I  20 
Liquor  Ammonii  Acetatis. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Mar.,  1879. 
Upon  examination,  the  acid  was  found  to  be  of  the  proper  strength 
and  to  contain  copper  and  sulphurous  acid. 
This  circumstance  called  to  mind  that  the  solution  has  another 
important  property,  which  is  due  to  its  concentrated  form,  as  in  that 
state  the  impurities  common  to  acetic  acid  are  more  readily  detected 
and  often  noticeable  to  the  eye,  as  in  this  instance  ;  for  the  blueish  tint 
could  not  be  noticed  upon  diluting  the  solution  with  five  parts  of  water. 
The  commercial  acetic  acid  is,  as  a  rule,  unfit  for  making  liquor 
ammonii  acet.,  as  it  invariably  contains  copper  or  other  impurities. 
The  first  I  used  was  that  made  by  Dr.  Squibb,  which  was  perfectly 
free  from  empyreuma  and  insensible  to  all  tests  for  copper,  lead,  etc., 
and  produced  a  perfectly  colorless  solution  This  pure  acid  cost 
thirty-five  cents  (20  for  the  acid,  15  for  gr.  bottle)  while  the  impure 
cost  twenty  cents,  yet  this  small  advance  seems  to  be  quite  an  obsta- 
cle towards  the  employment  of  a  superior  article. 
In  preparing  this  solution,  W.  H.  Woodcock  (see  Dr.  Cir.,  page 
182,  1878)  employs  the  British  formula  for  liquor  ammonii  acetatis, 
diluting,  however,  the  concentrated  solution,  formed  only  as  it  is 
required  for  use  ;  he  also  uses  U.  S.  P.  acetic  acid,  which  is  3  per  cent, 
stronger  than  that  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  and,  in  diluting,  he 
uses  one  measure  of  concentrated  solution  and  five  of  distilled  water, 
forming  a  liquor  ammonii  acetatis  somewhat  stronger  than  our  pharmaco- 
poeia. Of  course,  the  solution  is  not  of  a  powerful  nature,  yet  we 
should  have  uniformity  of  strength  in  medicine,  if  possible,  and  espe- 
cially should  not  let  the  opportunity  go  by  in  this  instance,  when  uniform- 
ity can  be  so  readily  accomplished  and,  therefore,  I  would  suggest  the 
following  modification: 
Take  of  acetic  acid  ten  fiuidounces,  ammonium  carbonate,  three 
troyounces  or  a  sufficiency.  Pour  the  acid  in  a  capsule,  add  the 
carbonate,  set  aside  until  effervesence  has  ceased  (this  will  measure 
eleven  fluid-ounces),  evaporate  by  the  aid  of  a  gentle  heat  to  ten  fluid- 
ounces  and  add  ammonium  carbonate  until  the  solution  is  neutral. 
Wood  and  Bache  recommend  to  •  make  it  slightly  alkaline,  as  the 
acetate  of  the  alkalies  are  alkaline  to  test  paper  when  they  are  neutral 
in  composition,  so  it  is  very  difficult  to  ascertain  the  exact  point  of 
saturation..  I  have  here  the  solution  made  from  the  impure  acid  con- 
taining such  an  excess  of  ammonium  carbonate  as  to  cause  a  brisk 
effervescence  upon  the  addition  of  more  acid,  yet  it  turns  red  litmus 
