Calcarea Carbonica

[lime.]

The salts of lime are important constituents of the human frame. They are found in large proportion in the bones and, indeed, in every animal tissue. They not only fulfil important physiological uses in the development and support of the animal frame, but they are likewise useful therapeutic agents when these uses are interfered with by inimical principles of disease.

In the homoeopathic school, we employ the following salts of lime as medicinal agents :

Calcarea Carbonica (Carbonate of Lime) This preparation is made of oyster shells. Brush off the dirt, boil them for half an hour in water feebly acidulated with muriatic acid ; put a layer of them in a wind-furnace upon a layer of glowing charcoal, then alternate layers of common charcoal and shells ; fan to a glow until the shells are perfectly white and can easily be pulverized ; take them cautiously out of the fire, and expose them to the air until the lime has imbibed sufficient carbonic acid.

After a while, pour diluted acid upon a little powder, to see whether all the caustic lime has disappeared ; reduce the mass to powder, which should be of a dazzling white and loose. We make triturations.

Calcarea Acetica (Acetate of Lime). — Made of the former by boil- ing it in acetic acid ; dilute the neutral liquid a little ; then filter, evaporate by a gentle heat ; make the first decimal solution by means of one part of strong alcohol and three parts of distilled water ; next attenuate with dilute alcohol, and after that with strong alcohol. Preserve the acetate in a well-stopped bottle, with a little alcohol floating over it.

Calcarea Causiica (Oxide of Calcium). — Boast oyster-shells to a red heat, longer than is required for the carbonate of lime ; then triturate in a mortar, sift through linen, and preserve in air-tight vials; we make a tincture of this substance with dilute spirits of wine, of a straw-yellow color, caustic taste and calcareous odor.

Calcarea Phosphorica (Phosphate of Lime). — Prepared by mixing together watery solutions of the acetate of lime and phosphate of soda. Wash the phosphate of lime (which goes down as a crystal- line powder), collect upon a filter and dry it ; it is a white, loose powder, having a chalky taste. We make triturations.

622 CALCAREA CARBON ICA.

Galcarea Sulphur aba (Sulphuret of Lime, Hepar Sulphuris, Liver of Sulphur). — Mix equal parts of caustic lime and pure sulphur, pound to a lump in an earthen crucible, cover this with a layer of moist powdered chalk from half an inch to one inch thick ; then cover it with a lid ; expose the mass to a gentle tire, increasing rap- idly as soon as it begins to glow ; keep it for half an hour at a red heat ; take it out, cool slowly ; remove the covering layer of chalk ; the yellowish -white contents are preserved in well-stoppered, dark vials. We make triturations, and also a tincture with dilute spirits of wine.