Infusion

“ The tops of the Centaury, especially of that flore albo—with the light coloured petals—are given in infusion, or in powder, or when made into an extract. For languid digestion, with heartburn after food, and a want of appetite, the infusion prepared with cold water, an ounce of the herb to a pint is best; but for muscular rheumatism the infusion should be made with boiling water. A wineglass of either will be the proper dose, two or three times a day. ”

“ The flask is held by means of the wire over the flame of a spirit lamp, or else placed in some sand warmed in an old iron saucepan over the fire, care being taken not to place more of the flask below the sand than the portion occupied by the ingredients.
673. Infusion
Infusion is one of the most frequent operations required in making up medicines, its object being to extract the aromatic and volatile principles of substances, that would be lost by decoction, or digestion ”

“ Chemical Composition. The principles in which its qualities reside appear to be essential oil, and bitter extractive; the root likewise contains fecula, which is copiously precipitated from its infusion by sub-acetate and acetate of lead. Watery infusion extracts all its virtues, but decoction impairs them. Spirit is also an appropriate solvent, and a resinous extract may be produced accordingly. Uses. It is not employed so frequently as it deserves; [435] it would be a useful addition to many of the compound infusions of vegetable stomachics. Dose. ”

“ For several years, I have given the infusion in a variety of cases, where there was a deficiency in the secretion of the urine, with the greatest success. In recent obstructions, I do not recollect many failures. In anasarcous diseases, and in the anasarca, when combined with the ascites; in swellings of the limbs, and in diseases of the chest, when there was the greatest reason to believe an accumulation of serum, the most beneficial consequences have followed from its use. ”

“ Infusion of Catmint. Syn. Infusum catariæ. Prep. Dry catmint, 2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint.
Infusion of Cayenne Pep′per. See Infusion of capsicum.
Infusion of Cen′taury. Syn. Infusum centauri, L. From the flowering tops of common or lesser centaury (Erythæa centaurium) . Bitter, febrifuge, stomachic, and vermifuge. A popular remedy in obstructions, jaundice, debility, dyspepsia, &c.; and externally, for the itch, and to destroy pediculi. An infusion is also made of the root, which is about one half more powerful than the tops. The plant is “a valuable native medicine ”

“ The chambers were prepared and filled with all care, and yet the infusions broke down, became turbid, and were covered with scum. I then had a number of tubes filled with infusions, and sealed them hermetically. They were exposed in an oil-bath, and heated for a quarter of an hour to a temperature of 230° Fahr., for I wanted to see whether these effects were due to any germs of life in the infusions themselves. This superheated cucumber-infusion was introduced into the chamber, and it was found that the superheating of the infusion did not even retard the development of life. ”

“ I ask my friend to step into the laboratory of the Royal Institution, where I place before him a basin of thin turnip-slices barely covered with distilled water kept at a temperature of 120° Fahr. After digesting the turnip for four or five hours we pour off the liquid, boil it, filter it, and obtain an infusion as clear as filtered drinking-water. We cool the infusion, test its specific gravity, and find it to be 1006 or higher—water being 1000. A number of small, clean, empty flasks, of the shape here shown, are before us. ”

“ A few weeks before his death his breathing became very short, he could not lie down in bed, and his urine was small in quantity. A wine glass of a weak Infusion of Digitalis, warmed with aromatics, was ordered to be taken twice a day. It afforded a temporary relief, but he did not long survive.
CASE LXXXV.
January 28th. Mr. D——, Æt. 35. A publican and a hard drinker. Ascites, anasarca, diseased [64] viscera, and slight attacks of hæmoptoe. A dram of Fol. Digital. sicc. in a half pint infusion, of which one ounce was given night and morning, proved diuretic and removed his dropsy. ”

