178 INORGANIC AGENTS 



conjunctivitis, as a stimulant, astringent and antiseptic 

 collyrium. When strong solutions, like the latter, are used, 

 the eye should immediately be flooded with a solution of 

 common salt and water to precipitate the excess of silver 

 nitrate as the insoluble chloride and thus prevent further 

 irritation. Lunar caustic is applied in pencil form to 

 ulcerated surfaces. When these surfaces are touched lightly 

 the caustic stimulates sluggish granulations ; when more 

 heavily, it destroys exuberant granulations. In 2 to 4 per 

 cent, solution, silver nitrate is caustic to mucous mem- 

 branes ; in ^ per cent, solution it is stimulant and astringent 

 to mucous membranes. 



Boils may be aborted by painting them with a saturated 

 solution of silver nitrate. Pruritus ani, or vulvae, is relieved 

 by painting the parts several times daily with a 1 per cent, 

 solution. A solution (gr.iii. to § i.) may be used in the form 

 of spray in the treatment of pharyngitis and laryngitis in 

 the dog. In catarrh of the external ear, so common in dogs, 

 the canal should be swabbed with a 5 per cent, watery 

 solutioii of silver nitrate after thorough cleansing with 

 ether, or alcohol and naphtha, to remove dirt and sebaceous 

 matter. lu 2 to 6 per cent, solutions silver nitrate is cura- 

 tive in moist patches of eczema in dogs. 



Fissures in the skin occurring in sore teats of cows are 

 cured by the application of fused silver nitrate. 



Uses Internal. — The crystals should only be employed 

 internally, to insure purity. Silver nitrate is not of much 

 value for internal use except in the digestive tract. Pills 

 containing the silver salt are sometimes given to dogs with 

 diarrhoea and ulcer of the stomach. Dysentery may be 

 treated by enemata containing 12 grains of silver nitrate to 

 the ounce of water. If this treatment is followed by much 

 irritation, injections of salt and water should be used 

 afterwards. 



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