in the treatment of caries of the bones. In the shape of ointment, made with sixteen times its weight of olive oil and axunge, as directed by the Dublin Phar- macopoeia, it has been found a useful stimulant dressing for va- rious chronic eruptions. Among its external uses may be also enumerated its employment for fumigating infected apartments.