inks. As a valuable surgical remedy, thin Silver-leaf (Argentum foliatum) is
used in Austria, and elsewhere on the Continent, for helping to promote
the healing of indolent sores, by covering the same with a thin sheet
of this Silver-leaf (sterilised), over fine gauze, also sterilised, and
laid next the surface of the sore. Medicinally the nitrate of silver,
administered in small continuous doses, has long been recognised as of
special benefit against epilepsy ; but in such cases, when the remedy
has been given for any length of time, some of the metal becomes
separated within the system from its accompanying chlorine, and
deposited about the skin-surface of the body, staining this of a
bronzed hue, particularly the parts which are exposed to sunlight. In
fact, the skin-surface becomes as it were, in a certain measure,
similar to a piece of what photographers style P.O.P.—"
Printing-out-paper."
The
Nitrate of Silver—lunar caustic—was extolled highly by Boerhaave, as a
diuretic against dropsies. In modern practice it is prescribed, as a
tonic, and antispasmodic, in Epilepsy, Saint Vitus' dance, and for
Heart-pang (angina pectoris).
Also
a solution of this salt is frequently resorted-to for the manufacture
of those compounds which are employed for changing the colour of the
hair. Some such preparations have been offered for sale under the
mystic titles of Grecian Water, Essence of Tyre, etc. If applied
recently to grey hair, any of these preparations renders the hair
black after exposure to light; but the colour soon changes ; the grey
roots of the hair again appear, and the person presents a ludicrous
appearance of having hair half grey and half black.
When administered medicinally in small doses, from
