AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 407 



(for there is but little difference in their medicinal properties), 

 and alcohol or spirit of wine. That very useful salt named 

 nitre is composed of nitric acid and potash. When nitric or 

 nitrous acid is diluted with an equal quantity of water, it forms 

 aquafortis. Nitrous acid or aqua fortis should be kept in a 

 bottle with a glass stopper, as a cork is soon destroyed by it. 

 When quicksilver or copper are dissolved in nitrous acid, they 

 are employed as remedies for the foot rot in sheep, or the canker 

 in horses, either alone or diluted with water, or they may be 

 mixed with hog's lard, provided the latter be first melted, and 

 the mixture stirred until it becomes cold. Nitric acid forms 

 nitrates, when combined with the alkalies, earths, or metallic 

 oxides. 



Acid, Prussic. " New name, Hydrocyanic Acid, Acidum 

 Hydrocyanicum. This acid is composed of hydrogen and 

 chlorine. It is a most powerful poison ; a few drops being 

 sufficient to destroy many large animals. 



" By the Pharmacopoeia, it is directed to be prepared of such 

 strength, that two parts of real acid shall be contained in 100 

 parts of the dilute acid. Dilute hydrocyanic acid is a trans- 

 })arent liquid, free from colour. Its action is that of a power- 

 ful sedative, and may be given to the horse in doses of from 

 half a drachm to a drachm, and even more : for it is surprising 

 what large doses, when gradually increased, this animal will 

 bear. I have administered four fluid drachms ; and although 

 the action was very violent for a time, there being a loss of con- 

 sciousness, with convulsive movements, stertorous breathing, and 

 accelerated pulse, yet this passed away, and then its sedative in- 

 fluence was shown by the pulse being lessened in frequency, and 

 the vital powers depressed. It has been given in cases of gastric 

 and pulmonary irritation, accompanied with cough ; also in 

 carditis ; and by some it is advocated as a vermifuge, slowly 

 thrown up as an enema, in quantities of a drachm two or three 

 times in the day, and mixed with about a quart of water, it has 

 been found to lessen the muscular contractions in tetanus. The 

 impression of the first injection on the nervous system is very 

 powerful, but subsequent ones produce comparatively little 

 action that is apparent. It may be given by the moutli in the 

 same disease, after the bowels have been acted upon by a pur- 

 gative, c">n»bining it with other sedatives for the purpose of tran- 

 quillising the excitement of the motor nerves, and thus allaying 

 the general muscular spasm." — See Mortoris Manual. 



Acid, Sulphuric. — Acidum Sulplmricum. Vitriolic acid, 

 or oil of vitriol. This is the strongest of the mineral acids, and 

 a very powerful caustic. It was formerly made by distilling 

 green vitriol, or copperas (sulphate of iron), and then named 

 vitriolic acid; it is now made from sulphur, and therefore named 



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