128    ANTIMONIAL  POWDER  OF  THE  DUBLIN  PHARMACOPOEIA. 
T^nrq/  the  Effects  of  the  Teroxide  of  Antimony  (Algaroth's  Powder,) 
given  in  doses  of  three  grains  evening  and  night. 
More  or  less 
gentle  Action 
on  the  Bowels. 
Nausea. 
Vomiting. 
(perspiration. 
Perspiration 
without 
Vomiting. 
No  perceptible 
Effect. 
.60 
.40 
.15 
j  .70 
i 
.40 
.05 
In  order  to  try  how  far  the  action  of  the  teroxide  could  be  influ- 
enced by  the  presence  of  acids,  I  selected  six  of  the  cases  in  which 
there  had  been  no  effect,  or  only  perspiration,  and  added  to  each 
dose  the  same  weight  of  nitric  acid.  The  result  was  in  every  case 
either  nausea,  vomiting  or  purging.  Hence  itappears  that  the  ter- 
oxide is  capable  of  combining  with  acids  in  the  stomach,  and  of  form- 
ing salts  resembling  tartar  emetic.  I  find  also  that  the  addition  of 
one  or  two  grains  to  small  doses  of  either  rhubarb  or  aloes  produces 
a  remarkable  augmentation  of  the  purgative  effect  of  these  articles' 
The  conclusions  to  be  deduced  from  my  observations  are  : — 
1st.  That  the  antimonial  powder  of  the  present  Dublin  Pharm. 
(1850)  differs  from  that  hitherto  prepared,  not  only  by  containing 
the  antimony  exclusively  in  the  state  of  teroxide,  but  by  medical  ef- 
fects of  which  the  older  preparation  is  nearly  if  not  quite  destitute. 
2nd.  That  as  it  has  not  been  identified  by  a  distinct  name  (which 
is  to  be  regretted,)  the  prescriber  should,  to  avoid  confusion,  always 
distinguish  it  as  the  antimonial  powder  of  the  Dublin  Pharmaco- 
poeia of  1850. 
3d.  That  the  teroxide  of  antimony  (Algorth's  powder,)  inasmuch 
as  it  contains  all  the  active  part  of  antimonial  powder,  may  be 
safely  substituted  for  it,  the  phosphate  of  lime  not  contributing  to 
its  virtues,  and  having  been  at  first  accidentally  associated  with  it 
in  consequence  of  the  imperfect  chemistry  of  the  time  when  the 
original  process  was  devised. 
4th.  That  the  average  maximum  dose  of  the  teroxide  of  antimony, 
as  a  diaphoretic  for  an  adult,  is  three  grains  evening  and  night. 
5th.  That  the  addition  of  acids  renders  it  more  emetic  and  more 
purgative. 
6th-  That  the  occasionally  violent  effects  ascribed  to  it  by  some 
of  the  older  writers  were  most  probably  due  to  the  presence  of 
chloride  of  antimony,  from  want  of  care  in  the  preparation,  and 
that  this  may  be  most  effectually  excluded  by  precipitating  it  from 
tartar  emetic  by  means  of  an  alkaline  solution. — The  Dublin 
Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science-,  aud  Pharm  Jour* 
