Anodyne

“ It soon happens that the anodyne is resorted to, not merely for unendurable nervous attacks, but for every little discomfort, care, and grief, so that the veil of forgetfulness may be drawn over the unpleasantness and the pressure of the unwelcome reality may pass away in dreaminess. Thus the unhappy man sinks from step to step in the slough of opium-poisoning, from which deliverance is possible only rarely and with difficulty. ”

“ The anodyne quality which renders opium so valuable in human medicine, is not so manifest when given to the horse.
If injudiciously given, opium frequently aggravates the disease, and does injury: and I have several times seen it increase pain, when it has been improperly given as an anodyne. In flatulency or spasm of the bowels it is an excellent remedy, particularly if joined with aromatic powder, ginger, or some other stimulant. In diarrhœa it is an effectual remedy, but must be given cautiously. In diabetes I have found it very beneficial, when joined with bark and ginger. ”

“ Therefore these should be alleviated, as they always can be, by some anodyne taken internally. Any medical man is familiar with many such preparations, so that it seems unnecessary to give any formula, particularly as it would have to be altered, more or less, to suit any given case. ”

“ This indicated that the mucous lining of the stomach had been partially removed by the corrosions of the drug, or that nervous power had suddenly come to a stand-still, which demanded an increase of stimulus.
"Since that time you have been taking your daily dose only to preserve the status in quo. The condition both of your nervous system and your stomach indicate that you must always take some anodyne to avoid torture, and your only anodyne is opium.
"The rest of your life must be spent in keeping comfortable, not in being happy."
Opium-eaters enjoy a strange immunity from other disease. ”

“ An anodyne embrocation was therefore applied to the [Pg 10] pit of the stomach, fomentations to the feet; and, as soon as it could be got ready, she was placed in a warm bath. This so much quieted the irritation of the stomach, that she was enabled to swallow about thirty drops of laudanum, from which there was a decided alleviation of her sufferings for nearly an hour. During ten days she remained in a very doubtful state, subject to frequent severe attacks of diarrhœa, with intense pain of the bowels. Her emaciation during this time was most extraordinary. ”

“ In such cases, it is necessary to use such anodyne measures as will not interfere with the subsequent demands that may be made of the skin, i.e. that it be aseptic and in a condition so sound that it is able to undertake the process of healing itself after the operation has been performed. ”

“ The so-called oil of wine, which is imported into this city from England, and which is sometimes employed for making the officinal spirit, is an ethereal solution of etherole, one specimen yielding only seven per cent. of it. And 3d, in the preparation of ether, the residue left in the still after the rectification of the ether above 54° Beaumé, must either be thrown away, or converted to the only use to which it can be applied with advantage, viz., Hoffman’s anodyne. It is for this reason that the price of the commercial “anodyne” is so low, being about fifteen cents per pound. ”

“ With the exception of alcohol, I know of no more dangerous medicine to give during the critical stages of inflammatory, febrile, and other diseases than Allopathic doses of opium in any form. This anodyne, by its retarding, benumbing, and stupefying effects upon the body, often destroys the power of reaction at the critical stage of the disease when the vital forces should be left free to act, and consequently in many cases patients die who would not die if they were not under the influence of this drug. ”

“ The Edinburgh Pharmacopœia has only the simple spirit of ether, without the oil of wine, whilst the Dublin Pharmacopœia of 1850 under the name of Spiritus Æthereus Oleosus, gives the following formula, which includes the preparation of the oil of wine and its subsequent solution, to make the anodyne:—Mix a pint of alcohol and a pint and a half of oil of vitriol in a glass matrass, adapt a Liebig’s condenser, and by heat distil until a black froth rises. ”

“ For the relief of wakefulness dependent upon a languid circulation, with cold feet and flatulence, the anodyne may be given in half-drachm doses well diluted with ice water, and repeated every fifteen minutes till relief is obtained. Nearly all forms of painful or spasmodic disturbance unattended by fever may be thus relieved. For this reason it is particularly useful in the treatment of uterine colic and in sleeplessness after childbirth, when opiates cannot be tolerated, or are contra-indicated on account of their tendency to excite the brain. ”

