Eng., Silver Oxide. Average Dose.-1 grain (0.06 Gm.).

Therapeutic Action

Silver Nitrate and Caustic are antiseptic, germicide, astringent and caustic.

Uses

Silver Nitrate is sometimes used by mouth in such conditions as gastric catarrh, gastric ulcer, etc. By rectum for ulceration, fissure, amoebic dysentery, etc. It is used as an application for tonsillitis, diphtheria, scarlatina, ulcers, chancroids, and kindred conditions. It is used in eye diseases, particularly for the prevention and cure of gonorrheal ophthalmia. Frequently used for vaginitis, endometritis, etc.

Toxicology

Acute poisoning by silver nitrate is rare. It would probably be recognized, if seen early, by the whitish appearance of the mouth and throat; if seen later, by the characteristic dark color of the skin around the mouth. The antidote is sodium chloride. Argyria is the condition resulting from the continued use of a silver salt. In the superficial circulation of the exposed parts of the body it is acted upon by the light and deposited in the skin, giving a bluish tint to the complexion. The condition has been considered beyond relief. Hexamethylenamine has recently been recommended.

Administration

Practically the only preparations of silver employed by the physician are the Nitrate and the Fused Nitrate. The latter is frequently used by the physician, but seldom prescribed. Silver Nitrate is practically always prescribed alone.

Silver Nitrate, or Lunar Caustic, should not be prescribed for the patient's use. When used as a caustic, the well-known discoloration is slow in developing, and much damage is often done. The areas affected seem rather prone to inflammatory changes.

The discoloration may sometimes be removed by the careful use (by the physician) of a 1 per cent. aqueous solution of potassium cyanide.

Internally

The drug if prescribed is probably best administered in the form of the pills prepared by the pharmaceutical manufacturing houses. They may be ordered as:

Sig

One three times a day.

Locally

Silver Nitrate is not often prescribed to be used by the patient, but is frequently employed by the physician in the form of aqueous solution. The strength of the solution varies from 1: 5 to 1: 1000.

For the eyes of the newborn a 1 per cent. solution is usually employed.

As an application for tonsillitis, etc., the 5, 10, or 20 per cent. solutions are used.

Overaction may be prevented by neutralizing with normal salt solution.

Solutions for the prescriber's use may be ordered as:

M.

Sig

Ten per cent. solution of silver nitrate. (Poison-label.)

Unofficial Salts of Silver.