34 MATER i A MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



jail; and the acetate, acid tartrate, citrate and tartrate, car- 

 bonate, bicarbonate, and sulphate are used for this purpose in 

 11 10 order named. These saline diuretics are given chiefly in 

 renal dropsy, where it is desirable to increase the functional 

 activity of the renal epithelium, and thus the secretion both of 

 water and urea, whilst the vessels remain undisturbed. They 

 are also suitable diuretics in feverish conditions. In cardiac 

 dropsy they are less beneficial, as they diminish rather than 

 increase the force of the circulation ; but in an occasional full 

 dose they are useful adjuvants, even in this condition, to other 

 classes of diuretics, such as digitalis and scoparium, to wash 

 out the tubules. Nitrate of potash is a powerful diuretic, be- 

 longing partly to a different class, the local vascular stimu- 

 lants. It is more suitably employed as a diuretic in feverish 

 conditions, and to remove inflammatory effusions into the 

 pleura and pericardium, and must be given with caution in 

 renal disease. 



As alkalinisers of the urine, the carbonate, bicarbonate, and 

 the vegetable salts of potash are extensively used in uric acid 

 gravel, acute and chronic gout, and acute rheumatism, the latter 

 being preferred because less irritant. In uric acid calculus 

 of the kidney or bladder, these salts have been successfully 

 employed to cause actual solution of the concretions. 



The diaphoretic effect of potash salts is not marked, the 

 citrate and the nitrate alone being used for this purpose, and 

 that only in mild feverish attacks. 



The bronchial secretions may be increased and rendered 

 less tenacious in inflammation and dry catarrh of the tubes by 

 the potash salts, which are thus saline expectorants, the iodide 

 in particular being useful for this purpose. 



Gastric catarrh, especially in gouty subjects, is benefited 

 by the milder salts of potash beyond their immediate local 

 effect ; but the mineral waters which appear to act in this way, 

 such as those of Vals, Vichy, and Carlsbad, owe their efficiency 

 much more to soda. The same remarks apply to catarrh of the 

 biliary passages and tendency to gall-stones. 



The action of potash on the intestinal glands constitutes 

 it a remote as well as an immediate purgative. 



ACTION AND USES OF THE DIFFERENT SALTS OF POTASH. 



On reviewing what has been said respecting potash, we 

 find that the chief actions and uses of its different salts may 

 thus be briefly represented : Potassa Caustica caustic. Liquor 

 Potasses antacid and stomachic. Potassa Bicarbonas, Carbonas, 

 and Citras antacid stomachics, alkalinisers of blood and urine, 

 mild diuretics, very mild diaphoretics, saline expectorants, 



