Epitome of the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary Part 5

DOSAGE: 0.125 Cc. or 2 minims (N.F.).

=*Aether (Aether), Ether, U.S.P.=--Contains about 96.5 per cent. of ethyl oxide.

A clear, colorless, very inflammable liquid with a characteristic odor and a burning, sweetish taste. Soluble in water (1:12), and miscible with alcohol, chloroform, petroleum benzin, benzene, and fixed or volatile oils.

ACTION AND USES: General anesthetic, administered by inhalation; when administered by mouth, carminative.

DOSAGE: 1 Cc. or 15 minims.

_*Spiritus Aetheris (Sp. Aeth.), Spirit of Ether, U.S.P._ (Hoffmann's Drops).--Ether (32.5%) in alcohol. Absolute alcohol content about 65 per cent.

USES: Carminative and fugacious indirect circulatory stimulant.

DOSAGE: 4 Cc. or 1 fluidrachm (U.S.P.).

_Spiritus Aetheris Compositus (Sp. Aether. Co.), Compound Spirit of Ether, N.F._ (Hoffmann's Anodyne).--Ether (32.5%), ethereal oil (2.5%) and alcohol. Absolute alcohol content about 60 per cent.

USES: A superfluous modification of spirit of ether.

DOSAGE: 4 Cc. or 1 fluidrachm (N.F.)

=Aether Aceticus (Aeth. Acet.), Acetic Ether, N.F.= (Ethyl Acetate).

A colorless, fragrant liquid, with a burning taste.

ACTION AND USES: Carminative, similar to and without special advantage over ether. Also used pharmaceutically, as flavoring ingredient.

DOSAGE: 1 Cc. or 15 minims (N.F.).

=*Aether Nitrosus, Nitrous Ether.=--Ethyl nitrite.

_*Spiritus Aetheris Nitrosi (Sp. Aeth. Nitros.), Spirit of Nitrous Ether, U.S.P._ (Sweet Spirit of Nitre).--Ethyl nitrite (about 4%) in alcohol. Absolute alcohol content about 92 per cent.

ACTION AND USES: Popularly used as a weak diuretic and diaph.o.r.etic. Unstable and therefore unreliable. Has the physiologic action of a weak nitrite.

DOSAGE: 2 Cc. or 30 minims (U.S.P.).

=Aethylis Carbamas (Aethyl. Carbam.), Ethyl Carbamate, U.S.P.= (Carbamic Acid Ethyl Ester, Urethane, Ethyl Urethane).

Colorless, odorless crystals or scales, with a cooling, saline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:0.45) and in alcohol (1:0.8).

Incompatible with alkalies, acids and most other chemicals.

ACTION AND USES: Very mild and relatively harmless hypnotic.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.) in powder, cachets or solution.

=*Aethylis Chloridum (Aethyl. Chlor.), Ethyl Chloride, U.S.P.=--Monochlorethane, CH{3}CH{2}Cl.

A colorless, very volatile liquid, with an agreeable odor and a sweetish, burning taste. The vapor is very inflammable. Slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol and in ether.

ACTION AND USES: Local anesthetic for minor operations.

Used in the form of a spray to produce intense cold.

Has also been used by inhalation as general anesthetic in short operations.

=*Aethylmorphinae Hydrochloridum (Aethylmorph. Hydrochl.), Ethylmorphine Hydrochloride, U.S.P.= (Ethylmorphine Chloride, Dionin).

A white, odorless powder, with a slightly bitter taste. Very soluble in water (1:8) and soluble in alcohol (1:22).

ACTION AND USES: Systemically, intermediate between those of morphine and codeine. Probably possesses no advantage over codeine. When applied to the eye it causes local hyperemia terminating in acute conjunctival edema.

DOSAGE: 0.015 Gm. or 1/4 grain (U.S.P.). Used as 10 per cent. ointment or solution in corneal opacity and similar conditions.

=Agar (Agar), Agar, U.S.P.= (Agar-Agar).--A mucilaginous substance extracted from certain seaweeds.

Nearly white, almost odorless and tasteless strips, shreds or powder, tough when damp, brittle when dry. Insoluble in cold water, but slowly soluble in hot water.

ACTION AND USES: Pa.s.ses through the intestinal ca.n.a.l almost unchanged. Absorbs and retains moisture. Used in chronic constipation with intestinal atony; renders the feces soft and bulky and thus promotes peristalsis.

DOSAGE: 10 Gm. or 2-1/2 drachms (U.S.P.).

=Agaricus (Agaric), Agaric, N.F.= (White Agaric, Larch Agaric).--The fruit body of a fungus.

ACTION AND USES: Empirical and unreliable remedy for night sweats of phthisis.

DOSAGE: 0.6 Gm. or 10 grains (N.F.).

=*Alcohol (Alcohol), Alcohol, U.S.P.=--Not less than 92.3 per cent. by weight or 94.9 per cent. by volume of C{2}H{5}OH.

A colorless, volatile, inflammable liquid, with a characteristic odor and burning taste. Freely miscible with water, ether or chloroform.

ACTION AND USES: Rubefacient, astringent, antiseptic and by its evaporation a refrigerant. Internally it is a narcotic widely used as a "stimulant" but may do more harm than good.

_Alcohol Dehydratum (Alcohol Dehyd.), Dehydrated Alcohol, U.S.P._ (Alcohol Absolutum, U.S.P. VIII).--Not less than 99 per cent. by weight of C{2}H{5}OH.

A liquid with the same color, odor and taste as alcohol.

_Alcohol Dilutum (Alcohol Dil.), Diluted Alcohol, U.S.P._--About 41.5 per cent. by weight or 49 per cent. by volume of C{2}H{5}OH.

_*Elixir Aromatic.u.m (Elix. Arom.), Aromatic Elixir, U.S.P._ (Simple Elixir).--Compound spirit of orange in syrup, alcohol and distilled water. Absolute alcohol content about 22 per cent.