1888.] Dr Woodhead on Mercuric Salts as Antiseptics. 239 
through the filter paper, and could be detected in the filtrate by 
means of the stannous chloride. 
It has for long been known that common salt is a solvent of the 
albuminate of mercury, and that if it be added to the sublimate 
solution, the albuminate is dissolved so rapidly that practically it 
is never formed. That acids acted in a similar manner was 
also known; and not only these, but that the halogen salts, of 
which iodide of potassium, bromide of potassium, chloride of sodium, 
amongst others, may be taken as examples, have a similar solvent 
action. If to the mercuric chloride and blood solution 2 c.c. of a 
saturated solution of common salt be added, the precipitate is much 
finer, and the blood, instead of turning pale, exhibits a slight 
opacity, and is only slightly lighter in colour. On filtering, haemo- 
globin comes through with the filtrate; and on addition of the 
stannous chloride, some of the mercuric chloride is found in solution, 
though evidently not the whole of it, some of it being thrown down 
as albuminate in the fine precipitate. On examining the mixture 
after twenty-four hours, there is found a well-marked very fine 
precipitate, occupying the lower half of the glass with a clear super- 
natant fluid, containing haemoglobin and a diminished quantity of 
corrosive solution. Two c.c. of common salt is therefore not suffi- 
cient to dissolve the whole of the albuminate formed. If 7 c.c. 
of the saturated salt solution be added to the sublimate solution 
on the addition of the blood, there is a slight opacity, which 
lasts for a very short time. On examination after twenty-four 
hours, the fluid is quite clear, is unaltered in colour, and there is 
scarcely a trace of precipitate. The characteristic haemoglobin 
absorption-bands are well marked. On the addition of stannous 
chloride to the filtrate, there is rapidly formed a dense black 
precipitate, equal in bulk to that obtained from the pure sublimate 
solution. 
On evaporating and weighing out the salt from the saturated com- 
mon salt solution, it was calculated that J per cent, to 1 per cent, 
salt solution should be used instead of distilled water, as the fluid 
in which to dissolve the corrosive sublimate in making up the 1 to 
1000 antiseptic lotion. 
Seven c.c. of sodium phosphate (saturated solution) added to 
50 c.c. sublimate solution, gives no marked precipitate on the addi- 
VOL. XV. 5/10/88 Q 
