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Show 446 OFFICINAL STORAX. Soften the opium, and extract separately with diluted alcohol; and, having beat them into a pulp, mix them: then addthe pepper reduced toa powder; and, lastly, having beat them well together, form the whole into a mass. It is unfortunate that these compositions should differ so much in strength, the two former containing two, and thelatter only one grain of opium, in ten of the mass. Underthe idea that opiumis to operate as a sedative, the addition of the pepper is somewhat injudicious. The London title also is improper, as it is naturally employed forpills of opium without anyaddition. Even the title adopted by the Edinburgh college is ambiguous. That of the Dublin appears to me well contrived, although it does not mention the onlyactive ingredient ; as it is often ne. cessary to conceal from our patients that we are giving them opium, which both the name and smell of the storax enable us todo. The dose is four orfive grains, to be given at bed-time. This produces often a very comfortable night, and without that disturbance which opiumoften creates. PRESCRIPTION. K. Take of purified storax . aromatic powder purified opium -~ syrup of Tolu, as Make into six pills. - grains ~ grains ~ grains muchas is 8, os 3, sufficient : Take a pill every night. BITTER QUASSIA. QUASSIA AMARA. This often pro- duces a less distress of the head and stomach the following morning than opium byitself, Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Cuan. Calyx five-leaved: Petals five: N ectary five-leaved : Pericarps five, distant. Spec. Car. Flowers bisexual, in spikes: Leaves pinnate, ending in ar odd one: Pinne opposite, sessile, on an articulated winged petiole. 2 DESCRIPTION. Tus tree rises several feet in height. The woodis light and white. The leaves are placed alternately on the branches, and consist of two pairs of opposite pinne, with an odd one at the end. The common footstalk is articulated and winged, with a leafy membrane. The flowers are of a bright red colour. The bractes or floral leaves are small, and accompanyeach peduncle, or flower-stalk. The calyx is small, coloured, and has five teeth. The corolla is composed of five petals. The nectary consists of five small rounded scales. cous, as well as the nectary. The stamina are conspi- |