Chap. II.
Acids.
315
Table of the Quantity of Real Acid in 100 parts of LiquidNitric Acid at 60°. Dalton.
Atoms.
Acid per cent.
Acid per cent.
Specific gra-
Hailing p
by weight.
by measure.
vity.
Acid- Water.
1 + 0
100
175?
1.75?
30°?
2 + 1
82.7
134
1.62
100?
1 + 1
72.5
112
1.54
175
68
102
1.50
210
58.4
84.7
1.45
240
1 + 2
54.4
77.2
1.42
248
51.2
71.7
1.40
247
1 4- 31+4
44.3
59.8
1.35
242
37.4
48.6
1.30
236
1 + 5
33.3
40.7
1.26
232
1 + 61+7
28.5
34.8
1.22
229
25.4
30.5
1.20
226
1+8
23
27.1
1.18
223
1 + 91 J. 101 + 111 + 12
21
24.6
1.17
221
19.3
22.4
1.16
220
17.8
20.5
1,15
219
16.6
18.9
1.14
219
These acids, the nitrous and nitric, have been long em-ployed as powerful pharmaceutic agents. Their applicationin this way I shall have many opportunities of illustrating.
Medical use. —Lately, however, their use in medicine hasbeen considerably extended. In the state of vapour tlicy havebeen used to destroy contagion in gaols, hospitals, ships, andother places where the accumulation of animal effluvia is noteasily avoided. The fumigating such places with the vapourof nitrous acid has certainly been attended with success; butwe have heard that success ascribed entirely to the ventilationemployed at the same time. Ventilation may unquestionablybe carried so far, that the contagious miasmata may be dilu-ted to such a degree that they shall not act on the body ; butto us it appears no less certain, that these miasmata cannotcome in contact with nitric acid or oxymuriatic acid vapour,without being entirely decomposed and completely destroyed.Fumigation is, besides, applicable in situations which do notadmit of sufficient ventilation ; and where it is, the previousdiffusion of acid vapours is an excellent check upon the indo«lence and inattention of servants and nurses, as by the smellwe are enabled to judge whether they have been sufficientlyattentive to the succeeding ventilation. Nitric acid vapour,also, is not deleterious to life, and may be diffused in the a-partments of the sick, without occasioning to them any mate-rial inconvenience. The means of diffusing it are easy. Half