ACTION OF INORGANIC SALTS 2Q 



or common alum and the hydroxide exsiccated alum is also used; besides 

 these we have kaolin, aluminum-aceto tartrate, and aluminol or aluminum 

 naphthol sulphonate. Taken by mouth aluminum salts have until re- 

 cently been held to be very slightly absorbed. There seems to be some 

 evidence, however, that it is absorbed into the blood stream. When in- 

 jected, the aluminum ion acts as a poison to the liver and kidney, produc- 

 ing fatty degeneration. Nervous disturbances, tremors, paralysis, and 

 local anesthesia are also reported as being due to its injection. The sul- 

 phate is used in acute and chronic lead poisoning. Locally, aluminum 

 salts act as astringents and antiseptics. They are also used for hardening 

 the skin, checking local hemorrhage, and as a styptic. They are indicated 

 in the following disorders: Alum, external use in smallpox, external use 

 in varicella, as gargle in nasopharyngitis, as spray in laryngitis. Alumnol, 

 in nasopharyngitis. Kaolin, used in gastric hyperacidity, chiefly in mak- 

 ing of cataplasma kaolin. 



SILVER, BISMUTH, COPPER, LEAD. Silver. The medicinal preparations 

 of silver include the cyanide, nitrate (also fused and mitigated), and oxide. 

 We have in addition numerous compounds in which silver is in organic 

 combination, such as protargol, argyrol, and argonin. Silver salts were 

 at one time used as alternatives, in diseases such as epilepsy and locomotor 

 ataxia. Their use, however, has been abandoned since evidence for the 

 slight absorption of silver compounds has accumulated. It is, however, 

 of value in inflammatory conditions of the stomach, such as subacute 

 gastritis and gastric ulcer. 



As a local remedy, silver salts are very important. The nitrate is 

 very effectively used as caustic, germicide, and astringent. It is thus 

 used in pharyngitis, laryngitis, urethritis, and colitis. In tonsillitis it is 

 also of value. It is indicated and used in cases of gonorrheal conjuncti- 

 vitis, also. Forscheimer gives the following as cases where silver salts are 

 indicated: Organic salts, acute gonorrhea, chronic gonorrhea urethritis. 

 AgNO 3 , acute tonsillitis, uvulitis, antiseptic wash, cauterization of bite, 

 chronic laryngitis, rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, bacillary dysentery, gastric 

 hypersecretion, foot and mouth disease, irritable stricture, irrigation of 

 bladder, mercurial stomatitis, tabes, etc. 



Bismuth. Soluble salts of bismuth are toxic and not administered. 

 They produce in large doses a primary stimulation of the nerve centers 

 which is shortly followed by depression, lowering of blood pressure, and 

 irritation of the organs of excretion. The insoluble salts find their chief 

 use in treatment of inflammations of the mucous membrane and in catar- 

 rhal conditions. The most commonly used salt is the subnitrate. The 

 citrate, subcarbonate, subgallate, and subsalicylate are also employed. 

 Locally the subnitrate is used as a dusting powder. The subgallate finds 

 much use in dermatology. Bismuth salts are indicated in the following 

 conditions: mucous colitis, cirrhosis of liver, hypersecretion, control of 



