Chapter M: Ré, Professor of the Materia Medica at the Veterinary School at (5)

QUALITIES. _Form_, small needle-like crystals. _Taste_, bitter and nauseous; when pure, it effloresces. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. In its crystallized state, it may be considered as composed of 1 proportional of dry sulphate (Magnesia 18·5, and sulphuric acid 37·5) and 7 proportionals of water. SOLUBILITY. f℥j of water dissolves ℥j, and the solution measures fʒxj¼; it is insoluble in alcohol. INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES. _Muriates of ammonia, baryta, and lime_; _nitrate of silver_; _sub-acetate_, and _acetate of lead_. _The fixed alkalies_ and _their carbonates_, precipitate from it magnesia and its carbonate. _Phosphate of soda_ occasions no immediate precipitate, unless ammonia be present, in which case the triple _ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate_ will be produced. The addition of ammonia, which in the form of _Spiritus ammoniæ aromat_. is not unfrequently prescribed in conjunction with a solution of this sulphate, forms also a triple salt, and a portion of magnesia is precipitated: whenever therefore this ammoniacal stimulant is ordered with a purgative salt, the scientific physician will prefer a solution of the sulphate of soda. FORMS OF EXHIBITION. Dissolved in the _Infusum Rosæ_, or in a suitable quantity of beef tea, gruel, or any aqueous vehicle, its cathartic powers are increased by dilution, as well as by the addition of a little common salt; _magnesia_ renders the taste of its solution less nauseous; and tartarized antimony quickens its operation. DOSE, ℥ss to ℥ij, taken either at once, or in divided doses. _Form. 37, 69, 72, 76._ OFFICINAL PREP. _Enema Catharticum._ _Enema Fœtid._ D. ADULTERATIONS. _Sulphate of Soda_ is often substituted for this salt, which it may be made to resemble by stirring it briskly at the moment when it is about to crystallize; the fraud may be detected by a precipitation not ensuing on adding carbonate of potass; if only a part of the salt be sulphate of soda, the degree of sophistication can be learnt by the quantity of the precipitate formed; 100 parts of sulphate of magnesia, if pure, will yield between 30 and 40 of the dry carbonate. Epsom salt, as it commonly occurs, contains _muriate of magnesia_, which disposes it to deliquesce, but lately this salt has appeared in the market in a state of great purity and beauty; the mode of purification is founded upon the well known chemical law, that _a saturated solution of one salt is still capable of dissolving another_; in the present instance, therefore, the impure crystals are washed in a saturated solution of the same sulphate, which, although unable to act upon its kindred salt, can dissolve with facility the muriate, and any other saline contamination. I confess, however, that I am induced to regard this process as rather chemically ingenious than as medicinally useful, for the usual saline impurities of Epsom salt are not only harmless, but capable of increasing its purgative powers; the _double refined_ sulphate is certainly less efficient as a cathartic. The presence of the _muriate_ may be at once detected by dropping upon the suspected sample some sulphuric acid, by which the disengagement of muriatic acid vapour will be produced. Since the publication of the fourth edition of the present work, I have received samples of the sulphate of Magnesia, prepared by Mr. West of Lymington, and I can confidently recommend the article to the profession; he contrives to obtain them in large and beautiful crystals, which cannot be so easily mistaken for those of oxalic acid, a circumstance of no small importance to the drug vender; the form of these crystals is that of a square prism, having its edges replaced, and commonly terminated by a pyramid of four planes; the only cleavage is parallel to one of the diagonals of the prism. The numerous accidents which so frequently occur from mistaking Oxalic acid for Epsom Salts have given rise to many suggestions for obtaining an easy and popular test which may at once distinguish these bodies; it is evident that no test can be so simple as that afforded by the taste; but if such accidents are in future to be prevented, it must be done by imparting to the acid some external character by which it may be at once recognised; if a test were even discovered a hundred times more sensible than any which we possess, what would it avail?

MANNA.[561] L.E.D.

