Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan.
- John Neligan
- Date:
- 1849
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
112/504
![POTASS^ BITARTRAS, [U. S.] D. L. E. TaRTARI CRYSTALLI, D. Bitartrate of Potash; Crystals of Tartar; Crude Tartar; Cream of Tartar. Preparation.—Bitartrate of potash is an article of the Materia Medica; it is obtained by dissolving and recrystallizing argol, an obscurely crystal- line substance, which concretes on the inside of casks in which new wine has been kept; this constitutes the crystalli tartari of the Dub. Phar. A purer salt is procured by redissolving these crystals, evaporating the solution slowly, and removing the crust as it forms on the surface, whence the name cream of tartar. Physical Properties.—This salt is met with in the form either of a fine white powder, or a semi-transparent crystalline mass, the crystals being oblique rhombic prisms ; it is without odour, but has an agreeable acid taste. Sp. gr. 1-953. Chemical Properties.—It is composed of 1 eq. of potassa, 2 of tartaric acid, combined in the crystalline state with 1 of water, (HO, KO, H4C8OiO) ; jt is unalterable in the air,is soluble in 184parts of water at 68°, and in 18 parts of boiling water, the solution having a strongly acid reaction. By heat the salt is decomposed, and converted into a compound of charcoal and carbonate of potash, {Black Flux). Adulterations.—This salt in the state of powder is very much adul- terated ; the substances commonly employed for this purpose are, finely powdered marble, alum, bisulphate of potash, and wheaten flour or starch. The tests of the Ed. Ph. will detect any of these impurities ; Entirely soluble in 40 parts of boiling water. Grs. xl. in solution are neutralized with gr. xxx. of crystallized carbonate of soda ; and when then precipitated with gr. lxx. of nitrate of lead, the liquid remains pre- cipitable by more of the test. Therapeutical Effects.—In full doses, cream of tartar operates as an active cathartic, producing many watery evacuations without much irritation. It is seldom prescribed singly, but, in general, with some of the milder vegetable cathartics. Thus, combined with sulphur in the form of electuary, it is an exceedingly useful purgative in he- morrhoidal affections and in skin diseases ; and with jalap, it forms an excellent cathartic in dropsies. Dose and Mode of Administration.—5iij. to 3vj. made into an electuary with honey or treacle. Its solubility in water may be much increased, without impairing its medicinal activity, by adding to it a fourth of its weight of boracic acid.—Effervescing aperient with cream of tartar; (Cream of tartar, 3iij.; carbonate of soda, in crystals, 3iiss. ; water, f§viij). For one dose. Incompatibles.—The mineral acids ; the alkalies ; lime water; the carbonates of potash and of soda; acetate of lead ; and magnesia, and its sulphate. PoTAssiE sulphas, [U. S.] D. L. E. Sulphate of Potash. Preparation.—Dub.— Dissolve the salt which remains after the distil- lation of nitric acid in a sufficiency of water ; add of carbonate of potash from potashes, suflicientto saturate the superabundant acid ; evaporate the filtered liquor that crystals may be formed. Lond.—Take of the salt which remains after the distillation of nitric acid, Ibij. ; boiling water, cong. ij.; ignite the salt in a crucible until the excess of sulphuric acid is](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21143602_0112.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
