In October, 1835, a paper of mine appeared in the _London Medical and Surgical Journal_, stating the beneficial action of a concentrated tincture of capsicum for diseases of the eye, by rubbing it for a few minutes daily over the forehead and temples with a sponge.
Soon after this I was induced to try what effect essential oils, possessing powerful stimulating properties, might possess in removing amaurosis and diseases generally of the eye. The formulæ which I use are--
℞--Ol. Caryoph. -- Lavand _āā_ Ʒiv. -- Cinnamom. Ʒss. Sp. Vin. Rect. ℥iij. M. Ft. Embro.
℞--Ol. Piment. -- Rosmar. _āā_ ℥ss. -- Cinnamom. Ʒss. Sp. Vin. R. ℥iij. M. Ft. Embro.
Finding great utility to arise from the use of the cloves and pimento, it appeared by no means undesirable or hopeless to administer them internally for the same complaints. In order to shield the pungency of these oils I united them with calcined magnesia, which, by its very strong affinity with these essential oils, forms a body nearly solid, and thereby removes all pungency, warmth, and even smell; for, in this state, it requires to be held in the mouth for a considerable time before it produces any warmth or pungency. They are thus rendered easily taken, in sufficient quantity, without heat or uneasiness.
Some children are the subjects of many diseases of the eye, producing blindness from opacities, &c. I ordered the same to be made into a powder, in which form it can be taken easily in any vehicle, without exciting disagreeable warmth. The formulæ are--
℞--Ol. Caryoph. Magnes. Cal. _āā_ Ʒi. Ol. Cinnamom. qtt. vi. M. Ft. Pil. xxiv.
℞--Ol. Piment. Magnes. Cal. _āā_ Ʒi. Ol. Cinnamom. qtt. vi. M. Ft. Pil. xxiv.
The dose of these pills is one or two thrice a day.
Expedition is required in the making of these pills, otherwise it becomes a solid mass, and unable to be formed into pills.
I have found an alcoholic extract of cloves and pimento, made into pills with magnesia, equally efficacious.
℞--Ol. Caryoph. Magnes. Calc. _āā_ ℥i. Ol. Cinnamom. Ʒi. M. Ft. Pulv.
℞--Ol. Piment. Magnes. Calc. _āā_ ℥i Ol. Cinnamom. Ʒi M. Ft. Pulv.
The dose of these powders is from four to eight grains thrice a day.
In the making of these powders, the oil and the magnesia ought to be well mixed and allowed to remain for half-an-hour, then reduce the mass to fine powder, and keep it in glass bottles with stoppers.