(Fraxinus Ornus. _Succus Concretus._)

_Manna._

QUALITIES. _Form_, flakes of a granular texture; _Colour_, whitish, or pale yellow; _Odour_, slight but peculiar; _Taste_, nauseous sweet, with some degree of bitterness. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. This concrete vegetable juice, besides sugar, appears to contain mucilage and extractive, to which its taste and other peculiar properties are owing. SOLUBILITY. It is entirely soluble in water and alcohol. MED. USES. It is now merely regarded as a laxative for children, or for weak persons. It generally requires some laxative adjunct, as castor oil, with which it may be combined by the medium of mucilage. DOSE, for children, from ʒj to ʒiij, in warm milk. OFFICINAL PREP. _Confectio Cassiæ._ L.E.D. _Enema Cathart._ D. _Enema Fœtid._ D. _Syrup. Sennæ._ D. ADULTERATIONS. There are several varieties in the market, the best of which is flake manna, _manna canulata_, in a stalactitic form. An article, entirely factitious, consisting of honey or sugar, mixed with scammony, is sometimes sold for genuine manna, but its colour, weight, transparency, and taste, must instantly lead to its detection.

MASTICHE. L.

(Pistachia Lentiscus. _Resina._)

_Mastich._

The use of this resinous substance is to fill the cavities of carious teeth; a solution of it in oil of turpentine is sold as an odontalgic. The Turkish and Armenian women use it as a masticatory for cleaning the teeth, emulging the salivary glands, and imparting an agreeable odour to the breath. It forms a constituent of the _Dinner Pills_. See _Aloes_. Sonnini tells us that, in Egypt, the smoke of Mastich is supposed to kill any sick person that inhales it.

MEL. L.E.D. Honey.

This well known substance appears to be merely collected from the flowers, and not elaborated by the internal economy of the insect; when properly diluted it undergoes vinous fermentation, the product of which is the beverage well known by the name of _Mead_. The English honey is more waxy than that from the south of Europe. _Virgin honey_ is that wrought by young bees which have never swarmed, and permitted to run from the comb without heat or pressure. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. Sugar, mucilage, wax, an acid, and occasionally some essential oil. _Clarified Honey_, (_Mel Despumatum._ L.D.) has not the agreeable smell of crude honey; it does not however ferment so readily, nor is it so apt to gripe. USES. It is principally employed for forming several officinal preparations, i. e. _Mellita_, viz. _Mel Boracis_. L. _Mel Ros._ L.D. _Oxymel._ L.D. _Oxymel Colchici_. E. _Oxymel Scillæ_. L.D.[562] Sir John Pringle considered it as useful in nephritic disorders; it possesses also a laxative property, which renders it on many occasions preferable to Syrup. ADULTERATIONS. _Flour_ may be detected by diffusing the honey in tepid water, by which it will be separated, and, by subsequent boiling, converted into a thick paste.

MELIA AZEDARACH.

PRIDE OF CHINA. _Cortex radicis._

[This plant is a native of the East Indies, from whence it was introduced into Europe and North America. The part used in medicine is the bark of the root. It is a powerful anthelmintic, and affects the system in a way very similar to the Spigelia Marylandica, producing not unfrequently confusion of the head, stupor, trembling of the hands, &c. This is particularly the case if it be used in the months of March and April, when the sap rises in the tree. It is chiefly against the round worm that the Melia has been found successful, though in some cases it has proved effectual also against the Tænia. It is generally given in the form of decoction: to prepare this, ℥iij or ℥iv of the bark of the fresh root are put into a quart of water and boiled down to a pint, of which ℥ss to ℥j may be given every two or three hours till it operates. Administered in this way, it frequently causes both purging and vomiting.]

MENTHA PIPERITA. L.E.D.

