Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 56

_Prop., &c._ A light, dull, dead-white, tasteless, inodorous powder or small pulverulent ma.s.ses, feeling firm to the fingers, and crackling when pressed or rubbed; viewed by a pocket lens it appears to consist of glistening particles, which are shown by a microscope to be convex, irregular, ovoid or truncated granules, most of them, according to Mr Jackson, being 0010 of an inch in length, and 0008 of an inch in breadth; mixed with others varying from about double to only half that size. In its action with boiling water, and its general properties it resembles the other starches; than which, however, it is freer from any peculiar taste and flavour; and thus agrees better with the delicate stomachs of invalids and infants than the ordinary farinas.

[Ill.u.s.tration: West Indian Arrowroot (_Maranta Arundinacaea_). Scale 1-1000th of an inch.]

_Comp._ Similar to that of the other starches.

_Pur._ A large portion of the arrow-root of the shops consists either wholly or in part of the fecula or farina of potatoes or of inferior starches such as _cac.u.ma_, or East Indian arrow-root, _jatropha_, or Brazilian arrow-root, _canna_, or _tous les mois_; or is more or less mixed with sago-meal or rice-meal: such materials can be readily detected by the microscope. Potato starch is known in commerce as 'FARINA' or 'BRITISH ARROW-ROOT,' or simply 'arrow-root,' whereas genuine arrow-root is always described as 'Bermuda,' 'St. Vincent,' 'St. Kitts,' or, at least, as 'West Indian arrow-root.' The subst.i.tution of the inferior farinas for genuine arrow-root is not only fraudulent on account of their inferior value, but is reprehensible in a hygienic point of view; as some of them are offensive to a delicate stomach, and exert of themselves, and still more when carelessly manufactured, a laxative action on the bowels; whereas the effect of true arrow-root is that of a slight and soothing tonic.

_Uses, &c._ As an agreeable, non-irritable article of diet for invalids and children, in the form of cakes, biscuits or puddings, or boiled with milk or water and flavoured with sugar, spices, lemon-juice, or wine, at pleasure. For young children a little caraway or cinnamon water is to be preferred. It is especially useful in irritation or debility of the stomach, bowels, or urinary organs, and in all cases in which a demulcent or emollient is indicated. It must not, however, be employed to the entire exclusion of other food, as, being dest.i.tute of the nitrogenous elements of nutrition, it is incapable alone of supporting life. Arrow-root jelly is prepared by first rubbing the powder up with a very small quant.i.ty of cold water, and then gradually adding the remainder boiling, stirring well all the time. Beef tea, veal broth, or milk may be used instead of water.

Some persons boil it for a few minutes. This jelly, flavoured with a little genuine port wine and nutmeg, is almost a specific in cases of simple diarrha arising from habit or debility.

_Obs._ Arrow-root is imported in tins, barrels, and boxes, from all the West India Islands; and from Calcutta and Sierra Leone. The best quality was, until recently, solely obtained from Bermuda; but of late equally fine samples have been produced on the Hopewell Estate, St Vincent, and, according to Dr Ure, with the advantage of being prepared with the purest spring water, in profusion, instead of rain water.

In _commerce_, the word arrow-root is now often loosely used as a generic term to indicate any white, tasteless, and edible starch or fecula.

=Arrow-root, Brazil'ian.= Ca.s.sava-starch or tapioca-meal.

=Arrow-root, East In'dian.= Curc.u.ma starch; from the tubers of the _curc.u.ma angustifolia_ or narrow-leaved turmeric. The _maranta arundinacea_ is now also extensively cultivated in India under the name of maranta Indica, and the fecula therefrom extensively exported, which might, with equal propriety, be called East Indian arrow-root; but this is not the case in commerce, the whole pa.s.sing as W. I. arrow-root irrespective of the place of its production.

=Arrow-root, Eng'lish.= Potato-starch.

=Arrow-root, Portland.= From the underground tubers of _arum maculatum_ (Linn.) or wake-robin.

=Arrow-root, Tahi'ti.= Tacca starch or Otaheite salep; from the tubers of _tacca oceanica_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Rio, or Manihot Arrow Root. Scale 1-1000th of an inch.]

=a.r.s.e"NIATE.= _Syn._ AR'SENATE; a.r.s.e"NIAS, AR'SENAS, L.; a.r.s.eNIATE, Fr.; a.r.s.e"NIKSAURE SALZE, Ger. A salt consisting of AsO_{4} and a metal or other basic radical; _e.g._, ammonio-magnesium a.r.s.eniate, NH_{4}Mg_{9}AsO_{4}.

