Slate of Pharman/ in France. ^43' 



atoms, or portions of sulphuric acid, and one of nitre, or 

 about equal weights of each. By the first process the acid 

 is obtained with greater economy, and by the latter it is 

 generally paler, and of more certain strength ; but the framers 

 of the French pharmacopoeia, neglecting the economy of one 

 process, and the certainty of the other, have directed 2 jJaVtS 

 of sulphuric acid with three of nitre. 



Acide Nitrique is followed by " Acide Nitreux Liquide" (is it 

 ever solid ?). The purpose for which this is prepared is to me 

 undiscoverable. Supposing nitrites Were employed in medi- 

 cine, they cannot be prepared by using nitrous acid, owing to 

 the decomposition which occurs by merely mixing the acid 

 with a salifiant base, or with water ; it cannot be externally 

 administered as nitrous acid, even supposing such a fancy to 

 be entertained ; for, as just observed, by the action of water it 

 is decomposed, and converted into nitric acid. It is directed 

 to be prepared by decomposing nitric acid with copper, and 

 passing the deutoxide of azote evolved into another portion of 

 nitric acid : the process may answer the purpose very well, 

 but it does not seem to be worth attaining. It is stated that the 

 nitric acid which is to be employed, of the strength of 42°, has' 

 its specific gravity reduced to 38, by being converted to nitrous 

 acid ; there must be some error in this, for the specific gravity 

 of the acid is considerably increased by it. 



" Acide Muriatique Liquide," The directibns for preparing' 

 this acid are tediously and uselessly minute. The quantity of 

 sulphuric acid is too large ; for common salt requires only |^' 

 of its weight of sulphuric acid to decompose it instead of an' 

 equal quantity as directed. 



We have next directions for preparing chlorine under its* 

 former name of" Acide Muriatique Oxigene liquide ;" this is fol- 

 lowed by the phosphorous and phosphoric acids, acide acetique 

 faiblCf (distilled vinegar,) acide acetitjue pure from acetate of 

 copper, adde tartarique, oxalique, citrique, benzoique by pre- 

 cipitation and by sublimation, acide boracique, succinique and 

 carbonique. 



TTienext chapter consists of the alkalis et sous-carbonates 

 Q 2 



