Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 210

=ERB'IUM.= According to Prof. Mosander, the substance usually called yttria is a mixture of the oxides of three metals--yttrium, erbium, and terbium, which differ in the character of their salts, and in some other important particulars. The first is a powerful base; the others, very weak ones. The latter are separated with extreme difficulty, and possess no practical importance.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

=ERDMAN'S FLOAT.= This useful little instrument, invented as its name implies, by Erdman, is used to ensure accuracy in the readings of Mohr's burette.

It is in the form of an elongated gla.s.s bulb, loaded with a globule of mercury at the bottom, the same as a hydrometer, and with a gla.s.s hook at the top, by means of which it can be placed in or removed from the liquid in the burette at pleasure. The float has a circular mark scratched by a diamond, running round the middle, which, when the instrument is placed in the fluid in the burette, should correspond with the graduation or degree on the burette at which the fluid stands. The actual height of the fluid in the burette is of no consequence, since, if the operation be commenced with the line on the float opposite the 0 gradation on the burette, the same proportional division is always maintained. It is most essential that, when the fluid is being drawn off, the float should accompany it in its descent without wavering, and that the circular mark upon it should always be parallel to the graduations of the burette. Another condition is, that when the float has been pressed down in the fluid of the closed burette it should slowly rise again. A correspondent in Liebig's 'Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie' for April, 1875, states that Erdman's floats generally become lined internally with a green or yellow layer, from the oxidation of the mercury, and are thus rendered opaque and consequently useless. He proposes to place the mercury in a distinct cell, hermetically sealed from the upper part of the float which carries the circular mark.

He has had floats of this construction in use for years.[278] See BURETTE.

[Footnote 278: 'Chemical News.']

=EREMACAU'SIS.= Slow burning; decay. This expression was applied by Liebig to the peculiar decomposition which moist organic matter undergoes, when freely exposed to the air, by the oxygen of which it is gradually burned or destroyed, without any sensible elevation of temperature. See PUTREFACTION.

=ER'GOT.= _Syn._ ERGOT OF RYE, SPURRED RYE, HORNED R., c.o.c.kSPUR R., OBSTETRICAL R. ERGOTA (B. P.), L. The diseased seeds of _Secale cereale_ (Linn.), or common rye.

Ergot of rye deteriorates greatly by age, being subject to the attacks of a description of acarus resembling the cheese mite, but much smaller, which destroys the whole of the internal portion of the grain, leaving nothing but the sh.e.l.l, and a considerable quant.i.ty of excrement.i.tious matter. To prevent this the ergot should be well dried, and then placed in bottles or tin canisters, and closely preserved from the air. The addition of a few cloves, or drops of the oil of cloves, or strong acetic acid, or a little camphor, or camphorated spirit of wine, will preserve this substance for years in close vessels. M. Martin proposes to steep the dry ergot in strong mucilage, and then to dry it on a sheet of white iron.

This operation he repeats once or oftener, and finally preserves the prepared and thoroughly dried ergot in a well-corked gla.s.s flask. ('Jour.

de Chimie Med.') The wholesale druggists generally keep it in well-covered tin canisters or tin boxes.

H. Ducros ('Zeitschr. des Oesterr. Apoth. Ver.,' 1876-8), on the strength of many years' experience, recommends powdered wood-charcoal for the preservation of ergot of rye.

The ergot is placed in a wide-mouth stoppered bottle, and covered with a thick layer of the powdered charcoal. Whenever it is required for use some of the ergot is transferred to a piece of paper, and freed from the adhering charcoal by blowing and rubbing. What is not required is returned to the bottle.

N. B. Gionovie ('Zeitschr. des Oesterr. Apoth. Ver.,' 1876, 126) states he has used the following process with the best success. A small quant.i.ty of ether is dropped on the ergot contained in a bottle, and the latter closed with a well-fitting stopper. The addition of ether is repeated every time the bottle is opened.

