A Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts, &c. Volume II (part 4)

Prop., &c. A white, inodorous, light mass, or powder; insoluble in alcohol, partially soluble in boiling water, and wholly dissolved by sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids, without effervescence. It is totally dissipated by heat. When heated with solution of potash, it exhales ammonia, and assumes a yellow colour. Used to make an ointment, which is employed in herpes, porrigo, itch, and other skin diseases, &c.; and by the lower orders as a dusting powder to destroy pediculi, an application which, from its liberal employment, is not always a safe one. It is highly poisonous, and must not be swallowed.

Mercuric and Ammonium Chloride. NH4Cl,HgCl2. Syn. Chloride of mercury and ammonium, Sal alembroth; Hydrargyri et ammonii chloridium, L. Prep. (P. Cod.) From mercuric chloride and ammonium chloride, equal parts, triturated together. “The object in adding the ammonium chloride here is to render the corrosive sublimate more soluble in water. The action of the latter is not otherwise altered.” (Redwood.) It is chiefly used for lotions and injections.

Mercuric and Quinine Chloride. Syn. Chloride of mercury and quinine; Hydrargyri et quinæ chloridum, L. Prep. (M’Dermott.) From mercuric chloride, 1 part; quinine chloride, 3 parts; separately formed into saturated solutions with water and then mixed; the crystalline precipitate is collected and dried by a gentle heat.—Dose, ⁄8 to ⁄2 gr., made into a pill with crum of bread; daily, as an alterative in debilitated habits; or combined with opium thrice daily, to produce salivation.

Mercuric Cyanide. HgCy2 or Hg(CN)2. Syn. Cyanide of mercury; Hydrargyri cyanidum, H. bicyanidum, H. cyanuretum (Ph. U. S.), L. Prep. 1. (Pb. L. 1836.) Ferric ferrocyanide (pure Prussian blue), 8 oz.; mercuric oxide, 10 oz.; distilled water, 4 pints; boil for half an hour, filter, evaporate, and crystallise; wash what remains frequently with boiling distilled water, and again evaporate, that crystals may form. This is Proust’s process. The formula of the Ph. U. S. is similar.

2. (Ph. D. 1826.) Prussian blue (pure), 6 parts; mercuric oxide, 5 parts; distilled water, 40 parts; as the last.

3. (Desfosses.) Potassium ferrocyanide, 1 part, is boiled for ⁄4 hour with mercuric sulphate, 2 parts, and distilled water, 8 parts; the deposit is separated by filtration, and the liquid evaporated to crystallising point.

4. (Winckler.) Saturate dilute hydrocyanic acid with mercuric oxide; evaporate and crystallise. Pure.

Prop., &c. Heavy, colourless, inodorous, square prisms; tasting strongly metallic; soluble in 8 parts of cold water; slightly soluble in alcohol. Those made by the first two formulæ are of a pale yellow colour. It is transparent and totally soluble in water. The solution, on the addition of hydrochloric acid, evolves hydrocyanic acid, known by its smell; and a glass moistened with a solution of nitrate of silver, and held over it, gives a deposit soluble in boiling nitric acid. When heated it evolves cyanogen, and runs into globules of metallic mercury. It has been administered in some hepatic and skin diseases, and has been proposed as a substitute for corrosive sublimate. (Parent.) It has been said to act directly on the skin and bones, and to have proved useful in allaying the pain of nodes and in dispersing them. (Mendaga.) It is, however, principally used as a source of cyanogen and hydrocyanic acid.—Dose, ⁄16 to ⁄4 gr. (beginning with the smaller quantity), made into pills with crum of bread, or in alcoholic solution; as a gargle or lotion, 10 gr. to water, 1 pint; as an ointment, 10 or 12 gr., to lard, 1 oz.

Mercuric Iodide. HgI2. Syn. Protiodide of mercury, Red iodide of mercury, Iodide of mercury, Biniodide of mercury; Hydrargyri iodidum rubrum (B. P.), Hydrargyri iodidum, H. biniodidum (Ph. E.), H. iodidum rubrum (Ph. D.), L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate), 4; potassium iodide, 5; boiling distilled water, 80. Dissolve the mercuric chloride in 60 of water, and the potassium iodide in the remainder, and mix the two solutions. Allow to stand, decant the supernatant liquor, and collect the precipitate on a filter, wash twice with cold water, and dry at 212° F.

2. (Ph. L. 1836.) Mercury, 1 oz.; iodine, 10 dr.; rectified spirit, q. s. (2 or 3 fl. dr.); triturate until the globules of mercury disappear, and the mixture assumes a scarlet colour, then dry it in the shade, and preserve it in a well-stoppered vessel.

3. (Ph. E.) Mercury, 2 oz.; iodine, 2⁄2 oz.; spirit, q. s.; triturate together as last, dissolve the product, by brisk ebullition, in concentrated solution of sodium chloride, 1 gall., filter whilst boiling hot, wash the crystals that are deposited as the solution cools, and dry them.

4. (Ph. D.) Mercuric chloride, 1 oz.; hot distilled water, 25 fl. oz.; dissolve potassium iodide, 1⁄2 oz.; water, 5 fl. oz.; dissolve; when the solutions are cold, mix them, collect the precipitate on a paper filter, drain it, wash it with distilled water, 10 fl. oz., and dry it at a heat not above that of boiling water.

Prop., &c. A bright scarlet powder, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether, and in the solutions of several of the iodides and chlorides. It is also soluble in cod-liver oil, and in several other fixed oils. Readily sublimed.—Dose, ⁄16 to ⁄4 gr., dissolved in alcohol or made into a pill; in the same cases as the subiodides, from which it differs chiefly in its greater energy and poisonous qualities.

Mercuric Oleate. See Ointment of Oleate of Mercury.

Mercuric and Potassium Iodide. HgI2.KI. Syn. Iodide of mercury and potassium, Iodo-hydrargyrate of potassium; Hydrargyri et potassii iodidum, L. Prep. 1. (M. Boullay.) Mercuric iodide, potassium iodide, and water, equal parts; dissolve by heat, and crystallise by evaporation or refrigeration, or gently evaporate to dryness.

2. (Puche.) From mercuric iodide and potassium iodide, equal parts, triturated together.—Dose, ⁄16 to ⁄8 gr., dissolved in water; in the same cases as the biniodide, and in chronic bronchitis, hooping-cough, inflammatory sore throat, &c.

Mercuric and Potassium Iodo-cy′anide. Syn. Hydrargyri et potassii iodo-cyanidum, L. Prep. To a concentrated solution of mercuric cyanide add a rather strong solution of potassium iodide, and dry the precipitate by a gentle heat.

Prop., &c. Small, white, pearly, crystalline plates or scales. It is chiefly used as a test of the purity of hydrocyanic acid. When put into this liquid it is instantly turned red if any mineral acid is present.

Mercuric Nitrate. Hg(NO3)2. Syn. Protonitrate of mercury, Pernitrate of mercury. Prep. 1. (Neutral.) This is obtained by solution of mercuric oxide, in excess of nitric acid. The solution, evaporated in a bell-jar over sulphuric acid, yields crystals which are neutral. The same compound is obtained as a crystalline powder when the syrupy liquid is dropped into strong nitric acid.

(Basic.) 1st. 2Hg(NO3)HO.H2O. Prep. a. By saturating hot dilute nitric acid with mercuric oxide. The salt, which is bibasic, crystallises on cooling.

b. By dissolving mercury in excess of nitric acid, with heat, until the solution, when diluted with distilled water, ceases to give a precipitate with common salt. It is now a mixed solution of the neutral and bibasic pernitrates; but by evaporation crystals of the latter salt only are deposited. The acid solution (before evaporation) is used as a caustic in cancerous, syphilitic, and other ulcerations; but it frequently produces intense pain, and occasionally the usual constitutional effects of mercury. It was formerly given in similar cases to those in which the bichloride is now employed.—Dose (of the dry salt), ⁄20 to ⁄12 gr. This is the preparation ordinarily referred to under the name ‘pernitrate of mercury.’

2nd. 2Hg(NO3)HO.HgO. c. By saturating strong nitric acid with mercury, by heat, throwing the solution into cold water, and collecting and drying the precipitate. This salt, which is tribasic, is also formed when the preceding crystallised salts are put into hot water.

Obs. This last preparation is a heavy, yellow powder, but the shade varies according to its basicity, which increases with the temperature of the water employed to effect the precipitation, until, at the boiling temperature, the colour is a dull red. It is extensively employed for the extemporaneous preparation of the ointment of nitrate of mercury, according to the formula on the following label which accompanies each bottle:—“Hydrarg. subnitras.” “Two scruples, mixed with one ounce of simple cerate, make the ung. hydrarg. nit. of the London Pharmacopœia.” We need scarcely add that this statement, so unblushingly uttered, is a dangerous falsehood. An ointment so made possesses neither the quantity of mercury nor of nitric acid employed in the Pharmacopœia preparation, besides wanting many of its most sensible and valuable properties.

Mercuric Oxide. HgO. Syn. Protoxide of mercury, Red oxide of mercury, Oxide of m., Binoxide of m., Deutoxide of m., Peroxide of m.; Hydrargyri oxydum, H. o. rubrum, B. & L. There are several methods by which this substance may be prepared. The following are those which have been ordered at different times in the Pharmacopœias:—

1. By precipitation (Hydrargyri binoxydum—Ph. L. 1836.). Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate), 4 oz.; distilled water, 6 pints; dissolve and add of liquor of potass, 28 fl. oz.; drain the precipitate, wash it in distilled water, and dry it by a gentle heat.

Obs. A bright orange-red powder. It usually contains a little combined water; hence its readier solubility in acids than the oxide prepared by heat. When heated sufficiently it yields oxygen, and the mercury either runs into globules or is totally dissipated. It is entirely soluble in hydrochloric acid. (Ph. L. 1836.) The preparation of the shops has frequently a brick-red colour, and contains a little oxychloride, arising from too little alkali being used.

2. By calcination of the nitrate (Red precipitate; Hydrargyri nitrici oxydum Ph. L. Hydrargyri oxidum rubrum, B. P., Ph. L., Ph. D.) Prep. B. P. Mercury, by weight, 8; nitric acid, 4⁄2; water, 2. Dissolve half the mercury in the water and acid, evaporate to dryness, and triturate with the rest of the mercury until well blended. Heat in a porcelain capsule, repeatedly stirring, until acid vapours cease to be evolved.

Mercury, 3 lbs.; nitric acid, 18 fl. oz. (1⁄2 lb., Ph. L. 1836); water, 2 quarts; dissolve by a gentle heat, evaporate to dryness, powder, and calcine this in a shallow vessel, with a gradually increased heat, until red vapours cease to arise. The process of the Ph. E. and D. are similar, except that the Dublin College directs the evaporation and calcination to be performed in the same vessel, without powdering or stirring the mass.

Obs. Bright red crystalline scales, which usually contain a little undecomposed pernitrate of mercury; in other respects it resembles the last two preparations. It is more generally used as an escharotic and in ointments than the precipitated oxide. It is volatilised by heat without the evolution of nitrous vapours.

According to Mr Brande it contains about 2⁄2 per cent. of nitric acid. According to Mr Barker the process of the Ph. D. yields the finest coloured product; but Mr Brande states that “the nitrate requires to be constantly stirred during the process, which is usually performed in a cast-iron pot.” On the large scale, the evaporation is generally conducted in a shallow earthen dish, and as soon as the mass becomes dry a second dish is inverted over it, and the calcination is continued, without disturbance, until the process is concluded. The heat of a sand bath is employed. 120 lbs. of mercury, and 48 lbs. of nitric acid (sp. gr. 1·48) yields 112 lbs. of red precipitate. (Brande.)

Uses, &c. Red oxide of mercury, whether obtained by calcination or precipitation, possesses the same general properties. It is very slightly soluble in water, but sufficiently so to give that fluid an alkaline reaction, and a metallic taste. It was formerly employed in medicine to induce salivation; but is now chiefly used as an escharotic, either in the form of powder or made into an ointment.—Dose, ⁄8 to 1 gr., combined with opium. It is very poisonous.

Mercuric Sulphide. HgSO4. Syn. Protosulphate of mercury; Hydrargyri sulphas (Ph. B.), H. persulphas, H. bipersulphas, L. Prep. 1. (Neutral.)—a. By boiling together sulphuric acid and metallic mercury until the latter is wholly converted into a heavy, white, crystalline powder; the excess of acid is removed by evaporation. Equal weights of acid and metal may conveniently be employed.

b. (Ph. D. 1826.) Dissolve mercury, 6 parts, in a mixture of sulphuric acid, 6 parts, and nitric acid, 1 part, by boiling them in a glass vessel, and continue the heat until the mass becomes perfectly dry and white. Used to make calomel.

c. (Ph. B.) Place 20 oz. of quicksilver in a porcelain capsule with 12 fl. oz. of sulphuric acid, and apply heat until nothing remains but a white, dry, crystalline salt. Used to make perchloride and chloride of mercury.

2. (Basic.) HgSO4,2HgO. Syn. Tribasic sulphate of mercury, Turpeth mineral, Turbith m., Queen’s yellow, Subsulphate of mercury†, Tribasic persulphate of m.; Hydrargyri subsulphas, H. s. flavus, Terpethum minerale, L.—a. Dissolve mercury in an equal weight of sulphuric acid by boiling them to dryness, fling the mass into hot water, and wash and dry the resulting yellow powder.

b. (Ph. D. 1826.) Mercuric sulphate, 1 part; warm water, 20 parts; triturate together in an earthen mortar, wash well with distilled water, drain, and dry it.

Prop., &c. A heavy, lemon-yellow powder, soluble in 2000 parts of cold, and about 600 parts of boiling water. By long-continued washing with very hot water it loses all its remaining acid, and is at length converted into red oxide of mercury.—Dose. As an alterative, ⁄8 to ⁄2 gr.; as an emetic, 3 to 5 gr.; as an errhine, 1 gr.; mixed up with a pinch of liquorice powder or fine snuff. It is a powerful poison, and one of the least useful of the mercurial preparations.

Obs. The temperature of the water employed to decompose the neutral sulphate influences the shade of colour of the resulting salt in a similar manner to that pointed out under the nitrate. It is now superseded as a pigment by chrome yellow and orpiment, which are not only more beautiful, but cheaper preparations.

Mercuric Sulphide. HgS. Syn. Protosulphide of mercury, Red sulphuret of mercury, Factitious cinnabar, Vermilion, Sulphuret of mercury, Sulphide of m., Bisulphuret of m.†; Hydrargyri bisulphuretum (Ph. B. & Ph. L.), Cinnabaris (Ph. E.), H. sulphuretum rubrum. L. Prep. (Ph. L.) Quicksilver, 24 oz.; sulphur, 5 oz.; melt together, and continue the heat till the mixture swells up, then cover the vessel, remove it from the heat, and when cold, powder and sublime it. (Ph. B.) Quicksilver, 2 lbs.; sulphur, 5 oz.

Prop., &c. Mercuric sulphide has a dark-red semi-crystalline appearance in the mass, but acquires a brilliant scarlet colour by powdering. It is tasteless, odourless, and insoluble. It is chiefly used as a pigment; but it is occasionally employed in medicine as a diaphoretic and vermifuge, and in some cutaneous diseases and gout.—Dose, 10 to 30 gr.; as a fumigation, about ⁄2 dr. is thrown on a plate of iron heated to dull redness. For the last purpose it is inferior to mercurous oxide, owing to the more irritating nature of its vapour.

Tests. Mercurous salts. Sulphuretted hydrogen and ammonium sulphide give black precipitates, insoluble in dilute acids, ammonium sulphide, potassium cyanide, and hot nitric acid, but slightly soluble in sodium sulphide, and decomposed by nitro-hydrochloric acid.

Potassium hydrate and ammonia give black grey or black precipitates, which are insoluble in excess of the precipitant.

Hydrochloric acid and the soluble metallic chlorides occasion a precipitate, which assumes the form of a very fine powder of dazzling whiteness, insoluble in excess, but soluble in aqua regia and liquid chlorine. Potassium hydrate and ammonia turn it dark grey or black.

Potassium iodide gives a greenish-yellow precipitate, soluble in ether, and subliming in red crystals when heated.

Mercurous Acetate. Hg(C2H3O2). Syn. Acetate of mercury, Subacetate. Prep. (P. Cod.) Dissolve mercurous nitrate, 1 part, in water (slightly acidulated with nitric acid), 4 parts, and precipitate the liquid with a solution of sodium acetate, gradually added, until in slight excess; carefully wash the precipitate with cold water, and dry it in the shade.

Prop., &c. Small, white, micaceous, flexible scales; insoluble in alcohol; soluble in about 300 parts of water; blackened by light; and carbonised by a strong heat. It has been said to be one of the mildest of the mercurials; but this cannot be the case, as it occasionally acts with great violence on both the stomach and bowels, producing much pain and prostration.—Dose, ⁄6 to 1 gr., night and morning, gradually increased.

Mercurous Bromide. HgBr. Syn. Subbromide of mercury; Hydrargyrum bromidum, L. Prep. (Magendie.) By precipitating a solution of mercurous nitrate by another of potassium bromide. It closely resembles calomel in both its appearance and properties.—Dose, 1 to 5 gr.

Mercurous Chloride. HgCl or Hg2Cl2. Syn. Calomel, Subchloride of mercury, Mercury chloride; Hydrargyri subchloridum (B. P.), Hydrargyri chloridum (Ph. L.), H. c. mite (Ph. U. S.), Calomelas (Ph. E. & D.), L. This substance is one of the best known, and probably the most valuable, of all the mercurials.

Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Mercury, 2 lbs.; sulphuric acid, 21⁄2 fl. oz.; mix, boil to dryness (in a cast-iron vessel), and when the resulting mass has cooled, add of mercury, 2 lbs., and triturate the ingredients in an earthenware mortar until they are well mixed; then add of sodium chloride, 1⁄2 lb., and again triturate until the globules are no longer visible; next sublime the mixture, reduce the sublimate to the finest possible powder, diligently wash it with boiling distilled water, and dry it.—Prod. 117 or 118% of the weight of mercury employed.

2. (Ph. F.) Mercury, 4 oz., is dissolved in a mixture of sulphuric acid, 2 fl. oz. 3 fl. dr., and nitric acid, ⁄2 fl. oz., by the aid of heat; when cold, mercury, 4 oz., is added, and the remainder of the process is conducted as before.

3. (Calomelas sublimatum.—Ph. D.) Sulphate of mercury, 10 parts; mercury, 7 parts; dry sodium chloride, 5 parts; triturate, &c., as before, and afterwards resublime it into a large chamber or receiver.

4. (Ph. B.) Same as Dublin.

5. (Apothecaries’ Hall.) Quicksilver, 50 lbs., and sulphuric acid, 70 lbs., are boiled to dryness in a cast-iron vessel; of the dry salt, 62 lbs. are triturated with quicksilver, 40⁄2 lbs., until the globules are extinguished, when sodium chloride, 34 lbs., is added, and after thorough admixture the whole is sublimed, &c., as before.—Prod. 96 to 100 lbs.

6. (Jewel’s Patent.) The receiver, which is capacious, is filled with steam, so that the calomel vapour is condensed in it in a state of extremely minute division. The engr. represents the apparatus now usually employed when this plan is adopted. The product is extremely white, and of the finest quality. It is sometimes called ‘hydrosublimed calomel’ and ‘hydrosublimate of mercury.’ The ‘flowers of calomel,’ of old pharmacy, were prepared in a nearly similar manner.

7. (Soubeiran.) The crude calomel mixture is heated in an earthen tube in a furnace, and a current of air is directed uninterruptedly into the tube by means of a small ventilator. This sweeps away, as it were, the vapours of calomel, and in a straight tube will carry them a distance of 60 feet, to avoid which the end of the recipient is immersed in water, by which means the calomel is moistened and falls down. This plan, slightly modified, is now extensively adopted in this country.

8. (Precipitated calomel; Calomelas præcipitatum, L.) Digest pure quicksilver, 9 parts, in nitric acid (sp. gr. 1·02 to 1·25), 8 parts, until no more metal will dissolve, applying heat as the effervescence ceases; then mix the hot liquid quickly with a boiling solution of sodium chloride, 8 parts, dissolved in water (slightly acidulated with hydrochloric acid), 64 parts; lastly, well wash the precipitate in boiling distilled water, and dry it. The product, when the process is skilfully managed, is perfectly white and pure.

Prop. A heavy, white, tasteless powder; insoluble in water, alcohol, and cold dilute nitric acid; volatilises at a temperature below redness, and yields a white or yellowish-white sublimate; hot nitric acid oxidises and dissolves it; alkalies, the alkaline carbonates, and lime water, decompose it, with the production of the black oxide; ammonia converts it into a dark slate-grey coloured powder (BLACK PRECIPITATE—Kane). Sp. gr. 7·14 (Boullay; 7·156—Pelouze and Fremy; 7·176—Ure).

Pur. Calomel is frequently contaminated with small quantities of corrosive sublimate, which may be detected by digesting a little in alcohol, decanting the clear portion, and testing it with a drop or two of potassium hydrate, when a reddish precipitate will be formed if any mercuric chloride be present. It is pulverulent, whitish, and sublimes entirely by heat. It becomes black on the addition of potassium hydrate, then, heat being applied, it runs into globules of mercury. Neither silver nitrate, lime water, nor sulphuretted hydrogen, being added to the water in which it has been washed, or boiled throws down anything.

Uses. Calomel is one of the milder mercurials, and in this respect takes its position immediately after blue pill, mercury with chalk, and the grey oxide; but it probably ranks before all the other salts of mercury. Universal experience appears to show it to be a most valuable alterative when judiciously administered. With this intention it is given in doses of ⁄4 to 1 gr., generally combined with antimonials, as in Plummer’s pill, and repeated every night, or every other night, for some time, followed by a mild saline aperient in the morning. As a purgative, 2 to 5 gr., either combined with or followed by other purgatives, as jalap, rhubarb, senna, colocynth, Epsom salts, &c. As a vermifuge, 2 to 5 gr., over-night, followed by a sufficient dose of castor oil next morning. Combined with opium it is frequently used in various complaints to produce salivation, or bring the system under the influence of mercury. It is also employed as a sedative and errhine, and in a vast number of other indications. It is, indeed, more frequently used, and in a greater variety of complaints, than probably any other medicine.

Obs. Of the two methods of preparing calomel, that by precipitation is not only the best, but the most economical. That by sublimation is, however, the one generally adopted in England. Mr Brande states that “a small portion of sodium chloride is apt to remain combined with it, which might affect its medical uses.” Such a contamination is not found in carefully prepared precipitated calomel, although we doubt whether the quantity of it which exists in any of the samples we have met with (being merely a trace) would at all interfere with its therapeutical action; more especially when it is recollected that alkaline chlorides are present in, not merely the primæ viæ, but also in every part of the animal body. The late Mr Fownes, a chemist who was unsurpassed in the accuracy of his researches, and the caution and delicacy with which he expressed his opinions, once assured us that calomel was more easily and cheaply prepared of the best quality by precipitation than by sublimation, and that if, from careless manipulation, it occasionally contained a minute quantity of common salt, this was of much less importance than the contamination of corrosive sublimate, which was frequently present in samples of sublimed calomel.

To produce a superior article of calomel in the dry way is a somewhat difficult task, and the process frequently fails in the hands of inexperienced operators. The solution of the mercury is best made in an iron vessel, and the sublimation should be conducted (preferably) in an earthenware retort with a short but very wide neck, and fitted in a spacious receiver, having a large flat bottom, also of earthenware, and containing a little cold water. On the small scale the heat may be applied by means of a sand bath. The form above given for calomel, by precipitation, produces a large product, perfectly free from corrosive sublimate and mercurous nitrate, and is consequently free from the objections frequently raised against that mode of preparing it.

“The form in which calomel sublimes depends much upon the dimensions and temperature of the subliming vessels. In small vessels it generally condenses in a crystalline cake, the interior surface of which is often covered with beautiful quadrangular prismatic crystals, transparent, and of a texture somewhat elastic or horny. In this state it acquires, by the necessary rubbing into powder, a decided yellow or buff colour, more or less deep, according to the degree of trituration it has undergone. If, on the contrary, the calomel be sublimed into a very capacious and cold receiver, it falls in an impalpable and perfectly white powder, which requires only one elutriation to fit it for use; it then remains perfectly colourless.” (Brande.)

The long-continued action of steam on calomel in a state of minute division is attended by the formation of a small quantity of corrosive sublimate. (Righini.) Boiling water, hot air, and light, also produce a like effect.

Mercurous Iodide. HgI. Syn. Subiodide Of mercury, Green iodide of mercury, Mercurous iodide; Hydrargyri iodidum viride (B. P.), Hydrargyri subiodum, H. iodidum (Ph. L.), H. i. viride (Ph. D.), L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Mercury, 1 oz.; iodine, 278 gr.; rectified spirit, a sufficiency. Rub the iodine and mercury in a porcelain mortar, moistening occasionally with a few drops of spirit, and continue the trituration until the mass assumes a uniform green colour, and no metallic globules are visible.

2. Precipitate a solution of mercurous nitrate by another of mercurous potassium iodide; wash the precipitate, first in a solution of sodium chloride, and then in pure water; lastly, dry it in the shade.

3. (Ph. L.) Mercury, 1 oz.; iodine, 5 dr.; triturate together, gradually adding of rectified spirit, q. s. (about 1 to 2 fl. dr.), until globules are no longer seen; dry the powder, by a gentle heat, in the shade, as quickly as possible, and preserve it in a well-stoppered black glass vessel. The formula of the Ph. D. is similar.

Prop., &c. A heavy, greenish-yellow powder; insoluble in water, alcohol, and a solution of common salt; soluble in ether, and slightly so in an aqueous solution of iodide of potassium. “Freshly prepared, it is yellowish. Heat being cautiously applied, it sublimes in red crystals, which quickly turn yellow, and, on access of light, blacken. It is insoluble in a solution of chloride of sodium.” The process of the Ph. L. and F. P. does not answer when larger quantities than 4 or 5 oz. are prepared at once, owing to the great heat generated by the reaction of the ingredients, and the consequent volatilisation of a portion of the iodine, by which the colour of the product suffers.—Dose, ⁄8 to 1 gr., made into pills; “in syphilis and scrofula, especially where they occur in the same individual.” It is also used externally, in the form of ointment. It is very poisonous.

Mercurous Nitrate. HgNO3. Syn. Subnitrate of mercury; Hydrargyri subnitras, H. nitras, H. protonitras, L. Prep. 1. (Neutral.) By digesting mercury in excess of cold dilute nitric acid, observing to remove the short prismatic crystals within a short time after they are formed; these, when drained, and redissolved in water slightly acidulated with nitric acid, furnish crystals of pure neutral mercurous nitrate by cautious evaporation.

2. (Basic.) Deposited after some time, when excess of mercury has been employed as above. A fine crystallised salt.

Prop., &c. Both the above are decomposed by water, but the former may be dissolved in a very small quantity without decomposition. When the neutral salt is triturated with an excess of sodium chloride, and water subsequently added, the whole of the mercury is thrown down as calomel, and the filtered supernatant liquid does not contain corrosive sublimate. If this salt is detected, the salt examined contained mercuric nitrate, and if any basic mercurous nitrate was present, the newly formed calomel has a grey or black colour, due to presence of oxide.—Dose. Of the neutral salts, ⁄16 to ⁄8 gr. It is seldom used internally. A solution is sometimes employed as a mild caustic to ulcers; and, more dilute, as a lotion in lepra, porrigo, psoriasis, etc.; or made into an ointment, in the same diseases.

Mercurous Oxide. Hg2O. Syn. Suboxide of Mercury, Grey o. of m., Black o. of m., Mercurous o., Dioxide of m., Protoxide of M.†; Hydrargyri Suboxydum, H. oxydum, H. o. cinereum, H. o. nigrum, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L. 1836.) Calomel, 1 oz.; lime water, 1 gall.; mix, agitate well together, decant the clear liquid after subsidence, and well wash the sediment with distilled water; lastly, drain and dry it, wrapped in bibulous paper, in the air.

2. (Ph. D. 1826.) Sublimed calomel, 1 part; solution of potassium hydrate (warm), 4 parts; triturate together, &c., as last.

3. Briskly triturate calomel in a mortar with pure potassium hydrate, in excess; wash it with water, and dry it in the shade.

Prop., &c. A very dark grey or black powder, suffering decomposition by exposure to light and air, becoming olive coloured, from a portion being resolved into metallic mercury and binoxide. Digested for a short time in dilute hydrochloric acid, it remains undissolved, and the filtered liquid is not affected by potassium hydrate, or by ammonium oxalate. It is totally soluble in acetic acid, and entirely dissipated by heat. As a medicine pure mercurous oxide is one of the mildest of the mercurials, and is used both internally and externally; but chiefly as a fumigant, or made into an ointment.—Dose, ⁄2 gr. to 3 gr. twice a day.

Mercurous Phosphate, Syn. Hydrargyri phosphas, L. Prep. Add a solution of mercurous nitrate (slightly acidulated with nitric acid) to a solution of sodium phosphate, and wash and dry the precipitate which forms. In its physical characters it closely resembles calomel, than which it is said to be more appropriate in certain cases, especially in secondary syphilis. Alkalies turn it black.—Dose, ⁄4 to 1 gr., made into a pill with sugar and aromatics.

Mercurous Sulphate. Hg2SO4. Syn. Subsulphate of mercury, Sulphate of the suboxide of m., Protosulphate of m.†; Hydrargyri subsulphas, L. Prep. By adding sulphuric acid to a solution of mercurous nitrate. The salt falls as a white crystalline powder.

Mercurous Sulphide. Hg2S. Syn. Subsulphate of mercury; Hydrargyri subsulphuretum cum sulphure, H. s. nigrum, L. Prep. 1. (Pure.) This falls as a black precipitate when a solution of mercurous nitrate is treated with sulphuretted hydrogen or ammonium sulphide.

2. (Impure; Ethiops mineral; Hydrargyri sulphuretum cum sulphure, H. s. nigrum—Ph. L. 1824 & Ph. D. 1826); (Æthiops mineralis—Ph. L. 1836 & Ph. D. 1826.) (Quicksilver and sulphur, equal parts, triturated together in a stoneware mortar—Ph. D.) until globules are no longer visible.

Prop., &c. The last preparation of mercurous sulphide is alone employed medicinally. It is a heavy, insoluble, black powder. It is frequently met with imperfectly prepared, and sometimes adulterated. It is said to be a mixture of mercurous sulphide and sulphur, in variable proportions depending on the length of the trituration. On the large scale it is generally made by melting the ingredients together, and afterwards reducing the mass to a fine powder in a mill or mortar. It is said to be vermifuge and alterative, and has been used in some cutaneous and glandular diseases, but appears to be nearly inert.—Dose, 5 to 30 gr.

Mercurous Tartrate. (P. Cod.) Syn. Proto-tartrate of mercury, Hydrargyri tartras. Made by adding a solution of proto-nitrate of mercury in water, slightly acidulated with nitric acid, to a solution of tartrate of potash as long as a precipitate forms. Wash it with distilled water, dry it in the shade, and keep it in bottles covered with black paper.—Dose, 1 to 2 gr.

MERCURY, Other Preparations of.

Mercury, Hahnemann’s. Syn. Hahnemann’s soluble mercury, H.’s black oxide of m., Black precipitate of m.; Hydrargyri præcipitatum nigrum, Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni, L.—a. By dropping weak ammonia into a solution of mercurous nitrate as long as the precipitate formed is of a black colour; the powder is washed, dried in the shade without artificial heat, and then preserved from the light and air.

(Ph. Bor. 1847.) Solution of mercurous nitrate (recent; sp. gr. 1·1), 9⁄4 oz.; distilled water, 2 lbs.; mix, filter, and add to the solution of ammonia (sp. gr. ·960), ⁄2 oz., diluted with water, 4 fl. oz.; collect the powder immediately on a filter, wash it with water, 3 fl. oz., and dry it, &c., as before. A very black powder.—Dose, ⁄4 to 1 gr.

Mercury, Precipitates of. 1. Black precipitate, Hahnemann’s soluble mercury (basic mercurous and ammonium nitrate). 2. Green p. (MERCURIUS PRÆCIPITATUS VIRIDIS, LACERTA VIRIDIS), from equal parts of mercury and copper, separately dissolved in nitric acid, the solutions mixed, evaporated to dryness, and then calcined until red fumes cease to arise. Caustic. 3. Red p., mercuric oxide. 4. White p., ammonio-chloride of mercury.

Mercury, Ward’s. Syn. Ammonio-nitrate of mercury; Hydrargyri ammoniæ nitras, L. To nitric acid, 4 parts, contained in a spacious bolt-head or matrass, add, gradually, ammonium sesquicarbonate, 2 parts; afterwards add of mercury, 1 part, and digest in a gentle heat, until the solution is complete.

Mercury with Chalk. Syn. Hydrargyrum cum Cretâ. Grey powder (B. P.) Prep. Rub 1 oz. (by weight) of mercury, and prepared chalk, 2 oz., in a porcelain mortar, until metallic globules cease to be visible to the naked eye and the mixture acquires a uniform grey colour.—Dose. From 3 to 8 gr.

