Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 156

There is a remarkable relation between the specific gravity of a body in the gaseous state and its chemical equivalent or combining proportion--a relation of such a kind that quant.i.ties by weight of the various gases, expressed by their equivalents, or, in other words, quant.i.ties by weight which combine occupy, under similar circ.u.mstances of pressure and temperature, either equal volumes or volumes bearing a simple proportion to each other. This relation accounts for the law of COMBINATION BY VOLUME discovered by Gay-Lussac, and thus expressed:--

When gases combine, chemical union invariably takes place, either between equal volumes or between volumes which bear a simple relation to each other.

Gerhardt a.s.sumes that equal volumes of the elementary gases and vapours, when compared under similar conditions of pressure and temperature, contain the same number of atoms. Consult the chemical works of Fownes, Roscoe, Watts, &c. See AFFINITY, ATOMIC THEORY, EQUIVALENTS, &c.

=COMPOUND CHINESE TABLET OF ALABASTER= (John Irvine). A cosmetic powder for the skin. It consists of chalk, free from injurious metals.

(Chandler).

=Compound Chinese Tablet of Alabaster= (Shand). Identical in use and composition with the last-mentioned powder.

=COMPOUND SUGAR-COATED MAY-APPLE PILLS= (Dr Scott). Recommended as "antibilious, cathartic, chemical family pills." Sugar-coated pills, consisting of bitter extract, powdered podophyllum root, rhubarb, jalap, and pepper. (Hager).

=COMPRESSES DESINFECTANTES DE LE PERDRIEL.= Charcoal powder incorporated with paper.

=CONCENTRATED CASTOR OIL in Capsules of Gelatin= (Taylor). 24 gelatin capsules filled with castor oil, containing 5 per cent. of croton oil.

(Hager).

=CONCENTRA'TION.= The volatilisation of part of a liquid in order to increase the strength of the remainder. The operation can only be performed on solutions of substances of greater fixity than the menstrua in which they are dissolved. Many of the liquid acids, solutions of the alkalies, &c., are concentrated by distilling off their water.

In _pharmacy_, the term CONCENTRATED is commonly applied to any liquid preparation possessing more than the usual strength. Thus, we have concentrated infusions, decoctions, liquors, solutions, tinctures, and essences, most of which are made of 8 times the common strength. This is generally effected by using 8 times the usual quant.i.ty of the ingredients, with a given portion of the menstruum, and operating by digestion and percolation; the latter being generally adopted when the articles are bulky. When the menstruum is water, a little spirit is added, to make the product keep. See DECOCTION, INFUSION, &c.

=CON'CRETE.= A compact ma.s.s or cement, composed of pebbles, lime, and sand, employed in the foundations of buildings. The best proportions have been said to be--60 parts of coa.r.s.e pebbles, 25 of rough sand, and 15 of lime; but Semple recommends 80 parts of pebbles, 40 parts of river sand, and only 10 parts of lime. The pebbles for concrete should not exceed about 1/2 lb. each in weight.

=CON'DIMENTS.= Substances taken with the food, to season or improve its flavour, or to render it more wholesome or digestible. The princ.i.p.al condiments are COMMON SALT, VINEGAR, LEMON-JUICE, SPICES, AROMATIC HERBS, OIL, b.u.t.tER, SUGAR, HONEY, and SAUCES. Most of these, in moderation, promote the appet.i.te and digestion, but their excessive use tends to vitiate the gastric juice, and injure the stomach.

=CONDY'S FLUID= (from England). A weak solution of permanganate of soda.

(Wittstein.)

=CONFEC'TION.= _Syn._ CONFECTIO, L. Anything prepared with sugar; a sweetmeat, or candy. In _medicine_ the name is commonly applied to substances, usually pulverulent, mixed up to the consistence of a soft electuary, with powdered sugar, syrup, or honey. In the 'London Pharmacopia' (1836 and 1851) both CONSERVES and ELECTUARIES are included under this head, though there appears to be some little distinction between them.

