DERIVATION.--Heat lead oxide in acetic acid and water. Lead acetate
crystallizes on cooling.
PROPERTIES.--Colorless, shining, transparent; monoclinic prisms or
plates, or heavy, white crystalline masses, or granular crystals, having
a faintly acetous odor and a sweetish, astringent, afterwards metallic
taste. Efflorescent and absorbing carbon dioxide on exposure to the air.
Soluble in two parts of water and in thirty parts of alcohol.
DOSE.--Horses and cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; sheep and pigs, 15 to 20 gr.;
dogs, 1 to 2 gr. Given in capsule or solution.
LIQUOR PLUMBI SUBACETATIS--SOLUTION OF LEAD SUBACETATE--GOULARD’S
EXTRACT
An aqueous liquid, containing in solution about 25 per cent of lead
subacetate.
DERIVATION.--Made from acetate of lead, 180 parts; oxide of lead, 110
parts; boiled together in water to make 1000 parts.
PROPERTIES.--A dense, clear colorless liquid, sweet, astringent taste,
decomposed by exposure to the air.
ACTIONS.--The lead compounds are powerful astringents, haemostatics,
styptics, anodynes, local sedatives and desiccants; they coagulate
albumen and form a protective coat, also contract small vessels. In
large or continued doses they irritate, then paralyze voluntary and
involuntary muscles, and also the central nervous system.
USES.--Plumbi acetate is administered internally to check haemorrhages,
especially of the stomach and lungs, has been used in purpura in horses
with varying results; it is said to be very good in red water of cattle;
also used in diabetes insipidus; for diarrhoea, lead acetate with opium
is very good, also in dysentery, chronic scouring and bronchorrhoea; it
is occasionally prescribed as a gargle.
Externally used in solution to check superficial inflammation; used on
burns, bruises and ulcers, also to cool and relieve strained and
inflamed tendons and joints, it is also used as a wash to abate the
itching of nettle-rash and erythema and other skin diseases; also
serviceable in eczema and grease-heel; used in eye wash but should not
be used when there is an abrasion of the cornea, as insoluble compounds
are formed; the acetate may be used as an ointment or powder or in
solution dissolved in twenty to forty parts water, a little vinegar or
acetic acid increases its solubility; it is used in white lotion
combined with zinc sulphate and water.
Goulard’s Extract, four ounces to a pint of water, is used for sprains,
bruises, cuts, burns, scratches, grease-heel, etc. For painful
affections, tincture of opium, four to six ounces to one pint, or
belladonna, two ounces to the pint, are added. Goulard’s Extract, one
part, lard oil, four parts, makes a good dressing for blistered or
bruised surfaces, grease-heel and other ailments of that class; for skin
diseases, eczema, canker of ear in dog, etc.