A little water is said to aid in the extinction of the mercury. Mr Bottle suggests a slight departure from the Grey modus operandi followed by the British Pharmacopœia in the above preparation. He proposes to substitute for the tedious process of trituration in a porcelain mortar the agitation of the mercury with the chalk in a wide-mouthed glass bottle; by which means the metal may be minutely subdivided, at a considerably less expenditure of time and labour.

Mercury with Magnesia. (Ph. D.) Syn. Hydrargyrum cum magnesiâ. Pure mercury, 1 oz., carbonate of magnesia, 2 oz. Rub together in a porcelain mortar until the globules cease to be visible and the mixture acquires a uniform, grey colour.—Dose, 3 to 8 grains.

Mercury, Yellow Oxide of. (Ph. B.) Syn. Hydrargyri oxydum flavum. Prep. Perchloride of mercury, 4 oz.; solution of soda (Ph. B.), 2 pints; distilled water, q. s. Dissolve the perchloride in 4 pints of distilled water, adding the solution by the application of heat, and add this to the solution of soda. Stir them together, allow the yellow precipitate to subside, remove the supernatant liquor by decantation, thoroughly wash the precipitated oxide on a calico filter with distilled water, and finally dry it by the heat of a water bath.

MES′LIN. A mixture of various kinds of grain. (Brande.)

METAGAL′LIC ACID. Obtained by heating dry gallic acid, by a quick fire, to about 480° Fahr., or until it froths, melts, and becomes black and solid, then dissolving the residuum in an alkali, filtering, and precipitating by an acid. An insoluble, black powder.

ME′TAL. Syn. Metallum, L. See Metals.

METAL′LICA. [L.] Preparations of the metals. One of the divisions of the Ph. L.

METAL′LIC TREES. See Vegetation (Metallic).

METAL′LO-CHROMES. A name given by Nobili to extremely thin films of peroxide of lead deposited by electrolytic action upon plates or polished steel, so as to produce an iridescent play of colours. The effect is often very beautiful.

MET′ALLOIDS. A name sometimes applied to the NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS.

METAL′LURGY. “The art of extracting metals from their ores, and adapting them to various processes of manufacture.” (Percy.)

“Notwithstanding the striking analogy which exists between common chemical and metallurgic operations, since both are employed to isolate certain bodies from each other, there are essential differences which should be carefully noted. In the first place, the quantity of materials being always very great in metallurgy, requires corresponding adaptations of apparatus, and often produces peculiar phenomena; in the second place, the agents to be employed for treating great masses must be selected with a view to economy, as well as chemical action. In analytical chemistry, the main object being exactness of result and purity of product, little attention is bestowed upon the value of the reagents, on account of the small quantity required for any particular process. But in smelting metals upon the large scale, profit being the sole object, cheap materials and easy operations are alone admissible.”

The limits of this work do not permit of more than a general reference to the leading operations of metallurgy under this head. These are—digging, picking or sorting, stamping or crushing, and washing, included under the general term, ‘dressing ore,’—roasting or calcination, which is either performed with the fuel in contact with the ore, or in reverberatory furnaces; and the liquation or reduction to the reguline form. The application of these processes is noticed under the leading metals. Those who desire to study the subject minutely are referred to the treatises of Dr Percy, Robert Hunt, Karsten, and Le Play.

MET′ALS. Syn. Metalla, L. Metals are elementary bodies, which are generally distinguished by their lustre and power of conducting heat and electricity. When their solutions are electrolysed, the metals always appear at the electro-negative surface, and are hence termed electro-positive elements.

Formerly, when science was much less advanced than at present, the metals constituted a well-defined class. The properties which were regarded as specially characteristic were physical, and were not founded on chemical relations; thus, lustre and high specific gravity were considered to be essential characters of all metals. But we are now acquainted with metals which have a lower specific gravity than water (lithium, sodium, &c.), and with so-called non-metallic elements which present a strong metallic lustre (carbon in the state of graphite, crystallised silicon). It will therefore be seen that the term ‘metal’ is rather conventional than strictly scientific. By far the greater number of elementary bodies at present known are metals. Their physical characters and leading chemical properties are noticed under each of them in its alphabetical place. The following table exhibits some useful particulars:—

Table of some of the properties of some of the metals.

Names arranged in the order of their

Ductility. Malleability.

Gold. Gold.

Silver. Silver.

Platinum. Copper.

Iron. Tin.

Nickel. Platinum.

Copper. Lead.

Zinc. Zinc.

Tin. Iron.

Lead. Nickel.

Names arranged in the order of their

Power of
conducting Heat. Power of
conducting Electricity.

Silver. Silver.

Copper. Copper.

Gold. Gold.

Tin. Zinc.

Iron. Iron.

Lead. Tin.

Bismuth. Lead.

Antimony.

Bismuth.

METANTIMON′IC ACID. H4Sb2O7. The name given by M. Fremy to that variety of antimonic acid obtained by decomposing pentachloride of antimony with excess of water. It differs from common antimonic acid in being tetra, and forming two different classes of salts with the acids. The acid metantimoniate of potassium is the only reagent which yields a precipitate with the sodium salts, and is therefore of great value in chemical analysis. It is prepared by fusing antimonic acid with excess of potassa, in a silver crucible, dissolving the fused mass in a little cold water, and allowing it to crystallise in vacuo. The resulting crystals (metantimoniate of potassa), by solution in pure water, are resolved into free potassa and the acid salt. See Antimony.

METAPEC′TIC ACID. See Pectin.

METAPEC′TIN. See Pectin.

METAPHOSPHOR′IC ACID. See Phosphoric acid.

METHEG′LIN. Syn. Hydromeli, H. vinosum, Mellis vinum, L. Prep. From honey, 1 cwt.; warm water, 24 galls.; stir well until dissolved; the next day add of yeast, 1 pint, and hops, 1 lb., previously boiled in water, 1 gall.; along with water q. s. to make the whole measure 1 barrel; mix well, and ferment the whole with the usual precautions adopted for other liquors. It contains on the average from 7% to 8% of alcohol. See Mead.

ME′THYL. CH3. The hypothetical radical of PYROXYLIC SPIRIT (WOOD-SPIRIT, METHYLIC ALCOHOL) and the methyl series. It forms a number of compounds analogous to those of ethyl.

METHYLAMINE. Syn. Methylia. CH3H2N. A colourless gas possessing a very powerful odour of ammonia, and a strongly alkaline reaction. It differs from ammonia, however, in being non-inflammable. In other respects it bears a considerable resemblance to it. Water at 55° Fahr. dissolves more than eleven hundred times its bulk of methylamine. It may be easily condensed to a liquid by means of a freezing mixture.

To obtain it nascent hydrogen is made to react on prussic or formic acid. Methylia exists in herring brine, and is a frequent product of the destructive distillation of substances containing nitrogen. Most of its salts are very soluble in water.

METHYLATED SPIRIT. A mixture of 1 part of methylic alcohol (wood spirit) and 9 parts of ethylic alcohol (spirit of wine). See Spirit.

METHYLENE CHLORIDE. CH2Cl2. Syn. Methylene bichloride. There are various methods of obtaining this compound:—1. By heating chloroform with zinc filings and dilute sulphuric acid. 2. By acting on methylene iodide with chlorine. In this process prolonged treatment with chlorine, at ordinary temperatures, is required to remove the last traces of iodine. (Buttlerow.) Chloride of methylene is a colourless mobile fluid, having a smell like chloroform, and a burning taste. It is used as an anæsthetic in place of chloroform. According to Dr Armstrong, the substance known as METHYLENE ETHER is a mechanical mixture of bichloride of methylene and ethylic ether. Dr Richardson says of this latter it is not so quick in its action as the methylene chloride, but that it is safer. See Anæsthetics.

METHYLIC ALCOHOL. See Wood Spirit.

MEZE′REON. Syn. Garou; Mezereon bark, Mezerei cortex (B. P.); Mezereon—Ph. L., E., & D. The dried bark of the Daphne Mezereum, mezereon; or Daphne Laureola, spurge, or wood-laurel. The “bark of the root of Daphne Mezereum,” or spurge olive. (Ph. L.) A stimulant and diuretic. It is employed as a sudorific and alterative, in syphilis, rheumatism, scrofula, and chronic cutaneous diseases, usually in conjunction with sarsaparilla. It has also been used as a masticatory in toothache, paralysis of the tongue, &c. On the Continent it is used as a vesicant. For this purpose it is softened by soaking it in hot vinegar, and is then bound on the part, and renewed after intervals of some hours, until vesication is produced.

MICE. See Rats.

MI′CROSMIC SALT. NaNH4HPO4, Syn. Tribasic phosphate of sodium and ammonium. Prep. 1. Phosphates of soda and ammonia, equal parts; water, q. s.; dissolve separately, mix the solutions, evaporate, and crystallise. A slight excess of phosphate of ammonia aids the crystallisation.

2. (Fownes.) Phosphate of sodium, 6 parts; water, 2 parts; liquefy by heat, and add of sal ammoniac (in powder), 1 part; common salt separates, and after its removal the liquid is concentrated so that crystals may form. Used as a flux in blowpipe assays.

MI′CROSCOPE. The value of the microscope in chemistry and the collateral sciences is now so generally acknowledged that it would be folly to do more than merely allude to the subject here.

In the COMPOUND MICROSCOPE, which has quite superseded the ‘simple microscope’ as an instrument of research, the object is magnified in the first instance by the object-glass, and then remagnified by the eye-piece. It follows, therefore, that the magnifying power of the instrument may be increased either by increasing the power of the object-glass or that of the eye-piece. It must be borne in mind, however, that in increasing the power of the eye-piece we do not magnify the object itself in a greater degree, but simply increase the image of the object formed by the object-glass. Any imperfections which may exist in the latter are thus greatly increased. At first the great drawback to the use of the compound microscope was its deficiency in achromatism; but the researches of Mr Lester and Dr Goring led to the achromatising of the object-glass, which was the first of the rapid strides towards perfection made by this instrument during the last twenty years. The two most useful object-glasses are the ‘quarter-inch,’ which should magnify from 200 to 220 diameters, and the ‘inch,’ which should magnify from 30 to 40 diameters. The definition of these glasses should be good, and they should transmit plenty of light. Any lines in a structure examined by them should appear sharp and distinct, and there should be no coloured fringes around the object. It is of great importance that the object-glasses are kept perfectly free from dust. A few shreds of wash-leather of the finest quality should be kept in a pill-box for cleaning them. Before rubbing them with the leather they may be breathed upon, but no whiting or liquid of any kind should be used, as each object-glass, being achromatic, is a very delicate piece of workmanship, consisting of two lenses of flint and crown-glass cemented together by Canada balsam. Compound microscopes are now sold by the best London makers at very low prices. A really good instrument, adapted to most of the wants of the chemical, pharmaceutical, or medical student, may be obtained for five guineas.

The following formulæ for the preparation of the chief substances, together with the principal reagents required in the working of the microscope, are from Dr Lionel Beale’s valuable book, ‘How to Work with the Microscope,’

Reagents—

1. Alcohol, of various strengths.

2. Ether, to dissolve oil globules.

3. Nitric acid (1 part of strong acid to 5 of water)

4. Sulphuric acid (1 to 5).

5. Hydrochloric acid.

6. Acetic acid, glacial and dilute (1 to 5).

7. Chromic acid, very dilute, to harden tissues.

8. Solution of potash, saturated and dilute (1 to 10).

9. Solution of soda (25 gr. of fused soda to 1 oz.).

10. Ammonia (1 part of the strongest solution to 3 of water).

11. Nitrate of baryta, a cold saturated solution of.

12. Nitrate of silver (120 gr. to 2 oz.). These two are for the mineral acids.

13. Oxalate of ammonia in solution. Test for lime.

14. Solution of iodine saturated, i.e. 1 to 7000 parts of water. Another solution is—1 gr. of iodine and 3 of iodide of potassium in 1 oz. of distilled water.

1. Cements.—1. Brunswick Black. Boil together ⁄4 lb. foreign asphaltum and 4⁄4 oz. of linseed oil (previously thickened with litharge), then mix to a proper consistence with oil of turpentine (about 1 pint).

2. Gold Size. Boil 25 parts of linseed oil with 1 of minium and ⁄3rd part of umber for 3 hours; pour off the clear fluid, and mix with equal parts of powdered white lead, and yellow ochre, added in small successive portions. Then boil well the whole again, and pour off the clear fluid. It dries slowly, but firmly. Both this and the last are dissolved by turpentine.

3. Goadby’s Marine Glue. Dissolve separately in coal naphtha equal parts of shell-lac and india rubber. Mix thoroughly with heat.

4. Sealing-wax Varnish. Dissolve the best sealing-wax in enough strong spirit of wine to reduce it to the proper consistence. This is brittle.

5. Canada Balsam. This dries spontaneously.

Solutions of shell-lac, gum, and various other cements and glues are employed by microscopic manipulators.

Preservative Fluids. Canada balsam, spirit and water, glycerin, solution of gelatin, saturated solution of alum, chloride of zinc, and chloride of calcium, are all used to preserve microscopic objects.

The following formulæ will be found useful:—

1. Goadby’s Solution. Bay salt, 4 oz.; alum, 2 oz.; corrosive sublimate, 4 gr.; boiling water, 4 pints. Mix and filter. It may often be more diluted.

2. Thwaite’s Fluid. Mix spirit of wine, 1 oz., with creosote sufficient to saturate it; rub up with chalk to form a thin paste, and mix gradually with 16 oz. of water. To this may be added an equal quantity of water, saturated with camphor.

3. Simple Creosote Solution. Dissolve creosote, 1 dr., in pyroligneous acid, 1 dr., and mix gradually with cold water, 1 pint.

4. Passini’s Solution. For blood-globules, nerves, and white tissues generally. Perchloride of mercury, 1 part; chloride of sodium, 2 parts; glycerin, 13 parts; distilled water, 113 parts.

MIL′DEW. Syn. Rust, Blight. The mouldy appearance on the leaves of plants produced by innumerable microscopic fungi. The hop, wheat, and the choicest garden fruit trees, are those most commonly attacked. The causes are said to be excess of moisture, and absence of the free circulation of air and sunshine. On the small scale, finely powered sulphur is occasionally dusted over the parts affected, as a remedy.

MIL′IARY FEVER. Syn. Miliaria, L. Among the other symptoms are—anxiety and frequent sighing, the perspiration has a strong and peculiar smell, and there is a sensation of pricking on the neck and breast, followed by an eruption of small red pimples, which in two or three days become white vesicles, dry up, peel off, and are succeeded by others. The moist weather of spring and autumn are the periods in which it is most prevalent; and delicate females, particularly in child-bed, are those most liable to its attacks. Sometimes it assumes a malignant character. The treatment of this affection consists chiefly in combating the depression of the system by a supporting diet; but everything that heats or stimulates the skin should be avoided. The apartment should be kept cool and well ventilated, and cooling saline laxatives and bitter tonics, with cooling drinks, should also be had recourse to.

MILK. Syn. Lac, L. The value of milk as an article of food is clearly shown by the fact of it being sufficient to support, and to increase the growth of, the young of every species of the mammalia; at once supplying materials for the formation of the osseous, fleshy, and liquid portions of the body. “The substances present in milk are wonderfully adapted to its office of producing materials for the rapid growth and development of the animal frame. It contains an azotised matter, casein, nearly identical in composition with muscular flesh, fatty principles, and a peculiar sugar, and, lastly, various salts, among which may be mentioned phosphate of lime, held in complete solution in a slightly alkaline liquid.

“The white and almost opaque, appearance of milk is an optical illusion. Examined by a microscope of even moderate power, it is seen to consist of a perfectly transparent fluid, in which float about numbers of minute transparent globules; these consist of fat surrounded by an albuminous envelope, which can be broken mechanically, as in the churning, or dissolved by the chemical action of caustic potassa, after which, by agitating the milk with ether, the fat can be dissolved.” (Fownes.)

Comp. Cows’ milk, of average quality, contains from 10% to 12% of solid matter when evaporated to dryness by steam heat, and has the mean sp. gr. 1·030; while that of the skimmed milk is about 1·035; and of the cream, 1·0244. (Ure.) The average CREAM of cows’ milk contains 4·5% of butter, 3·5% of curd, and 92% of whey. (Berzelius.) The SKIMMED MILK consists of water, 92·9%; curd, 2·%; sugar of milk, 3·5%; lactic acid, lactate of potassa, and a trace of lactate of iron, ·6%, chloride of potassium, phosphate of potassa, and earthy phosphates (lime), ·2%. (Berzelius.)

The following analysis of fresh milk is by M. Haidlen:—

Water 873·00

Butter 30·00

Casein 48·20

Milk sugar 43·90

Phosphate of lime 2·31

Phosphate of magnesia ·42

Phosphate of iron ·07

Chloride of potassium 1·44

Chloride of sodium ·24

Soda in combination with casein ·42

1000.

Professor Wanklyn has devised and published in his excellent little manual ‘Milk Analysis’ a process by which a very thorough chemical examination of milk may be accomplished with great facility and expedition.

In his preliminary remarks he condemns, as utterly unreliable and misleading, the inferences to be drawn from those hydrometric instruments, the lactometer or lactodensimeter, and creamometer. “A very little consideration,” he says “will suffice to make intelligible the obliquity of the indications of the lactometer and to show how untrustworthy it must be. The lactometer, as of course will be understood, is simply the hydrometer applied to milk; and readings of the instrument are neither more nor less than specific gravities. The more milk-sugar, and casein, and mineral matter there is in a given specimen of milk, the greater (other things being equal) will be its density or specific gravity, and the higher the lactometer reading.

“If, however, fat globules (as happens in the instance of milk) be diffused through the fluid, then, because fat is lighter than water, the effect of the other milk solids on the gravity of the liquid, will be more or less neutralised. The density of milk-fat is about 0·9, water being 1·0. Now, if a solution of casein and milk-sugar, of specific gravity 1·030, be sufficiently charged with fat globules, its specific gravity may be sent down even below the gravity of water. How much would be required to bring about such a result is a matter of simple calculation.

“This being understood, it will be obvious that if the specimens of milk differ in specific gravity, there must be two distinct and equally valid ways of accounting for the difference.

“The milk with the lower gravity may be milk let down with water, or let down with fat, i. e. milk let down by being enriched.”

In support of this last assertion Professor Wanklyn quotes corroborative instances afforded by the examination of different specimens of milk known as ‘strippings,’ these being the last portions of milk yielded by the cow at the termination of the milking. All these ‘strippings’ had a lower specific gravity than normal milk.

Further, Professor Wanklyn points out that the specific gravity of organic fluids is a fallacious index of the amount of solids they may contain, as is illustrated by the fact, that whilst a 10 per cent. solution of chloride of potassium has a specific gravity of 1·065 at 15° C., and a 10 per cent. solution of casein and milk sugar, has a specific gravity of only about 1·035.

The creamometer meets with equal condemnation in Professor Wanklyn’s little book, since different specimens of milk vary considerably in their yield of cream, and a perfectly pure sample of milk may yield less cream than one which has been tampered with.

A complete analysis of milk involves the determination of the water, the fat (the essential constituent of the cream), the casein, milk-sugar, and ash.

The following is an outline of Professor Wanklyn’s neat and ingenious method of analysis:—

By means of an accurately graduated pipette, he first places 5 cubic centimetres of the milk in a small weighed platinum dish (about 14 grammes in weight) just previously ensuring the sample from which the milk is taken being thoroughly mixed.

The dish is then placed over a water-bath (the water in which must be kept vigorously boiling the whole time) for three hours, at the end of which time all the water having been driven off, there will remain in the dish a completely dried up residue.

The increase in weight between the empty dish and the residue, will give the weight of the ‘milk solids’ from 5 c.c. of milk. Of course, if this weight be multiplied by 20, the yield from 100 c.c. of milk will be obtained.

To reduce this to a percentage statement it is necessary to remember that 100 c.c. of average milk weigh 102·9 grammes. The next proceeding consists in the determination of the fat. This is done by treating the dried milk solids resulting from the 5 c.c. of milk with ether. There are several important minutiæ necessary to be observed in connection with this part of the process, for the particulars of which the reader is referred to Professor Wanklyn’s book. Suffice it to say, that if properly performed, the whole of the fat is dissolved by the ether, and being separated from the non-fatty portion of the residue is weighed and calculated as ‘fat.’

If, then, the amount found as fat be deducted from the whole of the milk solids previous to their treatment with ether, the ‘milk solids, not fat,’ will be arrived at. Professor Wanklyn estimates the casein as follows:—He treats the milk solids, not fat, with hot alcohol, by which means he dissolves out from them, and removes the milk-sugar and the soluble chlorides. The remaining residue, consisting of casein and phosphate of sodium (chemically combined with the casein), is dried on a water-bath until it ceases to lose weight. It is then weighed along with the vessel containing it, and ignited. The combined weight of the vessel and phosphate of sodium remaining after ignition being deducted from the weight previous to ignition, the difference is the casein.

Another and quicker method, recommended by Professor Wanklyn, for the determination of the casein, is to measure it by the amount of albuminoid ammonia it is capable of yielding when subjected to the ‘albuminoid ammonia process,’ invented by Messrs Wanklyn, Chapman, and Smith.

The alcoholic solution filtered off from the combined casein and phosphate of sodium, contains the milk sugar and soluble chlorides. It is evaporated to dryness on a water-bath, and the residue with the vessel containing it, is weighed. It is then gently ignited, and the weight of the remaining residue being deducted from the total weight before ignition, gives the yield of milk sugar. Or the milk sugar may be determined by titration with a standard copper solution.

For the determination of the ash it is only necessary to ignite the milk solids from 5 c.c. of milk, in the small platinum dish, by which operation all the organic matter being driven off, that which remains behind constitutes the ‘ash’ and is weighed as such.

It will be obvious that in order to determine with anything like rigid accuracy the quality of any sample of milk by analysis, not only must a normal standard for the purpose of comparison be adopted, but such normal standard must represent very closely and with but little variation the definite composition of all sound and genuine milk.

Professor Wanklyn says that “the following, which is the result of several concordant analyses of country-fed milk, may be taken as representing normal milk. In 100 grammes of milk—

Solids
(dry at 100° C) 12·5 grammes.

Water 87·5

100·0

“The 12·5 grammes consist of 9·3 grammes of ‘solids which are not fat,’ and 3·2 grammes of fat.” The above data, which are founded on the examination of a very large number of different samples of milk, are confirmed by the researches of Müller and Eisenstuck, who were employed by the Royal Agricultural Society of Sweden in a similar investigation. The labours of these chemists extended over a twelvemonth, and the result of them was to show that the milk yielded day by day, for a whole year, by a herd of cows was remarkably constant in composition.

Professor Wanklyn gives the following formulæ for the calculation and statement of the results of milk analysis. He says, treating the question quite rigidly, which I believe is the proper way of dealing with it, we arrive at the following:—

Problem 1. Given the percentage of ‘solids, not fat’ (= a), in a specimen of sophisticated milk (i. e. milk, either watered, or skimmed, or both)—required the number of grammes of genuine milk which was employed to form 100 grammes of it.

Answer. Multiply the percentage of ‘solids, not fat’ by 100, and divide by 9·3.

Or— (100 / 9·3)a.

Problem II.—Given the percentage of ‘solids, not fat’ (= a), also the percentage of fat (= b), in a specimen of sophisticated milk—required the number of grammes of fat which have been removed by skimming from the genuine milk which was employed to form 100 grammes of it.

Answer.— (3·2 / 9·3)(a - b).

In translating fat into cream, the rule is that a removal of 0·2 gramme of fat equals a removal of 1·0 gramme of cream. This rule is directly founded on experiment. I do not, however, claim a high degree of accuracy for the measurement of the cream.

Finally, a slight refinement may be noticed. If a specimen of sophisticated milk has been produced by both skimming and watering, it will be obvious, on consideration, that the extraneous waters employed in manufacturing 100 grammes of it is equal to the difference between 100 and the quantity of genuine milk employed to make 100 grammes of sophisticated milk, together with a quantity of water equal to that of fat removed by skimming.

Extraneous water = 100(100 / 9·3)a + (3·2 / 9·3)(a - b)

= 100[(100 + 3·2) / 9·3](a - b)

Save for the purpose of finding out the presence of matters other than an excess of water in the milk (a contingency regarded as very improbable), the estimation of the casein and milk sugar is unnecessary. The determination of the ash is for the object of learning if foreign mineral matters, such as chalk or any other inorganic impurity, are present. Professor Wanklyn says he believes that such like extraneous bodies are never employed. The chief, if not the sole, form of dishonesty are watering and skimming.

The amount of ash, however, is a good criterion as to the extent of dilution that has been practised, a deficient amount being, of course, confirmatory of a watered milk.

The determination of the amount of ‘solids, not fat,’ is, in almost every instance, all that is necessary to enable an opinion to be arrived at as to whether the sample of milk has had water added to it or not.

Out of fifty-six samples of milk supplied to the different London unions in 1873, Professor Wanklyn reports that he found only fifteen unwatered, or nearly unwatered. Of these fifteen samples nine had been skimmed, leaving only six that were at once unwatered and unskimmed. These figures, therefore, show that only about 10 per cent. of the milk supplied in the above year to the Metropolitan unions was genuine. He adds—“It is curious to compare the language of the contract under which (as it appears from Mr Rowsell’s report) the dealer supplied the various unions with milk, with the quality of the article as exhibited by the analysis. ‘New unskimmed milk unadulterated,’ ‘genuine as from the cow,’ ‘best new unskimmed milk, to produce 10 per cent. of cream,’ occur in these contracts.”

Prop. These are well known. Perfectly fresh milk is slightly alkaline, but soon becomes acid on exposure to the air, and after a time white coagula of casein (CURDS) separate from it. This change is immediately effected by the addition of rennet or an acid. That from the first, when dried and pressed, constitutes cheese.

Pur., Tests, &c. The common frauds practised by the milk-dealers are the addition of water and the subtraction of part of the cream. Sometimes potato starch is added to the milk, to give it a creamy or rich appearance, and this addition is still more frequently made to cream, to increase its consistence and quality.

The presence of potato starch may be determined by boiling some of the milk with a little vinegar, and after separating the coagulum by a strainer, and allowing the liquid to become cold, testing it with solution or tincture of iodine. If it turns blue, starch, flour, or some other amylaceous substance, has been used to adulterate it. In most cases it will be sufficient to apply the test to the unprepared suspected milk.

It has frequently been stated that chalk, plaster of Paris, gum, gelatin, sugar, flour, mucilage of hemp-seed, the brains of animals, and other similar substances, are often added to London milk, but there is no reason to suppose there is any truth in these assertions, as some of these articles are too costly to be used, and the presence of others would so alter the flavour or appearance of the milk, or would so soon exhibit themselves by subsidence, as to lead to their detection.

Pres. Milk may be preserved in stout bottles, well corked, and wired down, by heating them, in this state, to the boiling-point, in a water bath, by which means the oxygen of the small quantity of enclosed air becomes absorbed. It must be afterwards stored in a cool situation. By this method, which is also extensively adopted for the preservation of green gooseberries, green peas, &c., milk will retain its properties unaltered for years. A few grains of carbonate of magnesia, or, still better, of bicarbonate of potassa or soda, may be advantageously dissolved in each bottle before corking it.

Under Bethel’s patent the milk or cream is scalded, and, when cold, strongly charged with carbonic-acid gas, by means of a soda-water machine, and the corks are wired down in the usual manner. The bottles should be kept inverted, in a cool place.

An excellent method of preventing milk from turning sour, or coagulating, is to add to every pint of it about 10 or 12 gr. of carbonate or bicarbonate of soda. Milk thus prepared may be kept for eight or ten days in temperate weather. This addition is harmless, and, indeed, is advantageous to dyspeptic patients. According to D’Arcot, ⁄2000th part of the bicarbonate is sufficient for the purpose. An excess of alkali used in this manner may be detected by the milk turning turmeric paper brown, even after it has been kept some hours, and by the ash obtained by evaporating a little to dryness, and then heating it to dull redness, effervescing with an acid. (See below.)

⁂ Milk should not be kept in lead or zinc vessels, as it speedily dissolves a portion of these metals, and becomes poisonous.

Concluding Remarks. The principal difference between cows’ milk and human milk consists in the former containing more casein and less sugar of milk than the latter. The remarkable indisposition to coagulate is another character which distinguishes human milk from cows’ milk. Prof. Falkland, who has practically investigated the subject has prepared a nutritive fluid for infants from cows’ milk, closely resembling that of the healthy adult woman. His process is, however, unnecessarily complicated, and, therefore, unsuited to those who would have to employ it in the nursery. To remove this objection we have adopted the following formula:—Sugar of milk, 2 oz.; hot water, ⁄4 pint; dissolve, and, when the liquor has become quite cold, add it to fresh cows’ milk, ⁄4 pint, and stir them together. This quantity, prepared morning and evening, will constitute the proper food for an infant of from 5 to 8 months old. More may be allowed it if it ‘craves’ it; but there must be no ‘cramming.’ At first it will be advisable to remove a little of the cream from the milk before adding to it the saccharine solution; but after a few days this will be found to be unnecessary, and, indeed, injurious. One very important particular to be attended to is, the employment of pure cows’ milk, obtained from a healthy grass-fed animal only. With this precaution, and the use of a good FEEDING-BOTTLE, the infant will thrive nearly as well as on the breast of any human female, excepting its mother’s. (See below.)

Asses’ milk closely resembles human milk in colour, smell, and consistence, but it contains rather less cream. (See below.)

Ewes’ milk closely resembles cows’ milk, than which, however, it is slightly richer in cream.

Goats’ milk, for the most part, resembles cows’ milk, but its consistence is much greater, and it contains much more solid matter. (See below.)

Mares’ milk, in consistence; is between that of cows’ and human milk. Its cream is not converted into butter by agitation. See Butter, Cheese, Lactic Acid, &c.

Milk as a cause or carrier of disease.—Milk of a mother labouring under strong mental emotion is, as is well known, capable of seriously endangering the health of the suckling babe. Payne narrates the case of a woman suffering under a nervous affection whose milk, two hours after an attack of the disease, became viscid, like the white of an egg. Similarly, a deterioration and consequent alteration in properties is induced in the milk of the cow if she be over driven, exhausted, or harassed. The food of the animal likewise exercises an influence on the quality of its milk; thus when cows are fed on turnips, wormwood, decayed leaves, and plants of the cabbage or onion families, the flavour of these substances is imparted to their milk. The milk of animals that have fed on poisonous or deleterious plants is capable of setting up toxic symptoms in human beings partaking of it. In June, 1875, the inhabitants of a certain quarter of Rome were attacked with an epidemic, distinguished by great gastro-intestinal irritation. The cause of the outbreak was traced to the use of goats’ milk, yielded by goats that had eaten of the meadow saffron, the Colchicum autumnale. It also appears that in the Western States of America the milk of cows that have fed on the poison-oak, the Rhus toxicodendron, has on several occasions given rise to attacks of illness in children, marked by extreme weakness, vomiting, fall in bodily temperature, swollen and dry tongue, and constipation. Boiling seems to remove the dangerous properties of the milk.

Milk, as has been shown by Fuchs, is sometimes infested by a fungus, the Oidium lactis or Penicillium, which is capable of giving rise to gastric irritation, and sometimes to severe febrile gastritis.

Although the evidence as to the power of the milk of animals affected with epizootic diseases to convey the particular affection to human beings is contradictory, there is little reason to doubt that soured milk may become a carrier of infection from the ailing or convalescent subject to the healthy one.

Typhoid and scarlet fever have been known to have originated in this manner.

The outbreak of the former malady in Marylebone in 1874 was traced to the contamination of milk by the remains of the water which had been used in rinsing the milk pans. This water had been obtained from a well into which the excrete from a typhus patient had percolated from a privy.

At Leeds a similar outbreak was caused by the absorption by the milk of the typhoid effluvium. In the case of scarlet fever the malady has been conveyed by means of the throat-discharges and cuticle falling into the milk from the persons of servants and others employed in dairies.

Milk, Al′mond. See Emulsion and Mixture.

Milk, Arrowroot. Prep. From arrowroot, 1 table-spoonful, first wetted and stirred with a little cold water, afterwards adding, gradually, of boiling water, ⁄4 pint; and, lastly, of boiling milk, ⁄2 pint; with sugar, spice, wine, &c., to palate. Very nutritious, and excellent in chronic diarrhœa. Some persons employ all milk.

Milk, Choc′olate. Prep. Dissolve chocolate (scraped), 1 oz., in boiling new milk, 1 pint. Nutritious; but apt to offend delicate stomachs.

Milk, Cof′fee. Prep. 1. Coffee, 1 oz.; boiling water, ⁄4 pint; infuse for 10 or 15 minutes in a warm situation, and add the strained liquid to boiling milk, ⁄4 pint.

2. Coffee, 1 oz.; tie it loosely in a piece of muslin, and simmer it for 15 minutes in milk, 1 pint. Both the above have been recommended for persons of spare habits, and for those disposed to affections of the lungs, more especially for the asthmatic.

