MERCURY 
AND ITS 
PREPARATIONS. 
A PHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC STUDY, 
ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF 
HOMOEOPATHY. 
BY 
EDWARD HUBER, M.D., Vienna. MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
By Dr. Huber, of Vienna. 
I. History. 
Quicksilver is so called from its resemblance in color to sil- 
ver, and from its property of combining with other metals. 
The Greek name is equivalent to liquid silver. The Arabs 
called it Zaibach, Zibach, Zaibach or Zaibar. The Romans 
termed it Argentum vivum, and subsequently Mereurius; 
whence the English, French, Italian and Spanish names: Mer- 
cury, Mercure, Mercurio. In the middle ages the alchemists 
called it Aqua metallorum, Chameleon minerale, Semper fugi- 
tivus, Illafor chemicorum. 
The Ancient Greeks got their knowledge of this, as of most 
other natural objects, from the Egyptians. They did not use 
it as a medicine. Aristotle and Theophrastus mention it, 
though Hippocrates does not. In the days of Galen and Cel- 
sus it was proscribed by law as a deadly poison. The Arabs 
first made frequent and bold use of it in medicine. Rhazes 
(died 923), Avicenna, Aben Mesue, used it for lice, worms, and 
scabies. Mirepsius, of Alexandria, learned its use from the 
Arabs and, like them, employed it externally against parasites. 
The Chinese have used it since 1075, by inunction and fumi- 
gation, for diseases of parasitic origin; and at a later period, 
for syphilis; but always with great caution. 
From the Arabs the use of Mercury was learned by Theo- 
deric, a Franciscan monk, subsequently bishop of Cervia, who 
wrote in the twelfth century and introduced it into practice. 
It began to be used in England in the thirteenth century. 
Gilbert employed it for malum mortuum, a kind of eruption, 
and for lepra, by inunction. Guy de Chauliac introduced it 
into France. mercury and its preparations. 
In the fifteenth century, with the spread of syphilis, it came 
into general use; inunctions in this disease being first men- 
tioned by Josef Gruenbeck, a priest and secretary of Emperor 
Maximilian I.; but long before this date it had been used for 
this purpose in Spain. 
The first to give it internally was Joh. de Vigo, for the 
plague; while its internal use in syphilis was extended by 
Barbarossa, the pirate of Tunis and Algiers, who is said to 
have learned the composition and use of the pills which bear 
his name from a Hebrew physician. 
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, both syphilis 
and the use of Mercury in treating it were general in Europe. 
Paracelsus understood the preparation of red precipitate, sub- 
limate, calomel, and nitrate of Mercury. In the seventeenth 
century Mercury was greatly abused; and in our own day, the 
progress of chemistry has made known to us many new pre- 
parations of Mercury, which have been used by the allopaths 
against almost every form of disease. 
As early as the fourteenth century, there were physicians 
who opposed the use of Mercury; and the contest on this sub- 
ject has not yet ended. Hahnemann’s discovery of the law of 
similars, and his comprehensive proving of Mercury, especially 
of the Merc. sol. prepared by himself, made us acquainted with 
one of our best polychrests; and this drug which in the hands 
of our opponents had done more harm than good, became a 
beneficent remedy. 
II. Physical and Chemical Peculiarities. 
[Limitation of space induces the omission of this part of Dr. 
Huber’s paper; for the information it presents the reader is 
referred to works on chemistry.] 
III. Physiological Effects of Mercury and its 
Preparations. 
A. Mercurius vivus. Inunctions on Animals. 
Overbeck experimented on six strong, healthy animals, more 
than six months old. The inunctions were made on the ab- 
2 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
domen, thigh, nape, or back, on spots carefully shaved and pro- 
tected afterwards by a firm bandage, to prevent the animal 
licking the spot and thus complicating the experiment by 
symptoms from internal poisoning. The experiments were 
generally made in the winter; the autopsies immediately after 
death or during the agony. The quantity of ointment used at 
each application was, for cats, a scruple; for dogs, a scruple to 
a half drachm, or more for large dogs. 
1. Inunction with Ung. cin. was made four days on a cat. 
From the second day there was loss of appetite, retention of 
stool and urine, until a few hours before death on the 5th day. 
Autopsy: Stomach and duodenum full of dark masses (chietly 
altered bile); ileum injected in spots and dark with bile pig- 
ment ; in the rest of the alimentary canal light yellow masses ; 
liver unchanged; gall-bladder full of grass-green bile; no 
change in bones; blood dark, thick fluid; globules of Mercury, 
-L'" in the kidneys and intestine, fewer in the liver and blood, 
none in bones. Chemical analysis revealed the metal in almost 
all internal organs, also in the blood; most in the liver, gall- 
bladder and heart; none in faeces and urine. Ho mention is 
made of the bones. 
2. Inunction with Ung. hydrarg. oxidat. Three days on a 
cat. From the second day, loss of appetite; retention of stool 
and urine; death on the fourth day. 
Autopsy: Injected places on the cheeks and paws; the seats 
of inunction red and inflamed; intestinal canal full of dark, 
almost blackish masses; inflammatory injection throughout 
the large intestine; blood dark, not otherwise altered; bones 
normal. Chemical analysis showed the presence of the metal 
in almost every organ; most in the faeces and intestine; but 
none in the kidneys. 
3. Inunction performed on a dog of medium size, daily from 
beginning of September to end of November, with a scruple of 
Ung. cin.; at least 12 ounces used in all. The dog showed the 
Mercurial cachexy in a high degree; excessive emaciation; 
falling out of hair; uncertain gait was observed after four 
weeks; the exhalations of the animal were, at last, intolerable. 
Autopsy: Hair thin, much having fallen out; erythema of 
3 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
thighs and abdomen, even on spots to which ointment had not 
been applied; scrotum covered with moist, sore spots ; urethral 
blenorrhcea; cerebral vessels distended with dark blood; lower 
part of rigljt lung cedematous; a very large, translucent fibrin- 
ous clot in the right thoracic cavity, the pleura not adhering; 
large, solid, translucent fibrinous clots in both ventricles as 
well as auricles of the heart, that of the right auricle extend- 
ing far into the vena cava; stomach and intestine full of black- 
ish green masses; mucous membrane spongy, in ridges, often 
of a slaty-gray color (many teenipe in the small intestine); capil- 
lary injection around the glands in the lower colon and rectum, 
but no ulceration perceptible; liver large, dark and full of 
blood, but the microscope shows no change in the constituents 
of the parenchyma; renal epithelium filled with fat; blood 
very dark and thick, almost like pitch, easily coagulating and 
forming a thick butty coat; arterial blood bright red; mesen- 
teric vessels full of bright blood ; osseous system normal ; glob- 
ules of quicksilver found nowhere, except in the seats of 
inunction; not even in the blood. Chemical analysis revealed 
the metal only in the greenish-black fecal masses; neither 
blood, urine, bones nor any organ showed a trace. 
4. A dog of medium size treated with gray ointment from 
January 6th, 1858, died January 19th. About one ounce of 
ointment was used. At first loss of appetite and retention of 
urine; towards the last, profuse salivation. The exhalations 
of this, as of the other animals, intolerable. Considerable 
emaciation. 
Autopsy: Twenty-four hours after death. Brain solid, com- 
pact, somewhat cedematous. Mouth : mucous membrane and 
gums bluish-gray and soft; erosions and dirty gray ulcers on 
various parts; parotids swollen; fetor of mouth; fibrinous 
clots filling the right ventricle and auricle ; in the lower lobes 
of both lungs, dark red, serous infiltrated spots, in sharp con- 
trast with the bright-red gray color of the rest of the lung 
tissue; contents of the intestine dark; mucous membrane of 
stomach spongy and ridgy with slaty spots ; serous and mucous 
membrane of small intestine bypenemic; the follicles swollen; 
deep injection of large intestine; dark stripes in the rectum, 
4 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
probably' from Mercuric sulphide; liver large, full of blood; 
gall-bladder distended with grass-green bile; spleen small, not 
much altered. Kidneys: Cortical substance yellowish, epithe- 
lium tilled with fat in molecules and in large drops; urinary 
bladder full; blood dark, very thick, partly coagulated, clots 
in the large vessels ; osseous system normal; globules of Mer- 
cury most in the mucous membrane of the mouth, especially in 
the necrosed parts ; also in the kidneys and their pelves ; like- 
wise in the feces, mixed with black particles of sulphide ; and 
scantily, in the liver, in the flesh of the heart and in the brain ; 
no trace of it in the bones. 
5. A strong dog of medium size treated with a drachm of gray 
ointment daily three and a half months, from March 25th, 1858. 
Urethral catarrh appeared at once. Loss of appetite, pro- 
nounced marasmus, intolerably offensive exhalations, sluggish 
motions, and at last movement almost impossible, with profuse 
salivation. Urine undiminished, containing much albumen, 
sometimes bile, and, as in catarrh of the bladder, many mucous 
corpuscles and crystals of phosphate of ammonia and magnesia. 
Repeated electrolytic analysis of the urine gave doubtful traces 
of Mercury. The dog died July 5th, ten to twelve ounces of 
ointment having been used during a period of more than three 
months. 
Autopsy: Twenty-four hours after death: extraordinary 
emaciation; hair mostly gone from abdomen ; extensive ery- 
thema of skin of abdomen and inner side of thighs; large ne- 
crosed spots, forming ulcers as large as a thaler, with a dirty 
base on the parts of the thigh where inunction was made the 
first six weeks. Eyes: Purulent conjunctivitis of both eyes; 
no trace of iritis. Mouth: Mucous membrane pale; around 
some teeth blackish. A gray, necrosed spot on each side near 
the upper bicuspid, and similar spots on the inside of the cheeks 
near the angle of the lips, as well as on other parts of cheek 
and gum. Left lung collapsed, amemic; right lung behind 
and below infiltrated with serum, dark red, cedematous; cavi- 
ties of the heart filled with thick, coagulated, black blood, and 
fibrinous clots hanging from the valves. (Blood of the veins 
and aorta contains also solid coagula.) Abdomen: Strikingly 
5 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ansemic; gall-bladder half full of light green bile; the micro- 
scope shows no change in the parenchyma and cells of the liver; 
spleen small, very antemic; mucous membrane of stomach 
ridgy, presenting necrosed, blackish spots, round and as large 
as a lentil or a pea; little ulcers seated in the mucous glands. 
(The black spots were altered blood-extravasations; the whole 
intestinal mucous membrane in a catarrhal state.) A longish, 
dirty-gray, superficial ulcer in the duodenum, six lines long; 
dark fecal masses in the ileum; the vermiform process filled 
with hard fteces; large intestine empty, contracted; injected spots 
on its blue-gray mucous surface. Kidneys: Large, congested; 
epithelium and casts from the tubuli in the pelves; also glob- 
ules of quicksilver as large as line; osseous system normal; 
no trace of inflammation, neither the long bones, sternum nor 
cranium showed, either in parenchyma or cavity, a trace of 
the metal, although it was found in the heart-clots, the kid- 
neys, parotids and liver, and in the deep layers of the cutis of 
left thigh where inunction was made the first six weeks; none 
found by chemical analysis in the bones. 
6. A dog of medium size; inunction on both thighs from 
Jan. 20th to Feb. 22d. After eight days, loss of appetite, then re- 
tention of stool and urine; later, inflammation and erosion of 
skin of thigh and adjacent part of abdomen, and severe urethral 
catarrh. Intolerable exhalations from the skin; general mar 
asmus; no salivation. Died Feb. 22d. 
Autopsy: Right eye: Purulent conjunctivitis; mouth nor- 
mal; brain firm, solid, somewhat (edematous; liver normal; 
gall-bladder full of green bile. Kidneys: Pyramids dark red; 
epithelium not infiltrated with fat; intestinal canal full of 
dark green masses, in the upper part fluid, in the lower large 
intestine solid scybala. The mucous and serous membranes 
of the middle and lower large intestine showed so great vas- 
cular injection as to leave no doubt of enteritis mucosa; no in- 
testinal ulcers; no fibrinous clots, though the fibrin soon coagu- 
lated after flowing out, forming a thick, bufty coat. Osseous 
system normal; no globules of Mercury to be found ; traces of 
it on chemical analysis in urine and bones. 
7. Inunction in a small black dog daily, from Kov. 9th to 
6 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
26th, 1859, when he died. No bandage on the points of in- 
unction ; he could lick them. Copious salivation, appetite lost 
on the 8th day; no retention of urine or stool. 
Autopsy: During the agonjq buccal mucous membrane of 
gum and fauces deep red with dark necrosed spots; the in- 
flammation extending into the oesophagus. Liver compara- 
tively congested; gall-bladder full of green bile; intestinal 
canal contracted; green bile in the upper part of small intes- 
tine; the lower part coated with a dark mucus (bile with Mer- 
curic sulphide); some stripes of injection; the whole large in- 
testine covered with injected spots under the greenish-black 
coat of feces. Blood thick, fluid, coagulating in five minutes. 
Signs of general anaemia; lungs, heart, spleen, blood-vessels, 
uncommonly empty of blood; no change in osseous system; no 
trace of Mercury on chemical examination. The early death 
of this animal by enteritis mucosa and its sequelae was due to, 
or hastened by, his having licked the salve. 
B. Inunctions on Man. 
1. Basedow observed after mercurial inunction for internal, 
non-syphilitic disease: iritis, salivation, angina with profuse 
mucous secretion, horrid taste and burning in the mouth, in- 
satiable thirst, painful dysentery for eleven days, drawing pain 
and tenderness in the tibia, cedema of feet. (Hafeland’s Jour- 
nal, 1838 ) 
2. Loewenhardt observed profuse salivation with swelling of 
the cheeks and maxillary and parotid glands; drawing tender- 
ness and swelling of the gums; the tongue thickly coated yel- 
low-white, its margins bearing the impress of the teeth; me- 
tallic taste, mercurial odor from the mouth, colic, frequent de- 
sire for stool, bilious diarrhoea, discharge of yellow-green mat- 
ter with blood-clots, painful stools of blood and mucus, diure- 
sis, large quantities of clear urine containing much albumen 
being passed. (Loewenhardt, Beobaehtungen und Erf a hr ungen 
aus dem Gebiete derpract. Arznei- und Wund-Arzneikunst, 1838.) 
3. Rust observed noma as a result of excessive mercurial in- 
unction in a woman sixty-three years old. 
4. In a young woman with a delicate skin, after applying 
7 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ling, hydrar. cm., for two days to the epigastrium, appeared 
an erythema, extending from the epigastrium over the whole 
thorax and abdomen. There was violent itching, the skin was 
deep-red, burning and sore. Next day the red surface was 
covered with little vesicles as large as a poppy-seed and full of 
purulent lymph. The eruption desquamated within seven 
days. It was accompanied by fever. (Knorre. AUa. Horn. 
Zeit. 19, 238.) 
5. In a feeble girl of thirteen, not yet menstruating, of 
scrofulous habit, subject from childhood to glandular swellings, 
ophthalmia and cutaneous eruptions, especially on head and 
extremities, mercurial inunction was used to resolve the swollen 
glands. After applying about one and a half drachms of oint- 
ment to the sides of the neck and inside of the arm during 
eight days, these places became fiery red, and an itching erup- 
tion covered them and the entire chest and upper extremities; 
small and larger yellow vesicles on a dark-red base discharged 
a sticky yellow fluid and formed little confluent ulcers; thick 
yellow-brown scabs formed, under which the formation of the 
honey-like secretion continued, the acridity of which, with the 
rubbing and scratching, caused the eruption to extend until, 
on the sixth day, it covered most of the face, throat, chest and 
upper extremities, looking like vesicular erysipelas, at the same 
time general illness, with frequent, rather contracted pulse, rest- 
lessness, insomnia, etc.; after five days more, the upper half of 
the body was covered with fine yellow scabs; the eyes could 
not open and wept continually; the patient was delirious, had 
a dry, white tongue, subsultus, and an extremely frequent, 
small pulse. She died on the 24th day after beginning the in- 
unction, and the 17th from the appearance of the eruption. 
(Loewenhardt, loo. cit.) 
6. A man of twenty-six, in good health, used gray ointment 
to remove pediculi pubis. On the sixth day the whole abdo- 
men was covered with a smooth, purple eruption, with here 
and there little white yellow vesicles; and three days later 
larger vesicles full of yellow lymph, which were soon covered 
with yellow-brown scabs, severe fever, accelerated, full pulse, 
white tongue, red urine, thirst, loss of appetite, constipation, 
8 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ischuria on the tenth day. The eruption had extended to the 
thorax and lower extremities; the discharge from the ulcers 
on the abdomen had formed a continuous scab, from cracks in 
which viscid lymph exuded. Occasional delirium. The eleventh 
day the eruption had covered the chest and upper extremities. 
The general symptoms gradually assumed a typhoid charac- 
ter; the sensorium was disturbed; the patient somnolent, de- 
lirious even by day; the extremities in constant motion; a 
sharp question would fix his attention for a moment; he would 
reply correctly and then relapse into delirium; death. (Ibid.) 
7, 8, 9. In Jan., 1869, W. K., T. Iv., and Th. K., were found 
in the morning dead in bed; they were quite well the day be- 
fore, on which a quack anointed their entire bodies with a 
salve for the itch. The results of autopsy were the same in 
all three cases. 
The integument was dark violet-red in many places; on the 
hands, feet, chest, abdomen and back were some brown dried 
spots as large as lentils or peas ; the morbidly changed habitat 
of the acarus. 
The teeth were covered with yellow tartar, the gums slaty- 
gray, bluish, swollen and receded from the neck of the teeth; 
the mucous membrane of the lips swollen, bluish and denuded 
of epithelium; an intolerable odor from the mouth. 
The dura mater and sinuses were full of dark fluid blood ; 
the pia mater very hypenemic. The cerebrum and cerebellum 
congested throughout with dark fluid blood, so that they were 
dark red, exhibiting on section many blood-points; some fluid 
blood at the base of the cranium. Congestion of thyroid body 
and of mucous membrane of larynx and trachea. Both lungs 
slightly adherent to the costal pleura, much congested, of a 
dark, livid color and exuding on section a quantity of dark, 
fluid blood. The liver and spleen hypenemic and dark. The 
stomach greatly distended; being reserved for judicial chemi- 
cal examination, it was not opened at this time. No morbid 
change in the intestine. Both kidneys congested ; the blad- 
der full. Death seemed to have resulted suddenly from cere- 
bral and pulmonary apoplexy. Metallic mercury was found in 
9 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
all the organs examined as well as in the salve. (Ilirschel, 
Zeitschr.f. hom. Klinik, 19, 96.) 
10. A woman, set. 36, had three weeks before, on three suc- 
cessive days, rubbed a little mercurial ointment upon the 
groins and hemorrhoids and the next day exposed herself to 
cold and wet; since when she had pain in the groin, heat and 
dryness of the body, face and eyelids; and swelling and in- 
flammation of the integument. Alternating cold and heat, 
lassitude, thirst, loss of appetite and sleep. After fourteen 
days a scarlet eruption, with offensive exudation on the inner 
side of arms and limbs. It desquamated in a few days. On 
the twenty-ninth day, many symptoms had improved; con- 
siderable oedema of lower extremities ; tongue clean, stool nor- 
mal. Recovery. [Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ., 1865.) 
11. A somewhat similar case ending fatally on the 31st day. 
[Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ., 1865.) 
12. 13. Two women applied ointment on account of itch. 
The marked and persistent effects were trembling and sub- 
sultus, emaciation and cramps. Recovery in about one year. 
[Archives gen. de Med., 1825.) 
14. A woman, set. 28, previously healthy, used mercurial 
inunction for a severe and obstinate neuralgia dentalis. On 
the fourteenth day it was suspended on account of trembling 
of limbs, which lasted two months. [Ibid.) 
15. A man. set. 26, after using mercurial ointment four days, 
had swelling of gunis and tongue; soon ulcers formed in the 
mouth. The maxillary glands swelled and were very painful; 
there was copious salivation and mercurial odor. Recovery. 
[Arch. gen. de Med., Yol. 68.) 
16. An of Hospital La Piti6, who had charge of 
the venereal patients, had, without known cause, swelling of 
gums and ulceration in back part of mouth. His physician 
pronounced it syphilitic and prescribed Mercury, which the 
patient, knowing he had no syphilitic taint, declined. The 
symptoms continued until he gave up the care of the syphilitic 
patients (who were treated with mercurial ointment). [Arch, 
gen. de Med., Vol. 12.) 
17. A maid-servant, set. 28, with sound teeth and gums, got, 
10 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
apparently from cold, an inguinal bubo, to which she applied 
mercurial ointment, keeping her bed for several days, only her 
nose and forehead uncovered. The third day high fever, 
copious sweat, fetor of breath ; parotids swollen and tender. 
Could hardly open the mouth, within which were gangrenous 
ulcers; fetid, red discharge from mouth. 
Action of Mercurial Vapor. 
18. A gilder worked all day in a large but low and ill-ven- 
tilated room, which was also the family bed-room. He got 
many ulcers in the mouth, fetid breath, and terrible pain on 
attempting to speak or swallow. These symptoms abated 
when he ceased to work and recurred on resuming work. To 
them was soon added violent, general trembling, affecting first 
the hands, then the whole body. He had to sit in a chair; 
could not walk a step. He could neither speak, nor bring his 
hands to his mouth without striking himself; had to be fed, 
and swallowing was a spasmodic act liable to end in choking. 
At the end of six months the trembling had considerably 
abated, but the least noise or excitement would bring it on 
again. On resuming work, the trembling returned. It was 
remarked that when drunk, he could hold a glass steadily 
which he could not do when sober. (Ramazzini, de morb. artif. 
Diatribe.) 
19. The wife of the last patient had similar symptoms, and 
a profuse salivation, which reduced her almost to a skeleton. 
Later she became asthmatic without cough or sputa. This 
lasted eighteen years ; she could neither walk nor stoop with- 
out danger of suffocation. (Ramazzini.) 
20. The man-of-war Triumph, in 1810, in the harbor of Ca- 
diz, took from a Spanish vessel a number of cases, containing 
bladders tilled with quicksilver. The bladders decayed and 
the metal ran out and penetrated to every part of the ship. 
Soon many of the crew had salivation; then a number had 
ulcers in the mouth and on the tongue, partial paralysis and 
g.stric disturbances. Many and various endeavors to cleanse 
the ship were fruitless. The animals on board died. In many 
cases the buccal ulcer became gangrenous. The effect of the 
11 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
vapor was peculiarly damaging to all who had any tendency 
to pulmonary disease, many of such developing and dying of 
consumption. A woman, confined to her bed by a fracture, 
lost all her teeth and had exfoliation of the maxillse. {Arch, 
gen. de Med., IY.) 
21. A gilder, using amalgam and inhaling the vapor of Mer- 
cury, is said to have died in three hours in excruciating pain. 
(.Annales gen. des Sciences Phys., Part V.) 
22. Two children, set. 7 and 10, occupied a third story room 
which looked on a court, in which Mercury was sublimed. 
Soon a great mental disturbance was observed which gave 
reason to fear complete idiocy. Ollivier and Roger ascribed 
this effect to the impressible organism and tender age of the 
children. {Annales d’Hygiene, April, 1841.) 
23. On account of the itch a man wore a girdle of cloth 
containing quicksilver. His mouth became affected as in 
Ho. 18. 
24. A woman standing beside her husband in a bath-room 
as he anointed himself with mercurial ointment, got profuse 
salivation, and her fauces were covered with ulcers. (Fabric, 
von Ililden.) 
25. A barometer-maker lived with his family in his work- 
room. The oldest of his five children was cachectic; the sec- 
ond died aged nine years, and the third aged three months, 
both of scrofula; the fourth, aged three, has scrofulous oph- 
thalmia and mesenteric scrofula; the youngest, six months old, 
is very backward in its development, and has already caries of 
several ribs and the upper dorsal vertebrae. The mother looks 
cachectic, hut is not sick at present. The father has suffered 
for years from trembling of the limbs, amounting at times to 
spasms; also periodically from nocturnal boring bone-pains. 
He has likewise periostitis in the middle of the tibia, and a 
papular eruption on the back. Swelling of the glands about 
the neck, dark redness of the mucous membrane of the fauces, 
diseased gums and bad teeth were observed in every member 
of the family. (J. Hermann, Nachtheile, etc.) 
26. The family of a mirror-silverer in Fiirth lived in the 
shop. The man and the house-dog were alike affected with 
12 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
trembling of the limbs and salivation. The servant, who as- 
sisted in the silvering, was also affected. At first she had fre- 
quent and severe paroxysms of toothache, swelling of the gums 
and salivary glands, metallic taste, and transient pains in the 
joints of the limbs. Soon there ensued the most violent head- 
aches, trembling of the limbs, hard swelling of the cervical and 
parotid glands, and profuse salivation; the teeth became black, 
the gums were loosened and bled, and there was almost entire 
immobility of the jaw. After several weeks medical treatment 
in Fiirth the patient came to the clinic at Erlangen, Febr. 12, 
1860. Her face was red, the cheeks, the region behind both ears 
and the submaxillary glands swollen, hard and painful, and 
she was unable to open her mouth, move the tongue, or speak. 
Very profuse salivation, abdomen swollen, constipation, ex- 
tremities and eyelids constantly trembling, general emaciation. 
Pulse small, weak, and rapid. Patient very much depressed, 
constantly weeping. She has restless, sleepless nights, asthma, 
fever with night-sweats, and violent pains in the head. Some 
of the teeth fell out. An abscess formed in the cheek and 
opened into the mouth. There was necrosis of large pieces of 
the lower maxilla. Convalescence was established by the 
middle of August. At which time it was discovered that the 
patient was- at the end of the eighth month of her pregnancy. 
At her full term (Sept. 11th) the woman had an easy labor and 
was delivered of an extremely small, female child, which, 
having plenty of milk, she nursed for several years. The 
puerperium was normal; and at the end of another month the 
woman was very fat and well. (Kussmciul, Unter sue hung en.) 
27. A couple gained their living by the sale of Mercury, 
which they obtained by expression from the leathern flasks, in 
which it is transported. They lived and slept in their work- 
room. Both were pale, weak, and emaciated ; their gums were 
ulcerated, and their teeth loose, in consequence of long exist- 
ing, though moderate, salivation. They could scarcely stand 
or speak intelligibly, and had lost the control of their hands, 
which were spasmodically affected, as soon as they attempted 
to grasp anything. They would not give up their occupation, 
13 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
until the woman died of exhaustion; after which the man 
went to the hospital and recovered. [Idem.) 
28. T. B., set 43 yrs., had worked at mirror silvering since 
his 17th year, with the exception of 20 months. His wife had 
followed the same occupation almost as long a time. Neither 
had ever been salivated. Up to about three years ago they 
had not experienced the slightest injurious effect from their 
occupation, though they had neglected the most obvious pre- 
cautions. Mercurial tremor now made its appearance in both 
about the same time; and in the man rapidly increased to the 
utmost intensity; but, after six weeks duration, diminished 
very greatly without ceasing entirely. After the acme of the 
first attack the man suffered about three months from frequent, 
and at times very serious, pulmonary haemorrhages. He 
quitted his occupation for a year and a half, and then resumed 
it. In four months time the renewal of the deleterious in- 
fluence upon his already impaired constitution brought on a 
return of the previous attacks in their full intensity. When 
Dr. Koch was consulted, Febr. 13th, 1854, he found him 
well nourished, with white skin, pale cheeks, scanty hair. 
Pie exhibited an extreme degree of mercurial tremor, continu- 
ing uninterruptedly, but with unequal intensity, being always 
worse after midnight; his nights had long been sleepless. 
The mouth seemed free from any affection ; the teeth good, 
tongue clean, digestion undisturbed; no increased thirst, and 
neither chill nor heatl The pulse could not be felt in conse- 
quence of the violent trembling ; and for the same reason a 
physical examination of the heart and respiratory organs was 
found impracticable. 
The condition*remained unchanged until the 20th, when 
gastric disturbances appeared, owing to errors in diet on the 
previous day. He had now thick yellow fur on the tongue, 
anorexia and diarrhoea. On the 21st, movements much more 
violent, patient greatly excited, excessive thirst, heat in the 
head and vertigo. The diarrhoea had yielded to opium. On 
the 22d occurred rapid collapse with extremely profuse sweats, 
which colored the linen gray, as after mercurial inunctions, 
and continued till his death. During the night of the 24th, 
14 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
25th, delirium ceased at daybreak. (Quinine),—the motor 
neurosis increasing in severity. Marked emaciation. On the 
26 th, notable subsidence of the movements, the patient feeling 
somewhat stronger. The tongue retains a thick, dirty 
brownish coat; is moist, with a prominent ovoid ulcer on its 
left border, the seize of a groschen; cheesy exudation at the 
edge of the ram. 
Profuse diarrhoea set in on the morning of the 27th, the ab- 
domen was not sensitive to pressure; extreme thirst, tempera- 
ture very high ; movements less violent, at times seeming to 
subside. Now and then the patient had a short nap. (Po- 
tassic iodate, sulpur baths and opium clysters.) During the 
night, delirium. The diarrhoea ceased, but returned the next 
afternoon, unobserved by the patient. Decubitus commenced. 
The next day the diarrhoea continued, the movements became 
infrequent, and only of the head and upper extremities; the 
lower extremities lay quiet without loss of sensation. The 
patient was continually bathed in sweat, his thirst insatiable, 
tongue dry and cracked. Pulse thready, extremely frequent, 
consciousness complete, and the sensory organs unaffected. 
May 1st, toward evening rattling breathing. During the night 
transient delirium, entirely ceasing toward morning; and after 
daybreak no more movements. Death at 2 p. m. 
Autopsy, 24 hours after death. Cadaveric rigidity, slight ; 
suggillations, slight; only on the most dependent parts. Ves- 
sels of the pia mater slightly injected, containing very numer- 
ous air-bubbles, brain very tirm, only a few watery blood points 
on the cut surface, the white portion dull, bluish-white. 
Lungs collapsed, movable. On the left side a reddish foam 
exudes from the cut surface upon pressure, the same spontane- 
ously on the right side. Bronchial mucous membrane slightly 
injected in spots. Heart relaxed, endocardium thin, trans- 
parent, as also the valves; the endocardium in the right heart 
stained a dark blood-red. Only the ventricles contained blood; 
which was thick, fluid, blackish and red, with a large quantity 
of fat, in the form of small drops, on its surface. Ill both 
ventricles the blood was made foamy by numerous air-bubbles. 
Diaphragm pressed strongly upward. Tram verse colon very 
15 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tympanitic. Dark foamy blood flowed from both large and 
small vessels, at the cut surface of the liver; and the same was 
the case with the kidneys. No noticeable change in the intes- 
tinal mucous membrane. {Idem.) 
29. Another case of tremor mercurialis may be cited, in a 
female barometer-maker. She was of cachectic aspect, had 
small, dirty white ulcers on the lips, bleeding easily, and hav- 
ing a somewhat elevated livid edge; increased secretion of 
saliva, and occasional diarrhoea. Of this case we find the 
following autopsy: 
Some suggillation, rigor mortis. Muscular tissue dark co- 
lored. Gray matter of brain and spinal cord notably dark, 
moderately congested. An extravasation of blood the size of 
the palm in the submuscular tissue of the right thorax. Lungs 
somewhat oedematous in spots. Hypostasis posteriorly and 
below on the right side. Blood and a few fibrinous clots in 
the heart. Mucous membrane of the ascending colon softened 
and somewhat swollen. Solitary glands also swollen. Mucous 
membrane of the sigmoid flexure and rectum excoriated in 
spots; submucous connective tissue infiltrated with serum; 
vaginal portion of uterus red and swollen; uterus distended 
with venous blood. {Idem.) 
30. A woman, 38 years old, was occupied for five years at 
barometer-making. Bor a year past she has suffered from in- 
creasing trembling, which became suddenly violent, after spil- 
ling some heated mercury on the floor of the room, in which 
she slept. She was admitted to the hospital April 7th, 1856, 
in the following condition: 
Great emaciation; skin pale; eyes sunken, with very dark 
rims; gums spongy; general trembling, with shuddering, pass- 
ing at times into the most violent convulsions, sufficient to 
throw her out of bed. In such paroxysms she cries out, but 
does not lose consciousness entirely. Bandaging the body and 
limbs firmly quiets and relieves her. Pulse 84. Sleeplessness 
for a long time past. Appetite good. Thoracic organs normal. 
(Potassic iod., Opium at evening.) 
April 9.—Speech quite unintelligible ; mental disturbance ; 
16 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
disconnected muttering. She must remain bandaged. (Mo- 
schus.) 
April 10 to 12.—The paroxysms decidedly diminished in 
frequency and intensity. On the 13th, no attack; trembling 
of the head also moderate. No Mercury in the urine in spite 
of the Jodine administered. (Ferrum.) 
April 14.—Sleeplessness ; perplexity of mind. 
April 20.—Convulsive paroxysms again. (Moschus.) 
April 26.—Instead of the convulsions, paralysis of the ex- 
tremities, except the left arm. Subsequently the mobility of 
the right arm was recovered, but the paralysis of the lower ex- 
tremities remained. The electric excitability of the muscles 
was unchanged. 
In May.—Decubitus, diarrhoea, dysentery, persistent sleep- 
lessness and restlessness; imbecility. 
June 11.—Death. 
Autopsy: Suggillation ; substance of brain and spinal cord 
very soft; lungs dry, ansemic. Fluid and loosely clotted blood, 
with a few fibrinous clots in the right side of heart. Thin, 
fluid, yellow bile in the gall-bladder. Dysenteric process in 
colon. 
Chemical examination of the brain showed a faint trace only 
of Mercury. {Idem.) 
31. C. R., set. 55, mirror-silverer, had worked at his trade 
for twenty years; got tremor mercurialis; gave up his trade 
and did not follow it for eight years. The tremor recurred 
periodically. At last he died of exudative meningitis cerebri. 
Autopsy: Dura and pia mater adherent, and thickened an- 
teriorly. Black pigment in the lungs; liver normal; spleen 
soft. Much loose fat. {Idem.) 
32. B. R., set. 34, wife of a day laborer, worked at mirror- 
silvering from 1842 to 1847, then changed to house and field- 
work, and returned to silvering from 1851 to 1857, from six to 
nine months at a time. For the past four years she has not 
been employed in quicksilver work. While silvering she re- 
peatedly had stomatitis, salivation and ulcers in the mouth. 
She also suffered much with vertigo, violent headache, weak- 
ness of lower extremities and great irritability. When she 
17 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
quitted her occupation, in 1857, she was pregnant and suffered 
much from headache, vertigo, eructations and nausea, for 
which she was purged with pills containing calomel. Three 
living children are healthy; one died of scrofulosis, set. 7, an- 
other at a year old, and a third at six months, of intestinal ca- 
tarrh. She had one abortion at four months. Once while sil- 
vering; she had menorrhagia for ten weeks. 
At the end of December, 1860, she took cold, while at work 
in a cellar, and had to keep her bed. She had fever, and 
cough with hoarseness, severe headache, described as boring and 
confined to the frontal region; profuse salivation, nausea and 
violent vomiting. She was now admitted to the hospital in 
the following condition: 
Well nourished, fleshy, of medium height and pale aspect, 
with both pupils somewhat dilated and sluggish. Pulse quiet, 
carotid impulse weak, alike on the two sides. Tongue some- 
what coated; teeth for the most part carious or wanting; 
gums atrophied. Slight chronic angina. On the front of the 
velum and in the cheeks a superficial whitish scar. Except a 
somewhat extended splenic dullness, a careful investigation dis- 
closed no further objective morbid symptoms. Pregnant. 
She kept her bed, tied up her head firmly and vomited fre- 
quently (especially early in the morning) mucous, bilious 
masses and food. Vertigo and vomiting ensued upon rising 
np suddenly or stooping. Considerable salivation ; appetite 
poor; constipation. 
On the 6th of February the symptoms began to abate, and 
by the end of the month the salivation, which was most per- 
sistent, had also ceased. (Ibid.) 
83. M. M., ret. 24, silvered seven years until December, 1859. 
In the fall of 1853 was taken with tremor, which lasted sev- 
eral months, and was accompanied by typhoid symptoms. ]STo 
relief was sought until one day, when she fell in the street 
with vertigo. She had violent pains in the head, flickering 
before the eyes, roaring in the ears, and delirium. She suf- 
fered afterwards from general weakness and catarrh. Is said, 
in her nocturnal delirium, to have destroyed a stove, that her 
memory and judgment were enfeebled ; that in spite of great 
18 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sleepiness she had either not slept at all, or imperfectly with 
bad dreams. Her appetite was good, thirst great, and there 
was constipation and tearing pains in the limbs. 
September, 1856.—Headache, general lassitude and diarrhoea, 
April, 1858.—Subacute bronchial catarrh. 
December, 1859.—Stomatitis and tremor. 
October, 1860.—Blooming, well-nourished girl with well- 
developed mammae; her health disturbed only by frequent 
toothache ; some teeth carious. {Idem.) 
34. M. D., set. 38, married, worked at mirror-silvering from 
her fifteenth to her thirtieth year; then polished awhile, and 
returned afterward to silvering. 
May, 1842.—Headache, nausea, tremor, tongue coated, gums 
bleeding readily, menses scanty. 
September, 1844.—Chlorosis; amenorrhcea for 18 months • 
palpitation; lassitude; anorexia; costiveness. 
August, 1845.—Erysipelas of the forearm. 
July, 1848.—Tremor for six months, so that she could not 
drink, though she could eat, without assistance. Stammering; 
attacks of vertigo for three months. Moderate .salivation; 
very slight trouble in the mouth. Falling off* of the hair. 
1849.—Varioloid. In the fall pregnant; albuminuria; con- 
siderable hydrops. Cure. In the fall of 1860 we find a small, 
delicately organized woman, tolerably well-nourished. Feels 
well; slight trembling of the hands, when she spreads out her 
fingers. Hair rather thin. The most of her teeth are gone; 
the four lower incisors are loose, and the gums have receded, 
leaving them exposed down to the roots. Gums and alveoli 
are for the most part atrophied. Slight chronic angina. Co- 
pious salivation. Struma. Cervical lymphatics somewhat swol- 
len and indurated. Chronic conjunctivitis, with a fine pink 
vascular circle at the edge of cornea and sclerotica. {Idem.) 
35. II. R., set. 47, married; in a mirror-factory for twenty- 
one years, at first as a silverer, for the last ten years as a foil- 
beater. He frequently suffered with stomatitis, angina mer- 
curialis, with ulceration and profuse salivation. In 
1838, he is eutered upon the hospital register with hydrargy- 
rosis; in May, 1810, with pains in the head and stomach. 
19 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Four times the tremor attained such an intensity that he had 
to be fed. During the severe attacks of tremor he was greatly 
troubled with sleeplessness, restlessness, weakness of memory, 
and impaired judgment. The weakness of memory remained 
for a long time afterward. The headache was slight, but there 
was great roaring in the ears, much vertigo, and cloudy vision. 
Tearing pains in the extremities, especially the upper; great 
weakness in the lower, so that he had to be led. Extreme ema- 
ciation. The hair fell out, but came in again. Appetite bad, 
and he suffered also with diarrhcea and palpitation. 
As long as he worked at his trade he was frequently 
troubled with an eruption on the back, according to his de- 
scription, an eczema. He had no eruption before nor after that 
time. The eruption came in the form of patches of vesicles, 
which itched severely and soon exuded moisture. He suffered 
much from tightness in chest, anxiety and bad dreams. 
Sept. 1860. Chronic copper-colored angina, with consider- 
able swelling of the faucial mucous membrane, without ulcers 
or scars. Pain in swallowing with much scratching in the 
throat. On the mucous membrane of the cheeks, flat scars 
and thickening of the epithelium. Teeth partly carious, part- 
ly gone; many, as he said, having got loose and fallen out, 
without becoming carious, wThile he was silvering. {Idem.) 
36. M. Sch., ret. 31, unmarried, a silverer from her 14th to 
her 21st year, then got stomatitis, and after her cure went as 
a waitress into a mad-house. At the expiration of three years 
and a half she returned to her trade, and continued at it unin- 
terruptedly for two years. Then she suffered severely from 
stomatitis and salivation. After being cured, she silvered 
again for two years, when she was taken with a frightful con- 
vulsive tremor. In the summer of 1858 she was in the hospi- 
tal, and for 16 weeks at home, obliged to be fed, talking unin- 
telligibly, falling if she attempted to walk, and troubled with 
severe attacks of vertigo. The tremor affected her head also, 
and prevented her sleep. Memory and judgment weakened. 
Aug., 1860. Almost entirely recovered, not having worked 
with quicksilver since the summer of 1858 ; is well nourished, 
looks and feels well. Only something of the trembling is 
20 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
aroused by emotional excitement. Good growth of hair. 
Gums bright red at the edges. The alveolar borders of the 
lower incisors somewhat atrophied ; but those teeth though no 
longer firm, are otherwise white and good, like all the rest, of 
which there was not one lost. Slight chronic angina. 
In Sept., 1860, she returned to silvering in a small factory. 
In the November following, stomatitis, quickly cured by the 
use of Ivali chlor. 
After some weeks, continuing her work, stomatitis again, 
cough without expectoration ; stitching pains in various parts 
of the thorax ; headache, and slight fever. These all vanished 
after some days, when she returned to her occupation. 
Feb. 19th, 1861. She was obliged to stop again. She had 
latterly become pale, rather gray, emaciated, and felt dull and 
depressed. The stomatitis had reappeared with tremor. Men- 
struation, previously regular, became irregular, very scanty, 
pale and lasting but a few hours. The appetite was good all 
the time she was at the quicksilver work ; the stool at times 
thin and frequent. 
Febr. 21st, 1861. The patient, who looked well the previous 
fall, is now very much emaciated, and grayish white; skin lax, 
muscles flabby. Many teeth have fallen out, others are carious 
or gray. Buccal mucous membrane red and swollen, with 
depressions corresponding to the remaining teeth, and covered 
with fiat, readily bleeding ulcers. No salivation. Bad breath. 
Pain in mouth, especially in the lower jaw. Roof of mouth and 
faucial mucous membrane deep red. Glands about the lower 
jaw slightly swollen. Thorax in every respect well developed ; 
mammae lax. Percussion shows normal heart and lung out- 
lines, and an ample depression of the diaphragm in inspiration. 
Auscultation shows nothing abnormal. While the mechanism 
of respiration seems quite natural in quiet breathing, in deep 
breathing both the inspirations and expirations, instead of 
being each continuous, seemed to consist of 3 or 4 rapidly 
successive movements. 
Abdomen presents nothing noticeable. 
Microscopic examination of the blood shows no relative ex- 
cess of white corpuscles. Pulse varies from 76 to 80 ; tern- 
21 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
perature of skin normal. When at rest there is no tremor, but 
it comes with the slightest psychical excitation. A look or 
word causes the extremities to tremble; she is obliged to sit 
down, and the pulse is quickened. Subjective symptoms: 
general lassitude, heaviness of the lower extremities, excessive 
timidity and ill-humor; no headache, sleep good. Prescrip- 
tion : Kali chlor, as a gargle. Tepid baths, every other day. 
Febr. 23. Patient complains of much chilliness and cough, 
with pains in left side and shoulder. Physical investigation 
negative. No expectoration, no fever, urine scanty, dark 
yellow, albuminous, sp. gr. 1016. 
Febr. 24th Careful examination of tactile sense with the 
callipers shows decided diminution of sensibility. 
Febr. 26th. Mouth nearly well. Still complains of cough, 
especially severe while in the bath. Urine abundant, 800-1000 
C.C., pale yellow; sp. gr. 1014, albumen less. 
March 1st. She feels stronger, less tremor; visual power un- 
diminished. 
Prescription: Tinct. ferri acet. 20 drops three times a day. 
5300 C.C. of urine collected from Febr. 24th to March 2d tested 
by Schneider’s electrolytic method, showed a large quantity of 
mercury. 
March 4th. Improvement slow but decided. Albumen 
reduced to a trace. Urine 1500 C.C., pale yellow, sp. gr. 1019. 
In 1000 C.C. there are 16.5 grams of urea, and 1.9 grams 
sodium chloride. 
March 5th to 7th, menstruation as usual. 
March 7th. 1600 C.C. of dark yellow urine, free from albu- 
men, sp. gr. 1018, feebly acid. In 1000 C.C. 17.5 grams urea. 
March 9th, menstruation returned, and lasted until the 11th. 
March 11th. 1200 C.C. urine, sp. gr. 1015, containing in 
1000 C. C. 23 grams urea. 
March 18th. Improvement in every respect, color of skin, 
nutrition, strength, morale; tremor less frequent and weaker. 
Discharged convalescent, 1350 C.C. of dark yellow, neutral 
urine, sp. gr. 1019 with no trace of albumen for 10 or 12 days. 
In 1000 C.C. 22 grams of urea. Constipation during the 
entire period. {Idem.) 
22 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
37. Of the many cases of tuberculosis on record caused by 
Mercury we note the following: II. W., set. 40, single, silverer 
from her 20th year till 2 years before her death, which occur- 
red Dec. 20th, 1860. Her father died at 60, her mother at 50 
years of age. Her only brother is 46 years old and healthy ; a 
child of his, set. 13 years, is said to be healthy. 
In her youth she was always well, and did not have either 
palpitation or nosebleed. 
She alternately silvered and polished for 18 years. 
In March, 1840, she had gastrodynia, nausea, pain in cardia; 
had had eczema on the hands since the previous Christmas. 
March, 1844. Peritonitis circumscripta. 
Jan., 1846. Stomatitis mere., tremor artuum, gravida. Said 
she had never suffered from the more serious forms of mer- 
curialism. She frequently had headache, anorexia, vomiting, 
pa ins in the stomach, and a very slight tremor, increased by 
emotion. But whenever these symptoms appeared she always 
quitted work, and within 4 weeks they usually vanished. The 
last two years of her life her occupation was sewing and work- 
ing with pasteboard; yet in the winter of 1859-60 the cough 
and expectoration decidedly increased, with the addition, in the 
spring, of serious pains in the stomach; in the summer she 
went into the Nuremberg hospital, and November 16th, 1860, 
she entered the Erlangen hospital, where she died Dec. 25th, 
of phthisis tuberc. 
Autopsy: The cerebral convolutions, especially in the region 
of the vertex, greatly atrophied. No tuberculosis of meninges 
or brain substance demonstrable; ventricles large. The brain 
of this medium sized, greatly emaciated and pale woman, 
weighed 2 lbs. 5 oz. 
Many of the veins emptying into the longitudinal sinus were 
filled for an inch with firmly adhering fibrinous clots, and the 
adjacent brain was the seat of numerous capillary haemorrhages. 
Mucous membrane of mouth and fauces very pale. Tubercu- 
losis pulm. utriusque with large cavities. Ulcera tubercul. 
laryngis et epiglottidis. Tuberc. glandul. meseraic. ilii, jejuni, 
coli, peritonaei, hepatis. Spleen very small, with an old 
wrinkled infarct, having its origin, perhaps, in a little excres- 
23 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cence on the mitral. Chronic gastric catarrh; kidneys slightly 
granular and atrophied; fatty degeneration of the supra-renal 
capsules; Mercury not to be detected chemically, either in the 
liver or the jaws with their remaining teeth and stumps. {Idem.) 
38. T. B., male, set. 56, for twenty-two years employed in 
quicksilver works, at first as silverer, latterly more as an over- 
seer. 
Aug., 1841.—Tearing pains in abdominal muscles. 
May, 1842.—Suffered for six weeks with severe vertigo, 
coated tongue, vomiting of bile and food, constipation. 
July, 1843.—Obstinate constipation. 
Feb., 1845.—Congestio cerebri. 
Dec., 1845.—B. showed an unusual haste in every movement; 
felt dull; tremor of hands and tongue ; at times sudden twitch- 
ing of the lower extremities, still he could walk and eat. Only 
the fear of falling obliged him to keep his bed. No fever, nor 
stomatitis, only a coated tongue. Appetite and digestion good ; 
stool normal; feeling as of a skin on the hands; sleep bad. 
The attacks of vertigo worse at evening; when not in bed he 
would suddenly sink down with flickering before the eyes, 
and occasionally, but not always, loss of consciousness, lasting 
a few minutes. During these attacks he was very pale, and 
they were occasionally preceded by nausea and vomiting. The 
attacks of vertigo came also in bed. 
In 1852, again tremor and attacks of vertigo, when his con- 
dition after great improvement was seriously aggravated by 
anxiety for a sick child. Memory and judgment seem not to 
have suffered. The periods of vertigo extended over two to 
three months, and did not recur after 1852. 
Sept. 1860. B. trembles yet, cannot stand on one leg, but 
takes long walks. Any excitement makes the trembling vio- 
lent; sleep bad; stomatitis and angina faucium chronica with 
a coppery color. {Idem.) 
39. D. K., set. 64, widow, silverer for some forty years; 
alwTays continuing until incapacitated by tremor. On recov- 
ery she would return to silvering. At this time she suffered 
frequently with tremor, or tremor and vertigo; later with tabes 
nervosa. She would often when going home from work with 
24 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the others be seized as by some extraneous force and hurried 
along ten or twelve paces in a straight line, or else in circles, 
until, reeling, she would fall or grasp a tree and hold herself 
up by it. She was repeatedly confined to the bed exhibiting 
the tremor, unintelligible speech, and tendency to fall on try- 
ing to get up; observed in other cases. She was frequently de- 
lirious, both by day and night. In her latter years her mem- 
ory and intelligence were greatly impaired. Her death re- 
sulted from catarrhus suftocativus. [Idem.) 
40. C. G., set. 22. Dec. 10th, 1845, silvered uninterruptedly 
for eighteen months, suffering since Whitsuntide with tremor 
and salivation. He continued his work, however, till eight 
weeks ago, when he was obliged to stop on account of the 
severity of the symptoms. Affection of the mouth moderate, 
tremor violent; speech stammering; at times stopping entirely. 
Dec. 15.—Violent headache; salivation somewhat increased ; 
slight metallic taste; burning in the eyelids; slight redness 
of conjunctiva, the right especially; tremor somewhat less; 
no fever. 
Dec. 17.—Eye dim, but little reddened ; face pale ; salivation 
slight; the burning in the eyes had ceased. 
Dec. 19.—Convalescent. {Idem.) 
41. A young man returned from a journey with an incon- 
siderable itching of the skin, which he attributed to pediculi 
pubis. By the advice of an acquaintance he sewed a quill 
filled with Mercury into his drawers. Within twenty-four 
hours an eruption appeared in the genital region, and extended 
continuously, down the inside of the thighs to the legs, while 
on the abdomen and chest it appeared in isolated spots. It re- 
sembled a variety of urticaria, consisting of bright-red, flat, 
small, confluent pimples (wheals)' with excessive itching. In 
two days it disappeared, the quill being still quite full of Mer- 
cury. 
42. A man, set. 46, came to the hospital in October, 1838. 
He said he had worked in a mirror factory since his eighth 
year, principally as a silverer. In this operation the work- 
man dips his right hand into a vessel of Mercury, while with 
the left he holds the glass plate upon which the metal has to 
25 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
be rubbed. Usually the mouth and nose are covered with a 
veil ; but this man had never used one, as he thought that 
those who did derived no benefit from it. For thirty years he 
had been very healthy, suffering only occasionally with bleed- 
ing of the gums; a stitching, nipping pain in various parts of 
the body, and a more or less decided loss of power in the 
hands, always removed by the use of strong spirits. lie was 
repeatedly salivated, and, upon admission to the hospital, 
nearly all his teeth were gone. A short time before he had 
felt tolerably well, only the right eye had become weaker, and 
the memory so affected that he could not remember the names 
of his nearest acquaintance. It was hard to give a name to 
the condition of this patient upon his reception. 
The reporter (Stokes) saw that it was a spasm, not resem- 
bling tetanus, hydrophobia, or hysteria, but rather chorea. 
The head, arms and fingers, especially of the left side, were in 
incessant spasmodic motion. The corners of the mouth were 
retracted; the eyebrows wrinkled ; the nostrils dilated. The 
sterno-mastoid, trapezius, scaleni, diaphragm and abdominal 
muscles were spasmodically affected. Ilis speech was broken 
and indistinct, by reason of the hiccough accompanying the 
spasm of the diaphragm, and the constant tremor of the tongue. 
At times the spasms would cease; but any part which he at- 
tempted to move vrould immediately become affected. If he 
attempted to raise his foot, it began to tremble and fell down 
again. If he wanted to drink, instead of carrying the glass to 
his mouth, he put it to the ear, nose or forehead, so that his 
comrades laughingly said he could not find his mouth. If an- 
other held the glass, he could drink easily. A cold draught, the 
touch of a cold hand, and the unexpected entrance of anyone 
into his room instantly provoked spasms. The muscles of the 
left side were more affected than those of the right. Cerebral 
activity undiminished; the patient being always conscious, 
and endeavoring as accurately as possible to give the smallest 
details of his disease. Urine normal. Some pain upon pres- 
sure over the fourth and fifth dorsal vertebrae; the remaining 
portion of the spine not more sensitive than usual. Skin cold 
26 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and dry. Pulse quick, soft and small. Constipation easily re- 
lieved by purgatives. 
Leeches were put over the sensitive place on the spine and 
a warm bath ordered; subsequently the patient got a purge 
followed by an opiate. After some days his condition was 
somewhat improved. On the left side, to be sure, the spasms 
continued, but in a less degree; on the right side the spasms 
of the voluntary muscles ceased, except of the scaleni, pector- 
ales, intercostales and diaphragm. By narcotic inunctions in 
the spinal region, especially of ext. Bellad. the spasms were 
entirely subdued and the patient left the hospital entirely 
cured. (TP. Stokes, Lectures.) 
43. A countryman to protect himself in his travels from ver- 
min and itch had for six years worn on his breast a small 
leather bag containing Mercury, which he refilled whenever it 
became empty. Breath very offensive; a bloody saliva streamed 
profusely from his mouth; blood constantly exuded from his 
tongue as from a sponge; it was much swollen and painful and, 
together with the roof of the mouth, beset with foul ulcers; 
similar ulcers entirely prevented swallowing. This earth col- 
ored, bloated patient had suffered from salivation for several 
weeks, but the haemorrhage had only existed for 10 days. He 
had hectic and died in 48 hours. 
44. A mirror silverer, set. 55, was perfectly healthy during 
the first five years of his occupation; afterwards he was affected 
with a trembling of the hands, especially of the right, the legs 
being but little affected, the knee only a little weak. After 
two months rest this attack ceased and here turned to his oc- 
cupation for six years, when the symptoms reappeared, lie 
felt as if drunk, worse when excited; the eye appeared to suf- 
fer. At the end of 15 years he experienced a third attack; legs 
unsteady; considerable tremor of tongue; feels again as if 
drunk; fell unconscious while going to stool and passed the 
stool involuntarily; subsequently without call to stool this 
epileptoid attack recurred. Though the teeth were loose there 
was no salivation. For the rest, the patient was not excited, 
he had some appetite and was mentally undisturbed. At first 
27 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the condition was improved by tonics, but then succeeded 
weakness, coma, and death. 
Autopsy: Everything normal; the cerebrum and cerebellum 
were throughout harder and firmer, and rather less white than 
usual. 
45. A mechanic, by the breaking of a barometer tube, which 
he was attempting to clean, was exposed in a rather small room 
to the vapor of more than two lbs. of metallic mercury. He 
at once became faint and unconscious; recovering after the 
doors and windows had been opened; for some days after he 
experienced a general swelling of the body, which on subsid- 
ing left him with a trembling of the hands and complete para- 
lysis of the right arm, which persisted in spite of every assist- 
ance of art (allopathic). Lobethal cured him entirely with 
China. 
46. An operative in a mirror factory suffered with bone 
pains, which were especially severe at night without ceasing 
during the day. They were just like syphilitic bone pains, ex- 
cept that they were not confined so much to single localities, 
but affected all the limbs simultaneously. 
47. L., a silversmith, set. 55, well built, well proportioned 
chest, with a delicate fine skin; sweats easily; was always in- 
clined to gout and has an habitual cough; good digestion with 
small appetite; takes his wine daily and not infrequently takes 
too much; is disposed to diarrhoea, and for years has had pains 
in the head and is inclined to melancholy. For years he had 
gilded the many silvery articles in his laboratory in the open 
air in a narrow court surrounded by high buildings which pre- 
vented the mercurial vapors from being carried off. In 1823 
he got a tremor of the hands and feet, so that he could not 
write. Flowers of Sulphur and liver of Sulphur taken con- 
tinuously, together with baths of Hep. sulph. alcal. overcame 
the condition as also a relapse which occurred in 1824. In the 
winter of 1824 to 1825 he frequently complained of pains in 
the limbs and abdominal muscles; of headache on rising in 
the morning, and of great depression, is pale, illhumored and 
without appetite; has great lassitude, fever, drawing pains in 
the right leg, headache, coated tongue, sweat, very acute pains 
28 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
in the abdominal muscles, and a violent cough, generally loose, 
attended finally with severe pains in the chest. Venesection (!!) 
seemed necessary, but on account of the existing weakness, 
leeches were applied. The leech bites continued to bleed for 
more than 24 hours, and the blood was very fluid. After tak- 
ing Sal. ammoniac, Auric sulph., Digit., Ipec., Prussic acid, ap- 
plying vesicants to the chest, etc., the thoracic symptoms sub- 
sided, but violent head pains reappeared, extending down into 
the cheeks; indifference with respect to his business, extreme 
weakness of memory, vertigo, eyes very dim with a dull ex- 
pression; no more sweat or heat but a quickened and rather 
full pulse, decided weakness and complete anorexia. Four 
weeks had now elapsed and the disease had become chronic. 
Gradually occasional wandering of mind appeared; dry skin; 
no increased warmth of body; much thirst; no appetite at all; 
heart beating; full, trembling, frequent pulse; stupid, constant 
inclination to lie and sleep. 
Leeches were applied to the temples and behind the ears, ice 
to the head, inunctions of Tart. emet. ointment to the nape, 
and as no pustules appeared, a vesicatory was applied; inter- 
nally, Prussic acid and subsequently Ilaller’s acid in large 
doses,—all without result. The emaciation increased, the 
strength diminished, the gums bled excessively, a persistent 
comatose condition set in, with entire loss of consciousness, un- 
interrupted low muttering delirium, bad odor from the mouth 
and over the whole body. Wine and China were not toler- 
ated. Camphor, Musk, Sal succini answered better, but he 
died in the eighth week with apoplectic symptoms, hemiplegia, 
involving the tongue, and unconscious voiding of the excre- 
ments. 
Autopsy: Three hours after death. On both hemispheres, 
especially the left posteriorly, a bloody covering, one-third 
inch thick, containing white streaks of coagulated lymph, as 
found in the blood of subin flam matory conditions after stand- 
ing some time; this extended, following the pia mater as far 
as and over the tentorium. Cerebellum healthy. A consider- 
able amount of fluid in the left lateral ventricle. This bloody 
29 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
covering extended over the greater portion of the cerebrum. 
(Kopp’s Denkw. aus der Aerztl. Praxis, 3. B., 1836.) 
48. A goldsmith in Munster, gradually poisoned by mer- 
curial vapor, became pale and weak, very thin and daily more 
cachectic. Aphthse in mouth and fauces, especially on the 
edge of the tongue, were at first removed by applications of 
borax and honey, with tinct. of myrrh. ; but returning after 
awhile were left to themselves. 
In August, 1811, while, with unusually high atmospheric 
temperature, 27° R. (92.75° F.),'typhoid fever and dysentery 
were prevalent in Munster, a profuse epistaxis, uncontrolled 
by external and internal treatment, set in. The mercurial dis- 
ease, too, did not abate, but there appeared daily new haemor- 
rhages, from the entire buccal surface, from the eyelids and 
face, especially the forehead, in drops, constituting a true- 
bloody sweat; also from the urinary tract; the urine being at 
first reddish, subsequently blackish. Pulse small, feeble, not 
rapid. More than a pound of blood was lost daily. He had 
petechiae before the haemorrhage, upon the abdomen and lower 
extremities, small round spots of a dark red to black color. 
Under the incessant bleeding, with entire want of appetite, he 
steadily sank and died on the twelfth day after the first haemor- 
rhages. (Hufeland’s Journal, B. 45, 1817.) 
49. On May 3d, 1845, about 7 p.m., an apparently very feeble 
man, aet. 64, who swept out a mirror-factory, burned half of a 
tub used for holding the Mercury for plating. He said there 
was no Mercury left in it; but, while burning, a mercurial 
vapor was diffused from the hot stove, which had an imperfect 
pipe and a closed place on top, not air-tight. The odor the 
patient compared to that of his saliva. The room was small, 
with but one window and two beds, and contained at the time 
five persons (three girls, the youngest 14 months old, beside 
the man and his wife). 
On the 8th appeared swelling of the buccal mucous mem- 
brane, small pimples which broke, and salivation. On the 
10th, he entered the hospital in the following condition : 
The mucous membrane on the cheeks swollen and red ; and 
on them, as well as on the gums and velum, white patches, 
30 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
which can be removed with the finger without leaving any 
ulceration beneath. The gums thick, red and covered on their 
free border with a dirty whitish-yellow coating, extending into 
the sockets of the teeth. On removing this, it is perceived 
that the gum between the teeth is fungous and bleeding, but 
not ulcerated. The mucous membrane of the lower lip, where 
it touches the teeth, especially on the left side, is covered with 
large yellow-white patches, extending up to the middle of the 
cheek. These are not removable by the finger, but the surface 
bleeds easily. Tongue very thick, especially on the left side, 
and is moved with difficulty; has a dirty yellow-white coat- 
ing, and on the edges some gray patches. Submaxillary glands 
slightly swollen, all these parts painful. Profuse salivation. 
Breath has a very strong mercurial odor. Mastication impos- 
sible ; speech difficult; dysphagia. General condition un- 
altered. 
On the 11th, oat-meal and honey. Gargle of 20 grams alum 
to 1 litre of water. On the 14th and 15th the patches extend 
from the lower lip to the cheeks, and those on the edges of the 
tongue have a red areola. On the 17th, by removal of the for- 
mer with a linen rag, the mucous membrane is laid bare, and 
is found uneven and painful, and a quantity of blood is left on 
the cloth. The pains produced thereby are very acute. 
On the 24th the gray spots are gone, leaving red spots. On 
right cheek, near the commissure, is a large gray-red spot, the 
size of a 50-centime piece. The red points are elevations, true 
granulations, sure evidence of ulceration. The gray points are 
remains of the repeatedly mentioned gray spots. The cure is 
almost complete, but the man now has a pneumonia already 
in the third stage, which the author (probably correctly) at- 
tributes to the mercurial poisoning, and of which he died on 
the 27th. (Archiv. Gen’l. de Med. 68 B.) 
