ZIberapeutic COLLOID The term
"
owing to gradually changed a
METALS.
colloid," originally applied
substances
describe
Botes.
their its
to
certain group of
a
uncrystallisable, glue-like connotation,
and
is
certain condition of matter rather than
class of bodies.
By using appropriate methods,
nature, has
now a
used to,,
particular
many substances
have been obtained in the colloid state, that is to say, in the form of fine and
which
the
present
particles,which have
short note
suspended in a fluid medium physical properties. In in order (i) the consider may
can
certain we
be
definite
89
THERAPEUTIC NOTES.
preparation and physico-chemical properties of colloid solutions, (2) their physiological action, (3) their therapeutic uses. 1.
bodies, which, in
If two
another in the
results,
and
no
in the
also result
the presence of traces of
an
precipitate, are allowed to act on one absence of the electrolyte, a colloidal solution precipitate is formed. Slow reduction processes
electrolyte produce
a
formation of colloid metals.
In
contra-
distinction to these chemical methods there is the
physical employed by Bredig, which consists of passing an A colloid current through water from metal terminals.
method first electric
solution of the metal used results.
Colloid solutions stand
pension colloid
and are
a
midway
between
true molecular solution.
The
an
ordinary
particles
sus-
of the
to pass through an ordinary filter, but to be visible by means of the ultramicroscope.
small
enough
large enough They vary from o.i/t to o.ooi/? in diameter, and are in a state of perpetual motion, oscillatory or Brownian in the larger These particles and translational also in the finer ones. or have electrical which vary positive negative charges particles with different substances and may be reversed by altering the solvent. Traces of an electrolyte will throw down some colloid solutions at once, provided that the ions have a contrary electric sign to the colloid particles. Another class of colloid is not so easily precipitated, and can be brought again into solution by removing the electrolyte. These are known as reversible colloids, and include such bodies as protein, gelatin, etc. Traces of a reversible colloid will prevent the precipitating There is, action of an electrolyte on one of the former class. of course, an immense aggregate of surface presented to the fluid medium by the colloidal particles. This surface will vary inversely as the fineness of the particles ; in fine colloidal "
"
a very great surface tension between the and a large storage of surface energy. solvent and the particles The colloids also have great adsorptive powers. 2. Colloidal solutions of metals inhibit the growth of
solutions there is
"
"
bacteria. no
The
doubt in
cause
some
of this does not
way
dependent
on
quite physical
seem
the
clear.
It is
condition of
THERAPEUTIC NOTES.
90 the
particles,
but not
entirely, for colloidal solutions of some to be more actively antiseptic than others. When injected into the animal body certain metabolic changes have
metals
seem
been observed, such acid, and
as
increased elimination of
rise in the
urea
and uric
There is also
a respiratory quotient. mononuclear of the degree leucocytosis, principally ?cells, which is not usually well marked in healthy persons. A temporary rise in arterial blood-pressure and a slight pyrexia have also been noted. The opsonic index is raised apparently activation of the blood serum. In sick persons there is by a
variable
of
apt to be a more severe reaction with temperature, cyanosis and a rapid pulse. to the
setting
number
large
3.
It has been ascribed
products by the destruction of a of bacteria or cells. The leucocytosis is said to be diseases in which it is
a
normal
process.
Both
electrically
been used in
medicine,
and and
chemically prepared colloids have although the latter have been said
Robin and others of the French school to be inactive and
by
less, in
considerable rise of
free of morbid
very well marked in those
reactionary
a
there does not
support
mainly
seem
at
of this statement.
been
employed
Naturally these solutions have general septicaemia or the latter inflammation of Among
in conditions of
local bacterial infection. the
present
use-
to be much clinical evidence
membranes of the
mucous
and throat
have been
by the application of colloidal silver, which injected directly into the pleura, the bladder and even solid Colloidal mercury has organs like the epididymis. been employed for syphilitic affections locally and generally, and selenium and rhodium in general infections and cancer. In the latter disease softening of inoperable secondary deposits is said to have occurred after intravenous injections. Colloidal iron has long been employed as Liquor Ferri Dialyzatus, which is a colloidal solution of Ferric Hydroxide. The metal itself has recently been prepared in colloidal form and injected intravenously in cases of chlorosis and secondary ansemia. Robin has used colloidal sulphur in chronic or subacute rheumatoid conditions. The hydroxide of copper has been used in cancer,
successfully
treated
nose
.has also been
LIBRARY.
and
91
electrically-prepared colloid of the metal in tuberculosis. In the latter disease the injections must be intravenous, and probably only ameliorate secondary infections. One or two cubic centimetres (fifteen to thirty minims) of the solution is the usual dosage, but most manufacturers supply sealed ampoules containing one dose each for intravenous injections. The solutions should not be boiled, and the electrically-prepared colloids should not be rendered isotonic with sodium chloride unless previously protected by the of are claimed by some reversible colloid. Good results presence responsible observers for this treatment, especially in septicaemia, an
"
"
but it must be remembered that corded than
failures,
and that
in the medical press the
by
successes
even
reports
are
more
when the latter
are
not
are
often
re-
published
assiduously circulated profession.
the manufacturers among the members of the
J.
