ALKALIES. 1 1 



as to communicate with the roof of the build- 

 inc^, as a current of air is thereby produced 

 in the stall, from the ready ascent of the 

 liffht air, over the horse's head. The litter 

 should not be suffered to remain in the stall 

 during the day, but be removed to some 

 open place and well shaken, that the am- 

 moniacal vapours it affords may be tho- 

 roughly dissipated. Should it be necessary 

 for a horse to lie down in the day time, he 

 should be allowed fresh straw. 



ALKALIES. Alkalies form one of the 

 classes of saline bodies, and are of three 

 kinds : 1st, The vegetable alkali, kali or pot-^ 

 ash. 2d, The mineral alkali, soda or na* 

 iron ; and the volatile alkali or ammonia. 

 Each of these will be described under the 

 following heads : kali, natron, and am- 

 monia; which names are employed by the 

 London college of physicians. Alkalies are 

 distinguished by their changing blue vege- 

 table colours to a green, and yellow to 

 orange ; by combining rapidly with acids, 

 and forming with them neutral salts, (see 

 acids ;) and b}^ rendering oils miscible with 

 water, (see emulsions and soap.) The vege- 

 table and mineral alkalies , from not beiug 



B 6 



