Sulphide of Calcium, in quarter-grain
doses or less, has the confidence of many
physicians as a remedy for boils, when one
boil keeps following another. A fresh-
made solution, of one grain in a pint of
water will answer ; two teaspoonfuls being
taken every hour or two for a few days at a
time. Snlphite of sodium, in doses of from
five to fifteen grains, does good in some
cases of indigestion , and perhaps in some of
boils or carbuncles.
Sulphur. — This is a mild and good
laxative; particularly suitable for piles, and
for those persons who are often troubled
with colic. Dose, a teaspoonful ; in mo-
lasses or milk. In recent cases of skin-dis-
ease, it is often given with an equal quantity
of cream of tartar.
Exteryially , sulphur is the specific rem-
edy for itch ; not the only one, but the most
convenient and frequently used. It is ap-
plied in the form of ointment, rubbed well
into the seat of the eruption, where it kills
the acarus or itch-mite, which keeps up the
disease.
Sulphur, when burned, gives off fumes
of s2tlphurous acid, which is a potent disin-
fectant. A pound or two of it burned in a
large room (with all the people out of it, of
course, as the gas cannot be breathed),
with the doors and windows closed for two
or three hours, will do more to purify it of
any contagion or infection than anything
else that can be done.
Sulphuric acid, in its pure state, is not
used in medicine. Arom-atic sulphuric acid
is the elixir of vitriol. This is a good ap-
petizer in ten- or twelve-drop doses, in
water. It is also sometimes given for
diarrhoea ; and has some reputation as one
of the remedies for epidemic cholera. A
drink made of it is recommended to workers
in lead or lead paint, to prevent the poison-
ous action of that metal ; as the sulphate of
lead (compound of lead with sulphuric acid)
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
59
is insoluble m water, and without much if
any poisonous influence upon thebod}^.
Suppositories are small, soft solids,
made for introduction into the lower bowel.
Brown soap is sometimes so used instead of
an opening injection (enema). A piece of
it or of castile soap ma}^ be cut of about the
size and shape of the last joint of the little
finger, and dipped in oil (castor-oil or sweet-
oil) for easy introduction. It must be
pressed upwards gently until fully within
the bowel, and retained for a little while b}^
the contraction of the muscle at the outlet
{sphincter ani muscle of anatomists).
Cocoa Butter is a very common and con-
venient material for suppositories, with
w^hich are mixed medicinal agents so to be
used. Opium may be emploj^ed, the dose
being twice as large as when taken by the
mouth. A suppository may therefore con-
tain two grains of opium. Santonin sup-
positories (with three grains of this drug in
each) may be used with great advantage for
seat-worms.
Tannin or Tannic Acid. — This is the
astringent principle of oak bark, of nut
galls, and of many other vegetable materi-
als. Its presence in tea-leaves accounts for
iron spoons being blackened when left in
tea. Catechu and other vegetable astring-
ent medicines contain tannic acid, some of
them also the very similar gallic acid.
Page 194
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
Sulphide of Calcium, in quarter-grain doses or less, has the confidence of many physicians as a remedy for boils, when one boil keeps following another. A freshmade solution, of one grain in a pint of water will answer ; two teaspoonfuls being taken every hour or two for a few days at a time. Sulphite of sodium, in doses of from five to fifteen grains, does good in some cases of indigestion , and perhaps in some of boils or carbuncles.
Sulphur. — This is a mild and good laxative; particularly suitable for piles, and for those persons who are often troubled with colic. Dose, a teaspoonful ; in molasses or milk. In recent cases of skin-disease, it is often given with an equal quantity of cream of tartar.
Externally , sulphur is the specific remedy for itch ; not the only one, but the most convenient and frequently used. It is applied in the form of ointment, rubbed well into the seat of the eruption, where it kills the acarus or itch-mite, which keeps up the disease.
Sulphur, when burned, gives off fumes of sulphurous acid, which is a potent disinfectant. A pound or two of it burned in a large room (with all the people out of it, of course, as the gas cannot be breathed), with the doors and windows closed for two or three hours, will do more to purify it of any contagion or infection than anything else that can be done.
Sulphuric acid, in its pure state, is not used in medicine. Aromatic sulphuric acid is the elixir of vitriol. This is a good appetizer in ten- or twelve-drop doses, in water. It is also sometimes given for diarrhoea ; and has some reputation as one of the remedies for epidemic cholera. A drink made of it is recommended to workers in lead or lead paint, to prevent the poisonous action of that metal ; as the sulphate of lead (compound of lead with sulphuric acid)
is insoluble m water, and without much if any poisonous influence upon thebod}^.
Suppositories are small, soft solids, made for introduction into the lower bowel. Brown soap is sometimes so used instead of an opening injection (enema). A piece of it or of castile soap ma}^ be cut of about the size and shape of the last joint of the little finger, and dipped in oil (castor-oil or sweetoil) for easy introduction. It must be pressed upwards gently until fully within the bowel, and retained for a little while b}^ the contraction of the muscle at the outlet {sphincter ani muscle of anatomists).
Cocoa Butter is a very common and convenient material for suppositories, with w^hich are mixed medicinal agents so to be used. Opium may be emploj^ed, the dose being twice as large as when taken by the mouth. A suppository may therefore contain two grains of opium. Santonin suppositories (with three grains of this drug in each) may be used with great advantage for seat-worms.
Tannin or Tannic Acid. — This is the astringent principle of oak bark, of nut galls, and of many other vegetable materials. Its presence in tea-leaves accounts for iron spoons being blackened when left in tea. Catechu and other vegetable astringent medicines contain tannic acid, some of them also the very similar gallic acid.