Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 245

To remove these drawbacks, and to render sulphurous acid, both as a gas and in solution, easily and cheaply available for the above-named and many other applications, sporokton has been invented. Several varieties are made; they are as follows:

_Liquid No. 1._--This preparation consists of a colourless solution of a non-volatile antiseptic, usually a salt of zinc, impregnated with eighty times its bulk of sulphurous acid gas; in other words, one pint of the liquid contains ten gallons of gas. Liquid sporokton is, in fact, a combination of one of the most powerful antiseptics with the disinfectant; the former ingredient will effectually prevent the putrefaction of any solid or liquid animal or vegetable matter with which it may come in contact, while the sulphurous acid will rapidly pa.s.s off in the gaseous state into the surrounding air and act as an energetic destroyer of noxious atmospheric impurities.

Liquid sporokton absorbs ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen, destroys bad smells, and prevents the spread of infectious diseases; it is, consequently, a valuable agent for the deodorisation and disinfection of wards of hospitals, sick rooms, dairies, larders, ship, stables, cow-houses, kennels, piggeries, slaughter-houses, urinals, water-closets, privies, cesspools, sewers, drains, and other similar buildings and places.

After it has parted with the whole of its sulphurous acid gas, liquid sporokton leaves an odourless, non-volatile antiseptic and absorber of ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen.

Liquid sporokton evolves its sulphurous acid by simple exposure to air, without the aid of heat, so that no risk of fire attends its use, as is the case when rooms, buildings, holds of ships, &c., are fumigated with this gas by the old plan; it will not stain or in any other way injure undyed woollen, linen, or cotton goods. It is consequently well adapted for the disinfection of underclothing, sheets, blankets, bed-furniture, &c.

Liquid sporokton may be employed for the instantaneous preparation of a bath or lotion of sulphurous acid, to be used, under medical direction, in the treatment of itch, ringworm, chronic eczema, lepra, psoriasis, impetigo, pityriasis, &c., in man, as well as mange, scab, and other skin affections in the lower animals.

Liquid sporokton is clean, it requires no skill in using it, and its action is perfectly controllable.

_Liquid, No. 2._--This preparation is specially made for the disinfection and purification of old beer barrels, wine casks, and the like. It is similar in composition to, and may be used for the same purpose as No. 1; except, however, that as No. 2, unlike No. 1, is liable, from its containing iron instead of zinc, to stain linen, wood, &c., it should not be employed for disinfecting clothing or sprinkling over floors, decks of ships, and the like.

_Solid._--This is a powder, usually a mixture of calcium sulphite and ferric chloride, which, by simple expose to air, will slowly and steadily, or when sprinkled with water, rapidly give out 25 per cent. of its weight of sulphurous acid and leave no unpleasant smell behind it.

Sulphurous acid gas, unlike non-volatile disinfectants, quickly mingles with the air, and seeks out, as it were, the noxious atmospheric impurities it is capable of destroying.

Solid sporokton, in addition to evolving sulphurous acid, contains an excess of ferric chloride which, together with this gas, renders it a most useful and efficient antiseptic.

=Sulphurous Anhydride.= See SULPHUROUS ACID.

=SU'MACH.= This dye stuff is chiefly used as a subst.i.tute for galls. With a mordant of acetate of iron, it gives grey or black; with tin or acetate of alumina, yellow; and with sulphate of zinc, a yellowish-brown; alone, it gives a greenish-fawn colour.

=SUM'BUL.= _Syn._ MUSK ROOT, JATAMANSI, SUMBUL ROOT; SUMBUL RADIX (B. P.).

A substance introduced to British medicine by Dr A. B. Granville, in 1850.

It occurs in circular pieces, varying from 1 to 3 or 4 inches in diameter; has a musk-like odour, and a sweet balsamic taste. It acts as a powerful stimulant, especially of the nervous system. In India and Persia it has long been used as a medicine, a perfume, and as incense.--_Dose_, 15 gr.

to 1 dr., either masticated, or made into an infusion, electuary, or tincture; in cholera, hysteria, neuralgia, epilepsy, low fevers, and various other spasmodic and nervous disorders.

