S6 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE' DOCJ. 



ments in proof of its virtues. The following will serve as an 

 example of the whole. Twelve grains of corrosive sublimate 

 were given to a little dog, and allowed to act for eight minutes, 

 so that its usual effects might fairly begin before the antidote 

 was administered. White of eight eggs was then given ; after 

 several fits of vomiting the animal became apparently free 

 from pain ; and in five days it was quite well.* Accord- 

 ing to Peschier, the white of one egg is required to render 

 four grains of the poison innocuous.f The experiments 

 of the Parisian toxicologist have been repeated and con- 

 firmed by others, and particularly by Schloepfer ; who found 

 that when a dose was given to a rabbit sufficient to kill it 

 in seven minutes if allowed to act uncontrolled, the adminis- 

 tration of albumen, just as the signs of uneasiness appeared, 

 prevented every serious symptom. Dr. Samuel Wright has 

 found that if the administration of albumen is followed up by 

 giving some astringent decoction or infusion, the beneficial 

 effects are more complete, because the compound formed is 

 less soluble in an access of albumen. Albumen is chiefly use- 

 ful in the early stage of poisoning with corrosive sublimate, 

 and is particularly called for when vomiting does not take 

 place. But it further appears to be an excellent demulcent in 

 the advanced stages." 



Five or six parts of fresh gluten, in 50 parts of a solution 

 of soft soap, has been found also a successful antidote, and 

 where neither albumen nor gluten is at hand, milk is a con- 

 venient and useful substitute. Iron filings, the protosulphuret 

 of iron, meconic acid, and charcoal, have each been advocated 

 as mercurial antidotes. 



"The treatment of mercurial salivation consists in exposure 

 to a cool, pure air, nourishing diet, and purgatives, if the in- 

 testinal canal is not already irritated. In some of the inilam- 

 matory affections it induces, venesection is required, in others 

 it is hurtful. In some complaints induced by mercury, as in 



* Toxicologic General, i. 313. 



t Corvisart's Journal de Medcciiie, xxxviii. 77 



