Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 65

FIR CLUB MOSS (_Lycopodium Selago_). Violently emetic and purgative. It is also irritant and narcotic.

ICELAND MOSS (_Cetraria Islandica_). Highly nutritious and easy of digestion. The decoction is a favourite alimentary substance in affections of the lungs and digestive organs. In Iceland, after the bitter has been removed by soaking it in hot water, it is made into jelly, or dried, ground to flour, and made into bread.

IRISH MOSS, PEARL M., CARRAGEEN M. (_Chondrus crispus_). Very nutritious.

The decoction or jelly is a useful and popular demulcent and emollient in pulmonary affections, dysentery, scrofula, rickets, &c. It is often employed by cooks and confectioners instead of isingla.s.s, and by painters to make their size.

REINDEER MOSS (_Cladonia rangiferina_). Esculent, very nutritious.

=MOTHER-OF-PEARL.= See PEARL.

=MOTH'ER WATER.= See CRYSTALLISATION.

=MOULDS.= Numerous materials and compositions are employed for the purpose of taking moulds, among which are the following:

1. (COMPO'.)--_a_ From spermaceti, stearine or hard tallow, and white wax, equal parts, melted together. For fine work, as medals, small casts, &c.

_b._ From black resin, 3/4 lb.; hard tallow, 1/2 lb.; beeswax, 6 oz.; as the last. For coa.r.s.e work, as architectural ornaments, &c. The above are poured on the objects to be copied (previously oiled) whilst in the melted state. Articles in plaster of Paris are first soaked in water, observing that none of it remains on the surface so as to interfere with the design.

2. (ELASTIC.)--_a._ Flexible or elastic moulds may be made of gutta percha softened in boiling water, and after being freed from moisture, pressed strongly against the object to be copied by means of a screw press. A ring or support should be employed to prevent undue lateral spreading.

_b._ By the use of gelatin or glue, elastic moulds are formed capable of reproducing, with accuracy, and in a single piece, the most elaborately sculptured objects, of exquisite finish and delicacy. Casts from these are now common in the streets. The credit of the application of this substance to this purpose is due to M. H. Vincent. The process of casting consists in simply dissolving a certain quant.i.ty of gelatin in hot water until it is reduced to the state of liquid paste, when it is run over the object, previously oiled, intended to be reproduced. As it cools, the gelatin a.s.sumes a consistency offering a considerable degree of resistance, and is highly elastic, which latter quality enables it to be easily detached from the work on which it has been fitted. In the hollow formed by the gelatin the finest plaster, mixed to a thick cream with water, is next run; and when the plaster has acquired the requisite hardness, the gelatin mould is detached in the same manner as from the original. From this apparently fragile mould as many as six copies may be taken, all reproducing the original with unerring fidelity.

3. (METALLIC.)--_a._ From fusible metal.[42]

[Footnote 42: See FUSIBLE ALLOYS.]

_b._ (CLICHeE MOULDS.) From a fusible alloy formed of bis.m.u.th, 8 parts; lead, 5 parts; tin, 4 parts; antimony, 1 part; repeatedly melted together.

The above are poured out in the melted state on a plate or slab, and after being stirred until in a pasty state, the object to be copied is strongly pressed on the alloy at the moment it begins to solidify. They are chiefly used for medals and other like objects.

_c._ (Chameroy's Patent.) By melting together one part of some easily fusible metal in a crucible, and then mixing with it four parts of a metal far less readily fusible, steeped in ammonia and reduced to powder. Such a compound is stated to be of great solidity, hardness, facility of soldering, melts at a low temperature, and has great tractability in moulding to any form; and in casting takes the sharpest impressions, whilst in its nature it is peculiarly unchangeable. See ELECTROTYPE.

=MOUTH COSMET'ICS.= See BREATH, TEETH, LOZENGE, PASTE, POWDER, &c.