MENTHA PIPERITIS. D. _Peppermint._[563]

All the qualities of this plant depend upon an essential oil and camphor; it readily and strongly impregnates either water or spirit, by infusion; its infusion, and the water distilled from the plant, are carminative and antispasmodic; they also serve as vehicles for other medicines, to correct their operation, or to disguise their flavour. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Aq. Menth. Piperit_. L.E.D. _Spir. Menth. Pip_. L.D. _Ol. Menth. Pip_. L.D. If this plant be cut in wet weather, it turns black, and is worthless.

MENTHA VIRIDIS. L. MENTHA SATIVA. D.

_Spearmint._

Cold water extracts the more agreeable and active parts of mint in a few hours; a longer maceration extracts the grosser and less agreeable portions; hot water more quickly extracts its virtues, but if it be boiling it dissipates the aroma. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Aq. Menth. virid._ L.D. _Infus. Menth. comp._ _D. Ol. Menth. virid._ L. D. _Spir. Menth. virid._ L.

MEZEREI CORTEX. L.E.D.

(Daphne Mezereum. _Radicis Cortex._)

_Mezereon._

The inner bark of this plant, when fresh, is corrosive and even vesicatory; the fruit is equally so, but neither have any smell; its virulence is counteracted by camphor. It contains, besides extractive matter, an acrid resinous substance, which, according to Plaff, bears a strong resemblance to the active principle of Cantharides. It is now seldom used except as an antivenereal remedy, or in cases of chronic cutaneous disease. FORMS OF EXHIBITION. In a decoction, made by boiling ℥ss of the bark, with an equal quantity of Liquorice root, in oiij of water down to oij; of which f℥ss may be given twice a day. From its pungency it is one of the substances used by fraudulent brewers to communicate a strong flavour to their beer. Where a discharge from issues cannot be kept up by the common means, it is said that the introduction of a little of this bark, instead of the pea, will in a few hours produce the desired effect. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Decoct. Sarsaparill. comp_. L. _Decoct. Daphnes. Mezerei_. E. The _Daphne Laureola_ is very generally sold for Mezereon.

MISTURÆ. L.E.D. _Mixtures._

The principles upon which this form of preparation is to be constructed, are fully detailed in the first part of this work, page 199.

_Officinal Mixtures._

MISTURA AMMONIACI. L. This mixture is expectorant, and may be exhibited with tincture of squills, &c. (_Form. 115, 136._) It is slightly curdled by _vinegar_, _oxymel_, _æther_, and _oxy-muriate of mercury_.

MISTURA AMYGDALARUM. L. _Emulsio Amygdali communis_. E. _Lac Amygdalæ_. D. It is a useful demulcent and diluent, and forms an elegant vehicle for more active medicines. _Incompatibles_—_Acids_, _Oxymel_, _Syrup of Squill_, _Spirit_, _and Tinctures_, unless added in very small quantities, decompose this mixture; _tartaric acid_, _super-tartrate of potass_, and _oxy-muriate of mercury_, also disturb it. _Form. 137._

MISTURA ASSAFŒTIDÆ. L. A nauseous preparation; and where its use is indicated, it will be more judicious to prescribe it as an extemporaneous mixture. See _Assafœtida_.

MISTURA CAMPHORÆ. L. This solution of camphor forms an elegant vehicle for more active stimulants. The camphor is separated from the water by a solution of pure potass, by sulphate of magnesia, and by several saline bodies. See _Form. 7, 24, 25, 32, 47, 72, 116, 117, 123_.

MISTURA CORNU USTI. L. _Decoctum Cornu Cervini_. D. This is nothing more than a simple diffusion of phosphate of lime in a thin mucilage—_Cui bono_? It was retained in the Pharmacopœia in deference to the opinion of some experienced practitioners.

MISTURA CRETÆ. L.D. A common and useful remedy in diarrhœa, and may be combined with opium, catechu, or any other astringent. _Form. 52._ It is of course incompatible with acids, and acidulous salts.

