140 INORGANIC AGENTS 



The "white lotion" of veterinary medicine is made by adding 3 drams 

 each of lead acetate and zinc sulphate to a pint of water. It is a favorite 

 astringent, sedative and antiseptic application for strains, bruises, 

 scratches, bursitis and tenosynovitis in horses. Compresses soaked in it 

 are bandaged to the part. Also it is of value as an injection in urethritis, 

 and externally in balanitis of dogs. The stronger solution of lead sub- 

 acetate should not be employed extensively on raw surfaces or mucous 

 membranes undiluted. 



The diluted solution of lead subacetate may be used as an injection 

 for leukorrhea. Lead acetate should be diluted with 20 to 40 parts of 

 vinegar or water. Lead acetate is not suitable for collyria, if there is 

 any ulceration of the cornea, because a permanent film may be deposited 

 and obscure the sight. Lead iodide, in 10 to 20 per cent, ointment with 

 petrolatum, has proved of service in aiding resolution of induration or 

 caked condition of the udder in acute mammitis, if applied twice daily 

 with thorough massage, before suppuration has set in. 



Uses Internal. — Lead acetate is serviceable in the treatment of diar- 

 hea, dysentery, and -hemorrhage from the stomach and bowels. It is fre- 

 quently prescribed in these diseases with opium, but should not be used 

 over a long period. 



Argentum. 



Aegenti Nitras. Silver Nitrate. AgNoa. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Nitrate (azotate) d'argent, nitre lunaire, Fr. ; sllbernitrat, sal- 

 petersaures silberoxyd, G. ; argentum nitricum crystallisatum, P. G. 



Derivation. — ^Dissolve silver in nitric acid with heat. 



3 Ag2 + 6 HNO3 = 6 AgNOj + 3 H,. Evaporate and crystallize. 



Properties. — Colorless, transparent, tabular, rhombic crystals, becoming gray, 

 or grayish-black on exposure to light in the presence of organic matter; without 

 odor, but having a bitter, caustic and strongly metallic taste; reaction neutral; 

 soluble in 0.4 part of water and 30 pa-rts of alcohol. 



Incompatibles. — Alkalies and their carbonates, acids (except nitric and 

 acetic), chlorides, potassium iodide, astringent infusions and solutions of arsenic. 



Dose.—H. & C, gr.v-x, (.3-.6) ; Sh. & Sw., gr.i-ii, (.06-.12) ; D., gr. %-%, 

 (.008-.03). .&/»/. 



ARGEifTi Nitras Fcsus. Moulded Silver Nitrate. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Lunar caustic, argenti nitras induratus, E.; argentum nitricum 

 fusum, P. G.; azotate d'argent fondu, F.; geharteter hollenstein, G. 



Derivation.— Melt silver nitrate, 100, with hydrochloric acid, 4, at as low a 

 temperature as possible. Mix and pour into suitable moulds. 



Properties.~A white, hard solid, generally in the form of pencils or cones; 

 becoming gray or grayisli-black on exposure to light in presence of organic mat- 

 ter; odorless, having a caustic, metallic taste, and neutral reaction. Used only 

 externally. 



Silver oxide, cyanide, and iodide are official, but unimportant in veterinary 

 medicine. 



Action of Silver Nitrate. 



External. — Silver nitrate is more caustic in action than any of the 

 lead, copper or zinc salts (except zinc chloride). When applied exter- 

 nally in the pure state to a mucous membrane, or a raw surface, it forms 

 a white coating of coagulated protein, or silver albuminate. This coating 

 limits the further action of the salt, so that lunar caustic is always super- 

 ficial and localized in its effect. Silver nitrate is the caustic in most com- 



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