Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 154

The BURGUNDY-PITCH PLASTER of the shops is commonly made as follows:--Fact.i.tious Burgundy pitch (bright coloured), 42 lbs.; palm oil (bright), 3/4 lb.; beeswax (bright), 5 lbs.; melt, and, when nearly cold, add, of oil of mace, 6 oz.; oil of nutmeg, 1 oz.

=Plaster of Burgundy Pitch (Irritating).= (Ph. G.) _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM PICIS IRRITANS. _Prep._ Burgundy pitch, 32 oz.; yellow wax, 12 oz.; turpentine, 12 oz.; euphorbium, 3 oz.

=Plaster, Califa'cient.= _Syn._ WARM PLASTER; EMPLASTRUM CALEFACIENS (Ph.

D.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. D.) 1. Plaster of cantharides, 1/2 lb. (1 part); Burgundy pitch, 5-1/2 lbs. (11 parts); melt them together by a gentle heat, and stir the mixture as it cools until it stiffens. Stimulant, rubefacient, and counter-irritant; in a variety of affections. In some persons, when long applied, it blisters or produces a running sore.

2. (Ph. B.) Cantharides in coa.r.s.e powder, 4 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint; expressed oil of nutmeg, 4 oz.; yellow wax, 4 oz.; resin, 4 oz.; soap plaster, 3-1/4 lbs.; resin plaster, 2 lbs. Infuse the cantharides in the boiling water for six hours; squeeze strongly through calico, and evaporate the expressed liquid by a water bath till reduced to one third.

Then add the other ingredients and melt in a water bath, stirring well till the whole is thoroughly mixed.

=Plaster, Camphor.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM CAMPHORae. Camphor is best applied by sprinkling the powder on the warm surface of a spread adhesive or other plaster. Blisters are treated in this way to prevent strangury.

=Plaster, Can'cer.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ANTICANCROSUM, L. _Prep._ 1. Wax plaster, 1 oz.; extract of hemlock, 1 dr.; levigated a.r.s.enious acid, 1/2 dr.

2. (Richter.) Extract of hemlock, 1 oz.; extract of henbane, 1/2 oz.; powdered belladonna, 1 dr.; acetate of ammonia, q. s. to form a plaster.

Both the above must be used with great caution. See CANCER, &c.

=Plaster of Canthar'ides.= _Syn._ BLISTERING PLASTER, VESICANT P., PLASTER OF SPANISH FLIES; EMPLASTRUM CANTHARIDIS (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), E. C.

VESICATORae, E. LYTTae, L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Yellow wax and suet, of each 7-1/2 oz.; lard, 6 oz.; resin, 3 oz.; melt them together, remove the vessel from the fire, and, a little before they concrete, sprinkle in of cantharides (in very fine powder), 1 lb. (12 oz. B. P.), and mix.

2. (Ph. E.) Cantharides, beeswax, resin, and suet, equal parts; as the last.

3. (Ph. D.) Spanish flies, 6 oz.; prepared lard, resin, and yellow wax, of each 4 oz.; proceed as before, and "stir the mixture constantly until the plaster is cool."

4. (Wholesale.) From beeswax and good lard, of each 4 lbs.; flies and yellow resin, of each 6 lbs.; suet, 10 lbs. A commonly used formula, the product of which is, however, greatly inferior to that of the Pharmacopia.

_Obs._ All the above are used to raise blisters. The plaster is spread on white leather with a cold knife, and is surrounded with a margin of resin plaster to make it adhere. A piece of thin muslin or tissue paper is usually placed between the plaster and the skin to prevent absorption. A little powdered camphor is sometimes sprinkled on the surface of the spread plaster, to prevent strangury. A better mode of obviating the action on the urinary organs is by the copious use of diluents. This plaster should be rolled in starch powder, and not with oil.

=Plaster of Cantharides (Compound).= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM CANTHARIDIS COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ (Ph. E.) Venice turpentine, 4-1/2 oz.; cantharides and Burgundy pitch, of each 3 oz.; beeswax, 1 oz.; verdigris (in fine powder), 1/2 oz.; powdered mustard and black pepper, of each 2 dr.; mix at a heat under 212 Fahr. Stronger than the last, and quicker in its action; but it causes more pain, and is much more apt to occasion troublesome ulcerations. Used in gout, spasms of the stomach, &c.

=Plaster, Capuchin'.= See PLASTER OF EUPHORBIUM.

=Plaster of Car'bonate of Lead.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM PLUMBI CARBONATIS, E.

CERUSSae, L. _Prep._ (P. Cod.) Carbonate of lead, 1 lb.; olive oil and water, of each 2 lbs.; boil them together until they combine and form a plaster; lastly, remelt this with white wax, 3-1/2 oz. Its properties resemble those of ordinary lead plaster. An excellent emollient and defensive plaster. See PLASTER, MAHY'S.

