144 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Derivation. — Made by action of lithium chloride on 

 acid ammonium carbonate. 



2Li CI + NH, HCO3 = Li,C03 + NH.Cl + HCl. Puri- 

 fied by washing with alcohol and drying. 



Properties. — A light, white powder, odorless, and having 

 an alkaline taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in 80 

 parts of water ; insoluble in alcohol. Reaction alkaline. 



Dose. — D., gr.iii.-x. (.2-. 6). 



LiTHii CiTRAS. Lithium Citrate. LigCgHsO,. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Lithium citricum, citrate of lithia, E.; citrate 

 de lithine, Fr.; citronsaures lithion, G. 



Derivation. — Made by action of citric acid on lithium 

 carbonate. 



2H3CeH,0, + 3Li,C03 = 2 Li3CeH,0, + 3 H,0 + 3 CO,. 

 Recovered by evaporation and crystallization. 



Properties. — A white powder, odorless, and having a 

 cooling, faintly alkaline taste ; deliquescent on exposure to 

 air ; soluble in 2 parts of water ; almost insoluble in alcohol 

 or ether. Reaction neutral. 



Dose.—T>., gr.v.-xx. (.3-1.3). 



ACTION OF LITHIUM SALTS. 



Lithium salts are said to form soluble compounds with 

 uric acid in the blood, and so assist its elimination in the 

 urine. As lithium combines more readily with acid sodium 

 phosphate in the blood than with uric acid, it is doubtful 

 whether it is a very efficient uric acid"^ solvent in the body. 

 The lithium salts alkalize the urine and notably increase its 

 secretion. 



Summary. — Lithium salts are diuretics, and uric acid 

 solvents in some degree. The carbonate may be given in 

 powder or pill ; the citrate in solution. 



Uses. — Lithium compounds are of little value in veteri- 

 nary medicine. They are serviceable, however, in the 

 treatment of dogs with a very acid urine of high specific 



*Uric acid can not exist as such in blood, which is an alkaline fluid. 