Ergot of rye is much used to restrain uterine haemorrhage, and to accelerate the contraction of the uterus in protracted labour. It is also much used as an emmenagogue.--_Dose._ To facilitate labour, 20 to 30 gr., either in powder or made into an infusion; repeated at intervals of 20 or 30 minutes until 3 or 4 scruples have been taken. In other cases (leucorrha, haemorrhages, &c.) the _dose_ is 5 to 12 gr., three times daily, for a period not longer than a week or ten days at a time.

M. Tancret states that he has succeeded in obtaining an alkaloid from ergot of rye, which he names _ergotinine_. The isolation of ergotinine is said to be attended with great difficulty, owing to its great tendency to undergo spontaneous changes, a short contact with the air being sufficient to decompose it; a circ.u.mstance which may perhaps help to explain the rapid change that the powder ergot experiences. Professor Dragendorff, however, refuses to admit that ergotinine is the active principle of ergot, or that it is a distinct chemical substance. He ascribes the therapeutic power of the drug mainly to _sclerotic acid_, which body, after various unsuccessful attempts, he has obtained from ergot, with certain other determinate compounds, by the following process:--"Very finely powdered ergot is exhausted with distilled water, the solution concentrated _in vacuo_, and the residuary liquid mixed with an equal volume of 95 per cent. alcohol. This causes the precipitation of a peculiarly shiny substance (scleromucin), together with a portion of the salts, and the greater part of the suspended fatty matter. The mixture having been allowed to stand on ice for twenty-four to forty-eight hours, it is filtered, and the filtrate mixed with a further quant.i.ty of 95 per cent. alcohol, sufficient to precipitate all the sclerotic acid in combination with the bases (chiefly as calcium sclerotate). The separation of the precipitate is promoted as before, by placing the mixture on ice for some days. This causes the deposited ma.s.s, which has a brownish colour, to adhere firmly to the walls of the vessel, so as to permit the supernatant liquid to be easily poured off. The precipitate is kneaded with alcohol of 80 per cent., and immediately thereafter dissolved in a sufficient quant.i.ty of 40 per cent. alcohol, when the remainder of the scleromucin and another large portion of the foreign salts are left behind. The filtered liquid is now mixed with absolute alcohol, whereby sclerotic acid is precipitated in conjunction with certain bases and other substances. The impure product, when carefully dried over sulphuric acid, was found on a.n.a.lysis to contain 85 per cent. of pota.s.sium, about 036 per cent. of calcium, 43 per cent. of sodium, 274 per cent. of phosphoric acid, or altogether 129 per cent. of ash.

"The greater part of these admixtures may be removed, and the sclerotic acid obtained free, by adding before the final precipitation with absolute alcohol a considerable quant.i.ty of hydrochloric acid (for every 100 c. c.

of solution 5-6 gm. of the acid, sp. gr. 1100), allowing to stand at ordinary temperature for a few hours, and then proceeding to precipitate.

In this manner the amount of ash may be brought down to 3 per cent., and by repeated solution, addition of acid, and precipitation, it may further be reduced to less than 2 per cent. or 3 per cent. A more complete purification is difficult and hazardous, because every addition of hydrochloric acid causes the decomposition of a small quant.i.ty of sclerotic acid, while at the same time a portion of the latter is lost by remaining in solution.

"The resulting product, although not chemically pure, is nevertheless physiologically pure, as it always produces constant and identical results, no matter from what sample of (good) ergot it was obtained.

"Good ergot contains about 4 to 45 per cent. of the acid, although samples are met with which contain scarcely 15 to 2 per cent."[279]

[Footnote 279: From 'New Remedies.']

Frogs are stated to have been thrown into a state of palsy by the hypodermic injection of 002 to 004 gram of sclerotic acid.

See DECOCTION, EXTRACT, INFUSION, OIL, TINCTURE, &c.

=ER'GOTIN.= _Syn._ ERGOTINA, L. _Prep._ 1. (Bonjean's.) Powdered ergot is exhausted with cold water, by displacement, and the resulting solution is heated in a water bath to about 200 Fahr., and filtered; the filtered liquor is then evaporated to the consistence of a syrup, and when cold, is treated with rectified spirit, in considerable excess, to precipitate its gummy matter; after repose, the clear portion is decanted, by the heat of a water bath, to the consistence of a soft extract. _Prod._ 15%.

