150 INORGANIC AGENTS ' 



Properties. — An amorphous, bright, odorless, tasteless, and yellow powder; 

 permanent In the air; insoluble in water, ether, alcohol or chloroform; soluble, 

 with decomposition, in warm acids; used externally as a substitute for iodoform; 

 it is antiseptic and astringent; occasionally given internally. 



Dose.—D., gr.v-x, (.8-.6). 



ACTION OF BISMUTH SUBNITRATE AND SUBCARBONATE. 



External. — The insoluble salts of bismuth have a protecting, sedative, 

 astringent and antiseptic action on raw surfaces. If applied over very 

 extensive areas for a considerable length of time, they may cause absorp- 

 tion and poisoning. Bismuth has no action on the unbroken skin. 



Internal. — The salts of bismuth are absorbed and eliminated to some 

 extent. When administered continuously in enormous doses, or when 

 absorbed from the skin or given intravenously, bismuth has caused 

 stomatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions, blackness of the 

 mucous membranes of the digestive tract, and death. Probably, as ordi- 

 narily used, all the bismuth absorbed from the alimentary canal is stored 

 in the liver. In poisoning, however, it irritates the parts which eliminate 

 it — i.e., the kidneys, mouth and the bowels (chiefly the cecum). An odor 

 of garlic appears in the breath after the continuous exhibition of bismuth, 

 owing to traces of tellurium contained in the bismuth. Recently several 

 ounces of bismuth subnitrate have been given at one dose to the human 

 to secure a skiagram of the digestive organs and also have been injected 

 as Beck's paste to cure suppurating cavities. Poisoning has sometimes 

 occurred following the use of such enormous doses due to the bismuth 

 and also to the transformation of the nitrate into a nitrite. Nauseji, 

 vomiting, cyanosis, rapid pulse and respiration, and prostration have 

 been observed in such cases. It is safer to use the subcarbonate or oxy- 

 chloride when massive doses are given. Two ounces of either may be 

 given internally to man with perfect safety. 



As ordinarily used the salts of bismuth are absolutely harmless, 

 although formerly poisoning was not infrequent from their contanjination 

 with arsenic. The tongue and feces are stained black by bismuth salts, 

 which are transformed into the sulphide. Bismuth, locally and mechan- 

 ically, by reason of its weight and insolubility, protects and coats the 

 mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and thus exerts a sedative, 

 astringent and antiseptic action throughout the canal. Bismuth must, 

 therefore, be given, to be effective, in large and frequent doses, and when 

 the stomach is empty. For this reason the drug is not of much value in 

 the treatment of the horse and ruminant, as a sufficient quantity cannot be 

 used economically. 



USES OF BISMUTH SUBNITRATE AND SUBCARBONATE. 



External. — Bismuth subnitrate is a very good dusting powder on 

 sores, and for moist skin diseases and ulcerated surfaces. It may be 

 combined with zinc oxrde and salol, or used in the form of an ointment 

 in the proportion of 1 to 4. The following is an effective combination to 

 apply to superficial wounds and raw surfaces attended with much secre- 

 tion: 



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