198 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Action External. — Sulphur has no action upon the skin when applied 

 in the pure state. The ointment is the most effective parasiticide in de- 

 stroying mites which produce mange, grease, and scab. Sulphur does not 

 kill mites as readily as a sulphide which is formed by the addition of an 

 alkali. When sulphur ointment is rubbed into the skin it causes consider- 

 able irritation and an artificial eczema. Sulphur is converted into sul- 

 phureted hydrogen and sulphurous acid by living tissue, and this trans- 

 formation may occur to some extent when sulphur is rubbed into the 

 skin with fat. 



Action Internal. — Digestive Organs. — Sulphur is not acted upon by 

 the stomach, but is somewhat dissolved by the alkaline intestinal juices, 

 and converted in part into sulphides (10 to 20 per cent, of sulphur is 

 absorbed as sulphides) and sulphureted hydrogen. The sulphides, to- 

 gether with sulphureted hydrogen, are absorbed into the blood. Minute 

 traces of sulphureted hydrogen are eliminated by the lungs and skin, 

 while oxidation of sulphides occurs in the tissues and they are eliminated 

 as sulphates and unknown organic sulphur compounds. The sulphides 

 and sulphureted hydrogen act as laxatives, and in all probability sulphur 

 itself exerts a mild, mechanical irritation upon the bowels. Peristaltic 

 motion and intestinal secretions are both slightly increased. The fecal 

 discharges are soft and pasty, and offensive flatus containing sulphureted 

 hydrogen escapes from the intestines after the administration of sulphur. 



Constitutional Action. — Sulphur acts remotely during its elimination 

 in stimulating the functions of the skin and respiratory mucous mem- 

 branes, — so-called alterative action. Sulphur causes disorganization of 

 the blood, and depresses and paralyzes the central nervous system after 

 the continuous administration, of colossal doses. Ordinary therapeutic 

 quantities of sulphur have no effect of this kind. 



Uses External. — Sulphur is mainly of service externally as a local 

 stimulant and parasiticide in skin diseases. The female mite, which pro- 

 duces mange (acariasis), bores under the epidermis and lays her eggs in 

 the burrows, while the male insect remains upon the surface. It is essen- 

 tial, therefore, to remove the epidermis in order to expose the ova and 

 female to the action of sulphur. The hair should be first shaved and the 

 parts soaked and scrubbed with green soap and water. All cloths or 

 brushes used in this operation should be burned or disinfected by boiling. 

 Sulphur acts most efiiciently in ointment, as fat fills up the burrows and 

 deprives the insects of air._ The official ointment is used in mange and 

 eczema, but a combination with an alkali is more serviceable, unless there 

 is active irritation of the skin. The following ointment is recommended: 



Sulphuris loti 3ii. 



Potassii carbonatis 31. 



Aquae 3ss. 



Adipis benzoinati Si. 



M. 



S. Use externally. 



This prescription is also useful in scab of sheep, and, diluted with 



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