SPIRITS. 



'This fpirit is an agreeable cordial in difeafes attended with 

 nach languor and debility. The dofe ia from fsj to f3iv, 

 in anv fuitable vehicle. The officinal preparation is " in- 

 fefiim digitahs." See Cinnamon. 

 Spirit, Coal. See Coal. 



Spirit of Sulphuric Ether of the Lend. Ph. is obtained 

 by mixing naif a pint of fuiphuric ether (fee Ether) with 

 a pint of reftified fpirit. The " fuiphuric ether with al- 

 cohol," of the Edinb. Ph., is prepared by mixing one part 

 of fuiphuric ether with two parts of alcohol. The fpccific 

 gravity of this mixture is .Ri6. It may be ufed for the 

 fame purpofes as the ether, but it is much lefs aftive. The 

 dofe is from f^j to f^iij. An ufcful gargle for (light in- 

 flammation of the fauces is prepared by adding f ^j of this 

 fpirit to f Jvi of boiling water, fweetened with f j iv of fyrup 

 of marlh-mallows. The fuiphuric ether, of which this is 

 an officinal preparation, is Itimulant, narcotic, and anti- 

 fpafmodic. In its operation it refenibles alcohol, but is 

 more dilTufible, and its effefts are lefs permanent. It is 

 beneficially employed as a cordial in typhoid and low fevers, 

 particularly when naufea, fubfultus tcndinum, and other 

 fpafmodic fymptoms are prefent. As an antifpafmodic, it 

 relieves the paroxyfm of fpafmodic althma, whether it be 

 taken into the ftomach, or its vapour only be inhaled into 

 the lungs ; in which latter form it is alfo ufeful in fimple 

 dyfpncea and in catarrh. It is employed with advantage in 

 hyfteria, tetanus, cramp of the ftomach, hiccough, and in 

 cholera morbus to check, the vomiting ; and alfo allays the 

 violence of fea-ficknefs. The ufual dofe of fuiphuric ether 

 is from fjfs to fjij ; but it has been given in much larger 

 dofes with the moil beneficial effefts ; and in all cafes, the 

 dofe mult be repeated at ffiort intervals, to produce the full 

 effedl of the remedy. As an external application, ether afts 

 either as a llimulant or a refrigerant, according to the mode 

 in which it is applied. The firft takes place when it is pre- 

 vented from evaporating, by being confined over the fpot 

 to which it is applied ; in which cafe it often proves ufeful 

 in relieving head-ache, and other mufcular pains : and from 

 its refrigerant effctt produced by its rapid evaporation, it is 

 applied to burns, and to affill in the reduftion of ilrangu- 

 lated hernia. It has produced, fays Thomfon (Lond. 

 Difp.), almoft immediate relief in ear-ache, when dropped 

 into the external meatus. 



Spirit of Ether, Aromatic, of the Lond. Ph., is obtained 

 by macerating tlirec drachms of cinnamon bark bruiled, a 

 draclim and a half of cardamom feeds powdered, long pep- 

 per powdered and ginger-root diced, of each a drachm, in 

 a pint of fpirit of fuiphuric ether, for 14 days, in a (lopped 

 glafs-bottle, and draining. The " aromatic fuiphuric ether 

 with alcohol," of the Edinb. Ph., is made with the fame 

 aromatics, and in the fame manner as the com])ound tinfture 

 of cinnamon, except that fuiphuric ether with alcohol is 

 employed inllcad of proof-fpirit. The medicinal properties 

 of thefc preparations are the fame with thofe of the former ; 

 the aromatics rendering them in a (light degree more 

 grateful. 



Spirit, Ethereal, of Frobenlus, Spirllus Etheriuj Frobeiili, 

 a name given by Frobenius, and otiiers, to a liquor famous 

 for its extreme volatility, and many other qualities ; for 

 which fee Sulphuric Ether. 



The life of this liquor in medicine is now well known : as 

 a very thin and volatile inflammable matter, it aols power- 

 fully on tlie nervous fyltem. Frederic Iloilman was one of 

 the firll who i-mployed it as a fedative and antifpafmodic. 

