IOCRI on 



MERCURY, MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF. 



agitation with ether will abstract corrodve sublimate from an aqueous 

 aoratioo. 



DmUt wife ol bichloride of mercury with alkaline chloride* readily 

 erraUUise out when olution containing them w wanoratad. M 

 W.WA U ich adouble MltoooUining (HgCl + SNH.CU. Itcrystal- 

 li*e* in flt table*. 



ITA.K prtn^tate (HgCl, + Hg2XH.) U thrown down when ammonia 

 U added to a solution of oorroeive sublimate. 



Mmrnrif aryrU'ridt. containing two, three, or four equivalents of 

 binoiide to one of bichloride, are precipitated when bicarbonate of 

 pouh and bichloride of mereurj are brought together under ranou* 

 ootxlilioos. 



if>mrr and Cyanogen form only one salt, vii. : 



of nuremr, (HgCy,). Merenric eyanide. Usually made 



,. 



by boiling bimlpoate of mercury with half its weight of ferrocyamde 

 of poUiumandfour time* iu weight of water. It crystallises out in 

 white needle* on cooling the solution. U may alao be made by dis 

 olving binoiide of mercury in hydrocyanic acid, or by boiling Prussian 

 blue with binoiide of mercury. 



Bicyanide of mercury i* soluble in alcohol and in eight parta of cold 

 water but in a much smaller quantity of boiling water. Ita solution 

 b very poisonous, and is neither precipitated by alkalies nor by any 

 metallic *arU, except those of palladium. By heat it is converted into 



carbonate ot sooa in a narrow test lu ue. r ruu 

 precipitated with its characteristic appearance on to a pi 

 (mich as a half-sovereign) when the liquid is rubbed on th 

 a key or other piece of steel. Metallic copper also causes 



metallic mercury and cyanogen ga*. 

 There are two mlfJtatet of mercury . 



1 . rrotamlplutf of mcrcnrr . 

 1. BUulphate of mercury 



HgO, 80, 

 HgO,, ISO, 



1. PrntonJpkate of meretrry (HgO, SO,). Sne- or diiulpnate of mer- 

 ttry. Memroui //>/i/c. Formed on triturating bisulphite of mer- 

 etiry with as much mercury as it already contain*. It is but slightly 

 soluble in water 



. fiinl/Aate of tumry (HgO,, 2SO,). PemJplmte of mercury. 

 llerrmrie nlpliate. A mixture of two parts of mercury and three of 

 sulphuric acid is boiled to dryneas, when a white crystalline powder 

 renuins of the above composition. Water decomposed it Into an acid 

 salt <HgO,. 6SO,) that remain* in solution, and a yellow basic salt 

 (8Hi- -died rurjwfA mineral, which is precipitated. 



There are many nilratet of mercury. The two most important 



1. Prntnnltmte of mfrmrjr 

 i. Blnitrtt* of mercury 



H*A 

 IlgO,, 



SXO 5 



1. Pnlonitrate nf mercury (HgO, NO, + 2Aq.). Stil- or tit-nitrate nf 

 mTfxra. Mereurota nitrate. Forme* by digesting metallic mercury in 

 exceu 'of cold dilute nitric acid. It crystallises in transparent prisms. 

 Water decompose* it into a yellow, basic, insoluble salt, and an acid 

 soluble salt If excess of mercury U used in the preparation, crystals 

 are obtained containing (4 Hg< ), 3 NO, + 2Aq ). 



2 liixitrale of mercury (HgO,, 2NO, + Aq.). Perxitratf nf mercury. 

 ilerexrir nitrate. Best obtained by dissolving binoxide of mercury in 

 arid. It may also be made by dissolving mercury in boiling 

 nitrie acid, but it has not then a constant composition. 



