428 SALTS OF THE HEAVY METALS 



For Ptyalism. Stop the drug. Wash the mouth with a strong 

 solution of potassium chlorate. Give atropine to check the saliva, 

 potassium iodide, to hasten the elimination, and tonics and stimu- 

 lants, to support the animal. 



Therapeutics. 1. Germicide. The soluble forms have great 

 antiseptic properties but also have some disagreeable features, be- 

 ing very irritant, toxic, corrode instrimients and in the presence of 

 albuminous material are converted into inert and insoluble albumin- 

 ates ; nevertheless, they are very popular germicides. The bichloride 

 is usually employed. 



2. Cathartic. The insoluble preparations, calomel, blue mass, 

 and mercury veith chalk, are just sufficiently irritant to stimulate 

 peristalsis. They are not suitable for habitual constipation but to 

 thoroughly unload the bovi^els, especially in the early stages of in- 

 fectious fevers. (Distemper of dogs.) 



3. Diuretic. Calomel and blue mass are very effective in sub- 

 acute dropsical effusions in cardiac or hepatic disease. 



4. Absorbent. Ointments of mercury are very useful in sub- 

 acute and chronic inflammations. 



5. Irritant and Counterirritant. The soluble preparations are 

 very serviceable as irritants and are favorite remedies in veterinary 

 medicine for this purpose in bony enlargements, spavin, etc. 



Administration. The salts of mercury are usually given per 

 OS in veterinary practice. Tor external action they are applied 

 either in alcoholic solution or in ointments. 



HYDRARGYRUM — MERCURY 



Synonym. Quick Silver 



Mercury is chiefly derived from the sulphide or cinnabar. It 

 occurs as a heavy, silvery v^hite, mobile, odorless and tasteless 

 liquid, specific gravity of 13.59 and is the heaviest known liquid. 

 It is insoluble in ordinary solvents but is soluble in nitric acid. 



Preparations. 



Massa Hydrargyri — Mass of Mercury — Blue Mass; mercury 

 33 ; oleate of mercury 1 ; althaea 15 ; glycerin 9 ; honey of rose 32. 

 Blue mass is mercury extinguished with oleate of mercury, honey 

 of rose and glycerin, with a hardening excipient added. 



Doses. D. gr. ss — xv; 0.03 — 1. 



Uses. Blue mass is used as a laxative and diuretic, particularly 

 in canine practice. It is an excellent cathartic to unload the bowels 

 in the early stages of infectious fevers (distemper). It is usually 

 combined with digitalis or squill for diuretic action in dropsies of 

 chronic heart and liver disease. 



Hydrargyrum cum Creta — Mercury with Chalk — gray pow- 