50. The wife of No. 49, set. 56, the morning after burning 
the tub, felt a stiffness of all the limbs, with the mucous mem- 
brane of the cheeks painfully swollen. Tongue swollen, mov- 
ing with difficulty; mastication painful, impossible indeed; 
speech impaired; and by Wednesday, March 5th, salivation 
set in. Admitted on the 18th, in the following condition: 
31 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Gurns red, swollen, covered with soft patches, easily remova- 
ble without leaving ulcers. On the left side, under the second 
molar, a red spot covered with a white skin; gum very loose 
and covered with a dirty, whitish-yellow coating ; teeth very 
loose; mucous membrane of cheeks swollen, especially on the 
right side, where was a red spot with a white skin, also some 
of this skin on the velum. On the mucous membrane of lower 
lip, which is slightly thickened, white spots with a red border. 
Tongue very thick, especially on the right side, with gray 
spots on the edges, showing the impression of the teeth; move- 
ments difficult; coating dirty yellow, characteristic of Mercury. 
Submaxillary glands slightly swollen; all these parts painful; 
salivation; mercurial foetor of breath; speech obstructed; dys- 
phagia. (She can only swallow bouillon.) 
March 14th.—In place of the white surface on the lower lip, 
one consisting of small red prominences, with a faint gray 
color of the intervening surface. Granulations plainly pro- 
truding above the healthy mucous membrane and bleeding at 
the slightest touch. 
On the 19th, the same condition of the edges of the tongue. 
On the 24th, she left the hospital convalescent. 
The treatment consisted simply of mucilaginous drinks and 
gargles containing chlorine. (Idem.) 
51. The daughter of the two preceding, aet. 21, observed at 
the same time (March 4th), a stiffness of the limbs, with sore- 
ness of the gums and pain in chewing. On the 5th, salivation. 
On the 12th, entered the hospital in the following condition: 
Gums red, swollen, covered with a delicate white membrane, 
loosened from the teeth; covered at the free edges with a gray- 
yellow covering, which extends to the sockets of the teeth. 
On the mucous membrane of the upper lip, near the right com- 
missure, a very thick white patch with red areola. On the 
entire lower lip gray, thickish patches, with a red border; deli- 
cate white membrane on the thickened mucous surface of the 
cheeks, especially the right and on the velum. The tongue 
naturally thick, covered with a thin, dirty-yellow coat, and on 
its edges some gray spots; tonsils very much swollen, red, with- 
out patches; submaxillary glands slightly swollen; all these 
32 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
parts painful; slight salivation; mercurial odor of breath; 
mastication impossible; deglutition easy; speech natural; gen- 
eral condition good. Powdered alum on the ulcers twice a 
day; alum gargles. 
On the 22d, the patient left the hospital entirely well. She 
was the mother of a 14 months old child, previously mentioned, 
which, although equally exposed to the mercurial vapor, and 
nursed by the mother throughout her illness, remained per- 
fectly well. [Idem.) 
52. The second daughter, set. 16, was also taken on the 4th 
of March, with a feeling of stiffness in the limbs, pimples and 
swelling in the mouth; on the 5th, salivation, and on the 11th, 
she presented the following condition: 
Gums red, but without yellow coating on their free borders; 
teeth perfectly white and unchanged; tongue very greatly 
swollen, moving with difficulty, very painful, covered with a 
dirty whitish yellow coat, very red, showing the impress of the 
teeth, and with large gray patches on the edges. Almost the 
entire velum covered with a thin false membrane easily re- 
moved, and leaving no ulceration beneath. The mucous mem- 
brane of the cheeks shows in places thin white spots, except in 
the middle, were they are thick and not removable with the 
linger. Tonsils very large; submaxillary glands, especially the 
left, much swollen ; all these parts very painful. Very profuse 
(almost the maximum degree of) salivation, with very penetrat- 
ing mercurial odor. Voice unchanged. Tongue very thick, 
swollen, painful on motion and troublesome in talking. Dys- 
phagia, anorexia. For the rest, respiration, digestion and 
general condition unchanged; but a rather frequent pulse, 
and on previous evening a little fever. Oaten grits, etc., 
and chlorine gargles. 
13th.—The patches in the cheeks surrounded with a red 
border. 
14th.—That on the right cheek disappeared, leaving a gray- 
red prominent surface (granulations and the remains of the 
gray pseudo-membrane). 
15th.—Granulations on the left cheek (where the patches 
were) and still more plainly on the right. 
33 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
On the 23d, the patches on the edge of the tongue began to 
granulate, and on the 25th the anterior third of the ulcers was 
cicatrized. 
28th.—On the right cheek a granulating surface, six mm. in 
circumference, surrounded with red mucous membrane. The 
ulcer on the left border of the tongue cicatrized in a depressed 
white line; that on the right showed a granulating surface 
only three mm. broad, prominent above a surrounding cicatri- 
zation, which in places spreads across it, dividing it into 
islands. In this condition the patient left the hospital May 
29th. (Arch. gen. de Med., 68 B.) 
53. A man, pet. 40, addicted to the use of wine and tobacco, 
worked some years in the India mines, and was taken while 
there with a dry cough and difficult respiration; stitching 
pains in various parts of the chest, lassitude, etc. He con- 
tinued in this condition for months, finding no relief from 
medical treatment and died at last of suffocation in a fit of 
coughing. 
Autopsy: Lungs contracted; pale; universally adherent to 
the adjacent parts, by means of fibrous bands almost tendinous 
in character. The substance of the lungs was marbled by 
numerous black linseed-shaped spots, partly discrete, partly 
confluent. Except an unusual paleness of the liver, nothing 
abnormal was found in the other organs. (Scopoli, de ITydrarg. 
indriensi tentam, 1761.) 
54. Mercurial poisoning of forty-three patients sick of var- 
ious diseases, in a ward of a hospital at Rochefort, was pro- 
duced by the beds having been exposed to mercurial vapors, 
on account of vermin, though they were left in the air for 
three weeks afterward. The patients who were placed in 
them were completely salivated; within two days had ulcerated 
gums, swollen lips and salivary glands; loosened teeth, earache 
and headache. The mecurialism had no noteworthy effect 
upon the original disease of the affected individuals. Upon 
removing the patients from the ward and purifying the beds, it 
was found that the vermin had not been entirely exterminated. 
(Canstatt's Jahrb.f. 1848, aus Journ. de Bordeaux.) 
55. A female, mirror silverer, set. 51, who had not worked 
34 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
for a year, from a condition of simple tremor, passed gradually 
into a state of general convulsion devoid of all rhythm. Every 
part jerked independently, both in time and direction, and the 
convulsions continued day and night. The urine was passed 
into the bed, though consciousness was unclouded up to the 
last night. There were pains here and there, alternately, in 
various parts of the body, only ameliorated by leeches. In the 
death agony the convulsions lasted longest at the head. 
Autopsy: Brain somewhat collapsed; the dura mater bluish 
red, its veins somewhat injected. Substance of brain rather 
more consistent than usual. Spinal dura mater slightly in- 
jected, with bony scales perceptible on it; but the spinal mar- 
row itself normal. Lungs hepatized and filled with black 
blood. Capsule of spleen wrinkled; right kidney hypertro- 
phied ; left atrophied; the pyramids scarcely recognizable. A 
slight quantity of Mercury was detected in the liver; the 
cerebrum and cerebellum gave a doubtful result; and there 
was none found in the other organs. (Canstatt’s Jahrb.f. 1850, 
aus Jenaische Ann., B. 2, S. 237.) 
56. Two workers in bronze were treated for hydrargyrosis 
at Prof. Baimann’s clinic during the years 1852-’54. In both 
were observed a pale, sallow look, muscular relaxation, tremor 
and wandering pains. The remaining symptoms in the two 
were different. 
In the one were many ulcers in the mouth, with a dirty 
grayish-white base, readily bleeding, and secreting a thin 
ichor; the gums spongy and partially disorganized; the teeth 
discolored and loosened; salivation and offensive breath. 
The other case exhibited only spongy gums and encrusted 
teeth; while the tremor was much more pronounced, and the 
course of the disease was attended with mental disturbance 
which appeared at night, and consisted of hallucinations and 
desire to run away. The patient in spite of the excessive 
tremor would leave the bed and room, but return at once upon 
special admonition. The first was cured in three weeks. The 
disease of the second was more obstinate, and resisted many 
remedial measures, but was finally cured under the use of 
35 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
opiates, vapor and warm baths, sulphur preparations and 
Potassium iod. (Canstatt’s Jalirb.f. 1855.) 
57. Bassot reports the case of a mirror silverer in whom the 
inspired mercurial vapor produced a condition exactly resem- 
bling true chlorosis. The face and mucous membranes were 
quite pale, the nails were a dead white, like those of a corpse; 
eyes dull, watery; pulse small and quickened; thirst excessive; 
no appetite. Palpitation, dyspnoea, pains in head and stomach; 
oedema of lower limbs; general weakness; depression of spirits 
and bruit in the carotids. No stomatitis nor salivation. All 
these symptoms disappeared in four weeks under a generous 
diet and the use of ferruginous preparations. {CanstatCs Jahrb. 
f 1852, aus Gaz. Med. de Lyon 1852, p. 6.) 
C. Diseases of Workers in Mercury. 
1. From the correspondence of & Union Med. No. 116, we 
extract the following account of the diseases of workers in the 
mines of Almaden. Lopez de Arebado, for twenty-three years 
physician at the mines, says that native workmen seldom 
attain sixty years of age. Luring his long residence there, 
only twelve reached seventy years of age. Two became sev- 
enty-five years old, were healthy and only slightly affected by 
Mercury. 
Like examples are, however, not to be found among the 
foreigners, who, from ignorance of the danger or indifference, 
take but little care of themselves; eat with unwashed hands 
and face, do not change their clothing before eating or going 
to bed, and, besides, are addicted to drink and every possible 
excess; hence they are much sooner and more violently affected 
with mercurialism. 
Lopez de Arebado asserts that the effects are manifested in 
some as tremor only; in others as salivation alone. Intemper- 
ate, lean subjects, according to him, suffer more from the first; 
people with unhealthy fluids more from the second. Stout, 
sanguine people do not endure as long as lean, nervous ones. 
Those who have worked in the mines from youth up are less 
sensitive to the noxious influence, and are never so suddenly 
and violently affected as the new comers, who are frequently 
36 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rendered unable to work. All parts of the mines are not alike 
unhealthy. The lower galleries, containing the richest ore, 
and which are comparatively ill ventilated, seem to be most 
unhealthy. All kinds of the work, too, are not alike dan- 
gerous. The worst are breaking up the ore and driving the 
pumping engines. Those who work at the latter, suffer from 
pains in the limbs and thoracic inflammations. Those also 
who work outside the mines experience more or less the detri- 
mental influence of the Mercury. The greatest sufferers of all, 
are those engaged in the distillation, as they are continually in 
an atmosphere filled with mercurial fumes. On the other hand, 
the residents of the city of Almaden, over which the wind 
frequently blows the furnace vapors, are entirely unaffected. 
It seems as if the Mercury must be precipitated before reaching 
the city. Animals, grazing in the pastures adjacent to the 
furnaces, very frequently exhibit mercurial tremor. The mules 
which drive the cinnabar mills are usually healthy, but a miner 
asserts that Mercury has been found in their bones. 
2. Scopoli tells the following with respect to the workers in 
Idria. The tremor attains such a degree that those affected 
are unable to feed themselves or to stand. Their appetite is 
lost, the pulse becomes slower and weaker. Salivation appears 
with swelling of the salivary glands, and ulceration. (Those 
who are salivated are never or but seldom affected with tremor; 
those who are subject to toothache are more easily salivated.) 
The saliva is thick and yellowish, or blackish ; subsequently, 
lassitude, weakness of limbs and sleepiness set in ; then a bad 
breath, swelling of the gums; the teeth are left exposed, be- 
come loose and black. The inner surfaces of the cheeks, and, 
in bad cases, those of the lips even, are raised with white 
swellings. The saliva becomes offensive and copious, obliging 
the patient to spit frequently. Some are affected with pains in 
the teeth, jaws and head, worse at night. The surface of the 
tongue is a blackish color. Fauces frequently pale; appetite 
wanting or diminished; thirst violent; spirits sad. These at- 
tacks last six or seven days or longer, until, by the use of ap- 
propriate remedies or breathing the fresh air, they gradually 
pass off. 
37 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The cough of the operatives Scopoli attributes, in part to 
the stone dust in the air; in part to the sudden change of tem- 
perature, to which they are exposed; and in less degiee to the 
inspired mercurial vapor. It is seldom dangerous, but fre- 
quent relapses may make the lungs so weak that haemorrhages 
and phthisis may ensue. Those are especially subject to 
asthma who drink much wine. Besides the general symptoms 
of toxication mentioned with the salivation, the asthma is pre- 
ceded by cough, spasmodic contraction of the chest, and a dis- 
tressin0* sense of weight. The disease itself is attended with 
a constant, violent cough, with nocturnal exacerbation, rest- 
less sleep, frightful dreams and restlessness ot the heated limbs. 
Nocturnal heat, dry fauces and deficient expectoration, distress 
the patients. As the disease advances the breathing becomes 
extremely difficult; the cough nearly suffocating, and stitch- 
ing pains appear here and there in the chest. At this stage 
death is imminent and unavoidable. Dysentery usually ap- 
pears in Idria at the beginning of August and lasts till the 
end of September. It chiefly affects children and delicate in- 
dividuals, and is preceded by coldness, weariness, weakness, 
frequent stools, pains in the intestines and loss of appetite. 
The disease is attended with frequent cramps as if the intestines 
in the region of the navel were squeezed violently. Then fol- 
low slimy, generally bloody stools, offensive and weakening, 
with rapid and weak pulse, worse at night with heat. The 
distressing and painful pressing down in the intestines giving 
rise to frequent stools, is always present to such a degree that 
the patient, asked as to his condition, only replies that the en- 
tire contents of the abdomen are coming out. This lasts for 
eight, ten or even fifteen days, the pains becoming less, the 
stools less frequent, paler, and finally ceasing. Passing of 
wind per anum is a sign of returning health. In spring and 
fall the ill-nourished, weakly, bilious laborers of bad habits, 
are frequently attacked with intermittent fever, usually tertian, 
infrequently quartan, and occasionally anomalous in type. 
The more the drinking water is disturbed by frequent rains, 
the more numerous and severe are the fever cases. All com- 
plain of bitter taste, bad smelling eructations, with nausea 
38 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and inclination to vomit. The spring fever is usually mild 
and frequently ceases after the seventh paroxysm ; but the fall 
fever continues obstinately until the blooming of the Tussilugo 
farfara. 
In children, toward the end of the paroxysms, especially in 
the spring, vesicles tilled with thin serum appear all over the 
body, and disappear after a copious sweating. After long con- 
tinuing fall fever and its relapses, hydrops frequently appears, 
often ending fatally. Some become icteric after the paroxysm. 
There is a general complaint of lumbricoides, which are de- 
tected by the following symptoms: Colic after meals; bad 
breath; pale face; a troublesome tickling in the oesophagus, 
with nausea and inclination to vomit and aversion to food. 
Ihe worms frequently pass by the mouth or anus. The work- 
ers in Mercury are also affected with other diseases, such as 
are observed in other people; as rheumatism, haemorrhage, 
phthisis, pains in the joints, diarrhoea, etc. 
3. We will give here the results of the studies of T. Her- 
mann, in regard to the diseases ot the laborers in the quick- 
silver works at Idria. 
The laborers are divided into three classes: 
1. Those in the mines. 
2. Those in the smelting works, and 
8. Those employed in the preparation of cinnab. 
Beside these, there is a class of which each member works 
every-year in all three places. In the smelting works, where 
fifty-nine men are employed, each one remains only one month, as 
here the danger is greatest. 
Of 516 laborers in 1856, there were sick from the action of 
Mercury: 
1. Of the miners: 2.-Of the smelters: 
20 with dyspepsia. 15 with neuralgia. 
15 “ scrofulosis. 12 “ anaemia. 
10 “ anaemia. 10 “ mercurial gout. 
10 “ neuralgia. 4 “ tremor mercurialis. 
4 “ mercurial gout. 
2 “ tremor mercurialis. 
2 “ caries. 
39 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
3. Of the cinnabar makers: 
1 with ptyalisrn. 
2 “ neuralgia. 
By anaemia is meant the mercurial cachexia, which consists 
of general weakness, bad nutrition, earthy complexion and de- 
cided emaciation. The mercurial gout is shown by tearing in 
the limbs, joint pains, and especially by nocturnal bone pains. 
The local physician, Dr. Gorbeg, observed caries after preced- 
ing periostitis and otitis. Of 516 laborers in 1856, there were 
122 sick. The mortality is also very great in spite of favora- 
ble climate and social conditions. Of 4,500, an average of 120 
die annually; abortion and premature births are frequent. 
Hermann found among 30 sick, whom he visited during his 
stay in Idria: two cases of tremor mercurialis; two of caries; 
one of kyphosis in consequence of softening of the vertebrce; 
one of periostitis and subsequent necrosis; five cases with 
osteocopic pains; one with chronic atrophy of the liver, with 
decided emaciation; one case with a papulous exanthem over 
the whole body and nocturnal bone pains; one with extensive 
kidney-shaped ulcers on the foot; one the perfect picture of 
phthisis laryngea, with visible erosions and ulcers on the pos- 
terior wall of the fauces; one with paralysis of left arm. The 
remaining cases were those of scrofula of children, an endemic 
complaint here. It is extremely interesting to note that two 
children of one family, born while the parents were working 
in the Jaly mines, were not scrofulous, while all the others of 
the same family born in Idria were scrofulous. 
Of eighteen affected with hydrargyrosis we find three with 
ptyalisrn, angina and faucial ulcers. (A more or less intense 
redness of the roof of mouth and fauces, with relaxation and 
swelling of the mucous membrane was observed in almost all 
cases.) Six with dyspepsia; nine with gastralgia; one with 
jaundice; three with swelling and suppuration of glands; one 
with vomiting and diarrhoea; four with tremors; two with 
neuralgia; three with ischialgia; six with arthrorheuma (acute 
rheumatism); two with maculae; two with squamous eruption; 
one with papular eruption; three with ulcers on the feet; three 
with dolores osteocopi; one with periostitis; four with caries; 
40 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
one with necrosis in elbow joint; one with malacosis vertebra- 
lis; seven with anaemia; two with cachexia. 
All the residents of Idria have more or less hepatic disorder. 
Intumescence of the liver, with a hypersemia of carbonized 
blood and the resulting consequences, are endemic disorders 
there. Neuralgias are very frequent, under the form of gas- 
tralgia, ischialgia and neuralgia of the fifth pair of nerves. 
Osteocopic pains, periostitis, ostitis, exostosis, necrosis and 
caries are frequent. Tophi are seldom seen. 
Macular, papular, vesicular and pustular eruptions as well as 
chronic kidney-shaped ulcers are met with. 
On the mucous membranes we find angina with and with- 
out erosions and ulcers. 
In the glandular system we see swelling, inflammation, sup- 
puration. 
In the liver, intumescence wfith all its consequences on the 
one hand, and on the other, chronic atrophy. 
4. Beside the observations of Hermann we place those of 
Keller, made in some mirror factories in Bohemia. The mirror 
silverers are not taken under 16 nor over 40 years of age, and 
are usually between 16 and 24. Married women are not em- 
ployed on account of the danger of abortion. Eight hours a 
day is the working time, and after 14 days work they always 
have to stop from 8 to 14 days and often longer. They die 
early, seldom exceeding 50 years. Wounds heal slowly. Syph- 
ilis is extremely rare. All the employees are to be considered 
as more or less sick, according as they have been working a 
longer or shorter time. Even the children of those operatives 
who have been employed for a considerable length of time, look 
pale and rachitic, and have the scrofulous characteristics. 
According to Dr. Klement, the new hands, within the first 
14 days, get a thick dirty gray covering on the teeth, coppery 
redness and swelling of the gums and buccal mucous mem- 
brane. Subsequently excoriations appear on the inner surface 
of lips and gums, with moderate salivation, nasal catarrh with 
thin discharge, and frequently loss of smell and hoarseness. 
The excoriated places on the lips and cheeks develop into deep 
ulcers, with swollen eroded edges, and the tonsils as well as 
41 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the cervical glands swell. When such laborers return repeatedly 
to the same work, ulcers entirely similar are developed in the 
mucous membrane of the fauces, especially on the posterior 
wall (except the new hands, all the silverers had ulcers in the 
fauces). There appear tremor of the hands, at times also of 
the feet, nocturnal drawing pains in the head and extremities. 
The teeth finally become loose and fall out, especially the front 
teeth (the oldest hand had only 11 teeth in his mouth). Finally 
osseous enlargememts occur, frequently on the tibia, less often 
on the head. These tophi, with swelling and sensitiveness of 
periosteum, are the cause of violent pains, especially at night, 
in the warmth of the bed, in cold damp weather, and in a 
thunder-storm, but particularly at the first snow fall. 
At times also macular, papular and even squamous eruptions 
(these especially in older people) appear on the chest, back and 
hairy scalp; but these, except when they come on the head, 
are but little noticed by the people. These eruptions often 
appear suddenly, last only a few weeks and then disappear to 
return after awhile. All these last mentioned appearances do 
not come only in those who remain at work or have but re- 
cently left it, but are often developed in those who for years 
have had nothing to do with quicksilver. The serpiginous 
ulcers of the skin especially come almost wholly on such as 
have left mirror silvering for from 4 to 10 years. The nodes 
and tophi occurring under such circumstances do not go away. 
Falling off of the nails has not yet been observed in these 
workmen. Formerly abortions were common among mirror 
silverers, so that now married women are no longer employed, 
in this work especially. Even in the children of women for- 
merly employed as silverers the features of anaemia and scro- 
fula have been generally observed, and are not to be ascribed 
to the poor dwellings and vegetable diet, as the children of the 
glass workers, otherwise living under the same conditions, are 
as a rule tolerably healthy. 
It has been observed, that people who begin the work at an 
advanced age are much sooner and more affected than those 
who begin when young, finally that the more severe forms 
of hydrargyrosis are found principally in those, who, after 
42 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
having been employed in earlier years for a long time in mirror 
silvering, have chosen some other occupation and have thereby 
often for many years, been withdrawn from the influence of 
Mercury. Those laborers who have for many years (of course 
with longer or shorter interruptions), been exposed to the 
action of Mercury, and who already suffer from chronic 
hydrargyrosis, usually feel far better when at work than when 
away from it; so that they would continue at it uninterrupt- 
edly, if not compelled to stop by the recurrence of symptoms 
of the acute disease (salivation, ulcers of mouth and fauces), 
or by pains becoming more intense with tremor and sleepless- 
ness. 
Dr. Ivlement told Dr. Keller, that, in the beginning of his 
practice there, he took the symptoms of chronic hydrargyrosis 
for those of actual syphilis on account of their striking simi- 
larity to those ascribed to secondary and tertiary syphilis, that 
he has accordingly administered Dzondi’s pills, until convinced, 
that this treatment was in most cases inefficient; in others 
detrimental; that the same symptoms constantly appeared in 
those who had never been syphilitic; and that they uniformly 
developed themselves in all who continued to be occupied for 
a long time with quicksilver. 
Dr. Element finally had the kindness to show Dr. Keller a 
number of typical cases, exhibiting the various appearances of 
hydrargyrosis previously described. Among these the most 
interesting were those of wide spread serpiginous ulcers on 
the arm and leg; deep ulcers in the fauces; extensive papular 
eruption; and nodes and tophi on the tibia. The morbid pic- 
ture presented by the other workmen was so generally uniform; 
showing for the most part a commingling of symptoms of 
acute and chronic hydrargyrosis ; that, to avoid repetition, we 
have omitted the description of constitutional mercurialism by 
Hirt, in his work, “The Diseases of Workmen.” The bone 
diseases he represents differently from Kussmaul. 
JD. Autopsies. 
I. Ilalfort says: “The necroscopic investigations upon work- 
ers in Mercury have yielded no constant result. In the major- 
43 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ity of cases the intestinal mucous membrane has been found 
congested, and with traces of local inflammation. In some cases 
the liver and spleen were enlarged. In the brain and spinal 
cord there were, now and then, traces of inflammation and 
softening. When death was preceded by long continued 
paralysis or tremor, there was atrophy of the muscles affected, 
where they had succumbed to an attack of asthma, the lungs 
were found filled with a reddish serum. Laryngitis and phthi- 
sis mercurialis presented the usual morbid appearances of 
these affections. 
II. Schneider describes the morbid anatomy of gilders (Ver- 
golder) in the following manner: Indurations of the lungs, liver, 
pancreas, spleen; gall-bladder filled with black viscid bile; the 
portal vein with thick, dark blood ; lymphatic glands indu- 
rated ; the teeth and their alveoli, the jaw-bones, as also other 
bones, carious. The evidences of inflammation in the intesti- 
nal canal, not unfrequently found resulting from the internal 
use of mercurial preparations, were not observed in gilders. 
E. Action of large doses of Metallic Mercury taken internally. 
58. A man for a long time subject to colic, took on the third 
day of his illness four ounces of Metallic Mercury. At first 
there was,no effect produced, but on the seventh day a profuse 
salivation set in, which continued the next day without swell- 
ing of the tongue or salivary glands. On the ninth day he 
passed the mercury at stool, and was almost cured. (Zwinger 
ephemerid. natur. curios, obs. 230,1688.) 
59. Laborde tells of a man who retained about seven ounces 
of Metallic Mercury for 14 days, and had profuse salivation 
with ulcers in the mouth and paralysis of the extremities. 
{Jour, de Med. Tom. L. S. 3.) 
60. Pinjon reports a case of a woman, 42 years old, to whom 
18 oz. of Metallic Mercury, in two doses, was given for volvu- 
lus as diagnosed by several physicians. 
After its administration the vomiting ceased, but the consti- 
pation continued; the pulse was almost imperceptible; the 
skin cold and pale ; the anxiety extraordinary ; face emaciated. 
The skin, especially about the nose and eyes, had a gray tint, 
44 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
quite like that of Metallic Mercury. The eyes were sunken, 
the upper extremities and the jaw trembled continually. The 
violet colored and bleeding gums hung in shreds, the lower in- 
cisors fell out. The lower jaw was exposed in many places, 
the breath fetid. She was not salivated. In a short time she 
died quite suddenly, fully conscious. ISTo autopsy was allowed. 
F. Absorption and General Effect of Metallic Mercury. Mer- 
curial Cachexia. 
Though L. Hermann considers it extremely probable that 
the mercurial vapor inspired is oxydized, as soon as it rests 
upon the air-covered respiratory mucous membrane, we believe, 
in accordance with the view of Oberbeck, in regard to the 
oxydation of the Mercury in mercurial ointment, that it is 
changed to an oxyd by the Ozone contained in the blood cor- 
puscles. Falk expresses the opinion that the Mercury thus 
oxydized is changed by means of the pulmonic acid discovered 
by Yerdeil, or of some other fluid, into a soluble salt. Taken 
in considerable quantity it usually passes rapidly through the 
intestinal canal, and emerges unchanged per anum; only an 
inconsiderable quantity having been changed to a soluble salt 
and absorbed. Thus it is explained how small doses, remain- 
ing longer in the intestine, being finely divided and oxydized, 
act more powerfully upon the organism, than the large ones 
formerly administered for incarcerated hernia, intestinal incar- 
cerations, volvulus and ileus. 
The mercury, in the condition of sub-oxyd, protoxyd, or 
salt, having reached the blood, the first appearances of poison- 
ing are manifest in organs of the vegetative sphere, in the 
mucous membranes and glands. There is a congestion of 
these parts, and their secretion as well as absorption is in- 
creased. The quality of the secretions is also changed. The 
mucus secreted is glassy and serous; the bile darker, more 
fluid and stronger smelling; the intestinal discharges thinner 
in consequence of increased secretion of bile and from the 
bowels; the urine is frequently cloudy; the exhalations from 
the lungs and skin have a peculiarly stale odor. 
(In the beginning of the mercurial action, according to Wil- 
45 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
bouchewitsch, the number of blood corpuscles is increased. 
From the investigations of Overbeck it appears that the quan- 
tity of fibrin is also increased at first, as was evident in the 
animals treated for a short time by him with mercury.) If 
no further doses of the drug are taken, the poison is elimin- 
ated the secretions and excretions, and can be chemically 
detected in the saliva, urine, milk, etc. If the doses of mer- 
cury are repeated at short intervals, there ensues a disorgan- 
ization of the blood; according to Headland, it is deprived of 
about one-third of its fibrin, one-seventh of its albumen and 
one-third or more of the corpuscles; with the substitution of 
an ill-smelling, fatty substance, the product of this decomposi- 
tion. Hence we see, as a result of the diminished amount of 
fibrin, ecchymoses and haemorrhages; and anaemia as evidence 
of the loss of red corpuscles; while the disorganizing process 
is evinced by the peculiar offensive odor of the secretions. 
All the tissues become softened and spongy; passive conges- 
tions, especially of the salivary glands, occur; the membran- 
ous and glandular tissues are soft, and easily torn; the lobes 
of the glands become hydropically distended and separated; 
the mucous membrane disorganized—hence its separation from 
the teeth, ulceration, etc. 
The fibrous tissues, which resist longest, become spongy; 
the tendons soft; the periosteum swells, loosens from the 
bones and becomes disorganized. Finally the bones them- 
selves are affected; caries, necrosis, osteomalacia destroy the 
hardest of human tissues. Brain and spinal cord are also 
altered, giving us sclerosis, softening and atrophy. We will 
here detail the features of the mercurial cachexy: The sufferer 
feels dull and depressed, his digestion disturbed; he suffers 
frequently from acid eructations, gastralgia, with incessant 
hiccough (v. Ilasselt), flatulence, constipation, frequently alter- 
nating with diarrhoea, often passages of bile; he emaciates 
gradually and becomes quite apathetic. The hair becomes 
lustreless, dry, and falls out; the eyes sunken in the sockets, 
with a dull, watery look; conjunctiva yellowish, showing the 
course of bundles of varicose veins closely surrounding the 
cornea. The color of the iris is changed, so as to be a dis- 
46 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
figurement. The face has a pale, dirty, earthy look; the 
cheeks sunken or hanging; the nose pointed. The gum is 
retracted from the teeth, and bluish red; the teeth themselves 
have lost their enamel, and are partially covered with a cheesy 
coating, partly black, carious and loose, or they have fallen 
out. The entire mucous membrane of mouth and fauces is 
spongy and has a pale, dirty bluish look. The breath is offen- 
sive; the lips bluish red; the chin sharp and prominent; the 
entire skin lax and wrinkled, feeling cold and showing dis- 
tended veins. The saliva is tenacious; the sweat sticky; 
urine pale, at times turbid; stool generally watery; the ex- 
halations offensive. The motor capacity is weakened, so that 
he tires easily. Mental activity is diminished and he becomes 
indifferent to everything, his apathy increasing even to idiocy, 
which is preceded by weakness of memory and of all the 
senses. 
In addition to these symptoms, there are eruptions, ulcers, 
tremors, paralysis, etc. There are also mucous discharges and 
haemorrhages; the subjects are always cold; the feet become 
cedematous, while the rest of the body is emaciated. Finally, 
death may come by general weakness, hectic fever, dropsy or 
apoplexy. 
Mercury i3 to be found in all the tissues and excreta of men 
and animals poisoned by it; e. g., in the saliva of salivation; 
in the faeces, as sulphuret or sulphide, whence, perhaps, the 
green color of the stools; in the urine, liver, brain, etc. 
Metallic mercury is sometimes found in the bones of persons 
long and heroically treated with mercury: a reduction requir- 
ing, in all probability, a very long time. 
The form of the mercurial disease is very diverse, according 
to the individual and the mode of development. Pregnant 
women are especially susceptible to the action of mercury. 
Young persons are more easily affected than old; badly nour- 
ished than those who are well nourished. Mercurial cachexy 
is far more frequent among the mines; and neurosis (tremor) 
occurs but seldom. Exactly the converse is observed among 
gilders and mirror-silverers. The internal use of mercury 
produces chiefly the symptoms of disturbance in the digestive 
47 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
apparatus and cachexy. From endermic use, the affections of 
the skin appear more prominently than those of the buccal 
and intestinal mucous membranes; the symptoms arising from 
the nervous system being comparatively infrequent. From all 
these appearances it is obvious that metallic mercury (as well 
as its derivatives) acts predominantly on the sympathetic, 
which presides over the digestive and circulatory systems, and 
injuriously upon the brain. 
Finally, Overbeck, by microspocic investigation of the ani- 
mals treated by him with inunctions, found globules of Mer- 
cury deep in the skin and the subcutaneous connective tissue, 
where it was rubbed in. As he found them also in the deeper 
layers of the epidermis, he believed that they penetrated the 
epidermis itself, and not merely, as affirmed by Oesterlen, made 
their way through the hair follicles and sudoriferous ducts. 
Now, although the inuncted parts were covered with an effect- 
ive bandage so that the animals could not lick them, Overbeck 
found globules of Mercury in the faeces, the kidneys, liver, 
blood, buccal mucous membrane, cardiac muscle and brain. 
Thus it has been shown that particles of Mercury are deposited 
by the blood in the internal organs. 
While Rindfleisch, who repeated these experiments, denies 
the penetration of the globules of Mercury, the result attained 
by Isid. Neumann deserves our consideration. He found that 
globules of Mercury penetrate the hair follicle, even alongside 
the hair, mostly as far as the beginning of the lower third. 
Transverse sections show distinctly that the globules lie con- 
centrically about the hair, while in follicles, from which the 
hairs have come out, the globules are heaped up in great quan- 
tity. He also met them in sebaceous glands with an independ- 
ent duct, less frequently in those ending in a hair follicle. In 
the orifices of the sweat glands Mercury is frequently found 
in considerable quantity, seldom in the ducts, never in the 
glands themselves. In the cuticular tissue, however, and in 
the panniculus adiposus none were detected. In the internal 
organs Neumann saw globules of extreme minuteness, but 
could not say, whether they were Mercury, fat, hair or molecu- 
lar detritus. The particles deposited in the hair follicles must 
48 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
have been absorbed thence, as they were no longer found there 
after a few weeks but could be detected chemically in the in- 
ternal organs. The way is pointed out by Neumann as through 
the lymphatics, and the form that of solution. In the internal 
organs also, the Mercury appears to circulate in solution, at 
least we are unable to see globules which can be indubitably 
recognized as Mercury. 
2. Symptoms after Large Doses of Mercurius Solubilis. 
1. In a healthy man who had never had any eruption, after 
taking two grains of Merc, sol., a tetter, beginning on the fore- 
arm and chest, gradually overspread the whole body, only spar- 
ing the face and the posterior aspect of the extremities. At 
first little red pin-head sized spots appeared here and there, 
and, enlarging at the periphery in a circular manner, gradually 
coalesced and covered large surfaces. The color, at first bright 
red, became subsequently deep red or bluish-red, darker at the 
edge, brighter in the middle. With increasing size the centre 
showed sound skin, while the border extended in a circle. 
These places were slightly elevated, rough and dry, and cov- 
ered with little white scales, which were continually being 
rubbed off by the clothing, and reforming, so that after un- 
dressing at night the floor seemed as if covered with meal. In 
the axilla, bend of elbow, groin and hollow of the knee they 
were most abundant, constantly burning and painful; and when 
the pimples formed there was a little fever, the affected portions 
of the skin being hot, swollen, red, and extremely sensitive to 
the touch of the clothing, impeding the use of the arms, and 
the sleep wanting or very much disturbed. Itching upon tak- 
ing off the clothes and at the contact of cool air, ceasing in the 
warmth of the bed. After touching, rubbing, washing or 
taking wine they burned excessively. The axillary and in- 
guinal glands swollen and painful. In some places, e. g. in the 
groin, little superficial moist ulcers formed from the tetter, 
which after some days became covered with yellowish scabs, 
and healed up. The tettery eruption lasted from the middle 
of January to the beginning of April.—{Knorre.) 
2. After five doses, aggregating 2| grains of Merc, sol., a 
49 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
diarrhcea began, soon becoming dysenteric and bloody, with 
colic and tenesmus, and great vascular excitement. 
3. Andrien observed eczema on three persons, after doses of 
5_10 to 20 centigr. Merc. sol. T3¥. Red spots, with little burn- 
ing itching herpes on the body and extremities, not on the 
face; also some sores on the right elbow. In one case the skin 
affection appeared on the inside of the right thigh, as herpes 
squamosum madarosis, (according to Ilebra, eczema squamosum). 
3. Mercurius Sublimatus Corrosivus. 
Experiments by Brodie: 
1. A solution of 24 grs. corrosive sublimate in 6 dr. aqua 
dist., was injected into the stomach of a cat. After five min- 
utes, she vomited twice, was restlesss, seemed paralyzed, the 
pupils dilated. Twenty-five minutes after the injection spas- 
modic movements of the voluntary muscles and death. The 
thorax was opened at once; the heart still contracted feebly; 
the stomach was quite empty, its mucous membrane throughout 
brown-gray; its texture gone, very easily torn, and separated 
from the muscular layer. The mucous membrane in the first 
quarter of the duodenum was similarly but not so greatly 
altered. 
2. Both vagi in a rabbit were divided and a solution of cor- 
rosive sublimate injected into the stomach. It acted in the 
same way as if the nerves had not been divided. 
3. A small quantity of sublimate was injected into the pos- 
terior portion of the abdomen of a frog. After five minutes, 
the heart ceased to contract, but sensibility was not dimin- 
ished, and after an hour the animal still had some sensibility. 
4. The lower half of the spinal cord was extirpated so that 
the communication between the nerves of the posterior ex- 
tremities and the rest of the nervous system was severed. A 
solution of sublimate was then injected between the skin and 
muscles of the thigh. After seven minutes the heart ceased 
to beat. 
Experiments of Smith: 
5. After placing four to eighteen grains of corrosive subli- 
a. Experiments upon Animals. MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mate upon the connective tissue of the inner portion of the 
thigh of a dog; the only symptoms preceding death, which 
always come without spasmodic appearances, are: anorexia; at 
times vomiting; diarrhoea, frequently bloody; weakness and 
general paralysis. At the autopsy will be found evident in- 
flammation of the gastric mucous membrane, with bloody ex- 
udation; sometimes black spots upon it; finally ulcers. In 
the rectum there may be two very diverse changes. Some- 
times its walls are thinned and livid, with a red, blackish, very 
offensive fluid; but most frequently it is found wrinkled, and 
the folds of mucous membrane red or blackish, either gener- 
ally or only on one part, usually the upper part. This change 
in the rectum comes as well when the poison is applied to the 
neck, as when it is injected into the veins. Some black spots, 
similar to those in the stomach are occasionally observed in 
the duodenum near the pylorus. The small intestine seems to 
be but little altered. In one of these experiments, black spots 
were found in the muscular tissue of the heart immediately 
beneath the endocardium. 
The lungs are often strikingly altered, sometimes distended 
with black blood, but crepitant; usually black spots or infil- 
trations of blood are found on the anterior border. The same 
organic changes are observed from injecting into the jugular 
vein a solution of one or two grains of sublimate. 
Experiments of Orfila: 
6. Three grains of corrosive sublimate in substance were put 
upon the connective tissue of the thigh of a medium sized dog, 
about 11 a.m. At 6 p.m. he seemed dull. The next morning 
about 11 a.m. the pulse was very rapid, the tongue moist and 
natural in color. No sign of paralysis or vertigo. At 5 p.m. 
dyspnoea, the dog lying upon his side. The next morning he 
was dead. Autopsy: The thigh was infiltrated and considera- 
bly inflamed; the place upon which the sublimate was put was 
grayish. On the mucous membrane of the stomach, which 
was natural in color, and close by the pylorus, were found 
six or seven coal black spots, caused by extravasated venous 
blood. The small intestine was normal; the rectum somewhat 
red. The crepitant lung was brown, containing considerable 
51 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
blood and floating on water. Mitral valve cherry-red; other- 
wise the heart was healthy. 
7. About 11 a.m., six grains of sublimate in substance were 
applied to the connective tissue of the inner aspect of the thigh 
of a very large dog. About 1 p.m. he vomited; the next day, 
burning thirst; the third day he would not eat and endeav- 
ored to guzzle water, which he immediately vomited again. 
Inconsiderable vertigo without spasm or paralysis. Death 
about 4 p.m. 
Autopsy: The thigh operated upon was very much infil- 
trated and excessively inflamed, but not an atom of the subli- 
mate was to be found. The mouth was grayish; the stomach 
contained considerable yellowish mucus; the mucous mem- 
brane here and there cherry-red, and at the pylorus, ulcerated. 
The small intestine seemed normal; the rectum very much in- 
flamed. The tricuspid valve of the heart was beset with 
minute black points of extravasated blood, which the slightest 
friction changed to ulcers; otherwise the heart was healthy. 
The lungs were crepitant, somewhat infiltrated and floated on 
water. 
8. September 13th, about 11 a.m., six grains of dry sublimate 
were introduced into the connective tissue of the back of a 
small, weak dog. On the 15th, he would not eat and had a 
burning thirst, but vomited as soon as he drank. On the 16th, 
17th and 18th, condition the same, with marked increa-e in 
the rapidity of heart’s action. Death the night after the 18th. 
Autopsy: Intestinal canal appeared unchanged. Endocardium 
in both chambers of the heart red and inflamed ; numerous red 
spots on some of the columnae carneoe; lungs engorged and 
spotted black. 
Experiments by Gaspard: 
9. Injection of one grain sublimate into the jugular vein of 
a large dog produced salivation, dyspnoea and symptoms of 
inflammation of the lungs, which increased in the days follow- 
ing, and there were added vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and 
cramps. On the fourth day, the dog died. The lungs were 
beset with blackish swellings the size of a pea, of which some 
were inflamed, others suppurating and still others gangrenous 
52 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
(Jbronchial glands?); the liver was black and softened; gall- 
bladder full of thick, black, viscid bile. 
10. A solution of five grains sublimate in one and a half 
ounces of water was injected into the jugular vein of a bitch. 
There was immediate dyspnoea, evacuation of urine, and after 
a few seconds, death. The lungs were already somewhat 
spotted, with evidences of suggilation and gorged with blood. 
11. A grain of sublimate, dissolved in a half ounce of dis- 
tilled water, was injected into the jugular of a bitch. After 
fifteen minutes, she was taken with a chill, dulness, diarrhoea, 
dyspnoea and salivation. The symptoms of pneumonia and 
dysentery increased. There was tenesmus, with mucous and 
bloody stools, and after five and a half hours, she died. The 
lungs were extensively inflamed and distended with blood, 
sinking in water. The intestinal mucous membrane was red 
and inflamed and covered with a dirty, sanguinolent and 
ichorous mucous. 
B. Poisonings by Corrosive Sublimate in Man. 
a. From External Application. 
1. A man plagued with body-lice, used with effect a salve of 
calomel and fat. But after sometime, his disagreeable guests 
returned in greater number than before. lie had to use the 
remedy again, but by mistake got sublimate instead of calomel. 
He mixed five grains with some salt butter and rubbed the 
salve over the whole lower portion of the abdomen, the penis, 
except the glans, the scrotum and the perineum. Two hours 
afterward he experienced violent pains, the skin inflamed very 
rapidly, and in many places little vesicles appeared filled with 
serum. Poultices of meal with cold water ameliorated the 
pains, and the next day there was left only the sensation of 
creeping ants. The scarf-skin separated in large patches from 
all the inflamed places. Otherwise there were no ill effects. 
The general condition was excellent. 
Orfila, Toxicology: 
2. A strong woman, set. 49, consulted a quack in regard to 
an open cancer of the breast; he put a white powder of subli- 
53 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mate on it. Violent pains ensued, which in the course of four 
hours became intolerable. At the same time a quantity of 
symptoms appeared: dyspnoea, nausea, blood vomiting and the 
most violent convulsions; the next morning she was dead. 
[Memoirs de VAcad, de Chirurgic., Tom IV., p. 154.) 
Cloquet relates the following case: 
3. May 22d, 1815, about 5 p.m., I dipped my hands repeat- 
edly into a very concentrated solution of corrosive sublimate 
to take out some anatomical preparations. I forgot to wash 
my hands and went about my other occupations. About 11 
p.m. I went to bed perfectly well, and was wakened about 1 
a.m. by violent pains in the epigastrium, which rapidly in- 
creased to a frightful intensity, somewhat ameliorated by 
bending the body. They were especially severe in the region 
of the stomach, and seemed to spread thence over the whole 
diaphragm. The abdomen was rather sunken and painful to 
pressure; constricted feeling in the entire thorax; respiration 
costal, obstructed and irregular; mouth dry, thirst considerable, 
forehead, temples, chest and hands covered with sweat and 
having an unpleasant feeling of coldness in them. I was in 
this condition about one and a half hours, when repeated eruc- 
tations and nausea ensued. I made an unsuccessful attempt 
to vomit, and then for the first time remembered the sublimate. 
Putting my fingers to my tongue, I perceived by the sharp 
taste that I had forgotten to wash them, which I did now as 
quickly as possible and drank a quantity of sugar water. 
About 2 o’clock I finally vomited repeatedly, and at first very 
profusely. The vomit was slimy, thick and had a metallic taste, 
very acrid, causing a painful constriction of the fauces. Epi- 
gastrium very sensitive to touch, and the slightest pressure 
caused most violent pains. The vomiting ceased toward 4 
o’clock. The umbilical region became somewhat painful and 
I had three very liquid stools with tenesmus. Toward 5 o’clock 
I slept and wakened about eight, with a dry mouth and skin 
covered with sweat, but I no longer had the feeling of coldness 
on the forehead, in the umbilical region and in the hands. 
The disposition to vomit was gone, but the epigastrium was 
still very painful. I took that day only six cups of bouillon 
54 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and three dishes of rice water. The next day I was able to 
return to my duties, but an unpleasant feeling remained in the 
epigastrium for eight days. 
4. After the application of a caustic liniment, composed of 
corrosive sublimate and gum-water, to the glans penis to 
destroy numerous condylomata, there occurred not only para- 
phimosis with severe pains, but also, after three hours, metallic 
taste in mouth and throat; violent colic and cardialgia; tenes- 
mus, with loose discharges; bilious vomiting; cramps in the 
calves and stitch in the side. (Beobacht. u. Bemerk. aus dem 
Gebiete d. Med. u. Chir. 1829, S. 18.) 
5. The external use upon two children, aged 11 and 7 years, 
of an ointment composed of two drachms sublimate to the 
ounce of lard, immediately caused violent pains; and after forty 
minutes, delirium; vomiting of green masses with colic; loose 
and bloody stools. They became worse and died; the younger 
on the seventh, the older on the ninth day. (Hirschel, Archivf. 
Arzneimiitellehre.) 
6. A man with rheumatism was persuaded by a friend to 
make use of a solution of one-half drachm sublimate in an 
ounce of rum, rubbed upon the affected part, for several min- 
utes, before going to bed. Before the application was ended, 
the man felt a warmth in the part, but paid no attention to it. 
During the night he got pains in the stomach, nausea and 
vomiting, and soon afterward purging and tenesmus. In the 
morning Anderson found him extremely weak and vomiting 
incessantly. The arm was excessively swollen up to the 
shoulder, red and covered with blisters. The next day he 
complained of a brassy taste and sensitiveness of the gum, 
and salivation speedily followed. (Edinb. Med. and Surg. 
Journal, VII., 437, 1835.) 
7. An old woman who had used a plaster of sublimate, got 
intolerable pains, jerkings, swelling in the throat, salivation, 
and died in frightful torment. (Plenk.) 
A lady had struck the left leg against a door, some ten years 
before, so that she could not lie upon it. Subsequently a hard- 
ness appeared on the place, which a quack treated with two 
caustic plasters. On the evening of May 7th, he sprinkled 
55 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
upon the place a half drachm of sublimate, with the direction 
not to remove the plaster before 4 a.m. Meanwhile the lady 
was attacked with such an intolerable pain that she walked the 
room as if crazy, and uttering loud screams. Up to the next 
evening there were added, general cramps and convulsions of 
the hands and feet. May 9th.—Retching and actual vomiting. 
10th and 11th.—Swelling of the throat, which increased in the 
night, so as to threaten suffocation. 
May 12th.—Degner was called, and found her head and neck 
very much swollen; the tongue inflexible and swollen; the 
throat so inflamed that it was only with difficulty she could 
speak or swallow; the teeth loose; the breath mercurial; on 
the leg a crust a hand breadth wide and twice as long; below 
the scab an open sore the same size; and about the affected 
locality a. great inflammatory swelling. (1$ Jalap-Pimpinella.) 
May 13th.—With the rest, the throat continued so swollen 
that she could not swallow any fluid; besides heat in mouth 
and throat as from red-hot coals. 
May 14th.—Having expectorated clots of blood, the patient 
pulled the membranes from the roof of the mouth with her 
fingers, causing so great a haemorrhage that Degner feared she 
might die, in consequence, that very day. The apothecary, on 
calling that evening, found the roof of the mouth, throat and 
tongue so swollen that she could scarcely speak; in the fauces 
an ulcer the size of a pea, and on the left side of the soft 
palate,a fissure; loose teeth and profuse salivation. 
May 15th.—Condition the same; salivation profuse; diar- 
rhoea; the excrement having the same odor as the mouth. 
(R Tinct. Rhei, aq. Sal Tartar. Pimpin.) 
The next day the throat seemed less swollen externally, but 
the face and cheeks were swollen as much, and hard. 
May 17th and 18th.—The same pitiable condition. Pain in 
the stomach; inclination to vomit; sleeplessness; bloody sali- 
vation ; headache, especially about the temples. (Medicine as 
on the 15th.) The next day the patient complained greatly of 
slight delirium; she did not know what she was about. 
May 20th.—Increased delirium ; she could scarcely be moved 
any longer, and refused both medicine and nourishment on 
56 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
account of the pain in swallowing. (Elect. Diaseord. at even- 
ing.) The next day, worse. Beside the daily expectoration 
of clotted blood and membranes from the mouth—weakness, 
which would not permit her to get up; constant salivation. 
(Tinct. Myrrh, etc., as a gargle.) 
May 23d.—No improvement. (Tinct. Antim.) The next day 
the swelling in the right cheek was less, but not the hardness. 
In the night of 24th to 25th, a tooth fell out of itself. 
May 25th.—Salivation less. Weakness and delirium in- 
creased. In the morning the pulse was imperceptible; the 
salivation less; she seemed to sleep a little, which had not 
been the case previously; wakening in a fright, and no longer 
complaining of pain. 
May 27th.—No pulse. Great anxiety. At night she wept 
bitterly and her cries filled the house. 28th.—She died at 
7 a.m., unconscious, with distortion of the limbs. 
During the whole time there was no fever, and the urine 
natural, with a white sediment. The surgeon who at- 
tended to the dressing of the limb said that not only were the 
cheeks, gums, palate and throat ulcerated, but the maxillary 
bones were exposed also. 
June 1st, (after death) the lips were black, the eyelids red, 
protruding, inflamed. On the 4th, the lips were no longer 
red, and the lids so contracted that the thumb could be put 
into the cavity. Autopsy not permitted. {App. ad. vol. VI, 
act. Nat. curios. Morimb. 1742.) 
9. After the army surgeon Robertson had applied to an itch 
eruption on the arms, for seven days a solution (gr. v. ad. unc.) 
of sublimate, his patient had fever, gastritis and enteritis, and 
after two days violent salivation. (.Edinb. Med. and Surg. 
Journal VIII. 195.) 
10. A man with itch had the affected parts washed night 
and morning with an alcoholic solution (4 or 5 gr. to the 
ounce, of sublimate). The fifth day the eruption began to dis- 
appear, but on the seventh the patient felt extremely feverish, 
had violent headache, red face, full and rapid pulse and very 
hot skin. In the night he was taken with severe pains in the 
stomach, painful eructations and vomiting, which with slight 
57 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
interruptions continued the whole night. In the morning, 
these symptoms had abated ; but his rest was of short duration. 
Diarrhoea and tenesmus set in at once. In this condition 
Robertson saw him. Pulse small and trembling; his face 
looked exhausted and sunken ; eructations frequent and vio- 
lent and constant inclination to stool; hut the evacuations were 
scanty, consisting principally of blood and mucus. The great 
weakness seemed particularly distressing. Large doses of 
Opium and, when these did not suffice, a warm bath, as well as 
could be obtained on board ship, followed by a sudorific, and 
as soon as he began to sweat to be carefully wrapped in warm 
covering, without taking anything to drink for fear of disturb- 
ing the stomach. After the sweat had continued awhile, all 
the symptoms were ameliorated, and as the patient was very 
much exhausted, Robertson gave him a large dose of Opium in 
substance, after which he had a pleasant and refreshing sleep. 
The next morning the improvement continued, but the ex- 
haustion was great and he complained of intolerable fetor of 
breath and bitter taste in the mouth. The next day his mouth 
was worse, the gum swollen and several teeth loose and the 
third morning from the day when Robertson first saw the man 
(the tenth since first using the solution), he was in a condition 
of complete salivation (EcLinb. Med. Journal, 8 B. 1813). 
11. A woman strewed upon the intertrigo of her two years 
old child, sublimate instead of Lycopod. powder. Beside the 
local effect there appeared on the second day, painful swelling 
of the gums, with pseudo membranes and finally gangrene, 
copious haemorrhage and death on the fifth day. {Gaz. des 
hopit. 1843.) 
12. A strong healthy man, of sanguine temperament, 40 
years old, suffered several times with a skin disease, which was 
said to be itch. In November, 1836, after using an ointment of 
sublimate, he was taken with acute eczema on the forearms 
and legs. The ointment contained one drachm sublimate to 3 oz. 
lard ; he had used J dr. twice a day. After using it ten days, 
an intolerable itching set in, followed soon by an outbreak of 
small vesicles, filled with transparent lymph. This exanthem 
lasted two months and almost deprived the man of rest. The 
58 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
eruption gradually diminished on the forearms, but the skin 
on the legs was red and swollen and secreted an offensive 
fluid constantly so copious as to go through several mattresses, 
and render it necessary to put something under the bed to 
catch it. At this time scarcely an ounce of urine was passed 
in 24 hours, but it wTas otherwise quite normal in character. 
A.3 he was in this condition Stacquez ordered diuretics, which 
caused a frequent desire to urinate, but only increased the 
secretion from the legs. In the beginning of last winter this 
remarkable secretion suddenly ceased and was at once fol- 
lowed by swelling of the abdomen and respiratory troubles; 
these subsided upon the reappearance of the secretion ; but 
again in August, 1837, the secretion stopped and the dropsical 
symptoms returned. (Annal. de Med. Belgic. Oct., 1837.) 
13. For the cure of herpes tonsurans in a child 9 years old 
(after vainly applying acid carhol). Meeres used an alcoholic 
solution of sublimate with a brush. Soon came the develop- 
ment of vesicles and swelling of the scalp, also diarrhoea and 
nausea. The next day salivation, swelling of the parotid and 
submaxillary, restlessness, sleeplessness, along with the ever 
present inclination to vomit. On the fifth day he suddenly 
died of syncope. (Virchow u. JLirsch Jahresb. 1871, aus Lancet 
16th, Sept.) 
14. Two servant girls, who had had an inunction over the whole 
body of sublimate ointment for itch, got a vesicular erysipelatous 
inflammation of the skin, with vomiting, diarrhoea, and tenes- 
mus; also ulceration of the buccal mucous membrane, without 
salivation. Both died in spite of medical treatment; the one 
after four and a half, the other after six days, having had 
formication of the extremities, but no convulsions or sensorial 
disturbance. In both corpses, the epidermis was found loosened 
in various places, the corium highly inflamed. Serous and 
mucous membranes of stomach and small intestine as well as 
the omentum were inflamed; the mucous membrane of larynx 
and trachea cinnabar-red and covered with reddish mucus. In 
the one who died first was found redness of the mucous coat 
of the bladder and ureter; intense hypersemia of the kidneys; 
two purulent deposits in the region of the pelvis of the left 
59 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
kidney; congestion of the uterus and tubes, and in the vascu- 
lar territory of the venae cavae, of the coronary veins and cere- 
bral sinuses. In the other, an inflamed place on the serous 
covering of the liver, bloody serous exudation in the pericar- 
dium and mediastinum; inflammation of endocardium and en- 
dothelium of the large arteries. Only in the kidneys of the 
first was Mercury chemically detected. (Canstatt’s Jahresb.f. 
1864, ausVierteljahrsschr. f. gerichtl. Med., II. F. 12.) 
15. A woman, aet. 24, who had vaginal leucorrhcea in conse- 
quence of using a variety of medicaments for ulceration of the 
cervix uteri, injected for its removal one-third of a mixture 
which by mistake contained, instead of calomel, three grains 
of sublimate to 100 grms. lime water. Scarcely had this been 
done, when she felt a severe burning pain and pressing in the 
genitals as in labor, and accompanied by a considerable dis- 
charge of a clear, thin, slimy fluid. To these were very soon 
added indications of general poisoning, repeated vomiting, 
feeling of burning deep in the stomach, dry tongue with red 
edges, heat and dryness in throat, mucous and bloody evacua- 
tion with urgent tenesmus, cold extremities, spasmodic jerking 
of fingers and thumbs, and adynamia with slow, weak, almost 
imperceptible pulse. After the complete development of the 
toxication, there was swelling, redness and heat in the vagina, 
with profuse discharge. Ulceration was not observed in the 
vagina, but the examination was made without a speculum. 
After 24 hours, the symptoms had considerably abated, but 
there was still tenesmus and discharge of bloody mucus. The 
coldness of the limbs had gone entirely, but the pulse was still 
very irregular, beating fifty times to the minute, and weak. 
The second day after the poisoning, the dangerous symptoms 
had all vanished, even the tenesmus and cramp in the calves 
which were still present the day before; pulse 64, small and 
weak; gums sensitive, submaxillary glands swollen. Forty- 
eight hours later there was complete salivation, with the char- 
acteristic fcetor oris mercur. These symptoms subsided in ten 
days. The woman was treated with preparations of opium, 
hydrocyanic acid, alkalies, ice water, brandy and sinapisms. 
(Canstatt’s Jahresb. f. 1856; Butscher, Jour, de Med. de Bor- 
deaux, 1856.) MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
b. From Medium and Smaller Doses Internally. 
16. Van Swieten observed from small doses, troublesome 
dryness of tliroat, often long after its administration; vomiting, 
inclination to vomit; nausea; feeling of burning from the 
stomach to the throat, when there has been no vomiting; colic; 
intestinal evacuations; borborygmi. {Comm, in Aphor., Boer- 
have, V., 549, 1772.) 
17. Seven grains dissolved in water was used in eight days. 
On the fourth day salivation to the extent of three to four 
pounds daily; but the swelling and fcetor of the mouth were 
not so great as in salivation from calomel. {MecL. Obs. and 
Inquir., II, 230.) At first the drug causes diarrhoea, and in- 
creases the secretion of urine; causes night-sweat, and fre- 
quently pains in the stomach in the morning (p. 554). By the 
abuse of sublimate some got dysentery, haemoptysis, phthisis, 
tabes, etc. (p. 556). 
18. A merchant from Liege, set. 30, of strong constitution, 
who had never been sick, went to Paris on business. August 
6th, 1813, he got a slight diarrhoea, without known cause, which 
lasted three days and was cured with Ipec. On the 13th, 
seeming to be fully recovered, he drank about 3 p.m., from a 
glass, without any mark upon it, containing a solution of sub- 
limate in alcohol. The horrid taste disgusted him so that he 
broke the glass. An astringent feeling in the throat and 
frightful pains in the epigastric region were the first symptoms. 
The physician came at 4.50 p.m., and was told that the man 
had vomited much green, bitter, not bloody matter, and had 
three stools. 
His condition was as follows: dorsal decubitus; red, swollen 
face; very restless; shining eyes; contracted pupils; reddened 
conjunctiva; dry, cracked lips; rather moist, yellow coated 
tongue; frightful pains in the entire intestinal canal, especially 
in the pharynx; abdomen distended, especially painful to press- 
ure. The vomiting had ceased but the diarrhoea continued. 
Pulse 112, regular, small, contracted; burning, hot skin, espe- 
cially on the forehead; respiration obstructed, infrequent; dif- 
ficult micturition; perfect consciousness; inclination to sleep; 
61 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
occasional spasmodic movements in the muscles of the face, 
arms and legs; persistent cramps in all the extremities. 
(White of egg water; twenty leeches to the epigastrium; two 
cold, laxative clysters.) 
About 5 o’clock, decided improvement; he had taken all the 
drink (six lbs.), vomited profusely, and had four stools. He 
got four pounds of a decoction of linseed to drink. About 6 
o’clock, vomiting, cessation of cramps, pulse 100. About 9 
o’clock, very imperfect sleep. About midnight, stitches in the 
arms, bloody stool, severe pains in sigmoid flexure, pulse 115, 
small, contracted; (ten leeches along the descending colon; 
two clysters with laudanum). Vomiting; four much less 
bloody stools; almost entire cessation of pain; inclination to 
sleep. 
On the 14th, about 8 a.m., less distension and less painful- 
ness of abdomen; tongue moist; no inclination to vomit; no 
diarrhoea; pulse 96; skin less hot; cessation of cramps; con- 
sciousness perfect. Evening: exacerbation; pulse 106; ex- 
treme heat of skin without increased pains; narcotic clysters. 
On the 15th, he felt much better; had slept part of the night 
and wanted to eat. Tongue moist; pulse almost normal; ex- 
treme weakness; at evening the same condition. 
On the morning of the 16th, having slept well, he com- 
plained only of trifling, not persistent, pains in the epigas- 
trium; appetite good. 
On the 17tli and 18th, condition the same. 
On the 21st, convalescence began, and on the 31st, he returned 
home quite cured. 
This sickness might, at first glance, easily be taken for 
cholera. The bilious affection which the patient had had some 
days before, the bilious vomiting, the bloodless stools, the 
cramps in the extremities, and the very high temperature, all 
favor that view; but the anamnestic momenta, the chemical 
examination of the vomit, and the story of the patient, clearly 
demonstrate the poisoning. The disease was a true inflam- 
mation of the intestinal mucous membrane and peritoneum, 
complicated with a bilious affection, the result of the subli- 
mate. (Orfila Toxicology.) 
62 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
19. On the 25th of February, 1825, Thenard was lecturing, 
in a polytechnic school, on the nitrates, and especially on the 
mercuric nitrate. On the table stood two similar glasses, one 
containing sugar-water and the other a concentrated solution 
of sublimate, of which latter Thenard, by mistake, drank a 
mouthful, perceived at once the frightful taste, and called for 
white of egg in water, drinking repeatedly meanwhile of tepid 
water. Eggs were obtained, the whites stirred together and 
given him five minutes after the poison was taken. Despite 
tickling of the palate and fauces, he did not vomit. Shortly 
after drinking the white of egg water vomiting ensued, and 
the injecta had the character of sublimate united with albu- 
men, white and flocculent. Dupuytren arrived after Thenard 
had vomited four or five times, and had repeatedly taken the 
white of egg water. Thenard felt so much better that he told 
Dupuytren he was cured. Dupuytren ordered castor oil and 
some purgative clysters. About 9| o’clock, Thenard, who had 
vomited twenty to twenty-five times, felt very well; there had 
been no pains in the epigastrium or intestinal canal; a very 
copious stool had passed ten minutes after the poisoning, long be- 
fore there could have been any effect of the purgatives. {Jour, de 
Chemie Med., 1825.) 
20. A carpenter, set. 80, received for supra-orbital neuralgia 
on the right side, pills of sublimate, which he took for four- 
teen days, and then left the hospital. He had trembling of 
the limbs, especially when they were extended; heaviness of 
the extremities; trembling of the feet in walking. The tremb- 
ling was worse on the left side, especially in the morning on 
rising, at evening, with feverishness. Sense of coldness of the 
left side, worse after midnight, so that he could not get warm; 
toward evening, icy coldness; cold chills in the sacral region, 
as if there were shot in there; sweat first in the left axilla, 
then general, on waking from sleep in the night. (.Buchner, 
Der Sublimat.) 
21. W., registrar, received for a slight herpetic trouble 
sublimate pills, and took altogether twenty-four grains. The 
herpetic difficulty was cured, but the effects were frightful. 
He writes: “My teeth, previously sound, became loose and six 
63 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
came out. A nasal discharge ensued of the character of isin- 
glass, drying to a strong hard mass, especially in the posterior 
choanse and frontal sinuses. Of this mucus, hard pieces the 
size of a bean, frequently bloody, were discharged from the 
nose, at the same time there were often the most dreadful 
pains in the head. Respiration through the nose was main- 
tained by snuffing water and tobacco. The cartilage of the 
nose was perforated, but the nose did not fall in; the sense of 
smell was lost entirely. No improvement from the regular use 
of water. Subsequently the discharge became more consistent 
and purulent; the teeth became affected again at the roots, 
manifested by a prickling pressure, and always ending by 
prominence in the sockets; profuse lachrymation in the open 
air. In the front of the head, especially on the right side, an 
unpleasant pressure, changed to a crampy pain by obstruction 
of the discharge. Sleep frequently only for an hour. Cure 
after discharge of a great portion of the necrosed upper jaw. 
(Buchner, Der Sublimat.) 
22. A man in the neighborhood sought the assistance of 
Sydenham for his servant, who had swallowed a considerable 
quantity of corrosive sublimate. Nearly an hour had elapsed 
before the physician reached him and his lips and mouth were 
already much swollen. He suffered extremely not only from 
heat, but also from a burning pain in the stomach. Sydenham 
advised him to take repeated draughts of lukewarm water as 
quickly as possible, taking more as often as he vomited. Sy- 
denham also wished to wash out the intestines with the luke- 
warm water, without using clysters until the abdominal pains 
manifested a disposition of the person to pass downward. The 
friends who were with the sufferer, noticed an acridity of the 
water first vomited, which diminished with the vomiting. 
The pains, which soon after ensued, were mitigated by clysters 
of water. After a few hours the man recovered, except that 
the swelling of the lips did not immediately subside, and the 
mouth was ulcerated by the particles of poison contained in 
the water vomited. The symptoms vanished under a milk 
diet within four days. (Sydenham, Op. Med. Epist. 1, p. 200.) 
23. Sublimate was injurious to most of the patients and 
64 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
caused contracted limbs, spitting of blood and fatal consump- 
tion. (Quarius, Bemerk. liber verschied. Krankh., Wien. 1787, 
p. 320.) 
24. A strong man, of sanguine temperament, set. 40, took 
about 10 p.m. some sublimate dissolved in beer. He noticed 
at once the corrosive effect upon the mouth, oesophagus and 
stomach. Inflammation of the mouth ensued, and a sharp 
burning heat in the stomach, with the most acute pains, which 
speedily involved the entire intestinal canal. The face soon 
swelled and became red; the eyes shining and the breathing 
difficult. He became anxious and restless, tossing continually to 
and fro. Pulse small and feverish. After six grains of Ant. tart, 
he vomited, but the condition was aggravated. Treacle also 
brought no amelioration. Dumonceau prescribed immediately 
a drachm of sol. absinth in water, and gave enveloping reme- 
dies. The violent pains increased in intensity, and seemed to 
indicate corrosion of the gastric mucous membrane. He passed 
bloody stools, but got decided relief from the sol. absinth with 
Fuller’s decoction. Gradually the pains subsided, so that the 
next morning he got rest. All the dangerous symptoms had 
vanished, but there remained a painful sensation in the whole 
intestinal canal and a general feeling of weakness. (Jour, de 
Med.f. 49, p. 36.) 
25. Anna 0, a black-haired girl, set. 22, had a couple of 
spots of squamous eruption on the occiput, for which was 
ordered 1-300 gr. sublimate every other day; instead of which 
she took daily six times the dose. After taking it for six 
days, she got at night burning, tearing pains about the navel, 
having remissions and intermissions, which latter became con- 
tinually shorter. Thence the pain spread over to the whole 
abdomen, which was distended, painful to touch, but soft. 
Also restlessness ; heat; pulse tense and somewhat quickened ; 
much thirst and redness of the face. Duration, 27 hours. 
Antidote, Belladonna. (Buchner, privately reported.) 
26. In a man and woman who had taken sublimate for 
chancre, but were not salivated, there appeared inflammation 
of the right eye, which involved not only the posterior surface 
of the cornea, but also the serous covering of the iris. The 
65 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pupil was angular; the eye very painful, as if too small. 
Symptoms especially aggravated in bed. (v. Ammanri’s Zeit- 
schr. /. Ophthalmol., B. I., S. 111.) 
In very Large Doses, 
27. May 6th, 1825, about 11 p.M.,a woman was found by the 
physician in the following condition: She lay in bed with the 
limbs hanging down; skin cold and covered with sweat; face 
pale; eyes dull and heavy, with dark rings surrounding them; 
with an expression of pain and horror, as one might feel who 
lives but to die. 'Whitish, contracted lips; great thirst; swallow- 
ing so difficult and painful that the least liquid caused contrac- 
tions of oesophagus and stomach, followed by vomiting of 
whitish, slimy, stringy, and subsequently bilious matter. 
Pressure on the throat was painful, as was also the whole 
oesophagus. Skin of abdomen cold. Feeling of burning heat 
and intolerable pains in epigastrium, increased by the slightest 
pressure. Diarrhoea, with intense urging. Pulse weak, thready, 
almost imperceptible. Respiration very slow. On the floor, 
in various places, lay patches of white, slimy matter, seem- 
ingly vomit. Under a table in a corner there was a wet place 
strewn with a white powder, having the taste and look of sub- 
limate. (White of egg water, 40 leeches to the epigastrium, 
15 to the sides of the neck, and a large poultice to the 
abdomen.) 
At 8 a.m. she could speak more easily; pulse fuller and 
skin warmer. The abdominal pains had extended to the 
navel. Respiration somewhat hurried. (25 leeches to the 
abdomen, clysters with opium, fomentations, gum water. 
Noon.—Depression greater; cold extremities; small, weak and 
infrequent pulse ; difficult speech; sensibility gone in lower half 
of body, but voluntary motion remained. About 5 p.m. she 
died, the nurse said, retaining her consciousness to the last. 
There was no trace of delirium observed at any time. Autopsy, 
17 hours after death. A very fat, large corpse. Rigor mortis 
very great; body cold; upper extremities semi-flexed, lower 
ones extended. No trace of ecchymosis in skin, connective 
tissue or muscles. Vessels of dura mater filled with blood. 
66 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Arachnoid inflamed, especially on the left side; some ounces 
of bloody serum in the cerebral ventricles; brain substance 
slightly injected and firmer than natural. Tongue thick, with 
large papilIce and glandulce mucosae, the latter almost as large 
as a small pea; inside of larynx grayish and injected; on the 
lower surface of epiglottis a gangrenous looking spot. Trachea 
rose-red; bronchi and their ramifications violet; lungs crepit- 
ant and their substance reddish. Heart larger than normal; 
both sides enlarged; the walls thickened; the endocardium 
not reddened. Pharynx red; velum strongly injected; an 
eechymosis on the back of the uvula; oesophagus almost 
normal, except in its lower third, where congestion begins, in- 
creasing toward the stomach, which lies under the ribs, con- 
tracted and thickened; its external surface brick-red; under 
the serous membrane a number of little ecchymoses, giving it 
a marbled appearance; its veins distended with air; its inter- 
nal surface throughout blackisli-red, especially on the folds 
formed by its contraction; its mucous membrane easily torn; 
contents greenish; between the folds a considerable number of 
whitish granules resembling sublimate or calomel in appear- 
ance. In the duodenum very much fainter traces of inflam- 
mation; it was filled with green bile. In the omenta many 
ecchymoses along both curvatures of stomach. In the other 
intestines nothing noteworthy, and only in the rectum some 
traces of congestion. In the pelvic cavity about eight ounces 
of sanguinolent fluid. Liver, spleen and kidneys normal. In 
the right ovary an eechymosis an inch in size. Chemical ex- 
amination of the powder found in the room discovered subli- 
mate. Neither in the vomit nor in the contents of the stomach 
was there a trace of sublimate; but metallic mercury was de- 
monstrated by various methods, a proof that the sublimate had 
combined with the albumen, milk, etc. (From a Report by 
Devergie.) 
28. A man, eet. 47, drank by mistake a half teaspoonful of 
sublimate dissolved in a glass of brandy. As it went down he 
felt a very intense burning pain in the fauces. He was soon 
taken with vomiting, severe pains in abdomen, bloody stools 
and cramps. The very same evening salivation and inflamma- 
67 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tion of the mouth set in, and the abdominal pains were by 
spells very severe. The first nine days he did not apply for 
relief, then he entered the hospital. He complained more of 
weakness than severe pains. The gums were swollen and 
bleeding, the salivation considerable, the breath very offensive, 
the jaws stiff and swollen. No pain in the abdomen, even to 
pressure. No symptoms in the urinary organs. Pulse 96, 
somewhat weak. Face expressive of lassitude. In spite of 
energetic treatment his strength steadily diminished. He re- 
peatedly spit considerable quantities of blood, but without 
vomiting. The fourteenth day he died. 
Autopsy: The buccal mucous membrane inflamed, and in 
points ulcerated. A small ulcer on one of the tonsils. In the 
pharynx and oesophagus some irregular brown spots. The 
stomach contained six and a half ounces of clotted blood, on 
its posterior aspect immediately under the cardia the mucous 
membrane was softened, greenish and developed a scab, the 
end of which foliated, otherwise it was uniformly red. From 
the coecum on, were visible ecchymoses, forming swellings re- 
sembling haemorrhoids in appearance, and becoming more nu- 
merous toward the anus. In the ventricles of the brain and 
in the connective tissue, under the arachnoid, a quantity of 
serum. In the thorax nothing noteworthy. Uropoetic and 
genital systems entirely normal. (Edinb. Med. Journ., No. 138, 
1839.) 
29. A young man, net. 15, immediately after drinking an 
unknown fluid was taken with vomiting of bloody slime. 
Burning thirst, bad taste in mouth and burning and astringent 
feeling in the throat. Upon attempting to swallow he had 
crampy contraction of the (Esophagus and deep cervical muscles. 
The burning feeling extended along the oesophagus to the 
stomach and intestines. Abdomen contracted and very pain- 
ful to pressure. Tongue, gums and buccal mucous membrane 
appear wrinkled and as if they had been touched by caustic. 
Pulse weak, rapid and irregular. Face pale—sticky sweat. 
From the symptoms and accompanying circumstances, poison- 
ing with a concentrated solution of sublimate was inferred, and 
oxide of zinc in milk and white of eggs was given. 
68 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
May 7th.—Continual vomiting of bilious matter with masses 
of blood and similar stools. The symptoms of a very severe 
enteritis ensued. Pulse frequent and scarcely perceptible, skin 
covered with cold sweat, and at evening sleepiness. This con- 
dition lasted till 9 p.m. when moderate salivation came on. He 
seemed to fall into a typhoid condition and died May 12t,h, 
five days and ten hours after the poisoning. During this time 
he passed no urine. The fluid of which he took something 
less than a liqueur glass, consisted of a solution of one part 
sublimate to seven parts alcohol. 
At the autopsy there was tound intense inflammation of 
mouth, oesophagus and stomach, with ulceration. The intesti- 
nal mucous membrane was softened and covered with ecchymo- 
ses, the bladder very much contracted. Other organs healthy. 
(Orjila Toxicology.) 
30. The wife of a veterinarian swallowed a powder of subli- 
mate, intending to poison herself. The entire powder contained 
half a drachm, of which she only swallowed a portion, spitting 
out the remainder. Burning in mouth, oesophagus and stom- 
ach soon ensued; the mucous membrane of mouth and fauces 
looked white and felt rough ; excessive thirst, nausea, pulse 40, 
extremities cool. Twenty-five minutes after the occurrence the 
white of four eggs with water was given her; there ensued 
copious vomiting and complete emptying of the stomach. 
The white of egg was continued and after two hours castor oil 
given. The burning increased toward evening; also shooting 
pains in chest, severe pain in the coecal region; lips greatly 
swollen; much saliva flowed from the mouth; breath very 
offensive; pulse 89, intermittent. She seemed to want to sleep 
from time to time, when she would start, complaining of stiff- 
ness of the leg and pressing feeling in the head. Pupils di- 
lated; she only spoke when spoken to; respiration slow, inter- 
rupted, at times deep sighing. Urine scanty, with burning in 
passing it. During the night, stool mixed with some blood. 
The next morning she felt better; pulse 89; pains in abdomen 
had ceased. Feeling of soreness down to stomach; mucous 
membrane of mouth ulcerated in spots. Micturition still very 
painful. After a few days these symptoms also ceased and she 
recovered entirely. (Prov. Med. Journ., 1843.) MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
31. Sept. 28th, 1844, at 11| p.m., a washerwoman, set. 65, 
was brought into the hospital. She had drunk a solution of 
sublimate in whisky at 10 o’clock. Immediately after swallow- 
ing a glassfull at a draught, she noticed a peculiar taste in the 
mouth, and some minutes later was obliged to vomit and ex- 
perienced a burning in mouth and stomach. In the house 
where she had been working during the day a physician was 
called, who prescribed an emetic, which vomited her, but the 
pains in mouth and stomach increased; it also seemed to her 
that her stomach was swollen. At the hospital she complained 
of great weakness and exhaustion; burning in the oesophagus; 
difficulty of swallowing; pain in epigastrium, distension and 
sensitiveness of abdomen. The pulse was small, frequent and 
irregular; face pale and anxious; fauces greatly inflamed; 
tongue and tonsils swollen and body hot. The whites of ten 
eggs were immediately ordered, after which she vomited some 
bile with albumen. The pain in the epigastrium diminished; 
she was put in bed and got a mustard plaster and warm bottles 
to the feet. On the 28th, she complained again of pain in 
epigastrium, bloody diarrhoea and great thirst; no vomiting; 
the pain in the oesophagus and difficulty in swallowing had 
diminished. (Eighteen leeches to the epigastrium, a sinapism 
to the abdomen, milk to drink, at evening another sinapism.) 
30th.—She felt better, complaining only of bloody stools and 
pain in the rectum. The gums began to pain. Pulse 88. (A 
dose of castor oil, some leeches to the perineum; bouillon and 
milk.) 
Oct. 1st.—The pain in the rectum and bloody stools have 
ceased. Gums spongy and teeth loose. (Castoroil.) Oct. 4th. 
—Diminished salivation and increasing strength. On the 6th 
Oct. she wTas discharged, at her own request, pretty well. 16.3 
gr. of sublimate to the ounce were chemically demonstrated in 
the whisky which she drank. (Monthly Journ., 1845.) 
32. L., a dyer, set. 28, of medium size, but strong build and 
sanguine temperament, always well, had eaten his supper of 
bread and butter and cheese at 6J p.m., when he went soon 
after into the work shop and there took an ounce of sublimate 
(whether dissolved or in powder, intentionally or unwittingly 
70 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
could not be determined), but tried at once to spit it out, and 
pointing persistently to bis mouth, only repeated the words: 
‘‘Doctor, help.” Scarcely twenty minutes elapsed before Dr. 
L. reached him, but so great already was the swelling of the 
inner parts of the mouth that what he said was quite incom- 
prehensible. From the mouth itself flowed an albuminous 
mucus, and there were also repeated retching and vomiting of 
tenacious slime. Respiration labored, extremities cool, pulse 
quickened and contracted. Meanwhile the man complained 
only of his mouth and not of pain in the stomach or anywhere 
else. While a dozen eggs were being obtained and the whites 
separated, the symptoms obtained a still more dangerous pitch. 
The respiration became more difficult and anxious, speech failed 
entirely; attempt to swallow the white of egg was unsuccess- 
ful, resulting only in retching and vomiting; so extreme was 
the swelling in the mouth that the dyspnoea increased visibly 
every minute; the face, especially the lower part, continued to 
swell and became dark, bluish-red; the eyes were staring; the 
pulse imperceptible, and fifteen minutes had hardly passed 
when the man collapsed, almost suffocated. Tracheotomy was 
at once performed and he became more quiet, paler, began to 
cough a little, and though with some effort, expectorated bloody 
sputa. To assist this, L. closed the trachea with a fine sponge, 
but the suffocation reappeared at once and the sponge had to 
he removed. By this operation, however, as might be supposed, 
little was accomplished for the main difficulty. The inflam- 
mation of the mouth and salivary glands increased steadily, 
the tongue filled the entire cavity of the mouth; the anterior 
portion of the cheeks, the glands, the gums and especially the 
lips were swollen and protruding, giving the man a peculiar 
ape-like look; there were also repeated evacuations of a slimy, 
offensive fluid. Though now, by deep incisions in the mouth, 
especially in the tongue, a quantity of blood was evacuated, 
the condition still remained extremely distressing, so that cold 
water had to he allowed constantly to trickle into his mouth, 
whiph he at once spit out again, unable to swallow a drop. 
(Venesection and leeches to the throat.) 
29th, 6 a.m.—The night was passed in the utmost restless- 
71 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ness, with frequent bloody stools and ameliorated only by con- 
stant moistening the mouth with cold milk or water. lie 
was fully conscious and referred only to the painfulness of 
the mouth, denying any in the stomach or head. He respired 
audibly through the artificial opening, but the respiration 
stopped if he bent bis head forcibly to the left side, thus clos- 
ing the opening somewhat by the protruding soft parts. Other- 
wise the face and hands were icy cold and the pulse almost 
imperceptible. (More leeches to the neck.) During the day 
the strength steadily sank, the respiration became slower, the 
pulse diminished from moment to moment, and the man died 
at 4J p.m. 
Autopsy.—Twenty-four hours after death: Nothing striking 
externally. The mucous membrane of the swollen lips, tongue 
and mouth generally was reduced to a white easily removable 
pulp, in places it was entirely wanting. The back of tongue, 
pharynx and larynx were throughout blue, considerably putted 
and removable (gangrenous). These structures along with the 
glottis and epiglottis looked as if they had been in brine. The 
oesophagus was in almost the same condition, but the trachea, 
so far as it could be seen without opening the thorax, only 
showed the mucous membrane slightly inflamed and a filling 
up above with bloody mucus. Upon opening the abdomen the 
peritoneum showed no change, but the stomach, which was 
ligated and removed, appeared congested in the muscular coat, 
and the inflammation in the mucous membrane was plain, with 
spots of gangrene. One place in the stomach, containing a red- 
dish fluid, was emptied into a glass for chemical examination. 
The consistence and uniformly dark red color of the small 
intestine was noticeable; cutting through long stretches of it, 
there was a dark red pulp found adherent to the entire inner 
coat, easily removed by the scalpel, along with the thoroughly 
disorganized mucous and muscular coats and seeming to be 
disorganized blood, while the remaining coat held up to the 
light showed but a few vessels in it. There were no perfora- 
tions to be found. (Loewenhardt, Med. Zeitg. f. Heilkundx in 
Preussen 1839, No. 7.) 
33. A young doctor in comfortable circumstances, but never- 
72 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
theless melancholy, swallowed almost three drachms of subli- 
mate Feb. 15th, 1834. Twenty minutes after the poisoning, 
several glasses of oil and milk having meanwhile been taken, 
the following was his condition: Pale, cold skin, covered with 
sweat; red glassy eyes; dark red, swol’en lips, white coated 
tongue; acrid, metallic taste in throat and in the oesophagus a 
burning pain increased by pressure; excessive thirst;' gastric 
region distended, extremely painful with nausea; violent retch- 
ing with vomiting of masses'of stringy mucus. Repeated 
ill smelling stools in rapid succession with violent tenesmus. 
Urine passed without trouble. Pulse frequent, small, con- 
tracted ; respiration slow ; voice rough and hoarse, lie received 
a quantity of white of egg stirred up with water, after which 
he vomited very freely. The vomit became greenish and finally 
bloody and very exhausting. The pains in throat and stomach 
increased, so as to extort loud cries. Two more very ofiensive, 
pappy stools. After five hours, during which he vomited cer- 
tainly more than forty times, the fury of the symptoms abated; 
he got some rest and the white of egg was suspended. A tired 
sleep ensued, interrupted by efforts to vomit. (Milk of almonds, 
syr. althaese.) 
16th, a.m.—Sunken, disfigured features, pulse 120; pains 
more severe again; tongue much swollen,covered with a thick 
white crust. Lips and gums swollen, dark red, here and there 
cracked, with white covering. About 9 o’clock violent vomit- 
ing of bile; several dark colored stools. The lassitude is like 
paralysis. Urine passed without exertion or difficulty. (The 
decoction above mentioned, clysters, leeches to throat and ab- 
domen.) At noon the pains were less, the vomiting less fre- 
quent, the swallowing less obstructed. Two more stools, with 
excoriating pains in the rectum. The pulse as frequent as 
before had become stronger. Sugar water for drink. At even- 
ing considerable amelioration of all the symptoms, but there 
was a burning pain in the rectum. 
17th.—Condition same as yesterday, after a tolerably quiet 
night. Repeated complaint of thirst. (Oatmeal porridge, rice 
water, with raspberry syrup.) Two greenish-black ofiensive 
watery stools were passed. 
73 MERCURY AND IT? PREPARATIONS. 
18tli.—Quiet sleep, broken by retching and throwing up 
masses of tenacious mucus. After a glass of oat-meal gruel, 
repeated vomiting. Small slcin-like pieces were discharged. 
Toward noon, with the greatest exhaustion and general pains, 
the pulse was 130, but diminished again to 1*20; the pains in 
the stomach also became disproportionately less. 
19th.—The symptoms much milder; the pulse (96) had come 
up, thirst intense; milk of almonds not always retained. In 
night before the 20th, three stools with violent pains, no vom- 
iting. lie obstinately refused food and medicine. The ex- 
haustion increased and there was added (20th) a stitching pain 
in the front of the head. Six coffee-spoonfuls of French wine 
were given him in spite of all his opposition. Exacerbation at 
evening. Every attempt to take a mild, enveloping drink ex- 
cites vomiting, followed by a longer or shorter fit of hiccough. 
21st.—Considerable increase of pains. Yomit and stools 
bloody. Skin dry, while drops of cold sweat stood on the 
forehead. Intellectual powers, except a kind of monomania, 
undisturbed. From the 22d on the symptoms plainly indicated 
gangrene. Paralysis and stiffness of the limbs increased, the 
man lay in a stupor, the pulse small, thready, imperceptible; 
skin icy cold, eyes fixed, pupils contracted, insensitive; the 
cerebral activity steadily diminished, and in the night of the 
27th to 28th he slept away. 
Autopsy: The corpse had a remarkably white look and a 
peculiar, offensive odor. The head could not be opened. The 
lungs were considerably collapsed, of an ash-gray color, beset 
with small black points; their substance seemed more compact 
and containing less blood than usual. The cavities of the heart 
and great vessels were almost empty. In the mouth to the 
oesophagus the appearances usual after mercurial poisoning. 
The inflammation was very evident on passing from the oeso- 
phagus to the stomach. The membranes here were intensely 
congested and thickened and a whitish, puriform substance 
exuded upon section. The tympanitic stomach had a violet 
tint, dark blue-black, at the large end. The mucous membrane 
destroyed in spots. At the cardiac orifice two gangrenous 
places, which had penetrated to the peritoneum. Small intes- 
74 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tines of a violet-blue color, the duodenum being especially in- 
flamed. The injection of the large intestine was greatest in 
the rectum; just above the sphincter ani were a number of 
gangrenous places. The liver, tolerably large, showed traces 
of inflammation at many points; otherwise the parenchyma 
was firm and bloodless; gall-bladder collapsed ; urinary bladder 
healthy, only a little contracted. (EJinb. Med. and Surg. Jour., 
B. 14.) 
34. A small blonde girl, aet. 23, of cheerful disposition, an 
epileptic from her twelfth year, with a passion for spirituous 
drink, took sublimate. She went to bed at 10 o’clock appar- 
ently well, but soon roused the family by her groans and cry- 
ing. Dr. P., -who came an hour later, found her with pale, 
anxious, disfigured countenance, half sitting in bed and con- 
stantly moving to and fro. Her tongue, pale yellowish in color 
and greatly swollen, protruded beyond the not less swollen, 
pale yellow lips, and the salivary glands remarkably volumi- 
nous, were prominent in the enormously swollen upper part of 
the neck. From the mouth, which the swollen tongue kept 
open, streamed the saliva, also yellowish in color. At the same 
time violent vomiting with diarrhoea and tenesmus. At a 
slight touch of the contracted abdomen she started with pain. 
Cold sweat, marble coldness of the extremities, with a small, 
spasmodic, frequent pulse, intense thirst, spasmodic palpitation 
of the heart; dysphagia, dyspnoea, as well as an intense degree 
of aphonia, betrayed clearly enough a dangerous disturbance 
in the vital organs. The greatest severity of the symptoms 
lasted about two hours. The dysphagia became so great that 
she could not swallow any of the white of egg thinned with 
water. With the cessation of the vomiting there was a very 
deceptive improvement; the throat troubles only steadily in- 
creasing until she died wdthout the least agony about eleven 
hours after the poisoning. 
Autopsy the same day: Corpse very pale; face distorted; eye- 
lids closed, pupils dilated; lips reddish-yellow; some swelling 
still on the upper part of the neck. Abdominal muscles in a 
state of spasmodic tension; the extremities spasmodically flexed 
and the fingers bent into the hand. The subcutaneous fat had 
75 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
an uncommonly bright yellow color. Liver very full of blood ; 
spleen bloodless; gall-bladder distended with bile; pancreas 
unusually large, firm and of a yellow color. The stomach con- 
tracted so as to be like a piece of intestine was natural in color, 
except a discolored spot on the greater curvature near the py- 
lorus, its coatings were thickened. Intestinal peritoneum very 
vascular. Colon constricted to the size of the thumb. Con- 
tents of stomach (three to four ounces) consisted of a viscid, 
gelatinous yellow-green mass. The inner surface of stomach 
very red and covered with a yellowish mucus; mucous mem- 
membrane very much loosened and having a wavy look. In 
the region of the discolored spot the mucous membrane was 
especially thickened and distended and had a gray-green and 
partially bronzed color. Anus open; lungs full of blood ; mus- 
cular substance of heart unusually tense and firm. The left 
heart contained very little blood, the right was full of coagula. 
The tongue, greatly swollen, bad a wrinkled leathery surface 
and pale yellow color; the papillae at the back very prominent. 
Mucous membrane of mouth swollen; yellowish white, with 
some excoriations. Brain unusually firm, except the corpora 
striata and cerebellum, which were very soft and lax. By 
chemical analysis fourteen grains of sublimate were still re- 
maining in the stomach. (Amman’s Monatschrift, 1839.) 
35. Sarah Wild, ret. 49, sanguine, melancholic temperament, 
took, with her four children, nearly two drachms sublimate, 
about 7 A.M.,Dec. 26th, 1816. In her the following symptoms 
occurred: great thirst, violent pain in prrecordia; pulse small, 
trembling, rapid; great heat; severe pain in pharynx, with 
dysphagia, in swallowing a little liquid the rough feeling be- 
comes very severe. Incessant and violent vomiting of blood 
and matter the color of coffee-grounds; repeated and very 
painful stools. After eighteen hours, change of the pain to 
the umbilical region for eight hours, thence to the lumbar 
region till death. Entire lack of pulse twelve hours after the 
poisoning, even the heart beat in a wavy trembling manner. 
Brain apparently very much affected. Pupils scarcely sensitive 
to the strongest light; tongue clean. ISTo urine. Sensitive to 
the last moment. After great suffering death ensued thirty- 
one hours after poisoning. MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Autopsy: Face frightfully disfigured; skin of back and sides 
purple. Mesentery and peritoneum highly inflamed ; consider- 
able effusion in the abdominal cavity. Gall-bladder very full 
and large. Liver covered with pale livid spots the size of a 
sixpence. Bladder contracted to the size of a walnut; uterus 
inflamed, but not larger than in women who have borne several 
children. Stomach not much distended, but very brown along 
the greater curvature, with a portion of the omentum minus 
adherent, and containing a large mass of dark, clotted fluid. 
At the cardiac portion a circular place three inches in diameter, 
involving all the tunics and easily penetrated with the finger; 
internal surface very much inflamed, the rugae a deep carmine, 
the remainder scarlet. (.Edinb. Med. Journ., Vol. 14.) 
36. Sarah Wild, daughter of the preceding, set. 3, began to 
purge violently three hours after the poisoning. Discharge of 
large masses of bilious matter by vomiting and stool. Pulse 
small, uncountable; extreme thirst; persistent ischuria. Dis- 
tressing pains till 6 p.m., then sudden quiet and death twelve 
hours after the poisoning. 
Autopsy: Skin dark, carmine color, like purpura. Omentum 
and intestines highly inflamed; kidneys not so much so. Me- 
sentery full of red blood. Bladder firmly contracted. Marked 
exudation of bile on th'5 concave surface of the liver, gall-blad- 
der nearly full of bile. Stomach deep scarlet within, from 
cardia to pylorus, with a black circular place in the region of 
the former about the size of half a crown thaler; its edges 
indented and involving nearly the whole thickness of the 
stomach, which was not very full of a milky fluid. (Idem.) 
37. William Wild, set. 11 (see Case 35), vomited profusely; 
at times easily and again with pains, especially in the region of 
the scrobiculus and navel; dysphagia. After twelve hours, 
coffee-ground colored vomit of clotted blood and violent purg- 
ing of coagulated lymph, pieces of blood and a delicate trans- 
parent membrane. Great thirst; deep lethargy; pulse small 
trembling and weak; very scanty urine. At the last moment 
sensible. No radial pu'se twelve hours before death, which 
occurred twenty-four hours after the poisoning. 
Autopsy: External appearance as in 36. Eyes more sunken; 
77 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
dark color of the back; peritoneum very much inflamed;'omen- 
tum almost abolished. Intestines extremely inflamed, partially 
blue; one-third of the liver almost colorless; gall-bladder very 
much distended; large serous effusion in the abdominal cavity. 
Bladder firmly pressed down on the pubic bone, the size of a 
walnut. Stomach greatly distended and filled with a black 
clotted mass; the cardiac portion, far more than in the two 
preceding cases, destroyed, a black circular spot three inches in 
diameter, whence a general inflammation extended over the 
whole internal coat. Deep scarlet almost carmine redness, es- 
pecially of the rugae; the greater curvature yellowish, brown 
and very soft externally. (Idem.) 
88. George Wild, ret. 4 (v. Case 35), vomited violently and 
incessantly a sticky frothy mucus; great pain in pharynx; 
complete dysphagia; great restlessness; violent pain in scro- 
biculus; pulse rapid and weak; no urine. Within six hours 
repeated urging to stool, with discharge of great circular pieces 
of coagulated lymph. 
27th.—Very bad night; complained greatly of severe pains 
about the navel; vomiting less severe; extremities cold; in- 
tense thirst; tongue red and burning ; coma; pupils insensible ; 
pulse weak and small. Stool livid, grumous and offensive; 
abdomen very painful to the slightest touch. Urine scanty. 
28th.—Complete stupor; pulse barely perceptible; frequent 
vomiting of a blue slime, like dissolved blue pill; great rest- 
lessness; moderate stool, dirty, hard, containing a worm. 
29th.—Death at 5 a.m., about ninety hours after the poi- 
soning. 
Autopsy: Seven hours after death. Quiet aspect. Eyes 
open; no discoloration of the front part of the body; no spe- 
cial distension of abdomen, subsequently carmine redness of 
shoulders, back and hips. After sawing through the skull the 
calvarium was raised with difficulty and only after cutting 
through the dura mater on account of its very extensive and 
strong adhesions. 
All the vessels of the dura and pia mater, one sinus lateralis 
and one sinus posterior, strongly injected with red blood, as 
also the medullary portion of cerebrum and cerebellum, and 
78 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
most of the choroid plexus. !No unusual quantity of fluid or 
perceptible disorganization in either of the ventricles; lungs 
redder than usual at that age. About two ounces of watery 
exudation in the pericardium, and about the same quantity in 
the pleural cavity; heart firm and of a natural appearance. 
Peritoneum extremely vascular. Omentum almost gone; its 
remainder, along with the intestines, injected with bright red 
blood. Gall-bladder nearly full of bile. Liver natural in its 
appearance, but its peritoneal covering, like that of the mesen- 
tery, strongly injected. Bladder shriveled, very small and 
empty; kidneys inflamed. In the stomach a pint of bluish 
material and the following lesions. In the cardiac portion, a 
black circular place, about one-half inch in diameter, whence, 
as from a central point, a uniform bright redness spread over 
the whole inner coat. The very large and numerous rugae 
more inflamed than the other parts; the texture of all the coats 
completely destroyed, only the peritoneal coat remaining, upon 
washing away the disorganized parts; the wlio’e larger curva- 
ture had externally the same appearance.—{Idem.) 
39. Martha Wild, set. 14 (see Case 35), swallowed only a lit- 
tle of the poison, spitting the greater part out. Vomiting as 
with the others, but less. Immediate pain in scrobiculus; no 
dysphagia; pulse small and irregular. No urine or stool. 
27th.—Restless night; pupils dilated, insensible; pulse un- 
countable; toward midnight sopor. 
28th. — Sopor till noon. Tschuria; pulse changeable and 
vrnak; pupils still insensible; contraction of the corrugator 
supereilii, with partial squinting; some appetite. 
29th.—Quiet night; copious discharge of urine, general im- 
provement. Steady improvement and recovery complete Janu- 
ary 3d.—{Idem.) 
40. Early in the morning of January 15th, 1815, a healthy 
woman about 30 years old, having recently been delivered of 
her fifth child, drank by mistake of her nurse, a solution con- 
taining thirty grains of sublimate. While drinking, she no- 
ticed a very violent burning in the stomach, and inquiry led to 
a discovery of the mistake at once. In a few minutes the 
physician arriving found her sitting in bed, her finger in her 
79 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mouth to excite vomiting, whereby a quantity of fluid was 
ejected. She complained of intolerable pain in the oesophagus 
and upper part of stomach, gradually moving downwards. 
(Emetic of Ipec.) In a few minutes she became faint. Two 
large spoonfuls of strong liver of sulphur solution induced vio- 
lent vomiting. The remedy was repeated in the intervals of 
vomiting, which was assisted by warm water and chamomile 
tea, with some sol. absinth. 
Two or three hours after the poisoning cramps set in; at 
first in the toes and feet, then in the hands and fingers, and 
subsequently in the arms and legs. Severe cramp in the right 
thoracic wall drawing toward the back, just below the scapula; 
breast greatly contracted; secretion of milk suppressed. She 
appeared greatly exhausted. A little later serious fainting fits, 
recurring at short intervals. Repeated complaint of burning, 
deep in the stomach, the more relieved the more she took liver 
of sulphur, so that afterward she made no more complaint of 
burning. One or two spoonfuls of mucilage given toward even- 
ing were vomited. The first night passed quietly, yet the wo- 
man seemed very much exhausted. 
16th.—The entire day almost like the previous night; free 
from pain, with fainting and cramps and occasional sleep. The 
stomach refused everything. The second night disturbed by 
frightful dreams; distressing thoughts. 
17th.—Early in the morning, formication as if asleep. About 
4 or 5 o’clock, complaint of pain in the scrobiculus; bor- 
borygmi apparent to the hand upon the abdomen. Warm 
cloths and ether soon removed the pain. During the day she 
took frequently some oat-meal gruel and toast, which were re- 
tained. At evening very urgent tenesmus, with discharge of 
mucus and blood only, relieved by two of the usual clysters. 
Thenceforth all went better. 
When she attempted to eat animal food, a week or so later, 
her teeth seemed loose and dull. About this time pieces of 
dead epithelium, like boiled potato skins, were discharged from 
the mouth and throat. A large piece of the gum came away 
from the socket of a tooth drawn a short time before; also a 
piece, the size of a pea, came from the side of the tongue. 
80 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Tongue, gums and throat continued tender during this time. 
No special constitutional change was left. The right breast re- 
mained in the contracted condition mentioned, the milk ap- 
pearing several days later in it than in the other, when she 
again became a mother in 1818.— Elinb. Med. Jour., Vol. 16.) 
41. H. T., ret. 20, took an ounce of sublimate in a quart of hot- 
water for self-destruction. The act of swallowing was accom- 
panied by a violent spasm of the glottis and a small quantity 
of the fluid ran out of her mouth. Within half an hour she 
became very sick and vomited; the vomiting continued and 
she threw up a considerable quantity of blood. The next day 
the sickness had not abated, but the haemorrhage ceased. From 
this time until her death, which took place on the sixth day, 
she was very anxious and restless; had a frequent pulse and 
pains in all the limbs. To these symptoms were added on the 
fourth day severe pains in scrobiculus, and a few hours before 
death complete paralysis of upper and lower extremities. 
Autopsy: Outer surface of stomach and intestines natural. In 
the stomach, moderately distended with air, about two ounces 
of a thick, yellow, viscid fluid were found. On the inner sur- 
face were many dark red spots, extending over the whole length 
of the smaller curvature and the greater part of the fundus, 
but not found in the lower portion of the greater curvature. 
Peeling off of the villous coat not observed. The same appear- 
ances on the inner surface of the duodenum half way of its 
length. The lower portion of the oesophagus for about three 
inches from the cardia slightly inflamed, but higher up of a 
natural color. Liver and spleen healthy. Gall-bladder empty. 
Left kidney looser than common, and containing a small ab- 
scess filled with pus. Bladder empty and closely contracted. 
Ovaries somewhat enlarged; several hydatids in the left, but 
no corpus luteum in either. Heart and lungs perfectly healthy. 
(Edinb. Med. Journ., Yol. 7.) 
42. March 14th, 1848, at 6 p.m. I was called, says Mr. Wade, 
to a young man set. 21 who had taken poison at 10 a.m. When 
I saw him he was in a condition of extreme exhaustion, and 
confessed having taken over a drachm of sublimate, which he 
had obtained ostensibly for use in his business as a jeweler. 
81 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
He had eaten nothing since 6 p.m. the day before. He looked 
pale and anxious; surface, especially of the extremities, cold; 
pulse almost imperceptible; tongue very dry. No injury to 
the buccal mucous membrane could be discovered. The vom- 
iting began a few minutes after the poison was taken and con- 
tinued almost incessantly. The vomit was a white froth with 
considerable blood, covering the floor for some distance about 
his bed. He had also had a profuse, firm, natural looking stool. 
He complained greatly of pain in the gastric region, not aggra- 
vated by pressure however. On account of the incessant vom- 
iting, as well as from fear of greater injury, the stomach-pump 
was not used. He was immediately given the whites of four 
eggs in water and ordered the same every hour. 
15th, 8 a.m.—Night sleepless. He complained much of ab- 
dominal pain, especially in the gastric region, increased by 
pressure. He had had three stools, which, contrary to strict 
orders, the servant had thrown out. She said they were dark 
fluid. He had vomited three or four times the same bloody 
froth as before. The pulse had risen to 80, but was still very 
small and weak, with frequent intermissions. Tongue red and 
dry, papillre elevated, like a ripe strawberry. (Laudanum with 
syr. aurant.) About 10 p.m. pulse 100 and stronger, with fewer 
intermissions; the skin warmer, the pain less; neither vomit- 
ing nor stool the whole day. 
16th, 8 a.m.—No sleep, lie complained of considerable pain 
and tension; neither vomiting nor stool in the night; pulse 
100, strong, regular; tongue still unnaturally red, with elevated 
papillse. (Castor oil.) About 9 p.m. I learned that he had slept 
three hours. After the oil he vomited about a quart of very 
acrid stuff, looking like port wine dregs, with great relief. 
Pulse 100, regular, strong; skin generally warm; he had scarcely 
any pain; no vomiting since morning. Tongue less red and 
somewhat moist on the edges. The young man and his friends 
were very sanguine in their hopes, and in fact all the symp- 
toms were improved. 
17th.—Night sleepless again with very little pain. Two fluid 
stools with considerable blood; no vomiting; pulse quite regu- 
lar, moderately strong. Tongue had become pale and moist; 
82 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
scarcely any pain in the abdomen even to hard pressure. His 
countenace however did not correspond with these apparently 
favorable symptoms. It had an anxious expression and was ex- 
traordinarily pale, with blue about the lips and alse nasi. I 
now observed for the first time that the breathing was pretty dif- 
ficult, and immediate auscultation showed the smaller bronchi 
filled with mucus. No pain in deep breathing, lie had com- 
plained of dyspnoea two hours before my visit. He said he felt 
a constriction and pressure on the chest. (Blister to the chest.) 
At my next visit, about 1 o’clock, I found the breathing loud 
and rattling. lie had no pain, but was evidently in extremis, 
as during the whole illness the intelligence was undisturbed. 
Within twenty-four hours he had passed no urine. For food 
during his illness he had received white of egg, oatmeal gruel, 
arrow-root with broiled meat and water. Death about 2.30 p.m. 
Autopsy the same evening about 8 o’clock: Mucous mem- 
brane of mouth and oesophagus entirely normal, the chief action 
being visible in the stomach, whose mucous and muscular coats 
from the cardia out for a distance of three and a half inches 
were changed to a gangrenous mass, having a corroded torn 
aspect and a dark brown, almost black color. The mucous 
membrane for a considerable distance about this gangrenous 
portion was brown-red, but the pyloric half of the stomach, 
with the exception of some little red spots was quite normal. 
In the duodenum and the rest of the intestinal canal nothing 
abnormal was perceived, except a slight congestion of some of 
the valvulse connivent'es in the jejunum and ileum. The blad- 
der contained about half an ounce of urine. Cavities of heart 
empty. Blood did not seem to be coagulated Lungs crepi- 
tant throughout. The entire respiratory mucous membrane in 
larynx, trachea and bronchi as far as could be seen was in a 
condition of intense congestion and varied from dark red to 
purple. The smaller bronchise were filled with a frothy, bloody 
fluid. As no disturbance of the cerebral functions had occurred 
the brain was not examined. (London Med. Gazette, 1848.) 
43. A man, set. 27, took, with suicidal intent, sixty to seventy 
grains sublimate dissolved in water, and came into hospital 
May 24th. Soon after taking the poison he observed a strong 
83 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
metallic taste in the mouth, with a peculiar smell, then desire 
to vomit and soon afterward vomiting, with a sense of con- 
striction in the throat and trembling of the feet. In stomach 
and oesophagus he had no severe pains whatever. The vomit- 
ing brought up first food, then mucus, and ceased some hours 
later after a physician who was called in had ordered an emetic. 
Soon after that he was brought to the hospital where white of 
egg and water was prescribed. 
The next day the feeling of constriction in the throat 
changed to a severe pain, with an unpleasant tickling, coming 
paroxysmally and lasting only a few seconds, during which a 
convulsive cough with great anxiety appeared. The cough 
was a throat cough, i. e., like the cough occasioned by putting 
the huger in the throat. During these paroxysms of coughing, 
repeated at short intervals, expectoration of a bloody mucus 
and feeling of suffocation with extreme anxiety. 
May 26th.—Evidences of enteritis with severe colic, tenes- 
mus and frequent loose stools (at least twenty in twenty-four 
hours), of a slimy liquid, with considerable blood. Stool very 
painful, so that he had to cry out. Abdomen not distended. 
Nothing remarkable about the urine. Pulse 86. 
Gums swollen, and all the signs of a severe mercurial sto- 
matitis, of which, for the sake of brevity, we mention here 
only a considerable swelling of tongue, velum, uvula and 
pharynx; upon the latter, gray, fatty pseudo-membranous 
masses are formed. Some stupor and disturbed intellect. 
May 30th.—Pulse 72. lie suffers less, but there is still blood 
in all the stools, which, however, are not so frequent. 
June 2d.—The inflammation of mouth diminished and cir- 
cumscribed; the gray membranes begin to come off. Swallow- 
ing still painful; face pale; only slight traces of blood in 
stools. 
June 4th.—No more bloody stools. Pulse 80. He is better 
generally, getting up and walking in the garden; very pale. 
For some days he has been taking a solution of Potassii carb. 
June 5th and 6th.—Condition the same, except increasing 
weakness. 
June 8th.—Pulse 88. Extreme weakness and very pale color. 
84 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Yesterday and to-day he had six stools, coming after eating, of 
yellowish fluid, without blood. Since yesterday numerous, 
red dish-gray, round, ecchymotic spots, not disappearing on 
pressure, have made their appearance over body and limbs, es- 
pecially in the sacral region. Urine since yesterday dark 
brown, albuminous. Face very pale. Blowing with the first 
sound of the heart, heard at the base. Hiccough with every 
movement of the body. 
June 9th.—Death, without convulsions or agony.—(Monit. 
de sciences med. et pharm., 1859.) 
44. R. M., set. 28, mother of three children, took, in conse- 
quence of a quarrel, a drachm of dry sublimate, at 7 o’clock of 
the 9th of March, 1818. Anderson found her in bed, about 8 
o’clock, her head raised, and the saliva flowing profusely from 
her mouth. Face swollen, very red, and covered with cold 
sweat. Pulse 128, very weak and irregular. Skin pretty hot; 
breathing very difficult. She indicated the epigastric region 
as the seat of her pain. Abdomen swollen, very painful to 
touch. Twenty minutes after the poisoning, and upon Ander- 
son’s arrival, she vomited. Ten minutes after 8 o’clock syrup 
of sulphur of zinc, with speedy effect, followed by much warm 
water. Vomiting continued some time. She made it under- 
stood that her throat felt constricted; two ounces of starch 
boiled in a quart of water were given, a teaspoonful every five 
minutes; she would not take it more than milk-warm. Eruc- 
tations and vomiting, almost amounting to cramps. Two 
drachms of sub-carb. potass, dissolved in a quart of water, a 
teaspoonful alternately with the starch. 
About 9 o’clock she seemed more sensible; could speak and 
answer questions tolerably correctly. Complains of dreadful 
burning pain in the throat and stomach; anything more than 
milk-warm was intolerable. Pulse 120, not so irregular. Con- 
tinued the previous directions, with warm fomentations to 
abdomen. 
11 o’clock.—Continued severe pain in throat and abdomen, 
the latter more swollen. She had vomited four times. Stop 
the potash solution, continue the other treatment. 
Tuesday, 8 a.m.—More composed. Pulse 112; too tense, oc- 
85 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
casionally intermitting. Sleeplessness, frequent vomiting; ab- 
domen less swollen. The burning pain continues; seems very- 
much exhausted; no stool in these two days. (Casters, and 
the boiled starch.) About 11 o’clock, almost dying. The 
whites of two eggs in cinnamon water every half hour, no 
more starch water. 2 p.m., quieter; has vomited only twice 
since. Pulse 104, not so tense; decided ptyalism ; three stools 
with tenesmus. (Laxative clysters with the whites of two 
eggs, beside the cataplasms.) About 5 o’clock, very weak; the 
abdominal pain much alleviated; the tenesmus gone. 
About 10 o’clock, better, but the vital powers much de- 
pressed. No more vomiting. Treatment continued. 
Wednesday, 10 a.m.—Good night, decided amelioration of 
the burning pain in throat and stomach. Two stools during 
the night without tenesmus; frequent starting in sleep. Pulse 
100, soft and natural. More complaints of great vertigo and 
weakness; breathing deep and slow. Some weak soup and in- 
fusion of China, two teaspoonfuls three times daily. Will not 
take any more eggs since last night; has lost thirty-two pounds 
weight. Steadily improving; she was out of bed and conval- 
escent Friday. 
About ten days afterward she complained of vertigo and 
general weakness, especially in the joints, so that while looking 
well and with a good appetite, she could scarcely walk. 
The matter first vomited was carefully examined and by the 
copper test found to contain a quantity of dissolved sublimate. 
(Edinb. Med. Journ., Yol. 14, 1818.) 
45. A gentleman, set. 50, took over a drachm of sublimate in 
a quantity of water Feb. 2ith at 8 a.m.,and immediately began 
to hawk and complain of constriction with burning in the 
throat and dysphagia. (Oil and Zinci sulph. After two 
hours Blacklock found him hawking, discharging always a 
mouthful of mucus and blood, and having just passed a bloody 
stool, preceded by two natural ones ascribed to Aloes taken 
the previous evening. Pulse 120. Tongue white and moist; 
very disquieting hiccough. Thus the whole day. Toward 
evening hawking and dysphagia less frequent and severe. Face 
a little puffed. 
86 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Feb. 28th.—Frequent and copious bilious vomiting and 
purging; a regular cholera. Pulse over 100 and weak. Face 
putted and fuller than usual. Thirst so intense that every two 
or three minutes, in spite of the pain in swallowing, he called 
for milk. Very disquieting hiccough. Ischuria, even with 
the stools, since the poisoning, and no desire to urinate. Nei- 
ther fulness nor pain in the abdomen except in the scrobiculus, 
where slight pressure causes pain. 
March 1st.—Continued vomiting of bile, and occasionally 
curdled milk. Diarrhoea stopped. Complains of burning in 
oesophagus and rectum; numbness and loss of feeling in ex- 
tremities. Pharynx dark red, painful to external pressure. 
Pulse 100, soft and weak. Inclination to sleep, which is dis- 
turbed by the hiccough; continued ischuria. Abdomen soft 
and compressible, and not painful to pressure except in the 
scrobiculus. 
2d.—As yesterday; a regular, though scanty stool. 
3d.—Burning in oesophagus and rectum, thirst, dysphagia, 
and continued suppression of urine. Less frequent hawking. 
Bilious discharges up and down. Occasional sleep in spite of 
the hiccough recurring regularly twenty-six times a minute. 
Face puffed. Pulse 100, soft and weak. Tongue white and 
moist. 
4th.—Breath offensive, but the mouth not at all painful, and 
no salivation. Stiffness of the arms added to that of the legs, 
in lesser degree however. Urine still suppressed. 
oth.—Pulse imperceptible at the wrist. Complains of dysp- 
noea, and desires to be raised up in the bed; continued hic- 
cough. Vomits now and then a little bile, can not swallow. 
Death about noon. Autopsy not permitted. —{Edinb. Med. Jour., 
Vol. 36, 1831.) 
46. Johnstone tells of a woman who attempted to swallow 
two drachms sublimate in substance; but was unable to get it 
down by reason of the constriction of the oesophagus provoked 
by it. She died of mortification of the throat within six days. 
{Essay on Mineral Poisons, p. 52.) 
47. A child, a year and a half old, went unobserved into the 
workshop of a goldsmith, and there swallowed about eightgrains 
87 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sublimate. He soon got bellyache, the abdomen swelled, and 
copious salivation set in. The doctor ordered an emetic syrup 
with quince juice, which caused copious vomiting; he gave 
him to drink a quantity of goat’s milk with a decoction of 
plantain. The swelling and pain in the abdomen subsided, and 
the child slept in the night immediately after the poisoning. 
Seventy-four days later, the child was threatened with con- 
sumption, and the same doctor decided to use the goat’s milk 
again with a decoction of mallow flowers and quince seeds. 
He reports the child pretty well at the time of writing.— 
(Mangeli biblioth. med., IV, 2, page 455.) 
48. A child, set. 2, got ten grains sublimate. Soon after tak- 
ing the drug a cold sweat broke out, followed by vomiting of 
mucus, and soon after, pure blood; then rattling in the chest, 
hoarseness, and about 5 p.m., death; no benefit having been de- 
rived from the means used. 
Autopsy: The linger nails, and hands also, were blackish; 
the whole abdomen of a greenisli-blue color; mouth full of 
white blisters and vesicles. The abdomen was distended by 
the swollen intestines; upon opening which a yellow water ran 
out, staining the prosector’s hands the same color. This color 
was also found to a marked degree on the pylorus, the intes- 
tines and especially the colon. On the left and above, the sto- 
mach was destroyed so that nothing remained but a blister- 
like membrane.—( Wedel, dissert, de Merc, dale., p. 22.) 
49. Jan. 23d, 1818.—A short girl, of robust constitution, 
after having eaten bread and clieese and bacon, took, about 11 
p.m., a drachm of Sublimate dissolved in beer. Some minutes 
after, the people of the house found her resting on her knees, 
complaining of a sense of burning, extending from the scrobie- 
ulus to the throat and mouth. This was soon followed by 
vomiting of her supper, mixed with tenacious mucus. Half a 
drachm of Zinc, sulph. was administered, and white of egg in 
lukewarm water, and oatmeal gruel were given her; the.emetic 
was repeated in half an hour. After she had taken the white 
of egg the vomit became floculent, like curdled milk. 
About 3 a.m., bilious and bloody vomiting. She had three 
extremely offensive, brownish stools; pulse 100, small and con- 
88 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tracted, pain diminished. She lay in a heavy sleep, wakened by 
recurrence of the pain. An expression of anguish on the face. 
About 9 a.m. a laxative julep with oil, soothing fomentations 
to the epigastrium, oat-meal gruel, and white of egg ordered. 
She seemed to feel better. At evening the pain in the stom- 
ach was less intense,but the throat was inflamed and very pain- 
ful.—(Soothing gargles; a clyster every two hours.) 
23d.—At 3 o’clock. No stool yet, and no urine since the 
morning of the day before. Neither tension nor increased sen- 
sibility of abdomen. The catheter was introduced with great 
difficulty, on account of the inflammation of the bladder and 
urethra, and a few drops of urine came away.—(Laxative, 
diuretic salts, and clysters.) 
24th.—Alvine discharges. No urine obtained by catheter. 
Less pain in stomach. Inflammation of throat, feeling of con- 
striction, pain in jaws, slight looseness of teeth, and some 
salivation.—(Mucilaginous drinks.) 
25th.—She sat by the fire feeling better, but very weak and 
exhausted; frequent very offensive stools; teeth very loose; 
profuse salivation; extremely offensive breath. Not much pain 
from pressure on abdomen. Catheter brought no urine. She 
became a dark blue color, which was removed by vigorous rub- 
bing with chalk. Thenceforward she became steadily weaker 
and died 90 hours after swallowing the poison. As the autopsy 
was not performed till three days later, the effects could not be 
recognized with certainty. Extreme fetor, abdomen greatly 
swollen, of a dark color; mouth full of tenacious mucus; face 
horribly disfigured.—{FathergiWs Journal, March 1819.) 
50. Feb. 8th, 1844, a man 40 years old was received into the 
hospital supposed to have swallowed a drachm of sublimate the 
previous evening; but, as he afterward said, he only held it for 
a while in his mouth and then spit it out. A part, however, 
had undoubtedly been swallowed. A surgeon ordered him an 
emetic and white of egg. 
Condition: Extreme weakness and exhaustion; pulse 120 and 
small; extremities cold and livid; frequent light chills; mouth 
much swollen; lips purple and swollen; copious discharge of 
saliva; throat and neck, especially on the right side, very much 
89 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
swollen; dysphagia; epigastrium and entire abdomen painful, 
especially to pressure; excessive thirst; tenesmus, bloody,slim}'- 
stools; urination painful and by drops; pupils contracted. 
(Turpentine clysters, followed by starch and laudanum injec- 
tions. Castor oil with laudanum and mucilage. Blister to the 
epigastrium. Alum gargles.) 
Feb. 9th.—Pulse 80, strong; body warm; tongue dry and red ; 
mouth less swollen; dysphagia still very great; repeated vom- 
iting of an acid, greenish water. Only two natural stools im- 
mediately after the turpentine clysters. Abdomen easier; 
copious, painless urination; no salivation, no mercurial fetor. 
(10 grains Magnesia, and gruel.) 
Feb. 10th.—Condition generally better; four natural stools ; 
swelling and pain in throat greatly relieved; lymph exudations 
on the buccal mucous membrane, as far back as the tonsils; the 
epithelium denuded in two places near the lips. (3 drops Acid 
hydrocy., every three hours.) At evening very violent vomit- 
ing with dysphagia. The next day the pains were gone; the 
exudations began to loosen ; the tenesmus with bloody mucous 
stools returned; also the pains in urinating. Pulse very soft, 
and he feels much weaker generally. (Blister, 4 oz. wine.) 
Feb. 12th.—The serious symptoms of the day previous in- 
creased. (Clysters and Opium.) 
Feb. 13tli.—The vomiting* had ceased, but the strength was 
greatly reduced by the watery stools, and the blistered place 
had a gangrenous look. (10 oz. wine, 4 oz. whiskey, poultices 
to the blistered place, clysters.) Death at 8 o’clock the next 
morning. 
Autopsy 36 hours after death. Tonsils, especially the right, 
pulpy. On the under surface of the tongue, as well as on the 
mucous membrane of oesophagus, remains of the exudate, which 
at the lower portion of the oesophagus, was plainly organized, 
but ceased abruptly at the cardia. The entire inner coat of 
stomach, especially the left upper portion, very much congested 
and covered with a greenish slime, but nowhere eroded. From 
the ileum down wras in the same condition, and the farther down 
the more intense the redness; the lower part of the rectum 
almost entirely black. The teeth were firm, the roof of mouth 
90 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
not eroded. Bladder contracted, and in two places dark red. 
The intestine was chemically examined by Trot. Rainy, but no 
trace of sublimate found.--{Monthly Journal, May, 1844.) 
51. A solution of sublimate given to a little girl by mistake 
for water, produced symptoms immediately. Vomiting, con- 
vulsions, thirst, and fever; still the child recovered.—(Jac. Mag- 
ncti Biblioth. Med. Pract. Tom., IV., p. 466; 1739.) 
52. T. W., a strong man, 28 years old, took, Feb. 10, 1843, 
at 10 a.m., two drachms of sublimate in coarse pieces which he 
chewed and swallowed, and afterward drank about a pint of 
water. Soon after that a doctor gave him four eggs. He vomited 
and a piece of sublimate half as large as a nut was found in the 
chamber, which, it was supposed, had not been swallowed. 
Brought into the hospital soon after, he exhibited great pros- 
tration, cold extremities, natural respiration, pulse almost im- 
perceptible, tongue and lips swollen. He was sensible (?) and 
complained of constriction in the oesophagus. He got the 
whites of four eggs. Two p.m., increased swelling of lips and 
gums. Beginning salivation; pain along the oesophagus to the 
stomach, causing intense dysphagia. Yellow masses with blood 
were expelled by several paroxysms of vomiting. Some pain in 
abdomen; cramp in the lower extremities, pulse small and weak, 
tongue white and the cavity of the mouth almost full, the skin 
somewhat warmer. (About two pints of milk and the whites 
of 24 eggs.) 
Feb. 11th.—Violent hiccough during the night; pain in the 
stomach worse; the swallowing more difficult; headache; sev- 
eral evacuations up and down, the latter of a green color. Feet 
very cold; the entire skin yellow. 
Feb. 12th.—Skin still very yellow, pulse much contracted ; 
swelling of the lips diminished. Evacuation, upward greenish, 
downward dark colored, mixed with blood. Stomach region 
very painful; swallowing still difficult; extremities warm. 
Feb. 13th.—Swallowing goes better, but there is still a burn- 
ing in the oesophagus. Pulse like yesterday. Has passed no 
urine since his admission. Some sleep last night. Hiccough 
continues. Pupils contracted. Extremities cold. Several stools, 
91 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
streaked with blood; one or two consisting entirely of blood 
and mucus. Tongue cannot be protruded yet. 
Four p.m. Some delirium, increasing up to evening. 
14th.—Six a.m., breathing rattling; facial muscles paralysed; 
toward noon be seemed to have a great retching. The ability 
to speak was lost, and gradually consciousness also. Since last 
evening no stool, and no urine till death at 3 p.m. 
Autopsy, 22 hours after death. Body rigid throughout. No 
signs of decomposition (atmosphere cold and dry). Perito- 
neum healthy, containing about an ounce of bright yellow fluid. 
Inside the stomach, about four inches from the pylorus on the 
greater curvature, an inflamed place the size of the palm of the 
hand. The mucous membrane was very injected with red blood 
and showed' throughout signs of inflammation. Of the slate- 
gray color, sometimes seen, after sublimate poisoning, there 
was nothing; nor any appearance of erosion or ulceration. 
Duodenum and jejunum healthy. In the lower two-thirds of the 
ileum there was inflammation of the mucous membrane, which 
from the coecum on was more considerable, with at last many 
small ulcers. Liver large and full of blood ; gall-bladder con- 
tracted, almost entirely empty. Spleen normal as to size, full 
of blood and firm, its peritoneal covering thin and adherent. 
Pancreas healthy. Kidneys of normal flexibility, the cortex 
showing many little red points, especially toward the infundib- 
ula; apparently from incipient inflammation. On the back of 
the right kidney was a cyst the size of a marble, filled with 
clear fluid. Bladder very much contracted, containing about \ 
oz. of turbid urine. 
Mucous membrane of oesophagus showed an inflammatory 
redness but was otherwise normal. Old pleuritic adhesion in 
the chest; lung substance oedematous, rather firm and doughy; 
the base of the right lung inflamed. Bronchial mucous mem- 
brane universally inflamed and covered with frothy mucus. 
Bronchial glands much enlarged. Pericardium contained six 
drachms of clear yellow water. The heart seemed healthy, 
only somewhat smaller than natural. Cranium not opened. 
{Guy's .Hosp’l Reports, 2d Ser.; 11, 1843.) 
53. At the autopsy of an epileptic, poisoned with J scruple 
92 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of sublimate and dying ten days after, the oesophagus was found 
healthy, the stomach inflamed ; its mucous membrane congested 
and considerably softened; and some extravasation of blood. 
The small intestines were very vascular; the coecal end of the 
ileum almost gangrenous; ececumvery much inflamed,partially 
gangrenous; the sigmoid flexure ulcerated and much inflamed. 
Lungs engorged and the left half inflamed.—(Lancet, 1845 ; 
Yol. II, No. 26.) 
54. One morning a good portion of sublimate, in syrup, was 
given to an invalid woman in place of her customary medicine. 
She felt at once an intense acridity in mouth, palate, and oeso- 
phagus, desire to vomit, and blindness. Though she put her 
linger in her mouth and vomited, she soon got the most intense 
pain in the stomach and intestines; burning deep in the abdo- 
men; complete ischuria; offensive breath; eroding ulcers in 
the mouth, palate, and gums, all the teeth loosening; ghastly 
look; frequent wandering of mind; entire absence of sleep. 
Ordered: A mixture of butter and oil to be swallowed, and 
the palate tickled with a feather. The vomit was so hot and 
acrid that she felt a burning as from fire in the throat and fau- 
ces. Clysters and many other things were ordered. The teeth 
became painful. For the ischuria during two days a bath and 
external inunction were ordered, besides other things, after 
which some urine was discharged with great pain. Micturition 
came on the fourth day.—(Valleriola Observ. Med. Lib.A Obs.; 
6, 1588.) 
Action of Sublimate. 
55. Pulse rapid and hard, without being exactly large; staring 
look ; inflammation of eyes, which protrude from their sockets. 
Disfigured countenance. Swelling of lips, tongue, and throat; 
the lower lip very much swollen, and the inner portion so turned 
out that its edge rests on the chin. Salivation; insatiable thirst; 
vomiting ; feeling of pressure in gastric region and chest; 
painful burning from mouth to stomach; abdomen very much 
distended and painful ; evacuation of feces, with slime and dark 
clotted blood; diarrhoea; tenesmus of rectum and bladder; 
oppression in the chest.—(C. F. Schwarze, Beobacht.,und Erfahr. 
aus der Med.; 1827, p. 322.) 
93 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
56. A fifteen-year old student, on May 15th, 1874, took and 
swallowed a portion of a powder containing two scruples of sub- 
limate, which had been prescribed for his father for external 
use. As he at once felt a severe burning, he threw away the 
remainder. After five minutes, repeated vomiting set in. He 
drank considerable milk afterward and again vomited, throw- 
ing up food which he had eaten for dinner. The violent pains 
in throat and stomach drove him from the garden, where all 
this happened, to his room, saying that he was sick, presumably 
from his dinner. After two hours, diarrhoea every hour, last- 
the entire night and the next forenoon. The pains and weak- 
ness increased continually, and at noon he confessed to his 
mother that he had taken some of the powder. 
Condition after 20 hours : Powerful, muscular body. Tem- 
perature 100.4; respiration 22. Thoracic-diaphragmatic breath- 
ing; pulse 108. Skin dry; face red; pupils alike, reacting 
well. The inner surface of the lower lip, the region of the fre- 
num, base of the tongue, and velum, especially on the right 
side, covered with a gray-white, firmly adherent crust; mortified 
mucous membrane. Organs of respiration and circulation nor- 
mal, as also the liver and spleen. Abdomen not enlarged but 
very resistant. He complains of pains in the mouth, throat, 
and stomach ; the latter sensitive to pressure, as also the region 
of the sigmoid flexure. The evacuations are painless, consist- 
ing of a soft but formed, pulpy mass, light gray, with red streaks 
in it in considerable quantity, with much liquid. He said he 
had passed no urine since yesterday evening, that the fluid came 
exclusively from the rectum. He was perfectly quiet. No ap- 
petite, no thirst. (Magn. hyd. in water. Milk, white of two 
eggs) 
May 16th.—Till midnight he was very uneasy and had fre- 
quent stools, afterwards slept well. About 5 a.m., stool of a 
lumpy,sulphur-colored mass. No urine in spite of much strain- 
ing, the bladder being actually empty. Five p.m., no evacuation 
since morning; urged to attempt to urinate, he passed, after 
much straining, some thick milky drops. Temp. 99.68 ; resp 20; 
pulse 76. The pains in stomach have ceased, but it is still 
sensitive to pressure. The kidney region not sensitive to the 
94 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
deepest, hardest pressure. Since morning he has taken emuls. 
ol. c. tct Opii. 
May 17th.—He says he feels very well; has appetite, but 
swallows with difficulty. Temp. 99.32; resp. 16; pulse 76. No 
pain at all. For more than 30 hours no evacuation, no vomit- 
ing. Not a drop of urine. At night he had a formication all 
over the body. About 1 p.m. copious, normal-looking, pappy 
evacuation, containing two living ascarides. Feels well, appe- 
tite good, no thirst, no urine. 
May 18th.—Frequent, black, loose stools after midnight. 
The urinary secretion has begun. Feeling of pressure in gas- 
tric region. Temp. 98.24; resp. 18; pulse 76. Abdomen flat. 
The crusts begin to come off' in pieces from the mouth and 
throat. At noon he ate some milk-food with relish. At 5 p.m. 
a spinach-green evacuation, followed by severe pains in stomach. 
Cold fomentations to stomach. 
May 19th.—Slept well. In the morning two spinach-green 
evacuations and each time urinated. Itching in the whole skin, 
which is quite dry. Severe pains in stomach region, which is 
somewhat full; the percussion tone being very muffled tympani- 
tic. Apparently there was a haemorrhage into the stomach. 
Swallowing very difficult. Extreme weakness. Temp. 96.44; 
resp. 18; pulse 76. 
May 20th.—During the night several dark green, very tena- 
cious stools. Urine steadily increasing in quantity, containing 
some albumen. Skin dry. Restless. Hiccough now and 
then. Pains in stomach less. 
21st.—Night very restless, no sleep. The hiccough is much 
more frequent. Burning in chest and abdomen. The crusts 
have mostly come oft' from the mouth ; the spots, thus denuded 
of epithelium, appear as extensive, rather depressed, spots 
sprinkled with coarse red grains. No stool. Urine normal in 
quantity, containing some albumen. Pains in the mouth, and 
in swallowing; some pains in stomach. (Morphine.) 
May 22d.—VTery little sleep. Much plagued by the very fre- 
quent hiccough, so that he cannot eat and hardly speak. Temp. 
93.92; resp. 18; pulse 76. Pure blood flows from the anus. 
Very troublesome itching in the skin. Burning in the intes- 
95 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tines; great depression. Evening: The great increase of heart’s 
action since morning is very remarkable; there is no enlarge- 
ment demonstrable. The heart’s impulse is very extended, visi- 
ble at a distance, and so strong, that the whole thorax, and both 
hypochondria, especially the left from stomach to navel, are 
vehemently jarred by it. Beats 76; tone, metallic-sounding, 
but clear. Singultus ceased at evening. Very considerable 
difficulty in swallowing. Temp. 92.12; respiration 18. 
May 23d.—Considerable sleep during the night. Early in 
the morning an evacuation consisting of hard feculent masses 
in bloody fluid. Urine normal in quantity, containing but a 
trace of albumen. Hiccough entirely stopped; restless. Temp. 
98.24; resp. 20; pulse 108, small. Heart’s action strong as 
yesterday. 
Evening: Has taken no food to-day. Face pale, collapsed. 
Consciousness, no longer quite clear. Abdomen flat. Two 
coffee-ground evacuations. Cold fomentations to the abdomen. 
May 24th.—He has groaned the whole night through. Be- 
fore midnight, a black-green, very copious evacuation, followed 
by involuntary urination and passage of blood per anum. Be- 
low the navel to the right,a hard swelling, the size of a lemon, 
very painful. Extravasated blood; the percussion tone over it 
dull. Restless. (Morphine.) Soon afterward he slept. Temp. 
100.04; resp. 14, very deep with long drawn inspiration; pulse 
112, small. Toward evening the dulness to right of navel very 
much increased in extent, apparently also flattened out. Un- 
conscious, very restless, frequent groaning. Skin dry. Ther- 
mometer could not be applied, but the temperature was seem- 
ingly higher than normal. The expired air smells very plainly 
like spoiled meat. Heart’s impulse still very strong and ex- 
tended, but no more on the whole than yesterday or this morn- 
ing. At the same time the pulse became steadily more rapid 
and smaller, and later was imperceptible in the radial, while 
the heart’s impulse was still vigorous. Blood flows from the 
rectum. The jactitations became less frequent and weaker. 
Death before midnight. Autopsy neither desired nor permit- 
ted. {Wiener Med. Presse, 1874, Ro. 34.) 
57. A woman, to poison herself, swallowed 4 grammes subli- 
96 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mate in alcoholic solution; vomited at once much blood, and 
only three hours later got, as antidote, a great number of raw 
eggs. Vomiting and bloody stools for two days; abdomen, not 
the gastric region, sensitive; nausea and metallic taste persist- 
ent; salivation followed. 
On the 8th day death from exhaustion. Mucous membrane 
of stomach, and in part also that of the duodenum, inflamed, 
softened, and discolored by extravasated blood. The imme- 
diate extravasation of blood probably acted as an antidote; the 
absence of pain in the stomach being a consequence of destroyed 
vitality of the gastric nerves, and the reabsorbed portion of the 
poison diminished the affinity of the blood corpuscles for oxygen. 
(From Woodbury; Philadelphia Medical Times, July 15th, 1872, 
in Jahresbericht ub. d. Leist. und Fortsch. in d. ges. Med., 1872.) 
58. A woman, 62 years old, poisoned herself with a solution 
containing 112 centigrammes sublimate and recovered under the 
treatment with white of egg-water. During the first hours of 
the poisoning there was a lowering of the bodily temperature 
(from 99.86 to 98.24). In the urine, throughout free from sugar, 
there was, from the second day forward, albumen (at first 4 p.c. 
then gradually dimishing to a trace on the sixth day), with a 
great quantity of granular, oily pellicles, on the surface of which 
the kidney epithelium in a condition of fatty degeneration was 
found; also hyaline, partly fatty pellicles and numerous free 
epithelial cells, exhibiting the beginnings of tatty degeneration 
(sign of nephritis). No blood corpuscles in the urine. (Olli- 
vier Arch, de physiol, norm, et pathol., 1874, in Jahresb. ub d. 
Leist. u. Fort, in d. ges. Med. von Virchow u. Hirsch.) 
59. A shepherd in a debauch swallowed a piece of sublimate, 
which he had for use in washing the sheep, and which, after 
having been in his stomach for an hour, still weighed a drachm. 
In spite of appropriate antidotal and symptomatic treatment, 
and apparent improvement, he died on the 8th day. The symp- 
toms, beside marked collapse, were pains behind sternum and 
in the scrobiculum, nausea, vomiting of blood, diarrhoea and 
bloody stools; haemoptysis and haematuria. From the fifth day 
on stomatitis and inconsiderable salivation. 
Post-mortem: Hyperaemia of lungs and liver, ulceration in 
97 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
oesophagus, ilium and large intestines, which latter were ex- 
tremely livid in color. Slate-gray color and ecchymosis in 
stomach. The chemical analysis showed traces of the poison 
in the liver. (Virchow, und H., Jahresb.f. 1870 ; from the Lan- 
cet, Feb. 26th.) 
60. July 2d, 1860.—A farmer took 2 drachms of sublimate, 
which an apothecary had put up by mistake for an aperient. 
He felt at once an intense burning, and drank a quantity of 
water with white of egg, which was followed by copious vomit- 
ing. The next day at noon, when he was first seen by a physi- 
cian, he complained of burning pain in stomach and intestines, 
and seemed in an intense degree collapsed. Twenty-four hours 
before his death, which did not occur until January 28, he had 
passed no urine. 
Autopsy, January 30th: Countenance placid. Lips and front 
parts of body pale; sides of the abdomen greenish; dependent 
parts of body reddish; pupils riormal; limbs rigid, scalp anaemic, 
brain mass firmer and paler than usual; a bluish red line along 
the edge of tongue; roof of mouth and isthmus faucium pale 
and shiny; larynx, trachea, and bronchi pretty uniformly red, 
the redness increasing toward the lungs; frothy mucus in the 
lower end of the trachea; both lungs oedematous, infiltrated 
with bloody serum; right heart full of dark fluid blood, the 
left heart almost empty. The outer wall of oesophagus con- 
gested in spots, the mucous membrane at the lower end and that 
of the gastric fundus loosened; at the pylorus a considerable 
extravasation of blood between the inner and middle coats; 
the first fifteen inches of the small intestine very red and thick- 
ened, but no extravasation of blood there; the inner coat of 
the rectum reddened and beset with extravasations of blood 
the size of hemp-seed, under the mucous membrane. By means 
of the galvanic battery, mercurial deposits were obtained from 
the liver, stomach, small and large intestines,as well as, though 
less obviously, from some ounces of blood. The deposits gave 
the characteristic red color upon contact with iodine vapor. 
(Canstatt’s Jahresb. fur 1862; from British Review, October 28th, 
1861.) 
61. A cook, 28 years old, sickened with gastricismus June 
98 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
3d, 1858, for which she thoughtlessly took about J teaspoonful 
of a watery solution (gr x ad %]) of sublimate, which had been 
prescribed for external use against freckles. While she was 
swallowing it, an intense burning began in throat, gullet, and 
stomach, followed immediately by violent vomiting of watery, 
slimy masses, with severe retching; then cold feeling and formi- 
cation over the whole body, especially along the spine; itching 
in the arms, stretching and tearing in all the limbs, with occa- 
sional convulsive shuddering of the whole body, and sometimes 
loss of consciousness; tenesmus of bladder. The physician, 
who saw her in about J hour, she having meanwhile drank two 
glasses of milk, found her with an expression of extreme suf- 
fering, failing vision, somewhat contracted pupil, almost com- 
plete aphonia, coated tongue, craving for cold water, very 
painful retching and vomiting of slimy, yellow-green, and 
white flocculent masses of curdled milk; small hard pulse, 106; 
deep, oppressed breathing, and lowered temperature of the damp, 
sticky skin. Stomach region somewhat distended and very 
sensitive to pressure. Ischuria. (Leeches, followed by fomen- 
tations to the stomach region, white of egg with sugar-water; 
Opium.) Toward evening the pulse diminished in frequency, 
with some sleep and profuse sweat. The next day rather more 
natural expression of face; pupils normal; pulse 100; turbid 
urine, passage, with forcing, of normal masses of feces, mixed 
with watery mucus and blood; some amelioration of pain dur- 
ing the night. The third day almost no pain, but it returned 
the fourth day with metallic taste and copious sweat. Fifth 
day subsidence of abdominal pains, but great lassitude and 
severe pains in the feet. The sixth day an eruption made its 
appearance in the shape of pale red, seemingly elevated round- 
ish spots,disappearing under pressure of the finger; not sharply 
defined itching, and in places running together like roseola, 
remaining four days and then going off. 
After five or six weeks there were occasional dull pains in 
the extremities, general weakness, bellyache from the slightest 
cold, and heavy night-sweats. There was no salivation. (Can- 
statt's Jahresb. f. 1861, aus Bayer drztl. Intell. Bl., 1860.) 
99 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS, 
Provings of tiie Sublimate. 
1. Masselot made the following investigation: Soon after the 
second dose of 12§ milligrammes, sensation of obstruction and 
anxiety in the prtecordia and epigastric region; then several 
palpitations. After the third dose, general sick feeling; some 
pains in the stomach; transitory colic; sensation of weakness 
and shuddering in the limbs; palpitations. After the fourth 
dose, painful pinchings in the stomach; weariness of the limbs 
and trembling when he rises and stands quietly; great anxiety ; 
frequent palpitations of the heart; vague chilliness; sensation 
of coldness; paleness of the face; some nausea; distention of the 
abdomen; borborygmi; colic with tenesmus and six stools 
during the night. On the next day there remained only some 
sick feeling and less appetite than usual. Three days later the 
experiment was again made in the same way; the same effects 
were again manifested, only more intense, especially the anxiety, 
paleness, inclination to chilliness, weariness of the limbs and 
the tenesmus. In addition to this, he had several attacks of 
vertigo, and twice spasmodic vomiting of serous-like fluid, not 
preceded by nausea. It required two days before he was again 
in statum integrum, and he had no desire to make a third ex- 
periment. These doses were given fasting, or at least four hours 
after a meal. 
2. Doctors Buchner, Gerster, Held, Nusser, FOrstner, and 
Pemerl, proved the sublimate, on themselves, mostly in the 2d 
cent, dilution. The symptoms obtained are given in the follow- 
ing resume: Symptoms which were observed in several provers, 
are marked with the initials of such in brackets. Those marked 
with (Ch) were observed in a woman 46 years of age, formerly 
a healthy countrywoman, who, on account of a pain in the 
throat, took of mercurial sublimate in quantity, during three 
years, about twenty times, so that in the whole, 2400 pills, con- 
taining in all 120 grammes of the sublimate, were taken. 
General Symptoms.—Lassitude; various symptoms are aggra- 
vated when walking in the open air; better during rest; worse 
in the open air (Ch); during rest better; at the worst in the 
open air (Ch); worse in the morning, generally weak, and there- 
with frequently giddy (Ch). 
100 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Sleep.—Inclination to yawn and actual yawning; sleepiness 
the whole afternoon; sleepiness in the evening; sleep very light, 
frequently, at night only J hour tolerable sleep (Ch). Fre- 
quently starting when falling asleep; sleep not sound; moderate 
sleeplessness; at night restless sleep, with frequent awaking; 
changing position, tossing about in bed, in the morning follow- 
ing great weariness and wretchedness. Dreams livid, lively, 
lascivious; dreams of tire and murder. 
Fever Symptoms.—Coldness of the hands and feet; chilliness; 
shivering; attacks of chills; shaking chill, frequently with 
chattering of the teeth, particularly in the open air (Ch). Fre- 
quent chill at night in the bed (Ch). Chill followed by quickly 
passing heat; heat at night; warm sweat after chill (Ch). Mod- 
erate sweat night when waking (Ch). Offensive smelling sweat; 
skin dry; entire thirstlessness; some thirst; strong thirst; pulse 
somewhat feverish; feverish pulse; pulse somewhat frequent 
and somewhat large (Ch). 
Sensorium.—What he says has neither the proper construc- 
tion nor does he express the sensations clearly. In the evening 
the understanding was so weak that he several times looked at 
the gentleman speaking without comprehending what was 
said. A sort of reeling vertigo with almost entire loss of hear- 
ing, mostly about 8 p.m. when lying down, with tearing in the 
occiput. 
Head.—Chilliness about the head. Slight congestion toward 
the head and face with burning in the cheeks. Dullness of the 
head, except the temporal regions. Dullness in the head in the 
upper frontal region. Dullness of the head in the temporal re- 
gion. Dullness of the head, vertigo (Ch). Dullness of the head 
particularly over the eyebrows. Dull pain at the right frontal 
eminence. Stiching headache in the frontal region. Stitches 
in the left parietal bone. 
Eyes.—On looking at objects they appear smaller and more 
distant from the eyes than usual. (Frequently recurring with 
the same prover.) Slight burning and dry feeling in the eyes. 
Burning in the eyes at the margin of the conjunctiva palpebra- 
rum. Pressive burning pain in the eyes. Eyes very painful 
with slight injection of the vessels of the conjunctiva. Con- 
101 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
junctiva of both eyes red and strongly injected. Photophobia 
when walking in the sunshine. 
Ears.—Digging and stitching in the ears of such violence that 
he was forced to weep and cry out. (Lasting three minutes.) 
Imagines he can feel the pulsation of the artery of the internal 
ear, in the painful left ear repeatedly. Stitches in the left ear. 
Ears internally as if stopped up (Ch). 
Mouth.—Styptic-metallic taste; astringent taste in the mouth ; 
bitter, also slimy taste in the morning (Ch). Bitter taste of the 
food (Ch). Greasy, scraping taste in the mouth. Dryness of 
mouth, fatty sensation, and nauseousness in the mouth; run- 
ning together of water in the mouth. The gums of the last 
molars began to swell, with burning pain. Toothache tearing 
from the orbital region toward the jaw. 
Pharynx.—Contraction and raw feeling in the throat. Throat 
raw. Scraping rawness in the back of throat frequently neces- 
sitating hawking. Pain in the throat, at times in the 
uvula, not increased by swallowing. Complaints in swallow- 
ing. Pain in the throat particularly after swallowing dry 
bread (Ch). Cicatrices in the fauces only a short distance from 
the uvula. 
(Esophagus.—Stitches in the oesophagus as if a particle had 
lodged there, worse when swallowing. 
iStomach.—Want of appetite. Burning and heat, with con- 
tractive pain in the stomach. Burning and pressure in the stom- 
ach. Slight burning in the stomach (G.II.) Acute stitches in 
the region of the -stomach. Troublesome pressure in the stom- 
ach. Frequent eructations of air; nausea, loathing. Inclination 
to vomit (II.P.). 
Intestines.—Contractive pain extending from the stomach 
through the intestines. Peculiar bruised sensation in the abdo- 
men, especially in the ccecal region and transverse colon, pain- 
ful on pressure as if bruised. Abdominal pains, pinching in 
the abdomen. At times, pinching in the abdomen without 
distention, relieved after passage of flatus (Ch). Anxious and 
uncomfortable sensation in region of bladder like before a 
stool, not painful. Soft stool. A number of watery stools 
with pains in the abdomen. Bilious stool with violent abdomi- 
102 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
nal pains and troublesome tenesmus. Two soft clay-yellow 
stools. A liquid, yellow, painless stool with frequent tenesmus. 
Violent burning in the anus, with the stool (Ch). During the 
day, firmer and more scanty stool than usual. Unusually 
profuse discharge of flatus. 
Region of Liver.—Slight stitches in region of the liver. 
Urinary Organs.—Urging in the urethra with scanty urina- 
tion, later irritation with full bladder, sensation of fulness re- 
maining; after evacuating the bladder. Burning at the mouth of 
the urethra. After urination slight stitches in the fore-part of the 
urethra and as if in the sphincter ani. Burning stitches in the 
forepart of the urethra after coitus. Violent itching at the mouth 
of the urethra, changing during urination to smarting, with 
several stitches through the whole urethra. Before urination, 
considerable burning. Urine scanty, red, with brick-colored 
sediment. Urine pale yellow, somewhat cloudy, with trace of 
mucus flakes; after standing, a slight, pale grayish sediment 
with whitish covering; the urine, after standing, smelled 
strongly ammoniacal (Ch). 
Sexual Organs.—Very violent erections during sleep. Vio- 
lent erections and strong sexual desire. Late, slow, seminal 
discharge during coitus. Bine but painful stitches in left testi- 
cle. Fine stitches in the left testicle. 
Respiratory Organs.—Coryza. Severe irritation to cough, 
arising at the larynx, toward evening. Very great hoarseness 
(Ch). Great irritation in the larynx. Dry cough. Frequent 
attacks of sickly cough (G.H.) Pressure in the chest. Tran- 
sient fine stitches through both sides of the chest after rising. 
Several stitching pains in the lower right chest. Stitches in 
upper left chest when breathing deeply. Stitches deep in the 
upper right chest, scarcely increased on deep breathing. 
Heart.—Congestion to the heart and anxiety. 
Skin.—Itching burning and fine stitches at various parts in 
and under the skin. 
Lymphatics.—Peculiar pressing pain in the inguinal glands of 
the right side, as if the glands would swell. Sensation as if 
the glands of the left axilla would swell, with frequent tran- 
sient stitches therein. 
103 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Muscular System.—Itching stitches in the muscles of the right 
eyeball. Burning stitches in the middle of the right side of 
chest, as if in the muscles. Itching stitching pain in the muscles 
of the right lower costal region, Pinching stitches as if in the 
muscles of the upper abdomen. Peculiar contractive twitching 
pain of several muscular fasciculi, at the inner side of the rectus 
abdom. dext., in the umbilical region. Tension near the left 
scapula, to the outside. Jerking contractive pain in the mus- 
cles of the right palm. Stitching pain in the muscles of the 
dorsum of the hand and extensors of the feet. Stitches in the 
muscles of the lower extremities. Twitching of single muscles 
of the calves. Rheumatic pains in the lower extremities as 
from needle stitches. 
Bones.—Pain in the head like a drawing in the periosteum 
of the skull. Tearing in the bones over the left eye, near the 
root of the nose and on other bony parts. Tearing in the left 
malar bone. Sensitiveness of the left lower maxilla to touch. 
A kind of tearing in the middle of the sternum after midnight. 
Violent tearing pain in the lower right costal cartilages. Draw- 
ing in the limbs, running as if along the bones, evenings. 
Tearing at the upper part of the inner border of left scapula, 
as in the bone. Tearing in the left meta-carpal bones. Acute 
tearing in the bones of the metacarpo-phalangeal articulation 
of the left index, ring-finger, and thumb. Tearing posteriorly 
in the right hip-joint. Stitches in the hip-joint during rest, 
which pass off during motion. Tearing in the head of the left 
femur toward the outside. Drawing pains in the tibia. Scarcely 
perceptible drawing toward the tibia. 
General Effects of the Sublimate. 
A strong dose of the sublimate excites the following symp- 
toms: 
Acrid, astringent, unendurable taste. Sensation of constric- 
ion and burning heat in the throat, which soon becomes violently 
inflamed. Then anxiety, burning pain in the mouth, pharynx, 
oesophagus,and particularly in the stomach and bowels; nausea; 
violent straining with profuse vomiting of variously colored 
but often blood-streaked, or with considerable blood-mixed tena- 
104 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cious substance. Diarrhoea with violent tenesmus; at times 
dysentery; haemorrhage from the bowels. The temperature of 
the abdomen is considerably increased; abdomen becomes so 
sensitive that slight touch as well as motion of the body excites 
severe pain. The evacuations both up and down are more copious 
than from other metallic poisonings. 
Following this, the first stage, we have a second, in which 
the same symptoms continue, and in addition thereto is great 
lassitude; the heart-beats become slow and continually weaker; 
the pulse thread-like, contracted and frequent; violent thirst 
torments the patient; respiration becomes slower and difficult; 
the skin cold and covered with sweat, while the face becomes 
red and swollen. To this are added fainting, general insensi- 
bility, which almost always begins in the feet and is so severe 
that the skin of the extremities can be pinched without being 
noticed by the patient. At times spasms or troublesome singul- 
tus set in; the body is covered with icy-cold sweat, and death 
is not long delayed. Generally the urine is decreased, at times 
bloody, sometimes even suppressed for several days prior to 
death. At times the urine is not affected particularly when 
the patient drinks a great deal. Painful erections (Orfila), also 
burning pains in the urethra (Buffini) have been observed. In 
general, the mental faculties remain undisturbed to the last. 
The careless and continued internal and external use of small 
doses of the sublimate, cause continued colicky pains and hab- 
itual vomiting; the salivary glands swell and become very pain- 
ful; saliva increased, sharp, acrid, and offensive; the tongue 
and gums swell, become covered with very painful and corro- 
sive ulcers; the teeth begin to turn black and loosen, they fall 
out, and are frequently followed by the bones of palate and 
maxilla; the pharynx is swollen and red, and violent pharyn- 
geal troubles set in. The breath becomes offensive; the face 
and whole head swells, from which swallowing and breathing 
becomes difficult. Cardialgia; dyspepsia ; diarrhoea; dysentery; 
dyspnoea; haemoptysis; dry cough with pains in the chest; 
chronic bronchitis; pulmonary consumption; exanthema; vio- 
lent pains in the muscles, tendons and joints; trembling of the 
105 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
limbs; paralysis; tetanus; continued fever; marasmus and 
death may result from the improper use of the sublimate. 
The sublimate combines with the albuminous particles in the 
tissues, whereby corrosions and even scaly formations may be 
caused. This so-formed mercurial albuminate being soluble in 
alkaline and acid liquids, accounts for the passage of the sub- 
limate into the blood. From this arises the characteristic poi- 
soning even if it is only applied externally. If it enters the 
circulation, it afficts first the heart and then the intestines. 
That the action of the heart, which from investigation on ani- 
mals is demonstrable, does not depend on the nervous system, 
is evident by the inflammation and disturbance of the circula- 
tion during life. Its action on the intestines and particularly 
on the mucous membrane around the pylorus and on the rectum, 
is, no doubt, owing to inflammation. 
Secondarily, it acts on the nervous system. The lungs also are 
affected. Through long continued use, it has frequently brought 
on hsemoptoe and pulmonary phthisis, as Bramhella, Langrois, 
Gertanner, Quarin and others have shown. 
With more chronic poisonings, the first peculiar effects of the 
quicksilver are manifest in the mouth. 
The sublimate is eliminated by the urine, saliva, feces. By- 
assan, by personal experiment, found that by ingestion of two 
centigrammes of sublimate, he could obtain electrolytic evi- 
dence of quicksilver in the urine after two hours, and in the 
saliva after four hours. After twenty-four hours no more quick- 
silver could be discovered. In the sweat it could not be de- 
tected. Later a portion could be found in the fecal matter. 
and Bergeret found, after a single dose of one cen- 
tigramme of sublimate, quicksilver in the urine within twenty- 
four hours, but not any on the second day. From continued 
daily use of the same quantity for ten or twelve days, there 
was, during the whole time, and for from two to five days 
after ceasing, quicksilver discoverable in the urine. 
With animals in w’hom sublimate was hypodermically in- 
jected, quicksilver was found after half hour in every organ, 
but most in the liver and kidneys. Less in the muscles, brain, 
106 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
bones, and blood. The after elimination through the urine, in 
non-fatal cases, continued about four days. 
Anatomical Changes Produced by the Sublimate. 
Soon after death the body shows the following signs of putre- 
faction: The finger-nails and the hands are blackish. The rau- 
cous membrane of the mouth, tongue, uvula, palate, epiglottis, 
pharynx, and oesophagus is inflamed. Scurfs, erosions, thick- 
ening, softening, ulceration, ecchvmoses, in many cases even 
gangrene, are seen. 
The epiglottis is reddened; at times there is oedema of the 
glottis; gelatinous exudation; the tracheal and bronchial ves- 
sels are greatly injected, when the signs of inflammation are not 
there. The stomach is inflamed, either entirely or in spots 
brick-red, and we find here and there eccbymoses, particularly 
on the folds of the mucous membrane; erosions and gangren- 
ous destruction of the mucous membrane; these effects are more 
marked at the cardiac and pyloric regions. Perforation of the 
stomach is found but rarely. All the vessels of the stomach 
are strongly injected and appear black. The contents of the 
stomach are not seldom mixed with blood or sanguinolent 
mucus. 
The mucous membrane of the small intestines is entirely, or 
in spots, covered with bloody mucus; not seldom entirely or 
in spots strongly injected and red ; at times spots eroded, sof- 
tened, ulcerated, or gangrenous. The rectum is usually inflamed. 
In the omentum are many blackish eechymoses. The perito- 
neum is occasionally inflamed. The pelvic cavity receives at 
times a serous exudation. The liver is full of blood. In the 
heart we find one or more blackish or reddish spots. Larynx 
and trachea as well as the bronchi are hypersemic. The lungs 
are at times filled with blood., red in spots, cedematous, or in- 
flamed. The brain as well as its membranes are at times found 
spotted with blood. The ventricles of the brain contain, in 
some cases, clear or sanguinolent serum. The sympathetic is 
often found inflamed (Swan). The kidneys are, in many cases, 
enlarged and inflamed. 
107 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Calomel. 
Toxicological Effects on Animals and Man. 
Majerne first brought this preparation into notice about the 
middle of the seventeenth century, and called it Ivalomelas, in 
honor of the negro who assisted him in its preparation. Well- 
nourished animals which received a grain of Calomel, followed 
by an additional grain each day, had, after death, complete 
fatty degeneration of the kidneys; the swollen cortical sub- 
stance yellow, contrasting with the red medullary; the urini- 
ferant tubuli were filled with fat globules. 
1. Three years ago, a girl, set. 12, somewhat backward in her 
growth, but otherwise healthy, received such quantities of 
Calomel for inflammatory ventricular hydrocephalus, as to 
cause copious salivation and an ulcerated mouth. Little atten- 
tion being paid to this, the inner surface of each cheek became 
adherent to the upper and lower gums, and the mouth could 
not be opened wider than to admit a flat teaspoon between the 
teeth. 
2. A hale and hearty man who, for a chancre, had received 
Calomel continually to salivation, got jaundice. 
3. Duncan saw Eczema mere., as a result of two grains of 
Calomel, in a girl, set. 12; Alley saw the same in a 7 year old 
child, also after two grains. 
4. Hoffman reports two cases of death in two children, aged 
12 and 15 years, from fifteen grains of Calomel. 
5. In another case, half an ounce of the same substance 
caused vomiting, burning in throat, about twenty stools per 
day, prostration and stupor, followed by death. 
Hahnemann relates the following case of poisoning by Calo- 
mel. 
6. A young man with gonorrhoea and a small chancre, re- 
ceived at the hands of a surgeon an enormous quantity of Calo- 
mel, which, besides excessive salivation, caused violent hectic 
fever, frequent night-sweats, tearing pains in the limbs, trem- 
bling, and large pustules all over his body. These were again 
treated with Mercury (for they were considered symptoms of 
syphilis by the quack) and grew into large and deep ulcers, 
108 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
several of which were one and a half inches in diameter, sur- 
rounded by inflamed raised edges, and covered with a larclaceous 
surface. The worst were the ulcerations in the pharynx, about 
the posterior nares, on the tonsils, soft palate, and uvula; it 
seemed as if the ulcer threatened to devour all the soft parts; 
from the mouth and nose issued bloody pus, he could not articu- 
late audibly, was emaciated and exceedingly weak. All reme- 
dies tried were without avail, until I administered ten grains 
of Hepar sulph. in twenty-four hours, which wrought an im- 
mediate change for the better, so that the other remedies, 
vitriol, for the putrid suppurative fever, and nitrate of silver 
in solution, for the foul buccal ulcers, did quick service, lie 
was soon able to go into the open air, which gave opportunity 
to ventilate his room. This course was pursued with advan- 
tage for several weeks, and he had almost recovered when he 
took a cold from exposure to rough weather, and a fever, which 
compelled him to remain in the house. Without my knowl- 
edge ventilation was discontinued. He rapidly fell back into 
his old troubles; the ulcers in the fauces and in the rest of the 
body broke out with renewed violence; even the glans penis 
became affected in several places (though not in the spot where 
the previous chancre had been) by phagadenic ulcers. The 
fever, the night-sweats, the rheumatic pains and the ptyalism 
were renewed, and increased in severity daily. I prescribed 
everything that had done good before, but without success; 
within a few days he stood on the brink of the grave. lie 
asked for nothing, swallowed frequently, did not know his 
friends, and could scarcely move. At this point it came into 
my mind that the air in the close room, probably laden with 
mercurial vapors, was penetrating his body and thus renewing 
the symptoms. I ventured to prescribe three grains of Hepar 
sulph. every hour, and with such good results that after twelve 
hours I already noticed some improvement. This, and the 
other previously named remedies, gradually gave him renewed 
life and health. I did not, however, omit to keep a solution 
of Hepar in the sick-room for several weeks, with the intention 
to neutralize by its exhalations the mercurial vapors.—(Hah- 
nemann’s Unterricht f 'dr Wundarzte, etc.) 
109 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
7. A young man informed A. that he had a highly sensitive 
skin, which would not bear Mercury. Once when a purgative 
was indicated, A. prescribed a powder containing Jalap and 
four grains of Calomel, which was followed by general erj7- 
thema. Before the remedy had time to act on the alimentary 
canal, the erythema made its appearance in the region of the 
genitals, and spread from thence upwards; later, downwards, 
covering the whole body in twenty-four hours. The skin was 
highly reddened as in scarlatina, and somewhat tumefied, but 
without pain, or increased heat. Neither was there any fever. 
The tumefaction was greatest about the head and neck, but 
not at all marked; the discoloration was bluish-red, which 
gave to the man’s face an expression of anger, even of rage. 
The man was otherwise well, and this expression contrasted 
strangely with his quiet temperament and cheerful mood. The 
phenomenon has fully disappeared within two days, leaving 
those places last on which it had first appeared.—(Caspar’s 
Wochenschrift., 1837, No. 51.) 
8. A woman, set. 50, had a severe fright with anxiety, oc- 
casioned by a conflagration. Shortly after she felt a pressure 
in the stomach, after eating; this gradually grew worse, until 
she was in the following condition: Extreme emaciation and 
prostration; she could but seldom leave her couch for an hour 
at a time; her appetite wras tolerably good, but she could re- 
tain neither solids nor fluids; cold nor warm things; but 
vomited up things shortly after partaking of them; they 
caused severe, dull pain; pressure and cramp in the stomach 
and soon came up. Stool once in four to six days; single hard 
pieces with some mucus. No salivation. Pulse soft, with a 
doughy feel; sluggish, 50 in the minute; urine clear and straw- 
colored. After the successful administration of anti-spasmodics, 
the patient received thrice daily one grain of Opium and two 
grains of Calomel. In five or six days there was an ameliora- 
tion in her symptoms, but she took the remedy more frequently. 
On the seventh day a severe chill, lasting fifteen minutes, fol- 
lowed by fever, headache, thirst, loss of appetite; small hard 
pulse, 75 in the minute; dyspnoea; respiration neither frequent 
nor short. The powders were omitted, and a mitigating emul- 
110 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sion was ordered. On the following day, the fever had in- 
creased still more; the throat was swollen internally and ex- 
ternally; likewise the tongue and gums, the former nearly till- 
ing the whole buccal cavity. The gums, fauces, and tongue, 
were thickly covered with apthse, and coated with copious 
thick slime. The teeth remained firm, and there was not a 
trace of ptyalism; motion of the jaws was very painful, and 
she could scarcely swallow. Constant nausea, without being 
able to vomit. Urine pale, red, and clear. The whole body 
was covered with dark red patches, of various sizes, confluent 
in some places. On the inguinal regions and on the inner 
thighs, the redness was darker and more uniform, causing vio- 
lent burning. Constant sighing and tossing about, cannot rest 
a minute in one place. On the ninth day, there sprang up a 
large number of vesicles on the reddened portions of the skin, 
which soon filled with yellowish lymph. No treatment' except 
luke warm injections into the mouth, and the patient gradually 
recovered. As the inflammation and swelling in the throat 
diminished, swallowing became easier, the exanthem dried up, 
and the epidermis scaled off. Appetite returned, and with the 
mercurial symptoms also disappeared the old stomach trouble. 
—(Hufeland’s Journal, Yol. 56, 1823, Kahleis.) 
9. A girl, set. 19, suffered from a very severe attack of in- 
flammation of the lungs. Repeated blood-letting was practiced, 
and in from five to eight days she received a two grain dose of 
Calomel every two hours. On the ninth day, convalescence 
clearly commenced, but on the tenth appeared erythema mer- 
cur. In the regio iliaca sinistra pustules with sharp points and 
circumscribed redness, had sprung up, which caused violent 
burning pain. The eruption commenced in isolated spots, the 
size of a pea; afterwards became confluent, and spread over the 
whole body. Gradually, as in the previous case, similar attacks 
of angina set in, only in a somewhat more aggravated form; 
speech became very inarticulate, swallowing impossible; the 
inner mouth swollen and covered with a thick, whitish apthous 
crust; periodically great restlessness and tossing about; prog- 
nosis very unfavorable. Pulse, secretions and excretions, were 
about normal. This grade of fever continued four days, dur- 
111 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing which time single pustules dried up, and new ones formed, 
until, gradually, desquamation took place. During desquama- 
tion, toothache in the left side, followed by swelling of the 
lower ja\y, which became carious, exfoliated, and finally got 
well. In this case too, the teeth remained firm, and there fol- 
lowed no ptyalism.—(Kahleis, in Hufeland's Journal, Yol. 56, 
1823.) 
10. A girl, set. 5, was taken in June, 1843, with whooping 
cough, followed by symptoms of pneumonia, and bronchitis. 
She then received Calomel, of which she took twenty-four 
grains from July 17th to August 4th. She had from three to 
four stools daily, without any abatement in the cough. On the 
22d of August, the parents observed that the right cheek was 
somewhat swollen, hard, and had a peculiarly pale and shiny 
appearance. Four or five days later, a very offensive odor, in- 
crease of swelling, and discharge of bloody ichorous matter. 
On Sept. 8th, a gangrenous spot on the external cheek sank in 
and formed a hole. Destruction made rapid progress. On the 
12th of Sept, the child died.—{Jour. f. Kinderkr. v. Behrend u'. 
Hildebrand, I. Band, S. 402.) Dr. Korre thinks the long con- 
tinued use of large doses of Calomel in this case, was the cause 
of the disease, since the child had been otherwise well, born of 
healthy parents, was well nourished, kept clean, and had good 
care during the illness; and as she was not unusually affected 
by the whooping cough, there seemed no other cause for the 
malady; besides, we know of many cases, in which noma fol- 
lowed the continued use of Calomel.—(Ally. Ilom. Zeitung.) 
11. After the abuse of Calomel, the following symptoms ap- 
peared: Enormous secretion of saliva had lasted for weeks; the 
salivary glands and tongue were very much swollen; the gums 
spongy and bleeding; deep, bleeding, and offensive smelling 
ulcers, extending to the posterior nares; considerable loss of 
substance of nearly all the parts forming the buccal cavity, and 
inflammation lower down in the throat. Entire loss of appe- 
tite ; could not well take the mildest articles of diet, on account 
of the excessive pain in swallowing. The patient was emaci- 
ated to a skeleton; the ankles swollen; diarrhoea, with fever; 
could not leave the bed, and only turn over when assisted. The 
112 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
hemorrhage from the mouth returned frequently and robbed 
the patient of all remaining strength. 
12. Three doses of Calomel, 10 grains each taken in 8 hours. 
Violent vomiting of saliva-like fluid, great anxiety. Cutting 
bellyache and 18 watery, greenish, slimy stools, mixed with 
blood.—{Hofeland’s Journal, 54, B., 1822.) 
18. Hiltscher observed after the use of Calomel, a very se- 
rious inflammation of the tongue, with copious salivation, ex- 
coriation, ichorous pulpy exudation, etc. The tongue was so 
much swollen as to threaten suffocation.—(Canstatt’s Jahres- 
bericht, fur 1847.) 
14. Williams treated a man, set. 58 years, for rheumatic fever, 
lie took, besides other drugs, half a drachm of Calomel in four 
days. In consequence, extreme salivation was developed, which 
passed into necrosis of the lower jaw in spite of all remedies. 
{Canstatt's Jahresbericht, fur 1850, aus Prov. Medical Chirg. 
Journ. 20.) 
General Effects of Calomel 
Calomel acts on the negative and formative life, without, 
like the sublimate, having a marked action on-the circulation 
and nervous system. It increases and alters the intestinal se- 
cretions; in a greater or less degree produces fluid passages, 
vomiting, violent stomachache, colic, assuming the character of 
inflammation of the bowels. The biliary secretion is also in- 
creased, hence the green passages. This discoloration how- 
ever, may partly be due to the admixture with the stools, of 
extremely fine particles of sulphide of mercury, which forms 
in the lower portion of the intestinal canal if the Calomel re- 
mains there for any length of time. The bile, however, appears 
to play a more prominent part in producing the discoloration 
than the sulphide of mercury; notwithstanding, Mosler and 
Skott in experimenting on dogs with biliary fistula, did not 
find an increase of bile after administering Calomel. That the 
results obtained after so serious an operation as that of making 
a biliary fistula, cannot be the same as from intact organs, may 
be read ly comprehended. In the therapeutics of mercury in 
hepatic diseases, we return to this question: Massive doses of 
113 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Calomel produce watery evacuations, and give rise to green dis- 
coloration only if several times repeated. When given in 
small doses and long continued, the main tendency is to cause 
diarrhoea, colic, emaciation, and salivation. Women who take 
it during pregnancy give birth to weak, miserable children, 
who seldom live longer than a few days. Trembling of the 
limbs and spasms are likewise symptoms of chronic poisoning. 
It generates thin, venous blood, an excess of fluid substances, 
sponginess, and laxness of the solid parts, thus developing, in 
general, a lymphatic constitution. On the skin it produces 
various eruptions. . It principally affects persons with fragile 
bones and weak muscles, torpidity of the portal system, dis- 
posed to venous haemorrhages, mucous discharges, and excessive 
bile, particularly in scrofulous subjects. The assertion of sev- 
eral physiologists that Calomel has poisonous effects only when 
it contains sublimate, is refuted by Orfila, who proved that 
poisonous symptoms appeared when the Calomel had been com- 
pletely washed, and did not contain an atom of sublimate. 
Another argument that patients take simple doses without in- 
jurious effects, is answered by the experience that patients can 
often take doses of poison which would, undoubtedly, kill a 
health}7- person. The Calomel partly combines with the albu- 
men in the stomach, and in this combination is taken into the 
blood. 
Miahle maintains that Calomel acts by reason of a portion 
of it being changed into sublimate, by combination with chlor- 
ine present in the stomach and intestines; but since Calomel 
has greater affinity for albumen, and the effects of Calomel and 
sublimate are very different, this view is to be rejected. 
MeRCURIUS PRiECIPITATUS ftUBER. 
Half an ounce of red precipitate was applied to the thigh of 
a dog. Besides general weakness, no symptoms appeared. In 
four and a half days, death occurred. The post-mortem exami- 
nation showed the stomach bluish-red, the duodenum white. 
The rectum had undergone a remarkable change. The inner 
membrane was soft, tumefied, in ragged folds, cauliflower-like, 
Experiment with a Dog. 
114 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of a dirty bluish-red color; the peritoneal membrane was un- 
changed and bluish-red. The blood-vessels on the surface of 
the heart injected; beneath the lining membrane of the ven- 
tricles were noticed reddish streaks. The base of the tongue 
was somewhat swollen. 
1. A young girl took a goodly portion of red precipitate in 
confectionery. Violent stomach ache, which she tried to con- 
ceal as much as possible. Finally vomiting set in, by means 
of which a portion of the poison was expelled. The pains ex- 
tended over the entire abdomen. Suspicion being aroused, she 
received a large portion of hot milk. The abdominal pains 
grew worse and worse; copious diarrhoea, with very painful 
cramps in the lower extremities. This condition lasted fully 
six hours. The physician who was called found the abdomen 
hard and contracted; the skin cold and covered with sweat; 
terrible pains in the abdomen. Injections of bran-water with 
five drops of laudanum were ordered every half hour. The 
pains and diarrhoea grew less; night-sweat followed; the pa- 
tient slept several hours, and was in a very satisfactory condi- 
tion next morning. There remained a remarkable sensitive- 
ness of the abdomen, and a peculiar tendency to involuntary 
spasmodic contractions of the extremities. Several days later 
the patient resumed her duties.—(Orfila, Toxicologie.) 
2. A woman, ret. 36, in seventh month of pregnancy, took 
by mistake a large pinch of red precipitate, instead of a red 
powder she was accustomed to get from the drug store. In 
order to promote perspiration she went to bed. In an hour 
she had nausea, vomiting, oppression of the chest, pains in 
stomach and entire abdomen. After vomiting several times, 
the attacks abated, with the exception of some pain in the 
abdomen; she arose and went to her sister’s house, in the 
neighborhood. She had scarcely reached the house, when all 
the symptoms returned, only the vomiting so much more vio- 
lent and frequent, as to bring up a quantity of blood, which 
was followed by fainting. After being revived by strong- 
smelling salts, the vomiting returned with the same force, 
Symptoms of Poisoning from Man. 
115 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
now accompanied by diarrhoea. The pains in the abdomen be- 
came unbearable; thereto was added burning in the mouth 
and throat, with unquenchable thirst. Nothing of any im- 
portance being done, trembling likewise followed. On the 
third day, the condition was the following: trembling all over; 
extraordinary redness of the whole face and eyes; staring wild 
look; specific, intolerable odor of ptyalism. In a short time 
she again vomited, twice bringing up a quantity of blackish 
blood. The gums swollen and inflamed; the tongue so thick 
as to fill the entire mouth, and in several places as if ulcerated 
through. The buccal cavity had the appearance as if lined 
with a thick crust of old rotten cheese. The larynx was also 
swollen and even inflamed on the outside. The pulse rapid, 
small and hard. The abdomen already enlarged by pregnancy, 
was swollen to bursting, and so sensitive that the patient could 
not bear the slightest touch. She had not felt motion all day. 
She received sulphate of potassa boiled in water, and mucila- 
ginous drinks. The vomiting stopped after the first dose, and 
she felt great relief; the remedy was therefore also given in 
injections. At 3 p.m. she again complained of nausea, and 
dreaded return of the vomiting of blood. She felt oppressed 
about the chest. After letting blood these attacks disappeared, 
and no vomiting followed. On the fourth day, the other symp- 
toms abated, but she could not sleep on account of severe pain 
in the mouth. The putridity of the mouth was at its worst; 
the teeth could scarcely be seen on account of the swollen 
gums and the collection of mucus. The tongue had two holes 
large enough to admit a finger; it was actually deformed. On 
the fifth day, marked chemosis of the eyes; this was removed 
by an eye-wash. Gradually, all symptoms improved, the wo- 
man got well, and in due time, was delivered of a healthy 
child.—(HufclantVs Journal, 55. B., 1822.) 
3. A woman took by mistake Merc, prsecip. ruber; immedi- 
ately after taking it, severe burning in gums, throat and sto- 
mach. Great anxiety, with inclination to vomit. Ptyalism, 
lasting eight days. The rheumatism in the arm, of which she 
complained, was gone, and she afterwards felt quite well. 
4. A girl, pet. 22, came into the hospital with the following 
116 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
symptoms: Cold clammy skin, especially on the extremities, 
stupor, simi’ar to narcosis. Pupils somewhat dilated, and still 
somewhat sensitive to light. Pulse frequent, small, weak; 
eructations, foaming at the mouth, occasional vomiting. The 
fluid first vomited contained red powder. Pressure on abdo- 
men and epigastrium produced no pain. Blood was not con- 
tained in the vomit. The. stomach-pump was used and white 
of egg given. In eight hours the skin was hot and red. Press- 
ing sensation in the region of stomach and abdomen; cramps 
in legs; vomiting of mucus; dryness, pain, and redness of 
pharynx. Pain when urinating, yet the urine was neither 
scanty nor bloody. Several painless stools, mixed with blood; 
tongue dry, but neither furred nor red; pupils slightly dilated; 
small thread-like pulse. Chemical analysis showed red pre- 
cipitate. 
5. A journeyman mechanic, set. 36, swallowed, on the 6th of 
July, 1835, at 8 p.m., an ounce of red precipitate, which pro- 
duced violent cramps, retching, vomiting, and such prostration, 
that he could not stand on his feet. Bloody stool, with pain 
and tenesmus. Next day, at 10 a.m., he was brought to the 
hospital, with the following symptoms: Sunken, thin, bluish 
face, w’ith sunken eyes, surrounded by blue circles, and an ex- 
pression of great suffering; great prostration, nausea, pressing 
in epigastrium, rumbling in abdomen, frequent wratery stools. 
Received milk emulsions, with small doses of Tartar Emetic. 
In the evening, the vomiting had stopped, but the sensitiveness 
of abdomen increased. Slept a little during the night, but 
towards morning complained of cold feet, and great weakness. 
Although covered with several blankets, he could not get 
warm. July 8th, 6 a.m., the entire surface of the skin was 
livid; the extremities cold, the muscles rigid and clearly de- 
fined, the countenance void of expression; the voice weak, in- 
distinct ; the heart-beat scarcely perceptible. Bathed in cam- 
phor-vinegar. Dead in three hours. Post-mortem showed 
great venous engorgement of the membranes of the brain, and 
choroid plexus. The right heart and large vessels filled with 
black fluid blood. The lining of the oesophagus discolored; 
the papillae of the tongue swollen. Mucous membrane of sto- 
117 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mach corroded, especially in the large curvature; particles of 
the poison had become imbedded in the coats of the stomach 
and produced numerous small ulcers, with raised edges, tume- 
faction and sponginess of the membrane, each ulcer with a 
particle of the poison lodged in its centre. The stomach and 
duodenum each contained a brownish turbid fluid, full of pre- 
cipitate; the duodenum contained besides, larger pieces of the 
metallic oxide. The anterior surface of the stomach, the omen- 
tum, and the intestines were inflamed.—(Buchner’s Report, 2 R. 
Bd. 3.) 
6. Dr. Eiselt who states that he made experiments on him- 
self during the early part of his practice, with several of the 
most violent remedies, took, while observing a strict dietetic 
regimen, one-sixth, one-half, to one grain of precipitate morn- 
ing aud evening, without feeling the slightest effects. Thus 
emboldened, he took two grains morning and evening; but al- 
ready the first night, he was attacked by severe colic and con- 
stant tenesmus, which grew worse and worse, spreading through 
the whole intestinal tract, causing, particularly in the anus, a 
sensation as if a red-hot iron was moving up and down in it. 
There was the most violent tenesmus; but a small quantity of 
blood passed, with violent cutting and burning pains. When 
nausea and burning in stomach set in, he took a Mist. Oleos. 
cum Ag. Lauroc. cohih., discontinued the precipitate, and was 
wTell in two days. After waiting another day, he commenced 
to take three grains morning and evening, increasing grain by 
grain up to six grains twice daily. There followed a peculiar 
itching in the whole lining of the buccal cavity, without sali- 
vation or toothache; offensive smelling breath, and soon after 
burning pain on.the inner mucous membrane of the lips, which 
were much swollen. The prover stepped to the mirror and saw 
mercurial ulcers in perfection, lie discontinued the experiment, 
rinsed the mouth with Inf. Salv., and in a few days all had disap- 
peared. Before the ulcers appeared, he had taken altogether, 
more than thirty-four grains of precipitate. While making 
the proving he noticed marked improvement in his chronic in- 
flammation of the Meibomian glands, of several years stand- 
118 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing; in fact, it quite disappeared during the proving. {Med. 
Jahrbacher des K.K. (Esterr. Staates, Neueste Folge, 5 B., 1833.) 
7. A hale man of fifty, received, through carelessness of an 
assistant druggist, Merc, prsecip. rub. gr. i tal. dos XXI, three 
a day, instead of one-twelfth grain p. d., which was not noticed 
until the twelfth powder. Bloody stools, nausea, violent colic, 
followed by copious salivation and mercurial ulcers. The inflam- 
matory symptoms were speedily checked; the salivation ran its 
usual course. (.Neue Zeitschrift filr Geburts Kunde, 17 B, 1845.) 
8. A woman, with the intention of committing suicide, took 
two scruples Preecip. rub. In half an hour, extreme stomach 
pains and nausea. Received an emetic consisting of Ipecacu- 
anha, linseed oil and milk. Violent vomiting followed, the 
patient recovered under suitable diet in a few days; salivation 
was slight. (Canstatt’s Jahresbericht, 1860, aus Lancet, II, Nov.,, 
1859.) 
9. A woman swallowed over two drachms red precipitate. 
When Prince saw the patient, three hours after the poisoning, 
she had violent colic and nausea. After an emetic, continued 
vomiting for twenty-four hours, finally of blood; after twenty- 
four hours, bloody stools and severe cramps in the abdomen, 
for which was prescribed an effervescing mixture, and ammo- 
nia and Opium. On the third day, severe mercurial stomatitis 
with salivation. Later, after the treatment, in consequence of 
loss of substance and cicatricial contraction, there was complete 
closure of the jaws, which was only partly improved by grad- 
ual dilatation. The gums around the front teeth were completely 
destroyed; but in five months, there was visible,a kind of new 
growth in their place, and the patient could swallow the arti- 
cles of nourishment; although chewing remained out of the 
question, and the mercurial odor and oedema of the face con- 
tinued. {Ib.dem.) 
General Effects of Red Precipitate. 
As far as we can judge from the few poisoning cases, the pre- 
cipitate acts similarly to the sublimate. Twitching of the limbs 
occurs more frequently than with other mercurials. The con- 
junctiva is more frequently affected than by other mercurial 
119 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
preparations; likewise ulcers in the mouth appear sooner; where- 
as those produced by calomel spread more, and attack the pos- 
terior nares by preference. Symptoms of the urinary organs 
we do not find reported; the action on the skin is more promi- 
nent in calomel, than in the other mercuries. 
Cyanide of Mercury. 
Experiments on Animals. 
1. A small bitch received seven grains of Mercury cyanide, 
dissolved in distilled water. In five minutes, retching, cramps, 
alternating with weakness; respiration and heart’s action at 
first accelerated, then extraordinarily slow. Death in ten 
minutes. 
2. Ten grains of cyanide of mercury put in the stomach of 
another dog, caused the same symptoms in one minute and 
death in seven minutes. 
3. About three grains were injected into the connective tis- 
sue of the thigh of a dog. In three minutes, retching and 
spasms, broken from time to time by fits of weakness lasting 
three quarters of an hour. The animal then remained weak with 
tottering gait; the vomiting stopped. In four hours all symp- 
toms disappeared. 
4. Five grains were injected into the connective tissue of 
of another dog’s thigh; the same symptoms appeared in two 
minutes and death followed in fifteen. 
5. Repetition of the foregoing experiments with twelve 
grains. Death occurred in nine minutes with same symptoms. 
6. About three-fifths of a grain was injected into the jugular 
vein of a young dog; he immediately fell on his side; slight 
spasms, lasting but several seconds; very slow respiration, heart 
beats thirty-two to the minute. Respiration and circulation 
grew slower and slower, and the animal died without spasms 
in five minutes. 
The post-mortem changes were of no decided character. In 
the cerebro-spinal system, no abnormality; the lungs contained 
little blood and crepitated; the heart relaxed, and its chambers 
contained considerable blood, which was partly fluid. In the 
dog killed by injection in the jugular vein, the blood formed 
120 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
very elastic, firm, and fibrous coagula in the vena cava as- 
cendens, and the iliac veins. In the other animals the blood in 
the vessels was mostly fluid. The color of the mucous mem- 
brane of the stomach, was quite varied; in two cases, there 
were dark red spots, formed by the union of many small ves- 
sels. The stomachs of both animals contained food partly di- 
gested; digestion may have had something to do with the 
discoloration. The same color, somewhat less marked, was 
found in a dog which received twelve grains after fasting 
thirty-six hours. The same appearance of the mucous mem- 
brane of the stomach and intestines was seen in a dog killed 
by injection in the connective tissue of the thigh. This 
dog’s stomach was partly filled with food. Another dog, 
killed in the same way, had eaten nothing for forty hours; the 
mucous membrane of stomach and intestines was whitish; he 
had vomited several times. The appearance of the mucous 
membrane varying so much, the redness after sudden death 
cannot be considered a constant characteristic. In all these 
animals, the stomach was greatly contracted, except in the one 
killed in ten minutes by injection in the jugular vein. In 
all, without exception, the liver was filled with copious fluid 
blood. 
Symptoms of Poisoning in Man. 
1. A strong healthy man, was all the time taciturn and irri- 
table, without any cause for being sad. lie preferred solitude 
to amusement, and several times spoke of being weary of life. 
In April, 1823, after futile attempts to take a preparation of 
prussic acid, he swallowed six-and-a-half grains of cyanide of 
mercury. Immediately, vomiting mixed with blood ensued, 
frequent and copious stools, and terrible pains in the whole ab- 
domen. The patient drank mucilaginous drinks. After four 
days, Dr. Kapeler was called. The patient’s face was flushed, 
the eyes fixed, and the conjunctiva injected. lie confessed, 
at last, to having poisoned himself in the above mentioned 
way. The exterior of the body showed nothing remarkable, 
except a dark brown discoloration of the scrotum and semi- 
erected penis. Terrible headache, strong heart-beat, rather 
121 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
slow, but full; hard and regular pulse; free respiration; slight 
cough; normal resonance of the chest. Lips, tongue, and in- 
ner surface of cheeks covered with numerous ulcers; salivary 
glands swollen; ptyalism; swallowing easy. Disgust, contin- 
ued nausea, and frequent vomiting after drinking; great thirst. 
Abdomen soft, not sensitive to pressure; frequent urging to 
stool, with tenesmus; stools infrequent and mixed with blood; 
suppressed urination. (Twenty leeches to the anus; veal-broth 
as a drink; injections of bran-water; boiled barley and honey 
for gargling.) On the following day, the condition was the 
same. (Thirty leeches and poultices to the abdomen.) On the 
sixth day none of the symptoms had abated; the condition of 
the mouth was the same; vomiting, tenesmus, and suppression 
of urine continued; the abdomen soft, not painful on pressure; 
the heart-beats violent and strong; the pulse unchanged (albu- 
men and water, warm bath); restless, sleepless nights; when 
in the bath, the anxiety ceases. (Bled nine ounces.) On the 
seventh day, the heart-beat not so strong; pulse a little weaker, 
salivation less profuse; the condition of mouth and other symp- 
toms unchanged. (Thirty leeches.) By day, the patient is 
quiet, and only complains of pain in the mouth; slight con- 
vulsions in the extremities. On the eighth day, general weak- 
ness, frequent fainting, somnolency, vomiting frequently, sup- 
pression of urine; the semi-erected state of the penis also 
continues, and the purplish hue. In the evening, slow pulse, 
cold extremities, hiccough, retention of urine. On the ninth 
day, condition the same. Extraordinary weakness, and faint- 
ing attacks. Continued hiccough. At 2:30 died in a fainting 
attack. Post-mortem examination twenty hours after death. 
External condition: Well developed body, dull pallor of the 
skin, upper and lower extremities rigid and contracted 
so the body only rests upon the back; the muscles red, very 
large, and covered with a thick layer of fat. Respiratory or- 
gans, larynx, trachea and bronchia, contain much whitish 
phlegm, a part of which flowed from the nose; the pleural cav- 
ities contained several grammes of pinkish serum; the lungs 
somewhat pink, healthy, and crepitating; wherever a cut is 
made, much serum flows out. Circulatory system: On making 
122 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
a cut into the skin, muscles, or bloodvessels, pale and very fluid 
blood flows out. The inferior vena cava is filled with a very 
large, elastic, and tough coagulum; the heart imbedded in fat 
appears a little larger than normal, without having hypertro- 
phied walls; but little blood in both ventricles; fibrous coagu- 
lations in the right auricle. 
Digestive organs: Peculiar stinking odor from the mouth. 