In the preparation of confections all the dry ingredients should be reduced to very fine powder, and pa.s.sed through a sieve, not coa.r.s.er than 80 holes to the inch; and the pulps and syrups used to mix them up should be perfectly h.o.m.ogeneous, and of a proper consistence. The mixture should be intimate and complete, in order that the characteristic const.i.tuents may be equally distributed throughout the ma.s.s. The consistence of the newly made confection should be sufficiently solid to prevent a separation of the ingredients, and yet soft enough to allow of it being easily swallowed without previous mastication.

Confections should be preserved in stone jars covered with writing paper, and placed in a cool and not too dry a situation. Without this precaution they are apt to mould on the top. If at any time the ma.s.s ferments and swells up, the fermentative process may be arrested by placing the jar in a bath of boiling water, for an hour or two, or until the whole becomes pretty hot; when it should be removed from the heat, and stirred occasionally until cold. Should the sugar crystallise out of the confection, or 'candy,' as it is called, the same method may be followed.

Or, the ma.s.s may be well rubbed in a mortar until the hard lumps of sugar are broken down and a uniform consistence again produced. On the large scale it may be pa.s.sed through the mill.

As remedial agents, the officinal confections possess little value, and are chiefly used as vehicles for the administration of more active medicines. See CONSERVES and ELECTUARIES.

=Confection of Acorns.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO SEM'INUM QUER'CUS, L. _Prep._ (Bories.) Powdered acorns, 3 oz.; red coral and catechu, of each 1-1/2 oz.; confection of dog-rose, 10 oz.; syrup of red roses, q. s. to make a confection.--_Dose_, 1 dr., every 4 hours; in chronic diarrha, &c.

=Confection of Almonds.= _Syn._ ALMOND PASTE, CONSERVE OF ALMONDS; CONFEC'TIO AMYG'DALae (Ph. L.), CONSER'VA AMYGDALA'RUM (Ph. E.), CONFEC'TIO AMYGDALA"RUM (Ph. D. 1826), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L.) Sweet almonds, 8 oz.; white sugar, 4 oz.; powdered gum Arabic, 1 oz.; macerate the almonds in cold water, then remove the skins, and beat them with the other ingredients until reduced to a smooth confection. The Ph. E. form is similar. See POWDERS, COMPOUND POWDER OF ALMOND.

_Uses, &c._ To prepare EMULSION of MILK OF ALMONDS. A little of this paste or powder, triturated with a sufficient portion of water and strained through a piece of calico, forms emulsion of almonds. "This confection will keep longer sound if the almonds, first decorticated (blanched), dried, and rubbed into the finest powder, be mixed with the acacia and sugar, separately powdered, and the mixed ingredients be kept in a well-stoppered bottle." (Ph. L.) The same effect may be arrived at by simply well drying the blanched almonds before mixing them with the gum and sugar. The addition of even a small quant.i.ty of water or syrup causes the confection "to become soon mouldy, or rancid, or both." (Brande.)

=Confection of Al'um.= _Syn._ CONFECTIO ALU'MINIS, L. _Prep._ 1. (St. B.

H.) Alum (in fine powder), 1 dr.; conserve of roses, 6 dr.

2. (Foy.) Alum, 1 dr.; conserve of roses, 1 oz.--_Dose_, 1 dr., 2 or 3 times a day; in lead colic, and as an astringent in diarrha and other affections.

=Confection, Aromat'ic.= _Syn._ AROMATIC ELEC'TUARY; CONFEC'TIO AROMAT'ICA (Ph. L. & D.), ELECTUA"RIUM AROMAT'Ic.u.m (Ph. E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Nutmegs, cinnamon, and hay saffron, of each 2 oz.; cloves, 1 oz.; cardamoms, 1/2 oz.; prepared chalk, 16 oz.; white sugar, 2 lbs.; reduce the whole to a very fine powder, and keep it in a closed vessel. When wanted for use, mix it with water to the consistence of a confection.

