Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 177

=Detergent, Collier's.= _Prep._ From liquor of pota.s.sa, 2 fl. dr.; rose water, 5-1/2 fl. oz.; spirit of rosemary, 1/2 fl. oz.; mix. One of the best applications known to free the head from scurf, when the hair is strong and healthy. The head should be afterwards sponged with clean, soft water.

=DETONA'TION.= See FULMINATING COMPOUNDS.

=DEUTOX'IDE.= See OXIDES.

=DEUTSCHE SIEGESTROPFEN--German Triumphal Drops= (Schmidt). 480 grammes of a brown fluid with an agreeably sweet spirituous and aromatic taste, containing in a hundred parts five parts of the portion soluble in weak spirit of cloves and orange peel, 29 parts sugar, 36 parts alcohol, and 30 parts water. (Wittstein.)

=DEW-POINT.= The temperature at which dew begins to form, as observed by a thermometer. It varies with the humidity of the atmosphere.

=DEX'TRIN.= C_{6}H_{10}O_{5}. _Syn._ STARCH GUM, DEXTRINA, DEXTRINUM, BRITISH GUM. A soluble substance resembling gum, formed by the action of dilute acids at the boiling temperature, and by infusion of malt, at about 160 Fahr., on starch. It is also formed when potato starch and some of the other farinas are exposed to a heat of about 400. See DIASTASE and GUM (British).

=DEX'TRO-RACE'MIC ACID.= See RACEMIC ACID.

=DIABE'TES.= See URINE.

=Diabetes (Saccharine).= The symptoms observed in this generally fatal ailment are the pa.s.sing of an excessive quant.i.ty of pale, straw-coloured urine, of high specific gravity, containing more or less grape sugar; great thirst and hunger, obstinate dyspepsia, constipation, an unpleasant odour from the feet, or perspiration of the arm-pits, and bodily debility, and emaciation. All these symptoms vary in intensity according to the course and duration of the disease, which is frequently accompanied with hectic fever, cough, and sometimes carbuncles, and generally ends in consumption or some organic disease. The flow of urine sometimes reaches as much as eight gallons in 24 hours; the average quant.i.ty, however, is about two gallons. The specific gravity of the urine varies between 1030 and 1070. The quant.i.ty of sugar excreted in the twenty-four hours differs greatly, ranging from half a pound to three pounds.

In the treatment of diabetes, great attention should be paid to diet, which should consist princ.i.p.ally of digestible, broiled, or roasted meat, gluten and bran bread (these latter being subst.i.tuted for ordinary bread, which with sugar must be especially avoided), liquids in moderate quant.i.ty, of which the most preferable are weak beef tea or mutton broth.

If the thirst is extreme, it is best a.s.suaged by drinking water acidulated with phosphoric acid. Spirituous liquids as well as saline aperients should be eschewed. Claret is, however, a suitable beverage.

Small doses of laudanum, given three or four times a day, have been found of great service.

Dr Watson recommends also the administration of creosote. The bowels must be regulated by means of mild aperients. Warm baths are also of use, as they augment the secretion of the skin. The disease may be kept under by administering from twenty to forty minims of tincture of perchloride of iron, 3 times a day. The above treatment is inserted for the guidance only of emigrants and others unable to obtain professional aid; wherever this can be obtained, no time should be lost in seeking it. This is the more important, since the earlier the patient has recourse to the proper remedies, the greater are the chances of recovery.

_Horses._ The disease occurs, although rarely, in horses. It is not known either in cattle or dogs. The treatment consists in depriving the animal for some weeks of food containing starch, or other matters capable of forming sugar. He must be fed on meat soup and cooked animal diet, to which he quickly becomes reconciled. The strength must be kept up by means of tonic. To counteract the intense thirst, Mr Finlay Dun recommends the following to be given three times a day in water:--A drachm of iodide of pota.s.sium, a scruple of iodine, and four drachms of carbonate of soda.

=DIACH'YLON.= See PLASTERS.

