Bismuthum

Bismuth

Bismuthi Subcarbonas.—Bismuth subcarbonate. A white or yellowish-white powder, without taste or smell, insoluble in water. Dose, gr. x— 3 j, in powder or emulsion.

Bismuthi Subnitras

Bismuth subnitrate. A heavy, white powdor, with a faintly acid odor and taste, insoluble in water. Dose, gr. x — 3 j, in powder or emulsion.

Bismuthi Citras

Bismuth citrate. "A white, amorphous powder, odorless and tasteless, insoluble in water or alcohol." Dose, gr. v—Эj.

Bismuthi et Ammonii Citras

Bismuth and ammonium citrate. Small, translucent scales, soluble in water. Dose, gr. v—gr. xv.

Xeroform contains besides bismuth 50 per cent of tribromphenol, and is antiseptic and astringent. It is a greenish-yellow powder, having but little odor or taste, and is insoluble. Applied to sloughing wounds and ulcers, it is an efficient deodorant and antiseptic. Internally it acts as an astringent, corrects intestinal decomposition, and arrests diarrhoea. The dose for adults ranges from five to twenty grains, and for children two to eight grains. It is best given in wafer or capsule.

Physiological Actions

The insoluble preparations have a very slightly metallic taste. They coat the tongue black by the formation of a sulphide. Given in suitable cases, they promote the appetite and increase the digestive power, and a gain in body-weight is one result of their administration. They are somewhat astringent, and retard the intestinal movements. As they are nearly insoluble, they pass down the intestinal tract and are converted into sulphides; hence the faeces under their use become a dark slate color. They are not entirely in- soluble, for bismuth can be detected in the blood, urine, and other secretions, after a course of these medicines. Sufficient is absorbed under some circumstances, it is said, especially after prolonged administration, to cause toxic symptoms; but such a result must be due to accidental combinations, or to the presence of arsenic, which is a very constant impurity in the ordinary commercial preparations of subni-trate and subcarbonate of bismuth. Trousseau and Pidoux remark, with regard to its presumed toxic effect, as follows: " When the sub-nitrate of bismuth has been prepared from the perfectly pure metal, precipitated and well washed, it may be given in single doses from one to four grammes (fifteen grains to a drachm) without producing the least malaise." According to the same authority, Dr. Monneret has often given as much as ten to sixty grammes a day, without any recognized ill effects. It may therefore be concluded that the action of bismuth is chiefly local. The elaborate investigation of Steinfeld, made on animals, does not affect the question as just stated. His results were obtained by injecting solutions into the blood, and thus new elements enter into the problem, not of a character to be considered as pertaining to the stomachal administration of insoluble salts.