The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-09
Medical Notes..

People buy chlorate of potash by the
ounce and druggists sell it by the ton
because there is a popular idea that it
is a harmless drug, one that can do no
harm even if it does no good.
Popularity the salt is used almost ex-
clusively as a remedy for the relief
and cure of sore mouth and sore throat,
especially where there is liberation. 1t
is also used as an antiSeptic wash in
skin diseases where there is liberation,
its supposed action being to oxidize, so
to speak, the morbid matter, and thus
render the surface clean and healthy
1t is also taken internally where the
lungs do not perform their functions
properly, In debility of the heart and in
convalescence from exhausting sickness.
the theory being that chlorate of potash
parts with its oxygen to the advantage
OF the blood and tissues su@ering from
an insufficient supply of oxygen.
1t is a peculiar drug. The physician
seldom If ever prescribes it in combi-
nation with other drugs because sugar,
sulphur tannin, charcoal, gIycerine etc
form explosive compounds with it. Even
troches containing chlorate of potash
sometimes explode spontaneously. and
the drug itself eXplodes If struck a
smart blow, as every drug apprentice
learns to his sorrow, while powdering it
In mortar. Indeed this may happen If
a man carries chlorate of potash tablets
loose in his pocket especially if there
are matches, too
AS formerly used, in gargles, this drug
was comparatively safe-the operation of
saFglng was task. There was no dan
ger OF an overdose. Compressed tablets
and troches changed all that AS with
otner drugs, the person using chIorate of
potash reasons that if little of a thing
goou, more will be better. Not salts
4 .ieu WIN the rapidity of the effect of one
Idolet, ne cheWs up several and keens
on chewing them at frequent intervals
Ihen comes a distressed feeling in tho
stomach Which continues to grow worse
uI1ll there is inflammation of the ston-
S'ch aud intestine. This is quickly fol-
IoWed or attended with peculiar inflam-
Inae'on Oh the Kidneys chara cterized nv
eSahty ana dark-colored urine, due to
Che presence of decomposed blood Tho
heart Is weakened and the blood so aItar-
ties ~ TIC eAtf eliil-
1hese results are more or less serious
ana even fatal as the dose is largo ~
Sildll, out the Poisonous dose Is NOT n
oGiis'dnt one; 1t Is relative to the person
VINO takes 1T; dose that has no effen+
on one person may seriously effoot ~,
other who has an idiosyncracy Yet fe1
people VINO take chlorate of potash far
colo escape some poisonous effect fron,
IL marked by a strange. uncoynfor+abIo
IeeHng In the stomach; and cases are
NOT rare where death has resulted fro1,
o ~ caused by the too free use
or chlorate Of potash tablets Vet T.,
moderation there is nothing like chlora ta
Vi potash Tor an liberated sore throat.
Canphor is common household
remedy and an old one; a good one. too
when not abused Rubbed On tb slri,
II reddens, showing that it is a counter
irritant, and in addition to this It has
certain powers to blunt pain and feeling
inns is It's most common USE Campl1or
ated ointment for example, is useful in
painful swellings. 1t contains: Camnhor
81 parts; lard, or vaseline, or lanoIine
100 parts.
Melt the lard and stir the camphor
into it.
Camphorated oil, commonly used as a
stimulant liniment in rheumatism. and
the like, and as a counter irritant in
pneumonia, and the like, contains: Cam
phor, 10 parts; sweet oil, 100 parts. A
sumulant preparation may be made by
adding 80 parts of camphor to leo narts
of alcohol.
oeuauVe water (Eau Sedative), con-
ta1ns: Water, LOCO parts; ammonia water.
IL parts; spirits Of camphor, 10 parts;
salt, 60 parts.
This is good application for bruises.
insect bites, ETC., and diluted with an
equal part of water or cologne, a cloth
may be satuated with it and applied to
the head in headache or over parts af-
fected with neuralgia.
A more powerful application to relieve
pain is camphor choral, composed Of
equal parts of hydrate of choral and
camphor rubbed together in a mortar
The two solids hquify and make an oily
fluid. a drop or two of which may be
applied over a painful spot Morphine,
cocaine, etc, readily dissolve in this and
increase its sedative action. The proper
ton of morphine is about 20 grains to.
drachms
Camphor phenique Is composed OF
parts Of camphor to l part of carbolic
acid In crystals, and is used as a sub
stitute for carbolic acid, having a pleas
anter smell and also relieving pain more
readily.
Spirits of camphor applied to boils,
three times a day, allowed to evaporate,
and followed by an application of cam