Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 250

Formic acid is readily distinguished from acetic acid, which in many points it resembles, by heating it with a little solution of oxide of silver or mercury; the metal is reduced, and precipitated in a pulverulent state, while carbonic acid is extricated. The odours of the two acids also vary.

=FORMICA.= _Syn._ THE ANT. The following are the princ.i.p.al species of the genus _Formica_. _F. flava_, the yellow ant. Many careful observers say this species keeps in its nest the _Aphis radicans_, which when its abdomen is touched by the ant, excretes a saccharine substance on which the ants feed. _F. rufa_, or large red ant, _F. fusca_; or brown ant, _Polyergus rufescens_, and _F. sanguinea_. These two latter are sometimes called amazon ants, from their pugilistic propensities. They have been known to make regular raids against other species of ants, and to carry off their larvae and pupae to their own nests, where they rear the insects that come of them, and afterwards employ them as slaves, causing them to excavate pa.s.sages, to collect food, to carry larvae and (so dependent do the masters become on the exertions of their bondsman) even to feed them; it being a well-attested fact that the slave holders would starve if left to themselves. See ANT.

=FORMOBENZOIC ACID.= (HC_{7}H_{6}O,CHO_{2}). _Syn._ FORMIATE OF HYDRIDE OF BENZOYLE. MANDELIC ACID. When the distilled water of bitter almonds (containing hydrocyanic acid and the essential oil) is boiled with hydrochloric acid, a curious reaction occurs; the hydrocyanic acid is decomposed--into ammonia which unites with the hydrochloric acid, and formic acid which enters into combination with the oil of almonds--producing a new body possessed of acid properties, and termed _Formobenzoic acid_. On evaporating the solution the acid may be obtained in mixture with ammonia hydrochlorate, from which it may be separated by ether; the ethereal solution deposits it in rhomboidal tables. It has a sour taste and is easily soluble in alcohol. When heated it fuses at a low temperature, emitting an agreeable odour of hawthorn blossoms. (Miller.)

=FORM'ULA.= [L.] In _pharmacy_ and _medicine_, a short form of prescription; a recipe. By chemists the term is applied to a grouping of symbols, expressing the composition of a body; thus, HCl (standing for 1 atom of hydrogen united to 1 atom of chlorine) is the formula for hydrochloric acid. A chemical formula is termed empirical when it merely gives the simplest possible expression of the composition of the substance to which it refers. A rational formula, on the contrary, aims at describing the exact composition of molecule, or combining weight of the substance, but stating the absolute number of atoms of such of the elements essential to that object, as well as the mere relations existing between them. The empirical formula is at once deduced from the a.n.a.lysis of the substance, reckoned to 100 parts; the rational formula requires, in addition, a knowledge of its combining quant.i.ty, which can only be obtained by direct experiment, by synthesis, or by the careful examination of one or more of its most definite compounds. Thus, the composition of acetic acid is expressed by the formula CH_{2}O, which exhibits the simplest relations of the three elements; if we want to express the quant.i.ties of these, in atoms required to make up one molecule of acetic acid, we have to adopt the formula C_{2}H_{4}O_{2} or HC_{2}H_{3}O_{2}.

=FOR'MYL.= _Syn._ FORMYLE. A hypothetical organic radical, having the composition C_{2}H. Its existence was inferred from the const.i.tution of certain organic compounds which are now referred to the methyl-series.

Formic acid was supposed to be an oxide of formyl; and chloroform, the terchloride of formyl.

=FOXGLOVE.= _Syn._ DIGITALIS (B. P.), L. A genus of plants belonging to the natural order _Scrophulariacae_. The leaves of the uncultivated '_Digitalis purpurea_,' or purple foxglove, are officinal in our pharmacopias. They must be gathered before the terminal flowers have expanded. "The petiole and midrib of the leaf being cut off, dry the lamina." (Phar. L.) The seeds (DIGITALIS SEMINA), which were ordered, as well as the leaves, in former pharmacopias, are said to be in many points preferable to them. When good, the leaves are of a dull-green colour, and possess a feeble narcotic odour, and a bitter, unpleasant taste. Both the dried leaves and the powder should be preserved in corked bottles covered with dark-coloured paper, or in well-closed tin canisters, and kept in a dark cupboard; and the stock should be renewed yearly, as age considerably diminishes the medicinal activity of digitalis.

