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450 DENTAL MEDICINE.

LITHIUM—LITHIUM.
Source.—From the alkali Lithium, which is rare in nature.
Preparations.— Lithii Carbonas—carbonate of lithium, a white
powder but slightly soluble in water, and having a feeble alkaline
reaction.
Dose.—Grs. ij to grs. x.
Lithii Citras.—Citrate of Lithium, a deliquescent white pow-
der, soluble in twenty-five parts of water.
Dose.—Grs. v to grs.. xxx.
Lithii Salicylas.—Salicylate of Lithium, a deliquescent white
powder with a sweetish taste, feeble acid reaction and very soluble
in alcohol and water.
Dose.—Or. v to 9j.
Lithii Benzoas.—Benzoate of Lithium, either in the form of
a white powder, or small shining scales, is not deliquescent in
the air, and has a sweetish, cooling taste and a feeble acid re-
action.
It is soluble in twelve parts of alcohol at 60° F., and in four
parts of water.
Dose.— Gr. ij to gr. xv.
Medical Properties and Therapeutic Uses.—These lithium salts
have strong alkaline properties, and produce effects similar to
those of the potassium and sodium compounds ; and hence are
very effective antacid agents. The salts of lithium are employed
with great benefit in rheumatic gout, uric acid diathesis, rheuma-
tism, uric acid calculi of kidneys and bladder, irritable bladder
from an excess of acid in the urine, etc.
Dental Uses.—The lithium salts are effective in preventing and
correcting the effects of a gouty diathesis upon the teeth, and in
periodontitis dependent upon gout. The carbonate of lithium is
employed to arrest the abrasion or erosion of the teeth, when due
to an excess of uric acid in the saliva; for such a purpose the
agent can be dissolved in carbonic acid water.
LITMUS—LACMUS.
Source.—Litmus is a peculiar coloring matter obtained from
various species of rocella, of the natural order Lichenes—the