=AR'SENIC= (-se-nik). As. _Syn._ a.r.s.eNIUM; a.r.s.eN'Ic.u.m, a.r.s.e'NIUM, L.; a.r.s.eNIK, A.-METALL, Ger. a.r.s.eNICO, Sp., It. The brittle, grey-coloured metal, or metalloid, which forms the base of the white a.r.s.enic and orpiment of commerce. Discovered by Geber in the eighth century, but first accurately described by Brandt (A.D. 1773). The poisonous properties of a.r.s.enious acid were not generally known for some centuries after its discovery. As a medicine it was first employed in intermittents in Hungary.

_Sources._ a.r.s.enic is peculiar to the mineral kingdom. The metallic a.r.s.enic of commerce is obtained by roasting a.r.s.enical pyrites (MISPICKEL), in earthen tubes, or in tubular earthen retorts; the a.r.s.enic sublimes, and sulphuret of iron remains behind. On the small scale it is prepared by sublimation from a mixture of a.r.s.enious acid and charcoal or black flux.

Combined with oxygen it frequently exists in mineral waters; and, in a larger quant.i.ty, in certain rivulets and streams.

_Prep._ A mixture of a.r.s.enious acid, 1 part; and black flux, 2 or 3 parts; is exposed to a low red heat in a Hessian crucible over which is luted a deep empty crucible, or an earthen tube, to receive the metal; the latter being kept as cool as possible. Charcoal or even oil may be subst.i.tuted for black flux, and a retort of hard gla.s.s may be used, with the same result. Or the following method may be used:--White oxide of a.r.s.enic, of commerce, 2 dr.; is placed at the sealed end of a hard German-gla.s.s tube (1/2 18 inches), and covered with about 8 inches of dry and coa.r.s.ely powdered charcoal; the portion of the tube containing the latter is then raised to a red heat, whilst a few ignited coals are placed beneath the oxide to effect its slow sublimation. The sublimed metal gradually attaches itself to the inside of the tube at its cool extremity. A small charcoal furnace similar to that used for organic a.n.a.lysis should be employed, and the process conducted under a flue to carry off any fumes that may escape. The open end of the tube should be loosely closed with a cork.

_Prop._ Very brittle, so much so that it may be easily powdered in a mortar; l.u.s.tre highly metallic; colour steel-grey or bluish-white; texture crystalline; crystals rhombohedrons; sublimes, without fusion, at 356 to 360 Fahr., (and slowly at lower temperatures), in close vessels unaltered, but when exposed to the air with conversion into a.r.s.enious acid; at a higher temperature, in open vessels, it burns with a pale-blue flame. Its vapour or fumes have a characteristic alliaceous odour; it is slowly oxidised and dissolved by boiling water; but may be preserved unchanged in pure cold water; it rapidly tarnishes in the air, particularly when moist, a black film, consisting of metallic a.r.s.enic and a.r.s.enious acid forming on its surface; with chlorine, iodine, sulphur, and hydrogen, it unites to form definite compounds. With oxygen it forms acids, but no basic oxide. It combines with the metals in a similar manner to sulphur and phosphorus, the latter of which it resembles in many respects. These compounds are termed AR'SENIDES, formerly a.r.s.eNIURETS. Sp.

gr. 57 to 59; sp. gr. of vapour, 10362.

_Uses, &c._ With copper it forms a white alloy (PACKFONG); and it is added to some other alloys to increase their whiteness, hardness, and fusibility. In _medicine_ it is only used in combination. In the metallic state it is inert; but, from its great affinity for oxygen, it rapidly becomes oxidised and poisonous; and hence acts as a powerful poison when swallowed, or when rubbed on the skin. Its fumes are also highly poisonous. See a.r.s.eNIOUS ACID (and _below_).

=a.r.s.enic, Tribro'mide of.= AsBr_{3}. _Syn._ TERBRO'MIDE OF a.r.s.eNIC, SESQUIBRO'MIDE OF A.; a.r.s.eN'ICI BROMI'DUM, L. _Prep._ Add metallic a.r.s.enic, in powder, cautiously and in a very small quant.i.ty at a time, to pure bromine, contained in a vessel set in ice or a freezing mixture, until light ceases to be emitted; then cautiously distil into a well-cooled receiver.

_Prop., &c._ Solid below 68 Fahr.; above it, a yellowish fuming liquid, which boils at 428 Fahr.

=a.r.s.enic, Trichlo"ride of.= AsCl_{3}. _Syn._ CHLO"RIDE OF A., a.r.s.eN'ICI TERCHLORI'DUM, &c., L. _Prep._ 1. From a mixture of white a.r.s.enic, 1 part; and b.i.+.c.hloride of mercury, 6 parts; both in powder, carefully distilled into a well-cooled receiver.

