Epitome of the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary Part 67

=*Pota.s.sii et Sodii Tartras (Pot. et Sod. Tart.), Pota.s.sium and Sodium Tartrate, U.S.P.= (Roch.e.l.le Salt).

Transparent crystals or white powder, odorless and having a cooling, saline taste. Very soluble in water (1:0.9).

ACTION AND USES: Saline cathartic, of relatively un.o.bjectionable taste.

DOSAGE: 10 Gm. or 2-1/2 drachms (U.S.P.) in water.

_*Pulvis Effervescens Compositus (Pulv. Eff. Co.), Compound Effervescing Powder, U.S.P._ (Seidlitz Powder).--The blue paper contains sodium bicarbonate (2.5 Gm.) and pota.s.sium and sodium tartrate (7.5 Gm.). The white paper contains tartaric acid (2.16 Gm.).

DOSAGE: 1 set of two powders (U.S.P.).

=*Pota.s.sii Hydroxidum (Pot. Hydrox.), Pota.s.sium Hydroxide, U.S.P.= (Caustic Potash, Pota.s.sium Hydrate).--KOH (not less than 85%).

Dry white or nearly white, odorless, deliquescent, hard and brittle flakes, ma.s.ses or sticks. Very soluble in water (1:0.9) and freely soluble in alcohol (1:3).

ACTION AND USES: Internally, an antacid, but objectionable for it is more irritant than the bicarbonate and without advantage over the latter. Externally, caustic and solvent, but too diffluent.

_*Liquor Pota.s.sii Hydroxidi (Liq. Pot. Hydrox.), Solution of Pota.s.sium Hydroxide, U.S.P._ (Liquor Pota.s.sae, Solution of Pota.s.sa).--KOH (not less than 4.5%).

DOSAGE: 1 Cc. or 15 minims (U.S.P.).

_Pota.s.sa c.u.m Calce (Pot. c. Calc.), Pota.s.sa with Lime, N.F._--Pota.s.sium hydroxide (50%) and calcium oxide.

USES: Caustic.

=Pota.s.sii Hypophosphis (Pot. Hypophos.), Pota.s.sium Hypophosphite, U.S.P.=--KH{2}PO{2}. (Caution should be observed in handling this product to avoid explosion.)

White, opaque deliquescent plates, crystalline ma.s.ses or granular powder, odorless and having a pungent, saline taste. Very soluble in water (1:0.6) and freely soluble in alcohol (1:9).

ACTION AND USES: Introduced in common with other hypophosphites as a cure for tuberculosis; since used as "nerve-foods." There is no proof that the hypophosphites exert any physiologic effect, influence any pathologic process, or have any food value.

DOSAGE: 0.5 Gm. or 8 grains (U.S.P.).

=*Pota.s.sii Iodidum (Pot. Iod.), Pota.s.sium Iodide, U.S.P.=--KI.

Transparent, translucent or opaque crystals or white granular powder, with a pungent, saline, afterward bitter taste. Very soluble in water (1:0.7) and soluble in alcohol (1:22).

Incompatible with mineral acids and oxidizing agents and should not be prescribed in solution with alkaloids or alkaloid-containing drugs.

ACTION AND USES: Saline expectorant, especially in asthma and chronic bronchitis; diuretic; antisyphilitic; "alterative" in rheumatic conditions, sclerosis, etc.

DOSAGE: 0.3 Gm. or 5 grains (U.S.P.); best administered in simple solution and well diluted; in lues the dose should be gradually increased to the limit of tolerance.

_Unguentum Pota.s.sii Iodidi (Ung. Pot. Iod.), Ointment of Pota.s.sium Iodide, N.F._--Pota.s.sium iodide (10%), sodium thiosulphate (1%), water and benzoinated lard.

USES: An irrational method of administering pota.s.sium iodide, as none of the drug is absorbed through the skin.

=Pota.s.si Nitras (Pot. Nitras), Pota.s.sium Nitrate, U.S.P.= (Saltpetre).--KNO{3}.

Transparent crystals or white powder, odorless and having a cooling saline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:2.8) and slightly soluble in alcohol (1:620).

ACTION AND USES: Diuretic, irritant to kidneys and intestines; has largely gone out of use.

DOSAGE: 0.5 Gm. or 8 grains (U.S.P.).

_Charta Pota.s.sii Nitratis (Chart. Pot. Nit.), Pota.s.sium Nitrate Paper, N.F._--Paper impregnated with pota.s.sium nitrate.

USES: The smoke is inhaled in asthma, but is not very effective.

=*Pota.s.sii Permanganas (Pot. Permang.), Pota.s.sium Permanganate, U.S.P.=--KMnO{4}.

Slender, dark purple odorless crystals, with a taste (in solution) at first sweet, afterward disagreeable and astringent. Soluble in water (1:13.5), forming violet-red to rose-colored solutions which stain the fingers and clothes. Decomposed by alcohol and glycerin.

Should not be brought into contact with organic or other readily oxidizable substances.

ACTION AND USES: Effective deodorant, disinfectant and astringent. Internally as emmenagogue, probably useless.

DOSAGE: 0.06 Gm. or 1 grain (U.S.P.), usually in pills.

For application to the skin, 1:500 solution.

=Pota.s.sii Sulphas (Pot. Sulph.), Pota.s.sium Sulphate, N.F.=--K{2}SO{4}.

Colorless crystals or white powder, odorless and having a saline, somewhat bitter taste. Freely soluble in water (1:10) and insoluble in alcohol.

ACTION AND USES: Saline purgative closely resembling sodium sulphate in its action, but without advantage over the latter.

DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (N.F.).

=Prunum (Prunum), Prune, N.F.=

ACTION AND USES: One of the ingredients in confection of senna but seldom used in medicine apart from this.

=*Prunus Virginiana (Prun. Virg.), Wild Cherry, U.S.P.= (Wild Black Cherry Bark).

ACTION AND USES: Sedative expectorant, mainly used as flavor.

DOSAGE: 2 Gm. or 30 grains (U.S.P.).

_Fluidextractum Pruni Virginianae (Fldext. Prun. Virg.), Fluidextract of Wild Cherry, N.F._--Wild cherry (100%). Absolute alcohol content about 20 per cent.