POTASSIUM 121 



fermentative indigestion of dogs where the vomitus and 

 faeces show evidence of gas formation or frothiness, and is 

 absolutely safe. Eecently good results have been reported 

 froni the use of hydrogen dioxide, diluted with three parts 

 of lime water, in dysentery when given as high enemata 

 twice daily. 



SECTION II. 

 Alkaline Metals — Potassium, Sodium, Ammon-jum, 



Lithium. 



Potassium. 



Potassium is not used in medicine' in the metallic state. 

 Its compounds may be considered in three groups : 1, 

 Potassa; 2, the Carbonates (acetate and citrate) ; 3, the 

 Mineral Salts. 



Potassium compounds were formerly obtained from 

 wood ashes by lixiviation; from sea water by evaporation, 

 and from argol, a substance deposited in wine casks. Now 

 they are obtained from potassium muriate, mined in Stass- 

 furt. Saxony, which is thought to result from the boiling 

 away of sea water in past ages. 



GENERAL ACTION OF POTASSIUM SALTS.* 



In lethal doses the action of all the potassium com- 

 pounds is very similar. 



Stomach and Intestines^ — The potassium salts, with the 

 exception of the vegetable compounds, are irritants to the 

 gastro-intestinal tract, if ingested in concentrated form. 



Heart. — When injected into a vein, potassium has a di- 

 rect, paralyzing action of' the heart muscle, and in lethal doses 

 there is cardiac arrest in diastole. Much the same action is, 

 moreover, observed on all higher forms of tissue. The func- 

 tional activity of the nerves and muscles is depressed and 

 abolished, more especially that of the brain and cord, so that 

 paralysis of central origin occurs. 



Potassium has, however, no depressing influence upon 

 the heart when given by the mouth as enormously greater 



* The action of salts on the body is determined not by the action 

 of the chemical compound or its molecule but by the action of the ions 

 which are dissociated when the salt goes into solution. Thus the action 

 of Potassium on the body may be studied by observing the action of 

 KCl since the influence of the CI ion (anion) may be ignored as it 

 induces no physiological effect upon the organism. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



