SALINES. Magnēsii Citras Effervescens-Magnēsii Citrātis Effervescentis-Effervescent Magnesium Ci trate. U. S. P. Formula: Magnesium Carbonate, 10; Citric Acid, 46; Sodium Bicarbonate, 34; Sugar, 8; Alcohol and Distilled Water, a sufficient quantity. Description and Properties.-A white, coarsely granular salt, without odor, and having a mildly acidulous, refreshing taste. Deliquescent on exposure to the air. Soluble, with copious effervescence, in 2 parts of water; almost insoluble in alcohol. The product should be kept in well-closed vessels. Dose.--1 ounce (8.0-32.0 Gm.). Liquor Magnēsii Citrātis-Liquōris Magnēsii Citrātis -Solution of Magnesium Citrate. U. S. P. Formula: Dissolve Magnesium Carbonate, 15, in a solution of Citric Acid, 30; add Syrup of Citric Acid, 60; then Crystals of Potassium Bicarbonate, 25. Cork the bottle and wire immediately. The product effervesces when uncorked. Dose.-2-8 fluidounces (60.0-237.0 Cc.). Magnēsii Sulphas-Magnēsii Sulphātis-Magnesium Sulphate. U. S. P. (EPSOM SALT.) Origin. Obtained by the action of Sulphuric Acid upon native Magnesium Carbonate, treated with Water, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to crystallization. Description and Properties.-Small, colorless, rhombic prisms or acicular crystals, without odor, and having a cooling, saline, and bitter taste; slowly efflorescent in dry air. Soluble in 1.5 parts of water; insoluble in alcohol. Dose. I ounce (8.0-32.0 Gm.). Antagonists and Incompatibles.-Magnesium sulphate is incompatible with alkaline carbonates, phosphoric acid, phosphates, lead acetate, silver nitrate, and lime water. Synergists.-Saline purgatives. Potǎssii Sulphas-Potǎssii Sulphātis-Potassium Sulphate. U. S. P. Origin. Prepared by adding Potassium Carbonate to Acid Potassium Sulphate. Description and Properties.-Hard, colorless, transparent, sixsided, rhombic prisms terminated by pyramids, or in white powder; odorless, and having a somewhat bitter, saline taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in about 9.5 parts of water, insoluble in alcohol. Dose.--4 drachms (2.0-16.0 Gm.). Potǎssii et Sōdii Tărtras-Potǎssii et Sōdii Tartrātis -Potassium and Sodium Tartrate. U. S. P. U.S. (Rochelle Salt.) Origin.-Prepared by adding Acid Potassium Tartrate to a hot solution of Sodium Carbonate. Description and Properties.-Colorless, transparent rhombic prisms, or a white powder, odorless, and having a cooling, saline taste. The crystals slightly effloresce in dry air. Soluble in 1.4 parts of water, almost insoluble in alcohol. Dose.-30 grains-1 ounce (2.0–32.0 Gm.). Official Preparation. Pulvis Effervescens Compositus-Pulveris Effervescentis Compositi— Compound Effervescing Powder (SEIDLITZ POWDER).-Each powder has of Rochelle Salt, 120 grains (8.0 Gm.); of Sodium Bicarbonate, 40 grains (3.0 Gm.), mixed in a blue paper; and of Tartaric Acid, 35 grains (2.26 Gm.), in a white paper. Dose. One or two of each dissolved separately in separate quantities of water, the solutions poured together and drunk while effervescing. Sōdii Phosphas-Sōdii Phosphātis-Sodium Phosphate. U. S. P. (SODIUM ORTHOPHOSPHATE.) Origin.-Prepared by digesting Bone Ash with Sulphuric Acid. The solution is filtered, and to it is added Sodium Carbonate, and the filtrate evaporated to crystallization. Description and Properties.-Large, colorless, monoclinic prisms, odorless, and having a cooling, saline taste. The crystals effloresce in the air, and gradually lose 5 molecules of water of crystallization. Soluble in 5.8 parts of water; insoluble in alcohol. Sodium phosphate should be kept in well-stoppered bottles, in a cool place. Dose.-5 grains-1 ounce (0.32–32.0 Gm.). Sōdii Sulphas-Sōdii Sulphātis-Sodium Sulphate. U.S. P. (GLAUBER'S SALT.) Origin. The residue left in the manufacture of Hydrochloric Acid from Salt is neutralized with Sodium Carbonate. Description and Properties.-Large, colorless, transparent, monoclinic prisms or granular crystals; odorless, and having a bitter, saline taste. The salt effloresces rapidly in the air, and finally loses all its water of crystallization. Soluble in 2.8 parts of water and in glycerin; insoluble in alcohol. Dose.-1-8 drachms (4.0-32.0 Gm.). Physiological Action and Therapeutics of the Salines.-These preparations greatly augment the amount of fluid in the intestinal canal. This increase of fluid is not a secretion, but a result of the high osmotic equivalent of the salts which tends to draw the bodyfluids into the intestines, while hindering to a certain extent absorption of fluid from the intestines. The purgative influence is really due to the mechanical action of the fluid in the intestines. Save the sulphate and phosphate of sodium, which are mild hepatic stimulants, the salines have no effect upon the biliary secretions. The sodium salts are more efficient than the potassium salts as purgatives, owing to their higher osmotic equivalents. Purgation by the salines is painless, and occurs usually in from two to three hours after administration, there being ordinarily two or three watery evacuations. In cases of habitual constipation, particularly that associated with the gouty diathesis, there