Milk, Facti′′tious. Syn. Artificial milk. Of the numerous compounds which have been proposed as substitutes for natural milks, the following are examples:—

1. (Factitious asses’ milk; Lac asininum factitium, Lac a. artificiale, L.)—a. Cows’ milk, 1 quart; ground rice, 1 oz.; oringo root (bruised), 1 dr,; boil, strain, and add sugar candy (or white sugar), 1 oz.

b. Whites of 2 eggs; lump sugar, 1 oz.; cows’ milk (new), ⁄4 pint; mix, then add syrup of tolu, ⁄4 oz.

c. Water, 1 pint; hartshorn shavings, 1 oz.; boil to a jelly; then add lump sugar, 2 oz.; cool, add new milk, 1 pint; syrup of tolu, ⁄2 oz. Used as substitutes for asses’ milk, taken freely as a beverage. A cupful, with or without a spoonful of rum, 3 or 4 times daily, is a popular remedy in consumption and debility.

2. (F. goats’ milk—A. T. Thomson.) Fresh mutton suet (minced), 1 oz.; tie it in a muslin bag, and boil it in cows’ milk, 1 quart; lastly, add of sugar candy, 2 gr. In scrofulous emaciation, and in the latter stages of phthisis. The proportion of suet in the above may be advantageously increased a little. The LAC CUM SERO of Guy’s Hospital is a similar preparation.

3. (F. human milk; Lac humanum factitium, L.)—a. See above.

b. (Rosenstein.) Almonds (blanched), 2 in number; white sugar, 1 dr.; water, 4 fl. oz.; make an emulsion, strain, and add of fresh cows’ milk, 6 fl. oz. As a substitute for the breast in nursing.

Milk, Preserved′. Syn. Milk powder; Lactis pulvis, Lac pulveratum, L. Prep. 1. Fresh skimmed milk, 1 gall.; carbonate of soda (in very fine powder), 1⁄2 dr.; mix, evaporate to ⁄3rd by the heat of steam or a water bath, with constant agitation, then add of powdered white sugar, 3⁄2 lbs., and complete the evaporation at a reduced temperature; reduce the dry mass to powder, add the cream (well drained) which was taken from the milk, and after thorough admixture put the whole into well-stoppered bottles or tins, which must be at once hermetically sealed.

2. (Legrip.) Carbonate of soda, ⁄2 dr.; water, 1 fl. oz.; dissolve, add of fresh milk, 1 quart; sugar, 1 lb.; reduce it by heat to the consistence of a syrup, and finish the evaporation on plates by exposure in an oven.

Obs. About an ounce of the powder agitated with a pint of water, forms an agreeable and nutritious drink, and a good substitute for milk at sea. It may also be used for tea or coffee in a solid form. This process, which is very old, has been recently patented. See Milk (above).

The condensed or preserved milk, now in such general use, and which is met with in tins as milk which has been more or less deprived of water by evaporation in vacuo. It occurs in the market in two forms—in one simply as condensed milk, and in the other as condensed milk mixed with a large quantity of sugar. Milk preserved as above without sugar will keep only for two or three days; whereas with sugar it may be preserved for an almost indefinite time. Either variety mixed with the proper quantity of water becomes normal milk again, the sweetened kind being, of course, milk with the addition of a considerable amount of cane sugar. Professor Wanklyn says he has examined the principal brands of preserved and condensed milk sent to the London market, and finds they contain their due proportion of fat. He gives the following analyses of the produce of the English Condensed Milk Company:

Preserved Milk.

In 100 parts by weight.

Water 20·5

Fat 10·4

Casein 11·0

Ash 2·0

Cane and milk sugar 56·1

100·0

Condensed Milk.

Water 51·12

Fat 12·11

Casein 13·64

Milk sugar 20·36

Ash 2·77

100·00

Roses, Milk of. Syn. Lac rosæ, L. Prep. 1. (English.)—a. Almonds (blanched), 1 oz.; oil of almonds and white soft soap, of each 1 dr.; rose water, 1 pint; make an emulsion.

b. From liquor of potassa and oil of almonds, of each 1 fl. oz.; hot water, 2 fl. oz,; agitate together until mixed, then add of rose water and distilled or filtered soft water, of each ⁄4 pint, and again agitate well.

c. As the last, but using half a tea-spoonful of salt of tartar for the liquor of potassa.

d. (Redwood.) Blanched almonds, 8 oz.; rose water, 3 pints; make an emulsion, add of white Windsor soap, white wax, and oil of almonds, of each ⁄2 oz.; previously melted together by a gentle heat; triturate until united, and strain; lastly, add a solution of oil of bergamot, ⁄2 oz.; oil of lavender, 1 dr.; and attar of roses, ⁄2 dr.; (dissolved in) rectified spirit, 12 oz.

2. (French.)—a. From rose water, 1 quart; tinctures of benzoin and styrax, of each 1 fl. oz.; spirit of roses, ⁄2 fl. oz.; rectified spirit, ⁄2 fl. oz.; mix.

b. (Augustin.) Tincture of benzoin, ⁄2 fl. oz.; liquor of carbonate of potassa, 2⁄2 fl. dr.; rose water, ⁄2 pint; agitate well together. As a lotion in acne.

c. (Gianinni.) Tincture of benzoin, 1 dr.; tincture of balsam of Peru, 20 drops; rose water, 1 pint; as the last.

d. (Schubarth.) Almond paste, 3 dr.; rose water, ⁄2 pint; tincture of benzoin, ⁄2 fl. oz. As before. The addition to the last 3 of a little rectified spirit is an improvement.

3. (German.) From dilute solution of diacetate of lead (Goulard water), and spirit of lavender, of each 1 fl. oz.; rose water, 6 fl. oz.; soft water, 1 pint.

Obs. All the above are used as cosmetic washes, and to remove scurf, pimples, and eruptions, in slight cases.

Milk, Sa′go. Syn. Lac sago, L. Prep. (Dr A. T. Thomson.) Sago, 1 oz.; cold water, 1 pint; macerate half an hour, pour off the water, add of milk, 1⁄2 pint, and boil slowly until the sago is dissolved. Very nutritious; also in lieu of arrow-root milk.

Milk of Sulphur. See Sulphur (Precipitated).

Milk, Thick. Mix one table-spoonful of flour with a pint of milk, and boil for ten minutes, stirring it well the whole time. It may be flavoured either with a little salt, or sugar.

Milk, Vanil′la. Syn. Lac vanillæ, L. Prep. 1. Essence of vanilla, 12 drops; lump sugar, 1 oz.; triturate, and add gradually, new milk, 1 pint.

2. (Bèral.) Vanilla sugar, ⁄2 oz.; milk, 16 oz.; dissolve.

MILK FEVER. Syn. Febris lactea, L. A febrile condition of the system that sometimes occurs at the time the milk begins to be secreted after parturition. It often assumes a malignant character. See Puerperal Fever.

MIL′LET. Syn. Milium, L. Several varieties of grain are known by this name. That commonly referred to under the name is the produce of Panicum miliaceum (‘Indian millet’). The husked seeds (MILIUM MUNDATUM) are used to make gruel, and are ground for flour. ‘Turkish millet,’ or ‘Guinea corn,’ is produced by Sorgham vulgare; and the ‘German’ and ‘Italian millet’ by species of Setaria. In some parts of the world millet flour is used for bread, but it is chiefly cultivated as food for domestic animals.

Letheby says millets are a little more nutritious than rice.

In the subjoined table, is given the composition of three different samples of millet meal, free from bran.

Panicum miliaceum, common millet. Penicillaria spicata, a kind of millet, much used in India under the name of Bajia. Sorghum vulgare, Dharra of the Arabs, Goar of India.

Water 12·22 11·8 11·95

Nitrogenous substances 9·27 10·13 8·64

Dextrin 9·13 ... 3·82

Sugar 1·80 ... 1·46

Fat 7·43 4·62 3·90

Starch 59·04 71·75 70·23

Silicin 0·11 ... ...

MINCE MEAT. Prep. From stoned raisins, currants, sugar, and suet, of each 2 lbs.; sultana raisins and boiled beef (lean and tender), of each 1 lb.; apples 4 lbs.; juice of 2 lemons; the rind of 1 lemon, chopped very fine; mixed spice, ⁄4 lb.; candied citron and lemon peel, of each 2 oz.; brandy, a glassful or two; the whole chopped very fine. It may be varied by adding other spice or flavouring, and by the addition of eggs, or the substitution of chopped fowl or veal for beef, according to the state of the cuisinier.

MINCE PIES. Take 3 apples, 3 lemons, 1 lb. of raisins, ⁄4 lb. of currants, 1 lb. of suet, ⁄4 lb. of raw beef, 2 lbs. of moist sugar, ⁄4 lb. of mixed candied peel, ⁄4 of a rind of a fresh orange, 1 teaspoonful of powdered mixed spice, composed of equal parts of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, ⁄2 pint of brandy, and 1 glass of port wine. Peel the apples and cut out the cores very carefully, and then bake the pieces until they are quite soft. The raisins must be carefully stoned, and the currants well washed, dried, and picked. Chop the suet very finely, as well as the raw meat and lemon-peel. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly together, add the brandy last of all, and press the whole down into a stone jar, and place a piece of paper soaked in brandy on the top. Remove the paper and stir up the mixture thoroughly every three days, replacing the paper. If this is done the mincemeat will keep a long time. To make the pies, roll out some thin puff-paste, butter a small round tin, and line it with a piece of paste, then put in a generous quantity of the mincemeat, cover it over with a similar piece of puff paste, and bake it in a moderate oven. Mince pies are none the worse for being warmed up, but pray take care they are sent to table hot. (Cassell.)

MINDERE′′RUS’ SPIRIT. See Ammonia (Acetate of), and Solution.

MINERAL CHAME′LEON. Prep. From a mixture of binoxide of manganese and potassa and nitre, equal parts, heated to redness. It must be preserved in a well-corked bottle until required for use.

Prop., &c. When dissolved in water, its solution, at first green, passes spontaneously through all the coloured rays to the red, when, if potassa be added, the colour retrogrades until it reaches the original green. The addition of oil of vitriol, or of chlorine, renders the solution colourless. The addition of a weak acid, or even boiling or agitating the liquid, turns it from green to red. See Manganic Acid.

MIN′ÉRALISERS. Substances which, by association with metallic bodies, deprive them of their usual properties, and impart to them the character of ores. Their removal belongs to metallurgy. The term ‘MINERALISED’ has been applied to caoutchouc, gutta percha, bitumen, &c., which has been combined with sulphur, silica, or metallic matter.

MIN′IM. Syn. Minimum, L. A measured drop, of which 60 are equal to a fluid drachm. The size of drops vary so greatly with different liquids and are also so much influenced by the size and shape of the vessels from which they are poured, that they afford no reliable measure of quantity for medicinal purposes. The poured drop has, in some cases, only ⁄3rd the volume of the measured drop, or minim; whilst, in others, it is nearly 3 times as large. According to Mr Durande, “liquids which contain a small proportion of water, afford a small drop; while, on the contrary, liquids containing a large quantity of water furnish a large drop.” “Among liquids containing a large proportion of water, those which are not charged with remedial substances, give a larger and heavier drop than the same liquids when containing extraneous bodies in solution.” In all cases in which the word ‘drop’ is mentioned in this work a minim is intended, and the quantity should be determined by means of a graduated minim measure.

MIN′IUM. See Red Pigments.

MINT. Syn. Spearmint, Green m.; Mentha viridis (Ph. L.), L. “The recent and the dried flowering herb” of Mentha viridis. It is aromatic and carminative, but its flavour is less agreeable than that of peppermint. It is employed in flatulence, colic, nausea, diarrhœa, &c.; also to make sauce.

MIR′RORS. See Amalgam (Silvering), Silvering, Speculum Metal, &c.

MITES. See Acari.

MITH′RIDATE. Syn. Damocrate’s Confection; Mithridatium, Confectio Damocratis, L. “This composition originally consisted of but few ingredients; viz. 20 leaves of rue, 2 walnuts, 2 figs, and a little salt. Of this we are informed that Mithridates took a dose every morning, to guard himself against the effects of poison. It was afterwards altered, and the number of the ingredients increased to sixty-one. In this more complex form it contained opium, and was, in effect, an aromatic opiate, of which the confection of opium of the present day may be considered as a simplification. The ‘mithridate’ is still prepared in some shops, and is occasionally, though very rarely, prescribed.” (Med. Lex.) “The formulæ for CONFECTION or ELECTUARY OF CATECHU may be considered as the representatives, in our modern Pharmacopœias, of the once celebrated recipes for Confectio Damocratis and Theriaca Andromachi.” (Redwood.) Mithridate was formerly conceived to be good for nearly every disease, and an antidote for every known poison.

MIXTURE. Syn. Mistura, L. A compound liquid medicine, taken in divided doses. Mixtures are usually extemporaneous preparations, and in prescribing them care should be taken not to bring together substances that decompose each other, nor to order heavy powders, that speedily separate from the body of the liquid by subsidence. Emulsions, JULEPS, and MUCILAGES, are included in the ‘MISTURÆ’ of the London Pharmacopœia.

Mixtures are usually dispensed in flat octagonal 6-or 8-oz. bottles, with long necks; or in regular ‘octagons’ with short necks, having the doses marked on the glass, to which the strength of the medicine is made to correspond.

Our remarks respecting ‘DRAUGHTS’ equally apply here. By putting the active ingredients of six draughts into a 6-oz. mixture bottle, and filling it up with distilled water, a mixture will be made of corresponding properties, of which the dose will be 2 table-spoonfuls. When the formula for the draughts includes a decoction or infusion as the vehicle, instead of water, four of them only must be taken, which will then fill the 6-oz. bottle, and the proper dose will be 3 table-spoonfuls, or a small wine-glassful.

The following formulæ embraces the whole of the ‘MISTURÆ’ of the British Pharmacopœia, as well as a few others in general use. These will serve as examples for the like preparations of medicinals which are not included in the list. (See also Draught, Emulsion, Julep, Water, &c.)

Mixture, Absor′bent. See Mixture, Antacid.

Mixture, Aca′cia. See Mixture, Gum.

Mixture, Ace′tate of Ammo′′nia. Syn. Mindererus’s mixture; Mistura ammoniæ acetatis, L. Prep. From solution of acetate of ammonia, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; nitre, 40 gr.; camphor mixture, 6 fl. oz.; rose syrup, ⁄2 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, every third or fourth hour, as a diaphoretic in inflammatory fevers, &c.

Mixture of Acetic Acid. Syn. Mistura acidi acetici. Prep. Distilled vinegar, 2 fl. dr.; syrup, 4 fl. dr.; water, 2 fl. oz. A fourth part every three hours. For children with scarlatina.

Mixture of Aconite. (Mr Fleming.) Syn. Mistura aconiti. Prep. Tincture of aconite, 1 fl. dr.; carbonate of soda, 1⁄2 dr.; sulphate of magnesia, 1⁄2 oz.; water, 6 oz. A table-spoonful when the pain is urgent. In gastralgia this should only be administered under medical supervision or advice.

Mixture, Al′kaline. See Mixture, Antacid.

Mixture, Al′mond. Syn. Emulsion of almonds, Milk of a.; Mistura amygdalæ (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), Lac amygdalæ, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Confection of almonds, 2⁄2 oz.; distilled water, 1 pint; gradually add the water to the confection while triturating, until they are mixed; then strain the liquid through linen.

2. (Ph. E.) From almond confection, 2 oz., and water, 1 quart; as the last. Or, from sweet almonds (blanched), 10 dr.; white sugar, 5 dr.; mucilage, ⁄2 fl. oz. (or powdered gum, 3 dr.); made into an emulsion with water, 1 quart.

3. (Ph. D.) Sweet almonds (blanched), 5 dr.; refined sugar, 2 dr.; powdered gum, 1 dr.; distilled water, 8 fl. oz.; as the last.

4. (B. P.) Compound powder of almonds (sweet), 1; water, 8; triturate and strain.

Obs. The last formula produces the article usually employed in dispensing in the shops. The addition of a little more sugar renders it more pleasant; and 2 or 3 bitter almonds, as in the formula of the Ph. D. 1826, or 1 or 2 fl. dr. of rose or orange-flower water, may occasionally be added, to diversify the flavour.—Dose, 2 or 3 table-spoonfuls, ad libitum; as a demulcent and emollient in coughs and colds, or as a vehicle for more active medicines.

Mixture of Ammonia, Muriate of. (Sir G. Lefevre.) Syn. Mistura ammoniæ muriatis. Prep. Muriate of ammonia, 60 gr.; extract of liquorice, 3 dr.; tartarised antimony, 2 gr.; distilled water, 8 oz. A tablespoonful every 2 hours in pleurisy, congestion of mucous membranes, &c.

Mixture, Ammoni′acum. Syn. Emulsion of ammoniacum, Milk of a.; Mistura ammoniaci (B. P., Ph. L. & D.), Lac ammoniaci, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Prepared ammoniacum, 5 dr.; distilled water, 1 pint; rub the ammoniacum with the water, gradually added, until they are perfectly mixed.

2. (Ph. D.) Ammoniacum, ⁄4 oz.; water, 8 fl. oz.; as the last, but straining through muslin.

3. (B. P.) Ammoniacum, ⁄4 oz.; rubbed down with water, 8 oz., and strain.—Dose, ⁄2 to 1 gr.

Obs. The last formula produces the best and most effective mixture, owing to the use of the raw instead of the strained drug.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, either alone or combined with squills or ipecacuanha; as an expectorant and demulcent in chronic coughs, humoral asthma, &c.

Mixture, A′nodyne. Syn. Mistura anodyna, Julepum calmans, L. Prep. 1. Prepared chalk, 2 dr.; syrup of poppies, 1 oz.; fetid spirit of ammonia, 1⁄2 dr.; oils of dill and aniseed, of each 3 drops; water, 4⁄4 fl. oz.—Dose. A teaspoonful 3 or 4 times a day; in the diarrhœa and colic of infancy.

2. (P. Cod.) Syrup of opium, 2 dr.; syrup of orange flowers, 6 dr.; lettuce water, 4 fl. oz. To allay pain, induce sleep, &c. Dose, 1 table-spoonful.

3. (Vicat.) Ammoniated alcohol, ⁄4 fl. oz.; powdered opium, 1 dr.; powdered camphor, ⁄2 dr.; proof spirit, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; digest, with agitation, for 3 or 4 days, and filter. In toothache arising from caries, and as a lotion to the temples in headache.

Mixture, Antac′id. Syn. Absorbent Mixture, Alkaline m.; Mistura Alkalina, M. Antacida, L. Prep. 1. Liquor of potassa and spirit of nutmeg, of each 2 fl. dr.; tincture of rhubarb, 3 fl. dr.; tincture of opium, 1 fl. dr.; water, 5 fl. oz. In dyspepsia, heartburn, &c., accompanied with flatulence.

2. Spirit of sal volatile and orange-flower water, of each 1 fl. oz.; simple syrup, 1⁄2 fl. oz; water, 2⁄2 fl. oz. In acidity, &c., accompanied with languor and low spirits.

3. Sesquicarbonate of ammonia, 2 dr.; syrup of orange peel and tincture of gentian, of each 1 fl. oz.; water, 4 fl. oz. In dyspepsia, heartburn, &c., arising from excessive indulgence in spirituous or fermented liquors. It also possesses considerable stimulating properties, and will partially remove the fit of drunkenness.

4. (Collier.) Prepared chalk, 2 dr.; tincture of ginger, 2 fl. dr.; compound tincture of cardamoms, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; pimento water, 6 fl. oz. In diarrhœa accompanied with acidity.

5. (Collier.) Chalk mixture, 5 fl. oz.; tinctures of catechu and cinnamon, of each ⁄2 fl. oz. In chronic diarrhœa.

6. (Ryan.) Liquor of potassa, 2 fl. dr.; tincture of opium, 1 fl. dr.; calcined magnesia, 1 dr.; oil of peppermint, 5 drops; lime water, 8 fl. oz. In dyspepsia accompanied with acidity, flatulence, and constipation.

Mixture, Anticroup′al. Syn. Mistura Senegæ, L. Prep. (Jadelot.) Infusion of senega, 4 oz.; syrup of ipecacuanha, 1 oz.; oxymel of squills, 3 dr.; tartarised antimony, 1⁄2 gr.; mix. By spoonfuls, in croup.

Mixture, Anti-eme′tic. Syn. Mistura anti-emetica, L. Prep. 1. Creasote, 12 drops; acetate of morphia, 1⁄2 gr.; camphor, 10 gr. rectified spirit, ⁄2 fl. oz.; syrup of orange peel, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; distilled vinegar, 4 fl. oz. In sea-sickness, &c.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful on the approach of vomiting, and repeated at intervals of half an hour until the vomiting ceases.

2. (Dr. Barker.) Compound tincture of camphor, 1 fl. dr.; burnt brandy, 1 fl. oz.; sugar, ⁄2 oz.; infusion of mint, 6 fl. oz.—Dose, ⁄2 to 1 table-spoonful, every ⁄4 hour, until the vomiting ceases.

Mixture, Anti-epilep′tic. Syn. Mistura anti-epileptica, L. Prep. (M. Lemoine.) Liquor of ammonia, 12 drops; syrup of orange flowers, 1 oz.; distilled water of linden flowers, 2 oz.; do. of cherry laurel, ⁄2 oz.; mix. According to M. Lemoine, this is a specific in epilepsy.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful, or more.

Mixture, Antihyster′ic. Syn. Mistura antihysterica, L.; Potion antihysterique, Fr. Prep. (Dr Josat.) Cyanide of potassium, 1⁄4 gr.; distilled lettuce water, 4⁄2 fl. oz.; syrup of orange flowers, 1⁄2 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls every ten minutes, when the fit is expected; during the fit it may be given in double doses. Dr Josat declares its efficacy to have been indisputably proved in upwards of 55 cases.

2. (Magendie.) Cyanide of potassium, 2 gr.; lettuce water (distilled), 4 oz.; syrup of marshmallow, 2 oz. Resembles the last.

3. (Dr Paris.) Assafœtida, 1 dr.; peppermint water, 5 fl. oz.; make an emulsion, and add of ammoniated tincture of valerian, 2 fl. dr.; tincture of castor, 3 fl. dr.; sulphuric ether, 1⁄2 fl. dr.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful, 3 or 4 times a day, or oftener.

4. (P. Cod.) Syrup of wormwood, 1 oz.; tincture of castor, ⁄2 dr.; valerian water and orange-flower water, of each 2 oz.; ether, 1 dr. As the last.

Mixture, Antimo′′nial. See Mixture, Contra-stimulant.

Mixture, Antipertus′sic. Syn. Mistura antipertussiens, L. Prep. 1. Cochineal (powdered), 2 dr.; carbonate of potassa, 1 dr.; boiling water, 8 fl. oz.; infuse for 1 hour, strain, and add of lump sugar, 1⁄2 oz.

2. (Dr Bird.) Extract of hemlock, 12 gr.; alum, 25 gr.; syrup of red poppies, 2 fl. dr.; dill water, 3 fl. oz.

3. (Dr Reece.) Tincture of assafœtida, 1 fl. dr.; tincture of opium, 10 or 12 drops; powdered ipecacuanha, 10 gr.; water, 2 fl. oz.—Dose. A teaspoonful every 3 hours, in hooping cough, for a child 2 or 3 years old, and other ages in proportion.

Mixture, Antiscrof′ulous. Syn. Mistura antiscrofulosa, L. Prep. From tincture of bichloride of gold, 30 drops; tincture of iodine, 40 drops; tincture of gentian, 1 fl. dr.; simple syrup, 7 fl. dr.; rose water, 5 fl. oz.—Dose. A dessert-spoonful, 3 or 4 times daily, in a wine-glassful of water; observing to shake the bottle before pouring out the liquid. Mr Cooley states that he has seen repeated instances of the excellent effects of this medicine in scrofula, syphilis, and various glandular diseases, even under all the disadvantages of a salt-meat diet and confinement on shipboard.

Mixture, Antispasmod′ic. Syn. Mistura antispasmodica, L. Prep. 1. Tincture of castor, 6 fl. dr.; sulphuric ether and laudanum, of each 1 fl. dr.; syrup of saffron, 1 fl. oz.; cinnamon water, 4 fl. oz.

2. (Dr Collier.) Assafœtida and camphor mixtures, of each 2⁄2 fl. oz.; tincture of valerian, 1 fl. oz.

3 (P. Cod.) Lime or linden-flower water and orange-flower water, of each 2 oz.; syrup of orange flowers, 1 oz.; ether, ⁄2 dr.—Dose. (Of each of the above) 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls.

Mixture, Ape′′rient. Syn. Mistura aperiens, L. Prep. 1. (Abernethy.) Sulphate of magnesia, 1 oz.; manna, ⁄2 oz.; infusion of senna, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; tincture of senna, ⁄2 fl. oz.; mint water, 2 fl. oz.; distilled water, 4 fl. oz.; mix. This is the true ‘Abernethy Black Draught,’

2. (Dr Christison.) Sulphate of magnesia, 1⁄2 oz.; water, 4 fl. oz.; dissolve, and add, of tincture of senna, 1 fl. oz.; infusion of roses, 4 fl. oz.—Dose. A wine-glassful hourly, until it begins to operate.

3. (Dr Collier.) Sulphate of iron, 20 gr.; Epsom salts, 1 oz.; pennyroyal water, 1 pint; dissolve.—Dose. A wine-glassful twice a day, in atonic amenorrhœa.

Mixture, Aromat′ic. Syn. Mistura aromatica, L. Prep. 1. (P. Cod.) Syrup of clove gilliflowers, 1 oz.; spirit of cinnamon, ⁄2 oz.; confection of hyacinth, 2 dr.; peppermint water and orange-flower water, of each 2 oz.

2. (Guy’s Hosp.) Aromatic confection (Ph. L., in powder), 3 dr.; peppermint water, 9 fl. oz. Sometimes a little tincture of calumba is added.

3. (St Barth. Hosp.) Aromatic confection, 2⁄2 dr.; water, 5 fl. oz.; pimento water, 3 fl. oz.; mix. The last two are excellent aromatic absorbents in diarrhœa, heartburn, flatulence, acidity, &c.—Dose, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls every 2 or 3 hours, or as required.

Mixture, Aromatic Iron. Pale bark, in powder, 4; calumba, in powder, 2; cloves, bruised, 1; iron wire, 2; compound tincture of cardamoms, 12; tincture of orange peel, 2; peppermint water, 50; macerate the first four ingredients in the last one for three days, agitating occasionally, filter, add the tinctures, and make up to 50. Used as a tonic.—Dose, 1 to 2 oz.

Mixture, Arsen′ical. Syn. Mistura arsenicalis, L. Prep. From liquor of arsenite of potassa—Ph. L., 2 fl. dr.; compound tincture of cardamoms, 4 fl. dr.; cinnamon water, 2 fl. oz.; pure water, 3 fl. oz.; mix.—Dose. A small table-spoonful, twice a day, after a full meal; in agues, periodic headaches, lepra, psoriasis, chronic rheumatism, &c. It should be exhibited with caution, and its effects watched; and after 5 or 6 days the dose should be reduced to half the quantity.

Mixture, Astrin′gent. Syn. Mistura astringens, L. Prep. 1. (Pradel.) Tannin, 12 gr.; tincture of rhatany, 1 dr.; simple syrup, 7 dr.; mucilage, 1 oz.; camphor mixture, 4 oz.

2. (A. T. Thomson.) Extract of catechu, 2 dr. (or tincture 1 oz.); cinnamon water, 8 oz.; dissolve.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, after every liquid dejection, in diarrhœa and dysentery.

Mixture, Atroph′ic. Syn. Mistura atrophica, L.; Potion atrophique, Fr. Prep. (Magendie.) Iodide of potassium, 4 dr.; lettuce water, 8 oz.; peppermint water, 2 dr.; syrup of marshmallow, 1 oz.—Dose, 1 tablespoonful, twice a day; in hypertrophy (enlargement) of the heart. Sometimes 1 to 2 dr. of tincture of foxglove is added to the mixture.

Mixture, Balsamic. (P. Cod.) Syn. Mistura balsamica. Prep. Balsam copaiba, 2 oz.; rectified spirit, 2 oz.; syrup of tolu, 2 oz.; peppermint water, 4 oz.; nitric ether, 2 dr. Mix the alcohol and ether, add the balsam, then the syrup and water.

Mixture, Bar′ley. Syn. Mistura hordei, L. See Decoction.

Mixture of Bismuth. (St Th. Hosp.) Syn. Mistura bismuthi. Prep. Subnitrate of bismuth, 10 gr.; compound powder of tragacanth, 5 gr.; water, 1 oz. For 1 dose.

Mixture of Bisulphide of Carbon. (Clarus.) Syn. Mistura bisulphureti carbonis. Prep. Bisulphide of carbon, 20 minims; sugar, 2 dr.; milk, 6 oz.—Dose, ⁄2 oz. 4 times a day.

Mixture of Boracic Acid. (Chaussier.) Syn. Mistura acidi boracici. Prep. Camphor mixture, 4 oz.; boracic acid, 60 gr.; syrup of orange peel, 1 oz.

Mixture of Burnt Hartshorn. See Decoction, White.

Mixture, Brandy. Syn. Mixture of spirit of French wine, Egg flip‡; Mistura spiritus vini Gallici (B. P., Ph. L.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Brandy and cinnamon water of each 4 fl. oz.; yolks of 2 eggs; white sugar, ⁄2 oz.; oil of cinnamon, 2 drops; mix. A valuable stimulant and restorative in low fevers, and in extreme exhaustion from hæmorrhages, &c.; but scarcely a fitting subject for the labours of the College of Physicians, since almost every cook and housewife could produce a better compound than the product of the College formula.

2. (B. P.) Brandy, 4 gr.; cinnamon water, 4 oz.; the yolks of 2 eggs; sugar, ⁄2 oz.; mix.—Dose, ⁄2 to 1⁄2 oz., in prostration and last stages of fever.

Mixture of Caffein. (Vanden-Corput.) Syn. Mistura Caffeinæ. Prep. Caffein, 7 gr.; distilled water, 3 oz.; hydrochloric acid, 2 drops; syrup of orange-flower water, ⁄2 oz.; mix.—Dose, 1 tablespoonful.

Mixture, Cam′phor. Syn. Camphor julep, Camphor water; Mistura camphoræ (Ph. L. & D.), Emulsio camphoræ (Ph. E.) Mistura camphorata, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Camphor, ⁄2 dr.; rectified spirit, 10 drops; triturate together, gradually adding of water, 1 pint; and strain through linen.

2. (Ph. D.) Tincture of camphor, 1 fl. oz.; distilled water, 3 pints; agitate well together, and after 24 hours filter through paper.

3. (Ph. E.) See Emulsion.

Uses, &c. Camphor julep is chiefly used as a vehicle for other medicines.—Dose, ⁄2 to 1 wine-glassful.

4. (With MAGNESIA: Mistura camphoræ cum magnesia—Ph. E. & D., Aqua camphoræ—Ph. U. S.)—a. (Ph. E.) Camphor, 10 gr., carbonate of magnesia, 25 gr.; triturate together, then gradually add of water, 6 fl. oz., still continuing the trituration.

b. (Ph. D.) Camphor, 12 gr.; carbonate of magnesia, ⁄2 dr.; water, 6 fl. oz.; as last.

c. (Ph. U. S.) Camphor, 2 dr.; rectified spirit, 40 drops; triturate, add of carbonate of magnesia, 4 dr., and again triturate, adding, gradually, of water, 32 fl. oz. Antacid, antispasmodic, and anodyne.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls. Used without straining. It is stronger than the simple mixture.

d. Carbonated camphor mixture. Syn. Mistura camphor carbonica. Water strongly charged with carbonic acid gas, agitated with powdered camphor and strained.

Mixture, Carmin′ative. Syn. Mistura carminativa, L. Prep. (Dr Paris.) Calcined magnesia, ⁄2 dr.; peppermint water, 2⁄2 fl. dr.; compound tincture of lavender, ⁄2 fl. dr.; spirit of caraway, 4 fl. dr.; syrup of ginger, 2 fl. dr.; mix. Antacid and carminative. For 1 or 2 doses.

Mixture of Cassia. (Fr. Hosp.) Syn. Mistura cassiæ, L.; Eau de casse, F. Cassia pulp, 2 oz.; hot water, 1⁄2 pint. May be taken by the wineglass. Laxative.

Mixture of Cassia, Antimoniated. (Foy.) Syn. Mistura cassiæ antimoniata, Eau de casse. Emitisée. Prep. Pulp of cassia, 1 oz.; boiling water, 1⁄2 pint. Macerate, strain, and add sulphate of magnesia, 1 oz.; emetic tartar, 3 gr. By cupfuls. In painters’ colic.

Mixture, Cathar′tic. See Mixture, Aperient, M. Senna, &c.

Mixture, Chalk. Syn. Cretaceous mixture; Mistura cretæ (B. P.), Mistura creta (Ph. L. E. & D.), M. cretacea, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Prepared chalk, ⁄2 oz.; sugar, 3 dr.; mixture of acacia (mucilage), 1⁄2 fl. oz., triturate together, then add of cinnamon water, 18 fl. oz.

2. (Ph. E.) Prepared chalk, 10 dr.; white sugar, 5 dr.; mucilage, 3 fl. oz; spirit of cinnamon, 2 fl. oz.; water, 1 quart; as the last.

3. (Ph. D.) Prepared chalk, 2 dr.; syrup and mucilage, of each, ⁄2 oz.; cinnamon water, 7 fl. oz.

4. (B. P.) Prepared chalk, 1; gum Arabic, in powder, 1; syrup, 2; cinnamon water, 30; mix by trituration.—Dose, 1 to 2 gr., with astringent tinctures and opium.

Obs. The above are antacid and absorbent.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, either alone or combined with aromatic confection; in heartburn, and in diarrhœa after every liquid motion. In the latter affection, a little tincture of catechu or laudanum is often added; and when there is vomiting or nausea, either peppermint or spearmint water is generally substituted for the whole or a part of the simple water ordered in the above formulæ.

Mixture of Chlorine. Syn. Mistura chlorinii. Dr Watson prescribes 2 fl. dr. of the solution to 1 pint of water. The dose of the mixture is 4 fl. dr. every 3 hours, according to age, in scarlatina.

Mixture of Chloroform. (Ph. U. S.) Syn. Mistura chloroformi. Prep. Chloroform, ⁄2 oz. (by weight); camphor, 1 dr.; yolk of 1 egg; water, 6 oz. Rub the yolk first by itself, then with the camphor, previously dissolved in the chloroform, and lastly, with the water gradually added.

Mixture, Cincho′na. Syn. Bark mixture; Mistura cinchonæ, L. Prep. (Copland.) Confection of roses, ⁄2 oz.; boiling decoction of bark, 1 fl. oz.; triturate, in 10 minutes strain, and add diluted sulphuric acid, 1⁄2 fl. dr.; spirit of nutmeg, 4 fl. dr. Febrifuge, tonic, and stomachic.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, 2 or 3 times a day.

Mixture of Citrate of Caffein. Syn. Mistura caffeinæ citratis, Potion contre migrainæ. Syrup of citrate of caffein, 1 fl. oz.; water (or any agreeable diluent), 5 oz. A table-spoonful frequently.

Mixture, Col′chicum. Syn. Gout mixture; Mistura antarthritica, M. colchici, L. Prep. (Sir S. Scudamore.) Magnesia, 1⁄2 dr.; vinegar of colchicum and syrup of orange peel, of each 4 fl. dr.; peppermint water, 3 fl. oz. A table-spoonful every 3 or 4 hours during the fit of gout.

Mixture, Contra-stim′ulant. Syn. Mistura contra-stimulans, Julepum c., M. antimonii potassio-tartratis, L. Prep. (Laennec.) Tartar emetic, 3 gr.; infusion of orange leaves, 8 fl. oz.; syrup of do., 1 fl. oz.—Dose. A wine-glassful, or more, every 2 hours; in inflammation of the lungs, hooping-cough, &c.

Mixture of Copaiba. (Guy’s Hosp.) Syn. Mistura copaibæ. Prep. Balsam of copaiba, 3 dr.; solution of carbonate of potash, 1⁄2 dr. Rub together and gradually add decoction of barley, 8 oz.; spirit of nitric ether, 3 dr.—Dose, 1 oz. 3 times a day. See Mixtures, Balsamic.

Mixture, Cough. Syn. Mistura bechica, L. Prep. 1. Almond mixture, 4 fl. oz.; oxymel of squills, 1 fl. oz.; ipecacuanha wine and syrup of tolu, of each ⁄2 fl. oz.

2. Tincture of tolu, ⁄8 fl. oz.; paregoric elixir and tincture of squills, of each 1 fl. oz.; syrup of poppies, 3 fl. oz.; water, 3⁄2 fl. oz.

3. Mixture of ammoniacum, 4 fl. oz.; syrup of squills, 2 fl. oz. In the coughs of old persons.

4. Antimonial wine, 3 fl. dr.; syrup of poppies, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; water, 4 fl. oz. In dry, husky coughs.—Dose (of each of the above), 1 table-spoonful, 2 or 3 times a day, or oftener.

5. (Dr Monro.) Paregoric, ⁄2 fl. oz.; sulphuric ether and tincture of tolu, of each ⁄4 oz.—Dose. A teaspoonful in water, night and morning, or when the cough is troublesome.

6. (Dr Radcliff.) Syrup of poppies, syrup of squills, and paregoric, equal parts.—Dose. As the last. In all cases the bowels should be kept gently moved by some mild aperient.

7. (Dr Wood’s Brown Mixture.) Extract of liquorice, 2 dr.; powdered gum Arabic, 2 dr.; boiling water, 4 oz.; dissolve, and add antimonial wine, 2 dr.; laudanum, 20 minims.—Dose. A table-spoonful occasionally. A popular American remedy.

Mixture, Cre′asote. Syn. Mistura creasoti, M. creazoti (B. P., Ph. E.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. E.) Creasote and acetic acid, of each 16 drops; mix, then add of compound spirit of juniper and syrup, of each 1 fl. oz.; water, 14 fl. oz.; and agitate well together.—Dose, ⁄2 to 1 wine-glassful, in nausea and vomiting, especially to prevent or relieve sea-sickness.

2. (B. P.) Creasote, 16 minims; glacial acetic acid, 16 minims; spirit of juniper, ⁄2 dr.; syrup, 1 oz.; distilled water, 15 oz.; mix.—1 to 2 oz.

Mixture of Cubebs. Syn. Mistura cubebæ. Powder of cubebs, 1 oz.; sugar, 2 dr.; mucilage, 2 oz.; cinnamon water, 6 oz.—Dose, ⁄2 oz. to 1 oz.

Mixture, Demul′cent. Syn. Mistura demulcens, L. See Almond Mixture, Gum M., &c.

Mixture, Diaphoret′ic. Syn. Mistura diaphoretica, L. Prep. 1. Solution of acetate of ammonia, 3 fl. oz.; antimonial wine, 2 fl. dr.; tincture of henbane, 1⁄2 fl. dr.; camphor mixture, 3 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful every 3 or 4 hours; in fevers, &c.

2. To the last add of sweet spirit of nitre, ⁄2 fl. oz. As above.

Mixture for Diarrhœa. (Board of Health.) Syn. Mistura pro diarrhœa. Aromatic powder, 3 dr.; compound spirits of ammonia, 3 dr.; tincture of catechu, 10 dr.; compound tincture of cardamoms, 6 dr.; tincture of opium, 1 dr.; chalk mixture to make 20 oz.—Dose. For an adult, 1 oz.; for a child of 12 years of age, ⁄2 oz.; for 7 years, ⁄4 oz.; after each liquid stool.

Mixture, Diarrhœ′a. See Mixture, Chalk, &c.

Mixture, Diuret′ic Syn. Mistura diuretica, L. Prep. 1. Nitrate of potassa, 2 dr.; sweet spirit of nitre, 3 fl. dr.; syrup of squills, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; peppermint water, 4 fl. oz.

2. (A. T. Thomson.) Infusion of foxglove, 5⁄2 fl. oz.; tincture of foxglove, ⁄2 fl. dr.; acetate of potassa, 2 dr.; spirit of juniper, ⁄2 fl. oz.; tincture of opium, ⁄2 fl. In dropsy.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, every 2 or 3 hours. The last must be used with caution.

Mixture, Effervescing. (P. Cod.) Syn. Mistura effervescens; Potion Gazeuse de Rivière. Prep. Dissolve ⁄2 dr. of bicarbonate of potash in 2 oz. of water, and add 4 dr. of syrup. Mix also ⁄2 dr. of citric acid with ⁄3 oz. of syrup of citric acid and 2 oz. of water. Mix an equal quantity of each, and give it while effervescing.

Mixture of Elaterium. (Dr Ferriar.) Syn. Mistura elaterii. Prep. Elaterium, 1 gr.; spirit of nitric ether, 2 fl. oz.; tincture of squills, ⁄2 oz.; oxymel of colchicum, ⁄2 oz.; syrup of buckthorn, 1 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 dr. 3 times a day in water.

Mixture, Emet′ic. Syn. Mistura emetica, L. Prep. 1. (Copland.) Sulphate of zinc, 40 gr.; ipecacuanha wine and tincture of serpentary, of each 4 fl. dr.; tincture of capsicum, 40 drops; oil of chamomile, 12 drops; peppermint water, 4⁄2 fl. oz. As an excitant emetic; in cases of poisoning by narcotics, &c.

2. (Magendie.) Coloured emetine, 4 gr. (or white emetine, 1 gr.); acetic acid, 8 drops; mix, and add of infusion of orange leaves or lime flowers, 3⁄2 fl. oz.; syrup of marshmallows, 1 fl. oz.

3. (A. T. Thomson.) Ipecacuanha, ⁄2 dr.; tartar emetic, 1 gr.; tincture of squills, 1 fl. dr.; water, 6 fl. oz. Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, followed by half the quantity every 10 or 15 minutes, until vomiting is produced; at the same time assisting the action of the medicine by drinking copiously of warm water.

Mixture, Emmen′agogue. See Mixture, Steel, &c.

Mixture, Expec′torant. Syn. Mistura expectorans, L. Prep. 1. (Collier.) Oxymel of squills and mucilage, of each 1 oz.; syrup of marshmallows, 2 oz.; camphor julep, 3 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, 2 or 3 times a day; in coughs, hoarseness, asthma, &c.

2. (A. T. Thomson.) Almond mixture, 5 fl. oz.; ipecacuanha wine and tincture of squills, of each 1 fl. dr.; syrup of tolu, 6 fl. dr.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful; in humoral asthma, catarrh, &c., when the cough is urgent.

Mixture, Feb′rifuge. Syn. Mistura febrifuga, L. See Acetate of Ammonia Mixture, Diaphoretic m., &c.

Mixture of Gentian. (Ph. B.) Syn. Mistura gentianæ. Prep. Macerate gentian root, sliced, ⁄4 oz.; bitter orange peel, cut small, and coriander fruit, bruised, of each 30 gr., in proof spirit, 2 fl. oz., for 2 hours. Add distilled water, 8 fl. oz.; macerate again for 2 hours, and strain through calico.—Dose, 1 oz.

Mixture, Gentian (Compound). Gentian, bruised, 1⁄2; bitter orange peel, bruised, ⁄4; cardamom seeds, bruised, ⁄4; proof spirit, 20: macerate for forty-eight hours with 15 of the spirit, agitating occasionally, pack in a percolator, let it drain, and then pour on the remaining spirit; when it ceases to drop, wash the marc with spirit to make up 20.—Dose, 1 to 2 drachms.

Mixture, Gregory’s. See Powders.

Mixture, Griffith’s. See Mixture, Steel.

Mixture, Guai′acum. Syn. Emulsion of guaiacum, Mili of g.; Mistura guaiaci (B. P.), (Ph. L. & E.), Lac g., L. Prep. (Ph. L.) Gum guaiacum, 3 dr.; white sugar, ⁄2 oz.; gum acacia, 2 dr. (all in powder); triturate together, and to these, whilst rubbing, gradually add of cinnamon water, 1 pint.

2. (Ph. E.) Guaiacum, 3 dr.; sugar, ⁄2 oz.; mucilage, ⁄2 fl. oz.; cinnamon water, 19⁄2 fl. oz.; as before.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, 2 or 3 times a day; in chronic rheumatism, gout, &c.

3. (B. P.) Guaiac resin, in powder, 2; sugar, 2; gum Arabic, in powder, 1; cinnamon water, 80; triturate, adding the cinnamon water gradually.—Dose, ⁄2 to 2 oz.

Mixture, Gum. Syn. Mucilage; Mistura acaciæ (Ph. L.), Mucilago (Ph. E.), Mucilago acaciæ (Ph. D.), Mucilago Arabici gummi, L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Gum acacia (in powder), 13 oz.; boiling distilled water, 1 pint; rub the gum with the water, gradually poured in, until solution is complete.

2. (Ph. E.) Gum, 9 oz.; cold water, 1 pint; macerate, with occasional stirring, until dissolved, then strain through linen or calico.

3. (Ph. D.) Gum (coarsely powdered), 4 oz.; water (cold), 6 fl. oz.; dissolve, and strain through flannel.

Uses, &c. Mucilage of gum acacia is chiefly employed to render oily and resinous substances miscible with water. “Oils require about ⁄4 their weight; balsams and spermaceti, equal parts; resins, 2 parts; and musk, 5 times its weight,” for this purpose. (Montgomery.) The Gum mixture, Ph. E., will be found under ‘Emulsion,’

Mixture of Hemidesmus. (Mid. Hosp.) Syn. Mistura hemidesmi. Prep. Bruised root of hemidesmus, 10 oz.; extract of liquorice, 10 gr.; distilled water, 10 oz. Digest for 12 hours, heat the strained liquor to 180° F., and strain again.—Dose, ⁄3 part 3 times a day.

Mixture of Hemlock, Compound. (Guy’s Hosp.) Syn. Mistura conii composita. Prep. Extract of hemlock, 1 dr.; carbonate of soda, 1⁄2 dr.; decoction of liquorice, 11 oz.; spirit of pimento, 6 dr.—Dose, 1 oz. to 2 oz. Myrrh mixture is sometimes substituted for decoction of liquorice.

Mixture of Horseradish, Compound. (Dr Paris.) Syn. Mistura armoraciæ composita. Prep. Horseradish root, ⁄2 oz.; mustard seed, ⁄2 oz.; boiling water, 1 pint. Macerate for an hour, and to 7 oz. of the strained infusion add aromatic spirit of ammonia, 1 fl. dr.; spirit of pimento, ⁄2 oz. In paralysis.

Mixture, Hydrocyan′ic. Syn. Mixture of prussic acid; Mistura acidi hydrocyanici, L. Prep. From medicinal prussic acid, 15 drops; simple syrup (pure), 1 fl. oz.; distilled water, 5 fl. oz.;—Dose, 1 table-spoonful, 2 or 3 times daily. Each dose contains 1⁄4 drop of medicinal prussic acid. The bottle should be shaken before pouring out the dose. Magendie’s formulæ for this mixture are omitted, because the acid which he orders is not kept in the shops in England.

Mixture of Iodine with Sarsaparilla. (Magendie.) Syn. Mistura iodinii cum Sarza. Prep. Decoction of sarsaparilla, 1⁄2 pint; iodide of potassium, 1 dr.; syrup of orange, 2 oz.

Mixture, I′ron. See Mixture, Steel.

Mixture, I′ron (Compound). See Mixture, Steel.

Mixture, Marshmallow. Syn. Mistura Althææ (Ph. E.), L. Prep. (Ph. E.) Marshmallow root (dried), 4 oz.; stoned raisins, 2 oz.; water, 5 pints; boil to 3 pints, strain through linen, and after the sediment has subsided, decant the clear portion.

2. (Ph. D.) See Decoction. Demulcent.—Dose. A few spoonfuls ad libitum, so as to take 1 to 3 pints in the 24 hours; in strangury, calculus, coughs, fevers, &c.

Mixture of Monesia. (Neligan.) Syn. Mistura Monesiæ. Prep. Extract of monesia, 2 scruples; water, 7⁄2 oz.; compound tincture of cardamoms, ⁄2{?} oz.

Mixture of Musk. (Ph. L.) Syn. Mistura Moschi. Prep. Musk, 3 dr.; triturate it with white sugar, 3 dr.; gum acacia, 3 dr.; and gradually add rose water, 1 pint.—Dose, 1 to 2 oz.

Mixture of Musk-seed. (Dr Reece.) Syn. Mistura abelmoschi. Prep. Tincture of musk-seeds, 1 oz.; aromatic spirit of ammonia, 3 fl. dr.; compound spirit of lavender, 4 fl. dr.; camphor mixture, 6 oz.—Dose, ⁄2 oz. to 1 oz.

Mixture, Myrrh. Syn. Emulsion of Myrrh; Mistura myrrhæ, L. Prep. (Copland.) Myrrh, 1⁄2 dr.; add to it gradually, triturating all the time, decoction of liquorice, 6 fl. oz., and strain.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, twice or thrice a day, combined with carbonate of soda, dilute hydrochloric acid, or paregoric; in debility, and diseases of the digestive organs.

Mixture, Narcot′ic. Syn. Mistura narcotica, M. febrifuga, L. Prep. 1. Tincture of henbane, 2 fl. dr.; solution of acetate of ammonia, 3 fl. oz.; water, 2⁄4 fl. oz.; mix.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, to relieve pain, procure sleep in fevers, &c.

2. (W. Cooley.) Laudanum, 1⁄2 fl. dr.; syrup of poppies, sulphuric ether, and spirit of cinnamon, of each 1 oz.; tincture of henbane, 2⁄2 fl. dr.; tincture of capsicum, 4 fl. dr.; water 2 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 to 2 table-spoonfuls, at the commencement of the hot fit of ague.

Mixture, Oleo-balsam′ic. Syn. Mistura oleo-balsamica, L. Prep. (Hamb. Cod.) Oils of cedrat, cinnamon, cloves, lavender, mace, and marjoram, of each 20 drops; oil of rue, 10 drops; balsam of Peru, ⁄2 dr.; rectified spirit, 10 oz.; digest and filter.

Mixture of Oxalic Acid. (Nardo.) Syn. Mistura acidi oxalici. Prep. Oxalic acid, 8 gr.; mucilage, 3 oz.; syrup, 1 oz. In inflammation, of the fauces and digestive tube.

Mixture of Phosphorus. (Soubeiran.) Syn. Mistura phosphorici. Prep. Phosphorated oil, 2 dr.; powdered gum acacia, 2 dr.; peppermint water, 3 oz.; syrup, 2 oz. Mix the gum with 10 dr. of water, and thin with the oil, and gradually add the others. Contains 1 gr. of phosphorus.—Dose, ⁄2 fl. oz.

Mixture of Platinum Chloride. (Hoeffer.) Syn. Mistura platini chloridi. Prep. Perchloride of platinum, 1⁄2 gr.; gum juleps, 6 oz.

Mixture of Potassium Iodide. (Cazenave.) Syn. Mistura potassii iodidi. Prep. Iodide of potassium, 2 dr.; distilled water, 16 oz.; syrup, 2 fl. oz. 2 or 3 table-spoonfuls per diem.

Mixture, Pur′gative. Syn. Mistura cathartica, M. laxativa, M. purgans. L. Prep. 1. From any of the purging salts (Epsom, Glauber, tasteless, &c.), 2 oz.; infusion of senna, 5 fl. oz.; syrup of orange peel, 1 fl. oz.; tincture of ginger, ⁄2 fl. oz.; spirit of pimento, 2 fl. dr.; mix.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, early in the morning; as an aperient in stomach complaints, &c.

2. (Dr Copland.) Manna, 1⁄2 oz.; cream of tartar, ⁄2 oz.; whey, 1 quart. By wine-glassfuls, as an aperient drink, in fevers, &c.

3. (Corvisart.) Borotartrate of potassa (soluble tartar), 1 oz.; tartar emetic, ⁄2 gr.; sugar, 2 oz.; water, 1⁄2 pint; dissolve. By wine-glassfuls, until it begins to operate. This has been called ‘Napoleon’s medicine,’ from its having been frequently taken by Napoleon I. See Mixtures of Scammony, Senna, &c.

Mixture of Quinine and Coffee. Syn. Mistura quiniæ et caffeæ; Café quinine. Prepare 5 oz. of infusion from 4 dr. of ground coffee by percolation, and add 24 gr. of neutral sulphate of quinine and 4 dr. of sugar.—Dose. A tablespoonful. The coffee conceals the bitterness of the quinine.

Mixture of Quinine with Iron. Syn. Mistura quiniæ cum ferro. Sulphate of quinine, 1 gr.; sulphate of iron, 2 gr.; dilute sulphuric acid, 5 minims; water, 1 oz. For 1 dose.

Mixture of Rhubarb with Magnesia. (St Thom. Hosp.) Syn. Mistura rhei cum magnesia. Prep. Rhubarb, 7⁄2 gr.; carbonate of magnesia, 15 gr.; peppermint water, 1⁄2 oz. For 1 dose.

Mixture, Saline. Syn. Mistura salina, L. See Draught and Lemonade.

Mixture, Scam′mony. Syn. Scammony milk; Mistura scammonii (B. P.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. E.) Resin of scammony, 7 gr.; unskimmed milk, 3 fl. oz.: gradually mix, triturating all the time, so as to form an emulsion. Purgative.—Dose. One half.

2. (Planche’s Purgative potion.) To the last add of white sugar, ⁄4 oz.; cherry-laurel (or bitter-almond) water, 4 or 5 drops. The above are the most tasteless and pleasant purgatives of an active character known.

3. (B. P.) Resin of scammony, 4 gr.; fresh milk, 2 oz.; triturate and form an emulsion.—Dose. The quantity of the formula for an adult, half for a child.

Mixture, Senega, with Ammonia. (St Th. H.) Syn. Mistura senegæ cum ammonia. Prep. Infusion of senega, 1 oz.; carbonate of ammonia, 4 gr. For 1 dose.

Mixture, Sen′na (Compound). Syn. Black draught, Abernethy’s d., Cathartic Mixture; Mistura sennæ composita (B. P.), L. Prep. 1. Infusion of senna, ⁄4 pint; tincture of senna, 1⁄2 fl. oz.; Epsom salts, 4 oz.; carbonate of ammonia, ⁄2 dr.; sugar, 3 oz.; agitate until the solids are dissolved.

2. Senna, 13 oz.; boiling water, 2 quarts; digest for 4 hours in a hot place, then press out the liquor in a tincture press, and add, of compound tincture of senna, ⁄4 pint; Epsom salts, 1 lb.

3. East India senna, 2 lbs.; boiling water, 9 quarts; tincture of senna and Epsom salts, of each 3⁄4 lbs.; as the last.

4. Senna, 8 lbs.; boiling water, 9 galls.; Epsom salts, 16 lbs.; tincture of senna, 1⁄2 galls.; treacle and colouring, of each 1 quart.

5. (Guy’s Hosp.) Senna and mint, of each 1⁄4 oz. (say 1⁄2 oz.); boiling water, 1 quart; Epsom salts, 7⁄2 oz. (say ⁄2 lb.).

6. (Redwood.) Infusion of senna, 18 oz.; tincture of senna, 3 oz.; sulphate of magnesia, 6 oz.; extract of liquorice and spirit of sal volatile, of each ⁄4 oz.; oil of cloves, 6 drops.

7. (B. P.) Infusion of senna, 14; sulphate of magnesia, 4; extract of liquorice, ⁄2; tincture of senna, 2⁄2; compound tincture of cardamoms, 1⁄4: dissolve and mix.—Dose, 1 to 1⁄2 oz.

Obs. As the above mixture contains very little spirit, and from its great consumption being made in large quantities at a time, it frequently spoils before the whole is sold especially in hot weather. To avoid this, 1⁄2 dr. of cloves, and 3 dr. of mustard seed, both bruised, may be added to every gall. of the strained liquor at the same time with the salts, spirit, and colouring, after which it must be shaken up repeatedly for a few days, and then allowed to repose for a few days more when it will become quite clear. It may be filtered through a flannel bag, but there is much loss and delay, owing to the consistence of the liquid. It is purgative in doses of 1 to 1⁄2 fl. oz.

It is a singular circumstance, that although an enormous quantity of this preparation is consumed in these countries, there is no standard formula for it in the British Pharmacopœias. See Mixture, Aperient, &c.

Mixture, Steel. Syn. Mistura ferri composita (B. P.), Mistura chalybeata, L. Two compounds of this class are officinal:—

1. (Griffith’s mixture, Compound iron m.; Mistura ferri, M. f. protoxydi, M. f. composita—Ph. L. E. & D.) Prep.—a. (Ph. L. & E.) Carbonate of potassa, 1 dr.; powdered myrrh, 2 dr.; spirit of nutmeg, 1 fl. oz.; triturate together, and whilst rubbing, add gradually, of sugar, 2 dr.; rose water, 18 fl. oz.; mix well; then add of sulphate of iron (powdered), 50 gr.; and place it at once in a bottle, which must be kept closely corked.

b. (Ph. D.) Powdered myrrh and sugar, of each 1 dr.; carbonate of potassa, ⁄2 dr.; essence of nutmeg, 1 fl. dr.; rose water, 7 fl. oz.; sulphate of iron, ⁄2 dr.; (dissolved in) rose water, 1 fl. oz.;—Dose, 1 to 2 oz., 3 or 4 times a day, as a mild and genial chalybeate tonic and stimulant; in amenorrhœa, chlorosis, debility, &c., when there is no determination of blood to the head.

2. (Heberden’s mixture, H.’s ink; Atramentum Heberdii; Mistura ferri aromatica—Ph. D.) Pale cinchona bark, 1 oz.; calumba root, 3 dr. (both in coarse powder;) cloves (bruised), 2 dr.; iron filings, ⁄2 oz.; peppermint water, 16 fl. oz.; digest in a close vessel for 3 days, agitating frequently, then strain, and add of tincture of cardamoms (comp.), 3 fl. oz.; tincture of orange peel, 3 fl. dr. Bitter, stomachic, and aromatic.—Dose, 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls, or more, 3 or 4 times a day. It is very slightly chalybeated. See also Mixture, Aromatic iron.

3. Sulphate of iron, 25 gr.; carbonate of potash, 30 gr.; myrrh, 60 gr.; sugar, 60 gr.; spirit of nutmegs, 4 dr.; rose water, 9⁄2 oz. Reduce the myrrh to powder, add the carbonate of potash of sugar, and triturate them with a small quantity of rose water so as to form a thin paste, then gradually add more rose water, and the spirit of nutmegs, continuing the trituration and further addition of rose water until about eight fluid ounces of milky liquid is formed, then add the sulphate of iron previously dissolved in the remainder of the rose water and cork the bottle immediately.—Dose, 1 to 2 oz. as a stimulating tonic.

Mixture of Sulphuric Acid. (Ph. G.) Syn. Mistura acidi sulphurici; Haller’s elixir. Prep. To 3 oz. (by weight) of rectified spirit add gradually 1 oz. (by weight) of pure sulphuric acid.—Dose, 5 to 20 drops diluted.

Mixture, Ton′ic. Syn. Strengthening mixture; Mistura tonica, L. Prep. 1. Infusion of cascarilla, 5 fl. oz.; tincture of orange peel, 7 fl. dr.; aromatic sulphuric acid, 2 fl. dr.

2. (Collier.) Decoction of bark, 5⁄2 fl. oz.; tincture of do., 3 fl. dr.; aromatic confection, 20 gr.; aromatic spirit of ammonia, 1 fl. dr.

3. (Thomson.) Infusion of calumba, 5⁄2 fl. oz.; compound tincture of cinnamon and syrup of orange peel, of each 2 fl. dr.—Dose, 1 to 3 table-spoonfuls, 2 or 3 times a day; in debility of the digestive organs, loss of appetite, to check nausea and vomiting, &c.

Mixture of Wine. (Guy’s Hosp.) Syn. Mistura vini. White wine, 6 fl. oz.; yolks of 2 eggs; sugar, ⁄2 oz.; oil of cinnamon, 3 drops.—Dose, 1 oz.

Mixture, Worm. Syn. Mistura anthelmintica, M. vermifuga, L. Prep. 1. (Collier.) Sulphate of iron, 20 gr.; infusion of quassia, 8 fl. oz.—Dose. Two table-spoonfuls every morning fasting.

2. (Copland.) Valerian, 2 dr.; worm-seed, 4 dr.; boiling water, 8 fl. oz.; macerate 1 hour, strain, and add of assafœtida, 1 dr., previously triturated with the yolk of one egg. As the last.

3. (Richard.) Root of male fern, 1 oz.; water, 9 fl. oz.; boil to 6 fl. oz., strain, and add, of sulphuric ether, 1 dr.; syrup of tansy, 1 fl. oz. In tapeworm; as above.

Mixture, Zinc. Syn. Mistura zinci, M. z. sulphatis, L. Prep. (Collier.) Sulphate of zinc, 5 gr.; sulphate of quinine, 10 gr.; compound infusion of roses, 2 fl. oz. Tonic.—Dose. A teaspoonful 2 or 3 times a day, in a glass of water. Said to be very efficacious in the cure of coughs of a spasmodic character.

MIXTURES (Arithmetic of). The constantly recurring necessity in business and chemical manipulations of determining the value of mixtures, and of producing articles and preparations of different strengths or prices to those already in stock, has rendered a ready means of making such calculations an indispensable qualification in almost every department of trade and industrial art. As we address ourselves to the intelligent operative and busy tradesman, as well as to those more blessed by education and leisure, we feel we are bestowing a boon on many of our readers in giving a short, but sufficient, outline of this useful branch of commercial arithmetic, which is most intimately connected with the objects of the present work.

1. To determine the price of a mixture from the value and quantity of each ingredient of which it is composed.—Rule. Divide the ‘gross value’ by the ‘gross saleable’ or ‘useful quantity,’ the quotient is the value or cost per gallon, pound, &c., as the case may be.—Example. Required, the value per gallon of a hogshead of wine containing—

s. d. £ s. d.

30 gallons @ 10 6 = 15 15 0

20 ” 12 6 = 12 10 0

13 ” 14 6 = 9 8 6

63 divide into 37 13 6

Cost per gallon 0 11 11⁄2

2. To determine the proportions of substances or articles of different values or strengths which must be taken to prepare a mixture of any other value or strength.—Rule. Arrange the ‘prices’ or ‘strengths of the ingredients’ in a column, and link them together in pairs; each of those above the required price being always connected with another below it. Then set the difference between the required price and these numbers, alternately against those they are linked to; when they will indicate the quantities to be taken, as in the following examples:—a. Required the proportions of tea at 3s., 4s., 6s., and 7s., that must be taken to produce a mixture 5s. the pound. Here—

b. (When the number of the ingredients or prices is odd.) Required the proportions of teas at 3s., 5s., and 6s., the pound, to sell at 4s. Here the odd number must be taken a second time:—

c. (When the number of the ingredients is not merely odd, but the prices are unequally distributed either above or below the required price.) A dealer having wines of the same name at 7s., 9s., 11s., 12s., and 14s., per gallon, wishes to produce a mixture of them worth 10s. per gallon:—

It will be seen that by varying the manner of linking the numbers, different answers may often be obtained to the same question. It also often happens that the dealer or operator desires to use a given quantity of one particular article, or to produce a certain quantity only of the mixture instead of those indicated by the above calculations. In these instances he has simply to apply the common rule of ‘practice’ or the ‘rule of three,’ as the particular case may demand.

In the above manner the proportions of the constituents of a compound may be determined from their specific gravity, when no change of volume has arisen from their admixture; but when this is the case, as in alloys, alcoholic mixtures, &c., it is either quite inapplicable or the results obtained are mere approximations to the truth. It may, however, be conveniently employed for calculations connected with the ‘mixing’ and ‘reduction’ of spirits and other liquids, by substituting their per-centage value in ‘proof gallons’ or other corresponding denomination, for the prices in the above examples; water, when introduced be reckoned, = 0. Thus:—A spirit merchant having two puncheons of rum of the strengths of 17 and 21 o. p., wishes to know what proportions of each and of water he must take to form a spirit 10 u. up. The proof value of 100 gallons of these spirits are respectively equal to 121, 117, 90, and 0 (water). Therefore—

Suppose the dealer required to use different proportions of the spirits referred to, instead of equal measures, he has only to take such aliquot parts of the quantities thus found referring to the smaller proportion; or such multiples of those referring to the larger one, as he wishes them to bear to each in the new mixture. Numerous other applications of this rule will occur to the ingenious reader.

Questions in ‘alligation,’ as the department of arithmetic above referred to is called, are very easily resolved by the ‘method of indeterminate analysis,’ even by persons but slightly conversant with rudimentary algebra; of which, indeed, they form a simple class of problems, often admitting of an almost indefinite number of solutions.

MO′HAIR. The hair of a goat indigenous in Asia Minor. It is dyed and manufactured by similar materials and in a similar manner to wool.

MOIL. See Cider.

MOIRÉE METALLIQUE. [Fr.] A beautiful crystalline appearance produced on the surface of tin plate by acids. The tin plate is submitted for a few seconds, whilst gently heated, to the action of dilute aqua regia, by which it acquires a variegated primrose appearance. It is afterwards washed in hot water, dried, and lacquered. The degree of heat and dilution of the acid modifies the beauty and character of the surface. The effect is also varied by employing dilute sulphuric acid, either alone or mixed with a portion of nitric or hydrochloric acid; or by using a solution of citric acid or caustic potassa. According to Herberger, the best metal for the purpose is plate iron, which has been coated by dipping it into a tin bath composed of pure tin, 200 parts; copper, 3 parts; arsenic, 1 part. The varnish should consist of copal in highly rectified spirit. Moirée metallique is in much less demand now than formerly.

MO′LASSES. See Treacle.

