FoodNetArchive

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

1901

Page 188

Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
to the oil of anise-seed with which it is flavored. I t contains only one grain of opium i n a tablespoon- ful of pa}'e- goric : being therefore a much weak- er opiate than hiud- a n u m ; which has about four grains of o p i u m in each tea- spoonful. Dose of paregoric, a teaspoonful, more or less, according to the occasion for its use. In diarrhcca, for example, quarter-teaspoon- ful doses will often answer the purpose. Smaller doses, of course, are suitable to give to childre?i. 517 POPI'V FLOWER 54 THE FAMILY DOCTOR Pepper. — Of the two kinds used with food, red pepper {capsicum) is the more stimulating. It is sometimes given by phy- sicians as a stimulant, in five-grain pills. A much more common use for it is to excite the circulation of the skin, as a rubefacient; a power which it shares (though in less degree) with mustard. In cholera, when the skin is cold, rubbing with whiskey and red pepper is one of the best things to restore the circulation. It may be employed for the same purpose in any analogous, low and cold, condition. Peppermint. — Essence of peppermint is a pleasant, warm aromatic ; given as good tor colic and sick stomach. Dose, ten drops for a grown person ; for an infant, from two drops down to half a drop (that is, add one drop to a desertspoonful of water, and give of this a teaspoonful at once) . Pepsin. — Hard to get pure. Given for weak digestion. Dose, 5 grains. Permanganate of Potassium. — This ' ' salt," which gives a beautiful red color to water, has a remarkable action on all organic (animal or vegetable) matter. It is one of the best disinfectants. Five grains of it in a pint of water will make a solution suitable to wash out vessels used in the sick room with patients having contagious or infectious diseases. Internally, permanganate of potas- sium is highly recommended (in two-grain doses, dissolved in distilled water, twice daily) by some physicians in aTnemorrhcBa (delay or suppression of the monthly courses). As it sometimes disagrees with the stomach, it must be used with care, and can hardly be placed among the domestic medicines. Phosphorus. — Too dangerous for use as a domestic medicine, this is sometimes given by physicians as a powerful nerve-stimulant. Dose, one-thirtieth of a grain. Phosphates are safe compounds, often used. Parrish's and Horsford's are very popular tonic pre- parations. Of the latter (acid phosphates), the dose is half a teaspoonful, in water, just before or after a meal. Pink=Root. — This American plant {Spi- gelia Marylandicci) is a very good medicine for worms {vermifuge) . It may be made into a a tea thus : Put together half an ounce of broken and bruised pink -root ; senna leaves and fennel seed, each two drachms ; manna, .518 one ounce ; and boiling water, one pint. Let it stand (after stirring) covered for an hour. Dose, a wineglassful for an adult, half a wineglassful for a child two or three years old, thrice daily. It is best not to go beyond these dOvSes, as, in very large amount, it acts poisonously . There is a fluid extract of-spige- lia, also, a convenient preparation ; dose, a teaspoonful ; and still better (because the senna makes it more sure to pass off by the bowels), the fluid extract of spigelia and senna ; dose of this also, a teaspoonful, repeated every two or three hours until it operates .