Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

on the lips (Thorwald, 1962)
Uses: it had been used as an emetic in the form of antimony potassium
tartrate (tartar emetic) by Dioscorides, so use in this form dates back to at
least 78 AD and it was later recommended by the Prophet Muhammad, for
ophthalmia. Roger Bacon used it for gout, leprosy, stroke, dropsy, epilepsy,
consumption, fever and pestilence. It was also advocated by Paracelsus in
1564. Mentioned in 1664 as a cure for syphilis, melancholy, chest pains, fever
Figure 10. Antimony © Wellcome Images
and the plague (Sneader, 2005; Valentine, 1604). In the 19th century it was
used in fevers and for pneumonia.
ADR: a large dose (15 grains) of tartar emetic given to a 19 year old female
produced: a cold sweat, convulsive twitchings of facial muscles, a quick weak
pulse, violent sickness and diarrhoea, very difficult breathing, tremors and
occasional fainting. Two grains given to a two year old child killed her after