2. Gently boil powdered white a.r.s.enic for some time in hydrochloric acid to which a little nitric acid has been added; then concentrate cautiously by evaporation, and distil as before. It is also produced, with the disengagement of heat and light, when powdered metallic a.r.s.enic is thrown into gaseous chlorine.

_Prop., &c._ A colourless, volatile, highly poisonous liquid, decomposed by water into a.r.s.enious acid and hydrochloric acid. It has been employed as a caustic in cancer and venereal warts; but its use requires the greatest caution.

=a.r.s.enic, Flu'oride of.= AsF_{3}. _Syn._ a.r.s.eNIC TRIFLUORIDE, TERFLU'ORIDE OF a.r.s.eNIC. A fuming volatile liquid, prepared as the bromide.

=a.r.s.enic, Trii'odide of.= AsI_{3}. _Syn._ TERIODIDE OF a.r.s.eNIC, IODIDE OF a.r.s.eNIC; a.r.s.eN'ICI IODI'DUM, A. TERIODI'DUM, L.; a.r.s.eNIC IODURE, &c., Fr.

_Prep._ 1. From finely-pulverised metallic a.r.s.enic, 2 parts; iodide, 11 parts; mixed and gently heated in a bent gla.s.s tube, or a suitable retort, until combination is complete; the heat being then raised, and the sublimed iodide collected, and at once put into a well-stopped phial.

2. a.r.s.enic, in fine powder, 1 part; iodine, 5 parts; triturate them together, place the mixture in a small flask or retort just large enough to contain it, and apply a gentle heat until liquefaction is complete, avoiding the formation of iodine vapour; when the odour of iodine is no longer perceptible, and the ma.s.s a.s.sumes a reddish-yellow colour and crystallises on the sides of the vessel, the operation is complete, without having recourse to sublimation. A very easy and excellent process.

_Prop., &c._ A deep orange-red, crystallisable solid; soluble in water, and highly volatile and poisonous. Its aqueous solution yields the iodine unchanged by rapid evaporation, but when slowly concentrated and set aside, white pearly plates are obtained, consisting of a.r.s.enious acid and the teriodide. As a medicine it combines the properties of both a.r.s.enious acid and iodine, but its use requires great caution. It has been successfully employed by Dr A. T. Thomson, Biett, and others, in obstinate skin diseases (lepra, impetigo, herpes, lupus, psoriasis, &c.), and in real or stimulated cancer.--_Dose_, 1/16 to 1/12 gr. (in pills or solution), gradually increased to 1/6 or even 1/3 gr. (A. T. Thomson.) Externally, 2-1/2 gr., to lard 1 oz.; of which 1 dr. may be used at a time. (Biett.)

=a.r.s.enic, Disulphide of.= As_{2}S_{2}. _Syn._ a.r.s.eNIC BISULPHIDE, BISUL'PHIDE OF A., RED SUL'PHIDE OF A., &c., REALGAR; ReALGAL, a.r.s.eNIC ROUGE SULFURE, ORPIN ROUGE, &c., Fr.; ROTHES SCHWEFELa.r.s.eNIK, &c., Ger.

This substance is found native at Solfaterra, near Naples, and in several other volcanic districts; but that of commerce is often prepared by distilling a.r.s.enical pyrites, or a mixture of sulphur and white a.r.s.enic, &c., in the proper proportions, as noticed under REaLGAR and RED PIGMENTS.

_Prop., &c._ A fusible, volatile substance; scarlet or ruby-red in ma.s.s, but orange-red in powder, by which it is distinguished from cinnabar; crystals, oblique rhombic prisms. Sp. gr. 33 to 36. Its chief use is as a pigment and in pyrotechny to make white fire. The fact.i.tious sulphide has not the rich colour of the native mineral, whilst it is much more poisonous. It is improved by re-sublimation.

=a.r.s.enic, Trisul'phide of.= As_{2}S_{3}. _Syn._ TERSUL'PHIDE OF a.r.s.eNIC, YELLOW SUL'PHIDE OF A., SESQUISUL'PHIDE OF A., OR'PIMENT; A.

SESQUISULPHURE'TUM, ORPIMEN'TUM, L.; ORPIMENT, SULFURE JAUNE D'a.r.s.eNIC, &c., Fr.; AURIPIGMENT, OPERMENT, RAUSCHGELB, Ger. This sulphide, like the last, is found ready formed in nature; and is prepared artificially, by sublimation, from a mixture of a.r.s.enious acid and sulphur, as noticed under ORPIMENT and YELLOW PIGMENTS. It also falls as a precipitate when a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen gas is pa.s.sed through an acid solution of a.r.s.enious acid or of an a.r.s.enite.

