124 MATER i A MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 

 GROUP IV. 



THE ACIDS. 



The officinal acids may be classified as follows : 



1, Inorganic Acids. Acidum Sulphuricum, A. 

 Nitricum, A. Hydrochloricum, A. Nitrohydrochloricum Di- 

 lutum, A. Phosphoricum Dilutum, A. Sulphurosum, A. Arse- 

 niosum. Of these, Acidum Arseniosum is described under 

 Arsenic, and Acidum Sulphurosum under its own heading. 



2, Organic Acids. Acidum Aceticum, A. Citricum, 

 A. Tartaricum, A. Hydrocyanicum Dilutum, A. Carbolicum, 

 A. Benzoicum, A. Gallicum, and A. Tannicum. Of the organic 

 acids, the first three only will be discussed here ; the action 

 and uses of the other substances being but little connected with 

 their properties as acids. 



ACIDUM SULPHURICUM, NITRICUM, HYDROCHLORICUM, 

 NITROHYDROCHLORICUM DILUTUM, PHOSPHORICUM 

 DILUTUM, ACETICUM, CITRICUM, AND TARTARICUM. 



These substances all possess distinctly acid pro- 

 perties, that is, they neutralise alkalies, and turn 

 blue litmus red. 



Acidum Sulphuricum. Sulphuric Acid. H 2 S0 4 

 98 per cent., 79 per cent. SO 3 , in water. 



Source. Obtained by the combustion of Sulphur, and oxy- 

 dation by nitrous fumes. 



Characters. A colourless, oily-looking, intensely acid 

 liquid. 



Impurities. Nitric acid, lead, and arsenic, organic matter ; 

 detected by colour. 



Preparations. 



1. Acidum Sulphuricum Dilutum. 1 to about 11 

 of Distilled Water. Dose, 5 to 30 min. 



From Acidnm Sulphuriewit Dilutum is prepared : 

 Infusum ROSJB Acidum. 1 of Diluted Acid in 80. 



2. Acidum Sulphuricum Aromaticum. 1 to about 

 13 of Spirit, with Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Dose, 5 to 30 

 min. 



3. Many Sulphates and other preparations. 



