non 
<© BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. - Sie 
name of agua fortis, the nitrous acid of a certain strength has long 
~ been employed for various purposes in the arts and manufactures. 
_ Great caution should be observed in the use of this powerful liquid. 
In casualties when a person-has, by mistake, swallowed a portion of 
qu tis, luke warm water ought to be drank in the greatest pos- 
ntity, even to the amount of several gallons, to weaken the 
causticity of the poison, and to avert the immediate danger of suf-. 
focation. Next, a solution of half an ounce of pearl ashes, in one 
"pint of water, should be taken in about six or eight draughts; and as 
the effervescence thus occasioned in the stomach, greatly tends to 
weaken that organ, it will be necessary to make use of more water 
and other diluent, oily, or mucilaginous drinks. 
The use of these acids in medicine has latterly been considerably 
- extended. In the state of vapor, they have been used to destroy. 
- con’ n in hospitals, ships, and other places where the accumula- 
_ tion of animal effluvia is not easily avoided. The fumigation of 
_ Such places with the vapor of nitric acid has certainly been attended 
ee 
contagious miasmata may be diluted to 
ree that they shall not act on the body ; but it appears to, 
us no less certain, that these miasmata eannot come in contact with 
nitric acid, or oxymuriatic acid vapor, without being entirely decom- 
posed, and completely destroyed. It is, besides, applic in situ- 
ations which do not admit of sufficient ventilation. The means of 
diffusing it are easy ; half an ounce of powdered nitre is put ina — 
_ Saucer, which is placed in a pipkin of heated sand. On the nitre 
two-drachms of sulphuric acid are then poured. The fumes of ni- 
tric acid immediately begin to rise. This quantity will fill a cubic 
ten feet; and by employing a sufficient number of pipkins, the. 
_ fumes may easily be made to fillan apartment of any extent. After 
the fu tigation, Ventilation is to be carefully employed. | sti 
The internal use of these acids has also been lately much extend- 
ed. In febrile diseases, water acidulated with them, forms a good 
autiphlogistic and antiseptic drink, for such as prefer it. Its virtues 
in isa and Jiver complaint have been considerably extolled, 
latterly it is not much depended on. 
Peart Asus. Inpure carbonate of Potash. 
__ The manner of the preparation of potash is familiar to most Ame-. 
rican people, and needs no description. These salts however, be- 
img mixed with many impurities, are again burnt in a reverbatory 
. furnace, and in this state, although not free from impurities, it re- 
ceives the name of pearlashes. ‘This is the fixed vegetable alkali ; 
and was formerly known under the names of sal absinthii, sal tar- 
tari, and kali. But, since the fixed vegetable alkali, from whatever 
vegetable it has been produced, one and the same thing, those 
several terms, as leading to error, have been expunged, and the new 
chemical term of potassa, universally adopted. otee 
The best vegetable alkali is obtained from weeds, the ashes of 
