Further observations on the internal use of the hydro-cyanic (prussic) acid : in pulmonary complaints; chronic catarrhs; spasmodic coughs; asthma; hooping-cough; and some other diseases. With full directions for the preparation and administration of that medicine / by A.B. Granville.

  • Granville, A. B. (Augustus Bozzi), 1783-1872.
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Further observations on the internal use of the hydro-cyanic (prussic) acid : in pulmonary complaints; chronic catarrhs; spasmodic coughs; asthma; hooping-cough; and some other diseases. With full directions for the preparation and administration of that medicine / by A.B. Granville. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    water, and the liquor filtered; a solution of green sulphate of iron is next added, when a bluish-green deposit is formed, which by the further addition of muriatic acid, is instantly changed from a bluish-green to a deep blue. This is the Prussian blue, or in other words, “ a combination of iron with a particular sub¬ stance contained in the blood,” and separated from it, in the first instance, by the potash. It is this substance, thus furnished by the blood, which has been called Prussic Acid by Mor- veau, but the real nature of which was not properly ascertained, until in 1815, M. Gay Lussac of the Royal Institute of France, pub¬ lished a most admirable memoir on the subject^ which, to use Sir H. Davy’s expressions, is re¬ plete with the most elaborate and ingenious researches.* The Swedish chemist, Scheele, was the first who succeeded in separating the particular acid in question from the Prussian blue, so as to enable him to study its nature and proper¬ ties. Several other chemists followed him ; but his process of obtaining the Prussic Acid * Recherches sur l’Acide Prussjque, presentees a l’Institut, le 18 Septembre, 1815, par M. Gay Lussac. Ex- trait des Annolcs de Chbriie, Abut, 1815.