Washed sulphur (sulphur lotum, U. S. P.) occurs as a fine, yellow, dry pow der, without odor or taste.
Precipitated sulphur (lac sulphuris, or milk of sulphur; sulphur prmcipitatum, U. S. P.) occurs as a fine, amorphous, pale-yellow powder.
Sublimed sulphur (flowers of sulphur; sulphur sublimatum, U. S. P.) occurs as a fine, yellow powder, having a faint odor.
Iodide of sulphur (sulphur subiodide; sulphuris iodidum, U. S. P.) occurs in grayish-black masses, having a metallic lustre and the odor of iodine. It is solu ble in carbon disulphide, and in 60 parts of glycerin. It should be kept cool and in glass-stoppered bottles.
Sulphurated lime (calcic liver of sul phur; liver of lime; calx sulphurata, U. S. P.) occurs as a grayish-white pow der, having the odor of sulphurated hydrogen, and an unpleasant alkaline taste. It is soluble in glycerin, and in boiling water with partial decomposition.
Sulphurated potash "potas sium sulphide; liver of sulphur; potassa sulphurata, U. S. P.) occurs as a hard, brittle, brownish substance, having a faint, sulphurated-hydrogen odor, and a bitter, alkaline taste. It is soluble in 2 parts of water, and is incompatible with acids, alcohol, etc. Even carbon dioxide precipitates sulphur from it in solution.
Preparations and Doses.—Sulphur lo tum (U. S. P.), 15 to 90 grains.
Pulvis glycyrrhizce comp. (U. S. P.), to 2 drachms. (See LiccaticE.) Unguentum sulphuris, U. S. P. (washed sulphur, 30 per cent.).
Sulphur prwcipitatum (U. S. P.), 15 to 90 grains.
Sulphur sublimatum (U. S. P.), 1 to 3 drachms.
Sulphuris iodidum (U. S. P.), 1 to 4 grains.
Calx sulphurata (U. S. P.), to 1 grain. (See CALcium.) Potassa sulphurata (U. S. P.), to 5 grains.
Physiological Action. — Sulphur has little or no effect when applied locally, but combination with fats, as in oint ment, makes it at once active; inflamma tion of the skin may follow its continued use in concentrated form. Taken inter nally it is dissolved by the alkaline in testinal juices, to some extent, and ab sorbed. It has been detected in the milk, sweat, urine, and even the breath of persons taking it. It is supposed to undergo oxidation in the system. In
sufficient quantity, sulphur acts as a mild laxative, producing soft, semiliquid, feculent stools, accompanied with con siderable sulphurated-hydrogen gas. Its continued use has probably an effect upon nutrition: the secretions generally are increased. It appears to have an especial action upon the skin and mu cous membranes.
Poisoning by by this drug is rare, but poisonous effects have been observed from the ingestion and from the external use of sulphur. The symptoms of poisoning are nausea, dysentery, tonic contraction of the mus cles of the extremities, the appearance of fever, and painful urination. In one case there was extreme prostration, a sulphurous breath, clammy perspiration, vomiting and purging, and intestinal colic. Such symptoms of irritant poison ing are due, without doubt, to the pres ence in the sulphur of a large quantity of sulphuric acid (H. C. Wood). The treatment of such poisoning would be that of poisoning by sulphuric acid: the administration of chalk, magnesia or soap with demulcent drinks, and opium to allay pain and control peristalsis.
Therapeutics. — GASTI10 - INTESTINA L DISEASES.-Sulphur has been used as a laxative in cases of haemorrhoids and in testinal obstruction on account of the pulpy, soft stools which it induces. It is also a favorite laxative in cases of chronic rheumatism.
In diarrhoea with offensive watery stools of scrofulous children and in dys enteric diarrhoea, minute doses of sul phur have been beneficial.
In disordered or suspended hepatic function sulphur, in doses of 5 to 20 grains, has restored that function. Biliary colic due to impacted gall stones has been relieved by daily doses of 5 grains.
—Sulphur has been used largely in the treatment of rheumatism and gout. In lumbago and sciatica the flowers of sulphur may be applied to the affected part, retained by a suitable bandage. It may also be ap plied as a thick paste for the relief of sciatica, as suggested by de Mussy; one night's use generally suffices. In cular rheumatism small doses of sulphur are advised, in conjunction with iodine or arsenic.