COPPER AND ZINC 4-11 



HEMOLS 



Hemols are prepared by the reduction of hemoglobin through 

 zinc dust, and Hemagallol hj the precipitation of blood with pyro- 

 gallol. 



COPPER AND ZING 



Copper and zinc have quite similar actions. When adminis- 

 tered per OS to animals which are able to vomit, they produce a spe- 

 cific irritant action, causing vomition before any corrosion occurs, so 

 that quite large doses are relatively non toxic, unless administered in 

 concentration or to animals which are unable to vomit. Externally 

 they are astringents, mild caustics and antiseptics. 



CUPRI SULPHAS — COPPER SULPHATE 



Synonyms. Blue Stone, Blue Vitriol, Cupric Sulphate 

 Copper sulphate occurs as large transparent, deep bhie triclinic 

 crystals, or as a blue granular powder, odorless, and of a nauseous 

 metallic taste. It is soluble in 2.5 parts of water and 500 of alco- 

 hol. Dose as an astringent or vermicide is: 



H. and C. 3 ss— iij ; 0.2—12. Dog gr. %— jss; 0.03—0.1. 

 Emetic. Dog. grs. ij — x. 



Action. Copper sulphate is astringent in dilute solutions, caus- 

 tic in concentrated ones. Internally it causes emesis by action upon 

 the nerves of the stomach before corrosion takes place, i.e., in vomit- 

 ing animals. It also has some reputation as a vermicide. 



Copper and its salts are specific poisons for the lower forms of 

 plant life. A very small amount in the water, such as is obtained 

 by dragging bags of the sulphate through water, behind a boat, is 

 sufiicient to keep down the growth of algse without affecting the 

 higher plant life or injuring the animal life. It is, also, said that 

 contaminated water left in a copper vessel will become aseptic but 

 it has been found that this takes an xmreasonable amount of time, 

 and that there is little if any advantage over vessels made of other 

 metals. Considerable faith has been placed upon weak solutions 

 of copper sulphate as an antiseptic, but it has been found that one 

 cannot rely upon solutions below 1 — 1000. 



Toxicology. Acute poisoning is characterized by severe ab- 

 dominal pain, violent vomiting and purging. Autopsy shows gastro- 

 enteritis with ulcers in some cases. 



Treatment. Administer potassium ferrocyanide, magnesia, sod- 

 ium carbonate and soap. Demulcents and albuminous material 

 should be freely given. 



The chronic type of poisoning is of doubtful occurrence. 



