MERCURY. 317 



disease. In the febrile affections of warm of climates, yellow fever, 

 and bilious remittent fever, it is a remedy of the highest value. 

 It is probably useful principally as an evacuant; these forms of 

 fever being peculiarly connected with a disordered state of the 

 intestinal canal and abdominal secreting organs ; and it is accord- 

 ingly under the form of calomel, the mercurial which acts most 

 powerfully on the liver and intestines, that it is chiefly employed. 

 Some benefit is probably, at the same time, derived from its general 

 stimulant action, as it proves most successful when given to that 

 extent as to affect the system. Advantage is derived from it, probably 

 from a similar mode of operation, in dysentery, especially when it 

 is given in combination with opium. In the fevers of cold climates 

 it is less employed. There are some forms of inflammatory action 

 in which mercury is useful, particularly in rheumatism. And in 

 that chronic inflammation which affects glandular organs, it is the 

 principal remedy both in counteracting it, and in removing that 

 state of morbid structure which is often its consequence. Hence 

 the peculiar advantage derived from mercurials in chronic hepatitis, 

 and induration of the liver, in glandular obstructions and schirro- 

 sity, and in indolent tumors. Calomel is the preparation which in 

 these cases appears to be most effectual, though the introduction 

 of mercury by friction is also employed perhaps with equal success. 

 In various diseases, dependant on spasmodic action, mercury affords 

 the most powerful remedy. In tetanus, particularly, if the mer- 

 curial action on the system can be fully established, the violent 

 spasm is sometimes resolved and calomel given to a large extent, 

 aided by mercurial inunction, affords the remedy which has been 

 most frequently attended with success. In the milder affection of 

 trismus, it is employed with the same views. It is also a valuable 

 remedy in croup. In all these cases, calomel is the preparation 

 usually employed. The stimulant operation of mercury on the 

 absorbent system, renders it useful in the different forms of dropsy. 

 It is given to the extent of exciting salivation in hydrocephalus ; in 

 ascites it is more usually employed to promote the action of diure- 

 tics, and in that species of dropsy when it depends on induration 

 of the liver, and also in dropsy of the ovarium, it proves still more 

 useful by its deobstruent power. Its stimulant operation on the 



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