The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
MEDICAL NOTES.


People buy chlorate of potash by the
ounce and druggists sell it by the ton be-
cause there is a popular idea that it is a
harmless drug, one that can do no harm
even IL it does no good. Popularity the
salt is used almost exclusively as a remedy
for the relief and cure of sore mouth and
sore throat. especially where there is ul-
c~eration. 1t is also used as an antiseptic
wash in skin diseases where there is ul-
c~eration, IFS supposed action being to oxi-
die, 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 be-
ing that chlorate of potash parts with its
oxygen to the advantage of the blood and
tissues suffering from al insufficient sup
ply of oxygen.
1t is a peculiar drug. The physician sell
dom, if ever, prescribes it in combination
with other drugs because sugar, sulphur,
%tannin, charcoal, glycerine, etc., form ex-
plosive compounds with it. Even troches
containing chlorate of potash sometimes
explode spontaneously. and the drug it.
self explodes If struck a smart blow. as
every drug apprentice learns, to his sor-
row, while powdering il in a mortar. In
deed, 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
gargling was a task. There was no danger
of an overdose. Compressed tablets and
troches changed all that. As with other
drugs, the person using chlorate of potash
reasons that if a little of a thing is good
more will be better. Not satisfied with
the rapidity of the effect Of one tablet he
chews up several. and keeps on chewing
them at frequent intervals. Then comes a
distressed feeling in the stomach, which
continues to grow worse until there is
inflammation of the stomach and intes-
tines. This is quickly followed or attended
with a peculiar Inflammation of the kid
neys characterized by scanty and dark
colored urine due to the presence of de-
composed blood. The heart is weakened
and the blood so altered that gangrene sets
in in the extremities.
These results are more or less serious
and even fatal as the dose is large or
small, but the poisonous dose is not a con-
slant one; it is relative to the person
who takes it; a dose that has no effect on
one person may seriously affect another
who has an idiosyncray. Yet few people
who take chlorate of potash for a cold
escape some poisonous effect from 1t
marked by a strange. uncomfortable feeling
in the stomach; and cases are not rare
where death has resulted from compli-
cations caused by the too free use of
chlorate of potash tablets. Yet in modera-
ton there is nothing like chlorate of pot
ash for an liberated sore throat.
Camphor is a common household remedy
and an old one; a good one too, when
not abused. Rubbed on the skin it reddens
showing that it is a counter irritant and
in addition to this IL has certain powers
to blunt pain and feeling. This is its most
common use. Camphorated ointment, for
example, is useful In painful swellings. 1t
contains: Camphor. so parts; lard, or vase
line, or lanoline, 100 parts; melt the lard
and stir the camphor into 1t.
Camphorated oil, commonly used as a
stimulant liniment in rheumatism and the
like, and as a counter irritant in pneu.
monia, and the like. contains: Camphor,
10 parts; sweet oil, 100 parts. A stimulant
II Il at1Nl INDY oS AAeN0O 00AA w
parts of camphor to 100 parts of alcohol.
Sedative water Eau sedative) contains:
Water, 1000 parts: ammonia water, 100
parts; spirits of camphor. 1o parts; salt,
60 parts. This is a good application for
bruises, insect bites, etc., and diluted with
an equal part of water or cologne, a cloth
may be saturated with It and applied to the
head in headache or over parts affected
with neuralgia.
A more powerful application 20 relieve
pain is camphor Choral. composed Of equal
parts Of hydrate of choral and camphor
rubbed together in a mortar. TIL two solids
liquefy and make an oily fluid, a drop or
two of which may be applied over a pain
full spot. Morphine, cocaine, etc.. readily
dissolve in this and increase it's sedative
action. The proportion of morphine is
about 20 grains to 2 drachms.
Camphor phenique is composed of 3 parts
Of camphor to / part Of carbolic acid in
crystals. and is used as a substitute for
carbolic acid. having a pleasanter 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 camphorated
Oll, ID uSSu u dDOrt DOlS anu CdTDuncleS
with some success.
Camphor is also of value is chilblains, in
an ointment such as: Oil of eucalyptus.
/ part; camphor, l part; carbolic acid, "
part; yellow wax, 2, parts; vaseline. u
parts. Melt the wax and vaseline together
and add the other ingredients.
For preventing chapped hands and
~roughness of the skin camphor balls may
be used made of: 1 pound Of shaved white
soap and l ounce of spermaceti are melted
together with a little water to aid the
process. and then / ounce of powdered
camphor is added. Pour this into an
earthen dish and cut in two cakes when
cold. Use it in place Of ordinary soap for
the toilet.
All of these are external applications and
little harm can result from their careful
and moderate use, but when taken inter-
nally grave results may follow the use of
camphor. 1t is given as an Indispensable,
that is. a medicine to control nervous ex-
citation, especially such diseases as hys-
terra; it is also given in headache, hic-
cough, etc. Physicians use it for other
purposes. but these are not within the do
main of domestic medicine In small doses
l-one to- two grains-it may be frequently