Alumen

Alum

Alum. Alun, Fr.; Alaun, Ger.

Large, colorless, octahedral crystals, sometimes modified by cubes, and possessing an acid, sweetish, astringent taste. It dissolves in 9 parts of water at 59° Fahr., and in 0·3 part of boiling water, but is insoluble in alcohol. On exposure to the air, absorbs ammonia and acquires a whitish coating.

Alumen Exsiccatum

Dried alum. Alum deprived of its water of crystallization by heat. A white, granular powder, odorless, but having a sweetish, astringent taste. Slowly but completely soluble in twenty parts of water at 60° Fahr.

Aluminis Sulphas

Sulphate of aluminum. Has a sour, somewhat sweetish, and astringent taste, and an acid reaction. It is soluble in twice its weight of water.

Antagonists and Incompatibles

Alkalies and their carbonates and acetate of lead are chemically incompatible.

Synergists

The mineral and vegetable astringents promote its therapeutical activity.

Physiological Actions

The sweetish taste of alum first experienced is quickly followed by a decided astringency. It provokes an abundant flow of saliva, and the albumen of the saliva and buccal mucus is coagulated in whitish, membrane-like flakes. Contraction of the capillaries, blanching of the mucous membrane, and subsequent diminution of secretion, take place; hence the dryness of the throat, thirst, and constipation, which result from its use. In doses of a tea-spoonful, or more, alum is an efficient emetic. Under certain morbid states it also proves laxative. Notwithstanding its power to coagulate albumen, it is absorbed into the blood, as was shown by Orfila, and may be found in the liver and in the urine. Circulating in the blood, alum affects the capillaries, diminishing their caliber, lessens secretion, especially of the mucous membranes, and arrests haemorrhage. In very large doses alum produces decided irritant effects—nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, etc.

Dried alum, in consequence of its strong affinity for water, and its power to coagulate albumen, is a mild escharotic.

Therapy

Alum is one of the remedies which may be used in gastric catarrh. It is said to be most effective when there is vomiting of glairy mucus. Rx Aluminis, 3 ij; extract, gentian., 3 ss. M. Ft. pil. no. xxx. Sig.: Two pills three times a day. Alum is a serviceable haemostatic in haematemesis. It is, of course, adapted only to-cases of passive haemorrhage, when there is a relaxed condition of the mucous membrane. Other astringents—as, for example, Monsel's salt—are more effective. When intestinal haemorrhage is dependent on mechanical causes (cirrhosis, for example), and the mucous membrane is free from acute inflammation, alum is a serviceable astringent. It was formerly much used in chronic diarrhoea and chronic dysentery, but more effective agents are now employed in these diseases. The following formulae are applicable to the above-mentioned diseases, in the absence of more suitable agents: Rx, Aluminis, 3 ij; pulv. aromat., 3 j; pulv. opii, grs. vj—grs. xij. M. Ft. pulv. no. vj. Sig.: One powder in honey or sirup three times a day or oftener. Rx Aluminis, 3 j ; extract, opii, grs. x; catechu, 3 j. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: Two pills every two, three, or four hours. Rx Aluminis, 3 ij; pulv. opii, grs. iij —grs. vj; pulv. kino,Эj; sacch. lactis, 3 j. M. Ft. pulv. no. vj. Sig.: One powder every three hours.

It is a singular fact that the most effective agent for the cure of colica pictonum is alum. It relieves the pain and nausea, and overcomes the constipation, more certainly than any other agent. The chemical theory of its action is entirely unequal to the explanation of its remarkable effects; the conversion of any portion of the lead present in the intestinal canal into the insoluble sulphate would not suffice to quiet pain, relieve flatulence, and relax the obstinately constipated bowels. Its action is doubtless dynamical: it overcomes the relaxation and paresis of the muscular layer, on which the phenomena of lead-colic depend. The following are convenient formulae for the administration of alum in this disease: Rx Aluminis, 3 ij; acid, sulphuric. dil, 3 j; syrup, limonis, oz j ; aquae, oz iij. M. Sig.: A tablespoonful every hour or two. Rx Aluminis, 3 ij; vini, oz iv; catechu, 3 j; traga-canthae;, 3 j; aquae, oz viij. M. Sig.: A tablespoonful every hour. Alum-whey, prepared as follows, may be used in lead-colic: To a pint of boiling milk, add ninety grains of alum-powder; separate the curd, and sweeten the whey if desired with an ounce of white sugar. A wineglassful may be taken every hour or two.

