SODIUM THIOSULPHATE 143 



SoDii Thiosulphas. Sodium Thiosulphate. Na, S„ O, 

 5 H2O. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym.— Sodium hyposulphite, hyposulphate of soda, 

 E. ; natrum subsulfurosuui (hyposulfurosum, P. G. ; hypo- 

 aulphis sodicus, hyposulfite de soude, sulfite solfure de soude, 

 Pr. ; unterschwe fligsaures natron, 6. 



Derivation. — Dissolve sulphur in a boiling aqueous 

 solution of sodium sulphite. 



Properties. — Colorless, transparent, monoclinic prisms, 

 odorless, and having a cooling, afterwards hitter, taste. 

 Permanent in air below 33° C. (91.4° P.), but efflorescent in 

 dry air above that temperature. Soluble in 0.66 part of 

 water; insoluble in alcohol; slightly soluble in oil of tur- 

 pentine; reaction neutral. 



Dose. — Same as sodium sulphite. 



Administration. — The sulphites are given in solution, 

 or may be added in powder to the food of horses. 



ACTION OP THE SULPHITES BISULPHITES AND HYPOSULPHITES 



Action External. — These salts are antiseptics, deodor- 

 izers and parasiticides, externally and in the digestive tract. 

 The antiseptic action is due to the destructive effect of 

 the sulphites in withdrawing oxygen from organic matter to 

 oxidize themselves into sulphates. Given internally, 96 per 

 cent, of sodium sulphite escapes in the urine as a sulphate, 

 while but 3 per cent, is eliminated unchanged. It has been 

 taught that the sulphites are converted into sulphur dioxide 

 (SOg) by the acids in the stomach but this is very doubtful. 



Uses. — A 15 per cent, solution or ointment of the sul- 

 phites are used against pruritis and parasitic skin diseases. 

 The salts are recommended in indigestion with fermentation, 

 flatulence and foul-smelling faeces and in general septic con- 

 ditions, but have proved as useless as most other drugs in 

 the latter states. Sternberg found that neither the sulphites 

 nor hyposulphites exerted any germicidal action on bacteria 

 in culture media. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



