The new dispensatory: containing, I. The elements of pharmacy. II. The materia medica ... III. The preparations and compositions of the new London and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias / [William Lewis].

  • Lewis, William, 1708-1781
Date:
1785
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The new dispensatory: containing, I. The elements of pharmacy. II. The materia medica ... III. The preparations and compositions of the new London and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias / [William Lewis]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    There is feparated alfo, in fermentation, a fubftance of a much more aCtive nature than any of the preceding. When the fermen- tation is at its height, a fubtile, pungent, elaftic, incoercible va- pour is difcharged ; which, when copioufly accumulated in clofe rooms, extinguifhes fire, and inftantaneoufly fuffocates animals, without producing any apparent difeafe, or any injury that can be perceived upon difieCtion. Boerhaave fays he does not remember that fo immediate, mortal, and fubtile a poifon has been hitherto difeovered : that if a large veflel, full of the juice of grapes in high fermentation, fhould difeharge its accumulated vapour through a fmall orifice, and a ftrong healthy man fhould draw in the vapour at his noftrils, he would inftantly fall down dead ; or if he re- ceived but little thereof, become apoplectic ; or, if ftill lefs, would remain an ideot during life, or become paralytic: and that thefe accidents befal thofe who imprudently remain long in clofe vaults where large quantities are fermenting. It may be obferved that this vapour, when not collected in fuch a quantity as to ex- tinguifh a fmall flame, as that of a candle, is generally not danger- ous, or at leaft not mortal to animals. There are feveral fubftances, of themfelves not fufceptible cf fermentation, which neverthelefs may be brought into it by the admixture of thofe that are; as by adding to them, along with a proper quantity of water, a portion of the yeaft or head thrown up to the furface of fermenting liquors. To this expedient recourfe is fometimes had for unlocking the texture of certain compact vegetable matters, in order to enable them to give out more rea- dily fome of their medicinal principles. In thefe cafes, the fer- mentation muft be continued but fora little time ; left the refolution of the fubjeCt fhould proceed beyond the intended limits, and the principles, expeCted from it, be converted into other produCts. The fermentable juices of fruits, boiled till they become thick, are found to be indifpofed to ferment, and this not only in their thick ftate, but when diluted again with water ; though there ap- pears to be fcarcely any other alteration produced in them by the boiling. Hence liquids, prone to fermentation,-may thus be pre- ferved. How far this diminution of their fermentability may affedt their medical virtues, is not as yet clear. The degree or the fpecies of fermentation, by which wines and inflammable fpirits are produced, is called vinous fermentation. If the procefs be further protracted, more grofs matter is thrown off, and new changes fucceed, but in a flower and lefs tumultuary man- ner than before. The heating inebriating wine becomes by de- grees a cooling acid vinegar, which feems to counteract the effects of the other : the more the wine abounded with inflam- mable fpirit, the more does the vinegar abound with uninflammable *cid. < There