are no better purgatives than the SALTS OF SODIUM or mineral waters containing them, such as Carlsbad, Marienbad, Hunyadi Janos, etc. For children there is no better purgative than SODIUM PHOSPHATE, especially where the stools show a deficiency of bile. In duodenal catarrh excellent results are obtained by this drug; also in chronic rheumatism, and to retard the formation of biliary calculi. Concentrated saline purgatives are efficient remedies for the removal of dropsical and pleuritic effusions. MAGNESIUM SULPHATE, combined with dilute sulphuric acid, is the most efficient treatment in cases of chronic lead-poisoning. ROCHELLE SALT and SEIDLITZ POWDER are pleasant and useful purgatives in cases of biliousness, migraine, etc. SOLUTION OF MAG NESIUM CITRATE is used for the same purpose, but, while very palatable and acceptable to the stomach, is not always reliable, besides being apt to occasion slight griping. Administration.-The salines should be taken dissolved in as concentrated a solution as possible, and ordinarily should be administered in the morning, when the stomach is empty. DRASTIC PURGATIVES. These drugs are even harsher in their action than hydragogue purgatives, exciting violent peristalsis, and in large doses producing gastro-enteritis and all the symptoms occasioned by an irritant poison. The evacuations produced by these drugs are numerous, copious, and watery, attended with much griping pain, tenesmus, and borborygmi. Colocynthis-Colocynthidis-Colocynth. U. S. P. Origin.—The fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis Schroder, deprived of its rind. The colocynth plant is indigenous in Japan and is cultivated and naturalized in Spain. Description and Properties.-From 2 to 4 inches (5-10 Gm.) in diameter; globular; white or yellowish-white, light, spongy; readily breaking into three wedge-shaped pieces, each containing, near the rounded surface, many flat, ovate, brown seeds; inodorous; taste intensely bitter. The active constituent of colocynth is colocynthin, a glucosid, of which there is present about 2 per cent. Colocynth also contains resin, gum, and an amyloid principle. Dose.-5-10 grains (0.3-0.6 Gm.). Official Preparations. Extractum Colocynthidis-Extracti Colocynthidis-Extract of Colocynth. Dose, 1-2 grains (0.03-0.13 Gm.). Extractum Colocynthidis Compositum-Extrăcti Colocynthidis Compositi -Compound Extract of Colocynth.-Extract of Colocynth 16 per cent., with Aloes Scammony, Cardamom, and Soap. Dose.-5-25 grains (0.3-1.6 Gm.). Compound Extract of Colocynth enters into the following pills: Pilulæ Catharticæ Compositæ (8 per cent.). Pilulæ Catharticæ Vegetabiles (6 per cent.). Physiological Action and Therapeutics.-The action of colocynth is very similar to that of elaterin. In small doses, however, it rather acts as a stomachic, improving the appetite and augmenting the secretions of the whole gastro-intestinal tract. Colocynth is quite a decided hepatic stimulant and cholagogue. Pills containing colocynth are useful to produce abundant watery evacuations, as is necessary sometimes in the treatment of hepatic and renal diseases where there is constipation and ascites. The drug should be employed only when there is some marked indication for its use, as colocynth, like the other drastics, is too irritant for habitual use. Gastro-intestinal inflammation, pregnancy, etc., would contraindicate its use. Jalāpa-Jalapa-Jalap. U. S. P. Origin. The tuberous root of Ipomaa Jalapa Nuttall, a twining herbaceous perennial growing in damp and shady woods on the eastern slope of the Mexican Andes. It has been introduced into India and Jamaica. Description and Properties.-Napiform, pyriform, or oblong, varying in size, the large roots incised, more or less wrinkled, dark brown, with lighter-colored spots and short, transverse ridges; hard, compact, internally pale grayish-brown, with numerous concentric circles composed of small resin-cells; fracture resinous, not fibrous; odor slight, but peculiar, smoky, and sweetish; taste sweetish and acrid. Jalap contains two resins, one hard, the other soft, the former, termed jalapin or convolvulin, being the active principle of the drug. According to the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, there must be not less than 12 per cent. of resin, of which not less than 10 per cent. must be soluble in ether. Dose.-5-30 grains (0.32-2.0 Gm.). Official Preparations. Extractum Jalāpæ—Extrăcti Jalapæ-Extract of Jalap.-Dose, 2-5 grains (0.13–0.3 Gm.). Pulvis Jalapa Compositus-Pulveris Jalapa Compositi-Compound Jalap Powder (35 per cent., with Potassium Bitartrate).— Dose, 15-60 grains (1.0–4.0 Gm.). Resina Jalapa-Resina Jalapa-Resin of Jalap.-Description and Properties.-Yellowish-brown or brown masses or fragments, breaking with a resinous, glossy fracture, translucent at the edges, or a yellowish-gray or yellowish-brown powder, having a slight, peculiar odor, and a somewhat acrid taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in alcohol in all proportions. Dose.-2-5 grains (0.13–0.3 Gm.). Extract of Jalap is one of the ingredients of Pilulæ Catharticæ Compositæ and Pilulæ Catharticæ Vegetabiles. |