DEFINITION OF TERMS. 



41 



stance whether simple or compound, that 

 is capable of uniting without decomposi- 

 tion, with such a quantity of oxygen, as 

 to become possessed of acid properties. Al- 

 most all the acids agree with each other 

 in containing oxygen, but they differ in 

 their radicals; of course the acidifiable 

 base or radical determines the species of 

 acid. 



Sulphur combined with oxygen, forms 

 sulphuric or vitriolic acid. 



Almost all substances will combine 

 with oxygen, but they are not all acidifia- 

 ble bases. That the process of acidifica- 

 tion may take place, a large proportion of 

 oxygen is necessary, otherwise [the result 

 is only an oxyde. 



^ther or Ether, An extremely vola- 

 tile spirit, made by distilling alcohol with 

 an acid, and then precipitating the acid 

 gaSjWith an alkali. The properties of the 

 aether obtained are supposed to vary a little 

 according to the acid employed; accord- 

 ingly every particular kind is distinguish- 

 ed by the acid employed in its prepara- 

 tion. 



Thus the aether obtained by means of 

 sulphuric acid, is called sulphuric sether; 

 that by means of nitrous acid, nitrous 

 sether. 



JigglutinantSf A class of strengthen- 

 ing medicines, of a glutinous or viscous 

 nature; which, by readily adhering to the 

 solids, contribute greatly to repair their 

 loss. They may be divided in two kinds; 



1st, Good nourishing food, especially 

 jellies,whether of hartshorn, veal, mutton, 

 &c, &c. 



2nd. Medicines, properly so called. 



Alhunien, The white of eggs, and a 

 substance found at the roots of various 

 vegetables, also in wheat, and the farina- 

 ceous seeds, and in most of the green and 

 succulent plants and jelly, is known by 

 the name of Albumen. It is supposed 

 that when albumen is converted into jelly, 

 acid is evolved, and oxygen combined 

 with the jelly during the process, — lliat 

 is, the oxygen supplies the place of the 

 acid. 



Alburnum, The soft white substance, 

 found in trees between the liber, or inner 

 bark, and the .true wood, and which in 

 process of time, is converted into that 

 substance. 



Alkali, The term alkali, is applied to 



all bodies which possess the following pro- 

 perties. 1. A caustic taste. 2. The pro- 

 perty of being volatilized by heat, 3, Of 

 being capable of combining with acids. 

 4, Of being soluble in water, even when 

 combined with carbonic acid, and 5, Ca- 

 llable of converting vegetable blues into 

 green. 



Alkaline Earths, Are those earths 

 which agree with the alkali in the proper- 

 ty of solubility in water to a certain ex- 

 tent, of changing blue and red vegetable 

 colours to green; of absorbing carbonic 

 acid; and of possessing those acrid qualities 

 that distinguish the alkalies. 



Magnesia, lime, barytes, and strontian, 

 are deemed alkaline earths, but the former 

 is very imperfectly so, being scarcely 

 more soluble in water than silex, Barytes 

 and strontian approach nearer to an alkali, 

 than lime, in being largely soluble in 

 water. 



Alum, A neutral salt, the base of which 

 is alumina, argil or clay, combined with 

 sulphuric acid. Potash or ammonia, are 

 also "supposed to be ingredients in the 

 composition forming a triple salt. 



Alumina, Is the argilaceous part of 

 common clay, that is, pure argil or clay, 

 free from impurities. It is smooth and unc- 

 tions to the touch, when pure diffusible in 

 water, and adhering to the tongue. Its 

 specific gravity is 200°, or double that of 

 water. Its bulk is diminished by great 

 heat, and its hardness so increased, as to 

 strike fire with steel. It forms a difficult 

 combination with acids. With the sul- 

 phuric, it makes sulphate of alumina; but 

 its crystallization is difficult, both with 

 the nitric and muriatic. It has a power- 

 ful attraction for lime. The most intense 

 heat is not able lo melt it alone, but it is 

 easily fusible when lime or an alkali is 

 added to it. By its mixture with water 

 and silex, it acquires great solidity. 



Anemometer, Among mechanical phi- 

 losophers, an instrument contrived for 

 measuring the strength of the wind. 



Antiseptics, Among physicians, a de- 

 nomination given to all substances that re- 

 sist putrefaction. 



The following table exhibits a compar- 

 ative view of the antiseptic virtue ol salts, 

 the common sea salt being reckoned equal 

 to unity. 



Sea Salt. 1. Sal. Gemmae, 1. Tartar 



