Ammoniacum

Ammoniac

Ammoniac. A gum-resin obtained from Dorema ammoniacum Don (Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae). Gomme ammoniaque, Fr.; Ammoniakgummi, Ger.

Emplastrum Ammoniaci

Ammoniac-plaster.

Emplastrum Ammoniaci cum Hydrargyro

(Ammoniac, mercury, diluted acetic acid, and lead-plaster.)

Emulsun Ammoniaci

Ammoniac-mixture. (The resin is suspended by the gum in water.) Dose, oz ss— oz j.

Composition

Ammoniac contains a volatile oil, which differs from. the asafoetida oil in not containing sulphur. It has the odor of the drug. Ammoniac also contains gum and resin, the latter in the proportion of about seventy per cent.

Antagonists, Incompatibles, and Synergists, same as for asafoetida.

Physiological Actions

The effects of ammoniac are similar to those of asafoetida, but it is much less active, owing to the fact, chiefly, that its volatile oil does not contain sulphur and phosphorus compounds.

Therapy

Ammoniac may be used for the same purposes as asafoetida, but it is much less efficient than the latter. At present its use is almost entirely restricted to chronic bronchial affections, in which the mistura is prescribed usually with the carbonate or chloride of ammonium. Ammoniac-plaster is sometimes used as a discutient to indolent glandular and inflammatory swellings.

Authorities referred to:

Fluckiger and Hanbury. Pharmacographia.

Gubler, Dr. A. Commentaires Thérapeutiques.

Husemann, Dr. Theod. Handbuch, etc., zweiter Band, p. 987.

Kohler, Dr. Hermann. Handbuch, etc., erste Hälfte, p. 392.

Stille, Dr. Alfred. Therapeutics and Materia Medica, fourth edition.

Trousseau et Pidoux. Traité Thérap. et Mat. Méd., vol. ii.