498
ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
thus it reddens turmeric, and restores the blue colour of litmus, whichhas been reddened by an acid. By exposure to the air, ammonia isevolved, and a green powder is left, composed of sulphate of ammoniaand carbonate of copper. To prevent this, therefore, it should be pre-served in a well-stoppered bottle. It is soluble in water; but unlessexcess of sesquicarbonate of ammonia be present, the solution, whenmuch diluted, lets fall a subsulphate of copper.
Characteristics. —Dissolved in water it forms a green precipitate(arsenite of copper) with a solution of arsenious acid. When heated,all its constituents are dissipated, save the oxide of copper. Boiled withcaustic potash a solution of sulphate of potash is obtained, the hydratedoxide of copper is thrown down, and ammonia is disengaged. Sulphuricacid may be recognised in the solution by the barytic salts.
Composition. — The essential part of this compound is the cupro-
sulphate of ammonia.
This,
in the
crystalline
state, has the following
composition:—
Eq.
Eq.Wt.
Per Cent.
Brandes.
1 .
. 40
. . 32-52
. . 34-00 . . .
33-017
Ammonia.
2 .
. 34
. . 27-64
. . 26-40 . . .
21-410
Sulphuric Acid.
1 .
. 40
. . 32-52
. . 32-25 . . .
31-753
Water.
1 .
. 9
. . 7-32
. . 7-35 . . .
13-358
Cupro-sulphate of Ammonia
1 .
. . 123
. . 100-00
. . 100-00 . .
99-538
The cupri ammonio-sulphas, I’h. L., usually contains some undecom-posed sesquicarbonate (bicarbonate?) of ammonia, and probably somesulphate (subsulphate?) of copper.
Piivsio logical Effects. —Its action is, for the most part, similar tosulphate of copper. Wibmer ( Wirk. d. Arzneim. ii. 25(i) examined itseffects on horses and dogs. Four grains dissolved in water, and injectedinto the veins, killed a dog. The respiration and circulation were quick-ened by it. In some cases vomiting and purging were produced;weakness, tremblings, and paralysis, indicated its action on the nervoussystem. Its general effects on man are like those of sulphate of copper,but it is thought to be less disposed to occasion nausea and vomiting.An over-dose, however, readily acts as an emetic. Its action is probablysomewhat more stimulant to the general system than the sulphate. It isemployed in medicine as a tonic and antispasmodic.
Uses. —Internally it has been principally employed in chronic spas-modic affections; such as epilepsy, chorea, catalepsy, hysteria, spasmodicasthma, and cramp of the stomach. In epilepsy it has been muchesteemed, and was found useful by Dr. Cullen {Treat, on Mat. Med.), andother accurate observers; but, like all other remedies for this curiousdisease, it frequently fails. It has also been used in ague and dropsy.As a topicql remedy, a solution of it has been employed as an injectionin gonorrhoea and leucorrhcea ; and as a collyrium to remove opacity ofthe cornea.
Administration. —It may be administered internally in doses of fromhalf a grain gradually increased to five grains. It is usually exhibitedin the form of pill; rarely in that of solution.
PitULJE Ammoniareti Cupri, Ph . Ed. (ammoniaret of copper, infine powder, gr. xvj.; crumb of bread, giv.; water of carbonate of am-monia, q. s. Beat into a mass, and divide into thirty-two equal pills).—