COPAIVA.

1179

. S.) Dr. Cullen Mat. Med.) spoke favourablyI have learned from an empirical practi-

J ef/ - Gaz. vol. ii. p. 81. N. ds use in hemorrhoids.

^ ller > ’ he says, “ that it gives relief in hemorrhoidal affections; and Iav e frequently employed it with success. For this purpose it is to been [in doses of] from 20 to 40 drops, properly mixed with powdered? ar ’ once or twice a day.”

'ilc ^ " aS formerl y employed as a topical application to wounds and

^Ministration. —Dose, from gtt. xx. to fqj., or even more. It isRetimes taken on sugar, and this is said to be the most efficaciousta *. N giving it, in affections of the urinary organs ; but its nauseousis a great objection to its employment in this way. Some take itbi/N**^ on a w i ne '9^ ass f u l of water, to which a few drops of somec " r tincture have been added. Many persons employ it in the form ofb na( le mucilage, yolk of egg, or alkalies). If mucilage beStayed, it should not be very thick, otherwise it will not mix well.<j . ^ °1 nitric ether is frequently added to cover the unpleasant flavour.c iall Urtl * s some times conjoined to counteract purging, and acids (espe-r UbF su lpl lur i c ) 1° check nausea. Syrup of copaiva (prepared byjjj ’} n 8 3iv. of balsam with 32 grs. of calcined magnesia, and then add-le^ * drops of oil of peppermint and 62 ozs. of simple syrup) has beenfended ( Lond. Med. Gaz. vol. ii. p. 864. N. S.) Balsam of copaivaO been taken in the form of pills', various powders (stavcli, gum,If ar b, magnesia, &c.) being employed to give it a proper consistence,'"'it ^ n ° s ' a be ein l llo y e<1 ( as recommended by Mialhe), the copaivic acidd e " s " itli it, and thereby forms copaivate of magnesia, which has consi-gn ■ Co "sistence, and absorbs the volatile oil. In some cases the balsamboi lres > b y magnesia, a pilular consistence, but frequently it does notpro 1116 ^bicker than honey. Bordeaux turpentine also possesses thisfoj^ty of solidifying with magnesia (see p. 706). The following is aof C lula for copaiva pills (Soubeiran, Traite de Pharm. i. 523):—BalsamAt ''t )a | v a, Sj.; Calcined Magnesia, 5vj. or 3 v ij. (or common Carbonate ofS ' a ’. 3 -i-) Several hours are frequently required to effect the solidi-lt a j s °f tlie balsam.—Velpeau’s copaiva lavement is thus prepared

M

°f Copaiva, 5ij.; Yolk of one Egg; Distilled Water, f|viij.* Xx ~ an emulsion, and to which add Tincture of Opium, gtt. xx. or gtt.ti 11(Jlj Gelatine capsules of balsam of copaiva (small olive-shaped gela-Co m Ca psules, each containing about ten grains of balsam) are nowav °i(li° n bl tbc shops. They have been introduced with the view oftli e i, nauseous odour and taste of the balsam. When swallowed

the h- i atln °ns capsule dissolves in the gastro-intestinal juices, and allowssai " to escape. Ratier (Diet. prat, de Med. t. xv. 288)

a k e

Neff

to introduce them into the rectum.

288) has pro-

c puroauce tnem into tne rectum. For this purpose they are to’ e wiently greased. These capsules were the invention of a Frencli-I r name of Mothe. They are now manufactured in London by

c oiir Vl dei)

""It'

1 ai > Of il.—gioascu. i.u'

a Ir. name of Mothe.

-°iHp 0 'E'now, whose agent informs me that the capsules are made of a"ilty °f gelatine, gum, and sugar. In very hot weather some diffi-t ex perienced in making them. Desfontenelles ( Journ. de Chim.a Diet},’ I 1 ' i03, 2nd. Ser., and Lancet, March 7, 1840) has describeda "<l „ c °f making the capsules. It consists in coating the distendedk ' C l a Uri(N eb svv ’ifnming bladder of the tench (or other small fish) with’ anc l afterwards withdrawing the air and the membranous mould.