62 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



and in the bones from the sluggishness of their metabolism. 

 Thus combined with the active cells of the body, lead after a 

 time sets up a series of phenomena known as "plumbism." 

 These are pathological, not physiological, effects, and may be 

 briefly said to take the form of dyspepsia, constipation, and 

 colic ; a full, tense, and infrequent pulse, with increased cardiac 

 action ; disturbances of the urinary flow ; neuralgic pains ; 

 tremors, followed by paralysis of the muscles, chiefly affecting 

 the extensors of the wrist ; anaemia and emaciation. 



These symptoms and the results obtained by experiments 

 on animals have been variously interpreted. Some authorities 

 refer them to an irritant action of lead on the involuntary 

 muscular fibres of the stomach, bowels, blood-vessels, similar 

 to its astringent local effects, whence muscular contrac- 

 tions, painful spasms, narrowing of the vessels, and finally 

 paralysis, and other phenomena from exhaustion. Other phar- 

 macologists contend that lead acts primarily on the central 

 nervous system and nerves, and secondarily only on the mus- 

 cles, vessels, etc. Its remarkable effect in raising the blood 

 pressure has been referred to irritation of the splanchnics, and 

 consequent narrowing of the abdominal vessels ; that is, to in- 

 creased peripheral resistance. The increased blood pressure is 

 the cause of the infrequent powerful cardiac action, and to some 

 extent of the urinary disturbances. 



4. SPECIFIC USES. 



The specific action of lead is turned to many important 

 uses. As a powerful haemostatic it is used in bleeding from 

 the stomach and bowel, as we have said, and also from the 

 lungs, opium being advantageously combined with it to 

 ensure mental and bodily rest (Pilula Plumbi cum Opio, or 

 acetate of lead and acetate of morphia with acetic acid). Its 

 use in diarrhoea is also partly referable to its specific action. 



5. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Lead is slowly excreted in the bile, urine, skin, and milk. 

 In the bowel, the portion that has been excreted by the liver 

 is reabsorbed, is again excreted, and finally escapes in the faeces 

 as the black sulphide. In passing through the kidneys, lead 

 diminishes the excretion of uric acid. It is used as a haemo- 

 static in renal hemorrhage, in bronchorrhoca, and in profuse 

 sweating. 



6. ACTION* AND USES OF THE DIFFERENT SALTS OF LEAD. 



The special action and uses of the different preparations 

 of lead are as follows: The Acetate is the only salt given 



