Cadmium. Cadmium, Fr.; Kadmium, Ger. (Not official.) Cadmii Sulphas.—Sulphate of cadmium

Action and Uses

There is a strong resemblance—an identity of action, indeed—between zinc and cadmium, except that the latter is the stronger. Cadmium has a decidedly caustic and astringent taste; it is powerfully nauseant and emetic, producing great depression of the powers of life. Locally the effects are those of an irritant poison, and the systemic effects correspond; although there are produced such cerebro-spinal symptoms as coma and convulsions. This agent is not administered internally, the preparations of zinc being preferred for all purposes to which cadmium might be applied as a remedy.

In ophthalmic practice, cadmium seems to be much esteemed as a collyrium. It is held to possess special powers in causing absorption of opacities of the cornea: Rx Cadmii sulph., grs. ij; aquae rosse, oz j. M. Sig.: Collyrium. A solution of the same strength is said to be an excellent local application in otorrhoea. There is no doubt that cadmium is an efficient injection in gonorrhoea; but it is important in the application of this, as of so many other astringent remedies, that it be not too strong—one grain of cadmium sulphate to four ounces of water being sufficient in most cases.

An ointment of cadmium is used somewhat by French physicians, in the treatment of external affections. For this purpose we may direct ten grains of the sulphate to be intimately incorporated with an ounce of simple ointment.