Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 252

=Fuligokali, Sulphuretted.= _Syn._ FULIGOKALI SULPHURETUM, L. _Prep._ (Dr Polya.) Caustic pota.s.sa, 7 parts; sulphur, 2 parts; water, q. s.; dissolve with heat, add of fuligokali, 30 parts, evaporate to dryness, and preserve it in well-corked dry bottles.--_Dose, &c._ As the last.

_Obs._ M. Gibert states that he has tried both fuligokali and sulphuretted fuligokali on his patients at the Hospital Saint-Louis, both internally and externally, with manifest advantage in various obstinate chronic skin diseases. He made a pomade of 30 grammes (say 1 oz.) of lead ointment, and 1 or 2 grammes (say 20 to 25 gr.) of fuligokali, in which he recognised positive resolvent, detersive, and stimulant properties. See ANTHRAc.o.kALI.

=FULLER'S EARTH.= _Syn._ CIMOLIA, C. TERRA, L. A soft, unctious, friable, greenish or yellowish-grey species of clay, containing 53% of silica, 10% of alumina, and about 9% of oxide of iron. After being dug out of the earth it is thoroughly dried in ovens, and then thrown into cold water, where it soon falls to powder, and is purified by the common process of edulcoration or washing-over. It is extensively used to extract oil and grease from cloth in the process of 'fulling,' it forms an excellent filtering powder for oils, and is applied as a cooling and healing dressing by the poor to inflamed b.r.e.a.s.t.s, excoriations, &c.

=FUL'MINATING COMPOUNDS.= These are numerous, and are scattered through several distinct cla.s.ses of bodies. Among the most powerful and dangerous are the chloride and iodide of nitrogen and the fulminates of silver and mercury.

=Fulminating An'timony.= _Syn._ PYROPHORUS OF ANTIMONY, L. _Prep._ Tartar emetic (dried), 100 parts; lampblack or charcoal powder, 3 parts; triturate together, put it into a crucible that it will three fourths fill (previously rubbed inside with charcoal powder), cover it with a layer of dry charcoal powder, and lute on the cover; after 3 hours' exposure to a strong heat in a 'reverberatory furnace,' and 6 or 7 hours' repose to allow it to cool, &c., cautiously transfer the solid contents of the crucible, as quickly as possible, without breaking it, to a wide-mouthed stoppered phial, where, after some time, it will spontaneously crumble down into a powder.

_Obs._ When the above process is properly conducted, the resulting powder contains pota.s.sium, and fulminates violently on contact with water. A piece the size of a pea introduced into a ma.s.s of gunpowder explodes it on being thrown into water, or on its being moistened in any other manner.

=Fulminating Bis'muth.= _Prep._ From bis.m.u.th, 120 parts; carburetted cream of tartar, 60 parts; nitre, 1 part. Very rich in pota.s.sium.--_Prop., &c._, resemble those of the last. We have been a.s.sured that this is the compound used by the late Capt. Warner for some of his secret fusees.

=Fulminating Cop'per.= _Syn._ FULMINATE OF COPPER. _Prep._ Digest copper (in powder or filings) with fulminate of mercury or of silver, and a little water. It forms soluble green crystals that explode with a green flame.

=Fulminating Gold.= _Prep._ Recently precipitated peroxide of gold is digested in strong liquor of ammonia for 24 hours, and the resulting product is dried in the open air or at a temperature below 180 Fahr., care being taken to avoid the slightest friction, lest it should explode.

A deep olive-coloured powder.

_Obs._ This compound can only be safely made in very small quant.i.ties at a time, as without great care it explodes with extreme violence. This is caused by the slightest friction or sudden increase of heat. Its fulminating property may be destroyed by boiling it in pearlash lye, or weak oil of vitriol; and by heating the residuum after washing it in water, pure gold will be obtained.

=Fulminating Mer'cury.= _Syn._ FULMINATE, FULMINATE OF MERCURY. _Prep._ 1.

Mercury, 1 part; nitric acid (sp. gr. 1375), 12 parts; dissolve, add at intervals, to this solution, alcohol (sp. gr. 850), 163 parts; apply heat till the effervescence and cloud of gas disappears, adding, gradually, on the action becoming violent, 163 parts more of alcohol.--_Product._ 112% of the mercury employed.

