122 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



It is under this head that we find the principal suggestions 

 for the therapeutical employment of sulphur. The sulphides 

 which we have traced through the blood and tissues are variously 

 excreted. By the kidneys they pass out as sulphates, and it 

 is said that one half of a dose of Sulphur Praecipitatum can he 

 thus recovered from the urine, but only one-fifth of Sulphur 

 Sublimatum. If in excess, part is also excreted as sulphides. 

 No special use is made of these facts. By the skin they escape 

 as sulphides, giving the characteristic foul odour to the per- 

 spiration, and somewhat increasing- its amount. Sulphur is 

 used as a mild cutaneous stimulant and diaphoretic, and has 

 always been regarded as a valuable internal remedy for many 

 skin diseases, such as acne, chronic eczema, psoriasis, and 

 syphilitic eruptions. Drinking the waters and taking the baths 

 at sulphur springs probably act in this remote local way. 

 Sulphide of calcium is specially useful in boils. The sulphides 

 are also excreted by the bronchi and lungs, giving their odour 

 to the breath ; sulphur was once much used as an expectorant, 

 especially in chronic bronchitis with abundant expectoration 

 and gouty or rheumatic associations. 



The valuable effect of sulphur waters, taken internally and 

 used as baths, in cases of chronic rheumatism, gout, skin disease, 

 plethora, etc., is principally, if not entirely, to be accounted for 

 by the immediate and remote local action of the sulphides on 

 the bowels and portal system, and on the kidneys, skin, and 

 bronchi respectively. It is an important fact that sulphur is a 

 purgative alterative. 



CARBO. CARBON. C. 12. 



Two kinds of carbon are officinal, namely, animal 

 charcoal and wood charcoal. 



I. Car bo Alii mails. Animal Charcoal. Bone 



Black. 



Source. Made by exposing bones to a red heat without the 

 access of air. 



(.'/'trtrttrtrm. A black powder ; contains only 10 per cent, 

 of pure carbon, the rest consisting chiefly of phosphate and 

 carbonate of lime. 



Preparation. 



Carbo Animalis Purificatus. Purified Animal 

 Charcoal. Animal Charcoal from which the salts have 

 been almost wholly removed. 



Source. Made by digesting Animal Charcoal in 



