A manual of pharmacy / By William Thomas Brande.

  • Brande, William Thomas, 1788-1866.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of pharmacy / By William Thomas Brande. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    42/564 (page 28)
    of bicyanuret of mercury, lib. of muriatic acid (sp. gr. 1-15), and Gibs, of water, in a tubulated retort, and distilling off Gibs, by a gentle heat. (A trace of muriatic acid sometimes passes over.) It has a specific gravity of 995, and contains 3-2 per cent, of real acid: upon this subject. Dr. Ure's observations in the Quarterly Journal^ may be consulted Avith advantage. From 1 to iO or 12 minims of such diluted acid may be regarded as the limits of its dose ; but it is right to commence its use with caution, and gradually to increase the quantity given until an effect is observed. The action of this acid, as well as of the volatile oil of almonds, depends much upon its state of concentration : of the latter, from 1 to 8 drops or minims in an ounce or an ounce and a half of any proper vehicle may generally be safely given. If sense of faintness, attended by nausea, chills, giddi- ness, or dimness of sight, should ensue, the dose must be dimi- nished. Among others, the following formulae for the exhibi- tion of oil of bitter almonds may be used— R Olei Essent. Ain3'gd Amar. Ttxviij. Mucilaginis Arabic! 5'j> Misturse Camphorae fgvj. M. fiat mistura, de qua sumantur cochlear, duo aropla bis vel ter die. The hydrocyanic acid, or the essential oil of almonds, may be added to the mixture prescribed at page 4, in cases of cough and catarrhal irritation of the larynx. Cyanuret of potassium, obtained by decomposing ferro- cyanate of potassa at a red heat, dissolving, filtering, and eva- porating the solution, has been proposed as a substitute for hydrocyanic acid. One part dissolved in 8 of water forms a solution which may be given in the same doses as the acid. Ammonia has been proposed as the best stimulant to coun- teract the effects of an over-dose of hydrocyanic acid : aqueous solution of chlorine would probably be more effectual, at least as a decomposing agent. In cases of poisoning by hydrocyanic acid, its presence in the contents of the stomach may be ascertained for some days after death by its odour; when this goes off, the acid has pro- bably evaporated or decomposed, and will be in vain sought for by chemical tests. When mixed with other substances in the stomach, the contents of that organ, or the stomach itself, cut into small pieces, should be introduced into a retort, with water slightly acidulated by sulphuric acid, and distilled from a sand heat into a cooled receiver : the liquid which passes 1 Vol. xiii. p. 313.