2. Mercury, 100 parts; nitric acid (sp. gr. 14), 1000 parts (or 740 parts by measure); dissolve by a gentle heat, and when the solution has acquired the temperature of 130 Fahr., slowly pour it through a gla.s.s funnel tube into alcohol (sp. gr. 830), 830 parts (or 1000 parts by measure); as soon as the effervescence is over, and white fumes cease to be evolved, filter through double paper, wash with cold water, and dry by steam (not hotter than 212) or hot water. The fulminate is then to be packed in 100 gr.

paper parcels, and these stored in a tight box or corked bottle.--_Product_, 130% of the weight of mercury employed.

_Prop., &c._ Small brownish-grey crystals, which sparkle in the sun; entirely soluble in 130 parts of boiling water, and deposited as the solution cools under the form of beautiful pearly spangles. It greatly resembles fulminate of silver in its appearance and general properties. It explodes violently by both friction and percussion, but unlike the silver-salt, merely burns with a sudden and almost noiseless flash when kindled in the open air.

_Obs._ The second formula is not only the cheapest, but the best and safest. The first is more expensive and dangerous. There is no little hazard in pouring the alcohol into the nitric solution; for at each effusion an explosive blast takes place; whereas, by pouring the solution into the alcohol, no danger whatever is incurred. This preparation is used for priming the copper percussion caps for fowling-pieces, muskets, &c. Dr Ure, in his first report to the Board of Ordnance, recommended the use of a spirituous solution of gum sandarac, as the best substance for diluting the fulminate, and fixing it in the caps; but in a subsequent report to the same Board, he stated that a solution of mastic in spirit was to be preferred. At the present time the following composition is applied to the interior of percussion caps in quant.i.ties varying from 2 to 3 of a grain:--Chlorate of pota.s.sium, 26 parts; nitre, 30; fulminate of mercury, 12; sulphur, 17; ground gla.s.s, 14; gum, 1, making altogether 100 parts.

(Watts.)

_Caution._ Fulminate of mercury should only be dried in small parcels at a time, and these should be placed at a distance from each other. The dreadful explosion which occurred some years ago at Apothecaries' Hall, and by which Mr Hennel, the talented chemist of the Apothecaries'

Company, lost his life, was occasioned by the spontaneous detonation of this substance.

=Fulminating Plat'inum.= _Syn._ PLATINUM FULMINANS, L. _Prep._ By acting on binoxide of platinum with pure ammonia. It is a.n.a.logous to the gold and silver ammonio-compound.

=Fulminating Powder.= _Syn._ DETONATING POWDER; PULVIS FULMINANS, L.

_Prep._ 1. Nitre, 3 parts; carbonate of potash (dry), 2 parts; flowers of sulphur, 1 part; reduce them separately to fine powder, before mixing them. A little of this compound (20 to 30 gr.), slowly heated on a shovel over the fire, first fuses and becomes brown, and then explodes with a deafening report.

2. Sulphur, 1 part; chlorate of pota.s.sa, 3 parts. When triturated, with strong pressure, in a marble or wedgwood-ware mortar, it produces a series of loud reports. It also fulminates by percussion.

3. Chlorate of pota.s.sa, 6 parts; pure lampblack, 4 parts; sulphur, 1 part.

A little placed on an anvil detonates with a loud report, when struck with a hammer. No. 1 is the substance commonly known as 'FULMINATING POWDER,'

See BLASTING POWDER.

=Fulminating Sil'ver.= _Syn._ ARGENTUM FULMINANS, L. Two very distinct compounds are known by this name, the one containing oxide of silver and ammonia, and the other being a true fulminate of silver.

_Prep._ 1. (AMMONIA-COMPOUND OF SILVER, BERTHOLLET'S FULMINATING SILVER.)--_a._ Digest oxide of silver (recently precipitated and dried by pressure between bibulous paper) in concentrated liquor of ammonia, for 12 or 15 hours, pour off the liquid, and cautiously dry the black powder in the air, in divided portions. The decanted ammoniacal liquor, when gently heated, yields, on cooling, small crystals, which possess a still more formidable power of detonation than the black powder, and will scarcely bear touching, even whilst under the liquid.

