Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 286

The simple infusions are now less frequently made by the druggist than formerly. In most cases he merely furnishes the ingredients, and the infusions are prepared by either the nurse or patient, by whom they are commonly called 'TEAS,'

? The following list embraces most of the infusions used in prescribing or noticed in books. Where the proportions of the ingredients are not given, 1 oz. of the medicinal substance and 1 pint of boiling water are to be taken, and the dose is that referred to above.

=Infusion of Agrim'ony.= _Syn._ AGRIMONY TEA; INFUSUM AGRIMONII, L. From the fresh tops before the flowers are formed. Vermifuge.--_Dose._ A teacupful 3 or 4 times a day; also used as an astringent gargle and lotion. For internal use, an equal weight of liquorice root (sliced) is commonly added.

=Infusion of Al'kaline.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ALKALINUM, L. _Prep._ (Beasley.) Hickory ash, 1 pint; wood soot, 1/4 pint; boiling water, 1 gall.; in 24 hours decant the clear. "A popular remedy in America for dyspepsia with acidity."

=Infusion of Alkaline.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ALKALINUM. _Prep._ Hickory ash, 1 lb.; wood soot, 1/4 lb.; boiling water, 1/2 gall. Let them stand 24 hours, and decant. A wine-gla.s.sful three or four times a day. This is simply another form of the previous preparation.

=Infusion of Al'oes.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ALOeS, D. _Prep._ 1. From hepatic or Socotrine aloes (in powder), 2 dr.; carbonate of pota.s.sa, 1-1/2 dr.; boiling water, 1 pint.

2. (Compound; INFUSUM ALOeS COMPOSITUM, L.)--_a._ As the COMPOUND DECOCTION OF A. (Ph. L.), but using only a pint of boiling water.

_b._ (Fothergill.) Calumba and rhubarb, of each, 1 oz.; aloes, 2 dr.; lime water, 16 fl. oz.; spirit of horseradish, 1 fl. oz.; macerate in the cold for 12 hours, and strain. The last three, like the decoction, are aperient, antacid, stomachic, tonic, and emmenagogue.--_Dose_, 1 tablespoonful to a small wine-gla.s.sful, in water. The last one is an admirable medicine in dyspepsia, loss of appet.i.te, and troublesome constipation.

=Infusion of Amer'ican Calum'ba.= _Syn._ INFUSUM FRASERae, L. From the dried root of American calumba (_Frasera Carolinensis_). A pure, powerful, and excellent bitter, dest.i.tute of aroma, and fully equal to gentian.

(Lindley.)

=Infusion of Amer'ican Cen'taury.= _Syn._ INFUSUM SABATII, L. From the herb (_Sabbatia angularis_). A pure bitter tonic, without astringency or aroma.

=Infusion of Amer'ican Sen'na.= _Syn._ INFUSUM Ca.s.sIae MARYLANDICae, L.

_Prep._ (Martin.) Leaves of American or wild senna (_Ca.s.sia Marylandica_), 1-1/2 oz.; coriander seed, 1 dr.; boiling water, 1 pint. Purgative.

=Infusion of Angel'ica.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ANGELICae, L. From the root of garden angelica. A warm stomachic and diaph.o.r.etic; and, in large doses, aperient. It is a popular remedy in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, and heartburn.

=Infusion of Aniseed.= _Syn._ ANISEED TEA; INFUSUM ANISI, L. Carminative; an excellent adjunct to purgatives, to prevent griping; given to infants to relieve colic, &c. Dr Prout recommends the use of water at 120 or 125 Fahr.

=Infusion, Antis...o...b..'tic.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ANTIs...o...b..TIc.u.m, MISTURA ANTIs...o...b..TICA, L. _Prep._ Water trefoil (_Menyanthes trifoliata_), 1 oz.; orange peel, 2 dr.; boiling water, 1 quart; infuse for 8 or 10 hours, strain, and add of compound spirit of horseradish, 5 fl. oz. In scurvy.

=Infusion of Ar'nica.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ARNICae, L. 1. From the flowers of mountain arnica or German leopard's bane (_Arnica montana_). Cottereau orders 1 oz., Dr Pereira 1/2 oz., and Dr A. T. Thomson, 1/4 oz. of the flowers to the pint. The first is the usual quant.i.ty. The dose of the first is a tablespoonful; of the second, 1/2 to 1 fl. oz.; of third, 1/2 to 1 wine-gla.s.sful.

