Diaphoretic antimony

Ferri pwer sulph. 16 oz Hydrarg. iodid. Vi oz Diaphoretic antimony IVi lb Lini pulvis 15 lb Potas. acetas 1 lb Scillae 1 lb Soda chlor. Lip 1 oz Potas sulph. Va oz Calamini Va oz Calaminis 1 oz Ext. Logwood 100 lb Tr. Cinchona 15 gal... 

The compound sometimes used in medicine under the name washed diaphoretic antimony is potassium metantimonate, united -with an excess of the pentoxid 2KSbOi, SbaO . The hydro-potassio pyroantimonate, KjHjSbj07,6Aq is a valuable reagent for the sodium compounds. It is obtained by calcining a mixture of one part of antimony with four parts of potassium nitrate, and fusing the product with its own weight of potassium carbonate. 

Diaphoretics, as aromatic vegetables, eflential oils, ether, volatile alkali, neutral falts, antimonial preparations, external heat, exercife, fridlion, cold water for a time with fubfequent warmth, bliftcrs, electric fluid. 

Antimonial preparations have alfo been of late much ufcd with great advantage as diaphoretics. / For the hiflory and ufe of thefe preparations I fhall refer the reader to the late writers on the Materia Medica, only obfervliig that the ftomach becomes fo foon habituated to its flimulus, that the fecond dofe may be confiderably increafed, if the firft had no operation. ... 

Actions and Uses.— Diaphoretic and febrifuge for the dog. Chiefly used in the preparation of tartarated antimony. 

Actions and Uses.—Similar to those of, but not so likely to cause local irritation as, tartarated antimony. Employed as a febrifuge and diaphoretic for the dog. 

About 5 mg of antimony shows a strong diaphoretic action (induces sweating), while 50 mg or more acts as an emetic. There are rumours that Mozart s death was due to acute antimony tartarate poisoning. It is also known that several Victorian doctors used antimony to dispose quietly of their unwanted wives or relatives. Antimony trioxide is used as a flame retardant in plastics, while Antimony chloride is used as a catalyst and a colouring agent. 

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