Alum not infrequently affords relief in gastralgia, enteralgia, and catarrh of the intestines. It is a serviceable laxative in females of lax fiber, in whom constipation depends upon a paretic state of the muscular layer of the bowel. It is true that we possess many other agents more agreeable for administration, and also more effective; but alum is cheap, and always to be obtained.

Alum, dissolved in infusion or solution of the extract of logwood, is a useful injection in haemorrhage from the rectum, or as an application to bleeding piles, or as an astringent wash in prolapsus of the rectum in children. A crystal of alum, cut into a globular shape, may be passed into the rectum in such cases. The following ointment may be applied to haemorrhoids when they protrude, bleed, and are painful: Rx Pulv. aluminis, 3 ij; pulv. camphorae, pulv. opii,āā3 j; unguent., oz j. M. Sig.: Ointment.

Notwithstanding the theoretical objections which have been made as to its utility, the use of alum is sanctioned by high authority in haemorrhages from distant organs of the body. Oppolzer recommends the following formula: Rx Aluminis, amyli, āā 3 j; sacchari, 3 ij. M. Ft. pulv. no. vj. Sig.: One powder every two hours. Skoda advises the following formula in haemoptysis: Rx Aluminis, 3 j; sacch. alb., 3 ss; pulv. ipecac, comp., Эj. M. Ft. pulv. no. vj. Sig.: One powder every two hours.

Alum was formerly used in diabetes mellitus, but more effective methods of treatment have taken its place. Good results have certainly been produced by the use of alum in diabetes insipidus. Colliquative sweats are moderated by the internal use of alum, and by sponging the surface with a solution.

Alum has been used with a certain measure of success in whooping-cough, during the spasmodic stage, but the more certain and palatable remedies now in our possession have quite displaced it. As an emetic in croup, there is no doubt of the utility of alum. It is used to cause the dislodgment of the false membrane, and to prevent its re-formation. It acts without depressing the bodily functions, is prompt and thorough. A teaspoonful of the powder, mixed with honey or sirup, may be given, and repeated every half-hour until free emesis occurs.

External Uses of Alum

A solution of alum in nitric ether is said to be an effective application in toothache ( 3 ij— 3 vij). When the gums are spongy and ill-conditioned, and manifest a tendency to recede from the teeth, the following local application is very serviceable: Rx Aluminis, 3 j; vini, Oj; tinct. cinchonae, oz ss; tinct. myrrhae, 3 ij; mel. rosae, oz ij. M. Sig.: As a mouth-wash. When there is much relaxation of the faucial mucous membrane, alum and sugar, in equal proportions, may be applied by an insufflation-tube. Powdered alum, dusted over the affected surface, is a useful application in chronic pharyngitis, chronic tonsillitis, chronic nasal catarrh. Ulcers of the mouth, whether syphilitic, or due to nursing, or arising from gastric disorder, are improved in character by application of a crystal of alum. A useful gargle in various affections of the mouth and throat is the following: Rx Infus. lini, oz xv; tinct. kino, oz j; aluminis, 3 ij- M. Sig.: As a gargle.

In catarrhal ophthalmia, after the acute symptoms have subsided, an alum-lotion is useful: Rx Aluminis, Э j; aquae rosae, oz iv. M. Sig.: Lotion. Alum-curd is a domestic application which is often serviceable: 3 ss of alum to the white of an egg.

The following is a useful injection in chronic gonorrhoea: Rx Aluminis, 3 j; zinci sulphatis, 3 ss; sodii biborat., grs. iv; aquae rosae, oz viij. M. Sig.: An injection. This prescription is equally applicable to leucorrhoea.

Alum is a useful haemostatic, but there are others more powerful. Alum is a constituent of the once famous Pagliari's mixture (Men-tel's): Rx Benzoini, gr. c; alcohol, fort., 3 ss. Dissolve and add water, oz x; alum, oz j. The mixture is to be boiled until clear, and, when cool, filtered. This is also a good preservative solution for anatomical preparations, and is an effective application in leucorrhoea, pruritus of the vulva, etc.

Alum oz ss, the whites of four eggs, and tincture of camphor oz ij, is an excellent application to bed-sores. Burned alum is a mild escha-rotic, which is sometimes used to destroy exuberant granulations.

Authorities referred to:

Gubler, Dr. A. Commentaires de Thérapeutique, etc., p. 433. Nothnagel, Dr. Hermann. Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre, p. 311. Trousseau et Pidoux. Traité de Thérap., etc., vol. i, p. 188. Waldenbcrg und Simon. Handbuch der Arzneiverordnungs-Lehre, p. 154.