=SUMMER DRINKS.= See LEMONADE, SHERBET, &c.

=SU'PER-.= See NOMENCLATURE.

=SUP'PER.= The evening meal; the last meal of the day. Supper is generally an unnecessary meal, and, when either heavy, or taken at a period not long before that of retiring to rest, proves nearly always injurious, preventing sound and refreshing sleep, and occasioning unpleasant dreams, nightmare, biliousness, and all the worst symptoms of imperfect digestion.

The last meal of the day should be taken at least three hours before bedtime. Even when it consists of some 'trifle,' as a sandwich or biscuit, an interval of at least an hour should elapse before retiring to rest. In this way restlessness and unpleasant dreams will become rare.

=SUPPOS'ITORY.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM, L. A medicine placed in the r.e.c.t.u.m for the purpose of affecting the lower intestine, or, by absorption, the system generally. Suppositories are rounded, usually elongated ma.s.ses, having the active medicine combined with some substance which will retain the proper shape, as soap, spermaceti cerate, or cacao-b.u.t.ter. The latter substance is, perhaps, the best vehicle for remedies prescribed in this form. It is, however, rather too soft to be used without admixture.

According to Dorvault, the addition of one eighth part by weight of wax imparts the proper hardness.

All difficulty of removing suppositories from the mould may be obviated by having the moulds previously dusted with lycopodium.

The mode of proportioning the doses of active ingredients has been noticed in the article ENEMA.

=Suppository, Astringent.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM ASTRINGENS (Reuss).

_Prep._ Powdered oak bark, 2 dr.; tormentil, 2 dr.; honey, q. s. For 8 suppositories.

=Suppository of Carbolic Acid.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM ACIDI CARBOLICI (Ph.

U. S.). _Prep._ Carbolic acid, 12 gr.; oil of theobroma, 348 gr.; water, q. s. Dissolve the acid in a few drops of water, and mix it with 1 dr. of oil of theobroma; then add it to the remainder of the theobroma previously melted, and cooled to the temperature of 95 F., and pour the whole immediately into moulds of 30 gr. each, standing in iced water.

=Suppository of Copaiba.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM COPAIBA (Colombat). _Prep._ Solidified copaiba, 1 dr.; b.u.t.ter of cacao, 1 dr.; extract of opium, 1/2 gr.

=Suppository of Elaterium.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM ELATERII (St B. H.).

_Prep._ Extract of elaterium, 2 gr.; hard soap, 10 gr.; water, q. s. Mix.

=Suppository, Emollient.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM EMOLLIENS. _Prep._ b.u.t.ter of cacao and spermaceti in equal parts; melted together.

=Suppository of Iodide of Pota.s.sium.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM POTa.s.sII IODIDII (Mr Stafford). _Prep._ Iodide of pota.s.sium, 1 gr. to 4 gr.; extract of henbane, 6 gr.; extract of hemlock, 6 gr. In enlarged prostate.

=Suppository, Irritant.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM IRRITANS (Richard). _Prep._ b.u.t.ter of cacao, 2 dr.; aloes, 4 gr.; tartarised antimony, 1 gr. To restore the haemorrhoidal flux.

=Suppository of Lead (Compound).= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM PLUMBI COMPOSITUM (B. P.). _Prep._ Acetate of lead, in powder, 36; opium, in powder, 12; benzoated lard, 42; white wax, 10; oil of theobroma, 80; melt the wax and oil of theobroma with a gentle heat, then add the other ingredients, previously rubbed together in a mortar, and, having mixed them thoroughly, pour the mixture while it is fluid into suitable moulds of the capacity of 15 gr. The above makes 12 suppositories.

