SULPHUR (in medicine) is an principle which occurs in great abundance in the mineral, sparingly in the vegetable, and still more sparingly in the animal kingdom. In the vicinity of volcanoes sulphurous fumes issue copiously from the ground, and many mineral waters owe their peculiar odours and much of their virtues to sulphurous impregnations. Plants which contain it have often an offensive smell, to which most probably it contributes, constituting the allyi oils, such as asafoetida, garlic, and mustard, in which last it occurs as a constituent of myronic acid, a portion of which probably attaches to the volatile oil of mustard, the odour of which is stronger and more offensive than that of garlic and asafoetida combined. In animals it occurs in conjunction with albumen, and hence white of egg blackens silver egg-spoons.
For medical purposes, it should be as pure as possible, but in the two forms in which it occurs it is seldom perfectly free from admixture. Sublimed sulphur (flowers of sulphur) generally contains some sulphurous acid, which renders it slightly pungent ; and precipitated sulphur, or milk of sulphur, mostly contains sulphate of lime. Of the two forms, precipitated sulphur, owing to the extremely fine state of subdivision in which it exists, is in equal quantities more powerful than the sublimed when freed from the large portion of sulphate of lime.
Sulphur is insoluble in water, very sparingly in alcohol, but soluble in oils, both fixed, such as linseed, and volatile, such as turpentine ; with the former of which it forms the balsamum salphuris simplex, with the latter the balsa muss sulphiwis terebiuthisatum.
Though devoid of any marked sensible qualities, sulphur acts as a stimulant to the living tissues. Applied to the sound skin, it seems to have no effect upon it, but placed in contact with an ulcerated surface, it irritates and excites an inflammatory action. Large doses, such as a pound. given to horses, prove fatal by producing violent inflammation, recognisable during life by the symptoms, and after death by the morbid appearances. These may not have been due entirely to the
sulphur" but to the tersulphide of arsenic (orpiment) with which sulphur is often contaminated. Hence the increased redness and sensibility of parts affected with cutaneous eruptions when sulphur is applied to them. It is clear therefore that it is by excitieg to new action the unhealthy structures that it effects a cure of these diseases, and not by causing a repulsion or transfer of it to some other quarter, though this not unfrequently follows the too rapid healing of such complaints, if they have been spread over a Urge surface. Taken internally, sulphur gives rise to two distinct orders of effect : the one, its action on the intestinal canal ; the other,upon tho system generally. Small doses, if they do not increase the digestive power, at least do not disturb it; but larger cause a disagreeable sensation in the epigastric region, followed by alvine dejection, which are generally gentle, and without colic or griping. When it causes alvine evacuations, it does not produce marked general effects; but when given in small doses, with a sufficient interval between each to favour its absorption, its general action is commonly very apparent. The pulse becomes more frequent, the animal heat and perspiration are increased, and the presence of anlphur may be recognised in all the excretions of the body, or a transudation of it in the form of hydrosulphuric acid (sulphu retted hydrogen). In this way silver worn in the pocket of a person using sulphur becomes blackened.
The long-continued use of it gives rise to still snore obvious stimulant effects. General excitement of the system takes place, increased arterial action leads to haemorrhages, &c., accompanied by restleaeness, aleepleeencen, and thirst. The appearance of these symptoms should point out the propriety of suspending its further use till they can be removed by antiphlogistic means.