186 PERMANGANATE OF POTASH 



in great part unchanged, small doses being removed by the 

 kidneys, and larger by the bowels. Like other salines, in 

 febrile and inflammatory cases, whether in horses or cattle, 

 it is believed to lower pulse and temperature, clean the 

 tongue, improve appetite, gently stimulate the bowels, and 

 render the evacuations more natural and less coated with 

 mucus. It is frequently prescribed with Epsom salt, 

 gentian, or ether. Hard-worked horses, overdone or suffer- 

 ing from catarrh, are usually benefited by half an ounce, 

 given night and morning, with gentian and ether. In 

 influenza of horses, it may be given with sweet spirit of 

 nitre and camphor. In the treatment of purpura, Williams 

 prescribed it with iron salts, in the belief that it increased 

 as it does outside the body the coagulability of blood. He 

 gave an ounce daily, divided into two or three doses, but 

 after the second day found that smaller doses sufficed. It 

 is rapidly eliminated in the urine rendering it acid even in 

 herbivora and also in the sweat, bile, milk, and saliva. 



Solutions of six to twenty grains to the ounce of water 

 and glycerin are used as antiseptic washes for unhealthy 

 wounds of the mouth. 



DOSES, etc. Horses take 3J- to Z^ v - J cattle, 3ij- to 3vj. ; 

 sheep and pigs, grs. xx. to grs. Ix. ; dogs, grs. v. to grs. xv., 

 repeated two or three times daily, given in either bolus or 

 solution, alone or conjoined with other salines, bitters, tonics, 

 or stimulants. Most horses of their own accord will take an 

 ounce daily, dissolved in water or gruel. As a soothing 

 electuary for sore-throat it is conjoined with camphor, bella- 

 donna, and treacle. 



POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE. Potassii Permanganas. 

 (KMn0 4 ). 



Potassium permanganate is obtained by the interaction 

 of manganese dioxide, potassium hydrate, and potassium 

 chlorate, occurs in dark purple crystals, with a sweet, astrin- 

 gent, disagreeable taste. It is readily soluble in cold water, 

 producing a deep-red solution. So readily does it part 

 with oxygen that when mixed with such easily oxidised 

 substances as sugar and glycerin it takes fire or explodes 



