POTASSIUM CHLORATE, KClO3.
Introduction
Kali chlor., which was first proved under the direction of Dr. E. Martin, of Germany, is the most poisonous of all the salts of potash; it depresses and paralyzes the heart and lowers the temperature very rapidly. It at first causes diuresis, followed by suppression of urine and violent nephritis, with haematuria.It is important that we keep in mind the physiological action of the drug so that we may speak intelligently when we warm our patients against its almost universal use, either in the form of lozenge or solution, in all forms of hoarseness and sore throat. It not only aggravates the throat sensations, notably the dryness, but it is also harmful to the system in general.
Allen, in speaking of the indiscriminate use of the salts of potash, says: “Many fatal results are, I believe, directly traceable to their careless use. I am in the habit of emphatically prohibiting the use of chlorate of potash as a
gargle in any case.
It is difficult to substantiate this statement, but I firmly believe that I have found albuminuria, in children, simply due to a gargle of chlorate of potash” (Trans. A. I. Hom.,’94).
Symptoms
It is a violent irritant to the whole gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, producing gangrenous ulceration of the mouth and throat, ulceration of the stomach and bowels, and terrible dysentery, with profound prostration.Kali chlor. is valuable for aphthous stomatitis (140) and for nursing sore mouth of mothers or infants but its greatest laurels have been won in the treatment of gangrene of the mouth in children (141) or cancrum oris.
While this disease is seldom seen, it “is exceedingly fatal, nineteen out of twenty die” (Loomis Pract. Medorrhinum).
Allen says,”no other known drug will cure this terrible disease” (Trans. A. I. Hom., ’94), the especial indications for it being the extreme fetor, albuminuria and haematuria. Kali chlor. is of value in dysentery, frequent and very small stools of almost clear blood, with violent cutting pains, as from knives, and severe tenesmus (61) and great prostration (58).
I use Kali chlor. 3d.
