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AMMONIA. 281

injection in gonorrhoea, and for the destruction of animalculae in
putrescent fluids. As a surgical dressing, it is used by keeping
the wound saturated with a solution of moderate strength, or by
A concentrated solution will preserve anatomical
irrigation.
subjects for a considerable time.
Dose.—Of acetate of alumina, gtt. xx to gtt. 60 of the
solution.
Dental Uses.—Acetate of alumina is useful in dental practice,
as an antiseptic and disinfectant in cancrum oris, ulcers of the
mouth, suppurating wounds of mucous membrane, pyorrhoea
alveolaris, alveolar abscess, etc. A very weak solution has been
employed as a mouth-wash for offensive breath depending on
scrofulous ulcerations, aphthae, caries of the teeth, or the wearing
of artificial teeth.
AMMONIUM—AMMONIA.
Formula.—NH^.
Ammonia, often called ammoniacal, or ammonia gas, is
colorless and readily soluble in water, and forms a number of
volatile stimulants, such as Aqua ammonia—ammonia water,
which is the stronger water of ammonia diluted with two parts
of water; Aqua ammonice fortior— stronger water of ammonia,
is made by passing ammonia gas into water to make its specific
gravity, 0.900 at 59° F. ; Spiritus ammonice—which is a ten per
cent, solution of ammonia gas in alcohol ; Spiritus ammonice
aromaticus^ which is an alcoholic, or rectified spirit, solution of
carbonate of ammonium, to which are added oils of lemon,
nutmeg and lavender. (See also muriate of ammonia, sal
ammoniac, carbonate of ammonium, solution of acetate of
ammonia, spirit of mindererus, chloride of ammonium, and
valerianate of ammonium.)
Medical Properties and Physiological Action.—Ammonia gas is
very alkaline, and an irritant to mucous surfaces. Inhaled, it
causes an overpowering sense of suffocation and spasm of the
glottis, and when prolonged, violent inflammation of the air-
passages. Solution of ammonia when swallowed causes destruc-
tive inflammation of the mucous membrane, extending to the
stomach. The long-continued use of ammonia interferes with