Origin. - Obtained by dissolving silver in nitric acid with the aid of heat, evaporating, and crystallizing.

Description and Properties. - Colorless, transparent, tabular, rhombic crystals, becoming gray or grayish-black on exposure to light in presence of organic matter. Without odor, but having a bitter, caustic, and strongly metallic taste. Soluble in 0.6 part of water and in 26 parts of alcohol. It should be kept in dark, amber-colored vials, protected from light.

Dose. - 1/4-1 grain (0.015-0.06 Gm.) [1/5 grain (0.01 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Argenti Nitras Mitigatus - Argenti Nitras Mitigati - Mitigated Silver Nitrate (Mitigated Caustic). - Origin. - Prepared by fusing together silver nitrate, 30, and potassium nitrate, 60, and casting in suitable molds.

Description and Properties. - A white, hard solid, generally in the form of pencils or cones of a finely granular fracture, becoming gray or grayish-black on exposure to light in the presence of organic matter; odorless, having a caustic, metallic taste, neutral to litmus-paper. It should be kept in dark, amber-colored vials. Used externally.

Argenti Nitras Fusus - Argenti Nitratis Fusi - Molded Silver Nitrate (Lunar Caustic). - Origin. - Obtained by melting silver nitrate, 100, hydrochloric acid, 4, and pouring the melted mass into suitable molds.

Description and Properties. - A white, hard solid, usually cone- or pencil-shaped, of a fibrous fracture, becoming gray or grayish-black on exposure to light in presence of organic matter; odorless, having a bitter, caustic, and strongly metallic taste. Soluble in 0.6 part of water and in 26 parts of alcohol. The product should be kept in dark, amber-colored vials, protected from light. Used externally and locally.