“ In prescribing it, we must remember that it contains a large proportion of tannin. See Catechu. Dose, f℥j-f℥iij.
Infusum Gentianæ Compositum. L. An elegant tonic and stomachic infusion. It affords a good example of the virtues of a natural substance being enhanced by the additions of art, as discussed at page 164, for the bitterness of the gentian is here subdued by the aromatic quality of the lemon and orange peel. Incompatibles. Acetate of lead throws down a copious precipitate from the infusion, and sulphate of iron strikes a brown colour, but no precipitate takes place for several hours. ”

“ Take of the vomitive Indian Root half a Drachm; of Oxymel Scilliticum an Ounce, or six Drachms; of Milk-Water, or that of Carduus, three Ounces; make it into a Draught, and let the Patient, to promote its Operation, after half an Hour, drink plentifully of the Infusion of Carduus Leaves in spring Water boiling hot, when it becomes cool enough for drinking: But if the sick Person vomits freely of himself, then Dilution, with two Quarts of the Infusion I have mentioned, will be sufficient. ”

“ Well, then, the subject continued to be revived from time to time, and experiments were made by several persons; but these experiments were not altogether satisfactory. It was found that if you put an infusion in which animalcules would appear if it were exposed to the air into a vessel and boiled it, and then sealed up the mouth of the vessel, so that no air, save such as had been heated to 212°, could reach its contents, that then no animalcules would be found; but if you took the same vessel and exposed the infusion to the air, then you would get animalcules. ”

“ If the patient be stronger than usual, or the symptoms very urgent, this dose may be given once in eight hours; and on the contrary in many instances half an ounce at a time will be quite sufficient. About thirty grains of the powder or eight ounces of the infusion, may generally be taken before the nausea commences.
The ingenuity of man has ever been fond of exerting itself to vary the forms and combinations of medicines. ”

“ The Pills No. 18, with a strong Infusion of Elder Flowers, have often succeeded in this Respect: and then after a long Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the Fever is entirely subdued; if the Stomach exerts its Functions well; the Patient is no ways costive; if he is not of a dry Habit of Body; and the Part affected remains without Inflammation, the Patient may safely take the Powder No. 29, at Night going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an Infusion of Carduus benedictus, or the blessed Thistle, and a Morsel of Venice Treacle of the Size of a Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. ”

“ There is nothing more important than plentiful warm dilution; and the infusion of sauge, or any such light aromatic, is rather more proper than farinaceous decoctions, or any compositions in which there is wine or spirits. Success in this, as well as other diseases, depends on attention to nursing as much as upon medicine; for what would it avail here to administer medicines for promoting perspiration, unless they were assisted with fluids to allay thirst, to dilute the acrimony in the first passages and in the vessels, and to furnish the materials of free perspiration? ”

“ Odour, aromatic and agreeable; Taste, warm and pungent, but unlike the peppers, they do not immoderately heat the stomach. Solubility. Water, alcohol and æther extract their virtues; the two latter most completely, and the result is transparent, whereas the watery infusion is turbid and mucilaginous. Chemical Composition. Fecula, mucilage, and essential oil. Medicinal Uses. They are carminative and stomachic, and prove grateful adjuncts to bitter infusions; they are principally employed to give warmth to other remedies. Dose of the powder, gr. vj to ℈j. Officinal Preparations. ”

“ Then the hot infusion with its alluring aroma refreshing and stimulating, increasing the respiration, elevating the pulse, softening the temper, producing tranquility in mind and body, 232and creating a sense of repose peculiarly grateful to those who have been taxed and tormented by the rush and routine of business cares and vexations. ”

“ New wine and beer become ripe and drinkable in small skins much more readily than in large casks. If a herb be placed in a considerable quantity of liquid, infusion takes place rather than impregnation ”

“ Solubility. Boiling water takes up about one-third of its weight, but proof spirit appears to be its most perfect menstruum. Incompatible Substances. No change is occasioned in the infusion by the solutions of nitrate of silver, sulphate of iron, muriate of mercury, or tartarized antimony; but precipitates are produced by the infusion of galls, and yellow Cinchona bark, by sub-acetate and acetate of lead, oxy-muriate of mercury, and lime-water. The infusion very soon spoils. Dose of the powdered root gr. xv to ʒss; of the infusion f℥iss to f℥ij. ”