MISTURA FERRI COMPOSITA. L. This is nearly the same as the celebrated anti-hectic mixture of Dr. Griffith; to the result of the decompositions which take place from the mixture of its ingredients, it is wholly indebted for its medicinal energies; thus, a _proto-carbonate of iron_ is formed, i. e. the iron combined with carbonic acid is at its _minimum_ of oxidation, which renders it more active than the common carbonate, and probably less stimulant than the sulphate; this product, by means of the saponaceous compound formed by the union of the myrrh with the excess of alkali, is _partly_ diffused and suspended in the mixture, and _partly_ dissolved, whilst at the same time a _sulphate of potass_ is formed, which serves to correct the astringent influence which iron is apt to exert upon the bowels. The iron in this preparation is disposed to combine with an additional proportion of oxygen, hence its ingredients should be quickly mixed together, and it ought to be considered as an extemporaneous preparation, and be preserved in a closely-stopt vessel. Its change of colour will generally indicate its loss of efficacy. This preparation must be regarded as permanently serviceable in Chlorosis, and the numerous sympathetic affections connected with it. In the painful swellings which infest the breasts of chlorotic young women, I have found it almost a specific. DOSE, f℥j-f℥ij. The proportion of _Proto-carbonate of iron_, contained in any given quantity of this mixture, may be found by referring to the Medicinal Dynameter; for instance, bring the preparation to 12, and we shall perceive that this number of fluid-drachms contain 1 grain of _Protoxide_, or rather more than gr. iss of _Proto-carbonate_ of iron; and we shall, at the same time, perceive that to give an equivalent quantity in the form of _Pil. Ferri comp_. we must prescribe ℈j. See _Form. 96_.

MISTURA MOSCHI. This is an eligible form for the administration of Musk. _Dose_, f℥j-f℥ij, to which may be added extemporaneously, ammonia, æther, and other diffusible stimulants.

_The Dose_ of the above mixtures is f℥j-to f℥ij twice or thrice a day.

MOSCHUS. L.E.D. _Musk._

QUALITIES. _Form_, grains concreted together, dry, yet slightly unctuous. _Colour_, deep brown with a shade of red; _Odour_, aromatic, peculiar, diffusive, and durable; and it has the curious property, when added in a minute quantity, to augment the odour of other perfumes without imparting its own; this renders it a valuable article in perfumery, on which account it is a usual ingredient in lavender water. _Taste_, bitterish and heavy. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. Resin combined with volatile oil, and a mucilaginous extractive matter, with small portions of albumen, gelatine, muriate of ammonia, and phosphate of soda. SOLUBILITY. Boiling water dissolves it perfectly; rectified spirit takes up most of its active parts, although the odour is only discovered upon dilution; sulphuric æther is its most complete menstruum. INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES. The solutions are decomposed by _Oxy-muriate of Mercury_; _Sulphate of Iron_; _Nitrate of Silver_; and the _Infusion of Yellow Bark_. MED. USES. Stimulant and antispasmodic. As early as the time of Meade it was employed in typhus fever; Pringle administered it in gout of the stomach, a practice which received the concurrence of Cullen; conjoined with ammonia it has been celebrated for its powers in arresting the progress of gangrene, and of imparting fresh excitement to the nervous system. It has been also administered with success in epilepsy, hooping cough, and other spasmodic affections. FORMS OF EXHIBITION. The best form is that of bolus, combined with ammonia or camphor, or some other similar remedy, (_Form. 21_); it may be also administered in a mixture, for which purpose it requires five times its weight of mucilage, consequently the London College has not directed a sufficient quantity to retain the musk in suspension: by previously triturating it with sugar, its minute division is much facilitated. DOSE, grs. x to xxx. See _Form. 22, 30_. OFFICINAL PREP. _Mist. Mosch_. L. _Tinct. Mosch_. D. ADULTERATIONS. The bag containing the musk should have no appearance of having been opened: the presence of _dried blood_ may be suspected, by its emitting, as it inflames, a fetid smoke; _Asphaltum_ is discovered by its melting and running before it inflames: the artificial bags are known from the deficiency of the membrane which lines the real musk bags. To increase the weight of the musk, fine particles of lead are frequently added; this is easily detected, for by rubbing it with water the metallic particles will subside.