MOLES. The small, soft excrescences and discolorations of the skin which are popularly known under this name may, when slight, be removed by touching them every day with a little concentrated acetic acid, by means of a hair pencil, observing due care to prevent the application from spreading to the surrounding parts. This does not discolour the skin. The application of lunar caustic is also very effective, but it turns the spot temporarily black. In the pure mole there is always a considerable production of hair. When other means fail, they may be easily and safely removed by surgical means. The operation is trifling; and when judiciously performed no trace of such a proceeding is left behind.

MOLUC′CA BALM. See Liqueur.

MOLYBDATE OF AMMONIUM. (NH4)2 MoO4. Syn. Molybdenic acid, Peroxide of molybdenum; Acidum molybdicum, L. Prep. Native sulphide of molybdenum, after being well roasted, is reduced to fine powder, digested with ammonia, and the mixture filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness; the residue, molybdate of ammonium, is then dissolved in water, purified by crystallisation; and, lastly, decomposed by heat.

Prop., &c. Small white scales, soluble in 570 parts of water; the solution reddens litmus paper; dissolves in the alkalies, forming alkaline molybdates, from which it is again precipitated by strong acids. It is used in the preparation of molybdenum blue, and in calico-printing, but its scarcity precludes its extensive employment in the arts. Molybdate of ammonium is the salt principally used in dyeing. Silks and cottons passed through a solution of this salt, then through a bath soured with hydrochloric acid, and, lastly (without washing), through another of protochloride of tin, are dyed of a rich and permanent blue colour. A solution of molybdate of ammonia in excess of nitric acid forms a valuable agent as a test for phosphates, with which it gives a beautiful yellow precipitate (phospho-molybdate of ammonia). See Phosphoric acid.

MOLYB′DENUM. Mo. A very rare metal, having a white colour, discovered by Hielm in 1782.

Prep. By exposing molybdic acid, mixed with charcoal and placed in a covered crucible, to the strongest heat of a smith’s forge.

Prop., &c. It is brittle and very infusible; when heated in contact with the air, it is converted into molybdic anhydride, MoO3.

MOMOR′DICINE. See Elaterin.

MOMRAUGHAN FOR HARNESS, &c. A correspondent of the ‘Field’ newspaper gives the following formulæ for momraughan, a substance used in India for preserving saddles and every description of leather. It is made as follows:—1 lb. white wax, 3 lb. mutton fat, 1 pint spirits of turpentine; melt, and mix well together while liquid. The saddle or leather should be rubbed well with a lime in the sun, then scrubbed with a brush with soap and water; when thoroughly dry, rub it well with the momraughan (letting it soak in) in the sun. One tablespoonful will be enough for a saddle. Another recipe is:—1 pint neats-foot oil, 2 oz. beeswax, 2 oz. spirits of turpentine, other directions as above. This latter mixture, with the addition of 1 oz. Burgundy pitch, makes a very good waterproof composition for boots.

MONE′SIA. Syn. Monesia bark, Buranheim b.; Cortex monesiæ, L. The bark of Chrysophyllum Buranheim, a tree growing in the Brazils. The rough, imported extract of this drug also commonly passes under the name of MONESIA. It is astringent, and possesses no advantage over rhatany or catechu.—Dose (of the latter), 18 to 20 gr.

MONE′SIN. A peculiar acrid principle, analogous to saponin, found in monesia bark, to the extent of 4·7%.

MONOBROMATED CAMPHOR. See Camphor, monobromated.

MONOMA′NIA. See Insanity.

MOR′DANT. In dyeing and calico printing, any substance employed to fix the colouring matter of dye-stuffs in the fibres of organic bodies, and to give it brilliancy and permanency. This it effects either by serving as a bond of union between the two, owing to its attraction for each of them; or it acts by uniting with the colouring particles in the minute pores of the fibres, and rendered them insoluble in the alkaline, soapy, and other liquids, to the action of which they will subsequently be exposed. When an infusion of some dye-stuff, as cochineal or madder, for example, is mixed with alum or acetate of alumina, and a little alkali, a precipitate immediately forms, consisting of alumina in combination with colouring matter, constituting a LAKE. It is by a similar reaction occurring within the fibres that the permanent dyeing of the cloth is effected. Here the colouring matter of the dyeing materials not only passes from the soluble to the insoluble form, but it enters into chemical combination with other substances, and in the new compounds it assumes greater brilliancy and permanency than it previously possessed. Annotta and safflower afford instances of the second mode of action above referred to, by which substances operate as mordants. The colouring matter of these dye-stuffs is soluble in alkaline lyes, and into a solution of this kind the cloth is dipped. It has now received an extremely fugitive colour only; but by passing it through acidulated water the alkaline solvent is abstracted, and the tinctorial matter is precipitated in an insoluble and minutely divided state within its pores, and it becomes permanently dyed. A similar reaction takes place in dyeing with the ‘indigo vat,’ in which atmospheric oxygen performs the part of a mordant. It is believed that even in these cases the colouring principle, during its transition from the liquid to the solid form, enters into combination with the fibres of the organic substance, and that, in proportion to the affinity existing between the two, is the integrity and excellence of the dye. In wool and silk the affinity between their filaments and the tinctorial particles of the dye-bath is, in general, so considerable, that a permanent stain is very easily communicated to them; but with cotton and flax, the materials of which calico and linen goods are made, the reverse is the case, and the intervention of a third material, in the shape of a mordant, is absolutely necessary to dye them of a permanent colour.

“Experience has proved that, of all the bases, those which succeed best as mordants are alumina, tin, and oxide of iron; the first two of which, being naturally white, are the only ones which can be employed for preserving to the colour its original tint, at least without much variation. But whenever the mordant itself is coloured, it will cause the dye to take a compound colour quite different from its own. If, as is usually said, the mordant enters into a real chemical union with the stuff to be dyed, the application of the mordant should obviously be made in such circumstances as are known to be most favorable to the combination taking place; and this is the principle of every day’s practice in the dye-house.

“In order that a combination may result between two bodies, they must not only be in contact, but they must be reduced to their ultimate molecules. The mordants to be united with stuffs are, as we have seen, insoluble in themselves, for which reason their particles must be divided by solution in an appropriate vehicle. Now, this solvent or menstruum will exert in its own favour an affinity for the mordant, which will prove to that extent an obstacle to its attraction for the stuff. Hence we must select such solvents as have a weaker affinity for the mordants than the mordants have for the stuffs. Of all acids which can be employed to dissolve alumina, for example, vinegar (acetic acid) is the one which will retain it with the least energy, for which reason the acetate of alumina is now generally substituted for alum, because the acetic acid gives up the alumina with such readiness that mere elevation of temperature is sufficient to effect the separation of these two substances. Before the substitution of the acetate, alum alone was employed; but without knowing the true reason, all the French dyers preferred the alum of Rome, simply regarding it to be the purest; it is only within these few years that they have understood the real grounds of this preference.

“The two principal conditions, namely, extreme tenuity of particles and liberty of action, being found in a mordant, its operation is certain. But as the combination to be effected is merely the result of the play of affinity between the solvent and the stuff to be dyed, a sort of partition must take place, proportioned to the mass of the solvent, as well as to its attractive force. Hence the stuff will retain more of the mordant when its solution is more concentrated, that is, when the base diffused through it is not so much protected by a large mass of menstruum; a fact applied to very valuable uses by the practical man. On impregnating, in calico printing, for example, different spots of the same web with the same mordant in different degrees of concentration, there is obtained in the dye-bath a depth of colour upon these spots intense in proportion to the strength of their various mordants. Thus, with solution of acetate of alumina in different grades of density, and with madder, every shade can be produced from the fullest red to the lightest pink, and with acetate of iron and madder, every shade from black to pale violet.” (Ure.)

In the employment of mordants in the ordinary processes of dyeing the goods are passed through the solution for a period varying, under different circumstances, according to the object in view. The cloth is subsequently aired, dried, and well rinsed, before immersing it in the colouring bath. In calico printing the mordant is applied partially or topically to the cloth by means of wooden blocks, or some similar contrivance; or certain parts of the cloth are stopped out by a suitable preparation, or ‘resist,’ by which means a pattern is produced, as the colouring matter of the dye-bath is removed from the other portions by the washing or scouring to which it is subsequently subjected. The substances used to thicken the mordant by the calico printers, to prevent them spreading, are starch and British gum. The first is prepared for neutral solutions; the last for acidulous ones. The removal of the undecomposed particles of the mordant, so as to preserve the other portion of the cloth from their action, is effected by the process of DUNGING (which see).

The process of GALLING or ROOTING, commonly employed as a preparation of cotton and linen for fast dyes, consists in working the stuff for some time, at a good hand heat, in a decoction of galls or an infusion of sumach. In this case the astringent matter plays the part of a mordant. About 2⁄2 oz. of galls, or 5 oz. of sumach, and 3 or 4 pints of water, are commonly taken for every lb. of cotton. See Calico printing, Dyeing, and the respective dye-stuffs and mordants.

Mordant. In gilding, any sticky matter by which gold-leaf is made to adhere. Prep. 1. Water or beer, rendered adhesive by the addition of a little gum, sugar, or honey, and tinged with a little gamboge or carmine, to mark the parts to which it is applied. Used to attach gold leaf to paper, taffety, vellum, &c.

2. (Mixtion.) From asphaltum, 1 part; mastic, 4 parts; amber, 12 parts; fused together, and then mixed with hot boiled oil, 1 pint. Used for gilding wood, &c. See Gold size.

MORPHIA. C17H19NO3. Syn. Morphine (Ph. D.), Morphina, Morphium, L. The chief active principle of opium. Morphia was discovered by Ludwig in 1688, but it was first obtained pure, and its precise nature pointed out by Sertuerner in 1804. It is peculiar to the Papaveraceæ, or poppy family.

Prep. 1. (Ph. D.) Turkey opium (cut into thin slices), 1 lb., is macerated for 24 hours in water, 1 quart, and the liquid portion decanted; the residuum is macerated for 12 hours with a second quart of water, and the process is repeated with a third quart of water, after which the insoluble portion is subjected to strong pressure; the mixed liquids are evaporated by water or steam heat to a pint, and filtered through calico; to the filtrate is added a solution formed of chloride of calcium, 6 dr., dissolved in distilled water, 4 fl. oz., and the liquid is further evaporated until it is so far concentrated that nearly the whole of it becomes solid on cooling; this is enveloped in a couple of folds of strong calico, and subjected to powerful pressure, the dark liquid which exudes being preserved for subsequent use; the squeezed cake is next treated with about ⁄2 pint of boiling water, and the undissolved portion is washed on a paper filter; the filtered solution is again evaporated, and the solid portion thus obtained submitted to pressure, as before; if the product is not quite white, this process is repeated a third time; the squeezed cake is now dissolved in boiling water, 6 fl. oz., and the solution filtered through animal charcoal (if necessary); to the clear solution is added ammonia, in slight excess; the crystalline precipitate which forms as the liquid cools is collected on a paper filter, washed with cold distilled water, and, lastly, the filter is transferred to a porous brick, in order that the morphia which it contains may become dry. (From the liquids reserved from the expressions more morphia may be obtained by dilution with water, precipitation with ammonia, re-solution in boiling water, and treatment with a little animal charcoal, &c., as before.)

2. (Ph. L. 1836.) Hydrochlorate of morphia, 1 oz., is dissolved in distilled water, 1 pint; and ammonia, 5 fl. dr. (or q. s.), previously diluted with water, 1 fl. oz., is added, with agitation; the precipitate is well washed in distilled water, and dried by a gentle heat. By a similar process morphia may be obtained from its other salts.

3. (Merck.) A cold aqueous infusion of opium is precipitated with carbonate of sodium, in excess; the precipitate washed, first with cold water, and then with cold alcohol of sp. gr. 85; the residuum is dissolved in weak acetic acid, the solution filtered through animal charcoal, and precipitated with ammonia; the precipitate is again washed with cold water, dissolved in alcohol, and crystallised. A good process where spirit is cheap.

4. (Mohr.) Opium, 4 parts, is made into a strong infusion with water, q. s.; lime, 1 part, reduced to a state of milk with water, is then added; the mixture is next heated to boiling, at once filtered through linen, and treated, whilst still hot, with chloride of ammonium, in fine powder, in slight excess (about 1 oz. to each lb. of opium); the morphia is deposited as the liquid cools, and may be purified by a second solution in lime and precipitation by chloride of ammonium. This process is remarkably simple, and in many points is preferable to any other, either on the small or large scale.

5. (Pure.) A filtered solution of opium in tepid water is mixed with acetate of lead in excess; the precipitate (meconate of lead) is separated by a filter, and a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through the nearly colourless filtrate; the latter is warmed, to expel excess of the gas, once more filtered, and then mixed with a slight excess of ammonia, which throws down narcotine and morphia; these are separated by boiling ether, in which the former is soluble.

Prop. The morphia of commerce is a white crystalline powder; but when crystallised from alcohol, it forms brilliant prismatic crystals of adamantine lustre, and the formula C17H19NO3.H2O. It exerts an alkaline reaction on test paper; imparts a perceptible bitter taste to water; requires 1160 parts of cold water, and 94 parts of boiling water, for its solution; insoluble in ether; dissolves in 90 parts of cold and about 30 parts of boiling alcohol; it also dissolves in the fixed and volatile oils, and in solutions of the alkalies; heated in close vessels, it forms a yellow liquid, like melted sulphur, which becomes white and crystalline on cooling; heated in the air, it melts, inflames like a resin, and leaves a small quantity of charcoal behind. With the acids it forms salts, which are mostly soluble and crystallisable. These may all be made by the direct solution of the alkaloid in the dilute acid. The only ones of importance are the acetate, hydrochlorate, and sulphate.

Pur. Commercial morphia and its preparations are often contaminated with codeine, narcotine, and colouring matter. The proportion of the first two may be estimated by the loss of weight which the sample suffers when digested in ether; or by dissolving out the morphine by digestion in weak liquor of potassa. Pure morphia “is scarcely soluble in cold water, sparingly so in boiling water, and readily so in alcohol. This solution is alkaline to test paper, and by evaporation leaves crystals, which are wholly dissipated by heat. It is soluble in pure potassa.” (Ph. L. 1836.)

Tests. 1. Potassium hydrate and ammonia precipitate morphia from solution of its salts, under the form of a white crystalline powder, which is very soluble in excess of hydrate of potassium, and, with somewhat more difficulty, in excess of ammonia. The solution formed by excess of the first is precipitated on the addition of bicarbonate of potassium. The precipitate in either case is soluble in a solution of chloride of ammonium, and in dilute acetic acid, and is insoluble in ether. A careful inspection of the precipitate through a lens of small power shows it to consist of minute acicular crystals; and seen through a glass which magnifies 100 times, these crystals present the form of right rhombic prisms.—2. The carbonates of potassium and sodium produce the same precipitate as hydrate of potassium, and which is insoluble in excess of the precipitant.—3. The bicarbonates of potassium and sodium also give similar precipitates from neutral solutions, insoluble in excess. In each of the above cases stirring with a glass rod and friction on the sides of the vessel promote the separation of the precipitate.—4. If to a mixture of morphia and oil of vitriol a minute fragment of bichromate of potassium be added, oxide of chromium is set free, and a fine green colour developed.—5. A drop or two of solution of terchloride of gold added to a weak solution of morphia gives a yellow precipitate, which is mostly redissolved on agitating the liquid, which then assumes various hues (green, blue, violet, purple) on the addition of a drop of liquor of potassa.—6. A minute fragment of terchloride of gold and of hydrate of potassium very gently dropped into the liquid, occasion purple clouds or streaks in dilute solutions, followed by a precipitate, which is violet, purple, or blue-black, according to the strength of the liquid.

Another test, given by Siebold, is the following:—“Heat the substance which is believed to be, or to contain, morphia, gently with a few drops of sulphuric acid, add a very small quantity of pure perchlorate of potassium. The liquid immediately surrounding the perchlorate will at once assume a deep brown colour, which will soon spread and extend over the greater part of the acid. Warming increases the delicacy of the test. 0·0001 gramme of morphia can be distinctly recognised in this way, and no other alkaloid is acted upon in a similar way by the substances named. It is indispensable, however, for the success of the experiment that the perchlorate of potassium be absolutely free from chlorate.” See Alkaloids.

The above are the most reliable precipitates for morphia; the first two may, indeed, be regarded as characteristic, and the remainder as almost so. The following are often referred to by medical writers, but are less exclusive and trustworthy:—Morphia and its salts are—7. Reddened by nitric acid, and form orange-red solutions, darkened by ammonia in excess, and ultimately turning yellow, with the production of oxalic acid.—8. They are turned blue by ferric chloride, either at once or on the addition of an alkali, and this colour is destroyed by water and by alkalies, or acids in excess.—9. Iodic acid added to their solutions turns them yellowish brown, by setting iodine free, and the liquid forms a blue compound with starch.

Uses. Morphia and its salts are exhibited either in substance, made into pills, or in solution, generally the latter; or externally, in fine powder, applied to the dermis denuded of the cuticle. They are principally employed as anodynes and hypnotics in cases in which opium is inadmissible, and are justly regarded as the most valuable medicines of their class. “In cases wherein both opium and the morphine salts are equally admissible, I prefer the former, its effects being better known and regulated; moreover, opium is to be preferred as a stimulant and sudorific, and for suppressing excessive mucous discharges.” (Pereira.)—Dose. Of pure morphia, ⁄12 to ⁄6 gr.; of its salts, ⁄8 to ⁄4 gr.; externally, ⁄2 to 1⁄2 gr. Morphine is chiefly used for the preparation of the acetate, and some of its other salts.

Good opium yields from 10% to 13% of morphia. See Opium.

Morphia, Ac′etate of. C17H20NO3C2H3O2. Syn. Morphiæ acetas (Ph. L., E., & D.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L. 1836.) Morphia, 6 dr.; acetic acid (Ph. L.), 3 fl. dr.; distilled water, 4 fl. oz.; dissolve, gently evaporate, and crystallise.

2. (Ph. E.) Hydrochlorate of morphia, 1 part, is dissolved in warm water, 14 parts; and the solution, when cold, is precipitated with ammonia, in slight excess, the precipitate is washed in cold water, and dissolved by means of acetic acid, in excess, in warm water, 12 parts; from the solution crystals are obtained as before.

3. (Ph. D.) Morphia (in fine powder), 1 oz.; rectified spirit, 8 fl. oz.; mix, apply a gentle heat, and add of acetic acid (sp. gr. 1·044), 4⁄2 fl. dr. or q. s., until a neutral or slightly acid solution is obtained; evaporate this to the consistence of a syrup by steam or water heat, and set aside the residuum for a few days until it solidifies.

4. (Ph. L.) Similar to the Edinburgh process.

Pur. “Soluble in water and in rectified spirit” (less so in the former than the latter); “and when the spirit is distilled from the solution, it yields crystals which are totally destroyed by heat.” (Ph. L.) “100 measures of a solution of 10 gr. in ⁄2 fl. oz. of water, and 5 minims of acetic acid, heated to 212° and decomposed by a very slight excess of ammonia, yield by agitation a precipitate which, in 24 hours, occupies 15⁄2 measures of the liquid.” (Ph. E.)

Obs. The acetate of morphia of commerce is usually in the form of a whitish powder, and is prepared by the mere evaporation of the solution to dryness by a gentle heat. During the process a portion of the acetic acid is dissipated, and hence this preparation is seldom perfectly soluble in water, unless it has been slightly acidulated with acetic acid. In the Ph. L. 1851 this salt (in crystals) is included in the materia medica. See Morphia (above).

Morphia, Hydri′odate of. C17H19NO3,HI. Syn. Morphiæ hydriodas, L. Prep. (A. T. Thomson.) Hydrochlorate of morphia, 2 parts; iodide of potassium, 1 part; dissolve each separately in a little water, mix the solutions, wash the precipitate in a little very cold water, press it in bibulous paper, redissolve it in hot water, and crystallise.

Morphia, Hydriodate of, with Iodine. Syn. Morphiæ hydriodas cum iodinio; Bouchardat’s iodure d’iodhydrate, &c.; Morphine. Prep. Mix an acid solution of sulphate of morphia with an ioduretted solution of iodide of potassium, keeping the liquid at the temperature of 140° for an hour.

Pour off the liquid, wash the scales, and dry them.—Dose, ⁄4 gr. at bedtime.

Morphia and Hydriodate of Zinc with Iodine. (Bouchardat.) Syn. Morphiæ et zinci hydriodas cum iodinio. Prep. Boil 1 scruple of ioduretted hydriodate of morphia with 2 fl. oz. of water and 10 scruples of zinc. After some days’ action filter the boiling liquid, which deposits the salt. Make 1⁄2 gr. into 8 pills, with powdered marshmallow root and syrup.

Morphia, Hydrochlo′′rate of. C17H19NO3,HI. Syn. Muriate of Morphia; Morphiæ hydrochloras (Ph. L. & Ph. B.), Morphiæ murias (Ph. E., D. & U. S.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L. 1836.) Macerate sliced opium, 1 lb., in water, 4 pints, for 30 hours; then bruise it, digest it for 20 hours more, and press it; macerate what remains a second and a third time in water until exhausted, and as often bruise and press it; mix the liquors, and evaporate at 140° Fahr. to the consistence of a syrup; add of water, 3 pints, and after defecation decant the clear portion; gradually add to this liquid crystallised chloride of lead, 2 oz. (or q. s.), dissolved in boiling water, 4 pints, until it ceases to produce a precipitate; decant the clear liquid, wash the residuum with water, and evaporate the mixed liquids, as before, that crystals may form; press these in a cloth, then dissolve them in distilled water, 1 pint, add freshly burnt animal charcoal, 1⁄2 oz., digest at 120°, and filter; finally, the charcoal being washed, cautiously evaporate the mixed liquors, that pure crystals of hydrochlorate of morphia may form. To the decanted liquor from which the crystals were first separated, add of water, 1 pint, and drop in liquor of ammonia, frequently shaking, until all the morphine is precipitated; wash this precipitate with cold distilled water, saturate it with hydrochloric acid, digest with animal charcoal, 2 oz.; filter, wash the filtrate as before, and evaporate the mixed liquors, cautiously, as above, that pure crystals may be obtained.

2. (Ph. E.) Opium, 20 oz., is exhausted with water, 1 gall., in the quantity of a quart at a time, and the mixed liquors are evaporated to a pint; chloride of calcium, 1 oz., dissolved in water, 4 fl. oz., is added, and, after agitation, the liquid is placed aside to settle; the clear decanted liquid, and the washings of the sediment, are next evaporated, so that they may solidify on cooling; the cooled mass, after very strong pressure in a cloth, is redissolved in warm water, a little powdered white marble added, and the whole filtered; the filtrate is acidulated with hydrochloric acid, the solution again concentrated for crystallisation, and the crystals submitted to powerful pressure, as before; the process of solution, clarification, with powdered marble and hydrochloric acid, and crystallisation, is repeated until a snow-white mass is obtained. This is the process of Gregory and Robertson, and is one of the easiest and most productive on the large scale. To procure the salt quite white, 2 to 4 crystallisations are required, according to the power of the press employed. The Edinburgh College recommends, on the small scale, the solution, after two crystallisations, to be decoloured by means of animal charcoal; but, on the large scale, to purify the salt by repeated crystallisations alone.

3. (Ph. B.) Macerate opium, sliced, 1 lb., for 24 hours with distilled water, 2 pints, and decant. Macerate the residue for 12 hours with distilled water, 2 pints, decant, and repeat the process with the same quantity of water, subjecting the insoluble residue to strong pressure.

Unite the liquors, evaporate on a water bath to the bulk of 1 pint, and strain through calico. Pour in now chloride of calcium, ⁄4 oz., previously dissolved in 4 fl. oz. of distilled water, and evaporate until the solution is so far concentrated that upon cooling it becomes solid. Envelope the mass in a double fold of strong calico, and subject it to powerful pressure, preserving the dark fluid which exudes. Triturate the squeezed cake with about ⁄2 pint of boiling distilled water, and, the whole being thrown upon a paper filter, wash the residue well with boiling distilled water. The filtered fluids having been evaporated as before, cooled, and solidified, again subject the mass to pressure, and if it be still much coloured, repeat this process a third time, the expressed liquids being always preserved. Dissolve the pressed cake in 6 fl. oz. of boiling distilled water, add purified animal charcoal, ⁄4 oz., and digest for 20 minutes; filter; wash the filter and charcoal with boiling distilled water, and to the solution thus obtained add solution of ammonia in slight excess. Let the pure crystalline morphia which separates as the liquid cools be collected on a paper filter, and washed with cold distilled water until the washings cease to give a precipitate with solution of nitrate of silver acidulated with nitric acid.

From the dark liquids expressed in the above process an additional product may be obtained by diluting them with distilled water, precipitating with solution of potash added in considerable excess, filtering, and supersaturating the filtrate with hydrochloric acid. This acid liquid, digested with a little animal charcoal, and again filtered, gives upon the addition of ammonia a small quantity of pure morphia. Diffuse the pure morphia obtained as above through 2 oz. of boiling distilled water placed in a porcelain capsule, kept hot, and add, constantly stirring, dilute hydrochloric acid, 2 fl. oz., or q. s., proceeding with caution, so that the morphia may be entirely dissolved and a neutral solution obtained. Set aside to cool and crystallise. Drain the crystals and dry them on filtering paper. By further evaporating the mother liquor, and again cooling, additional crystals are obtained.—Dose. From ⁄8th to ⁄2 gr.

4. (Mohr.) By dissolving the precipitate of morphia (see Morphia, Prep. 4) in dilute hydrochloric acid, and by crystallisation, as before.

Pur., &c. It “is completely soluble in rectified spirit, and in water. What is precipitated from the aqueous solution by nitrate of silver is not entirely dissolved, either by ammonia, unless added in excess, or by hydrochloric or nitric acid.” (Ph. L.) “Snowy white; entirely soluble; solution colourless; loss of weight at 212° Fahr. not above 13%; 100 measures of a solution of 10 gr., in water, ⁄2 fl. oz., heated to 212°, and decomposed with agitation by a faint excess of ammonia, yield a precipitate which, in 24 hours, occupies 12⁄2 measures of the liquid.” (Ph. E.) It takes 20 parts of cold and about its own weight of boiling water to dissolve it. The hydrochlorate of morphia of the shops is usually, like the acetate, under the form of a white crystalline powder.

Obs. Of all the salts of morphia, this one appears to be that most suitable for medical purposes, from its free solubility, and from its solution not being liable to spontaneous decomposition, at least under ordinary circumstances. “The opium which yields the largest quantity of precipitate by carbonate of sodium yields muriate of morphia, not only in the greatest proportion, but also with the fewest crystallisations.” (Ph. E.) Smyrna opium contains the most morphine.

Morphia and Codei′a (Hydrochlorate of). Syn. Gregory’s salt; Morphiæ et codeiæ hydrochloras, L.; Sel de Gregory, Fr. This is commercial HYDROCHLORATE OF MORPHINE prepared according to Dr Gregory’s process.

Morphia Mec′onates of. (C19H20NO3)2,C7H2O7. Prep. 1. (Neutral meconate of morphine; Morphiæ meconas, L.) By saturating an aqueous solution of meconic acid with morphia, and evaporating the solution by a gentle heat, so that crystals may be obtained.

(2.) Bimeconate of morphine; (Morphiæ bimeconas, L.) C17H19NO3HC7H3O7. Meconic acid, 11 parts; morphia, 14 parts; dissolve each separately in hot water, q. s.; mix the solutions, and either gently evaporate and crystallise, or at once evaporate to dryness.

Obs. Morphia exists in opium under the form of bimeconate, and hence this preparation of that drug has been preferred by some practitioners. A solution of this salt for medical purposes may be directly prepared from opium, by treating its solution in cold water with a little animal charcoal, filtering, gently evaporating to dryness, redissolving the residuum, in cold water, filtering, and repeating the treatment with animal charcoal. The dose of the dry bimeconate is ⁄4 gr., or more; and of the meconate rather less. “A powder is also sold, called ‘bimeconate of morphia,’ which is of the same strength as powdered opium, and is given in similar doses. It is obviously incorrect to apply this name to a powder which consists principally of foreign matter. It is to be hoped that physicians will not prescribe this powder under the above name, as such a practice might lead to fatal results, if the prescription should be prepared with the substance which the name strictly indicates.” (Redwood.)

Morphia, Nitrate of. (A. T. Thomson.) Syn. Morphiæ Nitras. Add morphia in slight excess to very dilute nitric acid, filter, concentrate by gentle evaporation, and set aside that crystals may form.

Morphia, Phosphate of. Syn. Morphiæ phosphas. As the nitrate, substituting dilute phosphoric by nitric acid.

Morphia, Sul′phate of. Syn. Morphiæ sulphas, L. Prep. Saturate very dilute sulphuric acid with morphia, evaporate to one half, add a little animal charcoal, continue the evaporation for a short time longer at a gentle heat, filter whilst hot, and abandon it to spontaneous evaporation. It is decomposed by driving off the water of crystallisation. Sulphate of morphia is included in the Ph. U. S. According to Magendie, this salt sometimes agrees with patients who cannot bear the acetate.

Morphia, Tartrate of. (A. T. Thomson.) Syn. Morphiæ tartras. Prep. Saturate a solution of tartaric acid with morphiæ, concentrate by evaporation, and set aside that crystals may form. By using an excess of acid an acid tartrate may be formed.

MORPHIOM′ETRY. A name given to the process of determining the richness of opium in morphia. See Opium.

MORISON’S PILLS. See Patent medicines.

MORSU′LI. An old name applied to lozenges and masticatories. It is still retained in some foreign Pharmacopœias.

MOR′TAR is the well-known cement, made of lime, sand, and water, employed to bind bricks and stones together in the construction of walls, buildings, &c.

In the composition of mortar stone lime is preferred to that obtained from chalk, and river sand to pit or road sand. Sea sand is unfitted for mortar until it has been well soaked and washed in fresh water. Sifted coal ashes are frequently substituted for the whole or a part of the sand.

Hydraulic mortars or CEMENTS are those which, like Roman cement, are employed for works which are either constantly submerged or are frequently exposed to the action of water. The poorer sorts of limestone are chosen for this purpose, or those which contain from 8% to 25% of alumina, magnesia, and silica. Such limestones, though calcined, do not slake when moistened; but if pulverised, they absorb water without swelling up or heating, like fat lime, and afford a paste which hardens in a few days under water, but in the air they never acquire much solidity.

“The essential constituents of every good hydraulic mortar are caustic lime and silica; and the hardening of this composition under water consists mainly in a chemical combination of these two ingredients through the agency of the water, producing a hydrated silicate of lime. But such mortars may contain other ingredients besides lime, as, for example, clay and magnesia, when double silicates of great solidity are formed; on which account dolomite is a good ingredient in these mortars. But the silica must be in a peculiar state for these purposes, namely, capable of affording a gelatinous paste with acids; and if not so already, it must be brought into this condition, by calcining it along with an alkali or an alkaline earth, at a bright red heat, when it will dissolve and gelatinise in acids. Quartzose sand, however fine its powder may be, will form no water mortar with lime; but if the powder be ignited with the lime, it then becomes fit for hydraulic cement. Ground felspar or clay forms with slaked lime, no water cement; but when they are previously calcined along with the lime, the mixture becomes capable of hardening under water.

“All sorts of lime are made hydraulic, in the humid way, by mixing the slaked lime with solutions of common alum or sulphate of alumina; but the best method consists in employing a solution of the silicate of potash, called liquor of flints or soluble glass, to mix in with the slaked lime or lime and clay. An hydraulic cement may also be made which will serve for the manufacture of architectural ornaments, by making a paste of pulverised chalk, with a solution of the silicate of potash. The said liquor of flints likewise gives chalk and plaster a stony hardness, by merely soaking them in it after they are cut or moulded to a proper shape. On exposure to the air they get progressively indurated. Superficial hardness may be readily procured by washing over the surface of chalk, &c., with liquor of flints, by means of a brush. This method affords an easy and elegant method of giving a stony crust to the plastered walls and ceilings of apartments; as also to statues and busts cast in gypsum mixed with chalk.”

Under Prof. Kuhlman’s patent, dated April, 1841, “instead of calcining the limestone with clay and sand alone, as has been hitherto commonly practised, this inventor introduces a small quantity of soda, or, preferably, potash, in the state of sulphate, carbonate, or muriate; salts susceptible of forming silicates when the earthy mixture is calcined. The alkaline salt, equal in weight to about 1-5th that of the lime, is introduced in solution among the earths.” (Ure.)

The hardening of the common mortars and cements is in a great measure due to the gradual absorption of carbonic acid; but even after a very great length of time this conversion into carbonate is not complete. Good mortar, under favorable circumstances, acquires extreme hardness by age.

Attempts have been made at various times to introduce the use of bituminous cements into this country, and thus to restore both to land and submarine architecture a valuable material which has now lain neglected for a period of fully thirty centuries; but, unfortunately, owing to the interest of our great building and engineering firms lying in another direction, these attempts have been hitherto unsuccessful. See Asphaltum, Cement, Lime, &c.

MORTIFICA′TION Syn. Gangrene; Gangrena, Mortification, L. Local death; the loss of vitality in one part of the animal body, whilst the rest continues living. “The terms gangrene and mortification are often used synonymously; but gangrene properly signifies the state which immediately precedes mortification, while the complete mortification, or absolute death of a part, is called sphacelus. A part which has passed into the state of sphacelus is called a slough.

