The sulphate of zinc is much employed as an emetic in cases such as narcotic poisoning, where prompt and efficient action is necessary. Six grains will generally prove sufficient. It may be repeated every fifteen minutes, well diluted with water, until emesis occurs. It was formerly much employed as an emetic in croup, but now tartar-emetic, but especially the subsulphate of mercury, is preferred.

The oxide of zinc is an excellent remedy for gastralgia. It is indicated also in the following state of things: pain after taking food, nausea, intestinal pain, succeeded by prompt alvine discharges, the faeces being made up largely of undigested food. From five to ten grains mixed with aromatic powder and combined with morphine, if need be, may be given before each meal. In the summer diarrhoea of children, it is a very efficient remedy. It may be administered with bismuth and pepsin. Rx Bismuthi subnitrat., 3 j — 3 ij; pepsinae sacch. (Sheffer's), 3 ss; zinci oxidi, grs. vj—grs. xij. M. Ft. pulv.no.xii. xii. Sig.: One powder every four to six hours. In the chronic diarrhoea both of children and adults the oxide of zinc (from two to ten grains) is serviceable under the same circumstances in which bismuth is presumed to be indicated, but it is a less pleasant remedy in action than the latter. The sulphate (gr. ss—grs. ij) often gives great relief in that form of dyspepsia which is the cause of oxaluria. In small doses, the sulphate, like most of the mineral remedies of this group, increases for a time the appetite and digestive capacity, but this effect is soon succeeded by gastro-intestinal catarrh, nausea, and loss of appetite. The sulphate, as well as the oxide, is an astringent; it arrests the peristaltic movements and causes constipation, and is therefore an appropriate remedy in chronic diarrhoea and chronic dysentery. In its action and results it is similar to but less efficient than sulphate of copper. It may be combined with opium and ipecacuanha: Rx Zinci sulphat., pulv. opii, pulv. ipecac, āā grs. xij. M. Ft. pil. no. xij. Sig.: One pill three or four times a day.

The zinc preparations possess undoubted efficacy in certain disorders of the thoracic organs. The night-sweats of phthisis are often prevented by a pill of oxide of zinc and extract of belladonna (three grains of the former and half a grain of the latter) given at bedtime. The zinc is serviceable without the belladonna, but the combined action is more efficient. The sulphate of zinc, by virtue of its astringency, has been prescribed in bronchorrhoea, but other agents are now preferred. The oxide of zinc is a serviceable prophylactic against the recurrence of the attacks of spasmodic asthma. It is also one of the numerous remedies which has been used with a varying degree of success in whooping-cough: Rx Zinci oxidi, 3 j; ext. belladonnae, grs. v. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One pill three times a day as a prophylactic for asthma, and as a remedy for whooping-cough. The sulphate of zinc (gr.1/4—gr. j) and extract of belladonna (gr. 1/6—gr. ss) may be used in combination for the relief of the same cases. It is highly probable that the sulphate of zinc, being more soluble, is much more efficient in the treatment of these neuroses of the digestive organs than the oxide.

The preparations of zinc exert an influence upon the nervous system which has been and is called antispasmodic. In certain disorders of the nervous system, of which the chief manifestations are spasm and convulsion (clonic), they are sometimes very serviceable. Much has been said for and against the oxide of zinc as a remedy for epilepsy. A few cases are improved by it; in the great majority it fails utterly. When favorable, it acts by allaying irritability of the terminal filaments of the pneumogastric, and probably also by removing a diseased state of the gastric mucous membrane. Epileptiform vertigo and epileptiform angina pectoris, when they arise (as they not infre-quently do) from gastric disorder of some kind, are sometimes cured by the oxide of zinc. The so-called nervous headache of hysterical women, nervous cough, and aphonia, due to uterine and ovarian irritation, are often relieved by the valerianate of zinc. Sulphate of zinc is one of the numerous remedies for chorea, acting in a manner similar to arsenic, but inferior to this agent in curative power. In neuralgia due to reflex irritation from the female pelvic organs, the preparations of zinc, notably the valerianate, are often extremely beneficial. Rx Zinci valerianat., Эj; ext. gentianae, Эj; ext. nucis vom., grs. v. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One pill three or four times a day. In chronic alcoholismus, to relieve the trembling, to diminish the appetite for strong drink, and to relieve the gastric catarrh, the oxide of zinc is very useful: Rx Zinci oxidi, 3j; piperin., Эj. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One pill three or four times a day.

