218 BARIUM CHLORIDE 



thirty grains of nux vomica. For febrifuge and alterative 

 purposes, Epsom salt is conjoined with nitre, mineral acids, 

 gentian and other bitters. 



BARIUM CHLORIDB-BARII CHLORIDUM 



Barium occurs in nature in combinations analagous to 

 those of strontium ; as carbonate in the mineral witherite 

 and as sulphate in barite or heavy spar. 



Barium Chloride. BaCl 2 2H 2 0, Terra ponderosa salita, 

 discovered by Scheele, may be prepared by dissolving the 

 native carbonate in hydrochloric acid. It occurs in flat or 

 tabular crystals, colourless and transparent, with bevelled 

 edges. Taste, acrid and bitter ; reaction, neutral. Soluble 

 in two and a half parts of cold water, in 400 parts absolute 

 alcohol, and slightly soluble in rectified spirit. The salt 

 keeps well either solid or in aqueous solution. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Barium chloride has a specific action 

 on muscle, whether striped or unstriped, causing strong 

 contraction. Given by the mouth it causes vomiting in 

 small animals, colicky pains, contraction of the muscle of 

 the stomach and intestines, and so purgation. Small doses, 

 whether given intravenously or by the mouth, stimulate the 

 muscles of the intestine, uterus, and bladder, causing tonic 

 contraction. Excessive doses induce general muscular 

 spasms, dyspnoea, sweating, incoordination, and paralysis. 

 Death may occur suddenly from spasm of the heart. Barium 

 quickens the heart, steadies its rhythm, and increases the 

 volume of blood forced from the ventricle. Blood pressure 

 is enormously raised, an effect which is due to the action of 

 the drug on the muscular coat of the vessels. In animals, 

 large doses over-stimulate and arrest the heart in systole. 

 It thus resembles digitalis in its local action, but having no 

 effect on the vagus, does not slow the heart. Barium 

 chloride has little therapeutic effect on sheep, but on horses 

 it increases the power and causes strong contraction of the 

 muscular coat of the bowels. It causes no irritation of the 

 gastric mucous membrane, exerts its action on the whole 

 length of the gut, and acts very quickly, especially when 

 injected intravenously. As soon as the bowels have been 



