Dover's powder

Dover's Powder

Dover's Powder (pronunciation: /ˈdoʊvərz ˈpaʊdər/) is a traditional medicine that was commonly used in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is named after its inventor, Thomas Dover, an English physician.

Etymology

The term "Dover's Powder" is derived from the name of its inventor, Thomas Dover, who was also known as "Doctor Quicksilver" due to his extensive use of mercury in his medical treatments. The word "powder" refers to the form in which the medicine was typically administered.

Composition

Dover's Powder is a compound powder that contains opium, ipecac, and potassium sulfate. The opium acts as a pain reliever, the ipecac induces vomiting to expel harmful substances from the body, and the potassium sulfate aids in the expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract.

Uses

Historically, Dover's Powder was used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, pain, cough, and insomnia. It was also used as a sweating agent to help the body expel toxins through the skin.

Related Terms

• Opium
• Ipecac
• Potassium sulfate
• Thomas Dover
• Mercury
• Fever
• Pain
• Cough
• Insomnia
• Sweating agent

See Also

• List of traditional medicines
• History of medicine

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Dover's powder
• Wikipedia's article - Dover's powder

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