Mineral medicines

Precaution Violent reaction with organic matter explosive reactions possible Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits very toxic fumes of l and K2O HMIS Health 1, Flammability 0, Reactivity 3 Uses Analysis (testing for zinc and arsenic) iodometry reagent food additive (dough conditioner, flour treatment agent) feed additive (trace mineral) medicine (topical antiseptic) oxidation of sulfur dyes Regulatory FDA 21 CFR 136.110, 184.1635, 582.80, GRAS... 

Vitamins, minerals, herbal, other botanical, amino acid, enzymes, organs, glands Vitamin and minerals Medicinal plants... 

Some elements found in body tissues have no apparent physiological role, but have not been shown to be toxic. Examples are mbidium, strontium, titanium, niobium, germanium, and lanthanum. Other elements are toxic when found in greater than trace amounts, and sometimes in trace amounts. These latter elements include arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, silver, zirconium, beryUium, and thallium. Numerous other elements are used in medicine in nonnutrient roles. These include lithium, bismuth, antimony, bromine, platinum, and gold (Eig. 1). The interactions of mineral nutrients with... 

Fig. 1. Periodic Table showing elements of importance in biological systems principal element of bioorganic compounds essential mineral nutrients for humans and other animals 1 essential mineral nutrient for animals, probably for humans M present in body, not known to be a nutrient or toxic element M element used in medicine element generally poisonous and present in body, possibly toxic.

Selenium plays a dual role in a living organism, depending on the compound and the amount adsorbed. Controlled small doses of some compounds are used in medicine and as diet supplements, for example, ca 0.1 ppm of diet dry matter for Hvestock (see Feed additives Mineral nutrients). Larger amounts can be toxic. 

Strontium Halides. Strontium haUdes are made by the reactions of strontium carbonate with the appropriate mineral acids. They are used primarily in medicines as replacements for other bromides and iodides. 

The carbonated beverage has its origin in the study of mineral waters in Europe in the sixteenth century. In the late eighteenth century, artificial mineral waters were investigated for their medicinal properties both in Europe and America. The first commercial artificial mineral water was manufactured in Europe during the 1780s and in America in the early 1800s. 

Thus the requirement for the use of man-made drugs and dietary additives as veterinary medicines for the treatment of farmed animals is considerable and worth about 100 million pounds sterling annually in the UK ( 104 million in 1994j io jjjg investment in dietary additives such as vitamins, trace minerals, coccidiostats, pigmenters, enzymes and other probiotics to feed compounders in the UK is worth about 110 million, assuming an addition rate of 2.5 kg per tonne and a cost of approximately 3% of the total concentrate dietary cost (calculated from MAFF data, 1995). ° These data can be increased by a factor of about 10 when the compound feed produced within Europe is considered. 

One major prerequisite for the maintenance of health is that there be optimal dietary intake of a number of chemicals the chief of these are vitamins, certain amino acids, certain fatty acids, various minerals, and water. Because much of the subject matter of both biochemistry and nutrition is concerned with the smdy of various aspects of these chemicals, there is a close relationship between these two sciences. Moreover, more emphasis is being placed on systematic attempts to maintain health and forestall disease, ie, on preventive medicine. Thus, nutritional approaches to—for example—the prevention of atherosclerosis and cancer are receiving increased emphasis. Understanding nutrition depends to a great extent on a knowledge of biochemistry. 

Food-grade or medicinal mineral oil, a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons that also may be found in mineral oil hydraulic fluids, is known to be absorbed only to a limited extent by the human gastrointestinal tract and has a laxative effect (Anonymous 1967 Brunton 1985), thus suggesting that mineral oil hydraulic fluids may behave likewise. 

Bolnest, Edward. Aurora chymica or a rational way of preparing animals, vegetables, and minerals, for physical use by which preparations they are made most efficacious, safe, pleasant medicines for the preservation and restoration of the life of man. .. London Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe, and Nat. Thompson, for John Starkey at the Miter within Temple-Bar, 1672. 146p. 

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