Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 292

=Wafers.= (In Cookery.) _Prep._ Make fine flour, dried and sifted, into a smooth thin batter with good milk, or a little cream-and-water; add about as much white wine as will make it thick enough for pancakes, sweeten it with a little loaf sugar, and flavour it with powdered cinnamon. When thus prepared have the wafer-irons made ready, by being heated over a charcoal fire; rub them with a piece of linen cloth dipped in b.u.t.ter; then pour a spoonful of the batter upon them, and close them almost immediately; turn them upon the fire, and pare the edges with a knife, if any of the batter oozes out. A short time will bake them, when the irons are perfectly heated. The wafers must be curled round whilst warm when they are for ornaments. 'Wafer paper' is prepared in a similar way to the above; but when intended to be kept for some time, the milk must be omitted. Used by cooks, &c.; and, recently, as an envelope for nauseous medicines.

=Wafers, Da Silva's.= These nostrums were introduced to the public some time ago, as though they were prepared from the formulae of a celebrated physician whose name was affixed to them.[256] There are three varieties, which are said to be prepared as follows:

[Footnote 256: For an exposition of the Da Silva quackery, with Or Loc.o.c.k's letter on the subject, see the 'Anat. of Quackery,' or the 'Med.

Cir.,' ii, 106-126.]

1. APERIENT OR ANTIBILIOUS WAFERS. From sugar and extract of liquorice (Spanish juice), equal parts; senna and jalap, of each in fine powder, about 1/2 dr. to every oz. of sugar employed; made into a ma.s.s with a concentrated infusion of senna, and divided into 12-gr. lozenges or squares with the corners rounded off.

2. FEMALE WAFERS. From sugar, h.o.r.ehound candy (or honey), and aperient wafer ma.s.s, equal parts; beaten to a proper consistence with weak gum water, to which a little orange-flower water has been added, and divided into 8 gr. tabellae, as before.

3. PULMONIC WAFERS. From lump sugar and starch, of each in powder, 2 parts; powdered gum, 1 part; made into a lozenge-ma.s.s with vinegar of squills, oxymel of squills, and ipecacuanha wine, equal parts, gently evaporated to 1-6th their weight, with the addition of lactucarium in the proportion of 20 to 30 gr. to every oz. of the dry powders, the ma.s.s being divided into half-inch squares, weighing about 7-1/2 gr. each (when dry), as before.

=WAL'NUT.= The _Juglans regia_, a tree of the natural order _Juglandaceae_.

The sap yields sugar; the fruit is the walnut; the kernels of the latter are eaten and pressed for their oil; the peel or husks are used for 'rooting' or dyeing brown; the unripe fruit is pickled, and its juice is used as a hair dye; the leaves are reputed diaph.o.r.etic and antisyphilitic; and the wood is esteemed for cabinet work.

=WARBURG'S FEVER DROPS.= See TINCTURE, WARBURG'S FEVER.

=WARD'S RED DROP.= A strong solution of emetic tartar in wine.

=WARTS.= _Syn._ VERRUCae, L. These chiefly attack the hands, and may be removed by the daily use of a little nitrate of silver, nitric acid, or aromatic vinegar, as directed under CORNS. The first of the above applications produces a black stain, and the second a yellow one; both of which, however, wear off after the lapse of some days. Acetic acid scarcely discolours the skin. Erasmus Wilson, the eminent surgeon and talented author of several works on the skin, mentions the case of a gentleman who removed an entire crop of warts from his knuckles and fingers by subjecting them to a succession of sparks from one of the poles of an electrical machine. "He was in the habit, as is usual, of trying the amount of electric fluid collected in his machine by placing his knuckle near the bra.s.s k.n.o.b, and receiving a spark. Observing that an odd sensation was produced whenever the spark struck a wart, he was tempted for amus.e.m.e.nt to give them a round of discharges. When his attention was next directed to his hands he found, to his surprise and satisfaction, that all the warts had disappeared." Dr Peez, of Wiesbaden, recommends the internal use of carbonate of magnesia in cases of warts.

The papular eruption which covers the hands of some persons, and which is occasionally called 'soft warts,' is best removed by the daily use of Gowlard's lotion.

=WASH.= The fermented wort of the distiller.

=WASH-b.a.l.l.s.= See SAVONETTES.

=WASH-BOTTLE.= The principle of this very common and indispensable laboratory utensil, by which precipitates are washed, will be readily understood by reference to No. 1 of the engravings below.

