CUPRO-SULPHATE OF AMMONIA.
497
or baldness, which occurred in a young man ; but it failed in the handsof Dr. T. J. Todd ( Cyclop. of Tract. Med. i. 52.)
Administration. —The dose of it, as an emetic, is from three or fourgrains to fifteen ; as an astringent, or tonic, from a quarter of a grain toone or two grains. Solutions used for external purposes vary consider-ably in their strength in different cases, but usually from one or twograins to eight or twelve, dissolved in an ounce of water.
Antidotes. — Vide Cuprum.
Solutio Su lpftatis Cupni CoiuposiTA, Ph . Ed. (sulphate ofcopper; alum, aa jiij ; water, lb. ij.; sulphuric acid, jiss. Boil untilthe sulphates are dissolved; then filter, and add the acid.)—It is employedas a styptic, to arrest haemorrhage ; and, when diluted, in the purulentophthalmia of children.
History. — Boerhaave was acquainted with an ammoniacal solution ofcopper. In 1757 Weissman gave imperfect directions for its preparation.In 1799 Acoluth published a better process. Dr. Cullen introduced thissubstance into practice in this country. It is frequently called ammoni-ated copper (cuprum ammoniatum, Ph . Dubl. and U. S.) or ammoniuret ofcopper (cupri ammoniaretum, Ph . Ed.) In the London Pharmacopoeia itis termed ammonia-sulphate of copper (cupri ammonio-sulphas).
Preparation. —In all the British Pharmacopoeias , this compound isdirected to be prepared by rubbing an ounce of sulphate of copper withan ounce and a half of sesquicarbonate of ammonia until carbonic acidceases to evolve.
The theory of the process is imperfectly understood. The proportionsof ingredients employed are about two equivalents of sulphate and threeand one-fifth equivalents of sesquicarbonate. When rubbed together,these salts give out part of their water of crystallization, by which themass becomes moist; and, at the same time, a portion of carbonic acidof the sesquicarbonate escapes, producing the effervescence alluded to ;and the compound becomes of a deep azure-blue colour. This colour isprobably owing to cuprate of ammonia ; for oxide of copper with causticammonia forms a similarly-coloured liquid. If this notion be correct,the decomposition may be thus explained:—Two equivalents or 118 partsof hydrated sesquicarbonate of ammonia react on one equivalent or 125parts of crystallized sulphate of copper, and produce one equivalent or57 parts of cuprate of ammonia, one equivalent or 57 parts of sulphate ofammonia, seven equivalents or 63 parts of water, and three equivalentsor 66 parts of carbonic acid. The cuprate and sulphate of ammoniawith one equivalent of water represent the crystallized cupro-sulphate ofammonia (cuprum ammoniacale of some authors).
REAGENTS.
2 eq. Hydratd. Sequi-carb. Ammon. 118
1 eq. Crystall. Sulph.Copper 1
3 eq. Carb. Acid 662 eq. Water.... 18
1 eq. Ammonia 171 eq. Ammonia 17
/ 5 eq. Water_45
' 1 eq.Sulph. Acid 40l eq. Ox^Coppr40
25 J
5 6eq. Water 54.
? ( 1 eq. Water 9.
„ 1 eq. Sulphate of Ammonia, 57
RESULTS.
3 eq. Carb. Acid 666 eq. Water_ 54
leq.Crvst^ Cupro-Sulph. of Am. 123
1 eq. Cuprate of Ammonia, 57 y
Properties. —It has a deep azure-blue colour, a styptic metallic taste,and an ammoniacal odour. It reacts on vegetable colours as an alkali: