MANGANESE 159 



is given more indiscriminately than iron. Pallor is a poor indication. 

 Blood examination is the only certain guide. 



Manganum. 



(Manganese is not used in medicine in the metallic state.) 



PoTAssii Pehmanoanas. Potassium Permanganate. KMnO,. (U. S. & B. P.) 



^wonj/TO.— Kalium permanganicum, P. G.; permanganate of potash, E.; per- 

 manganate de potasse, Ft.; kaliumpermanganat, uebermangansaures kali, G. 



Derivation.— Caustic potash, chlorate of potassium and black oxide of man- 

 ganese are fused together. 6 KHO-|-KC103+Mn02 = 3 K,MnO.+KCl-|-8 H,0. 

 The manganate of potassium is boiled with water till the color changes to purple 

 and the permanganate is formed. 3 K2Mn04+2 HjO = 2 KMn04-f-4KHO-|-MnO,. 

 The liquid is neutralized with carbonic dioxide gas and evaporated. 



Properties.— Slender, monoclinic prisms, of a dark purple color, almost opaque 

 by transmitted light, and of a blue metallic luster by reflected light; odorless, 

 and having in solution a taste at first sweet, but afterwards disagreeable and 

 astringent; permanent in air; soluble in 18.5 parts of water; it is decomposed by 

 alcohol; reaction neutral. 



Incompatibles. — It is very readily deoxidized in the presence of organic 

 matter. 



Dose.-H., gr.xv-xx, (1-1.3) in one pint of water; D., gr.i-ii, (.06-.12) ; in 

 pill, or tablet, with kaolin. 



Action of Potassium Permanganate. 



External. — Potassium permanganatcj like hydrogen dioxide^ is a 

 powerful oxidizing agent. It quickly parts with its oxygen in contact 

 with organic matter, largely in the form of ozone, and is broken up into 

 black oxide of manganese and potassa. Solutions, which are of a purple 

 hue, change into a dark brown color when this transformation occurs, 

 and are no longer of any medicinal value. This action is exceedingly 

 rapid and transient, and its effects correspondingly so on the tissues. 

 For this reason, and because bacteria are so combined with organic mat- 

 ter in the tissues, its action is largely exerted on the latter, and potassium 

 permanganate is, therefore, a better antiseptic than disinfectant. The 

 antiseptic action of potassium permanganate is, moreover, quite super- 

 ficial, since it parts with its oxygen as soon as it comes in contact with 

 the albumin of the tissues. Outside of the body, permanganate of potash 

 is a disinfectant, but it is too expensive for general purposes. In powder 

 it is slightly caustic, owing to the potassa set free in its decomposition; 

 and in solution is stimulant to the tissues. A solution of permanganate 

 of potash is a deodorizer when in contact with putrid and decomposing 

 matter, but is not of the slightest value as a deodorizer and disinfectant 

 to premises when simply standing in vessels, as frequently advised. 

 There is no danger from absorption of potassium permanganate when 

 applied to the body. 



Uses Internal. — Potassium permanganate is occasionally used in 

 human medicine in dyspepsia and flatulence, for its antiseptic action, and 

 in obesity. It is supposed to resemble iron in its effects, and has been 

 used in amenorrhea associated with anemia. Moor, of New York, has 

 shown that potassium permanganate is the best chemical antidote for 

 morphine or opium, chemically destroying them by oxidation; 10 to 15 



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