_Prop., &c._ Golden-yellow crystalline lumps, or a fine golden-yellow powder; crystals, right rhombic prisms; volatile; fusible; very soluble in pure alkalies, by which it is distinguished from sulphide of cadmium; and from trisulphide of antimony by being soluble in hydrochloric acid. The fact.i.tious sulphide (KING'S YELLOW) of the shops often contains 80 to 90% of white a.r.s.enic; and is, therefore, much more poisonous than the native trisulphide. Sp. gr. (native) 344 to 360.

_Use, &c._ As a dye, as a pigment, and as an ingredient in fireworks, and in some depilatories. Silk, woollen, or cotton goods soaked in a solution of pure orpiment in ammonia, and then suspended in a warm apartment or stove-room, rapidly lose their ammonia, and become permanently dyed of a superb yellow colour. The native sulphides (both red and yellow) are much less soluble, and hence less poisonous, than those prepared artificially.

They also possess the richest colour; and are, therefore, preferred by artists and dyers. In former times, orpiment, like realgar, was employed in medicine. See a.r.s.eNIC.

=a.r.s.enic, Pentasul'phide of.= As_{2}S_{5}. _Syn._ SULPHa.r.s.eN'IC ACID, &c.; a.r.s.eN'ICI PENTASULPHURE'TUM, &c., L. When a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen is transmitted for some time through a solution of a.r.s.enic acid, a precipitate of the PENTASULPHIDE is deposited after some hours' repose.

Its formation is accelerated by boiling the liquid.

_Prop., &c._ It greatly resembles the tersulphide in its appearance and general properties.

=a.r.s.enic, White.= See a.r.s.eNIOUS ANHYDRIDE.

=a.r.s.enic, Yell'ow.= Trisulphide of a.r.s.enic.

=a.r.s.eNIC ACID.= H_{3}AsO_{4}. _Syn._ ACIDUM a.r.s.eN'Ic.u.m, L.; ACIDE a.r.s.eNIQUE, Fr.; a.r.s.eNICSaURE, Ger.

_Prep._ 1. a.r.s.enious acid, in fine powder, 2 parts; concentrated nitric acid, 6 parts; hydrochloric acid, 1 part; mix in a flask or tubulated retort, and digest, with heat, until solution is complete; after repose, decant the clear portion and evaporate, to the consistence of a thick syrup.

2. Dissolve a.r.s.enious acid in hot hydrochloric acid, and when the solution is cold add concentrated nitric acid, in small quant.i.ties at a time, until red vapours cease to be evolved, then proceed as before.

_Prop._ Thick syrup, occasionally forming clear transparent crystals, very deliquescent, readily soluble in water, and converted by heat into the anhydrous acid. Extremely poisonous.

=a.r.s.eniates.= _Prep._ Most of the metallic a.r.s.eniates may be formed by adding a solution of a soluble salt of the metal to another of an alkaline a.r.s.eniate, as long as a precipitate falls; which must be collected, washed, and dried. The alkaline a.r.s.eniates may be prepared by adding the base or its carbonate to a solution of the acid, to alkaline reaction, and then evaporating and crystallising the liquid.

_Prop., &c._ The a.r.s.eniates of the alkalies are soluble in water; those of the earths and metals insoluble, except in acids. They are isomorphous with the corresponding phosphates.

_Tests._ Nitrate of silver added to the solution of an a.r.s.eniate gives a highly characteristic reddish-brown precipitate, which distinguishes it from a.r.s.enious acid. Nitrate of lead gives a white precipitate, and the salts of copper greenish-blue ones. Pure lump-sugar dissolved in an aqueous solution of this acid becomes, in a few hours, of a reddish colour, and afterwards of a magnificent purple. Heated with charcoal it evolves a garlic-like odour, and is reduced to the metallic state. The suspected liquid being treated with sulphurous acid and boiled for a short time, the a.r.s.enic acid loses oxygen and is converted into a.r.s.enious acid, which may be tested for as such. Sulphuretted hydrogen does not precipitate a solution of a.r.s.enic acid, or an acidified a.r.s.eniate, until after the lapse of several hours; and alkaline and neutral solutions not at all.

=a.r.s.eNIC ANHYDRIDE.= As_{2}O_{5}. _Syn._ ANHYDROUS a.r.s.eNIC ACID, a.r.s.eNIC ACID; ACIDUM a.r.s.eNIc.u.m, L.; ACIDE a.r.s.eNIQUE, Fr.; a.r.s.eNIKSaURE, Ger. Best prepared by igniting the a.r.s.enic acid, in a platinum crucible, at a low red heat, as long as water is given off.

_Prop._ White deliquescent substance, and violent poison, readily soluble in water to the acid.