212 INOEGANIG AGENTS 



often used to combat this condition. Mercury and its salts 

 are absorbed when rubbed into the unbroken skin, particu- 

 larly when in combination with oil or grease. 



Metallic mercury and its salts (notably the iodide), when 

 rubbed well into the skin with fat, are thought to aid the 

 absorption of inflammatory exudates in underlying parts. 



Internal. — The irritant salts of mercury, as the bi- 

 chloride, iodide, nitrate, and some of the oxides, in large 

 doses, produce gastro-enteritis, vomiting, colic, bloody diar- 

 rhcea, anuria, or urine holding albumin and casts, collapse 

 and death. The white of egg is an antidote to corrosive sub- 

 limate, forming an insoluble albuminate. Emetics, or the 

 stomach pump, should be used in case v6miting is not spon- 

 taneous. 



The use of mercury, or any of its compounds, if con- 

 tinued for any considerable time, either internally or exter- 

 nally, in such a way as to lead to absorption, may cause a 

 chronic form of poisoning or mercurialism. This condition 

 is characterized by fetor of the breath and soreness of the 

 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 (due to irrita- 

 tion produced by mercury eliminated in the saliva), necrosis 

 of the jaw, general weakness, a watery condition of the blood, 

 cedema, anaemia and cachexia, prostration 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 liver and kidneys, chiefly, and also in the 

 tissues generally, 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 purga- 

 tion does not occur. 



Stomach and Intestines. — Calomel and preparations of 

 metallic mercury are most commonly used for their action 

 on the digestive tract. Exactly what chemical changes they 

 undergo is uncertain. Calomel was thought to be converted 



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