Derivation.—Made by roasting lead in the air.

Properties.—A heavy, yellowish or reddish-yellow powder, or minute scales, without odor or taste. Almost insoluble in water; insoluble in alcohol. Lead oxide is only valuable for its preparations.

PREPARATIONS

PLUMBI ACETAS—LEAD ACETATE—SUGAR OF LEAD

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.