MOSCHUS FACTITIUS. _Artificial Musk_, strongly resembling the real, may be formed by digesting f℥ss of _Nitric Acid_, for ten days, upon ℥j of fetid animal oil, obtained by distillation; to this is to be next gradually added oj of _rectified spirit_, and the whole is then to be left to digest for one month: or—

2. Drop fʒiiiss of nitric acid upon fʒj of rectified oil of amber;
after standing twenty-four hours, a black, resinous pellicle,
exhaling the odour of musk, will be formed.

MUCILAGO ACACIÆ. L.E.

MUCILAGO GUMMI ARABICI. D.

This preparation consists of one part of gum and two of water; in preparing it, the dispenser is particularly recommended to pulverize the gum, and never to employ that which is purchased in the state of powder, as it is always impure and incapable of forming a pellucid and elegant solution.[564] INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES. Neither the _strong acids_ nor _alcohol_, when considerably diluted, occasion any disturbance in it; but _sulphuric æther_ and its _compound spirit_, _the tincture of muriated iron_, and _sub-acetate of lead_, produce very dense precipitates: the _acetate of lead_ only occasions decomposition, when an alkaline salt is present in the formula; the _volatile alkali_ curdles the mucilage, and _hard calcareous waters_ render the mixture difficult and often impracticable. In the pharmaceutical application of this mucilage, it should be remembered that it contains in its composition an astringent principle, which is perhaps of but trifling consequence except in the exhibition of some very few active metallic salts, which are certainly decomposed by it (e. g. grs. x of _nitrate of mercury_ are decomposed by ʒij of gum arabic.[565]) It contains also lime in combination with some vegetable acid. USES. Diluted with four times its bulk of water, this mucilage forms a demulcent mixture of appropriate tenacity, which affords a convenient vehicle for several efficient remedies; the pharmaceutical use of this mucilage depends upon the fact of its rendering expressed and essential oils, balsams, resins, gum-resins, resinous tinctures, and fatty bodies, miscible with water, but if a syrup be added, the union will be more perfect; the proportions necessary for this purpose vary according to the nature of the substances; thus, _oils_ will require about three-fourths their weight, _Balsams_ and _Spermaceti_ an equal part, _Resins_ a double quantity, and _Musk_ five times its weight; the following _Formulæ_ illustrate this property, 9, 19, 22, 135.

MUCILAGO AMYLI. L.E.D.

_Mucilage of Starch._

This is a strong, insipid, inodorous mucilage, which is principally employed as a vehicle for exhibiting Opium in the form of Enema, see _Amylum._

MUCILAGO ASTRAGALI TRAGACANTHÆ. E.D.

_Tragacanth Mucilage._

Tragacanth is, strictly speaking, not soluble in water, but imbibes a large portion of it and swells into a considerable bulk, forming a soft but not a liquid mucilage; on the farther addition of water, a fluid solution may be obtained by agitation, and the liquor is turbid; but on standing, the mucilage subsides, the limpid water on the surface retaining a little of the gum;[566] it differs from all gums in giving a thick consistence to a larger quantity of water, its power in this respect being to that of gum arabic as twenty to one; one part converts twenty of hot water into a stiff mucilage. Tragacanth is not increased, but actually diminished in solubility by the addition of any other gum, it accordingly separates from water with much greater facility when gum arabic is present. This preparation, according to the Edinburgh college, consists of one part of gum and eight of water; the resulting mucilage is stiff, and is principally employed for making _troches_. The Dublin preparation contains four times that quantity of water.

MYRISTICÆ NUCLEI. L.E.

