The Hawaiian gazette., 1886-04-13
The Aaaiui.sr.tIou of Medicines.

The PhiIadelphiA Medical N.,rs lays down
| the following general principles: Medicines
/ that are irritating should be given when the
stomach is full unless the chemical changes
which mus; then occur viii destroy their quail
/ ties Mineral remedies, such as the salts Of
copper, zinc, iron and arsenic, should be given
after meals unless local conditions require their
administration in small quantity before meals
or the latter. arsenic affords capital illustra-
| ton Large doses, acting An irritlut, should
( follow food, which protects the mucous mem
brsne; bat small doses, intended to act upon
] the stomach terminals Of the vagi, must be
given when the organ Is empty Oxide and
nitrate Of silver, intended for local action.
| should appear in the stomach during its mac
tiyity, lest, al ether times, chemical reactions
destroy the special attributes for which these
remedies are prescribed. Iodine and the
| iodIdes given on an empty stomach promptly
diffuse into the blood: bot If digestion is going
on, the acids and starch form products Of in
ferior activity, and thus the purpose which
they were intended TO sabserye is defeated
Substances prescribed 10 have a local action
90 the mucous membrane, or for prompt diffu.
sion unaltered, are preferably given before
meals. Active medicines, in doses near the
danger line, are more safely administered after
meals
Probably the most important questions con-
uect-d with the period Of administration OF
remedies are those affecting the acidity and
alkalinity Of the blood and urine First, Is 10
acids An scid taken into the stomach before
digestion begins will determine, BY the laws Of
Genesis, How through the Intervening mem
bFane Of the alkaline constituents. Hence,
when there Is an excess in the formation Of the
acid constituent Of the gastric Juice, an acid
may be gwen before meals 10 check the osnosis
stUuach-vard Of the acid-iorming materials
When the alkaline condition If the blood and |
urine is alike in excess, when shall acids Be |
administered? Obviously, in the interval be- |
tween the digestive acts: for then, the stomach |
being empty and the veins faced, the most |
favorable conditions fer the diffusion Of acid I
into the blood exist. AIkalies require difersn. |
handling. Il is matter Of quite common Oh |
servation that an alklli, a. the bicarbouate Of 4
soda, will quickly relieve the excess Of acid Nv
neutraliEing it, bat it Is equally true, llthoug
not so clearly recognized, that the relief ID Us
purchased is at the expense of 4 continually
increasing recurrence Of the same malady. Il |
may then Be athrmed, ~ a rule Of practice.
that the bsbitual Use Of alkalies to relieve an
excess Of acid is uuWise and hurtful AlkaIies !
are used 10 increase the formation Of acI,i when
the gastric glands perform this duty made |
qaatsIy. An alkaline given before meals d. |
Terts TO the gastric glands, BY the laws Of o.
mosis, those materials in the blood out of L
which the scid constituent Of the gastric Juice
Is elaborated There are two periods when |
alkAlies may be used to lessen the acidity Of
the urine-just before meals; when the acid |
forming materials in the food diifuse into the 4
stomach glands, and the alkaline medieament
difuses into the blood and outward into the, \
unnei aud after digestion is coupleted, when
the alkalies diHuse directly INTO the blood, |
without interference from tie contents Of the \
stomach Again, there are remedies which,
should be given with the meals, such a food /
adIuncts, aud medicines required in the process
Of ussus construction Wine intended 10 aef
a. food Is most beneficial when taken slowly
during the course Of the neal. The objection
az regards the effect Of alcohol on pepsin is
not applicable. except to the stronger spirit
uOus wines in large quantity. Iron, phoo-
pilates, cod-liver oil, malt and similar agents
should, as rule, 60 with food through the
digestive process ard with the products Of
digestion enter the blood PQc5Sc R4rulPrsSs