AMMONITE HYDROCHLORAS.

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to twenty grains for a dose, which he repeated at the end of an hour.The effects were a sensation of warmth and oppression in the stomach,headache, and increased desire of passing the urine.

In this country it is so rarely employed internally that we have veryslight experience either of its physiological or of its therapeutical effects.In Germany , where it is more frequently administered, it is in highrepute as a powerful alterative or resolvent. “ Like most salts,” saysSundelin ( Handbuch der speciellen Heilmittellehre, l er . Bd. p. 150, 3 te .AufL), “ sal ammoniac operates on the alimentary canal as an excito-irritant.” After its absorption it appears to reduce moderately the actionof the heart and large arteries, and, in this respect, belongs to debilitat-ing or temperant agents. But it acts as excitant and irritant to thevenous and arterial capillary systems, to the lymphatic vessels andglands, to the skin, to the kidneys, and especially to the mucous mem-branes ; not only increasing secretion but also improving nutrition andassimilation, and counteracting organic abnormal conditions, (as tumors,thickenings, and relaxations), so frequently met with in those structures.It promotes not only the mucous secretions but also cutaneous exhala-tion, and even menstruation. Its diuretic effects are less obvious. Itextends its stimulating influence to the serous and fibrous tissues, whosenutrition it improves.

“ From these statements it follows that sal ammoniac operates like themore-profoundly-acting alterative agents, and even approaches, in manyrespects, mercury, but is especially distinguished from the latter in this,that it by no means acts to such a degree as a defluxing, nay even melt-ing, agent on solidified organic substance and its crasis, and by its not sopowerfully stimulating the lymphatic system. Its long-continued use may,indeed, injure the digestive powers, but never gives rise to general cachexia.I have administered large doses of it against thickening of the mucousmembrane, for months, without remarking any injurious effects beyondthose just mentioned. In large doses it purges like other salts, but insmall ones rather constipates.” Kraus ( Heilmittellehre , p. 309) says, thata slight miliary eruption and very painful aphthee have been produced bylarge doses of it.

Uses. —In this country it is rarely employed internally. In Germany ,where it is frequently used, it is administered in the following cases :—

1. In mild inflammatory fevers , especially these complicated withaffections of the mucous or fibrous membranes, as in the diseases calledbilious, gastric, catarrhal, or rheumatic fevers, it is employed for promot-ing secretion and hastening critical discharges.

2. In inflammation of the mucous or serous membranes, as catarrh,dysentery, urethritis, peritonitis, pleuritis, &c. when the first violence ofthe disease has been subdued, but when the secretions and exhalationsare not yet established. In these cases it is used as a substitute formercury.

3. In chronic diseases of various kinds, as chronic inflammation of thelungs, liver, and spleen—enlargement of the mesenteric glands—indura-tion of the prostate, uterus, and ovaries—catarrhus vesica;—chroniculceration of the uterus—mucous discharges from the urethra and vagina,it is administered as an alterative, as a stimulant to the absorbentsystem, and as a promoter of healthy secretion.

4. In amcnorrlum it is strongly recommended by Sundelin {op. ciL), as