Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 61

=ASPAR'AGIN= (-a-jin). C_{4}H_{8}N_{2}O_{3}. [Eng., Fr.] _Syn._ ALTHE'INE, ASPAR'AMIDE, MAL'AMIDE*; ASPARAGI'NA, ASPARAGI'NUM, L.; AGeDOLE, Fr.; SPARGELSTOFF, Ger. A peculiar azotised principle discovered by Vauquelin and Robiquet in asparagus, and since found in the potato, marsh-mallow, liquorice, climbing vetch, and several other plants. Many plants which do not naturally contain it may be made to yield it by growing them in dark damp cellars; whilst many which only normally contain it in very small quant.i.ties are found to yield much more when allowed to vegetate in the same manner.

_Prep._ 1. From ASPARAGUS-SPROUTS:--The expressed juice, after being heated to the boiling-point (to coagulate alb.u.men) and carefully skimmed and filtered, is evaporated, at a gentle heat, to a syrupy consistence, and then abandoned to spontaneous evaporation in a warm dry atmosphere for several days; the resulting crystals being purified by cautious was.h.i.+ng with very cold water or very strong alcohol, re-solution, and re-crystallisation.

The following are cheaper and more convenient processes.

2. From MARSHMALLOW-ROOT:--_a._ The root (chopped small, or grated) is macerated for several days in milk of lime, in the cold; the filtered liquid precipitated with carbonate of ammonium, and the clear solution evaporated in a water-bath, and otherwise treated as before.

_b._ From the expressed juice, 2 parts; milk of lime, 1 part; agitated well together; the liquid portion, after some hours, being decanted, filtered, and evaporated, &c., as before.

3. From the ETIOLATED SHOOTS OF VETCHES:--The expressed juice of the young shoots when from 2 or 3 to even 12 or 15 inches long, is gently simmered for 8 or 10 minutes, to coagulate the alb.u.men; and, after straining or clarification, the clear liquid is gently evaporated to the consistence of a thin syrup, and set aside to crystallise, as before. The resulting brown crystals are purified by was.h.i.+ng with very cold water, re-solution in boiling water, and re-crystallisation, as in No. 1; or, and what is better, the hot liquid, before evaporation to a syrup, is digested for a short time with a little pure animal charcoal in coa.r.s.e powder, and then filtered, when large and beautifully white crystals are obtained by the first operation.[91] An excellent and very economical process.

[Footnote 91: This use of animal charcoal may also be advantageously extended to the other formulae. Mr C. G. Williams, in Ure's 'Dict. of Arts, M., & M.,' 4th ed., directs the shoots to be used when of "a length of 2 inches;" but some authorities recommend them to be of 9, 12, or even 15 inches. The selection must, however, in many cases, depend upon circ.u.mstances and convenience.]

_Prop., &c._ Crystals brilliant, transparent, colourless, right rhombic prisms; neutral to test-paper; non-basic; having a faint, cooling, and scarcely nauseous taste; scarcely soluble in cold water; freely soluble in hot water; insoluble in strong alcohol and ether; solution unaffected by alkaline sulphurets, oxalate of ammonia, acetate of lead, or infusion of galls; triturated with quick-lime, ammonia is evolved; heated to 212 Fahr. the crystals lose two equiv. or 12% of water; heated with water under pressure in a closed vessel, or boiled along with an acid or an alkali, or dissolved in a saccharine liquid and then submitted to fermentation it is converted into ammonium and aspartic acid; aqueous solutions of asparagin and aspartic acid treated with a current of nitrous acid evolve pure nitrogen, with the formation of malic acid which remains in solution. It was called asparamide under the impression that it is aspart.i.te of ammonia minus 1 atom of water; and malamide, for similar theoretical reasons.

_Uses._ It is sedative and diuretic.--_Dose_, 1 to 6 gr.; in dropsies, heart-affections, &c.

=ASPAR'AGUS.= [L., Eng.] In _botany_, a genus of low, spiny plants, with scale-like leaves, many of which are shrubs and climbers, of the nat. ord.

