Page 13 - Pharmacy History 37 Nov 2009

Lest we forget...
Old drugs and their uses
Researched by Geoff Miller FPS
1. Tincture of myrrh
Myrrh is an oleo gum resin obtained from the stem of Comiphora molmoland and other species. It is in the form of reddish yellow tears with an aromatic odour and bitter taste. The tincture is made by macerating the gum in alcohol. The tincture is used as a treatment for mouth ulcers by applying direct or in a mouthwash.
2. Grey powder
Common name for powder of mercury and chalk. Consists of 33% elemental mercury dispersed in chalk. This powder when diluted with lactose was given to children as a laxative whilst teething, but is very dangerous as it is cumulative. It was also used to treat syphilis.
3. Sweet sp of nitre
Spirit of nitrous ether consisting of an alcoholic solution of nitrous ether. It was used to treat angina as well a diaphoretic to promote perspiration in the treatment of colds and flu. Opened bottles should not be kept longer than seven weeks.
4. Paregoric elixir
Camphorated tincture of opium. Used as an expectorant in cough mixtures. Prepared by adding camphor and benzoic acid to opium tincture and diluting with alcohol to contain approx 1/30 grain of morphine per teaspoonful.
5. Laudanum
Tincture of opium. Prepared by boiling opium with water and alcohol and adjusting the solution to contain 1% anhydrous morphine. Used as
an analgesic and also as a treatment
for diarrhoea and intestinal biliary and renal colic. Acts more slowly that morphine and hence it is more constipating.
6. Ipecacuanha
Comes from the dried root or rhizome of Cephaelis ipecacuanha. In small doses the powder is used as an expectorant but in larger doses which are irritant to the gastric mucosa, produce vomiting and diarrhoea. Can be used as a syrup to induce vomiting to treat ingestion of some poisons.
7. Compound chalk powder
Chalk is an absorbent and antacid and was used to treat diarrhoea. The US National Formulary lists a compound chalk powder which contains chalk acacia and sucrose. The British Pharmacopoeia lists aromatic powder of chalk which is chalk containing nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cardamom seed and sucrose.
8. Sp of sal volatile
Aromatic spirit of ammonia is made by dissolving ammonium bicarbonate in a mixture of strong solution of ammonia with a distillate of lemon oil, nutmeg and alcohol. Employed as a restorative by inhalation in fainting and collapse. Old ladies also used a similar preparation called smelling salts.
9. Sulphuric ether
Also known as solvent ether. This
is not recommended to be used as
an anaesthetic. This preparation is used as a solvent for oils, resins and other substances. It was also used for cleaning the skin prior to surgery and for removing adhesive plaster from the skin.
10. Compound tincture of
bark
This is a synonym for compound cinchona tincture BPC. Cinchona bark is percolated with alcohol to produce a soft extract to which
is added dried bitter orange peel, cochineal and alcohol to produce the tincture. It is used as a bitter to stimulate appetite and it also has astringent properties. It is also a source of quinine alkaloids.
11. Fryar’s balsam
Also known as friar’s balsam, the synonym for compound tincture
of benzoin. Benzoin is an aromatic resin from the incised stem of styrax benzoin. The tincture is prepared from benzoin, storax, aloes and balsam of tolu, macerated in alcohol. It was used internally in chronic bronchitis and externally as an inhalation in steaming water for bronchitis and laryngitis. Also used as an antiseptic and styptic to treat small cuts etc.
12. Powdered rhubarb
Consists of the powdered rhizome deprived of most of its bark and dried, of rheum palamtum. It comes from China and other species from India. The powder is used as a purgative due to its irritant effect on the intestine, but it is not recommended to treat chronic constipation. It was used
as ingredient in many proprietary medicines sold as aperients.
13. Essence of peppermint
A preparation made by dissolving 10% peppermint oil in alcohol. The oil is obtained by distillation of the fresh flowering tops of mentha piperita. The oil and the essence are
volume 5 no 37 NOVEMBER 2009
Pharmacy History Australia 13