158 Dispensatory of the United States. 



effects of the medicine are produced, it must be immediately laid 

 aside. These are a general disposition to oedema, especially of the 

 face and eyelids, a feeling of stiffness in these parts, itching of the 

 skin, tenderness of the mouth, loss of appetite, and uneasiness and 

 sickness of the stomach. The peculiar swelling produced is called 

 (Edema Arsenicalis. The principal preparations now in use, are 

 the arsenious acid, the article under consideration, and the solution 

 of arsenite of potassa, or Fowler's solution. The arsenite of po- 

 tassa and sulphuret of arsenic are also occasionally employed. 



"It may be a question whether the different arsenical preparations 

 act precisely in the same way, when exhibited internally. It is the 

 opinion of some, that the election need only be regulated by the 

 convenience for exhibition. Dr. Physick, whose opinion is entitled 

 to great respect, thinks otherwise ; for, with regard to the arsenious 

 acid, and the solution of arsenite of potassa, (Fowler's solution,) the 

 result of his experience is, that they act differently, and cannot be 

 substituted for one another. 



ft 



" Some writers have entirely proscribed the use of the arsenical 

 preparations in medicine. Among them, one of the most authorita- 

 tive is Mr. Brande. He conceives the introduction of them into the 

 pharmacopoeias to be a great evil ; as facilitating, by legalizing the 

 medicinal use of the poison, its employment for self destruction and 

 murder. At the same time, he believes that more harm than benefit 

 has resulted from its administration.* We confess, however, that 

 we do not share those opinions with Mr. Brande. Arsenic is con- 

 fessedly a virulent poison, and is often employed for criminal pur- 

 poses ; but when it is considered how extensively it is used in the 

 arts, it is questionable whether its exclusion from the materia medica 

 would much reduce the facility of obtaining it. On the other hand, 

 it may be asked are poisons more dangerous as medicines than other 

 medicinal articles, if given in their appropriate doses? We should 

 think not, although we are free to acknowledge, that dangerous mis- 

 takes in the dose are more apt to be made. If the views of Mr. 

 Brande were carried out, they would lead to the discarding of the 

 corrosive chloride of mercury, hydrocyanic acid, strychnia, and other 

 articles from the materia medica ; but we believe that no practitioner 

 will be found willing to strike these substances from the list of remedies. 



* Man. of Pharm. p. 29 