External Uses

The interstitial injection of a solution of zinc chloride has lately been brought forward as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis, and, it is alleged, with a large measure of success. Lan-nelongue was the first to practice this expedient, and he continues to advocate it as a valuable curative agent. The method consists in injecting into the pulmonary parenchyma a solution of zinc chloride of the strength of 1 to 50 to 20. It causes no injury to the lung tissues, and it is not painful. The needle is carried into the area occupied by the disease and three drops of the solution are slowly injected.

An excellent caustic for the destruction of lupus, epithelioma, and unhealthy ulcers is the dried sulphate of zinc, which may be freely dusted over the affected surface. A superficial slough forms, the separation of which may be aided by a poultice. The most efficient escha-rotic consistent with safety is the chloride. No danger is to be apprehended from its absorption, and the strength of the application may be easily regulated. For the destruction of malignant growths, chloride of zinc is applied of varying strength, by the admixture of different proportions of flour, or better, of powdered althea-root, so as to form a paste, sufficient water being added. One part of the chloride to two, three, four, or five parts of flour are the proportions advised by Dr. Canquoin. Instead of flour, the chloride may be mixed with anhydrous sulphate of lime. A very convenient and useful mode of applying chloride of zinc is, to mix it, while in a finely-powdered state, with its weight of gutta-percha melted with as little heat as possible. The mixture may be molded into any desired shape. The so-called "caustic arrows" are nothing more than chloride-of-zinc paste, dried and cut into arrow-like slips. These are inserted into the malignant growth, usually at its base, in order to separate it from the healthy tissues.

The salts of zinc are useful applications to certain forms and stages of skin-diseases. In eczema, during the secretory stage, the following may be used: Rx Zinci oxidi, 3 ij; glycerinae, oz ij; liq. plumbi sub-acetat., 3 jss; aquae calcis ad oz vj. M. Sig.: Lotion (Fox). This formula is serviceable also in impetigo and herpes. An excellent absorbent powder for excoriated surfaces is the following: Rx Corn-meal, finely sifted, oz iv; oxide of zinc, oz j; iris powder, oz ss; oil of almonds, gtts. x. M. The following is recommended by Neumann in seborrhoea, when there is inflammation: Rx. Zinci oxidi, 3 j; plumbi car-bonat., 3 j; cetacei, oz j; ol. olivae q. s. ft. ung. Sig.: Ointment. In erythema, intertrigo, and eczema, the following lotion is useful: Rx Aluminis, Эj; zinci sulph., grs. x; glycerinae, 3 j; aquae rosse, oz iv. M. Sig.: Lotion. For erythema and herpes, the following may also be used: Rx Zinci acetat., grs. ij; aquae rossae, 3 j; ung. aquae rosae, oz j. M. Sig.: Ointment. The ointments of the oxide of zinc and the cerate of the carbonate are excellent applications in many of the cutaneous affections above named.

Probably the most efficient means for treating gonorrhoea consists in the use of a weak zinc-injection frequently repeated, Rx Zinci chloridi, gr. j; aquae rosae, oz iv— oz viij. M. Sig.: As an injection. Rx Zinci sulph., grs. viij; aquae rosae, oz viij. M. Sig.: As an injection. After the acute symptoms have subsided, the following injection is very effective: Rx Zinci sulphat., plumbi acetat., āā grs. viij; ammoniae muriat., aluminis, āā grs. iv; aquae rosae, oz j. M. Sig.: As an injection.

The sulphate of zinc is very much prescribed by the ophthalmologists in conjunctivitis, otorrhoea, etc. It is usually associated with morphine and atropine. Rx Zinci sulphat., grs. ij—grs. viij; morphinae sulph., grs. ij—grs. iv; atropinae sulph., gr. ss—gr. j; aquae rosae, oz j. M. Sig.: For the eye.

Authorities referred to:

Fox, Dr. Tilbury. On Diseases of the Skin, second American edition. Gubler, Dr. Adolphe. Commentaires Thérapeutiques du Codex Medicamentarius. Hirt, Dr. Lcdwig. Die Krankheiten der Arbeiter, erster Theil, Breslau, 1871, p. 97, et seq.

Nothnagel, Dr. Hermann. Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre, p. 281, et seq., Zink-Praparate.

Simpson, Sir James Y. Clinical Lectures on Diseases of Women, American edition, 1872, p. 195.

Trousseau et Pidoux. Traité de Thérapeutique et de Matiére Médicale, eighth edition, by Paul.

Waldenburg und Simon. Handbuch der allgemeinen und speciellen Arzneiverordnungs-Lehre, Berlin, 1873.