Inner surface of cheeks and the gums are covered with ulcers, 
having a grayish coating; the tongue thicker than normal, ul- 
cerated on its edges, and covered with a very thick dry coat- 
ing, hard to remove. The pharynx is normal; in the middle 
of the oesophagus an ecchymosed pink spot the size of a thaler. 
The peritoneal cavity contains some yellowish serum. The 
stomach is of moderate size, and externally normal; the intes- 
tines distended by gas. The mucous membrane of the stom- 
ach is bluish red in the small curvature; in the cardiac portion 
and large curvature dark red, exceedingly tumefied, and covered 
with ramifications of blood-vessels. In the duodenum and 
jejunum, it is very much tumefied, dark red, in some spots quite 
black, and in others gangrenous. The redness the same in the 
ccecum; pale in the ascending colon, more md in the transverse 
colon, less in the descending colon, and again darker in the rec- 
tum. The mucous membrane throughout the intestines is 
swollen, and in some portions, particularly in the small intes- 
tines, granulated. In all places where the membrane is raised 
in this manner, there is marked infiltration of serum into the 
submucous connective tissue. The pancreas is very large, hard, 
dry, easily torn, and creaks under the scalpel. The liver is 
enlarged, but the substance shows very little change. The gall- 
bladder contains a blackish-green, stringy, pitchy fluid. The 
spleen is small, otherwise normal. 
Uropoetic organs: The right kidney is a third larger than 
normal, its substance is pale; the left is a little smaller and 
less pale than the right. The bladder is small, contracted, con- 
taining a very small quantity of milky urine. The penis semi- 
erected, and like the scrotum, of a purplish hue. The skull 
and spinal column were not opened. Neither in the blood nor 
123 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
in the excrements could Mercury be found chemically. (Orfila, 
Toxicologic.) 
2. A student took at 10 p.m., on December 3d, with the in- 
tent to kill himself (and after drinking three glasses of beer), 
two grains of cyanide of mercury in a fourth of another glass, 
lie had not taken solid food for seven or eight hours. Imme- 
diately, nausea, followed by vomiting In about ten minutes, 
continuous vomiting was added, violent urging to stool, soon 
followed by evacuations. Vomiting and diarrhoea now alter- 
nated until 10 a.m. During this time, he may have had thirty 
to forty attacks of vomiting and diarrhoea. To these symptoms 
were added bitter taste, violent colic, increased with every 
evacuation; vertigo, headache, and great chilliness. 
December 4th, 11 a.m.—The patient’s face cyanotic; pupils 
widely dilated; extremities cold; pulse weak, 130 per minute ; 
tongue clean ; abdomen not distended, and not painful to the 
touch. Lungs and heart unaffected, only the heart’s impulse 
and sounds very weak. Urine not passed with the stools. 
Prescription : milk, mucilaginous drinks, cold applications to 
the head. In the evening, the vomiting had completely stop- 
ped. There were two thin evacuations, tinged with blood ; 
these were without urination. Pulse 132, small; cyanosis 
somewhat less. 
December 5th, a.m.—Patient slept all night. On waking, 
violent headache; increased nausea and thirst; difficulty in 
swallowing; entire lining of the fauces highly inflamed ; evac- 
uations had ceased ; bladder empty. Pulse 102, irregular; pu- 
pils somewhat more contracted: Same prescription. Patient 
slept much during the evening ; had no evacuation. Pulse 92. 
December 6th, a m.—Had a good sleep; pulse 90; tongue 
thickly coated, but no vomiting and evacuations ; otherwise 
the same. 
December 7th, a.m.—In the night, vomited twenty or thirty 
times, with increased bitter taste. The matter vomited, con- 
sisted of a whitish, turbid, slimy mass, of alkaline reaction, 
without any marked odor. Tongue moist and coated ; no evac- 
uation ; bladder empty. Pulse 88 ; profuse nose-bleed. Head- 
ache and vertigo continued. Ice pill and an injection. After 
124 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the first spoonful of the medicine, vomiting again; the inject- 
ion was followed by two dark fcecal evacuations slightly tinged 
with blood ; no urine. Pulse 90. Slight nose-bleed, otherwise 
the same. 
December 8th, a.m.—In the night, violent vomiting twice, of 
considerable dark blood, a dark fcecal stool, slight thirst, no 
appetite; tongue thickly coated ; formation of vesicles on the 
left border of the tongue, also on the left side of the soft 
palate; swallowing remains difficult; pulse 90, and regular; 
but little nose-bleed ; no urine, no sweats. There was no urin- 
ation up to the 10th, when, during an attack of nose-bleed, 
there was urging to urinate, and the urine passed in bed. 
The urine, which was collected on the 11th, had an acid re- 
action; the quantitjr was too small to take the specific gravity. 
Microscopical examination showed numerous straight and 
twisted tubuli, covered with finely grained detritus; no blood 
corpuscles. A chemical analysis disclosed much albumen. Once 
or twice a day, attacks of nose-bleed, alternating with vomit- 
ing, up to the 17th. Also a daily increase of urine. On the 
18th, no nose-bleed, and no more albumen or tubuli in the urine, 
which was now copious. Pulse 54 ; tongue still thickly coated. 
On the 20th and 21st, no nose-bleed; the tongue, for the first 
time, moist and clean; taste and appetite improved; pulse 88, 
intermitting. On the 22d, no more vomiting, but also no evac- 
uation in spite of three injections. Same condition on the 
23d. Another injection on the 24th, brought a copious nor- 
mal evacuation. Soup and gruel were well received. On the 
25th, decidedly convalescent, with a remaining tendency to 
constipation for several days. The last of December, full diet, 
remains well, without any after effects. (Monatsblalt, zii 70 B. 
d. AUg. Horn. Zeit’g.) 
3. Leon Simon reports the following case: Mr. II., 19 years 
old, architect, weakly, nervous constitution, several hours after 
eating a hearty dinner, took a glass of sugar-water in which 
was put by mistake, a teaspoonful of a saturated solution of 
cyanide of mercury. A short time after taking the poison, 
the patient experienced a general feeling of coldness, soon fol- 
lowed by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhceic evacuations with 
125 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
violent colic. During the evacuation a feeling of general pros- 
tration soon amounting to a fainting fit, in which he fell to the 
floor, where he lay for an indefinite length of time in an un- 
conscious state; he was alone in his room and received no aid. 
After consciousness had returned, he crawled into hed, where 
he was found next morning—seven hours after taking the poi- 
son. Simon saw him about 10 o’clock a.m., eleven hours after 
swallowing the cyanide of mercury. Not knowing the cause 
of the attack, he received an infusion of tea, which was soon 
after vomited up. At first sight, the young man seemed to be 
suffering from an attack of cholera morbus ; his face was pale, 
somewhat bluish, and distorted, the eyes sunken, skin icy-cold, 
pulse small, 70 to 76. Tongue pale, violent thirst, but what he 
drank was immediately vomited ; a disagreeable astringent 
taste in the mouth. He had no evacuation and had not urin- 
ated for two hours. The abdomen was not tympanitic, nor 
particularly sensitive to pressure. Simon thought that the re- 
peated evacuations had carried the poison from the intestinal 
canal, and prescribed neither emetics nor chemical antidotes, 
hut gave the patient llepar sulph., third dil., with alternate 
drinks of albuminated water. Until 6 p.m. the patient vomited 
twice, not very copiously, but with much straining; had six fluid, 
offensive-smelling passages. The skin had become warm again, 
the pulse was quicker and stronger—90 beats. The tongue con- 
tinued pale, with a yellowish coating on the back part. Scrap- 
ing in the oesophagus; difficult swallowing; the pharynx looked 
red and arborescent. Violent thirst, burning in the stomach ; 
epigastrium and abdomen painful to pressure. The night was 
spent sleeplessly. The patient was much excited and talked 
without cessation. He got angry with his watchers and talked 
at random in his rage. He drank much, vomited six times, 
and had eight stinking, green, slimy stools; no urine passed. 
Next morning the condition was the same as the evening before. 
Skin hot, somewhat moist; headache, vertigo, when sitting up ; 
ringing in ears. Hepar sulph. continued. Next day the con- 
dition was improved ; he vomited but once, and had three fluid 
passages, less painful; passed urine once ; sleeplessness and ex- 
citability the same; extremely violent headache. Vertigo 
126 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and ringing in ears on sitting up. Great weakness. Bella- 
donna12. 
March 15th.—Sleeplessness and headache the same in the 
night, but not so furibund ; less thirst; no more vomiting ; 
very slimy, diarrhceic stools, with some tenesmus. Pulse in- 
creased ; skin moderately warm ; less vertigo; mucous mem- 
brane of mouth affected, gums swollen, covered with a white 
layer, with a violet-colored margin ; tongue swollen ; the entire 
mucous membrane of the mouth and fauces red and arbores- 
cent: Nitric acid6. 
March 16th.—General condition the same ; fever in the night, 
with sleeplessness and violent headache ; no vomiting, no evac- 
uation ; condition of the mouth somewhat worse. A white, 
transparent layer, resembling soft, broad, superficial syphilitic 
condylomata, has formed on the palatine arches and tonsils, 
further, there was present on the inner surface of the right 
cheek, a round ulcer'with grayish base, sharply defined edges, 
surrounded by a bright red border. Nitric acid continued. 
March 17th and 18th.—Condition the same, except that the 
ulcer in the mouth had spread, and was covered with a layer 
of grayish exudation; great thirst, cannot take warm drinks 
or meat-broth. The latter seemed to him too salt. Constipa- 
tion, and some pain in the belly. The latter is not distended, 
and not very sensitive to pressure; urine clear, but scanty ; on 
the 17th the patient was left without medicine ; on the 18th 
and 19th, he received Sulphur18. He had continuous hiccough 
for twenty four hours, this was finally relieved by Nux 
vomica. 
March 20th.—Condition of mouth improved. The ulcerated 
surface clean, and is beginning to cicatrize; gums less swollen, 
less red, and the white coating has disappeared. Less thirst, 
meat-broth and light soups well received. Constipation ; urine 
more copious; the nights are more quiet; still, the patient has 
not his natural sleep. The neuralgic headache still continues 
during the first part of the night. Pulse small and weak, 70 to 
75 beats. The patient could rise yesterday, without being too 
much fatigued thereby. On the 21st of March, improvement 
seemed likely to be permanent; but on the 22d, there was a 
127 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sudden return of watery evacuations, which were preceded by 
violent colic; no urination; the tongue is again covered with 
a gray coating; the patient has a very disagreeable metallic 
taste, a return of the thirst, aversion to food, nausea; pulse 
accelerated but weak; skin moist and cold, and general pros- 
tration. Aconite12. 
March 23d.—Symptoms in mouth better; increased diar- 
rhoea; since yesterday, twelve blackish, fluid, very fetid stools, 
and violent colic; urine scanty and dark. Extreme weakness, 
pale face, icy-cold skin; small, thread-like pulse, 100 beats ; 
thirst moderate; aversion to food. Cinchona8. » 
March 24th.—Diarrhoea the same; patient very weak; pulse 
small; skin moist and icy-cold. Hippocratic face ; could not 
sleep, on account of frequent evacuations. Carbo veg.24. 
March 25th.—But eight evacuations during the past twenty- 
four hours. They were olark; one of them contained some 
blood. Pulse stronger, 100 beats; skin not so cold, and coun- 
tenance more natural; less thirst; tongue retains its gray coat- 
ing. Tongue less inflamed but swollen. Mucous membrane of 
mouth and pharynx quite clean. Carbo veg.30. 
March 26th and 27th.—Considerable improvement. Diar- 
rhoea checked, and strength returning. Patient can remain up 
almost an hour; some return of appetite, patient can take soup; 
when sitting, he complains of pain in the rectum and about 
the anus. 
March 29th.—Ho more diarrhoea, but the pains in the rec- 
tum are becoming unbearable. The parts about the anus are 
swollen, sensitive,and somewhat red; no stool, but some black 
blood is expelled when making the effort. Belladonna12. 
March 30th.—All symptoms worse; six profuse evacuations 
of blood; the patient is again extremely weak; the pains in 
the anus continuing very severe; around the anus small hsem- 
orrhoidal tumors, and wart-like elevations on the mucous 
membrane. Rhus tox.18. 
March 31st, April 1st and 2d.—The bloody passages have 
ceased; besides the above mentioned symptoms, there is found 
about the anus a grayish, diphtheritic coating, quite similar 
to that on the inner cheeks; also erosions on the mucous mem- 
128 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
brane; in short, the condition of the anus was similar to the 
pathological affection styled ulcerating broad condylomata. 
Merc, solub.18. 
April 3d.—Aggravation of pain in the rectum; discharge 
from the ulcers, and disappearance of the diphtheritic coating; 
ichorous discharge from the rectum diffusing a characteristic 
gangrenous smell, and leaving broad, blackish stains on the 
sheets. Lachesis24. 
April 4th.—Less pain, and much less gangrenous odor; dis- 
charge from the anus still profuse, but more pus-like. Since 
yesterday morning, some pain in calf of left leg ; on examina- 
tion it was found that the veins had formed two hard cords, 
which united a little below the bend of the knee; the slightest 
touch is very painful. Lachesis12. 
April 5th, 6th, and 7th.—Improvement daily; the discharge 
from the'anus growing less and less; it is of a serous nature, 
and has scarcely any odor. Yesterday the patient had a pain- 
ful passage, but the sensitiveness has much decreased. lie can 
now sit on an air-cushion. The leg is much in the same con- 
dition, and begins to swell as soon as he is on his feet. 
April 10th.—The discharge is nearly stopped; the parts 
around the anus are somewhat red, but there is no swelling nor 
any diphtheritic coating; the patient remains up for several 
hours each day ; for two days past, he has been able to eat and 
digest meat. DailjT, one or two mushy stools, slightly painful. 
The leg is less painful, but continues somewhat swollen. No 
medicine. 
April 12th.—Condition the same as two days ago. Lachesis30. 
April 14th.—Leg is less painful, the venous cords having 
grown much smaller; rectum and anus almost well. Lache- 
sis30. 
April 18th.—Improvement continuous. 
April 28th.—Leg continues somewhat painful; otherwise 
well. Lachesis200. Eight days after, the patient visited Simon. 
His condition was improved in every way. He could walk 
more than an hour without much fatigue. 
May 14th.—Simon saw the patient for the last time ; he had 
129 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
resumed his usual duties.— (Bulletin de la Soc. Medical Ilomoe., 
October, 1863.) 
General Effects of Cyanide of Mercury. 
Although the action of mercury in this preparation is very 
similar to that of sublimate and red precipitate; inasmuch as 
we find amongst its effects the characteristic throat symptoms, 
the vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, tenesmus, retention of urine, 
etc., still the action of prussic acid is made manifest in the 
fainting, violent convulsions, loud screaming (in animals ac- 
cording to Lebethy), spasm of the respiratory muscles, cyanosis, 
great prostration, staggering, and paralysis of the extremities. 
Lebethy attributes the latter symptoms to a decomposition of 
the preparation, brought about by the action of the gastric 
juice, and liberation of prussic acid. 
Mercurius Bi-jodatus. 
In spite of diligent search for poisoning cases from this prep- 
aration, none could be found. We have, however, to report a 
very interesting experiment by Dr. Andrien. lie gave to seven 
persons five, ten, to fifteen centigrammes of the third trit. and 
observed, in from eight to fourteen days, in all, save one, a skin 
affection resembling a syphilitic nodular eruption ; particularly 
a kind of tuberculous nodule and indurated pustule; also, 
small ulcers on different parts, particularly on the thighs and 
buttocks, as well as on the face. In the case of a woman there 
followed also, a weak feeling in the stomach, and great weak- 
ness in the limbs. After an interval of two weeks, in which 
she was free from these symptoms, there appeared great pres- 
sure in the hypogastrium ; sensation as if .a vaginal prolapsus 
would occur, followed by a real uterine prolapsus. Uterus con- 
gested and enlarged; neuralgic pains in the region of the kid- 
neys. Twelve days after stopping the proving, the symptoms 
disappeared, and the uterus had nearly returned to its normal 
position. 
lleeseberg studied the effect of the iodide of mercury, ap- 
plied externally to his own body. The first three ounces, used 
as an inunction, produced but slight inflammation of the skin, 
130 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
accompanied, however, by very violent neuralgic and gnaw- 
ing pains. On the fifth day of application, there were seen on 
the part to which the inunction had been applied, small cracks 
running in every possible direction ; and the skin, with a gray 
discoloration, had a wrinkled appearance. When desquama- 
tion commenced, the pains became so unbearable that the 
ointment had to be discontinued. Afterwards desquamation 
progressed favorably; the pains disappeared, and in eight days 
every trace of the application of the drug was gone.—(Canstatt’s 
Jahresbrricht far 1847.) 
Cinnabar. 
Experiments on Animals. 
1. From two to four grammes of powdered cinnabar, applied 
to the thigh of a dog, caused death in from three to four days; 
the size of the dose not seeming to have any influence on the 
rapidity with which death follows. 
The following appearances are found after death: The mu- 
cous membrane of the stomach, in some parts, is pale—even 
blackish. In other parts the folds are yellow,surrounded with 
a whitish border. In other cases there are found spots similar 
to gangrenous ulcers, the bases of which are covered with clot- 
ted blood. In the small intestines no change is observed. In 
the rectum, there are occasionally found black streaks. The 
lungs, particularly the left lobe, are sometimes filled with black 
blood. Brain and heart remain unchanged; the latter still 
beats, pretty regularly, fifteen minutes after death. 
2. In the body of a dog, killed by two drachms of powdered 
cinnabar introduced into the stomach, the heart was found nor- 
mal, but the pleura and lungs inflamed; the thoracic cavity 
contained sero-purulent exudation. Smith, from whom these 
experiments were quoted, believes this poison principally affects 
the lungs. 
As results of the so-called vapor cure, in which the patient 
is placed naked to his neck, in a box filled with vapors, gener- 
ated by placing cinnabar on a heated plate or hot coals; there 
Symptoms of Poisoning from Man. 
131 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
were frequently observed, serious nervous attacks, twitchings, 
chronic trembling of the limbs, apoplexy, nose-bleed, mercu- 
rial eruptions, and complete emaciation. The experiments of 
Andrien, with from ten to fifteen centigrammes of the third 
dec. trituration, produced affections of the skin in four persons. 
None of them, however, assumed a tuberculous form, but eri- 
sipelatous inflammation, eczema, violent itchings, even where 
there were no signs of an eruption Buffini cites, as symptoms 
following the use of cinnabar vapors: Pain in the gums and 
fauces, salivation, ebul ition, anxiety, convulsions, tremor, fever, 
and consumption. 
A sanguine, active man, set. 68, wore for several months, a 
lower set of artificial teeth, on a vulcanized rubber plate, col- 
ored with cinnabar. After having for seven months symptoms 
of cinnabar poisoning, without having found the cause of his 
disease, he had also made for him an upper set of the same 
material, and used both five months longer before its relation 
to his complaint was discovered. The symptoms are reported 
in the order in which he gave them: 
“I suddenly,” says he, “found myself unable to attend to 
my usual duties, on account of fatigue. When making extra- 
ordinary mental or physical exertion, the exhaustion which 
followed was so extreme that I had to lie down. At the same 
time I was troubled with palpitation, worse when lying on the 
left side or with the head low. Violent pain in the head from 
front to back, and down the spinal cord to a little below 
the shoulder blades. If the exertion was continued, there fol- 
lowed nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe pain in the right 
hypochondrium. These symptoms varied in intensity. Soon 
after using the complete set, there followed violent aggravation 
of all the symptoms; burning pain and soreness in the liver; 
at times, suppression of bile; total loss of appetite ; white coat- 
ing on the tongue ; bitter metallic taste; high fever at night. 
Finally, he had to take to his bed for six weeks. For three 
weeks of this period, there was very high fever, followed by 
copious, sticky, stinking sweat, as thick as mucus, lasting 
twenty-four hours. Afterwards, the fever abated for a week, 
when the same symptoms recurred in a more violent form. 
132 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Finally, when the patient had worn the entire plate for five 
months, the case was very carefully re-examined, and the follow- 
ing combination of symptoms found: Aversion to mental occu- 
pation; feeling as from over-exertion of the mind. Cannot 
follow one idea without great exertion and exhausting fatigue; 
cannot collect his thoughts; irritability; dissatisfied with him- 
self and every one else. Cannot sleep in the daytime; restless 
and sleepless at night, or else sleep with anxious dreams; heavi- 
ness and dulness in the head; can scarcely lift it from the pil- 
low. Occasionally, shooting pains through the head from out 
in front, and front to back. Feeling as of rush of blood to the 
head, with violent vertigo and great weakness, particularly in 
the morning. Vertigo and feeling of weakness in the head; 
frequently staggers when walking. Often feels as if he had 
taken cold; symptoms of coryza; running at the nose; throb- 
bing of the temples, and rush of blood to the head all day and 
all night. Rushing sound in the ears; deafness. Eyes red, 
and painful; feeling as of sand in them. Conjunctiva of the 
lower lid injected, and covered with small granulations. Sore 
mouth, white tongue; bitter, metallic, disgusting taste. Sore 
throat and pharynx; great irritation in the larynx. Frequent 
oedema of the epiglottis; frequent attacks of suffocation on swal- 
lowing; hoarseness and loss of voice for several weeks. Cough 
worse at night; expectoration at first clear, then opaque; after 
several weeks consisting of gray, pus-like, occasionally blood- 
streaked sputa, smelling very offensively in the morning. Pain 
beneath the sternum; pain in the heart, worse when lying on 
the left side; palpitation during frightful dreams; pulse 90 to 
100. Pain in upper right lung and in cardiac region, extend- 
ing into left arm, which often feels numb. Throbbing in hypo- 
chondria. Very severe pain, extending from the region of the 
short ribs to the right kidney and the left hypochondria; swell- 
ing and heat in the right hypochondria. Burning pain in the 
right lobe of the liver, with soreness and sensation of great 
heaviness there; these hepatic symptoms are very severe and 
continuous. Capricious appetite; loss of appetite; nausea with 
vomiting, about once a week ; the matter vomited is bitter 
and sour. Enlargement, pain, and soreness of the abdomen ; 
133 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
it feels distended, and he wants to loosen the clothes. Stool 
hard and copious, or sudden diarrhoea, consisting of white or 
dark passages. Urine frequent and increased in quantity, with 
sediment at first whitish ; later, reddish. Limbs and joints 
painful, especially the knees; hands and feet very cold each 
morning, and hot at night. Hot skin in the evening; heat at 
night in bed. Fetid sweat between the thighs at night; feel- 
ing of lameness in all the limbs, with great fatigue, particu- 
larly in the morning; feels too weak to stand, and all bodily 
and mental exertion is too much of an effort. The pains and 
fever are worse in the evening and in the cold; pains in the 
head and eyes, worse after sleep. The pains are generally re- 
lieved by continuous rest, warm bathing, galvanism, and heat; 
and aoforavated by cold.—(Ilirschel N. Z. f. Horn. op. Klinik 17 
[21], B. No. 16.) 
Action op Several Mercurial Preparations Used at the 
Same Time, or in Succession. 
A young, strong, healthy farmer, with traumatic inflamma- 
tion of the soft parts and the synovial membrane of the left 
knee-joint, and serous exudation, received three times daily one- 
twelfth grain of black oxide of mercury; and as often applied 
one drachm of mercurial ointment. After three grains of mer- 
cury and nearly an ounce of ointment had been used, after the 
wound had again opened and discharged a considerable amount 
of serum, with flakes of plastic lymph, inflammation, pain and 
swelling had almost disappeared, and the wound in the skin 
was fairly suppurating. At this time there appeared, in the 
course of twelve days, the iollowing symptoms of mercury: A 
bright red, somewhat elevated eruption broke out on the entire 
surface of the body. The whole left leg was covered with dark 
red erysipelatous eruptions. The skin was swollen and hot. 
The pressure of the Anger left no white spot. In several places 
about the knee, there were noticed, on the second or third day, 
larger and smaller vesicles, filled with yellowish serum, similar 
to those caused by a vesicatory. They were from the size of 
a hazel nut to that of a hen’s egg. In several cases, for instance 
on the calf, they were confluent, and formed a single blister as 
134 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
large as the hand. They nearly all broke; the smaller ones 
became covered with their yellow scales; the larger ones left 
an excoriated, bright red surface, discharging much serum. On 
the rest of the body, face, throat, chest, abdomen, neck, back, 
arms, and right leg, the eruption had the appearance of mea- 
sles; portions of it of nettle-rash; the latter, especially on the 
chest and inner surface of the upper arms, consisting of red, 
roundish, somewhat elevated spots. In this place there were 
also a number of vesicles no larger than the head of a pin, in- 
creasing to the size of a pea, all becoming covered by a thin 
crust. This mercurial exanthem did not itch, but burned and 
pained, especially at night, so that the patient could not sleep. 
The pain was aggravated by the touch; therefore, the parts on 
which he lay were particularly painful; he was worse from turn- 
ing in bed; even sitting up aggravated the pain. He could 
stretch neither leg, but kept them bent continually. Ophthal- 
mia; the conjunctiva of the ball and lids is inflamed, the lids 
are swollen; canthi sore and excoriated, with biting pain in 
them. The edges of the lids itch and pain ; after sleep, par- 
ticularly in the morning, they are agglutinated, and secrete 
much thick pus. The patient often cannot open them until he 
removes the dried and fluid secretion with warm water. Press- 
ing and itching in the eye. Photophobia, lachrymation, catar- 
rhal affections of the nose, with soreness of the nostrils, and 
upper lip, and discharge of thin, white mucus. The lips are 
much swollen, inflamed, and painful; excoriated on the inside. 
In some places, small ulcers. The tongue swollen and excor- 
iated, ulcerated in some places and covered with thick, yellow 
mucus towards the root. The patient finds it difficult to open 
his mouth, which is generally glued together after sleep and in 
the morning; speech is unintelligible; the lips frequently bleed, 
and are often covered with blackish crusts of dried blood. At 
times, when moving the lips and tongue in speaking, clear 
blood flows or spurts out from the mouth with the saliva, which 
forms continually. The saliva has a yellowish-reddish appear- 
ance; gums swollen; the pharynx swollen, dry, and painful; 
pain in swallowing; the cheeks somewhat swollen; the parotid 
and sub-maxillary glands also enlarged and painful. The erup- 
135 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tion decreased, and the skin peeled off with dry, yellowish 
scales as in scarlatina. The largest pieces came from the left 
leg and hands; the patient felt neuralgic pains in all the limbs. 
Not until the third week, had all the symptoms completely 
disappeared. 
2. A man set. 34, subject, from childhood, to swollen glands, 
had a small bubo, occasioned by the pressure of a musical in- 
strument, and frequent colds; it was in the left side, and had 
been painful for four months. As the patient had an attack of 
gonorrhoea,eight years ago, his physician prescribed a mercurial 
ointment, and calomel internally, a dose every evening. The 
patient continued his usual mode of living while under treat- 
ment. The first days, he had fluid evacuations; soon after, the 
sub-lingual, maxillary, and parotid glands began to swell. Then 
occurred inflammation and violent pains in the left leg, so that 
he could scarcely walk. Salivation forced him to stay at home 
three weeks. Continuation of the inunction and sixteen mer- 
curial powders. In a week, gradual decrease in salivation from 
using Aqua laxat.. Vien. As soon as the patient resumed his 
vocation out of the house, there was increased angina with 
ulcers in the fauces and gums; coryza; violent earache and 
foetid breath. Patient was found,by Goldbrandt, with violent 
pains in the limbs, particularly in the joints of the right arm, 
which disappeared in bed, and a hard tumor above the clavicle. 
There was daily increasing emaciation; anorexia; dysphagia, 
from ulcers in the mouth and fauces; exacerbations of fever, 
tormenting angina, and terrible earache. Patient fully re- 
covered.—(Ada Beg. Sociel. Med. Ilav., 4 B., 1792.) 
3. Colson observed mercurial tremor during anti-syphilitic 
treatment in six cases. In, three of them it disappeared on dis- 
continuing the mercury, but returned when the use of the drug 
was resumed, lasting for several weeks, in some cases forty 
days or two months. Case No. 6, had received two drachms 
of mercurial ointment daily, with the intention of producing 
salivation; all these cases occurred in women, and the tremor 
caused by taking mercurial preparations internally, continued 
two months after stopping the drug. 
4. A young man, of delicate body and weakly constitution, 
136 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
received mercury for syphilis, for a long time. After the symp- 
toms were somewhat relieved, he took cold baths. The second 
bath was followed by violent headache and fever. After a con- 
siderable time, when these symptoms were removed, he became 
idiotic, and remained so.—(Meterich a. a. 0.) 
5. A man, aet. GO, strong and active, took mercurial treatment 
for syphilis. He took cold on a winter night, had violent fever, 
and fell into a soporous condition ; these symptoms were soon 
removed, but shortly he became a hopeless maniac.—(Meterich 
a. a. 0.) 
6. A young gentleman of delicate constitution and disposi- 
tion to scurvy, received an excessive quantity of mercury for 
syphilis. While under its influence, he fell from his horse and 
sprained his foot, which he bathed in cold water. He had 
done this but a few times, when general prostration, great anx- 
iety, and restlessness appeared, followed by general confusion 
of ideas, so that he uttered words without order or connection. 
Ilis consciousness returned, but there remained a slowness in 
answering questions.—[Meterich a. a. 0.) 
7. A laborer, aet. 36, received mercury for one month, for 
rheumatism and catarrh, supposed his physician to be of 
syphilitic origin. This treatment was followed by salivation. 
A month af er, the man had violent tearing pains in the tibia, 
and in the face, proceeding from the teeth, extending over the 
parietal and frontal bones. His health was restored.—(Froreip's, 
neue Notizen, 1849.) 
8. A woman with uterine disease, took thirty-seven grains of 
calomel, and applied, externally, five ounces of mercurial oint- 
ment. Salivation, as well as the mercurial scurvy of the mu- 
cous membrane of the fauces and mouth, with erosions on the 
tongue and mucous membrane of the mouth, lasting five weeks. 
Patient was anaemic, had continuous fever, with strong exacer- 
bations in the evening. Such night-sweats that she had to 
change her clothing repeatedly. Extreme sensitiveness to the 
slightest breath of air. Teeth and hair unaffected. Loss of 
appetite; slimy, bitter taste; liver very sensitive to pressure; 
stomach slightly so; meteoristic distention of abdomen, sound- 
ing tympanitic all over; sensitive to the percussing finger; 
137 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
much rumbling of wind, which oftener found vent above than 
below. Great thirst; pale,moist skin; small accelerated pulse, 
102 to 115; long lasting constipation, with ineffectual urging 
to stool. Nux vom. continued eight days, was followed by im- 
provement, but there appeared violent attacks of nausea, retch- 
ing, and vomiting of bile and mucus, mixed with epithelial 
scrapings, beginning in the evening and lasting half the night, 
returning every other day for three weeks. The nervous sys- 
tem received a great shock. Three days after, the catarrh left 
the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum; it ap- 
peared in the large intestines, and assumed a croupous form. 
Distention and sensitiveness of the abdomen, in the region of 
the colon, increased; and, particularly at night, three or four 
brownish fluid stools, mixed with epithelial scrapings, preceded 
by borborygmus, colicky pains, burning in the rectum, with ten- 
esmus. After the diarrhoea had lasted four days, it stopped, 
and at night was followed by long-lasting tenesmus, ending in 
evacuations of enormous masses of variously shaped exudations 
of mucous membrane, some the size of a marmot-skin ; gradu- 
ally the stools became better formed, but the trouble lasted 
fully five weeks, although the fever had long before disappeared. 
(.Allgemevne Horn. Zeituvg.) 
9. A boy, ret. 4 years, suffering with acute hydrocephalus, 
complicated with helminthiasis, for which he received one 
drachm of calomel and two ounces of mercurial ointment. In 
ten days, gangrenous affection of the mouth, with insufferably 
foetid odor, accompanied by considerable swelling of the right 
cheek and submaxillary region. The hard palate, and the 
inner surface of the right cheek, were black; the tongue almost 
immovable; the right half of it swollen; slight spasms ended 
the boy’s life.—(CanstatCs Jahresbericht, fur 1845.) 
Hom(eopathic Treatment of the Effects of Mercury Ac- 
cording to Buchner, Jahr, and Quin. 
In acute poisoning cases with sublimate, Merc, ruber, Merc, 
cyanide, Calomel, etc., among all prescribed remedies, drinks 
prepared of albumen, dissolved in water, did the best service. 
Copious drinks of water, if not vomited, facilitate the elim- 
138 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ination of the poison through the kidneys. For secondary 
symptoms, Jahr suggests Kali hyd. in large doses, or Hepar 
sulph., 6th dil. As a palliative in acute cases, Quin suggests 
tincture of Camphor, and Opium, in low dilutions ; for special 
symptoms, the following remedies are recommended: For sali- 
vation and stomatitis, Iodium, Acid nitr., Dulcam., llepar; es- 
pecially with ulcers, Sulphur and Belladonna. In inflamma- 
tion of the fauces and tonsils: Belladonna, Hepar sulph., 
Lachesis, Dulcam., Jod., Kali, in substance, Acid nitr. In 
phthisis trachealis : Ledum pal. 
In affections of the lungs: Phosphor , Hepar. 
In mercurial fever: China. 
In mercurial vertigo: Dulcam. 
For great weakness: Nitr. spir. dulc., Dulcam. 
For violent unbearable pains: Rhus. tox. 
With liver affections: Aurum, Nux vom., Magnes. mur. 
For mercurial exanthems: Sulphur, Jod., Kali, Acid, nitr., 
Dulcam., Staphisagria. 
For ulcers: Hepar sulph., Carbo veg., Lachesis, Acid, nitr., 
Aurum, Sulphur, and Silicea. 
For buboes and glandular affections: Hepar sulph., Acid, nitr., 
Aurum, Dulcam., Silicea, Carbo veg. 
For dropsy: China, Dulcam., Helleb., Sulphur. 
For rheumatic pains: Dulcam., *Pulsat., Sulphur, Hepar. 
For the nightly bone pains: Mezerium, Aurum. 
For caries of the bones: Staphis., Aurum, Asafoet., Silicea 
and Mezerium. 
For nodes: Ledum, Staphis., Aurum, Asafoet., Ruta. 
For necrosis of the bones: Arnica, Staphis., Arsen., Aurum, 
Acid phosphor., Asafoet. 
The Therapeutical Uses of Mercury and its Preparations. 
In order to avoid repetition in the further course of this 
treatise, it seems appropriate to consider first the peculiarities 
of the fever induced by mercury, and the indications which it 
furnishes for the administration of the drug; and also, to ex- 
plain the relationship of the same to inflammation. 
139 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Dietrich discriminates an erethistic and an adynamic mer- 
curial fever. The erethistic he describes as follows: 
After taking large doses of mercury for some days, the pa- 
tients become restless, feel very weak and prostrated, and com- 
plain of dryness of the mouth, and a constrictive pain in the 
head, especially in the occiput. 
They lose their appetite, complain of rumbling in the bowels, 
foul eructations, and an inclination to vomit. 
The skin is hot and dry, and at evening flushes of heat ap- 
pear, which, proceeding from the abdomen, increase gradually 
into a regular chill. Thirst is but slightly increased, and empti- 
ness in the preecordial space is felt; sleep is disturbed and 
broken by fantastic dreams. The urine is flaming red, the 
pulse frequent, full and rapid, and the temperature of the body 
increased. 
On the succeeding days, all these manifestations are intensi- 
fied. The dryness of the skin increases to a burning sensation, 
there appear slight traces of stomatitis, and the pain in the 
occiput extends downwards upon the neck, even as far as the 
shoulder-blades, whereby the neck becomes stiff. The patients 
sigh, and show evidences of great oppression and anxiety. 
The flashes of heat alternate with creeping chills. The eyes 
now become reddened, and have a glassy and watery look. A 
constrictive pain arises in the forehead near the root of the 
nose, and the nose itself is dry and occluded; the cheeks, are 
hot, deglutition is rendered difficult from tension, burning and 
darting pains; the maxillary and parotid glands swell, and 
there are tearing, drawing sensations in the ears; the base of 
the tongue is coated with white mucus, and respiration becomes 
more and more anxious; the anxiety of the patient increases, 
and the pulse becomes very rapid and dicrotic. 
With these manifestations the fever reaches its height, and 
terminates in a marked crisis, either in a profuse flow of saliva, 
or heavy perspirations. The duration of the fever is from five 
to seven days; it rarely terminates on the fourth day. 
Adynamic Fever.—Several days after taking large doses of 
mercury the patients are in a state of excitement, which passes 
a. Fever. 
140 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
off, however, in a few hours, and is followed by the opposite 
condition. The patients have an earthy look, bluish circles 
about the eyes, which are expressionless and glassy. The head 
is very dizzy, the nose and other parts of the face are cold, as 
also the lower extremities. Towards evening, fleeting chills 
alternate with slight flushes of heat. With this, they feel 
very despondent, sigh very much, are exceedingly anxious, and 
complain greatly of pressure in the prsecordial space. Sleep is 
heavy and restless; the pulse small and frequent; the urine 
clear, and of a yellow color; slight constipation. 
This condition lasts several days, increasing somewhat in in- 
tensity. The patients are very apathetic and weak, lie a por- 
tion of the time in bed; the face is deathly pale; the whole 
body cold; but the pulse becomes somewhat fuller. Suddenly 
the whole condition changes. The patients are seized with 
nausea, vomiting occasionally a tough greenish substance; the 
oppression of the chest increases; breathing becomes heavier, 
the eyes wander restlessly, and the pulse intermits. At night, 
there is a low delirium, and during the day slight incoherency. 
Skin and tongue are dry, but the latter is not coated; not un- 
frequently passive or paralytic hemorrhages or bloody diarrhoea 
now occurs. Then the patients become very quiet for a short 
time; then suddenly jump up, spring out of bed, and hurriedly 
ask for something, which, when given them, they throw away; 
or they stammer incoherently, tumble down, and are dead. The 
autopsy reveals an exudation between the pia mater and the 
brain; the liver gorged with blood ; the gall-bladder tilled with 
dark bile; but otherwise no apparent pathological changes. 
These symptoms arise most frequentty after inunctions with 
mercurial ointment, and last from nine to fourteen days. Rarely 
does the fever terminate on the seventh day. If recovery en- 
sues, neuralgia frequently remains, which points towards exu- 
dation about the spinal cord. (?) 
Let us now consider the fever symptoms of the various mer- 
curial preparations. 
Mercurius vivus. — Shivering; attacks of alternating chilli- 
ness and heat; very great rise in the temperature of the body; 
unquenchable thirst; profuse perspiration; fever and night-sweats; 
141 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
an accelerated, full pulse; pulse 100, temperature 98° (36.7 C.); 
pulse rapid and small, irregular; pulse small and extremely 
rapid; pulse feeble, small, rapid, and thread-like; feeble pulse, 
but not accelerated; pulse accelerated; urine containing sedi- 
ment; high fever, with delirium, chiefly at night; great feverish- 
ness and drowsiness; high fever; hectic fever; red urine.—(From 
Toxicological and Clinical Cases.) 
Mercur. soluh. Hahnem. — Chilliness in the open air; chills 
creeping over the entire body every day without fever or thirst; 
constant cold hands and feet; coldness, chilliness and shiver- 
ing, with blueness of the body, during the entire day; chilli- 
ness in the spine, with heat in the ears; shivering in the morn- 
ing in bed; chill in the morning, and fever towards mid-day; 
chill in bed in the evening until midnight, then heat and great 
thirst; in the evening heavy chills, which make him shake all 
over; shivering as if cold water were poured over one; in -the 
earlier part of the night chilliness, later on, alternate chills 
and fever; shivering, with frequent flushes of heat; chilliness 
from head to toe upon the least motion, in the intervals fever- 
ishness; chill at nine o'clock in the evening, and lasting during 
the night and while lying, and during slumber involuntary 
twitchings, jerking and tossing of the head, arms and legs; 
internal chills, with hot face, and burning in the cheeks; sen- 
sations of alternating chill and fever, not perceptible, however, to 
external touch. Fever, and sensation of heat in the face, with 
paleness of the same; after midnight, heat and redness of the 
left cheek, and perspiration of the palms of the hands; attacks 
of feverishness, with great anxiety, as if the chest were tightly 
compressed, hut no thirst, alternating with sensations of chilli- 
ness over the whole body, accompanied by great depression; 
continuous alternating chilliness and fever; chilly when out of 
bed, hut in the bed feverishness, with great craving for milk 
to drink in the night; perspiration, -which produces a burning 
sensation in the skin; offensive perspiration for several nights; 
perspiration on the face and chest; heavy morning sweats; pro- 
fuse night-sweats; perspiration of the palms of the hands and 
soles of the feet; great thirst for ice water; extraordinarily op- 
142 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pressive thirst; slow feeble pulse; rapid pulse, with a strong 
pulsation throughout the body; rapid and dicrotic pulse. 
Mercur. sublim. corros.— Chilliness of the extremities; cold- 
ness of the hands and feet; chilliness and shivering, often even 
with chattering of the teeth, especially when in the open air, 
and lasting an hour, frequently followed by warm perspiration ; 
frequent chilliness at night when in bed; icy cold, especially 
evenings; cold shudderings, and chilliness in the loins; chilli- 
ness about the head; neck and skin covered with perspiration. 
Severe chill, succeeded by fever; before falling asleep chilliness 
restricted to the head alone; after falling asleep, waking up as 
if in a chill, and unable to sleep afterwards owing to the press- 
ure and heat in the chest, with great anxiety. High fever, and 
skin burning hot, especially upon the forehead; skin exceed- 
ingly hot and burning; skin excessively hot; heavy perspira- 
tion covering forehead, temples, chest and hands, accompanied 
by disagreeable chilliness; night-sweats; moderate perspiration 
upon waking in the night; cold beads of sweat upon the fore- 
head, with a dry skin. Unquenchable thirst; violent thirst; pulse 
112, regular, small, compressible; pulse thread-like,and scarcely 
perceptible; pulse feeble, rapid and irregular ; pulse small, rapid 
and irregular; pulse imperceptible. Pulse 120, small, flutter- 
ing and rapid; pulseless for twelve hours; small, feeble and 
frequently intermitting fever; hectic fever. 
Mercur. dulcis.—Chill for a quarter of an hour; pulse small 
and hard, 75; great thirst; feverish most of the time; high 
fever; consuming fever; frequent night-sweats; continuous 
fever and night-sweats. 
Merc.precipitat. ruber.—Although covered with heavy woolen 
bed covering, cannot get warm; skin cold, and covered with 
perspiration; cold, clammy skin, especially at the extremities; 
coldness of the feet; extraordinary redness of the cheeks; ex- 
treme thirst; pulse frequent, small and hard; pulse rapid, 
small and feeble, and afterwards thread-like; night-sweats; 
great anxiety. 
Merc, cyanide.— Great chilliness; the skin icy cold, coldness 
of the extremities; fever at night, sleeplessness and severe 
headache; pulse small, and 70 to 76 a minute; pulse more 
143 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rapid, and 90 to the minute; pulse 130, feeble, with coldness 
of the extremities and anxious countenance; pulse 132, and 
small; pulse 102, irregular; pulse very slow, but full and hard; 
great thirst, but liquids drank are immediately vomited. 
Cinnabar.—Sensation of chilliness, with lassitude and sleepi- 
ness; chilliness while in a warm room; skin moist and cool; 
pulse 60; coldness of the hands; chilliness in the morning, 
with perspiiation under the arms; unable to get warm even 
when by the warm stove; forehead very hot; during the sleep 
at night feverish about the head and neck, which is perceptible 
in the morning, but passes off on sitting up; external and in- 
ternal heat of the body during the whole night; chilliness 
when rising in the morning, and rumbling in the bowels; after 
the ninth day continual falling away of the body; cannot bear 
the heat of the sun shining in his room. Heat as of warm 
weather principally upon the right side of the head, on the 
chest and arms, but worse in the left one; the pulse appears to 
be less rapid in the morning and irregular; pulse at mid-day 
44 to 52 pulsations in the minute; is accelerated at four o’clock 
to 80; pulse 60 at noon; in the evening 80; profuse perspira- 
tion between the thighs, with aggravation of all the other 
symptoms at night; profuse sweating at 12 o’clock mid-day. 
As a prominent characteristic of the mercurial fever, we can 
as a rule say that it occurs generally in the night, and is ac- 
companied by great thirst, sleeplessness and night-sweats. The 
pulse is uneven, as one beat is stronger than another, irregular, 
and occasionally intermitting. According to Espanet, mercury 
is indicated when there are strong pulsations in the temporal 
and superficial arteries; in headache, with feeling of pressure 
from within outwards; when there is quick reaction, but not 
persistent. Diarrhcea, bilious vomiting, and a profuse flowing 
of the saliva, when accompanying a fever, of themselves are an 
indication for mercury. In inflammation of mucous mem- 
branes, when accompanied by fever, if the inflammation pro- 
gresses slowly, and remains superficial; moreover in serous or 
pseudo-membranous exudations, or in suppurations, mercury is 
an appropriate remedy. 
Great weakness and prostration are also general mercury 
144 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
symptoms. In the severer cases, where there is sleepiness, stu- 
por, debilitating sweat, painfulness of the whole body, and 
burning in the stomach and bowels, the corrosive sublimate 
suggests itself rather than calomel, etc ; but in the catarrhal 
and rheumatic fevers, we should choose Merc, solub. 
In hectic fevers, such as we see appearing in chronic poison- 
ing with any preparation of mercury, the Mercur. vivus is 
preferable as the preparation which excites most constantly 
hectic fevers. In severe inflammatory fevers, however, even 
when the symptoms indicate mercury, we would at first give 
a few doses of Aconite. 
If we regard mercury as a remedy exciting inflammation, 
then must we draw a sharp boundary between the acute and 
the chronic poisoning. In the former we find every requisite 
for inflammation: the blood is richer in fibrin and red blood 
corpuscles; and in the various organs we find with all mer- 
curial preparations active hypersemia, stasis and exudation; 
the last especially after the sublimate; also purulent formations, 
especially after Merc, vivus, for example in the skin. 
In chronic poisoning we find the blood impoverished of all 
its solid constituents; when hypersemia manifests itself, it is 
passive and venous, and everywhere there is a tendency towards 
decomposition of the tissues (a purulent exudation in ulcers'. 
From these general observations mercury seems sometimes 
indicated in inflammations, and should he given in the lower 
triturations. 
b. Inflammation. 
c. Acute Infectious Diseases. 
1. Abdominal and Exart thematic Typhus. 
When we find inflammation and even gano-renous state of 
the mucous membrane of the intestinal canal at an autopsy, 
after poisoning by corrosive sublimate, which mercurial prepa- 
ration acts most powerfully upon the intestines, it never starts 
from Peyer’s patches. Therefore mercury is no specific in 
typhoid, yet there are symptoms in the course of the disease 
which indicate it. They are as follows: 
145 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The fever symptoms present themselves in two groups. One 
where meningitis and headache prevail, and the other where 
intestinal catarrh and enteritis predominate. Although in a 
disease which is so rich in symptoms as typhus a remedy may 
be suggested by a single symptom, yet many symptoms must 
be considered together before the final choice can be justified. 
When, therefore, we recommend sublimate in typhoid where 
there is bloody diarrhoea with tenesmus, we do it only because, 
aside from these symptoms, the drug offers many other analo- 
gies to typhus, as will have been seen in former pages. Also 
in exanthematie typhus there are the same symptoms which 
the sublimate produces. If we recognize a dissolution of the 
tissues in typhus, by bleeding from the gums, bloody urine, and 
frequent greenish-yellow stools, we are justified in giving calomel 
or the sublimate. Bartel recommends calomel in typhus when 
there are the following symptoms: In the first stages in ven- 
ous-lymphatic people of feeble build, with great prostration, 
pale yellowish countenance, constrictive headaches, thickly 
coated tongue, a foul, bitter, pappy taste, and slight thirst; 
the stomach, liver and umbilical region very sensitive to pressure; 
abdomen tympanitic; stools watery, flocculent and sometimes 
bloody; restlessness, anxiety, tossing about in bed, wfith but 
little sleep and anxious dreams. 
In the second stage calomel is indicated so long as the tongue 
remains moist and there is no delirium; also if there is appar- 
ent gastritis, a white coated tongue, sensitiveness of the abdo- 
men at any point, stools watery or nearly colorless, or contain- 
ing white flocks resembling the washings of meat, and espe- 
cially frequent at night. If there occur during the course of 
typhus, ulcers in the mouth, especially upon the tongue, if 
there is bleeding at the nose, or night-sweats, a short dry cough 
with stitches in the chest, delirium and sometimes convulsive 
movements, Bartel a'so recommends calomel. 
Brinks prescribes Merc, solub. for the following symptoms: 
dulness of the mind, a great tendency to sleep; heaviness of 
the head; tongue coated very heavily, and dirty white; stale, 
pappy, slimy and foul taste; considerable thirst; painful sensi- 
tiveness of the prsecordium, of the liver, the umbilical and 
146 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ileo-coecal regions; bilious, slimy and watery stools; depression 
of the vital forces, occasional profuse and exhausting sweats; 
paleness and hollowness of the eyes and face; dirty yellow 
complexion. When there has been a previous affection of the 
liver, and it is painful to the touch, and is swollen. In in- 
flammatory irritation of the peritoneal covering of the intes- 
tines, and consequently painful tenderness of the abdomen; 
if these symptoms do not yield under the use of Bryonia. 
(In the last instance the sublimate is to be preferred to the 
Merc, solub.) 
If the t3’phu3 is accompanied with any affection of the liver, 
Merc. dulc. or solub. is certainly very restorative. The same 
symptoms, wThen occurring in exanthematic typhus, indicate 
the choice of Mercury. 
2. Asiatic Cholera. 
From a post-mortem examination, we find the following 
similarities between cholera and corros. sublimate. In the cases 
of cholera, which quickly terminate fatally, and likewise after 
the sublimate, we find the meninges of the brain turgid with 
blood; the epicardium studded with ecchymoses; the trachea, 
bronchi and lungs engorged with blood, and occasionally pneu- 
monia. Moreover while in cholera simply, the epithelium is 
thrown off, the sublimate produces a necrosis of the intestinal 
mucous membrane, and changes it into a reddish pulp, which 
is easily stripped ott‘. Also, there is no swelling of the soli- 
tary glands, or the Peyerian patches and Brunner’s glands, at 
the autopsy, in cases of poisoning from the sublimate. Often- 
times in cholera there are ecchymoses and effusions of blood 
upon the small intestine, and especially in the colon, and the 
mucous membrane is very often softened; these changes are 
also manifested in the sublimate poisoning. In many epi- 
demics, diphtheritic processes appear in the colon, which also 
bear an analogy to the sublimate. In cases of cholera rapidly 
ending fatally, the liver is hypersemic; the gall-bladder filled 
with dark brown gall; however, later on, it is not so. 
If the patient dies within the first two days, the bladder is 
contracted, the urine is somewhat albuminous, and contains 
147 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cylinders; the kidneys are engorged with blood. These changes 
are also produced by the sublimate. It may also be seen from 
these remarks that the sublimate corresponds but little with 
the characteristics of cholera; the phenomena of the thicken- 
ing of the blood, the cause of the symptoms of the stage of 
asphyxia, are not furnished by this drug. Especially does the 
swollen red face form a strong contrast to thq facies cholerica. 
We will here endeavor to designate the period at which the 
sublimate should be the chosen remedy. We tind the follow- 
ing similarity of symptoms: vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, tenes- 
mus, albuminous urine, slight convulsions, hiccough and syn- 
cope. But while the stools in cholera, as a rule, are painless and 
colorless, after the sublimate they are generally painful, bloody, 
and accompanied by tenesmus. 
Exceptionally in the first stages of cholera, such symptoms 
appear, together with those above named, and then the subli- 
mate would be the proper remedy. In sublimate poisoning we 
find pulselessness, but in the cholera it is induced by the 
thickening of the blood. 
If we compare, as does G. Schmidt, cholera with the poisoning 
by cyanide of mercury, then we would rather give the prefer- 
ence to this drug than to the sublimate in the above symptoms. 
3. Yellow Fever. 
In reading Haeniseh’s description of yellow fever we were 
immediately struck with its similarity to acute mercurial poi- 
soning. This is the picture drawn by this author. In appar- 
ently perfect health, while promenading, or at work, or when 
asleep, the patient is attacked with alternating slight chills and 
flushes of heat (or more frequently by a heavy chill). Simul- 
taneously he feels very ill, is despondent, and tosses in bed, the 
face deeply flushed, the conjunctiva highly injected, and the 
eyes have a peculiar expression. Severe pain in the head, which 
is often monolateral, and pains in the joints, are seldom want- 
ing; the temperature is considerably increased, and rises to 39° 
(1021° F.) a few hours after the commencement of the disease. 
The respiration is very superficial and rapid, the pulse generally 
full and frequent. (Already in the evening of the first or 
148 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
second day a characteristic dirty smell from the patient may be 
perceived if the bed-clothes are raised.) The tongue is coated 
heavily white or yellow, has red edges, and retains the indenta- 
tions of the teeth. The mucous membrane of the soft and 
hard palate is deeply reddened, which appearance is followed 
by oedema of this part; also the gums are greatly swollen, and 
frequently bleed. The epigastrium is sensitive to pressure; all 
food and drink taken into the stomach is immediately vomited. 
(The stool is generally hard, there is seldom diarrhoea. The 
region of the kidneys is the seat of acute pain.) The urine is 
scanty, concentrated, and often in the commencement of the 
disease shows traces of albumen. In many cases there is from 
the beginning of the disease a complete suppression of urine. 
All these symptoms are intensified within the next two days. 
(The temperature generally reaches its maximum, 40J° (105° 
F.), on the second day.) 
The sclerotica and the skin already on the third day, often 
however later, have a icteric color; the urine chemically re- 
veals bile; the fseces retain their biliary coloring, at least it is 
exceptionally that they have a clayey look. Frequently hemor- 
rhages occur from the nose and from the stomach, although the 
last are wanting in the lighter attacks, and they often only ap- 
pear in the later stages. After the second stage, during which 
all the symptoms may yield, and convalescence occur, there 
generally follows a third, which we will now consider. 
In this the mind is almost always clear, but great apathy 
overwhelms the patient, and it produces a terrible impression 
when these patients, with sunken faces, and lying in a state of 
collapse, speak quite thoughtlessly and with complete indiffer- 
ence to their condition. In a few cases, there is violent deli- 
rium, and constant getting out of bed, so that they obtain no- 
where any rest {Merc, vivus). The pulse is frequently accelerated, 
sometimes retarded, but, as a rule, small and thread-like. (The 
icterus becomes intense, and the skin assumes a dark mahogany 
color.) Together with this very prominent jaundice appear the 
symptoms characteristic of this stage, the numerous hemor- 
rhages. They vary in quantity and situation, generally occur- 
ring, however, from the mucous membrane of the nose and the 
149 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
intestinal tract; and next in frequency from the skin, the geni- 
tals, and the respiratory organs. Nearly as important a symp- 
tom as the black vomit (of blood) is the suppression of urine, 
which is often observed in this stage, and which throws the 
patient into indescribable agony. 
In many epidemics it has been observed that the parotid 
glands become inflamed, and have a marked tendency to sup- 
purate; and also an extensive outbreak of boils. To complete 
the picture, we must point out the similarity of the patholog- 
ical changes to those induced by mercury. 
The color of the skin varies from a light yellow to a dark 
orange or mahogany color. Also the mucous membranes are 
tinged yellow. In a number of cases there are further cuta- 
neous changes, as petechia, large ecchymoses, vesicles and pus- 
tules, scarlatina and erysipelatous inflammations, furuncles and 
carbuncles, and gangrenous destruction. The brain with its 
membranes, as also the spinal cord, present, as a rule, no par- 
ticular alterations; if any, simply hypersemia. Upon the 
pleura ecchymoses are found, but only in a few cases any exu- 
dation into its cavity. 
The most constant and important changes appear in the ab- 
dominal organa. The mucous membranes of the stomach and 
intestines are almost without exception in an acute catarrhal 
condition, the blood-vessels, especially the venous, are highly 
injected and turgescent, and have an aborescent appearance. 
Frequently at the fundus of the stomach there are hemorrhagic 
erosions, although seldom ulcerations. The whole intestinal 
tract generally contains a quantity of black, thick blood, al- 
though it is sometimes thin, and of a tar-like look. The liver 
shows but unimportant deviations; occasionally it is somewhat 
enlarged, sometimes of normal size, or slightly smaller. The 
kidneys are said to be frequently swollen in the cortical por- 
tion, and occasionally have undergone fatty degeneration. In 
the parenchyma small abscesses are often found (vide sublimate, 
Krankengesch., II. 41, 14). In the pelvis of the kidney are 
ecchymoses and catarrh. 
From the picture of the symptoms and the pathology, we 
conclude that the yellow fever has a similarity to acute mer- 
150 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
curia 1 poisoning in many of its symptoms. The alterations 
found in the liver correspond most with calomel, although the 
icterus of yellow fever is to be regarded rather as haematic, 
while that of calomel is hepatic. The hemorrhages and the 
suppression of urine point to the sublimate. In the sublimate 
poisoning there are remissions corresponding to the second 
stage of yellow fever, which are followed by an exacerbation 
that terminates in death. 
In the homoeopathic literature, however, these two remedies 
receive no mention. Cartier makes no use of Mercury, but 
gives only Aeon., Bellad. and Arsen. Martius recommends in 
the first stage Aeon., Pulsat., Bellad., Nux vom.; in the second, 
Nux, Acid nitr., Mere. sol.; and in the third Arsen., Arg. nitr., 
Digit., Phosphorus. Goding also mentions Merc. sol. as the 
most important remedy. Holcombe gives the following indi- 
cations for Merc, sol.: “Yellow color of the skin; redness of 
the eyes; injection of the blood-vessels of the sclerotica; pho- 
tophobia; paralysis of one limb or more; tongue with moist, 
thick, white coating, or covered with dry, brown mucus; feeces 
variable; irregularity of the pulse, or the pulse quick, strong, 
intermitting, or soft, fluttering. Great drowsiness, or sleep- 
lessness, from nervous excitement; feeling of languor and 
weakness; rapid loss of strength; vertigo or severe headache; 
severe spasmodic vomiting of mucous and bitter stuff; burn- 
ing pain in and tenderness of the stomach; constipation or diar- 
rhoea; evacuation of mucus, bile or blood; coldness and cramps 
of the extremities; an erethistic condition of every organ. 
Anxiety and restlessness; loss of memory; timidity and men- 
tal depression; rage.” 
Gerhardt recommends Merc, (sol.) in the first and second 
stages when there is yellowness of the skin, thickly coated 
tongue, hemorrhages from the pharynx and the gums, tender- 
ness over the stomach, thin, also bloody, evacuations, profuse 
perspiration, which is very exhausting; coldness in the epigas- 
tric region; pulse rapid and irregular, or weak and intermitting. 
Porte, from his experience in Brazil, considers mercury the 
most potent remedy, if, before the black vomit occurs, there is 
a tendency to an adynamic fever, with diarrhoea and abdominal 
151 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pains. He does not consider, however, that mercury is the 
chief remedy in this disease.—(Journ. de la Soc. Gall, 1.859; 
Allg. hom. Zeit., B. 60.) 
4. Dysentery. 
We divide dysentery, with Virchow, into the catarrhal and 
diptheritic varieties. The catarrhal commences with great 
hypercemia of the mucous and sub-mucous tissues. The mu- 
cous membrane, after evacuation of the intestinal contents, is 
covered with a thick layer of mucus of a mottled reddish color, 
which is easily washed off. The color of the mucous mem- 
brane is deep, dark red, with numerous black points; the red- 
ness is, however, mottled and streaked in correspondence with 
the mucous membrane. The submucosa contains a mass of 
distended blood-vessels, and consequently appears injected and 
streaked red. In the stage of sero-purulent infiltration, the 
mucous membrane is somewhat swollen, paler, and of a whit- 
ish-red color, the follicles swollen and encircled by reddish 
wreath-shaped patches. The submucosa is thickened three to 
five fold, and upon pressure exudes a considerable quantity of 
serous fluid. There is also swelling of the muscular tissue. In 
the stage of purulent destruction of the mucous membrane, 
there are numerous island-like patches, having irregular edges 
and of a bluish-red color, which are dispersed to a greater or 
less extent over an even surface, having a reddish or yellowish- 
brown color. These patches are the remnants of the destroyed 
mucous membrane, while the smooth surface upon which they 
are situated is the submucosa. In the diptheritic variety the 
whole of the large intestine is of a dark bluish-red color, and 
the serous covering is finely injected. The inner surface of the 
intestine, from the lower portion of the ilium to the rectum, 
appears of a whitish-red color, but mottled blackish, greenish, 
or dark red, in various curved figures, and its surface is exceed- 
ingly uneven, covered with rugosities and depressions. In the 
severest forms the mucous membrane is in great spots degen- 
erated to a blackish charred mass. In the places where, be- 
tween the tumefactions, lie cracks and fissures, there appears 
upon the muscular tissue only a sparse, friable mass as the 
152 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
remains of the mucosa and submucosa which have been de- 
stroyed, and become atrophied from the pressure. These are 
as it were transformed into a copious extravasation, composed 
chiefly of blood and somewhat of pus, and of a stiff' and amor- 
phous fibrinous exudation. 
This substance which has taken the place of the mucous 
membrane, appears as a net-work of glistening fibres and a 
great mass of extravasated blood. The peritoneum of the in- 
flamed intestine is deeply injected, and pours out frequently a 
puro-fibrous exudation; occasionally the circumscribed peri- 
tonitis becomes general, especially after perforation of the 
intestine. 
The liver is frequently hypersemic. The kidneys are venous 
—hypercemic. In protracted cases there appear, as metastatic 
inflammations, purulent peritonitis, pleurisy, pseudo-erysipelas, 
gangrenous bed-sores, and noma. 
In the poisoning by the sublimate we find the following 
changes in the intestinal canal. The canal is reddened below 
the ileum, and the more dependent the part the more intense 
it is. The lowest portion of the rectum almost entirely dark 
(Case of poisoning Ho. 33, 50). The small intestine of a violet- 
blue color; the large intestine injected especially in the rectum, 
and directly above the anus, gangrenous parts (Ho. 33). The 
consistency of the small intestine and its dark red color through- 
out, are especially noteworthy. When it is cut in long strips, 
there appear adhering around the edges a dark red pappy sub- 
stance which, together with the destroyed mucosa and muscu- 
lar layer, can be easily scraped away with the scalpel, and it 
has the appearance of dark putrified blood. If the remaining 
portion of the intestine is held up to the light it appears as a 
membrane traversed by but few blood-vessels. But perfora- 
tions of all the layers of the intestine do not appear (Ho. 32). 