The bottle being two thirds filled with distilled waters by blowing into the shorter tube, _b_, a small jet of water is forced through the nozzle of the longer tube, _c_. We give the following directions for the construction of a WASH-BOTTLE, from Mr Clowes' excellent little manual, ent.i.tled 'An Elementary Treatise on Practical Chemistry,'[257]--"A thin, flat-bottomed flask is chosen, of 16 or 18 ounces capacity; the neck must not be less than an inch in diameter. Procure a sound cork, which is slightly too large to enter the neck, soften the cork by placing it upon the floor and rolling it backwards and forwards under the foot with gentle pressure; when thus softened the cork must fit tightly into the flask.[258] Two pieces of gla.s.s tubing rather longer than would be required for the tubes _a_ and _b_ are then bent into the form shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the tubes are, if necessary, cut off to the right length, and their sharp edges rounded by holding them in the Bunsen flame, or the tip of the blowpipe flame.

[Footnote 257: J. and A. Churchill, New Burlington Street.]

[Footnote 258: "A vulcanized india-rubber stopper is much more durable for this and most other chemical processes. It is perforated by a sharp, well-wetted cork bore, or by a wetted round file."]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 1, FIG. 2. and FIG. 3.]

"Two parallel holes are then bored in the cork by means of a round file, or by a proper size cork-borer: the holes must be rather smaller than the gla.s.s tubes, and must not run into one another, or to the outside of the cork. They are slightly enlarged, if necessary, by the round file. Into these holes the tubes _a_ and _b_ are then pushed with a twisting motion; if the holes have been made of the proper size the tubes must enter somewhat stiffly, but without requiring much pressure. Upon the upper end of a is fitted a small piece of india-rubber tubing, about an inch and a half in length, and into the other end of this is a finished short jet (_c_) made by drawing out a piece of gla.s.s tubing in the flame; its nozzle may be constructed, if necessary, by holding it perfectly dry in the flame for some time. The neck of the bottle should then be bound round with twine, like the handle of a cricket-bat, or tightly covered with a piece of flannel. This prevents the fingers from being burnt when the bottle contains boiling water."

We append below some varieties of was.h.i.+ng bottles. The round-bottomed are in more general requisition than the flat-bottomed description; although this latter presents the advantage of standing more firmly, and, if boiling water be required, of furnis.h.i.+ng it more quickly than the bottle with the round base.

In some laboratories earthenware bottles are in use. These are not so easily broken as those made of gla.s.s, but, unlike these latter, water cannot be boiled in them, neither can we see whether they be full or empty.

=WASHERWOMAN'S SCALL.= See PSORIASIS.

=WASHES.= The familiar name of lotions, more especially of those employed as cosmetics. See FRECKLES, LOTION, MILK OF ROSES, SKIN COSMETICS, &c., and the following page.

=Washes, Hair.= _Prep._ 1. From rosemary tops, 2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint; infused together in a teapot or jug, either with or without the addition of rectified spirit, 1 fl. oz. (or rum, 2 fl. oz.) to the cold strained liquor.

2. Box leaves, a small handful; boiling water, 1 pint; digest for an hour, simmer 10 minutes, and strain. Both are used to improve the growth of and to strengthen the hair.

3. To clean the 'partings,' remove scurf, &c.--_a._ (ANTIPITYRIENNE.) From sesquicarbonate of ammonia, 1 oz.; spirit of rosemary, 1/2 pint; rose of elder-flower water, 1-1/2 pint.

_b._ (DETERGENT ESSENCE.) From honey, 2 oz.; borax, 1 oz.; cochineal (bruised), 1/4 oz.; camphor, 1 dr.; (dissolved in) rectified spirit, 2 fl.

oz.; soft water, 3/4 pint; oil of rosemary, 20 drops.

_c._ (VEGETABLE EXTRACT.) Take of salt of tartar, 1 oz.; rosemary water, 1 pint; burnt sugar, q. s. to tinge it brown; dissolve, filter, and add of essence of musk, 10 drops.

4. To darken the hair.--_a._ From pyrogallic acid, 1/4 oz.; distilled water, orange-flower water, and rectified spirit, of each 1-1/4 fl. oz.

_b._ (LA FOREST'S COSMETIC LOTION or LIQUID HAIR DYE.) Boil, for a few minutes, chloride of sodium, 1 dr., and sulphate of iron, 2 dr., in red wine, 1 lb.; then add of verdigris, 1 dr.; in 2 or 3 minutes remove it from the fire, and further add of powdered galls, 2 dr.; the next day filter. For use, moisten the hair with the liquid; in a few minutes dry it with a cloth, and afterwards wash the skin with water.

