Derivation.—Zinc sulphocarbolate may be obtained by heating a mixture of phenol and sulphuric acid and saturating the product with zinc oxide.

Properties.—Colorless, transparent, rhombic prisms or tabular crystals; odorless and having an astringent, metallic taste. Soluble in water and alcohol.

Dose.—Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; foals and calves, 5 to 10 gr.; sheep and pigs, 20 to 40 gr.; dogs, 4 to 6 gr.

Action and Uses.—Zinc sulphocarbolate has been employed as an antiseptic astringent stimulant to indolent or foul wounds, and in subacute inflammations of the mucous membrane. The solution used may be a little stronger than those of zinc sulphate employed for similar purposes. It is also used as an intestinal antiseptic.

ZINCI SULPHAS—ZINC SULPHATE

Derivation.—Prepared by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid. Iron and tin exist as impurities and are removed by chlorine solution and zinc carbonate.

Properties.—A colorless, transparent, rhombic crystal, without odor and having an astringent, metallic taste. Efflorescent in dry air; soluble in water and glycerine; insoluble in alcohol.

Dose.—Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep and pigs, 10 to 20 gr.; dogs, 2 to 3 gr. As an emetic for dogs, 10 to 15 gr.

Actions.—Irritant, emetic, astringent, antiseptic and nerve tonic. Externally it is used as stimulant, astringent and antiseptic; in dogs it is a prompt and efficient emetic, causes no depression and acts both on the stomach nerve centers; poisonous or long continued large doses in the horse dry up the secretions, cause nausea, colic and efforts to vomit; dogs cannot be poisoned by it as it causes vomiting.

Uses.—As a tonic it is inferior to iron; chief use is externally as an astringent; it is used in white lotion combined with lead acetate; sometimes used internally with opium to stop excessive sweating in frequent small doses. Used as a safe and prompt emetic for dogs and pigs.

Externally in solution as an astringent and stimulant for wounds, ulcers, simple ophthalmia and irritable conditions of the mucous membrane of the uterus or vagina and urethra, vesicular and pustulant skin eruptions. Proper strength, one ounce to one quart of water in ophthalmia, one-half to one drachm to one pint of water.

ZINCI CARBONAS PRAECIPITATUS—PRECIPITATED ZINC CARBONATE

Derivation.—Solutions of nearly equal weight of sodium carbonate and zinc sulphate are boiled together; dry precipitate. This salt is in reality a mixture of zinc carbonate and oxide, in varying proportions, with water of crystallization.

Properties.—An impalpable white powder, of somewhat variable chemical composition, without odor or taste; insoluble in water or alcohol.

ZINCI OXIDUM—ZINC OXIDE

Derivation.—Zinc oxide, may be prepared by exposing zinc carbonate to a dull red heat, or from metallic zinc by combustion.

Properties.—An amorphous, white powder without odor or taste. Insoluble in water or alcohol.

Dose.—Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep and pigs, 10 to 20 gr.; dogs, 5 to 10 gr. Not much used internally.

PREPARATIONS

UNGUENTUM ZINCI OXIDE—OINTMENT OF ZINC OXIDE

Composed of zinc oxide, 200 parts; benzoinated lard, 800 parts.

Actions and Uses.—Used chiefly as a dusting powder for wounds and excoriated surfaces; used alone or conjoined with boric acid, subnitrate of bismuth, calomel or in the form of the zinc oxide ointment is desiccant, mildly astringent and protective; it is sometimes used in chorea, epilepsy and other nervous diseases; to check excessive sweating and in diarrhoea. Used extensively in wounds and diseases of the cow’s udder.

ZINCI ACETAS—ZINC ACETATE

Derivation.—Dissolve zinc oxide in diluted acetic acid and boil. Evaporate and crystallize.

Properties.—Soft, white, six-sided monoclinic plates, of a pearly lustre, having a faintly acidious odor and an astringent metallic taste. Soluble in water and in alcohol.

Dose.—Same as zinc sulphate.

Action and Uses.—The same as zinc sulphate; it is the acetate of zinc which is the soluble agent in white lotion, caused by the acetate of lead and sulphate of zinc changing their composition.

ZINCI CHLORIDUM—ZINC CHLORIDE

Derivation.—Dissolve zinc in hydrochloric acid by boiling. The solution contains the zinc chloride with chlorides of iron and lead as impurities. These are precipitated by adding first nitric acid then zinc carbonate. Filter and finally evaporate.

Properties.—A white, granular powder, or porcelain-like masses, irregular or moulded into pencils; odorless; of such intensely caustic properties as to make tasting dangerous unless the salt be dissolved in much water, when it has an astringent, metallic taste; very deliquescent; soluble in water and alcohol.

LIQUOR ZINCI CHLORIDE—SOLUTION OF ZINC CHLORIDE

Derivation.—Made from zinc chloride and water. It should contain about 50 per cent, by weight, of the salt. Zinc chloride is used externally only.

Properties.—A clear, colorless, liquid, odorless, having a very astringent, metallic taste.

Action and Uses.—Is caustic and escharotic, used full strength or in a strong solution; penetrates very deeply and causes deep sloughing; an irritant and corrosive poison; mild medical solutions are antiseptic and astringent; is also disinfectant and deodorizer. Can be used as a caustic when indicated; used with caution, for granulations in chronic ulcers and foot-rot in sheep; to slough out all kinds of fistula, usually mixed with one or two parts of flour made into a paste with water, two ounces in a pint of water is injected as a caustic into fistulous tracts; two or three per cent solution or two to four drachms to the pint of water is used for ordinary astringent purposes and as a parasiticide.