In the lower two-thirds of the ileum there is inflammation of 
the mucous membrane which is intensified below the coeeum 
and studded with small ulcerated patches (Ho. 52). Perito- 
neum deeply injected, intestines turgid with bright red blood 
(Ho. 38). Intestines much inflamed (Hos. 36, 37, 38). Intes- 
tines greatly inflamed and partly blue (Ho. 37). In the duode- 
153 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
num and the remaining intestinal canal nothing abnormal ob- 
served excepting a few valvulse conniventes in the injected 
jejunum or ileum. 
In comparing the two processes, we find a striking similarity 
as in the various cases of poisoning we find changes similar to 
the different stages of dysentery; also we observe in both that 
the pathological changes are intensified the nearer we approach 
the anus. Let us now look at the symptoms in the living. 
Mercur. Sub. Corros. 
Severe pain in the intestines; abdomen painful upon slight- 
est pressure; severe colic; great tenesmus; evacuations of a 
green color; bilious stools, with severe abdominal pains and 
great tenesmus; pappy, yellow, bilious diarrhoea in children; in 
a little girl of four years, yellow watery stools, with colic pain 
in the large intestine, and bloody mucus. Mucous stools ; forty- 
seven mucous evacuations in a robust man after the first dilution; 
frequent and very offensive stools; watery, mucous and offensive 
diarrhoea; evacuation livid, grumous and very offensive; faeces 
mixed with mucus and coagulated blood; constant burning in 
the rectum; defecation with tearing pain followed by burning 
in the rectum; tenesmus with bloody mucous stools, with almost 
continuous abdominal pain, and unbearably painful, and almost 
fruitless bearing down and straining; a frequent evacuation of 
bloody mucus day and night; numerous offensive stools, fre- 
quently repeated, accompanied by great tenesmus, and later on, 
greenish-black stools; severe colic and cardialgia; tenesmus 
with dysenteric evacuations ; stool of mixed blood and mucus ; 
numerous ill-smelling stools, quickly following one another, 
with great tenesmus; sparse evacuations consisting of blood 
and mucus; copious and bloody stools, with great pain in the 
sigmoid flexure of the colon; bloody stools with pain in the 
rectum ; numerous stools mixed with blood, and two composed 
wholly of blood and mucus; evacuation of a dark color mixed 
with blood and very painful; bloody diarrhoea ; bloody defeca- 
tions with cramps; loses six pounds of blood by the rectum ; 
bloody diarrhoea with pain in the rectum ; evacuation of bright 
red blood after the stool; after the stool repeated tenesmus. 
154 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Merc, solub.—He feels a desire to go to stool every minute, 
with tenesmus, but without effect. Constant desire to go to 
stool, but there was but very little discharge, with pinching in 
the abdomen. Anxious straining at stool, always accompanied 
by great nausea and pressure in the temples before and after 
stool. Much straining at stool and little discharge. Violent 
urging which often compels him suddenly to go to stool. Be- 
fore the diarrliceic discharge there is chilliness and tenesmus, 
and during the chilliness there are flushes of heat. He is very 
much exhausted after an evacuation, accompanied by much 
colic. Discharges of bloody mucus accompanied by colic and 
tenesmus. Faeces, though not hard, have mucus and blood in 
them. Papescent stools with mucus. Frequently the urging 
to stool is so great that if not obe}Ted at once it passes off in- 
voluntarily, although it is only papescent stool. Diarrhoea at 
night. Diarrhoea striped with blood. Bloody discharges with 
painful sensation of excoriation about the anus. Green, slimy, acrid 
stools, which excoriate the anus. Diarrhoea of green mucus, with 
burning of the anus and protrusion of the rectum. Diarrhoea 
with cutting and pressing in the anus. Burning diarrhoea. 
Burning in the anus. Diarrhoea with much blood for many 
days. Soft stools are accompanied with burning pains in the anus. 
After stool there is always burning in the anus. Discharge of 
blood after discharge of feces; soreness of the anus. 
AVhen we compare the symptoms of these two preparations, 
we shall at once perceive that Mercur. solub. is best adapted to 
milder cases of catarrhal dysentery with mucous discharges, 
while corrosive sublimate corresponds to the most violent cases 
with bloody, foetid discharges; violent tenesmus, intense pain 
about the umbilicus; and strangury. These symptoms are so 
characteristic of corrosive sublimate that they are even made to 
appear by the external application of the remedy, as we have 
seen from cases of poisoning (Id. 4, 5, 6, 10,14,15). Corrosive 
sublimate acts better in dilutions, while Mercur. solub. should 
be given in triturations ; both in lower potencies. As the doses 
should be less frequently repeated after improvement begins, 
it is desirable to repeat the dose after every discharge. It is 
hardly necessary to mention that other remedies may also be 
155 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
used according to circumstances, although Mercury should be 
considered as a specific in dysentery. Collateral symptoms in- 
dicating Mercury are: headache, thirst, white-coated tongue, 
cutting colic, tenderness of abdomen to the touch, prolapsus 
ani (Mercur. sol.), hot dry skin, sleeplessness, nocturnal ag- 
gravations, alternate heat and cold, etc. Finally we would 
mention that Calomel produces bloody stools. The following 
symptoms are gleaned from a few cases of poisoning: about 
twenty discharges daily, diarrhoea, cutting colicky pains 
and eighteen watery, greenish, slimy stools, also tinged with 
blood. Buchner recommends it in the dysentery of lymphatic 
children. Biniodule of mercury (Mercur. bijodatus) in those 
afflicted with goitre. Mercur. cyanat. (cyanide) furnishes the 
following symptoms bearing upon dysentery: Vomiting and 
diarrhoea alternate for twelve hours, so that emesis and stool 
occurred twenty or thirty times. Eight offensive green mucous 
discharges in the night. Copious discharges and violent colic 
(at once). General feeling of coldness, followed at once by 
loathing, vomiting and diarrhoea, with violent colic (at once). 
Burning sensation in the stomach, and thirst. Epigastric region 
and abdomen painful on pressure. Violent colic aggravated 
after every stool. Two thin stools tinged with blood, without 
discharge of urine. Slimy diarrhoea with tenesmus, at night. 
Constant urging to stool with tenesmus, very tormenting, but 
rarely accompanied by discharge of fteces; the faeces were mixed 
with blood. Violent urging, followed by liquid stool (after 
ten minutes), with much exertion; six liquid offensive stools 
within eight hours. 
The general features of the remedy indicate prostration of 
strength, and may be found described in the section on diph- 
theritis. In the records of post-mortem examinations we find, 
in the first and second instance, that the changes wrought in 
the jejunum correspond with the third stage of catarrhal dys- 
entery. The mucous membrane of the jejunum is much thick- 
ened, very dark red and in some instances even blackish; in 
others apparently gangrenous. The redness exhibits the same 
appearances in the ccecum; in the ascending colon it becomes 
pale; again darker in the transverse colon; paler again in the 
156 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
descending colon, and darker in the rectum. The mucous 
membrane of the intestines is generally thickened, and in some 
places it is granulated, especially in the small intestine. In all 
points where it is elevated in this manner, much infiltration is 
visible caused by serum in the submucous connective tissue. 
These scanty observations of three cases of poisoning, justify 
the conclusion that Mercur. cyan, is indicated in dysentery, 
especially in adynamic cases. There certainly may be epidemics 
(which also may be complicated with diphtheritis) to which it 
might correspond as epidemic remedy. 
5. Diphtheritis. 
In the catarrhal form which is not to he distinguished from 
common angina, there are to be observed small spots of the 
size of a pin-head to that of a split-pea; and delicate dew-like 
dimness or coatings in small number which sometimes touch 
each other in their ramifications and become continent. When 
these coatings are thrown off the subjacent mucous membrane 
remains intact. The croupous form is characterized by dark 
livid redness of the tonsils, arch of the palate, and posterior 
wall of the fauces; by serous infiltration of these parts and of 
the uvula, and by deposit of a false membrane two or three 
millimeters in thickness, which finally becomes leathery and 
dense. The subjacent mucous membrane is deprived of its 
epithelium, and after the separation of the false membrane a 
purulent coat is to be observed, beneath which the process of 
healing is established in favorable cases. In the septic forms 
of the disease the membranes assume a dirty grey or brownish 
appearance, they become soft and friable, and in some places 
they become changed into a greyish-hrown, pap-like mass. On 
removing this decomposing mass, the surface of the subepi- 
thelial tissue is found to be smooth, intact, or in places destruc- 
tion of substance, representing either a shallow ulcer with 
uneven, easily bleeding base, or a deeper ulcer with greatly 
excavated edges, the base of which, however, continues to be 
covered for some time with greyish dirty coating and gangre- 
nous debris of tissue. It is not difficult to understand why, in 
a condition of this kind, capillary hemorrhages are of frequent 
157 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
occurrence. The lymphatic glands on both sides of the neck 
form swellings of large circumference. The periglandular and 
subcutaneous connecting tissue may swell to such a degree that 
the line of demarcation between face and neck becomes quite 
indistinct. In gangrenous diphtheritis, greyish-white thick 
deposits are formed beneath which the mucous membrane, 
which is dark red and exceedingly tumid, is destroyed in the 
course of twelve to twenty-four hours; this is accompanied 
by carrion-like or fecal odor, and the formation of lardaceous 
ulcers with red, jagged and undermined edges. 
Now when we examine the pathological changes which mer- 
cury is capable of producing in the pharynx, we find under 
Mercur. viv.: inflammation of the palate. Angina. Croupous 
exudation upon the velum palati (No. 49, 50, 51). Ulcers of 
the pharynx (No. 24, 35, 48). Swelling of the submaxillary 
glands (No. 25, 26, 48, 49, 50). 
Corrosive sublimate: Mucous membrane of pharynx is white 
and rough to the touch. Pharynx is livid and swollen and 
may be crushed by pressure; gangrenous; it has the appear- 
ance as if it were covered with bran (No. 30, 32). The mem- 
branes upon the palate may be drawn out with the fingers; in 
the fauces there is an ulcer as large as a pea, and upon the left 
of the soft palate the solid parts are becoming detached (No. 8). 
Violent swelling of the arches of the palate, uvula and pharynx; 
on the latter there is formation of grey, jagged masses of false 
membrane (No. 43). The velum palati is covered with a grey- 
ish-white, firmly adherent eschar (No. 56). 
Mercur. dulcis.—Throat is swollen inside. Ulcers in pharynx, 
palate (gums and tongue) closely studded with aphthae. Deep 
bleeding ulcers reaching into the choanae. Inflammation in 
the throat. 
Mercur. cyanide.—The mucous membrane of the pharynx is 
red and vascular. Upon the arch of the palate and tonsils 
there has formed a greyish-white, soft, superficial layer (at the 
same time there is a diphtheritic ulcer in the mouth and an- 
other around the anus). We are justified in concluding that 
the mercurials are appropriate and even specific remedies in 
the first three forms of the disease. But in the gangrenous 
158 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
forms we shall have to look to other medicines, such as Arsen., 
Kreosote, Ailanthus, Arum triph., Lachesis, etc. The forma- 
tion of an actual false membrane is produced by Mercur. viv., 
Corrosive sublimate and Mercur. cyanide. 
Mercur. solub. is probably indicated only in the catarrhal 
form, and in mild cases of croup of the fauces; but we refer 
the reader to the symptoms of angina. 
Although Mercur. cyanide has not been proved, and we pos- 
sess only three cases of poisoning with the same, we neverthe- 
less find that in the latter the principal symptoms of diph- 
theritis are represented. They are as follows, together with 
the above-named pathological changes: The entire mucous 
membrane of the fauces is much redderied, together with dys- 
phagia. Swallowing is very difficult. Violent dysphagia. 
Scratching in the pharynx; the latter is red, vascular and de- 
glutition difficult. General weakness which soon increases to 
actual faintness, so that he remained for an uncertain length 
of time in a state of unconsciousness. The night was spent in 
sleeplessness; he was much excited and talked incessantly; be- 
came enraged at his attendants and talked incessantly in his 
rage; the next night, also, was spent in this manner; the 
patient awoke with violent headache, nausea, increased thirst, 
much redness of fauces and with dysphagia. Violent headache 
with nocturnal fever and sleeplessness. With headache and ver- 
tigo there is nosebleed; the face is pale, livid and distorted. 
The nosebleed lasted to the fifteenth day. Nausea, soon fol- 
lowed by vomiting. Retention of urine for five days; the urine 
collected on the seventh day was of acid reaction; microscopic 
examination revealed straight and twisted urinary tubules studded 
with fine granular detritus ; no blood corpuscles; chemical analy- 
sis exhibited much albumen.—(Compare febrile symptoms.) 
Besides corresponding to the local symptoms, the similitude 
also becomes evident in regard to the concomitant symptoms, 
of which the most important have been italicized. 
Villers, who extols this preparation as a specific, says: “In 
all cases of diphtheritis, which were very numerous, including 
every age and sex, the effect of cyanide of mercury was to 
reduce the progress of the disease together with its visible 
159 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
changes in the tissues, in a space of twelve hours after the ex- 
hibition of the first dose of the medicine. And in the absence 
of serious complications convalescence was fully established in 
three days, so that not the least loss of strength was observable. 
The writer has had very extensive opportunity of making this 
observation during a period of nine years, so that the result 
has become of great statistical value to him, an experience 
rarely gained in medical practice.” He recommends higher 
dilutions, rising upward from the 12th centesimal. This prep- 
aration deserves the preference to other mercurials, especially 
on account of the great prostration peculiar to hydrocyanic 
acid, a chief symptom also of diphtheritis. 
Mercur. corr. (corrosive sublimate).—Difficult deglutition as 
if the throat were closed up. Swallowing very difficult and 
painful. Tonsils are swollen and covered with ulcers. Painful 
uvula. Keck and back of the neck are very much swollen, 
especially on the right side. On attempting to swallow there 
is retching and vomiting, because the internal parts of the 
mouth are so tumid. Excruciating pain at every attempt to 
swallow. Fauces are very much inflamed. Scratching hoarse- 
ness back in the fauces, with frequent inclination to scrape the 
throat. Swelling of the pharynx with danger of suffocation. 
Inability to swallow even liquids, accompanied by heat in the 
mouth, tongue and pharynx, as if caused by burning coals, 
followed next day by expectoration of liquid and coagulated 
blood. The membranes upon the palate can be drawn out with 
the fingers; in the fauces there is a small ulcer, and on the left 
of the soft palate there is separation of solid parts; copious 
salivation, which afterwards becomes bloody (after external 
application of the poison—Ko. 8). Cicatrices in the fauces; 
there is only a trace of the uvula (in a case of chronic poisoning). 
Pharynx is dark red, painful to the touch. Dysphagia. Stupor; 
somnolence. Profound sopor. Sleep is restless at night, in- 
terrupted by frequent waking. Sleeplessness till toward morn- 
ing. Regarding other symptoms, see chapters on diseases of 
other organs. 
Mercurius iodatus has been used in the form of protiodide 
and biniodide by several physicians, especially by Madden, 
160 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Black and Kirsch in single epidemics, and with very favorable 
results; while in other epidemics it did not meet their expec- 
tations. Of this remedy we have no symptoms relating to the 
subject under consideration, as we are without provings or 
cases of poisoning. 
Black recommends Mercur. iodatus in swelling of the tonsils, 
with yellowish-white membranous patches and offensive breath. 
It has again been recommended recently in cases where the 
diphtheritic process extends to the larynx. In consideration 
of the specific effect of iodine upon the larynx, and especially 
of its effects in croup, the above indications will deserve atten- 
tion. If the disease spreads upwards into the cavity of the 
nose, then corrosive sublimate is indicated next to Mercur. 
iodatus (see ozoena). 
In secondary diseases the mercurials are seldom to be selected. 
Thus we have proved the applicability of mercurial prepara- 
tions, and especially of cyanide of mercury, according to the 
similitude of symptoms. If, according to recent discoveries, 
the diphtheritic fungi (micrococcus, bacteria) are regarded as 
the cause and not as the result of the disease, we may, never- 
theless defend the application of mercury also from that point 
of view. The antiparasitic effects of that metal were known 
already to the Arabs. If it destroys animal parasites, we may 
well conclude that it will exert the same influence upon those 
of vegetable nature, particularly as we have learned from the 
experiments of Buchner with corrosive sublimate and fumes 
of mercury, that the latter destroy vegetable life. In passing, 
we will remark that we regard fungi as carriers of morbid 
matter, but not as producers of the disease itself. For the 
mania which the fungus theory has created has reached such a 
degree that Billroth declares that all contagious diseases are 
produced by one and the same kind of fungus. If that wTere 
the case, why do not several kinds of infectious disease appear 
at once? 
6. Measles. 
As quicksilver is applicable only in single symptoms, and 
secondary affections, such as ophthalmia and otitis, swellings 
161 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of lymphatic glands, diarrhoea, septic symptoms, such as nose- 
bleed, bleeding of the gums, bloody discharges from the bowels, 
angina, etc., the reader will have to consult the paragraph on 
these diseases. 
7. Scarlet Fever. 
The same remarks apply also to scarlet fever. Mercury is 
applicable in violent angina tonsilaris, diphtheritis, parotid 
swellings, or those of the submaxillary or lymphatic glands, 
when they are not particularly painful. It is also used in 
chronic otorrhoea, salivation, ulcers of the mouth. 
Lobethal used Mercurius sol. effectually in the beginning of 
ascites, when Helleb. nig. was of no benefit. Mercur. viv. had 
a like good effect, but Calomel was more incisive in the 2d trit., 
and also in a desperate case when it was given in one-twelfth to 
one-quarter grain doses. Prof. Lilienthal uses Mercur. sol. when 
the following symptoms are present: The mouth is ulcerated 
and covered with little vesicles; when there is salivation and 
very foul breath, dirty yellow coating on the tongue; great 
thirst; ulcerated throat and tonsils; swelling of all the cervical 
glands; itching and restlessness; perspiration aggravates the 
symptoms. Mercurius iodatus: very violent angina, induration 
of the parotids, cervical glands and tonsils. Diphtheritic affec- 
tions with great exhaustion of muscular strength. Inclination 
to lie down, but aggravation during rest and in the warmth of 
the chamber. Very violent throbbing, boring pain from within 
outwards deep in the left ear. Urine is dark and copious. It 
is useful after Lachesis, when there is loss of voice, hoarseness, 
and when the patient can only whisper. 
8. Small-Pox. 
Among the symptoms bearing upon this disease, the pustules 
are also found among the effects of mercury, which also pro- 
duces the febrile symptoms peculiar to that disease, as well as 
the headache, nausea, vomiting, nosebleed, salivation, angina, 
hoarseness and cough, lachrymation, photophobia, hemorrhages, 
etc. The mercurial pustules will be considered under the head 
of cutaneous diseases. They are found under Mercur. viv. (No. 
162 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
1, 4, 5, 6), and several older writers enumerate pustules among 
mercurial exanthemata, as we shall see hereafter. 
Under Corros. sub.: Burning and redness of the skin, a bulla 
forms containing a yellow serous liquid raising the epidermis 
and after being punctured it dries up with desquamation; 
pustules on the forehead. Subjective symptoms: Itching in 
various parts of the skin which often assumes a fine prickling 
and burning character; itching ending in prickling in the mid- 
dle of the back in the skin; she wakes at one a.m. with such 
intolerable itching of the scalp that scratching with the nails 
is not enough, she is forced to make use of the comb; increased 
warmth, uncommon swelling, redness and blisters of the skin. 
CaLmel: Large pustules over the entire surface of the body; 
pustule filled with matter which desiccates; intense burning 
and redness of the skin. 
Mercur. sol.: Very small vesicles containing a watery trans- 
parent moisture make their appearance on different parts of 
the body before day-break; pustules on the upper and lower 
extremities with pus at their head and itching; eruption re- 
sembling variola directly above the anus, with pressive pain 
increased on sitting down; a pustule as large as a pea and 
filled with matter on the skin. Subjective symptoms: Itching 
converted into a pleasurable sensation by scratching; severe 
itching over the whole body causing her to scratch continually, 
especially at night, accompanied by redness and heat of the 
face (vide skin). 
We have mentioned here not only the vesicles filled with 
pus, but also those filled with serum, as we do not seek cequalia 
in our medicines but similia. It is, however, a very general 
property of the mercurial preparations to produce suppurations. 
J. Hermann classes the pustules as one of the typical forms 
of mercurial exanthemata. The eczema mercuriale criticum 
described by Dieterich and the graver forms of e. symptomati- 
cum bear a marked resemblance to variola (vide, Diseases of 
the Skin). Jussieu mentions a pustular eruption observed by 
him in the laborers in the quicksilver mines of Spain. Alley 
saw eight cases of pustular eruption, following the abuse of 
mercury, all ending fatally. It is in small-pox that we find the 
163 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
symptoms common to all the mercurial preparations. Mercur. 
sol., however, has been most extensively used; the majority of 
authors recommend this preparation to control the suppuration 
in the eruptive and suppurative stages in uncomplicated cases. 
Hartmann says: Where the suppurative fever is high in con- 
sequence of the great number of pustules, and if marked affec- 
tions of the nose, throat and eyes and perhaps salivation are 
present, it will not be easy to find a more specific remedy than 
mercury. Hummel observes that the salivation occurring in 
the suppurative stage is of itself an indication for this remedy. 
According to Kreussler, Mercur. sol.30 in daily doses is the 
specific for the typical form of small-pox, called simple or ca- 
tarrhal variola, from the attending catarrhal affections. The 
fever accompanying the simple forms will scarcely call for 
Aconite (?). Only here and there a dose of Bel lad.30 may be 
advantageously given before the appearance of the eruption, 
after which Mercurius may at once be allowed to follow. Mer- 
cury is also the chief remedy in varioloid. JBcihr distinctly 
characterizes the sphere of mercury in small-pox in the follow- 
ing words: “After the appearance of the eruption the patient 
feels tolerably well, but just here, we think, is the proper time 
to administer medicine in order to prevent the suppuration 
which can never be foreseen, and in general to keep the disease 
within its normal limits. We have but one remedy with which 
to effect this, and this is mercury. In the third stage it should 
never be given in frequent doses. It is difficult, as a matter of 
course, to demonstrate its efficacy while we have no opportunity 
for the comparison of a large number of observations, but so 
much is certain: if any medicine is to be given, mercury is the- 
most appropriate. If it is possible to prevent, by its means, 
the suppuration of abscesses and small furuncles—and this oc- 
curs in practice often enough—we are warranted in looking for 
a beneficial effect upon the suppuration of the variola-pustules, 
particularly as they present a most striking and detailed simi- 
larity of symptoms.” Kafka on the other hand expresses him- 
self to the effect that he has observed no satisfactory results 
from Tart, emet., Mercury, Thuja and Variolin. Teste recom- 
mends Corros. sub. in the eruptive stage. Jahr and Gerhardt 
164 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
enumerate the following indications for mercury: Moist tongue, 
sore throat and copious secretion of saliva, cough and hoarse- 
ness, determination of blood to the head. Irritation of the 
conjunctiva, the nasal and oral mucosa. Hughes holds quick- 
silver to be the best remedy when the suppurative fever shows 
no malignant character. While Guernsey makes use of this 
remedy in varicella with thirst and salivation, when the pus- 
tules are maturing and grow yellow; he does not mention.it 
under small-pox. In extreme cases of angina with swelling so 
excessive as to threaten suffocation Bolie uses 0, 1 grin, corros. 
sub. to 120 grms. of water as a gargle. 
From the symptoms of mercury and the recommendations 
quoted, it follows that this medicine is only admissible in un- 
complicated cases of moderate intensity, for the control of sup- 
puration and the symptoms arising from it. It has been sug- 
gested also in the diarrhoeas of the last stage In the hsemor- 
rhagic form we might consider corrosive sublimate alone of all 
the mercurial preparations for the bloody vomiting and stools, 
but we possess much more reliable remedies in Arsen., Mur. ac., 
Lachesis, Rhus tox., Secale, etc., for this form. 
For the intercurrent inflammations we must refer to the re- 
spective chapters. Biihr recommends in a general way for 
these contingencies Mercur., Bryonia, Phosphor., Ilepar, Arsen. 
9. Sweating Fever (Miliaria sudatoria). 
This rare epidemic disease, the existence of which is denied 
by Ilebra, runs its course with the following symptoms: In 
the prodromal stage, which lasts from two to three days, the 
patients complain of excessive itching of the skin, dryness of 
the mouth, greatly increased thirst, debility, headache, lame 
feeling of the extremities, pressure at the epigastrium, sense of 
suffocation and occasionally of ringing in the ears and vertigo. 
The onset of the disease, which usually falls in the afternoon 
or evening hours, is usually marked only by slight chilliness, 
only in rare cases by severe rigors, followed by a profuse and 
continuous sweating;. The breaking out of this sweat is at- 
tended with a sense of prickling and stinging in the skin, and 
is so excessive as to speedily soak through bed-clothing, ma- 
165 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
trasses, etc., and often almost macerates the skin. The perspir- 
ation has an acid reaction as a rule and an unpleasant odor. 
At the same time fever sets in, the pulse is accelerated above 
130 in a minute; the skin is burning hot; a sense of constric- 
tion oppresses the chest and throat, and an anxious feeling 
seizes upon the prsecordia. The epigastrium is found to be 
exceedingly sensitive to pressure and painful. Exacerbations 
and remissions of these phenomena are not unusual. 
By the third or fourth day of the disease the eruption makes 
its appearance. This consists almost invariably of small rounded 
spots of irregular outline two to five m. m. in diameter. Oc- 
casionally they are so numerous that the surface appears of a 
uniform redness; or they run together to form an eruption not 
unlike that of scarlet fever. After some hours vesicles show 
themselves in the centre of each, so minute at first that they 
are only to be detected by lightly pressing the finger over the 
surface or with the use of the magnifying lens. They soon 
enlarge, however, and reach the size of a millet seed, and occa- 
sionally even of a pea. They contain a clear liquid which 
gradually becomes milky, and finally yellowish purulent. Ul- 
timately after two or three days they break and dry into crusts 
which are thrown off in the form of scales. The exanthem ex- 
tends in successive crops, each of which is usually accompanied 
by fever, taking its beginning about the neck and breast from 
which it spreads to the back and extremities, rarely to the ab- 
domen and scalp. Headache, vertigo and sleeplessness are very 
constant accompaniments of the disease, and very commonly 
loss of appetite, bad taste, nausea, rarely vomiting, and moder- 
ate thirst are also present. The most invariable symptom is 
persistent constipation. The urine is turbid, highly colored 
and scanty; here and there entire suppression of the urinary 
secretion has been observed, or strangury and pain in the region 
of the bladder. A more or less extensive desquamation forms 
the last stage of the disease. 
The sense of constriction and dyspnoea occasionally reach 
such a degree that the patients cannot find a moment’s rest; 
they throw themselves about in the bed, and grow furiously 
delirious. In some cases both the sweat and the exanthema 
166 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
are wanting and the patients die with cramps of the muscles 
or convulsions. 
At times the coupse of the disease is very sudden in the 
sweating stage. The patient, who has been quiet up to this 
time, utters a few incoherent words, his face becomes cyanotic; 
the carotids and abdominal aorta pulsate violently, and fatal 
collapse follows quickly. 
Cases occur, too, in which a grave typhoid stage with som- 
nolence or coma, fainting, fuliginous coating of the tongue and 
teeth, profuse hemorrhages from the nose, uterus, etc , leads to 
a rapidly fatal termination. At other times an angina accom- 
panies the disease, more often a bronchitis of varying intensity, 
and in some epidemics diarrhoea. 
If we compare with this the febrile phenomena of mercury, 
the changes produced by it upon the skin (eczema, sweat) as 
well as that characteristic symptom of quicksilver, copious 
exhausting perspiration giving no relief, we shall be led in this 
disease, after having given Aconite, to mercury. In milder 
cases Mercur. sol. or vivus will suffice; in the graver forms we 
must resort to corrosive sublimate, while in the most severe 
cases we shall select Arsen., Bryonia, etc., according to the 
symptoms. 
In conclusion we will quote Dieterich’s description of the 
miliaria mercurialis: The disease is ushered in by a paroxysm 
of fever of an almost torpid form. The exanthem appears at 
first on the breast, followed on the next day by a further erup- 
tion, accompanied by a similar form of fever, extending over 
the back and loins. In this way the eruption breaks out in 
successive crops until, after the fourth or fifth day, the erup- 
tive stage is completed. The sudamina stand densely crowded 
together and are white. The fever does not subside after the 
full appearance of the eruption, but continues with regular 
evening exacerbations. Sleeplessness, slight deliria, even con- 
vulsions and other nervous symptoms set in. The pulse is 
small, soft, easily compressible and but little accelerated; the 
urine is pale; the skin is bathed in sweat, having, not an acid, 
but a musty smell. Some portions of the eruptions recede, 
while others remain. The febrile action of each succeeding 
167 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
day throws out the receded portions again, but they soon dis- 
appear. In this rising and falling the nervous phenomena in- 
crease, the urine becomes changed, the pulse intermits, the 
eruption recedes entirely; the skin becomes dry and the patient 
dies in a comatose state. 
Falk, who repeats this description almost verbatim, adds 
that hoarseness, great oppression of the chest, troubled respira- 
tion, violent cough, fixed pain in the chest, and even haemop- 
tysis and attacks of suffocation occur at times. The patient’s 
tongue is usually white in the beginning, growing yellowish 
and brown in the later stage and in exceptional cases moist 
and clean. The cause of death is an extensive suppuration of 
the skin followed by great emaciation, hectic fever, trembling 
of the limbs and even pulmonary consumption. These final 
symptoms enumerated by Falk appear to belong more to a 
pseudo-erysipelas than to the miliaria. 
Are other proofs called for to substantiate the similarity? 
Aconite, which is recommended by Hughes alone, will hardly 
suffice in all cases. Bahr says that mercury is to be considered 
in this disease. Kafka merely mentions the Sudor anglicus 
without discussing its therapeutics. 
10. Devgue (Breakbone Fever), 
This disease which has occurred epidemically in the East 
and West Indies, in lower Egypt, the Arabian coast and in 
Spain, usually sets in suddenly. When a prodromal’stage oc- 
curs it consists in slight rigors, headache, pains in the loins 
and along the spine, and a burning sensation in the stomach. 
With a high fever, painful swellings of several joints (rarely 
less than seven or eight) make their appearance; respiration 
becomes hurried, the skin dry and burning hot. The fever 
subsides after the third to the seventh day, with the occurrence 
of profuse perspiration or epistaxis. After a period of one or 
two days a second paroxysm of fever follows, accompanied by 
an eruption on the skin; the arthritic affection is rarely re- 
newed. During the first attack violent boring, burning pains 
are felt in the muscles and bones, with stiffness of the affected 
limbs and swelling of some of the tendons is said to occur. 
168 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The extremities seized upon are much swollen, immovable, 
painful and excessively sensitive to the touch or pressure. 
The pains are described as rheumatic, but de Wilde conceives 
them to be arthralgic, as he has observed isolated, painful 
points and the affection of single nerve trunks. 
The exanthema which is accompanied by severe itching of 
the skin, and which rarely makes its appearance in the first 
attack of fever, resembles roseola at times, at others the lichen 
tropicus, measles, scarlet fever or urticaria. 
In isolated cases it is complicated with conjunctivitis, pro- 
fuse lachrymation, inflammation of mucous membrane of the 
nose, mouth and fauces, or of the lymphatic glands. Through- 
out the whole course great thirst, loss of appetite, perverted 
taste and nausea, rarely vomiting, are present. The tongue is 
white or covered wfith a greenish-yellow coating; the urine is 
dark, but without albumen. During the fever the patients are 
restless, sleepless and affected with headache, especially in the 
forehead; some have delirium at night. Emaciation sets in 
early; debility, especially of the legs, remains for a long time 
after convalescence. Not unfrequently pericarditis is left behind 
after the attacks, but disappears in the end. Cases occurring 
in various stages of pregnancy have caused miscarriage. 
If we bear in mind the symptoms of the fever, the exan- 
thema and the arthritic affection (vide acute articular rheuma- 
tism), as well as the complications, we shall see at once that in 
some cases mercury will be indicated; but it will be suitable 
only in the milder cases and in the form of Mercur. sol. In 
exceptional cases corrosive sublimate will be called for (extreme 
languor; weak, rapid and small pulse), while in extreme cases 
Rhus tox., which has been recommended by Aitken, is to be 
preferred; Arsen, too may be of service. 
11. Influenza. 
While we'refer to the respective mercury symptoms for the 
symptoms of coryza, conjunctivitis, catarrh of the fauces, head- 
ache, to which they correspond more or less accurately, we will 
mention here those of the larynx and bronchi. 
Mercur. sol.: Dry cough; exhausting cough, short and dry 
169 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
from a tickling irritation felt in the upper part of the chest, 
more especially while speaking, which it almost prevents; 
cough which feels and sounds as if the air-passages were dry, 
with pains in the chest and loins; severe cough at night, caused 
by an irritation which rises from below, as if from the stomach, 
and occurring during waking and sleeping, without the desire 
to sit up; on alternate evenings violent, shaking cough; violent 
cough at night on trying to sleep as if the head and chest 
would burst, followed by strong desire to stretch himself; 
while coughing he feels as if he would choke; shortness of 
breath and hoarseness; sense of anxiety under the sternum, caus- 
ing him to take deep inspirations; oppression in the region of 
the sternum; painful oppression of the chest; when he lies on 
the left side he suffers from dyspnoea and has to draw a deep 
breath; a pressive pain in the side of the sternum going 
through to the back, even while at rest, in the evening, fol- 
lowed by a sore pain; burning sensation in the chest extending 
to the neck; pressing sensation in the left side of the chest 
preventing deep inspiration; pains in the chest on stooping, in 
the form of isolated stitches; only while sneezing or coughing a 
stitch in chest in the upper and anterior portion, and through to 
the back (the same from breathing, symptoms 744). Stitches 
and constriction of the chest; single short stitches in the chest, 
more in the forenoon and while walking; in the- left side of 
the chest during inspiration and at other times five or six 
severe stitches; sore pain in the chest. 
Mercur. subl. corr.: Hoarseness; voice rough and loose; ex- 
treme aphonia; irritability of the larynx; burning and stitch- 
ing in the trachea, with aphonia in the morning, for two hours; 
desire to cough coming from the larynx, toward evening, with 
dryness of the fauces and dry cough; dry cough; occasionally 
through the day attacks of spasmodic cough; attack of cough 
of a spasmodic character; cough with mucous expectoration; 
respiration slow and labored; respiration with much effort and 
anxiety; difficult breathing; pulse 112; breathing deep and 
slow; breathing loud and rattling, dyspnoea ; cramp which pre- 
vents his breathing, especially on walking; mucus adheres to 
the throat which will not loosen, with constriction of the throat 
170 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and inability to swallow; sense of constriction of the chest; 
respiration is effected by means of the costal muscles, is labored 
and irregular, with a small contracted and irregular pulse; 
oppression of the chest; constriction and oppression of the 
chest; rattling in the chest; dyspnoea; piercing pain at night, 
transversely through the whole chest; throughout the whole 
day stitching in the chest in the left mammary region on 
taking a deep breath; stitches in the right upper chest, deep- 
seated, scarcely increased by deep inspirations; stitching pains 
in the chest; slight fugitive stitches through both sides of the 
thorax; frequent stitches shooting through the chest like light- 
ning ; stitch in the side, shooting pains in the right side of 
the chest; difficult breathing. Post-mortem appearances: laryn- 
geal mucosa greyish, injected; larynx, trachea, bronchi deep 
purple, trachea pink ; trachea slightly inflamed ; bronchi bluish- 
pink ; smaller bronchi filled with mucus. 
Mercur. vivus: Hoarseness and cough with fever; cough 
without expectoration ; severe cough with expectoration; ca- 
tarrhus sufibcativus; stitching pains in different parts of the 
chest; cough with pains in the left side and left shoulder; 
severe cough, usually moist, attended with severe pain in the 
chest; constriction ; asthmatic affections; difficult breathing. 
Post-mortem: bronchial mucosa slightly reddened in spots; 
laryngeal and tracheal mucosa crowded with blood. 
Bdkr expresses himself as follows concerning Mercur. sol.: 
“ Mercury is one of the remedies which experience has taught 
us to look upon as perfectly suitable in certain epidemics, so 
that some authors claim to have seen an actual cutting short 
of the disease by its means. The coryza demands especial con- 
sideration in these cases, as it serves as a valuable differential 
sign between Mercur. and Arsen. The latter has copious, 
watery secretion which rapidly corrodes the lips and nose, 
while the secretion that indicates Mercur. is mucous. Further- 
more, this remedy is called for in case of severe pains in the ex- 
tremities, angina, very sudden depression of muscular strength, 
profuse sour or musty perspirations affording no relief, and 
diarrhcea.” G. Muller recommends it in the pneumonias which 
complicate influenza. 
171 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Kafka’s indications for Mercur. sol. are a dry, rough, deep, 
hoarse cough especially troublesome during the night, prevent- 
ing sleep; profuse perspirations giving no relief; painful diar- 
rhoeas of a dysenteric character (when corrosive sublimate may 
he called for); hoarseness with fluent coryza. 
Hughes says nothing of mercury in this affection. 
Trinks says: Mercur. sol. was effective in the more marked 
degrees of swelling and inflammation of the mucous membrane 
of the trachea and bronchi; when the respiratory movements 
are increased; when whistling, hissing noises, a veritable con- 
cert of sounds, may be heard in the wind-pipe and its larger 
branches; when the patients are unable to lie down in conse- 
quence of great dyspnoea and are forced to sit upright day and 
night; the cough is commonly short, dry, sudden and rarely 
becomes loose; fever rises in the evening hours and lasts until 
midnight; the urine soon becomes turbid on standing and 
shows much mucus. We would only be repeating what has 
already been said were we to mention all the indications given 
by others. 
Concerning Mercur. viv., Hummel says: It was the specific 
remedy in influenza, which relieved the symptoms with sur- 
prising rapidity, but had to be repeated two or three times in 
the more severe cases (Allgem. Horn. Zeii. 13). -Gross remarks: 
Where influenza was attended with an affection of the head, 
throat and chest, a dry cough preventing speech, growing looser 
at a later period, Mercur. viv. proved itself so specific that not 
only the whole disease was at an end in two or three days 
when two doses were given daily, but the first symptoms were 
nipped in the bud by it (Archiv. 13). The great similarity 
between these two preparations makes it difficult to differen- 
tiate the one from the other. According to the symptoms 
given above it will be seen that the laryngeal symptoms and 
the dyspnoea are more marked in Mercur. viv. than in Mercur. 
sol. The greater usefulness of one remedy or the other proba- 
bly depends upon the existing genus epidemicus. Undoubtedly 
Mercur. biniod. would be preferable in very severe affections of 
the larynx. Mercur. subl. corr., however, would find its place 
in grave nervous symptoms such as occur in certain epidemics, 
172 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
as restlessness, sleeplessness or somnolence, anxiety, slight de- 
liria, bronchitis, congestion of the lungs, croupous pneumonia, 
dysentery. 
12. Hay-fever. 
Although Arsen, is the chief remedy for symptoms of coryza, 
the great asthmatic disturbances and the burning pain in the 
eyes, epidemics and individual cases may occur, especially if 
the usually slight throat troubles assume a more severe form, 
in which Mercv.r. sol. or Corr. subl. will be indicated. Dart, 
who recommends the Sticta pulmonaria, mentions as similia 
Arsen* alb., Arsen, iodat., Arum triph. and Mercur. sol. 
13. Meningitis Cerebro-spinalis Epidemica. 
We must refer to the meningitis for the morbid anatomy of 
this disease as well as for the comparison of the individual 
symptoms. The violent headache, the spasmodic stiffness of 
the back of the neck, the opisthotonus or orthotonus, the in- 
tense lightning-like pains through the spine, which represent 
some of the most important symptoms of the disease, are not to 
be found under Mercurius, or at least not in the degree in which 
they occur in cerebro-spinal meningitis. On the other hand 
our remedy has the hypersesthesia of the joints, the exanthe- 
mata, convulsions, paralysis, the catarrhal or purulent inflam- 
mation of the middle ear and the manifold affections of the 
eyes. 
Inasmuch as the pathological changes caused by Mercur. and 
especially by Mercur. corr. consist in an exudation between 
the arachnoid and pia mater, these remedies are suitable as 
soon as the symptoms point to the existence of this exudation. 
According to Kafka this is made certain by the following 
phenomena: At first somnolence and apathy, the patients toss 
about restlessly in their drowsiness, waking often with a loud 
scream, or with sudden starting up, loud deliria, rolling of the 
eyes, fixed staring of the eyes, after which they relapse again 
into their stupor. As yet the pupils are not dilated, but they 
already react much more sluggishly, or they assume a partially 
squinting position so as to overlook objects near at hand; the 
173 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
hearing too, which at first is unusually keen, becomes dull. 
A certain degree of painfulness or stiffness of the muscles of 
the back of the neck is already present, as a general thing; but 
respiration is still accelerated for the most part, and the abdo- 
men slightly drawn in. 
14. Intermittent Fever. 
Scopoli described a form of intermittent in the laborers in 
the quicksilver mines of Idria, occurring in the spring and 
especially in the autumn, chiefly in badly fed and dissipated 
subjects. 
It generally appears as tertian, seldom as quartan, and is ac- 
companied with bitter taste, badly smelling eructation, qualm- 
ishness and nausea. Towards the end of a paroxysm blisters 
tilled with thin serum appear over the whole body; these blis- 
ters disappear after copious perspiration. We often find icterus 
and hydrops. As the concomitant symptoms point to mercury 
and as Idria is not a malarial district, we can only accept this 
intermittens as produced by mercury. 
In none of the post-mortem examinations on record do we 
find any enlargment of the spleen; but Halfort says, that with 
some workmen in mercury the spleen has been found enlarged. 
Schneider speaks of sclerosis of the spleen. We mention the 
following symptoms pointing to the organ in question : 
Mercur. sol.: A tensive and pinching pain in the left side? 
directly under the short ribs; a sensation which, although it is 
but little painful, still endangers life. With every inspiration 
a stitch as with a knife is felt under the short left ribs. In 
the left side under the last rib a pain as if it was swollen there. 
But it is hard to decide whether these sensations are due to 
the spleen or not. Mercur. sol. would therefore be our choice 
when heat alternates with chill; when perspiration is profuse 
sour or stinking, and does not relieve; when the thirst is great 
and the heat is accompanied by anxiety ; also when the attacks 
are complicated with icterus or skin eruptions, or when the 
diarrhoea and affections of the mouth and pharynx are charac- 
teristic of Mercur. Sleeplessness and nocturnal attacks also 
speak for our remedy. 
174 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Mercur. viv. has all these symptoms in common with Mercur. 
sol. and deserves the preference in higher doses; in neglected 
cases, or such as have been maltreated with China and in which 
the splenic tumor is not extensive. Fall-fever especially sug- 
gests Mercur. viv. 
Mercur. subl. corr. would only be called for in complications. 
Kafka recommends mercury when the fever is accompanied 
by catarrhus gastro-duodenalis, which cases appear mostly with 
cholsemia. 
IV. CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 
1. Syphilis. 
A. Primary Affections. 
a. Chancre. 
Halfort mentions that quicksilver produces ulceration on the 
genitals of workmen handling this metal, and Heyfelder ob- 
served mercurial ulcers on the labia minora of women occupied 
in looking-glass factories. 
Although other authors deny this fact, which affords proof 
of a mercurial action accordant with the law of similars, we 
find so much similarity with true chancre (which may appear 
also on other parts of the body when not originating from 
coition, e. g., on the lips by syphilization) that the locality pre- 
sents no criterion. Let us first compare the mercurial ulcer 
with soft chancre. Both forms develop from pustules, which 
at a later period burst; while the soft chancre, with the excep- 
tion of the gangrenous and phagedenic forms, remains super- 
ficial, the mercurial ulcers penetrate deeply. Both have a 
tendency to enlarge. The secretion of the mercurial ulcer is 
acrid and thin as in the phagedenic chancre, but with the 
simple form it is ichorous. The edges are cut off abruptly in 
the simple ulcer; with the phagedenic they are irregularly 
indented; with the mercurial they appear flat, irregular, in- 
dented. The base in the last form is cheesy, or like chewed 
blotting-paper; in the simple chancre it is lardaceous; in the 
phagedenic ulcer greyish-white, pseudo membranous; in the 
175 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
gangrenous it shows mortification. The most important char- 
acter of the indurated chancre, the hard are wanting in 
the mercurial ulcer. As the ulcers of mercurials are alike we 
do not enumerate the single symptoms. All homoeopaths agree 
that mercury remains the chief remedy for the soft chancre. 
Kafka uses the Mercur. sub., 2d dec. dih, because the solub. acts 
much more slowly, but only for the simple and the gangrenous 
chancre when the gangrenous parts have sloughed oft* and the 
ulcer has become clean. The indurated chancre he does not 
treat with mercurials, a practice in which we fully concur for 
the above mentioned reason, but give Kali hydro)., and only 
when this fails Mercur. biniodide. 
JBahr recommends in simple chancre Mercur. sol. in the 2d 
or 3d trit. internally, in the 2d externally; for the phagedenic 
Mercur. corr. and Mercur. prcecip. alb. lie agrees with Kafka 
regarding the gangrenous; for the indurated Mercur. sol., or if 
combined with an indolent bubo, Mercur. prcec. rub.; if with 
flat condylomata, Mercur. corr. 
Yeldham prefers Mercur. sol., 1st or 2d dec. trit., to other prep- 
arations; the Iodine compounds in scrofulous individuals. Gen- 
erally he recommends the quicksilver in young robust subjects 
with choleric temperament (in the opposite case Acid nitr.). 
These indications guide him in all forms of chancre, including 
the phagedenic. 
Jahr finds in Mercur. sol., 1st cent, trit., the chief remedy for 
the simple and the Hunterian chancre, if they come under 
treatment soon after infection has taken place. When this is 
not the case, he commences with the same remedy, but changes 
to Mercur. prcecip. rub. if no improvement sets in during the 
first week. In very much neglected cases he prefers Ginnabaris 
to all other remedies. In the treatment of phagedenic chan- 
cres he highly recommends Mercur. corr. until the destruction 
of tissue is decidedly on the decrease under the influence of the 
remedy, which I then change to Mercur. prcec. rub. 
Hughes finds Mercur. sol. indicated for the soft as well as the 
hard chancre in general, but Mercur. corr. for the phagedenic 
form. » 
Schneider treated 325 cases of chancre with globules saturated 
176 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
with the 4th to 6th dec. dil. of Mercur. sol. Inside of six to 
eight weeks full recovery took place, and only in four cases 
secondary symptoms followed. 
Gerson prescribes Mercur. sol. only for simple soft chancre 
in non-dyscratic individuals; Mercur. prcecip. rub. when the 
chancre appears with high inflammation, elevated edges and is 
combined with buboes. lie gives Mercur. corr. for phagedenic 
chancre, with tendency to gangrene; it quickly stops destruc- 
tion and soothes; also for chancres in the urethra when the 
burning, scalding pain has reached its acme, the secretion be- 
comes ichorous and the ulcer threatens perforation. 
Hahnemann gave Mercur. viv.x in one single dose; if, there 
was the slightest complication with psora, he interposed two to 
three such doses inside of six to eight days. 
Looking through our literature we find Mercur. sol. most 
commonly used for the soft chancre. But as this preparation 
is by no means sufficient in all cases, fully agree with 
Vehsemeyer and cite the dicta to which we refer: “If with the 
use of solubili.» the chancre is not clean within ten to fourteen 
days, but the ulcer eats quickly into the surrounding tissue, 
Mercur. corr. has to be given in the 2 to 3 trit. (1, 2 to 3 grains 
morning and night) instead of the solub. But the Mercur. corr. 
must not be continued too long in those cases, however suitable 
for its use; but as soon as improvement shows that it has set 
in (by budding out of single granulations, easily bleeding, etc.), 
the remedy must be changed again to solub., because otherwise 
a too quick and therefore pseudo improvement results. The 
ulcer in the latter case commences to clean from the sides 
instead of from the middle; the edges become elevated, grow 
rapidly, and in a few days under the action of Mercur. corr. 
the chancre cicatrizes. The cicatrix looks bluish-red and has a 
ball-shaped, knotty form.” We know that prcecip. rub. pro- 
duces ulcerations more quickly than other mercurial prepara- 
tions (vide Eiselt’s proving No. 6), by which Jahr’s recommen- 
dation is fully justified, especially when buboes accompany the 
disease. 
V. Mtyer says about this preparation: The red precipitate is 
in its place when the ulceration extends further under the use 
177 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of the solubilis ; when its shape becomes irregular, indented, 
the edges get puffed up and hard, and when the secretion be- 
comes lardaeeous. 
From Ginnabaris as a combination of mercury with Sulphur 
we may soon expect a quick reaction in neglected chancre; 
also when the chancre appears in cachectic and especially scrof- 
ulous individuals: or when during the existence of a chancre 
every pimple or excoriation on the penis takes on the form of 
chancre, unless the most scrupulous cleanliness is kept up. 
For the phagedenic chancre we give the first rank to Mercur. 
corr. ; for ulcus elevatum Ginnabaris is to be preferred. 
As the quicksilver lacks the infiltration and the hardness 
which characterizes the hard chancre, it is not its similimum. 
We oidy find a similar eruption to the Hunterian chancre and 
also hard pustules with the Iodides of mercury. It is but 
through the combination with iodine that mercury becomes a 
simile of the hard chancre. We therefore prefer.these combi- 
nations to all other preparations, even to Kafka’s Kali hydro- 
jod., because the mercury may act as a prophylactic against ex- 
pected general syphilis. 
Hartmann says in his Therapy: That he does not know a 
more suitable preparation than Mercur. jod., 2 to 3, in indurated 
chancre. lie prescribes it at first in short, afterwards in longer 
intervals, until the hardening has fully disappeared. 
Also V. Meyer says that he could not do without Mercur. 
binjod. in indurated chancre. 
Ginnabaris gives no proof (neither by Keidhard’s provings 
nor Audrien’s experiments) of producing indurated ulcers or 
indurations of the skin at all. Although Gerson recommends 
this remedy in primary chancres when the much elevated edges 
show a cartilaginous hardening, the pus being little and thin 
and the ulcer decidedly indolent. 
Also Cl. Mailer and Lorbacher recommended the Cinnabar 
against the indurated chancre. It seems as if mercury derives 
a greater power to affect indurations by a combination with 
Sulphur. 
b. Bubo. 
Passing by tlie recommendations of various authors regard- 
178 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing this disease, which is produced by the sympathetic irrita- 
tion of a soft chancre, or by induction of the syphilitic poison 
of a hard one, we only desire to say that in the first case we 
choose Mercur. prcec. rub., or Cinnabar or Mercur. corr.; and in 
the second case Mercur. binjod. or Cinnabaris (comp, scrofulosis). 
Which preparation deserves the preference the nature of the 
ulceration will decide. 
B. Constitutional Syphilis. 
For undoubted syphilitic eruptive-fever after the arterial system 
has been quieted by Aconite, we certainly choose mercury. 
Though preferring the Mercur. corr. generally, we prescribe 
solabilis for the complication with swelling of the joints. The 
syphilitic skin eruptions find their chief remedies in Mercur• 
viv.y sol., binjod., subl., prcec. rub., and Cinnab. See chapter on 
skin diseases. It remains to consider pointed and broad con- 
dylomata, as well as syphilitic ulcerations. 
In so far as quicksilver does not produce njorbid growths on 
the skin, but destruction of its tissues, the mercurial prepara- 
tions are inapplicable to pointed condylomata. But no prepar- 
ation produces changes in the skin so similar to broad condylo- 
mata, taking also their locality into account (e. g., margin of 
mouth, anus) as Mercur. cyanide, which Simon recommends 
against that affection; while Kafka prescribes Mercur corr., 
or if rhagade3 be present, Mercur. prcec. rub. Other authors 
stick to Cinnabar. Bahr speaks of Mercur. corr., Yeldham of 
Mercur. sol. Against syphilitic ulcerations of the skin, Mercur. 
viv. is the chief remedy, because it most frequently produces 
similar ulcers as in syphilis, only after the poison has acted 
upon the organism for a length of time. But if owing to other 
symptoms other mercurial preparations are indicated, these 
will also act favorably on the disease, since all mercurials pro- 
duce such lesions. 
As the corrosions of all mercurials acts most powerfully on 
the mucous membrane, we agree with Kafka and Yeldham who 
recommend it in ulcerations of the mucous membranes of the 
soft palate, the uvula and the pharynx. 
Gerson gives red precipitates in syphilitic knotty deposits in 
179 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the tongue, with intense, mostly burning, pains; also in affec- 
tions of the cavities of mouth and pharynx. 
If the mucous membrane of the larynx is the seat of the ulcer- 
ation, we prefer Mercur. binjod., which is also our first choice 
in tuberculous knots upon the mucous membrane. Gerson recom- 
mends Cinnabaris against syphilitic ulcers of the larynx, when 
they are torpid and symptoms of tuberculosis make their ap- 
pearance. 
Y. INFECTIONS BY ANIMAL POISONS. 
1. Glanders. 
Although the characteristic plugs are missing in mercurial 
symptoms (Mercur. binjod., perhaps, excepted) we find among 
them others presenting points similar to glanders, viz.: small 
pustules; abscesses; phlegmon; ozaena; ulcerations in the buc- 
cal mucous membrane; bleeding of the gums; difficulty in 
swallowing; swelling of the lymphatic glands; painful swell- 
ings of the joint's; colliquative perspiration, etc., so that in 
light chronic cases the choice may well fall on mercury. We 
find the following indications for this remedy in our literature: 
The intense rheumatic-gouty pains, which are pathogenetic to 
Mercur. corr., correspond to the similar affection of glanders; 
furthermore gangrenous angina, stomacace and ozsena. Amongst 
skin symptoms: Petechiae, furuncles, blisters; in the alimentary 
canal, bloody foetid involuntary stools, with tenesmus; although 
here we may prefer Arsen., Lachesis and the Acids. 
Hughes recommends mercury when the lymphatic glands are 
much swollen, in light cases. 
Kafka advises the use of Mercur. sol. in acute and chronic 
glanders when the lymphatic glands are much swollen, with 
cord-like swellings of the lymphatics. 
DISEASES OF THE CEREBRUM AND ITS 
MEMBRANES. 
1. Inflammation of the Dura Mater. 
Pathological anatomy affords us useful instruction in many 
of the results of autopsies. Under the action of Mercur. viv. 
180 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
we have exudative inflammation of the membranes; the soft 
as well as the hard are obliterated and thickened anteriorly 
(No. 31); with Mercur. corr. (No. 38) after sawing through the 
cranial bones and cutting the very strong and extensive adhe- 
sions of the dura mater, the calvarium had to be lifted with 
great care. 
Among the ethiological points testifying in favor of mercury 
we have to note: Otorrhcea and periostitis of the extra-cranial 
surface of the petrous portion ot the temporal bone, arising 
from caries. We find with Mercur. viv.: febrile signs; vomit- 
ing; vertigo; buzzing in the ear; twitchings; delirium; par- 
alysis. As the diagnosis is difficult many a cure of meningitis 
may more truly perhaps be classed under pachy-meningitis, for 
we do not find a single case of the latter in our literature. 
Inflammation of the Pia Mater; Meningitis. 
The post-mortem examinations, after poisoning with Mercur. 
corr., show the following phenomena pointing to meningitis: 
Arachnoidea (No. 27) inflamed, especially on the left side; in 
the cavities four ounces of bloody serum. (No. 28) In the 
cavities of the brain, in the cellular tissue and under the arach- 
noidea, much serum. (No. 38) All blood-vessels of the dura 
and pia mater fully injected; one lateral and one posterior sinus 
injected with a large quantity of arterial blood; the plexus 
choroideus mostly filled with blood. 
Although these facts correspond more with meningitis basi- 
laris than that of the convexities, we are still justified in the 
use of mercury, especially the corrosivus, by the experience of 
its power of absorbing suppurative exudations and of dissipa- 
ting fibrinous ones, as well as by its symptomatology. With 
Mercur. sol. and corr. we find the severe headaches; restlessness; 
sleeplessness; delirium; convulsions; sopor; grinding of the 
teeth (Mercur. sol., Symptom No. 28), insensibility of pupils, 
paralysis. 
In the stage of exudation we think of mercury when those 
remedies have already been used which correspond to the first 
stage, and there are no particular indications for other remedies. 
Hughes calls M.rcur, corr. and Kali jod. the most powerful 
181 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
remedies for chronic meningitis of a syphilitic origin, which 
disease generally comes under our treatment as syphilitic head- 
ache. 
Those tubercular granulations of the pia mater present in 
most cases of meningitis basilaris, we do not find in any prep- 
aration of mercury; not even in the case No. 37 of tuberculosis 
pulmonum under the action of Mercur. viv. Whether the men- 
ingeal exudation, mentioned in the beginning of this chapter 
under post-mortem examinations, has been found on the convex- 
ities or base of the brain, or on both, is not on record; hut we 
find exudation in the ventricles, which is due only to basilar 
meningitis. For this Mercurius is recommended by Kafka to 
promote absorption when convulsions and sopor set in, in conse- 
quence of the pressure caused by exudations at the base of the 
brain, or by the serous exudation in the ventricles. 
Buhr only mentions the name of mercury after discussing 
the chief remedies. 
Jahr says: Although mercury may be very useful in some 
cases of acute inflammation of the brain in children, I should 
not advise any practitioner to lose even a moment with it 
unless Bellad., Bryon. and especially Sulphur should have 
proved useless. 
Altschul cured a case of meningitis tuberculosa with Nux 
vom. alternately with Mercur. corr., basing the interposition of 
the latter remedy on the following: Corrosivus acts especially 
upon the brain (and heart); besides which it is capable of pro- 
ducing consumption and tuberculosis of the lungs; in large 
doses we always saw in toxic cases suppression of urine; sleep- 
iness; stupor, even coma and contractions of the lower extrem- 
ities, which symptoms we always find again in basilar menin- 
gitis tuberculosa. 
Fever and headache symptoms have to be looked for in their 
respective chapters. The symptoms already enumerated have 
to be considered in most cerebral diseases. 
Mercur. corr.: Pupils contracted (as in the first stage of 
basilar meningitis); face very full and red; the eyes shining 
and moving uneasily; pupils dilated; pupils hardly affected by 
the brightest light; pupils insensible; contraction of the cor- 
182 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rugator supercilii with partial strabismus. Double vision; 
blindness; rolling of the eyes; vomiting often and quickly 
(vide gastritis); stool harder, knottier, less; no passage of 
urine (vide nephritis); respiration slow, interrupted, sometimes 
deeply sighing; breathing very slow; contractions of the ex- 
tremities (Quarin); lower half of body as if dead, its sensibility 
is gone; sensibility of lower extremities gone; the skin was 
pressed strongly without her feeling it. General cramps and 
convulsions; twitchings; convulsive movements of the muscles 
of the face, arms anddegs; continual spasms in all extremities; 
two to three hours after taking the corrosive mercury, spasms 
appeared, at first in the toes and feet, then in hands and fin- 
gers, and afterwards in the arms and legs. Perfect paralysis 
of the upper and lower extremities; deep somnolence; he starts 
violently on going to sleep, with a concussion of the whole 
body. When she wants to go to sleep she starts suddenly. 
Starting repeatedly during sleep; sleep disturbed by frightful 
dreams. 
Timid fancies; great anxiety and uneasiness; at night greatest 
restlessness; occasional delirium; slight delirium; almost un- 
consciousness; stupor; coma. 
In,spite of these numerous corresponding symptoms many 
are wanting of great importance, which we find in other reme- 
dies, e. g., the vomiting on moving; the slow pulse in the 
second stage (only in No. 80 do we find the pulse as low as 40), 
the contracted abdomen, the constipation; the grinding of the 
teeth during sleep; the contraction of the muscles of the neck, 
with boring of the head into the pillow; the crie hydrocepha- 
lique; the frequent repetition of the same word or sentence. 
With Cinnabaris we find: Heaviness in the head; sleepy in 
daytime, restless at night; indisposition to mental work (after 
the 6th dil.); nausea at 9 p.m., afterwards bilious vomiting, 
with much retching and swollen face. During the whole time 
of the proving he was inclined to constipation; constipation, a 
single stool a week; taking the 3d dil. every day he is consti- 
pated several days afterwards. The muscles of the neck seem 
contracted; sleepiness (with several provers); restlessness and 
tossing during the whole night, with anxious dreams. As 
183 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Neidhard’s provings were made only with dilations (3, 6, 30) it 
is not surprising that we find no convulsions, paralysis, sopor, 
etc. According to the chemical composition of the llg. with S. 
we might theoretically infer the action of Cinnabar in exuda- 
tive diseases of the brain. 
Mercur. viv.: Nightly delirium; delirium; eclamptic attacks; 
sometimes consciousness; unconsciousness; delirium from time 
to time; stupefaction; continuous comatose condition; unin- 
terrupted quiet delirium (nightly hallucinations and attempts 
to escape; left the bed and room, but returned immediately on 
special request). Vomiting from rising quickly and bending 
forward, with vertigo (No. 32); screaming with convulsive 
attacks without complete loss of consciousness; sensibility of 
the skin especially diminished; partial paralysis; paralysis of 
the right arm; paralysis of the extremities with exception of 
the left arm; paralysis of the extremities; urine voided in bed* 
Swelling of the glands of the throat and neck; constipation 
for several days; in many cases somnolence; restless sleepless 
nights; heavy dreams. 
Mercur. sol.: Is senseless and speechless; she appeared to be 
asleep, but was pulseless, the body being normally warm, look- 
ing like a corpse; he sees pointed things as if they had double 
points; the eyes cannot bear the glare of fire and daylight; she 
grinds her teeth at night while sleeping; swelling of the glands 
in throat (and parotid). Nausea accompanied by vertigo with 
darkness of sight and Hushing heat; constipation for several 
days; scanty fiery red urine; stiffness of the neck (of, appar- 
ently, a rheumatic nature); itching of all the muscles of the 
right arm; the right arm is involuntarily shaken and thrown 
about all night; spasmodic contraction of the fingers and hand, 
which are bent inwards; visible twitching in the tendons of 
the fingers and toes and in the tendo Achilles; often a numb 
lameness of the thighs; involuntary twitching in the legs; 
spasmodic drawing up of the legs; they remained drawn up 
all night, although he wished to stretch them; spasmodic con- 
traction of the toes at night; twitchings; as soon as she sits 
down all her limbs go to sleep, so that she hardly feels anything 
about herself. Much inclination to sleep; sleepiness, inter- 
184 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rupted by frightful starts, palpitation of the heart and horrors 
of imagination; much sleepiness through the day; too much 
sleep by day and night; she often starts in her sleep throwing 
her arms up high. Much delirium during sleep; cannot fall 
asleep in the evening on account of frightful visions; frightful 
dreams at night; frightful dreams with starts; intense restless- 
ness all through the night; great timidity at night, causing 
him to start. 
