Dr. M'Millan's formulas and domestic guide

TINCTURE OF COCHINEAL. Cochineal in powder 2 3/4 ounces. Proof spirits I pint. Macerate for 7 days in a closed vessel, with occasional agitation, strain, press, filter, and add sufficient proof spirits to make I pint. This is valued chiefly for imparting color to liquid preparations. It may, however, be given internally in nervous affections, in doses varying from 20 drops to I dram. TINCTURE OF COLCHICUM. Colchicum seed in moderately fine powder 4 ounces. Dilute alcohol, a sufficient quantity. Moisten the powder with i ounce of dilute alcohol, pack in a cylindrical percolator, and gradually pour on dilute alcohol until 2 pints of the tincture is obtained. This tincture possesses the active principles of colchicum, and may be given whenever that medicine is indicated. The dose is 30 to 60 drops. It does well in rheumatic, neuralgic and gouty affections. TINCTURE OF CUBEBS. Cubebs in moderately fine powder 4 ounces. Dilute alcohol, a sufficient quantity. Moisten the powder with an ounce of dilute alcohol, pack in a conical percolator, and gradually pour on dilute alcohol until 2 pints of the tincture is obtained. This is a carminative, and has been used with great advantage in long standing cases of gonorrhoea. Dose, from 30 to 60 drops. TINCTURE OF FOX-GLOVE OR DIGITA- LIS. Digitalis recently dried and in fine powder 4 ounces. Dilute alcohol, a sufficient quantity. Moisten the powder with 2 ounces of dilute alcohol, pack it firmly in a percolator, and pour on gradually dilute alcohol until 2 pints of the tincture is obtained. The dose is from 10 to 20 drops 2 or 3 times a day, increased cautiously if necessary. This has been used in certain dropsical cases with great benefit ; also in certain forms of heart disease. To do good it must be persisted in for a length of time. SYRUP OF BLACKBERRY ROOT. Blackberry root in moderately fine powder 8 ounces. Syrup simplex one-half pint. Dilute alcohol, a sufficient quantity. Introduce the powder, previously moistened with 4 ounces of the dilute alcohol, into a glass percolator, and pour dilute alcohol upon it until I yi pints of tincture have passed. Evaporate this by means of a water bath to a half pint, at 160°. Then mix it while hot to the syrup previously heated and strained This is very useful in the chronic forms of diarrhoea and looseness of the bowels as it occurs in the summer season. It will be found very useful also in the dysentery, where there is a good deal of tenesmus and blood passing, with frequent desire to stool. A little of the blackberry brandy combined with the syrup in those cases will be found of great value. The dose of the syrup is i, 2 or 3 drams every 2 or 3 hours. TINCTURE OF ALOES AND MYRRH. Socotrine aloes in moderately fine powder 3 ounces. Myrrh in moderately fine powder 3 ounces. Saffron in moderately coarse powder i ounce. Alcohol, sufficient quantity. Mix the powders, and, having moistened the mixture with 2 ounces of alcohol, pack it moderately in a conical percolator, and gradually pour alcohol upon it until 2 pints of tincture are obtained. This tincture may also be prepared by macerating the powder in 2 pints of alcohol "for 14 days and filtering through paper.