USES OF MERCURY AND ITS SALTS 199 



its way into the blood as an albuminate of the oxide of 

 mercury, in combination with sodium chloride. It will be 

 perceived that there is no exact knowledge concerning this 

 matter. It is supposed that mercury diminishes the fibrin 

 in the blood, and the production of exudations, especially in 

 connection with inflammation of serous membranes, and 

 even hastens the absorption of inflammatory deposits. 

 Mercury is, therefore, said to be antipholgistic in combating 

 the effects of inflammation. A part of this result may be 

 attributed to the antiseptic action of the salts of mercury in 

 the intestines by preventing fermentation and absorption of 

 toxic material. For want of a better term to explain the 

 beneficial actions of mercury on the tissues, that vague term 

 "alterative" is frequently applied. Mercury (and calomel 

 in particular) is somewhat diuretic, stimulating the secreting 

 cells, or nerves of the kidneys, and increasing the amount of 

 urine. 



Elimination. — Mercury is eliminated slowly by the 

 kidneys, liver, salivary glands, and, in fact, by every con- 

 ceivable channel. lu thus stimulating the eliminative 

 activities of the various glands, mercury has been termed a 

 deobstruent. It has been surmised that its alterative effect 

 depends, in part, upon this action in stimulating — to use the 

 old term — the emunctories. 



SUMMARY OF ACTIONS OP MERCURY AND ITS SALTS. 



External. — Antiseptic, germicide, irritant, caustic, para- 

 siticide, antipruritic and sorbefacient. 



Internal. — Antiseptic, purgative, chologogue, antiphlo- 

 gistic, and alterative diuretic (calomel). 



TOXICOLOGY. (See action internal.) 



USES OF MERCURY AND ITS SALTS. 



Hydrargyrum cum creta is similar to calomel in its 

 effects but very much milder, unless it contains the black 

 oxide of mercury, when its action is much intensified. The 



