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PERMANGANATE OF POTASSIUM. 597

this acid, combining with the potassa, gives as a product the per-
manganate of potassium. It is in the form of dark purple,
slender, prismatic crystals, inodorous, very soluble in water,
forming a solution of a beautiful lilac color, even in very minute
proportion, and with a sweet, astringent taste.
Medical Properties and Action.—Permanganate of potassium
when taken internally, is supposed to oxydize the blood. It is
a stimulant, mild escharotit, and is a powerful disinfectant, as it
has a remarkable power of destroying fetid odors from organic
sources, and proves useful in preventing the spread of infectious
disease. It yields up its oxygen readily, in the form of ozone,
and its use depends upon this property. It is instantly decom-
posed on reaching the stomach.
Therapeutic Uses.—Permanganate of potassium is employed
with advantage in dyspepsia, flatulence, excessive deposition of
fat, uric acid diathesis, acute rheumatism, diabetes, scarlatina,
petechial fever, spinal meningitis. Condy's Fluid is a favorite
preparation with some, for both internal and external use. The
most important uses for permanganate of potassium are exter-
nally, as a deodorizer and disinfectant, to correct the fetor of
cancer, abscesses, ulcers, caries of bone, ozasna, otorrhcea,
gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, ulcerated sore throat, etc., in the form
of injections, lotions and spray. It is also used externally in the
treatment of diphtheria, in the proportion of a drachm of Condy's
Fluid to the ounce of water. In solution, permanganate of
potassium is applied in varying strength, according to the effect
desired. As a local stimulant, as well as deodorizer, it is useful
in chronic and indolent ulcers, carbuncles, hospital gangrene, etc.
The powder may be sprinkled on gangrenous surfaces. In
concentrated solution permanganate of potassium acts as a
caustic. A strong solution is composed of 10 parts dissolved in
90 parts of water, and is employed in its full strength in can-
cerous, phagedenic and atonic ulcers. For dressing simple
wounds, or as an injection in abscesses, ozasna, leucorrhcea, etc.,
half a fluid ounce of the solution may be added to a pint of
water ; in gangrenous and diphtheritic wounds and scrofulous
ulcers, a fluid ounce of the solution to a pint of water.