and hieceup. — eh aiid eset 
tendons and other symptoms of a spasmodic nature. In¢ 
bus it frequently stops vomiting, and, combined with ammoni: 
given to arrest the progress of gangrene. It is also used with 
greatest advantage in eruptive and phlegmonic diseases, a 
ed with typhoid fever, and also in chin cough, epilepsy, &e. 
dose is from six to twenty grains, repeated, if necessary, every five or 
six hours. It is best exhibited in the form of a bolus. To children 
it is given in the form of clyster, and is an efficacious = enene in. sad 
arising from seutiticns; sop 
‘This sali. omnsting of nitric abed oat potash, is found. ready 
formed on the surface of the soil in warm climates; it is procured 
_ in some parts of the United States. 
. Nitre is of a sharp, bitterish, penetrating taste, followed by a sen- 
sation of coldness. When pure it dissolves in about six times.its — 
weight of pees and on eenorateige the latter concretes into trans- — 
doses, from two or three grains to a seruple, being a very sooling 
and resolvent medicine, which by relaxing the spasmodic rigidity 
the vessels, promotes not only the secretion of urine, but at the same 
time insensible perspiration, in febrile disorders; while it allays thirst | 
and abates heat ; though in malignant cases in which the pulse is 
low, and the patient’s strength is exhausted, it produces contrary ef- 
fects. Nitre, however, in the manner in which it is generally em- 
Ployed, has the effect to *‘ kill” and keep down the fever, without re- 
Moving its cause; and is therefore injurious. 
This powerful salt, when inadvertantly taken in too large quan- 
tity, is one of the most fatal poisons. There are several attested 
_ases on record, and some recent instances might be added, in which — 
from half toa whole ounce of salt petre has occasioned violent vous- 
iting, convulsions, swelling, and other painful symptoms in persons, 
who by mistake, ‘bad swallowed it in a dissolved state, instead of 
Glauber, or similar salts. ‘The most proper antidote in such dis= 
tressing situations, will be a scruple or half a drachm of i ipecac, 
with a tea cupfull of sweet oil, and a large quantity of warm water- 
to be drank after it, to promote its operation, as an emetic — It will 
be necessary also to make use of copious.and frequent draughts of 
s decoctions, of marsh mallows, pearl barley, arrow ow 
&c, after which a gentle opiate will afford relief. é 
E ‘tues are those of a refrigernay 
Nitric Actin. Aqua Fortis. 
Staie & heal. and nitrous acid have been long employed as 
ful a Seca 
pharmacutic agents. They-are next in strength, to 
dislodge aes alkaline salts and earths. Under the 