“ French brandy, 3⁄4 oz. (or rectified spirit, 1⁄2 oz.) ; calcined magnesia, 1⁄4 oz.; mix. An excellent anodyne and antacid for infants.—Dose. A small teaspoonful as required.
ANODYN (Müller, Berlin.) Chiefly for rheumatic pains, toothache, &c. Oil of rosemary, 30 drops; oil of thyme, 10 drops; camphor, 5 grms.; spirit of ammonia, 12 grms.; spirit, 60 grms. (Hager.)
ANODYN′IA (-dĭn′-y′ă) . Freedom from pain; anæsthesia.
AN′OREXY. Syn. Anorex′ia, L.; Anorexie, Fr., Ger. In pathology, want of, or morbidly diminished appetite, without loathing of food. ”

“ Physicians often see hysterical patients suffering from intense pain that requires an injection of morphine, yet after a series of such incidents, the physician is able to give an injection of plain water and produce just as good an anodyne effect. ”

“ I will now give an account, seriatim, of my inhaler, the anodyne fluid which I employ, and the mode in which I direct the inhalation to be made.
The Inhaler [A] is similar to one very commonly used in administering chloroform. It has, however, in addition, two tubes, an inch and a quarter long and a quarter of an inch in diameter, running parallel to the floor of the inhaler. These tubes, being placed above and to the sides of the inspiring valve, admit two small streams of [Pg 11] fresh air, which to a great extent are inspired unmixed with the vapour of the anodyne. ”

“ It is to induce sleep that these preparations are given, the mother not being aware that if an anodyne be used to-day, a larger dose will be required to-morrow to produce the same effect, and also that by its interference with digestion the habitual use of narcotics always injures the health of the child. ”

“ Whatever form of purgative is given, some form of anodyne should be combined. Drissole and Tanquerel [3] are said to have obtained excellent results with croton-oil; one drop is given, followed seven or eight hours later by another, and then by an enema of 2 pints of normal saline. After two or three days the croton-oil may be again given, one drop at a time each day. ”

“ A genus of freshÐwater bivalves, having to teeth at the hinge. [Written also Anodonta.]
An¶oÏdyne (?) , a. [L. anodynus, Gr. ? free from pain, stilling pain; ? priv. + ? pain: cf. F. anodin.] Serving to assuage pain; soothing.
The anodyne draught of oblivion.
Burke.
μ 1⁄2The word [in a medical sense] in chiefly applied to the different preparations of opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus, and lettuce. ̧
Am. Cyc.
An¶oÏdyne, n. [L. anodyon. See Anodyne, a.] Any medicine which allays pain, as an opiate or narcotic; anything that soothes disturbed feelings. ”

“ No medicine should be employed until the most urgent symptoms are abated. Castor oil, the mildest of our purgatives — syrup of buckthorn assisting the purgative property of the oil, and containing in its composition as much stimulating power as is safe — and the spirit of while poppies — the most convenient anodyne to mingle with the other medicines — will generally be successful in allaying the irritation already existing, and preventing the development of more. ”

“ They are least admissible in the beginning, where evacuation is the principal object; but as the disease advances they become more and more allowable and useful. The principal cautions necessary in their administration are, 1. To premise sufficient evacuation, so that the intestines may not be loaded with bile, scybala, or any other irritating matter at the time of giving the opiate. 2. To obviate the effects which an anodyne has of causing a retention of the contents of the intestines. ”

“ As a rule, it is useless to try to relieve these discomforts by anodynes. Many an opium habit has been formed by a turning to opium in such cases. The coal tar products are greatly abused here, for they do not bring relief to queer feelings nor to a sense of pressure or discomfort; they rather add to depression. What they are efficacious for is acute pain. ”

