Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 170

In preparing compound decoctions those ingredients should be boiled first which least readily give up their active principles to the menstruum, and those which most readily part with them should be added afterwards. In many cases it is proper simply to infuse the more aromatic substances in the hot decoction of the other ingredients, by which means their volatile principles will be better preserved.

Distilled water, or perfectly clean rain water, should alone be used for decoctions, extracts, and infusions. Spring and river water, from containing lime, have much less solvent matter.

The aqueous solutions of organic matter, from the nature of their const.i.tuents, rapidly ferment or putrefy, at the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere. Neither decoctions nor infusions are fit to be used in dispensing, unless made the same day. They should, consequently, be only prepared in small quant.i.ties at a time, and any unconsumed portion should be rejected, as it would be imprudent for the dispenser to risk his own reputation, and the welfare of the patient, by employing an article of dubious quality.

It has of late years become a general practice for the wholesale houses to vend preparations under the name of 'Concentrated Decoctions,' which, with the exception of the compound decoction of aloes, are stated to be of 8 times the pharmacopial strength; so that one drachm of these liquids added to seven drachms of water forms extemporaneous decoctions, professedly resembling those of the pharmacopia. The decoction of aloes is made of only four times the usual strength, as the nature of its composition would not permit of further concentration. Such preparations are, however, very imperfect subst.i.tutes for the freshly made decoctions.

The extreme difficulty of forming concentrated solutions of vegetable matter with bulky ingredients too often leads to the omission of a portion of the materials, or to the practice of concentrating the liquid by long evaporation. In the first case the strength is, of course, less than it should be; and in the second, the quality is injured, and perhaps the preparation is rendered nearly inert by the lengthened exposure to heat, and the consequent volatilisation or decomposition of its active const.i.tuents. The common practice of adding a considerable portion of spirit to these preparations, which is absolutely necessary to preserve them, is also objectionable, as, in many of the cases in which decoctions are prescribed, this article, even in small quant.i.ties, exerts a prejudicial action. Some concentrated decoctions have been recently offered for sale which do not contain alcohol, being preserved by the addition of sulphurous acid, or sulphite of lime.

=Decoction of Alconorque.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ALCONORCO. American alconorque bark, 1/2 oz.; water, 16 oz,; boil to 8 oz., and strain.--_Dose_, 1 oz.

two or three times a day, in phthisis.

=Decoction of Alder.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ALNI. Bark of common alder, 1 oz.; water, 20 oz.; boil to 16 oz.

=Decoction of Alder, Black.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM RHAMNI FRANGULae. Black alder bark, dried, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to 1 pint, and strain.

=Decoction of Al'oes.= _Syn._ COMPOUND D. OF A., BALSAM OF LIFE; BAUME DE VIE, Fr.; DECOCTUM AL'OeS (Ph. E.), D. A. COMPOS'ITUM (B. P. and Ph. D.), L. _Prep._ 1. (B. P.) Extract of liquorice, 1 oz.; extract of socotrine aloes, 2 dr.; powdered myrrh and saffron, of each, 1-1/2 dr.; carbonate of pota.s.sa, 1 dr.; tincture of cardamoms, 8 oz.; water, a sufficiency.

Coa.r.s.ely powder the extract of aloes and myrrh, and put them, together with the carbonate of potash and extract of liquorice, into a covered vessel, with a pint of distilled water; boil gently for five minutes, then add the saffron; let the vessel with contents cool, then add the tincture of cardamoms, and, covering the vessels closely, allow the ingredients to macerate two hours, finally strain through flannel, pouring as much distilled water over the contents of the strainer as will make the product measure 30 oz.

2. (Ph. E.) Aloes, myrrh, and saffron, of each 1 dr.; extract of liquorice, 1/2 oz.; carbonate of pota.s.sa, 40 gr.; water, 16 fl. oz.; boil to 12 fl. oz.; strain, and add of compound tincture of cardamoms 4 fl. oz.

3. (Ph. D.) As No. 1 (nearly), but using hepatic aloes.

A warm cathartic.--_Dose_, 1/2 to 1-1/2 oz.; in habitual costiveness, dyspepsia, jaundice, &c.

_Obs._ By boiling the saffron as ordered by the Dublin and Edinburgh Colleges, nearly the whole of its fragrance is dissipated. A better plan is to macerate it in the tincture for a few days, previously to adding the latter to the decoction of the other ingredients. After the tincture has been strained off from the saffron, the latter may be washed with a little water, to remove any adhering colour and odour, and this may be added to the decoction. The addition of the tincture produces a deposit of mucilaginous and feculent matter, which has been dissolved out of the liquorice, for which reason some houses omit the latter altogether, and supply its place with an equal quant.i.ty of sugar or treacle, and a little colouring. By this method the liquid, after being once obtained clear, will continue so for any length of time.

