Prescription Book for W W Johnson: Page One

Health Care

Pages from the Prescription Book of W W Johnson, Llandrindod Wells

As with the home remedies, we cannot take any responsibility if you decide to try these yourself!

First, a brief explanation of the symbols and abbreviations found in these prescriptions:

Symbol	Meaning	Apothecaries' Weights		Apothecaries' Measures
	scruple	20 grains	1 scruple	20 minims	1 fluid scruple
	drachm or dram	3 scruples	1 drachm	3 fl. scruples	1 fl. drachm
	ounce	8 drachms	1 ounce (480 grains)	8 fl. drachms	1 fl. ounce
Tr.	Tincture	12 ounces	1 pound (5760 grains)	20 fl. ounces	1 pint
		from http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/dictunit/dictunit.htm

The ingredients, 'translated' into a more readable form, are alongside the image. What they are and their uses are listed below the image. Many thanks to the staff at Boots, Llandrindod Wells, for supplying the translation from pharmaceutical abbreviations into English. The reference works used, A Compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing, Sam'l O. L. Potter, M.D., M.R.C.P.L., 1902 (Potter), the British Pharmaceutical Codex, Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 1911 (BPC), and The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmocognosy, Finley Ellingwood, MD, 1919 (Ellingwood), are all available online at http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/main.html. Hearty thanks to Henriette for making these texts so readily available and searchable. Also of great use was Datasegment.com.

Powys County Archives

Mr Wilde, Newmead

Rx	Belladonna liniment Opium liniment	Chloroform liniment Aconite liniment. ½ oz. of each
	Mix and make an embrocation. To be rubbed on the seat of pain night and morning.
Rx	Potassium bicarbonate 3 drachms Tr. of Actaea Racemosa 6 drachms Tincture of Hops 6 drachms	Potassium bromide 2 drachms Water to 6 oz.
	1/2 ounce three times a day in water

The liniments of Belladonna (deadly nightshade), Chloroform, Opium and Aconite (monkshood) were all used to treat the pain of chronic rheumatism. An embrocation is a lotion or liniment.
Potassium bicarbonate was used for gout and rheumatism. Potassium bromide, used a sedative or depressant, is a potentially damaging chemical. It was also used for spasms and rheumatism. Tincture of Actaea racemosa was used as a mild expectorant and for rheumatism or neuralgia. Also known as Cimifuga racemosa (black snakeroot or black cohosh), the plant is a native of the US. Tincture of Humulus lupulus, or hops, was used to increase appetite and aid digestion; in this case it was used to help the drugs get into the bloodstream via the stomach.

Powys County Archives

Graham Hogg Esqr.
12045

Rx.	Iodine sulphate 1 oz. Potassium bicarbonate 3 drachms Nox vomica tincture 2 drachms Fowlers solution (arsenic) ½ drachm Glycerin 6 drachms Peppermint water to 6 oz. ½ oz. 2 hours after meals 3 times a day

The ingredients in this prescription were all used to treat dyspepsia, also known as indigestion or heartburn. Sodii sulphas, Glauber's Salt, was used as a purgative. Nux vomica was made from seeds of a tree native to India, Strychnos nux-vomica, one of the main constituents of which is strychnine. Fowler's Solution was a solution of potassium arsenite. Peppermint water was used to soothe gut wall and expel gas.

Powys County Archives

Miss Mills

Rx	Cantharides plaster 2 x 3 inches send 3. One to be applied every fourth or fifth night to the affected side as directed.
Rx	Boric acid ointment 2 oz To be applied on lint to the blistered surface.
Rx	Potassium iodide 3 grains Iron and ammonium citrate 5 grains Nux vomica tincture 10 minims Digitalis tincture 10 minims Water to ½ oz. Send 8 oz. One tablespoonful three times a day

Cantharides, or spanish fly, was made from dried beetle Cantharis vesicatoria. According to the British Pharmaceutical Codex of 1911, "Cantharides plaster is usually spread on calico adhesive plaster with a half-inch margin, for blistering purposes. Blisters are used principally to relieve deep-seated inflammation and to promote the absorption of effusions."
Boric acid is an antiseptic used on burns & scalds.
Potassium iodide - acute catarrh, asthma, hayfever, tonsillitis, sore throat, mercury poisoning
Iron & Amm. Citrate - ferric ammonium citrate - iron deficiency
Nux vomica - stimulant of gastrointestinal tract, increase appetite.
Digitalis - action on the heart & circulation (raises blood pressure)

Powys County Archives

Major Jones

Rx	Lanoline 2 drachms Lead acetate solution 1 drachm Rectified spirit 2 drachms Cocaine ½ grain Vaseline to 1 oz.

Lead acetate - Plumbi acetas, also known as sugar of lead - "Inflammations of external parts are constantly treated by the lotion of "Leadwater and Laudanum;"—though the constituents are chemically incompatible, it is a valuable sedative and astringent. " (Potter)
Rectified spirit - 85% alcohol
Cocaine - probably Cocainae oleas - was used as a local anaesthetic.

Powys County Archives

Revd J Thomas

Rx	Mercuric subchloride 1 scruple Colchicum extract ½ scruple Colocynth extract ½ drachm Ant. Tart. ½ grain Mix and make into a mass and distribute into 12 equal pills. Take one each night.

Mercuric subchloride: Hydrargyri chloridum corrosivum (corrosive mercuric chloride, bichloride, also known as corrosive sublimate) was used internally for gastric ulcers, dysentery, and hepatic cirrhosis
Colchicum extract: Extractum colchici came from Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron). It relieves pain and inflammation of gout but may cause considerable gastro-intestinal irritation. "Extract of colchicum is prescribed in pills to relieve the pain and inflammation of acute gout. It is frequently combined with blue pill or compound colocynth pill, or with Dover's powder. " (BPC)
Colocynth extract: Colocynth pulp was from fruit of Citrullus colocynthis, a native of N Africa, Middle East & north-west India, and is a powerful hydragogue [causing a discharge of water] cathartic
Ant. Tar.: possibly Antimonii et potassii tartras, also known as Tartar emetic - is gastrointestinal irritant, and a systemic & local emetic

Prescription Book: Page Two - Page Three
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