Chapter II: BLEACHING of =Linen=:--Linen may be bleached in a similar way to (24)

=Decoction of Guaiac'um.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GUAIAC'I (Ph. E.), D. G. COMPOSITUM (Ph. D. 1826), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. E.) Guaiacum shavings, 3 oz.; raisins (chopped), 2 oz.; water, 8 pints; simmer down to 5 pints, adding towards the end, sassafras (rasped or sliced), and liquorice root (bruised), of each 1 oz.

2. (Ph. D.) Guaiacum wood, 3 oz.; sassafras, 10 dr.; liquorice root, 2-1/2 oz.; water, 10 pints, as the last; to strain 5 pints.

_Obs._ The above form the once celebrated 'Decoction of the Woods,'--_Dose._ A teacupful 3 or 4 times daily, or oftener, in chronic rheumatism, cutaneous diseases, after a course of mercury, &c. Although its virtues are of a very dubious kind, there is no doubt that it frequently does good, especially when persevered in with a sudorific regimen.

=Decoction of Hairy Horehound.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM BALLOTÆ LANATÆ, L. _Prep._ (Rehmann.) Siberian or woolly horehound (Ballota), 1-1/2 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to one half.--_Dose._ A tumblerful, or more, twice a day; in rheumatic, gouty, and dropsical affections, especially the latter. See DECOCTION OF HOREHOUND.

=Decoction of Harts'horn.= See MIXTURES.

=Decoction of Hel'lebore.= 1. (DECOCTION OF BLACK HELLEBORE; DECOCTUM HELLEBORI NIGRI, L.) _Prep._ 1. (A. T. Thomson.) Black hellebore root, 2 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil 15 minutes.--_Dose_, 1 fl. oz., every 4 hours; in dropsy, worms, chronic skin diseases, &c., occurring in non-irritable habits.

2. (DECOCTION OF WHITE HELLEBORE; DECOCTUM VERATRI, Ph. L. & D.) _Prep._ (Ph. L. 1836.) White hellebore (bruised), 10 dr.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint, and when cold, add of rectified spirit, 3 fl. oz. Used as a lotion, in itch, lepra, psoriasis, scald-head, &c.; and to destroy pediculi. In most cases it should be diluted with water, and should never be applied to the unsound skin.

=Decoction of Holly Leaves.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ILICIS. (Foy.) Holly leaves, 1/2 oz.; water, 16 oz.; boil to 12 oz. For three doses.

=Decoction of Horehound.= _Syn._ COMPOUND DECOCTION OF HOREHOUND; DECOCTUM MARUBII COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ (Dr R. E. Griffith.) Dried horehound (_Marrubium vulgare_), 1 oz.; liquorice root and flax seed (bruised), of each 1/2 oz.; boiling water, 1-1/2 pint; macerate for 3 or 4 hours (boil a minute), and strain. An excellent demulcent and pectoral.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz., as required, in coughs, &c.

=Decoction of Horse-chest'nut Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM HIPPOCASTANEI, L. _Prep._ (Dr Wood.) Horse-chestnut bark (coarsely powdered), 10 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil 10 minutes, and strain. Used for decoction of cinchona bark. A little liquorice root is frequently added. (See _below_.)

=Decoction of Horse-chest'nut Bark (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM HIPPOCASTANEI COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph[oe]bus.) Horse-chestnut bark, 1-1/2 oz.; water, 18 fl. oz.; boil to one half, strain, and when quite cold, add of sulphuric ether, 1 to 2 dr.; syrup of orange peel, 1 oz. To be used during the intermission of an ague in wine-glassfuls at a time.

2. (Spielman.) Horse-chestnut bark and willow bark, of each 1/2 oz.; calamus aromaticus and root of water avens, of each 2 dr.; water, 16 fl. oz.; boil to one half. As the last.

=Decoction of Iceland Moss.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF LIVERWORT; DECOCTUM CETRARIÆ (Ph. L.); D. LICHENIS ISLANDICI (Ph. D.); D. LICHENIS (Ph. L. 1824.) _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Liverwort (Iceland moss), 5 dr.; wecm 1-1/2; pint; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Ph. D.) Iceland moss, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel, and strain. Nutritious, demulcent, pectoral, and tonic.--_Dose_, 1 to 4 fl. oz., every 3 or 4 hours; in chronic affections of the chest and stomach, especially pulmonary consumption, old coughs, dyspepsia, chronic diarrh[oe]a, and dysentery. It may be flavoured and sweetened; milk is frequently added to it. The bitter matter may be removed by steeping the moss for some time in pretty warm water, or in cold water, to which a very little carbonate of potash has been added. Without this is done, it is intensely bitter and nauseous.

=Decoction of Indian Ba'el.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF ÆGLE MARMELOS; DECOCTUM BAEL, L. From the dried unripe fruit of _Ægle marmelos_ (Indian bael), 2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil to one third, and strain.--_Dose_, 2 fl. oz. two or three times a day; in dysentery, diarrh[oe]a, and English cholera.

=Decoction of Indian Pink.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SPIGELIÆ, L. _Prep._ Indian pink root, 5 dr; water, 1 pint; boil 5 minutes; add senna, 4 dr.; digest 15 minutes, strain and add of manna, 1 oz.--_Dose._ A small teacupful, 3 times a day, for an adult; 1/2 oz. to 1 oz., or less, for children; as an anthelmintic purge.

=Decoction of Indian Sarsaparil'la.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM HEMEDES'MI, L. _Prep._ (Pereira.) Root of Indian sarsaparilla (_Hemedesmus Indicus_), 2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint. Diuretic, alterative, and tonic.--_Dose._ By wine-glassfuls, as decoction of sarsaparilla.

=Decoction of I''rish Moss.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CHON'DRI. _Prep._ (Pereira.) Carrageen or Irish moss, 1 oz.; macerate in lukewarm water for 10 minutes, take it out and drain it, and then boil it in water (or milk), 3 pints, for 15 minutes, and strain through linen.

_Obs._ If twice the above weight of moss is employed, a mucilage (_mucilago chondri_) is produced, which may be flavoured with lemon juice, spices, &c., and forms a most nutritious article of spoon diet. It is taken in the same cases as decoction of Iceland moss; and is frequently employed in cookery, as a substitute for animal jelly, in the preparation of blancmanges, soups, &c.

=Decoction of I''singlass.= See LISBON DIET DRINK.

=Decoction of Jamaica Dogwood.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CORNUS FLORIDÆ. (U. S. Ph.) Bark of Jamaica dogwood, 1 oz.; water, 16 oz. o.m.; boil 10 minutes and strain, and make up to 1 pint o.m. As a substitute for cinchona, but is more astringent.

=Decoction of Jujubes.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM JUJUBARUM. Boil 2 oz. of jujubes (stoned), for an hour, in a sufficient quantity of water to produce 2 pints of decoction.

=Decoction of Ju'niper Berries (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM JUNIPERI COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ (St. B. Hosp.) Juniper berries, 2 oz.; cream of tartar, 3 dr.; water, 4 pints; boil to a quart, strain, and add compound spirit of juniper, 2 fl. oz. Diuretic.--_Dose_, 2 or 3 wine-glassfuls, 3 times a day, warm.

