76 VETERI^STAllY MATERIA MEDICA. 



corrosive sublimate, bichloride of mercury. Heavy, 

 colorless, rhombic crystals or crystalline masses, per- 

 manent in the air, odorless, having an acrid and 

 persistent m.etallic taste, acid reaction, soluble in 16 

 parts of water, in 3 parts of alcohol, and in 4 parts of 

 ether. Its solubility in v^^ater is increased by the ad- 

 dition of an equal vreight of ammonium or sodium 

 chloride. Four grains are neutralized by the white 

 of one egg. It is incompatible with most substances, 

 and therefore is best given alone. Dose: H. and C, 

 gr. v.-viij.; D., gr. -^V-i- 



Actions and Uses. — Alterative, caustic, corro- 

 sive, and irritant poison; antiseptic, antiiDhlogistic, 

 astringent, parasiticide. Its best antidote is the 

 white of eggs. It is used in glanders, farcy, chronic 

 skin eruptions, oedematous swellings of the legs 

 resulting from weed; promotes the absorption of 

 exudates. Small repeated doses for slimy bloody dys- 

 entery in cattle. Externally to open joint as it coagu- 

 lates albumin ; also to indolent sores as yellow wash 

 ( 3 ss. to aqua calcis Oi.). Concentrated solutions 

 injected into the pipes of quittor, fistulse; charges 

 of from fifteen to thirty grains, with or without 

 arsenic, to slough out tumors which cannot well be 

 removed by the knife. Solutions of 1 : 1,000 or 2,000 

 as antiseptic to wounds, as dressing in foot-rot of 

 sheep, to destroy lice, ringworm, and to allay itching 

 of the skin. 



Unguentum Hydrar^gyri, mercurial ointment 

 (fifty per cent.) ; commonly known as blue oint- 

 ment. Applied as a stimulant for indolent sores, 



