Young’s Rule for Dosage: The age of the child is divided by the age of the child plus 12, and the result is the appropriate dose for the child. The doses given below are for the adult unless otherwise specified.

Absorbent. A medicine or dressing that promotes absorption, such as potassium iodide, Tr. iodine, glycerine, or hot vaginal douches.

Adrenalin. The blood-raising principle of the suprarenal glands. It is hÆmostatic and astringent. Acts somewhat like digitalis on the heart.

Uses.—Vomiting of pregnancy, increased glandular activity, hÆmorrhage, inflammation of mucous membranes.

Dose.—Internally, 5–10 m. of the 1:1000 solution. Externally, the solution of 1:1000 or 1:10,000 may be applied.

Albolene. An oily white substance obtained from petroleum. It is used on the nipples and skin of the mother and to remove the vernix caseosa from the skin of the child.

Aloin, Strychnia, and Belladonna. A laxative pill which usually contains aloin ? gr., strychnia sulph. 1/60 gr., and Belladonna 1/12 gr.

Ammonia Carbonate. Antispasmodic, stimulant, and expectorant.

Uses.—Stimulant to heart. Stimulating expectorant in pneumonia and bronchitis.

Dose.—5–20 grains in mucilage or syrup.

AnÆsthone. A mixture of adrenalin chloride (0.1%) and chlorotone (5%) in an ointment base of wool fat and petrolatum. Astringent, antiseptic, anesthetic and germicide. Useful application to swollen mucous membranes or in coryza.

Argyrol (Silver Vitellin). Antiseptic and germicide.

Uses.—Like Silver Nitrate, but less irritating to the tissues. 3–5% solution in water is an injection for gonorrhoea. 15% solution dropped in the eyes of the newborn may prevent ophthalmia. 25% solution may be used twice a day as a remedy for existing ophthalmia, but the strength should be reduced after three or four days. 10–15% solution is used as an injection in cystitis. An ounce or more of the solution may be left in the bladder until the next evacuation.

Asafoetida. A fetid gum resin. Carminative, antispasmodic, mild stimulant, and expectorant.

Uses.—Gas pains of adults and infants. Hysteria and indigestion.

Dose.—5–10 gr. t.i.d. For infantile colic, an emulsion called the mistura of asafoetida may be used in 2–4 dram doses. For adults 1–2 tablespoonfuls.

Belladonna. Nervine, mydriatic, sedative, narcotic, antispasmodic and anodyne. Makes the throat dry and dilates the pupils.

Uses.—Night sweats, nervous cough, pain, incontinence of urine and to restrain glandular activity.

Dose.—Fl. ext. 1–3 ??; dry ext. ½–1 gr. Tincture 8–20 ??. Solid ext. ½¼ gr. All for adults. For infants, proportionately less. See Rule for Dosage.

Benzoin. Antiseptic and externally a styptic and protective for sores.

Uses.—Sore nipples and urticaria. Lard is also benzoinated for use in removing vernix caseosa. Compound Tr. of benzoin contains, benzoin, purified aloes, storax, balsam of Peru, and alcohol.

Benzoinal. Albolene mixed with benzoin.

Bismuth Subnitrate. A white heavy powder. Antiseptic and astringent.

Uses.—Subacute gastritis, pyrosis, diarrhoea and vomiting of pregnancy. Particularly desirable in infancy because it is free from arsenic, lead and silver.

Dose.—5–60 gr. in the adult.

Boric Acid (Boracic Acid). A white crystalline powder. Antiseptic.

Uses.—As a dressing and lotion for eyes, navel, mouth, nipples, and all mucous surfaces. In solution to preserve the sterility of rubber nipples until they are needed.

Dose.—Internally, 5–15 gr. Solutions are usually about 4% or 5%. A saturated solution in water is about 6%. In hot water 25%.

Boroglyceride. An antiseptic paste of boric acid and glycerine. When an excess of glycerine is present the preparation is called boroglycerol.

Uses.—An oxydizer in endometritis. It is applied to the cervix on cotton tampons.

Calcium (Lime). Stomach sedative, soothes the irritated or burned skin, corrects hyperacidity, increases the clotting power of the blood (?).

Lime water is a saturated solution of calcium hydrate and is used for nausea, to break up the curds of milk, and to increase its digestibility. It is mildly constipating.

