Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 151

=Pills, Worm.= _Syn._ PILULae ANTHELMINTICae, P. VERMIFUGae, L. _Prep._ 1.

Calomel, 1 oz.; sugar, 1-1/2 oz.; mucilage, q. s.; mix, and divide into 240 pills.--_Dose_, 1 to 2, overnight, followed by a strong dose of castor oil early the next morning.

2. Gamboge, 6 gr.; calomel, 5 gr.; mucilage, q. s.; divide into 3 pills.

For a morning's dose, fasting.

3. Extract of wormwood, calomel, and powdered scammony, equal parts. For 4-gr. pills.--_Dose_, 1 to 2, as the last. For ascarides, and other small worms.

4. (Bresmer.) Powdered aloes and tansy seed, of each 1/2 dr.; oil of rue, 9 or 10 drops. for 12 pills.--_Dose_, 3 to 6, in the morning, fasting, and repeated in two or three hours.

5. (Phbus.) Iron filings, 1/2 dr.; a.s.saftida, 1-1/2 dr.; essential oil of tansy, 10 or 12 drops; extract of wormwood, q. s.; mix, and divide into 80 pills.--_Dose_, 6 pills, thrice daily.

6. (Peschier.) Ethereal extract of male fern, 30 drops; extract of dandelion, 1 dr.; powdered rhizomes of male fern, q. s. to mix. For 30 pills. In tapeworm.--_Dose_, 6 to 15, at bedtime; the dose being repeated in the morning, and then followed in an hour by a strong dose of castor oil.

=Pills, Wordsell's (Kaye's).= _Prep._ (Cooley.) Powdered aloes, gamboge, and ginger, equal parts; together with a very small quant.i.ty of diaph.o.r.etic antimony, beaten into a ma.s.s with either syrup or treacle, and divided into 2-1/2-gr. pills. "There are about 4-1/2 dozen pills in each 1s. 1-1/2d. box." "The dose, as given in the directions, is from 2 to 8 pills (or even 10 to 12) daily." ('Anat. of Quackery.') They frequently operate with great violence.

=Pills, Wyndham's (Lee's).= _Prep._ (Cooley.) Aloes and gamboge, of each (in powder) 3 oz.; Castile soap and extract of cow-parsnip, of each 1 oz.; nitre, 1/2 oz. For 5-gr. pills. A powerful drastic cathartic.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 pills.

=Pills of Zinc.= See PILLS OF OXIDE, SULPHATE and VALERIANATE of ZINC, &c.

=PILOCARPINE.= _Prep._ Exhaust the leaves or bark of Jaborandi with 80% alcohol, to which hydrochloric acid has been added in the proportion of 8 grains per litre; distil and evaporate to the consistence of an extract.

Redissolve the extract with a small quant.i.ty of distilled water and filter; treat with ammonia in slight excess, and a large quant.i.ty of chloroform. Distil off the chloroform, dissolve the residue in distilled water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and filter. Treat afresh with chloroform and ammonia. The chloroformic solution is then shaken with water, to which hydrochloric acid is added, drop by drop, up to the quant.i.ty sufficient to saturate the pilocarpine. The foreign matters remain in the chloroform, and upon evaporation of the aqueous liquid the hydrochlorate is obtained, well crystallised, in long needles radiating from a common centre. The hydrochlorate dissolved in distilled water, and treated with ammonia and chloroform, yields the pilocarpine upon evaporation of the chloroform solution.

Pilocarpine appears under the form of a soft viscous substance; it is slightly soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol, ether and chloroform. It presents all the chemical characters of an alkaloid, and rotates the plane of polarized light strongly to the right. (Paris Pharmaceutical Society.)

=PIMA'RIC ACID.= A resin acid first obtained by Laurent from the turpentine of _Pinus maritima_ (Bordeaux turpentine), by the action of hot alcohol.

=PIMEN'TO.= _Syn._ ALLSPICE, CLOVE PEPPER, JAMAICA P., PIMENTO BERRIES; PIMENTA (B. P., Ph. L., E., & E.), PIPER CARYOPHYLLATUM, P. JAMAICENSE, P.