=Decoction of Linseed (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM LI'NI COMPOSITUM (Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. D.) Linseed, 1 oz.; liquorice root (bruised), 1/2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel, and strain whilst hot. Emollient and demulcent.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful _ad libitum_; in gonorrh[oe]a, dysentery, pulmonary affections, &c. It may be flavoured with lemon peel, and sweetened. See INFUSIONS.

=Decoction of Liquorice.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GLYCYRRHIZÆ, L. _Prep._ (Ph. D. 1826.) Liquorice root (sliced), 1-1/2 oz.; water, 16 fl. oz.; boil 10 minutes and strain. A mild demulcent; it is taken either alone, by wine-glassfuls, or is used as a vehicle for more active remedies.

=Decoction, Lisbon.= See LISBON DIET DRINK.

=Decoction of Liv'erwort.= See DECOCTION OF ICELAND MOSS.

=Decoction of Log'wood.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM HÆMATOXYLI (Ph. L. E. & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Logwood chips, 10 dr.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Ph. E.) Logwood, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil to 10 fl. oz., adding towards the last, cinnamon (in powder), 1 dr.

3. (Ph. D.) Logwood, 1 oz.; water, 1/2 pint. Astringent and tonic.--_Dose_, 1 table-spoonful to a wine-glassful; in diarrh[oe]a, as required.

4. (Ph. B.) Logwood in chips, 1 oz.; cinnamon in coarse powder, 60 gr.; distilled water, 1 pint. Boil for 10 minutes, and strain to make up 1 pint.

=Decoction of Mad'der.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM RUBIÆ, D. R. TINCTORIÆ, L. _Prep._ 1. (Dewees.) Powdered madder, 1 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint; simmer for 15 minutes, and add of cloves (bruised), 1 dr.; when cold, strain.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful, 2 or 3 times daily; in amenorrh[oe]a, chlorosis, &c.; or every 3 hours, a short time previous to the expected menstrual discharge.

2. (W. Cooley.) To the last add ammonio-citrate of iron, 3 dr.

3. (St. Marie.) Powdered madder, 1/2 oz.; hops, 1 dr.; English walnut leaves, 3 dr.; water, 1 quart; boil to 1-1/2 pint, strain, and when cold, add of tincture of tartrate of iron, 1 dr.--_Dose_, 2 fl. oz., night and morning; in scrofula, &c.

=Decoction of Mal'lows.= _Syn._ COMMON DECOCTION; DECOCTUM COM'MUNE, D. PRO ENEMA'TE (Ph. L. 1787), D. MALVÆ COMPOSITUM (Ph. L. 1836), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L. 1836.) Common mallows (dried), 1 oz.; chamomile flowers (dried), 1/2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil 15 minutes, and strain. Used chiefly for fomentations and enemas.

=Decoction of Malt.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM BI'NÆ, D. BYNES, D. MALTI, L. _Prep._ (Swediaur.) Ground malt, 3 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint, and strain. An oz. of syrup of lemons, or of saffron, may be added to the cold decoction; or, a little liquorice root, with the malt. Demulcent and laxative. A cupful _ad libitum_. Infusion of malt (sweet wort) is a more convenient and elegant preparation.

=Decoction of Marshmal'low.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ALTHÆ'Æ (Ph. D. 1826 and Ph. E. 1813), L. _Prep._ (Ph. D. 1826.) Dried root and herb of marshmallow, 4 oz.; raisins (stoned), 2 oz.; water, 7 pints (wine measure); boil down to 5 pints, strain, allow it to deposit the sediment and decant the clear liquid. Demulcent.--_Dose._ A cupful _ad libitum_, in coughs, colds, calculous affections, and other diseases of the urinary organs. See MIXTURES.

=Decoction of Matico.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM MATICO'NIS, L. _Prep._ (Dr Jeffreys.) Matico leaves, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil 12 minutes, and strain. Astringent.--_Dose_, 1 fl. oz., 2 or 3 times a day; in hæmorrhagic and other discharges.

=Decoction, Mercu''rial.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM HYDRARGYRI, D. MERCURIALE, L. _Prep._ 1. Quicksilver, 4 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil in a glass or earthen vessel for an hour, adding water to replace that lost by evaporation.--_Dose._ A teacupful.

2. Mercurial pill, 1 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful. Both were formerly taken for worms and the itch.

3. Corrosive sublimate, 1 gr.; (dissolved in) spirit of wine, 30 drops; extract of sarsaparilla, 3 dr.; decoction of sarsaparilla, 8 fl. oz.; mix.--_Dose._ One large table-spoonful, 3 times a day; in syphilis and obstinate skin diseases.

=Decoction of Mezere'on.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM MEZEREI (Ph. E. and Ph. D. 1826), L. _Prep._ (Ph. E.) Root-bark of mezereon, 2 dr.; liquorice root, 4 dr.; water, 1 quart; simmer to 1-1/2 pint, and strain. Stimulant and sudorific.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful, or more, three or four times a day; in chronic rheumatism, scrofula, secondary syphilis, lepra, and some other cutaneous affections. Much boiling injures the virtues of mezereon. (See _below_.)

=Decoction of Mezere'on (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM MEZEREI COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ (Van Mons.) Mezereon, 2 dr.; bitter sweet, 4 dr.; burdock, 2 oz.; water, 2 quarts; boil to 3 pints, add of liquorice root, 2 dr., and strain. As the last, and in obstinate diseases of the skin.

=Decoction of Mugwort.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ARTEMISIÆ VULGARIS. Mugwort root, 1 oz.; water, 24 oz. Boil for half an hour. In epilepsy.

=Decoction of Myrrh.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM MYRRHÆ. (Ph. D.) Myrrh, 2 dr.; water, 8-1/2 oz.; triturate the myrrh with the water gradually added; then boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel, and strain.

=Decoction, Narcotic.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ANODYNUM, D. NARCOTICUM, L. _Prep._ (Hosp. Form.) Common nightshade (dried), 1 oz.; poppy heads, 3 in no.; water, 1 pint; boil 10 minutes, and strain. As an anodyne fomentation, used warm.

=Decoction of Ni'tre.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM NITROSUM, D. NITRATUM, D. POTASSÆ NITRATIS, L. _Prep._ 1. Nitre, 1/2 oz.; white sugar, 2 oz.; cochineal, 20 gr.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil a few minutes, and strain.

2. (Hosp. Form.) Barley-water, 1 pint; nitre, 5 dr.; dissolve. Diuretic, diaphoretic, and refrigerant. A wine-glassful, frequently; in gonorrh[oe]a, sore throat, acute rheumatism, scurvy, &c.

=Decoction of Oak Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM QUERCÛS (Ph. L. E. & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L. & E.) Oak bark (bruised), 10 dr.; water, 1 quart; boil down to a pint, and strain.

