A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    467/554 (page 455)
    centrated use. Prolonged impressions by inhalation may be followed by depression of the general strength. Ammonium chloride is frequently employed as an ingredient of a lozenge for Chronic Pharyngitis of a mild grade. Each lozenge and pastiUe should contain about two grains of the drug. AQUA AMMONIA FORTIOR. Stronger Water of Ammonia. An aqueous solution of Ammonia (NH3), containing 28 per cent., by weight, of the gas. (U.S. P.) Ammonia is stimulant and even vesicant. In weak solution it is refrigerant. Stronger water of ammonia, applied to the skin, has a slight rubefacient effect when allowed to evaporate. It is in repute as an anti- dote to the venom of serpents. General Surgery.—Avendano {^Lancet, January 9, 1886) speaks in the highest terms of ammonia in the treatment of anthrax and carbuncle. He says that it is a specific, and should always be used. In malignant pustules, after an incision has been made, some drops of the official solu- tion should be introduced into the wound with the hope of destroying the bacilli. When evaporation is prevented ammonia soon passes through the epi- dermis and acts as a powerful vesicant, and can be thus employed for that purpose. It can be employed for vesicating purposes when cantha- rides is objectionable and when a prompt action is desired. Vesication is best produced by saturating a pledget of cotton with the ammonia water and applying the cotton to the skin and covering it with a watch glass, which is to be kept in place until a red ring is formed around the glass. The glass may then be removed and a poultice applied. In this way a blister can be produced in from ten minutes to half an hour. This method is, however, somewhat uncertain, and occasionally fails altogether. The pain and swelling resulting from poisoning by nettles and insect- bites can be greatly lessened by rubbing the water of ammonia over the part aff'ected. The poison of spiders and wasps, and of similar creatures, is said to contain formic acid, and it is probable that the ammonia acts by neutralizing the acid. Aqua ammonise has long been used in the treatment of bites of serpents. It should be rubbed and injected into the bitten part. Halford {Lancet, January 30, 1869) strongly recommends the intra- venous injection of aqua ammonite and distilled water (one part to two) in the treatment of snake bite. The mixture should be slowly injected into a superficial vein by means of a hypodermic syringe, and the injec- tions should be repeated as soon as any beneficial effect from it ceases.