“ As may be inferred from its high price, the infusion of it, in use among the poorer members of this community, is extremely weak, being, in fact, little better than warm water. The poorer individuals drink this often without either sugar, treacle, or milk. ”

“ I continued this Method of Dressing several Days longer, with very little Alteration; but upon a Complaint of a Pain between the Shoulders, I was obliged to change my Medicine, and foment the Cancer with an Infusion of some of those Herbs that contain many Volatile attenuating and active Particles. ”

“ Animal infusions, which under ordinary circumstances are rendered infallibly barren by five minutes' boiling, behave like the vegetable infusions in an atmosphere infected with hay-germs. On the 30th of March, for example, five flasks were charged with a clear infusion of beef and boiled for 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes, and 300 minutes respectively. Every one of them became subsequently crowded with organisms, and the same happened to a perfectly pellucid mutton infusion prepared at the same time. ”

“ Every liqueur made by infusion is thus called. When the spirit has imbibed thoroughly the flavor and color of the fruit steeped in it, the infusion is drawn off and sugar added; then filtered and bottled. ”

“ But it is not to be given to children, those that be old, and weak, but to those that be strong, and accustomed to vomiting. When at any time this infusion is taken and doth not work, as sometimes it falls out, but makes the Patient very sick, he must provoke vomiting with his finger, or else it will not work, but make those that have taken it to be sick, and debilitated even to death. ”

“ The dried leaves are sold in the market. A cold infusion is used as a bitter tonic, and is devoid of any stimulating property. It can be safely given to patients recovering from acute dysentery to restore the appetite, and improve the strength. ”

“ Françoise would be making her tea; or, if my aunt were feeling 'upset,' she would ask instead for her 'tisane,' and it would be my duty to shake out of the chemist's little package on to a plate the amount of lime-blossom required for infusion in boiling water. ”

“ In pharmacy, the term CONCENTRATED is commonly applied to any liquid preparation possessing more than the usual strength. Thus, we have concentrated infusions, decoctions, liquors, solutions, tinctures, and essences, most of which are made of 8 times the common strength. This is generally effected by using 8 times the usual quantity of the ingredients, with a given portion of the menstruum, and operating by digestion and percolation; the latter being generally adopted when the articles are bulky. When the menstruum is water, a little spirit is added, to make the product keep. ”

“ In the reduced state in which physicians generally find dropsical patients, four grains a day are sufficient. I sometimes give the powder alone; sometimes unite it with aromatics, and sometimes form it into pills with a sufficient quantity of soap or gum ammoniac. [182]
If a liquid medicine be preferred, I order a dram of these dried leaves to be infused for four hours in half a pint of boiling water, adding to the strained liquor an ounce of any spirituous water. One ounce of this infusion given twice a day, is a medium dose for an adult patient. ”

“ Infusions.—In preparing these, the following points require attention: a, the solid ingredients should be cut into small pieces or slices, or bruised in a mortar, so that the water shall readily penetrate into the substance; b, the water should be boiling; c, the vessel or chattie containing the ingredients on which the boiling water has been poured, should be covered over to prevent evaporation, and set aside till the liquid is cold, when it should be strained through a muslin or thin rag. ”

“ As many infusions which are occasionally employed in medicine must necessarily escape being separately noticed in this work, it may be as well to remark that the infusions of all vegetables that do not exert a very powerful action on the human frame as ordinary herbs and roots may be made by pouring 1 pint of boiling water on 1 oz. of the vegetable matter, and allowing it to macerate for 1⁄2 an hour to an hour. The decoctions of the same vegetables may be made by simply boiling the above ingredients, in the same proportions, for 10 or 15 minutes, instead of operating by mere infusion. ”