M. Fortescue-Brickdale.
"
owing to gradually changed a
METALS.
colloid," originally applied
substances
describe
Botes.
their its
to
certain group of
a
uncrystallisable, glue-like connotation,
and
is
certain condition of matter rather than
class of bodies.
By using appropriate methods,
nature, has
now a
used to,,
particular
many substances
have been obtained in the colloid state, that is to say, in the form of fine and
which
the
present
particles,which have
short note
suspended in a fluid medium physical properties. In in order (i) the consider may
can
certain we
be
definite
89
THERAPEUTIC NOTES.
preparation and physico-chemical properties of colloid solutions, (2) their physiological action, (3) their therapeutic uses. 1.
bodies, which, in
If two
another in the
results,
and
no
in the
also result
the presence of traces of
an
precipitate, are allowed to act on one absence of the electrolyte, a colloidal solution precipitate is formed. Slow reduction processes
electrolyte produce
a
formation of colloid metals.
In
contra-
distinction to these chemical methods there is the
physical employed by Bredig, which consists of passing an A colloid current through water from metal terminals.
method first electric
solution of the metal used results.
Colloid solutions stand
pension colloid
and are
a
midway
between
true molecular solution.
The
an
ordinary
particles
sus-
of the
to pass through an ordinary filter, but to be visible by means of the ultramicroscope.
small
enough
large enough They vary from o.i/t to o.ooi/? in diameter, and are in a state of perpetual motion, oscillatory or Brownian in the larger These particles and translational also in the finer ones. or have electrical which vary positive negative charges particles with different substances and may be reversed by altering the solvent. Traces of an electrolyte will throw down some colloid solutions at once, provided that the ions have a contrary electric sign to the colloid particles. Another class of colloid is not so easily precipitated, and can be brought again into solution by removing the electrolyte. These are known as reversible colloids, and include such bodies as protein, gelatin, etc. Traces of a reversible colloid will prevent the precipitating There is, action of an electrolyte on one of the former class. of course, an immense aggregate of surface presented to the fluid medium by the colloidal particles. This surface will vary inversely as the fineness of the particles ; in fine colloidal "
"
a very great surface tension between the and a large storage of surface energy. solvent and the particles The colloids also have great adsorptive powers. 2. Colloidal solutions of metals inhibit the growth of
solutions there is
"
"
bacteria. no
The
doubt in
cause
some
of this does not
way
dependent
on
quite physical
seem
the
clear.
It is
condition of
THERAPEUTIC NOTES.
90 the
particles,
but not
entirely, for colloidal solutions of some to be more actively antiseptic than others. When injected into the animal body certain metabolic changes have
metals
seem
been observed, such acid, and
as
increased elimination of
rise in the
urea
and uric
There is also
a respiratory quotient. mononuclear of the degree leucocytosis, principally ?cells, which is not usually well marked in healthy persons. A temporary rise in arterial blood-pressure and a slight pyrexia have also been noted. The opsonic index is raised apparently activation of the blood serum. In sick persons there is by a
variable
of
apt to be a more severe reaction with temperature, cyanosis and a rapid pulse. to the
setting
number
large
3.
It has been ascribed
products by the destruction of a of bacteria or cells. The leucocytosis is said to be diseases in which it is
a
normal
process.
Both
electrically
been used in
medicine,
and and
chemically prepared colloids have although the latter have been said
Robin and others of the French school to be inactive and
by
less, in
considerable rise of
free of morbid
very well marked in those
reactionary
a
there does not
support
mainly
seem
at
of this statement.
been
employed
Naturally these solutions have general septicaemia or the latter inflammation of Among
in conditions of
local bacterial infection. the
present
use-
to be much clinical evidence
membranes of the
mucous
and throat
have been
by the application of colloidal silver, which injected directly into the pleura, the bladder and even solid Colloidal mercury has organs like the epididymis. been employed for syphilitic affections locally and generally, and selenium and rhodium in general infections and cancer. In the latter disease softening of inoperable secondary deposits is said to have occurred after intravenous injections. Colloidal iron has long been employed as Liquor Ferri Dialyzatus, which is a colloidal solution of Ferric Hydroxide. The metal itself has recently been prepared in colloidal form and injected intravenously in cases of chlorosis and secondary ansemia. Robin has used colloidal sulphur in chronic or subacute rheumatoid conditions. The hydroxide of copper has been used in cancer,
successfully
treated
nose
.has also been
LIBRARY.
and
91
electrically-prepared colloid of the metal in tuberculosis. In the latter disease the injections must be intravenous, and probably only ameliorate secondary infections. One or two cubic centimetres (fifteen to thirty minims) of the solution is the usual dosage, but most manufacturers supply sealed ampoules containing one dose each for intravenous injections. The solutions should not be boiled, and the electrically-prepared colloids should not be rendered isotonic with sodium chloride unless previously protected by the of are claimed by some reversible colloid. Good results presence responsible observers for this treatment, especially in septicaemia, an
"
"
but it must be remembered that corded than
failures,
and that
in the medical press the
by
successes
even
reports
are
more
when the latter
are
not
are
often
re-
published
assiduously circulated profession.
the manufacturers among the members of the
J.
M. Fortescue-Brickdale.
