Acykal
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Acykal (potassium silver cyanide) is a double salt of silver cyanide and potassium cyanide used in 1930s medicine as a strong bactericidal agent against gonococci. Aqueous solutions of this white crystalline powder are stable, do not precipitate proteins, and leave no stains on skin or linen.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
ACYKAL, Acykal, KCN · AgCN, a double salt of silver cyanide and potassium cyanide, containing 54.3% silver. A white crystalline powder that dissolves easily in water. Aqueous solutions are very stable; in contrast to solutions of other silver salts, they do not precipitate protein and leave no stains on skin or linen. A strong bactericidal agent: within 10 minutes it kills gonococci in a protein medium at a dilution of 1 : 10,000. It is used in medicine as an antigonorrheal agent: for injections, solutions from 1 : 1,000 to 1 : 3,000; for washings, solutions of 1 : 10,000.
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Cite this page
“Acykal.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/acykal/