1 VI
2 In preparing the former, I invariably use some spirit
3 for moistening the substances while pounding them to
4 an impalpable powder ; partly to prevent the dispersion
5 of the particles, and partly to dissolve the medicine, as
6 well as to accelerate drying.
7 Some physicians (Homceopathists) aver, that by long-
8 continued trituration, electricity is evolved, and its proper-
9 ties imparted to the medicine ; therefore, they recommend
10 pounding and trituration for hours ; but, I am of
11 opinion, that from 1 5 to 60 minutes, is, in most cases,
12 sufficient.
13 The best vehicle (medium) in the preparation of me-
14 dicaments, is vegetable sugar, which I prefer to animal
15 sugar, on account of its prevalent sweetness and pe-
16 culiar qualities : for, it is well known, that vegetable
17 sugar preserves such substances as readily undergo de-
18 composition.
19 Notwithstanding animal charcoal, &c. are used in the
20 refinement of sugar, no particles of the heterogeneous
21 substances remain in the sugar itself ; consequently, the
22 sugar when refined, is pure. Admitting that some in-
23 significant particles of the substances employed in re-
24 finement, adhered to the sugar, still, such particles could
25 not, from habitual use, have any medicinal influence,
26 nor in anywise tend towards the decomposition of the
27 medicines with which they had become combined.
28 Animal substances are the most liable to decom-
29 position ; vegetable , less so ; and mineral, resist
30 longest the tooth of Time, which gnaws all sub-
31 lunary things.
32 The aforesaid lozenges I prepare from a paste com-
33 posed of cane-sugar with an adequate quantity of