=Plaster, Cephal'ic.= _Syn._ LABDANUM PLASTER; EMPLASTRUM CEPHALIc.u.m, E.

LABDANI, L. _Prep._ (Ph. L. 1788.) Labdanum, 3 oz.; frankincense (thus), 1 oz.; melt, and add to the mixture, when nearly cold, powdered cinnamon and expressed oil of mace, of each 1/2 oz.; oil of mint, 1 dr. Applied to the forehead or temples, in headache; to the stomach, in colds, &c. See PLASTER OF BURGUNDY PITCH, &c.

=Plaster, Cheselden's Stick'ing.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM PLUMBI c.u.m PICE, L.

_Prep._ From lead plaster, 2 lbs.; Burgundy pitch (genuine), 1 oz.; melted together.

=Plaster, Corn.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM AD CLAVOS, L. _Prep._ 1. Resin plaster, 5 parts; melt, stir in of sal ammoniac (in fine powder), 1 part, and at once spread it on linen or soft leather.

2. (Kennedy's.) From beeswax, 1 lb.; Venice turpentine, 5 oz.; verdigris (in fine powder), 1-1/2 oz.; mixed by a gentle heat, and spread on cloth.

It is cut into pieces, and polished, and of these 1 dozen are put into each box.

3. (Le Foret.) Galbanum plaster, 2 oz.; melt by a very gentle heat; add, sal ammoniac and saffron, of each 1/2 oz.; powdered camphor, 2 oz.; and, when nearly cold stir in of liquor of ammonia, 2 oz. Applied, spread on leather, to the corn only, as it will blister the thinner skin surrounding its base.

4. (Ph. Sax.) Galbanum plaster, 1 oz.; pitch, 1/2 oz.; lead plaster, 2 dr.; melt them together, and add verdigris and sal ammoniac (in fine powder), of each 1 dr. For other formulae, see PLASTER OF VERDIGRIS (_below_), and CORNS.

=Plaster, Court.= _Syn._ STICKING PLASTER, ISINGLa.s.s P.; EMPLASTRUM ICHTHYOCOLLae, E. ADHESIVUM ANGLIc.u.m, L. _Prep._ 1. Isingla.s.s, 1 part; water, 10 parts; dissolve, strain the solution, and gradually add to it of tincture of benzoin, 2 parts; apply this mixture, gently warmed, by means of a camel-hair brush, to the surface of silk or sarcenet, stretched on a frame, and allow each coating to dry before applying the next one, the application being repeated as often as necessary; lastly, give the prepared surface a coating of tincture of benzoin or tincture of balsam of Peru. Some manufacturers apply this to the unprepared side of the plaster, and others add to the tincture a few drops of essence of ambergris or essence of musk.

2. (Deschamps.) A piece of fine muslin, linen, or silk is fastened to a flat board, and a thin coating of smooth, strained flour paste is given to it; over this, when dry, two coats of colourless gelatin, made into size with water, q. s., are applied warm. Said to be superior to the ordinary court plaster.

3. (Liston's.) Soak isingla.s.s, 1 oz., in water, 2-1/2 fl. oz., until it becomes swollen and quite soft; then add of proof spirit, 3-1/2 fl. oz., and expose the mixture to the heat of hot water, frequently stirring, until the union is complete; lastly, apply four coats of the solution to the surface of oiled silk nailed to a board, by means of a soft brush.

4. (Dr Paris.) Black silk or sarcenet is strained and brushed over 10 or 12 times with the following composition:--Gum benzoin, 1/2 oz.; rectified spirit, 6 oz.; dissolve. In a separate vessel dissolve of isingla.s.s, 1 oz., in as little water as possible; strain each solution, mix them, decant the clear portion, and apply it warm. When the last coating is quite dry, a finis.h.i.+ng coat is given with a solution of Chio turpentine, 4 oz., in tincture of benzoin, 6 oz.

_Obs._ The common 'COURT PLASTER' of the shops is generally prepared without using spirit, and with merely sufficient tincture of benzoin, or other aromatic, to give it an agreeable odour. Formerly, black silk or sarcenet was exclusively employed as the basis of the plaster, but at the present time checkered silk is also much in favour. 'FLESH-COLOURED COURT PLASTER' is likewise fas.h.i.+onable. 'TRANSPARENT COURT PLASTER' is prepared on oiled silk. 'WATERPROOF COURT PLASTER' is simply the common plaster which has received a thin coating of pale drying oil on its exposed surface. The FINEST COURT PLASTER of the West-end houses is now prepared on gold-beaters' skin (or the prepared membrane of the caec.u.m of the ox), one side of which is coated with the isingla.s.s solution, as above, and the other with pale drying oil or a solution of either gutta percha or caoutchouc in chloroform, or in bisulphuret of carbon.

=Plaster of Cro'ton Oil.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM CROTONIS, E. OLEI TIGLII, L.

