INTRODUCTION
Professor Allen of the Cleveland Homoeopathic College has enriched our Materia Medica with a splendid proving of this salt, a record of which may be found in the August number of the third volume of the American Homoeopathic Observer. This heroic proving has suggested to its author the following deductions and clinical observations: “The Permanganate acts powerfully and at once; and like some other powerfully acting drugs, particularly Camphor, its action is very transient, hence it will bear a frequent repetition. Its sphere of action, or range, differs widely from Arsenic, affecting comparatively but a few organs, but on these it acts promptly, and appears to expend all its force in a short time, unless repeated. In my opinion the Permanganate of Potash is destines to fill a vacancy in our Materia Medica, in the treatment of diphtheria, long felt by the profession. It appears to be best adapted to that malignant type of diphtheria, with extensive swelling of the throat and cervical glands; pseudo- membranous deposit, partially or completely covering the entire fauces; profuse salivation; deglutition difficult or altogether obstructed; a thin, sometimes sanious muco-purulent discharge from the nares, excoriating the parts with which it comes in contact; speech thick and obstructed, and breath very offensive. In fact, the more offensive the breath, the more promptly its action appears to be manifested. There is no remedy in our Materia Medica, with which I am acquainted, that will so rapidly and surely remove the offensive odor of the diphtheritic breath as the Permanganate. The Chlorate of Potassa approaches its action in this respect more nearly than any other remedy.”
The efficacy of this drug in diphtheria has been commended by more than one physician; others, on the contrary, have denied it. We do not consider it a panacea for diphtheria, but we have every reason to regard it as a valuable addition to our stock of remedies against this fearful plague. The anti-septic properties of this agent are well-known. It is extensively used in hospital practice us a deodorizer, as a disinfectant application to badly- smelling sloughing sores, as an injection into the vagina in cases of foul smelling remnants of placenta,. In a case of diphtheria the Professor prescribed a few grains of the salt dissolved in one-half glass of water, of which solution a teaspoonful was given every hour until further directions.