2. (Compound; INFUSUM ARNICae COMPOSITUM, L.--Ph. Copenh.) Flowers of arnica, 1 dr.; peppermint, 2 dr.; chamomiles, 1/2 oz.; boiling water, 1/2 pint.--_Dose_, 1 fl. oz. As the last.

=Infusion of Arnica-root.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ARNICSae RADICIS, L. _Prep._ (Ph.

Castr. Ruth.) Arnica root, 40 gr.; water, 1 lb.--_Dose_, 1 fl. oz. As the above.

=Infusion, Astrin'gent.= _Syn._ INFUSUM ASTRINGENS, MISTURA A., L. _Prep._ 1. From oak-bark.

2. Infusion of cusparia, 17 fl. oz.; tincture of catechu or kino, 1 fl.

oz.; powdered ipecacuanha, 1 dr.; powdered opium, 12 gr.; mix. In diarrha, &c. It must be well shaken before pouring out the dose.

=Infusion of Balm.= _Syn._ INFUSUM MELISSae, L. _Prep._ (Plenck.) Fresh herb, 5 dr.; boiling water, 1 pint; infuse for fifteen minutes.

=Infusion of Aya-pana, Compound= (Dr Camera). _Syn._ INFUSUM AYae-PANae COMPOSITUM. _Prep._ Leaves of Brazilian aya-pana, 2 dr.; aniseed, 1 dr.; boiling water, 2 pints.

=Infusion of Bar'berry.= _Syn._ INFUSUM BARBERIS, L. _Prep._ (Dr Copland.) From the bark of the barberry shrub (_Berberis vulgaris_). In jaundice, biliary fluxes, and other cases where heat and acrimony prevail; either alone or combined with a little carbonate of soda or pota.s.sa, and tincture of calumba.

=Infusion of Bark.= See INFUSION OF CINCHONA.

=Infusion of Bay-leaves.= _Syn._ INFUSUM LAURI, I. LAURI n.o.bILIS, L. From the leaves or the berries of the sweet bay (_Laurus n.o.bilis_). Aromatic, stimulant, and emmenagogue; in very large doses, emetic and poisonous. It is chiefly given in colic, flatulence, paralysis of the extremities, and obstructed menstruation.

=Infusion of Bearberry= (B. P.) _Syn._ INFUSUM UVae URSI. _Prep._ Infuse bearberry leaves, bruised, 1/2 oz.; in boiling distilled water, 10 oz.; in a covered vessel for 2 hours, and strain.

=Infusion of Beef.= See ESSENCE, TEA, &c.

=Infusion of Belladon'na.= _Syn._ INFUSUM BELLADONNae. L. _Prep._ 1. (Dr Paris.) Leaves of deadly nightshade (dried), 4 gr.; boiling water, 2 fl.

oz.; for a dose.

2. (Compound;--Dr Saunders.) Leaves (dried), 1/2 dr.; boiling water, 12 fl. oz.; infuse, strain, and to every 7 fl. oz. of the infusion add of compound tincture of cardamoms, 1 fl. oz.

=Infusion of Bis'tort.= _Syn._ INFUSUM BISTORTae, L. _Prep._ (Radius.) Bistort or snake-weed root (_Poligonum Bistorta_), 1/2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint; infuse 2 hours, and strain. In pa.s.sive haemorrhages.

=Infusion of Black Snake-root.= _Syn._ INFUSUM CIMICIFUGae RACEMOSae, L. In dropsy, rheumatism, and chest complaints.

=Infusion of Blessed Thistle.= _Syn._ INFUSUM CARDUI BENEDICTI, L. From the whole herb. In small doses it is diaph.o.r.etic; in larger ones, tonic, stomachic, and deobstruent; taken warm, it is occasionally given to promote the action of emetics. The properties of carduus benedictus "are such as to lead us to the belief that it has been superseded by other not more efficacious remedies." (Lindley.)

=Infusion of Blood-root.= _Syn._ INFUSION OF PUCc.o.o.n; INFUSUM SANGUINARIae, L. _Prep._ Blood-root (_Sanguinaria Canadensis_), 1/2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint. Stimulant and emetic.

=Infusion of Blue Flag.= _Syn._ INFUSUM IRIDIS VERSICOLORIS, L. _Prep._ 1.

From the flowers of blue flag (_Iris versicolor_).--2. From the root of rhizomes. The first is used chiefly for its rich colour, as a test, &c.; the second is diuretic and cathartic, and apt to produce distressing nausea and prostration.

=Infusion of Bone'set.= _Syn._ INFUSUM EUPATORII, L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. U.