=DIALY"SER.= In _practical chemistry_, an instrument for separating 'crystalloids' from 'colloids,' introduced by the late Prof. Graham. In its most convenient form it consists of a hoop of gutta percha, over which a circular piece of parchment paper is stretched. The paper is applied to the hoop while wet, and is kept stretched by a second hoop, by an elastic band, or by a few turns of string. The instrument, when complete, resembles an ordinary tambourine. It is distinguished as the 'HOOP DIALYSER,' The fluid to be 'dialysed' is poured into the hoop upon the surface of the parchment paper, to a small depth only, such as half an inch, and the dialyser is then floated upon water in a large gla.s.s basin.

Another form of dialyser, termed the 'BULB DIALYSER,' consists of a small gla.s.s bell-jar, the mouth of which is covered by a piece of parchment paper. This is suspended or otherwise supported in a large vessel of water in such a manner that the parchment paper septum just dips below the surface. See DIALYSIS (below), PARCHMENT PAPER.

=DIAL'YSIS.= In _practical chemistry_, the method of separating substances by 'diffusion' through a septum of gelatinous matter. When a solution having a sp. gr. greater is introduced into a cylindrical gla.s.s vessel, and then water very cautiously poured upon it, in such a manner that the two layers of liquid remain unmoved, the substance dissolved in the lower liquid will gradually pa.s.s into the supernatant water, though the vessel may have been left undisturbed, and the temperature remain unchanged. The gradual pa.s.sage of a dissolved substance from its original solution into pure water taking place, notwithstanding the higher sp. gr. of the substance which opposes this pa.s.sage, is called the 'diffusion of liquids.' From the investigation of the phenomena of this diffusion, the late Prof. Graham derived the remarkable results upon which the method under notice is based. Different substances, when in solution of the same concentration, and under other similar circ.u.mstances, diffuse with very unequal velocity. "The range in the degree of diffusive mobility," says Prof. Graham, "exhibited by different substances, appears to be as wide as the scale of vapour-tensions. Thus, hydrate of pota.s.sa may be said to possess double the velocity of diffusion of sulphate of pota.s.sa, and sulphate of pota.s.sa again double the velocity of sugar, alcohol, and sulphate of magnesia. But the substances named belong, as regards diffusion, to the more volatile cla.s.s. The comparatively fixed cla.s.s, as regards diffusion, is represented by a different order of chemical substances (marked out by the absence of the power to crystallise), which are slow in the extreme. Among the latter are hydrated silicic acid, hydrated alumina, and other metallic peroxides of the aluminous cla.s.s, when they exist in the soluble form; with starch, dextrine, and the gums, caramel, tannin, alb.u.men, gelatin, vegetable and animal extractive matters. Low diffusibility is not the only property which the bodies last enumerated possess in common. They are distinguished by the gelatinous character of their hydrates. Although often largely soluble in water, they are held in solution by a most feeble force. They appear singularly inert in the capacity of acids and bases, and in all the ordinary chemical relations. But, on the other hand, their peculiar physical aggregation, with the chemical indifference referred to, appears to be required in substances that can intervene in the organic processes of life. The plastic elements of the body are found in this cla.s.s. As gelatin appears to be its type, it is proposed to designate substances of this cla.s.s as 'COL'LOIDS,' and to speak of their peculiar form as the 'colloidal condition of matter.' Opposed to the colloidal is the 'crystalline condition.' Substances affecting the latter form will be cla.s.sed as 'CRYSTAL'LOIDS,' The distinction is, no doubt, one of intimate molecular const.i.tution."[257] A certain property of colloidal substances comes into play most opportunely in a.s.sisting diffusive preparations. The jelly of starch, that of animal mucus, of pectin, of vegetable gelose, and other solid colloidal hydrates, all of which, strictly speaking, are insoluble in cold water, are themselves permeable when in ma.s.s, as water is, by the more highly diffusive cla.s.s of substances. But such jellies greatly resist the pa.s.sage of the less diffusible substances, and cut off entirely other colloid substances like themselves that may be in solution. A mere film of the jelly has the separating effect. Now, parchment-paper, when wetted, acts just like a layer of animal mucus or other hydrated colloid, by permitting the pa.s.sage of crystalloids, but not of colloids; consequently this substance may be used for dialytic septa (see DIALYSER, _above_). The following experiments recorded by Graham will give some idea of the results which may be obtained by dialysis:--

[Footnote 257: 'Philosoph. Trans.' for 1861.]

