ALUMINO-SULPHATE OF POTASH.

373

Its efficacy has been fully established by Kapeler, physician to theHopital St.-Antoine, in Paris , and Gendrin (quoted by Trousseau andPidoux, op. cit.) and by Dr. Copland [Diet, of Med. i. 374), as well asby several other distinguished authorities. It allays vomiting, abates flatu-lence, mitigates pain, and opens the bowels more certainly than any othermedicine, and frequently when other powerful remedies have failed. Itshould be given in full doses (as from a scruple to two drachms), dissolvedin some demulcent liquid (as gum-water) every three or four hours.Opium and (according to Dr. Copland) camphor may be advan-tageously conjoined. Kapeler also employs oleaginous euemata.The modus operandi of alum in lead colic is not very clear. Thebenefit has been ascribed by some to the chemical action of the sul-phuric acid on the lead supposed to be contained in the intestines;and in support of this view must be mentioned the fact, that othersulphates (as those r of magnesia, soda, zinc, and copper) as well asfree sulphuric acid, have been successfully employed in lead colic. But,on the other hand, the presence of lead in the prim a; via; or evacuations,and, consequently, the formation of sulphate of lead in saturnine colic,have not been demonstrated; though the experiments of Dr. C. G. Mits-cherlich (Muller’s Archiv , No. Y. 353,1836, quoted in Brit. Ann. of Med.vol. i. 204, 1837) have shown, that when the acetate of lead is swallowed,the greater part of it forms an insoluble combination with the gastro-intestinal mucus, and in this state may remain some time in the ali-mentary canal. Moreover, alum has been found successful by Kopp(Denkwurdigkeit , i. 342, quoted by G. A. Richter, ausfuhr. Arzneim.Suppl. Bd. 515) in other varieties of colic not caused by lead, and unac-companied by constipation. Dr. Copland is disposed to ascribe thebenefit of alum, and other sulphates in lead colic, to their “ exciting theaction of the partially paralysed muscular coat of the bowels, and therebyenabling them to expel retained matters of a morbid or noxious descrip-tion,”—an explanation which is inconsistent with the observation ofKopp just quoted.

Alum is administered internally in several other diseases, of which abrief notice only can be given. In passive or asthenic hemorrhagesfrom distant organs; as haemoptysis, menorrhagia and other uterinehemorrhages, haematuria, &c. In colliquative sweating, diabetes, gleet,and leucorrhcea. Krcysig (Die Krankh. d. Herzens , Bd. ii. Abt. 2, S. 714,in Richter, op. cit.) has advised its use in dilatation of the heart and aorticaneurism. More recently Dzondi (Aeskulap. Bd. 1, St. 1,1821, in Richter)has also recommended it in these diseases ; and Sundelin (Ileilmittellehre,ii. 278) has mentioned a case of supposed dilatation of the heart, in whichrelief was gained by the use of alum. In chronic diarrhoea, alum is occa-sionally serviceable.

Administration. —The dose of alum is from ten grains to one or twoscruples. It may be taken in the form of powder, or made into pillswith some tonic extract, or in solution. To prevent nausea, an aromatic(as nutmeg) should be conjoined. A pleasant mode of exhibition is inthe form of alum whey (serum aluminosum, seu serum lactis aluminatum),prepared by boiling two drachms of powdered alum with a pint of milk,then straining; the dose is a wine-glassful. The saccliarum aluminatumof the Prussian Pharmacopoeia is composed of equal parts of white sugarand alum: it may be given to children as well as adults. In prescribing