MERCURY. 



Ill 



During this state, the fat is rapidly absorbed, the patient becoming 

 emaciated ; ihe nervous and circulatory systems are excited, and 

 the blood, when drawn, exhibits the same appearance as in inflam- 

 mation. On some constitutions, mercury produces a sort of poison- 

 ous effect, causing great prostration, a small and frequent pulse, 

 with a pallid and contracted countenance. It sometimes occasions 

 an eruption upon the skin of a miliary character, and in some in- 

 stances, gives rise to profuse sweats. The remedy for these effects 

 is pure fresh air, and a tonic course of treatment. Mercury pro- 

 duces its influence upon the system, in consequence of being ab- 

 sorbed, as is proved by the fact of its being detected in several of 

 the secretions, as well as in the solids. 



Uses. — (1) As an alterative. — In functional disorder of the diges- 

 tive organs, as indicated chiefly by the appearance of the stools, which 

 are either scanty, dry, and of a clay colour, showing a deficiency of 

 bile, or very copious, liquid, and of a bilious colour, showing a redun- 

 dancy of bile ; — in constipation, which very often depends on a de- 

 ficient hepatic secretion, or deficient secretion of the intestinal mucous 

 membrane ; — in some forms of chronic cutaneous disease — Vose^ — 

 as an alterative, half a grain, to a grain of calomel, or three grains 

 of blue mass, every night, or every other night, to be followed 

 next morning with a laxative, if the bowels are confined. In 

 acute cases, much smaller doses may be given, and more frequently 

 repeated. ['Z) As a sialogogue. — In fevers, mercury is very useful ; 

 chiefly in exciting the secretions. The proper indications for its use 

 are a dry tongue, torpor of the bowels, dry skin, and scanty urine ; 

 — an important remedy in typhoid fever ; but the mildest sahvation 

 is only required. In very high grades of fever, it is almost impos- 

 sible to salivate. — In inflammation, it is a valuable therapeutic agent, 

 acting as a true antiphlogistic or anti-plastic, preventing the forma- 

 tion of coagulable lymph, more particularly where the serous mem- 

 branes are involved ; generally, bloodletting should be premised ; it 

 is contra-indicated in inflammations of an erythematous, gangrenous, 

 malignant, or scrofulous character. — In diseases dependent on dis- 

 ordered secretion of the liver, as dysentery, diarrhoea, ascites, &c. — 

 To promote absorption, as in the various forms of dropsies. — To 

 produce what has been termed its revolutionizing effect, in certain 

 specific diseases, especially syphilis, but only in its secondary form ; 

 also, in colica pictonum, in which it may be usefully combined with 

 opium. It is contra-indicated in scrofula, phthisis, all malignant 

 diseases, and suppurations. Dose, as a salivant, half a grain to a 

 grain of calomel, or 3 to 5 grs. blue pill, three times a day : opium 

 to be added, if it purge. If the stomach be irritable, the mercurial 

 ointment may be rubbed on the insides of the arms and thighs, or 

 applied to blistered surfaces ; or fumigations with cinnabar may be 

 resorted to. There is a great difference in the susceptibility of dif- 



