SUD ORIFICS AND DIURE TICS. 361 



we employ a citrate or a tartrate probably matters, in 

 the majority of cases, very little ; but the tendency to 

 diarrhoea or to constipation might, in certain instances, 

 influence our choice of one or other of these salts. 

 Of all the saline sudorifics usually prescribed during 

 the feverish state, I believe liquor ammonice acetatis to 

 be one of the most useful. Some consider it, as 

 well as other alkaline acetates and citrates, to be 

 of little or no value ; but, from experiments tried 

 upon myself, I feel convinced that the solution of 

 acetate of ammonia does good in the feverish con- 

 dition of body. Many years ago I used to suffer 

 much from quinsy, and I found that when I took 

 plenty of acetate of ammonia, the swollen tonsil 

 soon became less. My experience of its use in others 

 is equally satisfactory. I think that we usually give 

 it in too small doses. Half an ounce every four hours 

 for an adult is not too much, and it may be continued 

 for several days. I think it really acts upon the liver 

 as well as the secreting organs of the skin and upon 

 the kidneys ; but, besides this, I believe it does good 

 by promoting the removal of saline and other consti- 

 tuents from the tissues, and favouring their elimina- 

 tion. The feeling of tension and general discomfort 

 which is experienced at the commencement of an 

 ordinary catarrhal attack is often relieved after two 

 or three doses of liq. ammon. acet. have been taken. 



A glass of hot spirits or wine and water, a dose of 

 sulphuric ether and sweet spirits of nitre, or a little 



