142 
PERMANGANATE  OF  POTASSA. 
constitutional  indolent  ulcers,  in  which  he  used  this  drug  with 
success,  and  adds: — ] 
The  foregoing  statement  indicates  the  variety  of  cases  in 
which  the  permanganate  of  potash  may  be  applied.  I  have  used 
the  remedy  generally  as  a  lotion  ;  but  although  I  have  not  found 
it  necessary,  for  the  purposes  I  have  generally  required,  to  use 
it  in  a  stronger  form,  I  would  recommend,  when  it  is  wished  to 
destroy  masses  of  cancerous  growth,  its  use  in  the  solid  form, 
either  as  a  powder,  as  I  have  done,  or  in  a  mass,  as  the  sulphate 
of  copper  or  other  caustics.  The  lotion  supersedes  all  the  char- 
coal, yeast,  and  carrot  poultices  :  let  this  simple  solution^ — make 
it  as  weak  as  may  be  thought  requisite  to  effect  the  object — two 
to  twenty  grains,  or  more  if  liked — be  used  on  a  piece  of  lint, 
instead  of  any  of  these  applications.  The  permanganate  of 
potash  is  more  useful  than  any  of  the  other  compounds  of  man- 
ganese and  potash  as  a  caustic  or  deodorant.  The  permanganic 
acid  contains  more  oxygen  than  the  manganic,  The  perman- 
ganic acid  has  the  composition  Mn207,  whilst  the  manganic  acid 
has  a  composition  MnO3. 
As  the  escharotic  action  of  these  bodies,  as  well  as  their 
deodorant  quality,  (  a  quality  which  has  been  long  known  to 
chemists,)  depends  on  the  ease  with  which  they  part  with  the 
oxygen  with  which  they  abound,  clearly  that  preparation  which 
yields  the  larger  quantity  of  oxygen  must  be  preferable :  this  is 
the  permanganic  acid  as  permanganate  of  potash. 
As  a  deodorant,  as  an  escJiarotic,  as  a  stimulant,  it  is  a  most 
useful  application,  combining,  as  it  does,  all  these  three  qualities  ; 
but  as  a  quality  still  to  be  claimed  in  its  favor  is  the  ease  of  its 
exhibition  as  a  lotion  applied  to,  or  in  powder  sprinkled  on,  the 
sore,  or  as  an  injection.  To  conclude,  I  may  say,  that  whilst 
from  the  foregoing  relation  its  advantages  have  been  attempted 
to  be  illustrated,  its  use  is  also  suggested  in  every  sort  of  case 
where  it  is  desirable  to  combine  all  the  qualities  this  agent  so 
beneficially  possesses ;  in  such  cases,  for  instance,  as  old  chronic 
ulcers,  warty  growths,  syphilitic  sores,  as  a  caustic  in  the  primary 
stage,  or  in  gonorrhoea  as  a  stimulant  injection. 
I  have  found  it  a  most  desirable  deodorant.  A  teaspoonful 
of  the  substance  powdered,  added  to  a  tablespoonful  or  two  of 
water,  just  enough  to  moisten  it  well,  and  sufficient  to  cover  the 
