90 VETEEIITAET MATERIA MEDICA. 



Physiological Actions.— The zinc salts are mild 

 astringents, being not so powerful as the correspond- 

 ing salts of lead, and do not exhibit the tendency to 

 accumulate in the system which is peculiar to most 

 metallic salts. The acetate, chloride, and sulphate 

 are known as the " soluble zinc salts," and if given in 

 overdoses will cause violent gastro-enteritis. The 

 acetate given internally is a nerve tonic and emetic ; 

 externally, stimulant and astringent. It is formed in 

 the well-known " white wash " (plumbi acetici, zinci 

 sulphurici, aa f i. ; aquse, Oi.). The chloride, inter- 

 nally, is a powerful irritant poison ; externally, anti- 

 septic, astringent, stimulant, and caustic. Employed 

 also as- disinfectant and deodorizer, and is known by 

 many as "zinc butter." The sulphate, internally, as 

 a tonic, but is inferior to iron. As an internal astrin- 

 gent it is more powerful than the lead or silver salts; 

 also used as an emetic. Externally, stimulant, astrin- 

 gent, and antiseptic. 



The oxide and carbonate are mild astringents, pro- 

 tectives, and desiccants. The long-continued use of 

 the salts of zinc may at times produce symptoms re- 

 sembling those of lead-poisoning, but not so severe, 

 and yielding more rapidly to the usual treatment. 



Therapeutics. — To inflamed and catarrhal condi- 

 tions of mucous membranes, weak solutions of the 

 acetate or sulphate. In conjunctivitis, a collyrium 

 of the acetate or sulphate, with or without atropine 

 (grs. i.-iv. of the zinc salts to the ounce of distilled 

 water). To relieve the tendei'ness and itching of skin 

 diseases, the oxide or carbonate made into an oint- 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