MOSA′IC GOLD. See Brass, Gold, &c.

MOS′SES. Syn. Musci, L. Several vegetables of the natural orders Algæ, Fungi, Lichenes, and Musci, commonly pass under this name with the vulgar. Of these the following are the principal:—

Bog moss (Sphagnum palustre). Very retentive of moisture. Used to pack up plants for exportation.

Ceylon moss (Gracilaria candida). Very nutritive; made into a decoction or jelly, which is highly esteemed as an article of diet for invalids and children, more especially for those suffering under affections of the mucous membranes or phthisis.

Club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium.

Corsican moss, C. worm m. (Gracilaria Helminthocorton).—Dose, ⁄2 to 2 dr., in powder, mixed up with sugar; as a vermifuge.

Cup moss, C. lichen (Cladonia pyxidata). Astringent and febrifuge. A cupful of the decoction, taken warm, generally proves gently emetic. Used in hooping-cough, &c.

Fir club moss (Lycopodium Selago). Violently emetic and purgative. It is also irritant and narcotic.

Iceland moss (Cetraria Islandica). Highly nutritious and easy of digestion. The decoction is a favourite alimentary substance in affections of the lungs and digestive organs. In Iceland, after the bitter has been removed by soaking it in hot water, it is made into jelly, or dried, ground to flour, and made into bread.

Irish moss, Pearl m., Carrageen m. (Chondrus crispus). Very nutritious. The decoction or jelly is a useful and popular demulcent and emollient in pulmonary affections, dysentery, scrofula, rickets, &c. It is often employed by cooks and confectioners instead of isinglass, and by painters to make their size.

Reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina). Esculent, very nutritious.

MOTHER-OF-PEARL. See Pearl.

MOTH′ER WATER. See Crystallisation.

MOULDS. Numerous materials and compositions are employed for the purpose of taking moulds, among which are the following:

1. (Compo’.)—a From spermaceti, stearine or hard tallow, and white wax, equal parts, melted together. For fine work, as medals, small casts, &c.

b. From black resin, ⁄4 lb.; hard tallow, ⁄2 lb.; beeswax, 6 oz.; as the last. For coarse work, as architectural ornaments, &c. The above are poured on the objects to be copied (previously oiled) whilst in the melted state. Articles in plaster of Paris are first soaked in water, observing that none of it remains on the surface so as to interfere with the design.

2. (Elastic.)—a. Flexible or elastic moulds may be made of gutta percha softened in boiling water, and after being freed from moisture, pressed strongly against the object to be copied by means of a screw press. A ring or support should be employed to prevent undue lateral spreading.

b. By the use of gelatin or glue, elastic moulds are formed capable of reproducing, with accuracy, and in a single piece, the most elaborately sculptured objects, of exquisite finish and delicacy. Casts from these are now common in the streets. The credit of the application of this substance to this purpose is due to M. H. Vincent. The process of casting consists in simply dissolving a certain quantity of gelatin in hot water until it is reduced to the state of liquid paste, when it is run over the object, previously oiled, intended to be reproduced. As it cools, the gelatin assumes a consistency offering a considerable degree of resistance, and is highly elastic, which latter quality enables it to be easily detached from the work on which it has been fitted. In the hollow formed by the gelatin the finest plaster, mixed to a thick cream with water, is next run; and when the plaster has acquired the requisite hardness, the gelatin mould is detached in the same manner as from the original. From this apparently fragile mould as many as six copies may be taken, all reproducing the original with unerring fidelity.

3. (Metallic.)—a. From fusible metal.

b. (Clichée moulds.) From a fusible alloy formed of bismuth, 8 parts; lead, 5 parts; tin, 4 parts; antimony, 1 part; repeatedly melted together. The above are poured out in the melted state on a plate or slab, and after being stirred until in a pasty state, the object to be copied is strongly pressed on the alloy at the moment it begins to solidify. They are chiefly used for medals and other like objects.

c. (Chameroy’s Patent.) By melting together one part of some easily fusible metal in a crucible, and then mixing with it four parts of a metal far less readily fusible, steeped in ammonia and reduced to powder. Such a compound is stated to be of great solidity, hardness, facility of soldering, melts at a low temperature, and has great tractability in moulding to any form; and in casting takes the sharpest impressions, whilst in its nature it is peculiarly unchangeable. See Electrotype.

MOUTH COSMET′ICS. See Breath, Teeth, Lozenge, Paste, Powder, &c.

MOX′AS. Substances burnt upon the body, for the purpose of acting as counter-irritants, and allaying deep-seated pains and inflammation. They have been used in gout, rheumatism, &c. The small cone constituting the moxa is placed upon a part, lighted, and allowed to burn to its base. The Chinese and Japanese moxas are made of the downy portion of the leaves of a species of wormwood (Artemisia sinensis); but various other substances, as the pith of the sunflower, cotton, or paper, soaked in a weak solution of nitrate, chlorate, or chromate of potassium, answer as well. Larrey’s moxas consist of lycopodium, 4 oz.; nitre, 2 oz.; formed into small cones, with alcohol, and dried for some days. Dr Osborne used quicklime enclosed in a hoop of card, and moistened with water. The actual cautery is said to be preferable to any of them.

MU′CILAGE. Syn. Mucilago, L. An aqueous solution of gum, or other like substance, that gives a considerable consistency to water. See Decoction, Mixture, &c.

Mucilage, Acacia. (Ph. B.) Syn. Mucilago acaciæ. Put gum acacia, in small pieces, 4 oz., and distilled water, 6 oz., into a covered earthen jar, and stir frequently until the gum is dissolved. If necessary, strain through muslin.

Mucilage, Fenugreek. Syn. Mucilago fenugreci. Digest 1 oz. of fenugreek seed with ⁄2 pint of water for 12 hours, boil, and strain with pressure.

Mucilage, Linseed. (P. Cod.) Syn. Mucilago lini. Linseed, 1 oz.; warm water, 6 oz. Digest for 6 hours, stirring now and then, and strain.

Mucilage, Liquorice. Syn. Mucilago glycyrrhizæ. From liquorice root, as MARSHMALLOW MUCILAGE.

Mucilage, Marshmallow. (P. Cod.) Syn. Mucilago althææ. Marshmallow root, 1 oz.; boiling water, 6 oz.; digest for 6 hours, and strain.

Mucilage, Quicksilver. Syn. Mucilago mercurialis plenkii. Quicksilver, 1 dr.; gum Arabic, 3 dr.; syrup of poppies, 4 oz. Mix.—Dose, ⁄2 dr.

Mucilage, Sassafras. (Ph. U. S.) Syn. Mucilago sassafras. Infuse 2 dr. of pith of sassafras in 16 oz. (old measure) of boiling water for 3 hours, and strain.

Mucilage, Slippery-Elm Bark. (Ph. U. S.) Syn. Mucilago ulmi. Slippery-elm bark, sliced and bruised, 1 oz.; boiling water, 16 oz. Infuse for 2 hours.

Mucilage, Starch. (Ph. B.) Same as Decoction of starch (Ph. L.), which see.

Mucilage, Tra′gacanth. Syn. Mucilago tragacanthæ (B. P., Ph. E., and Ph. D 1826), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. E.) Tragacanth, 2 dr.; boiling water, 9 fl. oz. (8 fl. oz.—Ph. D.); macerate for 24 hours, triturate, and press through linen.

2. (B. P.) Tragacanth, in powder, 60 gr.; distilled water, 10 oz. To the water contained in a pint bottle add the tragacanth, agitate briskly for a few minutes, and again at short intervals, until the tragacanth is perfectly diffused, and has finally formed a mucilage.—Dose, 1 oz. (Should be made as required. One part of tragacanth gives more viscosity to water than twenty-five parts of gum Arabic—Squire.) Used in medicine as a demulcent, and as an application to burns, &c., and in pharmacy in making up pills, and to suspend heavy powders in liquids.

MUDAR′IN. Syn. Madarine. A peculiar substance, possessing powerful emetic properties, extracted from the root bark of Calotropis gigantea, in which it exists to the extent of 11%. (Duncan.) It is soluble in water and in alcohol, and its aqueous solution, unlike that of most other substances, gelatinises by heat, and becomes fluid again on cooling.

MUF′FINS. Prep. Take of fine flour, ⁄4 peck; warm milk-and-water, 1 quart; yeast, a wine-glassful; salt, 2 oz.; mix for 15 minutes, then further add of flour, ⁄4 peck, make a dough, let it rise 1 hour, roll it up, pull it into pieces, make them into balls, put them in a warm place, and when the whole dough is made into balls, shape them into muffins, and bake them on tins; turn them when half done, dip them into warm milk, and bake them to a pale brown.

MUF′FLE. See Assaying.

MUL′BERRY. Syn. Morum, L. Mulberries (MORA, MORI BACCÆ) are the fruit of Morus nigra, or black mulberry tree. They are cooling and laxative; but when eaten too freely are apt to disorder the stomach and bowels. Mulberry juice (mori succus) is officinal in the Ph. L. A syrup (SYRUPUS MORI) is made of it. It is also, occasionally, made into wine.

MUL′TUM. A mixture of extract of quassia and liquorice, used by fraudulent brewers instead of malt and hops.

MUM. A beverage prepared from wheat malt, in a similar way to ordinary beer from barley malt. A little oat and bean meal is frequently added. It was formerly much drunk in England; but its use at the present day is chiefly confined to Germany, and to Brunswick more particularly.

MUMPS. Syn. Parotitis, L. Inflammation of the parotid gland, which is situated under the ear. There is little constitutional derangement, but the cheeks become swollen and painful, and there is some difficulty in opening the mouth, and in swallowing. The treatment consists in simply keeping the part warm with flannel, and the use of warm fomentations, at the same time that the bowels are kept freely open with some mild laxative.

The mumps are said to be contagious, as, when the affection appears in a school, it generally attacks every member of it. Low, damp situations are those most favorable to this affection.

MUREX′ID. C8N6H8O6. Syn. Purpurate of ammonium.

Prep. (Gregory.) Alloxan, 7 parts; alloxantin, 4 parts; boiling water, 240 parts; dissolve, and add the solution to a cold and strong solution of carbonate of ammonia, 80 parts; crystals of murexid will separate as the liquid cools.

Obs. Murexid can be obtained directly from uric acid by the action of nitric acid and subsequent treatment with ammonia. This process is, however, very precarious, and often fails altogether.

Prop., &c. It is only very slightly soluble in cold water; freely soluble in solutions of ammonia and the fixed alkalies; the first, by exposure to the air, becomes purple, and deposits brilliant crystals of murexid. These compounds are the purpurates of Dr Prout. It forms iridescent crystals, having a metallic lustre, of a magnificent green colour by reflected light, and an equally beautiful reddish purple by transmitted light. It is soluble in boiling water, only very slightly soluble in cold water, and insoluble in alcohol and ether. A few years ago murexid was extensively used in dyeing; it is now almost superseded by rosaniline or magenta. An analogous substance, formed as above, by treating amalic acid with ammonia, is called ‘caffein-murexid.’

MU′′RIATE. An old name for hydrochlorate and chloride.

MURIATIC ACID. Syn. Hydrochloric acid, which see.

MURIDE. The name originally given to bromine by M. Balard.

MUR′RAIN. Syn. Black-leg, Black-quarter. A disease affecting meat cattle, more especially young animals, in the spring and autumn. The common symptoms are swelling and discoloration of one of the hind quarters of the animal, with consequent lameness and inability to move; a peculiar emphysema and intumescence of various parts of the body, particularly over the region of the spine, accompanied with all the common indications of putrid fever. In severe cases gangrene soon follows, and death frequently ensues in from 12 to 24 hours.

The rapid progress of this disease admits of little being done in the way of cure. Extensive scarifications of the affected part, charcoal or hot yeast poultices, or fomentations, and active purgatives, appear to constitute the most useful treatment. The following drenches have been recommended for this affection:—

1. (Blaine.) Sweet spirit of nitre, ⁄2 fl. oz.; powdered cascarilla, 2 oz.; solution of acetate of ammonia, 4 fl. oz.; yeast, 8 fl. oz.; given every 3 or 4 hours.

2 (Clater.) Laudanum and sweet spirit of nitre, of each ⁄2 fl. oz.; solution of chloride of lime, ⁄4 fl. oz.; prepared chalk, 1 oz.; warm gruel, 1 pint.

The apparent incurability of this disease renders it of the utmost importance to the farmer to adopt preventive measures. These should consist of the supply of wholesome food and pure water, the adoption of extreme cleanliness, and the free access of pure air to all the stalls, sheds, and other buildings in which the cattle may be sheltered. As the disease is regarded as contagious by many persons, it is prudent to separate, as speedily as possible, the healthy animals from those affected. The free use of sulphurous acid, chloride of lime, &c., as disinfectants, is also advisable.

Other and more immediate preventives consist of the occasional exhibition of a saline aperient, and the introduction of a seton into the dewlap.

MUSCULAR POWER. Fick and Wislicenus proved, in 1865, that muscular power is to a great extent produced by the oxidation of such non-nitrogenous substance as fat. Frankland has put the matter beyond dispute by a series of experiments determining the amount of potential energy locked up in muscle. Some of the conclusions at which he has arrived are extremely interesting. He considers that a muscle is a machine for the conversion of potential energy into mechanical force; that the mechanical force of the muscles is derived chiefly, if not entirely, from the oxidation of matters either contained in the blood or deposited around the muscular fibres, and not from the oxidation of the muscles themselves; that in man the chief materials used for the production of muscular power are non-nitrogenous; but nitrogenous matters can also be employed for the same purpose, and hence the greatly increased evolution of nitrogen, under the influence of a flesh diet, even with no increase of muscular exertion; that like every other part of the body, the muscles are constantly being renewed, but this renewal is scarcely perceptibly more rapid during great muscular activity than during comparative quiescence; that after the supply of sufficient albuminoid matters in the food of man to provide for the necessary renewal of the tissues, the best materials for the production both of internal and external work are non-nitrogenous matters, such as oil, fat, sugars, starch, and gum; that the non-nitrogenous matters of food which find their way into the blood yield up all their potential energy as actual energy; the nitrogenous matters, on the other hand, leave the body with a portion (at least one seventh) of their potential energy unexpended; and, lastly, that the transformation of potential energy into muscular power is necessarily accompanied by the production of heat within the body, even when the muscular power is exerted externally. This is doubtless the chief, and probably the only, source of natural heat. See Energy, Exercise.

MUSH′ROOMS. Edible fungi. The species commonly eaten in England are the Agaricus campestris, or common field or garden mushroom, used to make ketchup, and eaten either raw, stewed, or broiled;—the Morchella esculenta, or morel, used to flavour soups and gravies;—and the Tuber cibarium, or common truffle, also used as a seasoning.

Several fungi, which to the inexperienced closely resemble the common edible mushroom, possess poisonous narcotic properties, and their use has not unfrequently been productive of serious, and, in some cases, even fatal results. Unfortunately, no simple tests exist by which the edible and poisonous varieties can be distinguished from each other. So strongly was the late Professor L. C. Richards, the eminent botanist, impressed with this feeling, that though no one was better acquainted with the distinctions of fungi than he was, yet he would never eat any except such as had been raised in gardens, in mushroom beds.

“This difficulty of distinguishing edible from poisonous and noxious fungi must not be ignored. If only one out of a hundred, or for the matter of that a thousand, species were poisonous or noxious, it would not be sound advice to say that we should eat all that come to hand, and stand the chance of baneful results. Unfortunately it is the case that some of the most poisonous fungi are the most common, and there is scarcely a field, and perhaps not a single wood, which does not abound with varieties of Coprinus, the Agaricus fascicularis, and the beautifully coloured Thussula emetica, and several other very undesirable species. Some writers, and among them, if we remember rightly, the learned and enthusiastic mycologist, Dr Badham, deny the existence of any poisonous fungi in our islands, and they account for the effects which are often produced by eating varieties different from our common mushroom by stating that some people, through idiosyncrasy of constitution, are injuriously affected by all fungi; and in support of this statement they instance the well-known fact that some people experience the most unpleasant effects after eating the common edible mushroom, which chemically contains noxious ingredients. We all know that idiosyncrasy of constitution may account for much and for very strange phenomena; for instance, oysters are almost poison to some persons, while roast beef will cause hysterics in other cases; and to not a few certain odours, harmless in themselves, are causes of serious attacks of illness; but the fact remains that persons who can eat with impunity and greatly enjoy the common mushroom are unpleasantly affected by other species of fungi. Not a year passes but deaths are recorded of persons—sometimes of whole families—after eating noxious fungi, though they had no idiosyncrasy of constitution; and shortly prior to the writing of this article a learned botanist and enthusiastic mycologist, and a friend, in experimenting on some specimens of fungi sent to him, narrowly escaped death, while another person who partook of the dish prepared actually succumbed. A thousand and one tests have been given in writing from time to time whereby our ordinary mushroom is to be distinguished from species which resemble it—and one species is to be distinguished from another; but we fear that practically they are not to be depended upon. Fungi differ in appearance according to the localities in which they grow, and according to their age. The common belief that the edible species never change colour when cut or bruised is untenable, for three varieties at least are perfectly edible, and yet assume different tints when injured in any way. The test of taste, too, which is applied under the idea that those with a pleasant savour and an inoffensive smell are always wholesome, is fallacious, for a raw mushroom is quite a different thing from the stewed or grilled one, and often what has an acrid taste when raw becomes perfectly savoury when cooked; and, vice versâ, a tasteless fungus may be poisonous, but only develop its latent flavour when submitted to the cook. Dr Christison declares that a sure test of poisonous fungus is an astringent, styptic taste, and a disagreeable pungent odour; but this, again, cannot always be depended on. Nor, again, is the popular idea that a mushroom which will skin easily is wholesome altogether based on fact. What, then, is to be done to enlarge the field of our mushroom gatherers and to bring about the utilisation of food now suffered to run to waste, or, in other words, how is a knowledge of our fungi to be obtained? The only answer is that knowledge on this matter is to be got, generally speaking, as knowledge on other matters—partly from books, but more especially from oral instruction and demonstration. Such eminent authorities as Dr Badham, the Rev. M. Berkeley, Mr Cooke, and Mr Worthington Smith may be consulted with profit, and works such as that on ‘Domestic Economy,’ in which coloured plates bring accurately before the eye the different species of our fungi. And here we may mention that the plates prepared by Mr Worthington Smith, which were once at the South Kensington Museum, but now, we believe, at Bethnal Green, have done much to help the Londoner when in search for mushrooms in the country to distinguish between the good and bad species of fungi. It might be well that in our schools, where so many practically useless branches of knowledge are crammed into children both in town and country, practical lessons on fungi should be given. Those, too, who wish to learn what is to be learned on this subject should avail themselves of opportunities now often given at exhibitions and botanical meetings. At Paris, in 1876, there was an exhibition of edible and poisonous fungi, in a fresh and dry state, together with books and drawings; and a similar exhibition took place in Aberdeen two years before; and, as most of our readers are probably aware, there exists a Fungus Club, or, rather, a botanical society which makes fungi a special study. This is the Woolhope Club, which has its head quarters at Hereford, and embraces in its scientific investigations all the district between Shropshire and the Bristol Channel. One day in each autumn is devoted to a fungus hunt, and the numbers that are gathered by this enthusiastic band are something enormous. The labours of the day are closed by a dinner, at which the main dishes are composed of the spoils of the chase, dressed in the most epicurean fashion, and of other good things flavoured with the most appetising (fungus) sauces. In the annual volume published of the transactions of the club there is a description of the fungi of the district, and the best modes of cooking them. It would be a great gain to the public if at least that part dealing with fungi were generally obtainable.

“Gastronomically the ordinary mushroom, and a large number of our British fungi, are most estimable, and ketchup produced from them—not the ordinary ketchup ‘of commerce,’ which is often innocent of any fungi whatever—is to the cultivated taste of the gourmet the best of sauces. Many an epicurean has been heard to aver that after that of an oyster that of a mushroom is the finest in the whole world of gastronomy. Bacon, in his ‘Naturall Historie,’ says of mushrooms, ‘they yield a delicious meat,’ and to these commendations it may be added that they can be cooked in almost as many ways as the French can cook eggs. Their alimentary value is also great, for chemistry has revealed in them the presence of the leading principles which exist in the flesh of animals. Dr Letheby says that ‘the edible varieties are highly nutritious,’ and that well-known dietist, the late Dr Edward Smith, who was very chary of commending anything, also has a good word for them.

“Our word ‘mushroom’ is evidently an adaptation of the French mousseron, which, of course, is from mousse ‘moss’ (Latin, muscus); but the suggestion of the learned Salmasius, that the French gave this name to the edible fungus ‘because it grows only where the grass is the shortest and there is little else but moss,’ strikes one as rather weak. The mushroom, like the moss, is a cryptogamous plant; but there is little connection in any way between the two. Perhaps, then, we must look to the Greek word mucos, though only used by the grammarians, for the origin of the French word and so of our own. This was one of the terms which signified a ‘sponge,’ and was probably applied to the ‘fungi’ because of their sponge-like growth. It is evident that some of our more exact botanists, or etymologists who compounded the word for them, consider the Greek word and not the Latin as the origin of the mu in the English word and the mou in the French, though, according to analogy, the u should have been changed into a y, for the study of ‘fungi’ is termed by them mycology. It is hardly necessary to add that the words ‘fungology’ and ‘fungologist’ are hybrid compounds of Greek and Latin, which are simply intolerable to ears correct, as are many other words similarly compounded, and recently introduced into our language. The Latin fungus is plainly a weakened form of the Greek spongos, and goes to show that the idea of a ‘sponge’ was from the first associated with the fungi, and that the Greek mucos must be taken as the origin of the French mousseron and the English ‘mushroom.’ It is curious that the Greek, Latin, and English ‘fungous’ terms have all been used in a sense reflecting on some of our species. The Greek mucos represented a silly, stupid fellow, and the Plautus couples the fungi—‘soft-pated’—with the ‘fools,’ ‘stolid’ and ‘fatuous.’ In like manner in our own language, Bacon speaks of certain persons as ‘mushrooms and upstart weeds’ because of their sudden growth from a lowly origin. South, in one of his sermons, reflects on “mushroom divines who start up of a sudden,” and whose success is ‘not so good as to recommend their practice.’ Carrying out the same analogy, the late Albert Smith, if we recollect rightly, spoke of ‘stuck-up people’ as springing like mushrooms suddenly into notice, and, like them, from very questionable soil.

“One word as to the connection between fungi and what are called ‘fairy rings’ in our meadows. These fairy rings unfortunately lose all their poetry when it is known that they are simply produced by the growth of various kinds of fungi. The fungi start from a centre, owing to some peculiarity of the soil and decaying vegetable matter in it, and when they have exhausted the spot on which they originally sprang up, they enlarge their borders, as it were, and thus form circles, giving a darker tinge to the herbage affected by them. These rings increase in size annually, and thus they vary considerably in circumference. This is a prosaic but truthful explanation of the phenomenon which so often attracts the attention of children and puzzles the heads of older persons.”

In cases of poisoning by fungi, vomiting should be immediately induced by an emetic and tickling the fauces with the finger or a feather; after which a purgative clyster or a strong cathartic should be administered, with ⁄2 to 1 fl. dr. of ether in a glassful of water or weak brandy. As an antidote, a solution of tannin, ⁄2 dr., in water, 1⁄2 pint, or a decoction of ⁄2 oz. of powdered galls, or of 1 oz. of powdered cinchona bark, in a like quantity of water, has been strongly recommended by M. Chansarel.

Alexis Soyer recommended the excellent method of cooking mushrooms by baking them under a glass or basin on toast, along with scalded or clotted cream, or a little melted butter, with one clove, and salt, pepper, &c., to taste. They take about ⁄4 of an hour in a gentle oven or before the fire. When they are taken up, do not remove the glass for a few minutes, by which time the vapour will have become condensed and gone into the bread; but when it is, the aroma, which is the essence of the mushroom, is so powerful as to pervade the whole apartment.

MUSK. Syn. Moschus (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. “A secretion deposited in a follicle of the prepuce of Moschus moschiferus, Linn.” (Ph. L.), an animal inhabiting the mountains of Eastern Asia. It is imported from Bengal, China, and Russia; and, latterly, from the United States of America. That known as Tonquin musk is the most esteemed for its odour; but that from Russia is the only kind which reaches us in perfect bags, or which has not been tampered with. Pod musk (MOSCHUS IN VESICIS) is the bag in its natural state, containing the musk. The average weight of one of the pods is about 6 dr.; that of the grain musk which it contains, about 2⁄2 dr.

Pur, &c. The musk of the shops is generally adulterated. Dried bullock’s blood or chocolate is commonly employed for this purpose, along with a little bone-black. The extent of these additions varies from 25% to 75% of the gross weight of the mixture. The blood is dried by the heat of steam or a water bath, then reduced to coarse powder, and triturated with the genuine musk in a mortar along with a few drops of liquid of ammonia. It is then either replaced in the empty pods, or it is put into bottles, and sold as grain musk. There are only three certain ways of detecting this fraud, viz.—by the inferiority of the odour, by an assay for the iron contained in the blood, or—by the microscope. Genuine musk often becomes nearly inodorous by keeping, but recovers its smell on being exposed to the vapour of ammonia, or by being moistened with ammonia water. The perfumers sometimes expose it to the fetid ammoniacal effluvia of privies for the same purpose.

Pure musk, by trituration or digestion with boiling water, loses about 75% of its weight, and the boiling solution, after precipitation with nitric acid, is nearly colourless. A solution of acetate of lead, and a cold decoction of galls, also precipitate the solution; but one of corrosive sublimate does not disturb it. The ashes left after the incineration of pure musk are neither red nor yellow, but grey, and should not exceed 5 to 6%. The Chinese appear to be the most skilful and successful adulterators of musk. One of the best solvents for musk is ether.

Uses, &c. Musk is chiefly employed for its odour. As a medicine it is a powerful stimulant and antispasmodic, and is a valuable remedy in various diseases of a spasmodic or hysterical character, or attended with low fever.—Dose, 5 to 10 grains made into an emulsion.

Musk, Factitious. Syn. Resin of amber; Resina succini, Moschus artificialis, M. factitius, L. Prep. 1. Oil of amber, 1 fl. dr.; nitric acid, 3⁄2 fl. dr.; digest in a cold tumbler, and after 24 hours, wash in cold water the orange-yellow resinous matter which has formed, and carefully dry it.

2. (Elsner.) From oil of amber, 1 part; fuming nitric acid, 3 parts; as the last, but employing artificial cold to prevent any portion of the oil being carbonised.

Obs. Resin of amber smells strongly of musk, and is said to be antispasmodic and nervine. A tincture (TINCTURA RESINÆ SUCCINI) is made by dissolving 1 dr. of it in rectified spirit, 10 fl. dr., of which the dose is 1 fl. dr.; in hooping-cough, low fevers, &c.

Dr Collier mentions an artificial musk, prepared by digesting for 10 days nitric acid, ⁄2 oz., on fetid animal oil, obtained by distillation, 1 oz.; then adding of rectified spirit, 1 pint, and digesting the whole for a month.

MUSK SEED. Syn. Grains d’ambrette. The seed of Abelmoschus moschatus, or musk mallow. They are chiefly used for their odour, in perfumery, hair powder, coffee, &c.

MUS′SEL. See Shell-fish.

MUST. Syn. Mustum, L. The expressed juice of ripe grapes, before fermentation. When boiled to 2-3 dr. it is called CARENUM; when boiled to ⁄2, it is called SAPA. On further concentration, it yields a species of granular sugar (grape sugar.)

Must, Facti′′tious. Syn. Mustum factitium, L. Prep. Dissolve cream of tartar, ⁄4 oz., in boiling water, 7 pints; when cold, add of lump sugar, 2⁄2 lbs.; raisins (chopped small), ⁄2 lb.; digest for 3 or 4 hours, strain through flannel as quickly as possible, and add of lemon juice, ⁄2 pint.

MUS′TARD. Syn. Sinapis, L. “The seed of Sinapis nigra and S. alba.” (Ph. L.) “Flour of the seeds of Sinapis nigra, generally mixed with those of Sinapis alba, and deprived of fixed oil by expression.” (Ph. E.) “The flour of the seeds.” (Ph. D.) “The seeds of the Sinapis nigra and S. alba reduced to powder and mixed.” (B. P.) That of the shops is very frequently adulterated with wheat flour. When this is the case it does not readily make a smooth paste with water, but exhibits considerable toughness, and somewhat of a stringy appearance, especially when little water and much heat is employed. The common proportions taken by some grocers are—dried common salt, wheat flour, and superfine mustard, equal parts; with turmeric, to colour, and cayenne, q. s. to give it piquancy and fire.

Uses, &c. Pure flour of mustard is used in medicine, to make stimulating poultices, pediluvia, &c. As a condiment it is useful in torpor and coldness of the digestive organs. A few years since the use of mustard seed, by spoonfuls, ad libitum, was a common and fashionable remedy in torpor or atony of the digestive organs. The practice was a revival of that recommended by Dr Cullen; but it has now again sunk into disuse. Sir John Sinclair also approved of the use of mustard seed in this way, especially for the preservation of the health of the aged. (‘Lancet,’ Jan., 1834.) See Poultices, &c.

Mustard for the Table. The common practice of preparing mustard for the table with vinegar, or still more, with boiling water, materially checks the development of those peculiar principles on which its pungency or strength almost entirely depends. To economise this substance, we should use lukewarm water only; and when flavouring matter is to be added to it, this is better deferred until after the paste is made. The following forms for ‘made mustard’ are much esteemed for their flavour:—

Prep. 1. Mustard (ground), 3⁄2 lbs.; water, q. s. to form a stiff paste; in ⁄2 hour add of common salt (rubbed very fine), 1 lb.; with vinegar, grape juice, lemon juice, or white wine, q. s. to reduce it to a proper consistence.

2. To the last add a little soluble cayenne pepper or essence of cayenne.

3. (Lenormand.) Best flour of mustard, 2 lbs.; fresh parsley, chervil, celery, and tarragon, of each ⁄2 oz.; garlic, 1 clove; 12 salt anchovies; (all well chopped); grind well together, add of salt, 1 oz.; grape juice or sugar q. s. to sweeten; with sufficient water to form the mass into a thinnish paste by trituration in a mortar. When put into pots, a red-hot poker is to be thrust into each, and a little vinegar afterwards poured upon the surface.

4. (Moutarde a l’estragon.) From black mustard seed (gently dried until friable, and then finely powdered), 1 lb.; salt, 2 oz.; tarragon vinegar, q. s. to mix. In a similar way the French prepare several other ‘mustards,’ by employing vinegars flavoured with the respective substances, or walnut or mushroom ketchup, or the liquors of the richer pickles.

5. (Moutarde superbe.) Salt, 1⁄2 lb.; scraped horseradish, 1 lb.; garlic, 2 cloves; boiling vinegar, 2 galls.; macerate in a covered vessel for 24 hours, strain, and add of flour of mustard, q. s.

6. (Patent.) Black ginger (bruised), 12 lbs.; common salt, 18 lbs.; water, 15 galls.; boil, strain, and add to each gallon flour of mustard, 5 lbs.

Mustard Leaves (Rigollot’s) are made by spreading moistened mustard on paper, and drying.

MUS′TINESS. See Malt liquors and Wines.

MU′TAGE. The term applied to the ‘matching’ of grape must to arrest the progress of fermentation. See Antiferment, Matches, &c.

MUT′TON. The flesh of sheep. That of the first quality is “between four and five years old; but at present it is rarely got above three, and often under two. The flesh ought to be of a darkish, clear, red colour, the fat firm and white, the meat short and tender when pinched, and it ought not to be too fat.” The flesh of the ‘Southdown wether’ is esteemed the finest flavoured. Mutton is one of the most wholesome of the ‘red meats,’ and in commercial importance is second only to beef. See Meat.

MY′COSE. A peculiar variety of sugar, extracted by alcohol from ergot of rye. It crystallises in colourless prisms, and is distinguished from cane sugar by not reducing the acetate of copper, when boiled with a solution of that salt.

MYLABRIS. Syn. Mylabris cichorii; Chinese blistering fly. An insect found on the flowers of the succory plant in India and China. It is about an inch and a quarter in length; sheath-wings black, each presenting anteriorly two almost quadrate, brownish-yellow spots; behind these two brownish-yellow bands, each of which equals about one sixth of the length of the sheath-wings. Its vesicant properties are due to the presence of cantharidin.

Its physiological actions are the same as those of cantharides, except that it is said not to affect the kidneys when topically applied.

MYRICIN. The portion of beeswax which is least soluble in alcohol, and saponified with difficulty.

MYRISTIC ACID. HC14H27O2. A monobasic fatty acid, obtained by the saponification of myristin. It melts at 120° Fahr.

MYRIS′TIN. C45H86O6. Syn. Sericine. The white, solid portion of the expressed oil of nutmegs, which is insoluble in cold alcohol. See Myristic acid.

