5i8 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



HYDRARGYRI OXYMURIAS. 



OXYMURIATE OF MERCURY. CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE. 



Take of purified mercury (by weight) 2 lb. 

 Sulphuric acid - - 30 oz. 

 Dried muriate of soda - 4 1b. 



Boil the mercury with the sulphuric acid in a 

 glass vessel, until the sulphate of mercury be- 

 comes dry. Rub this when it is cold with 

 the muriate of soda, in an earthen mortar ; 

 then sublime in a glass, the heat being gra- 

 dually raised. 



Decomposition. — When sulphuric acid and 

 purified mercury are boiled together, a portion 

 of the acid is decomposed, and separated into 

 sulphurous acid oxygen, the former being 

 dissipated in the gaseous state, the latter com- 

 bines with the mercury, and converts it into 

 peroxide, and this uniting with the undecom- 

 posed acid, a super sulphate of peroxide, or 

 bifer sulphate of mercury is formed. To this 

 the salt is added, when another decomposition 

 takes place, as follows. 



We consider salt as a compound of chlo- 

 rate and sodium ; this when heated with the 

 bifer sulphate of mercury is decomposed by it, 

 the sodium is converted into soda by its com- 

 bination with the oxj'gen from the mercury 

 which is dissolved by the sulphuric acid, and 

 forms sulphate of soda, whilst the chlorine 

 unites to the mercury, and forms peroxide 

 chloride of mercury, which name the London 

 College of Physicians still retain. 



Medicinal Uses. — Caustic, applied exter- 

 nally, either mixed with grease or in solution, 

 as in the formula, liquor hydrargyri oxy- 

 muriatis. 



HYDRARGYRI SUBMURIA. 



SUBMURIATE OF MERCURY. CALOMEL. 



Take of purified mercury (by weight) 4 lb 

 Sulphuric acid - - 30 oz 



Muriate of soda 

 Muriate of ammonia 



l-^lb. 



- 8 oz. 



Boil 21b. of the mercury with the sulphuric 

 acid in a glass vessel, until the mercury 

 formed be dry ; when this is cold, triturate 

 it with the other 2 lb. of mercury in an 

 earthen mortar ; then add the muriate of sodaj 

 and rub them together, until globules are no 

 longer visible. Afterwards reduce the sub- 

 limed matter to a very fine powder ; pass it 

 through a sieve, and mix it very carefully 

 with the muriate of ammonia, previously dis- 

 solved in a gallon of boiling distilled water ; 

 set it by, that the powder may subside ; pour 

 off the solution, and wash the powder fre- 

 quently with boiling distilled water, until 

 solution of ammonia drops, and throws dow n 

 precipitate ; lastly, let it be reduced to a very 

 fine powder. 



Decomposition. — It is the same as the fore- 

 mentioned, with merely this difference ; that 

 one half of the chlorine unites with the fresh 

 portion of mercury, added so, that the per or 

 bi chloride becomes converted into chloride, 

 or pro chloride of mercury. The muriate of 

 ammonia appears to be added for the purpose 

 of dissolving any corrosive sublimate which 

 may be formed with the calomel. 



Medicinal Uses. — Anthelmiatic, or vermi- 

 fuge and alterative ; for these it is given, in 

 doses from one to two drams, in the form of 

 ball, at night, and a dose of aloes in the 

 morning. 