Merc. preEC. rub. Stupor as from narcosis; violent spasms; 
very painful cramps in the lower extremities; cramps in the 
lower extremities. After recovery, a peculiar predisposition 
to an involuntary spasmodic contraction of the lower extremi- 
ties ; abdomen tensely contracted ; pupils somewhat dilated. 
The succession in which the different Mercur. preparations 
might be arranged according to their symptoms in meningitis 
is: Mercur. corr., Mercur. viv., Cinnab., Mercur. preec. rub., 
Mercur. sol. 
3. Hydrocephalus Acutus. 
In a post-mortem examination (No. 27) after poisoning with 
corrosive sublimate, we find : In the ventricles four ounces of 
bloody serum ; in another case (No. 28), much serum in the 
ventricles and the cellular tissue below the arachnoid. 
As the symptoms of this disease are very similar to those of 
meningitis, we refer to the latter, merely desiring to add that 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. for that form of hydrocephalus 
only, which is based on scorbutus; while Guernsey gives the 
following symptoms for its use: Scorbutic gums; salivation; 
glandular swellings; slimy or clay-colored stools; and Hart- 
mann speaks in the following manner in his “Diseases of 
Children“ It is not only on account of the helminthiasis 
lor which it (Mercur.) is so well indicated that I mention it 
here, hut for its peculiar power to promote the resorption of 
exudations. Nevertheless, I do not consider it so excellent in 
this disease that I should like to say any more in its praise.” 
According to Gerhardt, Mercur. may be used: For pale face 
with sunken features; cool perspiration in the face and on the 
nose ; coated tongue; sensitiveness to pressure in the region of 
185 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the liver and stomach ; turbid urine ; constipation (Mercur. viv.) 
or severe diarrhoea ; or complete debility or exhaustion, with great 
emaciation. Hirsch recommends the Mercur. viv. in a decoction. 
He boils mercury in water for lialf-an-hour and then gives 
this water, after cooling, in spoonful doses. 
Because of the more energetic action of Mercur. corr., we 
should prefer it to solub. in cases presenting the same symp- 
toms and pathological changes. 
4. Hydrocephalus Chronicus. 
Our autopsies do not give any reason for the choice of mer- 
cury (Mercur. viv.) in this disease ; for only in Mercur. viv. (No. 
37) do we find: Ventricles enlarged (perhaps in consequence of 
atrophy of brain substance). In the records of our literature, 
we only find it as an intercurrent remedy, although it acted 
well in cases published by Schwarze. Calc, carb., Sulph., Kali 
hydroj. and Arsenic remain the chief remedies. Gerhardt 
speaks in favor of the Mercur. when there is present a very 
extensive collection of water and enlargement of the cranium, 
combined with prof use perspiration, which does not relieve. 
5. Hyperemia of the Brain. 
Though in post-mortem examinations we may find hyperae- 
mia of the brain after acute poisoning with all mercurial pre- 
parations, besides several phenomena intra vitam, which seem 
to indicate the remedy, such as vertigo; headache; oversensi- 
tiveness of the senses; sudden starting; and even convulsions, 
we shall rarely be led to the choice of mercury by the con- 
comitant symptoms. 
Jahr gives the following indications for Mercury: Fulness 
in the head, as if the forehead would burst, or as if the head 
were pressed by a band around it; or with aggravation at night, 
with burning, tearing, boring or lancinating pains, combined 
with easily excited, frequent and profuse perspiration. Com- 
pare the symptoms in headache and vertigo. Although the 
record of autopsies are not given minutely enough, we may 
deduce from some of them, that the hypersemia is venous. So 
186 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
it says in the “Poisonings of Animals,” by Overbeck: Cere- 
bral vessels filled abundantly with dark blood. 
In Merc. viv. (No. 7, 8, 9) all the blood-vessels are filled with 
dark, black, fluid blood; the cerebrum and cerebellum in all 
their vessels much injected with dark fluid blood; so as to im- 
part to them a dark, red color. In Prcecip. rub. (No. 5) we 
find the meninges and the choroid plexus overloaded with 
venous blood. In other cases the condition of the blood is not 
stated. 
If we may be allowed to draw a conclusion from the few 
cases of poisoning examined, the Prcecip. rub. is the preparation 
which most generally produces hyperaemia of the brain. What 
Pommerais (Hirschel’s Zeitschr., vol. 5) says about the prophy- 
lactic action of mercury in apoplexy, may also refer to hyperae- 
mia. He recommends it in lymphatic and leucophlegmatic con- 
stitutions, with morbid nutrition ; bodily and mental weakness ; 
great inclination to sweat and catch cold ; predisposition to 
melancholy ; with stinging, boring headache, one-sided tearing ; 
stinging in the ears; intense aggravation at night, and in the 
warmth of the bed; night-sweats giving no relief; soreness; 
fatigue and quick prostration; oversensitiveness of all the 
organs. 
6. Anaemia of the Brain. 
In one of the autopsies (28) we find anaemia of the brain. 
We shall show hereafter that, in cases of chronic poisoning, 
the vertigo is based on anaemia. As the effects are only devel- 
oped slowly in chronic poisoning, we must use Mercur. viv. in 
high dilutions for anaemia of the brain of slow development. 
In our histories of diseases, we find most of the symptoms due 
to this form, viz.: Attacks of vertigo, sometimes with loss of 
consciousness and falling down. (As some patients only re- 
mained in bed on account of the vertigo ; and Kussmaul speaks 
in one case of vertigo also while in bed, we may be justified in 
the inference that it is ameliorated by lying down.) During 
the attack very pale; sometimes nausea and vertigo preceded 
the attack; headache in the forehead and neck; flickering and 
187 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
fog before the eyes ; buzzing in the ears; sleepiness, excitement, 
delirium. 
Mercur. viv. is indicated in those cases of aneemia of the 
brain which depend on a diminution of the quantity of the 
blood, and the red blood corpuscles; an atrophy of the brain 
(Autopsy 37), especially in the senile age or on diminution of 
the cavity of the cranium by exudations ; extravasations or 
syphilitic tumors of the brain and its membranes (compare the 
respective chapters). In the latter case, we should give the 
preference to Mercur. biujod. Aggravations at night or in the 
evening are a valuable indication for the choice of our remedy. 
7. Vertigo. 
According to Kussmaul, vertigo is extremely frequent and 
often becomes intense. It comes unexpectedly and suddenly, 
or with prodomes : buzzing in the ears ; sparks before the eyes, 
and vision of colors; obscuration of sight; and nausea even 
to vomiting, introduce and accompany it. It may induce the 
patient to remain in bed ; as otherwise, he may fall and injure 
himself. But even in bed the vertigo does not cease; and it is 
more frequent in the evening. The sufferers describe their 
condition as like that of a drunken person who is not sure of 
his gait. Sometimes the vertigo is accompanied with entire 
unconsciousness; the patient unexpectedly falls down sense- 
less, and remains so for a short time. 
Jahr recommends mercury for the following symptoms : Ver- 
tigo present when raising the head or getting up; or perhaps 
in the evening, with nausea, obscuration of sight, heat, an- 
guish and desire to lie down ; also when worms are present. 
Kafka uses the Iodides of Mercury, or else Mercur. corr., for 
dizziness in consequence of syphilitic tumors. 
In the cases recorded in our literature, which were cured by 
mercury, we find amongst the causes, repelled eruption and 
retarded menstruation, both, perhaps, due to ansemia. Ver- 
tigo—compelling the patient to lie down, with a rocking sensa- 
tion, even while recumbent; the patient feels as if stifled for 
want of room while lying down—Mercur. 12 and 14 were given. 
188 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
We find many analogies for the nervous vertigo in the mercu- 
rial erethism, e. g., the head is generally dull, sometimes the 
duluess is aggravated to a headache, often severe, sometimes 
intolerable. 
Vertigo and buzzing in the ears are often present. A very 
peculiar though frequent phenomenon is a certain psychical 
erethism; good workers, not naturally bashful, generally be- 
come painfully so when looked at, and are frequently unable 
to continue their work while under the eyes of a strange 
observer. The disposition becomes irritable ; the patient easily 
gets angry, and rapidly passes from fury to faint-heartedness. 
The sleep is often disturbed ; there are frequent starts with 
much dreaming, and restless and unrefreshing sleep—(Kuss- 
maul). 
Falk mentions the following symptoms in mercurial erethism: 
“ Feeling of light fluttering in the prsecordial region ; anguish 
originating in the prcecordia; sighing and yawning; palpita- 
tion of the heart; irregular heart’s action, especially weak 
during sleep ; faintness ; pale, collapsed face ; chill through the 
whole body.” 
Mercur. solub.—Vertigo in the room, so that she had to take 
hold of something to prevent falling down ; even while sit- 
ting she feels dizzy ; vertigo more while sitting than standing; 
dimness and blackness before the eyes, especially in the even- 
ing. Vertigo while sitting at the desk, as if he was intoxi- 
cated ; he gets up and walks around the room staggering; then 
he is taken with an anxious heat and nausea, which is not pre- 
ceded by vomiting ; also headache (3 days in succession at 
noon and afternoon). When, after sitting bent, he rises, he 
feels vertigo at the first moment; when resting upon his back, 
he becomes dizzy and qualmish; getting better when lying on 
the side. Vertigo; cold hands with febrile chills, then dul- 
ness of the head; intense vertigo while standing, on bending 
the head forward; vertigo compelling him to lie down; when 
walking about everything seems to turn around with him ; 
vertigo while walking in the open air, with nausea, and a sen- 
sation as if a worm were rising in the chest to the throat; 
vertigo and staggering on entering a room from the open air; 
189 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
vertigo and staggering while walking in the open air, but, in 
the room, only heaviness in the head; vertigo such that, in 
reclining, he feels like swinging from head to foot; she appears 
as if drunk after eating; the face becomes hot and red and 
swells. 
Mercur. corr.—Vertigo after stooping, getting warm, after 
work ; vertigo with coldness and cold perspiration ; vertigo 
and general weakness, especially in the joints; turning dizzi- 
ness with loss of hearing from one-half to one hour, mostly at 
evening towards 8 o’clock, and on lying down ; seldom at 
night or through the day, with tearing in the occiput; faint- 
ness. 
Mercur. cyanitl.—During headache, vertigo and intense nose- 
bleeding ; headache ; vertigo on sitting up, buzzing in the 
ears. For the hypersemic vertigo coming on suddenly, or after 
great loss of vital fluids, we have other means which may be 
preferred to mercury. 
8. Headache. 
Under Mercur. viv. we find, in our history of diseases, severe 
headache ; but mostly without any further notations. In one 
ease (No. 32) we find boring pain in the front part of the head ; 
in another one (Xo. 47), headache on getting up every morn- 
ing. 
Kussmaul says, in his resume on the Constitutional Mercu- 
rialism: Severe headache day and night, mostly drawing and 
tearing. Sometimes it is more in the forehead ; sometimes in 
the occiput; sometimes the scalp is painful to the pressure. 
Mercur. solub.—Headache, like dizziness and fulness in the 
brain ; dull in the head early on rising. In the room : heavi- 
ness and dulness in the head, especially while sitting or lying; 
the head is heavy, with a dull pain ; soon after rising, confu- 
sion and dulness in the head, which passed oft* in the open air; 
heat and pain in the whole head ; in the evening till going to 
bed, an uneasy and painful sensation in the head, aggravated 
by loud talking; ameliorated while sitting down and support- 
ing the head; burning in head ; pain in the head as of severe 
distention, which is felt all around, directly above the eyes and 
190 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ears, and in a space hardly three fingers wide; pressing head- 
ache as if the head were tightly bound by a broad ring, or 
bandage. In the evening : headache as if the brain was drawn 
tightly together by a bandage ; headache, as if directly uuder the 
skull, which seems too heavy and too tight; headache pressing 
outwardly ; headache, as if pressing out of the occiput; head- 
ache, as if the brain were pressed asunder ; fulness in the brain, 
as if the head must burst; pressing headache in occiput; head- 
ache, pressing out of the forehead, wfith pain in upper margin 
of orbits, especially when touched. Severe headache, as if the 
head would fall apart above, and pressing as if everything must 
comedown through the nose. In the evening: headache in 
the front and upper part of the head, a painful dulness with 
peevishness; pressing-out pain in the forehead, mostly while 
recumbent, ameliorated by pressing with the palm of the hand ; 
waving motion and beating all over the forehead; a strong 
tearing pain passing from the occiput to the forehead, where it 
becomes pressing; stinging in the forehead during a walk in 
open air. Tearing in the cranium, especially in the os frontis ; 
tearing headache in forehead extending to vertex ; tearing 
headache in lower part of the occiput; headache like a tear- 
ing, slow, lancinating pain, as if sore; stitches through the 
whole head; stinging pain in the forehead ; interrupted boring 
stitches in the left frontal eminence, very painful ; with chills 
all over the body ; cold hands, hot cheeks, and warm forehead ; 
without thirst (the last symptom points to neuralgia of left 
frontal nerve); tearing digging in front part of head. On 
stooping: Digging headache in the forehead, with heavi- 
ness ; pain on upper part of occiput; a boring pain in occiput; 
contracting headache; the head feels as if screwed together; 
sometimes in the fore part, or back part, or side of head, with 
watering eyes; tossing concussions in the brain, especially ou 
moving and stooping ; pressing pain in left temple and on right 
frontal eminence ; severe drawing in right temple ; twitching, 
drawing, and pinching in right temple and occiput down the 
neck ; tearing pain in outer part of head; the whole outer 
head is painful to touch ; tearing pain externally on the fore- 
head in all positions; burning outside on left temple; burning 
in skin of left part of forehead. MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Mercur. corr.—Sensation of heaviness in head ; severe febrile 
headache; pain, like drawing, in periosteum of cranial bones; 
dulness ot the whole head, excepting the temples ; dulness of 
head, especially over eyes ; head dull, dizzy in sudden attacks; 
nightly headache of a boring character ; dulness of forehead, 
with waving pain in both hemispheres ; stinging pain in fore- 
head ; disagreeable pressing in forehead, especially in the right 
frontal eminence; dulness of upper part of forehead; stinging 
frontal pain for an hour; dull pain in right frontal eminence; 
stinging in left parietal bone ; tearing, more rarely stinging, 
in left parietal bone; stinging headache, combined with pres- 
sure, above the left .eye, aggravated by bending forward (neu- 
ralgic?;. The headache affects the temple and changes above 
the left eye to pressure; pain especially around the temple; 
tearing in left zygoma; fulness in occiput. Turning vertigo 
with loss of hearing for one-half to one hour, mostly in the 
evenings towards 8 o’clock, on lying down, seldom at night and 
through the day, with tearing in occiput. 
Cinnabaris.—Feeling of heaviness in the head as after long 
continued mental labor; a dull heaviness from the forehead 
towards occiput, mostly over the'right eye and temple, with 
heat; from time to time, shooting pain through the head, from 
without inward. In the evening, from time to time, shooting 
pain in the upper part of left temple and squamous suture ; dul- 
ness of whole head, especially of forehead ; unusual sleepiness 
and heaviness over eyes. In the forenoon, heaviness in head; 
head full, heavy, with intense pulsation of temporal arteries, 
great sleepiness in daytime; symptoms of catching cold in head (?); 
fulness in head. In the evening, fulness and pressure in fore- 
head ; severe headache, eased by external pressure, pain almost 
unbearable ; headache is so severe that he could hardly lift the 
head from the pillow, lasting from 12.30 to 6 o’clock, p.m. ; 
headache is much worse after sleep; dull sensation in head, 
and pressing pain, ameliorated in open air and disappearing 
after nose-bleeding. Pressing headache ; from time to time a 
boring and gnawing on small places over the left upper part 
of head; severe constant pain in forehead, most in the right 
orbital region; severe pain in the right supraorbital region, 
192 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
back and downwards towards the ear, radiating to the side of 
the neck ; forehead very hot; the pain is worse in a room,and 
on moving the eyes and the occipito-frontalis muscle. After 
eleven hours this increases to a heavy stupefying pain, aggra- 
vated by thinking', reading, and pressure ; better in morning, 
but returning in the evening; the same headache also returns 
in the morning at 11 o’clock, with inclination to sleep while 
reading, although he took much pains to remain awake ; better 
in the open air, and after eating and sleeping; tired feeling in 
head as after continual mental labor; a dull, pressing pain in 
forehead antero-posteriorly, especially over the right eye and 
temple ; with heat of the head, and from time to time, shoot- 
ing pains from without inward. Dull pain in the cold fore- 
head, ameliorated by applying a warm hand; at a place above 
and between the superciliary ridges within the space of a 
quarter dollar, sensation as if pressed with a cold metal; while 
the corresponding place inside of cranium seemed to be warmer 
than usual. Almost every morning, after getting up, a dull 
pain in forehead and vertex, worse when lying on left side and 
on the back, going off after turning over on right side and 
pressing the head into the pillow; changing back to former 
positions brings back the pain, which disappears again under 
previous conditions, and after rising and washing (with two 
provers). Dull pain in forehead, above eyes, in the afternoon, 
which gets worse in the evening and by motion; severe pain 
in forehead, remaining all night; dull pain in forehead all 
day; a pressing pain in forehead, spreading upwards, seems to 
he located between the skin and muscle; aggravated while 
lying and pressing the head to the pillow. At noon, beating in 
forehead ; stinging pain in forehead all night; pain from right 
lachrymal canal around the eye to the temple ; drawing pain 
from right inner canthus over the superior maxillary to the 
ear; sensation of fulness and weight through the temples, with 
beating above the right temple, worse on motion; pains pass- 
ing through the sides of head and temples, the pain is in the 
neighborhood of the external brim of the right orbit, and 
more frequent on the right than on the left side; constant 
pain in right side of head, from temples to occiput. Pressing 
193 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pain in right temple ; pain in left side of head, in temples and 
supra-orbital regions. In the evening, from time to time, 
shooting pain in the upper part of left temple; dulness of 
whole head, especially in forehead just above the eyes; beat- 
ing and burning in both temples. An hour after taking the 
drug in the morning, severe pressing pain in occiput and in 
left side of head for two hours; in the afternoon she had to 
lie down and sleep, after which the pains disappeared; shoot- 
ing pains in left side of head from occiput to forehead ; turn- 
ing the head, a pain along the right sterno-cleido-mastoid ; pain 
in neck, extending to occiput on bending the head backwards ; 
the muscles of the neck feel as if they were contracted. Before 
retiring, a drawing pain in head from vertex to occiput, inclin- 
ing to the right, the pain is deep, as in the centre of the head. 
After rising, fulness and pressure in occiput and neck, continu- 
ing until noon with great severity ; sometimes pain in left side 
of occiput; painfulness from right ear towards the middle of 
posterior cervical region, as if the glands were swollen. 
With Mercur. dulc., we find headache only in case Ho. 8. 
The metallic mercury will only be valuable in chronic brain- 
affections, in which headache prevails as a symptom. Also in 
rheumatic headache, especially in the periosteum, we have to 
think of it; in the latter case, it deserves the preference to 
Mercur. solub. 
Mercur. solub. corresponds chiefly to rheumatic headache, 
also when it has its seat in the pericranium, or the bones of the 
cranium and face, or when it appears as a rheumatic neuralgia. 
According to Kafka., Mercur. solub. is indicated in neuralgia of 
the head, caused by a cold ; when the patients experience tear- 
ing or drawing in one-half of the head, and the pains are com- 
bined with stinging iu the ears, tearing in the teeth or draw- 
ing in the neck on the affected side; when the patient at first 
feels as if the head were full and would burst; when the pains 
appear with chills, cold hands, hot cheeks, without heat in the 
head, and thirstlessness, with highly increased but not amelior- 
ating perspiration; the attacks come at night in bed, aggravated 
by motion, touch, or talking of surrounding persons ; amelior- 
ated by sitting, lying, and external warmth. To avoid repeti- 
tions, we omit the recommendations of others. MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
When mercury is indicated at all, and the solub. fails, the 
corr. ought to he tried before resorting to other means; because 
it acts much more powerfully than the former. Cinnabaris 
corresponds more to the congestive state than all other mercu- 
rial preparations, the sleepiness in daytime predominates; the 
Cinnab. headache differs from that of Mercur. solub. by its fre- 
quent appearance on the right side, which is opposite in the 
latter, also by going from without inward. 
Neidhard remarks in his Cinnabar proving that recovery set 
in under the use of Cinnabar 12th and 30th in ten cases which 
exhibited the characteristic pain from occiput to forehead. 
9. Apoplexy. 
Several cases of Apoplexia mercurialis are on record, so that 
Willis advised to abstain from the use of mercurials in all per- 
sons suffering from brain disease and predisposed to spasms. 
Hoffmann (De metallurgia morbifera) assures us that all look- 
ing-glass workers are inclined to apoplexy. 
In the autopsy: Mercur. viv., No. 47, we find: A bloody, 
thick fluid, one-third inch thick, with white streaks of coagu- 
lated lymph iu both hemispheres; especially in the left one 
posteriorly. It extended along the pia mater, also around the 
tentorium cerebelli, and covered the most part of the surface 
of the cerebrum. 
If hemiplegia had not preceded death, the post-mortem might 
have left it in doubt whether this case was not one of heema- 
toma of the dura mater. 
In No. 37 we find numerous capillary hemorrhages in the 
atrophied brain. 
This shows that Mercur. viv., in high potencies, suits those 
cases of apoplexy in general which depend either on a scorbutic 
condition of the blood, or on atrophy of the brain ; although 
it will act in the latter case more as a prophylactic than as a 
curative. 
In the three cases of acute poisoning with Mercur. viv., Nos. 
7, 8, 9, we find that on slicing the brain, many bloody points 
appeared scattered in the substance of cerebrum and cerebel- 
lum; some fluid blood at the base of the brain. 
195 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
We shall rarely find the similimum in mercury during the 
attack. Baehr recommends it in the stage of reaction in those 
cases where iodine is only indicated, viz : where the reaction 
is so severe that it may be looked upon as depending on the 
inflammation of the tissues surrounding the extravasation 
(vide, inflammation of the brain). Kafka prescribes Mercur. 
(or iodine) for the remaining paralysis, to hasten the absorption 
of the extravasation, which is the cause of the paralysis in 
plethoric or strong individuals. If an inarticulate, stammer- 
ing speech remains, we should also use mercury, based upon 
the so-called Psellismus mercurialis. 
10. Atrophy of the Brain. 
The following results found in post-mortem examinations in 
Mercur. viv. point to atrophy : Brain very tirm (Nos. 28, 55, 
aud others); white substance is bluish-white, shining faintly 
(No. 28); convolutions much atrophied; ventricles wide; capil- 
lary hemorrhages (No. 87); cerebrum and cerebellum exter- 
nally and internally harder and unusually firm; less white, 
but tainted yellowish (No. 44). 
Overbeck, in his experiments with animals, found the brain, 
in two instances, more firm, compact, and somewhat cedema- 
tous. 
Also in two dissections after poisoning with Mercur. corr., 
w’e find the brain substance firmer. But in the one case (No. 
84), the subject is an epileptic; and in the other (No. 27), it is 
said to be a little firmer than normal. It would not be easy 
to explain how atrophy could have developed in these two 
cases, which terminated in death soon after taking the poison. 
11. Partial Sclerosis of the Brain and Spinal Cord. 
Here we follow Charcot (Clinical Lectures on Diseases of the 
Nervous System),Buehwald,Leube,Sclmle, etc. (German A rein v 
for Clinical Medicine, vols. 8, 10). In the first period, we find 
appearing, either suddenly or gradually, a sensation of heavi- 
ness, weakness, crawling in the lower extremities; in some 
cases, complaints of shooting pains here and there through a 
196 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
whole extremity; severe lancinations in arms and legs, and 
sometimes rheumatic drawing and tearing. The legs give out 
after short exertion ; afterwards the upper extremities are 
affected in like manner. These phenomena gradually pass into 
one-sided or complete paralysis. Before, with, or after these, 
cerebral symptoms set in : Vertigo, headache, disturbance in 
the functions of the optic nerve, viz.: Diplopia; strabismus; 
nystagmus; difficulty of speech; slow, heavy, monotonous, 
scant speech ; disturbances in the glosso-pharyngeus are more 
rare. The slow, heavy speech is caused by a certain slowness 
and clumsiness in exercising the finer movements of the tongue ; 
the interrupted speech is caused by the impossibility of retain- 
ing tbe vocal cords in strong tension for a sufficiently long 
time. After a longer or shorter time, a symptom appears 
wdiich is, according to French authors, the most important 
and the most valuable of all for a differential diagnosis, viz.: 
A trembling in the muscles, first of the lower extremities, 
afterwards the upper ones; of the head, tongue, and bulbus; 
but only during voluntary motions and not during perfect rest. 
The sensibility is, in most cases, intact; but sometimes reduced 
to analgesia. The electro-muscular sensibility is only slightly 
reduced ; the nutrition of muscles does not suffer. Intelli- 
gence and memory are not affected. Remissions and inter- 
missions are frequent. 
In the second period, which develops sometimes very slowly, 
sometimes rapidly, all symptoms become worse. Remissions 
and intermissions are rarely observed ; but sudden aggravations 
are also rare. The patients cannot walk without support; the 
times of the day have no influence; in the third case (Leube’s 
Archiv for Clinical Medicine of B.) the patient observed that 
he walked with greater difficulty at night than in the day- 
time, at the beginning of the disease ; th° gait is like that of 
a drunken person, and never resembles that of locomotor 
ataxia. 
To the paralytic symptoms are added contractions in the 
extremities; tonic and clonic spasms (Charcot’s Spinal Epi- 
lepsy), occurring spontaneously or during intended move- 
ments. Pain is seldom present. The disposition is change- 
197 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
able; the mental functions diminished, and the difficulties of 
speech are more striking, as the patient speaks quite unintel- 
ligibly. 
In the third period, the picture becomes even more sorrow- 
ful. The patients are condemned to all the irksome conse- 
quences of keeping perfectly still; they have to be fed, as they 
strike their faces when trying to feed themselves. In some 
cases, the tremor is exceedingly severe when the patient pays 
great attention to himself. The contraction either remains in 
the extremity or complete stiffness or paralysis sets in in the 
extended position, with the exception of an occasional flexure 
of the fingers. As rare occurrences during the disease, Char- 
cot mentions apoplectiform, and epileptiform attacks; hemor- 
rhages in the brain or softening of this organ. Disturbances 
in nutrition and digestion commence; the domain of the 
glosso-pharyngeus is sometimes engaged in the process ; paraly- 
sis of the sphincters of bladder and rectum ensues; the psy- 
chical functions are more and more impaired; and at last we 
encounter apathy, imbecility and mental stupor. 
If the patient does not die from intercurring diseases, the 
exitus lethalis will be caused by decubitus, emaciation, or affec- 
tions of the organs of digestion and respiration (asthmatic 
attacks); perhaps sequelae of nervous disturbances. The most 
frequently intercurring diseases are pneumonia, cheesy tuber- 
culosis, and dysentery. 
This picture we shall compare with the tremor mercurialis, 
as Dieterieh, Falk and Kussmaul describe it, and as it also cor- 
responds to those diseases given under Mercur. viv., B. It is 
by no means uncommon for the tremor mercur. to set in with 
a series of mental symptoms. The patients complain of ver- 
tigo, which may become so severe that they fear to fall if they 
do not sit or lie down, or take hold of some firm object. This 
vertigo is not caused by an imaginary failing of support by the 
lower extremities, but by cerebral disturbances, the reality of 
which can be proved by other symptoms. There is often 
present at the same time headache, buzzing in the ears; restless 
sleep, frightful dreams and sleeplessness; the vertigo appears 
mostly in the evening. Sometimes the patients feel a crawling 
198 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and numbness of the hands, more rarely of the feet; or they 
feel slight drawing in the arms, in the direction of a nerve, 
which, after a short time, also sets in at the lower extremities, 
giving to the patient a tense feeling of the muscles in walking; 
they get tired after short exercise. During this drawing sen- 
sation, the patient is sometimes surprised by automatic move- 
ments of the muscles. After a while the extremities are 
affected with trembling, and for this reason the patients move 
with a certain haste, as for instance, in walking, they throw 
their feet forward. In a lower degree, the patients walk with 
their legs spread, as in tabes dorsalis. They cannot exercise 
intended motions correctly; they hurry to respond to the 
impulse of the will, by muscular contractions; but these are 
not executed as intended, either as to strength, space, or time. 
Instead of promptly executing the intended motion, the ener- 
vated muscles begin to tremble. Sometimes they succeed in 
certain round-about ways and with unusual co-operative move- 
ments; at others they are hopelessly embarrassed by the power- 
ful action of large groups of neighboring muscles. They can- 
not handle small objects at all, although they may find little 
difficulty with larger ones. 
The trembling now gradually increases so that the patients 
get more and more uncertain in all their movements, at last, 
they can neither walk, sit, nor stand. Afterwards, vibrations 
of the muscles of the chest and neck become synchronous, so 
that the head shakes on the neck. In consequence of the con- 
vulsive movements of the muscles of the tongue and larynx, 
stammering (Psellismus mere.) sets in. Sometimes speech be- 
comes in this way quite unintelligible. The trembling may 
increase to perfect convulsions. Tlirt also mentions nystagmus 
as a symptom of workers in mercury. All these convulsive 
motions of the animal muscular system are highly increased 
by emotions, so that the patient trembles a great deal more 
when he knows himself watched while executing an intended 
motion. But rest acts favorably when the patient lies down, 
having the whole body supported, the trembling soon stops. 
Sometimes it stops spontaneously, but paralysis takes its place. 
The muscles are roused to strong reaction by electricity ; the 
199 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sensibility of the skin is sometimes diminished (comp. No. 36, 
Mercur. viv.). 
Often sight and hearing become impaired ; afterwards, a de- 
pression of the psychical functions sets in ; the patients become 
melancholic and apathetic; the memory and the faculty of 
judgment are enfeebled, until imbecility develops in some cases. 
Dyspepsia, weakening diarrhoea, emaciation, with pale, livid 
complexion are concurrent symptoms. 
Although the picture of idiopathic sclerosis of the brain and 
spinal cord varies according to the nerve-centres which are 
affected; the striking resemblance of its symptoms with those 
of the tremor mere, cannot be overlooked. Unfortunately, the 
pathologico-anatomical examinations of the brain of those who 
have suffered from tremor mere., have been too superficial to 
furnish clear evidence of the existence of sclerosis, but the 
hardness and atrophy of the brain which was manifest in 
several cases, corresponds with some superficial microscopic 
examinations of partial sclerosis. But we shall still assert that 
in tremor mere, a sclerosis of the brain is in question ; the 
spinal cord being slightly or not at all affected. 
The vertigo; the disturbance of speech and of the organs 
of sense; the changes in the psychical sphere ; the asthmatic 
attacks which we find in some cases (which are also present in 
sclerosis of the brain and spinal cord), must be traced back to 
changes in the cerebrum and cerebellum; the pons varolii and 
the medulla oblongata. Kussmaul, who does not discuss the 
kind of change, also traces the trembling as well as the paraly- 
sis to the brain. The reasons which he gives for this conclu- 
sion are these: “The reflex-excitability of the muscles is 
intact; and when the sensibility is diminished, the gray sub- 
stance of the spinal cord does not, therefore, seem to be much 
injured. Against the peripheric and spinal origin are urged . 
(1) The exciting of trembling and convulsions by affections 
of the mind , or, at least, increase of the former by the latter. 
(2) The intentness of the will causes trembling or increases it. 
(3) The muscles of the face generally commence to twitch and 
tremble at a very early period; and the arms are mostly 
affected before the legs. (4) The frequent implication of heart 
200 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and respiration point to the medulla oblongata. (5) Paralysis 
of the bladder and rectum supervene only in fatal eases during 
the last stage. (6) Unmistakable cerebral symp'oms of other 
kinds are almost always* present, especially headache, vertigo, 
sleeplessness, ill-humor, inclination to hallucinations, etc. 
The constancy of phenomena in mercury compared with the 
variations of symptoms in idiopathic sclerosis, is easily ex- 
plained, because the specific action of our drug extends only 
over certain parts of the nerve-centres. Even those rare affec- 
tions in the progress of the disease, such as apoplectiform and 
epileptiform attacks, hemorrhages and softening of the brain, 
we find in our history of Mercur. viv. 
What may we expect from the therapeutic use of mercury 
in this disease ? 
If the pathological changes have already made a great pro- 
gress; if paralysis has set in; if the disease has entered into 
the third stage, we cannot expect anything from remedial 
measures. But if the disease is diagnosed in the beginning, 
the experiment with Mercur. viv. in high potencies will cer- 
tainly not be without success ; the more so as in the initial 
stage, there is a tendency to intermissions and remissions, and 
the duration extends over many years. 
12. Encephalitis ; Softening of the Brain, 
In the recorded autopsies after Mtrcur. viv., we find nowhere 
an abscess of the brain. In one case (Ho. 30) the brain was 
softened. 
Halfort says that traces of inflammation and softening have 
been found in the brain of mercury-workers. 
Hughes says that one or both hemispheres were found soft- 
ened with effusion in the ventricles of workers in mercury. 
Therefore, the application of mercury would be justified in 
this disease, with its difficult diagnosis. 
Kafka recommends Mercur. sol. in strong individuals. Baehr 
places it after Arnica, which he advises to use only in the 
beginning. Hughes has most confidence in Mercury. 
Of the symptoms which indicate it we name the following 
ones: Headache; vertigo; staggering gait; sensitiveness of 
201 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the organs of sense; pains in the limbs; paralysis. In mind 
and soul: Apathy; slow thinking (hesitated long before he 
could answer a question, Ho. 6, in several mercurial prepara- 
tions); what he spoke did not have the necessary connection ; 
nor did he express his feelings exactly ; in the evening his 
mind was so weak that he looked several times at the gentle- 
man who spoke to him, without understanding what he said. 
Proving of Mercur. corr. 
It takes from him acuteness of intellect, makes him fttupid ; 
he does not hear what is asked; cannot remember what he 
reads; and easily makes mistakes in talking; mind very weak, 
his memory is impaired, and he gives wrong answers to 
questions The thoughts vanish sometimes for several minutes, 
lie does not know where he is; he could not calculate nor 
reason out anything. Mercur. sol.: Loss of memory, heavi- 
ness of speech, stammering, trembling, or convulsions ; the 
five latter symptoms very often with Mercur. viv. Also ambly- 
opia, hardness of hearing, dysphagia. We come then to the 
conclusion that Mercur. sol. and corr. are more suitable for 
acute cases, wlile Mercur. viv. might be thought of, rather in 
chronic ones, with deep disturbances of the cerebral functions. 
13. Tumors of the Brain. 
These may find their remedy in Mercur. under certain con- 
ditions, when they are of a syphilitic nature; but also some- 
times when they originate from affections of the bones of the 
skull. As a palliative, it will sometimes be suitable according 
to the law of similars, for certain symptoms which may be 
looked for in the respective chapters, viz.: for the headache, 
vertigo and vomiting, neuralgia, crawling sensation, twitching 
of muscles, peripheric paralysis, amblyopia, amaurosis, epilep- 
tiform convulsions, early marasmus, etc. 
That mercury also influences the psychical conditions, we 
have seen from the chronic toxications caused by Merc. viv. 
Esquirol counts among 351 imbeciles, 14 whose disease origin- 
14. Mental Diseases. 
202 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ated in abuse of mercury. Edme even states that among 20 
patients who entered the insane asylum of Charenton, 19 had 
passed through one or more mercurial treatments. If we allow 
that, in many of these cases, is more to be blamed than 
mercury, there remains a sufficient number of the latter to 
render the drug a simile in many cases of psychosis. While 
mental exaltations with delirium, hallucinations and illusions 
are rarely caused by mercury, we tind much in its relations to, 
(a.) Conditions of depression: From hypochondriasis and melan- 
cholia down to idiotism and imbecility, which requires careful 
study. According to Dietrich and others, the hypochondria 
mercurialis is, for the most part, a consequence of the fear 
which the patients derive from the large quantity of mercury 
they have taken. Ill-humor, dejection of spirits, unusual 
irritability, anxious care for their state of health, fear of death, 
and other signs of disturbed mental functions make their ap- 
pearance. These affections develop mostly in a chronic way, 
and are generally the forerunners of deeper mercurial affec- 
tions; of mercurial nervous suffering. Mercurial idiotism 
generally develops chronically, rarely in an acute form, and 
may increase from hardly perceptible weak-mindedness, to per- 
fect imbecility. Furthermore, the phenomena of mercurial 
cachexia appear more or less distinctly. This affection seems 
to develop more in childhood and youth. 
Kussmaul says: “ As these crazy notions (hypochondria mere.) 
are caused by the fear of the injurious sequelae of the mercury, 
we can hardly attribute them to mercury itself.” How then 
shall we explain the hypochondria of the mercury workmen? 
and how the idiopathic hypochondria and melancholy, which 
also originate in anxious care for the bodily welfare, and which 
often lead to paralytic idiotism without a traceable cause for 
their origin (not to mention hereditary disposition) ? Is it 
not more plausible to attribute to mercury certain changes in 
the brain, which direct the train of thought into this track? 
Kussmaul says: A dulness of the mental functions; a weak- 
ness of judgment and memory frequently accompany the con- 
stitutional mercurialism, remain a long time after it, and often 
reach high degrees. 
203 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
With Mercur. viv. we find, according to the histories of dis- 
eases, the following conditions of depression: Anxiety; extra- 
ordinary timidity ; is easily frightened ; spirits very much de- 
pressed; she is always crying; confusion; complete absent- 
mindedness ; memory much weakened ; memory almost com- 
pletely lost (twice); intellect becomes weak; idiocy (three 
times). 
Mercur. sol.—Mind restless, uneasy, depressed; fear without 
definite apprehensions; indescribable feeling of an internal 
unbearable suffering, during which he keeps quiet, and does 
not want to leave the bed ; thinks he suffers infernal torture; 
fear; fear as if he had committed a crime; nowhere rest, 
always anxious ; fear and anxiety, he did not know where to 
hide himself, it was as if he had committed a crime, without 
passion; also as if he was not master of his senses, all day; 
fear, which urged flight, as if he had done something wrong, 
or as if a misfortune was at hand ; he thinks he must lose his 
mind; thinks of death, with illusions—for instance, he sees 
water running where there is none (early); abstraction of mind, 
as if he had done something wrong; no desire for any earnest 
work; in the evening very apprehensive, starting; he has no 
courage to live; he rather wishes to die ; is indifferent towards 
everything, even his favorites. All day great excitability with 
much indifference; he became angry when others laughed 
over a mere trifle; and was at the same time quite indifferent 
about everything surrounding him ; he is indifferent towards 
everything in the world; has no desire to eat, but still 
when he eats it tastes well to him, and he can take the 
usual quantity ; complete indifference. Everything affects him 
unpleasantly, even music; indifference of mind ; he is very 
much dissatisfied with himself and his situation without any 
reason; all day ill-humor with anxiety ; he always expects 
something disagreeable; all day ill-humored; he was very dull 
and irritable. All day peevish and angry; he thought all his 
troubles would be for nothing at last; during the whole day 
peevish, as if dissatisfied with himself, and had no desire what- 
ever to speak and joke; longing for home; an almost irresist- 
able desire to travel faraway; irrepressible crying, with relief. 
204 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
It takes from him all acuteness of mind; it makes him dizzy; 
he does not hear what was asked; cannot well remember what 
he read, and makes mistakes in speaking ; mind very weak ; he 
can hardly remember, and gives wrong answers to questions; 
his thoughts vanish; his thoughts vanish sometimes for several 
minutes ; he does not know where he is ; he can calculate 
nothing and reason out nothing ; is senseless and speechless. 
Mercur. corr.—Anxious imaginations; in the evening the 
mind is so weak, that he looks at the speaker without under- 
standing him; weakness of mind, he stares at us and does not 
understand us; he cannot sleep at night on account of fear; 
great fear and uneasiness ; ill-humor; often bad humor so that 
you can do nothing to please him, alternating with cheerful- 
ness; indifference; head heavy and confused, what he speaks 
has neither the right connexion, nor does it express his ideas ; 
at the same time great restlessness, of the whole body, which 
makes quiet rest impossible, and causes him to leave the bed ; 
at night the patient cries, and her screams fill the whole 
house. 
With Mercur. prcec. rub. we only find great anguish (in No. 3). 
With Mercur. dulcis. (No. 12), great anguish. 
Cinnabaris: Indisposed for mental work. Since he has 
taken the medicines it is very difficult for him to fix his 
thought on any one object for any length of time, and his 
mind seems to be affected generally ; he finds it difficult to 
arrange his thoughts and study with advantage. Depressed, 
melancholic, cynical state of the mind ; forgets to put out the 
light, and to write down the symptoms; peevish and disposed 
to weep—he scolds others; he is inclined to get angry about 
trifles, and is dissatisfied with himself; greatly depressed after 
meals. In the afternoon, his friends remark that he is very 
peevish and ill-humored; fear of being ruined himself or of 
others being lost; indisposed to speak, it is unbearable to him 
to be spoken to; he wants to be alone. 
In the fourth history of different mercurial preparations, 
Dietrich tells us of a case of idiocy after the abuse of mercury. 
In No. 6 the following symptoms appeared: Great anxiety 
and restlessness; general confusion of ideas, so that he spoke 
205 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
without order and combination ; and although he came to him- 
self again afterwards, he always hesitated long before he could 
give a suitable answer to a question. As in these cases, a cold 
was the cause, after the abuse of mercury. Dietrich feels in- 
clined to ascribe these mental diseases to a rheumatic (?) process 
of the membranes. 
Jahr classes Mercur. sol. according to Hahnemann’s Materia 
Medica Pura, among the most important remedies for melan- 
cholia; hypochondria; disgust of life; misanthropia; love 
sickness; home sickness, etc. 
In our literature we find four cases of suicidal mania (mostly 
with anxiety) cured by rffercury. In one case the cause was 
suppressed footsweat; concomitant symptoms; sometimes 
pressing or stinging headache mostly on the forehead, only in 
daytime ; sadness, with weeping. The disease was of fourteen 
years standing, having been treated in vain by Plumb, ac., 
Aurum, Ilepar, Arsen., Phosphor., while Mercur. sol. cured. 
(Pitet, Allgem. Horn. Zeitung, vol. 50.) The second case was 
a syphilitic woman who was suffering from a suicidal and 
homicidal mania, especially at the time of her menses; also 
sadness, involuntary weeping; a sort of indifference towards 
everything; and especially great fear to do evil and of commit- 
ing suicide ; at the same time something urges her to kill her 
husband, whom she loves very much, and she begs him to 
put his razor aside. She was cured by Mercur. viv. 12 in a few 
months (Ibid). 
Tn the third case, the cause was suppressed footsweat. As 
soon as the patient saw an open window or a cutting instru- 
ment, he was thrown into a perspiration, with heat of the face, 
and felt an almost irresistible impulse to kill himself. Whether 
Mercur. viv. or sol. cured is not stated. (Hermel.) 
In the fourth case, the suicidal thoughts were excited by the 
least contradiction ; and the cure accomplished with four dnses 
of Mercur. viv. at fourteen days intervals. (Hahnemannian 
Monthly, 5, Dulac.) 
Having noticed, that, especially with children who are ex- 
posed to mercurial fumes, idiotism and imbecility will be 
easily originated, we are directed to its use in scrofulous chil- 
206 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
dren whose mental functions develop slowly. But the chief 
remedy in such cases will be Calc, carb., besides Silicea and 
Sulphur. 
Although the tremor mere, offers many analogies with para- 
lytic idiotism, we can hardly expect anything in fully devel- 
oped cases. But mercury corresponds with these sad mental 
conditions. 
(b.) Exaltations: 
(1) Mercur.viv.: Nightly delirium (twice); delirium day and 
night; from time to time delirium; interrupted quiet deli- 
rium; at night hallucinations and attempt to escape, left bed 
and room but returned immediately after expostulation. 
(2) Mercur. sol.: Great fright from a little surprise; she 
trembles all over; she is as if paralyzed, and her right cheek 
is deeply flushed, right cheek swelled and became bluish-red, 
remaining so for two hours; she was so exhausted, that she 
could not quiet herself; all the limbs were as if beaten; severe 
chill; staggering of the knees, compelled her to lie down before 
bedtime. Uneasiness; has no rest anywhere; he can neither 
stand nor lie, and is almost crazy; or as if he had committed 
a great crime. He has no rest, must go here and there, and 
can rest nowhere long; greatest restlessness all night; first he 
gets up, then lies down again, etc.; he found rest nowhere. 
Irritable; angry; enterprising; very angry and irritable, very 
suspicious. Quarreling with everybody; assumes to be right 
in all cases; quarrelsome ; all day peevish and suspicious. lie 
treated the people with whom he associated almost insultingly; 
and looked upon them all as his greatest enemies. An almost 
irresistible impulse to travel far; rapid talking; he spoke non- 
sense ; he is foolish ; he made a fire in the stove at night 
(during the heat of summer); places daggers crosswise, and 
put candles in one corner of the room and boots into another, 
everything done earnestly ; indifferent to heat or cold, but in 
his head he felt dull and heavy. Insanity : she uncovers her- 
self at night, and pulls the straw around the room, scolding 
the while ; in daytime she leaps (like a lively person) in the 
open air as well as in the room ; she talks and scolds a great 
deal to herself; she does not know her nearest relatives; smears 
207 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the saliva, which she spits often, around with her feet, and 
partly licks it up again; she also often licks up cow-dung and 
the dirt out of ditches; she often takes little stones into her 
mouth, without swallowing them, complaining at the same 
time that they cut her intestines; she does not hurt anybody, 
but defends herself strongly when anyone touches her; she 
does not obey any order, does not come to table, although she 
eats and drinks irregularly through the day; she looks very 
pale and sunken, and seems to be much weaker than before. 
Taking a walk, he was much inclined to grasp by the nose 
the people who met him, using two lingers. 
Cinnabaris: Every little noise around the house irritated 
him as if it meant something serious; restlessness and insom- 
nia at night on account of constant How of ideas from one sub- 
ject to another; irritability; involuntary thoughts and illu- 
sions without cause. 
Mercur. cyan.: The night was spent sleeplessly ; he was 
much excited and talked without stopping, he got angry at his 
attendants and talked crazily in his fury, and the next night 
it was the same. 
Mercur. corr.: Light delirium; she did not know what she 
did; sometimes delirium: the mental power is undisturbed, 
except a sort of monomania ; increased cheerfulness and fa- 
cility of mental exertions ; absent-mindedness. 
We find a single case in our literature, belonging here, in 
which the passage from the stage of depression to that of ex- 
altation was induced by Mercur. sol.2, 1-2 grains every three 
hours; at the same time the following symptoms were present: 
signs of insanity appeared after repeated trouble, on account 
of an inheritance; she did not care for her household as 
usual ; became indifferent and laconic, and began to talk 
nonsense. Disappearance of appetite; constipation ; sleep 
much interrupted. After three days such aggravation that 
she now presented the following symptoms: She is much ex- 
cited, red in the face with sparkling eyes ; tosses around in 
bed, tears the clothes from her body, tosses in bed as if looking 
for something, and does not know anybody. The people ap- 
peared to her to be larger in face and body, and the legs longer, 
208 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
so that she t,ook,g. g., children for stout dwarfs. On contradict 
tion, she is much excited,and strikes at all around her. Pulse 
full, hard, quick; skin hot and dry; urine dark, without a 
sediment; passes stool and urine in the bed, and likes to be- 
smear herself all over with it. Tongue thick and coated yel- 
low. Talks nonsense ; only sometimes when severely addressed, 
she gives a short, correct answer, like one awaking from a 
heavy dream. Very sensitive to noise; even the noise of the 
lire in the stove is unbearable. On the walls she sees fire, 
sometimes also black men and animals (Opium1, Bell.2, llyos.2, 
useless). When there is no stool for two or three days, severe 
congestions of the head set in. New symptoms after three 
weeks treatment : dirty yellow color of the whole body, espe- 
cially of the face ; the region of the liver a little swollen, but 
nearly painless. Therefore. Mercur. sol.2, 1-2 grains every three 
hours, the following day the patient spoke more sensibly, and 
recognized the people about her. Cured in eight days. 
(Hirschel’s Neue Zeitschr., 7, Battmann.) 
In our view, Mercur. viv. deserves the preference over all 
other mercurial preparations, in combating the morbid affec- 
tions which threaten to result in idiocy. The action of mer- 
cury upon the brain is a very conspicuous and penetrating one, 
especially shown in chronic poisoning. Its powers in this di- 
rection are, however, but imperfectly understood and appre- 
ciated. This inadequate recognition of a valuable remedy is 
perhaps due partly to a neglect to study the records of chronic 
poisoning by the drug, and partly to an habitual reliance on 
the assumed completeness of Hahnemann’s provings. The 
pathological changes of the brain produced by mercury, have 
been already stated in other chapters, to which the reader is 
referred. 
7. AFFECTIONS OF THE SPINAL CORD AND ITS 
MEMBRANES. 
Only a few pathological anatomical observations justify the 
conclusion that mercury may affect the spinal cord ; they are 
as follows: Kastner, Jr., relates a case in which a patient 
suffering from mercurialism, wTas severely afflicted with neu- 
209 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ralgic pains in the lower extremities, which no remedy could 
cure. Post-mortem examination revealed a somewhat exten- 
sive portion of the cord atrophied and wilted; cord very soft 
(No. 30, Mereur. viv.). Upon the dura mater of the cord there 
were lamellae of bone (No. 56, Mereur. viv.). Mercurial tremor, 
as previously stated, proceeds from the brain. The paralytic 
affections may also be regarded as spinal, as we shall see here- 
after, although the majority of phenomena indicate their cere- 
bral origin ; probably they originate in both nerve-centres. 
Before proceeding to the discussion of the individual diseases 
of the spinal cord, we will enumerate the symptoms of indi- 
vidual mercurial preparations relating to the subject! 
Mercurius vivus: Some pain on pressure upon the fourth and 
fifth dorsal vertebrae (No. 42); attacks of eclampsia (No. 37); 
convulsions (Nos. 25, 30, 36); convulsions without loss of con- 
sciousness (No. 30); partial paralysis (No. 20). Paralysis of 
the extremities (Nos. 30, 60). Paralysis of the extremities 
with exception of the left arm ; later, the mobility of the arm 
returned, but the legs remained paralyzed (No. 30). Paralysis 
of right arm (No. 45); urine voided into the bed (No. 35); 
diarrhoea with unconscious discharges (No. 28). Sensibility of 
skin considerably diminished (No. 36). Feeling of numbness 
(Pelzigsein) in the hands (No. 38). Drawing pains in right 
thigh (No. 47); also pains in various parts of the body; fre- 
quent constipation, sleeplessness. 
Mercurius solubilis: In back and thighs, piercing pain with 
weakness of back, knees and feet. In back and legs, piercing 
pains on being touched, lie felt as if be had no steadiness or 
strength in back and lower legs, from knees to soles. Sharp, 
prickling pains in spine between the shoulder-blades. Burn- 
ing hot sensation over the whole back. Twitching of entire 
muscles of the right arm (815). The right arm is shaken and 
tossed all night (816). It seems to draw the fingers of both 
hands crooked, mostly the thumb, so that it is entirely in- 
verted, as in epilepsy ; without assistance, and in spite of great 
exertion, he is unable to straighten the fingers more than two- 
thirds, with trembling of the hands (852). Cramp-like con- 
tractions of the fingers and hand ; they are drawn crooked 
210 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
(853). Painful cramp of fingers and hand; first stretching 
the fingers so that she could bend them only with difficulty, 
but cramp after bending them, so that the fingers were drawn 
inwards (854). (In the afternoon) the thumb is drawn toward 
the index-finger (of the left hand which, during sitting pos- 
ture, was held horizontally);' this thumb and index-finger re- 
mained for several minutes very firmly pressed together by the 
cramp; at the same time there was fine prickling in the 
thumb; thereupon the thumb parted of itself from the index- 
finger, while previously it could not be separated even by force 
(864). Visible twitching in the tendons of the fingers (of the 
toes and tendo achillis), with severe chills and rigor in the 
evening, which tossed him up high (867). Involuntary twitch- 
ing in the legs (905). Cramp-like contraction of the toes at 
night (964). Convulsive jerking (999). Involuntary twitch- 
ing of the limbs (1000). In various parts, cramps on motion 
(1008). Cramp-like drawing up of the lower legs; they re- 
mained drawn up all night, although he desired to stretch 
them out (925). The hand is rigid and stiff (839). The legs 
are stiff when walking (884). She is scarcely able to drag her 
legs, they seemed too heavy (907). Weakness in knee and 
ankle-joints ; worse on standing, as if the tendons were devoid 
of strength and firmness (920). Rigidity of every limb, so 
that for hours he is unable to move them at all, though they 
are easily movable by others (1016). The shoulders and upper 
arms seem as if asleep (numb), mornings in bed (803). The 
right hand and arm seemed as if asleep, relieved by motion 
(812). Deadness of the fingers (855). Numbness of the 
fingers in the morning (860). Frequent numbness and lame- 
ness of the thighs (891). Creeping as if a large beetle were 
crawling from front of right knee to the middle of thigh up- 
wards (912). Numbness of head, of both arms and thighs 
while lying (1010). As soon as she sits down, all limbs go to 
sleep, the thighs and lower legs, upper and fore-arms, together 
with the hands, even to some extent the abdomen, back and 
chest, so that she is hardly able to feel anything about her- 
self; everything seems to be numb and dead-like. When she 
moves, there is formication in the whole part, as is the case 
211 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
after numbness (1011). Much gaping, and for a quarter of an 
hour headache ; then rigid stretching of legs and arms, with 
inverted thumbs followed by prostration (1002). 
Mercurius corros.: Cramp-like condition of lower extremi- 
ties. General cramps and convulsions. Twitching. Convul- 
sive motions of facial muscles, of arms and legs; continuous 
cramps in every limb. Two or three hours after taking corro- 
sive sublimate cramps appeared, first in the toes and feet, then 
in hands and fingers, then in arms and legs. From time to 
time cramp-like motions of arms and lower legs. Sudden 
starting, shock-like contractions of limbs. Paralytic prostra- 
tion. Heaviness of the extremities from pills of corrosive sub- 
limate. Perfect paralysis of upper and lower extremities. 
Paralysis and stiffness of limbs (No. 33). Lower half of body 
is as if dead; its sensibility is gone (No. 27). Sensation of 
numbness of lower legs ; sensitiveness in lower extremities is 
gone; the skin was pressed hard without being felt by her. 
Formication as if asleep in limbs (No. 40). Formication over 
the whole skin (Nos. 61, 56). Formication in extremities 
(No. 64). Numbness and loss of feeling in the limbs. 
Cinnabar.: Piercing pains first in the left, then in the right 
side of fifth and sixth dorsal vertebrae. Dull pain in lower 
portion of dorsal vertebrae for a short time; from time to time 
shooting pains in lower extremities. General pain over whole 
of back and loins, worse after each dose of medicine, and deep 
inspiration. Shooting pains in the loins and dorsal region in- 
creased by stooping and motion. Evenings after going to 
sleep, a painful twitching in lower leg, which waked him up. 
Feeling of lameness in right arm, eighth day. Sensation of 
lameness in every limb; he is sluggish and sleepy. In the 
evening, numbness of the arm upon which he lies or supports 
himself. Numbness of left arm from elbow to the tip of little 
finger. A pressing sensation in the foot as if it would go to 
sleep. 
Mercurius praedp. ruber. Violent cramps (No. 5). Very vio- 
lent cramps in the lower extremities (No. 1). After the cure 
there remained a peculiar disposition to involuntary cramp-like 
contractions of the extremities (No. 1). Cramps in the lower 
extremities (No. 4). MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
1. Meningitis Spinalis. 
Pain of dorsal vertebrae on pressure, we find only under Mer- 
cur. viv., from which, however, we should not conclude that this 
symptom might not also belong to other preparations of mer- 
cury, if these can produce so lasting an effect in small doses. 
Pains in the spinal column, which also radiate into the lower 
extremities are found under Cinnabar. Among the symptoms 
of these two preparations, we also find constipation ; while re- 
tention of urine from paralysis of the detrusor muscle is not 
peculiar to mercurius. The retention of urine caused by cor- 
rosive sublimate has nothing in common with that resulting* 
from spinal disease; since, in the former case, the bladder is 
always empty, and anatomical lesions of the kidneys are to be 
found. Pronounced paralysis results only from protracted 
effects of the poison ; hence, we find this symptom noted only 
among those of Mercur. viv. and corrosivus. Mercur. solub. and 
Cinnabar., however, exhibit many symptoms indicating a weak- 
ness of innervation of the extremities; the former also gives 
signs of contractions. While the paralysis of spinal disease 
begins in the lower extremities, rising upwards, that symptom, 
as produced by Mercur. viv., takes the opposite direction. The 
mercurial tremor is preceded, like the spinal paralysis, by 
numbness and formication, which are also met with among the 
effects of corrosive sublimate. Anresthesia is also met with 
here and there. While the cramps preceding paralysis in men- 
ingitis spinalis are of tonic character, the mercurial cramps are 
principally clonic, although the former variety are likewise 
indicated. 
Although the indications for the selection of Mercurius are 
not as numerous as for other remedies, it is nevertheless a 
simile for several cases. Sleeplessness and nocturnal aggrava- 
tions always constitute important indications for its selection. 
Kafka gives the following indications for Mercurius: When 
paralytic symptoms occur, these indicate that exudations have 
already taken place in the spinal canal, for which we should, 
without delay, prescribe Mercur. solub.3 in doses repeated every 
two or three hours. Since the exudation is always fibrinous or 
213 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
perulent, we may by this remedy achieve its liquifaction as 
well as its rapid resorption, in which we are sometimes success- 
ful. In case of paralysis of the muscular coat of the rectum 
and of the detrusor vesicte, accompanied by retention of urine 
and fieces; we prescribe the same remedies (when Mercurius 
is inefficacious, Kali jodatum is indicated) ; for with the be- 
ginning of resorption of the exudation the paralysis generally 
yields likewise. 
From this point of view, Cinnabar., as a combination of two 
powerful resorbents, mercury and sulphur, would deserve 
preference; as it exhibits among its symptoms many corres- 
ponding with meningitis. In chronic cases, however, Mercu- 
rius should be our first choice. 
2. Myelitis. 
As the symptoms of this disease coincide considerably with 
those of meningitis, the choice of mercurial preparations is de- 
termined by what we have said above. Regarding 
points we lay stress on those corresponding to the symptoms 
of Mercurius, viz.: Spondylar throcace ; syphilitic exostosis; 
sexual excesses; colds; suppressed perspiration of the feet. 
Baehr considers Mercur. viv. as the principal remedy in this 
disease; he says: “In case the Materia Medica Pura should 
fail to teach us that mercury possesses a very specific relation 
to the spinal marrow, we may frequently derive this fact from 
our own experience in the case of persons who have been satur- 
ated with that medicine. But we find all its characteristic 
symptoms enumerated in the Materia Medica, and whatever 
deficiencies may occur, these are amply compensated for by the 
frequent records of cases of mercurial disease, of which I have 
mentioned a number in former memoranda.” Accordingly, 
we find in the pathogenesis of mercury every stage of develop- 
ment of paraplegia of the extremities, of the bladder and 
rectum ; with the tendency to peculiar twitchings and jerkings, 
and violent pains of the spine, increased by motion; also the 
restlessness and sleeplessness so characteristic of Mercurius, 
as well as of myelitis; and finally the cutaneous anaesthesia. 
Kafka refers us to the treatment of meningitis spinalis. 
214 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
3. Tabes Dorsalis. 
The case of atrophy treated of in the beginning, furnishes 
anatomical data warranting the introduction in this place of 
that spinal affection. As far as the symptoms are concerned, 
we must refer the reader to the preceding analysis of diseases 
of the spinal marrow. Among the symptoms of mercury, a 
feeling of a hoop or girdle is mentioned nowhere. The rela- 
tion of paralytic affections to mercurial symptoms has already 
been discussed. Kussmaul observed paralysis of the legs of a 
worker in quicksilver, who, differing entirely from one para- 
lyzed by tabes dorsalis, could walk and stand with his eyes 
closed. Neither do we find sufficient points of resemblance in 
the sexual sphere justifying a recommendation of mercury in 
the above disease. 
8. DISEASES OF THE PERIPHERIC NERVES. 
Dietrich says concerning Mercurius: Neuralgias of the 
trigeminal and sciatic nerves are observed in mirror-makers. 
The pains often jump from one part to another, and have dis- 
tinct remissions which, however, exhibit no distinct type. 
Exacerbations are particularly noticeable in cool weather and 
dampness. Corrosive sublimate in particular produces them. 
These neuralgias are very obstinate. Kussmaul enumerates 
facial neuralgias among those peculiar to Mercurius. Accord- 
ing to Pretschneider (Froriep’s Neue Notizen, Series III, vol. 9), 
mercurial neuralgia most frequently occurs after the use of 
those mercurials which exert a special effect upon the nervous 
system, particularly sublimate, red precipitate, calomel, as well as 
the ointment of Rust. An irritable, nervous system and skin, 
with tendency to rheumatism are counted as predisposing 
causes; while the causa occasionalis is determined by taking 
cold during the use of corrosive sublimate and inunctions, also 
mental emotions and exertions during that treatment, as well 
as cold baths shortly after the same. Workmen employed in 
great heat, mirror-makers and miners, are particularly predis- 
1. Neuralgia. 
215 MERCURY AMD ITS PREPARATIONS. 
posed to mercurial neuralgias. Mercurial neuralgia rarely 
begins suddenly, but generally develops gradually in the fol- 
lowing manner: To the place which is to be the seat of the 
neuralgia, the patient feels first a slight drawing which soon 
subsides again, returns in a few weeks, thus gradually forming 
shorter intermissions, and finally appearing as fully developed 
nerve-pain. These pains are drawing, tearing, are rarely con- 
fined to one spot, but generally appear in several portions in 
the course of the affected nerve. The pains intermit without 
assuming a definite type. Particularly in protracted cases, the 
pain skips from one nerve to another, especially during great 
fluctuations of atmospheric pressure. A slight exposure to 
draught, overheating, mental emotions, slight touch of the 
affected part, or slight physical exertion are sufficient to call 
forth a violent attack. Such patients are able to endure 
dry warmth and dry cold. Dampness produces an attack at 
once. When ordinary people seek the shade at 28° R., the 
subjects of mercurial neuralgia delight in exposing themselves 
to the heat of the sun. At night such patients are generally 
quiet; digestion as well as secretions and excretions are com- 
monly natural. Fever was never observed in connection with 
mercurial neuralgia, which is one of the most obstinate dis- 
orders, and often torments the patient for years. In our cases 
of poisoning with Mercur. viv., we find no symptoms which 
directly point to neuralgia. 