2. (Ph. D.) Oak bark, 1-1/2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil 10 minutes, and strain. Astringent. Used as a gargle in ulcerated sore throat, relaxation of the uvula, &c., and as a wash, and as an injection in piles, leucorrh[oe]a, hæmorrhages, prolapsus ani, &c.

3. (Ph. B.) Oak bark bruised, 1-1/2 oz.; distilled water, 1 pint; boil for 10 minutes, and strain.

=Decoction of Oats.= _Syn._ WATER GRUEL; DECOCTUM AVENÆ, L. _Prep._ 1. (Cullen.) Oatmeal, 1 oz.; water, 3 quarts; boil to a quart, strain, and when cold, decant the clear liquid from the sediment.

2. (A. T. Thomson.) Washed groats, 4 oz.; water, 4 pints; boil to a quart. Nutritious and demulcent. Taken _ad libitum_, to promote the action of purgatives, and as an enema, either alone, or as a vehicle for more active substances. It is too thin for food. See GRUEL.

=Decoction of Parei'ra.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM PAREIRÆ (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) _Pareira brava_ root (sliced), 10 dr.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Sir B. Brodie.) Pareira, 4 dr.; water, 3 pints; boil to a pint, as last. The above are given in gonorrh[oe]a, leucorrh[oe]a, and chronic inflammation of the bladder.--_Dose._ Of the first, 1/2 to 1 wine-glassful, 3 or 4 times a day; of the second, about twice that quantity, or more. It is commonly combined with some tincture of hyoscyamus; and when the triple phosphates are present in the urine, dilute hydrochloric or nitric acid may be added. See PAREIRA.

=Decoction, Pec'toral.= See DECOCTION OF BARLEY.

=Decoction of Pel'litory.= DECOCTUM PYRE''THRI, L. _Prep._ (Guy's Hosp.) Pellitory root, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Used as a gastric stimulant, and as a gargle in the relaxation of the uvula.

=Decoction of Pome'granate.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GRANA'TI (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L.) Pomegranate rind (fruit-bark), 2 oz.; distilled water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Astringent. Used as a gargle and injection, in sore throat, leucorrh[oe]a, &c.; and internally, in diarrh[oe]a, dysentery, &c.--_Dose_, 1 fl. oz., or more.

=Decoction of Pomegranate Root.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GRANATI RADICIS (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Root-bark of pomegranate (sliced), 2 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Collier.) Bark of the root, 2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil to one half. This is the common form used in India.

_Dose, &c._ A wine-glassful, half-hourly, until the whole is taken, a light diet and a dose of castor oil having been taken the day previously. In tapeworm, Dr Collier recommends the whole of the last preparation to be given at 2 doses, at the interval of 2 hours. It purges, and in 5 or 6 hours frequently expels the worm; if this does not take place, it should be persevered in. "Look for the head of the tænia (tapeworm); for if that is not expelled, you have done nothing." (Collier.) Oil of turpentine and kousso are now more frequently given in tænia in this country.

=Decoction of Poppies.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF POPPY-HEADS, FOMENTATION OF P.-H.; DECOCTUM PAPAVERIS (Ph. L. E. & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Poppy-heads (bruised), 4 oz.; water, 2 quarts; boil for 15 minutes, and strain.

2. (Ph. E. & D.) As the last, but using only 3 pints of water. Used as an emollient fomentation, in painful swellings, excoriations, &c. The addition of a 1/4 pint of vinegar is said to promote its efficacy.

3. (Ph. B.) Poppy-heads bruised, 2 oz.; distilled water, 1-1/2 pint. Boil for 10 minutes and strain. The product should measure a pint.

=Decoction of Quas'sia.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM QUASSIÆ, L. _Prep._ From quassia chips (small). 1 dr.; water, 1-1/4 pint; boil to a pint, and add syrup of orange peel, 2 oz.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful, occasionally, as a stomachic tonic. See INFUSIONS.

=Decoction of Quince.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF QUINCE SEED, MUCILAGE OF Q. S.; DECOCTUM CYDONII (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ From quince seeds, 2 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil for 10 minutes, and strain. Used as an emollient and sheathing application to abraded or wounded surfaces, as cracked lip, nipples, &c.; and to the skin in erysipelas, to painful hæmorrhoidal tumours, and the like. Prepared with a little less water, it is used by the hairdresser as 'bandoline' or 'fixateur.'

=Decoction of Red Gum.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GUMMI RUBRI (Mr Squire.) Red gum, 1 oz.; water, 2 pints; boil 10 minutes, and strain.

=Decoction of Rice.= _Syn._ RICE WATER, RICE DRINK; DECOCTUM ORY'ZÆ, L. _Prep._ RICE, 2 oz.; water, 1 quart; boil to one half, and strain. Demulcent. A good drink in fevers, coughs, &c., either alone or sweetened and flavoured with a little lemon peel.

=Decoction of Sarsaparil'la.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SAR'ZÆ (Ph. L. & E.), D. SARSAPARILLÆ (Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Sarsaparilla (sliced), 5 oz.; water, 2 quarts; boil to a quart, and strain.

2. (Ph. E.) Sarsaparilla, 5 oz.; boiling distilled water, 4 pints; macerate for 2 hours, in a vessel lightly covered, and placed in a warm situation; then take out the root, bruise it, return it again to the liquor, boil down to a quart, and strain.

3. (Ph. D.) Sarsaparilla, 2 oz.; boiling water, 1-1/2 pint; digest an hour, boil 10 minutes, cool, and strain.

4. (Ph. B.) Digest 2-1/2 _oz._ of Jamaica sarsaparilla cut transversely in 1-1/2 pint of boiling water for an hour, boil for 10 minutes, cool, and strain. Make up to one pint.

_Obs._ The medicinal virtues of sarsaparilla root reside wholly in the bark, or cortical portion; it is therefore quite unnecessary to bruise it, as directed in the Ph. E. By those houses which do largely in decoction of sarsaparilla, the root is seldom split or cut; the bundles in which it is made up being simply untied and spread open, to allow of the free exposure of every part to the solvent action of the water. By this plan the whole of the soluble portion of the bark is extracted, whilst the feculent matter that pervades the wood is only partially dissolved out. According to Soubeiran, a mere infusion is preferable. The dose is a teacupful to half a pint, 3 or 4 times a day.

An extemporaneous decoction of sarsaparilla is made by dissolving 3/4 oz. of the simplest extract in 1 pint of hot water. See SARSAPARILLA, and _below_.

=Decoction of Sarsaparilla (Concentrated).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SARZÆ CONCENTRATUM, L. _Prep._ 1. (Wholesale.) Sarsaparilla (Jamaica) 10-1/2 lbs., is placed in a large and well-cleaned copper boiler, and enough boiling water added to cover it; it is then left to macerate, without boiling, for 3 or 4 hours, after which it is boiled for about an hour, and the clear liquor drawn off into another clean copper pan; the root (after it has well drained) is then washed or 'sparged'[255] with boiling water, until the latter runs off scarcely coloured; the washings are added to the decoction, and the whole evaporated as quickly as possible to 6-1/2 pints; it is then set to cool, and rectified spirit of wine, 1-1/2 pint, further added; after agitation, the whole is set aside in a well-corked bottle, in a cool place, for a week. In a few days it is usually found as clear and brilliant as brandy, with very little sediment, and will keep for any length of time uninjured. Some manufacturers, instead of washing the root, give it a second and third water, boiling it each time and evaporating the mixed liquors.