 See LuiLOR Jlliruralls ylnutlynus, and Spirit of Ether, 

 infra. 



it is now often prefcribed fingly, in the dofe of (even or 

 2 



eight drops upon a bit of fugar, which is to be eat, or to 

 be diifolved in fome proper liquor, and drank. It is given 

 in flatulent cohcs, obllinate hiccoughs, convulfive hyllerical 

 affeftions, and other diiorders of this kind. This ether is 

 faid to take fpots of greafe from filk, without affeAing their 

 colours. 



We have feveral curious obfcrvations on this ether of Fro- 

 benius by Mr. Grode, who lias defcribed three different 

 methods of making; it in the Memoirs of the Academy of 

 Sciences, for the year 1734. 



Spirit of Ether, Compound, of the Lond. Ph., is pre- 

 pared by mixing a pint ot fpirit of fuiphuric ether with two 

 fluid-drachmsof ethereal oil. (See .y</i^/'«r:V Ether.) This 

 is intended as a fubilitute for the anodyne liquor of HolT- 

 man (fee the preceding article) ; for, befides being liimulant 

 and antifpafmodic, it is fuppofcd to poileis anodyne pro- 

 perties. It is an ufeful addition to tinfture of opium, when 

 given for the purpofe of procuring lleep ; and it often pre- 

 vents the opium from exciting the naufea which it is apt to 

 produce in fome habits. The dofe is from f3fs to fjij, in 

 any appropriate vehicle. 



Spirit of Juniper, Compound, of the Lond., Dub., and 

 Edinb. Ph., is prepared by macerating one pound of juniper- 

 berries bruifed, carraway feeds and fennel feeds bruifcd, of 

 each an ounce and a half, in a gallon (nine pounds, Edinb.) 

 of proof-fpirit, for 24 hours (two days, Edinb. and Dub.) ; 

 and then diitilling a gallon (nine pounds, Edinb.) by a 

 gentle heat. This fpirit is a grateful and ufeful addition to 

 infufions of fox-glove, and other diuretics, in dropfy. Sec 



JUNIPERUS. 



Spirit of Lavender. See Lavandula. 

 Spirit of Llbanus, Smoking. See LiQUOR. 

 Spirit of Malt. See MALr-Dlflltlery. 

 SiPRiT of Mlndercrus. See AcETlTE of Ammonia, Ll- 

 QLOR, and ViNEO.\R. 



Spirit, Moloffes. See Molos-sbs-S/i/V/V. 



Spirit of Nitre. See Nitric Add, and Nltrat Po- 



T.'VSS.'E. 



Spirit of Nitric Ether of tlie Lond. Ph. is obtained by 

 taking two pints of redified fpirit, and three ounces (by 

 weight) of nitric acid. Add the acid gradually to the 

 fpirit, and mix them, taking care that the temperature, 

 during the mixture, does not exceed 120^; then dillil, by 

 a gentle heat, 26 fluid-ounces. Spirit of nitrous ether of the 

 Edinb. Ph. is prepared by pouring three pounds of alcohol 

 into a large phial placed in a vcllel full of cold water, and 

 adding one pound of nitrous acid gradually, with frequent 

 agitation. Slightly cork the phial, and place it in a cool 

 place for fcven days; then diltil the liquor, by the heat of 

 boiling water, into a receiver kept coo' with fnow or water, 

 as long as any fpirit comes over. The iillruus ethereal fpirit 

 of the Dub. Pli. is prepared in the following manner : Add 

 to the matter which remains after tiie dillillation of nitrous 

 ether, the reftified fpirit of wine, employed in that opera- 

 tion for condenfing the clallic vapour, and dillil to drynefs, 

 willi the greater heat of a water-batii. Mix the dillilled 

 liquor with the alkaline liquor which remains after the fepa- 

 ration of the nitrous ether, and alfo add as much dry fub- 

 carbonate of kali as Ihall be fuffieient to fiturate the pre- 

 dominant acid ; which is to be determined by the tell of 

 litmus. LalUy, dillil by the medium heat of a water-bath, 

 as long as any fluid comes over. The fpecilic gravity of 

 this liciiior is to that of dillilled water, as 850 to lOOO. 

 The fpirit of nitric ether, as procured by the London or 

 E.linbiirgh procefs, has an extremely fragrant od.>ur, and 

 a pungent acidulous tallc. It is very volatile and inflam- 

 mable, folublc in water and alcohol, and llrikt.^ a deep 



olive 



