CALCIUM.

355

Lipp. ; Olden.; Pol.; Bords. ; Sax. ;

Wirtem.; Herbip.; Ainslie; Brug-

natelli ; coxe ; guibourt ; plderit;

Spielmann.

These are two hard, white stones ; thesize of them varies from that of a pea tothat of a lentil, and even of a bean. Theyare compressed on one side and convex onthe other, and are of a lamellated structure.They are found a little before the moult inthe thicker portion of the membranes of thestomach of the common crab, Astacusßuui-atilis.

21. The Ashes of burnt Animals.

The calcareous carbonate in these is veryimpure and mixed with a great many othersalts, neither indeed is it pure in the pre-ceding products of the animal kingdom.The greater part of these substances, intro-duced by the blindest empiricism, are nowabandoned every where, even by thosepeople in whose materia medica they stillhave a place.

Among animal ashes we find the following.

A.

The Ashes of the Hedgehog [Erinacus

Européens, Linn.)Hisp.; Wirtem.; Spielmann.

B.

The Ashes of the Swallow [Hirundo rus-tica, Linn.). The nests of this bird {Hi-rundinum Nidi, Hisp. ; Wirtem.) wereburnt, either with the young birds, or ashort time after their departure : to theexcrements of these the medicinal pro-perties were attributed.

C.The Ashes of the Hare {Lepus timidus,

Liww.), burnt when young.Wirtem.

D.

The Ashes of the Wren (Motacilla troglo-dytes, Linn.)Wirtem. ; Spielmann.

The Ashes of the Mole (Talpa Europœa,

Linn.)Wirtem. ; Spielmann.

2. Prepared according to various Formula.

Calcis Cardonas pracipitatum, Creta pre-cipitata. — Precipitated Chalk.

Dubl. ; Wirtem. ; Coxe ; Van Moss.R. Muriate of Lime, any quantity.

Add to it as much carbonate ofsoda dissolved in thrice its «eight ofdistilled water, as may be necessary.Wash the precipitated carbonate oflime three times in sufficient quan-tities of water; then collect, and dry iteither on a chalk stone or on bibulouspaper. (Dubl.)

R. Chloruret of Calcium, "I of each,Subcarbonateof Potass, J any quantity.Dissolve them separately in a great ex-cess of water ; then mix the solutions withagitation, and set aside. After a sufficienttime, decant, and wash the precipitate withcold water, drop it upon a filter of linencloth, and reduce it to the form of trochiscs.R. Powdered Coral, Mother of Pearl,

or Crab's Eyes, any quantity.

Distilled Vinegar, a sufficient quantitv

to cover the powder to several fingers'

breadth. Dissolve in a warm place; then

filter the solution, and drop into it

Deliquesced Subcarbonate of Potass.

a sufficient quantity.Wash with spring water, and dry theprecipitate. (Wirtem.)

This formula gives what was formerlycalled Magisterium Coralliorum sea MatrisPerlarum seu Oculorum Cancri.

prepared subcarbonate of lime.

The preparation of the subcarbonate oflime has for its object, not only to give to ita proper form for pharmaceutical purposes,but also to free it as much as possible fromall foreign substances. Formerly, this pre-paration implied merely the separation ofexternal impurities, and the minute divisionof the salt. It was applied to all the sub-stances which have just been enumerated.

It would be too long and tedious to detailall the differences which the process pre-scribed for this preparation presents. Themost important to be known are those ofthe three following formulae:R. Chalk, one pound.

Add a little water, and triturate itto a very fine powder ; throw this intoa large vessel filled with water, andmix with agitation. At the end ofseveral minutes pour off the turbidsupernatant liquor, and set it aside ;when it has become clear, pour it off',and dry the precipitated powder.(Lond.)R. Crab's Eyes, any quantity.

Wash them in warm water, renewing itseveral times a day till it comes off free from