Dr. Koch has found the same salt act well as a nervine and muscular tonic in emphysema; and, according to my experience, it certainly deserves further trial.

Contra-Indications

General feebleness, and especially feebleness of the circulation or of the digestion, would usually prevent the giving of antimony; hence it should rarely be prescribed in infancy or in advanced life. To children it has proved specially dangerous sometimes, by inducing a condition of collapse without much warning, but a remedy so valuable in their acute inflammatory affections, should not be wholly withheld: in old persons it is more liable to derange the stomach. Before emetic doses are ordered for a patient, inquiry should be made, if possible, as to the existence of hernia, aneurism, or other arterial or cardiac disease, cerebral congestion, uterine displacements, or pregnancy: such conditions should contra-indicate the production of vomiting.

Preparations And Dose

Antimonium sulphuratum: dose, 1 to 5 gr. as an alterative; 10 to 20 gr. as an emetic. Is seldom prescribed unless in the compound calomel pill (Plummer's). Antimonium tartaratum: often given dissolved in plain water, but the pharmacopoeial solution of it is a "vinum antimoniale" containing 2 gr. to the ounce. This is convenient for giving small doses of the drug, especially in febrile conditions, but is not very suitable when larger quantities for depressant effects are required. Dose: as diaphoretic and expectorant, 1/16 to 1/6 gr. of the powder, or 15 to 40 min. of the wine every one to three hours; for children, smaller doses (v. pp. 291- 4); as vascular depressant or sedative, 1/16 to 1 gr.; as an emetic, 1 to 2 gr. and upwards. Unguentum antimonii tartarati (contains 1 part of tartarated antimony to 4 of simple ointment). Antimonii oxidum: dose, 1 to 4 gr. Pulvis antimonialis, the officinal substitute for James's powder: dose, 3 to 10 gr. - the latter dose causes vomiting. Liquor antimonii chloridi: used only as a caustic. Antimonium nigrum: not used except in the preparation of antimonium sulphuratum, and liquor antimonii chloridi.

[Preparations, U. S. P. - Antimonii et potassii tartras - tartar emetic. Emplastrum antimonii: tartrate of antimony and potassium 1 troyounce, Burgundy pitch 4 troyounces. Unguentum antimonii: tartrate of antimony and potassium 100 grains, lard 400 grains. Vinum antimonii: tartrate of antimony and potassium 32 grains, boiling distilled water 1 fluidounce, sherry wine, sufficient to make 1 pint. Antimonii oxidum; Antimonii oxysulphuretum: dose 1 to 3 grains. Antimonii sulphuretum, used in preparations Antimonium sulphuratum. Piluloe antimonii compositoe: sulphurated antimony, mild chloride of mercury, each 12 grains; guaiac., molasses, each 24 grains. Divide into 24 pills: dose 1 to 3 pills.]

Adulterations

The powdered tartar emetic may contain free tartrate of potash, lime, copper, iron or arsenic.