348

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

{b .) On man. —In small doses it promotes the secretions of mucus, urine,and perspiration. By continued use it appears to exercise a specificinfluence over tire lymphatic vessels and glands, the activity of which itincreases; for under its use glandular and other swellings and indura-tions have become smaller and softer, and ultimately disappeared alto-gether. In larger doses it excites nausea, vomiting, and sometimes purg-ing ; causes tenderness in the pragcordium, quickens the pulse, andoccasions faintness, weakness, anxiety, trembling, and giddiness. Inexcessive doses the disorder of the nervous system is manifested byfailure and trembling of the limbs, giddiness, small contracted pulse,cold sweats, convulsions, paralysis, insensibility, and death (Vogt, Phar-makodyn ). Considered in reference to other medicines, it has the closestresemblance in its operation to chloride of barium. Hufeland (quotedby Wibmer, die Wirkung, &c.) says its operation is more irritant thanthe last mentioned substance, and that its use requires greater caution,—a statement which is directly opposed to the experience of Dr. Wood(Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ. i. 147), and of most other practitioners.

Uses. —It has been principally employed in scrofulous affections, espe-cially those attended with glandular enlargements. Beddocs (op. cit.)gave it to nearly a hundred patients, and he tells us there are few of thecommon forms of scrofula in which he has not had successful experienceof it. Dr. Wood (op. cit.) tried it on an extensive scale, and withdecided benefit. It has been found most efficacious in the treatment oftabes mesenterica, checking purging, diminishing the hectic fever, allay-ing the inordinate appetite, and ultimately restoring the patient to perfecthealth. It has also been recommended in chronic arthritic complaints,in bronchocele, in some chronic affections of the brain (as paralysis),and in other cases where the object was to excite the action of the ab-sorbents.

Occasionally, though rarely, it has been employed externally. Thusa bath containing two or three ounces of it, either alone or with chlorideof sodium, has been used in scrofula (Vogt, Pharmakodyn.)

In pharmacy chloride of calcium is used in the rectification of spirit,(p. 197), on account of its strong affinity for water. In chemistry it isemployed in the drying of gases, and in the crystallized state, mixedwith half or two-tliirds of its weight of ice or snow, for producing anintense degree of cold-

Administration.— Chloride of calcium is always used in the form ofaqueous solution. The Liquor Calcii Ciiloridi, Ph, L. consists offour ounces of the chloride dissolved in twelve fluidounces of distilledwater. The dose of it is forty or fifty minims, gradually increased untilslight nausea is produced.

Cal'cis Hypochlo'ris. — Hypochlo'rite of Lime.

History.— In 1798, Mr. Tennant, of Glasgow , took out a patent forthe manufacture of this substance as a bleaching powder, which in con-sequence was long known as Tennant's bleaching powder. According tothe views entertained of its composition, it has been successively termedoxymuriate of lime, chloride of lime or chloruret of the oxide of calcium,chlorite of lime (Berzelius), and chlorinated lime (calx chlorinata, Ph . L.)