Therapeutics. — When nitric acid is taken internally it should be freely di luted and be taken throutzli a alass tube to prevent its corrosive action on the teeth. When taken continuously for too long a period it may affect the gums like mercury (salivation and spongy gums, probably due to local action), and this should be an indication for suspending its use.
–Nitric acid has been found to benefit patients suffering from oxaluria and from dyspepsia with phos phatic urine. Its use has also been ad vised in lithannia. In stomatitis with the presence of small ulcers in the mouth and over the tongue the internal adminis tration of nitric acid in small doses is fol lowed hy good results, especially if each ulcer be touched with a 60-grain solution of nitrate of silver. Summer and eol liquative diarrliteas are favorably in fluenced by the internal administration of nitric acid. in chronic diseases of the liver nitric acid is useful, but nitrohydro chlorie acid is better, especially in mu cous duodenitis and catarrh of the gall ducts and malarial jaundice. Intestinal indigestion associated with d iarrhoea .hdly to nitric acid; when diar ,;, d'•s( t.t hydrochloric acid is to be t d.
t bronchitis and hoarseness pro d . 1 L.1 are said to be relieved 1,.-miniin doses of dilute nitric acid Barth ,low). In whooping-cough nitric 1,1 is beneficial after the subsidence of Latarrhal stage, though some claim tl.at it shortens the duration of the dis vase. Hammond, Bailey, and others have n;tric acid with success in the treat it Lilt of intermittent fever, giving it in full dosLs every four or six hours. It is a:so f .reat service in relieving hepatic •-• n_..stion, after the paroxysm has been arn.stid by quinine. It is bes.t given com b'ntd with the bitters.
CsEs.—Nitric acid used locally 14 caustic, as.tringent, or stimulant ac cording, as it is used pure or diluted. Pure nitric acid is one of the most effi cient and most controllable escharotics at our conunand. The area of action may e limited by the application of a ring of oil or of ointment, and the depth of a( Lion by the application of alkaline solu t',di or of soapy water. It may be applied
as a caustic to phagedmnic ulcers, chan croids, cancrum oris, and also hospital gangrene Warts and condylomatous growths yield to its action. On inopera tive cancerous growths it may be used as a palliative. Free-bleeding haemorrhoids rhay be relieved by touching the tumors li;.:htly with the pure acid, through a speculum, and mopping the parts with oil liberally after the acid application.
Its application may be rendered pain less by allowing as much cocaine as the antity of acid used will take up, to dis solve, in it.
In GYN-ECOLOGY pure nitric acid may applied to the cervix or endometrium for the cure of cervical endornetritis, zranular endometrium, or of small fibroid tumors. It is also used to arrest the haemorrhage from the mucous membrane which occurs after the operative removal of polypi or small tumors.
In RIIINOLOGY nitric acid may be used, applied in a fine wire probe lightly wrapped with cotton, to remove hyper trophy of the erectile tissue covering the middle turbinated bones. A previous ap plication of a 4-per-cent. solution of co caine renders the application painless. The acid should be applied lightly and only over the space covered by the probe. It may be repeated, if required, after the slough has separated and the parts healed.
The ASTRINGENT ACTION of nitric acid (1 to 300 parts) is appreciated when it is used to irrigate the bladder in cases of chronic cystitis, and as well when there are phosphatic deposits in the bladder. The solution should be slightly warmed before using.
_Nitric acid as a STIMULANT (2-per-cent. solution) is useful when applied to un healthy ulcerations and to irritated and bleeding haunorrhoids.
Incidentally we may note the use of nitric acid as a test for detecting the presence of albumin in the urine; the methods of applying it for this purpose are given in full under ALBnitxuitit in volnme