514 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



what is now sold as Socotnne, differing only 

 iu quality. Cape aloes come over in chests 

 of two to four hundred pounds weight each, 

 enveloped in buffalo hides. The finest Bar- 

 badoes come in gourds, or calabashes, from 

 the island of the same name, and contain from 

 twenty to fifty-six pounds each. An inferior 

 quality comes in casks. 



Medicinal Uses. — Purgative and alterative ; 

 the first in doses of four to eight drachms ; the 

 latter in doses of one to three drachms. Cape 

 aloes are the variety made use of at the Col- 

 lege, and its effects seem equal to any of the 

 others. 



AMMONIiE MURIAS. 



MURIATE OF AMMONIA, SAL AMMONIAC. 



A saline concrete, formed by the union of 

 muriatic acid with ammonia. It is obtained 

 from several sources. First, found native ; 

 second, prepared from camels' dung ; third, 

 which is the principal, from soot, bones, ani- 

 mal matter, known to contain the volatile 

 alkali, as horn, &c. The process is as fol- 

 lows : the animal matter is placed in an iron 

 cylindrical still, to which is attached a leaden 

 receiver, cooled by a refrigeratory, which is 

 its cover, and contains about four inches in 

 depth of water, heat being applied, distilla- 

 tion is allowed to go on. The oil which arises 

 on tlxe surface of the distilled liquor being re- 

 movedjto the residue, which is impure alka- 

 line solution, is added sulphuric acid, and a 

 sulphate of ammonia is formed; to this is 

 added common salt, when a double decompo- 

 sition takes place, muriate of ammonia, and 

 sulphate of soda, being formed through chemi- 

 cal agency. These being in solution, the last 

 salt is crystallized, and the first sublimes into 

 cakes. 



Medicinal Uses. Refrigerent, applied ex- 

 ternally, dissolved in vinegar, in inflammatory 

 swellings, when cold is the required object. 



It may not be irrelevant to observe here, 

 that a solution of any neutral salt in water, 

 lowers the temperature of it by robbing it of a 

 portion of its caloric, to liquify the salt ; but 

 the solution will acquire a mean of tempera- 

 ture equal to the surrounding medium in 

 which it is placed, in the course of time , 

 therefore it should be used as soon as made. 



ANTIMONII SULPHURETUM. 



SULPHATE OF ANTIMONY. 



Medicinal Uses. Alterative and vermifuge ; 

 but of very little effect. Much used amongst 

 grooms, combined with sulphur and nitrate of 

 potash. Dose from J ss to |j. 



ANTIMONII TARTARIZATUM. 



TARTAKIZED ANTIMONY. EMETIC TARTAR. 



Medicinal Uses. Febrifuge in doses of 

 3 ss to sij, generally in combination with 

 nitre, &c. Large doses will not in the Horse 

 produce nausea, even to the quantity of an 

 ounce. 



ANCHUSiE RADIX. 



ALKANET ROOT. 



The root of the plant, which is a perermiai, 

 growing in the south of Europe. 



Medicinal Uses. It is merely used for the 

 sake of its colouring matter, which it readily 

 yields to oils, fats, spirits, &c. ; but not to 

 water. 



ARGENTI NITRAS. 



NITRATE OF SILVER. LUNAR CAUSTIC. 



Take Silver _ - I ounce. 

 Nitric acid - 1 fl do. 



Distilled water - 2 H do. 