ODORATUM, PIMENTae BACCae, L. "The dried unripe berries of the allspice tree, _Eugenia pimenta_, from the West Indies"--B. P. "The immature fruit of _Eugenia pimenta_ (Myrtus pimenta, _Linn._)"--Ph. L. It possesses a mixed odour of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmegs, which, with its other properties, it for the most yields to alcohol, ether, and water. It is a stimulant and tonic, and is much esteemed as an adjuvant in medicines prescribed in dyspepsia, flatulence, gout, hysteria &c.; and also to cover the taste of disagreeable medicines.--_Dose_, 5 to 30 gr., bruised or in powder. See ESSENCE, OILS (Volatile), SPIRITS, and WATERS.

=PIM'PLES.= See ERUPTIONS (Papular).

=PINCH'BECK.= A gold-like alloy of copper and zinc. See DUTCH GOLD.

=PINE APPLE.= _Syn._ ANANAS. The fruit of _Anana.s.sa sativa_, a plant of the natural order _Bromeliaceae_. It is astringent, esculent, and possesses a rich flavour and odour. In Europe it is chiefly used as a delicacy for the table; but in tropical climates it is said to be valuable in renal diseases. See ESSENCE, &c.

=PI'NEY TAL'LOW.= _Syn._ PINEY RESIN, P. DAMMAR. An oleo-resinous substance obtained from the fruit of _Vateria indica_, a tree common in Malabar, by boiling it with water. It is intermediate between fat and wax, makes good soap and excellent candles. It melts at 98 Fahr. Sp. gr. 9250 to 9265.

=PI'NIC ACID.= The portion of common resin or colophony which is soluble in cold alcohol of sp. gr. 833.

=PINK.= A well known shade of light red. The name is also applied to several pigments, consisting of whiting stained with liquid dyes. See RED and YELLOW PIGMENTS, &c.

=PINK DYE.= _Prep._ From washed safflower, 2 oz.; salt of tartar, 1/2 oz.; cold water, 1 quart; digest for 3 hours, express the liquor, and strain it. Used as a cosmetic, and to dye silk stockings, &c., of a rose colour.

The colour is brought out by afterwards applying to, or pa.s.sing the articles through, water soured with lemon juice. See SAUCERS (Pink).

=PIP'ERIN.= C_{17}H_{19}NO_{3}. _Syn._ PIPERINA, PIPERINUM, L. _Prep._ (P.

Cod.) Alcoholic extract of black pepper is treated with a weak solution of caustic pota.s.sa (1 to 100), and the residuum, after being washed with cold water, is dissolved in alcohol; the solution is next agitated with a little animal charcoal, and the filtrate is allowed to evaporate spontaneously; the product may be purified by the re-solution in alcohol and re-crystallisation.

_Prop., &c._ Colourless, or only slightly yellow; tasteless; inodorous; fusible; and crystallisable; insoluble in water; freely soluble in strong spirit, and in the acids; very feebly basic; a few definite compounds have, however, been obtained with difficulty; reddened by oil of vitriol.

It has been much employed in Italy and on the Continent as a febrifuge.--_Dose_, 2 to 10 gr., frequently repeated, during the apyrexia of intermittents.

_Obs._ An a.s.say for its piperin is the only certain method of testing the quality of either black or white pepper. For this purpose a weighted quant.i.ty of the sample is reduced to powder, and is exhausted with alcohol of the sp. gr. 883; the mixed tinctures are then evaporated to an extract, which is treated as above. See PEPPER.

=PIPES.= (In confectionery.) These are formed from any of the common lozenge-ma.s.ses, by rolling them into cylinders of about the thickness of a goose-quill. They are frequently medicated.

=PIPETTE.= A graduated gla.s.s instrument, in frequent use in the chemical laboratory, for conveying a measured quant.i.ty of fluid from one vessel to another. The pipette mostly consists of a bulb, from each end of which proceeds a straight, slender hollow stem, communicating with the bulb, and varying in length with the capacity of the instrument. Thus constructed, the lower end of the pipette can be dipped into a vessel with a narrow and long neck, such as a flask, containing a fluid, the required volume of which can be removed from it. The pipette varies in capacity from 1 to 200 cubic centimetres.

