TOXIC G ASTRO -ENTERITIS. 223- 



when administering this antidote to evacuate the stomach before the 

 new compounds can be dissolved. ' (U. 8. Dispensatory, page 772.) 

 — w. L. z.] 



The principal causes of mercurialism belong to the imprudent 

 use of mercurial salve which is in use as an antiphlogistic and 

 parasiticide, also from calomel as a purgative, and from the sub- 

 limate bath for mange, also through its use in uterine irrigations 

 or its internal administration. It is more rarely produced by red 

 ointment or by poisons intended for rats. It is also observed in 

 the vicinity of the factories in districts producing mercury (Idria) ; 

 in such instances it is due to mercurial vapor inhalation. 



The sublimate produces especially a corrosive gastro-enteritis,. 

 which may cause death before mercurialism has had time to appear.. 

 Fatal dose : for the ox, 4 to 8 grammes ; for the horse, 8 to 10 

 grammes ; and for the dog, 0.25 to 0.50 gramme. 



Calomel in large doses is a violent poison for ruminants : 8 to 10 

 grammes of calomel produce grave symptoms of poisoning in the 

 ox: a profuse obstinate diarrhea and mercurialism. We must 

 avoid large doses of calomel, or not give it at all to this class of 

 animals. This susceptibility of the ruminants to calomel is per- 

 haps explained by the prolonged stay (three to four days) of the 

 toxic agent in the digestive canal, and its more abundant transfor- 

 mation into sublimate. It is undoubtedly in the same manner that 

 medium doses of calomel act in producing symptoms of poisoning 

 in dogs suffering from serious constipation.^ 



Mercurial ointment is very dangerous for ruminants ; it becomes 

 so much more so when it is old and when a fatty acid is combined 

 with a suboxide of mercury, which is very easily reabsorbed. In 

 the ox an application of thirty grammes of mercurial ointment pro- 

 duces very marked symptoms of poisoning : eczema, stomatitis, 

 diarrhea, respiratory troubles, general weakness, and internal 

 hemorrhages. 



The dog and the horse are much less sensitive than the ox to the 

 action of mercurial ointment. 



[Frequent instances have been brought to my notice of the great 

 danger in the use of mercurial preparations in the dog. This dan- 

 ger exists not only in the absorbing power of the skin, but also in 



1 The recent researches of Adam have demonstrated that the transformation of 

 calomel into sublimate in the organism is very small, when even alkaline chlorides 

 are present. — n. d. t. 