Asparageae (DC.).; Liliaceae (Lindl.). The following species, which is that best known in England, is, however, an exception to this description, as it is neither climbing nor spinose.

=Asparagus Officina'lis.= [Linn.; L.] _Syn._ ASPAR'AGUS, COMM'ON A., GARD'EN A.; SPAR'AGUS--, SPAR'ROW-GRa.s.s--, SPER'AGE--; ASPERGE, Fr.; SPARGEL, Ger. A well-known perennial plant, and one of the oldest and most delicate of our culinary vegetables.--Young shoots, from the underground eyes (TURIO'NES ASPAR'AGI, L.), the asparagus of our tables; diuretic; communicate a peculiar ftid odour to the urine, and, when eaten in excess, occasion b.l.o.o.d.y urine and accelerate fits of gout; formerly esteemed emmenagogue and aphrodisiac.--_Root_ (RA'DIX ASPAR'AGI, L.), properties resemble those of the young shoots, but stronger; one of the five 'greater aperient roots' (RAD'ICES APERIEN'TES QUIN"QUE MAJO"RES, L.) of old pharmacy. The tops and roots, though no longer officinal in the British Pharmacopias, are both occasionally employed as popular remedies in dropsy and stone--the first being eaten in the usual way at table; and the second made into an infusion or decoction (1/2 _oz._ to the pint), taken ad libitum.

As an article of food, asparagus, in moderation, is both wholesome and nutritious. It is cooked by simply boiling it rather quickly until tender, like the other soft green vegetables; and is either served up plain, or on toast with melted b.u.t.ter or sauce Hollandaise in a boat (Soyer; Rundell.) When very small and green, it is frequently dressed and served like green-peas, the tender portion of each shoot being cut into bits of equal size, and about 1-3rd of an inch long. (Miss Acton.)

_Choice, &c._ "The large gra.s.s is generally preferred; although the smaller has the fullest flavour for a dish." (Soyer.) Unlike other plants, the asparagus officinalis has not produced a single well-marked permanent variety by cultivation.[92]

[Footnote 92: "The young shoots of polygona'tum (Solomon's Seal), and others, have been subst.i.tuted for asparagus." (Lindley's 'Veg. King.,' 3rd ed., 203.)]

=Asparagus Petrae'a.= [L.] _Syn._ ROCK'-ASPAR'AGUS; CORRUDA; ASPAR'AGUS ACUTIFO"LIA, L,; CORRUDE, Fr. Resembles the last in its general qualities; but is said to contain more asparagin.

=ASPAR'AMIDE= (-mid). See ASPARAGIN.

=ASPAR'TIC ACID.= HC_{4}H_{6}NO_{4}. _Syn._ MALAM'IC ACID; ACIDUM ASPAR'TIc.u.m, L.; ACIDE ASPARTIQUE, Fr. An acid first obtained, by Plisson, from asparagin, by boiling it along with hydrate of lead or of magnesia.

Its salts are called ASPAR'TATES (Eng., Fr.; ASPAR'TAS, L. sing.) See ASPARAGIN.

=AS'PEN= (-pen). _Syn._ ASP*, TREM'BLING POP'LAR; POP'ULUS TREM'ULA (Linn.), L.; TREMBLE, Fr.; AESPE (aspe), &c. Ger. A large tree, of the nat. ord. Amentaceae; (DC.), not uncommon in the moist woodlands of England, and found native on many of the Scottish mountains. It derives its name from the trembling motion of its leaves, which, owing to the peculiar flattening of the leafstalks, are agitated by the slightest impulse of the air. Bark and leaves contain POP'ULIN a.s.sociated with SAL'ICIN. Both bark and leaves have been used with advantage in strangury and intermittents.

=ASPHALT'= (-falt'). Asphaltum.

