Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 153

=Plaster of Paris.= Calcined sulphate of lime. See ALABASTER, GYPSUM, LIME, &c.

=PLASTER.= (In pharmacy.) _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM, L. Plasters (emplastra) are external applications that possess sufficient consistence not to adhere to the fingers when cold, but which become soft and adhesive at the temperature of the human body.

Plasters are chiefly composed of unctuous substances united to metallic oxides, or to powders, wax, or resin. They are usually formed, whilst warm, into 1/2-lb. rolls, about 8 or 9 inches long, and wrapped in paper.

When required for use, a little is melted off the roll by means of a heated iron spatula, and spread upon leather, linen, or silk. The less adhesive plasters, when spread, are usually surrounded with a margin of resin plaster, to cause them to adhere.

In the preparation of plasters the heat of a water bath, or of steam, should alone be employed. On the large scale, well-cleaned and polished copper or tinned copper pans, surrounded with iron jackets, supplied with high-pressure steam, are used for this purpose. The resins and gum resins that enter into their composition are previously purified by straining.

After the ingredients are mixed, and the ma.s.s has acquired sufficient consistence by cooling, portions of it are taken into the hands, anointed with a little olive oil, and well pulled or worked until it becomes solid enough to admit of being formed into rolls. To promote the cooling of the plaster it is usual to plunge it into cold water, and to expose it to the action of the fluid by working it about under the surface, after which it is well pulled in the hands to remove the superfluous water; but this process must not, on any account, be practised on compound plasters, containing odorous substances, or substances soluble in water. These should be suffered to cool on an oiled marbled slab, until sufficiently 'stiff' to be formed into rolls. Many plasters, as those of lead and resin, derive much of their whiteness and beauty from the treatment just referred to. White plasters are not, however, always the best; but they are those which are most admired, and the most sought after in trade.

Plasters are preserved by enveloping the rolls with paper, to exclude the air as much as possible, and by keeping them in a cool situation. A few, as those of belladonna and ammoniac.u.m with mercury, are commonly placed in pots. When kept for any length of time, they are all more or less apt to become hard and brittle, and to lose their colour. When this is the case, they should be remelted by a gentle heat, and sufficient oil added to the ma.s.s to restore it to a proper consistence.

The operation of spreading plasters for use requires skill and experience on the part of the operator. Various textures are employed for the purpose, of which linen or cotton cloth, or leather, are those most generally employed. Silk and satin are used for 'court plaster.' The shape and size must be regulated by the part to which they are to be applied.

On the large scale plasters are spread by means of a 'spreading machine.'

Compound plasters are now much less frequently employed in medicine than formerly. Those princ.i.p.ally in use are such as afford protection to sores and abraded surfaces, and give support to the parts. A few, however, which contain acrid, stimulating, and narcotic substances, and operate as rubefacients, blisters, or anodynes, are still retained in the Pharmacopias.

=Plaster of Ac'onite.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ACONITI, L. _Prep._ (Curtis.) Gently evaporate tincture of aconite to the consistence of a soft extract, then spread a very small portion over the surface of a common adhesive plaster, on either calico or leather. Mr Curtis has strongly recommended this plaster in neuralgia. A little of the alcoholic extract may be employed instead of that obtained fresh from the tincture.

=Plaster, Adhe"rent.= See PLASTER, SOAP (Compound).

=Plaster, Adhe'sive.= See PLASTER, RESIN, COURT P., &c.

=Plaster, Adhesive Lime.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ADHaeSIVUM CALCAREUM. _Prep._ Soap of lime, 200 parts; boiled turpentine, 100 parts; suet, 25 parts.

=Plaster, Ammoni'acal.= _Syn._ DR KIRKLAND'S VOLATILE PLASTER; EMPLASTRUM AMMONIae, E. A. HYDROCHLORATIS, L. _Prep._ Take of lead plaster, 1 oz.; white soap (shaved fine), 1/2 oz.; melt them together, and, when nearly cold, add of sal ammoniac (in fine powder), 1 dr. Stimulant and rubefacient. Dr Paris, who highly recommends it in pulmonary affections, employs double the above proportion of sal ammoniac. Its efficacy depends on the gradual extrication of free ammonia by the decomposition of the sal ammoniac, on which account it is proper to renew the application of it every 24 hours.

=Plaster of Ammoni'ac.u.m.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM AMMONIACI (Ph. L., E., & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L. & E.) Ammoniac.u.m (strained), 5 oz.; dilute acetic acid (distilled vinegar), 8 fl. oz. (9 fl. oz.--Ph. E.); dissolve, and, frequently stirring, evaporate by a gentle heat to a proper consistence.