_Action, uses, &c._ Foxglove is diuretic, sedative, and antispasmodic, and exerts a specific action over the cerebro-spinal system, promoting the functions of the absorbents, and reducing the force of the circulation in a remarkable manner. It is administered in fevers and inflammations, to reduce the frequency of the pulse, and to allay excessive vascular excitement; in dropsy (unless the habit is full and pulse tight and cordy), as a diuretic, either alone, or combined with squills, calomel, salines, or bitters; in internal haemorrhages, as a sedative, when the pulse is full, hard, and throbbing; in diseases of the heart and great vessels, and in phthisis, to reduce the force and velocity of the circulation; in epilepsy and insanity, to repress vascular excitement; and in spasmodic asthma, scrofula, and several other diseases, with one or other of the above intentions.

The greatest caution is required in the use of foxglove, as its effects acc.u.mulate in the system, and the unwary pract.i.tioner is occasionally surprised at the sudden demise of his patient, even after he has left off the use of this drug.--_Dose_, 1/2 gr. to 1-1/2 gr., in powder, every 6 hours. See EXTRACT, INFUSION, TINCTURE, &c.

=FOX'ING.= See MALT LIQUORS.

=FRACT'URE.= _Syn._ FRACTURA, L. The breaking or disrupture of a bone.

When the bone is nearly divided into two parts, it is called a SIMPLE FRACTURE; when the integuments are also lacerated, a COMPOUND FRACTURE; and when the bone is splintered, a COMMINUTED FRACTURE.

=FRAGRANT PAIN-CURER= (Five-minute). Dr Walter Scott, New York. A remedy to remove all kinds of pain in five minutes. A clear colourless fluid containing ether, 6 grammes; glycerin, 21 grammes; common salt, 34 grammes; distilled water, 170 grammes. (Hager.)

=FRANK'INCENSE.= _Syn._ COMMON FRANKINCENSE; THUS (Ph. L.), L. The turpentine which exudes from the bark of _Abies excelsa_ (Norway spruce fir) and _Pinus pal.u.s.tris_ (pitch or swamp pine), hardened by the air.

(Ph. L.) The gum-resin olibanum, which is the produce of the _Boswellia thurifera_, is the 'odorous frankincense' of commerce.

=Prepared Frankincense.= _Syn._ THUS PRaePARATUM (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ (Ph.

L.) Frankincense, 1 lb.; water, q. s. to cover it; boil until the resin is melted, and strain through a hair sieve; when the whole has cooled, pour off the water, and keep the frankincense for use. Resembles common resin in its general properties.

=FRAX'ININ.= _Syn._ FRAXIN; FRAXINA, L. A peculiar bitter, neutral, and crystallisable substance, soluble in boiling water, extracted from the bark of _Fraxinus excelsior_, or common ash. It is febrifuge.

=FREC'KLES.= These are round or oval-shaped yellowish spots, similar to stains, developed on the skin. There are two varieties--FRECKLES, or SUMMER FRECKLES, resulting from the action of the sun and heat during the summer season, and disappearing with the hot weather or exposure; and--COLD FRECKLES, which occur at all times of the year. The former are chiefly confined to persons of fair complexion, whilst the latter attack persons of all complexions indifferently, and sometimes a.s.sume a lively yellow or greenish colour.

_Treatment._ Common freckles may generally be removed by the frequent application of dilute spirits, acids or alkaline solutions; the last two just strong enough to p.r.i.c.k the tongue. Cold freckles commonly occur from disordered health, or some general disturbance of the system, to which attention should be chiefly directed. In both varieties the solution of b.i.+.c.hloride of mercury (Ph. L.), or Gowland's lotion, will be found a most useful external application. See _below_.

=Freckles, Lotion for.= _Prep._ 1. b.i.+.c.hloride of mercury, 5 gr.; hydrochloric acid, 30 drops; lump sugar, 1 oz.; rectified spirit of wine, 2 oz.; rose water, 7 oz.; agitate together until the whole is dissolved.

2. Petals or leaves of red roses, 1 oz.; hot water, 12 fl. oz.; infuse an hour, and strain, with expression, 1/2 pint; add of citric acid, 30 gr.; dissolve, and in a few hours, decant and clear.

3. Rose leaves (dried), 1/4 oz.; lemon juice (freshly expressed) and rum or brandy, of each 1/4 pint; digest 24 hours, and squeeze out the liquor for use.

