FoodNetArchive

The standard book of recipes and housewife's guide, comprising as complete cook book

1901

Page 166 · 1 recipe record on this page

Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Acetate of Ammonium Solution. — This is a mild, moderately cooling medicine, very suitable to promote perspiration during fever. It is easily made by dropping small pieces of Carbonate of Avimoyiiiun into good Vin- egar, piece after piece, until it ceases to bubble with effervescence. (This proceeds from the Carbonic Acid gas passing off, being displaced by the Acetic Acid of the Vinegar. Dose of this Solution, a Tablespoonful every two or three hours. It is preferred to other sweating medicines especially in typhoid and typhus fevers ; low fevers, so- called. It does not act upon the bowels. Aconite — Tincture of the Root of the Monkshood or Aconite plant. A deadly sedative poison in any but very small doses. It acts mainly on the nervous system, but indirectly on the circulation. Some phy- sicians use it in many cases of inflammatory fever ^ as in that of pneumonia, pleurisy, etc. Dose, one or two drops, in water, for a grown person, every two, three, or four hours. A bottle containing it should be labelled Poison. Aloes. — A powerful purgative medicine, having a particular tendency to act on the lower bowel. Therefore it is not a suitable cathartic in cases of Piles. Yet, in a very small, not purgative, dose, it is sometimes added to other medicines for the relief of piles. Its action on the lower bowel makes it more appropriate when delay of the feminine monthly floiv is treated by laxative medicines. The Tincture of Aloes and Myrrh (Elixir Proprietatis) has been much emploj^ed for this end. Dose oi Aloes, from one or two to ten or more grains. Dose of Tincture of Aloes and Myrrh, from one to three or four teaspoonfuls, in water. Alum. — A mineral called a salt by chem- ists. It contains either Anuiuvniun or Potas- sium with Alitniinium and Sulpuric acid in combination. (There is also an Iro)L Alum, in which, likewise, Ammonium is present.) It is crystalline, and has a peculiar taste, easily recognized after making its acquaint- ance. Alum is not often given as a medi- cine for the stomach, except as an emetic in bad cases of croiip. For that purpose, its dose, in powder, is half a teaspoonful, with the same amount of the powder, or a tea- spoonful of Syrup of Ipecacuanha. In small dose, it is an astringent ; that is, it tends to make the tissues which it touches shrink or contract together. Thus it helps to lessen the swelling of the mucous mem- brane, which is inflamed in sore throat, and it is much used for that, either in powder or in solution as a gargle. The powder may be blown into the throat through a quill, or, sometimes, p2tt on the sore place with the end of one's finger. A gargle is made by dissolving a piece as large as a thumb in half a tumblerful of w^ateAlum Gargler. It is used by taking a mouthful of it and throwing the head back without swallowing it, letting it go as far down into the throat as it can without being swallowed. Alum should not be employed in mouth- washes, because, when left long in contact with the teeth, the Sulphuric Acid in it acts somewhat upon their enamel. A solution of alum in pure water makes a good astringent eye-water, for inflammation of the e3^es an even teaspoonful of alum in a tumblerful of water wall be strong enough.