536 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



solution be slowly evaporated in a glass vessel to a pel- 

 licle, so that chrystals may be formed. The above are 

 two modes of making the most common, and perhaps 

 the most useful of all the antimonial preparations, long 

 known in the shops under the name of emetic tartar. 



These modes differ considerably from each other, 

 but in both, the reguline part of the antimony is united 

 with the acid of the tartar. It is, perhaps, difficult to 

 say to which mode of preparation the preference is to 

 be given, for on this point the best chymists are still 

 divided in their opinions. 



The mode directed by the London College, is nearly 

 the same with that of former editions of their pharma 

 copoeia, while that which is now adopted in Edinburgh 

 is of later date. It is very certain, however, that by 

 either mode, a good emetic tartar may be formed. 

 Bergman advises, that if the calx be precipated by an 

 alkaline ley, it is more certainly freed from the mu- 

 riatic acid. 



In the after part of the process, whether precipitate 

 or crocus have been used, the quality of the antimonial 

 ought always to be some drachms more than is abso- 

 lutely necessary for saturating the acid of tartar, so 

 that no chrystals may shoot which are not impregnated 

 with the active metaUic part of the antimony. And, 

 in order to secure an uniform strength, some attention 

 is necessary in collecting the chrystals as some may 

 contain more metal than others. 



After they are all separated from the liquor, they 

 should be rubbed together in a glass mortar, into a 

 fine powder, that the medicine may be of uniform 

 strength. Emetic tartar is, of all the preparation 

 of antimony, the most certain in its operation in the 

 human subject, when given even in a dose of a single 

 grain ; and it is an excellent alterative for horses, in 