2. (Ph. D.) Gum ammoniac.u.m (in coa.r.s.e powder), 4 oz.; proof spirit, 4 fl.

oz.; dissolve by the aid of a gentle heat, and evaporate, as before.

_Obs._ This plaster is adhesive, stimulant, and resolvent, and is employed in scrofulous and indolent tumours, white swellings, &c. In the Ph. D.

1826 vinegar of squills was ordered instead of distilled vinegar.

=Plaster of Ammoniac.u.m with Hem'lock.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM AMMONIACI c.u.m CICUTa, L. _Prep._ (Ph. E. 1744.) Gum ammoniac.u.m, 8 oz.; vinegar of squills, q. s. to dissolve; hemlock juice, 4 oz.; gently evaporate, as before. In cancerous and other painful tumours. A better plan is to add 1 dr. of extract of hemlock to 1-1/4 oz. of strained ammoniac.u.m (previously reduced to a proper consistence with a little distilled vinegar), melted by a very gentle heat.

=Plaster of Ammoniac.u.m with Mer'cury.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM AMMONIACI c.u.m HYDRARGYRO (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L. & E.) Olive oil, 1 dr.; heat it in a mortar, add of sulphur, 8 gr.; triturate; further add of mercury, 3 oz.; again triturate, and when the globules are extinguished, add it to ammoniac.u.m (strained), 1 lb. (12 oz., B. P.), previously melted by a gentle heat, and mix them well together.

2. (Ph. D.) From ammoniac.u.m plaster, 4 oz.; mercurial plaster, 8 oz.; melted together by a gentle heat, and then stirred constantly until nearly cold.

3. (_Wholesale._) Take of mercury, 38 oz.; prepared sevum, 5 oz.; triturate, as last, and add the mixture to strained ammoniac.u.m, 10 lbs., previously sufficiently softened by a gentle heat. Possesses a fine blue colour, and is quickly made.

_Obs._ This plaster cannot be rolled till considerably cooled, and neither this nor the simple plaster must be put into water. It is powerfully discutient, and is applied to indurated glands, indolent tumours, &c.

=Plaster, An'odyne.= SEE PLASTER, OPIUM, PLASTER, BELLADONNA, &c.

=Plaster, Antimo"nial.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ANTIMONIALE, E. ANTIMONII POTa.s.sIO-TARTRATIS, L. _Prep._ (U. C. Hosp.) By sprinkling tartar emetic, in very fine powder, on the surface of a spread Burgundy pitch (or common adhesive) plaster. It has been successfully applied to the nape of the neck, in the scarlatina of children; also the chest, in phthisis; and, with the addition of a little opium, in rheumatic affections of the joints.

=Plaster, Arnica.= (Ph. U. S.) _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ARNICae. _Prep._ Alcoholic extract of arnica, 1-1/2 oz.; resin plaster, 3 oz. Add the extract to the plaster previously melted over a water bath, and mix it thoroughly.

=Plaster, Aromatic.= _Syn._ STOMACH PLASTER; EMPLASTRUM AROMATIc.u.m, L.

_Prep._ (Ph. D. 1826.) Strained frankincense (thus), 3 oz.; beeswax, 1/2 oz.; melt them together, and, when the ma.s.s has considerably heated, add, of powdered cinnamon, 6 dr.; oils of allspice and lemons, of each 2 dr.

Stimulant; applied over the stomach in dyspepsia, spasms, nausea, flatulence, &c. Camphor, 1 dr., is commonly added.

=Plaster of a.s.saftida.= _Syn._ ANTIHYSTERIC PLASTER, ANTISPASMODIC P.; EMPLASTRUM a.s.sAFTIDae (Ph. E.), E. ANTIHYSTERIc.u.m, &c., L. _Prep._ (Ph.

E.) From lead plaster and strained a.s.saftida, of each 2 oz.; strained galbanum and beeswax, of each 1 oz.; melted together. Antispasmodic; applied to the stomach or abdomen in spasms, hysteria, &c.; and to the chest in hooping-cough.

=Plaster, Baynton's Adhesive.= _Prep._ From yellow resin, 1 oz.; lead plaster, 1 lb.; melted together. Recommended for bad legs, and other like sores.

=Plaster of Belladon'na.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM BELLADONNae (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Soap plaster, 3 oz.; melt it by the heat of a water bath; add of extract of belladonna (deadly nightshade), 3 oz.; and keep constantly stirring the mixture until it acquires a proper consistence.

2. (Ph. E.) Resin plaster, 3 oz.; extract of belladonna, 1-1/2 oz.; as the last.

