POTASSIUM, OXIDE OF, POTASSA or POTASH, 3fedieal Pro perties of The preparations of potash which are used in medicine are very numerous ; but they may be reduced and spoken of under a very few heads :—First, those which are employed from their causticity to produce counter-irritation, or to open abscesses these are hydrate of potash (potassa fuss) and potash with lime (potassa cum ceice), which have been already treated of. [Escruanories.] Second, those which are emplpyed to counteract acidity, namely, liquor potas&e, carbonate and bicarbonate of potash, the alkalinity of whjch last two is dimi nished in proportion to the increase of the carbonic acid combined with the alkali. Thirdly, those which possess a purgative property, such as the sulphate and bisulphate of potash, the tartrate and bitar trate. Fourthly, those possessed of a diuretic property, such as the acelkte, and, when in email doses, the tartrate, bitartrate, the nitrate and chlorate of potash. Besides these, there are the sulphide of potassium, the bromide of potassium, fend iodide of potassium, which possess special and characteristic qualities, which prevent their being clamed with any of the preceding. Chlorate of potash is of great utility in the treatment of diphtheria.
The various uses of which these numerous preparations aro sus ceptible can only be explained in medical treatises : all that is proper hero is to caution individuals against the employment of those which counteract acidity. These are extensively had recourse to, either in a simple state or as ingredients in effervescing mixtures, for the cooling effect they produce, or designedly to remove superfluous acid in the stomach. Where much debility exists, and more particularly if the
phosphatic diatheeis, or disposition to the deposit of the phosphates from the urine, be present, a single dose of such articles may do much injury, and their frequent or prolonged use creates a worse condition than that which they were intended to remedy. But this does not preclude the employment of a solution of carbonate of potash to induce a coating of phosphates over the sharp angles of the mulberry or oxalate of lime calculus. [Oxesie Am.] An intelligent medical attendant can alone decide on their propriety. " If I were required," says Dr. Prout, " to name the medicine calculated to do the most mischief, I should name tho common saline draught formed of potash or soda and some vegetable acid." ("Treatise on Diseases of the Urinary Organs,' 2nd edition, p. 145.) [Canaosic Amp.] , This remark equally applies to many of the popular summer beverages, such as imperial ; and many effervescing drinks prepared with lemon and kali The property assigned to bromide of potassium, of removing enlarge ments of the spleen, is by no means clearly proved. The powers of iodide of potassium have been noticed under IODINE, and those of the sulphide of potassium are treated of under SULPIlun. In case of poison ing by liquor potamee or the carbonates, vegetable acids or oils should be Instantly administered.