OX GLYCERENE. Bt J. "WILSON
JOHNSTON, M.D.,
Loodiana. Glycerene as a catholic vulnerary is disparaged in India from equitable appreciation of its merit. As a calendar surgical subsidiary, I invoke revision of its modus operandi. Formerly a manufactory waste, it was rescued from obscurity by Mr. "Wilson of Price's Candle Company. It is now distilled from palm oil in steam, at a temperature of 600? F. Originally it was but an accidental product of the soap-maker, during saponification; the salifiable oxibase of the alkaline ley seized the fatty acid of fixed oils, and eliminated sweet basic glycerene (C6 H7 O5 II? oxide of lypcl), which at 60? F. should tell a specific gravity of 1-24, and contains 94* per cent, of pure glycerene. We deal with a hydrated oxide, for glycerene when deprived of its water by sulphuric acid is reduced to aeroleine. =
Special Characteristics. I.
Physical. 1. Colorless, odourless, sweet,
and neutral.
2.
Mixes with water and alcohol in all proportions, is insoluble in ether, and retains'moisture for a long
3.
More emollient
time.
than,
and dissolves many substances
oil cannot. 4.
not sbsorb oxygen, and consequently cannot or turn rancid. Can be medicated or charged with any aroma.
Does
ferment
5.
* Price's glycerene, which is the purest in the market, can be concentrated to 98 per cent. In the making of Baynton's diachylon or emplastrum plutnbi, an oleate and margarate of lead is formed, and glycerene eliminated.
From its
6.
to
ing peutic Number, 1863) are soluble tive proportion per cent. A.?Inorganic Sulphur Phosphorus
0* I 0-2 1'0
..
..
Iodine Bromine
..
)
...
in
substances.
of potassium of mercury Arsenic acid Arsenious acid Boracic acid Chlorate of potash Arscniate of ? of soda ,, Carbonate of ,, Bicarbonate of ? Borate Carbonate of ammonia.. Hydrochlorate of ,, Alum Sulphate of iron zinc ?
Cyanide
..
?
..
..
..
..
Monosulphuret of sodium, ? ? Monosulphuret of lime, Persulphuret of potassium 25*0 Iodide of sulphur 1*6 40-0 ? potassium zinc 40 0 ? Biniodide of mercury 0-3 Bromide of potassium 25-0 Iodide of iron, .(allproportions). 20 0 Chloride of sodium 10 0 barium ? zinc 50-0 v iron ? (all propor..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
copper Nitrate of silver..
tions).
7*5
..
..
?
..
Bichloride of mercury
Tannic acid Oxalic acid Beneoic acid
32*0 27'0 20-0 20 0 10*0 3-5 50'0 50-0 98-0 8'0
60-0 20-0 20*0 40-0 25*0 35-0 30.0
(oil proportions). ..
50'0
15o ..
10*0
B.?Organic substances.
Morphia
0 45 20 0 3*0 33 0 0*25 .22 5 40
..
morphia
..
Atropine Sulphate of atropine Strychnine Sulphate of strychnine Nitrate of strychnine Metallic salts
..
..
..
.
Quinine
..
of Cinchonine Yeratrine Brucine Codeine
Sulphate
quinine
..
..
?. ..
..
0*5 2*75 1*5 10 2 25
(all proportions).
..
soluble in the same degree as 'water; camphor and all gum resins, balsams, and essential oils are insoluble or very sparingly so. Incompatible^, bichromate and permanganete of potash, both decomposing. are
II.
Chemico-capiUary. Powerful detergent 2. Euergetic antiseptic by preventing absorption of oxygen. 3. It has great affinity for water, which it osmically extracts from the approximate tissue. 4. From its hygrometric affinity it swashes a pyogenic membrane from its effluent capillary drainage, tranquillizes exudation, lenifying re-absorption of tabid or peccant secretion, and renders pyemic accession from a patent wound equivocal, {sic.) Obviously its uses are numerous. 1. As a primary dressing in organic lesion. 1.
1.
endermic and mucoid sudorific.
2.
As
an
3.
As
a
hydragogue
4.
As
a
cosmetic.
As
a
dressing,
cathartic.
it exerts
affinity with water, cular attraction. sive
over
heir to, and glycerene will extract its essence, mesh its fibrine in a netted warp, and woof its molecular protoplasm into a flesh factor more speedily than life-nature can restore the gap.f A dash of glycerene, when the repair process proceeds indolently, will act as the spur to the jaded horse, and revive
in the rela-
glycerene
..