=MOX'AS.= Substances burnt upon the body, for the purpose of acting as counter-irritants, and allaying deep-seated pains and inflammation. They have been used in gout, rheumatism, &c. The small cone const.i.tuting the moxa is placed upon a part, lighted, and allowed to burn to its base. The CHINESE and j.a.pANESE moxas are made of the downy portion of the leaves of a species of wormwood (_Artemisia sinensis_); but various other substances, as the pith of the sunflower, cotton, or paper, soaked in a weak solution of nitrate, chlorate, or chromate of pota.s.sium, answer as well. Larrey's moxas consist of lycopodium, 4 oz.; nitre, 2 oz.; formed into small cones, with alcohol, and dried for some days. Dr Osborne used quicklime enclosed in a hoop of card, and moistened with water. The actual cautery is said to be preferable to any of them.

=MU'CILAGE.= _Syn._ MUCILAGO, L. An aqueous solution of gum, or other like substance, that gives a considerable consistency to water. See DECOCTION, MIXTURE, &c.

=Mucilage, Acacia.= (Ph. B.) _Syn._ MUCILAGO ACACIae. Put gum acacia, in small pieces, 4 oz., and distilled water, 6 oz., into a covered earthen jar, and stir frequently until the gum is dissolved. If necessary, strain through muslin.

=Mucilage, Fenugreek.= _Syn._ MUCILAGO FENUGRECI. Digest 1 oz. of fenugreek seed with 1/2 pint of water for 12 hours, boil, and strain with pressure.

=Mucilage, Linseed.= (P. Cod.) _Syn._ MUCILAGO LINI. Linseed, 1 oz.; warm water, 6 oz. Digest for 6 hours, stirring now and then, and strain.

=Mucilage, Liquorice.= _Syn._ MUCILAGO GLYCYRRHIZae. From liquorice root, as MARSHMALLOW MUCILAGE.

=Mucilage, Marshmallow.= (P. Cod.) _Syn._ MUCILAGO ALTHaeae. Marshmallow root, 1 oz.; boiling water, 6 oz.; digest for 6 hours, and strain.

=Mucilage, Quicksilver.= _Syn._ MUCILAGO MERCURIALIS PLENKII. Quicksilver, 1 dr.; gum Arabic, 3 dr.; syrup of poppies, 4 oz. Mix.--_Dose_, 1/2 dr.

=Mucilage, Sa.s.safras.= (Ph. U. S.) _Syn._ MUCILAGO Sa.s.sAFRAS. Infuse 2 dr.

of pith of sa.s.safras in 16 oz. (old measure) of boiling water for 3 hours, and strain.

=Mucilage, Slippery-Elm Bark.= (Ph. U. S.) _Syn._ MUCILAGO ULMI.

Slippery-elm bark, sliced and bruised, 1 oz.; boiling water, 16 oz. Infuse for 2 hours.

=Mucilage, Starch.= (Ph. B.) Same as DECOCTION OF STARCH (Ph. L.), which _see_.

=Mucilage, Tra'gacanth.= _Syn._ MUCILAGO TRAGACANTHae (B. P., Ph. E., and Ph. D 1826), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph. E.) Tragacanth, 2 dr.; boiling water, 9 fl. oz. (8 fl. oz.--Ph. D.); macerate for 24 hours, triturate, and press through linen.

2. (B. P.) Tragacanth, in powder, 60 gr.; distilled water, 10 oz. To the water contained in a pint bottle add the tragacanth, agitate briskly for a few minutes, and again at short intervals, until the tragacanth is perfectly diffused, and has finally formed a mucilage.--_Dose_, 1 oz.

(Should be made as required. One part of tragacanth gives more viscosity to water than twenty-five parts of gum Arabic--Squire.) Used in medicine as a demulcent, and as an application to burns, &c., and in pharmacy in making up pills, and to suspend heavy powders in liquids.

=MUDAR'IN.= _Syn._ MADARINE. A peculiar substance, possessing powerful emetic properties, extracted from the root bark of _Calotropis gigantea_, in which it exists to the extent of 11%. (Duncan.) It is soluble in water and in alcohol, and its aqueous solution, unlike that of most other substances, gelatinises by heat, and becomes fluid again on cooling.

