AQJJ like sweet almonds, used in emul- sions, and considered as vulnerary and anodyne ; at present, however, their use is confined to external applications, in which the expressed oil of these kernels has sometimes been of service, for a contracted and chapped skin of the hands and lips, sore nipples, painful ears, and si- milar cases. AQUA FORTIS, the nitrous acid of a certain strength, and so called from its dissolving power ; but, when in a concentrated and smoking state, it is denominated spirit of nitre. It is made by dis- tilling equal parts of crude nitre with calcined vitriol ; or by care- fully mixing one part of oil of vi- triol with nine of pure spirit of nitre. — See Acids. As tins powerful liquid is used for various purposes in the arts and manufactures, but chiefly by dyers, brass-founders, hatters, 8cc. great caution should be observed, both in preparing and employing it, be- cause it possesses a very caustic property, and its fumes are highly deleterious to the organs of respira- tion. Hence those artisans fre- quently become subject to convul- sive coughing and blood spitting, paralytic affections, trembling, pale- ness of countenance, loose teeth, the loss of smell and taste, and at length, pulmonary consumption. In order to prevent these fatal ef- fects, we seriously advise them to make use of oily and bland nou- rishment, and externally to secure the mouth and nose, by tying a handkerchief round those parts, while they are exposed to the fumes cf this volatile acid. Rut in casualties where a person has, by mistake, swallowed a por- tion of aqua-fortis, die following treatment will be the most proper AQU [ 93 for averting the imminent danger of suffocation. Immediately after the accident, lv.ke-warm water ought to be drunk in the greatest possible quantity, even to the amount of several gallons, to weak- en the causticity of the poison. Next, a solution of half an ounce of salt of tartar, or clean pearl-ashes, in one pint of water, should be taken in about six or eight small draughts ; and as the effervescence thus occasioned in the stomach, greatly tends to weaken that organ, it will be necessary to make use of more water, and other diluent, oily, or mucilaginous drinks. We are of opinion, that a soluti- on of lorox, or tirical, in the propor- tion of three-; drams to a pint of wa- ter, fonns a more, effectual anti- dote than the vegetable alkali ; be- cause the former, by uniting with acids, causes no effervescence. — There are instances of persons hav- ing completely obviated the ill ef- fects of this poison, simply by drinking small portions of sweet oil, frequently repeated, for three- days successively. If, however, the sensation of a burning pain in the stomach and bowels should not subside, after plentiful vomiting, large draught* of sweet cow's milk must be swal- lowed, with the addition of one dram, or sixty drops of liquid tar- tar, usually called oil of tartar, to each pint. But previously to the expulsion of the poison by vomit- ing, or the neutralizing of it with alkaline solutions, neither milk, oily, nor saponaceous draughts can be taken with advantage. Hence these ought to conclude die cure ; during which the patient may fre- quently use gdrgansms and clyster* of die same liquids, which are di- rected to be taken internally. In- deed*
