668 poisons : their effects and detection. [§§ 851 , 852 . 
lead. Ten millilitres should contain not less than 0-5 grm. bismuth 
oxide when dried and ignited. 
Carbonate of Bismuth (Bismuthi carbonas), (Bi 2 0 2 C0 3 ) 2 H 2 0, is a 
fine white powder answering to the tests for carbon dioxide and bismuth ; 
it should yield 89-1 per cent, of bismuth oxide. 
Bismuth Salicylate responds to the tests for salicylic acid and 
bismuth. When ignited, it yields from 62 to 65 per cent, bi-oxide. 
A Nitrate of Bismuth, Bi(N0 3 ) 3 , an oleate of bismuth, an oxide of 
bismuth, a subgallate of bismuth ( dermatol ), a subiodide of bismuth, a 
citrate, and a tartrate of bismuth are also used in medicine. 
2. Bismuth in the Arts:— 1 
The chief use of bismuth, other than medicinal, is in alloys and solders. 
The chromate is employed in calico-printing, and the subnitrate as a 
paint under the name of pearl-white. It is also used in the construction 
of thermo-electric couples. 
The salts of bismuth also occur in washes for the hair, and pearl- 
white is used as a cosmetic, but only to a small extent. 2 
8 851. Medicinal Doses of Bismuth.—The subnitrate and carbon- 
ate are prescribed in doses from -0648 to T296 grm. (1 to 20 grains) ; 
the valerianate, from -1296 to *648 grm. (2 to 10 grains) ; and the 
solution, from 1*7 c.c. to 5*2 c.c. (f drachm to 1J drachm). 
§ 852. Toxic Effects of Bismuth.—From the researches of Meyer 
and Steinfeld 3 on animals, it appears that if birds or mammals are 
poisoned with bismuth salts introduced subcutaneously, or by direct 
injection into the veins, death follows in from twenty-four to forty- 
eight hours, the fatal issue being preceded by convulsions ; after death 
the colon is intensely blackened, and it may be ulcerated, while the 
small intestines and the stomach are healthy. If, however, sulphur 
preparations are given by the mouth, there is then blackening of the 
stomach, and there may also be ulcers. Meyer is of the opinion that 
SH 2 precipitates bismuth in the parenchyma, and the particles occluding 
the capillaries thus cause small local necroses ; that which escapes pre¬ 
cipitation is mainly excreted by the kidneys. Poisonous symptoms in 
man have been known to occur from the treatment of wounds with 
bismuth preparations ; 4 the symptoms have been somewhat similar to 
mercurial poisoning ; there have been noticed stomatitis with salivation, 
loosening of the teeth, a black colour of the mucous membrane of the 
1 Bismuth is contained in all copper coinage—from the Bactrian coins to our 
own ; in all cupreous ores, except the carbonates; and in nearly all specimens of 
commercial copper.—Field, Chern. News, xxxvi. 261. 
2 “ Airol ” is an oxyduogallate of bismuth, and has been used externally in the 
form of powder for dressing wounds. 
3 L. Feyder-Meyer, Rossbach's pharmak. Unters., iii., 1882, No. 23 ; Steinfeld, 
Wirkung des Wismut, Inaug. Diss., Dorpat, 1884 ; Arch. exp. P., Bd. xx., 1886. 
4 Brit. Med. Journ., 1887, i. 749. 
