SODIUM CHLOEIDE 139 



SoDii Chloeidum. Sodium Chloride. NaCl. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Common or table salt, muriate of soda, sal 

 commune or culinare, chloruretum sodicum, E. ; natrium 

 chloratum purum, P. G. ; chlorure de sodium, sel commun, 

 sel de cuisine, Fr. ; ehlornatrium, kochsalz, G. 



Derivation. — Mined in a native state and obtained by 

 evaporation of brine, spring or sea water. 



Properties.— -Colorless, transparent, cubical crystals, or 

 a white, crystalline powder, odorless, and having a purely 

 saline taste. Permanent in dry air. Soluble in 2.8 parts of 

 water; almost insoluble in alcohol; insoluble in ether or 

 chloroform. Reaction neutral. 



Dose. — Cathartic, C, ftss.-i (250.-500.); Sh.,^ i.-ii. 

 (30.-60.). 



Action External. — Salt is a stimulant to the skin when 

 applied in concentrated solution. 



Action Internal. — Salt is an essential constituent of 

 food, and necessary to the composition of HCl in the gastric 

 juice, and of blood plasma from which it is constantly elim- 

 inated in the urine. Herbivorous animals require sodium 

 chlcwide in addition to that contained in their food ; for blood 

 is rich in common salt, while vegetables abound more especi- 

 ally in potassium salts. The potassium salts, according to 

 Bunge, on entering the blood bring about a chemical reaction, 

 whereby sodium chloride circulating in the plasma is split; 

 the chlorine in sodium chloride combines with potassium, 

 while the acid set free from the potassium salt unites with 

 sodium, and both products are swept away with the urine, thus 

 removing sodium chloride from the blood. This is only 

 replaced by that taken as food.* Animals deprived of salt 

 suffer from anaemia, general weakness and oedema. 



Stomach and Intestines.- — Salt has caused gastro-enter- 

 itis and death in enormous doses. Large doses occasion 

 emesis in dogs. Irritation of the stomach" is caused by with- 

 drawal of water from the mucous membranes by strong 



* Some doubt is cast upon this hypothesis by Lapieque who relates 

 that African tribes, living wholly upon vegetables, use wood ashes 

 (chiefly potassium) in place of table salt. 



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