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side, whilst it was absent in the other;" but when a large dose was given, Dr. Majendie observed that both sides were affected. The alcoholic extract of the vomic nut, which is generally preferred to the alcali (strychnine) when given in very small doses, has not, like many other remedies, any immediate perceptible effect, some days often passing over before its peculiar action on the muscles appears. It is given in the form of a pill. Majendie advises practitioners to commence with one or two pills (each containing a grain of the alcoholic extract), and to increase the dose one grain daily, till it produces the desired effect, and then to discontinue it. He says, the best time for administering the remedy is in the evening, because it has a more speedy effect during night. In some cases, he found it necessary to increase the dose to thirty grains, to produce the agitating effects on the muscles. He says he has found this preparation, and also strychnine, very beneficial in cases of muscular debility. For the exhibition of strychnine, he gives the following prescription :

Take of pure Strychnine,

2 grains.

Conserve of Roses, a sufficient quantity to form twenty pills.

One to be taken for a dose every morning and evening.

Some physicians prefer the tincture of strychnine, which is made by dissolving three grains in an ounce of alcohol. The dose of this tincture is from six to twenty drops twice a day in a wine-glass of water.

Both the alcoholic extract of the vomic nut and its alcali (strychnine) are such powerful poisons, that, in order to enable practitioners to form a just estimate of the value of these discoveries, Majendie, and those who have given the articles what the French term fair philosophical trials, should have candidly given the number of instances in which it failed or terminated life.

EMETINE. This is the active principle of ipecacuan root, and has the great advantage over the powder, of not only being more active, but of being free from any disagreeable taste or nauseous odour. The dose, to excite full vomiting, is two grains; but on irritable stomachs half a grain often vomits. It is highly recommended by some French physicians as an emetic, and in small doses for all the diseases for which ipecacuan is employed. Mr. Boullay states, that he has procured an article from the roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds of the violet (viola odorata) very similar to emetine. M. Orfila, who gave it a trial on dogs, asserts that it is highly poisonous.

VERATRINE. This alcali is obtained from the seeds of the veratrum sabadilla, (Indian caustic barley). It is not soluble in cold water; and boiling water takes up only a very small proportion of it. It is soluble in æther and alcohol. It is said to

have proved beneficial in cases where it is necessary to excite. quickly a strong action of the bowels, particularly when the lower portions of the intestinal canal are overloaded with fæces. In such cases we should prefer either of the purgative clysters, page 103. The dose is from one-eighth to one-fourth of a grain. It is supposed to be similar to the alcali of the colchicum root and white hellebore. The solution of veratrine merits a trial, as a topical application for the itch.

BRUCINE.- This article is obtained from the spurious Angustura bark. It has also been detected, combined with strychnine, in the vomic nut. Its effects on the body being

similar to those of strychnine, it is recommended to be employed in those cases in which strychnine has proved beneficial. The dose is from one-sixth to one-fourth of a grain three or four times a day.

SOLAÑINE.-This alcali has been very lately discovered by M. Desfosses, an apothecary at Besançon, in two species of the solanum, viz. the garden nightshade (solanum nigrum), and the bitter sweet (solanum dulcamara). It exists in the leaves of the latter; but in the leaves of the former it has not been detected. It is most abundant in the berries of the nightshade. A very small quantity (one-eighth of a grain) produces great irritation in the throat. Majendie confesses he has not given it a trial in any disease; but he recommends a trial of it in those cases in which the extract of the garden nightshade, or that of the bitter-sweet, are indicated.

ATROPINE, DATURINE, AND HYOSCYAMINE. — Atropine was first obtained from the deadly nightshade (atropa belladonna) by M. Brandes, and in it he considers all the medicinal and deleterious properties of the plant to reside. It is so powerful a poison, that M. Brandes found the smell and taste of it to disorder his head and stomach. M. Brandes says, that he nas discovered a very similar alcali in the seeds of the stramonium, and the seeds of henbane; the former of which he has named daturine, and the latter hyoscyamine.

DELPHINE. This alcali was discovered by Messrs. Fe-. neulle and Lassaigne, in the seeds of the stavesacre. Not having been administered internally, the dose has not been ascertained. Orfila found six grains to be capable of poisoning a dog, and its virulence to be considerably increased by vinegar, which, by the ancient and modern physicians, has been considered a powerful corrector of all the vegetable poisons!!

PICROTOXINE. This substance, first discovered by Boullay, is the bitter and poisonous principle of the cocculus indicus, (the fruit of the menispermum cocculus). Majendie has ascertained, by a "fair philosophical experiment," that ten grains

soon produced violent convulsions in a dog, which terminated in death. It has not been employed in medicine. The cocculus indicus, a considerable quantity of which is annually imported into this country, is employed for intoxicating fish; and as they are, or have been purchased by brewers, it is probable they enter the composition of brewers' ale when malt is dear.

GENTIANINE. - This is the alcali of gentian root. It is powerfully bitter, and somewhat aromatic. Majendie has ascertained that it is not poisonous. It is recommended, in the dose of one grain two or three times a day, as a powerful stomachic. Majendie says, the tincture, prepared after the following form, ought to be used in preference to the alcali in

substance:

Take of Alcohol
Gentianine,

1 ounce.
5 grains.

Mix.

A small tea-spoonful to be taken two or three times a day in a wine-glass of water.

AUXILIARY REMEDIES.