S.) From the dried leaves and flowers of boneset or thorough-wort (_Eupatorium perfoliatum_). Diaph.o.r.etic, nauseant, and emetic when warm; tonic when cold.

2. (Compound; INFUSUM EUPATORII COMPOSITUM, L.--Ellis.) Boneset and sage, of each 1/2 oz.; cascarilla, 1 dr.; boiling water, 1-1/2 pint; infuse until cold, and strain. In hectic fever. A wine-gla.s.sful of either of the above, given hourly, in these diseases, until perspiration and nausea are induced, has been highly recommended in influenza.

=Infusion of Braz'il-wood.= _Syn._ INFUSUM LIGNI BRASILINSIS, L. From ground or rasped Brazil wood. When wanted to keep, rectified spirit, 3 fl.

oz., is added to every pint. Used for colouring, and as a test.

=Infusion of Broom.= _Syn._ INFUSUM SCOPARII, L. See DECOCTION OF BROOM.

=Infusion of Bu'chu.= _Syn._ INFUSUM BUCHU (B. P.), I. BUCKU (Ph. E.), I.

DIOSMae, L. _Prep._ 1. (B. P.) From bruised buchu leaves, 1 oz.; boiling distilled water, 1 pint; infuse for an hour and strain. Diuretic, sudorific, tonic; in dyspepsia, &c.; but chiefly in chronic affections of the bladder and urethra attended with copious secretion.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 oz.

2. (Compound; INFUSUM BUCHU COMPOSITUM, I. DIOSMae C., L.--(Radius.) Leaves of buchu and whortleberry, of each 1/2 oz.; boiling water, 8 oz. (say 1/2 pint); digest for half an hour, strain, and add of syrup of senega, 1/2 fl. oz.--_Dose_, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls every hour; in atony of the bladder and mucous discharges.

=Infusion of Buck'bean.= _Syn._ INFUSUM MENYANTHIS, L. From the herb or root of buckbean or marsh trefoil (_Menyanthes trifoliata_). Bitter, stomachic, tonic, and diuretic; in large doses, purgative, vermifuge, and emetic. It has been recommended in agues, gout, dropsy, scurvy, worms, &c.

The chief consumption of this plant is by the brewers; "2 oz. being equal to 1 lb. of hops." (Gray.)

=Infusion of Bur'dock.= _Syn._ INFUSUM BARDANae, L. From the root of common burdock. Aperient, diuretic, diaph.o.r.etic, and tonic; in gout, rheumatism, skin diseases, &c. See DECOCTION and EXTRACT.

=Infusion of Calum'ba.= _Syn._ INFUSUM CALUMBae (B. P.) L. _Prep._ 1. (B.

P.) Calumba, in coa.r.s.e powder, 1 oz.; cold distilled water, 2 oz.; macerate one hour, and strain. Infusion of calumba is a good tonic and stomachic bitter.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 fl. oz.; in dyspepsia, &c., and for restraining vomiting and diarrha during pregnancy or dent.i.tion. It is preferably joined with small doses of the carbonates of soda, pota.s.sa, ammonia, or magnesia, when there is acidity; or with chalybeates, when there is paleness and a low pulse; with all of which substances it may be mixed without suffering any sensible alteration.

2. (Concentrated; INFUSUM CALUMBae CONCENTRATUM, L.)--_a._ Calumba, in coa.r.s.e powder, 5-1/2 oz.; cold distilled water, 12 fl. oz.; digest with frequent agitation, for 3 or 4 hours, then express the liquor, and repeat the digestion with 5-1/2 fl. oz. more of tepid water; after another hour, express this portion also, using as much force as possible; next mix the liquors, heat them quickly to the boiling-point in a shallow vessel, and pour the infusion, whilst still hot, into a strong bottle, and when it has cooled a little add of rectified spirit, 4 fl. oz., secure down the stopper or cork, and agitate well for a few minutes; the bottle must now be set aside for a week, after which the clear portion is to be decanted from the dregs. Very superior.

_b._ (Wholesale.) From calumba (reduced to coa.r.s.e powder), 5-1/4 lbs.; rectified spirit, 5 pints; (diluted with) water, 12 pints; digest for a week, or precede by displacement. Should there be any difficulty in obtaining it free from cloudiness, the whites of 4 or 5 eggs, previously mixed with about a 1/4 pint of cold water, may be added to the infusion, which, after being well agitated for about ten minutes, must be allowed to repose for 7 or 8 days, and then decanted from the dregs. Should it not be perfectly transparent, it may be filtered through blotting paper.--_Product_, 20 lbs.