Vinum Antimonii Potassio-Tartratis

Lond. Liquor Tartari emetici, Dub. Wine of Potassio-tartrate of Antimony, Solution of emetic Tartar.

"Take of potassio-tartrate of antimony, two scruples; sherry wine, one pint. Dissolve the potassio-tartrate of antimony in the wine.

Vinum Tartratis Antimonii1, Edin. Wine of Tartrate of Antimony.

" Take of tartrate of antimony, twenty four grains; Spanish white wine, one pound. Mix, so that the tartrate of antimony may be dissolved."

In the former edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, the name Vinum was restored, although the wine was rejected ! In the present the use of the wine has been properly re-adopted.

These solutions, when newly made, are equal in point of strength, f j. of each containing grs. ij. of potassio-tartrate of antimony. When wine is used, a slow decomposition of the salt occurs: the precipitate appears to be an oxide of antimony, with a portion of bitartrate of potassa; arising, perhaps, from the potassa attracting tartaric acid from the wine. Dr. Paris remarks, that when good sherry wine is employed, no decomposition of the salt takes place; and if any precipitate occur, it is tartrate of lime, arising from an accidental impurity in the bitartrate of potassa of the preparation. 2

Medical properties and uses. - These solutions are diaphoretic or emetic, according to the extent of the dose. In doses of x. to f 3 j. in any proper vehicle, repeated every three or four hours, they usually excite diaphoresis; but they are principally used as emetics for infants, a tea-spoonful being given every five minutes until vomiting be excited.

Pulvis Antimonii Compositus. Lond. Antimonial Powder

"Take of sesquisulphuret of antimony in powder, a pound; horn shavings, two pounds. Mix, and throw them into a red-hot crucible, assiduously stirring until vapours cease to arise. Rub what remains to powder, and having put it into a proper crucible, expose it to a fire, which is to be gradually raised, so as to keep it at a red heat for two hours. Triturate the residue into very fine powder.

Oxidum Antimonii cum Phosphate Calcis; olim, Pul-vis Antimonialis, Edin. Oxide of Antimony with Phosphate of Lime; formerly Antimonial Powder.

1 Vinum Antimonii tartarizati, P. L. 1787.

2 Pharmacologia.

"Take of sulphuret of antimony in coarse powder, hartshorn shavings, each equal parts. Mix, and throw them into a wide iron pot, heated to redness, and stir them assiduously until they are burnt into a matter of a grey colour, which remove from the fire, rub to powder, and put into a coated crucible, over which another crucible having a small hole in its bottom is to be inverted and luted: then apply the fire, which is to be gradually raised to a white heat, and kept at this increased heat for two hours. Finally, reduce the matter when it is cold to a very fine powder."