According to M. Bonjean, this preparation possesses all the 'haemostatic'

without any of the 'poisonous' qualities of ergot. It has a reddish-brown colour, a bitter taste, and an odour somewhat resembling that of roasted meat. Its aqueous solution is red, limpid, and transparent.--_Dose_, 4 to 10 gr., either made into a pill or dissolved in water.

2. (Wigger's.) Powdered ergot is first digested in ether, to remove the fatty matter, and then in boiling alcohol; the alcoholic tincture is evaporated, and the resulting extract treated with water; the undissolved portion, dissolved in hot alcohol and filtered, yields pure ergotine by gentle evaporation.--_Prod._ 1-1/4%. It has a brownish-red colour; is resinous, acrid, bitter, insoluble in water and ether, soluble in alcohol, and poisonous. It evolves a peculiar odour when warmed. Its therapeutical action has not been determined. See EXTRACT.

=ER'RHINES.= _Syn._ ERRHINA, L. Substances applied to the pituitary membrane of the nose, for the purpose of producing an increased discharge of nasal mucus. When they are given to excite sneezing, they are called STERNUTATORIES or PTARMICS. Asarabacca, euphorbium, several of the _l.a.b.i.atae_ (herbae _vel_ flores), sal-ammoniac, powdered sugar, subsulphate of mercury, tobacco, and white h.e.l.lebore, are the princ.i.p.al substances of this cla.s.s.

Errhines act as local irritants, and are occasionally employed in chronic affections of the eyes, face, ears, and brain; as in amaurosis, ophthalmia, deafness, weak sight, headache, &c.

=Errhine, Al'um.= _Syn._ ERRHINUM ALUMINIS, L. _Prep._ (Radius.) Alum and Armenian bole, of each, 1 dr.; kino, 1/2 dr.; red oxide of iron, 2 dr.

(all in powder); mix and triturate. In bleeding at the nose. A little is snuffed up the nostrils.

=Errhine, Haemostat'ic.= _Syn._ ERRHINUM HaeMOSTATICUS, L. _Prep._ From powdered catechu, 1 dr.; opium, 5 gr.; sugar, 2 dr. As the last.

=ERUPTIONS (of the Skin).= For brevity and convenience, these cutaneous affections may be divided into 5 cla.s.ses:--

=Eruptions, Animal'cular.= These are due to the presence of minute parasites (ACARI), which burrow and breed in the scarf-skin, and occasion much local irritation. See ITCH.

=Eruptions, Pap'ular.= _Syn._ DRY PIMPLES. In these the surface is raised into little elevations or pimples, which sometimes show themselves on the surface, and at others are only appreciable by the touch. They are usually accompanied with a greater or less degree of cutaneous irritation and troublesome itching, in attempting to relieve which they are frequently converted into disagreeable and painful sores and excoriations, which are often difficult to heal.

_Treat._ In simple cases, where there is not much disarrangement of the general health, these eruptions commonly yield to the occasional use of mild saline aperients, and warm or tepid bathing, or frequent ablution with warm soap and water. Sea-bathing is also a powerful remedy.

Stimulants of all kinds should be avoided, and ripe fruit and vegetables should form a prominent part of the diet. Lemonade, made by squeezing a lemon into a tumbler of water, and sweetening the mixture with a little sugar, is one of the best beverages on these occasions. To relieve the itching, brisk friction with a soft flesh-brush may be had recourse to, followed by the use of a lotion formed by adding the juice of a lemon or a wine-gla.s.sful of distilled vinegar, to 3/4 of a pint or a pint of water, either with or without the addition of a table-spoonful of glycerin.

Occasional single pimples, depending on local causes, generally require no particular treatment. See LICHEN, PRURIGO, RED GUM, and TOOTHRASH.