=ASPHALT'UM.= [L., prim. Gr.] _Syn._ ASPHALT', COMPACT BITUMEN, MINERAL PITCH, JEW'S PITCH, FOSS'IL BITU'MEN, VIT'REUS B., &c.; ASPHAL'TUS, BITUMEN FOS'SILE (-e-le), B. JUDA'Ic.u.m, B. SOL'IDUM, B. VIT'REUM, MU'MIA, M. MINERA'LIS*, &c., L.; ASPHALTE, BITUME Ma.s.sIF, B. SOLIDE, POIX JUIVE, &c., Fr.; ASPHALT, ERDPECH, JUDENPECH, &c., Ger. A black, hard, brittle, and glossy variety of bitumen found on the sh.o.r.es of the Dead Sea (hence called _La'cus Asphalti'tes_), on and near the sh.o.r.es of the Great Pitch Lake of Trinidad, and as a mineral product in various other parts of the world.

_Prop., &c._ Melts without decomposition, and, when pure, burns without residue. It is distinguished from other varieties of bitumen by its more difficult fusibility, and by its fracture being clean, conchoidal, and vitreous. Distilled by itself it yields about 36% of a peculiar bituminous oil (crude PETROLENE), together with combustible gases, traces of ammonia and water. To anhydrous alcohol it yields 5% of a yellow resin, soluble in rectified spirit and ether; by digesting the residuum in ether, a further 70% of a brownish-black resin is obtained, which is freely soluble in the volatile oils and in about 5 times its weight of mineral naphtha. The portion (25%) left undissolved by ether is very soluble in the oils of turpentine and petroleum. These three resinous principles dissolve altogether, when digested, in the oils of anise, rosemary, and turpentine, and in the fixed oils. (John.) According to others, asphaltum consists almost entirely of asphaltene. (Boussingault.) Paranaphthaline has been found in some varieties. (M. Laurent.) Average sp. gr. 1 to 168. By friction it affords negative electricity. It is soluble in oil of turpentine, benzole, mineral and coal-tar naphtha, the fixed oils, solutions of the caustic alkalies, and several other liquids, by the aid of heat.

_Sources._ That of commerce is chiefly obtained from the sh.o.r.es of the Dead Sea; but much of that of the shops is a spurious article of the most worthless character. A short time since some specimens of the purest and most beautiful description, from the Great Bitumen Lake of Trinidad, were given us by our respected and venerable friend, the late Earl of Dundonald, who stated that the supply of both liquid and indurated bitumens, of every grade of quality, was unlimited from that source; but that owing to injudicious importations of inferior kinds (those most easily s.h.i.+pped), a prejudice had been created against them in the London market. Our personal investigations have since confirmed the accuracy of these statements.

_Uses._ The finer varieties are chiefly used as a 'glazing colour' by artists, and in the manufacture of black varnishes and j.a.pans. The inferior kinds are applied to the same purposes as ordinary solid bitumen.

The Egyptians used it in embalming under the name of MU'MIA; and the Babylonian builders are said to have employed it, as a cement, in lieu of mortar. It is, however, doubtful whether the hard semi-vitreous variety of bitumen, properly termed 'asphaltum,' was that which was thus employed; its present hardness being probably due to time. As a _medicine_ it is stimulant; and it was formerly used as an ingredient in certain plasters and ointments. See BITUMEN, PITCH, &c. A mixture of asphalt, chalk, sand, ground sandstone, &c., is used as a pavement for making water-tight tanks and covers, as a coating for gas and water pipes, and for various other similar purposes. Sometimes the pitchy residue obtained by distilling off the more volatile portions of gas tar is employed to replace the asphalt in the foregoing mixture; the product is called artificial or gas-tar asphalt.

=Asphaltum, Facti"tious= (-tish-'us). _Syn._ ASPHAL'TUM FACTI"TIUM, L.

That of the shops, when not an inferior kind of true asphaltum, is commonly made from the bottoms of Barbadoes tar, and other mineral bitumens, by heating them until quite hard. Sometimes a little Scio turpentine, balsam of copaiba, or even common resin, is added. Colour, hardness, &c., inferior to those of native asphaltum.

=Asphaltum, Liq'uid.= _Syn._ PREPARED' ASPHALTUM; ASPHAL'TUM LIQ'UIDUM, L.

_Prep._ 1. Scio turpentine, 2 _oz._; melt; add asphaltum (in powder), 1 _oz._; mix, cool a little, and reduce with hot oil of turpentine.

