14 ') 8
ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
consumptive cases and in gout; and in some cases it has appear 6 ^,act beneficially. Its efficacy is probably rather negative than posh 1 'that is, it is nutritive without being stimulating. Where the stomat^.very irritable, ass’s milk is preferable to cow’s milk, on account ofsmall quantity of butter, and large quantity of sugar of milk whi c ”contains.
As a demulcent milk is an exceedingly valuable substance in irritatjof the pulmonary and digestive organs. It is an excellent sheatj 1 ^agent in poisoning by caustic and acrid substances, and in some of t’ 1 ^.cases it acts as a chemical antidote; for example in poisoning 'jbichloride of mercurv, sulphate of copper, bichloride of tin, the m 1 ”,
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acids, &c. Milk is further employed on account of its demulcent qua*’ 11 .-in the preparation of the bread and milk poultice, which requires 10
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frequently renewed on account of the facility with which it under!?decomposition, and acquires acrid qualities.
Milk is a constituent of the Mistura Scammonii, E. (see p. 888). &
Whey is an excellent diluent and nutritive. Wine whey (serum
vinosum ) taken warm, and combined with a sudorific regimen,powerfully on the skin, and is a valuable domestic remedy in slightand febrile disorders. I have already referred to the uses of crett^. ^tartar whey (see p. 306), alum whey (see p. 373), and tamarind wh
p. 1161).
Gelatine ( Gelatina ) is extracted from the hones of the ox and the sheep. It is o D j,ijfby boiling bones in water under pressure. It is more readily procured by emf‘ Etcbones which have been previously digested in hydrochloric acid to extract the P | („tli erof lime. In this wav a nutritious soup is prepared in Paris , for the hospitals
i iauper habitations. (Consult M. Ed wards’ Recherch. Statist, sur I’Emploi de la Jt/‘arts, 1835). Th e patent gelatine of the shops is obtained, I presume, from hoof 'is sold either plain or coloured ; and is used as a substitute for isinglass. a ” 0 f tk ebeen extracted from antediluvian hones. A soup was prepared from the bones ^jjjgreat mastodon by a I’refet of one of the departments of France . Gelatine ismedicine as a nutritive substance, as a chemical test, as an adhesive matter ( i: * - fjfsticking plaster), as a fining for some liquids, and to form a soluble e11 . >’
nauseous medicines (see gelatine capsules, p. 1179). Seguin (see p. V-juii’as a febrifuge. (For some remarks on the best method of extracting tbe nu ^ pi,portion of bone, and its economical application, see Quart. Joum. of Science -1827). . . ^
Ox Bile (Fel Bovinum seu Tauri). Formerly extract of ox bile (fel taun *turn) was employed in medicine as a tonic. It consists of biliary matter , mucus , an" 1extract, chloride of sodium, lactate and phosphate of soda, and phosphate of h n,e 'dose of it is a few grains in tbe form of pills.
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Three kinds of teeth- Four extremities, with the toes variable in number, j L ri" 11 ''with strong nails or hoofs. No clavicles. Organs of digestion not disposed 1nating.
Sus Scro'fa , Linn. L. E. D.— The Hog.
(Adeps pneparatus, L.— Fat, E .—Adeps ovillus, D.) ,
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History.—T he liog is an animal very anciently known. Bv . 0 jivitical law the Jews were forbidden to eat its flesh, ( Levit. xi-account of either the filthy habits of the animal, or its supposed te 11 qpcto engender skin and other diseases, more especially leprosy-Mahometans are also interdicted from eating it.