AMM0NI.E HYDHOCIILORAS.
177
Composition.—T he composition of this salt is the following:—
. . 17 .
. 21-5 .
. 19 .
. 20 .
. . 21-16
Ammoniacal gas . 2
Carbonic Acid. 2 .
. 44 .
. 55-7 .
. 56 .
. . 55-50
Water.2 .
. 18 .
. 22-8 .
. 25 .
. 25 .
. . 23-34
Aqueous Vapour . 2
Crystallized }
Bicarbon te . > 1 .Ammonia J
. 79 .
. 100-0 . .
. 100 .
. 100 .
100-00
Physiological Effects and Uses. —The operation and uses of thissalt are analogous to those of the preceding compounds of ammonia. Itis termed diaphoretic, antispasmodic, and antacid. Being less caustic,it is more palatable than the other carbonates (Barker and Montgomery’sObservations on the Dublin Pharmacopoeia).
Administration. —The dose of it is from six to twenty-four grains,dissolved in cold water.
Ammo'nice Hydrochlo'ras. — Hydrochlo'rate of Ammo'nia .
History and Synonymes. —The early history of this salt is involvedin considerable obscurity; for though the term sal ammoniacus (uXc d/i/rw-vLclkoq ), is met with in several old writers, it is believed, by the eruditeBeckmann {Hist., of Inventions, vol. iv. p. 370), as well as by others, torefer to rock-salt. The first distinct notice of hydrochlorate of ammo-nia is to be met with in Geber , who was acquainted with the mode ofpurifying it by sublimation. But, as my friend Dr. Boyle observes, inliis Essay on the Antiquity of Hindoo Medicine (p. 41), this salt “ musthave been familiar to the Hindoos ever since they have burnt bricks, asthey now do, with the manure of animals; as some may usually be foundcrystallized at the unbumt extremity of the kiln.”
The substance, whatever its nature may be, which the ancients termedsal ammoniac, derived its name from Ammonia, the name of a district ofLibya where the oracle of Jupiter Ammon was situated. This districttook its name from ayjxo S , sand, on account of the nature of its soil.Herodotus (lib. iv., cap. 181 et 2) mentions the salt found in thisdistrict.
Few substances have had so many synonymes as the hydrochlorate ofammonia; but of those I shall only mention such as are now in use,namely, muriate of ammonia, sal ammoniac, and chloride of ammonium.For others I must refer to Dr. T. Thomson’s Hist, of Chem. vol. i. p. 125,and Parr's Med. Diet., art. Ammoniacus.
Natural History . —(See Ammonia ).
Preparation, (a.) By the destructive distillation of bones. —Bones arefirst boiled to remove the fatty matter, which is used in soap making.The larger and finer pieces are then picked out for the manufacture ofbuttons, handles of tooth-brushes, of knives, &c.; while the smaller and, refuse portions are sold as manure. The remaining pieces are distilled.
The still or retort is made of cast iron or of Welch bricks. In a