286 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Externally. Glycerine is a slightly stimulant, antiseptic, 

 hygroscopic, and adhesive substance, which forms a useful 

 application to skin diseases and small sores, such as chaps, 

 whether alone or in combination with other remedies as a 

 lotion, instead of ointments, which become rancid. (In the 

 pure state it is used to preserve microscopic specimens and 

 vaccine lymph.) Glycerinum Amyli is used as a basis for oint- 

 ments. 



Glycerine is readily absorbed by the unbroken skin, and 

 will carry in with it certain active substances, such as extract 

 of belladonna. Gly cerates may thus produce specific effects. 

 It is also applied to the cervix uteri, conjunctiva, meatus 

 auditorius, and other exposed mucous surfaces. 



Internally. Glycerine is very sweet, and imparts a smooth 

 sweet agreeable taste to nauseous or astringent mixtures, 

 rendering the addition of sugar unnecessary. As a topical 

 stimulant and demulcent, it is an excellent vehicle for such 

 applications for sore throat as tannic acid. In the stomach it 

 produces no special effect ; but is a mild laxative when freely 

 given. As an enema, it has been administered in ulceration of 

 the bowels. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



Glycerine is freely absorbed by all surfaces, and is one of 

 the normal products of the digestion of oils and fats in the 

 intestines. In large quantity it is said to cause the solution of 

 the red corpuscles, the diffusion of the haemoglobin in the 

 plasma, and consequent hsemoglobinuria. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



Glycerine has been supposed to be nutritive, and may 

 contribute to the formation of adipose tissue, as a portion of 

 the fats and oils of food must be decomposed in digestion, and 

 the glycerine again united with the fatty acid in the process of 

 nutrition. The results obtained from the administration of 

 glycerine instead of oils in phthisis have been very divergent, 

 and on the whole not encouraging. The same may be said of 

 its use in diabetes. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Glycerine is decomposed in the system, and passes out as 

 propionic, formic, and other acids. The urine of persons 

 taking glycerine contains a reducing body which gives the 



