ARSE

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Aromatic Medicines arc such as possess an agreeable spicy odour andflavour. They are mostly all carminatives.

Arrack. A spirit distilled from palm juice, and from rice and othergrain in the East, but it may be successfully imitated by dissolvingforty grains of flowers of benjamin in a quart of rum. Dr. Kitchenercalls this "Vauxhall Nectar."

Arrow Root. There are three articles sold under this name, viz., thestarch produced from the root of the Marania artindinacea ; fromthe root of Arum maculalum ; and that from potatoes. These con-sist of nearly pure starch, though it seems to differ from the starchof wheat. They form a nutritive, non-stimulant, mucilaginous foodfor invalids, by first mixing it into a pastewith cold water, and thenadding boiling water, stirring it the while, and seasoning with aro-matics. Potatoes spoiled by frost yield as much starch as fresh ones.See Ari Radix, and Sago.

Arsenias Potasss;. D. Arseniate of potass. Macquer's arsenical salt,crystallized super-arseniate of potass, prepared by means of a sand-heat from ^ j °f white oxide of arsenic, and 3 j of nitrate of potass.Decomposition. Nitrous gas escapes during the process, setting free thepotass which unites with the arsenic acid formed by the oxygen ofthe nitric acid.—The properties are the same as those of the oxide ofarsenic. See Arsen. Oxyd.

Arseniates. Neutral salts formed by a combination of arsenic acidwith alkaline bases, and like it violently poisonous.

Arsenic. A metal which is sometimes found native, but oftcner com-bined with iron, cobalt, &c. By roasting the ores of these, the arse-nic is sublimed, and combines with oxygen as it volatilizes. Thevapour of arsenic has a strong odour of garlic, which, with the excep-tion (it is said) of zinc, is peculiar to it.Enters inlo Arsen. AJb. L. Oxid. Arsen. E. Ars. Oxid. Alb. D.

Aesenic Acid is obtained by dissolving arsenious aid (Arsenici Oxy-dum, L.) in concentrated nitric acid, mixed with a little muriaticacid, and distilling to perfect dryness. With alkalies it forms Arse-niates.Soluble in water more readily than arsenious acid; and when the so-lution is evaporated, forming irregular non-crystalline grains.Poisonous in a violent degree, producing the same symptoms as theoxide. See the following article.

Arsenici Oxtdum. L. E. Arsenici oxydum album. Arsenious acid,arsenic, or oxide of arsenic in the impure state, procured by roastingthe ores of cobalt, and imported from Saxony. When reduced topowder it is not unlike white sugar. It is used in some of the arts,in alloying metals, &c., and to kill vermin, but is not in the im->pure state employed in medicine.