Smelling Salts. Sesquicarbon-ate of ammonia commonly passes under this name, and, with the addition of a few drops of essential oil, is frequently employed to fill smelling bottles. Its pungency, however, is neither so great nor so durable as that of the true or neutral carbonate of ammonia. The latter salt continues unchanged in composition, and preserves its pungency as long as a particle of it remains unvolatilized. The portion only which flies off suffers decomposition as it volatilizes, separating into gaseous ammonia and carbonic acid. The pungency of the sesquicarbonate, on the other hand, depends solely on its gradual decomposition, in the solid state, into carbonate of ammonia, which flies off under exposure to the air; and into bicarbonate of ammonia, which is much less volatile and only slightly pungent, and which remains behind; the weight of the latter being far greater than one-half the weight of the original salt. Carbonate of ammonia, and not the sesquicarbonate, should, therefore, be alone used in filling smelling bottles, if a strong, agreeable, and durable pungency be desired. It is employed, either directly or indirectly, by the makers of all the more esteemed smelling salts of the day; and their predecessors did the same, even long before the chemistry of the two salts, and the rationale of the properties which cause a preference for the one, were known. (Cooley.)

1090. Fine Smelling Salts

1090.    Fine Smelling Salts. Take of carbonate of ammonia (crushed small), 1 pound avoirdupois; oil of lavender (Mitcham), oil of bergamot, of each 1 Imperial fluid ounce; oil of cloves, 2 fluid drachms; oil of cassia, 1 fluid drachm. Rub them thoroughly together, sublime at a very gentle heat into a well-cooled receiver, and at once put the product into a well-stoppered bottle, or bottles. The sublimation may be omitted, but the quality of the product suffers. This is varied in some samples, by substituting 1 ounce of oil of lemon, or a little of the oils of rosemary and sweet flag (calamus aromaticus), for the oils of cloves and cassia; or by adding (after sublimation) a dash (2 or 3 drops per bottle) of essence of musk or essence royale.

1091. Smelling Salts

1091.    Smelling Salts. As before, but taking as perfume, oil of bergamot, 2 fluid ounces; oil of verbena, 1/2 fluid ounce; attar of roses, 1 to 2 drachms. It is varied as in the hut.

1092. Smelling Salts

1092.     Smelling Salts. Same as No. 1090, but using oil of bergamot and lemon, of each, 3/4 fluid ounce; essence de petit-grain, 3 fluid drachms; oil of cloves and cassia, of each, 1 fluid drachm; varied, as before, at will.

1093. Inexhaustible Smelling Salts

1093.    Inexhaustible Smelling Salts. Take 1 pint liquid ammonia, 1 drachm attar of rosemary, 1 drachm attar of lavender, 1/2 drachm attar of bergamot, and 1/2 drachm attar of cloves. Mix together by agitation in a very strong, well-stoppered bottle. To prepare a smelling-bottle of this mixture, fill a stopper-bottle with pieces of sponge, previously well beaten, washed and dried ; pour into the bottle as much of the mixture as the sponge will absorb, but not sufficient for a drop to escape if the bottle be inverted.