2. (Ph. E.) Aromatic powder (Ph. E.), 1 part; syrup of orange peel, 2 parts; mix.

3. (Ph. D.) Aromatic powder and simple syrup, of each 5 oz.; clarified honey, 2 oz.; powdered saffron, 1/2 oz.; mix, and add, oil of cloves, 30 drops.

4. (Commercial.)--_a._ Hay-saffron, ca.s.sia, and turmeric, of each 4 oz.; cardamoms, 1 oz.; starch, 8 oz.; precipitated chalk, 2 lbs.; white sugar, 4 lbs.; oil of nutmeg, 2 dr.; oil of cloves, 3 dr.; reduce the dry ingredients to fine powder, and pa.s.s it through a sieve (80 holes); then add the oils, and after well mixing them in, pa.s.s the whole through a coa.r.s.e sieve (about 40 holes to the inch), to ensure perfect admixture.

_b._ Hay-saffron, 4 oz.; turmeric, 3 oz.; powdered starch, 8 oz.; precipitated chalk, 2 lbs.; white sugar, 4 lbs; oil of cloves and ca.s.sia, of each 3 dr.; oil of nutmeg, 2 dr.; essence of cardamoms, 1 oz.; boil the saffron and turmeric in 1 gallon of water, placed in a bright copper pan, for 10 minutes, then, without straining, add the chalk, starch, and sugar; mix well, and continue stirring until the mixture becomes quite stiff, then break it up, dry it thoroughly by the heat of a steam or water bath; next reduce it to fine powder, which must be pa.s.sed through a fine sieve, as before; the oils and tincture are now to be added, and after being well mixed, and pa.s.sed through a coa.r.s.e sieve, it should be placed in a jar or bottle, and bunged up close. Very bright coloured.

_Obs._ In the wholesale trade this article is kept under two forms--one, in powder, as ordered by the College, and commonly called for distinction sake PULV'IS CONFECTIO'NIS AROMAT'ICae; the other, mixed up ready for use.

In preparing the latter, it is a common plan to make a strong infusion or decoction of the saffron, and to use it to mix up the other ingredients, adding the aromatics last. (See 4, _b._) When the price of precipitated chalk is an objection to its use, prepared chalk may be used instead.

There is much anxiety evinced by the wholesale druggists to prepare this confection of a rich colour, without an undue expenditure of saffron, which is generally economised on account of its costliness. This confection is cordial, stimulant, antacid, and carminative.--_Dose_, 10 to 60 gr., either as a bolus or stirred up with a gla.s.s of water; in diarrha, acidity of stomach, heartburn, and any like affection, if accompanied by looseness of the bowels. In diarrha, English cholera, and flatulent colic, 1/4 gr. of powdered opium may be added to each dose. See POWDERS, POWDER OF CHALK, COMPOUND.

=Confection of Bark.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO CINCHO'Nae, L. _Prep._ 1. Yellow bark and white sugar, of each 1 oz.; capsic.u.m, 1 dr.; simple syrup, 4 oz.

2. (St. B. Hosp.) Yellow bark, 6 dr.; ginger, 1/2 dr.; treacle, 3-1/2 oz.--_Dose_, 1 to 6 dr., where the use of bark is indicated.

=Confection of Cas'sia.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO CAS'SIae (Ph. L.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. L.) Prepared ca.s.sia, 1/2 lb.; manna, 2 oz.; prepared tamarinds, 1 oz.; syrup of roses, 8 fl. oz.; mix with heat, and evaporate to a proper consistence.--_Dose_, 2 dr. to 6 dr.; or more, as a laxative.

=Confection of Cat'echu.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO CAT'ECHU COMPOS'ITA (Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ (Ph. D.) Compound powder of catechu, 5 oz.; simple syrup, 5 fl.

oz.--_Dose_, 10 gr. to 20 gr.; as an astringent, in diarrha, &c.; either alone or combined with chalk.

=Confection of Copai'ba.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO COPAI'Bae, L. _Prep._ 1.