Calomel. See Mercury.

Camphor. A solid volatile oil. Nerve sedative. Anaphrodisiac. Antispasmodic. Stimulant.

Uses.—The monobromated camphor is given internally for hysteria, neuralgia, and as a hypnotic.

Dose.—1–10 gr.

Camphorated Oil. A solution of camphor in cottonseed oil. Rubefacient and stimulant.

Uses.—Internally in collapse. Externally as an application to the child for colds of chest and nose.

Dose.—5–20 ?? hypodermically in collapse. The injection should be made deep into the muscle.

Carbolic Acid (Phenol). Derived from coal tar. Antiseptic, deodorant and local anÆsthetic.

Uses.—Vomiting of pregnancy, pruritus, eczema, sterilization of instruments. Usual solution is 2½% to 5%. For sterilization of knives, scissors and other sharp instruments the 95% is used. In pruritus, the following wash will aid: carbolic acid, 12 dr., glycerine 2 dr., alcohol, 4 ? water q.s. 1 pt. Apply.

Cascara Sagrada. Stimulant laxative, and cathartic. Useful in pregnancy, but after labor there is evidence that it may go over in the milk to the child.

Dose.—Fl. ext. 10–20 ??. The Hinkle pill contains cascara.

Castor Oil. Oil expressed from the seeds of the castor plant. A cathartic. Acts in four or five hours.

Dose.—For adults, ½ oz. to 1 oz. For infants 10 to 60 drops given with a dropper—not with a spoon.

Castor oil cocktail.—Rinse out the glass with lemon juice or whiskey. Pour in teaspoonful of lemon juice and a teaspoonful of whiskey, add castor oil in amount required, cover with whiskey and give.

A paste is made from the mixture of castor oil and bismuth subnitrate in equal parts, which is an excellent preparation for sore nipples.

Cerium Oxalate (and Cerium Valerianate). Sedative and nerve tonic. The oxalate is a white crystalline powder, odorless and tasteless.

Uses.—Vomiting of pregnancy, seasickness.

Dose.—2–10 gr. several times daily.

Charcoal. Administered in tablet form or as a powder between two slices of buttered bread.

Uses.—Acid stomach. Vomiting of pregnancy.

Chinosol. Nonpoisonous, nonirritating and odorless. Antiseptic deodorant, styptic and analgesic. Dissolves instead of coagulates secretions.

Uses.—Antiseptic solutions for hands and sponges, deodorizing wash for vagina post partum, intrauterine douche, wash for gonorrhoea and cystitis.

Dose.—For douche or hand solution 1:1000 or 1:5000. For dusting powder, 1 part to 10 or 20 of starch, talcum, boric acid, or bismuth subnitrate.

Chinosol will corrode unplated steel. It may be mixed with salt, but not with soap.

Choral Hydrate. White crystal masses. Pungent in odor and taste. Hypnotic, antispasmodic, antiseptic and analgesic.

Uses.—Insomnia, eclampsia, convulsions, and to restrain secretion of milk.

Dose.—By mouth, 10–30 gr. By rectum, not to exceed 60 gr. In infants 1–2 gr. by rectum in an ounce of water.

Chymogen. A preparation of rennin (10%) made by Armour & Company.

Coagulen Ciba. A physiological nontoxic styptic, prepared from the natural coagulants of the blood. A 10% solution in water will hasten the beginning and end of coagulation. May be applied to bleeding surfaces directly, or given under the skin, into the muscle, or into a vein. 3½% to 5% solution in distilled water, should be sterilized by boiling 2–3 minutes. Do not filter. Inject.

Cocaine Hydrochlorate. AnÆsthetic, sedative, anodyne, anti-pruritic.

Uses.—Vomiting of pregnancy, with caution.

Dose.—Internally ½–1½ gr. Externally a 4%–10% solution in water.

Codeine. Alkaloid of opium. Less narcotic than morphine.

Uses.—After-pains and pain of over-distended breasts.

Dose.-¼–1½ gr. by mouth. ¼–¾ gr. hypodermically.

Compound Licorice Powder. See Senna.

Condylomata.

Use—

Digitalis. Cardiac tonic. Diuretic. Stimulant.

Uses.—Weak heart. Syncope. Collapse.