3. (Ph. D.) Resin plaster, 2 oz.; extract of belladonna, 1 oz.

4. (B. P.) Extract of belladonna, 3; resin plaster, 3; rectified spirit, 6; rub the extract and spirit together in a mortar, and when the insoluble matter has subsided, decant the clear solution, remove the spirit by distillation or evaporation, and mix the alcoholic extract thus obtained with the resin plaster melted at the heat of a water bath, continuing the heat until with constant stirring the plaster has acquired a suitable consistence.

_Uses, &c._ As a powerful anodyne and antispasmodic; in neuralgia and rheumatic pains, and as an application to painful tumours. The plaster of the shops is usually deficient in extract. The following formula is in common use in the wholesale trade:--Lead plaster and resin plaster, of each 2-1/2 lbs.; extract of belladonna, 1-3/4 lb. This plaster must not be 'pulled' in water.

=Plaster, Berg's Antirheumatic.= _Syn._ GOUT PAPER; EMPLASTRUM ANTIRHEUMATIc.u.m, CHARTA ANTIRHEUMATICA, L. _Prep._ By digesting euphorbium, 2 parts, and cantharides, 1 part (both in powder), in rectified spirit, 10 parts, for eight days; adding to the strained liquid, black resin and Venetian turpentine, of each 4 parts; a.s.sisting the mixture by a gentle heat. Two or three coats of the product are successively spread over the surface of thin paper. Used in gout and rheumatism. ('Anat. of Quackery.')

=Plaster, Black.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM NIGRUM. _Prep._ Mr Sharp's black plaster was formed by boiling together olive oil, 13 oz.; wax, 2-1/2 oz.; carbonate of lead, 10 oz.

=Plaster, Black Diach'ylon.= See COURT PLASTER.

=Plaster of Black Pitch.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM PICIS NIGRae, L. _Prep._ (Ph.

Wirtem.) Black pitch, black resin, and beeswax, of each 8 parts; suet, 1 part; melted together. Rubefacient and stimulant.

=Plaster, Blistering.= See PLASTER OF CANTHARIDES.

=Plaster, Bree's Antiasthmatic.= _Prep._ From lead plaster, 1 oz.; olive oil, 1 dr.; melted together, and, when somewhat cooled, mixed with powdered camphor, 2 dr.; powdered opium, 1 dr., and at once spread on leather.

=Plaster, Brown.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM FUSc.u.m, L.; ONGUENT DE LA MeRE, Fr.

The b.u.t.ter, lard, oil, suet, and wax should be first melted together, and the heat gradually increased until they begin to smoke; the litharge is then to be sifted in, and the stirring and heat continued until the mixture a.s.sumes a brown colour; the pitch is next added, and the whole stirred for some time longer.

=Plaster, Brown Diach'ylon.= See PLASTER OF GALBANUM.

=Plaster, Bryony.= (Boerhaave.) _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM BRYONIae. _Prep._ Strained galbanum, 4 oz.; wax plaster, 9 oz.; olive oil, 1 oz. Melt together and add powdered bryony root, 2 oz.; flowers of sulphur, 1 oz.; Ethiops mineral, 2 dr.; stir till cold.

=Plaster of Bur'gundy Pitch.= _Syn._ CEPHALIC PLASTER, BREATH P.; EMPLASTRUM PICIS (B. P., Ph. L. & E.), E. P. COMPOSITUM, E. P. BURGUNDICae, L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Prepared (strained) Burgundy pitch, 2 lbs.; prepared frankincense (thus), 1 lb.; yellow resin and beeswax, of each 4 oz.; melt them together, then add, olive oil and water, of each 2 fl. oz.; expressed oil of nutmeg (mace), 1 oz.; and, constantly stirring, evaporate to a proper consistence.

2. (Ph. E.) Burgundy pitch, 1 lb.; resin and beeswax, of each 2 oz.; olive oil and water, of each 1 fl. oz.; oil of mace, 1/2 oz.; as the last.

3. (B. P.) Burgundy pitch, 26; common frankincense, 13; resin, 4-1/2; yellow wax, 4-1/2; expressed oil of nutmegs, 1; olive oil, 2; water, 2; add the oil and the water to the other ingredients, previously melted together; stir, and evaporate to a proper consistency.

_Uses, &c._ Burgundy-pitch plaster is stimulant, rubefacient, and counter-irritant. It is a common application to the chest in pulmonary affections, to the joints in rheumatism, and to the loins in lumbago.

Spread on leather, it forms a good warm plaster to wear on the chest during the winter. "When it produces a serous exudation, it should be frequently renewed."