Ckrvmmtit of mere*m. An alkaline chromate thrown down n 

 red precipitate from a Dilution of a mercurous salt It contain 

 ICrU,. Heated with nitric acid, it i* converted into HgO, <><.. 

 ilrreurie cttromalt i* also a red powder precipitated when an alkaline 

 oorumate U added to a solution of a mercuric salt 



fmlminate of mrmay. [ItMBMMM MuRCURT ] 

 I / merctuj. Then are two : 



. Una, c,ll,O, 

 . . n*o,. Jc.u.o, 



1* 



1. Biaaceut* of mrrciujr 



1. ProtoaeHatt of mercury (HgO, C 4 H,0,). Sub- or din-acetate nf 

 mercury. Mercuront acetate. Precipitated in micaceous scales, when a 

 soluble acetate t* added to a strong solution of a mercurous salt. It is 

 insoluble in alcohol, and decomposed by heat 



t. Knatrtott of merrmry (HgO,, 2C.H.O,)- Peraretale nf mercury. 

 Mercuric atetoit. Hade by diasolving binoxide of mercury in excess of 

 hot <*tic acid, or by mixing hot solutions of acetate of potash and 

 Unitnte of mercury, a little aortic acid being also added. It crys- 

 talline* in white, inodorous, flexible scale*. 



Menmmmnu la th* provinional name given to a very powerful base, 

 produced on agitating precipitated binoxide of mercury with r 

 of ammonia in a well stoppered bottle. It contains ;! 1 1 ' MI.JH". 

 an*! may be viewed a* the hydrated olid* of HgO,, HzNH,. It is a 

 White j*iWr, v*rv itMtabU, deooapdng when exposed to light, or 

 with a wrir* of slight *iului<jM when triturated in a mortar. It 

 i acid from th* air qvickly M slaked lim* does, and 



definite salU with aeidfc 



Uemuff iniA rl,all- is a pn>)*ratinn used in mixlicine. It i* made 

 by rubbing chalk ami mercury together until th* Utter is BO minutely 

 divided a* not to be perceptible by th* naked *y* It U sometime* 

 ealle < yrmt pmrdrr. and from exposur* to light i* Very liable to contain 

 protoxide and t.inoxid* of mercury. 



Mrratrf triik maynaia i* a )>rearatioo similar to that just described. 

 The mixture of the two i* facilitated bv the introdu. ti.,n ..f a little 

 ownna, which U subsequenUy gut rid of by washing with 



Other preparations containing finely divided metallic mercury are 

 also used in medicine. Such are the pill, ointment, and cerate of 

 mercury. 



>'.r mrreury. The salts of mercury are distinguished by hemg 

 Tohtilised by heat, and by yielding globules of metal when heated with 

 carbonate of soda in a narrow test tube. From solution the metal is 



piece of gold 

 the gold with 



_ key or other piece of steel. Metallic copper also causes the depoi- 

 tion of mercury from solution with characteristic lustre. Protochloride 

 of tin has the same effect Sulphuretted hydrogen throws down a 

 black precipitate. 



Proto- or m/mroii taltt are distinguished by turning black on the 

 addition of an alkali. From solution, hydrochloric acid throws down 

 a white precipitate (calomel), and iodide of potassium a green pre- 

 cipitate. 



Per- or 61- or mm-uric taltt give no precipitate with hydrocnlor 

 .acid, a yellow (binoxide) with fired alkalies, white with ammonia, and 

 scarlet with iodide of potassium. 



Kitimathn nf mercury. This is usually effected in the metallic form. 

 It is brought to this state either by protochloride of tin, or l>y 1 

 with quick lime in a glass tube through which a current of hydrogen 

 is passing, the mercury being collected in a glass bulb. 



Sometimes mercury is precipitated by Milphttretted hydrogen, ana 

 estimated in the state of bisulphide. In that case it is always advisable 

 to wash the sulphide with sulphite of soda solution, which has the 

 effect of dissolving any free sulphur. 



M EU< 'L'K Y-ALLYL. [OBGANOMKT.M.LIC BODIES.] 