=MUF'FINS.= _Prep._ Take of fine flour, 1/4 peck; warm milk-and-water, 1 quart; yeast, a wine-gla.s.sful; salt, 2 oz.; mix for 15 minutes, then further add of flour, 1/4 peck, make a dough, let it rise 1 hour, roll it up, pull it into pieces, make them into b.a.l.l.s, put them in a warm place, and when the whole dough is made into b.a.l.l.s, shape them into m.u.f.fins, and bake them on tins; turn them when half done, dip them into warm milk, and bake them to a pale brown.

=MUF'FLE.= See a.s.sAYING.

=MUL'BERRY.= _Syn._ MORUM, L. Mulberries (MORA, MORI BACCae) are the fruit of _Morus nigra_, or black mulberry tree. They are cooling and laxative; but when eaten too freely are apt to disorder the stomach and bowels.

Mulberry juice (_mori succus_) is officinal in the Ph. L. A syrup (SYRUPUS MORI) is made of it. It is also, occasionally, made into wine.

=MUL'TUM.= A mixture of extract of qua.s.sia and liquorice, used by fraudulent brewers instead of malt and hops.

=MUM.= A beverage prepared from wheat malt, in a similar way to ordinary beer from barley malt. A little oat and bean meal is frequently added. It was formerly much drunk in England; but its use at the present day is chiefly confined to Germany, and to Brunswick more particularly.

=MUMPS.= _Syn._ PAROt.i.tIS, L. Inflammation of the parotid gland, which is situated under the ear. There is little const.i.tutional derangement, but the cheeks become swollen and painful, and there is some difficulty in opening the mouth, and in swallowing. The treatment consists in simply keeping the part warm with flannel, and the use of warm fomentations, at the same time that the bowels are kept freely open with some mild laxative.

The mumps are said to be contagious, as, when the affection appears in a school, it generally attacks every member of it. Low, damp situations are those most favorable to this affection.

=MUREX'ID.= C_{8}N_{6}H_{8}O_{6}. _Syn._ PURPURATE OF AMMONIUM.

_Prep._ (Gregory.) Alloxan, 7 parts; alloxantin, 4 parts; boiling water, 240 parts; dissolve, and add the solution to a cold and strong solution of carbonate of ammonia, 80 parts; crystals of murexid will separate as the liquid cools.

_Obs._ Murexid can be obtained directly from uric acid by the action of nitric acid and subsequent treatment with ammonia. This process is, however, very precarious, and often fails altogether.

_Prop., &c._ It is only very slightly soluble in cold water; freely soluble in solutions of ammonia and the fixed alkalies; the first, by exposure to the air, becomes purple, and deposits brilliant crystals of murexid. These compounds are the purpurates of Dr Prout. It forms iridescent crystals, having a metallic l.u.s.tre, of a magnificent green colour by reflected light, and an equally beautiful reddish purple by transmitted light. It is soluble in boiling water, only very slightly soluble in cold water, and insoluble in alcohol and ether. A few years ago murexid was extensively used in dyeing; it is now almost superseded by rosaniline or magenta. An a.n.a.logous substance, formed as above, by treating amalic acid with ammonia, is called 'caffein-murexid.'

=MU"RIATE.= An old name for hydrochlorate and chloride.

=MURIATIC ACID.= _Syn._ HYDROCHLORIC ACID, which _see_.

=MURIDE.= The name originally given to bromine by M. Balard.

=MUR'RAIN.= _Syn._ BLACK-LEG, BLACK-QUARTER. A disease affecting meat cattle, more especially young animals, in the spring and autumn. The common symptoms are swelling and discoloration of one of the hind quarters of the animal, with consequent lameness and inability to move; a peculiar emphysema and intumescence of various parts of the body, particularly over the region of the spine, accompanied with all the common indications of putrid fever. In severe cases gangrene soon follows, and death frequently ensues in from 12 to 24 hours.

The rapid progress of this disease admits of little being done in the way of cure. Extensive scarifications of the affected part, charcoal or hot yeast poultices, or fomentations, and active purgatives, appear to const.i.tute the most useful treatment. The following drenches have been recommended for this affection:--

1. (Blaine.) Sweet spirit of nitre, 1/2 fl. oz.; powdered cascarilla, 2 oz.; solution of acetate of ammonia, 4 fl. oz.; yeast, 8 fl. oz.; given every 3 or 4 hours.