DISEASES OF THE MOUTH AND TONGUE. 55 



red and green iodides are especial favorites for external use, 

 and for diseases often requiring very opposite treatment these 

 preparations are prescribed. To wit, skin diseases — all of 

 which in the vocabulary of the quack are mange. While for 

 alterative, aperient, or emetic purposes, calomel is used most 

 indiscreetly. 



Symptoms. — In mercurialism, the salivary secretion is un- 

 usually abundant, the teeth are loose and discolored, the gums 

 spongy, swollen, and tender, and of a deep red, often^pproach- 

 ing a purple hue. The breath is singularly foetid ; the tongue 

 loaded with brown fur, and red down the sides. There is 

 little appetite, but excesstve thirst. 



Sloughing and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth frequently follow, and if the mercurial doses have been 

 excessive the stomach and intestines are in a like manner 

 affected, resulting in blood-stained vomits and sanguinary 

 purging. 



If suitable measures are not taken to check these effects, 

 considerable irritative fever is established. Extreme debility 

 follows, the hair falls off, the animal becomes rapidly emaci- 

 ated, tremulous, and paralytic, and dies in convulsions or 

 delirium. Not unfrequently the face is considerably swollen, 

 and the joints are hot and tender. Mercurialism also gives 

 rise to a species of eczema (eczema mercuriale). See " Skin 

 Diseases." 



Treatment.— The most effectual antidotes for poisoning by 

 mercury are albuminous compounds, the white of eggs being 

 perhaps the best, especially in the case of corrosive subli- 

 mate. 



Christison,writing on the subject, observes : " It has already 

 been -hinted that albumen, in the form of white of eggs beat 

 up with water, impairs or destroys the corrosive properties of 

 bichloride of mercury, by decomposing it, and producing an 

 insoluble mercurial compound.. For this discovery, and the 

 establishment of albumen as an antidote, medicine is indebted 

 to Professor Orfila. He has related many satisfactory experi- 



