130 INOEGANIC AGEH^TS 



renal glomeruli and thus causing diuresis (see p.- 140, sodium 

 chloride). Lethal doses occasion gastro-enteritis, diarrhcea, 

 cyanosis, depression of the heart, coma and death from as- 

 phyxia. Jaundice and dark-colored urine occur in sub-acute 

 poisoning. 



The Blood. — The blood is unaffected by medicinal doses, 

 but in poisoning the red corpuscles are broken down and 

 crenated. The hsemoglobin is converted into metha?moglo- 

 bin, which is probably a mixture of hasmatin and soluble 

 albumin. Hemoglobin, methssmglobin and htematin and dis- 

 integrated corpuscles appear in the urine. The blood is 

 chocolate-colored after death. The liver, spleen, kidneys and 

 intestines are softened and filled with disorganized blood. It 

 was formerly thought that potassium chlorate parted with 

 its oxygen in the blood, and it was prescribed in many 

 disorders as an oxidizing agent. While the blood changes 

 are due to its oxidizing action, yet potassium chlorate gives up 

 very little oxygen to the body since almost all of the salt 

 absorbed escapes unchanged from the organism. On the 

 contrary, the important symptoms of poisoning are due to 

 lack of oxygen (asphyxia), methajmoglobin not liberating its 

 oxygen readily to the tissues. Death from fat embolism is 

 not uncommon during convalescence from poisoning. 



Elimination. — Potassium chlorate is eliminated un- 

 changed by. all channels; mainly by the urine (90 to 96 per 

 cent), but also by the sweat, saliva, etc. Acting locally as a 

 stimulant in the mouth, and then affecting the throat a second 

 time by its elimination in the saliva, potassium chlorate is 

 frequently prescribed in diseases of the mouth and pharynx 

 as a topical stimulant. It is given in electuary, solution, or 

 ball internally. 



Summary. — Sialogogue and diuretic. 



Uses. — Stomatitis is treated by chlorate of potassium in 

 saturated solution applied on a swab. The salt is valuable 

 in the treatment of pharyngitis in electuary. A favorite 

 combination consists of fluid extract of belladonna, § i. ; 

 potassium chlorate, .3 ii. ; powdered licorice root, % v., with 

 sufficient molasses to make an electuary. One ounce is to be 



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