BINOXIDE OF MANGANESE.

559

caused vomiting, paralysis, without convulsions, and inflammation of the1 stomach, small intestines, liver, spleen, and heart. Gmelin observes, asremarkable, “the extraordinary secretion of bile produced by it, andi which was so considerable that nearly all the intestines were colouredyellow by it, and the large intestines had a wax yellow colour communi-cated to them,” (op. cit. 90.) It deserves notice, in connexion with thiseffect, that the sel desopilant of Rouviere, used as a quack remedy toevacuate bile, contains chloride of manganese ( Journ. de Chim. Med.v. 534.)

Dr. Thomson has seen an ounce of the sulphate swallowed withoutany effect, except the free action of the bowels, (Coupar, op. cit.) Iliine-feld ( Horn's Archivf.Med. Erf. 1830, quoted by Wibmer, Wirk. d. Arzn.)

. gave to a rabbit nearly two drachms of manganesic acid, in three days, indoses of ten or fifteen grains. The only obvious effect was increasedI secretion of urine. The animal being killed, the peritoneum and externalcoat of the colon was found of a greenish colour [protoxide of manganesei is green], the muscles were readily lacerated and pale, the liver wasI inflamed, the bile increased. Wibmer (op. cit.) gave six grains daily ofj the carbonate of the protoxide of manganese to a rabbit during manyweeks. No disturbance of function was observed. The animal waskilled, but neither in the blood nor the muscles could the least trace ofmanganese be detected.

Uses. —It is rarely employed in medicine. Kapp (op. cit.) admi-. nistered it, as well as the salts of manganese, internally as well as exter-i nally in the various forms of syphilis. In herpes, scabies, and the scor-butic diathesis, he used it with benefit. Brera (Harless, Neues Journ. d.Ausl. Med. Lit. Bd. viii. St. 2, S. 57) used it in chlorosis, scorbutus,

1 hypochondriasis, hysteria, &c. Otto (Frorieps Notizen, Bd. xii. No. 22,

I S. 347) administered it in cachectic complaints with favourable results.

I Odier (Handb. d. pr. Arzneiwiss. quoted by Richter) employed it in1 cardialgia. It has been applied as an absorbent in the treatment ofold ulcers, as a depilatory, and as a remedy for skin diseases, especiallyitch and porrigo (llayer, Treat, on Skin Diseases , by Willis, p. 58.)

Administration. —Internally it has been given in the form of pills,in doses varying from three grains to a scruple, three or four times in theday. As a local agent it has been used in the form of gargle, composedof two or three drachms of the oxide diffused through five or six ouncesof barley water. An ointment, consisting of one or two drachms of oxideto an ounce of lard, has also been used.

In chemistry and pharmacy it is employed in the manufacture ofoxygen, chlorine, and iodine. In the arts it is used by the bleacherfor the production of chlorine ; by the glass-maker to destroy the browncolour communicated to glass by iron ; and to give an amethystine tintto plate glass ; and by the potter for colouring earthenware.

END OF PART I.

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