warmed, it emits a fragrant odour, and when set on fire, smells like amber. It dissolves, though with difficulty, in spirits of wine, and essential oils, but not in those which are expressed from vegetables, nor in water.
In Asia, and part of Africa, ambergrise is not only used in medicine, and as an article of perfumery, but also applied to the purposes of cookery, by adding it as a spice to several dishes. It is valued by the Turks as an aphrodisiac, and erroneously supposed to promote longevity.
In this country, it was formerly esteemed a cordial, and to be of great service in disorders of the head, and nervous complaints; but it now chiefly serves as an agreeable perfume, and is certainly free from many of these inconveniencies which usually accompany substances of this description.
Ambergrise may be considered as genuine, when it emits a fragrant smell, on thrusting a hot needle into its substance, and melts like fat, of an uniform consistence.
AMBURY, in farriery, signifies a tumour, or wart which is soft to the touch, and full of extravasated blood. It is a disorder incident to horses, and may be cured by the following method.
Tie a strong hair very tight round the part affected; and, after it has spontaneously fallen off, which usually happens in about eight days, sprinkle powdered verdigrise on the place, to prevent a return of the complaint. When, from its local situation, it cannot be tied, it may be either cut out with a knife, or burnt away with a sharp, hot iron; or, where this cannot be practised with safety, for instance, in sinewy parts, it may be removed by applying oil of vitriol, or corrosive sublimate to the tumour. During the cure, the animal must be kept quiet, and free from every exertion.
AMMONIA signifies a salt, of which there are two sorts, the native and the factitious. The former, described by Pliny and Dioscorides, was generated from the urine of camels, in the inns, or caravanseras, where the pilgrims, returning from the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, used to lodge; whence it derived its name. The latter is a chemical preparation, formed either of the acetous or muriatic acids, combined with volatile alkali. A salt nearly of the same kind is thrown out by Mount Etna. The ancient sal ammoniac was said to possess the properties of cooling water, and dissolving gold.
Great quantities of this concrete were formerly brought from Egypt, where it was originally prepared by sublimation, from the soot of animal dung; tho' at present we are principally supplied from our own manufactories, several of which are established in different parts of Britain; but that in the vicinity of Edinburgh is one of the most extensive.
Although the cheapest and most convenient method of preparing it is not generally known, yet it is conjectured to be chiefly formed of a combination of sea salt and soot. It is commonly crystallized in the form of large, round cakes, and sometimes in conical loaves. The best sort is colourless, almost transparent, and free from visible impurities. The taste of this salt is very sharp and penetrating. It dissolves in rather less than thrice its weight of water; and upon evaporating, a
