HYDROSULPHATE OK AMMONIA.

413

b

Properties. —As thus prepared, the Solution of hydrosulphuret of ammonia is aliquid, having a greenish yellow colour, a very fetid odour, and an acrid disagree-able taste. The mineral acids decompose it, evolve hydrosulphuric acid, and pre-cipitate sulphur. It forms with a considerable number of metallic Solutions, pre-cipitates. With the salts of lead, bismuth, silver, and copper, the precipitates areblackish; with those of antimony, red; with those of cadmium and tin (persalts,)and with the arsenites (on the addition of an acid,) yellow; lastly, with the salts ofzinc, white. In these cases the precipitates are either sulphurets or hydrated sul-phurets of the respective metals.

By exposure to the air part of the ammonia flies off, and some sulphur is de-posited. It is now a bi- or poly-sulphuret of ammonium, and yields a red pre-cipitate with the salts of lead, a yellow one with tartar emetic, and a white onewith arsenious acid.

Characteristics. —Its odour will readily distinguish it. As a sulphuret or hy-drosulphuret it is known by its acüons on the metallic Solutions already noticed.Caustic potash causes the evolution of ammonia.

Composition. —Neutral hydrosulphate of ammonia has the following composi-tion:—

Jlttms. Eq. Wt. Per Cevit.

Hydrosulphuric Acid.............. 1 -----.... 17 ........ 50-00

Ammonia........................ 1........ 17 ........ 5000

34

J0000

Hydrosulphuric Acid GasAmmoniacal Gas .......

Hydrosulphate of Ammonia....... 1 ...

Or it may regarded as a Sulphuret of Ammonia (S -j- NEH.)

The fuming liquor (Liquor Fumans Boyli) obtained by dislilüng four parts of slaked ]ime,two of hydroehlorate of ammonia, and one of sulphur, contains, according to Gay-Lussac,{Cours de Cliimie, Lecon 2(X) hydrosulphate of ammonia, with excess of sulphur; but inwhat State of combination has not been determined.

Physiological Effects. a. On Vegetables. —The vapour of this Compound isinjurious to Vegetation.

ß. On Jinimals. — I am unacquainted with any experiments made with it onanimals; but analogy leads us to believe that its action is that of a powerful poi-son, analogous to other alkaline sulphurets, and to hydrosulphuric acid.

y. On Man. —In small but repeated doses it acts powerfully on the secretingOrgans, the action of which it promotes, but at the same time modifies. Its prin-cipal infiuence is directed to the skin, (on which it acts as a sudorific,) and to thepulmonary mucous membrane. In somewhat larger doses it occasions nauseaand giddiness. In still larger doses it causes nausea, vomiting, diminished fre-quency of pulse, giddiness, extreme languor, drowsiness, and sleep. Excessivedoses would, of course, produce death, though I am unacquainted with any caseof this kind.

In the gaseous state it acts, when inhaled, as a powerfully asphyxiating agent.Instances of its deleterious Operation, in conjunction with hydrosulphuric acid,have occurred in France, in workmen exposed to the vapours from the pits (cess-pools) of the necessaries. The Symptoms are, sudden weakness, insensibility,and death; or where the vapours are less concentrated, there are sometimes de-lirium and convulsions.

Uses. —In this country it has been ptincipally employed in diabetes mellitus,with the view of reducing the morbid appetite and increased action of the stomach,as well as of the System in general. (Rollo, on Diabetes Mellitus, p. 28, ed.2nd.) Combined with alcohol, F. Hoffmann administered it under the name ofliquor anti-podagricus, as a powerful sudorific in gout. It has also been used inold pulmonary catarrhs; and by Brauw and Gruithuisen in vesical catarrh.(Vogt, Pharmacodynamik.)

Administration. —It is given in doses of from four to six drops, in some pro-per vehicle (distilled water is the best.) On account of its speedy decomposition,it should be dropped from the bottle at the time of using it.