[Footnote 255: For an explanation of the operation of 'sparging' see page 356.]

2. (Extemporaneous.) Extract of sarsaparilla, 6-1/2 oz.; water, 12 fl. oz.; dissolve, add rectified spirit, 2-1/2 fl. oz., and water, q. s. to make the whole exactly measure a pint.

_Obs._ 1 drachm of this decoction, mixed with 7 drachms of water, forms a similar preparation to the Decoctum Sarzæ of the Ph. L., and is now very frequently substituted for it in dispensing. See SARSAPARILLA, EXTRACTS, and _below_.

=Decoction of Sarsaparilla (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SARZÆ COMPOSITUM (Ph. L. & E.), D. SARSAPARILLÆ C. (Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Decoction of sarsaparilla (boiling), 4 pints; sassafras chips, guaiacum wood (rasped), and fresh liquorice root (bruised), of each 10 dr.; mezereon (root-bark), 3 dr.; boil for 15 minutes, and strain.

2. (Ph. E.) As the last, but using 4 dr. of mezereon.

3. (Ph. D.) Sarsaparilla (sliced), 2 oz., sassafras, guaiacum turnings, and liquorice root (bruised), of each 2 dr.; mezereon root-bark, 1 dr.; boiling water, 1-1/2 pint; digest for an hour, then boil for 10 minutes, cool, and strain.

4. (Extemporaneous.) Compound extract of sarsaparilla, 7-1/2 dr.; boiling water, 1 pint; dissolve.

5. (Ph. B.) Jamaica sarsaparilla, cut transversely, 2-1/2 oz.; sassafras, guaiacum turnings, bruised liquorice root, of each 1/4 oz., mezereon root bark 60 grains; digest them with 1-1/2 pint of boiling water in a covered vessel for an hour, then boil for 10 minutes, cool, and strain. Make up to 1 pint.

_Obs._ This decoction is an imitation of the once justly celebrated 'Lisbon Diet Drink.' It is an alterative and diaphoretic.--_Dose._ A teacupful, or more, 3 or 4 times a day, either along with, or after, a mercurial course; and in syphilis, scurvy, scrofula, chronic rheumatism, lepra, psoriasis, and several other skin diseases, and especially in cachexia, or general bad habit of body. During its use the skin should be kept warm. See SARSAPARILLA and _below_.

=Decoction of Sarsaparilla (Concentrated Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SARZÆ COMPOSITUM CONCENTRATUM, D. SARSAPARILLÆ C. C., L. There is a very considerable trade done in this article, in consequence of compound decoction of sarsaparilla being taken in large doses, both alone and in combination with other remedies, and the pharmacop[oe]ial preparation spoiling if kept longer than about 12 hours, in warm weather. Like the concentrated simple decoction, it is said to be of 8 times the usual strength, so that when mixed with 7 times its weight of water, it forms a similar preparation to the Decoctum Sarzæ Compositum,--Ph. L., for which it is very generally substituted in dispensing.

_Prep._ 1. (Wholesale.) Sarsaparilla (red Jamaica), 96 lbs.; mezereon root (not root-bark), 9 lbs.; liquorice root (bruised), 16 lbs. The mezereon and liquorice are first laid (loosely) on the bottom of a clean copper pan, and the bundles of sarsaparilla (untied and loosened) packed over them, in horizontal layers, alternately at right angles with each other. Three or four boards, with as many iron 1/2-cwt. weights, are next placed on the top of the whole. Water is now run in, to about ten inches higher than the ingredients, and heat is applied until ebullition commences. The materials are now allowed to macerate, without boiling, for 3 or 4 hours, after which the liquor is gently boiled for about an hour, care being taken to add fresh water from time to time, so as to keep the whole well covered. The decoction is next run off, and set evaporating as quickly as possible. The ingredients are then washed with successive portions of boiling water, by allowing it to descend from a species of shower-bath, after the manner of 'sparging,' described under BREWING.[256] This is repeated until the water runs off nearly colourless, the smallest quantity being employed that will effect the object in view. The whole of the liquid is now evaporated without delay, until reduced to 8-1/4 galls., when, after cooling, 2 dr. of essential oil of sassafras, dissolved in 2 galls. of rectified spirit of wine, are added, and afterwards 1 pint of essence of guaiacum. The liquid is then placed in a suitably sized barrel, set upon its head, and fitted with a small cock (not placed too near the bottom), and allowed to repose for a week, by which time it becomes clear and brilliant, and fit for sale. This is the form adopted by the large metropolitan drug-houses most celebrated for this preparation. The product that may be drawn off fit for sale is something over 10 galls. The residuum, forming the 'bottoms,' consists chiefly of fecula. The latter is well stirred up with 3 or 4 galls. of cold water, and allowed to settle. The clear decanted 'washings' are used as water or liquor in making the next batch of decoction.

[Footnote 256: See page 356.]

2. (Extemporaneous.) Compound extract of sarsaparilla, 7-1/2 oz.; boiling water, 12 fl. oz.; dissolve, then add of rectified spirit of wine, 2-1/2 fl. oz.; mix well, and further add of water, q. s. to make the whole measure a pint.

_Obs._ To conduct this process successfully, several large copper pans are required; one of which (to boil the ingredients in) must be capable of containing from 140 to 150 gallons at the least, and the others must be sufficiently large to receive the liquors as they are drawn off. Those for the evaporation should be very shallow, in order that it may proceed rapidly; and the whole should be heated by steam. An excellent plan is to employ large wooden vats, and to apply the heat by means of pipes laid along the bottom, and supplied with high-pressure steam. This method is less expensive than the use of double steam pans, as above. When essence of guaiacum is not used, 24 lbs. of guaiacum shavings, from which the dust has been sifted, are boiled with the other ingredients, instead. Those desirous of using the proportions of the ingredients ordered by the Colleges may do so by taking eight times the given quantities, and proceeding as above. The following are special preparations:--

FELTZ'S DECOCTION OF SARSAPARILLA. _Syn._ AP'OZEM OF FELTZ; DECOCTUM SARZÆ CUM ICHTHYOCOL'LA, L.; PTISANE DE FELTZ, Fr. _Prep._ From sarsaparilla (sliced), 3 oz.; isinglass and crude antimony (in powder), of each 1/2 oz.; water 5 pints; boil to one half, and strain. Used in skin diseases.

JAUPERAND'S DECOCTION OF SARSAPARILLA. _Syn._ DECOCTUM SARZÆ CUM RADICE CHINÂ, L.; PTISANE DE JAUPERAND, Fr. _Prep._ (Bories.) Sarsaparilla and China root, of each 2 oz.; senna and sassafras chips, of each 1/2 oz.; carbonate of potassa, 1 dr.; water, 2 galls.; simmer, gently, for several hours, and strain 12 pints; when cold, decant the clear.--_Dose_, 2 fl. oz., two or three times daily; in scrofula, &c.