4. (Wholesale.) Solazzi juice, 1-1/2 lb.; kali (carbonate of pota.s.sa), 4 oz.; hepatic aloes, 5-1/2 oz.; myrrh (small), 5 oz.; water, 4-1/2 galls.; boil to 3 galls., strain through flannel, cool, and add, of compound tincture of cardamoms, 10 pints; previously digested for 10 days on saffron, 2-1/2 oz.; mix well, and add essential oil of nutmeg, 15 drops; oils of ca.s.sia and caraway, of each 10 drops; and oils of cloves and pimento, of each 5 drops; in a week decant the clear portion from the sediment, and preserve it in a cool place.

5. (Concentrated; D. A. CONCENTRA'TUM, L.)--_a._ Lump sugar, 8 oz.; colouring, 1/4 pint; carbonate of potash, 2 oz.; aloes, 3-1/2 oz.; myrrh and saffron, of each 2-1/2 oz.; compound tincture of cardamoms, 1/2 a gall.; water, 3 pints; boil the first five in the water, until reduced to nearly one half; cool, and add the tincture, previously digested for a week, on the saffron; and proceed as above. 14 oz. of extract of liquorice may be used instead of the sugar and colouring.

_b._ Aloes, myrrh, liquorice, and pota.s.sa (all in powder), and saffron as last; compound tincture of cardamoms, 5-3/4 pints; digest a fortnight, and filter. In this way a very odorous and beautiful preparation is produced, which has been much admired. The above are said to possess four times the strength of the College preparation.

=Decoction, Anticol'ic.= _Syn._ ANTICOLIC AP'OZEM, DEGLAND'S COLIC MIXTURE; APOZ'EMA ANTICOL'Ic.u.m, L. _Prep._ Senna leaves, 2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint; simmer gently to 16 fl. oz.; press out the liquor, add sulphate of soda, 1 oz.; syrup of buckthorn, 2 oz.; and strain through flannel. Used by gla.s.sfuls in lead colic, or after poisoning by lead.

=Decoction, Antidar'trous.= Decoction of Bitter Sweet (see _below_).

=Decoction of Apocynum.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM APOCYNI. Root of _Apocynum cannabinum_, 1 oz.; juniper berries, 1 oz.; water, 3 pints. Boil to 2 pints. A wine-gla.s.sful frequently. In dropsy.

=Decoction of Ar'nica.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ARNICae, L. _Prep._ 1. (Swediaur.) Flowers of _Arnica montana_, 1 oz.; water, 3 pints; boil to a quart; filter, and add of syrup of ginger, 3 oz.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 fl. oz. every two or three hours; in aphonia, paralysis of the voluntary muscles, rheumatism, &c.; and as a subst.i.tute for bark in putrid fever, agues, &c.

2. (Ph. Cast. Aust., 1841.) Arnica root, 2 dr.; water, 9 oz.; boil to 6 oz., and strain.--_Dose_, 1 oz.; as the last.

=Decoction of Asparagus.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ASPARAGI. Roots of asparagus, 1 oz.; water, 2 pints; boil for 10 or 15 minutes; diuretic.

=Decoction, Astrin'gent.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ASTRIN'GENS, L. _Prep._ (Swediaur.) Oak-bark, pomegranate peel, and tormentil root, of each 2 dr; water and milk, of each 1 lb.; boil 12 minutes, add of cinnamon, 2 dr.; boil 2 or 3 minutes longer, and strain.--_Dose._ A wine-gla.s.sful.

=Decoction of Avens Root.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM GEI. (Dr A. T. Thompson.) Avens root, 1 oz.; water, 1 pint; boil for 15 minutes, and strain.

=Decoction of Baobab Tree.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM ADANSONIae. Bark of the baobab tree, 6 dr.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil to a pint, and strain. Used as a subst.i.tute for decoction of bark.

=Decoction of Bark.= _Syn._ DECOCTION OF CINCHO'NA; DECOCTUM CINCHO'Nae, L.

_Prep._ 1. Ph. L.:--_a_. (D. OF YELLOW B.; D. CINCHONae, B. P.) Yellow cinchona or calisaya bark (bruised), 1-1/4 _oz._; distilled water, 1 pint; boil for 10 minutes in a lightly covered vessel; when cold, strain and pour on the marc sufficient water to make up 1 pint.

_b._ (D. OF PALE B.; D. C. PALLIDae, Ph. L.) From pale cinchona or loxa bark, as above (_a._)

_c._ (D. OF RED B.; D. C. RUBRae, Ph. L.) From red bark, as above (_a_).

2. (Ph. E.) Brown, grey, yellow, or red cinchona (bruised), 1 oz.; water, 24 fl. oz.; boil for 10 minutes; when cold filter the liquor, and evaporate it to 16 fl. oz.

3. (Ph. D.) From pale or loxa bark, similar to the 'Decoctum cinchonae pallidae' of Ph. L. (1. _b._ _above_).

_Dose, &c._ 1 to 2 fl. oz., 3 or 4 times daily, as a tonic, stomachic, and febrifuge, when the stomach will not bear the administration of bark in powder; in fevers, dyspepsia, convalescence, &c. The plan recommended by the Edinburgh College of filtering the decoction when cold is absurd.

