112 MATERIA MEDICA. 



ferent persons to the salivant action of mercury ; it is much more dif- 

 ficult to salivate children than adults. Sometimes the medicine ac- 

 cumulates in the system, and breaks out with great violence. 



In producing salivation, the mildest impression is all that is re- 

 quired ; excessive salivation is always to be avoided. The treatment 

 for it is to reduce the local inflammation by leeches and blisters, if 

 necessary ; astringent and detergent washes of alum, sugar of lead, 

 &c.,"and opium internally. 



Preparations of Mercury, 



Not, at present, given in the liquid form. When given in the me- 

 tallic state, it is extinguished^ by being first rubbed up with difl^erent 

 substances, which serve to divide it very minutely, and perhaps, 

 partially to oxidize it. 



Blue Mass — (Massa Pillularum Hydrargyria U. S.) — Made by 

 rubbing up metallic mercury with conserve of roses ; — requires 

 a long trituration. Colour, bluish ; becomes darker by exposure ; 

 weight of the officinal pill, (called blue pill,) three grains. Dose, 

 as a sialogogue, one pill, three times a day ; as an alterative, one 

 pill, every other night ; sometimes given in emulsion. 



Mercury with chalk — (Hydrargyrum cum Cretd, U. S.) — Pre- 

 pared by triturating mercury with prepared chalk ; colour, bluish- 

 gray ; a mild mercurial, particularly useful in the bowel afl^ections 

 of children. Dose, from 1 to 10 grs., three or four times a day. 



Mercurial Ointme?U — ( TJnguentum Hydrargyria U. S.) — Some- 

 times called blue ointment; prepared by rubbing up together mer- 

 cury, lard, and suet, until the mercury is extinguished; colour, 

 bluish ; becomes darker by age ; used, by rubbing into the skin ; 

 also to blistered surfaces. 



Mercurial Plaster — {Emplastrum Hydrargyria U. S.) — Made by 

 rubbing up mercury with melted rosin and oil, and then mixing with 

 melted lead-plaster ; used to discuss glandular swellings, &c. 



Mild Chloride of Mercury— {Hydrarg. Chloridum Mite, U. S.)— 

 C]\Qm\cdi\\y,?i protochloride ; common name. Calomel; made by sub- 

 liming a mixture of the protosulphate of mercury and chloride of 

 sodium ; double decomposition ensues, resulting in the formation of 

 protochloride of mercury and sulphate of soda ; crystalline at first ; 

 requires to be powdered and washed in water; colour, ivory-white ; 

 no taste or smell; insoluble in water or alcohol; incompatibles, 

 alkalies, alk. earths, and sulphurets. Dose, as a sialogogue, gr. ss. 

 to gr. j, three times a day ; as an alterative, gr. j, every night, or 

 every other night. HowarcVs calmnel is a very fine variety, made 

 by allowing the vapour to come in contact with watery vapour. 



Corrosive Chloride of Mercury — {Hydr. Chloridum Corrosivum, 

 U. S.)— Common name, Corrosive Sublimate; chemically, a bichlo- 

 ride; made, by subliming a mixture of the bisulphate of mercury 



