220 ALUM 



vulsions, and paralysis of the central nervous system. In 

 poisoning, the best antidote is magnesium sulphate, or 

 sodium sulphate, which is given with the object of convert- 

 ing the poison into the insoluble and harmless barium 

 sulphate. 



Although not often followed by a fatal result, it should be 

 noted that intravenous injection of barium chloride some- 

 times produces symptoms of poisoning, and occasionally 

 sudden death. Dieckerhoff attributed the single mishap in 

 his 400 cases to barium poisoning. Koder mentions the 

 death of a horse in two minutes after an intravenous injec- 

 tion of twelve grains ; and Mollereau has no doubt that the 

 drug caused the immediate death of three of his patients. 

 It gives unquestionably good results in many cases, but in 

 others its effects are uncertain and unsafe. In most cases of 

 abdominal pain the drug should be used cautiously, or as a 

 last resort, after having exhausted other treatment, perhaps 

 less active, but infinitely less dangerous. 



DOSES, Intravenous. Horses, according to size, grs. v. to 

 grs. xx., in two and a half to six drachms of sterilised water. 

 When the patient is weak, or his pulse is over 70, only half a 

 dose should be given ; or* half a dose at the first injection, 

 followed by two quarter doses at intervals of from ten to 

 twenty minutes. Administered in this way, the drug is 

 quite as effective as when given in one dose. Mollereau 

 prescribes 3J- of a one m fifteen aqueous solution; and 

 Zschokke gives H\75 of a ten per cent, solution. 



Drench. Horses, 3iss. to 3 n 'j. 5 ponies, grs. xl. to 3J-> m 

 a quart of water. 



ALUM. ALUMEN 



POTASSIUM ALUM (Aluminium and Potassium Sulphate). 

 A1 2 (S0 4 ) 3 , K 2 SO 4 , 24H 2 0. Or AMMONIUM ALUM. 

 A1 2 (S0 4 ) 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 , 24H 2 0. 



Produced by the combination of aluminium sulphate with 

 potassium sulphate, or with ammonium sulphate (B.P.). 



The alums are a series of double salts in which aluminium 

 sulphate is conjoined with potassium, sodium or ammonium 



