Synonyms. — Potassium Chloride. Kali Chloratum. Kali Chloridum. Potassii Chloridum. Common Names. — Chloride of Potash or Chloride of Po- tassium. (N. B. — This drug must not be confounded with Kali Chloricum, whose synonyms are Potassium Chlorate, Potassae Chloras and Potash Chloras, whose common name is Chlorate of Potash, and whose formula is K CI 03. This has been proved, and the authors of the " Giciding Symptoms'''' have deemed them sufficiently similar to Schiissler's Kali mur. to incorpor- ate them in their work. See Vol. VI, " Guiding Symptoms."} Chemical Properties. — Formula, K CI. Occurs in nature in mineral carnallite. It may be prepared by neutralizing pure aqueous hydrochloric acid with pure potassium carbon- ate or hydrate. It crystallizes in cubes, occasionally in octahe- drons. The crystals are colorless or white, melt at a low red heat and volatilize at a high temperature without decomposi- tion. It is soluble in three parts of cold and two of boiling water, and is insoluble in strong alcohol. 68 THE TWELVE TISSUE REMEDIES. Preparation. — The pure chloride is prepared by trituration as directed under Class VII, American Pharmacopoeia. Physiologico - chemical Data. — This salt, according to Schiissler, stands in a chemical relation to fibrin ; disturbances in its molecular action cause fibrinous exudations. Without the presence of this salt no new brain-cell formation would take place. This salt is found in the blood corpuscles, muscles, nerve and brain-cells, as well as in the inter-cellular fluids. In its physiological character it is closely related to the sodium chloride, many of the properties of which it shares. If the cells of the epidermis, in consequence of any irritation, lose molecules of Kali mur., fibrin in the form of a white or whitish-gray exudation, is thrown off. This, in drying, be- comes a mealy eruption. If the irritation extends to the tissues beneath the epidermis, both fibrin and serum will exude, and the involved part of the skin will be pushed up in the form of blisters. Similar processes can take place within and amongst epithelial cells. If the integrity of the affected tissue is again restored by the administration of Kali mur. molecules, then a reabsorption or throwing off of the exudation occurs. Either result is attained probably by the production of hydro- chloric acid formed by one part of chlorine from the K CI with hydrogen. The action of this hydrochloric acid consists in dissolving the fibrin in the formative (nascent) state. General Action. — Kali mur. corresponds to the second stage of inflammations of serous membranes when the exu- dation is of a plastic character. If leucocytes remain after the absorption of the fibrin of a plastic exudation, Natrum phosph. is serviceable. Kali mur. answers to croupous or diph- theritic exudations, and hence is useful in such diseases as diphtheria, dysentery, croup, croupous pneumonia, fibrinous exudations in the interstitial connective tissues, lymphatic enlarge- ments, infiltrated inflammations, cutaneous eruptions from bad vaccine virus, etc. The principal general characteristic symp- toms are a white or gray coating at the base of the tongue, white or gray exudations, glandular swellings, discharges or expectora- KAU MURIATICUM. 69 tions of a thick, white, fibrinous slime or phlegm from any mucous surface, or flour-like scaling of the skin, torpor of the liver, etc. Kali mur. is one of the most useful and positive of all our remedies in the hands of the aurist — chiefly suited to the second or later stages of catarrhal states. Guiding Symptoms and Characteristic Indications. Mental Symptoms — Patient imagines he must starve. Head and Scalp. — Headache with vomiting, hawking up of white, milk-like mucus. Sick headache with white-coated tongue, or vomiting of white phlegm, arising from a sluggish liver, want of appetite, etc. In meningitis as a second remedy. Crusta lactea. Dandruff.