_b._ Dissolve chloride of silver in strong liquor of ammonia, cautiously add pure pota.s.sa (in fragments), and when effervescence ceases, decant the fluid portion, and wash and dry the powder, as before.

2. (FULMINATE OF SILVER, BRUGNATELLI'S FULMINATING SILVER; ARGENTI FULMINAS, L.)--_a._ Pour alcohol, 1 oz., on nitrate of silver (in fine powder), 100 gr., previously placed in a capacious flask or beaker gla.s.s, and shortly afterwards add strong nitric acid, 1 oz.; as soon as all the powdered nitrate a.s.sumes the form of white clouds, add cold distilled water, q. s. to suspend the ebullition, and next collect the powder on a filter, and otherwise proceed as with the ammonia-compound (_above_).

_b._ (Fownes.) Metallic silver, 40 to 50 gr.; nitric acid (sp. gr. 137), 3/4 fl. oz.; dissolve by the aid of a gentle heat, add, whilst the solution is still hot, alcohol, 2 fl. oz., and again apply heat until reaction commences; the fulminate slowly separates from the hot liquid under the form of small, brilliant, white, crystalline plates, which, after being slightly washed with a little cold distilled water, are to be distributed upon separate pieces of filtering paper, in portions not exceeding 1 or 2 gr. each, and left to dry in the air. When dry, the papers are to be folded up, and carefully preserved in a box or bottle. A sixpence and the strongest commercial nitric acid and rectified spirit answer for the above purpose.

_c._ (Liebig.) Grain silver, 1 part; nitric acid (sp. gr. 136 to 138), 10 parts; dissolve at a gentle heat, and add the solution to alcohol of 85%, 23 parts; apply a gentle heat till the liquid begins to boil, then remove it from the fire and set it aside to cool; the fulminate of silver is deposited in l.u.s.trous, snow-white, acicular crystals, and when washed and dried, equals in weight that of the silver employed.

_Prop., &c._ The properties of both compounds are very similar. Those of the true FULMINATE OF SILVER (No. 2) need only be considered here. This dissolves in 36 parts of boiling water, but the solution deposits the greater portion of the fulminate as it cools. It is one of the most dangerous substances for which we are indebted to modern chemistry. It explodes with unparalleled violence by friction or percussion, or when strongly heated, or when touched with strong sulphuric acid; the metal is reduced, and a large volume of gaseous matter suddenly liberated. Strange to say, though its explosive tendency is so great that it can be hardly made, handled or kept, with safety, it may, when very cautiously mixed with oxide of copper, be burned in a tube to determine its composition, in a similar manner to that employed in the a.n.a.lysis of other organic substances. Many frightful accidents have happened from the spontaneous explosion of this substance. 1 or 2 gr. are the most that can be exploded with safety in a building or confined s.p.a.ce.

=Fulminating Zinc.= _Syn._ FULMINATE OF ZINC; ZINc.u.m FULMINANS, ZINCI FULMINAS, L. _Prep._ From fulminate of silver, zinc filings, and a little water, digested together, as FULMINATING COPPER.

=FULMINA'TION.= _Syn._ FULMINATIO, L. Detonation. A sudden explosion, accompanied with a loud report and extreme violence. Some chemists, without sufficient reason, have endeavoured to confine the application of the term to the explosion of a fulminate.

=FUMIGA'TION.= _Syn._ FUMIGATIO, SUFFUMIGATIO, L. Fumigations (FUMIGATIONES) are vapours of gases extemporaneously extricated for the purpose of destroying contagious or noxious miasmata or effluvia, or to mask unpleasant odours, or to produce a medicinal action on those parts of the body with which they are brought in contact.