Dose.—For adult: of the tincture, 5–15 ??, fl. ext. 1–3 ??, ext. gr. 1/6½.

Digipuratum. A preparation of digitalis from which the inactive substances have been removed. It is used in the same conditions as digitalis.

Dose.—The tablets contain 1½ gr. and one is given four times daily until ten are taken. Then stop. Hypodermically. Each viol contains 1 c.c. of fluid and equals 1½ gr. of digipuratum. Each dose contains enough of the active principle of digitalis to kill a 30 gm. frog.

Ergot (Fungus of Rye). Contracts unstriped muscle fiber.

Uses.—To check hÆmorrhage after labor. To promote involution. Must not be given in labor until the uterus is empty.

Dose.—By mouth 15–60 ?? of the fl. ext. Hypodermically, 10–20 ??.

Ergotole, Ergotine. Concentrated solutions of ergot, 2½ times as strong as the fluid extract. They are sterilized and preserved in glass ampoules.

Uses.—See Ergot.

Dose.—30–60 ??.

Green Soap. A soap made of linseed or other oil, potash, alcohol and water.

“The adoption by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia of the term Sapo Viridis (green soap) is unfortunate, since soft soap even if made from green hempseed oil will become brown-yellow unless artificially colored.”—U. S. Dispensatory.

HÆmophilia. A condition of the blood wherein its clotting power is diminished or absent.

Coagulen, horse serum, or diphtheria antitoxin may be given hypodermically. Direct transfusion of blood from another is best.

Hyoscine, Morphine, and Cactin. (H. S. & C. Tablets). A proprietary combination of drugs. The action is said to be similar to that of morphine and scopolamine.

Iodine, Tincture.

Uses.—To sterilize the skin before operation. In vomiting of pregnancy it is sometimes effective. Drop doses may be given well diluted. Externally it is applied to ulcers, as in Bednar’s disease, and sometimes as a dressing for the cord. In pruritus vulvÆ it is a valuable application.

Iron. Tonic emmenagogue.

Uses.—To increase the number of red blood corpuscles. To raise blood pressure and to increase the secretion of milk.

Dose.—3–5 gr. Blaud’s pill contains the carbonate in a form that is easily assimilated.

Laxatives. Laxatives are unirritating and excite moderate peristalsis. Sulphur, magnesia, cassia, manna, cascara sagrada, the Hinkle pill, and the A, B, & S pill are usually mild in action.

Lysol. Disinfectant and antiseptic for hands and instruments. It is a brown syrupy fluid made from coal tar oil, which is distilled and mixed with fat, soap, etc. It has a creosote odor and contains 50% cresol. Readily soluble in water. Prepared in ½–4% solutions.

Magnesia, Calcined. Antacid and cathartic. Comes in white cakes.

Uses.—Acid stomach, vomiting of pregnancy, “heartburn,” and constipation.

Dose.—30–120 gr.

Magnesia, Milk of. A mixture of magnesia and water. Has the same properties as the above.

Dose.—For adults, 2–3 teaspoonfuls. For infants, ¼–2 teaspoonfuls.

Magnesia Sulphate (Epsom Salts.). Saline cathartic.

Uses.—The profuse watery stools produced by magnesia are valuable aids to elimination when the kidneys are overworked or defective. In congestion of the breasts and threatened eclampsia, or in any case where it is desirable to drain off waste or dehydrate the system.

Dose.—1 teaspoonful daily in hot water before breakfast. ½–1 oz. as a single dose or 1 oz. by rectum, as in the 1–2–3 enema.

Menthol (Mint Camphor, Japanese Peppermint). Analgesic, antiseptic, anÆsthetic, and vascular stimulant.

Uses.—In pruritus vulvÆ, vomiting of pregnancy, and hÆmorrhoids.

Dose.—By mouth 3–5 gr. In tampons, one part to five of oil. In ointments one part to sixteen. To the vulva for pruritus, use the spirits in 5% solution.

Mercury (Hydrargyrum). Cathartic, alterative, antisyphilitic, antiseptic and disinfectant. Readily absorbed by the unprotected mucous surface and relatively inert when the membrane is covered by a discharge. Solutions of the bichloride when used as a lotion unite with the albumin of a mucous discharge and form an albuminate of mercury, which is inactive. Bichloride solutions have small place in obstetrics. They are hard on the hands and destructive to instruments. Other agents like lysol, ziratol and chinosol have satisfactory germicidal properties and in addition are nonpoisonous, lubricative and cleansing.