“ Anodynes quiet the nervous system. Pain in the horse, as in the man, is one of the important factors in the production of fever, and the dulling of the former often prevents, or at least reduces, the latter. Anodynes produce sleep, so as to rest the patient and allow recuperation for the succeeding struggle of the vitality of the animal against the exhausting drain of the disease.
The diet of an animal suffering from acute inflammation is a factor of the greatest importance. ”

“ There are, of course, other anodynes which may be used and that have less disturbing sequelae. In this matter, routine is unfortunate, for individual patients react very differently to opium and its derivatives, the disturbing effect upon the mind being greater than the quieting effect on the body. Many patients stand the coal-tar derivatives much better because of their lack of effect on the mind. ”

“ Absorbents are medicines which destroy acidities in the stomach and bowels, such as magnesia, prepared chalk, &c.
3014. Alteratives are medicines which restore health to the constitution, without producing any sensible effect, such as sarsaparilla, sulphur, &c.
3015. Analeptics are medicines that restore the strength which has been lost by sickness, such as gentian, bark, &c.
3016. Anodynes are medicines which relieve pain, and they are divided into three kinds, paregorics, hypnotics, and narcotics (see these terms) ; camphor is anodyne as well as narcotic. ”

“ An individual accustomed to the use of anodynes, requires a much larger dose to procure relief than one who is not. Doses may be repeated, until their characteristic effects are produced, after an interval of thirty or forty minutes. When the stomach is very sensitive and will not tolerate their internal administration, one-sixth of a grain of Morphia can be inserted beneath the skin, by means of a hypodermic syringe. ”

“ It is frequently incorrectly applied to anodynes and narcotics, which soothe pain, but do not repress muscular spasm. Ammonia, assafœtida, bark, camphor, castor, chalybeates, chloral hydrate, chloroform, ether, Indian hemp and cannabine, musk, opium, saffron, and valerian, with many other similar substances, are regarded as antispasmodics. ”

“ Hence it is that anodynes, chloral, opium and its alkaloids, the bromide of potassium, and similar medicaments, introduced either by the stomach or by hypodermic injection, are to be jealously reserved for emergencies when it would seem cruel to withhold the temporary comfort they may impart. Stimulants are of course to be freely employed whenever they are indicated by exhaustion as this may be shown by a weak pulse and other failing functions of the body, but are certainly best reserved for such emergencies. ”

“ In medicine and pharmacy, substances and agents which allay pain. Some (as the PAREGORICS) act by actually assuaging pain; others (HYPNOTICS) by inducing sleep; whilst a third class (NARCOTICS) give ease by stupefying the senses, or by lessening the susceptibility to pain. Among the principal anodynes are opium, morphia, henbane, camphor ether, chloroform, chloral hydrate, and other medicines of the like kind; to which must be added spirituous liquors, wines, and the stronger varieties of malt liquor. ”

“ They read the prescriptions of their physicians, and were surprised at the fact that anodynes are sometimes excitants, and emetics purgatives, that the same remedy suits different ailments, and that a malady may disappear under opposite systems of treatment. ”

“ We shall name the diseases from their characteristic symptoms, and then, without commenting upon all the properties of a remedy, recommend its employment. Our reference to the qualities of any remedy, when we do make a particular allusion to them, we shall endeavor to make as easy and familiar as possible.
Dose. All persons are not equally susceptible to the influence of medicines. As a rule, women require smaller doses than men, and children less than women. Infants are very susceptible to the effects of anodynes, even out of all relative proportion to other kinds of medicines. ”

“ Sleep and oblivion of misery became the only alternatives of hopeless toil, and those who could save a few taels yielded to the temptation of supplementing those blessings by means of chemical anodynes. ”

“ Another important feature of the apparatus is a compound anode which consists of carbon plates, with a metal core to increase the conductivity. The anode is treated in a special manner so as to render it non-porous and impervious to attack by the nascent chlorine evolved on its surface. No anode appears ever to have been invented that is at all suitable for working on a large scale, and the successful introduction of this compound anode, therefore, constitutes a marked advance in the apparatus used in electrolytic methods of production. ”