SflDICIXES.] 



MODEKX VETElilXAKY i'liACTlCE. 



[M£DICi>'B8. 



substancfs witli which it can rfudlly combine. ] 

 Grouiuld Iroiiuciitly troddcu by c:iltli', ami 

 impregnated with their excrement, or the 

 walls of inhabited places where putrid animal 

 vapours abound, sucli as slaughter-houses, 

 drains, or the like, allbrd nitro by long ex- 

 posure to the air. Artilicial nitre-beds are 

 made bv au attention to the circumstances in 

 which this salt is produced by nature. The 

 crystals of nitre are usually of tlie forms of six- 

 sided flattened prisms, with dihedral summits. 

 Its taste is penetrating; but the cold produced 

 bv placing the salt to dissolve in the mouth, is 

 such as to predominate over the real taste at 

 first. Seven parts of water dissolve two of 

 nitre, at the temperature of sixty degrees ; but 

 boiling water dissolves its own weight. On 

 being exposed to a gentle heat, nitre fuses ; 

 and in this state, being poured into moulds, so 

 as to form little round cakes or balls, it is 

 called sal i-)runeUa, or crystal mineral. The 

 uses of nitre are various. Besides those 

 already indicated, it enters into the composi- 

 tion of fluxes, and is extensively employed in 

 metallurgy. It serves to promote the com- 

 bustion of sulphur in fabricating its acid ; it is 

 used in the art of dyeing ; it is added to com- 

 mon salt for preserving meat, to which it gives 

 a red hue ; it is an ingredient in some frigo- 

 rific mixtures, and it is prescribed in medicine 

 as cooling, febrifuge, and diuretic ; and some 

 have recommended it mixed with vinegar, 

 as a very powerful remedy for the sea scurvy. 



Medicinal Uses. — Antiseptic, given in doses 

 of from one to two ounces ; externally in solu- 

 tion, one ounce in ten ounces of water as a 

 preventive of gangrene. The spirit of nitrous 

 ether is valuable in advanced stages of fever, 

 given in doses of three or four drachms. 



Pteboeaepi Lignuai — Red Saunders Wood. 



This tree is a native of the mountains of 

 India and Ceylon, the wood of which is 

 brought to England in billets, which are very 

 heavy, and sink in water. It is merely used 

 for its colouring matter, which it yields readily 

 to spirits. 



QuEECUS CoETEX — OaJc BurJc. 



This is prepared from the small branches in 

 spring, when it contains four times its astrin- 

 gent principles to what it does in winter. 



IvKsiN.v. Fj.ava — Yellow licsiu. 



The residue in tho retort, after the distilla- 

 tion of tho oil from tho common turpentine ; 

 but should the process, from tho distillation of 

 the turpentine, be carried oa without water, 

 what remains in tho retort will be amber- 

 coloured resin; but this is easily made yellow, 

 by adding, while it is fluid, a small quantity of 

 water, shaken together. 



Mcdiciudl Uses. — Diuretic, in doses of from 

 four to eight drachms, combined with soap, in 

 the form of a ball, making the bolus according 

 to tlie directions of the college. 



Sapo Castil — Castile Soap. 



This soap is prepared, in Spain, and takes its 

 name from a city in that country. It is 

 formed by the combination of barilla with 

 olive oil ; to which is added a small quantity 

 of sulphate of iron, which gives it its marble 

 appearance. 



Medicinal Uses. — Slightly diuretic; rarely 

 given alone ; chiefly in union with resin. 



Sapo Mollis — Sofi Soap. 



This is made in the same way as the above, 

 with the exception, that potash is used instead 

 of barilla or soda, and the colouring matter 

 left out. 



Medicinal Uses. — As the former ; in case of 

 gripes caused by the exhibition of sulphate 

 of copper, from two to four ounces, dissolved 

 in water, have been given with great suc- 

 cess. 



SoDir CnLOEiDUM— C(9?;2?«o?2 Salt. 



The preparation of that kind of salt which 

 is used for culinary and economical purposes 

 (muriate of soda), depends upon the well-known 

 fact, that the salt contained in the sea-water, 

 or brine springs, being a fixed body, will not 

 rise with the vapour of the water. All, there- 

 fore, that is wanted, is to expose any water, 

 containing salt, to evaporation. Tiie veteri- 

 narian employs common salt largely ; and when 

 sprinkled over hay, or in a mash, is liked by 

 sick horses, to which it sometimes proves emi- 

 nently beneficial. 



3Iedicinal Z7sc5.— Aperient ; a solution of 

 half a drachm of salt in four ounces of water, 

 forms an excellent lotion for inflamed eyes. 



359 



