204 INORGANIC AGENTS 



casks) with chalk to form calcium tartrate. 2 K H dHiOs+Ca C O3 = Ca 

 CiHiOo+KjC.HiOe+HjO+COa. Add calcium chloride, which precipitates more 

 calcium tartrate, and decompose with sulphuric acid. HjSOi+Ca CJiiOa = 

 C.HeO„ + Ca COi. 



Evaporate solution. Calcium sulphate crystals separate and are removed, 

 while tartaric acid crystallizes on further evaporation. 



Properties. — Colorless, translucent, monoclinic prisms, or as a white, granular 

 or fine powder; odorless, having an acid taste, and permanent in the air. Soluble 

 in 0.75 parts of water, and in 3.3 parts of alcohol. Not commonly used in 

 veterinary medicine. 



Dose.— a., 3ii-iv, (8-16); D., gr.x-xxx, (.6-2). 



AcmuM CiTRicuM. Citric Acid. ' CaHjO,- (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Acidum citri S. limonum, S. limonorum, acide citrique, acide du 

 citron, Fr. ; citronensaure, G. 



Derivation. — Usually prepared from the lemon (Citrus lemonum), or lime 

 (Citrus bergamia). Boiling lemon juice (containing 7 per cent, of citric acid) is 

 treated with chalk to form calcium citrate. 2 HaCsHjOi-j-S Ca CO3 =;Ca3 

 (C,H50,).-|-3 CO2-I-3 H,0. 



Calcium citrate is boiled with sulphuric acid and the resulting citric acid is 

 obtained by filtration, evaporation and crystallization. Caj (CsHjOj^j-l-S H2SO4 ^ 

 2 CaHsC-f 8 Ca SO,. 



Properties. — Colorless, translucent, right-rhombic prisms, or as a white pow- 

 der; odorless, having an acid taste; efflorescent in warm air. Soluble in 0.5 part 

 of water and in 1.8 parts of alcohol. 



Dose.— H., oii-iv, (8-15); D., gr.x-xx, (.6-1.3). 



PHEPAEATIOK. 



Syrupus Acidi Citrici. Syrup of Citric Acid. (U. S. P.) 



Citric acid, 10; water, 10; spirit of lemon, 10; syrup to make 1000., 



Dose. — Ad lib. 



AcmuM Lacticum. Lactic Acid. CaHeOj. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Acide lactique, Fr. ; milchsaure, G. 



An organic acid, usually obtained by subjecting milk-sugar or grape-sugar 

 to lactic fermentation. A liquid containing lactic acid and lactic anhydrides, 

 equivalent to a total of not less than 85 per cent, nor more than 90 per cent, of 

 CsHoOa. 



Properties. — A colorless, or slightly yeUow, syrupy liquid, nearly odorless, 

 having an acid taste, and absorbing moisture on exposure to the air. Spec. gr. 

 about 1.206. Freely miscible with water, alcohol, or ether. 



Dose.—Yi., 3ii-iv, (8-15); D., ni,xxx-3i, (2-4). 



Other acids to be found in other sections. 



Action External. — The concentrated mineral acids are powerful 

 escharoticSj but in dilution are stimulant^ astringent, rubefacient, or vesi- 

 cant, according to their strength. Acids have a great affinity for the 

 alkaline juices of the tissues and blood, and weak acid solutions are thus 

 neutralized. Strong acids coagulate albumin, probably by combining with 

 alkalies, which hold albumin in solution, and precipitating especially the 

 globulins of the tissues. When mineral acids are present in abundance 

 the albumin first coagulated is afterwards dissolved (except nitric acid), 

 and the corrosive action of the acids is extensive. Acids further destroy 

 tissue by combining with water, for which they have also a great affinity, 

 particularly sulphuric and phosphoric acids. The former withdraws 

 water to such an extent that the tissues are carbonized and blackened. 

 Sulphuric acid is more destructive of tissue and acts more extensively 

 than the other mineral salts. Nitric acid is less caustic, and hydrochloric 

 acid is the least corrosive. Nitric acid stains the parts yellow, and hydro- 



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