314  NITRO-GLYCERINE. 
Take  no  purgative  medicines,  except  by  direction  of  a  physi- 
cian. 
Choie  ra  is  almost  invariably  preceded  by  a  painless  diarrhoea, 
and  this  is  in  all  cases  to  be  promptly  treated. 
When  diarrhoea  is  present,  go  to  bed  and  maintain  a  position  on 
the  back,  use  abundance  of  blankets,  and  send  for  a  physician. 
A  physician  can  always  be  obtained  by  applying  at  the  nearest 
police  station. 
Stay  in  bed  until  you  are  well.  Do  not  consider  yourself  well 
until  you  have  had  a  natural  movement  from  the  bowels.  Ab- 
stain from  all  drinks.    Apply  mustard  plasters  to  the  bowels. 
In  the  absence  of  a  physician  the  adult  can  take  ten  drops  of 
laudanum  and  ten  drops  of  spirits  of  camphor.  A  child  of  ten 
years  may  take  five  drops  of  laudanum  and  five  of  camphor.  A 
child  of  five  years  may  take  three  drops  of  laudanum  and  three  * 
of  spirits  of  camphor  ;  and  these  drops  may  be  repeated  every 
twenty  minutes  so  long  as  diarrhoea  or  pain  or  vomiting  con- 
tinues. This  will  save  time,  but  in  all  cases  send  for  a  physician. 
Do  not  get  up  to  pass  the  evacuations,  but  use  the  bed-pan  or 
other  conveniences. 
Never  chill  the  surface  of  the  body  by  getting  out  of  bed. 
Remove  immediately  all  the  evacuations  from  your  rooms ; 
scald  all  the  utensils  used,  or  disinfect  them  with  chloride  of 
lime  ;  scald  also  your  soiled  clothing. 
NITRO-GLYCERINE. 
By  Enno  Sander,  Ph.  D.,  St.  Louis. 
The  nitro-glycerine,  which  has  lately  attracted  the  public  at- 
tention by  such  terrific  explosions,  is  formed  when  glycerine  is 
gradually  added  at  low  temperature  to  a  cooled  mixture  of  nitric 
and  sulphuric  acids.  It  is  supposed  that  the  nitric  acid  3N05 
splits  into  3N04  and  03,  which  latter  combine  with  3H  from  the 
glycerine  —  C6  H8  06  to  3HO,  while  the  3N04  take  the  place 
of  3H  in  the  glycerine  and  produce  the  compound  nitro-glyce- 
rine =  C6  H-5  3(N  04)06.  The  pure  nitro-glycerine  is  a  heavy, 
oily  liquid  of  nearly  1*60  specific  gravity  ;  clear,  slightly  straw 
colored  ;  explodes  by  concussion,  not  by  being  ignited  ;  ceases 
