ALUMEN — ALUM 437 



Ammonium alum has similar characteristics, but is slightly less 

 soluble in water. 



Doses. H. 3 ij — ^vj;8. — 24. Dog, Astringent, gr. v—x; 0.3 

 — 0.6. Emetic, 3j — ij ; 4. — 8; repeated if necessary. 



Preparation. Alumen exsiccatus. Dried or burnt alum, alumen 

 ustum. This is ordinary alum from which the water of crystalliza- 

 tion has been driven off by roasting. 



* Liquor Alumini Acetatis — Burow's Solution. E". F. 



Action. The action of alum is purely local. Applied to the 

 skin or mucous membranes it is a very strong astringent. It pre- 

 cipitates the proteids of the tissues, coagulates the fluids and con- 

 stricts the tissues. The precipitate, however, is soluble in an excess 

 of the proteid. It is also antiseptic by reason of its coagulant action. 

 Alum also forms a firm clot with blood, so is hemostatic. Burnt 

 alum is irritant if applied too freely. 



Internally therapeutic doses exert no action beyond the digestive 

 tract, where it has a local astringent action and has a tendency to 

 cause constipation. It is not at all absorbed from the digestive tract 

 and large doses cause vomiting and exudative inflammation with 

 purging. 



Therapeutics. 1. Astrmgent and antiseptic. Used in 2—5 

 per cent, solutions for mucous membranes; conjunctivitis, metritis, 

 pharyngitis, stomatitis, etc. Burnt alum is useful as a dusting pow- 

 der and escharotic for various wounds. 



2. Hemostatic. Alum is valuable as a hemostatic in small 

 hemorrhages. Dried alum is to be preferred, but forms a heavy 

 scab and is too irritant when used alone. 



3. An astringent internally, but little used. 



4. Emetic. Alum is a safe but uncertain emetic. It has been 

 largely superseded by others of more desirable action. One dram in 

 a half cup of tepid water may be used in emergency. 



5. Laminitis. Douglas, Merrillat and others recommend alum 

 in the treatment of this disease. 



Douglas treats hospital cases by limiting the drinking water 

 and administering a 3 to 6 dram dose (bolus) every four' to six 

 hours until the symptoms are relieved. In treating "out" cases, he 

 prescribes 6 to 12 ounces of a solution of 1 otmce of alum to a pint of 

 water, to be given every. 4 to 6 hours. This treatment may be com- 

 bined with the subcutaneous injections of adrenalin over the plantar 

 nerves. Campbell recommends 2 ounce doses of alum in a quart of 

 water, every 2 hours until a pound has been given. He precedes 

 this treatment with arecoline, and administers % grain of aconitine 

 hypodermically, every half hour until the temperature returns to 

 normal. 



* Unofficial. 