=Eruptions, Pus'tular.= _Syn._ MATTERY PIMPLES. These are distinguished by the pimples (pustules) containing an opaque yellow fluid or matter (pus, lymph). "They are generally developed on a ground of inflamed skin; and the degree of this inflammation of the skin is the basis of their division into two groups, termed technically 'IMPETIGO' and 'ECTHYMA,' The former presents the slighter degree of inflammation, and, sometimes, there is scarcely any redness of the skin; the latter is always accompanied by considerable inflammation and redness." "The little bubbles attain their full size in the course of two or three days, and either dry up without breaking, or more frequently burst and then dry, forming a hard crust, which offers considerable variety of colour, being sometimes yellowish, sometimes brownish, and sometimes almost black." The latter form is popularly known as 'crusted tetter.' In ecthyma the pustules "are generally of the size of a split pea, and surrounded at their base by a broad halo of redness. They are usually separate, not cl.u.s.tered like impetigo, scattered over various parts of the body, and followed either by a hard black crust or by a sore."

_Treat._ The inflammation and pain may be generally alleviated by the application of a lotion formed of rectified spirit of wine, 1 part; and water, 5 or 6 parts; to which a table-spoonful of distilled vinegar is often added. The crusts or scabs, when they become hard or troublesome, may be removed by a warm fomentation or an emollient poultice; a little simple cerate being afterwards applied to allay irritation. When the const.i.tution is full and inflammatory (as it usually is in impetigo), a depletive treatment may be adopted, when it is low and debilitated (as it usually is in ecthyma), tonics and a more liberal diet, with the free use of lemon juice diluted with water, as a beverage, should be had recourse to. Sea-bathing is also highly useful. See TETTERS.

=Eruptions, Sca'ly.= _Syn._ DRY TETTER. This is a form of inflammatory condition of the true skin (DERMA), which commonly makes its appearance as a small dull red, salmon-red, or liver-coloured spot, slightly raised above the level of the surrounding skin, const.i.tuting a broad, flat, pimple-like prominence, about the size of a split pea. Upon the surface of this prominence the scarf-skin becomes slightly roughened, and after a little while a very distinct but circular scale is produced, which increases in thickness by the addition of fresh layers, and after a.s.suming various colours in different varieties of the disease, ultimately separates and falls off, either leaving a permanently bare surface, or being followed by crops of other like scales, which also fall off, and are replaced in rapid succession. This cla.s.s of eruptions is more obstinate than any of the other varieties, and often defies medical skill. Each particular form generally requires special treatment. In all, however, endeavours should be made to restore the general health of the body in the manner which existing circ.u.mstances may indicate. The red meats, ripe fruit, and antis...o...b..tic vegetables should form a large portion of the diet; and sea-bathing, or shower, sulphuretted, or ioduretted baths, should be taken daily, if possible. Dry friction with a flesh-brush, and daily exercise to perspiration, are also highly recommended. See LEPROSY, PSORIASIS, TETTERS, &c.

=Eruptions, Vesic'ular.= _Syn._ WATERY PIMPLES. These consist of little vesicles or bladders, filled with a small quant.i.ty of a transparent and colourless liquid. They result from a similar action to that which produces ordinary blisters. Inflammation is excited in the sensitive skin by an inward or outward cause, and the inflamed vessels pour out the watery part of the blood, and so raise the scarf-skin from off the sensitive layer, in the form of a small dome, which in some situations is conical, in others a segment of a sphere. They present great variety in point of number and size; some are so minute as to be scarcely discernible without close inspection, whilst others increase to the magnitude of a hen's egg. They are numerous in the inverse ratio of their size; the smaller ones being very abundant, and the larger ones scanty and few.

_Treat._ This consists chiefly in the due attention to the general principles of health--cleanliness, exercise, food, and raiment, as already pointed out, a.s.sisted by such special remedies as the particular case or circ.u.mstances may demand. Antiphlogistics or tonics must be had recourse to, according to the condition of the system, and local irritation allayed by the usual means. Simple cases frequently yield to a dose or two of some saline aperient and a change of diet. See ACNE, ERYSIPELAS, PEMPHIGUS, RUPIA, TETTERS, and SKIN.

=ERVALEN'TA.= The meal of lentil (_Ervum lens_,--Linn.), variously doctored with other substances. In some cases the article sold under the name does not contain a particle of lentil meal.

_Prep._ 1. (Paris Ervalenta.) Indian-corn meal (fine), and bean flour, of each 14 lbs.; salt and sugar, of each 1 lb.; mix, and pa.s.s the compound through a sieve.

