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Show 718 COMMON CAMOMILE. COMMON CAMOMILE. native, cordial, and diaphoretic effects ; to the former, their in. fluence in promoting digestion. MEDICAL Camomile flowers are a very common and exceilent remedy, which is often used with advantage in spasmodicdiseases, in hy. steria, in spasmodic and flatulent colics, in suppression of the menstrual discharge, in the vomiting of puerperal women, in the afterpains, in gout, in intermittents, aud in typhus. Nobitter is more common than the camomile: light watery infusions of the flowers are much used to promotevomiting, and to assist the operation of other emetics ; and strong infusions of it taken in small doses, from 4t two to four ounces, twice or three times in the day, have been Lf 1 found to be good stomachics, and to assist digestion ; and with the addition of a few drops of the diluted vitriolic acid, have been found good remedies for removing feverish complaints; and have at times put a stopto intermitting fevers. Dr. Morton says, that he has curedinter. mittents which resisted the bark, by giving frequentlyin the day ascruple of the flowers of chamomile in powder, withten grains of salt of wormwood, and as much diaphoretic antimony. As camomile excites the peristaltic motion, it is useful in dysentery, but is not admissible in all cases of diarrhea. From its stimulating and somewhat unpleasant essential oil, camomile is also capable of exciting vomiting, especially when given in warm infusion; and in this way it is often used to assist the action of other emetics. Externally, camomile flowers are appliedas a discutient and emollient, in the form of clyster or embrocation, incolic, dysentery, and strangulated hernia, &c. Camomile flowers are exhibited, 1. In substance, in the form of powder, or rather of elec tuary, in doses of from half a drachm to two drachms, either alone, or combined with Peruvian bark, as for the cure of intermittent fevers. 2. In infusion, in the form of tea. ‘This mayeither be drunk warm, fur promoting the action of emetics, or cold, as a st machic. 3. In decoction or extract. These forms contain onlythe et- tractive, and therefore may be considered as simple bitters. 719 4, The essential oil may be obtained bydistillation. This possesses the antispasmodic powers in a higher degree than the simple flowers, but on the contrary does not possess the virtues depending on the presenceofthe bitter extractive. Although this be a fine remedy, and merits all our praise, still it must be remembered, that as the cord too tightly strung, re. laxes its tone, so as never to recover again, thus the stomach, too much braced by a long-continued use of camomile tea, loses irrecoverably its tone, and becomes a truly afflicting evil arising from imprudentuse ofthis tonic. PRESCRIPTIONS. R.1. Take of camomile, ia powder, scruple 1, ——— syrup of orange-peel, as much as is sufficient: Make a bolus, to be taken twice a day, as a tonic. R,. 2. Take of camomile, in powder -~ drachms 4, conserve of hips - - drachms 4, -——— syrup of ginger, as muchas is sufficient: Make into an electuary : dose a small tea-spoonful three times a day. kh. 3. Take of camomile flowers, I .t lemon peel, orange peel, of each, drachms 4, ——— boiling water - - pint is them remain for four hours, and strain. To the strained liquor add syrup of ginger, drachms 6. Thedoseis a wine glass in the morning early, and repeated an hour before diuner, for habits debilitated by drinking, or natural weakness of the ste. : nach, D : ly. 4. r Take of camomile flowers ——— rhubarb, in powder : S drachms os drachms 2, ——— coriander seeds, bruised, drachm 1 Make into tea, by adding a quart of boiling water over nig A wine glass is to be taken half an hour before dinner to create an appetite, |