Medicated Baths . — Hot and warm springs,
as those of Virginia, are medicated by the
sulphurous and other contents of the waters.
Sometimes they do much good (bathing in
the waters) for chronic troubles of the liver,
kidneys, etc., and rheumatic joints.
Belladonna. — This product of the deadly
nightshade (atropa bellado7ina^j is a powerful
narcotic or brain stimulant drug. The ex-
tract of the leaves is most used by physicians
as a medicine, in neuralgia, etc. Atropia, a
very strong alkaloid principle, is obtained
from the root. Its solution is often dropped
into the eyes by oculists, for the examina-
tion and treatment of affections of the eyes.
It enlarges or dilates the pupils, giving them
a more brilliant appearance. Ladies are
said to take it sometimes before going into
company, to make their eyes "brighter;"
whence the name, from bella donna, fair
lady.
Dose of the solid extract, a quarter of a
grain to a grain ; of the tincture, ten to
fifteen drops. Soliction of atropia for the
eyes, two to four grains to a fluidounce of
water. Neither should be used without
medical advice.
Benzoin. — A resinous substance, from
the styrax, an East Indian tree. The com-
pound tincture of Benzoin is a good medi-
cine for bronchial cough. Dose, fifteen to
twenty drops, on a lump of sugar, every
three or four hours ; or at the beginning of
a spell of coughing. The same tincture,
applied with a carael's-hair pencil, is very
healing to a sore nipple or a cracked lip, or
even ?i fissure of the anus.
Bismuth Subnitrate. — A soothing
stomachic medicine. Dose, two to five
grains.
Blackberry Root. — Country people gen-
erally know the astringent property of this ;
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
39
CANTHAKIS YITTATA.
but some make a mistake in supposing the
berries to have the same ; which they do
not. A tea made b}^ cutting up a handful '
of the root and soaking it for two or three
hours in boiling water✪ Canthakis Yittata (kept hot) will
answer a good purpose in checking
diarrhoea, in tablespoon ful doses.
Blisters. — We use vnistard-plastcrs not
to blister, but only strongly to warm and
stimulate the skin.
For raising a blister,
cantharidcs is mostly
resorted to. The old-
est way is to spread
the omtment of can-
tharides on a piece of
buckskin, three or
four or five inches
square ; cover this with a piece of gauze, and
lay it on the part. This will draw a blister
upon a grown person
in four, five, or six
hours ; with a child,
in two hours or less.
Then nip (do not re-
move) the raised
scarfskin with the
point of a pair of
scissors, and lay upon
it a soft muslin rag thickly spread with simple
cerate✪ Blister Treatment, as a healing dressing.
Once in a while strangury (difl&culty in
passing water) will follow the application
of a blister, from some of the cantharides.
being absorbed into the blood, and so getting
through the kidne3^s into the bladder.
Flannel wrung out of hot water applied to
the bladder and perineum (crotch, just be-
tween the thighs at the pelvis) ; spirits of
camphor, taken in twenty-drop doses ; and,
if the difficulty lingers, a laudanum injection
into the bowels, are remedies for strangur3^
Blue Pill, or blue mass. This is a pre-
paration of mercury, one-third of the
strength of calomel. It is a soft solid,
easily made into pills. Apothecaries usually
keep on hand three-grain blue pills.
Page 168 · 2 recipe records 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.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Medicated Baths . — Hot and warm springs, as those of Virginia, are medicated by the sulphurous and other contents of the waters. Sometimes they do much good (bathing in the waters) for chronic troubles of the liver, kidneys, etc., and rheumatic joints.
Belladonna. — This product of the deadly nightshade (atropa belladonna is a powerful narcotic or brain stimulant drug. The extract of the leaves is most used by physicians as a medicine, in neuralgia, etc. Atropia, a very strong alkaloid principle, is obtained from the root. Its solution is often dropped into the eyes by oculists, for the examination and treatment of affections of the eyes. It enlarges or dilates the pupils, giving them a more brilliant appearance. Ladies are said to take it sometimes before going into company, to make their eyes "brighter;" whence the name, from bella donna, fair lady.
Dose of the solid extract, a quarter of a grain to a grain ; of the tincture, ten to fifteen drops. Solution of atropia for the eyes, two to four grains to a fluid ounce of water. Neither should be used without medical advice.
Benzoin. — A resinous substance, from the styrax, an East Indian tree. The compound tincture of Benzoin is a good medicine for bronchial cough. Dose, fifteen to twenty drops, on a lump of sugar, every three or four hours ; or at the beginning of a spell of coughing. The same tincture, applied with a camel's-hair pencil, is very healing to a sore nipple or a cracked lip, or even a fissure of the anus.
Bismuth Subnitrate. — A soothing stomachic medicine. Dose, two to five grains.
Blackberry Root. — Country people generally know the astringent property of this ;
[illustration: CANTHARIS VITTATA]
but some make a mistake in supposing the berries to have the same ; which they do not. A tea made by cutting up a handful ' of the root and soaking it for two or three hours in boiling water (kept hot) will answer a good purpose in checking diarrhoea, in tablespoon ful doses.
Blisters. — We use mustard-plasters not to blister, but only strongly to warm and
stimulate the skin. For raising a blister, cantharidcs is mostly resorted to. The oldest way is to spread the ointment of cantharides on a piece of buckskin, three or four or five inches square ; cover this with a piece of gauze, and lay it on the part. This will draw a blister
upon a grown person in four, five, or six hours ; with a child, in two hours or less. Then nip (do not remove) the raised scarfskin with the point of a pair of scissors, and lay upon it a soft muslin rag thickly spread with simple cerate, as a healing dressing.
Once in a while strangury (difficulty in passing water) will follow the application of a blister, from some of the cantharides. being absorbed into the blood, and so getting through the kidneys into the bladder. Flannel wrung out of hot water applied to the bladder and perineum (crotch, just between the thighs at the pelvis) ; spirits of camphor, taken in twenty-drop doses ; and, if the difficulty lingers, a laudanum injection into the bowels, are remedies for strangury Blue Pill, or blue mass. This is a preparation of mercury, one-third of the strength of calomel. It is a soft solid, easily made into pills. Apothecaries usually keep on hand three-grain blue pills.
Records on this page
Canthakis YittataBlister Treatment