_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Soapy feeling, softening, inflammation, and corrosion of mucous membrane of mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines. Inflammation may have extended to larynx. _Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--If the contents of the stomach have a strong alkaline action, dilute with water, filter, and apply tests. _Tests._--The carbonates effervesce with an acid. The salts give a yellow precipitate with platinum chloride, and a white precipitate with tartaric acid. They are not dissipated by heat, and give a violet colour to the deoxidizing flame of the blowpipe. Stains on dark clothing are red or brown. _Treatment._--Vinegar and water, lemon-juice and water, acidulated stimulant drinks, oil, linseed-tea, opium to relieve pain, stimulants in collapse. Do not use the stomach-tube. The glottis may be inflamed, and if there is danger of asphyxia, tracheotomy may have to be performed. =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 ammoniae_ (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. XVI.--INORGANIC IRRITANTS =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. XVII.--CHLORATE OF POTASSIUM, ETC.