MYROLES. In French pharmacy, solutions of oleaginous or resinous substances in the volatile oils.

MYRON′IC ACID. HC10H18NS2O10. Bussy has given this name to an inodorous, bitter, non-crystallisable acid, obtained by him from black mustard, in which it exists as myronate of potassium. It is soluble in water and alcohol.

MYROSIN. Syn. Emulsin or black mustard. A name given by Bussy to a peculiar substance, soluble in water, and which possesses the power of converting myronic acid, in the presence of water, into the volatile oil of mustard seed.

MYROSPERMIN. The name given by Richter to the portion of the oil of balsam of Peru, which is soluble in alcohol.

MYROX′ILIN. The name given by Richter to the portion of the oil of balsam of Peru which is insoluble in alcohol. By oxygenation it forms myroxilic acid.

MYRRH. Syn. Myrrha (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. “Gum resin exuded from the bark of Balsamodendron myrrha.” (B. P., Ph. L.)

Pur.—1. Triturate a small quantity of the powder of the suspected myrrh with an equal amount of chloride of ammonium, adding water, gradually; if the whole is readily dissolved, the myrrh is genuine; otherwise it is sophisticated with some inferior substance. (Righini.)—2. When incinerated it should not leave more than 3⁄2 to 4% of ashes.

Uses, &c. Myrrh is a stimulating aromatic bitter and tonic, and is given in several diseases accompanied by relaxation and debility; especially in excessive secretions from the mucous membranes, and in disorders of the digestive organs. Externally, as an ingredient in dentifrices and rashes, in caries of the teeth, spongy and ulcerated gums, &c.—Dose, 10 to 30 gr.; either alone or combined with aloes or chalybeates.

NAILS (The) should be kept clean by the daily use of the nail-brush and soap-and-water. After wiping the hands, but whilst they are still soft from the action of the water, the skin, which is apt to grow over the nails, should be gently loosened and pressed back, which will not only preserve them neatly rounded, but will prevent the skin cracking around their roots (agnails, nail-springs), and becoming sore. The free ends or points of the nails should be pared about once a week; and biting them should be particularly avoided, as being at once destructive to their beauty and usefulness. “The (free) edge of the scarf-skin should never be pared, the surface of the nail never scraped, or the nails cleaned with any instrument whatever saving the nail-brush.” (Eras. Wilson.)

The consequences of wearing a shoe that is obviously too short for the foot are thus described by the above authority:—“In this case Nature gives us warning, by means of her agent, pain, that such a proceeding is contrary to her laws. We stop our ears, and get accustomed to the pain, which, perhaps, is not severe, and soon goes off; the shoes get a scolding for their malice, and we forget all about it for a time. But does Nature check her course to suit the convenience of thoughtless men? No, no. In a short time we find that the nail, intercepted in its forward course, has become unusually thick and hard, and has spread out so much upon the sides, that it is now growing into the flesh, and so makes a case for the doctor. Or, perhaps, the continuance of pressure may have inflamed the sensitive skin at the root, and caused a sore and painful place there. And instances are by no means infrequent in which the power of production of the nail at the root becomes entirely abrogated, and then it grows in thickness only.”

When the nails are stained or discoloured, a little lemon juice, or vinegar-and-water, is the best application. Occasionally, a little pumice-stone, in impalpable powder, or a little ‘putty powder,’ may be used along with water and a piece of soft leather or flannel for the same purpose. The frequent employment of these substances is, however, injurious to the healthy growth of the nail.

NANKEEN′. The coloured cotton cloth which bears this name was originally brought from Nankin, the ancient capital of China, and was prepared from a native cotton, of a brownish-yellow hue. It is now successfully imitated in England, and at the present time the English manufacturers supply the Canton market. In this country the colour is generally given to the cloth by successive baths of sulphate of iron and crude carbonate of soda or lime water.

NANKEEN DYE. The liquid sold under this name in the shops is a solution of annotta. It is employed to dye white calicoes of a nankeen colour; but chiefly to restore the colour of faded nankeen clothing.

NAPH′THA. Syn. Mineral naphtha; Naphtha, L. A name given to the limpid and purer varieties of PETROLEUM (which see), or ROCK OIL, which exudes from the surface of the earth in various parts of the world.

Prop. Naphtha possesses a penetrating odour and a yellow colour, but may be rendered colourless by distillation; it usually begins to boil at a temperature of about 180° Fahr., but, being a mixture of several different hydrocarbons, it has no fixed boiling-point; it is very inflammable; it does not mix with water, but imparts to that fluid its peculiar taste and smell; mixes with alcohol and oils, and dissolves sulphur, phosphorus, camphor, iodine, most of the resins, wax, fats, and spermaceti; and forms with caoutchouc a gelatinous varnish, which dries with very great difficulty.

Pur. Mineral naphtha is very frequently adulterated with oil of turpentine, a fraud which may be detected by—1. The addition of some oil of vitriol, which will, in that case, thicken and darken it.—2. Hydrochloric acid gas passed through the liquid for an hour, will occasion the formation of hydrochlorate of camphine, either at once or after a few hours’ repose, even if only 5% of oil of turpentine is present. (Dr Bolley.)—3. If a few grains of iodide of potassium and a little water are rubbed with the suspected sample, the colour of the water should continue unchanged; the presence of ⁄300th part of oil turpentine will cause it to assume a red or orange colour. (Saladin.)

Uses. Naphtha is chiefly employed for the purposes of illumination, as a solvent for india rubber, and in the preparation of a very superior black pigment. It has been highly spoken of as a remedy for cholera, by Dr Andreosky, a Russian physician. See Petroleum, and below.

Naphtha, Coal-tar. Syn. Naphtha, Coal n. A mixture of volatile hydrocarbons, obtained by distilling coal-tar. It is one of the first products which comes over, and flows from the still as crude coal naphtha. To obtain rectified coal naphtha, this crude liquid is distilled, and the product agitated with 10% of concentrated sulphuric acid; when cold, the mixture is treated with 5% of peroxide of manganese, and the upper portion is submitted to further distillation. The specific gravity of this purified product is ·850. It is extensively used as a solvent of caoutchouc, and other allied substances, also of resins for the preparation of varnishes. By repeated purification and fractional distillation, benzol, the chief and most important constituent of coal naphtha, is obtained. See Benzol.

Naphtha, Wood. See Pyroxylic spirit.

NAPH′THALIN. C10H9. Syn. Naphthaline, Naphthalene. A white crystallisable, odorous, volatile substance, obtained from coal-tar.

Prep. The last portion of the volatile oily product is collected separately, and allowed to repose, when crude naphthalin separates in the solid state. By pushing the distillation until the residuum in the still begins to char, a further portion of dark-coloured naphthalin may be obtained. It is purified by resublimation a second, or even a third time.

Prop., &c. Soluble in alcohol and ether; slightly soluble in boiling water; melts at 176° Fahr.; boils at 412°; highly inflammable, burning with a red and smoky flame; with sulphuric acid, it unites to form sulpho-naphthalic acid. By the action of nitric acid upon naphthalin, numerous substances may be formed, the most interesting being nitro-naphthalin. Naphthalin has lately been extensively employed as a stimulating expectorant.—Dose, 5 to 20 gr.; or, preferably, ⁄2 gr., frequently. Externally, made into an ointment, in dry tetters, psoriasis, &c. 30 gr. may be mixed with 1 oz. of lard.

NA′PLES YEL′LOW. See Yellow pigments.

NAR′CEIA. C23H20G9. Syn. Narceina, Narceia. A peculiar substance discovered by Pelletier in opium. It is obtained from the aqueous solution of opium, after it has been freed from morphia, and narcotina, by ammonia, by adding to it hydrate of lime, or preferably, baryta. On boiling the filtered solution, to expel the ammonia, and evaporating the liquid, crystals of narceine are gradually deposited. It may be purified by solution in hot alcohol and recrystallisation.

Prop., &c. White, silky, acicular prisms; neutral; inodorous; bitter; pungent; soluble in 375 parts of water at 60°, and in 330 parts at 212° Fahr.; insoluble in ether; does not neutralise the acids, and is destitute of basic properties. It is distinguished from morphia by its easier fusibility (190°), and by forming a blue liquid with the dilute mineral acids, which on gradual dilution changes to violet and rose red, and ultimately becomes colourless. It does not strike a blue colour with ferric chloride, like morphia, but forms a blue compound with iodine, which is decomposed by boiling water. It appears to be inert, and has not been applied to any useful purpose.

NAR′COTICS. Syn. Stupefacients; Narcotica, Stupefacientia, L. Medicines which produce drowsiness, sleep, and stupor. In small doses, narcotics mostly act as stimulants, but in larger ones they produce calmness of mind, drowsiness, and torpor; and in poisonous doses, delirium, coma, and death. The general objects in the administration of these agents are the production of sleep and the alleviation of pain. Their action is modified to a greater degree by idiosyncrasy and habit than that of, perhaps, any other class of medicines. Hence the care necessary in their administration. Alcohol, camphor, chloroform, chloral hydrate, ether, foxglove, hemlock, henbane, morphia, opium, and tobacco, are narcotics.

NAR′COTINA. C22H23NO7. Syn. Narcotine, L.; Sel d’opium, Matière de Derosne, Fr. A peculiar crystalline substance, found by Derosne in opium, and on which its stimulant property was at first supposed to depend.

Prep. 1. From opium exhausted of soluble matter by cold water, by treating it with water acidulated with acetic or hydrochloric acid, filtering, neutralising, with ammonia, and dissolving the washed precipitate in boiling alcohol; the narcotine is deposited as the liquid cools, and may be purified by solution in ether.

2. By acting on opium, previously exhausted by cold water, with ether.

Prop., &c. White, inodorous, fluted, or striated prisms; neutral to test paper; insoluble in cold water; sparingly soluble in boiling water; freely soluble in boiling alcohol and in ether. It is only feebly basic.

Narcotine is distinguished from morphia by its insipidity, solubility in ether, insolubility in alkalies, giving an orange tint to nitric acid, and a greasy stain to paper when heated on it over a candle. Another test for narcotina, said by Orfila to be characteristic, is to add to a little of the suspected substance a drop or two of oil of vitriol, and then to add a very small fragment of nitrate of potassium; the liquid speedily acquires a deep blood-red colour if narcotina is present. Morphia treated in the same way strikes a brown or olive-green colour.

Obs. The physiological action of narcotina is differently stated by different authorities. 1 gr. of it, dissolved in olive oil, killed a dog in 24 hours: but 24 gr. dissolved in acetic acid were given with impunity. (Magendie.) In the solid state it is inert; 120 gr. at a dose scarcely produce any obvious effects. (Bally.) Scruple doses have been given without injury. (Dr Roots.) It has been recently proposed as a substitute for quinine in the cure of agues. For this purpose the sulphate or hydrochlorate is preferable. 200 cases of intermittent and remittent fevers have been thus successfully treated in India. (Dr O’Shaughnessy.)—Dose, 3 to 10 gr., as an antiperiodic sedative, &c.

Turkey opium contains about 1%, and East Indian opium about 3%, of narcotine.

NA′TRIUM. See Sodium.

NA′TRON. Native carbonate of soda.

NAU′SEA. See Sickness.

NAU′SEANTS. Syn. Nauseantia, L. Substances which induce an inclination to vomit, without effecting it. See Emetics.

NAVEL, Starting of. To remedy this, take a slice of cork about the circumference of a shilling, and a little thicker; and having covered the projecting navel with a small circular piece of clean, soft linen, place the cork on the linen, strapping it into position by means of cross strips of white sticking plaster (simple lead plaster) over which the usual roller is to be adjusted. Be careful to have the plaster of sufficient length, and to see that it adheres tightly to the skin.

NEC′TAR. The fabled drink of the mythological deities. The name was formerly given to wine dulcified with honey; it is now occasionally applied to other sweet and pleasant beverages of a stimulating character. The following LIQUEURS are so called:—

Prep. 1. Chopped raisins, 2 lbs.; loaf sugar, 4 lbs.; boiling water, 2 galls.; mix, and stir frequently until cold, then add 2 lemons, sliced; proof spirit (brandy or rum), 3 pints; macerate in a covered vessel for 6 or 7 days, occasionally shaking, next strain with pressure, and let the strained liquid stand in a cold place for a week to clear; lastly, decant the clear portion, and bottle it.

2. Red ratafia, 3 gall.; oils of cassia and caraway, of each 25 drops (dissolved in); brandy, ⁄2 pint; orange wine, 1 gall.; sliced oranges, 6 in no.; lump sugar, 2 lbs.; macerate for a week, decant and bottle. See Arrack (Factitious.)

NE′GUS. A well-known beverage, so named after its originator and patron, Colonel Negus. It is made of either port or sherry wine, mixed with about twice its bulk of hot water, sweetened with lump sugar, and flavoured with a little lemon juice and grated nutmeg, and a small fragment only of the yellow peel of the lemon. The addition of about 1 drop of essence of ambergris, or 8 or 10 drops of essence of vanilla, distributed between about a dozen glasses, improves it.

NEPEN′THE. A drink calculated to banish the remembrance of grief. In the “Odyssey” Homer describes Helen as administering it to Telemachus. Nothing is known respecting the composition of the ancient nepenthe. The name is applied to a preparation of opium by many old writers, and is now employed by a Bristol firm to designate a preparation resembling in all essential points Battley’s ‘LIQUOR OPII SEDATIVUS,’

NER′VOUSNESS. The indescribable derangement of health, and the complication of disagreeable sensations which are popularly described under this name, quite as much deserve the serious attention of both patient and physician as any other affection to which the human frame is liable. Although, in itself, not a definite disease, it is indicative of the vital system being out of order, that its energies are failing or overtasked, and that the functions of some of its organs are languidly or imperfectly performed. This condition, if not removed, may gradually lead to the development of actual disease, and imperil life if the conditions whereon it is dependent be not detected and subdued.

The treatment of nervousness consists mainly in restoring the healthy action of the stomach and bowels, and in the use of proper exercise, especially in the open air. The stomach should not be overloaded with indigestible food, and the bowels should be occasionally relieved by the use of some mild aperient. Mental as well as bodily relaxation should be sought, and the pleasures without the vices of society should be indulged in as discretion and inclination may direct. Abernethy’s injunction to a nervous and dyspeptic lady, “Dismiss your servants, madam, and make your own beds,” should be recollected by all, and may be taken as a proof of the importance that eminent surgeon attached to exercise; his advice to the indolent and nervous dyspeptic should not be forgotten, “Live on sixpence a day—and earn it.” See Exercise, Flatulence, Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Indigestion, &c.

NESSLER’S TEST for ammonia, &c. This, the most delicate test for ammonia, was devised by Nessler. It is prepared by saturating a solution of iodide of potassium with the biniodide of mercury, and then adding a weak solution of hydrate of sodium. The addition of a few drops of this solution, to one containing ammonia, produces a yellowish tint when only a trace of ammonia is present, but a dark brown precipitate when the ammonia is present in larger quantity. The composition of the precipitate may be represented thus:—NHg2I. A modification of this test is applied to the detection of wood spirit in common alcohol. A dilute solution of the iodides in question in pure alcohol is formed, in the proportion of 2 or 3 gr. of the salts to 100 c.c. of alcohol. About 4 c.c. of the suspected alcohol are taken, to which are added 2 or 3 drops of the test solution, a few drops of alcoholic ammonia, and, lastly, a little alcoholic potash; if wood spirit be present, the solution will remain clear, but if the alcohol be pure, the characteristic reddish brown precipitate will appear. The precipitate is soluble in acetone, which is always present in wood spirit.

Professor Wanklyn gives the following formulæ for the preparation of the Nessler test:—Mercuric chloride in powder, 35 grammes; iodide of potassium, 90 grammes; water, 1⁄4 litres; heat gently till dissolved (say 20 minutes) in a large basin. Then add of stick caustic potash, 320 grammes, and 50 c.c. of saturated solution of mercuric chloride. The above will be ready for use in 2 hours, and gives maximum colour in 3 minutes.

NESTS, EDIBLE. These dietetic curiosities, which are esteemed as great gastronomic luxuries by the Chinese, are formed by several species of swallows frequenting the Indian Seas. The so-called nests chiefly abound in Java, Borneo, and the Celebes, being found in the caverns both inland and on the sea-shores of those islands.

They are not in reality birds’ nests, but merely supports, by which the bird is enabled to sustain and also to attach its nest to the rock. The nests themselves consist of grass, leaves, and seaweed; the latter of which substances it was for a long time erroneously considered formed the esculent; whereas it is the support which exclusively constitutes this Eastern table luxury.

This, in great part, consists of a peculiar mucus, of a gelatinous nature, which it has been ascertained the bird secretes and discharges from its mouth in large quantities. The Chinese mostly use it in the form of soup, and believe it to be possessed of considerable nutrient power. As many as 8,400,000 of edible nests are said to be annually imported into Canton. “The finest and whitest kind sells for £5 or £6 the lb.; but it requires about fifty nests to make up one pound. The brackets or supports are moved three times, the best being obtained in July and August.”

NET′TLE RASH. See Rash.

NEURAL′GIA. Literally, pain in a nerve. “Various parts of the body are liable to be affected with excruciating pain, which is quite independent of any inflammation of the part, and which may often be traced in the course of the nerves.” These affections constitute neuralgia. One of the most distressing forms of this disease is FACIAL NEURALGIA or TIC DOULOUREUX (NEURALGIA FACIALIS), which, when it assumes a marked intermittent character, is popularly known as ‘FACE AGUE,’ Sometimes it attacks the nerves of the female breast; or those of the hand, feet, hip, or loins, in which cases it is often confounded with acute rheumatism of those parts, occurring towards the inner extremity of the eyebrow and extending over the forehead, it is known as “Brow-ague.”

The treatment, when neuralgia is symptomatic of any other affection, must be directed to the primary disease. When it is idiopathic, or an independent affection, powerful tonic medicines and powerful local counter-irritation are generally found the most successful remedies. Of tonics, carbonates of iron and bark (both in very large doses) are generally preferred; the last more particularly when the affection is of an intermittent kind. As a counter-irritant, caustic ammonia has been much relied on. When all other means fail, a current of mild streaming electricity through the part will often give immediate relief. In the present day quinine in large doses is much depended on, although the affection should not present the intermittent type.

Plain Advice to the Neuralgic by a Family Doctor.—Here, reader, are two facts, which are patent to every thinking medical man: first, this agonising complaint, called neuralgia, is very much more common or prevalent in our day than it was in the days of our forefathers; and secondly, those among us who are most apt to suffer from it are they who live in luxury, or who live too fast, and neglect to keep their bodies up to the proper health-pitch. The poor, too, are often afflicted in the same way, and those who are much confined in workshops, and badly ventilated factories. From this it is not difficult to perceive a lesson may be learned.

Little need is there to describe the symptoms of neuralgia, whether it takes the form of tic douloureux or faceache, hemicrania or half headache (sometimes, but wrongly, called sun-pain), or sciatica, in which the pain follows the course of a nerve running down the back of the leg, even at times as far as the toes. The pain when fully established is of a terribly acute kind, and indescribable burning and shooting—torture, in fact. It generally comes on without any warning at all, in one sharp twinge, which soon recurs and keeps on increasing, till the poor patient is half distracted, and his pale anxious face is beaded with perspiration.

Of the three kinds of neuralgia, the most common by far is tic, or faceache. This pain seems to ‘come out,’ as I have heard patients describe it, from a spot between the ear and temple, and spread itself over one side of the face, adown the jaws along one side of the nose, and into the eye itself. The fits of pain seem at times induced by the most trifling causes, such as a sudden start, a loud, quick sound, as the slamming of a door, or the slightest draught of cold air, a mouthful of hot tea or cold water. Sometimes the patient will get ease if he keeps in bed, with the face entirely buried in warm soft flannel, but contact with the pillow will at once induce a paroxysm. Sleep banishes the pain entirely for the time, or perhaps altogether, if the slumber has been natural, and not induced by weakening, enervating narcotics.

Now let us see for a moment what are the usual causes of neuralgia. If we know these, it will assist us materially in laying down rules for the general treatment of the complaint. And here let me premise that some cases are incurable, because they depend upon pressure by tumours of some kind at the root of the nerve, maybe a bit of bone growing into it. For remember the nerves are extremely sensitive if pressed upon directly. A kinder-hearted man than Professor L—, of Aberdeen, or ‘Sandie’ as he was familiarly termed, never lived; but he used to tell us students, “Gentlemen, in cutting down upon an artery, in one of the extremities, you will often find the artery, the vein, and the corresponding nerve lying in juxtaposition. You can easily tell the vein, but you may be puzzled to know which is nerve and which artery; give one of them, then, a slight pinch with the forceps—if it is the former, oh! won’t the patient holloa! but if he doesn’t holloa, go on, tie away.”

And I have often seen this put in practice with the very happiest results, so far as the operator was concerned. I merely mention this to prove to you that pressure on the root of a nerve may cause an incurable form of neuralgia. But do not think that I wish to frighten you! I therefore hasten to tell the perhaps afflicted reader, that these cases are very rare indeed, and that the large majority of those who suffer from the malady may be cured for the time, and the disease even prevented from returning.

I said that very often neuralgia gave no warning, but came on suddenly, but it more often comes on gradually, and is preceded by some derangement of the general health, such as indigestion. From this fact, again, the wise may take a hint.

I do not say that strong men with robust constitutions never take neuralgia, but all my experience, and that I believe of nearly all medical men, go to prove that it is more frequently an accompaniment of a weakened frame of body, with a nervous system below par. This may have been occasioned by bodily fatigue combined with want of sleep, anxiety of mind, worry, &c., or from debility from whatever cause. But I must not forget to say that indigestion is a frequent cause, and excess in eating and drinking combined with late hours in hot rooms. Another hint, please, reader. Foul air, especially living in malarious districts, will also bring on neuralgia, and in this case the attacks are generally of a periodical kind. The great majority, however, of the cases of neuralgia which come under the notice of the practitioner, are caused by decayed teeth. And this fact gives us hint number three.

Sciatica cases are at times exceedingly distressing. I shall just mention one, which I cured not long since; and we may learn something from it because the cure was so simple. A gentleman, thirty-two years of age he was, spare but wiry; from errors in diet, I elicited, he had become troubled with indigestion and heartburn, which lasted for months; and, moreover, he had quite his own share of that heart-eating canker, care. For the heartburn he was in the habit of swallowing large quantities of the bicarbonate of soda. Now it is well known that antacids, although they may palliate fits of indigestion, cannot cure them; and, moreover, the constant use of an antacid like soda never fails to bring on a state of debility and poverty of blood. In the present case the pains in the limb were almost constant, combined with stiffness of the muscles, which necessitated the use of a staff in walking. At about three or four o’clock every morning there were paroxysms of the most terrible agony, during which the patient would leave his bed because, he said, “it wasn’t level,” and, rolled in a rug, lie at full length on the floor, bathed in pain-induced perspiration. It was no wonder he was glad to take that dangerous narcotic, hydrate of chloral, to give him quiet nights. But this only reduced his system more and more, and gave the enemy a stronger hold thereon. When I saw him he had been suffering thus for two months, and was indeed in a pitiable plight. But giving up both the chloral and the soda, going for change of air, using some simple tonic, and being careful in his diet, worked wonders for him. The sciatica left him in one week, and in six weeks he was well and hearty.

One of the most distressing things in connection with neuralgia is the length of time it sometimes lasts, and its habit of returning periodically, without giving, perhaps, any warning of its approach. The depression, too, of the nervous system which it effects is very great; even the mind to some extent suffers; the patient becomes timid and irritable, while at times even the muscles waste. The sufferer, if the complaint continues long, seems positively to age under it. That he soon recovers strength and spirits when the enemy has been driven from his stronghold, is only a proof of the recuperative power of nature in our systems, so long as youth or middle age is on our side.

Some ancient physician has said that no one thinks of taking care of his health until death stares him in the face. There is one exception, however: people very rarely die directly from neuralgia, unless it be that dreadful form of it called angina pectoris, or heart-cramp; but so great is the pain and torture from tic douloureux or sciatica, that sufferers therefrom are glad and willing to do anything that may present some hopes of relief.

The patient, then, who wishes to recover from this disease must first try to find out the cause of it, in his or her particular case. Is the digestion good? are the teeth good? is the health below par? are the spirits buoyant or the reverse? is the kind of life led that which seems to conduce to health and longevity?—these are questions which he had better put to himself and think well over before commencing any treatment except the simple means of local relief which I shall presently mention; for, depend upon it, whatsoever tends to place the system below par opens the door for the cruel foe’s entrance. And the converse is likewise true.

If you, then, suffer from tic douloureux, see, first and foremost, that it does not arise from caries of the teeth. Only a dentist can find this out for you, for a tooth may be sound enough to appearance, and yet decayed within. Often the removal of one or two teeth will effect, in an hour, the complete cure of a case that has been going on for months.

The treatment for neuralgia may be fitly divided into the topical, or that which gives relief at once, without reference to permanent cure, and the constitutional, or that which tends to remove the cause and prevent any recurrence. I shall mention the former of these first. Probably that which gives the greatest relief is the subcutaneous injection of morphia; but as this tiny but comforting operation can only be performed by some one with skill, I pass it by, and tell you of the great good that may be done by twice a day smearing the track of the nerve with the aconitine ointment; only remember, it must not be applied to an abraded surface. When it can be borne, alternate douches of hot and cold water sometimes give relief, and rubbing or shampooing the parts for some length of time may result in good.

But if the pain is at its worst, and immediate relief is needed, the inhalation of or smelling at a vial of chloroform will act like a charm. Take first a little good Scotch whiskey, with from 20 to 40 drops of the spirit of ether in it; then have, not one sniff, but two or three good sniffs at the vial of chloroform. It will not make you insensible, but it will scare away the pain. I often do good by administering one large dose of quinine. I am rather chary of advising you, however, to try it, because ten or fifteen grains of this invaluable medicine may work injury if either head or heart is easily affected.

People often complain of what they call rheumatism in the jaw, where probably the whole of the teeth in one side, not one more than another, are affected. Now the drug called sal ammoniac (chloride of ammonium) is almost a specific for this kind of faceache. It strikes me I have recommended this before—probably in my paper on the teeth—however, it will bear repeating. The dose is half a dram three or four times a day, but if it doesn’t do good after the fourth or fifth dose, it may be stopped. It is well worth a trial, and is safe.

Neuralgia and rheumatism are at times mysteriously allied, and, did space permit, I could tell you of some very strange cures effected by the use of the dumb-bells—first, I think, recommended by Dr Arnott. When the pain comes on, the patient has recourse to these; and whether it is the indomitable power of will or the effect on the circulation I know not—all I know is, it often scares the tic away, and that is something.

Nothing probably gives more certain relief in cases of sciatica than a small blister, not bigger than a penny-piece, just over the spot where the nerve seems to come out, i. e. where the pain begins, and afterwards dusting not more than half a grain of morphia on the raw surface. And now for constitutional remedies. I will not allow any patient of mine to cuddle and fondle himself and his neuralgia over the fire or in bed one hour longer than is necessary. The mind has a wonderful effect on nervous ailments, and by letting it dwell on them you assuredly increase them; besides, the body is under par, exercise is needed, and pure air and many things besides; and therefore I prescribe activity, to begin with, not senseless walk-taking, but healthy exercise-with-a-purpose.

Medicine must not be neglected; but I assure you, unless you not only take plenty of exercise, regulate your diet, and in some way alter for the better your usual mode of life, it will just be as well, if not better, to pour the medicine down the nearest rat’s hole. That may be a plain way of putting it, but it is very true notwithstanding. Now, I think in most cases an occasional mild purgative will do good, for tonics should never be taken unless the bowels are regular; and as the liver is at times just a little to blame, a claret-glassful of Friedrichshall water may be taken twice a week with benefit. Your tonic, unless there be great fulness of blood, had better be an iron one, combined with quinine, which any chemist will compound you. Tell him you want the tincture of iron, and a little dilute hydrochloric acid, in a quinine mixture. Probably he will say the citrate of iron and quinine is better (it is more easily compounded), and then it will be for you to consider whether you will be advised by him or by your ‘Family Doctor.’ Here is a beautiful wee mixture, which you can compound for yourself, and the dose of which is a teaspoonful in a little water 3 times a day:—Take 2 oz. of tincture of quinine, ⁄2 oz. of tincture of ginger, and the same quantity of pure glycerin, and mix. The following is a capital tonic to be taken after an attack of neuralgia and continued some weeks:—Liquor arsenicalis hydrochlorici, 100 drops; quinine, 30 gr.; elixir of vitriol, 2 dr.; ginger syrup, 3 oz.; mix. And the dose is a teaspoonful after every meal in a drop of water. When mentioning sal ammoniac, I ought to have said that in those cases where good is done—and they are very many—whenever the pain is gone, you should reduce the dose to 10 or 15 gr. thrice a day for a week. In some cases of sciatica, where the subject is a gouty or rheumatic one, good is done by a course of iodide of potassium in combination with tonics.

As for food, the more nourishing it is the better—good meat, plenty of eggs and milk, &c., and perhaps a little brandy and Apollinaris water.

Give up tea and coffee for a time, and use cocoa; the less oily kind is the best. My advice for the prevention of the return of neuralgia may be summed up in a few substantives—air, exercise, regularity, temperance, tonics, cocoa, and cod-liver oil.

NEUTRALISA′TION. The admixtures of an alkali or base with an acid in such proportions that neither shall predominate. A neutral compound neither turns red litmus paper blue, nor blue litmus paper red.

NEUTRALISING PROPORTIONS, Table of.

Table of the Neutralising Proportions of some of the Acids and Alkaline Carbonates omitting minute fractions. The best commercial preparations must be used.

Tartaric Acid. Citric Acid. Lemon Juice. Cr. Carb. of Soda. Bicarb. of Soda and Carb. of Potash. Bicarb. of Potash. Carbonate of Magnesia. Sesqui-carbonate of Ammonia. Bi-carbonate of Ammonia.

Grs. Grs. ʒ Grs. Grs. Grs. Grs. Grs. Grs.

10 9⁄4 2⁄6 19 11 13⁄2 6⁄2 8⁄4 10⁄2

10⁄4 10 2⁄3 20⁄2 12 14⁄2 7 8⁄2 11⁄2

13 12 2⁄5 25 14⁄2 17⁄2 8⁄4 10 13⁄2

15 14 3⁄4 29 17 20⁄3 9⁄2 12 16

15⁄2 14⁄2 3⁄3 30 17⁄4 21 10 12⁄4 16⁄2

18 17 4 34⁄2 20 24⁄4 11⁄2 14 19

20 18⁄2 4⁄3 38⁄2 22⁄3 27 12⁄4 15⁄2 21

20⁄2 19 4⁄2 40 23 27⁄2 13 16 21⁄2

26 24 5⁄2 50 29 35 16⁄2 18⁄4 27

27 25 5⁄6 52 30 36 17 21 28⁄2

32 30 7 61 36 43 20⁄2 25 33⁄2

36 33⁄2 7⁄6 69 40 48⁄2 23 28 38

47 44 10⁄4 90 52⁄2 63 30 37 49⁄2

52 48⁄2 11⁄3 100 58 70 33 41 55

62 58 13⁄2 120 69 84 40 49 65⁄2

73 68 15⁄6 140 82 98 46⁄2 57 77

75 70 16⁄4 144 84 101 48⁄2 59 79

90 84 19⁄2 172 101 121 57⁄2 71 94⁄2

92 86 20 177 103 124 59 72 97

100 93 21⁄3 192 112 134 64 78 105⁄2

108 100 23⁄3 206 120 145 69 84 113

180 168 39⁄5 344 202 242 115 141 190

NEW BERLIN SANITARY LIQUEUR—Gesundheits-Liqueur, neuer Berliner (Apotheker Emil Trotz). An unpleasantly-tasting bitter spicey schnapps, containing 18 per cent. of sugar. Leaves an after-taste of aloes. (Hager.)

NICK′EL. Ni. Syn. Nickelium, L. A metal obtained from kupfernickel, a native arsenide of nickel found in Westphalia; also from nickel speiss, an impure arsenio-sulphide of nickel left after the manufacture of cobalt blue from its ores.

Prep. The powdered ore is roasted first by itself, and next with charcoal powder, until all the arsenic is expelled, and a garlic odour ceases to be evolved; the residuum is mixed with sulphur 3 parts, and potassium hydrate, 1 part, and the compound is melted in a crucible with a gentle heat; the fused mass when cold, is reduced to powder, edulcorated with water, dissolved in sulphuric acid mixed with a little nitric acid, and precipitated with potassium carbonate; the precipitate (nickelous carbonate) is washed, dried, mixed with powdered charcoal, and, lastly, reduced by the heat of a powerful furnace.

When nickel predominates in the ore, after the arsenic, iron, and copper have been separated, ammonia is digested in the mixed nickelous and cobaltous oxides, and the resulting blue solution, after dilution with boiled pure water, is treated with potassium hydrate until the colour disappears, when the whole is put into an air-tight vessel, and set it aside for some time. The powder (nickelous hydrate) which subsides, after edulcoration, is mixed with charcoal, and reduced by fusion in a crucible containing some crown glass.