=Suppository of Mercury.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM HYDRARGYRI (B. P.). _Prep._ Ointment of mercury, 60 gr.; benzoated lard, 20 gr.; white wax, 20 gr.; oil of theobroma, 80 gr.; melt all but the mercurial ointment together, then add the ointment of mercury, stir till well mixed, and immediately pour into moulds of the capacity of 15 gr. The above makes 12 suppositories.

=Suppository of Morphia.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM MORPHIae (B. P.). _Prep._ Hydrochlorate of morphia, 6 gr.; oil of theobroma, 90 gr.; benzoated lard, 64 gr.; white wax, 20 gr.; melt the wax and oil of theobroma with a gentle heat, then add the hydrochlorate of morphia and benzoated lard, previously rubbed together in a mortar, and mix all the ingredients thoroughly; pour the mixture, while it is fluid, into suitable moulds of the capacity of 15 gr., or the fluid mixture may be allowed to cool, and then be divided into 12 equal parts, each of which should be made into a conical form.

=Suppository of Opium.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM OPII (Ph. U. S.). _Prep._ Extract of opium, 12 gr.; oil of theobroma, 348 gr.; water, q. s. Proceed as for carbolic acid suppository.

=Suppository for Piles.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM HaeMORRHOIDALE, S. SEDATIVUM, L. _Prep._ 1. Powdered opium, 2 gr.; finely powdered galls, 10 gr.; spermaceti cerate, 1 dr.

2. (Ellis.) Powdered opium, 2 gr.; soap, 10 gr.; mix.

3. (Richard.) Extracts of opium and stramonium, of each 1 gr.; cacao-b.u.t.ter, 2 dr. Used when the piles are very painful.

=Suppository, Pur'gative.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM CATHARTIc.u.m, L. _Prep._ 1.

Soap, 1 dr.; elaterium, 1 to 2 gr.; mix. As a strong purge.

2. (Niemann.) Soap, 2 dr.; common salt, 1 dr.; honey, q. s.; mix. As a mild cathartic.

=Suppository of Quinine.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM QUINae (Boudin). _Prep._ Sulphate of quinine, 15 gr.; b.u.t.ter of cacao, 1-1/2 dr. Mix.

=Suppository, Resol'vent.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM RESOLVENS, L. _Prep._ (Stafford.) Iodide of pota.s.sium, 3 to 4 gr.; extracts of henbane and hemlock, of each 6 gr. In enlargement or induration of the prostate gland.

=Suppository of Rhatany.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM RHATANIae (P. Cod). _Prep._ b.u.t.ter of cacao, 1 dr.; extract of rhatany, 15 gr., for 1 suppository.

=Suppository, Sed'ative.= See _above_.

=Suppository of Sulphate of Soda.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM SODae SULPHATIS (Phbus). _Prep._ Dried sulphate of soda, 2 dr.; powdered soap, 4 dr.; honey, q. s. For 4 suppositories. To be smeared over with oil when applied.

=Suppository of Tannic Acid.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM ACIDI TANNICI (B. P.).

_Prep._ Tannic acid, 36 gr.; benzoated lard, 44 gr.; white wax, 10 gr.; oil of theobroma, 90 gr.; melt the wax and oil with a gentle heat, then add the tannic acid and benzoated lard, previously rubbed together, and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture while it is fluid into suitable moulds of the capacity of 15 gr. The above makes 12 suppositories.

=Suppository, Ver'mifuge.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIUM ANTHELMINTIc.u.m, S.

VERMIFUGUM, L. _Prep._ (Swediaur.) Aloes, 4 dr.; common salt, 3 dr.; flour, 2 dr.; honey, q. s. to make a stiff ma.s.s; divide into proper-shaped pieces, weighing about 15 gr. each. One to be used after each motion.

=Suppositories of Aloes.= _Syn._ SUPPOSITORIA ALOES (B. P.). _Prep._ Aloes in fine powder. 1 dr.; oil of theobroma, 300 gr. Proceed as for carbolic acid suppository, omitting the water.