Volume 2

Pharmacologia; comprehending the art of prescribing upon fixed and scientific principles; together with the history of medicinal substances / By J.A. Paris.

  • Paris, John Ayrton, 1785-1856.
Date:
1823-1824 [vol. I, 1824]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmacologia; comprehending the art of prescribing upon fixed and scientific principles; together with the history of medicinal substances / By J.A. Paris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    32/396 (page 22)
    tains 74*895 per cent, of dry acid ; (whose ultimate elements are one portion of nitrogen, and five of oxygen,) the compli¬ ment 25*105 parts is wat6r. It is decomposed with violent f action by all combustibles, and when mixed with volatile oils, it causes their infiammation. It boils at 210, and when its specific gravity is below 1*4, it is strengthened, when stronger than 1*45 it is weakened by ebullition. Uses. It is empioy- '/ ed only as a pharmaceutical agent. Adulerations. Sulphu¬ ric acid may be detected by a precipitate being produced on the addition of nitrate of barytes ; in the application however of this test, Mr. Hume has shown that unless this as well as the nitric acid be diluted, a precipitate will occur, although sulphuric acid should not be present; a circumstance which depends upon the barytic salt yielding its water of solution to the acid under ex.amination, and becoming insoluble. Muriatic acid is discovered by nitrate of silver, affording a precipitate at first white, but becoming coloured by exposure to light; the nitric acid ought to be perfectly colourless, but to preserve Hit in such a state, it must be closely stopped, and kept in a dark place, or it will soon be converted into the nitrous kind. ACIDUM NITRICUM DILUTUM. L. Acidum Nitrosum Dilutum. E.D. Dilute Mitric Acid. It is much to be regretted that the proportion of water directed for the dilution of this acid, varies considerably in the different pharmacopoeias; that prepared according to the Edinburgh, Dublin, and former L >ndon formulae, being in strength to that of the present Pharmacopoeia of London, as 4 to 1. Dose TTix to xl. This acid is a very powerful anti¬ phlogistic remedy : it has been much extolled in diseases of the liver, and in syphilis. Mr. Pearson, however, observes, that we 'I ought not to rely upon it in any form of lues venerea, although it may be often serviceable in restraining the progress of the disease when an impaired constitution or other circumstances render the exhibition of mercury improper ; when sufficiently dilute, it forms an excellent lotion for old indolent ulcers. It proves also expectorant, see Form, 139, 140 ; and it is occa¬ sionally used with success for the purpose of counteracting the