VINACHE'S DECOCTION OF SARSAPARILLA. _Syn._ DECOCTUM SARZÆ CUM SENNÂ, L.; PTISANE DE VINACHE, Fr. _Prep._ (Foy.) Sarsaparilla, China wood, and guaiacum wood, of each 1-1/2 oz.; crude antimony (tied in a rag), 2 oz.; water, 6 pints; macerate for 12 hours (7 in hot weather), boil to one half, add sassafras chips and senna, of each 1/2 oz., infuse 1 hour longer, and strain; when cold, decant the clear. Recommended in scrofula, secondary syphilis, and various cutaneous affections.

ZITTMANN'S DECOCTION OF SARSAPARILLA. _Syn._ DECOCTUM ZITTMANNI, L.; PTISANE DE ZITTMANN, Fr. _Prep._ 1. (STRONGER DECOCTION; D. Z. FORTE, Ph. Bor. 1847.) Sarsaparilla, 12 oz.; water, 72 lbs. (say 5-3/4 galls.); digest 24 hours, then add (suspended in a bag), white sugar and alum, of each 6 dr.; calomel, 4 dr.; cinnabar, 1 dr.; boil to 24 lbs., adding towards the end of the process, senna, 3 oz.; liquorice root, 1-1/2 oz.; aniseed and fennel seed, of each 1/2 oz.; finally strain, with pressure and after some time decant the clear portion. The formula in the 'Ph. Suec.' 1845 is similar; that in the 'Hamburg Codex' directs only 24 lbs. of water to be used, and the whole to be reduced to 16 lbs.

2. (WEAKER DECOCTION; D. Z. TENUE.--Ph. Bor. 1847.) Add to the residuum (waste) of the last preparation sarsaparilla, 6 oz.; water, 72 lbs. (say, 5-3/4 galls.); boil to 24 lbs.; adding towards the end of the process, lemon peel, cinnamon bark, liquorice root, and cardamoms (all bruised), of each 3 dr.; press, strain, &c., as before. In the 'Ph. Suec.' 1845 double the above weights of lemon peel and liquorice root are ordered, and in the 'Hamburg Codex' (1845) 24 lbs. of water only are ordered, and the whole is to be boiled down to 16 lbs.

_Obs._ Both the above are used in Germany and on the Continent generally, in the same cases as those in which compound decoction of sarsaparilla is administered in England. They may be drunk almost _ad libitum_. A trace of mercury may be detected in the stronger decoction, when properly prepared. See SARSAPARILLA.

=Decoction of Sen'ega Root.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF AMERICAN SNAKE ROOT, D. OF RATTLESNAKE ROOT; DECOCTUM POLYGALÆ, D. SENEGÆ (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L.) Senega or seneka root, 10 dr.; water, 1 quart; boil to a pint, and strain.--_Dose_, 1/2 to 2 wine-glassfuls three or four times daily; in humoral asthma, chronic cough, dropsy, &c. It is stimulant, expectorant, and diuretic, and, in large doses, emetic and cathartic. It is frequently conjoined with ammonia. It is the antidote employed by the Senega Indians against the bite of the rattlesnake. (Dr Tennant.)

=Decoction of Simaru'ba Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SIMARU'BÆ, L. _Prep._ (Dr Wright.) Simaruba bark, 2 dr.; water, 24 fl. oz.; boil to one half, and strain. Tonic.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz.; in chronic dysentery and diarrh[oe]a.

=Decoction of Squills (Compound).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SCILLÆ COMPOSITUM, L. _Prep._ (Ph. U. S. 1841.) Squills, 3 dr.; juniper berries, 4 oz.; snake root, 3 oz.; water, 4 lbs.; boil to one half, strain, and add of sweet spirits of nitre, 4 fl. oz. In chronic coughs and other chest affections, unaccompanied with active inflammatory symptoms.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 fl. oz., twice or thrice daily.

=Decoction of Starch.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM AM'YLI (Ph. L.), MUCILA'GO AM'YLI (Ph. E. & D.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L. & E.) Starch, 1/2 oz.; add, gradually, water, 1 pint, and boil for a short time. The Dublin preparation is nearly twice as strong. Used as an enema in dysentery, diarrh[oe]a, and excoriations of the rectum.

=Decoction, Sudorif'ic.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SUDORIF'ICUM, L. The old name of the compound decoctions of sarsaparilla and guaiacum.

=Decoction of Su'et.= _Syn._ ARTIFICIAL GOAT'S MILK; DECOCTUM SE'VI, L. _Prep._ Suet, 1 oz.; tie it loosely in a piece of muslin and simmer it in cow's milk, 1-1/4 pint; adding towards the last, white sugar, 1/2 oz. In scrofulous emaciation and phthisis; taken _ad libitum_.

=Decoction of Tam'arinds.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM TAMARIND'ORUM, L. _Prep._ Tamarinds, 1-1/2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 5 minutes, and strain. A pleasant drink in fevers, asthma, chronic coughs, &c.

=Decoction of Tamarinds and Sen'na.= _Syn._ DEC. TAMARINDORUM CUM SENNÂ (Ph. E. 1744), L. _Prep._ Tamarinds, 6 dr.; cream of tartar, 2 dr.; water, 1-1/2; pint; boil in a glazed earthen vessel until reduced to 16 oz.; then infuse therein for 12 hours, senna, 4 dr.; strain, and add of syrup of violets, 1 oz. A gentle aperient.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful, or more.

=Decoction of Tar.= _Syn._ TAR WATER; DECOCTUM PI'CIS LIQ'UIDÆ, L. _Prep._ Tar, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2; pint; boil to 1 pint.--_Dose._ A pint or more daily; in chronic catarrh; and as a wash in chronic skin diseases, especially those of the head, in children.

=Decoction, Ton'ic.= _Syn._ STRENGTHENING DECOCTION; DECOCTUM ROBORANS, L. _Prep._ 1. Peruvian bark (bruised), 1/2 oz.; Virginian snake root, 2 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil to one half, strain whilst hot, and add, spirit of cinnamon, 1-1/2 fl. oz.; diluted sulphuric acid, 1-1/2 dr.--_Dose_, 2 oz. two or three times a day.

2. Decoction of bark, 5 oz.; tincture of bark, 6 dr.; aromatic confection, 1/2 dr.; salvolatile, 1 dr.--_Dose_, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls night and morning; especially in diarrh[oe]a.

=Decoction of Tor'mentil.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM TORMENTIL'LÆ (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L.) Tormentil root (bruised), 2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Astringent.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz., in chronic diarrh[oe]a, &c.

=Decoction of Tur'meric.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CURCU'MÆ, L. _Prep._ From turmeric root (in powder), 1-1/2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 5 minutes, and strain. A mild aromatic stimulant and stomachic.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful _ad libitum_. It is principally used as a test for alkalies, which turn it brown. Unsized paper dipped into it and dried forms the turmeric test-paper of the chemist.

