122 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 99 , 100. 
The official caustic preparations of ammonia are :— Ammonice liquor 
forlior {strong solution of ammonia), which should contain 32*5 per 
cent, of ammonia, and have a specific gravity of - 888 . 
Liquor ammonice ( solution of ammonia), specific gravity *959, and 
containing 10 per cent, of ammonia. There is also a liniment of 
ammonia, composed of olive oil, 3 parts, and ammonia, 1 part. 
Spiritus ammonice foetidus {foetid spirit of ammonia), a solution 
of asafoetida in rectified spirit and ammonia solution ; 100 parts by 
measure contain 2*72 grms. of ammonia. 
Strong solution of ammonia is an important ingredient in the “ lini- 
menium camphorce composite ” {compound liniment of camphor), the 
composition of which is as follows :—camphor, 12 -5 grms.; oil of lavender, 
0*5 grm. ; strong solution of ammonia, 25 c.c. ; and rectified spirit up 
to 100 c.c. Its content of strong solution of ammonia is then about 
25 per cent, (equivalent to about 8 per cent, of NH 3). 1 
The carbonate of ammonia is also caustic ; it is considered to be a 
compound of acid carbonate of ammonium, NH d HC0 3 , with carbonate 
of ammonium, NH d NH 2 C0 2 . It is in the form of colourless, crystalline 
masses ; the odour is powerfully ammoniacal; it is strongly alkaline, and 
the taste is acrid. It completely volatilises with heat, is soluble in 
water, and somewhat soluble in spirit. 
The official preparation is the “ spiritus ammonice aromaticus,” or 
aromatic spirit of ammonia. It is a solution in a weak spirit of neutral 
carbonate, flavoured with oil of lemon and nutmeg ; the specific gravity 
should be 0*888-0-893, and the alkalinity equal to 2-16 grms. of NH 3 in 
100 c.c. • • 
Smelling salts {sal volatile) are composed of carbonate of ammonia. 
§ 99. Statistics. —Falck has found throughout literature notices of 
thirty cases of poisoning by ammonia or some of its preparations. In 
two of these it was used as a poison for the purpose of murder, and in 
eight with suicidal intent ; the remainder were all accidental. The two 
criminal cases were those of children, who both died. Six out of eight 
of the suicidal and twelve of the twenty accidental cases also terminated 
fatally. 
Ammonia was the cause of 39 deaths (23 male, 16 female) by accident, 
and of 100 (44 male, 56 female) by suicide, and 1 by murder, making 
a total of 140, during the five years ending 1916 in England and Wales. 
§ 100. Poisoning by Ammonia Vapour. —Strong ammoniacal vapour 
is fatal to both animal and vegetable life. There are, however, but few 
instances of poisoning by ammonia vapour ; these few cases have been, 
1 There is a common liniment for horses used in stables, and popularly known 
as “ white oil. It contains 1 part of ammonia, and 4 parts of olive or rape oil; not 
infrequently turpentine is added. Another veterinary liniment, called “egg oil,” 
contains ammonia, oil of origanum, turpentine, and the yolks of eggs. 
