156 INORGANIC AGENTS > 



gastric juice to form chlorides, lactates and bicarbonates. 

 These compounds are mild, saline purgatives. 



Blood and Urine. — The oxide and carbonate of magne- 

 sium alkalize the blood and urine, and are slight diuretics. 

 They resemble potassium and sodium bicarbonates, as 

 antacids, but are milder because feebly absorbed. 



Uses. — Phillip's milk of magnesia is a good laxative and 

 antacid preparation for puppies. One or more teaspoonfuls 

 may be added to milk, which will be taken voluntarily. 

 Magnesia is a useful remedy for foals and calves affected 

 with intestinal indigestion, tympanites and acid diarrhoea. 

 It may be given to advantage in powder : magnesia and 

 rhubarb, 2 drachms each ; with ginger, one drachm. This 

 dose should be administered in milk or flour gruel. Magnesia 

 may give rise to intestinal concretions if its use is persisted 

 in for a considerable period. 



Magnesium carbonate and oxide are antidotes to mineral 

 acids, oxalic acid, salts of mercury, arsenic and copper, and 

 alkaloids, by alkalizing the gastric contents and rendering 

 these bodies insoluble. Arsenic antidote is kept on hand 

 at drug stores and is made by adding solution of ferric 

 sulphate to an aqueous mixture of magnesia (see ferri 

 oxidum hydratum cum magnesia, p. 182). 



\ Aluminum. 



(The metal is not used as medicine.) 



Alumen. Alum. A1,K, (SO J, + 24 H,0. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Potassium alum, aluminum and potassium 

 sulphate, sulphate of aluminium and potassium, E.; alun, 

 sulphate d'alumine et de potasse, Fr.; alaun, kalialaun, G. 



Derivation. — ^From alum slate, clay, shale or schist, a 

 native mixture of aluminium silicate and iron sulphide. 

 This is roasted and exposed to the air, when the sulphur is 

 oxidized into sulphuric acid and combines in part with 

 aluminium and iron to form sulphates. The mass is 



