The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English Part 30

DR. PIERCE'S FAVORITE PRESCRIPTION is an efficient remedy in cases requiring a medicine to regulate the menstrual function. Full directions accompany every bottle.

DR. PIERCE'S COMPOUND EXTRACT OF SMART-WEED is an excellent emmenagogue.

Dr. Eberle, a very celebrated medical writer, and author of a work on medicine which is very popular with the profession, says that he has used the "Extract of Smart-weed" in twenty cases of amenorrhea (suppressed menstruation), and affirms "with no other remedy or mode of treatment have I been so successful as with this." Full directions accompany every bottle. It is sold by all druggists.

EXPECTORANTS.

Expectorants are medicines which modify the character of the secretions of the bronchial tubes, and promote their discharge. Most of the agents of this cla.s.s are depressing in their influence and thus interfere with digestion and healthy nutrition. Their application is very limited, hence we shall dismiss them without further consideration.

LINIMENTS.

Liniments are medicines designed for external application. The benefits arising from their use depend upon their derivative power, as well as upon the anodyne properties which many of them possess, rendering them efficacious for soothing pain. We cannot mention a more valuable agent of this cla.s.s than

DR. PIERCE'S COMPOUND EXTRACT OF SMART-WEED. As an external application this preparation subdues inflammation and relieves pain. For all wounds, bruises, sprains, bee-stings, insect and snake-bites, frost-bites, chilblains, caked breast, swollen glands, rheumatism, and, in short, for any and all ailments, whether afflicting man or beast, requiring a direct external application, either to allay inflammation or soothe pain, the Extract of Smart-weed cannot be excelled.

NARCOTICS.

A narcotic is a remedy which, in _medicinal_ doses, allays morbid sensibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but which, in overdoses, produces coma, convulsions, and death. The quant.i.ty necessary to produce these results varies in different individuals. We shall mention a few of those most frequently employed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 134.

Henbane.]

HENBANE (_Hyoscyamus Niger_). The leaves and seeds are used. Henbane, in large doses, is a powerful narcotic and dangerously poisonous. In medicinal doses, it is anodyne and antispasmodic; it allays pain, induces sleep, and arrests spasms. _Dose_--Of the fluid extract, five to ten drops; of the solid extract, from one-half to one grain; of the concentrated principle, Hyoscyamin, from one-twelfth to one-fourth of a grain.

INDIAN HEMP (_Cannabis Indica_). An East Indian plant. _Dose_--Of the extract, from one-fourth to one-half grain, of the tincture, from three to eight drops; of the fluid extract, from two to five drops. The plant known as Indian Hemp, growing in this country, possesses very different qualities.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 135.

Stramonium. ]

STRAMONIUM (_Datura Stramonium_). Stramonium, also known as Thorn-apple, in large doses is a powerful narcotic poison. In medicinal doses it acts as an anodyne and antispasmodic

_Dose_--Of extract of the leaves, from one-half to one grain; of the fluid extract, from three to six drops.

NERVINES.

These are medicines which act on the nervous system, soothing excitement and quieting the condition known as "nervousness."

HOPS (_Humulus Lupulus_). _Dose_--Of infusion, one to three ounces; of the fluid extract, one-fourth to one-half teaspoonful of the concentrated principle, Humulin, two to three grains.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 136.

Scull-cap. ]

SCULL-CAP. (_Scutellaria Lateriolia_). The herb is used. It is also known as Mad-dog Weed. This is a valuable remedy. _Dose_--Of infusion, one to two ounces, of the fluid extract, ten to twenty drops; of the concentrated principle, _Scutellarin_, one to two grains.

LADY'S SLIPPER (_Cypripedium p.u.b.escens_). The root is used. _Dose_--Of the infusion, one-half to one-ounce; of THE fluid extract, one-fourth to one-half teaspoonful; of the concentrated principle, Cypripedin, one to two grains.

PULSATILLA (_Pulsatilla Nigricans)._ We employ the German tincture, prepared from the green herb. In many of the distressing nervous complications to which both males and females are subject in certain diseases of the generative organs, we have found it very effectual. The dose is from two to eight drops.

DR. PIERCE'S FAVORITE PRESCRIPTION. This is a tonic nervine of unsurpa.s.sed efficacy, combined in such a manner, that, while it quiets nervous irritation, it strengthens the enfeebled nervous system, restoring it to healthful vigor. In all diseases involving the female reproductive organs, with which there is usually a.s.sociated an irritable condition of the nervous system, it is unsurpa.s.sed as a remedy. It is also a uterine and general tonic of great excellence. It is sold by all druggists.

SEDATIVES.

Sedatives are a cla.s.s of agents which control excitation of the circulation, and diminish irritability of the nervous system.

ACONITE (_Aconitum Napellus_), The parts used are the root and leaves.

