AQUA AMMONIAE FORTIOR—STRONGER AMMONIA WATER
Reading edition
An aqueous solution of ammonia containing twenty-eight per cent, by weight of the gas.
Derivation.—Evolve ammonia gas by heating ammonium chloride with calcium hydrate and pass it into water.
Properties.—A colorless, transparent liquid, having an excessively pungent odor and a caustic alkaline taste.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 drs.; sheep and pigs, 1⁄2 to 1 dr.; dogs, 5 to 10 m. Should be diluted one drachm to one pint of water.
AQUA AMMONIAE—AMMONIA WATER
An aqueous solution containing ten per cent by weight of ammonia gas.
Derivation.—Same as strong ammonia water.
Properties.—The taste is not so caustic and the odor is less pungent then the stronger water of ammonia.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 1⁄2 to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 drs.; dogs, 10 to 20 m. Should be diluted one drachm to half pint of water.
SPIRITUS AMMONIAE—SPIRIT OF AMMONIA
An alcoholic solution containing ten per cent., by weight of the ammonia gas.
Derivation.—A solution of caustic ammonia in alcohol.
Properties.—A colorless liquid, having a strong odor of ammonia. This preparation of ammonia possesses properties of ammonia and alcohol.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 1⁄2 to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 drs.; dogs, 10 to 20 m. Should be diluted in water.
SPIRITUS AMMONIAE AROMATICUS—AROMATIC SPIRIT OF AMMONIA
Derivation.—Ammonium carbonate 3.4%, aqua ammonia 9%, oil of lemon 1%, oil of lavender flowers 0.1%, oil of nutmeg 0.1%, alcohol 70%, and distilled water to make 100 parts. Diluted in water.
Properties.—A nearly colorless liquid when first prepared, but gradually acquires an amber color. It has a pungent ammoniacal odor and taste.
Actions.—These four proportions of ammonia are gastric and general stimulants. They stimulate the cardiac respiratory and spinal systems. They irritate the nose when inhaled, but reflexly they stimulate the circulation and respiration, they are good stimulants as they do not affect the brain. The aromatic spirits of ammonia is also a carminative. Externally they are rubefacients, and when confined are vesicants.
Uses.—Its antacid and stimulant properties recommend ammonia in indigestion, tympanites, and spasmodic colic, especially in cattle and sheep. Stimulating the spinals and respiratory systems, it is valuable in the treatment of influenza, pneumonia, pleurisy and similar complaints. The fumes of ammonia are occasionally used to arouse animals from shocks, collapse, or chloroform intoxication, but must be used cautiously, lest excessive irritation of the respiratory mucous membrane be produced. It is a promptly acting antidote in poisoning by opium, aconite, digitalis, and ether narcotic and sedative drugs. It may be administered much diluted in the usual way, injected subcutaneously and intravenously, and also applied externally, in the treatment of snake-bites. On account of its producing bronchial secretion, and assisting in its expulsion, ammonia is serviceable as a stimulating expectorant. To develop its more general effects its alcoholic proportions should be prescribed as spirit of ammonia or the aromatic spirit of ammonia. Externally used in the form of liniment of ammonia, with oils, camphor, etc., proves useful as a stimulant in rheumatism, stiff-joints, muscular strains, sore throat, pleurisy, pneumonia and influenza, and for preventing the rapid chilling of fomented surfaces. It relieves the irritation caused by nettles, and by bites and stings of insects.
LINIMENTUM AMMONIAE—AMMONIA LINIMENT
Is made by mixing ammonia water, 350; cottonseed oil, 570; alcohol, 50; oleic acid, 30. The above is recognized by the U. S. P. and is advantageously used on muscular strains and where an external stimulant is indicated.
LIQUOR AMMONII ACETATIS—SOLUTION OF AMMONIUM ACETATE
An aqueous solution of ammonium acetate containing about seven per cent of the salt, together with small amounts of acetic acid and carbon dioxide.
Derivation.—Ammonium carbonate is gradually added to cold, dilute acetic acid until the latter is materialized.
