254 
ON  SWEET  SPIRIT  OE  NITRE. 
We  think  not.  We  have  already  said  that  the  product  of  the 
formulae  of  all  the  colleges  contain  with  AeO  -fN03,  and  rectified 
spirit,  aldehyde,  or  the  hydrated  oxide  of  acetyle,  (C4H30-rHO.) 
It  is  known  to  be  contained  in  the  spirit  of  nitre  of  the  Pharma- 
copoeia. Are  we  then  at  liberty  to  remove  that  which,  though 
undoubtedly  an  impurity  in  AeO+N03,  is  yet  an  integral  part 
of  sweet  spirit  of  nitre  ?  There  is  some  reason  to  believe  that 
the  presence  of  the  aldehyde  is  the  cause  of  the  decomposition 
of  Sp.  Eth.  Nit.,  but  it  may  be,  for  aught  we  know,  upon  the  pre- 
sence of  the  aldehyde  that  some  of  the  medicinal  value  of  that 
preparation  depends,  and  thus  the  question  remains  ;  will  its 
removal,  while  it  improves  the  keeping  qualities,  not  destroy  its 
medicinal  value  ? 
With  regard  to  the  use  of  absolute  alcohol  as  the  solvent  of 
the  ether,  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  other  good  objection 
than  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  procuring  it ;  and  that  is, 
though  not  insurmountable,  yet  a  very  serious  objection. 
But  are  these  changes  indeed  absolutely  necessary  ?  A  much 
weaker  preparation  has  been  in  almost  universal  use  for  many 
years  past,  and  not  many  complaints  have  been  heard  against 
it.  The  Edinburgh  process  is  perfect  in  its  details  with,  we 
think,  one  exception,  namely,  the  use  of  milk  of  lime  to  neu- 
tralize the  impure  AeO-J-N03,  sol.  of  ammonia,  ordered  by  the 
Dublin  formulae,  as  already  mentioned,  having  '  been  found  to 
answer  better.  But  the  proportion  of  AeO+N03  is  too  great  to 
give  a  fluid  that  will  keep.  In  fine,  we  believe  that,  where  the 
standard  of  ail  the  colleges  made  10  per  cent.,  all  the  difficulties 
would  be  overcome.  Such  a  preparation  would  keep  a  reasonable 
time,  and  be  produced  at  a  moderate  price.  It  would  give  a 
spirit  which  would  answer  every  purpose,  and  leave  without  an 
excuse  any  attempt  at  the  production  of  a  weaker,  which  will  not 
be  the  case  so  long  as  conditions  are  laid  upon  the  manufacturer 
which  he  finds  it  impossible  to  fulfil.  The  present  formula  tells 
him  to  make  and  mix  20  per  cent,  of  hyponitrous  ether  with  80 
per  cent,  of  rectified  spirit  ;  it  is  so  clear  and  excellent  in  its 
directions  that  neither  doubt  nor  difficulty  meets  the  operator — 
he  can  most  easily  comply  with  the  demands  of  the  formula. 
But  he  has  those  who  supply  the  public  to  meet  with,  and  they 
demand  from  him,  and  not  unreasonably,  that  he  shall  supply 