...(all proportions) Monosulphuret of potas-) "
Muriate of
for increased supply. Troth ! it accelerates the architecture, working with refined mortar, and refl ects a better flesh bridle of union.* Blood is nature's panacea fcr redressing every till that flesh is
it is an excellent menstruum, adhertissue, and acting as a topical director of theramedia. The following drugs (Lancet, 21st
viscidity
sium
43
ON GLYCERINE.?BY DR. J. WILSON JOHNSTON.
February 1, 1SG7.J
a
drooping
power. To the lithotomist it is invaluable: every one must have been plagued with calculi adherent or sunk into the wall of the is exercised, but hemorrhage is always biadder; a
guarded scalpel a glycerole cotton tampon, charged with perchloride of iron, acts as a charming styptic, and can be adjusted with sufficient ease. A tacled tampon, drenched in glycerene, should bs retained in the bladder, internally abutting against the calcular nidus, and externally adequate to reach the bed surface. The tampon being charged with glycerene, urine will not penetrate centrically; while the depurating effect of the glycerene on the adjacent capillaries dilutes and mollifies urinary acridity,?the capillary attraction of the cotton fibrillso prevent those dribbles, which are anguish to the wounded viscus. J In granulation, induration, and laceration of the uterine neck, it is an equable demulcent, aecoying, soothing, epurating, and guiding as a medicating medium nature's reparation. A glycerole cotton tampon is a bland, effective, and cleanly pessary, a safe and happy menstruum for a palliative opiate, or a rigorous haemorrhagic astringent. Never lose sight of its abstersive and hygrometic specialties in treating uterine disease, otherwise your fair patient will be inconvenienced by the de trop drenching, which will not add to jour reputation A stump secreting excess of pus will be toned, an irritating ulcer soothed, a scald deprived of its sting, an anguishing nipplechap hushed to rest, and the dry parched skin of fever soothed by glycerene. "Why should it not be provided in abundance. Its cost is quoted in Morgan's Trade Journal at 2-4, by no means so expensive as many adjuvenda liberally supplied, which might advantageously be substituted by bazar drugs. No indigene or natural can bide compare to glycerene, as a bland wound nurse which hugs, depletes, soothes, and nourishes with unabated care. 2. As an endermic and mucoid sudorific glycerene was rubbed into the abdomen (this constituting the only specialty in the treatment) in various cases of acute dropsy from albuminuria after scarlatina, and produced free and gentle perspiration, primally relieving urgent tension, and ultimately resulting favorably (J. Jones.) G. Johnson found it of special value in laryngitis. Tilt introduced it as a substitute for lard in plasters and ointments, severe.
Here
and recommends both to be made with Brown and Poison's corn Possibly this sudorific action explains the success attending the topical application in deafness originated flour.
by "Wakely (Sic!?Ed., I. M. G.) 3. As a peristaltic persuader fa liydragogue cathartic?) singly inert, but with soda superadded, it is effective, and well adapted for a juvenile aperient; to the testy adult it is an acceptable change for the black draught et sub liorredenda. We offer an explanation of its aperient action. Fat is an acknowledged alimentary solvent; existing as a steareate, mnrgarate, oleate, phoceate, or butyrate of oxide of lypel; it caunot be in 1859.
a
special
influence from its adhea consummate mole-
which it has
The wound fleshes more speedily (other things being equal); inflammatory action is curbed byT the capillary depletion of the subjacent tissue, the wound is swaddled in a bland liquor sanguinis proportionate to the energy of the circumjacent circulation. Just as water circulating bears a given proportion of air adhering to it, and does, as is illustrated in the ventilation of mines and the Spanish Catalan forge in its descent, yield up the adherent air (for mechanical work-power if necessary), so glycerene when in contact with a living organism, and especially an unfleshed wound, seems to extract, bear upon its bosom and carry away the liquid of the plasma, recording the repairing material in a formed layer, and thus negatively acts as a magnate
*
We
strained is
surely
have reproduced this exactly
as
we
ask the author if he is in earnest. not scientific.?Ed., I. M. Gf.
to
t What
are
we
to think of all this ?
