RHEUMATISM. — The liniment some times quickly relieves mild forms of rheumatism and lumbago. When the skin is delicate, as it is in women, it acts as an active rubefacient.
AMMONIUM.—When an acid gas and ammonia-gas are brought together with out liberation of hydrogen, a compound of ammonium is formed, which varies with the acid radicle forming the basis of the combination. We thus have formed the following salts:— Ammonium arseniate, dose, to grain.
Ammonium benzoate, dose, 10 to 30 grains.
Ammonium bicarbonate, dose, 10 to 60 grains.
Ammonium borate, close, 10 to 20 grains.
Ammonium bromide, dose, 10 to 60 grains.
Ammonium carbonate, dose, 2 to 10 grains.
Ammonium chloride, dose, 5 to 30 Ammonium fluoride, dose, to Y., grain.
Ammonium formate, dose, 1 to 5 grains.
Ammonium iodide, dose, 3 to 5 grains. Ammonium nitrate (employed in the manufactures).
Ammonium nitrite, dose, 20 to 40 grains.
Ammonium phosphate, dose, 10 to 20 grains.
Ammonium picrate, dose, '/, to 1 grain.
Ammonium salicylate, dose, 10 to 40 grains.
Ammonium sulphate (employed in the manufacture of aqua ammonice).
Ammonium sulphite, dose, 20 to 60 grains.
Ammonium valerianate, dose, 2 to 10 grains.
Physiological Action. — Some of the salts of ammonium stimulate the spinal cord and have no marked paralyzing influence upon the motor nerves, while others have no distinct stimulating ac tion on the cord, and paralyze both it and the motor nerves. Many ammonium salts stimulate the vasomotor centres. These varied actions are mainly due to the acid radicle entering into the com bination of the majority of ammonium salts. These, including the arseniate, the benzoate, the picrate, etc., will be treated under the headings including their acid radicle: ARSENIC, BENZOIC ACID, PICRIC ACID, etc. Others owe their properties mainly to the ammonium acting as base. The most important of these will be treated of in the following sections.
Ammonium Acetate.
The ammonium acetate is seldom used in its natural state; but it enters into the preparation of spirit of Mindererus (liquor ammonii acetatis), which, in turn, is extensively employed. This is prepared
by saturating dilute acetic acid with am monium carbonate. This forms a color less liquid, which gives off a very faint odor of acetic acid. It has an unpleasant saline taste.
Dose. — The dose of spirit of 3linde rerus is 1 drachm to 2 tablespoonfuls, repeated every two or three hours.
Physiological Action. — Although the general use which this preparation enjoys indicates that it possesses some active virtues, all that can be said of it is that it is a weak stimulating diaphoretic pos sessing also diuretic properties. The latter it exerts without irritating the kidneys, increasing both the quantity of fluid and the excretion of solids.
In the light of our present knowledge, however, the properties just mentioned would seem to fulfill precisely the con ditions desirable for the elimination of toxic products, in which process the skin and the kidneys play so prominent a part.
Therapeutics. — It is especially used at the outset of adynamic fevers and, in fact, should only be used during this period of any disease, before the stage of depression is near. Sweet spirit of nitre is generally preferred, owing to its more agreeable taste. It affords relief in some cases of dyspepsia as an antacid.
Ammonium Carbonate.
.Animonium carbonate is prepared by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride and calcium carbonate, then condensing the product. It occurs in white translu cent masses. which, on exposure, become opaque and friable, owing to the fact that it parts with its ammonia and passes from a sesqui- into a bi- carbonate. It has a pungent odor, a sharp taste, and an acid reaction. It is soluble in four and a half times its weight of water.
Dose. — The dose of ammonium car bonate is from 5 to 10 grains, which should be repeated in two hours at the longest, the effect of the drug being evanescent.