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.)
32/504
![Chemical Properties.—A solution of potassain water. Exposed to the air it absorbs carbonic acid rapidly, and is converted into a solu- tion of the carbonate of potash. By heat the water is driven off, but no further change takes place. It re-acts on vegetable colours power- fully alkaline. Solution of potash converts most oils and fats into soap. It does not effervesce with acids, but combines with them, forming salts. Adulterations.—Solution of potash as kept in the shops is frequent- ly too weak, this is known by its not being of the density prescribed by the colleges. If it contain any carbonate, it will effervesce on the addition of a dilute acid, and give a white precipitate with lime water. A white precipitate caused by carbonate of soda, in the solution neutralized with dilute nitric acid, indicates the presence of lime. Therapeutical Effects.—In dyspepsia attended with acid eructa- tions, cardialgia, and gastrodynia, solution of potash is employed with much benefit. It not only neutralizes the free acid, but also counter- acts the morbid tendency of the stomach to acid secretion. Its beneficial action is especially manifested in various forms of chronic cutaneous disease so often dependant on acidity of the digestive or- gans; in which cases it should be preferred to the other remedies of this class. In the acidity of the stomach of the gouty and rheumatic, and in deposits of lithic acid, or the lithates in the urine, solution of potash is also administered with much advantage. And in scrofulous affections of the testis and in many forms of external tubercular dis- ease, the internal use of this remedy is in general productive of the best effects. Dose and Mode of Administration.—Min. x. gradually increased to min. xl. ; it shduld be largely diluted. Fresh table beer, or veal broth partly conceal its nauseous taste, and consequently are frequent- ly employed as vehicles for its administration. The combination with some aromatic bitter as gentian, cascarilla, or calumba, is gen- erally found highly beneficial.—Brandishes alkaline solution ; (Best American pearlashes, ftij. ; quicklime, recently burned ; and wood ashes (from the ash) of each, Ibij. ; boiling water, cong. vj ; add first the lime, then the pearlashes, and afterwards the wood ashes to the boiling water; mix, and in 24 hours draw off the clear liquor; to every pint of which, add of oil of juniper, min. ij.) This solution has a less disagreeable taste than the officinal aqua potassa, and is there- fore more generally employed ; it is, however, very liable to vary in strength. Dose f3ss. to f3ij. Incompatibles.—Acids ; acidulous and metallic salts ; and the preparations of ammonia. In cases of poisoning with solution of potash, the best antidotes are vinegar, lemon juice, and the fixed oils. PoTASsa: bicarbonas, [U. S.] D. L. E. Bicarbonate of Potash. Preparation.—[U. S.—Take of corbonate of potassa ftnv; distilled water, Ox. Dissolve the carbonate of potassa in the water, and pass carbo- nic acid through the solution till it is fully saturated. Then filter, and evaporate the filtered liquor, that crystals may form, taking care that the heat does not exceed 160°. Pour off the supernatant liquid, arid dry the crystals upon bibulous paper.]—DwA.— Carbonate of potash from potash- es of commerce, one part ; distilled water, two parts; dissolve ; expose tha](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21143602_0032.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
