408 . MATERIA MEDICA 



sulphuric acicl.* Sulphuric acid is sometimes used as a caustic in 

 canker of the horse's foot ; it is sometimes mixed, or rather com- 

 bined, with oil of turpentine, and forms with it a blackish lini- 

 ment, which, when mixed with hog's lard, is sometimes used to 

 disperse callous tumours ; and this, by adding some powdered 

 cantharides to it, forms a strong blister (see Blisters); and, by 

 the addition of sulphur, a good mange ointment. Sulphuric 

 acid (in a small proportion, such as a few drops to an ounce) 

 will unite, by shaking, with olive oil, and form a good stimulating 

 liniment t; and when mixed with tar in the proportion of from 

 one or two ounces to the pound, it forms an excellent application 

 for bad thrushes and canker of tiie foot. For internal use 

 sulphuric acid is sometimes mixed with spirit of wine, and in this 

 mixture spices, such as cinnamon and ginger, are steeped. This 

 preparation was formerly named elixir of vitriol, and new aro- 

 matic sulphuric acid. A spirit of vitriol is kept in the shops, 

 which is nothing more than sulphuric acid diluted with seven or 

 eight times its weight of water. Sulphuric acid mixed with 

 alcohol, and distilled, forms that powerful medicinal preparation 

 named ether. It forms neutral salts, named sulphates, when 

 combined with the alkalies, earths, and metallic oxides ; thus 

 with soda, it forms suljihate of soda, or Glauber's salt ; with 

 magnesia, sulphate of magnesia, or Epsom salt ; with copper, 

 sulphate of copper, or blue vitriol ; with zinc, sulphate of zinc, 

 or white vitriol ; and with iron, sulphate of iron, salt of steel, or 

 green copperas. When pure, sulphuric acid should be as colour- 

 less and transparent as water. By exposure to the atmosphere 

 it quickly becomes of a brown colour. Horses have been de- 

 stroyed by the administration of too large a quantity of sulphuric 

 acid, either wilfully or by mistake. It soon inflames and cor- 

 rodes the stomach, and renders the mouth black. The antidotes 

 are magnesia, the carbonates of soda or potash, or soap, the 

 effect of which is to neutralise the acid by combining with it. 



Acid, Tartaric. See Tartar. 



Acid, Vitriolic. See Acid, Sulphuric. 



ACONITUM. Wolfsbane. Common Monkshood. This 

 is a perennial plant, which flowei's in July, and is a native of the 

 Alpine forests, and of the mountains of Germany. Its properties 

 are nai-cotic, diaphoretic, and diuretic ; but it loses most of its 

 medicinal qualities by being dried. It has been fairly ti'ied on 

 horses in this country and in France, and found to be extremely 

 deleterious. • M. Collaine, a veterinary professor at Milan, has 

 given it to horses affected with farcy, in the large dose of one 



* It is also made from iron pyrites (hisiilplmret of iron'). 



f The common black oil of farriers, a useful digestive application, is made 

 by mixing two ounces of oil of turpentine with a pint of olive oil, and then 

 Mding six drachms of sulphuric acid. 