On the small scale, for chemical purposes, pure nickel is best obtained by moderately heating nickelous oxalate in a covered crucible lined with charcoal.

Prop. White; hard; malleable; magnetic; capable of receiving the lustre of silver; sp. gr., when hammered, about 8·82; fusibility between that of manganese and iron; it is not oxidised in the air; and is little attacked by dilute acids unless when nitric acid is present; this last acid dissolves it freely. With the acids, &c., it forms numerous compounds, most of which may be prepared by the direct solution of the carbonate. A specimen of the metal reduced from the pure oxide in a current of hydrogen was beautifully white and silvery; its sp. gr. was 8·575, and it was almost as soft as copper.

Tests. The salts of nickel in the anhydrous state are for the most part yellow; when hydrated, green,—and furnish solutions possessing a pale green colour. Solutions of its salts exhibit the following reactions:—Alkaline hydrates give a pale apple-green precipitate, insoluble in excess, but soluble in a solution of carbonate of ammonium, yielding a greenish-blue liquid. Ammonia gives a similar precipitate, soluble in excess, yielding a deep purplish-blue solution. The presence of ammonium salts or free acids interferes with this reaction. Cyanide of potassium produces a green precipitate, soluble in excess, forming an amber-coloured liquid, which is reprecipitated by hydrochloric acid. This last precipitate is scarcely soluble in excess of the acid in the cold, but readily so upon boiling the liquid. Ferrocyanide of potassium gives a greenish-white precipitate. Sulphuretted hydrogen occasions no change in solutions of nickel containing free mineral acid; but in alkaline solutions gives a black precipitate. Sulphide of ammonium in neutral solutions gives a black precipitate, soluble with difficulty in hydrochloric acid; but freely soluble in aqua regia.

Estim. Nickel may be thrown down from its ore in the form of either carbonate or hydrate, and after ignition may be weighed as oxide, each grain of which is equal to ⁄8 gr. of pure nickel; or, more accurately, ·7871 gr.

According to Rose, nickel may be separated from cobalt as follows:—The mixed metals are dissolved in considerable excess of hydrochloric acids, and the solution is diluted with a very large quantity of water; a current of chlorine is then passed through the liquor for several hours, and the upper part of the flask is left filled with the gas after the current has ceased; barium carbonate is next added, in excess, the whole digested together, with frequent agitation for 15 or 18 hours, and then thrown on a filter. The filtrate yields pure nickelous oxide by precipitation with hydrate of potassium; whilst the residuum on the filter, after being washed in water, dissolved in hot hydrochloric acid, and the barium precipitated with sulphuric acid, furnishes, with hydrate of potassium, a precipitate of cobaltous hydrate, free from nickel, which, when washed and dried, is reduced in a platinum or porcelain crucible by hydrogen gas.

Uses. Nickel is chiefly employed in the manufacture of German silver. Some of its salts have been recently introduced into medical practice, and appear likely to prove most valuable additions to the materia medica. It has also been recently used for deposition by electrolysis on other metals, forming a hard, brilliant, non-tarnishing coating.

Nickelic Oxide. Ni2O3. Syn. Sesquioxide of nickel, Peroxide of nickel. Prep. By passing chlorine through water holding the hydrate in suspension; or by mixing a salt of nickel with bleaching powder. An insoluble, black powder, which is decomposed by heat.

Nick′elous Ace′tate. Ni(C2H3O2)2. Syn. Nickelii acetas, L. Prep. By neutralising acetic acid with nickelous carbonate, and gently concentrating by evaporation, so that crystals may form. Small green crystals, soluble in 6 parts of water.

Nickelous Car′bonate. NiCO3 Syn. Nickelii carbonas, L. Prep. This salt may be obtained in the manner described above in connection with the preparation of metallic nickel, or by simply adding carbonate of sodium to a solution of nickelous chloride of sulphate, but in this case some hydrate is precipitated along with it. The following is another formula which produces a nearly pure carbonate, but one which may still contain a little cobalt, the entire separation of which is a matter of extreme difficulty, and can best be effected in the manner recommended by Rose, described above:—

The mineral (crude speiss or kupfernickel) is broken into small fragments, mixed with from one fourth to one half its weight of iron filings, and the whole dissolved in aqua regia; the solution is gently evaporated to dryness, the residue treated with boiling water, and the insoluble ferrous arseniate removed by filtration; the liquid is next acidulated with hydrochloric acid, treated with sulphuretted hydrogen, in excess, to precipitate the copper, and, after filtration, is boiled with a little nitric acid, to bring back the iron into ferric salts; to the cold and largely diluted liquid a solution of bicarbonate of sodium is gradually added, and the ferric oxide separated by filtration; lastly, the filtered solution is boiled with carbonate of sodium in excess, and the pale green precipitate of carbonate collected, washed, and dried.

Uses, &c. It is freely soluble in the acids, and is chiefly employed to prepare the salts and other compounds of nickel.

Nickelous Chlo′′ride. NiCl2. Syn. Nickelii chloridum, L. Prep. From nickelous carbonate and hydrochloric acid, as the acetate. Small green crystals, of the formula NiCl2,9Aq., which are rendered yellow and anhydrous by heat, unless they contain cobalt, when the salt retains a tint of green.

Double Chlorides. Nickelous chloride unites with the chlorides of ammonium, potassium, and sodium, to form pale green crystallisable salts, which have been used for depositing nickel in iron, lead, copper, &c.

Nickelous Hy′drate. Ni(HO)2. By precipitating a soluble salt of nickel with caustic potassa. Hydrated. An ash-gray powder, freely soluble in acids, forming the ordinary salts of nickel.

Nickelous Ox′alate. NiC2O4. Syn. Nickelii oxalas, L. Prep. By adding a strong solution of oxalic acid to a like solution of nickelous sulphate, and collecting the pale bluish-green precipitate which forms after a time. Used to prepare both metallic nickel and its oxide.

Nickelous Oxide. NiO. Syn. Protoxide of nickel. Prep. 1. By heating the nitrate, carbonate, or oxalate, to redness in open vessels. Anhydrous.

Nickelous Sulphate. NiSO4. Syn. Sulphate of nickel. Prep. Dissolve nickelous carbonate or oxide in dilute sulphuric acid, evaporate down, and crystallise. Pale green prismatic crystals, and of the formula NiSO4,7Aq., or small pale green octahedrons, when crystallised at a higher temperature, containing NiSO4,6Aq.

Nickelous and Potassium Sulphate. NiSO4 K2SO4,6Aq. Syn. Double sulphate of nickel and potassium. Prep. By crystallising a mixture of nickelous and potassium sulphates. Pale green crystals, readily soluble in water. Sodium and ammonium sulphates form similar compounds with nickelous sulphate.

NICK′EL SIL′VER. See German silver.

NIC′OTINE. C10H14N2. Syn. Nicotina, Nicotia, L. A volatile base, discovered by Reiman and Posselt in tobacco.

Prep. (Ortigosa.) Infuse tobacco leaves for 24 hours in water acidulated with sulphuric acid, strain, evaporate to a syrup, add ⁄6 of its volume of a strong solution of potassa, and distil in an oil bath at 288°, occasionally adding a little water to assist the process, and prevent the too great concentration of the solution of potassa in the retort; next saturate the distilled product with oxalic acid, evaporate to dryness, digest in boiling absolute alcohol, evaporate the resulting tincture to a syrup, and decompose the oxalate of nicotine thus obtained by adding potassa to it in a close vessel, and agitate the mass with ether, repeating the process with more ether until all the nicotine is dissolved out; lastly, distil the mixed ethereal solution in an oil bath. At first ether comes over, then water, and, lastly, nicotina, which, towards the end of the process, assumes a yellowish tint.

2. (Schloesing.) This chiefly differs from the preceding by directing the concluding distillation to be conducted in a retort, by the heat of an oil bath, at the temperature of 284° Fahr., in a current of hydrogen, for 12 hours; after which, by raising the heat to 356° Fahr., the nicotine distils over pure, drop by drop.

3. (Kirchmann). A tin vessel provided with two tubulures, is filled with tobacco, which is previously damped with sodium carbonate. One of the tubulures admits a glass tube reaching nearly to the bottom of the vessel; the other is provided with a glass tube merely penetrating the cork.

The vessel is made air-tight, placed into a boiling hot steam bath, and a rapid stream of carbonic acid gas passed through it, entering the vessel by the longer and leaving it by the shorter tube; the latter dips into a mixture of alcohol and dilute sulphuric acid.

In this manner a large yield of perfectly colourless nicotine is obtained. In order to obtain the pure alkaloid, caustic baryta is added to the solution, the latter evaporated to dryness, and the pure nicotine extracted with ether.

To estimate nicotine, weigh out 15 gr. of tobacco, digest for twenty-four hours with alcohol of 85 per cent. acidified with 15 drops of sulphuric acid, so as to make 150 cubic centimètres. Evaporate 50 cubic centimètres of the filtered liquid, and add iododydrargyrate of potassium to the residue. The number of cubic centimètres employed, multiplied by 0·00405 (0·001 of the equivalent of nicotine), gives the quantity of alkaloid contained in 5 grams of tobacco. (Linoffsky.)

Prop., &c. Nicotina is a colourless, volatile liquid; highly acrid and pungent; smelling strongly of tobacco; boiling at 375° Fahr. (482°—Pereira); soluble in water, ether, alcohol, and oils; and combining with the acids, forming salts, many of which are crystallisable. It is a frightful poison; ⁄4 of a drop will kill a rabbit; a single drop will kill a large dog. Nicotina is the substance which was employed by the Count Bocarmé for the purpose of poisoning his brother-in-law, Gustave Fougnies, the particulars of which were developed in the celebrated trial, in Belgium, of that nobleman, in 1851. Good Virginia and Kentucky tobacco, dried at 212° Fahr., contain from 6% to 7% of nicotina; Havannah tobacco (cigars) less than 2%. (Schloesing.)

NIGHT′MARE. Syn. Incubus, Ephialtes, L. The common causes of nightmare are indigestion and the use of narcotic and intoxicating substances. Its prevention consists in the selection of proper food, and in duly attending to the state of the stomach and bowels. Heavy and late suppers should be particularly avoided, as well as all articles of diet that are of difficult digestion, or apt to induce flatulency. When it arises from strong drink, tobacco, or opium, these should be abandoned, or employed in smaller quantities. A teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia, magnesia, or bicarbonate of soda, taken in a glass of cold water on going to bed, is a good and simple preventive. In cases accompanied by restlessness, a few drops of laudanum or tincture of henbane may be added. An occasional aperient is also excellent. See Chamomile.

NIGHT′SHADE (Deadly). Syn. Belladonna (B. P., Ph. L. E. & D.). “The leaf, fresh and dried (leaves and root—Ph. D.), of Atropa belladonna, Linn.” “The fresh leaves and branches to which they are attached; also the leaves separate from the branches, carefully dried, of Atropa belladonna, gathered, when the fruit has begun to form, from wild or cultivated plants in Britain” (B. P.). “Oval, acute, very perfect, glabrous, when bruised, exhaling a disagreeable odour. The herb which grows spontaneously in hedges and uncultivated places is to be preferred to that which is cultivated in gardens.” (Ph. L.)

Belladonna is a powerful narcotic, and is used as an anodyne, antispasmodic, and discutient, in a variety of diseases,—neuralgia, arthritic pains, migratory rheumatic pains, spasmodic rigidity and strictures, angina pectoris, hooping-cough, fevers, phthisis, &c.; also as a prophylactic of scarlet fever, as a resolvent in enlarged and indurated glands, to produce dilatation of the pupil, &c., &c.—Dose. Of the powder, commencing with 1 gr., gradually and cautiously increased until dryness of the throat or dilation of the pupil occurs, or the head is affected. See Atropia.

NIGHTSHADE (Woody). Syn. Bittersweet; Dulcamara (B. P., Ph. L. E. & D.), L. The “new shoots (caules) of Solanum Dulcamara, Linn.” “The dried young branches of the Solanum Dulcamara (Bittersweet) from indigenous plants which have shed their leaves” (B. P.). “It is to be collected in autumn, after the leaves have fallen.” (Ph. L.) Diaphoretic, diuretic, and (in large doses) narcotic. See Infusion of Dulcamara.

NIO′BIUM. See Tantalum.

NIP′PLES (Sore). The most common form of this affection is that termed “chapped nipples” by nurses. As a preventive measure, the part may be moistened morning and evening, for some weeks before the period of lactation, with a little rum or brandy, which is more effective if slightly acidulated with a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid. Some persons employ tincture of tolu, or compound tincture of benzoin (Friar’s balsam) for this purpose.

When chaps, cracks, or like sores, arising from lactation, are once developed, one of the safest and most effective remedies is tincture of catechu, applied 3 or 4 times a day, by means of a camel-hair pencil.

The celebrated nostrum of Liebert for cracked nipples, “Cosmétique infaillible et prompt contre les gerçures ou crevasses aux seins et autres,” is a lotion formed of 10 gr. of nitrate of lead dissolved in 4 fl. oz. of rose water, and tinged with a little cochineal. The parts are moistened with the liquid, and are then covered with fine leaden nipple-shields, two of which are provided for the purpose. This is repeated soon after each time the child leaves the breast; and the nipple is carefully washed with a soft sponge and lukewarm water, and gently dabbed dry with a very soft towel, before the infant is again applied to it. This remedy is very successful, and has acquired great popularity and patronage in Brussels, Paris, Frankfort, and other parts. It must be recollected, however, that all applications of an active or poisonous nature should be employed with the greatest possible caution, as, unless unusual care is taken, a portion of the remedy may remain concealed within the delicate pores of the skin, and be sucked off by the infant, to the serious disturbance of its health.

NITRAN′ILINE. This substance is obtained by acting on nitrobenzol with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and oil of vitriol; Dinitro-benzol is formed, which is dissolved in alcohol, and the resulting solution subjected to the reducing action of ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen, as described under aniline. Nitraniline forms yellow, acicular crystals, little soluble in cold water, but freely soluble in alcohol and ether. Its salts are crystallisable.

NI′TRATE. Syn. Nitras, L. A salt of nitric acid (e.g. AgNO3, nitrate of silver). The nitrates are very easily prepared by the direct solution of the metal, or its oxide, or carbonate, in nitric acid, which, in most cases, should be previously diluted with water. By evaporation, with the usual precautions, they may be obtained either in the pulverulent or crystalline form.

The nitrates are characterised by deflagrating when thrown on red-hot charcoal; also by their aqueous solutions, after being mixed with half their bulk of strong sulphuric acid and thoroughly cooled, yielding a brown cloud with a crystal or concentrated solution of ferrous sulphate. See Nitric acid, and the respective metals.

NI′TRE. Nitrate of Potassa. See Potassium.

NI′TRIC ACID. HNO3. Syn. Azotic acid; Acidum nitricum (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.); Aquafortis.

Prep. 1. (Ph. E. and Ph. L. 1836.) Purified nitre (dried) and sulphuric acid, equal parts; mix in a glass retort, and distil with a moderate heat, from a sand bath (or naked gas flame—Ph. E.) into a cool receiver, as long as the fused materials continue to evolve vapours. “The pale yellow acid thus obtained may be rendered nearly colourless (if desired) by gently heating it in a retort.” (Ph. E.) Sp. gr. 1·500. In the present Ph. L. this acid is included in the materia medica. (See below.)

2. (Ph. D.) The nitrate of potassa is dissolved in water, the solution treated with a little nitrate of silver, filtered, evaporated to dryness, weighed, and then treated as above.

3. Nitrate of soda (cubic nitre, Chili saltpetre) is introduced, in quantities varying between 4 and 10 lbs., into a cylindrical iron retort, which it will only half fill, and after the lid is luted on and the connection made with the condensers, an equivalent of oil of vitriol is poured in through an aperture provided for the purpose, and the charge is worked off with a gradually increased heat. The condensing apparatus consists of a series of 5 or 6 salt-glazed stoneware receivers, about ⁄6th part filled with cold water. The product of this process is the strongest brown and fuming ‘NITROUS ACID’ of commerce (AQUAFORTIS, FUMING NITRIC ACID; ACIDUM NITROSUM; ACIDUM NITRICUM FUMANS), and has usually the sp. gr. 1·45. It is rendered colourless by gently heating it in a glass retort, when it forms COMMERCIAL NITRIC ACID (sp. gr. 1·37 to 1·4.)

4. (Pure monohydrated nitric acid.) By mixing the strongest commercial acid with about an equal quantity of oil of vitriol; redistilling; collecting apart the first portion which comes over, and exposing it, in a vessel slightly warmed and sheltered from the light, to a current of dry air made to bubble through it until the nitrous acid is completely removed.

Prop. Pure liquid nitric acid is colourless, highly corrosive, and possesses powerful acid and oxygenising properties. The sp. gr. of the strongest liquid acid (monohydrated nitric acid) has the sp. gr. 1·517 at 60° Fahr. “On boiling nitric acid of different degrees of concentration at the ordinary atmospheric pressure, a residue is left boiling at 249° Fahr., and 29 in. barometer, having a sp. gr. 1·414 at 60° Fahr.” (Fownes.) Acid of less density than 1·414 parts with water, and gradually becomes stronger by boiling; but acid of less sp. gr. than 1·414 is weakened by exposure to heat. When exposed to intense cold, liquid nitric acid freezes. It is rapidly decomposed, with loss of oxygen, by contact with most organic and many metallic and non-metallic bodies. In many cases these reactions occur with considerable violence, and the production of light and heat.

Pur. The nitric acid of commerce is generally contaminated by hydrochloric acid, nitrous acid, sulphuric acid, or chlorine, or by their soda or potassa salts, and, occasionally, iodine, together with an excess of water. The last is readily detected by the sp. gr., and the others by the appropriate tests. “Colourless. Contains 70% of HNO3. Sp. gr. 1·42. 90 gr. by weight, mixed with ⁄2 oz. of distilled water, require for neutralisation 1000 grain measures of the volumetric solution of soda. Evaporated, it leaves no residue. Diluted with six volumes of distilled water, it gives no precipitate with chloride of barium or nitrate of silver—indicating absence of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids.” (B. P.) 5 measures of acid, sp. gr. 1·5, mixed with 2 of water, condensed into 6⁄2 measures, and makes the sp. gr. 1·42. “Free from colour. Sp. gr. 1·42. Exposed to the air, it emits very acrid vapours. Totally volatilised by heat. Diluted with 3 times its volume of water, it gives no precipitate with either nitrate of silver or chloride of barium. 100 gr. of this acid (sp. gr. 1·42) are saturated by 161 gr. of crystallised carbonate of soda.” (Ph. L.) The Ph. E. states the density of commercial nitric acid is 1·380 to 1·390. “If diluted with distilled water it precipitates but slightly, or not at all, with solution of nitrate of baryta or nitrate of silver.” The best ‘double aquafortis’ of the shops (aquafortis duplex) has usually the sp. gr. 1·36; and the single aquafortis (aquafortis simplex), the sp. gr. 1·22; but both are commonly sold at much lower strengths.

Tests.—1. It stains the skin yellow.—2. When mixed with a little hydrochloric acid or chloride of ammonium, it acquires the power of dissolving gold leaf.—3. Morphia, brucia, and strychnia, give it a red colour, which is heightened by ammonia in excess.—4. When placed in a tube, and a solution of protosulphate of iron is cautiously added, a dark colour is developed at the line of junction, which is distinctly visible when only ⁄24,000th part of nitric acid is present. This test may be often conveniently modified by dropping into the liquid a crystal of protosulphate of iron; the fluid immediately surrounding this crystal then acquires a dark brown colour, which disappears upon simple agitation of the fluid, or by heating it.—5. When mixed with a weak solution of sulphate of indigo, and heated, the colour of the latter is destroyed.—6. When saturated with carbonate of potassium or sodium, and evaporated to dryness, the residuum deflagrates when thrown on burning coals.—7. When the mixture of a nitrate with cyanide of potassium, in powder, is heated on a piece of platinum, a vivid deflagration follows, attended with distinct ignition and detonation. (Fresenius.) It is stated that sulphate of aniline is an extremely delicate test for nitric acid. The following is the method of its application:—About a cubic centimètre of pure concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. gr. 1·84) is placed in a watch-glass; half a cubic centimètre of a solution of sulphate of aniline (formed by adding ten drops of commercial aniline to 50 c.c. of diluted sulphuric acid in the proportion of 1 to 6) is poured on, drop by drop; a glass tube is moistened with the liquid to be tested, and moved circularly in the watch-glass. By blowing on the mixture during the circular agitation, when a trace of nitric acid is present, circular striæ are developed of a very intense red colour, tinting the liquid rose. With more than a trace of nitric acid the colour becomes carmine, passing to a brownish red. This process serves to detect the presence of nitric acid in the sulphuric acid of commerce. It will also reveal the presence of nitrates in water.—8. Take a quantity of diphenylamine, about the size of a mustard seed, put it into a test-tube, and pour a little sulphuric acid over it, then add a drop or two of water, so as to increase the temperature sufficiently to effect the solution of the diphenylamine, and the test is ready for use. Now add very gently the solution to be tested, and if only a trace of nitric or nitrous acid be present, a beautiful and very permanent blue colouration is produced at the junction of the two liquids, but if there be any quantity of the nitrogen compound, the colour becomes almost black. This reaction is so delicate and certain that, in the case of a solution of nitric acid containing about 1 part B. P. acid in 10,000 of water, the reaction is most distinct; one part of nitrite of potassium in 30,000 of water gives also almost unmistakable evidence of the presence of the nitrogen acid.

The following process for the quantitative estimation of nitric acid is by Fischer:—Indigotin prepared by reduction of indigo by means of grape sugar, alcohol, and caustic soda, oxidation in the air, and solution in sulphuric acid, may be kept unchanged for years. Five c.c. of such a solution, diluted with water and mixed with 30 c.c. of pure sulphuric acid, is titrated by adding a standard nitric acid solution until the blue colour gives place to a light green; the indigo solution is then diluted, so that 1 c.c. shall be equal to 0·0025 milligramme equivalents of nitric acid, or 0·2525 milligramme of potassium nitrate. If a water is being examined it is run into 4 c.c. of the titrated indigo solution, mixed with 20 c.c. of sulphuric acid, until the blue colour changes to light green. Ten, divided by the number of c.c. of water used, expresses the milligramme equivalents of nitric acid per litre; thus, if 4 c.c. of water are used, there are 2·5 milligramme equivalents of nitric acid, equal to 252·5 milligrammes of potassium nitrate per litre. If a preliminary test with brucine has shown that the water contains very little nitric acid, 2 c.c. only of the indigo solution must be used, or sometimes as little as 1 c.c. If more than 8 c.c. of water is required to destroy the blue colour, 100 c.c. must be evaporated down to the volume of 8 c.c. and then titrated. The volume of sulphuric acid must be at least double the sum of the volumes of indigo and water; the temperature must not sink under 110°.

The nitrates may all be tested as above by first adding a small quantity of pure sulphuric acid, which will liberate the nitric acid of the salt.

Estim.—The strength of nitric acid may be roughly estimated by its sp. gr.; but more accurately by ascertaining the amount of carbonate of sodium, or other salt of known composition, which is required to neutralise it. To render this assay trustworthy, it must be, in all cases, also tested to detect the presence of impurities. See Acidimetry.

Ant., &c. See Acids.

Uses. Nitric acid is employed in assaying, in dyeing, in etching on copper, in the preparation of gun-cotton, oxalic and sulphuric acids, &c. In medicine it is used as a caustic to corns and warts; and in doses of 1 to 10 drops, in a tumbler of water, in liver complaints, fevers, dyspepsia, syphilis, to remove the effects of mercury, or as a substitute for that drug, &c. Externally, it is employed in the form of baths, lotions, and ointment. Dr Collier states that a strong lotion of nitric acid is almost a specific in lepra, and several other kindred skin diseases.

Concluding Remarks.—The common source of nitric acid is nitrate of potassium, but it may also be obtained from other nitrates by a similar process. Nitrate of sodium is frequently used instead of nitrate of potassium, and is more convenient in some respects, as the residuum is more easily dissolved out of the retort or cylinder. The residuum of the common process with nitre (‘sal enixum’) is chiefly employed as a flux by the glass-houses, and as a source of potash in the manufacture of alum.

By proper management nitre yields more than ⁄3 of its weight of pure nitric acid, sp. gr. 1·500; and nitrate of soda, its own weight of acid, sp. gr. 1·4.

By the patent process of M. Mallet, dried nitrate of soda is decomposed by dried or monohydrated boracic acid, by heating the two together. The products are liquid nitric acid, which distils over, and biborate of soda (borax), which remains in the retort.

The crude coloured nitric acid of commerce (aquafortis) was originally prepared by distilling a mixture of nitre and copperas, and is still sometimes obtained in this way.

The nitric acid of commerce may be freed from the impurities alluded to above by one or other of the following methods:—

1. By the addition of a little nitrate of silver, as long as it produces any cloudiness, and, after repose, decanting the clear acid, and rectifying it at a heat under 212°. To ensure a perfectly colourless product, a small portion of pure black oxide of manganese should be put into the retort. (Murray.)

2. By agitating the acid with a little red oxide of lead, and then rectifying it, as before.

3. By adding 1% of bichromate of potassa to the acid before rectifying it. This answers well for acid not stronger than sp. gr. 1·48.

4. By rectification at a gentle heat, rejecting the first portion that comes over, receiving the middle portion as genuine acid, and leaving a residuum in the retort. (Ure.)

According to Apjohn and others, the strongest liquid nitric acid, sp. gr. 1·520, is a monohydrate; that of the sp. gr. 1·500, a sesquihydrate; that of 1·486, a binhydrate; and that of 1·244, a quadrihydrate; or containing respectively 1, 1⁄2, 2, and 4 atoms of water. (See below.)

Nitric Acid, Anhy′drous. N2O5. Syn. Nitric anhydride. This interesting substance was first obtained in a separate form by M. Deville, in 1849.

Prep. (M. Deville.) Nitrate of silver is dried by exposure to a current of dry carbonic acid at a temperature of 356° Fahr., and the tube containing it is then immersed in a water bath heated to 203° Fahr.; pure dry chlorine gas is next passed through the apparatus, and, as soon as the reaction commences, the temperature is retraced to 154° or even 136°, but not lower; the production of crystals in the receiver, which must be cooled by a powerful freezing mixture, soon commences; lastly, the liquid portion of the product is removed by a current of dry carbonic-acid gas.

Prop., &c. Colourless prismatic crystals, which melt at 86° Fahr., boil at about 115°, and at 122° begin to suffer decomposition; added to water, much heat is generated; it rapidly attacks organic bodies, even caoutchouc; sometimes it explodes spontaneously. The process for its preparation is tedious and difficult.

Nitric Acid, Dilute. Acidum nitricum dilutum (B. P., Ph. L., E., & D.), L. Prep. 1. (Ph. L.) Nitric acid (sp. gr. 1·42), 3 fl. oz.; distilled water, 17 fl. oz.; mix. Sp. gr. 1·082. “1 fl. oz. is saturated by 154 gr. of the crystals of carbonate of soda.” It contains about 12% of pure anhydrous acid.

2. (Ph. E.) Nitric acid (1·500), 1 fl. oz.; distilled water, 9 fl. oz. Or, commercial nitric acid (1·390), 1 fl. oz. 5⁄2 dr.; water, 9⁄2 fl. oz. Sp. gr. 1·077. It contains 11·16% of pure dry nitric acid.

3. (Ph. D.) Nitric acid (1·500), 4 fl. oz.; water, 29 fl. oz. Contains about 9·7% of pure acid. The above are used for convenience in dispensing.—Dose, 15 drops to ⁄2 fl. dr., or more. The above must not be confounded with the acidum nitricum dilutum, Ph. D. 1826, which had the sp. gr. 1·280, nor with the following:—

4. (Henry’s.) Sp. gr. 1·143; equal in saturating power to hydrochloric acid sp. gr. 1·074, and sulphuric acid 1·135. Used in assaying.

5. (B. P.) Nitric acid, 6; distilled water sufficient to make the mixture when cooled to 60° Fahr., measure 31. Contains 15 per cent. of anhydrous nitric acid. Test. Sp. gr. 1·101. Six fluid drachms (361·3 grains) by weight require for neutralisation 1000 grain measures of the volumetric solution of soda, and, therefore, contain exactly one equivalent in grains of anhydrous acid, namely, 54 gr.—Use. Tonic, astringent, lithonlytic.—Dose, 10 to 30 minims.

Nitric Acid, Fuming. Syn. Nitrous acid‡; Acidum nitricum fumans, L. The red fuming nitrous or nitric acid of commerce is simply nitric acid loaded with nitric peroxide (which see). That of the Ph. Bor. is distilled from nitre, 2 parts; oil of vitriol, 1 part.

NI′TRIC ANHY′DRIDE. See Nitric acid, Anhydrous.

NI′TRIC OXIDE. See Nitrogen, Oxides of.

NI′TRITE. A salt of nitrous acid; e.g. KNO2, nitrite of potassium.

NITRO-BEN′ZOL. C2H5NO2. Prep. By treating benzol with strong fuming nitric acid, with heat; after the violence of the reaction is over, the liquid is diluted with water, and the heavy oily fluid which separates is collected, washed, and dried.

Prop., &c. Yellowish, very sweet; smells of bitter almonds; insoluble in water; little affected by reagents; boils at 415° Fahr.; sp. gr. 1·209. Heated with an alcoholic solution of caustic potassa, and the mixture submitted to distillation, it yields a red, oily liquid, from which large red crystals of azobenzol separate. These are nearly insoluble in water, freely soluble in alcohol and ether, melt at 149° Fahr., and boil at 559·4° Fahr. Binitrobenzol is made by dissolving benzol in a mixture of equal volumes of the strongest nitric and sulphuric acids, and boiling the liquid for a few minutes; the crystals (dinitrobenzol) which form as it cools are insoluble in water, but are freely soluble in alcohol. Nitro-benzol is extensively used as a substitute for the essential oil of bitter almonds, in perfumery. It is very poisonous, a quality, which Letheby asserts, it acquires owing to its conversion in the animal economy into aniline. M. Ferrand states that the presence of nitro-benzol in essence of bitter almonds may be detected as follows:—Heat to ebullition, in a test tube, three or four c.c. of a 20 per cent. alcoholic solution of potash, together with ten drops of the suspected essence. If nitro-benzol be present, the mixture takes a red colour; if the essence of bitter almonds be pure, it becomes a pale straw colour.

NI′TROGEN. N. Syn. Azote; Nitrogenium, Azotum, L. A gaseous elementary substance, discovered by Rutherford, in 1722, and found to be a constituent of the atmosphere by Lavoisier, 1755. It is found both in the organic and inorganic kingdoms of nature; it forms about ⁄5, or 78% of the bulk of the atmosphere, enters largely into the composition of most animal substances, and is a constituent of gluten, the alkaloids, and other vegetable principles.

Prep. 1. A small piece of phosphorus is placed in a capsule floating on the surface of the water of the pneumatic trough, and after setting it on fire a gas or bell-jar is inverted over it; as soon as the combustion is over, and the fumes of phosphoric anhydride have subsided, the residual gas is washed by agitation with recently boiled distilled water, or with a solution of pure potassa. It may be dried by either letting it stand over fused chloride of calcium, or, what is better, by passing it through concentrated oil of vitriol.

2. A porcelain tube is filled with copper turnings, or, preferably, with spongy copper (obtained by reducing the oxide with hydrogen), and is then heated to redness, a stream of dry atmospheric air being at the same time directed through it. By repeating the process with the same air, and finally passing it over fragments of pumice moistened with strong solution of potassa to absorb carbonic anhydride, the product is rendered quite pure.

3. Chlorine gas is passed into a solution of pure ammonia, care being taken to employ a considerable excess of the latter; the evolved gas, after being dried, is pure nitrogen. There is some danger of producing the explosive compound, chloride of nitrogen, with this process.

4. (Corenwinder.) From solution of nitrate of potassium, 1 volume; concentrated solution of chloride of ammonium, 3 vols.; gently heated together in a flask, and the evolved gas passed through sulphuric acid. Pure.

5. By boiling a solution of nitrite of ammonium, or, which amounts to the same thing, a mixture of one measure of a solution of nitrite of potassium and three measures of a solution of chloride of ammonium. Both solutions must be concentrated. This is the easiest method of preparing nitrogen and of obtaining the gas in a pure state.

Note.—The nitrite of potassium to be employed in this process is best prepared by passing nitrous anhydride, evolved from starch and nitric acid, into a solution of potassa (sp. gr. 1·38) till it imparts an acid reaction to test-paper, and then neutralising by the addition of potassa.

6. From lean flesh digested in nitric acid, at a gentle heat.

Prop., &c. Pure nitrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas, neither combustible nor capable of supporting combustion or respiration. It is neutral to test-paper, does not affect lime water, and is only slightly absorbed by pure water. Its sp. gr. is ·9713. It is recognised by its purely negative qualities.

Nitrogen, Chlo′′ride of. NCl3. Syn. Nitrogen trichloride, Terchloride of nitrogen. This compound was discovered by Dulong in 1811, but its nature was first accurately determined by Sir H. Davy.