Fumigations, for the purpose of obviating or masking unpleasant odours in the sick chamber, must never be employed to the neglect of cleanliness and ventilation; for most of them, instead of purifying the air, actually render it less fit for respiration. The common practice of burning scented paper, pastilles, sugar, juniper berries, benzoin, cascarilla, &c., so as to create an odoriferous smoke, is of this character. As disinfecting agents, they are probably useless, and are relics of an ancient custom of burning frankincense and other odorous substances in vitiated air, to overcome the fetor which is more or less present. The fumes thus diffused through the atmosphere "disguise unpleasant odours; but they accomplish nothing more. The infection remains not only unaltered by the diffusion of the most powerful aromatic vapours, but its deleterious properties are sometimes augmented by them."[320]

[Footnote 320: We deem it right to remark that a different opinion respecting the disinfecting power of odoriferous smoke is now held by many scientific men. According to this opinion, the minute particles of aromatic substances do really destroy or render inert the noxious miasmata.]

Among the various substances used as DISINFECTING FUMIGATIONS, chlorine, by almost general consent, holds the first place. Dr Carmichael Smyth recommended nitrous acid, which is even now preferred by Dr Christison to chlorine; whilst Prof. Graham regarded the fumes of burning sulphur as more efficacious than either of these substances. The vapours of hydrochloric acid and of vinegar, and the smoke of gunpowder, which once had their advocates, have now justly sunk into disfavour.

No apartment should be submitted to fumigation until it is vacated; as until then its thorough disinfection is impossible, and but little benefit or immunity from contagion is conferred by any aerial disinfecting agent, the presence of which fails to cause discomfort to the patient.

Of all common diseases, scarlet fever appears to be the one most requiring fumigation. For this purpose, chlorine gas or heat should be employed. The infectious matters of certain diseases, especially scarlet fever, are either dissipated or destroyed at a heat slightly above that of boiling water. (Dr Henry.) Contagious diseases are very commonly propagated in this metropolis by persons having their linen washed by laundresses who perform their operations in the same sinks of dirt and misery in which they live. See CIGARS (in _pharmacy_), DISINFECTANT, INHALATION, &c., and _below_.

=Fumigation, Ace'tic.= _Syn._ FUMIGATIO ACETICA, L. The fumes of strong vinegar or acetic acid, obtained by heating the liquid over a lamp, or by sprinkling it on a hot shovel. Aromatic vinegar in this way yields very refreshing fumes, and was formerly thought more efficacious than simple acetic acid.

=Fumigation, An'odyne.= _Syn._ FUMIGATIO ANODYNA, L. _Prep._ (Trousseau & Reveil.) Stramonium and sage, equal parts, sufficient to fill a small pipe. Smoked in spasmodic asthma, irritating coughs, &c.

=Fumigation, Aromat'ic.= See BALSAMIC FUMIGATION.

=Fumigation, Balsam'ic.= _Syn._ AROMATIC FUMIGATION; FUMIGATIO AROMATICA, F. BALSAMICA, L. _Prep._ 1. From gum benzoin, either alone or mixed with olibanum or styrax, thrown on hot cinders or a heated shovel.

2. (Dr Dohrn.) Gum olibanum, 4 parts; gum benzoin, styrax, and flowers of roses and lavender, of each 1 part; to be reduced to powder, and used as before.

3. Amber, mastic, and olibanum, of each 3 oz.; benzoin and styrax, of each 1 oz.; camphor, 1 dr. As last. The above are used in hooping-cough, asthma, &c.; a small quant.i.ty only being employed at a time.

=Fumigation, Belladon'na.= _Syn._ FUMIGATIO BELLADONNae, L. _Prep._ (M.

Schroeder.) From dried belladonna leaves, 1 to 2 dr.; as before. In spitting of blood, asthma, tickling cough, &c.

=Fumigation, Chlorine.= _Syn._ DISINFECTING FUMIGATION, GUYTON-MORVEAU'S F.; FUMIGATIO CHLORINII, L. _Prep._ 1. (P. Cod.) Common salt, 3 parts; water and sulphuric acid, of each 2 parts; black oxide of manganese 1 part; mix in a shallow vessel, placed in the centre of the apartment. This is used to disinfect unoccupied rooms.

2. Hydrochloric acid and powdered black oxide of manganese mixed in proportions so as to make a thin paste. Used as directed under 1.

3. Chloride of lime, either sprinkled on the floor (if uncarpeted) or (if carpeted) placed about the room in shallow dishes. Used for inhabited rooms, and on shipboard, &c.

4. A solution of chloride of lime (1 oz. of the chloride to each quart of water). Used as the last but more freely.