Chamomile. — This is a plant with bitter
and aromatic flowers. Of these a tea is
made with boiling water. It may be taken,
half a pint daily, as a simple appetizer and
tonic in weak digestion or general want of
strength. It is not, however, one of the
strongest tonics^
Charcoal. — Powdered charcoal is a good
' ' sweetener " of a stomach oppressed with
flatulence from indigestion. Dose, half a
teaspoonful to a teaspoonful. It is often
given with an equal quantity of magnesia.
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
41
Very finely powdered charcoal is also a
useful ingredient in tooth-powders ; on ac-
count of its cleansing action.
Chloral (cJiolral hydrate). — One of the
medicines that promote sleep. It is less
powerful than opium, although a very large
amount of it taken will poison fatally. It is
a white crystalline substance, of a pungent
taste and color.
Dose, from ten to thirty grains for an
adult ; for a child, one grain for each year
of its age. It should betaken or given only
as prescribed by a physician ; and when so
advised, left off as soon as his judgment will
allow. The same sort of danger attends its
use as does that of opium, of forming a chto-
ral habit., depending upon it for sleep, and
requiring larger and larger doses, with at
last great injur}^ to the health.
Chlorate of Potassium (chlorate of
potash, commonly called). — A favorite
medicine with physicians and others, for
sore month and sore throat. It often does
more good to sore mouths, in babies espec-
ially, than anything else. But it must not
be swallowed without limitation. While
safe in doses of a few grains, half-ounce
doses of it are dangerous ; sometimes even
producing death.
Dose, for a grown person, from ten to
twenty grains ; for a child, three or four
years old, five grains ; dissolved in water.
Its solution also makes a very good gargle
for sore throat.
Chloroform. — The most prompt and
powerful, but also least safe, of the articles
used by surgeons as anaesthetics ; that is, for
patients to breathe before and during opera-
tions, in order to prevent them from suffer-
ing pain. It maybe taken into the stomach
in larger quantity than by the lungs, with-
out danger. In flatulent colic, it is often
very relieving ;. but no more so than cam-
phor and cuajuput, as well as opium. Dose,
by the mouth, ten to forty or fifty drops ; in
a large draught of water, as it is very pun-
gent. A teaspoonful holds more than 200
drops of chloroform.
I have given it to a number of patients
in teaspoonful doses, without any bad effect ;
only sleepiness, like that produced by opi-
ates. A chloroform linimoit may be safely
used as an outward application for rheu-
matic or neuralgic pains.
Cinnamon Water. — Made from the aro-
matic bark of the cinnamon tree of the
East . It is a pleasant spicy solution , slightly
astringent ; good with other things in mix-
tures for diarj'hxa. Dose, for a child, a
teaspoonful.
Page 171
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
Chamomile. — This is a plant with bitter and aromatic flowers. Of these a tea is made with boiling water. It may be taken, half a pint daily, as a simple appetizer and tonic in weak digestion or general want of strength. It is not, however, one of the strongest tonics.
Charcoal. — Powdered charcoal is a good
' ' sweetener " of a stomach oppressed with
flatulence from indigestion. Dose, half a
teaspoonful to a teaspoonful. It is often
given with an equal quantity of magnesia.
Very finely powdered charcoal is also a useful ingredient in tooth-powders ; on account of its cleansing action.
Chloral (cJiolral hydrate). — One of the medicines that promote sleep. It is less powerful than opium, although a very large amount of it taken will poison fatally. It is a white crystalline substance, of a pungent taste and color.
Dose, from ten to thirty grains for an adult ; for a child, one grain for each year of its age. It should betaken or given only as prescribed by a physician ; and when so advised, left off as soon as his judgment will allow. The same sort of danger attends its use as does that of opium, of forming a chloral habit,, depending upon it for sleep, and requiring larger and larger doses, with at last great injur}^ to the health.
Chlorate of Potassium (chlorate of potash, commonly called). — A favorite medicine with physicians and others, for sore mouth and sore throat. It often does more good to sore mouths, in babies especially, than anything else. But it must not be swallowed without limitation. While safe in doses of a few grains, half-ounce doses of it are dangerous ; sometimes even producing death.
Dose, for a grown person, from ten to twenty grains ; for a child, three or four years old, five grains ; dissolved in water. Its solution also makes a very good gargle for sore throat.
Chloroform. — The most prompt and powerful, but also least safe, of the articles used by surgeons as anaesthetics ; that is, for patients to breathe before and during operations, in order to prevent them from suffering pain. It maybe taken into the stomach in larger quantity than by the lungs, without danger. In flatulent colic, it is often very relieving ;. but no more so than camphor and cajaput, as well as opium. Dose, by the mouth, ten to forty or fifty drops ; in a large draught of water, as it is very pungent. A teaspoonful holds more than 200 drops of chloroform.
I have given it to a number of patients in teaspoonful doses, without any bad effect ; only sleepiness, like that produced by opiates. A chloroform linimoit may be safely
used as an outward application for rheumatic or neuralgic pains.
Cinnamon Water. — Made from the aromatic bark of the cinnamon tree of the East . It is a pleasant spicy solution , slightly astringent ; good with other things in mixtures for diarrhœa. Dose, for a child, a teaspoonful.