Note 347 — PHARMACOLOGIA.
Reading edition
The following is the chemical reasoning upon which this process is founded. “The prime equivalent of prussic acid is exactly one-eighth of that of the mercurial peroxide. But as the prussiate of mercury consists of two primes of acid to one of base, or is in its dry crystalline state a By-cyanide, we have the relation of one to four in the formation of that salt, when we act on the peroxide with cold prussic acid.” Hence is derived the above simple rule of analysis. (Journal of Science and the Arts.) Upon the same principle it has been already stated, that the quantity of real acetic acid, in any given sample of distilled vinegar may be discovered by the test of carbonate of lime, see Acid. Acetic. Fort. They furnish beautiful illustrations of the practical importance of the doctrine of Definite Proportions.