According to Soubeiran, 146 gr. of the deposit thus removed contained 86 gr. soluble in alcohol, and rich in the cinchona alkaloids. This liquid should, therefore, be well shaken before pouring it out for use, instead of being filtered. The addition of a few drops of either sulphuric or hydrochloric acid to the water greatly increases its solvent power, and also, consequently, the medicinal value of this preparation. (See _below_.)

=Decoction of Bark (Acid'ulated).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CINCHONae ACIDULA'TUM, L. _Prep._ 1. To the water for any one of the above, add dilute sulphuric acid, 1-1/2 fl. dr.; boil 10 minutes, and strain whilst hot.

2. (Sir J. Wylie.) Cinchona bark, 1 oz.; water, 16 fl. oz.; diluted sulphuric acid, 1 dr.; as last.

=Decoction of Bark (Facti"tious).= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CINCHONae FACt.i.tIUM, L.

_Prep._ (Ph. Bor.) Willow bark and horse-chestnut bark, of each 1/2 oz.; calamus root and cloves, of each 1/4 oz.; water, 16 fl. oz.; boil to one half. Used as a subst.i.tute for decoction of cinchona bark, but is vastly inferior.

=Decoction of Bark and Ser'pentary.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM CINCHONae c.u.m SERPENTA'RIA, L. _Prep._ (Sir J. Pringle.) Peruvian bark, 3 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil to one half, and infuse in the hot decoction, serpentaria root, 3 dr. As a diaph.o.r.etic stimulant, and tonic, in fevers, and as a gargle in sore throat.

=Decoction of Bar'ley.= _Syn._ BARLEY-WATER; DECOCTUM HOR'DEI (B. P.), L.

_Prep._ 1. (B. P.) Pearl barley, 1 oz. (washed clean); boil for 20 minutes in 15 oz. of water, and strain.

2. (Ph. D.) Similar to above. (See _Obs. below_.)

=Decoction of Barley (Compound.)= _Syn._ PEC'TORAL DECOCTION, FE'VER DRINK; DECOCTUM PECTORA'LE, PTISAN'A COMMU'NIS, DEC. HOR'DEI COMPOS'ITUM (Ph. L.), MISTU'RA HOR'DEI (Ph. E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. L.) Decoction of barley (simple), 1 quart; figs (sliced) and raisins (stoned), of each 2-1/2 oz.; fresh liquorice (sliced), 5 dr.; water, 1 pint; boil to a quart, and strain.

2. (Ph. E.) Pearl barley, 2-1/2 oz.; water, 4-1/2 pints; boil to 3 pints; add figs and raisins, of each 2-1/2 oz.; liquorice root, 5 dr.; water, 1 pint; and boil to 2 pints, as before.

_Obs._ The above are used as demulcents in fevers, phthisis, strangury, &c., taken _ad libitum_. They are slightly laxative, and when this would be an objection to their use, a few drops of laudanum may be added. Mixed with an equal quant.i.ty of decoction of bark, barley-water forms an excellent gargle in cynanche maligna (ulcerated sore throat), and, with a like quant.i.ty of milk and a little sugar, a good subst.i.tute for the breast in dry nursing infants. It is, also, often acidulated with lemon juice or sulphuric acid, and sweetened (Decoctum hordei acidulatum). Gum Arabic, 4 dr., and nitre, 1 dr., to each pint, is a common addition in gonorrha.

Cream of tartar, 1 dr., is occasionally added to render it more aperient.

=Decoction of Bistort.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM BISTORTae. Bistort root, 2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pints; boil 15 or 20 minutes, and strain.--_Dose_, 1 oz. to 2 oz.; astringent.

=Decoction, Bit'ter.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM AMA'RUM, L. _Prep._ 1. Dried tops of lesser centaury and wormwood, and leaves of germander, of each 3 dr.; water, 1-1/4 pint; boil to a pint.

2. Gentian root, 1/2 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; boil 10 minutes, take out the root, slice it, and add it again to the decoction with dried orange peel, 1/4 oz.; boil to 1 pint, and strain.

=Decoction of Bitter Sweet.= _Syn._ ANTIDAR'TROUS AP'OZEM; APOZEMA DULCAMA"Rae, L. _Prep._ (Trousseau and Reveille.) Dulcamara, 1 dr.; water, 16 oz.; boil to 9 oz., and strain. To be taken in three doses during the day. Every other day the quant.i.ty is to be increased until 12 dr. or even 2 oz. are taken daily, "so that the patient may begin to feel dryness of the throat, and some disorder of vision and digestion;" and "continue at this quant.i.ty for several weeks in succession." In obstinate skin diseases. See DECOCTION OF DULCAMARA.

=Decoction of Blue Cardinal Flowers.= _Syn._ DECOCTUM LOBEL'Iae, D. L.

SYPHILIT'ICae, L. _Prep._ 1. (P. Cod.) Root of _Lobelia syphilitica_, 1 handful; water, 12 lb.; boil to 7 lb., and strain.

2. (Swediaur.) Dried root, 5 oz.; water, 12 lb.; as last. Alterative, purgative, and diuretic.