POTASSIUM NITRATE 183 



This toxic effect of potassium is not likely to occur except 

 when the drug is given intravenously or hypodermically. 

 Given by the mouth, only the irritant effects of the salt are 

 produced. Although an ounce has proved fatal in human 

 patients, two ounces have no permanent injurious effect on 

 horses or cattle. Morton, indeed, gave a healthy horse 

 2 pounds, dissolved in 6 pounds water, and found that it 

 acted both on the kidneys and bowels, but that its effects 

 ceased in twenty-four hours. Moiroud, however, found 

 that half a pound given to horses, and two or three drachms 

 to dogs, inflame the alimentary canal and urinary organs, 

 causing depression and death, usually within twenty-four 

 hours. Kaufmann states six ounces as the toxic dose for 

 horses and cattle, six drachms for sheep, and seventy-five 

 grains for dogs. 



MEDICINAL USES. It is soluble, diffusible, and quickly 

 absorbed. It promotes bronchial, cutaneous, and urinary 

 secretion, and is especially used as a diuretic. Clinical ex- 

 perience accords it notable alterative and febrifuge properties. 

 In conjunction with ammonium acetate solution, it is pre- 

 scribed in catarrhal disorders, in which it has the twofold 

 advantage of promoting discharge from the dry respiratory 

 membrane and abating fever. American practitioners use 

 nitre freely in laminitis, which, owing to careless feeding 

 and long fasts, is still common in America ; they give two 

 ounces, dissolved in a pint of water, repeated frequently, 

 and state that fever and pain are abated and exudation 

 controlled. One fourth of this dose would be safer, and per- 

 haps equally effectual. Repeated doses, conjoined with 

 quinine, have been given in purpura. It is serviceable in 

 rheumatism, being frequently prescribed with the carbonate 

 or iodide, or with salicylic acid. 



Nitre, when dissolving in water, abstracts heat, and is 

 hence sometimes used externally as a refrigerant ; its cooling 

 effects are increased by admixture with sal-ammoniac. Five 

 ounces each of nitre and sal-ammoniac, dissolved in sixteen 

 of water, reduce the temperature from 50 to 10 Fahr. 

 For such purposes ice, however, is cheaper, and more 

 convenient. 



DOSES, etc. As a diuretic, horses take gss. to gj. ; cattle, 



