Copy 1, Volume 2

A treatise on veterinary medicine / By James White.

  • White, James, -1825.
Date:
1815-1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on veterinary medicine / By James White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/286 (page 5)
    NITROUS ACID. D This, like the preceding, is used only as an external application in veterinary practice ; though it might probably be employed in¬ ternally with good effect, were it not for the same inconvenience that attends the exhibi¬ tion of the vitriolic acid. Nitrous acid, in its concentrated or strong¬ est state, is a powerful caustic ; and when mixed with water, or unctuous substances, it forms many efficacious lotions and oint¬ ments for various external complaints. Al¬ most every metal may be dissolved in this acid, with many of which it forms very use¬ ful caustics and escharotics; with silver it makes lunar caustic (nitrated silver); and with quicksilver, red precipitate (red ni- trated quicksilver).—See Caustics, Escharo¬ tics, and Detergents. That useful medicine termed nitre is composed of this acid and the vegetable alkali or potash (kali). The metallic com¬ binations oi nitrous acid may be employed either m a liquid or solid state; they may also be diluted with water, or mixed with unctuous substances, to form detergent oint¬ ments of any degree of strength that may be required.