172

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

hydrocyanic acid, ammonia is a most valuable agent. This remedy hasbeen supposed to possess a specific influence in relieving those disordersof the nervous system accompanied with spasmodic or convulsivesymptoms; and hence it is classed among the remedies denominatedantispasmodic: but whenever it gives relief it is by its stimulant opera-tion. Velsen, of Cleves, has used it with advantage in delirium tremens.It was a remedy frequently tried in the malignant or Indian cholera, andoccasionally procured relief, but this effect was not sufficiently commonto lead practitioners to place much reliance on it.

6. Against the bites of poisonous animals , as serpents and insects,ammonia is frequently employed with the best effects. There does notappear, however, any ground for the assertion of Sage, that it is a speci-fic : in fact, Fontana declares it to be sometimes hurtful in viper bites.

Administration. —It is given in doses of from five to twenty or thirtydrops properly diluted.

Antidotes. —The dilute acids, as vinegar, lemon or orange juice, &c.

Car'bonas Ammo'nice. — Car'bonate of Ammo'nia .

History and Synonymes. —Raymond Lully , in the thirteenth century,was acquainted with carbonate of ammonia as obtained from urine; andit is probable that the Arabians had known it long before. BasilValentine procured it by decomposing muriate of ammonia by potashes(carbonate of potash).

Carbonate of ammonia has been known by the various appellations ofsal alkali volatile siccum seu urinosum; sal volatile satis ammoniaci; sub-car bonas ammonice; sal volatile cornu cervi, &c.

Natural History. — (See Ammonia .) Carbonate of ammonia is formedduring the putrefaction or destructive distillation of those organic sub-stances which contain nitrogen.

Preparation, Properties, Effects, and Uses. —In the pharmaco-poeia this salt is extracted from hydrochlorate of ammonia by carbonateof potash. The proportions employed in making the spiritus ammonice ,spiritus ammonice aromaticus, and spiritus ammonice fcetidus, are tenounces of the hydrochlorate and sixteen ounces of the carbonate. Oneequivalent or 54 parts of the hydrochlorate of ammonia react on oneequivalent or 70 parts of carbonate of potash, and produce one equivalentor 39 parts of the carbonate of ammonia, one equivalent or 76 parts ofchloride of potassium, and one equivalent or 9 parts of water.

INGREDIENTS USED. PRODUCTS.

1 eq. Ammonia.17

leq.Hydrochl ic (1 eq. Hydr. 1Acid 37 Heq.Cblor. 36

, r, , , \1 eq. Carbonic Acid .... 221 eq. Carbonate ) ^ ^ r\ c

Potash. . . .70 ^ 1 eq. Potash 48 j j eq.*Potas™. 40

1. Spiritus Ammonice (Ph . L.)—This compound is prepared from tenounces of hydrochlorate of ammonia, sixteen ounces of carbonate of potash,three pints of rectified spirit, and three pints of water. This mixture isto be placed in a retort, and three pints distilled. The above-describeddecomposition takes place, and the carbonate of ammonia, which is pro-duced, distils over with the spirit in which the greater part of it dissolves,the remainder being deposited in an imperfectly crystalline state. In

1 eq. Carb te . Amm. 391 eq. Water .... 9

1 eq. Chl de . Potas m . 76

1 eq. Hydrochl te . 1Ammonia . . 54"