Dr Fresenius gives the following directions for its use:--"To fill a pipette with the fluid which it is intended to transfer from one vessel to another, the lower part of the instrument is dipped into the fluid, and suction applied to the upper aperture, either direct with the lips or through a caoutchouc tube until the fluid in the pipette stands a little above the required mark; the upper, somewhat narrowed, ground orifice is then closed with the point of the index of the right hand, which to that end had always better be moistened a little, and holding the pipette in a perfectly vertical direction, the excess of over the quant.i.ty required is made to drop out by lifting the finger a little. When the fluid in the pipette has fallen to the required level, the drops which may happen to adhere to the outside of the pipette are carefully wiped off, and the contents of the tube are then fully transferred to the other vessel. In this process it is found that the fluid does not run out completely, but that a small portion of it remains adhering to the gla.s.s in the point of the pipette; after a time, as this becomes increased by other minute particles of fluid trickling down from the upper part of the tube, a drop gathers at the lower orifice, which may be allowed to fall from its own weight, or may be made to drop off by a slight shake; if, after this, the point of the pipette be laid against a moist portion of the inner side of the vessel, another minute portion of fluid will trickle out; and lastly, another trifling droplet or so may be got out by blowing into the pipette through the upper orifice. Now, supposing the operator follows no fixed rule in this respect, letting the fluid, for instance, in one operation simply run out, whilst in another operation he lets it drain afterwards, and in a third blows off the last particles of it from the pipette, it is evident that the respective quant.i.ties of fluid delivered in the several operations cannot be quite equal. I prefer in all cases the second method, viz. to lay the point of the pipette whilst draining finally against a moist portion of the inner side of the vessel, which I have always found to give the most accurate corresponding measurements."

=PISTA'CHIO NUTS.= _Syn._ PISTACIA NUTS; NUCES PISTACIae, L. The kernels of the fruit of _Piscatia vera_ (Linn.), one of the turpentine trees. They closely resemble almonds, but are sweeter, and form a green emulsion with water. Used in confectionery and perfumery, and also as a dessert fruit.

=PITCH.= _Syn._ BLACK PITCH, BOILED P., STONE P., WOOD P.; PIX (Ph. L.), PIX NIGRA, L. "A dry bitumen prepared from liquid pitch." (Ph. L.) The residuum from boiling tar in an open iron pot, or in a still, until the volatile and liquid portion is driven off. The volatile products princ.i.p.ally consist of crude pyroligneous acid and oil of tar. Pitch is chiefly employed in ship-building. As a medicine, it is stimulant and tonic, and has been used internally in some skin diseases, and in piles.

An ointment made of it is also extensively used in cutaneous affections of the scaly.--_Dose_, 10 gr. to 1/2 dr.

=Pitch, Burgundy.= _Syn._ WHITE PITCH, BURGUNDY PINE RESIN; PIX BURGUNDICA (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. "Impure resin prepared from the turpentine of _Abies excelsa_," or Norway spruce fir. (Ph. L.) "A concrete resinous exudation, probably, in a great measure, from _Abies excelsa_." (Ph. E.) It is chiefly used in plasters.

_Obs._ The importation of this substance has for some years past been gradually lessening in amount, in consequence of the subst.i.tution for it of a fict.i.tious pitch, made by melting common resin with linseed oil, and colouring the ma.s.s with annotta or palm oil. The physiological action of the two articles is, however, considerably different, since Burgundy pitch acts upon the skin as a powerful local irritant, exciting a slight degree of inflammation, and not unfrequently producing a pimply eruption and an exudation of purulent matter. It is celebrated for its effects when employed as a plaster in all cases where warmth, support, and long adhesion to the skin, are desirable; and in the latter quality no substance equals it. The fict.i.tious Burgundy pitch has similar properties, but in an immensely less degree.

PREPARED BURGUNDY PITCH (PIX BURGUNDICA PRaePARATA--Ph. L.) is ordered to be obtained in the same way as that adopted for strained ammoniac.u.m. This plan is, however, seldom, if ever, adopted in trade.

=Pitch, Burgundy (Facti"tious).= _Syn._ PIX BURGUNDICA FACt.i.tIA, L.

_Prep._ By melting good yellow resin, 1 cwt.,with linseed oil, 1 gall., and palm oil (bright), q. s. to colour. The mixture is allowed to cool considerably, and is then pulled with the hands in the same way as lead plaster is treated; after which it is placed in 'bladders' or 'stands' for sale.

_Obs._ The product of the above formula is the 'Burgundy pitch' of the shops. The 'pulling' or 'working' destroys the translucency of the resin, and imparts to it the peculiar semi-opacity of foreign Burgundy pitch.