=Decoction of Verbe'na.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM VERBE'NÆ, L. From verbena (vervain), 2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to 1 pint, and strain.

_Obs._ The _Verbena officinalis_ was formerly highly recommended by Etmuller, Hartman, De Haën, Morley, and others, in scrofula, cephalalgia, &c., but afterwards fell into neglect. More recently, a decoction of the plant has been highly extolled by Boshanov and others as an anti-febrile.

=Decoction, Vul'nerary.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM VULNERA''RIUM, L. _Prep._ From ground ivy and broad-leaved plantain, of each 1/2 oz.; water, 3 pints; boil to 1 quart, strain, and add sugar, 1 oz. A popular pectoral and tonic, especially in old coughs; also to heal wounds.--_Dose_, 1/2 a teacupful or more twice a day.

=Decoction of Wal'nut Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM JUGLAND'IS, L. _Prep._ (Ph. Gen.) Green bark of walnuts, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 15 minutes, and strain. As an anti-syphilitic. Before the general introduction of sarsaparilla it was much esteemed in most cases in which that drug is now taken.--_Dose, &c._ The same as those of comp. dec. of sarsaparilla. Pearson says that "when the putamen (green rind) of the walnut has been omitted, either intentionally or by accident (from _Decoctum Lusitanicum_), the same good effects have not followed its use as when it contained this ingredient.

=Decoction of Walnut Leaves.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM JUGLAND'IS FOLIO''RUM, L. _Prep._ (Negrier.) Walnut leaves, 1 handful; water, 1 quart; boil 15 minutes, and strain. Detersive, diaphoretic, and alterative.--_Dose, &c._ As the last, especially in chronic rheumatism, secondary syphilis, &c.

=Decoction of Wa'terdock.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM RUMI'CIS, D. R. AQUAT'ICI, L. _Prep._ (A. T. Thomson.) Root of common waterdock (_Rumex obtusifolius_), 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 10 minutes, and strain.

_Obs._ This decoction is astringent, and was once much celebrated as a remedy for scurvy and some other cutaneous affections. "It is the only remedy which proves efficacious in that disease when the ulcers are healed, and the patient is attacked with asthma." (Linnaeus, on the Scurvy of the Laplanders.)

=Decoction, White= (Sydenham's). _Syn._ HARTSHORN DRINK; MIS'TURA COR'NU USTI. _Prep._ Prepared burnt hartshorn, 2 oz.; gum Arabic, 1 oz.; water, 3 pints; boil to 1 quart, and strain. Mucilaginous; demulcent. Taken _ad libitum_.

=Decoction of Whor'tleberry.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF BEAR-BERRY, D. OF UVA-URSI; DECOCTUM UVÆ URSI (Ph. L. & D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Whortleberry leaves, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Ph. D.) Uva-ursi (the leaves), 1/2 oz.; water, 1/2 pint; boil 10 minutes, and strain.

_Dose, &c._ 1 to 3 fl. oz. two or three times daily; in phthisis and purulent affections of the urinary organs, unaccompanied with active inflammation; especially in chronic affections of the bladder.

=Decoction of Wil'low Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SALICIS, D. S. CORTICIS, L. _Prep._ 1. (Wilkinson.) Willow bark (_Salix latifolia_), bruised, 1-1/2 oz.; macerate in water, 2 lbs., for 6 hours, then boil for 15 minutes, and strain. Tonic, astringent, and febrifuge.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful.

2. (Nieman.) Willow bark (_Salix alba_), 1-1/2 oz.; water, 3/4 pint; boil to one half.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz. Both are used as substitutes for decoction of cinchona bark.

=Decoction of Win'ter-green.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF PYROLA, D. OF UMBELLATED WINTER-GREEN, D. OF PIPSISSEWA; DECOCTUM CHIMAPHILÆ (Ph. L.), D. PYROLÆ (Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Chimaphila (dried herb), 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain.

2. (Ph. D.) Winter-green (dried leaves), 1/2 oz.; water, 1/2 pint; boil 10 minutes in a covered vessel, and strain. Tonic, stomachic, alterative, and diuretic.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz.; in dropsies, scrofula, debility, loss of appetite, &c.; and in those affections of the urinary organs in which uva-ursi is commonly given.

=Decoction of Worm'seed.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SANTONICI, L. _Prep._ 1. Wormseed, bruised, 2 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil down to 16 fl. oz., and strain.

2. (Dr R. E. Griffith.) Fresh leaves of wormseed(_Chenopodium anthelminticum_),--Linn.), 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; orange peel, 2 dr.; boil (10 minutes), and strain. The above are bitter, stomachic, and vermifuge.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful twice a day; in worms. It is also used as an injection against ascarides.

=Decoction of Yar'row.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM MILLEFOLII, L. _Prep._ From milfoil or yarrow tops, 1-1/2 oz.; water, 1-1/4 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Astringent, tonic, and vulnerary.--_Dose._ A wine-glassful thrice daily; in dropsies, &c. It is also used as a fomentation to bruises, &c.

=Decoction of Black Snake Root.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CIMICIFUGE. Black snake root, 1 oz.; water, 16 oz.; boil for 10 minutes.--_Dose_, 1 oz. to 2 oz. in rheumatism and dropsy.

=Decoction of Stavesacre.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM STAPHISAGRIÆ. Stavesacre seed, 1 oz.; water, 2 pints; boil for a few minutes, and strain. For external use.

=Decoction of Snails.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM LIMATUM (MARS MOUCHON). Flesh of vine or garden snails (cleansed from shell and intestines), 5 oz.; water, 2 pints; simmer gently for 2 hours, adding towards the end, maiden hair 2 oz., and strain.

=Decoction of Soapwort.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM SAPONARIÆ (SWEDIAUR). Soapwort, 2 oz.; water, 4 lbs.; boil to 2 lbs., and strain.

=Decoction of Wood-Soot.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM FULIGINIS (Dr Neligan). Wood-soot, 4 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint.

=DECOLORA'TION.= The blanching or removal of the natural colour of any substance. Syrups and many animal, vegetable, and saline solutions are decoloured or whitened by agitation with animal charcoal, and subsequent subsidence or filtration. Many fluids rapidly lose their natural colour by exposure to light, especially to the direct rays of the sun. In this way castor, nut, poppy, and several other oils are whitened. Fish oils are partially deodorised and decoloured by filtration through animal charcoal. Cottons and linens are still commonly bleached by the joint action of light, air, and moisture. The peculiar way in which light produces this effect has never been satisfactorily explained. The decoloration of textile fabrics and solid bodies generally is called bleaching. See BLANCHING, BLEACHING, OILS, TALLOW, SYRUPS, SUGAR, &c.

=DECOMPOSI''TION= (-z[)i]sh'un). In _chemistry_, the resolution of compounds into their elements, or the alteration of their chemical constitution in such a manner that new products are formed.

=DEFECA'TION.= The separation of a liquid from its lees, dregs, or impurities by subsidence and decantation. It is commonly employed for the purification of saline solutions and glutinous or unctuous liquids on the large scale in preference to filtration; than which it is both more expeditious and expensive. See CLARIFICATION, DECANTATION, FILTRATION, &c.

