Goldstone

realgar

This data is reviewed by the project of data compilation and application of Science Encyclopedia of science popularization in China.

Realgar is the common name of arsenic tetrasulfide, also known as bezoar, Goldstone and cockscomb. It is one of the sulfide minerals of arsenic. The chemical formula is as < sub > 4 < / sub > s < sub > 4, < / sub > is usually orange granular solid or orange yellow powder, which is soft and brittle. It is often associated with orpiment, namely arsenic disulfide (As2S3), stibnite and cinnabar; when heated to a certain temperature, it can be oxidized into arsenic trioxide (arsenic) in the air.

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Physical and chemical properties

Tetraarsenic tetrasulfide is one of the sulfide minerals of arsenic, containing about 70.1% as. It is monoclinic system, single crystal is fine columnar, acicular, but rare; it is usually dense granular or earthy block. It is orange red and the streaks are light orange red. The hardness is 1.5-2 and the density is 3.5-3.6g/cm3. Brittle, low melting point. When heated with charcoal fire, arsenic trioxide white smoke with garlic odor will come out. When exposed to the sun, the Yellow orpiment (as < sub > 2 < / sub > s < sub > 3 < / sub >) and arsenopyrite will appear. The realgar is insoluble in water, but soluble in nitric acid, and the solution is yellow. Realgar mainly occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal deposits, often associated with orpiment, stibnite and cinnabar; realgar occurs in hot spring sediments and sulfur volcanic vent sediments, often associated with orpiment. The orange red, transparent to translucent realgar crystal is gorgeous and rich. Its columnar crystals vary in length and thickness, grow in many directions, and have a peculiar situation. It is lined with white calcite and other associated minerals, which are gorgeous and colorful, forming the overall natural beauty. The realgar crystals should be protected from weathering.

Realgar medicine

(1) It can inhibit the growth of transplanted mouse sarcoma S-180 and corrode the cells.

(2) After absorption, it has antispasmodic and analgesic effects on nerves, and has insecticidal effect both in vivo and in vitro. The water extract had different degrees of inhibition on Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a variety of skin fungi.

(3) Intestinal absorption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo and even convulsion. Chronic poisoning can damage the physiological function of liver and kidney.

Realgar is poisonous. In vitro test showed inhibitory effect on common pathogenic skin fungi such as pyogenic cocci, intestinal pathogenic bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, smegmatis and Trichoderma violaceum.

Origin and occurrence

Occurrence: it occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal vein, coexists with orpiment, and also occurs in hot spring sediments and volcanic condensate.

Origin: mainly produced in the United States, Hunan and Yunnan, China.

Identification characteristics

It is similar to cinnabar, but realgar has orange red and light orange red streaks, while cinnabar has red and bright red streaks, and the density is higher than realgar. Realgar is burned in a blowpipe flame to produce white smoke and garlic odor.

Clinical application

Treatment of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma

Take 500 g of Ming realgar and 1000 pills of white paste. Adults take 1 pill, 10-15 years old take 1 / 2 pill, 5-9 years old take 1 / 3 pill, 2-4 years old take 1 / 4 pill, three times a day, warm water delivery. 39 cases of chronic bronchitis (including 19 cases of asthmatic bronchitis) and 11 cases of bronchial asthma were treated. Results: 16 cases were cured (symptoms disappeared without recurrence), 14 cases were significantly improved (symptoms disappeared, but there were still slight symptoms when cold or overwork), 9 cases were relieved, 5 cases were ineffective (all complicated with emphysema and bronchiectasis), 6 cases were interrupted because of the effect was not obvious.

Treatment of tropical eosinophilia

Realgar contains arsenic trisulfide, which was used to treat one case of this disease, and the result was obvious. Dosage: 4 minutes each time, twice a day. Four days after taking the medicine, the symptoms were relieved, the lung rales disappeared, the white blood cells decreased from 18300 / mm3 to 8400 / mm3, the eosinophilic red blood cells decreased from 63% to 24%, the chest X-ray examination showed obvious absorption compared with before treatment, and the self-conscious symptoms disappeared and discharged.

Treatment of herpes zoster

Take 50 g of realgar powder, add 100 ml of 75% alcohol and mix. Apply it twice a day. If the pain is severe, add 20ml 2% procaine into realgar tincture. 125 cases were treated effectively. The average course of treatment was 5.8 days. There were no side effects and sequelae. In addition, apply the mixture of realgar 5g, borneol 0.5g and alcohol 10ml on the affected part 4-6 times a day. In 10 cases, the pain was relieved, the blisters atrophied, the redness and swelling gradually subsided after 1-2 days, and then the skin peeled and healed.

Treatment of pterygium

Take realgar 3 points, raw alum 1 money, a total of fine powder into the colored bottle, set aside in the shade. The patient was placed in supine position and underwent routine ophthalmic anesthesia and disinfection. Use the eyelid opener to open the eyelid, ask the patient to strabismus the healthy side, so that the pterygium is fully exposed, dip a small amount of powder with a sterile cotton stick, apply it on the surface of pterygium, hold the pterygium head with toothed tweezers for 1-2 minutes (too long is invalid), pull it against the extension direction of pterygium, cut it from the root of pterygium with sterile scissors, and then apply a small amount of powder on the root. When the bleeding stops, remove the residual pterygium, remove the excess powder, apply eye ointment and bandage, remove the dressing the next day, and apply eye drops for several days.

danger

A case of acute poisoning of realgar containing arsenic was reported. The main symptom of poisoning was vomiting and diarrhea. The mixture of realgar sold in the market contains arsenic, which should be carefully selected when it is used as medicine. The red and yellow ones with the shape of chicken crowns are pure. If they are white crystals or white ones with the appearance of red and white when they are crushed, they all contain arsenic. The first aid method after poisoning can be as follows: Fangji 3 money; or raw licorice 1, mung bean 2, decoct concentrated juice frequently.

The toxicity of realgar is much less than arsenic trioxide, but taking realgar for a long time is prone to arsenism. Realgar is oxidized into highly toxic arsenic trioxide by oxygen when heated. The medicinal realgar also contains about 1% arsenic trioxide. Special attention should be paid to the use of realgar.

Collection information

Chinese PinYin : Huang Jin Shi