_Prep._ (Bouchardat.) To lead plaster, 4 parts, melted by a very gentle heat, add of croton oil, 1 part. A powerful counter-irritant; it also generally acts powerfully on the bowels.

=Plaster of c.u.m'in.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM c.u.mINI (Ph. L.), E. CYMINI, L.

_Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Burgundy pitch, 3 lbs.; beeswax, 3 oz.; melt, add of c.u.min seed, caraways, and bay-berries, of each (in powder) 3 oz.; next add of olive oil and water of each 1-1/2 fl. oz., and evaporate to a proper consistence.

2. (Wholesale.) From yellow resin, 7 lbs.; beeswax and linseed oil, of each 1/2 lb.; powdered c.u.min and caraway seeds, of each 7 oz.; mix.

_Obs._ This is a mere revival of the formula of the Ph. L. 1724. In that of the Ph. L. 1778 no water was ordered, and the powders simply stirred into the melted ma.s.s shortly before it cools; the common practice in all laboratories.

c.u.min plaster is carminative, stimulant, and discutient. It is applied over the regions of the stomach and bowels in colic, dyspepsia, and flatulence, and is also applied to indolent tumours. It has long been a favourite remedy with the lower cla.s.ses.

=Plaster, Delacroix's Agglu'tinative.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM GLUTINANS SANCTI ANDREae A CRUCE, E. PICIS c.u.m ELEMI, L. EMPLaTRE D'ANDRe DE LA CROIX, Fr.

_Prep._ (P. Cod.) From Burgundy pitch, 25 parts; gum elemi, 6 parts; Venice turpentine and oil of bays, of each 3 parts; melted together, and strained.

=Plaster, Diach'ylon.= See PLASTER OF LEAD.

=Plaster, Diapal'ma.= See PLASTER, PALM.

=Plaster of El'emi.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM ELEMI, L. _Prep._ From wax plaster, 3 parts; gum elemi, 1 part; melted together by a gentle heat. Stimulant and discutient. Used for issues, &c.

=Plaster of Euphor'bium.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM EUPHORBII, L. _Prep._ 1.

(Guy's Hosp.) Burgundy pitch plaster, 8 oz.; melt, and add of euphorbium (in powder), 1 dr.

2. (CAPUCHIN PLASTER--Ph. Wirt.) Burgundy pitch and beeswax, of each 3 oz.; Venice turpentine, 1 oz.; melt them together, add, gum ammoniac.u.m, olibanum, mastic, and lapis calaminaris, of each 1 oz.; euphorbium, pyrethrum, and common salt, of each (in powder) 2 oz.; and stir until the ma.s.s concretes. Both of the above are stimulant, rubefacient, and counter-irritant.

=Plaster, Fayard's.= See PAPER (Gout).

=Plaster of Flower of Ointments.= _Syn._ EMPLASTRUM FLOS UNGUENTORUM DICTUM, L. _Prep._ From frankincense (thus), yellow resin, suet, and beeswax, of each 1 lb.; olibanum, 1/2 lb.; Venice turpentine, 5 oz.; gum myrrh, 2 oz.; white wine, 16 fl. oz.; boil to a plaster, adding, before the ma.s.s cool, of camphor, 1/2 oz. Calorifacient and stimulant.

=Plaster of Frank'incense.= _Syn._ STRENGTHENING PLASTER; EMPLASTRUM THURIS, E. ROBORANS, L. _Prep._ (Ph. L. 1788.) To lead plaster, 2 lbs., melted by a gentle heat, add of frankincense (thus), 1/2 lb., dragon's blood (in powder), 3 oz., and stir well. In muscular relaxations, weak joints, &c. Mr Redwood says that a "better-looking plaster is produced by melting the frankincense and dragon's blood together, and straining them through a cloth, then mixing these with the lead plaster previously melted." See PLASTER OF OXIDE OF IRON.

=Plaster of Gal'banum.= _Syn._ COMPOUND GALBANUM PLASTER, YELLOW DIACHYLON, GUM PLASTER, DIACHYLON WITH THE GUMS, EMPLASTRUM GALBANI (B.

P., Ph. L.), E. GUMMOSUM (Ph. E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Take of strained galbanum, 8 oz.; common turpentine, 1 oz.; melt them together, then add of prepared frankincense (thus), 3 oz.; and next, of lead plaster, 3 lbs., previously melted over a slow fire.

2. (Ph. E.) Gum ammoniac.u.m and galbanum, of each 1/2 oz.; melt them together, strain, and add, of litharge plaster, 4 oz.; beeswax, 1/2 oz.

(both previously melted); and mix the whole thoroughly. These proportions are the same as those of the B. P.

3. (Wholesale.) From lead plaster, 42 lbs.; yellow resin, 12 lbs.; strained galbanum, 3 lbs.; strained a.s.saftida, 1 oz.