(Berton.) Copaiba and powdered cubebs, of each 2 oz.; alum, 1 oz.; opium, 5 gr.; mix well.

2. (Swediaur.) Turpentine, 1 oz.; copaiba, 1/2 oz.; mix; add mucilage of gum Arabic, 1 oz.; triturate to an emulsion, and further add, conserve of roses, 4 oz.

3. (Traill.) Copaiba, 2 oz.; oatmeal, q. s. to form an electuary; then add, conserve of roses, 1 oz.

4. (Voght.) Copaiba and powdered cubebs, of each 4-1/2 dr.; yolk of 1 egg; conserve of roses, 1/2 oz. All the above are excellent medicines in gonorrha.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 dr., three or four times a day, made into boluses, and covered with the fresh emptied skin of a prune before being swallowed; in gonorrha, gleet, &c.

=Confection of Cream of Tar'tar.= _Syn._ CONFECTION OF BITAR'TRATE OF POTAS'SA; CONFEC'TIO POTAS'Sae BITARTRA'TIS, L. _Prep._ 1. Cream of tartar and powdered sugar, of each 1 oz.; simple syrup, 2 oz.; 1 nutmeg, grated.--_Dose_, 2 dr. to 6 dr.

2. (St. B. Hosp.) Bitartrate of pota.s.sa and simple syrup, of each 3 oz.; ginger, 1 dr.--_Dose_, 1-1/2 dr. to 5 dr. Both are laxatives well adapted for women and children.

=Confection of Hem'lock.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO CO'NII, L. _Prep._ (Marshall Hall.) Fresh hemlock leaves beaten up with an equal weight of sugar.--_Dose_, 10 to 20 gr. as a bolus, 2 or 3 times daily, where the use of hemlock is indicated. The confection of other narcotic plants may be made in the same way.

=Confection of Hips.= _Syn._ CON'SERVE OF HIPS, CONFECTION OF DOG-ROSE, CONSERVE OF D.-R.; CONFEC'TIO RO'Sae; CANI'Nae (Ph. L.), CONSER'VA ROS'ae FRUC'TS (Ph. E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (B. P.) Hips, 1 part; refined sugar, 2 parts; beat the hips in a stone mortar, rub the pulp through a sieve, add the sugar, and mix thoroughly.--_Dose_, 60 grains or more.

2. (Ph. L.) Fruit of the dog-rose, without the seeds (carpels), 1 lb.; pound it to a pulp, add, gradually, powdered white sugar, 20 oz.; and beat them together until thoroughly incorporated.

3. (Ph. E.) Pulp of hips, 1 part; white sugar, 3 parts; as No. 1.

4. (Wholesale.) Pulped hips, 2 cwt.; fine white sugar, 3 cwt.; incorporate them without applying heat.

_Obs._ Both this and the confection of red roses have a brighter colour, if made without heat, or touching metallic vessels. On the small scale it is generally made by beating the ingredients together in a marble mortar, but in large quant.i.ties by grinding in a mill. Great care must be taken to remove the seeds (carpels) with the hair surrounding them, before pulping the fruit, as they are apt, like the hairs of cowhage, when swallowed, to produce vomiting, itching about the a.n.u.s, &c. This conserve is slightly laxative, and is princ.i.p.ally used for forming pills. It is very apt to candy by keeping.

=Confection of Ipecacuan'ha.= _Syn._ CONFEC'TIO IPECACUAN'Hae, L. _Prep._ (Bories.) Ipecacuanha, 12 gr.; sulphur, 20 gr.; orris root, 1 dr.; syrup of mallows and manna, of each 2 oz.--_Dose._ A teaspoonful, 2 or 3 times daily; in hooping-cough, dyspepsia, &c.

=Confection of Iron, Subcarbonate.= (St. B. Hosp.) Subcarbonate (peroxide of iron), 1/2 oz.; treacle, a sufficient quant.i.ty.--_Dose_, 1/2 dr.