Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 58

481. Acetate of Zinc.

Dissolve half a drachm of white vitriol in five ounces of water.

Dissolve two scruples of acetate of lead in five ounces of water. Mix these solutions, then set aside for a short time, and afterwards filter.

_Use_ as astringent wash; this forms a most valuable collyrium.

482. Sulphate of Zinc.

Dissolve twenty grains of white vitriol in a pint of water or rose water.

_Use_ for weak eyes.

483. Zinc and Camphor.

Dissolve a scruple of white vitriol in ten ounces of water; add one drachm of spirit of camphor, and strain.

_Use_ as a stimulant.

484. Compound Zinc.

Dissolve fifteen grains of white vitriol in eight ounces of camphor water (_Mistura camphorae_), and the same quant.i.ty of decoction of poppy heads.

_Use_ as anodyne and detergent wash: it is useful for weak eyes.

485. Confections and Electuaries.

486. Purpose.

_Confections_ are used as vehicles for the administration of more active medicines, and _Electuaries_ are made for the purpose of rendering some remedies palatable. Both should be kept in closely covered jars.

487. Almond Confection.

Remove the outer coat from an ounce of sweet almonds, and beat them well in a mortar with one drachm of powdered gum arabic, and half an ounce of white sugar.

_Use_ to make a demulcent mixture known as "almond emulsion."

488. Alum Confection.

Mix two scruples of powdered alum with four scruples of treacle.

_Dose_, half a drachm.

_Use_ as astringent in sore throat, relaxed uvula, and ulcerations of mouth.

489. Orange Confection.

Take one ounce of the freshly rasped rind of orange, and mix it with three ounces of white sugar, and beat together till perfectly incorporated.

_Dose_, from one drachm to one ounce.

_Use_ as a gentle stomachic and tonic, and as a vehicle for administering tonic powders.

490. Black Pepper Confection.

Take of black pepper and elecampane root, each one ounce; fennel seeds, three ounces; honey and sugar, of each two ounces. Rub the dry ingredient to a fine powder, and when the confection is wanted, add the honey, and mix well.

_Dose_, from one to two drachms.

_Use_ in haemorrhoids, or piles.

[BETTER PAY THE COOK THAN THE DOCTOR.]

491. Cowhage.

Mix in treacle as much of the fine hairs or spiculae of cowhage as the treacle will take up.

_Dose_, a teaspoonful every morning and evening.

_Use_ as an anthelmintic.

492. Senna Confection. No. 1.

Take of senna, powdered, four ounces; figs, half a pound, via.s.sia pulp, tamarind pulp, and the pulp of prunes, each four ounces; coriander seeds, powdered, two ounces; liquorice root, one ounce and a half; sugar, one pound and a quarter; water, one pint and a half. Rub the senna with the coriander, and separate, by sifting, five ounces of the mixture. Boil the water, with the figs and liquorice added, until it is reduced to one half; then press out and strain the liquor.

Evaporate the strained liquor in a jar by boiling until twelve fluid ounces remain; then add the sugar, and make a syrup. Now mix the pulps with the syrup, add the sifted powder, and mix well.

_Use_ as a purgative.

493. Senna Confection. No. 2.

A more simple confection, but equally efficacious, may be made in the following manner. Infuse an ounce of senna leaves in a pint of boiling water, pouring the water on the leaves in a covered mug or jug, or even an old earthenware teapot. Let the infusion stand till it is cold, then strain off the liquor, and place it in a saucepan or stewpan, adding to it one pound of prunes. Let the prunes stew gently by the side of the fire till the liquor is entirely absorbed.

_Use_ as a purgative or laxative, giving half a teaspoonful to little children and a teaspoonful to children over ten years of age.

494. Castor Oil and Senna Confection.