420

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEPICA.

painful, and cleanest. Another mode of employing emetic tartar externallyis by sprinkling from ten to thirty grains of the salt in line powder over aBurgundy pitch plaster.

1 . Vinum Antimonii Potassio-tartratis, Ph.L.; Vinum Anti-monii, Ph. U. S. (Emetic tartar, Bij. ; Sherry wine , fjxx.) Liquor Tar-tari Emetici (emetic tartar, 9 j.; hot distilled water, fjviij.; rectified spi-rit, fjij.) -The Edinburgh formula is essentially the same as that ofLondon . In all these formula; the solution contains two grains of emetictartar to one fiuidounce of the liquid. It is important that Sherry , andnot an inferior kind of wine, be employed : for the latter frequently con-tains matters which precipitate the sesquioxide of antimony. If thewine be good, and the salt pure, no precipitate is formed in the solution,unless it be kept for a long period, when decomposition of the salt ensues.The Dublin formula is objectionable on account of its want of colour.

Antimonial wine is used, as a diaphoretic or expectorant, in doses offrom ten to thirty drops frequently repeated; as a nauseant, from one totwo fluidraclnns ; as an emetic, about half a fiuidounce, or two fluid-draclnns given at intervals of about ten minutes for four or five times, oruntil the desired effect is produced ; as an emetic for children, from thirtydrops to a fluidrachm ; as an antiphlogistic in peripneumonia, from twoor three fluidrachms to an ounce ; but for this purpose an extempora-neous but carefully made aqueous solution is to be preferred.

2. UnguentumAntimonii Pot assio-Tartratis, Ph.L. (Emetictartar, in fine powder, 5j.; lard, 3iv. M.) Unguentum Tartari Emetici ,Ph. Dub. (Half the strength of the London formula.) In the preparationof this ointment it is important that the emetic tartar be in the state of avery fine powder, in order to avoid the irritation produced by rubbinggritty particles on the skin. A portion of ointment about the size of asmall nut is to be rubbed on the skin night and morning. After the use ofit for two or three times, the painful condition of the part thereby inducedcommonly prevents further employment of friction. It is sometimesapplied, spread on linen, without rubbing. By either of these methods acrop of painful pustules is produced : but the facility and rapiditywith which they are developed varies considerably in different indivi-duals. Occasionally adventitious eruptions have appeared in otherparts of the body, which have been ascribed to absorption of antimonyinto the system {Gaz. Med. 1832, p. 842.) But I believe with Rayer[Treat, on Diseases of the Skin, by Dr. Willis, p. 540), that they arisefrom the inadvertent application of the ointment to these parts. Thisointment is used as a counter-irritant in various chronic maladies: thus itis applied to the chest in pulmonary affections, and to the jointsin chronic diseases (whether rheumatic or otherwise). It shouldonly be applied to sound portions of skin, and, therefore, leech-bites, the scarifications from cupping, wounds, &c. are to be carefullyavoided: for severe inflammation and even gangrenous ulceration may beproduced by not attending to this caution. I have before mentioned(p. 411) that in a very few cases severe and even fatal constitutional dis-order has appeared to have residted from the use of antimonial ointment.

Antidote.— Promote vomiting by tepid bland liquids. The antidoteis said to be tannic acid, and vegetable substances which contain it (asyellow bark, tea, nutgalls, &c.) Faure [Land. Med. Gaz. xvi. 703) re-commends the decoction in preference to other preparations of yellow