THE remedies which are very generally employed as auxiliaries to the medicinal agents noticed in the preceding pages, are, in the treatment of many diseases, both acute and chronic, often of greater importance than the most active drugs. I shall briefly notice those the efficacy of which I have often witnessed in the course of my practice, and which I know to be entitled to the attention of the faculty and of my non-medical readers especially, viz.

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Air pump Vapour Bath,

The Hot and Cold Douch
Baths,

Warm and Cold Salt Water
Baths,
Cold Bath,
Oxygen.

OF ELECTRICITY. The electric fluid has been long employed, both as a principal remedy and as an auxiliary to internal medicines, in various diseases, both general and local; and it must be admitted that it has succeeded in the cure of many nervous affections and of local debility, after the most active medicines had failed. This subtle fluid has very opposite effects according to the manner in which it is applied. When a collec

tion of it is suddenly discharged through a part of the body, it produces what is termed a shock, and by this means a deepseated indolent viscus, on which internal remedies, and even the warm medicated baths, will have little, if any, effect, may be stimulated, and after the general health has been improved, it has often succeeded in increasing its energy, or bringing it properly into action. When the fluid is applied in sparks, it stimulates the nerves, blood-vessels, and absorbents of the part to which it is applied; and after the general health has been improved by regulating the stomach and bowels, this mode of application has succeeded in cases of deafness, loss of sight from nervous debility, and partial palsy. The sparks have also proved very beneficial in cases of chronic rheumatism, debility of the lower or upper extremities from rheumatism, gout, or accidents; of stiffness of joints, St. Vitus's dance, partial palsy, debility of the sphincter muscles of the rectum and bladder, of accumulations of serum from inactivity of absorbents or a languid circulation, and of indolent tumours. The sparks increase the temperature of the parts to which they are applied, and aggravate inflammation. When the electric fluid is applied in one regular stream, termed the aura, instead of increasing, it reduces the temperature of the parts to which it is applied, and allays nervous excitement; and hence it has been very successfully applied to local inflammation, particularly of the eyes, and to the forehead and temples in cases of nervous head-ache. It has also proved very beneficial in tic douloureux and a variety of local diseases arising from increased nervous or vascular action. OF GALVANISM. — Galvanism has lately been employed with great advantage in cases of inactivity of the liver and debility of the alimentary canal, particularly when occasioned by the influence of a tropical climate, or by an indulgence in spirituous or vinous liquors, or savoury dishes. This agent, in such cases, is an important auxiliary to tonic, aperient, and deobstruent medicines, in consequence of the fluid being passed through the viscera, which are chiefly affected, and on the sluggish state of which the disordered state of the system is often dependent. Mr. la Beaume of London, who has paid particular attention to this philosophical remedy, has published a popular treatise on it, in which he has given many cases of indigestion, indolent affections of the liver and intestines, and

This effect is no doubt produced by the action of the electric fluid on the matter of perspiration, by diminishing the cohesion of its particles, and thereby hastening evaporation. It is a curious fact, that the electric fluid, applied in this manner to the surface of warm water, greatly expedites evaporation, and for this purpose it may be employed in making extracts of vegetables, the virtues of which are diminished by long boiling.

paralytic affections in which it proved successful, after blue pill and the usual remedies, under the direction of the most eminent practitioners, had failed.

OF SHAMPOOING.-The operation of Shampooing, when the surface of the body is exposed to the action of a warm vapour, is a powerful remedy for rheumatism, muscular debility or rigidity, stiffness of joints and palsy, particularly after the general system has been improved by correcting the alimentary canal, and removing visceral obstruction. Mr. Mahomed, of Brighton, who was certainly the first person who gave this practice publicity in this country, has lately published a treatise on it, with numerous cases of stiff joints, palsy, &c. &c., to illustrate its very beneficial effects in a great variety of local diseases.

OF THE CHLORINE BATHS. The Chlorine Water Bath and the Chlorine Vapour Bath have been much recommended by Dr. Scott, an eminent physician of Bombay; by Mr. Green, an experienced surgeon of London, and other respectable practitioners, in cases of obstructions of the liver, affections of the stomach, and constipation from debility. If the beneficial effects of these remedies be produced by an absorption of chlorine, it must be admitted that it is more likely to do mischief to the brain, lungs, or any tender part of the body, than good to a diseased viscus. If, again, the disease of the viscus be in a state of excitement, or advances to suppuration or ulceration, chlorine introduced into the system may be productive of serious mischief. The effects of these remedies on the head, lungs, and intestines, should at any rate be carefully watched.

VAPOUR BATHS. The medicated and simple vapourbaths are unquestionably powerful auxiliaries to medicine in cases of fever attended with a dry skin; of inflammation of the lungs, the stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, bladder, or any other internal part of the chest or abdomen; in chronic and acute rheumatism; in irregular gout and a variety of diseases of the skin, in which it is desirable to produce a determination of blood and nervous energy to the surface of the body. Employed on the first symptom of catarrh, irritation in the chest or bowels, by promoting the secretion of the skin, and equalizing the circulation throughout the body, a simple vapour bath is capable of preventing most serious diseases.

THE SULPHUREOUS VAPOUR BATH has been very successfully employed in cases of itch; and when the disease has spread over the surface of the body, it is a more proper remedy than the sulphur or any other ointment. consequence of the sulphur being applied to the whole surface of

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