1. Half a litre of urine was placed in a hoop dialyser, which was then floated on a considerable quant.i.ty of pure water. Dialysed for 24 hours, the urine gave its crystalloidal const.i.tuents to the external water. The latter, evaporated by a water bath, yielded a white saline ma.s.s. From this ma.s.s urea was extracted by alcohol in so pure a condition as to appear in crystalline tufts upon the evaporation of the alcohol.

2. By pouring silicate of soda into diluted hydrochloric acid (the acid being maintained in large excess), a solution of silica is obtained. But in addition to hydrochloric acid, such a solution contains chloride of sodium, a salt which causes the silica to gelatinise when the solution is heated, and otherwise modifies its properties. Now, such a solution placed for 24 hours in a dialyser of parchment paper was found to lose 5% of its silicic acid (silica) and 86% of its hydrochloric acid. After 4 days on the dialyser, the liquid ceased to be disturbed by nitrate of silver. All the chlorides were gone, with no further loss of silica. What remained was a pure solution of silicic acid, which could be boiled in a flask, and considerably concentrated, without change.

3. Half a litre of dark-coloured porter, with 05 gramme of a.r.s.enious acid added (1/10000th part of a.r.s.enious acid), was placed on a hoop dialyser, 8 inches in diameter, and the whole floated in an earthenware basin containing 2 or 3 litres of water. After 24 hours the latter fluid had acquired a slight tinge of yellow. It yielded, when concentrated and precipitated by sulphuretted hydrogen, upwards of one half of the original a.r.s.enious acid in a fit state for examination.

=DIAMANTKITT--Diamond Cement.= 50 parts graphite, 15 parts litharge, 10 parts milk of lime, 5 parts slaked lime, intimately mixed with enough linseed oil to make a firm ma.s.s. (Hager.)

=DIAMANTTROPFEN--Diamond Drops= (Dr Allinhead). A combination of the juices of mysterious herbs of tropical climes, which has the power to make all men transparent.

=DI'AMOND.= The diamond is pure carbon, and differs from the carbon of charcoal and lampblack simply in being limpid, colourless, and highly refractive of light, properties which are generally referred to its crystalline form. The weight, and, consequently, the value of diamonds, is estimated in carats, one of which is equal to 4 grains; and the price of one diamond, compared to that of another of equal colour, transparency, purity, form, &c., is as the squares of the respective weights. The average price of ROUGH DIAMONDS that are worth working is about 2 for the first carat; that of a CUT DIAMOND is equal to that of a rough diamond of double weight, exclusive of the price of workmans.h.i.+p. "To estimate the value of a wrought diamond, ascertain its weight in carats, double that weight, and multiply the square of this product by 2." (Ure.) Thus, a cut diamond of--

1 carat is worth 8 2 carats " 32 3 " " 72 4 " " 128 &c., &c. See CARBON, GEMS.

=Di'amond Dust.= Genuine diamond dust is the powder produced by the abrasion of diamonds against each other in the process of cutting and polis.h.i.+ng them. It possesses the valuable property of polis.h.i.+ng the gems, and giving "the finest edge to every kind of cutlery." The discovery of the latter fact, a few years since, led certain dishonest persons to extensively advertise spurious preparations, consisting chiefly of emery powder or powdered quartz, under the name of diamond dust. The fact.i.tious articles acquired a very short and bad notoriety. Instead of sharpening cutting instruments, they infallibly destroyed their edge, and were particularly unfortunate in converting razors into saws.

