588 Alkalies and In eutral Salts. — Liquor Am. part hi.

the preparation: thus, when it is formed at a temperature of300°, it contains rather more than 50 per cent, of ammonia;but at a temperature of 60°, it contains only 20 per cent.

Subcarbonate of ammonia is decomposed by the acids, thefixed alkalies and their subcarbonates, supertartrate of potass,sulphate of magnesia, the metallic salts, barytes, and lime, andpartially by magnesia.

Medical properties and uses. — This salt is stimulant, anti-spasmodic, antacid, diaphoretic, and in large doses emetic. Itis beneficially given in gout, hysteria, and dyspeptic affections,when much acid is present in the stomach; and in infantineconvulsions connected wilh dentition, or with acidity of theprimse vise. As a diaphoretic it is occasionally exhibited inchronic rheumatism, in combination with guaiacum ; and some-times, although rarely, it is employed to produce vomiting ingouty and paralytic cases. From the ammonia it contains inexcess, the subcarbonate is applied as a local stimulant to thenostrils in syncope, hysteria, and languors ; and with the ad-dition of a little scent, forms the common smelling salts of theshops. The ordinary dose is from grs. v. to grs. xx. formedinto pills, or dissolved in any aqueous vehicle; but to excitevomiting jss. may be given for a dose, and repeated, if ne-cessary, assisting its operation by plentiful dilution.

Officinal preparations. Liquor Ammonia; Subcarbonatis, L. Li-quor Ammonia Aceiatis, L. E. D. Cuprum ammoniatum, L. E. D.

LIQUOR AMMO'jST^,' Loud. Solution of Ammonia.

" Take of muriate of ammonia, eight ounces ; lime newlyburnt, six ounces ; water, four pints. Pour one pint of thewater upon the lime, then cover the vessel, and set it asidefor an hour. Dissolve the muriate of ammonia in the re-mainder of the water whilst boiling, add to it the former mix-ture, and again cover the vessel; after the liquor bas becomecold, strain it, and distil twelve fluid ounces of solution otammonia."

The specific gravity of the solution of ammonia is to that ofdistilled water as 0-960 to 1-00.' 2

Aqua Ammonite, Edin. Water of Ammonia.

" Take of muriate of ammonia, one pound; lime newlyburnt, one pound and a half ; distilled water, one pound ; water,nine ounces. Upon the lime broken to pieces pour the waterin an iron or earthen vessel, cover it up, until the lime has

1 Aqua Ammonite puree, P. L. 1787.

* This process, which differs from that of the former edition of the Pharma-copoeia, was suggested by Mr. Phillips; but more water is employed than heproposed, which he conceives to be objectionable ; both because more fuel andlarger vessels are required; and the total product is weaker in the proportion ofabout OS to 13. Vide Remarks in the Editio Altera of the Pharm. Lond. p. 18.

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