706 MEDICAL DICTIONARY

dotes, a list of which is given in Dr. Oarrod's work on *: Acids, Magnesia, Chalk, and diluted Alkalies, Vinegar and Water, Alkaloids, Oil. Antimony, Arsenic, - None; but Charcoal may be Chlorine, Ammonia, Magnesia. Cyanides or Prus- Solutions of chlorine, mixed Iodine. Starch. Lead Salts, - Sulphate of Soda or Magnesia. mercurial Salts, White of Egg. Opium, Animal Charcoal, which abN itrate of Silver, Common Salts and other Sulphate of Zinc, Carbonate of Soda in dilute attached to the ti ue from which they have grown by a pedicle. They vary in size considerably according to their position, those of the nose being small, while those of the womb sometimes attain enormous dimensions. When they appear in the nares they frequently give rise to considerable distre in consequence of their interfering with the breathing. They are, however, as a rule, very easily removed by being laid hold of with a pair of strong forceps and then twisted, and thus disconnected from the mucous membrane. Polypi, however, may appear in the ear, the rectum, and in the larynx, when they generally partake very much of the nature of the surface from which the pedicle takes its origin. When they occur in the womb they invariably in the first instance develop within the ti ue of the womb itself, and then by virtue of the muscular action which is exercised in consequence of the presence of the tumour, become expelled either into the cavity of the womb itself or outside into the peritoneal cavity. Some idea of the size of these tumours, which have become converted into poypi, may be given when the author can state that in his own experience he has removed them as large as the head of a newly-born infant, and on one occasion from the abdominal cavity he removed as many as eight of these tumours by abdominal section, the largest of which would be the size of an ordinary cocoa-nut, while the smaller varied from the dimensions of a hen’s egg to that of an orange. From the nature of these growths it is quite impo ible that they can be treated except by a profe ional man. in which sero-purulent discharges accumulate. It is somewhat like eczema in its appearance, and is e entially a disease of the epithelial covering of the scalp. The treatment of this disagreeable affection consists, in the first place, of washing the scalp thoroughly with carbolic soap, and after drying, an ointment composed of one part of red oxide of mercury ointment, with three parts of ordinary pomade, with which two drachms of auinine have been thoroughly mixed, should be applied night and morning. from weakne , injury, or illne , is of the greatest importance and requires to be taken into serious consideration in accident and in disease. In the case of a fracture, for instance, occurring beyond the reach of medical a istance, it is of the greatest importance to the patient that the injured part should be kept in such a position as to prevent the ends of the bones penetrating the skin, as, otherwise, what might have remained a simple fracture is turned into a compound one, and therefore the peril of the limb very much increased. Again, if a joint is affected by disease, the position must be studied, so that if stiffening is inevitable, the PEARS' CYCLOPAEDIA. 707 limb may bo in such a position as to render it most its useful in the circumstances. Then, again, if a patient to is sick or faint the recumbent posture will be found it most acceptable to him, and enable him to rocover doubtle more rapidly than if the erect posture was maintained. supplying In bleeding at the nose position is also of great imcongestion portance, as, naturally, the bleeding will be le liable Permanganate to continue if the erect posture is maintained, and the further a istance will be given by keeping the hands well-known elevated above the head. Then, in dropsical conditions (See of the lower limbs especially position is of the utmost Poultice importance, as, if the legs are allowed to droop as in as the ordinary position of sitting, the swelling will, from soothing this mechanical arrangement, be more liable to increase The whereas, if the limbs are elevated and kept in the made horizontal position, the How of blood will be materially upon a isted and the swelling thereby reduced. Then, in again, with regard to fatigue either of the mind or articles, body, has been said that a rest in bed for 24 hours seed is equal it to a change of air extending over some days; of ami this, doubtle , is the case, and can be accounted such for by the fact that the whole of the ti ues of the body, poses. Pru ic together with the mind, are in perfect repose and have an opportunity of regaining their wasted energies. cyanic There can be no doubt whatever that sleeping in a stances, chair, instead of being beneficial, is frequently pre- >each, judicial, whereas nothing is more refreshing and f eaf invigorating than sleeping in the recumbent posture. substances, When the bodily strength is so far exhausted as to has prevent the individual from changing his position in inhaled bed, it is e ential that this should be done for him serious by the nurse in attendance, otherwise his condition which becomes very much complicated by the development purposes, of bed sores, which are due to long continued pre ure but upon one part, whereby the circulation of the part is pota ium. interfered with, and therefore it loses its vitality. Not scribed only is shifting the posture of the patient beneficial and in this respect, but it conduces very much to his nervous comfort otherwise by the relief which his muscles poisonous obtain by having the position of the body altered. employed Potash is the oxide of the metal pota ium, and is poison very widely distributed throughout all nature. It is heart, found in the soil, in all living bodies, both animal and small vegetable. It is very largely employed in medicine, are—a the most generally used salts of this metal being caustic of potash, carbonate and bi-carbonate, cream of tartar, antidotes i or bi-tartrate or potash, acetate of potash, saltpetre or from nitrate of potash, chlorate of potash, iodide of pota ium, the bromide of pota ium, citrate of potash, and per manga ammonia, nate of potash. (See special articles.) Caustic potash while, in solution is employed as an ant-acid in certain injection diseases, especially in those affecting the urine, bi- Chlorine, carbonate is also used as an ant-acid, and in similar the circumstances. Caustic potash is also used as a caustic thirty for the destruction of morbid growths, and has been chlorinated found very useful in the treatment of carbuncle, by the which means the recovery of the part is said to be very respiration be much handled hastened. with the Caustic greatest potash of care, requires, as its however, destructive to it is Puberty eifects upon the skin are very pronounced. Acetate when of potash is a compound, as its name implies, of acetic English acid and potash. It is a popular remedy as a diuretic, male and may be given in from 30 to 40-grain doses in water, at three or four times a day. Chlorate of potash is largely far used in the treatment of diseases of the mouth and throat, and is specially useful in the treatment of aphtha is in and stomatitis. Bi-tartrate of potash, or cream of tartar, the is a popular remedy, and also po e es diuretic puberty, properties. Nitrate of potash or saltpetre, is also used disease as a diuretic, but it is not such a safe medicine as the the bi-tartrate. It has been frequently employed in the girls treatment of sore throat. The iodide and bromide of while pota ium arc the two most popular salts of this metal, ance and are invaluable in the treatment of diseases of a constitutional character the iodide of pota ium being are employed largely in the; treatment of syphilis, rheum a puerperal tism, enlarged glands, and swollen joints. It has also Sickne .”) been recommended in the treatment of diphtheria,’ but other remedies are much to be preferred. When taken some in exce it is liable to give rise to very copious exudaand tion from the eyes and nostrils, and seems to have a communicated peculiar effect upon the mucous membranes generally. taking This effect can be somewhat modified' by combining it was >yi{h carbonate of ammon i^. Bromide of pota ium, by the