MED7CINAL USES OF SILVER. Nitrate of silver, in small doses, constitutes an excellent tonic, and it appears to exert almost a specific influence over certain convulsive diseases. As a tonic, it is frequently prescribed in the early stages of phthisis, and in cases of irritability of the mucous membrane of the stomach, and epilepsy and chorea frequently yield to its influence, when many other remedies have been tried in vain. There is unfortunately one great drawback to its administration—viz., that when its use has been continued for some time, this salt communicates a permanent slate-like or bluish-gray hue to the skin. There is very little danger of this change of color occurring, if the medicine is not administered for a longer period than three months. In prescribing this salt, it is usual to begin with a small dose, about one-sixth of a grain, and gradually to Increase it to two or three grains, three times a day. It is best administered in pills
made with sonic vegetable extract. The surgical uses of nitrate of silver have been already noticed in the article on LUNAR CAUSTIC.
Oxide of silver is employed in the same cases as the nitrate, It is especially recom mended in chronic affections of the stomach, and in menorrhipria. It may be given in the same doses as nitrate. Chloride of silver has been employed both in America and in Germany in the same cases as the nitrate, and in certain forms of syphilitic disease. It is stated not to produce the discoloration of the skin caused by the nitrate; hut as the same statement was confidently made regarding the oxide, and was found tube falla cious, we are not inclined to put any faith in this assertion, especially as the nitrate must be at once converted into a chloride by the free hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice.