352 ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS 



solve exudates ; it may be used as a powder or made up into a paste 

 as an application to burns, erythema, bites and stings of insects, etc. 

 To dissolve scabs and exudates it should be used in solution. 



Internally. Antacid. It is particularly of service in overcom- 

 ing gastric and intestinal indigestion due to hyperacidity or flatu- 

 lence. It does not remove the cause, so should alv/ays be prescribed 

 with other preparations, such as carminatives, purgatives, etc. It is 

 often prescribed for dogs along with bismuth, salol or beta naphthol, 

 or to horses with gentian and nux vomica. It is also frequently 

 prescribed with calomel as it appears to do away with the disagree- 

 able symptoms following the administration of this agent. 



Acidosis. In this case it should be given preferably before meals 

 when the stomach is not acid, but it has an indirect action upon the 

 blood and urine no matter how used. In severe acidosis as in de- 

 layed chloroform poison it has been given in large doses by mouth 

 and rectum with only occasional favorable results. The reason for 

 this has not been determined, although it has been attributed to the 

 fact that in diabetes the blood does not become acid while in acidosis 

 due to mineral acids the blood is acid. 



In Rheumatism. It should be given until the urine is alkaline. 

 It is of no use in gout. 



SODIUM CHLORIDE. SALT 



Synonyms. Common or Table Salt, Muriate of Soda, Sal 



Commune 



Source. Mined in the native state, or made from the evapor- 

 ation of brine, spring or sea water. 



Properties. These are well known. Sodium chloride is freely 

 soluble in water and slightly in alcohol. 



Preparations. 



Liquor Sodii Chloridi Physiologicus — Physiological Salt 

 Solution, normal salt solution — 0.85 per cent, in distilled 

 water. 



Doses. Sodii Cliloridum, Cathartic. Cow, ft. ss — j ; 250 — 

 500. Sheep, gj— ij ; 30.— 60. 



External Action. Applied to the skin salt causes some irrita- 

 tion because it abstracts water from the cells. This irritant action 

 is followed by a slight local anesthesia. It is a mild antiseptic and 

 produces its action by withdrawing fluid from the bacteria. 



Internal Action. Salt is an essential constituent of food since 

 it is necessary to form the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice and 

 is abundant in the blood plasma. If animals are fed upon food 

 which is free from salt they die in a short time. Meats contain a 

 considerable amount of salt, but vegetables do not and consequently 