??Ed., I. M. G. Really, really, Dr. Johnston,
received it. We are converbiage, if intelligible,
Such
Is this meant for
sport at our
expense +
did you not send this communication to a tradesman indigent of wrapping
by mistake ? Was it not meant for paper??Ed., I. 21. a. us
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
44s
assimilated unless as an acid. In the adult the pancrcatic juice effects this separation by saponification of the fatty acid with
an alkaline oxide, freeing the basic oxide of lypel; it is not then the fat au naturellc, but the product glycerene that solves the crude ingesta, and maintains the juste millicu of digestive and egestive function. Carbonate of soda is added with the view of of soda (which exists in liberating its
genus
omne
;
they
are
[.February 1, 1867, but the fabrics of
a
dream, and from their
annoy and tease.* New Year's Morning, 18G7.
alkalinity
equivalent phosphate
common with all serous and fibrinous plasmse), invariably results -when animal is exclusively substituted for vegetable food. Phosphate of soda emulsifies stearic and margaric acids, and thus determines their easy assimilation, utilizing every grannie of fat in the gastrico-duodenal tract, and liberating an excess of glyeerenb. In the infant, where the pancreas is only partially developed, nature supplies not only excess of free acid in the butter of the breast milk, rendering assimilation possible, without pancreatine, but provides a large proportion of phosphate of soda
in
gastric juice,
which indeed
to
'determine
Routh suggests that the svant of one of the reasons why
em unification.
phosphate of soda in cow milk may be it disagrees with delicate children. Glycerene i3 thus a regular ordinate sudorific
action
on
the
mucous
of routine digestion, its membrane determining the
rationale of its solvent power. 4. As a cosmetic, it merits the devotion of all women, imparting delicacy and suppleness to the skin, and deterging the hair, which gives grace, beauty, an I belle tournure to Eve's fair
daughters. It effectually checks rapid evaporation of insensible perspiration, and guards the cuticle against the fierce and fiery tongue of the dry east wind, which licks and shrivels all animate nature.
The proportion in which glycerene should be employed is? 1.
Naked and unmixed to
all
wounds and
severe
primary
stumps. In proportion of one to six of water in burns and scalds ; 2. the addition of lo per cent, of creosote, or the employment of Calvert's carbolate or acetate of glycerene, is advisable. 3. In proportion of one to eight in chaps, cracked nipples, and excoriations. 4.
In doses of
ounce
an
and
a
a
drachm and
half for
an
a
adult,
half for with
a
a
child,
an
ounce
to
quarter in the former,
and one drachm of carbonate of soda in the latter. ?5.
In
proportion
of
one
to
eighteen
or
twenty
as
a
hair and
skin cosmetic, it ought to take the place of all oils and pomades as a capillary conservator, as it softens and beautifies without
greasing, and can be aromatised. After bathing in the hot weather, it is a delightfully soothing agent. In lieu, oil is used by the native, but is objectionable. Pliny describes the magnificent Thermse of ancient Rome, the unctuarium, where the bather was anointed with oil, then powdered with sand, and conducted into the sphoeristerium, or wrestling hall; passing on through the caldarium, (where the ivory strigilis scraped the cuticle) tepidarium, and frigidarium, he wrapped himself in a shaggy mantle and repaired to the principal unctuarium, where he was anointed with perfumed oils. Glycerene is the modern oil, equivalent as a non-conductor of heat and conservator of dermoid tissue. 6.
In
perfumed
proportion of one to four of honey as a lip salve, neroli, clove oil, attar of roses, medicated with alum, and colored with indigo or alkanna all staple
with
borax or bazar commodities. 7. In proportion of
one ounce to one pound of ordinary hard soap, it forms an admirable detergent, which may be mixed with fine sand, or better far pounded mollusk shells, which carpet the bed of every Indian river.
8.
As an
plaster, one corn flour; pro re mta.
ointment,
in the
proportion of one ounce as a grains of Brown and Poison's as a liniment in varying proportions, medicated Bom arc of glycerenated washing powders, ct hoc
drachm to
a
hundred
?
* We have published the above verbatim et literatim, for the edification of our readers. Either we have to apologize to Dr. Johnston, or We instinctively ask oursome explanation is surely due from him to us. selves?Can it be that some one has sent us the above production surJohnston's in Dr. or is it name, really the product of a reptitiously, trying to hoax us and to insult Science ? If so, we can playful imagination " in kabet ifcenuiu exclaim cornu, longe fuge," &c,?Ed., I. M. U. only .