GENERAL ACTION OF POTASSIUM SALTS 117 



and from argol, a substance deposited in wine casks. Now 

 thej are obtained from potassium muriate, mined in Stass- 

 furt, Saxony, which, is thought to result from the boiling 

 away of sea water in past ages. 



GENERAL ACTION OP POTASSIUM SALTS. 



In lethal doses the action of all the potassium com- 

 pounds is very similar. 



Stomach and Intestines, — The potassium salts, with the 

 exception of the vegetable compounds, are irritants to the 

 gastro-intestinal tract, if ingested in concentrated form. 



Heart. — Marked depression of the heart is one of the 

 most characteristic symptoms of poisoning by the potassium 

 salts. Potassium has a direct, paralyzing action on the 

 heart muscle, and in lethal doses there is cardiac arrest in 

 diastole. Much the same action is, moreover, observed on 

 all the higher forms of tissue. The functional activity of 

 the nerves and muscles is depressed and abolished, more 

 especially that of the brain and cord, so that paralysis of 

 central origin occurs. 



Blood. — It has been taught that the potassium salts give 

 up their oxygen to the blood. In the case of the nitrate 

 and chlorate we know that this is untrue, since they are 

 eliminated unchanged. When given for any considerable 

 period, the potassium, like the sodium salts, impoverish the 

 system and produce a more fluid state of the blood. Large 

 doses of the potassium salts are likely to occasion purging, 

 while small doses are apt to cause diuresis. The carbonates 

 and vegetable salts resemble each other in action, but that 

 of the mineral salts is peculiar to the individual compound. 



PoTASSA. Potassa. KOH. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonyms. — Potash, potassium hydrate, potassium liydi- 

 oxide, caustic potash, lapis causticuschirurgorum, E.; potasse 

 caustique, Fr.; aetz kali, G.; kali causticum fusum, P. G. 



Derivation. — A solution of potassium hydrate is evapor- 

 ated ; the residue is fused and run into moulds. 



