Chap. III. Alkalies and Alkaline Salts.

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duces inebriation. This last effect is ascribed to the carbo-nic acid.

Acktis potass^;. Ed.' Acetite of Potass.

Take ofPure carbonate of potass, one pound.

Boil it with a very gentle heat, in four or five times its weightof distilled acetous acid, and add more acid at differenttimes, till on the watery part of the preceding quantity be-ing nearly dissipated by evaporation, the new addition ofacid ceases to raise any effervescence, which will happenwhen about twenty pounds of acid have been consumed.It is then to be slowly dried. The impure salt remainingis to be melted with a gentle heat, for a short time, but nolonger than necessary, and afterwards dissolved in water,and filtered through paper. If the liquefaction has beenproperly performed, the filtered liquor will be limpid; butif otherwise, of a brown colour. Afterwards evaporatethis liquor with a very gentle heat, in a very shallow glassvessel, occasionally stirring the salt as it becomes dry, thatits moisture may be sooner dissipated. Lastly, the acetiteof potass ought to be kept in a vessel very closely stopped,to prevent it from deliquescing.

Potass.*: acetas. Land.Acetate of Potass.

Take ofSubcarbonate of potass, a pound and a half;Acetic acid, a gallon.

Mix them together in a large glass vessel, and having evapo-rated the mixture over the fire to one-half, add graduallyas much more acetic acid as may be sufficient to saturatethe alkali completely. Evaporate again to one half, andfilter. Then evaporate in the water bath, so that, on be-ing removed from the fire, it shall crystallize.

Acetas kali. Dub.

Acetate of Kali. _

Take of

Subcarbonate of kali, any quantity.A.dd to it, at different times, about five times its weight of dis-tilled vinegar, heated to a moderate temperature. Whenthe effervescence shall have ceased, and the liquor is some-what evaporated, add, at intervals, distilled vinegar, until

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