Mercury should only be given to the infant in the form of calomel (the mild chloride). The dose is 1
12-? gr., repeated if necessary.

Morphine. Alkaloid of opium.

Antispasmodic, hypnotic, analgesic and narcotic.

Uses.—To relieve pain, produce sleep, check diarrhoea, and to control the pain, as well as the contractions of abortion. To relax a rigid os.

Dose.—In “Twilight Sleep” and rigid os the first dose is Morph. sul. 1/6¼ gr. and scopolamine Hydrobromid 1/200–1/150. The scopolamine to be repeated if required, in one-half or three-quarters of an hour. The usual dose of morphine hypodermically is 1
12½ gr.

Nitroglycerine (Glonoin). Vasomotor dilator, arterial stimulant.

Uses.—For the prostration following hÆmorrhage.

Dose.-½00–1/50 gr. hypodermically.

Novocaine. Local anÆsthetic, similar to cocaine, but less toxic. For local anÆsthesia in solutions of 0.25% to 2% usually in association with adrenalin (5–10 drops of the 1:1000 solution to each 10 c.c. of novocaine solution).

Nux Vomica. The plant from which strychnia is derived. Tonic, stomachic, and stimulant to muscle, nerve, and heart.

Uses.—Bitter tonic and stimulant. Vomiting of pregnancy and agalactia.

Dose.—Ten drops of the tincture in water before meals.

Opium. The concrete juice of the poppy. Relieves pain. Constipates.

Uses.—HÆmorrhoids in adults, colic and diarrhoea in infants.

Dose.—One grain in suppository night and morning for adult. For infant, as paragoric only. Two to five drops only, not repeated. Children bear opium badly.

Pepsin. A ferment in the gastric juice that digests proteins. In commerce it is obtained from the pig.

Uses.—Imperfect digestion.

Dose.—For adult, 10–15 grs. For infant, 2 gr.

Phenolphthalein. A nonofficial coal tar derivative. Mild laxative.

Dose.—2–3 gr. Phenolax and chocolax are preparations of the drug.

Pituitary Extract (Pituitrin). A substance derived from the infundibular portion or the posterior lobe of the hypophysis cerebri. Nontoxic, stimulant to unstriped muscle.

Uses.—Uterine inertia, post partum hÆmorrhage, CÆsarean section and tympany. Will not produce abortion nor premature labor. May be tried in acute anÆmia to raise the blood pressure.

Dose.—5–15 ??. Repeated if necessary.

Potassium (or Sodium) Bromide. White granular powder. Soluble, 1 to 5 in water. Sedative, hypnotic, antiepileptic.

Uses.—Neurasthenia, convulsions, nymphomania, vomiting of pregnancy.

Dose.—20–60 gr. In enema with chloral. Pot. bromide 40 gr. and chloral 20 gr. in several ounces of water or milk.

Potassium Iodide. Alterative emmenagogue. Uric acid solvent.

Uses.—Syphilis rheumatism, swellings, slow inflammations, excessive secretion of milk.

Dose.—2–10 gr. increased as required.

Potassium Permanganate. Dark purple opaque prisms. Soluble in water 1 to 16. Disinfectant, deodorant, antiseptic, astringent.

Uses.—As an injection in leucorrhoea and gonorrhoea, 1:5000 solution.

Purgatives. Simple purgatives produce free discharges from the bowels with some griping. Senna, aloes, rheubarb, castor oil, and calomel are examples. Saline purgatives are followed by profuse watery evacuations. Magnesia sulphate, and citrate, potassium and sodium tartrate, and sodium phosphate belong to this class.

Drastic purgatives bring about a violent action of the bowels with much griping and tenesmus. Such are jalap, colocynth, elaterium, and croton oil. Hydrogogue purgatives combine the results of the salines and drastics. They have much griping with profuse watery stools. The hydrogogues are elaterium, gamboge, croton oil, and potassium bitartrate.

Quinine Sulphate. (Derived from Cinchona bark.) Antipyretic, tonic, antiperiodic, antiseptic, emmenagogue and ecbolic.

