SESQUICHLORIDE OF ANTIMONY.

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tissue of the back of a dog ; but no effects resulted from it. Fifteen grainsplaced in the peritoneal sac caused inflammation, and in 24 hours death,but without any peculiar symptoms. Moiroud (P hurra. Viter. 428) says,that given to horses, in doses of from 2 to 4 ounces, it acts as anexcitant, causing increased frequency of pulse and respiration, and softerstools.

(/;.) On man. —In most cases it produces no obvious effects, even whentaken in very large doses. Rayer (op. cit.) gave half an ounce of it inpowder, for several days, without the slightest effect. Cullen (Treat, ofMat. Med. ii. 482), however, has seen it cause nausea and vomiting inone or two instances in which it was largely employed. Rayer saysthat the decoction of the sesquisulphuret is much more active than anequal quantity of the same preparation in powder. How are these factsto be explained ? Rayer ascribes the activity of the decoction to arse-nious acid formed by boiling sulphuret of arsenicum (contained in theordinary crude antimony) with water; for Guibourt obtained in this waylffj grs. of arsenious acid by boiling an ounce of crude antimony. Butthe presence of arsenic is not necessary to explain the greater activity ofthe decoction, since by long-continued boiling with water, the sesqui-sulphuret of antimony yields liydrosulphuric acid and sesquioxide ofantimony (Geiger, Handb. d. Pharm.) The occasional nausea and vomit-ing may arise from the decomposition of the sulphuret by the fluids inthe alimentary canal.

Uses.—A s a medicinal agent it is occasionally employed as a diapho-retic and alterative in some skin diseases, especially -lepra and scabies, inscrofula and glandular affections, and in rheumatism and gout.

As a pharmaceutical and chemical agent it is a most important sub-stance, being the source from which the metal, and all its compounds,are procured.

Administration. —The usual dose of it, when taken internally, isfrom ten to thirty grains of the powder; but several drachms of it havebeen taken without much effect. The tisan de Feltz, which is occasion-ally used in skin diseases,is prepared by boiling sarsaparilla, Sj., and crudeantimony (tied up in a bag) 5j., in a pint and a half of water; then addisinglass, 5iv., previously dissolved in water, and reduce the whole (byboiling) to a pint, which is to be taken during the day (Rayer, Treatise onDiseases of the Skin, by Dr. Willis, 1223).

Antimo'nii Sesquichlo'ridum. — Sesquichlo'ride of Antimony .

History. —Basil Valentine was acquainted with this preparation,which has had various appellations; such as oil or butter of antimony(oleum seu butyrum antimonii ), muriate or hydrochlorate of antimony.

Preparation. —The impure hydrated sesquichloride, sold in the shopsas butter of antimony, is usually prepared by dissolving roasted sesqui-sulphuret of antimony (cinis antimonii\ in hydrochloric acid, and addingpernitrate of iron to the solution as a coloming matter.

In the Dublin Pharmacopoeia an analogous compound is prepared (inthe manufacture of the nitro-muriatic oxide of antimony) by digesting,and afterwards boiling, 20 parts of sesquisulphuret of antimony in amixture of 100 parts hydrochloric acid and 1 part of nitric acid. One