4. (Kittoe's.) Sal ammoniac, 1 dr.; spring water, 1 pint; lavender water or eau de Cologne, 1/4 oz; mix. The above are applied with the fingers night and morning, or oftener.

=Freckles, Pomade for.= _Prep._ 1. Citrine ointment, 1 dr.; simple ointment, 7 dr.; otto of roses, 3 drops.

2. Elder flower ointment, 1 oz.; sulphate of zinc (levigated), 20 gr.; mix by porphyrization, or by trituration in a wedgwood-ware mortar. Both the above, applied night and morning, are excellent for either cold or summer freckles.

=FREEZ'ING MIXTURES.= See ICE and REFRIGERATION.

FRENCH BER'RIES. _Syn._ PERSIAN BERRIES, AVIGNON B.; GRAINES D'AVIGNON, Fr. The unripe berries or fruit of the _Rhamnus infectorius_. They are imported from France and Persia; those from the latter country being esteemed the best. Some writers state that the Persian berries are the product of a distinct species, namely, _R. amygdalinus_. They are chiefly used for dyeing morocco leather yellow. Their decoction dyes cloth, previously mordanted with alum, tartar, or protochloride of tin, of a yellow colour; with sulphate of copper, an olive; and with red sulphate of iron, an olive-green colour.

=FRENCH POL'ISH.= Several varnishes are used under this name. That most generally employed is a simple solution of pale sh.e.l.l-lac in either methylated spirit or wood naphtha. Sometimes a little mastic, sandarac, or elemi, or copal varnish, is added to render the polish tougher.

_Prep._ 1. From pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 5-1/2 oz.; finest wood naphtha, 1 pint; dissolve.

2. Pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 3 lbs.; wood naphtha, 1 gall. Methylated spirit (68 o.

p.) may be subst.i.tuted for the naphtha in each of the above formulae.

3. Pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 5 oz.; gum sandarac, 1 oz.; spirit (68 o. p.), 1 pint.

4. Pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 5-1/2 oz.; gum elemi, 3/4 oz.; spirit, 1 pint.

5. Pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 1-1/4 lbs.; mastic, 1/4 lb.; spirit, 2 quarts.

6. Pale sh.e.l.l-lac, 2-1/4 lbs.; mastic and sandarac, of each 3 oz.; spirit, 1 gall.; dissolve, add copal varnish, 1 pint, and mix by roughly agitating the vessel. All the above are used in the manner described below.

7. Sh.e.l.l-lac, 12 oz.; wood naphtha, 1 quart; dissolve, and add of linseed oil, 1/2 pint.

8. Sh.e.l.l-lac, 1/2 lb.; gum sandarac, 1/4 lb.; spirit, 1 quart; dissolve, add of copal varnish, 1/4 pint; mix well, and further add of linseed oil, 1/2 pint. The last two require no oil on the rubber.

_Obs._ The preparation of French polish is precisely similar to that of other spirit or naphthalic varnishes. Sometimes it is coloured, in order to modify the character of the wood. A REDDISH TINGE is given with dragon's blood, alkanet root, or red sanders wood; and a YELLOWISH TINGE, by turmeric root or gamboge. When it is simply desired to DARKEN the wood, brown sh.e.l.l-lac is employed to make the polish; and when the object is to keep the wood LIGHT COLOURED, a little oxalic acid (2 to 4 dr. to the pint) is commonly added. These substances are either steeped in or agitated with the polish, or with the solvent, before pouring it on the 'gums,' until they dissolve, or a sufficient effect is produced. French polish is not required to be so clear and limpid as other varnishes, and is, therefore, never artificially clarified. See VARNISH, and _below_.