2. (Wilson's.) Asphaltum, 1/2 _lb._; melt; add of hot balsam of copaiba, 1 _lb._; and, when mixed, thin it with hot oil of turpentine. Both are used as 'black j.a.pan' or 'varnish,' and as a 'glazing colour' by artists.

=ASPHYX'IA= (-fik'-sh'a; -fiks'-e-a). [L., Gr.] _Syn._ ASPHYX'Y (-e), Eng.; ASPHYXIE, Fr.; PULSLOSIGKEIT, SCHEINTOD, Gr. Literally, absence of pulse; hence, a fainting fit; apparent lifelessness. Its use is now generally confined to a suspension of vitality from some cause interrupting respiration, but in which life is not actually extinct, and may, under favorable circ.u.mstances, be revived.

Asphyxia is commonly divided into four varieties by nosologists:--

1. ASPHYXIA ALGIDA:--_Cause._ Exposure to intense cold.--_Symp._ Countenance pale, livid, and shrivelled; limbs rigid.

2. ASPHYXIA ELEC'TRICA:--_Cause._ Stroke of lightning or electricity.--_Symp._ Countenance pale, limbs flexible, blood incoagulable.

3. ASPHYXIA MEPHIT'ICA:--_Cause._ Inhalation of irrespirable gases or fumes.--_Symp._ Countenance pallid, lips wan, &c.

4. ASPHYXIA SUFFOCATIO'NIS:--_Cause._ Suffocation or strangulation, as from drowning, hanging, &c.--_Symp._ Countenance turgid and livid.

_Treatm., &c._ No general rules can be given exactly suitable to each variety. Whenever it is possible to procure medical aid, it should, of course, be immediately sought, as the delay of even a single minute may render it unavailing. In the _treatment_ of suspended animation the princ.i.p.al object is to effect a restoration of the respiratory and circulatory functions; the former of which has been arrested by the external condition of the patient; the latter by the contact of morbidly carbonised blood with the capillary vessels of the lungs. The first thing to be attempted is the restoration of warmth by active friction with the warm hands, flannels, &c.; the second, the re-establishment of natural respiration by an available means, of which, perhaps, none is simpler or better than alternate pressure and its relaxation, applied to the thorax and abdomen, so as to induce expiration first, and inspiration immediately afterwards, by the natural action and elasticity of the ribs and diaphragm. Cold water may also be suddenly dashed on the face and general surface previously warmed by the frictions, in the hope of inducing a more decided inspiration. If these measures fail, artificial respiration should be promptly had recourse to. (Dr Marshall Hall.) The warm bath, and slight electrical shocks, or continued streaming electricity, may also be applied.

See CHARCOAL, COLD, DROWNING, HANGING, RESPIRATION (Artificial), SEWERS-GAS, STRANGULATION, SUFFOCATION, &c.

=ASPHYX'IATED.= _Syn._ ASPHYXIA'TUS, L.; ASPHYXIe, Fr.; ASPHYKTISCH, SCHEINTODT, &c., Ger. Affected with or labouring under asphyxia. (See _above_.)

=ASP'IC=. Spike lavender or French lavender; also the male lavender, spica nardi, or pseudo-nardus of old writers.

=Aspic.= In _cookery_, "savory jelly extracted from the succulence of meat." (Soyer.)

_Prep._ (Miss Acton.) Calf's feet, 2 in no.; veal, 4 _lbs._; ham, 3 _lb._; onions, 2 (large); carrots, 3; water, 1 gall.; boil 5 or 6 hours, or until reduced to less than one half, strain, and when cold, put the jelly into a stew-pan with the whites of 4 eggs well beaten, a large bunch of savoury herbs, 3 blades of mace (in shreds), a teaspoonful of white peppercorns, and salt, q. s.; keep it well stirred until pretty hot, then let it gently simmer for about 15 minutes, and, after settling, pa.s.s it through a jelly-bag till quite clear. After cooling a little, it is fit for use; or it may be allowed to cool and be at any time remelted. French cooks commonly flavour it with tarragon-vinegar, added after clarification.

