54 veterinary materia medica. 



Physiological Action of Potassium and Its 

 Salts. — Caustic potash dissolves albumin, saponi- 

 fies fats and destroys tissues, by combining with 

 their water. The potassium salts promote tissue 

 waste ; small doses promote the formation of gastric 

 juice if given on an empty stomach, but large doses 

 act chemically and retard digestion by neutralizing 

 the free acids. 



The carbonate and bicarbonate, if given on an 

 empty stomach, enter the blood unchanged, combine 

 with the neutral phosphate of sodium contained 

 therein, converting it into an acid phosphate, so that 

 when eliminated by the kidneys the urine is more 

 acid. If, however, they have been given on a 

 full stomach, they are decomposed before entering 

 the blood, and the urine is therefore now more 

 alkaline. 



The acetate is absorbed in its own form, is decom- 

 posed in the blood, makes the blood and urine more 

 alkaline, and acts as a diuretic, increasing both the 

 water as well as the solids of the urine, but decreas- 

 ing the amount of uric acid by increasing oxidation. 

 The nitrate and chlorate are absorbed and eliminated 

 in their own form, the nitrate being a powerful diu- 

 retic, febrifuge, and alterative; externally applied, it 

 is stimulant and refrigerant. The chlorate is anti- 

 septic, alterative, sialagogue, and diuretic; exter- 

 nally, antiseptic, refrigerant, and mildly stimulant. 

 Large doses of the chlorate are very irritant to the 

 kidne^^s, and may produce albuminuria. All the po- 

 tassium salts in large doses are cardiac poisons, mus- 



