66 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



Copper wire is used for preparing Spiritus -ZEtheris Nitrosi. 



2. Subacetate of Copper of Commerce. Verdigris. (Erugo. 

 (C. 2 H 3 2 ) 2 Cu,CuO. In powder, or masses of very minute 

 crystals of a bluish-green colour. Used in chemical testing. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION. 



Externally. The action of copper differs but little from 

 that of silver and zinc. It does "not affect the unbroken skin, 

 nor is it absorbed by it into the blood. Applied freely to 

 wounds, ulcers, or the delicate surface of exposed mucous 

 membranes, such as the conjunctiva, the sulphate or " blue- 

 stone " is caustic, and is in frequent requisition to destroy warts, 

 chancres and poisoned wounds, and for similar purposes. A 

 swift and slight application of the crystal, or its solution in 

 water, acts so far like nitrate of silver precipitating the dis- 

 charges from a mucous or ulcerated surface ; coagulating the 

 superficial layers ; thus contracting the blood-vessels and arrest- 

 ing discharge. It is used as a stimulant to ulcers ; and a solu- 

 tion of 2 to 5 gr. to the oz. may be used as an astringent 

 lotion, or injected into the vagina, rectum, or urethra. 



Internally. The local action of copper on the mouth, be- 

 yond its astringent metallic taste, corresponds with that just 

 described. If long administered, it may cause a greenish dis- 

 coloration of the bases of the teeth (not of the gums) from 

 direct combination with decomposing products there. 



Sulphate of copper, in large doses (10 gr.), is not entirely 

 converted into an albuminate in the stomach, but acts on the 

 mucous membrane as an irritant, and causes vomiting. It is a 

 rapid direct emetic, and is suited for administration when the 

 stomach is to be surely and speedily emptied of a narcotic 

 poison, such as opium, or the air-passages evacuated of mucus 

 or false membrane, as in bronchitis and diphtheria, after ipeca- 

 cuanha has failed. It causes less depression and subsequent 

 nausea than tartar emetic. If sulphate of, copper fail to vomit, 

 it must be evacuated by some other means, otherwise dangerous 

 inflammation may result. 



Lastly, copper sulphate is a valuable antidote to phos- 

 phorus, as it is reduced by the metalloid, the copper being 

 deposited upon the phosphorus and rendering it inert. In 

 cases of poisoning by phosphorus, 3 gr. of blue-stone should be 

 given in water every few minutes, until vomiting occurs, where- 

 upon a free saline purgative is to be administered. 