_Uses, &c._ "Cold poultry, game, fish, plovers' eggs, truffles, and various dressed vegetables, with many other things often elaborately prepared, and highly ornamental, are moulded, and served in it, especially at large dejeners and similar repasts. It is also much used to decorate raised pies and hams, and for many other purposes."[93]

[Footnote 93: Miss Acton's 'Modern Cookery,' Longmans, 1860{?}, p. 104.]

=ASPIRATOR.= An apparatus for drawing a stream of air through a tube or other vessel. There are several forms of aspirator; that invented by Brunner is perhaps one of the most convenient. It consists of two equal cylindrical vessels placed one above the other, and communicating by tubes which can be opened or closed, so that when the water has run from the upper to the lower vessel, the apparatus turning for the purpose on a horizontal axis may be inverted so as to bring the empty vessel to the bottom and the full one to the top; the water may then again be made to flow without the trouble of refilling. See AIR, a.n.a.lYSIS OF.

=a.s.s= (a.s.s). _Syn._ AS'INUS, L.; ANE (ane), Fr.; ESEL, Ger. The _e'quus as'inus_ (Linn.), a well-known animal found almost everywhere.

=a.s.sAFTIDA.= [L. and Eng.] _Syn._ a.s.sAFETIDA, DEVIL'S DUNG, Eng.; a.s.sAFTIDA GUMMI, L.; STINKASAND, STINKENDER ASAND, TEUFELS-DRECK, Ger. A gum resin exuded from the excised root of _narthex a.s.saftida_ (B. P.); from _ferula a.s.saffida_, and probably from _ferula Persica_. It yields its virtues to alcohol, and forms a clear tincture, which becomes milky on the addition of water. It is imported into Europe from Persia, via Bombay, in cases, mats, and casks.

_Comp._ a.s.saftida contains from 4 to 5% of a peculiar volatile oil, and from 50 to 60% of resin of a whitish colour, turning rose-red and reddish-brown by exposure to the air, and giving a greenish solution with concentrated sulphuric acid. Brande resolved this resin into two others--one soluble in ether; the other insoluble in that menstruum.

_Pur._ The a.s.saftida of the shops is generally in ma.s.ses of a whitish, reddish, or violet hue, formed princ.i.p.ally of adhering tears or grains, possesses a peculiar ftid, alliaceous odour, and forms an emulsion with water in all proportions. Hot sulphuric acid blackens it and forms a dark blood-red liquid, sulphurous fumes being evolved. This solution diluted with water, and then saturated with pota.s.sa, has a blue colour, which is most visible by reflected light. Digested first in alcohol, and afterwards in weak spirit-and-water, the residuum should not exceed 16%. Sp. gr.

1325 to 1330. It is frequently adulterated with inferior gums, and with chalk, clay, sand, &c. The purest and best is that which is clear, of a more or less pale-red colour, full of white tears, and very ftid.

_Prop., Uses, &c._ a.s.saftida is stimulant, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, expectorant, aphrodisiac, and anthelmintic, and is the most powerful of all the ftid gum-resins. It is administered with advantage in several uterine diseases, hysteria, ch.o.r.ea, flatulent colic, hooping-cough, infantile convulsions, spasmodic asthma, and some other affections of a spasmodic and convulsive character.--_Dose_, 5 or 6 to 30 gr.; in pills, or preferably made into an emulsion; as an enema, 2 dr., with warm water, q. s.--_Dose for Animals._ Similar to a.s.saftida. Some oriental nations esteem it highly as a condiment. The Brahmins use it against flatulence, and to correct the coldness of their vegetable food. In Persia the leaves of the plant are eaten as salad; and the root, after being roasted. In _cookery_ it is now frequently employed as a subst.i.tute for garlic. "I am a.s.sured by an experienced gastronome that the finest relish which a beef-steak can possess may be communicated by" (slightly) "rubbing the gridiron on which the steak is to be cooked with a.s.saftida."[94]

[Footnote 94: Pereira, 'Mat. Med. & Therap.,' 4th ed., iii, 177.]