Aconite slows the pulse, diminishes arterial tension, and lowers the temperature of the body in fevers. It is an effectual remedy in acute inflammation of the tonsils and throat, in acute bronchitis, in inflammation of the lungs, and pleurisy, in the hot stage of intermittent and remittent fevers, in the eruptive fevers, in fever arising from a cold, and in some forms of neuralgia. Acute suppression of the menses from a cold, may be relieved by the tincture of aconite in drop doses every hour. _Dose_--Of the tincture of the root, from one-half of a drop to two drops, in a spoonful of water, in acute fevers and inflammations, from one-half drop to one drop should be administered every half hour or hour, according to the severity of the symptoms.

PEACH TREE (_Amygdalus Persica_). Peach tree leaves and bark are slightly sedative, but the chief use which we have found for these articles is to control nausea and vomiting arising from irritability of the stomach. It also possesses mild, tonic properties. _Dose_--Of infusion at the bark of the small twigs or of the leaves, from two to six teaspoonfuls.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 137.

American h.e.l.lebore. ]

AMERICAN h.e.l.lEBORE (_Veratrum Viride_) is also known as White h.e.l.lebore, Indian Poke, or Swamp h.e.l.lebore. The root is the part used. It is a most valuable agent with which to control the frequent, strong, bounding pulse common to many febrile and inflammatory diseases. When the pulse is hard, incompressible, and bounding, this remedy is more effectual than aconite. _Dose_--Of the tincture and fluid extract, from one to two drops, repeated every half hour to two hours, according to the severity of the symptoms. This remedy should be given in very small doses, frequently repeated, if we would secure its best effects. Our favorite mode of administering both veratrum and aconite is to add ten drops of the tincture to ten or fifteen teaspoonfuls of water, of which one teaspoonful may be administered every hour.

YELLOW JESSAMINE (_Gelseminum Sempervirens_). The root is the part used.

Through its controlling effect over the sympathetic nervous system, this agent exerts a marked influence in controlling morbid excitability of the circulatory organs. It allays irritation, and determination of blood to the brain, indicated by flushed face, contracted pupils, irritability, and restlessness, a frequent condition in diseases incident to childhood. Its concentrated principle, Gelsemin, is an efficient remedy in b.l.o.o.d.y-flux or dysentery. It should be administered in very small doses to secure the best results. Only one-sixteenth to one-eighth of a grain is required, repeated every two hours. It should be triturated with sugar of milk or with common white sugar, in the proportion of one grain to ten of sugar. _Dose_--Of tincture, from five to fifteen drops; of fluid extract, three to six drops; of Gelsemin, as a sedative, one-fourth to one-half grain.

STIMULANTS.

Stimulants are medicines which have the power of increasing the vital activity of the body. Some have a very transient action, while others are more permanent in effect.

CAYENNE PEPPER (_Capsic.u.m Annuum_). Cayenne Pepper is a powerful stimulant. _Dose_--Of the powder, from one to six grains, administered in milk; of the tincture, from five to ten drops, largely diluted in milk or water.

BLACK PEPPER (_Piper Nigrum_). Black Pepper is a warm, carminative stimulant. _Dose_--From five to fifteen grains; of the fluid extract, from ten to fifteen drops.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 138.

p.r.i.c.kly-ash. ]

p.r.i.c.kLY-ASH (_Xanthoxylum Fraxineum)._ p.r.i.c.kly-ash bark is a stimulant and tonic. The parts used are the bark and leaves. _Dose_--Of the fluid extract, from five to fifteen drops; of the tincture, ten to twenty drops; of the active principle, Xanthoxylin, one to two grains.

ALCOHOL is a powerful stimulant. It is never used in its pure state in medicine, but when diluted forms a useful remedy in many diseases. It is generally employed in the form of whiskey, gin, rum, brandy, and wine.

AMMONIA is an excellent stimulant. _Dose_--Of the carbonate, from three to five grains; of the sesquicarbonate, from five to ten grains; this is the same as the carbonate, which has been exposed to the air and slacked (powdered hartshorn); of the aromatic spirit, from one-half to one teaspoonful. The Aqua Ammonia and Liquor Ammonia are of such variable strength that they are seldom employed internally, but may be applied externally and taken by inhalation.

DR. PIERCE'S COMPOUND EXTRACT OF SMART-WEED. This quickly diffusible stimulant and genial anodyne we have spoken of under the head of Anodynes. But its medicinal properties equally ent.i.tle it to a place and mention under the cla.s.s of stimulants. As a stimulant it spurs the nervous system and arouses the circulatory forces. Congestion of the lungs, liver, bowels, or uterus, embarra.s.ses the functions of these organs. Frequently this congestive difficulty may be entirely obviated, and the circulation of the blood restored to the surface of the body, by the administration of a few doses of this pleasant remedy. Thus it often acts like magic in giving relief, promoting the circulation, and restoring the organs to their accustomed functional activity. Full directions accompany every bottle.

TONICS.