390 ARSENIC, ANTIMONY AND PHOSPHORUS 



follow with purgatives. The antidotes are magnesiiun oxide, dog, 

 gr. vij — ^xv; horse and cow, 3iv — v, every 10 or 15 minutes. Pow- 

 dered iron or water in which hot irons have been cooled are also 

 useful. The symptomatic treatment consists of the administration 

 of mucilaginous drinks to retard absorption, and stimulants such as 

 strychnine, camphor, etc., to combat the weakness and paralysis. 

 Ferri Hydroxidum cum Magnesii Oxido (see under iron salts) has 

 long been considered antidotal, by forming insoluble salts. It 

 should be freshly prepared and administered ad libitimi. More re- 

 cently, one investigator at least, DeBuscher, believes that the com- 

 pound formed by this agent is more soluble than arsenic trioxide and 

 that it is valueless. The treatment for chronic poisoning is the same 

 as for that of lead, which see page 424. It includes the administra- 

 tion of potassium iodide in large doses and symptomatic treatment of 

 the patient. 



Therapeutics. Externally. Arsenic trioxide is used exter- 

 nally for the following purposes : 



1. Caustic and escharotic. For this purpose it is usually made 

 into a paste and used to remove superficial tumors. Its action is 

 alow and extremely painful. Furthermore, there may be some dan- 

 ger from absorption if it is packed into large cavities. 



2. Parasiticide for mange mites of sheep. It is usually em- 

 ployed in the form of a dip. Law recommends the following: 

 " Arsenic trioxide 20 lbs., soda ash 20 lbs., soft soap 4 lbs. ; these are 

 dissolved in four gallons of boiling water, then enough cool water is 

 added to make 50 gallons, which will sufiice for 50 sheep." The 

 compound is worked into the wool for 3 minutes. The wool is 

 then wrung out and the sheep made to stand on an incline for further 

 dripping, and are finally turned into a bare lot to dry. The ar-^ 

 senical dips are so extremely dangerous and require such careful 

 attention that they have been largely replaced by others. 



Internally. Arsenic has been used internally for a variety of 

 conditions: anemia, chronic dyspepsia, rickets, osteomalacia, chorea, 

 heaves and vermicide for horses. 



1. Diseases of the blood and hlood forming organs. Arsenic is 

 probably the next best drug to iron in anemia and often gives tem- 

 porary improvement in cases of pernicious anemia of man. It is 

 often serviceable in leukemia and Hodgkin's disease. 



2. Diseases of hones and joints. It is often useful in rachitis, 

 osteomalacia and chronic rheumatism. 



3. Chorea and nervous disturbances. The drug is often service- 

 able in the so-called " chorea " of dogs, but is by no means a specific 

 for this condition. It is generally administered in ascending doses 

 until saturation occurs, it is then omitted for a few days and then 

 repeated. 



4. Vermicide for horses. When given in about three or four 