Cold water is commonly employed to cool it down. Annotta is often subst.i.tuted for palm oil as a colouring substance. The addition of some of the 'droppings' or 'bottoms' of Canada balsam, Chio turpentine, oil of juniper, &c., renders this article nearly equal to foreign pitch; but in commerce this is never attempted, the aim being only the production of a lively colour with moderate toughness. A common melting-pan and fire (if clean, and carefully managed) will succeed sufficiently, but, both for safety and convenience, steam is preferable, and on the large scale, almost indispensable. A good workman can pull and put into stands or casks about 5 cwt. daily; or from 1-1/2 cwt. to 3 cwt. in bladders, the latter quant.i.ty depending on the size of the bladders. (See _above_.)

=Pitch, Can'ada.= _Syn._ HEMLOCK GUM, H. PITCH. Similar to Burgundy pitch; but from the _Abies canadenses_, or hemlock spruce fir.

=Pitch, Jews'.= Asphaltum.

=Pitch, Min'eral.= Indurated mineral bitumen. See ASPHALTUM, BITUMEN, &c.

=PIT'COAL.= _Syn._ COAL; HOUILLE, Fr.; STEINKOHLE, Ger. This article has been truly described as the most valuable of all those mineral substances from which Great Britain derives its prosperity, and the one which may be regarded as the main support of the whole system of British production. It fuses the metals, it produces the steam which sets our machinery in motion, and, in short, it may be said to render all the resources of this country available for use.

The more important kinds of coal may be cla.s.sified as follows:--1. Lignite or brown coal (see page 969).--2. Bituminous or caking coals. The most widely diffused and valuable of English coals. They are subdivided into: _a._ Caking coal. Splinters on heating, but the fragments then fuse together in a semi-pasty ma.s.s. The chief sources of this valuable variety of coal are the Newcastle and Wigan districts, _b._ Cherry coal or soft coal. l.u.s.tre very bright; does not fuse, ignites well and burns rapidly.

Glasgow, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Lancashire, &c. _c._ Splint, rough, or hard coal. Black and glistening; does not ignite readily, but burns up to a clear hot fire. It const.i.tutes the bulk of the great coal fields of North and South Staffordshire, and occurs in the Glasgow district, in Shropshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, &c. _d._ Cannel or parrot coal. Dense and compact, having a sh.e.l.ly fracture, and taking a polish like jet. Splinters in the fire, and burns clearly and brightly. Wigan and other parts of Lancashire, West Glasgow, &c. The curious deposit at Bathgate, near Edinburgh, commonly known as 'Boghead cannel coal,' or 'Torbanehill mineral,' differs considerably from the ordinary 'cannels,'--3. Anthracite or stone-coal. The densest, hardest, and most l.u.s.trous of all kinds of pitcoal. Burns with little flame or smoke, but gives great heat. South Wales, Devonshire, &c.--4. Steam coal.

Approaches nearly to anthracite. Admirably adapted for steam-vessels.

South Wales, Tyne district, &c.

The quality of coal may be ascertained by either directly testing its heating power or by chemical a.n.a.lysis. In the investigations undertaken at the Museum of Economic Geology, under the directions of Sir H. De la Beche, and which furnished the materials for the celebrated 'Admiralty Reports,' three different methods were adopted for this purpose.[109]

These consisted in--the determination of the quant.i.ty of water which a given weight of the coal was capable of converting into steam, the quant.i.ty of litharge which it was capable of reducing to the metallic state, and, lastly, its ultimate a.n.a.lysis by combustion with oxide of copper. See ORGANIC SUBSTANCES.

[Footnote 109: See Watt's 'Dict. of Chemistry,' vol. i, page 1033.]

The quant.i.ty of sulphur in coal is another matter of importance that may be determined by chemical a.n.a.lysis. (See SULPHUR.) The presence of more than 1% of sulphur renders coal unfit for the economical production of good light-gas, and more than 2% of sulphur renders it objectionable for use as domestic fuel. In like manner, coals containing mineral ingredients in excess are to be avoided, not merely on account of the quant.i.ty of ashes left by them, but for their tendency to vitrify upon the bars of the furnace, and to produce what is technically called 'clinkers.' The presence of much silica or alumina, and more particularly of any of the salts of lime, in 'steam coal,' is, on this account, highly objectionable.

For some further information connected with this subject, see ANTHRACITE, CHIMNEYS, c.o.kE, FUEL, GAS, LIGNITE, OILS, (Mineral), ORGANIC SUBSTANCES, &c.

=PLAGUE.= (PESTIS). "A specific fever attended with bubo of the inguinal and other glands, and occasionally with carbuncles."