Properties.—A clear, colorless liquid, mildly saline and acidulous taste, and an acid reaction.
Incompatible with acids and alkalies.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1⁄2 to 1 oz.; dogs, 2 to 6 drs.
Actions.—Diaphoretic, antipyretic, mild stimulant, mild diuretic, mild expectorant and stomachic.
Uses.—Its uses are recommended in febrile and inflammatory attacks, especially in influenza, distemper, etc., combined with other medicines, improves the appetite; can be used externally as a refrigerant over swollen and inflamed tendons.
AMMONII CARBONAS—AMMONIUM CARBONATE
Derivation.—A mixture of ammonium chloride or sulphate, and calcium carbonate, is sublimed and resublimed. Ammonium carbonate, so-called, is a mixture of ammonium carbonate and bicarbonate.
Properties.—White translucent masses, having a strongly ammoniacal odor, and a sharp saline taste. On exposure to air it loses both ammonia and carbonic dioxide, soluble one part in four parts of water.
Doses.—Horses and cattle, 1 to 3 drs.; sheep and pigs, 1⁄4 to 1 dr.; dogs, 2 to 8 grs. Larger doses are recommended when a antispasmodic or carminative is desired the dose for horses and cattle can be increased to an ounce, but only two doses should be administered, well diluted in water or in ball or capsule.
Actions.—Ammonium carbonate is decomposed by acid in the stomach and escapes in the urine. It stimulates gastric secretion, vascularity and motion, and exciting intestinal peristalsis. It is, therefore, a stomachic and carminative. It is also an antacid, and, in large doses, an emetic for dogs. It is given in capsules or in solution in cold water, to avoid irritating fumes; also with syrup or gruel. It is often prescribed with other stimulants and antispasmodics, as alcohol, camphor, capsicum and asafoetida. The action of ammonium carbonate is almost identical with that of ammonia water in stimulating the heart and respiration, but it has more power in augmenting the bronchial secretions.
Uses.—It is given to all animals in indigestion; conjoins the actions of an antacid and diffusible stimulant; in small doses promotes secretion of gastric juice, and in larger, relieves flatulence and spasm. In diseases of the air passages it is used as an expectorant; is contra-indicated in purpura haemorrhagica, as it lowers the oxygen carrying power of red blood corpuscles, and dissolves fibrin. As a stimulant it can be combined with alcohol and sulphuric ether. Ammonia is recommended where a clot, thrombi or embolism is supposed to exist on account of its defibrinating power. Ammonium carbonate is used extensively in the treatment of spasmodic and flatulent, colic and acute indigestion conjoined with either asafoetida, capsicum, camphor, nux vomica and alcohol.
AMMONII CHLORIDIUM—MURIATE OF AMMONIA—SAL AMMONIAC
Derivation.—This salt may be formed by neutralizing crude solution of ammonia or ammonium carbonate with hydrochloric acid and purifying the product.
Properties.—A white, crystalline powder without odor, having a cooling, saline taste, and permanent in the air. Soluble in two parts of water; in fifty parts alcohol.
Doses.—Horses, 1 to 2 drs.; cattle, 4 drs. to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 15 grs. to 1 dr.; dogs, 5 to 10 grs.
Actions.—Internally it is an expectorant, alterative, feebly diaphoretic and diuretic. When ingested, ammonium chloride is a feeble heart and respiratory stimulant, and is not comparable to the ammonia compounds or ammonium carbonate in this respect. It is eliminated in great part unchanged by the urine, but also by the other channels. In its excretion it stimulates the mucous membranes, increases their secretion generally, and is thought to improve their nutrition. Ammonium chloride both excites the secretion of the bronchial mucous membrane and renders it less viscid in inflammatory conditions. Externally it is a refrigerant.
Uses.—Useful in all diseases where an expectorant is indicated, catarrhal condition, pneumonia, coughs, influenza, chronic congestion of the liver, etc. Used externally one part ammonium chloride dissolved in ten parts of water as a refrigerant lotion for inflammatory swellings, bruises and sprains.