vart in. Metallic Preparations. — Copper.

513

sequently freed from the carbonic acid, the effervescence beingthe effect of the dissipation of this disengaged acid in thegaseous form. The action of the affinities, which producethese changes, is perhaps aided by the water of crystallizationof the ingredients becoming fluid. In drying the product itmust be very carefully excluded from the air.

Qualities. — This preparation has the odour of ammonia, ahot, styptic, metalline taste, and a rich blue colour. By ex-posure to the air the blue colour is lost, and the salt acquiresa greenish hue.

Medical properties and uses. — Ammoniated copper is tonicand antispasmodic. It has been principally employed in epi-lepsy, as a remedy for which it was first proposed by Dr. Cul-len; and has since his time been frequently employed withevident advantage—although we must confess, that in ourtrials of it the event has not been such as to encourage us toplace much dependence on its powers for relieving this severedisease. It is less apt to excite nausea than the other prepara-tions of copper. Cullen, however, recommends its use notto be continued for more than a month at a time; and adds,that after the first interval, if the disease continues, the mostbenefit -will be derived from giving the medicine " only forsome days before an expected accession." '. It has been givenwith advantage in chorea, after a course of purgatives, com-bined with digitalis and myrrh.

The dose is gr. $th gradually increased to grs. v. given twicea day, either simply made into pills with crumb of bread, orcombined with valerian.

LIQUOR CUPRI AMMONIATI. Lond. Solution ofAmmoniated Copper:

" Take of ammoniated copper, a drachm ; distilled water, apint. Dissolve the ammoniated copper in the water, and filterthe solution through paper."

Aqua Cupri ammoniati. Dub. Water of ammoniatedCopper.

" Take of lime-water, eight fluid ounces; muriate of am-monia, two scruples; prepared verdegris, Jour grams. Letthem be mixed together, and digested for twenty-four hours ;then pour off the clear liquor."

As nearly the same result follows whichever of these pro-cesses is adopted; that of the London pharmacopoeia, fromits simplicity, is undoubtedly to be preferred, although toomuch water is ordered. In the Dublin process, the lime de-composes the muriate of ammonia, and combines with its mu-

i Mat. Med. ii. 35.L L