 MF.UtTHY -KTHY1.I. lOncANOMKTALtlC BODIES.] 

 MKIHTHY MKTIIYI,. [( )!!.;ANC>MKTAI.LIC BODIES.] 

 MKHCUKY, SftrffedJ Prnpertiet of. In a purely metallic stAte, 

 mercury, when taken into the human stomach, produces n<> 

 except such as are owing to its mechanical properties ; such ns wln-u it 

 in improperly employed to remove the obstruction of the bowels in 

 lead, or painters', cholic. Nevertheless it may become oxidised, and, by 

 combining with some of the acids of the stomach, " occa 

 disorder. Even its external application leads to similar n-sults, from 

 the metal first becoming oxidised, then ' il producing th.- 



same effects as if taken by the mouth. The p; of in, r.-ury 



ditl'cr very much in the degree of their action, both according t 

 nature of the combination, and also of the dose employed or the mode 

 of administration. The milder preparations seem only to increase the 

 natural and healthy actions of the organs of the body, jmrtii-ularly the 

 secreting and exhaling organs ; while the more active, if not given in 

 very minute doses, destroy the texture and impair the function of 

 many organs, both those with which they are brought into immediate 

 contact, and others which they affect by sympathy or other means. 

 No medicinal substance U capable of producing so much benefit, none 

 is so frequently abused, or so fertile a source of injury, as me 

 Its mode of action is little understood, but ita effects an- oft.>n suffi- 

 ciently obvious. A brief statement of the most important >>< 

 effects is all that can be given here. 



\Vhi-n mercury, triturated with chalk or magnesia, or with .-oni 

 of roses (which U the case when it is made into hlur pill). i< ul.-u in 

 moderate dose into the stomach, it does not seem to make any imme- 

 diate sensible impression, unless that organ be in a utite of morbid 

 sensibility, when it is apt to cause heartburn, nausea, or disturbance of 

 the bowels. It may be repeated at proper intervals, and the individual, 

 especially if robust, appears only to have an increased appeti' 

 more ready digestion. This is more particularly the case win-. 

 rosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury) is given in very minute dose*. 

 Even the introduction of mercury into the body by frirtion over part* 

 where the skin is thin, would seem to increase for a time the .: 

 of the whole system. To whatever surface applied, the al*> 

 would appear to lay hold of it, and carry it into the ein'iilating mass. 

 Owing to peculiarity of constitution (idiosyncrasy) a v.ry minute 

 quantity of mercury produce* in some individuals very striking e 

 .ilher violent salivation, disturbance of the bowe's, or other 

 veniences, accompanied by great debility. This result in quite diet in- 't 

 from the effect* of an overdose of some of the more active forms, whioh 

 produce* actual poisoning, or from the effects of the too long continued 

 administration of *ome of the mild preparations. Children, owing to 

 the irritability of their bowels, are not so apt to be salivated as adults, 

 and more mercury can be born* in warm than in cold countries. 



When a single dose of mercury is given, It to generally one of the 

 preparations which act on the bowels, either alone, or in omit 

 with or followed by some other purgative medicine, and little i 

 nent effect is observed ; but repeated small done*, especially if hi 

 ii -ill ]>assing off by the bowels, by combination with opium, excite 

 arterial commotion, and end by establishing a febrile movement. Tim 

 pulae u full and mure frequent, the animal heat augmented, 'lie 

 secretion from the skin abundant, at last followed by thirst, resiles*- 

 MM, and ileeplesMifW. Thin disturbance frequently last* some time, 

 even after the medicine ha* been discontinued, and is occasionally 

 iiiicd with determination or congestion nf l.l.n.l either towards 

 the lungs, abdomen, or brain, followed sometimes by htcruorrhage from 

 various organs. Blood drawn during a mercurial coune is genn. illy 

 found i-.jven-d with a btifl'y coat, the name as is the oat* ill inuainma- 



