124 INORGANIC AGENTS 



each one part, are dissolved in three parts water, and some- 

 times used for their refrigerant effect on local inflammatory 

 conditions. Ice poultices are more efficient. The value of 

 nitre is over-estimated in veterinary practice. There are 

 better heart sedatives (aconite), diuretics and diarphoretics 

 (sweet spirit of nitre). It is recommended in purpura and 

 rheumatism as alterative. Here, again, it is less serviceable 

 than ergot in the former, or salicylic acid and alkalies in the 

 latter disease. Nitre is, however, in common use in such 

 febrile affections as pneumonia and influenza in horses. 



PoTASsn Chloras. Potassium Chlorate. KCIO3. 



(U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Kali oxymuriaticum, E.; chlorate de potasse, 

 Fr.; chlorsaures kali, G. 



Derivation. — Pass chlorine into a mixture of potassium 

 carbonate and calcium hydrate ; dissolve the result in boil- 

 ing water and recover the chlorate by crystallization. 



K,Co3 + 6 Ca (OH), + 12 CI = 2 KCl O3 + Ca Co, + 

 5 Ca CI3 + 6 H,0. 



Properties. — Colorless, lustrous, monoclinic prisms or 

 plates, or a white powder, odorless, and having a cooling, 

 saline taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in 16.7 parts 

 of water. Insoluble in absolute alcohol, but slightly solu- 

 ble in mixtures of alcohol and water. Explodes readily 

 when rubbed with sugar, sulphur, charcoal, glycerin and 

 many other substances. 



Dose.—n. & a, I ss.-i. (15.-30.) ; Sh. & Sw., 3 ss.-i. (2.-4); 

 D., gr.v.-xx. (.3-1.3). 



Action Internal. — Potassium chlorate closely resembles 

 the nitrate in its action. Locally it is an irritant. 



Stomach and Bowels. — Medicinal doses have no apparent 

 effect. Lethal doses occasion gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, 

 cyanosis and depression of the heart. 



The Blood. — The blood is unaffected by medicinal doses, 

 but in poisoning the red corpuscles are broken down and 

 crenated. The haemoglobin is converted into methaemoglo- 



