FoodNetArchive

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

1901

Page 170 · 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.
Camphor. — A most useful gum, from evergreen tree native to the south and east of Asia. Everyone knows its white or colorless transparency, its peculiar odor, and pungent and yet cooling taste. It is volatile; that is, if left in the air it will slowly go off in vapor. Very little of it will dissolve in water. Camphor-water is a very mild preparation. Spirit of camphor, made with alcohol, is much stronger. Camphor is a composing medicine to the nerves ; somewhat more stimulant than assafoetida . In very large doses it is narcotic . Camphor-water is an excellent tranquil- lizer for restless babies ; being also, like the spices, warming to the stomach, and some- what anodyne, it is excellent in colic. Spirit of Ca77iphor is best when an anodyne effect is specially needed ; as in colic of grown people. Dose of Camphor-water, from a teaspoon- ful (an infant dose) to a tablespoonful. Of Spirit of Camphor, from ten to thirty drops : on sugar, and stirred in water, or in a thick syrup, as spiced syrup of rhubarb. When dropped into water, the alcohol unites with the water and "throws down" the camphor in little white flakes . Paj^egoric is a camphorated tincture of opium. Carbolic Acid. — This has no proper place as a domestic medicine. It has had great popularity as a disinfectant ; more than it deserves, in comparison with several other less unpleasant things. Surgeons often employ it in " antiseptic ' ' dressings and lotions, Cardamon Seeds, Compo2cnd Tiyicture of. — A warming aromatic preparation, often 504 added to soda, etc., for sickness of the stomach. Dose, a teaspoonful, in water. Castor=Oil. — Expressed from the beans of the palma christi, a handsome plant, originally from Asia. It is nasty, decidedly ; but is a good, effective, and yet mild pur- gative medicine. It is the best cathartic, even for babies, when any irritation of the boivels is present ; as in threatening of dys- entery, and in some cases of colic. Dose, from a teaspoonful to a tablespoon- ful. The best way to give it is to stir it well with twice the quantity of spiced syi'itp of rlnibarh . So mixed, I have had patients to take it without finding out what it was. Catechu. — An extract from the wood of an oriental tree. It is astringent, and is very useful in diarrhcea . Tincture of catechu is the best preparation. Dose, half a tea- spoonful to a teaspoonful, in water. An excellent medicine to check troublesome diarrhoea consists of equal parts of tincticre of catechu and paregoric ; of this mixture, the dose is a teaspoonful, repeated according to the urgency of the case. Cerate. — This word means something made with wax. Simple cerate is made of spermaceti, white wax, and oil of almonds. It is a very soothing and healing application to sore places of any kind, as after a blister, etc. It is harder than cold cream (ointment of rose water), and this is sometimes a de- cided advantage. Chalk Mixture. — A convenient medicine for common diarrhoea, made of prepared chalk, gum-arabic, glj^cerine, and cinnamon waterChalk Mixture. Dose, a tablespoonful for a grown person. Most frequently something is added to make it more "binding" or astringent, as catechu, paregoric, etc.