Definition

Noun: 1. A medicinal preparation: A solution of ammonium carbonate in ammonia water and alcohol, often with added aromatic substances. It is used as a stimulant or restorative, especially for fainting or lightheadedness, traditionally administered by inhalation. 2. (Historical/Archaic): The term can refer to ammonium carbonate itself, a volatile salt.

Usage

• Sal volatile is an uncountable noun. It refers to the preparation as a substance, not individual units.
• It is primarily used in historical or medical contexts.
• Example: "The Victorian lady carried a vial of sal volatile in her reticule in case of a sudden swoon."

Examples

• The old-fashioned remedy, sal volatile, was often used to revive someone who had fainted.
• In the 19th century, sal volatile was a common household item in the medicine cabinet.

Advanced Usage

• "To administer sal volatile": To give the preparation to someone, typically by allowing them to smell it.
  • The nurse quickly administered sal volatile to the patient who felt dizzy.

Variants and Related Words

• Ammonium carbonate (n): The primary chemical compound in sal volatile.
• Smelling salts (n, plural): A common modern term for a similar restorative preparation, often used interchangeably in general conversation, though not chemically identical.
• Aromatic spirits of ammonia (n): A more precise pharmaceutical name for a related preparation.

Synonyms

• Smelling salts (common modern equivalent)
• Restorative (general term for a reviving agent)
• Stimulant (general term for something that increases alertness)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is derived from New Latin, meaning "volatile salt."
• Its use has significantly declined in modern medicine, though the concept persists in products like smelling salts.
• It is a specific preparation, not just any ammonium salt solution.

Noun

1. a solution of ammonium carbonate in ammonia water and alcohol