Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The root of Ipomæa (Convolvulus) Turpethum, a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, which has a cathartic property. (See
Indian jalap , under jalap.) It is sometimes calledvegetable turpeth to distinguish it frommineral turpeth . - noun Turpeth-mineral.—
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Bot.) The root of
Ipomœa Turpethum , a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, formerly used in medicine as a purgative; -- sometimes calledvegetable turpeth . - noun (Chem.) A heavy yellow powder, Hg3O2SO4, which consists of a basic mercuric sulphate; -- called also
turpeth mineral .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Operculina turpethum, a
plant in themorning glory family . - noun chemistry, obsolete A heavy yellow powder with
chemical formula Hg3O2SO4.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Dissolved in vitriolic acid, called turpeth mineral, or hydrargyrus vitriolatus.
Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life Erasmus Darwin 1766
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But turpeth root is seldom used alone, for its action is so uncertain that Sir W. O'Shaughnessy pronounced the plant unworthy of a place in the Pharmacopoeia of
The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Jerome Beers Thomas 1891
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The following treatment has been found very effectual in membranous croup, and is recommended by the highest authorities: Yellow subsulphate of mercury, or turpeth mineral, three to five grains, depending upon the age of the child, for one dose.
The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English or, Medicine Simplified, 54th ed., One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ray Vaughn Pierce 1877
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If the turpeth mineral cannot be obtained, sulphate of copper or sulphate of zinc may be given instead, as directed under the head of Emetics, in
The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English or, Medicine Simplified, 54th ed., One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ray Vaughn Pierce 1877
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Action of sulphuric acid, and preparation of the super-sulphate and sub-sulphate -- turpeth mineral.
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As one grain of turpeth mineral (vitriolic calx of mercury) mixed with ten grains of fine sugar.
Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life Erasmus Darwin 1766
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As by stimulating one branch of lymphatics into inverted motion, another branch is liable to absorb its fluid more hastily; suppose strong errhines, as common tobacco snuff to children, or one grain of turpeth mineral, (Hydrargyrus vitriolatus), mixed with ten or fifteen grains of sugar, was gradually blown up the nostrils?
Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life Erasmus Darwin 1766
chained_bear commented on the word turpeth
"'He was given a bolus of a scruple of musk with two grains of opium; then a composition of fifteen grains of musk, one of turpeth mineral... and an embrocation of two ounces of laudanum...'"
--Patrick O'Brian, The Truelove, 143
March 11, 2008