EFFECTS OF MERCURY ON HOUSES.. 
443 
on animals with more or less effect : at least, the only dubious of 
power are the su/phurets ; these Orfila, indeed, regards as power- 
less. 
The most active and virulent of its compounds is what commonly 
goes by the name of corrosive sublimate , the hi/drargyri binoxy- 
dum of the last London Pharmacopoeia. Applied externally it is a 
caustic of great power ; and is capable, when given internally, 
even in very small quantities, of exerting very great influence in 
the animal system. From its solubility and extreme diffusibility 
in large quantities of water, it may, by proper management, be 
very commodiously administered to the horse in the water given 
him to drink : his extreme delicacy of smell may lead him at first 
to suspect something in his drink ; but by keeping him for some 
hours without other water, in general, after a time he takes it, not 
seeming to care about the admixture. I have in this manner 
tested its efficacy in ophthalmia, and in glanders and farcy : I 
cannot add, with any decided benefit in either case. 
A brown gelding having incipient glanders, and who had pre- 
viously been taking large doses of cinchona without producing any 
effect, either on the constitution or the disease, was, in conse- 
quence of becoming decidedly glandered, submitted to the opera- 
tion of mercury. He commenced with taking hydrarg. binoxydi 
gr. x, which by degrees was augmented until the large dose of 
3v was given. The horse now, for the first time, left part of his 
food unconsumed and his pulse became accelerated. With four 
days’ of intermission of medicine he recovered his appetite. The 
next dose administered was the enormous one of 3 v j> under the 
effects of which he succumbed. The following morning he 
shewed alarming symptoms of illness, expressing great pain, 
frequently lying down and rising again, and being without per- 
ceptible pulse ; shortly after which a most profuse perspiration 
broke out upon him. He survived, however, until the next day. 
Intense inflammation had seized the lining vascular membrane 
of the stomach : large portions of effused coagulable lymph 
adhered to it, and the lymph had a reddened appearance, as 
though it had already had vessels shooting into it ; which was 
proved afterwards to have been the case. The cuticular coat 
exhibited no change ; and there was but a slight blush of in- 
flammation upon the internal surface of the intestines. Alto- 
gether, this horse took, and within twenty-four days, the 
astonishing quantity of four ounces and twelve grains of binoxyde 
of mercury. 
Red precipitate, as it used to be called, was given to three horses 
having glanders, in doses, at the beginning, of 9ij daily ; and this 
dose in a few days was augmented to 3iv. On the third of taking 