2. (Warton's.) Lentil powder, 1 part; durra or Turkey millet flour (_Sorghum vulgare_), 2 parts. Some persons a.s.sert that it contains a large quant.i.ty of the flour of Indian corn. See REVALENTA and LENTILS.

=ERYN"GO.= _Syn._ ERYNGIUM, L. The root of the _Eryngium campestre_, a plant common in middle and southern Europe. It is sweet, aromatic, and tonic, and formerly enjoyed much repute in gonorrha, suppressed menstruation, and visceral obstructions generally, especially those of the gall-bladder, liver, and uterus. Candied eryngo (ERYNGIUM CONDITUM, ERYNGII RADIX CONDITA), according to Lindley, "has the credit of being a decided aphrodisiac," and has a considerable sale. _Eryngium aquatic.u.m_ (bitter snake-weed) and _E. maritimum_ (sea eryngo, sea holly) furnish the eryngo of the Ph. U. S. See CANDYING.

=ERYSIP'ELAS.= _Syn._ ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE, THE ROSE. A peculiar form of inflammation, which chiefly attacks the skin, and is generally accompanied or followed by an eruption of a very red colour, sometimes vesicular, and by tumefaction. It commonly attacks the head and face, and is at its height from the third to the sixth day, but the duration and progress of the symptoms are variable. From the eighth to the twelfth day the eruption usually scabs or scales off. Sometimes suppuration occurs, especially of the eyelids and scalp, and during the latter stages of the disease there is, in general, a tendency to debility. In many cases erysipelas is attended by typhoid symptoms, and is then a dangerous and often fatal disease.

_Treat._ Aperients and diaph.o.r.etics, a.s.sisted by a cooling diet. When the inflammatory symptoms run high, blistering and cupping are frequently had recourse to. Local irritation may be subdued by milk-and-water, or cooling or evaporating lotions, or by sprinkling starch, hair-powder, or arrow-root, on the part. The tendency to debility in the latter stages should be combated with bark, quinine, or other like tonics. When shiverings, sickness, and delirium, attend the height of the disorder, wine, bark, ammonia, and other stimulants, are usually prescribed, and depletion must be avoided. The same treatment is also adopted in the gangrenous forms of the disease, to which doses of opium and calomel are also commonly added. When suppuration and sloughing of the cellular membrane have taken place, it is usual to make incisions to give exit to the discharge, and relieve the tension of the limb. These may be about 1-1/2 inch in length, and from 2 to 4 inches apart, and should be made in the direction of the long dimensions of the limb. Mr Higginbottom, of Nottingham, applies (freely) lunar caustic to the inflamed skin, and also to the healthy skin, to the extent of an inch or more beyond it. The result, in many cases, is a complete change of action in the part, and a resolution of the disease. Iodine paint is often successfully used in the same way.

Wherever practicable medical a.s.sistance should be called in on the first appearance of this dangerous disease.

Erysipelas is generally symptomatic of a debilitated or bad const.i.tution.

It is also a common sequel of surgical operations in crowded and ill-ventilated hospitals, where it often appears to be contagious. In these cases cleanliness, ventilation, and change of air, are the only remedies. We need scarcely add, that this disease should never be tampered with, but the best medical advice sought, whenever it can be procured.

_For animals._ The bowels should be kept gently open, by small doses of medicine, and laxative glysters. If there be any feverish symptoms, saline diuretics should be administered; and as a lowering treatment is objectionable, tonics and stimulants should be had recourse to at an early stage of the disease. The affected parts should be kept constantly moist with a lotion composed of one part of Goulard's extract to thirty parts of distilled or freshly boiled water. Nutritious food, fresh air and general comfort must not be neglected. Cold applications are hurtful. Horses are seldom attacked by erysipelas.

=ERYTh.o.r.e'TIN.= _Syn._ RED RESIN OF RHUBARB. A yellow or reddish-yellow substance, forming one of the three resins found by Schlosberger and Dpping in rhubarb. It is very soluble in alcohol; less so in ether; with ammonia and pota.s.sa it forms soluble compounds of a rich purple colour.

See RHUBARB.