=DIAPEN'TE.= _Syn._ PULVIS DIAPENTE. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. E. 1744) Bay-berries, birth-wort, gentian, ivory dust, and myrrh, equal parts. An excellent warm tonic, especially useful in the debility and rickets of children. The substance sold under this name in the shops is an inferior mixture, used princ.i.p.ally as a tonic in veterinary practice. The following are the forms commonly adopted in its preparation:--

2. Turmeric, 4 lbs.; laurel berries and mustard, of each 3 lbs.; gentian, 2 lbs. (all in fine powder); mix.

3. Bay-berries, gentian, mustard, and turmeric, equal parts.

4. Gentian, 6 lbs.; bay-berries, 1 lb. This is the formula generally used by the farriers. Sometimes mustard, 1 lb., is added.

=DIAPh.o.r.eT'ICS.= _Syn._ SUDORIF'ICS; DIAPh.o.r.eTICA, SUDORIFICA, L.

Medicines which promote or increase the perspiration. Those that produce this effect in a very marked degree are more particularly called 'sudorifics.' The princ.i.p.al diaph.o.r.etics are:--warm diluents, as barley-water, gruel, tea, &c.; salts of the alkalies, as the citrates of pota.s.sa and soda, acetate of pota.s.sa, acetate and carbonate of ammonia, sal-ammoniac, nitre, &c.; preparations of antimony, as antimonial powder, tartar emetic, &c; also alcohol, camphor, Dover's powder, ipecacuanha, opium, wine, &c.

The use of diaph.o.r.etics is indicated in nearly all diseases accompanied by fever and a dry skin, and particularly in febrile and pectoral affections.

=DI'APHRAGM= (fram). A part.i.tion through or across; a dividing substance.

In _anatomy_, the term is applied to the midriff, a muscle separating the chest or thorax from the abdomen or lower belly. In _astronomy_ and _optics_ the term is applied to a circular ring placed in a telescope or other instrument to cut off the marginal portions of a beam of light. In _electricity_ the name is commonly used to denote the porous part.i.tion, cell, or vessel, that separates the fluid containing the positive plate from the fluid which surrounds the negative plate, in a constant voltaic battery. Thin part.i.tions of sycamore, or other porous wood, are occasionally used, but cells made of thin biscuit ware are the most convenient and durable diaphragms. Plaster of Paris, animal membrane, coa.r.s.e and tightly wove canvas, &c., are used also for the purpose.

Plaster cells are also formed by surrounding an oiled cylinder of wood with a hoop of paper, and pouring plaster of Paris, mixed up with water, into the s.p.a.ce between the two. See ELECTROTYPE.

=DIARRH'A.= A purging or looseness of the bowels. The causes of diarrha are various, but among the most common are the presence of irritating matter, worms, or acidity in the stomach or bowels; and exposure to cold (especially cold to the feet) or sudden changes of climate or temperature.

_Treatment._ In general, it will be proper to administer a mild aperient, for which purpose rhubarb or castor oil is usually preferred. The dose of the first may be from 20 to 30 grains in sugar, or made into a bolus; that of the second, from 1/4 oz. to 1/2 oz., with a little mint or peppermint water. After the due operation of this medicine, opium, astringents, and absorbents, may be taken with advantage, but not in excessive doses, as is commonly the practice. The first and second are indicated when great irritability exists, and the third, in cases of diarrha arising from the presence of acidity. Chalk mixture, to which a few drops of laudanum have been added, or the compound powder of chalk and opium, are excellent medicines, and will generally quiet the bowels. A small piece of catechu or hard extract of logwood, sucked in the same way as a lozenge, is a pleasant method of taking either of these powerful astringents, and will generally cure cases of simple diarrha arising from excessive peristaltic motion, or want of tonicity of the muscular coats of the intestines.

In bilious diarrha, characterised by the bright yellowish-brown colour of the dejections, a dose of blue pill or calomel, a.s.sisted by mild diluents and demulcents, and warmth, generally proves efficacious. Small doses of opium are also useful in some cases.

