ON  SPIRITUS  AMMONIA  ABOMATICUS.  467 
We  find  that  the  proportions  of  absolute  alcohol  run  as  fol- 
lows : — L.  Ph.,  about  gxxxiijss.  ;  D.  Ph.,  about  ^xxxxjv.,  and 
the  E.  Ph.  a  little  above  the  latter.  The  ammonia  is  in  the 
form  of  sesquicarbonate  in  one,  and  in  the  caustic  form,  varying 
eccentrically,  in  the  other  two,  whilst  the  aromatics  in  the  E.  Ph. 
are  about  equivalent  to  quadruple  those  of  the  London  Ph. 
In  looking  over  the  processes,  we  find  that  in  the  D.  Ph.  dis- 
tillation is  not  used,  and  although  the  product  is  not  equal  to 
the  other  in  appearance,  I  think  it  has  one  advantage  which 
ought  not  to  be  overlooked — that  is,  the  facility  it  offers  to  the 
Pharmacopolist  to  make  the  article  for  his  own  use,  a  consider- 
ation to  be  held  in  view  in  all  the  processes  introduced  into  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  so  that  the  apothecary  may  become  more  in- 
dependent of  the  manufacturer.  There  are  hundreds  of  Phar- 
macopolists  who  make  their  own  articles  as  far  as  the  appliances 
go,  but  are  prevented  by  circumstances  from  using  distillatory 
or  other  apparatus.  The  product  of  the  present  Dublin  formula 
is  open  to  serious  objections.  When  first  made,  it  is  decidedly 
colored  from  the  use  of  a  certain  oil,  which  becomes  darkened 
by  the  action  of  alkaline  substances  ;  nor  is  this  coloration  les- 
sened by  the  action  of  the  sun's  rays,  added  to  which  it  lacks 
the  sweet  saline  piquancy  gained  by  the  introduction  of  sesqui- 
carbonate of  ammonia.  In  preparing  a  formula,  such  an  oil  as 
cinnamon  or  clove  is  inadmissible,  from  its  property  of  becoming 
tinged  when  in  contact  with  ammonia  ;  but  by  avoiding  such 
oils,  we  may  get  a  solution  which  is  not  only  perfectly  color- 
less, but  will  remain  so  for  an  indefinite  period.  The  following, 
or  a  similar  formula,  will  give  the  desired  results  : — 
Rectified  spirits,  Oj.  ifxiv. 
Sesquicarbonate  of  ammonia,  powdered,  gss. 
Solution  of  ammonia,  sp.  g.  -880,  3ij. 
Oil  of  lemon,  jiij. 
Oil  of  nutmeg,  ^j. 
Oil  of  lavender,  n^xx. 
Water  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make  Oij. 
Specific  gravity,  -870 
Oil  of  rosemary  may  be  substituted  for  the  lavender,  but  I 
think  the  flavor  of  the  latter    would  be  preferred. — London 
Pharm,  Journ.  July,  1859. 
