14 
S. S. BAKER. 
Lithium salts, like the potassium, are of an alkaline nature ; 
and while the two salts are alike to a certain degree, they differ 
very materially in some of their actions, the principal differ¬ 
ence being the solvent power of lithia over uric acid, with 
which it forms a very solvent salt, while the potassium salts 
have no such power. There are five salts of lithium that are 
officinal, viz., the bromide, benzoate, salicylate, carbonate and 
citrate; the last two are the only ones applicable to our pa¬ 
tients. While the carbonate has an alkaline reaction, it is 
nearly insoluble, taking one hundred and thirty parts of water 
at 59 0 F., and about the same amount of boiling water ; is 
wholly insoluble in alcohol; therefore this salt is only avail¬ 
able when given in powder or bolus. 
The citrate of lithium is very soluble, dissolving in 5.5 
water at 59° F., therefore this salt is the one I wish more 
particularly to call your attention to. While the citrate has 
a neutral reaction, and is useless as a local alkali for the neu¬ 
tralization of acids, it is transformed to a carbonate after be¬ 
coming absorbed into the blood ; constitutionally therefore it 
is the equivalent of the carbonate and is finally^ eliminated by 
the kidneys. .While the salts of lithium are, as the potassium 
salts, powerful diuretics, they are less irritant to the stomach 
and kidneys, and on this account are far preferable, in the 
treatment of the disease 1 am using it for, to the potassium 
salts. The disease in which this drug is the most applicable is 
azoturia, and to my mind it far excels any other drug for 
that purpose. I will cite a few cases where I have tried it to 
my utmost satisfaction. 
Case I. Seven-year-old truck horse taken with azoturia 
four miles from home. The driver noticing something wrong 
with him got him unhitched and into a livery stable before 
he went down. I got to him one hour afterwards ; found 
him unable to rise, sweating profusely and struggling furi¬ 
ously. Alter passing catheter, I prescribed lithii citras in 
doses of 3 ii, together with tinct. gentian every three hours. 
Next day found the horse able to pass urine, and making very 
good efforts to rise. I reduced the lithium to 3i doses three 
times a day. Next day I found horse standing, but moved 