5. To prevent the hair falling off.--_a._ (AMERICAN SHAMPOO LIQUID.) Take of carbonate of ammonia, 1/2 oz.; carbonate of potash, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; dissolve, and add the solution to a mixture of tincture of cantharides, 5 fl. oz.; rectified spirit, 1 pint; good rum, 3 quarts. Used to strengthen the hair and to remove dandruff, by moistening it with the mixture, rubbing so as to form a lather, and then was.h.i.+ng with cold water.

_b._ (BALM OF COLUMBIA.) As the last, omitting the potash, quadrupling the carbonate of ammonia, and adding some perfume.

_c._ (Eras. Wilson.) Eau de Cologne (strongest), 8 fl. oz.; tincture of cantharides, 1 fl. oz.; oils of rosemary and lavender, of each 1/2 fl. dr.

_d._ (Dr LOc.o.c.k'S LOTION.) From expressed oil of mace (nutmeg), 1 oz., liquefied, at a gentle heat, with olive oil, 1/2 oz.; and, when cold, formed into an emulsion by agitation, with rose water, 1/4 pint; spirit of rosemary, 2-1/2 fl. oz.; stronger liquor of ammonia, 1-1/2 fl. dr. For other formulae, see BALDNESS, HAIR DYES, LOTION, &c.

=Washes, Medicinal.= See LOTION, &c.

=Washes, Mouth.= _Syn._ TOOTH WASHES; COLLUTORIA, L. _Prep._ 1. Take of camphor (cut small), 1/4 oz.; rectified spirit, 2 fl. oz; dissolve. A few drops to be added to a wine-gla.s.sful of water, to sweeten the breath and preserve the teeth.

2. Chloride of lime, 1/2 oz.; water, 2 fl. oz.; agitate well together in a phial for 1/2 an hour, filter, and add, of rectified spirit, 2 fl. oz.; rose or orange-flower water, 1 fl. oz. Used, highly diluted with water, as the last, by smokers and persons having a foul breath.

3. Mastic (in powder), 2 dr.; balsam of Peru, 1/2 dr.; gum, 2 dr., or q. s.; orange-flower water, 6 fl. oz.; tincture of myrrh, 2 fl. dr.; for an emulsion. In loose teeth, &c.

4. Tannin, 1/2 dr.; tincture of tolu, 2 fl. dr.; tincture of myrrh, 6 fl.

dr.; spirit of horseradish, 2 fl. oz.; mix. In spongy gums, scurvy, &c.; diluted with tepid water.

5. (Swediaur.) Borax, 1/4 oz.; water and tincture of myrrh, of each 1 fl.

oz.; honey of roses, 2 oz. In tender or ulcerated gums.

6. Balsam of Peru, 2 dr.; camphor, 1/2 dr.; essence of musk and liquor of ammonia, of each 1/2 fl. dr.; tincture of myrrh, 3 fl. dr.; spirit of horseradish, 1-1/2 fl. oz. To sweeten and perfume the breath; a teaspoonful in 1/2 winegla.s.sful of tepid water to rinse the mouth with.

=Washes for the Nose.= _Syn._ NASAL DOUCHES, COLLUNARIA. The following formulae medicinally employed for the purpose of was.h.i.+ng or rinsing out the nostrils are from the 'Pharmacopia of the Throat Hospital.'

In applying them it is directed that "not more than twenty ounces of fluid should ever be used for a nasal douche, and ten ounces are generally sufficient. If an apparatus on the syphon principle be applied, it should be placed only just above the level of the patient's head, in order to avoid too great force of current. The temperature of the fluid should be about 90 F."

NASAL DOUCHE OF TANNIC ACID. _Syn._ COLLUNARIUM ACIDI TANNICI. _Prep._ Tannic acid, 3 grams; water, 1 oz.; dissolve.--_Use._ Astringent

NASAL DOUCHE OF ALUM. _Syn._ COLLUNARIUM ALUMINIS. _Prep._ Alum, 4 grams; water, 1 oz.; dissolve.--_Use._ As a mild astringent.

NASAL DOUCHE OF PERMANGANATE OF POTASH. _Syn._ COLLUNARIUM POTa.s.sae PERMANGANATIS. _Prep._ Solution of permanganate of potash (B. P.), 6 minims. Water to 1 oz.; mix.--_Use._ Detergent.

NASAL DOUCHE OF QUININE. _Syn._ COLLUNARIUM QUINIae. _Prep._ Sulphate of quinine, 1/2 grain; water, 1 oz. Dissolve by the aid of a gentle heat.

This solution is occasionally useful in hay-fever. It is generally sufficient to place a little in the palm of the hand and draw it up through the nose.