708

Vegetables.

part in.

increased, until a slight degree of giddiness takes place, whenany further increase must be stopped.

AQUA SULPHURETI AMMONITE, Dub. Water ofSulphuret of Ammonia.

" Take of Lime recently prepared, Muriate of Ammonia inpowder, of each four ounces ; sublimed Sulphur, hot water, ofeach two fluid ounces. Sprinkle the water on the lime, in anearthen vessel, and cover it until the lime fall to powder; mixthis when cold by trituration with the sulphur and muriate ofammonia, avoiding the vapours; then put the mixture into aretort, and distil with a strong heat suddenly raised. Preservethe liquor thus obtained in a phial closely stopped with a glassstopper."

In this process the lime decomposes the muriate of ammonia,attracting its acid, and forming a muriate of lime, while thedisengaged ammonia unites with the sulphur, one part of which,however, is converted into a hydro-sulplniret, by hydrogenarising from partial decomposition of the water, which, com-bining with the sulphuret of ammonia, thus produces a hydro-gureted sulphuret of ammonia. It was formerly known by thename of Fuming Liquor of Boyle, having been first preparedby that philosopher.

Qualities. — This liquid is of a deep orange-colour, has astrong ammoniacal fcetid odour, and emits white fumes, owing,as BertholJet ascertained, to an excess of ammonia. The ad-dition of an acid precipitates sulphur, and occasions the dis-engagement of sulphureted hydrogen gas. It consists ofhydro-sulphuret of ammonia holding an excess of sulphur, which itgradually deposits, losing the property of fuming, and is then anearly pure hydro-sulphuret of ammonia. 1

We are ignorant of any medicinal use to which this prepa-ration has been applied.

VEGETABILIA.

Vegetables.

The collection of vegetables cannot be attended to by theapothecary, and, consequently, the directions necessary for thatpurpose are of less importance to him than a knowledge of thebotanical characters of plants, and the appearances the}' assumewhen they are collected under proper circumstances and well

Thomson's Chcmittry, 4th edit. iii. 3SO.