Acidum Sulphuricum. Monohydrated Sulphuric Acid. HO, SO3. Oil of Vitriol. Vitriolic Acid. A dense, oily-looking liquid. Sp. Gr l.846. Eq. 40.

Dilute Sulphuuic Acid. Acidum Sulphuricum Dilutum. Is made by mixing gradually fl. oz. iij. of Sulphuric Acid with fl. oz. xxxv. of Water. Sp. Gr. 1.087.

Med. Prop. and Action. The strong acid is a powerful escharotic; the parts touched with it first become white, but subsequently assume a brownish black appearance. It is too corrosive for internal use. The dilute acid is refrigerant, astringent, and tonic, in doses of x - xx properly diluted. It is used as a refrigerant in fevers, as an astringent to check hAemorrhage and passive mucous discharges, and as a general tonic to improve digestion. It renders the urine acid, and proves useful in cases of phosphatic deposit. Being injurious to the teeth, it should be sucked through a quill or glass tube, and the mouth carefully washed with an alkaline solution after each dose. (See also Acids, part ii.)

Offic. Prep. 1. Acidum Sulphuricum Aromaticum (Sulphuric Acid fl oz. iij.; Rectified Spirit Oij. or q. s.; Cinnamon in coarse powder oz. ij.; Ginger in coarse powder oz. j. 1/4. Mix the Sulphuric Acid gradually with fl. oz. xxxv. of the Spirit, then add the Cinnamon and the Ginger and digest for seven days, agitating frequently. Filter and add sufficient Rectified spirit to make up the bulk to Orj.). Sp gr. 0.935. A very useful and agreeable tonic and aromatic. Dose, v. - xxx., freely diluted.

2. Acidum Sulphuricum Dilutum (Ante)

Dose, v. - xx., freely diluted.

Incompatibles. Alkalies and their Carbonates; some earths and earthy Carbonates; the Oxides of Metals; Solutions of the Chloride of Calcium; Acetates of Lead, Baryta, &c.

2682. Therapeutic Uses

In Colica Pictonum, and Poisoning by Lead generally, Sulphuric Acid is stated by M. Gendrin.¶ of Paris, to act both as a prophylactic and as a remedial agent.

* Med. Times, vol. xvi. p. 354. Dict. Pract. Med., vol. i. p. 31. Cyc. Pract. Med., art. Acne.

§ Lond. and Edin. Journ. of Med. Sciences, No. xii. || Op. cit., p. 149. ¶ Lancet, April 4, 1846.

This opinion has been ably supported by Dr. H. Bennett. As a pupil of M. Gendrin, he saw in Paris a large number of cases of saturnine poisoning; and he states that, with the exception of one or two cases of Chronic Lead Palsy, he does not remember one which proved refractory to the treatment adopted. Mild cases yielded generally in about three days, severe ones in six or seven. The treatment consisted in the administration of Sulphuric Acid, largely diluted with water (gutt. xliv. ad Aq. Oj.), of which Oij. - Oiij. were given daily. Sometimes the first dose or two was rejected; but it was persevered in, and the stomach soon became accustomed to it. When it was retained, the abdominal pains generally began to diminish after the first or second day, the constipation gradually giving way when the pains had become less intense. No other medicine of any kind was administered; but it was considered a point of the greatest importance to combine its use with repeated Sulphur baths. (See Sulphur.) This "acid lemonade," as it is called, proves, in numerous cases, a prophylactic against the poisonous vapours of Lead; in others, it only retards, but does not prevent, the eventual development of its poisonous effects. Valuable testimony to the value of Sulphuric Acid in these cases will be found in a letter from the manager of the British White-lead Works, at Birmingham.* He states that, before the introduction of the Sulphuric Acid drink, Lead Colic was of constant occurrence amongst his workmen; but that, for fifteen months after its first employment, there did not occur a single case.