Calcium Sulphide.
Synonyms—Calx Sulphurata, Sulphurated Lime, Sulphuret of Calcium.
Administration—It should be thoroughly triturated with sugar of milk, one grain of the salt with a dram of sugar of milk, being a good combination for this trituration. From one to ten grains may be given at a dose, four times daily, but good results will occur from the use of from one-twentieth to one-fourth of a grain of the sulphide, every three hours.
Specific Symptomatology—The agent is specific to glandular, nodular and pustular suppurative inflammations, especially those of the skin. Carbuncles, acne and crops of boils and small pustules are cured by its internal use. It has been most widely used in overcoming the tendency to the formation of crops of boils, and is generally relied upon for this purpose. One-twentieth of a grain, four or five times daily, is effectual.
Therapy—It is also given in scrofulous conditions for the glandular indurations, or local ulcerations of this dyscrasia, to most excellent advantage.
In syphilitic diseases, with persistent bubos or nodular or ulcerative skin eruptions, it is directly indicated. It has been used by excellent authorities in the treatment of tubercular conditions wherever existing.
Shields claimed remarkable results in inflammatory diseases of the air passages. In fetid bronchitis, and in fifty cases of pneumonia in which he used the drug (in conjunction with quinine and nitroglycerine), the mortality was extremely small. In tonsillitis and quinsy its action was almost specific. In only four cases out of one hundred and fifty did it fail to effect a complete cure in from two to six days.
A French writer gave a grain of the sulphide every hour to patients with pulmonary consumption until gastric irritation occurred. This is an extreme measure, but the author claimed satisfactory improvement. It will certainly relieve the cough of this disease.
It is praised in tubercular diseases of the joints, as well as those of the skin. If the tubercular conditions are complicated by syphilis, its benefits are especially marked. It is administered in small doses in bronchial and laryngeal troubles, in croup to produce immediate relief, and in persistent and suffocative coughs.
This powder is a successful depilatory, and will remove hair in a few moments. Applied moist, to the locality to be deprived of hair, it is allowed to remain fifteen minutes, and is then removed with warm water and a sponge.
It may be applied as sulphur, or dilute sulphuric acid, is applied to kill the itch insect and destroy its eggs. This is effectually accomplished in a short time, and the powder should then be washed off.
A writer, some years ago, advised this agent in small-pox claiming that its internal use greatly modified the severity of the disease, and prevented severe pitting. Its physiological influence would suggest its use as rational treatment in this condition.
The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.
