Hypodermic or subcutaneous medication : with special remarks on morphine, atropine, atropo-morphine, and apomorphine, and directions for making their hypodermic solutions : introduction to a discussion in the Section of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association in Cardiff / by Talfourd Jones.

  • Jones, Talfourd.
Date:
[1885]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hypodermic or subcutaneous medication : with special remarks on morphine, atropine, atropo-morphine, and apomorphine, and directions for making their hypodermic solutions : introduction to a discussion in the Section of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association in Cardiff / by Talfourd Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    in which Messrs. Burroughs anil Wellcome send out their hypodermic tabloids. Before concluding my remarks on syringes, allow me to call your attention to the useful hypodermic injector of our most inventive associate, Dr. Ward Cousins. It consists of an elastic measuring ball and an injecting syringo. Balls are made in various sizes, each ball holding only one definite quantity ol fluid. It is safe, cheap, and handy, and is the only syringe that ought ever to bo loft in inexperi- enced hands. Let me now direct your attention to the solutions used for hypo- dermic purposes. A typical solution should be absolutely pure, as nearly neutral in reaction as possible, free from solid particles and fungoid growths, and not too concentrated. Bartholow states that the most carefully prepared solution rapidly deteriorates by keeping, and that, although antiseptics may bo useful in preserving them for awhile, he thinks it far better to mako extem- poraneous solutions. I acknowledge that woak solutions of most alkaloids soon undergo a change, and become cloudy or turbid from tho growth of mould-fungus ; but this, according to my experience, is not the rulo with strong solutions. In many instances, alkaloids are themselves destructive to such low forms of life as bacteria, vibri- ones, and mould-fungi; and I find this to hold good with a strong so- lution of morphine, orastrong solution of mixed morphine and atropino, tho very two solutions above all othors that wo most frequently use. There are many authorities now-a-days who seem to think it quite impossible to keep a so-called permanent solution for any reasonable time, unless it bo mixed with an antiseptic. By a permanent solution, I simply mean a ready-made solution that will keep from a few weeks to a few mouths ; and, by an extem- poraneous solution, ono that can be made by dissolving the remedy in water at tho bedside of the patient. For tho latter purposo, Messrs. Burroughs and Wellcome make small tabloids which contain a definite and reliable dose of the remedy, which keep well, and are readily and entirely soluble in water. They are much superior to the old gelatine-discs, and, for extemporaneous purposes, I know nothing better. But it is indisputable that reliablo permanent solutions are preferable, in most cases, for reasons which it is quite unnecessary to discuss. Morphine.—Let us proceed to inquire into tho question of permanent morphine-solutions; but, before I forget, let me bear testimony to the very valuable standard solutions of Messrs. Allen and Hanburys. They are uniform and permanent, and they have the special feature of being made to a standard dose. The ordinary dose of each solution is five minims. This is undoubtedly an advantage, and especially for those who do not often use hypodermic remedies, and cannot bear in mind the different doses. The solutions that I have tried act well, and much wisdom has been shown in fixing upon the dosage, with the exception of the morphine-salt, which, at a quarter of a grain, is fixed, as I shall attempt to show presently, too high. Mr. Martin- dale’s solutions have been longer known, and are always reliable. Of permanent solutions, the first that claims our attention is that of morphine. The injectio morphine hypodermica P.B. contains, or is supposed to contain, 1 grain of acetate of morphine in 12 minims. The process of making it is tedious, and the result is somewhat un- certain. Various statements have been made, not only about this solution, but also about differently made solutions of the acetate. Many speak well of it; others say it is liable to change after a very short time, that fungoid growths soon appear, that the solution quickly becomes turbid, that it throws down much deposit and becomes weaker, that it becomes very brown, that it is irritating to tho tissues, and that it is often followed by sores and indurations, that the needle becomes clogged, and that for these reasons many prefer to use the