PART III.

Alkalies and Neutral Salts.

593

with a fire gradually raised. The specific gravity of this li-quor is, to that of distilled water, as 1095 to J 000."

Syn. Soucarbonate d'ammoniaque (F.), Kohlensaures Amonium liquor (G.),Liquore Sotto carbonato di ammoniaco (!•)•

The formula of the London and the Edinburgh collegesfor this preparation are to be preferred, inasmuch as they ob-tain by simple solution the same result as is produced fromthe more complicated process of the other college. Thetheory of the Dublin process is the same as that of the pre-ceding preparation. The soda of the alkali employed uniteswith the muriatic acid of the muriate, while the ammonia com-bines with the carbonic acid, and the subcarbonate of ammo-nia, thus formed, is volatilized and carried over with the wateryvapour.

Qualities. — This solution has the odour and taste of theconcrete subcarbonate; is limpid and colourless; and whenshaken with twice its bulk of alcohol, a nearly uniform coagu-lum is formed. Its specific gravity should be 1150.

Medical properties and uses. — The same as those of theconcrete salt. It is given in doses of from f 3 ss. to f 3 j. in anybland fluid.

LIQUOR VOLATILIS CORNU CERVINI, Dublin.Volatile Liquor of Hartshorn.

" Take of hartshorn, any quantify ,■ put it into a retort, anddistil with a gradually raised heat, a volatile liquor, a salt, andan oil; then repeat the distillation of the volatile liquor untilit becomes as limpid as water, separating, after each distillation,the oil and salt by filtration. The liquor will be more easilypurified, if, after each distillation, except the first, there beadded to it one-sixth part of its weight of charcoal, previouslymade red hot, then extinguished by covering it with sand, andpowdered while hot. If a sufficient quantity of hartshorncannot be procured, the bones of any land animals may supplyits place."

Syn. Alkali volatilfluor (p.), Wassrigter Kohlensaures Ammonium liquor (G.),Liquore di corno di Cervo (Z.).

In this process the gelatine of the horns, or the bones,is decomposed, and its ultimate principles, which are carbon,nitrogen {azote), hydrogen, and oxygen, entering into newcombinations, form subcarbonate of ammonia, empyreumaticoil, and water, which are the products of the process. Thesubcarbonate is obtained partly in a solid form, and partlydissolved in the water, which distils over; but, in both states, itis contaminated with the empyreumatic oil. The subsequentdistillations are intended to free it from this oil; which, al-though at one time it was supposed to add to the efficacy ofthe remedy, yet is now conceived to be useless, and a dis-advantage: nevertheless, when it is completely removed by

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