198 INORGANIC AGENTS 



gums, making mastication painful. The gums are swollen 

 and bleed easily ; the tongue swells and salivation ensues. 

 The teeth become loosened, the salivary and parotid glands 

 enlarge, the temperature is elevated, and if the condition 

 continues, there are : ulceration of the mouth (mercurial 

 stomatitis), necrosis of the jaw, general weakness, a watery 

 condition of the blood, oedema, anaemia and cachexia, pros- 

 tration and death. Local poisoning, as exhibited by paralysis 

 of the hand and forearm, has occurred in a man who applied 

 the ointment of red iodide of mercury to cattle. There is a 

 tendency for mercury to accumulate in the system, when 

 given in large doses, or in smaller doses when continued for 

 a considerable period. 



The prevailing fashion of administering calomel in small 

 and repeated doses, may lead to mercurialism if purgation 

 does not occur. 



Stomach and Intestines. — Mercury and the mercurous 

 salts, especially calomel, are mildly irritant and act as pur- 

 gatives. The upper part of the intestinal tract, notably the 

 duodenum, is influenced, and peristalsis and secretion are 

 stimulated so that the bile is hurried along together with 

 the other ingesta, and expelled. Calomel and mercury are 

 called cholagogus cathartics, yet they do not increase the 

 amount of bile secreted, but diminish it by retarding its 

 absorption in the bowels. Corrosive sublimate, on the 

 other hand, is an hepatic stimulant and augments the amount 

 of bile secreted. 



The purgative action of calomel and mercury in the 

 small intestines is assisted by salines, which increase the 

 amount of fluid in the bowels, and aid in the expulsion and 

 prevent the absorption of mercury. The saline should be 

 given four hours after the administration of calomel to 

 cattle. 



Blood. — Mercury is generally thought to circulate in the 

 blood as an albuminate. It is stated that metallic mercury 

 is absorbed unchanged and circulates in this condition in the 

 blood ; while it is. also held that corrosive sublimate finds 



