Important: Safety Warning
This page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Potash
a term applied to the hydrate of potassium, KHO, either in the liquid or solid state, but sometimes used to denote potassium oxide and also crude carbonate of potassium. Potash salts are essential constituents in the human POTATO DISEASE body, but if, when wasted, they are supplied directly to the blood they are very poisonous. A much diluted solution of potash is antacid and sedative in dyspepsia and cutaneous diseases, also in pleuritis, pericarditis, scrofula, etc.
Caustic potash is used externally as a caustic in ulcers, etc.; carbonate of potash has been given in whooping cough; acetate of potash, nitrate of potash, and, in small doses, tartrate of potash are diuretics; acid tartrate of potash is purgative and used in dropsy; citrate of potash is diuretic and febrifugal; sulphate of potash is a mild purpat gative generally given with rhubarb, etc.; nitrate of potash and chlorate of potash are refrigerants and diuretics.