=DEFLAGRA'TION.= The sudden combustion of any substance for the purpose of producing some change in its composition, by the joint action of heat and oxygen. The process is commonly performed by projecting into a red-hot crucible, in small portions at a time, a mixture of nitrate of potash, and the body to be oxidised.

=DELIQUES'CENCE.= Spontaneous liquefaction by absorption of the moisture of the atmosphere. Deliquescent salts are those which by exposure gradually assume the liquid state. They should all be kept in well-closed bottles or jars.

=DELIR'IUM TRE'MENS.= [L.] The madness of drunkards; a disease of the brain resulting from the excessive and protracted use of intoxicating liquors, particularly of ardent spirits. The early symptoms are extreme irritability and fretfulness, with unusual mobility of the body. Sleeplessness and unpleasant dreams soon follow. At length frightful dreams and visions harass the patient. He sees remarkable sights, hears extraordinary sounds, and labours under all the strange delusions of insane persons, which, however vague and unfounded, operate on him with all the force of realities till he becomes furiously mad. The fit almost always comes on after hard drinking; and the hands are usually, but not always, tremulous. A similar affection is occasionally produced by the abuse of opium, excessive mental anxiety, night watching, or depletion. According to Dr Armstrong, even respiring the fumes of ardent spirits will, under some circumstances, produce this disease. Persons who have undergone surgical operations under the influence of chloroform are more liable to attacks of this kind than other persons.

The _treatment_ of delirium tremens consists mainly in the judicious use of opium, laudanum, or morphia, in rather large doses, frequently repeated. Thirty to sixty drops of laudanum may be given every hour or two during the fit, its effects being carefully watched. The object is to produce quiet sleep, from which the patient usually wakes free from the worst symptoms of the disease. Diaphoretics and mild aperients may also be given, and a light, nutritious diet adopted throughout. Depletion, especially bleeding, should be particularly avoided. Alcoholic stimulants and wine, in certain cases, have proved useful. Under this treatment, the patient, unless of a very bad habit of body, or much debilitated by previous excesses, usually recovers. He is, however, very liable to relapses and subsequent attacks, which are best prevented by judicious moral management.

The judicious administration of chloral hydrate, in doses of from thirty to sixty grains as well as of bromide of potassium in twenty-grain doses, either alone or combined with the chloral, has lately been had recourse to with the happiest results, for the production of sleep in cases of delirium tremens or in the insomnia of dipsomaniacs.

The repetition of the dose of chloral requires to be regulated with very great caution; and it is only in the case of emigrants and others unable to obtain medical aid that we would recommend it to be given, and then only should opium have failed to produce the desired effect. Not _more_ than sixty grains of the chloral should be administered during the twenty-four hours. The internal administration of tincture of capsicum in moderately large doses, in the intervals of the opiates or chloral hydrate, has lately been tried in the treatment of this disease, it is said, with success.

=DELPHIN'IC ACID.= _Syn._ PHOCE'NIC ACID. A fatty acid, obtained by saponifying the oil of the delphinus or porpoise. According to recent experiments, it is identical with valeric acid.

=DELPHIN'INE.= _Syn._ DEL'PHINE, DEL'PHIA, DELPHIN'IA. An alkaloid discovered by Lassaigne and Feneulle in _Delphinium staphysagria_ or stavesacre.

_Prep._ 1. The husked seeds (in powder) are boiled in a little water, and pressed in a cloth; a little pure magnesia is then added to the filtered decoction, the whole is boiled for a few minutes, and refiltered; the residuum, after being well washed, is digested in boiling alcohol, which dissolves out the alkaloid, and gives it up again by gentle evaporation and cooling.

2. The bruised, but unshelled, seeds are digested in dilute sulphuric acid, the filtered liquor precipitated with carbonate of potassa, and the precipitate digested in alcohol as before.

3. (Parrish.) An alcoholic extract of the seeds is treated with dilute sulphuric acid, precipitated with an alkali, again dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid; the colouring matter precipitated by a few drops of nitric acid, the alkaloid by potassa. The alkaloid is then dissolved in absolute alcohol, and the solution thus formed is evaporated; one pound yields about one drachm.

_Prop., &c._ A light-yellowish or white, odourless powder; extremely acrid and bitter; scarcely soluble in water; dissolves in ether, and readily in alcohol; and has an alkaline reaction. Its alcoholic solution produces a burning and tingling sensation when rubbed on the skin, and a similar sensation is produced in various parts of the body when it is taken in doses of a few grains. It has been exhibited in neuralgia and rheumatism by Dr Turnbull.--_Dose_, 1/12 gr. every three hours, made into a pill with 1 gr. each of the extracts of henbane and liquorice. It is also used externally under the form of ointment and lotion.

=DELPHINUM--A Boot Varnish.= Shell-lac, 7·5 grammes dissolved in alcohol, 15 grammes, mixed with 20 drops fish oil, and ·1 gramme lampblack. (Geisse.)

=DEMUL'CENTS.= In _medicine_, substances which are calculated to soften and lubricate the parts to which they are applied. Though having the same signification as the word EMOLLIENTS, it is desirable to restrict the latter term to such as are intended for external application, and to include under the above head only such as are intended for internal exhibition. The principal demulcents are gum Arabic, gum tragacanth, liquorice, honey, arrow-root, pearl barley, isinglass, gelatin, milk, almonds, spermaceti, almond and olive oils, and most other mucilaginous, amylaceous, saccharine, and oily substances. For use, these are made into MUCILAGES, DECOCTIONS, EMULSIONS, or MILKS, with water, and form suitable beverages in dysentery, diarrh[oe]a, catarrh, diseases of the urinary organs, and all other diseases where diluents are useful. See EMOLLIENTS.

=DENGUE.= This disease is most commonly met with in the East and West Indies, and occasionally as an epidemic in America. In England it rarely shows itself in an epidemic character. The symptoms of dengue appear to combine those of rheumatism and scarlet fever. On the third or fourth day an eruption shows itself, accompanied with pains in the limbs, glandular swellings, and languor. The course of the disease is varied by frequent remissions. It does not come within our design to indicate the treatment, which appears to be the same as that pursued in scarlet fever.

=DENS'ITY.= Comparative masses of equal weights, or the quantity of matter contained in a given space. It is commonly used synonymously with SPECIFIC GRAVITY, which, however, refers to comparative weights of equal bulks. Thus, quicksilver is said to have a density greater than that of copper, and alcohol one less than that of oil of vitriol.

