224

LIQU

Medicinally it is stimulant and antacid, and may be given in doses of1t^x to t?l.xxx or even -jj diluted with milk and water, or cold bitterinfusions or decoctions, in spasms, paralysis, dyspepsia, cardialgia,and in fainting, sinking, hysteria, &c. Externally it may be held tothe nostrils in fainting, and in cramp or gout of the stomach, may beapplied by dipping a bit of linen with it over the stomach, to raise animmediate blister, being a less terrific mode than a bladder of boilingwater; or diluted as a rubefacient.Poisonous in large doses, producing burning excoriations of the mouth,throat, and stomach, with vomiting and purging mixed with blood.The best antidote is vinegar, lemon-juice, cream of tartar, or anyvegetable acid, to neutralize the alkali, followed by milk, barleywater, gruel, or other demulcents.Tests. A piece of copper put into the solution will turn it blue, as willthe solution of any of the salts of copper. It will not change thetransparency of a solution of nitrate of silver; and when heated, itwill evolve a pungent odour easily recognisable.Enters into Hydro-Sulphuret. Ammoniie. D. Liniment. CamphoricComp. L. Lin. Ammoniatum. E. Spir. Ammonias. L. D. Spir.Ammonia; Succinatus. L.Liquor Ammonia Acetatis. L. Aqua Acctalis Ammonia;. E. D.Solution of Acetate of Ammonia. Spirit of Mindererm. O. Takejij of subcarbonate of ammonia, Oiv or q. s. of diluted acetic acid ;add the acid to the ammonia till it ceases to effervesce, or till theliquor ceases to change the colour of litmus and turmeric test papers.Decomposition. The ammonia of the subcarbonate is disengaged, andpasses over to the acetic acid, forming acetate of ammonia, whichremains in solution, while the carbonic acid escapes.Soluble with great readiness both in w r ater and in alcohol.Incompatible with acids, alkalies, and their subcarbonates; with alum,lime water, magnesia, and its sulphate; with oxymuriate of mercury,the sulphates of copper, iron, and zinc; with the acetate and sub-acetate of lead, and with the nitrate of silver.Impaired by either an excess of acid or alkali, which will decomposethe antimonials, with which it may be prescribed. If it has beenlong kept, the alkali will generally be in excess, which may renderit unsafe as a collyrium.Medicinally it has been long used internally as a sudorific and diapho-retic in febrile inflammations, rheumatism, &c, in doses of 5y to 5Jevery three or four hours, usually conjoined with Dover's powder,antimonials, opium, or spirit of sulphuric ether. If the patient is notkept warm it will prove diuretic. Externally, when diluted withrose water, it forms a good injection and collyrium, and a lotion for