ORGANIC SILVER COMPOUNDS 417 



inated by the bowels without undergoing absorption. The fact that 

 argyrism takes place, shows that it is absorbed to some extent. Its 

 elimination after absorption is not well known but is usually re- 

 garded as taking place slowly by the urine. Argyrism of the con- 

 junctiva may result from the use of silver in the eye and it is said 

 to be more common from the organic preparations than from the 

 nitrate. 



Toxicology. In large doses silver nitrate is a severe poison, 

 causing 'profound gastroenteritis with abdominal pain, nausea, vom- . 

 iting and purging. White patches of corrosion may be seen in the 

 mouth soon after administration but these tiirn black upon oxidiz- 

 ing. 



Treatment. Sodium chloride is the best antidote because it 

 forms the insoluble silver chloride. Administer demulcents and fol- 

 low with symptomatic treatment. 



Therapeutics. 



1. Antiseptic. Silver foil is used as an antiseptic, nonirritant 

 dressing for surgical wounds. 



2. Stimulant ta inflamed mucous membranes and ulcers. 10 to 

 40 grains to the ounce of water or as the stick. It is very useful 

 in ulcers of the cornea in which condition it may be applied as the 

 stick or in strong solution for thorough disinfection, then follow with 

 daily installation of a 1 per cent, solution. 



3. Remove Excessive Granulations. Silver nitrate in form of the 

 stick is probably the best agent we have for this purpose, but is not 

 a good caustic for snake or dog bites because of its superficial ac- 

 tion. 



4. Internally. It is chiefly used for its local action upon the 

 gastro-intestinal canal. It is the next best drug to Bismuth for 

 chronic gastric catarrh and gastric ulcer. It is also used in acute 

 and chronic inflammations of the intestines but is not generally so 

 useful as in gastric troubles. 



Administration. For action upon the stomach the drug should 

 be administered in pill form upon an empty stomach, 20 to 30 

 minutes before meals. It is often combined with powdered opium 

 or the extract of hyoscyamus for this purpose. If desired to act 

 upon the intestine, it must be administered in keratin coated pills. 

 Aqueous solutions should always be prepared with distilled water as 

 there are enough chlorides in ordinary water to precipitate the 

 salt. Since the nitrate oxidizes in the light, solutions must be kept 

 and dispensed in amber or blue bottles. 



ORGANIC SILVER COMPOUNDS 



Since silver is such an active germicide and the nitrate has the 

 undesirable properties of precipitating proteids and chlorides, many 



