Spiritus Aetheris Nitrosi.

Related entry: Spiritus Aetheris Nitrosi under sedatives

Dose.—Of spirit of nitric ether, from ʒss to ʒj, or even ʒij, every two, three or four hours.

Therapeutic Action.—Sweet spirits of nitre is diuretic, diaphoretic, stimulant and antispasmodic. It is an excellent diuretic, mild and unirritating in its action, and well adapted to the relief of inflammatory states of the urinary organs, as gonorrhoea, gleet, ardor-urinae, strangury, suppression of urine and other kindred disorders. In suppression of urine and dysuria recurring in infancy, it is a convenient and useful remedy. In the cases named, it may be given in some diuretic infusion, as melon-seed, spearmint, juniper, mullein, etc.

It much employed in febrile diseases, for the reason that it promotes diaphoresis as well as diuresis. If it fails to promote the renal, the cutaneous secretion will be increased. It acts both as a general stimulant and cutaneous excitant or diaphoretic.

As a stimulant, carminative and antispasmodic, it is useful in gastrodynia, flatulence and intestinal spasms; tincture of opium, sulphuric ether, or camphorated spirit of lavender, add much to its efficacy in these cases. In febrile discuses attended with nausea and vomitiug, gastric irritability, or restlessness and inquietude, it allays the irritability, and often procures sleep; thus manifesting anodyne, antispasmodic and nervine powers.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.