BISMUTH SALICYLATE 177 



insoluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in nitric or hydro- 

 chloric acid. 



Dose. — Same as subcarbonate. 



BiSMUTHi Salicylas. Bismuth Salicylate. (Non-official.) 



Properties. — White, soft powder; insoluble in water, 

 ether, alcohol or chloroform ; soluble in acids. 

 Dose. — D., gr.v.-x. (.3-.6). 



Bismuth Subgallate. (Non-official.) 



Synonym. — Dermatol. 



Properties. — A fine, yellow powder; permanent in the 

 air and odorless ; used externally as a substitute for iodo- 

 form ; it is antiseptic and astringent ; occasionally given 

 internally. 



ACTION OF bismuth SUBNITRATE AND SUBCARBONATE. 



External. — The insoluble salts of bismuth have a pro- 

 tecting, sedative, astringent and antiseptic action on raw 

 surfaces. If applied over very extensive areas for a consid- 

 erable length of time, they may cause absorption and 

 poisoning. Bismuth has no action on the unbroken skin. 



Internal. — The salts of bismuth are absorbed and elim- 

 inated to some extent. When administered continuously in 

 enormous doses, they have produced poisoning characterized 

 by stomatitis, colic, diarrhoea, general weakness, black dis- 

 colorations of the mucous membrane, beginning in the 

 mouth, sometimes nephritis, and death from exhaustion. 

 An odor of gallic appears in the breath after the continuous 

 exhibition ot bismuth, owing to traces of tellurium con- 

 tained in the bismuth. 



Medicinally used, the salts of bismuth are absolutely 

 harmless, although formerly poisoning was not infrequent 

 from their contamination with arsenic. The tongue and 

 faeces are stained black by bismuth salts, which are trans- 

 formed into the sulphide. Bismuth, locally and mechan- 

 ically, by reason of its weight and insolubility, protects and 