Uses.—Valuable stimulant in a slow first stage. It is combined with castor oil to bring on labor at term. Castor oil 1 oz. and quinine sulphate 10 gr. is given as the first dose, followed in an hour by another 10 gr. of quinine, and an hour later by another.

Dose.—2–20 gr.

Regulin. A mixture of agar-agar in dry form with extract of cascara sagrada.

Uses.—A laxative in chronic constipation.

Dose.—Teaspoonful to tablespoonful in stewed fruit or mashed potatoes, once daily.

Russian Oil (Liquid Petrolatum). Laxative in pregnancy and puerperium. Acts mechanically and as a lubricant. Not unpleasant to take.

Dose.-½ oz. at bedtime, and, if necessary, before each meal. May be given to breast-fed babies in doses of gtts. xv three times daily.

Senna. Laxative and purgative. Acts especially on the large intestine. Sometimes passes over in the milk to the child.

Dose.—Fl. ext. 1–4 teaspoonfuls. In compound licorice powder the dose is 30–80 gr. (about 10 gr. of senna to the dose).

Silver Nitrate. Caustic, antiseptic, stimulant, irritant and antigonorrhoeic. Table salt neutralizes it.

Uses.—2% solution in water for pruritus vulvÆ. 1% solution dropped into the eyes of the newborn to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. Do not neutralize the 1% solution. ¼ gr. silver nitrate with 2 gr. of pepsin in capsule for pernicious vomiting of pregnancy.

Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking powder). Antacid, antirheumatic.

Uses.—Gout, dyspepsia, acid stomach, acidosis, vomiting of pregnancy. Soothes the skin when burned.

Sodium Chloride. (Salt.)

For normal saline use 10 gr. to 3½ oz. of water. For physiological salt solution, add 15 gr. of Sod. Carb. to every 3½ oz. of normal saline as made above.

Sodium Citrate. A white odorless, granular powder with cooling salty taste.

Uses.—Diuretic, antipyretic and refrigerant. Retards the coagulation of albumin in milk and aids the digestibility of proteins. May be indicated in gout and cystitis.

Dose.—Internally, 15 to 60 gr. In the modification of cow’s milk about two grains should be used for each ounce of the mixture.

Spirits of Nitre, Sweet (Spirit Nitrous Ether). 4% solution of nitrous ether in alcohol. Diaphoretic, diuretic, antipyretic, stimulant, antispasmodic.

Uses.—Fever, dropsy, vomiting of pregnancy, colic, anuria.

Dose.—For adult, 20–60 gtts. For infants small doses often repeated.

Stramonium (Jimson Weed). Hypnotic, narcotic, antispasmodic.

Uses.—For hÆmorrhoids take Ung. Stramonii and Ung. Galli in equal amounts and apply.

Urotropin. A white powder soluble in water. Urinary antiseptic, diuretic.

Uses.—Cystitis, typhoid bacilli in urine, gout. It makes the urine irritatingly acid when given long. It does not act in alkaline media.

Dose.—7½–10 gr. well diluted.

Valerian. Anodyne, stimulant, antispasmodic and nervine.

Uses.—Hysteria, hypochondriasis, headache.

Dose.—30–60 ?? of the fl. ext. by mouth, or by rectum 2 oz. of the following mixture may be used P.R.N. for hysteria:

Veratrum Viride (Hellebore). Sedative, emetic, diaphoretic, diuretic. Retards the heart’s action without weakening it.

Uses.—Eclampsia.

Dose.—1 to 4 ?? of the fl. ext. is given hourly until the pulse comes down to 80.

Veronal. Safe, reliable hypnotic.

Uses.—Insomnia from hysteria, neurasthenia, and mental disturbance.

Dose.—5 to 15 gr. dissolved in hot tea, milk, or water. May repeat.

Zinc. Tonic, astringent, antispasmodic.

Uses.—Stearate of zinc is a valuable dressing in excoriations of buttocks and external genitals.

Zinc Ointment. It is indicated for bedsores (decubitus) eczema, herpes, and intertrigo. Zinc ointment contains one part of zine oxide to four parts of benzoinated lard.

Ziratol. A mixture of phenols in soap, water, and glycerine. Antiseptic, deodorant and germicide. Relatively odorless, easily soluble and does not injure hands, instruments, or rubber. It is said to be only ? as toxic as carbolic acid. Used in solutions of 0.5% up to 5%.