MERCURY. 
82-2° (180° F.), and melts at higher temperatures. The sublimate is 
generally in groups of plates drawn to a point at both ends, in crystalline 
needles, or in octahedra with a rectangular base. It dissolves in 16 
parts of cold water and about 3 of boiling, and is very soluble in solutions 
of the alkaline chlorides ; 100 parts of carbon disulphide dissolve -031 
at 8°, *055 at 25°. One part of sublimate dissolves in 14 parts of 
glycerin. Acetic ether, methylal, and benzene all dissolve to some 
extent corrosive sublimate ; it dissolves also in ether, and can be, to 
a great extent, withdrawn from aqueous solutions by this agent. 
Alcohol dissolves nearly one-third its weight of the salt, and its own 
weight when boiling. It combines with albumen ; gives, in solution, 
a precipitate of mercuric oxide when tested with solution of potash, a 
white precipitate with ammonia, a scarlet with iodide of potassium, 
and a black precipitate of finely divided mercury with protochloride of 
tin. If a crystal (when placed in the subliming cell) gives a crystalline 
sublimate at about the temperature mentioned, and this sublimate 
becomes of a red colour when treated with a droplet of iodide of 
potassium, it can be no other substance than corrosive sublimate. 
Solution of Perchloride of Mercury (Liquor hydrargyri perchloridi) 
is simply 1 grm. of perchloride of mercury dissolved in 1000 
millilitres of distilled water ; 100 c.c. therefore should contain 100 mgrms. 
corrosive sublimate. 
Yellow Mercurial Lotion (Lotio hydrargyri flava). — Perchloride 
of mercury, 4-6 grms., in 1000 millilitres of solution of lime. 
Calomel 1 (Hydrargyri subchloridum).— The properties of calomel 
have been already described. It sometimes contains as an impurity 
corrosive sublimate which may be dissolved out by ether. Carbonate 
of lead, sulphate and carbonate of baryta, gum, and starch, are the 
usual adulterants mentioned. If on the application of heat calomel 
entirely sublimes, it must be free from the substances enumerated. 
Oleate of Mercury is composed of 20 grms. yellow mercuric 
oxide, 5 grms. liquid paraffin, and 75 parts of oleic acid. 
’ Mercuric Oleate Ointment. —25 grms. of oleated mercury, 75 
grms. of benzoated lard. 
Black Mercurial Lotion (Lotio hydrargyri nigra).— Calomel, 6-85 grms. ; 
glycerin, 50 millilitres ; solution of lime up to 1000 millilitres. 
Compound Pill of Mercurous Chloride (syn., compound calomel 
pill ; Plummer’s pill).—Mercurous chloride, sulphurated antimony, of 
each 20 grms. ; guaiacum resin in powder, 40 grms. ; gum acacia in 
powder, 1 grm. ; tragacanth in powder, 1 grm. ; syrup of glucose, 10 
grms. or a sufficient quantity. Dose, 25 to 50 cgrms. 
1 It would appear that in America a cosmetic is in use, consisting of calomel 
mixed into a paste with water.— Vide “A Dangerous Cosmetic,” by C. H. Piesse, 
Analyst, 1878, p. 241. 
