POMEGRANATE — ?0 TASM. 14'V 



IS required, as we cannot be accurate in re- 

 spect to quantity when the decoction o^ Pop- 

 pies is employed. 



POTASH, Carbonate of, Prepared Kali, 

 or the Vegetable Alkali. The potash of 

 cainmerce is in a very impure state, and not 

 applicable to chemical or medical purposes. 

 When properly puritied, it is joined with 

 purgatives arid tonics with advantage. In 

 those cases which require the use of tonics^ 

 there is generally an acidity in the stomach, 

 which potash corrects ; and it renders pur- 

 gative medicines more easy of solution. 

 Given alone it generally acts as a diuretic. 

 When neutralized with acids, it has a laxa- 

 tive property, hut requires to be given in 

 larofe doses. With vitriolic acid it forms 

 vitriolated tartar, or sal polychrest (vitrio- 

 lated kali) ; with nitrous acid, that very use- 

 ful' medicine termed nitre, (nitrated kali J. y 

 which, contrary to what we have just observ- 

 ed, is a diuretic in a moderate dose (See 

 Nitre) ; and with vinegar, or acetous aci(U 

 it makes soluble tartar ( iartarized kali.) The 

 purified potash is named in the sliops pre^ 

 pared kali ; but formerly salt of tartar, or 

 wormwood. Wlien potash is deprived of 