=DENTI'FRICES.= _Syn._ DENTIFRICIA, L. Substances applied to the teeth, to cleanse and beautify them. The most useful form of dentifrices is that of powder (TOOTH POWDER); but liquids (TOOTH WASHES), and electuaries (TOOTH ELECTUARIES, TOOTH PASTES), are also employed. The solid ingredients used in dentifrices should not be so hard or gritty as to injure the enamel of the teeth; nor so soft or adhesive as to adhere to the gums, after rinsing the mouth out with water. Pumice-stone (in fine powder) is one of those substances that acts entirely by mechanical attrition, and is hence an objectionable ingredient in tooth powder intended for daily use. It is, however, very generally present in the various advertised dentifrices, which are remarkable for their rapid action in whitening the teeth. Bath brick is another substance of a similar nature to pumice, and, like that article, should be only occasionally employed. Cuttle-fish bone, coral, and prepared chalk, are also commonly used for the same purpose, but the last is rather too soft and absorbent to form the sole ingredient of a tooth powder. Charcoal, which is so very generally employed as a dentifrice, acts partly mechanically and partly by its chemical property of destroying foul smells and arresting putrefaction. For this purpose it should be newly burnt, and kept in well-closed vessels, until used, as by exposure to the air it rapidly loses its antiseptic powers. Powdered rhatany, cinchona bark, and catechu, are used as astringents, and are very useful in foulness or sponginess of the gums. Myrrh and mastic are employed on account of their odour, and their presumed preservative action and power of fixing loose teeth. Insoluble powders have been objected to on account of their being apt to accumulate between the folds of the gums and in the cracks of the teeth, and thus impart a disagreeable appearance to the mouth. To remedy this defect, a reddish or flesh-coloured tinge is commonly given to them with a little rose pink, red coral, or similar colouring substance, when any small portion that remains unwashed off is rendered less conspicuous. Some persons employ soluble substances as tooth powders, which are free from the above objection. Thus, sulphate of potash and cream of tartar are used for this purpose, because of the grittiness of their powders and their slight solubility in water. Phosphate of soda and common salt are also frequently employed as dentifrices, and possess the advantage of being readily removed from the mouth by means of a little water. Among those substances that chemically decolour and remove unpleasant odours, the only ones employed as dentifrices are charcoal and the chlorides of lime and soda. The first has been already noticed; the others may be used by brushing the teeth with water to which a very little of their solutions has been added. A very weak solution of chloride of lime is commonly employed by smokers to remove the odour and colour imparted by tobacco to the teeth. Electuaries, made of honey and astringent substances, are frequently employed in diseases of the gums. The juice of the common strawberry has been recommended as an elegant natural dentifrice, as it readily dissolves the tartarous incrustations on the teeth, and imparts an agreeable odour to the breath. See PASTE and POWDER (Tooth), also WASHES (Mouth).

=DENT'INE.= The tissue of which the teeth are composed.

=DENTISTRY.= The art or practice of a dentist. Directions for the extraction of teeth, as well as elaborate details for stopping them, and for the manufacture of artificial ones, are branches of the dentist's art, which, as they necessitate the exercise of considerable skill and long practice, do not call for notice in a work like the present. We shall confine ourselves, therefore, to that section of dentistry which concerns itself with stoppings for the cavities of decayed teeth, and for the preparation of which we give the following formulæ:--

1. (Soubeiran's.) Powdered mastic and sandarach, of each 4 dr.; dragon's blood, 2 dr.; opium, 15 gr.; mix with sufficient rectified spirit to form a stiff paste. A solution of mastic, or of mastic and sandarach, in half the quantity of alcohol, is also used, applied with a little cotton or lint.

2. Sandarach, 12 parts; mastic, 6 parts; amber, in powder, 1 part; ether, 6 parts. Applied with cotton. Or simply a paste of powdered mastic and ether. Or a saturated ethereal solution of mastic, applied with cotton.

3. Taveare's cement is made with mastic and burnt alum. Bernoth directs 20 parts of powdered mastic to be digested with 40 of ether, and enough powdered alum added to form a stiff paste.

4. Gutta percha, softened by heat, is recommended. Dr Rollfs advises melting a piece of caoutchouc at the end of a wire, and introducing it while warm.

5. (Gauger's Cement.) Put into a quart bottle 2 oz. of mastic and 3 oz. of absolute alcohol; apply a gentle heat by a water-bath. When dissolved, add 9 oz. of dry balsam of tolu, and again heat gently. A piece of cotton dipped in this viscid solution becomes hard when introduced into the tooth, previously cleansed and dried as above.

6. (Mr Robinson's.) After washing out the mouth with warm water containing a few grains of bicarbonate of soda, and cleaning the cavity as above directed, he drops into it a drop of collodion, to which a little morphia has been added, fills the cavity with asbestos and saturates with collodion, placing over all a pledget of blotting paper.

7. (Ostermaier's Cement.) Mix 12 parts of dry phosphoric acid with 13 of pure and pulverised quicklime. It becomes moist in mixing, in which state it is introduced into the cavity of the tooth, where it quickly becomes hard. [In some hands this has failed, from what cause we are not aware.] The acid should be prepared as directed under ACID, PHOSPHORIC.

8. (Silica.) This name has been given to a mixture of Paris plaster, levigated porcelain, iron filings, and dregs of tincture of mastic, ground together.

9. (Wirih's Cement.) It is said to consist of a viscid alcoholic solution of resins, with powdered asbestos.

10. (Metallic Cement.) Amalgams for the teeth are made with gold or silver, and quicksilver, the excess of the latter being squeezed out, and the stiff amalgam used warm. Inferior kinds are made with quicksilver and tin, or zinc. A popular nostrum of this kind is said to consist of 40 gr. of quicksilver and 20 of fine zinc filings, mixed at the time of using. Mr Evans states that pure tin, with a small portion of cadmium, and sufficient quicksilver, forms the most lasting and least objectionable amalgam. The following is the formula:--Melt 2 parts of tin with 1 of cadmium, run it into ingots, and reduce it to filings. Form these into a fluid amalgam with mercury, and squeeze out the excess of mercury through leather. Work up the solid residue in the hand, and press it into the tooth. Or, melt some beeswax in a pipkin over the fire, throw in 5 parts of cadmium, and, when melted, add 7 or 8 parts of tin in small pieces; pour the melted metals into an iron or wooden box, and shake them till cold, so as to obtain the alloy in a powder. This is mixed with 2-1/2 or 3 times its weight of quicksilver in the palm of the hand, and used as above.

Another cement consists of about 73 parts of silver, 21 of tin, and 6 of zinc, amalgamated with quicksilver. An amalgam of copper is said to be sometimes used. But this class of stoppings is altogether disapproved of by other authorities. Pure leaf-gold seems the least objectionable.

11. (Marmoratum.) Finely levigated glass, mixed with tin amalgam.

12. (Poudre Metallique.) The article sold under this name in Paris appears to be an amalgam of silver, mercury, and ammonium, with an excess of mercury, which is pressed out before using it.

13. (Fusible Metal.) Melt together 8 parts of bismuth, 5 of lead, 3 of tin, and 1-1/2 or 1·6 of quicksilver, with as little heat as possible. (Chaudet.)

14. (Non-expensive Metallic Tooth-stopping.) Take 1 part of sulphate of mercury, 1 part of copper in fine powder; rub them well together with a little warm water; when the amalgam is formed wash well, and remove the surplus of mercury by pressing it through chamois.--_Pharm. Journ._