=FRENCH POL'Is.h.i.+NG.= This process, now so generally employed for furniture and cabinet work, is performed as follows:--The surface to be operated on being finished off as smoothly as possible with gla.s.s paper, and placed opposite the light, the 'rubber' being made as directed below, and the polish (see above) being at hand, and preferably contained in a narrow-necked bottle, the workman moistens the middle or flat face of the rubber with the polish, by laying the rubber on the mouth of the bottle and shaking up the varnish against it, once, by which means the rubber imbibes the proper quant.i.ty to cover a considerable extent of surface. He next encloses the rubber in a soft linen cloth, doubled, the rest of the cloth being gathered up at the back of the rubber to form a handle. The face of the linen is now moistened with a little raw linseed oil, applied with the finger to the middle of it, and the operation of polis.h.i.+ng immediately commenced. For this purpose the workman pa.s.ses his rubber quickly and lightly over the surface uniformly in one direction, until the varnish becomes dry, or nearly so, when he again charges his rubber as before, omitting the oil, and repeats the rubbing, until three coats are laid on. He now applies a little oil to the rubber, and two coats more are commonly given. As soon as the coating of varnish has acquired some thickness, he wets the inside of the linen cloth, before applying the varnish, with alcohol, or wood naphtha, and gives a quick, light, and uniform touch over the whole surface. The work is, lastly, carefully gone over with the linen cloth, moistened with a little oil and rectified spirit or naphtha, without varnish, and rubbed, as before, until dry.

The RUBBER for French polis.h.i.+ng is made by rolling up a strip of thick woollen cloth (list) which has been torn off, so as to form a soft elastic edge. It should form a coil, from 1 to 3 inches in diameter, according to the size of the work.

=FRES'CO-PAINTING.= See PAINTING.

=FRICANDEAU.= [Fr.] Among _cooks_, a ragot, or frica.s.see of veal. The same term is also sometimes applied to stewed beef, highly seasoned.

=FRICa.s.sEE.= [Fr.] A dish prepared by stewing or semi-frying, highly flavoured with herbs, spices, or sauce. Small things, as chickens, lamb, &c., and cold meat, are usually formed into frica.s.sees.

=FRIC'TION=. In a general sense, the act of rubbing one body against another; attrition.

=Friction.= In _mechanics_ this is the resistance which the surface of a moving body meets with from the surface of the body on which it moves. To lessen the amount of friction in machines, various unctuous substances, as oil, tallow, soap, black-lead, &c., are used by engineers. These substances act by imparting smoothness to the points of contact, and thus reduce their resistance to each other. The full consideration of the subject belongs to engineering.

=Friction.= In _medicine_, friction, whether simple or conjoined with liniments, is a therapeutical agent of considerable power. By it the circulation is promoted in debilitated parts, and medicinal substances (iodine, mercurials, opium, &c.) are made to penetrate the pores of the skin. "The benefit of friction, which consists of motion and heat, whether or not the same be raised by rubbing the body with a coa.r.s.e cloth or the flesh-brush, has advantages inconceivable and scarcely credible, by which the obstructions of the pores and cutaneous glandules are opened, their stagnating juices broken into small particles, dissolved, and rendered fit to be carried off in perspiration, in the room of which, as my Lord Verulam well observes, new juice will succeed with new vigour to the body; and longevity, saith that great naturalist, is this way most certainly promoted" (Daniel Turner).

Simple friction is performed by the hand alone, or with a piece of flannel, a hair glove, or a flesh-brush. "If it be properly performed--namely, by short, brisk strokes with the tips of the fingers, and with great celerity, when the naked hand is the agent; and if it be continued for an hour or upwards, and repeated several times a day--its influence in reducing swelled glands and swellings of the joints, as well as in alleviating rheumatic pains, is very great; but, besides being well performed, the friction should be continued for (at least) half an hour, in order to render it useful." (Dr R. E. Griffith.)

Gentle, slow, and equable friction, by producing a continued repet.i.tion of an agreeable impression on the nervous system, acts both as an anodyne and hypnotic. For this purpose "the operator should sit by the side of the bed, and introducing the hand under the bedclothes, rub the legs or the arms (or other parts) gently with equally lengthened but slow movements.

When the invalid is a child, its influence is more powerful when aided by a monotonous, but a soft tune, which, although it operates upon a distinct sense, yet, by combination, renders the friction more soporific."

(Griffith.)

When the friction is accompanied with the use of any acrid or irritating substance, or is intended to introduce any active remedy into the system, the rubbing should be brisk, and of sufficient force to slightly abrade and inflame the cuticle; and should be continued until the substance, which is usually in the form of an ointment, either wholly or partially disappears, owing to its absorption by the skin. The hand of the operator should, in most cases, be guarded by a glove; otherwise he is likely to share with the patient the effects of the medicine, a result not always agreeable or even safe.

=FRIGORIFIC MIXTURES.= See REFRIGERATION.