On the Cure of AffeEllons from the Polfon of Lead. 121 



relievable only by the moft aftive purgatives, and %-ery fre- 

 quently recurring; pains relembling rheumatifm, about the 

 arms and fhoulders ; head-ach ; cramps of the legs, and 

 oftentimes fevere fits of the gout in the extremities ; palfied 

 flate of mufcles of the arms and hands, taking away all power 

 of grafping any thing, and even of lifting the hand to the 

 mouth ; and, not unfrequently, epileptic convuhions. 



The remedies commonly employed for the relief of thefe 

 dreadful fymptoms are, purgatives of different kinds, efpe- 

 cially eajhr oU ; volatile and Himulating medicines of various 

 forts ; and the warm bath, particularly the Bath •waters. 

 Thcle often are of (ignal fervice ; but they are, likewife, often 

 inadequate to afford relief, and the unhappy fufferer drags on 

 a miferablc exiftence. In a large proportion of thefe cifes, 

 .1 think I am warranted in faying, ynercury is an effeftual 

 remedy. 



Calomel (a mercurial preparation) has been long in ufe for 

 the relief of the colic and contlipation produced by lead; but 

 it is as a purgative only that it has been employed, without 

 regard to its efiects on the conftitution generally. The objeft 

 I have here in view is, to employ mercury in fuch a way as 

 to produce the ordinary effe6ls of this mineral on the general 

 habit, charaAerifed by forenefs of the mouth, and tendency 

 to falivation. It does not feem very material in what way, 

 or with what particular preparation of mercury, this is 

 brought about; as I have employed it, in the form of oint- 

 ment, externally to the affefted parts, and in-zvardly in va- 

 rious preparations, without obferving any material difference 

 in the effects. Per the relief oi colic and obftru&ion of the 

 bowels, calomel is, perhaps, the bed and moit commodious 

 form ; given in the quantity of a grain daily, it rarely fails, 

 in a IhoTt time, to induce a regular aftion of the bowels, 

 with the entire removal of pain. It mull be obferved, how- 

 ever, that the fyltem, in the cafes whicii have been defcribed, 

 is peculiarly fufceptible of the irritation of mercury'in all 

 its forms ; it is neceffary, therefore, to employ it with cau- 

 tion, and more fparingly than in fome other cafes. If the 

 difeafe has been of long Handing, it is requifite to keep up 

 the mercurial attion for feveral weeks, and to renew it, from 



Vot. VI. K time 



