CHRONIC POISONING. — Absorbed in larg.e doses and for a considerable period it acts as a cumulative poison, induces acute fatty degeneration of the liver, a progressive wasting and feebleness, a staggering gait, and paralysis (paraple gia). This latter variety is the one seen among the miners of the metal.
Therapeutics. — MENSTRUAL DISOR DERS.—Manganese dioxide has been used extensively in the treatment of disorders of the uterine functions, especially when due to a functional cause. It has been used in membranous dysmenorrhcea in doses of 2 grains, in pill or capsule, given four or five times daily. In amenorrhcea, of acute suppression of the menses from •-cold, and when the menstrual discharge is scanty and irregular, manganese is of good service.
Some 200 cases treated with perman ganate of potash. It was found of service in dysmenorrhoea in otherwise healthy girls, in excessive subinvolution after childbirth, in atrophy during puerperal affections, and in pelvic peritonitis after labor. The remedy proved of little avail in affections of the tubes and ovaries in which the gonococcus was found, and in atrophic conditions of the uterus from early appearance of the menopause. Lvoti (Med. _News, May 19, 'SS).
I3inoxide of manganese used for many years for functional derangements of the uterus with a smaller percentage of fail ures than from any other drug.
In the absence of organic disease it seems to have the power, in a great many cases, of bringing the menstrual function back to the normal standard in whatever direction the deviation from that stand ard may have been.
In painful menstruation beginning about four days before the expected period, and continuing until the flow is fully established, it will generally give a measure of relief.
The headache of a burning character, and limited to the vertex, which so fre quently has a uterine origin, is often promptly relieved by two or three doses of the drug, administered at intervals of two or three hours.
It also gives decided relief to the hot flashes attending the menopause, if the patient takes a pill of 2 grains at bed time.
The dose is 2 grains three times a day, but as it is absolutely without unpleasant effects, it may be given in much larger quantity and at much shorter intervals. For its effect upon the periods it should be given for three or four days before the expected time and continued nearly or quite through the period, this being re peated for several consecutive months. A. H. Smith (Ga. Jour. of Med. and Surg,., Jan., '98).
ANiEMIA AND CHLOROSIS.—TH anmmia and chlorosis manganese is beneficial, but only when combined with iron. Glide's liquor mangani-ferri peptonatus is a very palatable and efficient prepara tion for the purpose. It has an agree able, astringent, but non-metallic taste, and may be given in the dose of a des sertspoonful to a tablespoonful three or four times daily, alone or in milk. This preparation increases the appetite, does not disorder digestion, and can be taken steadily for a long period.
SCROFULA.—In scrofula and. debility due to prolonged suppuration the non official syrup of the iodide of iron and inanganese is a remedy of great value.