198 APPENDIX. [No. XI 



less extent.* I have known persons nearly poisoned by incautiously using 

 this substance, and who have been quite at a loss to know how to proceed 

 to neutralize its action. Those who have to deal with bromine would do 

 well to have an open vessel of the liquor ammonise by their side, which is 

 in general quite sufficient to prevent any unpleasant consequence, by com- 

 bining with any bromine which may pass off in vapour. 



Ammonia is also useful when prussic acid is floating in the atmo- 

 sphere of a room, as in this case it not only neutralizes the acid, but its 

 stimulating properties are directly opposite to the depressing action of 

 the acid. 



As all bodies in burning give off ammonia, a consideration arises as to 

 whether some of the effects of smoking may not be attributed to that 

 agent independently of the active principles that substances used for 

 smoking are known to contain. The possibility of such a thing has been 

 suggested to me, but it is quite certain that only a small portion of the 

 effects of smoking can be attributed to the ammonia. The presence of 

 ammonia in a burning cigar may be shown by collecting its vapour in a 

 bottle containing a few drops of muriatic acid, when abundance of fumes 

 arise. If liquor potassae be added, the ammonia is again set free, and will 

 again exhibit the white fumes if brought near muriatic acid. 



There is an interesting physiological fact connected with the inhala- 

 tion of ammonia, for in determining the lungs to increase their aqueous 

 exhalation, it frequently at the same time causes a similar action on the 

 skin by the exhalation of moisture from its entire surface. For the last 

 two or three years I have occasionally been in the habit of inhaling 

 ammonia as a luxury during the prevalence of the easterly winds, which 

 by their action so dreadfully dry up and parch all living creatures. 



The application of ammoniacal vapour, in the manner which has been 

 already pointed out, is rather an agent of comfort, removing slight ail- 

 ments and troublesome affections, than a remedy which is capable of 

 saving life from violent diseases, except indeed when used as an antidote 

 to certain poisons. Still, however, there is no complaint, however trifling, 

 no system, however unimportant (if attended with discomfort and incon- 

 venience to mankind), that it is not the duty of the medical man to endea- 

 vour to relieve or remove. 



* The production of these white fumes by the admixture of these two gases 

 is interesting, and, so far as I know, has not been noticed by chemists, though 

 I have myself long been in the habit of applying ammonia to distinguish between 

 the fumes of bromine, iodine, and chlorine, the two latter elements having 

 apparently not the same influence when brought into conjunction with ammonia. 

 These white fumes are liable to be confounded with muriate of ammonia, if 

 muriatic acid is present. 