In catarrhal diarrha, chylous diarrha, and the like varieties, characterised by the dejections being nearly colourless, and consisting chiefly of water and mucus; or white and milky, showing the entire absence of bile; or, being entirely liquid, limpid, and serous (in some cases resembling the was.h.i.+ngs of flesh), opinions are divided as to the treatment. The majority of the best authorities regard purging as injurious in these varieties, and rely chiefly on warm baths and warm fomentations, with the internal administration of mild salines and diaph.o.r.etics, followed by astringents, tonics, and occasional doses of opiates. Choleraic diarrha demands a nearly similar treatment.

The diet in every variety of diarrha should be light and non-irritating.

Glutinous broths, beef tea, and arrow-root, are among the best articles which can be taken. To these may be added a little dry toast. Arrow-root (genuine), either with or without a spoonful of port wine or brandy (preferably the former), will of itself cure all ordinary cases of diarrha, if accompanied with repose and a rec.u.mbent posture.

Among external remedies, warm and stimulating fomentations, liniments, &c., to the epigastrium and abdomen, will be found useful adjuncts to other treatment. A spoonful or two of laudanum, used as a friction, will generally allay pain, and in many cases settle the bowels when all other remedies have been tried in vain.

_Treatment for Animals._ If for the horse, give at the commencement of the attack from 2 to 4 dr. of aloes, mixed with 1 oz. of bicarbonate of soda, and the same quant.i.ty of ginger in powder; administer clysters occasionally. Cattle may be treated by having administered to them 3/4 lb.

of Epsom or common salt, or a pint of linseed oil. Whichever of the two is employed, it must be combined with 2 oz. each of bicarbonate of soda and ginger, and 1/2 lb. of treacle; 1 oz. of laudanum should be added to the above drenches whenever there is much pain and straining, whether in the horse or cow. Should laxatives fail, aromatics and astringents are called for, and 1 oz. each of tincture of catechu, ginger, and gentian, given in a pint of warm ale, may be tried several times a day for a horse. For cows a double dose is required. Sheep need only half the dose.

=DI'ASTASE.= A peculiar azotised substance contained in malt, which effects the conversion of starch, first into dextrin, and then into grape sugar.

_Prep._ A cold infusion of malt is heated to 158 Fahr. (to coagulate in alb.u.men); it is then allowed to cool, and alcohol is added to the filtered liquor, when diastase is precipitated, under the form of a tasteless white powder, which is freely soluble in water.

_Prop., &c._ Diastase seems to resemble vegetable alb.u.men, but very little is known respecting it, as it has never been got in a state of purity. One part of diastase is capable of converting 2000 parts of starch into grape sugar. Malted barley is said to contain 1/500th part of this substance; yet this small portion is quite sufficient to convert the starch of the malt into sugar during the operation of mas.h.i.+ng, in the manufacture of beer. See BREWING, DEXTRIN, &C.

=DICTA'MIA.= A nutritious, dietetic article. _Prep._ (Beasley.) Sugar, 7 oz.; potato arrow-root, 4 oz.; flour of brent barley (_Tritic.u.m monococc.u.m_), 3 oz.; Trinidad and Granada chocolate, of each 1 oz.; vanilla, 15 gr.; triturate together.

=Dictamia.= A strengthening and restorative preparation. Arrowroot, 6 parts; meal of tritic.u.m monococc.u.m, 6 parts; chocolate, 4 parts; vanilla, 1/4 part (Richter). Sugar, 217 parts; bran extract, 92 parts; starch, 125 parts; Caracas and Maragnan cocoa, 30 parts; vanilla, 1 part.

(Chevallier.)

=DIDYM'IUM.= Di. A rare metal, found a.s.sociated with cerium and lanthanium in the Swedish mineral cerite. See CERIUM.

=DI'ET.= Food or victuals. In _medicine_ food regulated by certain rules, or prescribed for the cure or prevention of disease. The dietetic part of medicine is no inconsiderable branch, and deserves a much greater share of regard than it commonly meets with. A great variety of diseases might be removed by the observance of a proper diet and regimen, without the a.s.sistance of medicine, were it not for the impatience of the sufferers.

On all occasions it may come in as a proper a.s.sistant to the cure, which sometimes cannot be performed without a due observance of the non-naturals.