PART III.

Alkalies and Neutral Salts.

such an effect; and the acid undoubtedly very much predomi-nates. It is therefore a simple alcoholic solution of sulphuricacid, holding dissolved, also, the essential oil of cinnamon andof ginger.

Qualities. —The odour is peculiar and aromatic; the tastegratefully acid. It is limpid, and of a brownish colour.

Medical properties and uses. —This is an agreeable mode ofexhibiting sulphuric acid in dyspepsia, chronic asthma, andmost of the complaints for which the diluted acid has beenfound serviceable. The dose is from tt\ x to ~\\ xxx in any con-venient fluid vehicle, given three or four times a day.

ALKALIES' and NELTKAL SALTS/

The general term Alkali comprehends under it substancespossessed of very important chemical properties, and capableof producing very powerful effects on the animal ceconomy.They have an acrid, urinous taste; are caustic, or dissolveanimal matter ;• change the blue vegetable colours to green ;serve as die means of combining oil and water; are capableof being fused and volatilized by a strong heat; have a greataffinity for water; and combine with acids, forming neutralaalts, in which the qualities of both the components are lost.The discoveries of Sir H. Davy have clearly established thatthe greater number of them are compound bodies. They areaffected by the air, and require to be preserved in well-stoppedglass bottles.

Neutral Salts have neither acid nor alkaline properties ;but salts are formed by the combination of acids with alkalies,in which the properties of the one or the other predominate;and consequently, although these are secondary salts, yetthey cannot, in strict language, be denominated neutral salts.When the acid predominates, the salt is designated by thesyllables super being added to the appellation of the neutralsalt, formed with the same acid and alkali; but when thealkali is redundant, the syllable sub is added: thus, if to car-

1 The tvords Kali and Alkali are of Persian origin, and derived from the termsi.. ]J~ and <5aJJ« or -^°' ia ana Alkalia, signifying the ashes of marine plants.Vide Gold's' Nosology, Prelim. Di>c. p. xcv.

* The tide of this section in the London Pharmacopoeia is Alkni'.er* aiid their Salts ;bu t aa these salts cannot be termed S*!u of alkalies, hi strict language, we prefer tou. s!a!e llw phrase Neutral Setts,