SQUILL.

This drug is the produce of the Scilla, or Squilla Maritima, the bulb being the part used. It is sold in the Shops.

It is an expectorant medicine of great value. It also acts as a diuretic, and in large doses may cause sickness or purging. It is inadmissible when there is inflammatory action, or active irritation in the bronchi or air passages; in such cases, it aggravates cough instead of relieving it.

As an expectorant, squill is most serviceable in chronic bronchitis especially in the aged, but in all cases when the phlegm is tough, viscid, and difficult to void. It is most advantageously combined with opium, as it does not impair the expectorant property of the squill, but modifies its tendency to irritate. From one to two drachms of paregoric, with 20 drops of Tincture of Squils in a wine-glassful of water, is a most excellent cough draught for night to which, if there is much debility, one drachm of sal-volatile may be added.

As a diuretic, Squill is generally given in dropsies in from one to three grain doses. The root is used dried, or infused in vinegar, 2 ounces in a pint of distilled vinegar for a week. After straining, 11 ounce of proof spirit is added to insure keeping, and then filtered. The Syrup of Squills is made by dissolving 31 lbs. of fine sugar in a pint of Squill vinegar by the aid of gentle heat. The dose is from one to two drachms . In dropsy of the abdomen, a liniment, composed of two parts of Soap-liniment, and one part of Tincture of Squills rubbed well into the skin, frequently, is said to be very serviceable. In asthma, the oxymel of Squill is very serviceable. The wine of Squills works by urine, and is good against the jaundice and dropsy.