Nux Moschata. D. _Nutmeg._

All the properties of this well-known substance depend upon an essential oil, filling the dark coloured veins which run through its substance, the other components are starch, gum, wax, and a fixed oil. The oil obtained by expression is improperly called _oil of mace_, for it would appear to be a triple compound of fixed oil, volatile oil, and wax, and which, although limpid when first drawn, soon acquires on cooling the consistence of spermaceti. _Mace_ is the involucrum of the nut. MED. USES. Stimulant, and in large doses, as from ʒij to ʒiij, narcotic, frequently producing delirium. _See Cullen Mat. Med. ii. 201._ OFFICINAL PREP: _Spir: Myristicæ_. L.E.D. FRAUDS. Nutmegs are frequently despoiled of their essential oil, by being punctured and submitted to the operation of decoction, the orifices being subsequently closed by powdered Sassafras; the imposition is detected by the comparative lightness of the nutmeg, and by its extreme fragility; the holes may also be discovered by carefully examining the surface of the nut, after having steeped it in hot water.

MYRRHA. L.E.D.

(Arboris nondum descriptæ, _Gummi-resina_.)

_Myrrh._

QUALITIES. _Form_, irregularly shaped pieces, translucent, of a reddish yellow colour; _Odour_, peculiar and fragrant; _Taste_, bitter and aromatic. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. Resin, gum, essential oil, and some extractive. SOLUBILITY. When triturated with soft, or distilled water, nearly the whole appears to be dissolved, forming an opaque, yellowish solution, but by rest the greater part is deposited, and not more than one-third is actually dissolved; its solubility, however, in water may be increased by trituration with camphor or an alkali; rectified spirit dissolves it, and the resulting tincture, when diluted, becomes turbid, although no precipitate occurs. MED. USES. Stimulant, as in _Form. 103_. Expectorant, 132, 133, 138. Emmenagogue, 95, 98, 99. It is also tonic, and agrees with some constitutions better than any of the bitters. FORMS OF EXHIBITION. No form is so eligible as that of substance. DOSE, grs. x to ʒj. The alkalies, in their crystalline state, when triturated with myrrh, reduce it to the form of a tenacious fluid. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Tinct. Myrrh_. L.E.D. _Tinct. Aloes et Myrrh_. E. _Tinct. Aloës Ætherea_. E. _Mist. Ferri comp_. L. (=G L=) _Pil. Aloes cum Myrrha_. L.E.D. _Pil. Ferri cum Myrrha_. L. _Pil. Galb. comp_. L.D. (=B=) _Pil. Assafœtid. comp_. E. (=B=) _Pil. Rhei, comp_. E. (=G=) ADULTERATIONS. It is subject to a variety of frauds, being frequently mixed with adventitious gums, which are to be detected by their foreign odour, their white or dark colour, and by their opacity.

NUX VOMICA. (Strychnus Nux Vomica.)

_Nux Vomica._

This seed has not at present a place in the British pharmacopœiæ; it presents however several points of interest to the physiologist, the physician, and the chemist. Its virulent action upon animals has been long known; and it has been administered in combination with gentian in intermittents.[567] (_Ludovic. Phar._ p. 113,) and as a narcotic in mania; it also constituted an ingredient in the famous _Electuarium de ovo_, (_Ph. Angl. p. 263._) Nux vomica has been said to produce benefit in the plague; the German writers have strongly commended it in mania, epilepsy, and hydrophobia; as well as in chronic rheumatism, gout, scrophula, lues venera, and cutaneous eruptions; in Sweden it is stated to have displayed very beneficial effects in Dysentery. Dr. Fourquier has lately introduced its use in the Hopital de la Charité, in cases of partial paralysis, and it is said, with very great success.[568] The value of the practice has been since confirmed by the experiments of Dumeril, Majendie, Hebreard, Husson, and Asselin. The dose is four or five grains of the powder in pills, during the day. The French codex contains two alcoholic extracts of this substance; the one prepared with a strong spirit (22, 32, Beaumé, i. e. from sp. gr. ·915 to ·856,) is much more active and powerful than that made with a weak spirit. (12, 22, Beaumé, i. e. from sp. gr. ·985 to ·915.)