ACTIOH" OP BISMUTH SUBNITEATE 191 



Internal. — The salts of bismuth are absorbed and elim- 

 inated to some extent. When administered continuously in 

 enormous doses, or when absorbed from the skin or given 

 intravenouslj', bismuth has caused stomatitis, vomiting, diar- 

 rhoea, weakness, convulsions, blackness of the mucous mem- 

 branes of the digestive tract, and death. Probably, as ordin- 

 arily used, all the bismuth absorbed from the alimentary 

 canal is stored in the liver. In poisoning, however, it irri- 

 tates the parts which eliminate it — i.e., the kidneys, mouth 

 and the bowels (chiefly the ca?cxim.) An odor of garlic 

 appears in the breath after the continuous exhibition of 

 bismuth, owing to traces of tellurium contained in the 

 bismuth. 



Mechanically used, the salts of bismuth are absolutely 

 harmless, although formerly poisoning Avas not infrequent 

 from their contamination with arsenic. The tongue and 

 faeces are stained black by bismuth salts, which are trans- 

 formed into the sulphide. Bismuth, locally and mechan- 

 ically, by reason of its weight and insolubility, protects and 

 coats the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and thus 

 exerts a sedative, astringent and antiseptic action through- 

 out the canal. Bismuth must, therefore, be given, to be 

 effective, in large and frequent doses, and when the stomach 

 is empty. Eor this reason the drug is not of much value in 

 the treatment of the horse, as a sufficient quantity cannot 

 be used economically. 



USES OE BISMUTH SUBWITKATE AND SUBCAEBOWATE. 



External. — Bismuth subnitrate is a very good dusting 

 powder on sores, and for moist skin diseases and ulcerated 

 surfaces. It may be combined with zinc oxide and salol, or 

 used in the form of an ointment in the proportion of 1 to 

 4. The following is an effectual combination to apply to 

 superficial wounds and raw surfaces attended with much 

 secretion: 



IJ Bisniuthi subnitratis 50.0 gi. 3_v. 



* Aeidi tanniei 25.0 3 yi. 



lodoformi 150 \ iT; . .. 



Carbo ligni 100.0 S lu. 3 il. 



M. et fiat pulvis. 

 S'ig. Dust on surface. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



