=Carbonate of Sodium= occurs as _soda_ and _best soda_, the former in dirty crystalline masses, the latter of a purer white colour. It is also found as 'washing soda.'
_Symptoms, Post-Mortem Appearances, Treatment, and Extraction from the Stomach._--As for potash.
_Tests._--Alkaline reaction, effervesces and evolves carbonic acid when treated with an acid; crystallizes, gives yellow tinge to blowpipe flame. No precipitate with tartaric acid, nor with bichloride of platinum.
=Ammonia= may be taken as _liquor ammoniæ_ (harts-horn), as carbonate of ammonium, as 'Cleansel,' or as 'Scrubb's Cloudy Ammonia.'
_Symptoms._--Being volatile, it attacks the air-passages, nose, eyes and lungs, being immediately affected; profuse salivation; lips and tongue swollen, red, and glazed. The urgent symptoms are those of suffocation.
Inhalation of the fumes of strong ammonia may lead to death from capillary bronchitis or broncho-pneumonia. Death may result from inflammation of the larynx and lungs. When swallowed in solution, the symptoms are similar to those of soda and potash.
_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Similar to other corrosives.
_Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--The contents of the stomach, etc., must be first distilled, the gas being conveyed into water free from ammonia.
_Tests._--Nessler's reagent is the most delicate, a reddish-brown colour or precipitate being produced, but ammonia may be recognized by its pungent odour, dense fumes given off with hydrochloric acid, and strong alkaline reaction.
_Treatment._--Vinegar and water. Other treatment according to symptoms.
_Fatal Dose._--One drachm of strong solution.
_Fatal Period (Shortest)._--Four minutes.
=Nitrate of Potassium (Nitre, Saltpetre)--Bitartrate of Potassium (Cream of Tartar)--Alum (Double Sulphate of Alumina and Potassium)--Chlorides of Lime, Sodium, and Potassium.=--All these are irritant drugs, and give the usual symptoms.
=Chlorate of Potassium= produces irritation of stomach and bowels; hæmaturia; melæna; cyanosis, weakness, delirium, and coma.
_Post-Mortem._--Blood is chocolate-brown in colour, and so are all the internal organs; gastro-enteritis; nephritis.
_Tests._--Spectroscope shows blood contains methæmoglobin; the drug discharges the colour of indigo in acid solution with SO_{ 2}.