Mercurius sol. (While sitting) intermittent boring stitches 
in left side of forehead, very painful (65). (While standing) 
painfully tearing stitches in left side of forehead (66). (While 
sitting) tearing stitches in left portion of forehead, with rigors 
all over the body, cold hands, hot cheeks, and lukewarm fore- 
head, without thirst (67). Burning sensation in left supra- 
orbital arch (97). Dull stitch in left superior maxillary bone, 
near the eye (149). During nocturnal drowsiness without 
sleep, violent tensive pain along posterior portion of left thigh, 
in the nates down to popliteal space (where the nates is sepa- 
rated from the thigh by the sulcus, the ham), which is best 
ameliorated by placing some support beneath the thigh, or by 
lying upon the back ; she is unable to sit upon the chair so as 
216 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
to press upon the posterior portion of the thigh, without in- 
creasing the pain, which is periodically aggravated (887). 
Tearing drawing pain from the heel to nates, only posteriorly, 
almost worse at night than in the daytime; he could not walk 
then, because his knees gave way and were drawn together 
(960.) 
Mercurius sub. cor.: Headache, piercing pains intermingled 
with pressing above left eye, increased by bending forward. 
Tearing pain from infraorbital region toward superior maxilla 
all day, accompanied by coldness about the head and piercing 
pains in backs of hands. Tearing burning pain from upper 
teeth toward the eye. Could not sleep at night owing to burn- 
ing and stinging from left abdominal ring over the thigh, ac- 
companied with desire to stretch and relief thereby. 
Cinnabar: Violent pain in right supraorbital region, worse 
in warm room, on moving the eyes and scalp; the pain appears 
evenings and in the forenoon 11 a.m. (see particulars under 
“Headache”). During the first night after taking the 6th 
dilution, drawing pains in the thighs, from the hip-joints down- 
wards almost to the condyles; increased by motion, and at- 
tended with great lameness; brought on by standing and at- 
tempts to walk; improved after a short walk. In the morning, 
two hours after taking the 6th dilution, wmle pressing ax stool, 
shooting pains upon the posterior side of right thigh from hip- 
joint to the middle of femur. From second to fifth day after 
the 3d dilution, pain in back and thighs with unusual tiredness 
and weakness; during the fifth night and sixth day violent 
drawing pains in the back from renal region to dorsum and 
thighs; drawing up of the legs brings relief. 
The above assertion of Dieterich that the trigeminal nerve 
(particularly the supraorbital, and as we shall see under “Tooth- 
ache,” the superior alveolar branch) and the sciatic nerve are 
affected with neuralgia, is fully corroborated by the provings. 
According to Kafka, Mercur. sol. is indicated when the pains 
extend and spread from the supraorbital region and from be- 
neath the orbit to the upper row of teeth, thence into the ear, 
temples, back of neck and shoulder of the affected side; when 
the attacks of pain occur particularly at night, are increased 
217 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
by the warmth of the bed, and when accompanied by running 
of the nose, lachrymation and increased flow of saliva: when 
the painful portions of the flice are swollen and oedematous; 
when pressure increases the pain, and when wrapping them up 
warm improves them. It is furthermore indicated in brachial 
neuralgia when the rigid feelings of the fingers predominates 
(855). Deadness of the fingers (860); numbness of the fingers 
in the morning (847). Hands and fingers easily become torpid 
during work, and are affected with cramp-like pains (839). 
The hand is rigid and stiff. In nightly attacks produced by 
warmth of the bed, with turgor of the face, perspiration with- 
out relief, and attended with rheumatism of the neck and 
other parts. In cases of intercostal neuralgia with burning 
pain when accompanying herpes Zoster (shingles), Kafka also 
prescribes mercurius (or Arsenic., Carbo veg.). He also recom- 
mends that medicine when the patient is bloated, perspires 
without relief; when besides sciatica he also suffers from other 
pains, e. g., in the neck, between the shoulders, or in the joints; 
when the pain rages without remission in the night, and remits 
only in the morning; particularly in recent rheumatic pains 
and also in chronic cases arising from eczematous eruptions. 
Bcehr says concerning 3Iercur. sol. in neuralgia of the trige- 
minus: The pains indicating this remedy are principally tear- 
ing, rarely piercing; they arise either at night, or, what is still 
more characteristic, they are aggravated toward evening and 
worse at midnight. The warmth of the bed increases them, 
and so does external cold. Great restlessness and sleeplessness 
accompanies the pains, and frequently there is a sensitive swell- 
ing of the affected side. Mercurius is particularly indicated 
when the pains proceed from carious teeth; spreading thence 
over the entire half of the face into the ear. The condition 
first described is most commonly met with after taking cold, 
but also when we may assume with some certainty the pres- 
ence of an inflammatory affection of the nerves. Conspicuous 
inclination to perspiration of the affected part, is also an indi- 
cation for Mercurius. In cases of sciatica and intercostal neu- 
ralgia, mercury is not mentioned by Bsehr. 
In Jahr’s Clinical Guide we find Mercurius recommended 
218 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
when the pains are tearing or piercing, when they occupy the 
entire side of the head, from the temple to the teeth, and when 
particularly aggravated at night by the warmth of the bed, and 
when attended with salivation, lachrymation, sweat in the face 
or about the head and sleeplessness. In case of sciatica, Jahr 
also mentions this remedy without further indications. In his 
Leitfaden he recommends it in rheumatic neuralgia, and in that 
form which accompanies “ spontaneous limping,” also when 
this has progressed to actual coxarthrocace. 
Gerhard reproduces Jahr’s indications, while Hughes does 
not mention mercury at all. In cases of sciatica he advises the 
trial of Cinnabar. 
2. Paralysis. 
According to Falck, Mercurius causes myopathic well as 
neuropathic paralysis ; this either appears suddenly as primary 
symptoms of mercurial cachexia, or secondarily after mercurial 
tremor or mercurial erethism. As a rule, such paralytic affec- 
tions are confined to the hands and arms: but they may excep- 
tionally attack also the feet, legs and other limbs. Usually 
the flexors as well as the extensors suffer, which is less often 
the case in lead-palsy. The affection may take an acute as 
well as a chronic course. 
Renmont states a case of complete paralysis of the vocal 
organ, and another case of general paralysis with general ema- 
ciation. 
Halford says that paralysis is usually confined to the hands 
and upper extremities, and that extensors as well as flexors 
may be affected, wherein this form differs from lead-palsy. 
Overbeck considers the classification of paralytic affections as 
myo- and neuropathic, established according to the tests upon 
animals instituted by Falck. The gait of animals treated with 
mercurial ointment became unsteady, staggering, especially the 
motions of the posterior extremities, which was dragging. This 
should be considered as owing to a peculiar stiffness of muscles, 
resembling rigor mortis, and is connected with the great coag- 
ulability of the blood. Whether or not the paralytic affections 
of man belong to this category, it is difficult to determine. 
219 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The form of paralysis considered by Falck as myopathic, Over- 
beck is inclined to consider as dependent on this cause; while 
other forms are to be considered as simply owing to anpemia. 
Since the forms of paralysis produced by fumes of mercury are 
observable usually in very advanced cases of mercurial cachexia 
in which the blood is very liquid, these cannot be attributed 
to coagulability of iibrine. If we were unfamilar with the 
specific effects of corrosive sublimate upon the central organs 
of the nervous system, we might attribute the paralysis ob- 
served in acute poisoning with corrosive sublimate to that 
cause, which, however, is very problematical. 
It seems objectionable to seek for the-cause of paralysis in- 
ansemia, when these affections arq simply and naturally ac- 
counted for by changes in the nervous system. The case of 
general paralysis mentioned by Renmont might be regarded as 
myopathic if the emaciation were not also to be accounted for 
by the disuse of the muscular system. In general we consider 
all paralytic affections as neuropathic lesions as long as the 
electro-muscular contractility is not destroyed. 
Since we find partial paralysis noted among the effects of 
Mercur. viv. and corr., we admit its neuropathic origin. Before 
we can answer the question as to the cerebral or spinal origin > 
of mercurial paralysis, we should first examine which phe- 
nomena seem to indicate the former and which the latter mode 
of origin. 
The following phenomena may be interpreted as indicating 
the cerebral origin: The early and frequent paralytic affection 
of the upper extremities; trembling of paralyzed parts; infre- 
quent and slight disturbances of sensibility; the general ab- 
sence of muscular atrophy; disturbances of mental activity, as 
well as of the higher senses and of language; furthermore • 
headache, vertigo, vomiting without apparent cause, and the 
normal condition of electrical contractility. In favor of the 
spinal origin we have to enumerate disturbances of sensibility, 
such as formication and numbness; the continuance of reflex 
motions, and lastly the incontinence and retention of urine 
occasionally observed toward the end. An important Circum- 
stance, which should generally decide doubtful cases in favor 
220 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of spinal origin, is the paraplegic character of paralysis. This 
we are unable to interpret in favor of spinal origin, because 
mercury certainly produces symmetrical disturbances in both 
hemispheres of the brain, thereby necessarily producing para- 
plegia and not hemiplegia, as would be the case with patho- 
logical lesions confined to only one cerebral hemisphere. 
If we wish to draw a conclusion from this, we are forced to 
assume that those paralyses are mostly of cerebral origin ; that 
they always begin as such, and that in some instances these 
pathological lesions will sooner or later involve also the spinal 
marrow in their progress. 
Among the effects of corrosive sublimate, however, as ob- 
served in many cases of poisoning, we see a primary affection 
of the spinal marrow; as shown by the symptoms enumerated 
in the introduction to the diseases of the spinal cord, where 
the symptoms of the other preparations of mercury are also to 
be found. 
Bcchr says that mercury (also arsenic and iodine) very com- 
monly produces paralytic symptoms, as proved by numerous 
cases of involuntary poisoning; but that we do not know the 
exact difference, and are hence unable to furnish precise indica- 
tions. We are, therefore, obliged to assume that those three 
poisons exert a very powerful influence on the nervous system, 
on which account they are to be considered as very important 
remedies in cases of paralysis. 
Jahr recommends Mercury only in paralysis after colds; in 
paralysis of the limbs of the whole body ; of the arms and legs; 
then of the upper extremities alone, and of the lower extremi- 
ties alone. Besides rheumatic paralysis, Mercur. is indicated 
in paralytic affections determined by disease of portions of the 
brain. Taking locality into consideration, we have to mention 
particularly paralysis of the larynx, of both or one upper, and 
secondly the lower extremities. If paralysis is preceded by 
tremor, we should at once resort to Mercur. Of the different 
preparations we should use Mercur. viv. in higher attenuation 
in paralysis of slow development; Mercur. corr. in rapidly de- 
veloped forms; the latter is also indicated in paralysis of the 
facial muscles as observed by Taylor. 
221 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
3. Cramps. 
General cramps and convulsions are often met with in acute 
poisoning with corrosive sublimate and red 'precipitate; metallic 
mercury produces violent cramps in the feet (Kos. 12,13). We 
have already discussed these phenomena when speaking of in- 
dividual diseases of the brain, we will only remark now that 
these are connected with hypenemia of the brain and cord, as 
well as with exudations in the same. Mercury is also recom- 
mended in cramps of the peripheric nerves. Kafka advises it 
in mimic spasm of the face, if produced by exposure to cold, 
when connected with pain, and when confined to one side (also 
Bellad. and Hyosc.). Furthermore, when caused by carious 
teeth, or inflammation of their roots. Brehr, Hughes, Jahr 
and Gerhard do not mention this remedy in connection with 
facial spasm. 
Among the symptoms of Mercur. sol. we find the following: 
The muscles between lower lip and chin were visibly drawn 
hither and thither by spasm (229); at 3 a.m. distortion of the 
mouth toward one side, with want of breath (230); but the 
latter symptom might be attributed to paralysis of the facial 
nerve. In chronic one-sided cramp of the sterno-cleido-mastoid 
muscle, Kafka obtains the most rapid and lasting effect from 
Mercur. sol. (or Bellad.). We know that the fumes of quick- 
silver cause chronic cramps, frequently befalling the muscles 
of the upper extremities, which sufficiently explains Kafka’s 
results. Mercur. viv. may deserve our preference. Hughes 
recommends mercury in wry neck. 
Trismus corresponds to symptoms (235-238) of Mercur. sol. 
lie cannot separate the jaws. A tension in the maxillary joint 
on opening the mouth. Almost complete immobility of the 
jaw, so that he can scarcely open the mouth a little, with 
violent pain. She is unable to separate her jaw. 
Among the symptoms of other preparations we find several 
having a bearing on this.subject. 
While Kafka, Bcehr and Hughes do not mention mercury 
here, Jahr and Gerhard recommend it. Since trismus neona- 
torum is always connected with the process of cicatrization of 
222 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the umbilicus; and since post-mortem inspection of infants 
who died of trismus, reveal ulcerations of the coats of vessels 
of the umbilical cord, with pus and ichor within and without 
these vessels; mercury will certainly have a favorable bearing 
on this setiological point, and thereby result in cures. 
9. NEUROSES. 
1. Chorea St. Viti {Saint Vitus Dance.) 
There is an undeniable resemblance between tremor mer- 
curialis and chorea: “In both cases thetlisease begins gradually 
as a rule. The patients are at first excited, morose, easily 
startled and livid; there is vertigo, headache, rigors, formica- 
tion; motions begin to be hasty and unsteady, and seem to 
arise from embarrassment, hence we observe a great degree of 
resemblance in regard to the initiatory cerebral and neurotic 
symptoms in general. 
Emotions call forth the threatening attacks of chorea and 
tremor, and increase the involuntary motions which are already 
present. 
Reflex motions are undisturbed in both instances. Urine 
and feces are normally voided in chorea. Both affections in- 
termit during sleep, with rare exceptions, and exhibit frequent 
remissions and exacerbations during waking hours. 
The relation which both forms bear to the will is very 
similar. Although patients are still able to initiate motions, 
they are unable to execute them in accordance with the original 
purpose, for they are interrupted by involuntary trembling and 
jerking motions of one or both sides. Mercurial tremors differ 
from the beginning by being more prominent, and those suffer- 
ing from mercurial cachexia are from the outset rather weaker, 
embarrassed and frightened; while those suffering from chorea 
are rather more awkward or unruly. As the disease increases 
the trembling motions of chorea play a subordinate part, and 
may be altogether absent; while in convulsive tremor these 
trembling motions may coexist with the spasm in a marked 
degree.”—(Kussmaul.) 
A second difference may be found in the fact that the mus- 
223 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cles suffering from mercurialism, if supported in bed or other- 
wise, will become quiet, which is not the case in chorea. The 
symptom of Mercur. viv. (case) of No. 39, corresponds to chorea 
major. 
The absence of any allusion to mercury as a remedy in 
chorea, may be owing to the absence of any symptom pointing 
to that disease in Mercur. sol. We would employ Merc. viv. 
in rachitic, scrofulous children, suffering from heriditary sy- 
philis, and troubled with ophthalmia, swollen glands, cutan- 
eous eruptions, affections of the bones, etc.; also where the dis- 
ease is complicated wj£h chlorosis, tuberculosis and scurvy; 
also in helminthiasis. 
2. Epilepsy. 
Several authors mention mercurial epilepsy. Montanus 
(1550) says that he has seen patients who had epilepsy after 
inunction with mercurial ointment. Zanetti also communi- 
cates a case resulting from the use of mercury. Falck makes 
the following statement: “The form of epilepsy resulting from 
mercury, as mentioned by Van Swieten and others, is not 
symptomatically different from other forms of epilepsy. But 
the origin of the disease becomes obvious,, when it is traced to 
the incorporation of mercury, after which it immediately fol- 
lows and so speedily vanishes with the elimination of the 
quicksilver. The disease is usually chronic in its course, and 
not infrequently connected with mercurial tremor. Overbeck 
and Kussmaul question the validity of this mercurial symp- 
tom. Halford, on the contrary, affirms that mercurial epilepsy 
may appear without tremor; that it is chronic in its duration, 
and differs in no respect from ordinary epilepsy. Sometimes 
the attacks of mercurial epilepsy are so violent that they pro- 
duce complete exhaustion of cerebral functions, and even death. 
In some of our cases of poisoning we find convulsion (Nos. 25, 
30, 36, 37). Attacks of unconsciousness we find in (Nos. 44, 
45). In No. 30, we observe screaming during the attack be- 
fore the convulsions, without complete loss of consciousness; 
but we nowhere meet with the entire complex of symptoms of 
an epileptic attack. 
224 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Hence we shall rarely be reminded of mercury by the symp- 
toms of epilepsy. Besides the symptoms mentioned in connec- 
tion with chorea, the nightly occurrence of paroxysms, as well 
as circumscribed cerebral disease, would attract our attention 
to Merc. viv. 
Eaehr, Kaika, Hughes, do not mention Mercur. Gerhard 
recommends it in nocturnal paroxysms with screaming, rigidity 
of the body, distention of the abdomen, itching of the nose, 
thirst; which indications are derived from Juhr’s Anweisun- 
gen (Clinical Guide). According to Eichter, the older authors 
observe increase in the frequency of attacks of epilepsy after 
mercury; nevertheless they cured a number of the most obsti- 
nate cases with this medicine. 
3. Paralysis Agitans. 
Eulenberg says (in Ziemssen’s Hand-book of Spec. Pathol, and 
Therap., Vol XII), that among the various forms of toxic 
tremor, that of mercury furnishes a symptomatic image, ex- 
hibiting the most decided similitude with that of paralysis 
agitans; whence it is regarded by certain authors (e. <7., Cop- 
land) as quite identical with the former. This similitude ex- 
tends to the greater intensity and extent of the tremor, to the 
secondary accession of paralytic symptoms, and to the accom- 
panying cerebral symptoms, including, especially, those of the 
mind. 
On tracing; the similitude into its details, we find that in 
both kinds of tremor the trembling appears in form of feeble, 
oscillating vibrations, succeeding each other rapidly, and that 
these increase until they become violent clonic jerking; begin- 
ning mostly in upper extremities, it passes gradually to the 
lower extremities and facial muscles (according to Charcot the 
head is never involved in paralysis agitans), in which latter 
case stammering is noticeable. If the cervical muscles are 
affected, it produces shaking and pendulous motions of the 
head. After longer or shorter duration of mercurial tremor 
and of paralysis agitans, palsy is developed, during which the 
electrical reaction of the affected muscles remains intact. In 
both forms the voluntary muscles of the bladder and rectum 
225 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
are rarely attacked by palsy. The rigidity of single muscles, 
as observed in shaking palsy, was corroborated by Overbeck in 
his experiments upon animals. 
The impulsive inclination to run forwards we also find in 
one of our clinical cases (No. 39). Violent paroxysms of 
paralysis agitans are called forth by mental exertion, emotions, 
etc.; the same causes are found to increase the violence of mer- 
curial tremor. 
Disturbances of sensation, such as creeping, prickling, for- 
mication and partial anaesthesia, are common to both forms of 
disease. The same is the case with cerebral symptoms, such as 
headache, vertigo, sleeplessness, mental depression, hypochon- 
driasis, and even strongly developed melancholy; in rare cases 
hallucinations. When either form has endured for some time, 
weakness of memory and power of judgment are observable. 
The course of both diseases is slow. The pathological les- 
ions resulting from both are induration and atrophy of the 
brain, or parts of the same; also of the upper portion of the 
spinal cord. 
The following differences are observable between the two 
forms of disease. In paralysis agitans the trembling contin- 
ues for days without abatement of force, but remits for days, 
and is entirely independent of voluntary motion, and even in- 
termits when motions are purposed by the will. Mercurial 
tremor on the other hand subsides when the body is supported, 
or e. g., in bed; it does not pause at other times, and is most 
noticeable during the exertion of will (intention) to move, and, 
indeed, appears only at that time. In the former case the ex- 
tensors are principally affected, while mercurial tremor affects 
all muscles of the body. 
According to this prominent similitude, Mercur. is certainly 
to be regarded as a similimum of paralysis agitans; and Mer- 
cur. viv. is most probably the remedy which in high dilutions 
will prove most successful. Other preparations also cause 
tremor, but much more rarely. It is the only medicine which 
Hughes mentions in connection with this disease; while Jahr 
adduces mercury and other remedies also. Also the chronic 
tremor of topers falls within the sphere of action of mercury; 
226 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and if senile tremor is to be mitigated, mercury will be the 
remedy. 
10. DISEASES OF TIIE EYE, 
1. Conjunctivitis. 
When we inquire into the effects of individual mercurial 
preparations upon the conjunctiva, we find the following un- 
der Mercur. sol.: he cannot open the eyes easily, as if the eye- 
balls were stuck fast; while standing, sitting and walking, his 
eyes seem to be forcibly drawn together, as if after losing sleep 
for a long time. Fire and light blind him exceedingly in the 
evening. Burning in the eyes as if after reading too long at 
night; one eye is red; the eyes are unable to bear fire- and 
daylight; burning in the eyes; burning and tearing in the 
e}res as if caused by horse-radish; many red vessels become 
visible in the white of the eye; inflammation of both eyes with 
burning, smarting pain; worse in the open air; heat in the 
eyes and lachrymation ; lachrymation of the eyes in the morn- 
ing; much lachrymation of the right eye; the eyes shed tears 
in the open air; the eye is full of tears; burning pain in right 
upper and lower lid ; the left lower lid is much swollen, espe- 
cially near external canthus, with burning pain for five days, 
with much lachrymation, preceded by much sneezing for three 
days. In the morning the eyelids stick together; the upper 
eyelid is tumid and red like a hordeolum; constant twitching 
in lower lid; much swelling, redness and constriction of the 
eyelids, which are very sensitive to the touch. Pressing in the 
eyes ; pressing in the eyes as if caused by sand ; pressure in the 
eyes on motion, also touching it causes pressing pain; itching 
in the eyeballs ; in the left eye pricking pain for some minutes; 
pricking (stinging) in the eyes; feeling beneath left upper eye- 
lid, as if a shining object were behind it. 
Corrosive sublimate.—Burning of the eyes, especially of the 
edges of conjunctiva, as in the beginning of taraxis catarrhalis; 
the glandules of the lids are inflamed ; the eyelids are red, pro- 
truding and inflamed (4); the mucous membrane of lids of 
both eyes is reddened and much injected; the conjunctiva is 
227 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
reddened; burning and feeling of dryness in the eyes; lachry- 
mation in the open air; itching in the left eye; inflammation 
of the eyes, which protrude from their sockets (No. 8); red 
and shining eyes; conjunctiva inflamed; photophobia when 
walking in the sun. 
Mercur. prcecip. ruber.—Redness of the eyes; chemosis (No. 2). 
In Eiselt’s proving we find: Great improvement of an in- 
flammation of glands of the eyelids which had existed for 
years, and which has since then disappeared entirely. 
Mercur. cyanid.—In Capeless’ case the conjunctiva was red- 
dened. 
Cinnabaris.—Shooting pains in internal canthus of right eye, 
with burning and itching; great secretion of tears; (inflam- 
mation of the right eye; it itches, aches and pricks in the in- 
ner canthus and on lower lid, with constant lachrymation 
when he looks upon anything, with violent running coryza 
Hahn.); feeling as if a foreign body were in the eye, lasting 
for three days; feeling as if the eyelids were enlarged or 
swollen ; itching in the lids of both eyes; redness in the can- 
thi, mostly the inner; the right eye is more affected than the 
left; the cornea seems surrounded with a red ring; all of these 
symptoms were aggravated on the evening of the first day; 
the eyes are watery and dim, with violent stinging pain in in- 
ner canthus of left eye, as if something sharp had pierced the 
lower lid; pain in inner corner of left eye, with redness and 
swelling, mostly of the lower lid;. from time to time feeling 
of lachrymation in the left eye for three days, always disap- 
pearing in a few minutes; lachrymation; a little (transparent) 
vesicle, painful to the touch, in inner edge of eyelid; itching 
and stinging in outer and inner corner of the eye for eight 
days; while sitting at home in the evening, a feeling as if cold 
air were sweeping over the eyes, very marked; eyes very sen- 
sitive to cold air while walking out of doors; redness of inner 
corners of eyes on the fifth day; redness of the whole eye with 
swelling of the face; weakness of the eyes with redness of 
canthi; burning pains; painfulness of the eyes; worse even- 
ings; dull pressing pain in the eyes ; feeling of fulness in head 
and eyes, with redness. 
228 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Mercur. viv.—After inunction, we find in Overbeck's experi- 
ments upon animals: once purulent conjunctivitis of both eyes; 
once purulent conjunctivitis of right eye; in man (in No. 11); 
eyes are inflamed with much lachrymation and excretion of 
whitish mucous matter. After exposure to fumes of mercury : 
burning in the eyelids, and slight redness of the conjunctiva, 
especially the right in No. 40; chronic conjunctivitis, with a 
fine rose-colored circle of blood-vessels around the edge of cor- 
nea and sclerotic in No. 34; scrofulous ophthalmia in No. 25. 
Dietrich emphasizes mercurialis in conjunctivitis, particu- 
larly the pink injection around edge of cornea and the pressing 
pain in the eye. Most other authors lay stress upon the great 
sensitiveness to light. 
(a) Conjunctivitis Catarrhalis: 
Baehr says: Much better and more certain results (than 
Bellad. and Euphrasia) are secured by mercury, whenever the 
disorder is connected with general catarrh. In this case it 
acts as favorably upon the ocular mucous membrane as it does 
in other cases upon the mucous membrane of the nose, and de- 
serves to be called our principal remedy for coryza. Why 
Hartmann does not mention it is inconceivable. It will be 
found most effectual in affections of children. In the chronic 
form Baehr also recommends Mercur. jod. and Mercur. prcecip. 
ruber. 
Jahr recommends mercury in cutting pains or pressure, as if 
caused by sand in the eye, especially after exertion of the eyes, 
and when it appears evenings or in the warmth of the bed ; 
when there is tearing, itching and -pricking {stinging), especially 
in open air; with red sclerotic, with red vessels in the eye; 
copious’ lachrymation, especially evenings; excessive sensitive- 
ness of the eyes to fire- and daylight; vesicles and pimples on 
the sclerotic. Pustules and scabs around the eyes and edges of 
lids; vision dim as if through a fog; renewal of the inflamma- 
tion on least exposure to cold. Gerhard furnishes the follow- 
indications: ophthalmia, with appearance of numerous blood- 
vessels through the eye, accompanied by burning, stinging, 
itching or heat in the eye; cutting pains and also pressure as 
if caused by sand ; when looking intently upon objects; ulcera- 
229 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tive inflammation of the lids, with swelling and nocturnal agglu- 
tination of the eyelids; lachrymation and spasmodic contrac- 
tion of the lids ; great photophobia. 
Dudgeon gives Mercur. sol. (or Hepar sulph.) when the Mei- 
bomian glands are much affected, when the canthi (angles of 
lids) are red and swollen, and when the secretion forms yellow 
crusts upon the lashes at night. 
According to Guernsey, mercury should be employed when 
the eyelids are much swollen, and when there is much pus be- 
neath them, which out in masses wThen the lids are 
opened. 
Peters (Diseases of the Eyes) gives the same indications as 
Dudgeon for conjunctivitis, and at the close of the chapter he 
enumerates the symptoms bearing on the disease, which wre 
will mention here. Mercur. is indicated when the lids are ag- 
glutinated in the morning; when there is pressing, stinging 
and tearing in the eyes, with heat and lachrymation; inflam- 
mation of both eyes, with numerous red vessels in the white 
of the eye; photophobia; inflammation of the conjunctiva 
bulbi et palpebra; redness and swelling of the lids; excoria- 
tions in the canthi; burning and itching of the lids, thick 
muco-purulent secretion, agglutination, ulceration and eversion 
of the lids. 
Payr says, concerning the application of mercury, as follows: 
Light cases will yield to Aeon., Apis and Euphrasia; but neg- 
lected or maltreated blenorrhcea (according to Arlt we confine 
this definition for the gonorrhoeal ophthalmia), with profuse, 
purulent secretion, demands the administration of mercury, 
which is furthermore called for by the increased swelling of 
the lids, the sensitive pain on pressure which permits no rest 
before midnight, also the accompanying febrile symptoms with 
perspiration without relief. Chronic catarrh of the conjunctiva, 
which, during its course, is often aggravated by various causes, 
and where we observe slight swelling of the upper lid, intensi- 
fication of subjective symptoms, and purulent character of the 
secretion, with much unevenness and swelling of the tarsal 
portion of the conjunctiva, and the part forming the transition 
between lid and bulb, which, by means of the intensity and 
230 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
protracted course of the acute stage produced a certain degree 
of ptosis of the upper lid, and even partial ectropion—are all 
rapidly to he improved by Mercur. prcecip. ruber. 
In order to avoid repetition, we omit the recommendations of 
other authors, but call attention to the probability that Mer- 
cur. prcecip. ruber, promises much in chemosis, because we find 
it distinctly represented among its symptoms. 
We agree entirely with Payr in regard to croupous conjunc- 
tivitis, when he recommends the protiodide of mercury; since 
iodine possesses the property of favorably acting upon croup- 
ous exudation in a higher degree than mercury. 
In conjunctivitis diphtheretica, when the cornea is affected 
(that is when the least degree of dimness appears), Payr ad- 
ministers corrosive sublimate in order to obviate necrosis. 
1. Conjunctivitis Blenorriioica. 
In this disease Kafka administers Mercur. sol.3 (or Hepar 
sulph.3) with rapid effect, when the eyes are cedematous; the 
pain burning: when the purulent secretion runs copiously and 
excoriates the canthi and surrounding parts. 
Bcehr says: “The similitude of the affection of the conjunc- 
tiva with syphilitic gonorrhcea, and even the possibility of in- 
fection from the latter, permit the conclusion that there is no 
more appropriate remedy for this disease than mercury. The 
question is which form of this remedy is to be preferred, and 
we do not hesitate to declare in favor of the strongest mercurial 
preparations, such as red or white precipitate, but more particu- 
larly corrosive sublimate. The latter has the advantage of 
allowing of easy local application, which should never be ne- 
glected in view of so much danger to the power of vision.” 
For this purpose B?ehr recommends a solution of several 
grains of the second trituration in distilled water. In ophthal- 
mia neonatorum Bsehr considers “mercury as the principal 
remedy, particularly when infection on the part of the mother 
can be discovered.” In chronic blenorrhcea of the conjunctiva 
and in the first stage of that disease (before infiltration and 
excrescence of the conjunctiva are noticeable), mercury is the 
remedy principally indicated. 
231 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
When Hughes recommends mercury in chronic ophthalmia 
with granulation, we shall not err if we apply this to the sec- 
ond stage of chronic blenorrhcea. 
Guernsey’s indications for mercurius in ophthalmia neona- 
torum have been already mentioned under the head of conjunc- 
tivitis. 
When Aconite has modified the inflammation without re- 
storing the discharge, Jahr recommends corrosive sublimate 
(or Pulsat.). If mercury fails to cure the remnants of disease 
remaining after the subsidence of actual danger, Nitric acid is 
the remedy. 
Fuelfft recommends Cinnabar when there are condyloma- 
tous growths upon the iris, or edge of pupil (iritis), or on the 
edges of the lids, and when the course of the disease and the 
symptoms create a suspicion regarding sycotic complication. 
Corrosive sublimate is indicated in exudation. 
Gerhardt mentions mercury among the remedies for blenor- 
rhcea ophthalmia -without other specification. 
Payr recommends red precipitate after or with Aconite in the 
beginning of the acute, and in chronic blenorrhcea when irrita- 
bility is still severe, and croupous exudation very conspicuous. 
Gerson recommends Calomel. 
Goullon calls red precipitate a specific in ophthalmia neonatorum. 
Fuelfft says, that when ophthalmia neonatorum results from leu- 
corrhoea of the mother (the condition wTe have particularly in 
mind), he prescribes Mercur. sol. when the discharge is watery; 
when accompanied by diarrhoea of green stools ; excoriation of 
anus and genitals. Under the same conditions corrosive subli- 
mate is preferable to Mercur. sol., when the secretion is exco- 
riating and causes soreness of the facial integuments. Accord- 
ing to Fuelfft’s experience corrosive sublimate is the principal 
remedy in this disease. It is obvious that in a disease of such 
severity and frequently terminating in blindness, speedy relief 
is of the utmost importance, and we may be easily convinced 
by experience that Mercur. sol. acts too slowly in cases of this 
kind. We should, therefore, search for mercurial preparations 
which act rapidly and specifically upon the conjunctiva, and 
we may regard corrosive sublimate as a medicine of this kind. 
232 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Iii many recorded cases of poisoning by this medicine there are 
but few symptoms of rare occurrence which have a bearing on 
the conjunctiva. It is generally speaking the most active 
mercurial preparation, from which, however, we should not 
conclude that it is the most potent mercurial in relation to the 
eye in general (though iritis seems to be most commonly pro- 
duced by corrosive sublimate). It is, on the contrary, to be 
assumed that since it acts prominently upon vital organs, the 
eye experiences the least share of its power. In the small 
number of cases of poisoning by red precipitate, we discover 
symptoms distinctly pointing to blenorrhcea of the eyes, on 
which account we unhesitatingly give our preference to this 
medicine. 
(c) Conjunctivitis Scrophidosa : 
Cinnabar is to be recommended in the circumscribed inflam- 
mation of the conjunctiva, not only on account of its being 
composed of two of the most potent anti-psoric medicines, mer- 
cury and sulphur, but also on account of the pathogenesis of 
that substance. Among the effects of Cinnabar we find the 
most distinct tendency to produce circumscribed conjunctivitis. 
Although this is not found near the conjunctiva but in the 
canthi. Furthermore, we find the development of vesicles 
(which, however, as regards locality do not belong to scrophu- 
lous conjunctivitis), and a red vascular circle around the cornea. 
Observations furnish the following indications: 
Kafka prescribes Mercur. sol.3 when the Meibomian glands 
are contemporaneously affected, and covered with pustular 
dots, and when the nodules are infiltrated. In obstinate cases 
of ophthalmo-blenorrhoea, corrosive sublimate has proved very 
effectual in his hands. 
Bcehr says: When the exudation has extended to and upon 
the cornea, mercury is certainly the most, prominent remedy in 
that form of the disease which is characterized by erethism, 
and corrosive sublimate is the most efficacious preparation; 
this should, if possible, also be used locally. Since a very 
rapid effect of a remedy is not to be expected in scrofulous 
ophthalmia, we should not cease in the use of mercury too 
soon, particularly as it is the most appropriate remedy in the 
233 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
formation of ulcers. Contemporaneous cutaneous affections, 
especially eczema of the face with severe itching, point strongly 
to that remedy. Its local application is to be made very cau- 
tiously when deep ulceration of the cornea exists. 
Jahr begins the treatment of this disease of the eye with 
mercury, if this medicine has not previously been abused. It 
is indicated particularly in cutting pains with great photopho- 
bia and aggravation in the warmth of the bed. 
Hughes recommends principally corrosive sublimate. 
Hermg finds Mercur. sol. most useful after previous use of 
Bellad., when in the case of young children the pains in the 
eye are cutting, especially on exerting the eyes, with aggrava- 
tion in the evening and in bed, with burning, smarting and 
lachrymation in the open air. Photophobia with mistiness of 
vision, or when little pustules or vesicles are visible upon the 
eyeball, and when aggravations occur after every exposure to 
cold. 
Boecker employed corrosive sublimate with the best results ex- 
ternally and internally in the erethistic form; he furnishes the 
following indications: The eyelids are much swollen and spas- 
modically closed; the upper lid projects downward and covers 
the lower lid; there is much dried mucus upon the tarsal 
edges. The Meibomian glands are much inflamed; discharge 
of thick pus and mucus; great photophobia; the patient re- 
mains in the dark. Cornea is full of ramifying blood-vessels, 
and ulcers threatening to penetrate the same. Chalky white 
excrescences on the cornea, incipient staphyloma. Conjunctiva 
much inflamed, swollen, velvety and covered with papillae. 
Anterior chamber of the eye is filled with pus; surrounding 
parts and cheeks are red, swollen and covered with little pus- 
tules. Cervical glands are hard, swollen ; eruption upon occiput. 
Gerson has prescribed red precipitate successfully in scrofu- 
lous ophthalmia, and finds it indicated when the tumefaction 
of the conjunctiva is not very marked, but when it is bright 
red; the secretions purulent without excoriating the cheeks, 
and when the photophobia had not reached its greatest inten- 
sity. It was given even where the conjunctiva bulbi was 
effected and showed phlyctenular formations. The patients 
234 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
were scrofulous children who were not much reduced by- 
want of food. Also where affections peculiar to dentition were 
present, seeming to maintain or increase the inflammation, 
Gerson has often seen excellent results from red 'precipitate. 
He witnessed better effects from corrosive sublimate than from 
other mercurials, when the inflammation was of erysipelatous 
character, the swelling cedematous, the secretion thin and ex- 
coriating the surrounding skin, when the pain is severe, the 
tarsal spasm unconquerable, and when aggravations occur at 
night. 
JBirsch recommends corrosive sublimate in the erethistic form, 
with redness and much swelling of the spasmodically contracted 
lids; excessive photophobia, so that the children either retire 
to a dark corner of the room closing the eyes with their hands, 
or creep about with their eyes continually closed and with 
drooping head. The scalding tears, which flow at every at- 
tempt to open the eyes, cause redness, soreness and pustular 
eruption of the surrounding skin ; intense redness and swelling 
of conjunctiva palpel at bulbi, from which single collections of 
blood-vessels are seen to stretch toward the cornea, and to reach 
beyond the more or less cloudy edge of the same. The anterior 
chamber is full to bursting and the pupil contracted. 
According to Tuelff corrosive sublimate is indicated mostly in 
the erethistic form when the pain is severe, and when the secre- 
tion is acrid and corroding, producing an eruption of pimples 
all over the face. 
According to the experience of CL Mueller corrosive subli- 
mate is indicated only in the rarely occurring erethistic form, 
with considerable development of ulceration. In a latter arti- 
cle (Goullon Horn. Presse, IV), he says: “When the photopho- 
bia and pain are somewhat subdued, or when these are present 
only in moderate degree, I employ the remedy which according 
to my experience is prominent in producing a decided effect 
upon the cornea, and which more than any other remedy is 
capable of curing inflammations, ulcerations and opacity; this 
remedy is Mercur. sol. In a great many cases I have observed 
very decided curative effects of this remedy, and therefore do 
not hesitate to ascribe to it a truly specific action. But we 
235 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
should not expect such results in a few days, but should rather 
persevere with the remedy, occasionally pausing in its admin- 
istration in order to give a few intercurrent doses of Sulphur 
when improvement ceases to progress, or when it is tardy in 
beginning. In acute cases when deep ulcers threaten to form 
perforations, he gives the 3d trituration in frequent doses. 
According to Payr Mercurius corresponds to the pustular 
formation. In ulcerative processes of the cornea in erethistic, 
scrofulous individuals corrosive sublimate is indicated, when 
subjective symptoms preponderate largely over the objective, 
and display a great degree of obstinacy. 
According to Goullon Mercur. sol. is to be regarded only 
next in order. 
2. Keratitis. 
Among the pathological changes caused by mercury, there 
are none having any bearing upon keratitis. But since in af- 
fections of the cornea, the conjunctiva is also diseased, and 
combines its symptoms with those of the former, and since the 
general changes occurring in an affection of the cornea corres- 
pond to the general effects of mercury, we shall find the latter 
indicated in the rheumatic, scrofulous and syphilitic form of 
keratitis. 
Hughes recommends corrosive sublimate in the scrofulous 
and syphilitic form, especially in the presence of ulceration. 
Peters also mentions mercury as a remedy in keratitis. 
Among the recorded clinical cases which generally appear 
under a faulty nomenclature as rheumatic and gouty ophthal- 
mia, there are some cases of kerato-iritis which were cured with 
mercury. The cases cured by Schelling (llygca, Yol. 19), with 
mercury, seem to have been of the scrofulous kind. 
Freytag also recommends Mercur. sol. in diseases of the cornea. 
Payr recommends Mercur. sol. in traumatic keratitis when 
the opacity is widely diffused and saturated, so as to prevent 
observation of the anterior chamber, and when the concomi- 
tant symptoms, such as pain, lachrymation, photophobia and 
swelling of the lids are severe. When the symptoms are vio- 
lent, he combines internal treatment with application of mer- 
236 mercury and its preparations. 
curial ointment and extract of Bellad. (!) over the superciliary 
arch, in order to obviate the deplorable consequences of closure 
of the pupil in iritis. He also observed speedy result in rheu- 
matic keratitis. According to Arlt we have considered herpes 
of the cornea as scrofulous conjunctivitis, and have discussed 
it as such. In the parenchymatous (scrofulous according to 
Arlt) keratitis, mercury is superior in effect to all other reme- 
dies, and most surely prevents suppuration. 
3. Ulcers and Abscesses of the Cornea, Opacity 
Bcehr says: In abscesses of the cornea mercury is the chief 
remedy, particularly when the suppuration is circumscribed. 
Jahr mentions mercury in connection with opacity of the 
cornea, but as a remedy for ulceration he assigns it to the sec- 
ond class. 
Gerson recommends corrosive sublimate in corneal ulcers o 
scrofulous children, when the ulcer spreads rapidly, with 
ichorous secretion and excessive pain and photophobia. He 
recommends Mercur. sol. in opacities of the cornea (with Hepar 
sulph.) 
Cl. Mueller succeeded in curing only one out of ten cases of 
opacity of the cornea with due rapidity, and that case was of 
recent date. He met with better results afterwards. During 
the year 1878, out of twenty-one cases of opacity and cicatriza- 
tion of the cornea, seven were cured, five improved, and one 
remained under treatment (the others only came once, or ab- 
sented themselves). In these cases he gives Mercur. sol.30 in 
infrequent doses.. 
Under the head of Diseases of the Conjunctiva several au- 
thors have mentioned mercury as indicated in corneal ulcers. 
Payr recommends Bellad. in alternation with mercury in 
suppurative keratitis (abscess of cornea, onjTx and hypopium as 
secondary effects, according to Arlt) when there is considerable 
hypersemia and swelling of the conjunctiva and of the epi- 
scleral connecting-tissue, together with great increase of tem- 
perature, according to the constitutional excitement of the 
vascular system and other concomitants. After lessening these 
latter symptoms, he gives mercury alone. Thifc is indicated MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
particularly by nocturnal pains and consequent sleeplessness; 
he gives it only as long as the suppuration of the cornea con- 
tinues. 
Payr treats onyx as he does an abscess of the cornea. In 
obstinate opacity of the cornea he recommends Calomel to be 
applied to the eye in the form of powder; red precipitate as a 
salve, and corrosive sublimate in the proportion of one-quarter 
to one-half grain to the ounce of distilled water, as an eye-wash. 
Payr very properly denies the possibility of curing fully de- 
veloped staphyloma, but recommends, among other remedies, 
mercury as a preventative. 
4. Staphyloma of the Cornea. 
5. Scleritis. 
Only Ja.hr treats of this disease in special. He says: “In 
this disease mercury is and continues to be the chief remedy ” 
In Riickert’s “Clinical Experiences,” mercury is mentioned 
when the sclerotic is red as blood, tumid and loose in texture. 
Hartmann also recommends mercury in violent cases of 
scleritis. 
6. Iritis. 
Many authors such as Hunter, Bcle, Scar-pa, Pearson, Ammon, 
Werklin, Travers, M. Jaeger and many others do not admit the 
existence of syphilitic iritis, but ascribe the same to the effects 
of mercury. Particular attention is attracted to the case of 
Werklin, in which iritis appeared together with gummy tumors 
upon a patient who never had syphilis, and who took Calomel 
with opium for facial rheumatism. In the list of enumerated 
symptoms we find all the characteristics of iritis, such as in- 
jected state of vessels, pressing, burning pain in the eye; pho- 
tophobia; induration of the iris; irregular shape of the pupil 
and hypopion; there is violent burning pain in the supra- 
orbital region on forehead, sight is nearly gone. In rheumatic 
iritis all symptoms are much more intense and its course a 
rapid one. 
When we duly consider the fact that Fricke treated 15,000 
238 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
syphilitic patients without mercury in the Hamburg Hospital 
without observing a single case of iritis, and that Ilennen saw 
only two cases of iritis among 407 patients, while under mer- 
curial treatment, and that iritis belongs to the common affec- 
tions of the secondary period during mercurial treatment, we 
are justified in concluding that the inflammation of the iris is 
due to the effect of mercury in many, if not in most cases. 
While Cooper was administering mercury in a scrofulous 
affection, he observed the development of iritis. 
In Amman’s Journal (Zeitschrift far Ophthalmologies Yol. 1), 
we find the following statement: In the case of a man and a 
woman who had taken corrosive sublimate for chancre without 
producing salivation, ophthalmia of the right eye set in. This 
extended not only to the posterior surface of the cornea, but 
also to the serous covering of the iris. The pupil was angular; 
the eye very painful and felt as if it were too small, and all 
sensations increased while in bed. 
Under the head of mercurial inunction (Ho. 1) we find that 
Basedow enumerates iritis among the effects of mercury. Un- 
der the head of corrosive sublimate (Ho. 26) we find iritis with 
angular pupil. The frequent occurrence of dilatation and in- 
sensibility of the pupil after corrosive sublimate, is probably 
to be regarded as a nervous irritation. Thus we have given 
sufficient evidence that mercury as a metal, and in its two 
combinations with chlorine (besides Werklein’s case, that of 
Cooper may also be one in which iritis was caused by Calomel) 
is capable of producing inflammation of the iris; we will thus 
proceed to consider the recommendations of individual authors. 
Kafka advises a speedy resort to mercury when the pain in 
the eye is violent, when the head is affected, with photophobia 
and lachrymation, contraction of the pupil and discoloration 
of the iris. In such a case Kafka recommends Mercar. sol? in 
three or four doses daily; together with inunction of grey 
mercurial ointment above the painful eye and temple of the 
affected side every morning and evening. As soon as the pain 
is lessened (by local application of a solution of Atropine), and 
as soon as the photophobia and contraction of the pupil are re- 
moved, Kafka diminishes the action of mercury by omitting 
239 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
inunction and Mercur. sol., and continues to administer corro- 
sive sublimate or red 'precipitate until the exudation which en- 
tered the anterior and posterior chamber is removed, and until 
the last remnant of iritis has vanished. This desirable result 
is obtained in most cases when we are consulted in time and 
recognize the nature of the case at once (iritis syphilitica.) 
Bcehr says: Tn the beginning of cases of iritis not dependent 
on other constitutional causes Bellad. and perhaps Aeon, are to 
be employed, but only in the earliest stage of the disease. But 
as the course of the affection is a very rapid one, we should 
now resort to mercury as the chief remedy. Mercur. corr. is 
the preparation to be used. In the treatise on therapeutics of 
syphilis, he says: Iritis can scarcely be treated without mer- 
cury, but very cautiously. Corrosive sublimate is the best form 
of preparation, and most speedily obviates the danger. 
Hughes also considers mercury as the chief remedy in rheu- 
matic and syphilitic iritis, and refers to Peters as an authority. 
The latter mentions mercury as the first remedy in rheumatic 
iritis, as well as in the syphilitic, scrofulous and arthritic 
forms of the disease. 
Yeldham says, regarding syphilitic iritis, there is no doubt 
that mercury is our sheet-anchor in this disease, and it is usually 
the only remedy indicated. In fact there are but few phe- 
nomena in medicine more interesting than the visible effect of 
this medicine in reducing the inflammation and the exudation, 
and in restoring the pupil to its normal condition. It should 
be administered in large and frequently repeated doses; about 
five or ten grains of the second decimal trituration every four 
hours. 
Jahr admits that he has never treated a case of developed 
iritis syphilitica with characteristic tubercles or condylomata, 
but he would in such cases first use Cinnabar (why?). 
Cases of iritis cured with mercury are to be found in Riick- 
ert’s Klinischen Erfahrungen (Clinical Experiences), in the 
chapters on “rheumatic” and “gouty” ophthalmia. 
Our oculist, Payr, says: In the collection of our drugs, the 
mercurials are those in particular which we use with success 
in iritis. Among the preparations of mercury we consider red 
240 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
precipitate and corrosive sublimate as the most reliable ones, but 
freely admit that in consideration of the rapid development of 
exudation, and the somewhat tardy effects of mercury in acute 
cases, we have employed an adjuvant not to be underestimated, 
namely, grey mercurial ointment, which is to be rubbed vigor- 
ously into the superciliary and temporal region of the affected 
part two or three times a day. 
Although we consider general inunction (Schmierkur) ur- 
gent recommended by many as superfluous, we would never- 
theless favor a milder local treatment, particularly because its 
omission in former times, when employing exclusively internal 
mercurial treatment, has ended in serious failure, such as pos- 
terior synechia of considerable extent, and anteriorly capsular 
cataract. We administer red precipitate, 2d trit. in two or three 
grain doses every two or three hours in the beginning, together 
with the above-named adjuvant; while in more chronic cases 
we administer corrosive sublimate 2d dil. The same author em- 
ploys Mercur. protojod. in the 2d trit. in cases when it is doubt- 
ful whether they were treated previously with copious doses of 
mercury (if this is really the case, Kali jodat.\ is the remedy). 
When suppuration has already occurred within the chamber, 
Payr thinks he has observed very favorable effects from mer- 
cury (Hepar and Sulphur) in some cases when the quantity of 
pus was moderate, while the same remedies had no effect in 
other cases, without assignable cause. 
7. Choroiditis, Retinitis, Amblyopia. 
Since the older observations on affections of the inner eye 
are expressed in rather vague terms, so that we are unable to 
diagnosticate them, we will sum them up in this place. 
Pliny already mentions disturbances of vision in consequence 
of mercurial inunction. Avicenna speaks of blindness. Most 
authors mention amaurosis mercurialis, also more recently B. 
Halforth. 
Dieterich describes the following condition as retinitis mer- 
curialis: The patient feels a burning pressing pain in the depth 
of the eye; there is great photophobia, constant lachrymation, 
and various light colored spectra, such as sparks and fiery rays 
241 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
flit before the vision of the patient; besides there are violent 
nocturnal boring pains in the frontal bone. 
Now, since visions of colors are absent, or very rare in re- 
tinitis, while they are a constant symptom in choroiditis, to- 
gether with the pains in the region of the trigeminal nerve, 
we consider these phenomena as relating to the choroid, while 
the retina is perhaps consecutively affected. 
The following observations of Kussmaul, which are also con- 
firmed by most authors, point to an affection of the optic nerve 
and the retina, particularly in the presence of exquisite sensi- 
bility to light: Two patients were unable to read fine print 
during mercurial tremor, but were able to do so after the latter 
had disappeared. The ophthalmoscope revealed no changes in 
the fundus of the eye. As both patients had trembling of the 
head, Kussmaul dares not decide whether the inability to fix 
the object of vision, or amblyopia was the cause of their dis- 
turbance of vision. But he considers the latter explanation as 
the most plausible, because diminished power of vision is also 
to be observed in persons who suffer from erethism, but who 
have no trembling of the head. 
Mercur. viv. has among its symptoms flaming visions (in 
No. 33.) 
Mercur. sol. has a black spot before the eyes which seems to 
move on before him on looking down. Black spots before 
the eyes. Something seems to fly about before his face re- 
sembling black insects or flies. Everything looks green or black 
before her eyes, the room seems to be turning round, and 
she is obliged to lie down. lie loses his sight completely for 
five minutes, and every half hour he has an attack, during 
which he is entirely deprived of vision for five minutes. Fiery 
spots above towards the clouds, especially in the afternoon. 
Fiery sparks before the eyes. Mist before one or both eyes. 
Amaurotic dimness before the left eye, which gradually in- 
creased and lasted for ten minutes. Amaurotic blindness of 
the left eye without pain for some minutes while walking in 
the open air. Dimness of vision of both eyes. Visual illusions; 
it seems to him as if a straw were suspended before both eyes. 
242 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Pointed things, like an awl, seem to have double points. The 
eyes are unable to bear the fire-light and daylight. 
Corrosive sublimate has the following: Photophobia, diplopia, 
blindness, insensibility of pupil, contracted and dilated pupil. 
The pains characteristic of choroiditis are peculiar to all mer- 
curials, and are enumerated under the head of “Neuralgia.” 
Fixed pains and photopsia are strongly marked symptoms of 
Mercur. sol., and all are symptoms of choroiditis; while the 
mouches volantes, as well as the disturbance of vision in regard 
to colors, are peculiar to retinitis. 
Payr says in regard to mercurials in choroiditis, that in this 
disease as well as in all inflammations threatening the destruc- 
tion of the bulb, mercury is the most important remedy, and 
the most valuable one in the Materia Medica. Although this 
assertion may seem somewhat exaggerated from our point of 
view, qu imyortel we are indebted to it for most of our cures, 
while other remedies, as will be shown, do not always sustain 
the confidence placed in them. The following testimony will 
prove that this accusation is to be cautiously received, as in 
certain cases it may apply to mercury. Nevertheless we assign 
to it the first place among the remedies in this disease, not 
because we are prepossessed in its favor, but on account of its 
incisive constitutional effect, as well as its subjective symptoms 
relating to choroiditis. As in case of intense iritis we also 
prefer red precipitate to Mercur. sol., and endeavor to increase 
its effect by contemporaneous application of mercurial oint- 
ment to the forehead. 
If the disease is of syphilitic origin, as a matter of course 
the most extensive use of mercury is indicated. Mercury 
would likewise deserve preference before other remedies in the 
suppurative form of choroiditis. 
Jahr furnishes the following indications for mercury under 
the head of “weakness of the eyes,” having reference to dis- 
eases of the choroid and retina. Dimness of vision, as if look- 
ing through a mist; black dots, flying specks, flickering and 
sparks before the eyes. Momentary attacks of sudden blind- 
ness. Mobility of letters while reading. Extreme sensitiveness 
of the eyes to fire-light and daylight; cutting, piercing and press- 
243 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing pains in the eyes, especially on exertion of the latter; (di- 
lated, or even insensibility or irregularity of the pupil.) 
Payr remarks upon retinitis as follows: “In the place of the 
results of provings of mercury, it is sufficient to adduce the 
fact established by the observation of older observers, that this 
remedy affects the entire eye, and that Dieterich, Jaeger, Base- 
dow, Pobertson and Travers not only observed numerous instan- 
ces of iritis mercurialis, but that also an analogous affection 
of the retina is mentioned by ITaffner, Dieterich, Kramer, 
Wdlis and others, which affection is characterized by burning 
pressing pain deep in the eye with severe photophobia and 
photopsia, together with laehrvmation. The same observers 
mention various cases of mercurial amaurosis. All of these 
stamp mercury as the most powerful remedy, according to the 
law of similars, in all inflammations of the bulb-membranes, 
and thus give it the most prominent place in inflammations of 
the retina, excepting perhaps the leucaemic form of that disease. 
The preparations most commonly used by the old school are 
calomel and corrosive sublimate, the effects of which are gen- 
erally increased by the well known inunction (Schmierkur) 
according to the directions of Rust and Houvrier. We make 
use of Mercur. sol., red precipitate and corrosive sublimate, but 
most frequently of red precipitate, which we prefer to Mercur. 
sol. on account of its more incisive effect, replacing it by corro- 
sive sublimate only in very obstinate cases. Two grain doses 
of the 2d dec. trit. given every two, three or four hours accord- 
ing to the severity of the case, and combined in dangerous 
cases with the frontal ointment (ung. cin. 25.00, Ext. Bellad. 
0.18) were found to be sufficient in all cases, and we were 
never obliged to resort to the general inunction (grosse 
Schmierkur.) 
We avoid the combination of mercury with chlorine on 
account of greater tendency to produce salivation, and we 
avoid it particularly in cases which threaten to demand a per- 
sistent administration of mercury. Instead of that we more 
commonly employ iodides of mercury, especially in cases of 
syphilitic origin, treated in the beginning with calomel or cor- 
rosive sublimate in a moderate degree. 
244 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
It is true that the doses as above prescribed are not to be 
called weak, on which account they may not meet with mercy 
at the hands of some old Hahnemannians. Nevertheless we 
have been met by this assertion, that such treatment would be 
of no avail in severe cases. We are only able to reply that ex- 
perience at the bedside has decided in our favor; and that we 
are accustomed to have our most sacred assurances enter only 
deaf ears. We shall, therefore, allow nothing to disturb us in 
adhering to that which we have learned to regard as good, and 
sanctioned by experience. For we are all aware that the key 
of the secret lies in the mode of preparation of our medicines, 
which more than counterbalances the surplus bulk of those of 
our antagonists. 
At the close of the chapters on retinitis, Payr enumerates 
the remedies which correspond to the various forms of that 
disease, and here we meet everywhere with the above-named 
remedy, except in retinitis leucsemia. It is used in the follow- 
ing conditions: (a) Retinitis idiopathica, produced first, by ex- 
cessive exertion of the eye; second, by too bright an illumina- 
tion of the field of vision; third, by exposure of the heated 
head to cold air; fourth, by injuries, (b) Retinitis nephritica 
s. albuminurica. (c) Retinitis syphilitica, (d) Retinitis hse- 
morrhagica, produced e. g., first, by menstrual disturbances; 
second, abdominal plethora; third, habitual rush of blood to 
the head. Payr furthermore recommends the mercurials in 
neuro-retinitis, referring at the same time to general therapeu- 
tics of retinitis. In cases of separation of the retina he recom- 
mends particularly corrosive sublimate. 
Hughes advises the use of mercury in small but frequent doses 
in subacute and chronic retinitis; also in amaurosis showing 
symptoms of retinal irritation, with severe photophobia and 
contraction of the pupil. 
According to Peters Bellad. and Mercur. are the principal 
remedies in retinitis. In haemorrhage of the retina, mercury 
may be indicated after Aeon, and Bellad. It is also indicated 
in amaurosis in consequence of adhesive inflammation of the 
sheath of the optic nerve; also in amaurosis after fracture of 
the skull, and after taking cold. In retinitis resulting from 
245 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Bright’s disease, corrosive sublimate is mentioned by Peters as 
the chief remedy. He furthermore mentions mercury as a 
remedy in severe photophobia; when things look green; in 
mouches volantes of those suffering from disease of the liver; 
when paroxysms of blindness occur every half hour. 
Yeldham assigns the first place to Mercur. sol. in syphilitic 
retinitis. 
In our literature we find descriptions of several cases of 
amaurosis belonging to other diseases of the retina, cured by 
mercury. 
In chronic cases of disease of the choroid and retina we 
would prefer Mercur. viv. to other preparations, because it is 
capable of producing such diseases. 
Lastly, it remains for us to consider the diseases of the eye- 
lids, the muscles of the eyes and of the lachrymal organs. 
8. Blepharoadenitis. 
It is not only the general action of mercury upon the glan- 
dular system, but more particularly the irritation and inflam- 
mation of the glands of the eyelids that are caused by some of 
the mercurials, which point to the application of this drug in 
this disease, generally of syphilitic origin. Thus we find: 
Under Mercur. sol.: The upper eyelid is thickened and red 
like a hordeolum. 
Mercur. sub. corr.: The glandules of the eyes are inflamed. 
Mercur. prcec. rub.: Great improvement in an inflammation 
of the glands of the lids of many years standing; the disease 
lias vanished entirely since that time (No. 6.) 
Mercur. sol. seems to effect the Meibomian glands (Hordeo- 
lum); corrosive sublimate and red precipitate affect the glands of 
Zeiss, constituting blepharoadenitis ciliaris. 
Hering in recommending Mercur. sol. in conjunctivitis seems 
also to have intended to suggest its application to blepharoa- 
denitis, when he recommends the remedy in cases “ when the 
eyelids * * * have ulcers upon their edges and scabby' 
spots externally.” 
The clinical cases of Boecker showing the action of corrosive 
sublimate upon scrophulous ophthalmia, furnish the following 
246 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
symptomatic image: The Meibomian glands are much inflamed 
(probably the glands of Zeiss were meant.) 
Jahr mentions ulcerated tarsal edges as an indication for 
mercury. 
Cl. Mueller considers Graphite and corrosive sublimate as the 
chief remedies in blepharitis, and employs the latter in the 8d 
cent. trit. when the tarsal edges exhibit continuous redness 
and soreness, with scabs and ulcers upon the lids, with tendency 
to ectropium or entropium. 
Attomyer recommends mercury in acute cases with much 
swelling and burning pain, especially in affections of the left 
lower lid, with violent inflammation of both lids, accompanied 
by burning pain and profuse secretion of tears and pus. 
9. Paralysis and Spasm of the Muscles of the Eye. 
In these cases we are enabled to quote only Pa.yr as our au- 
thority, who prescribes Mercur. sol. after Aeon, in paralysis of 
the muscles of the eye, when there is much perspiration; when 
the rheumatic affection is extensive, and when there is vascular 
excitement. The same author mentions Mercur. as a remedy 
in tonic spasm of the lids, in consequence of spasms of the face; 
also blepharo-spasm accompanying the bilateral clonic spasm 
of the accessory nerve of Willis. The remedy is indicated 
when the disease is of rheumatic origin. 
10. Dacryocystitis. 
The following symptoms indicate inflammation of the tear- 
sac: Mercur. sol. when there is inflammatory swelling in the 
region of the lachrymal bone. 
Cinnabar: Pain in the right lachrymal duct, around the eye 
to the temple. Piercing pains around the lachrymal duct of 
the upper lid, and numerous inflammatory phenomena of the 
inner canthus (see conjunctivitis.) 
We would also use Cinnabar in inflammations of the lach- 
rymal sac, whereby, perhaps, its perforation and consequent 
evil results might be avoided. Little is to be hoped from in- 
ternal remedies in fully developed lachrymal fistula; neverthe- 
less there are cases which have been cured by Calc, carb., ITatr. 
mur., Sulphur, etc. 
247 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
11. DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF HEARING. 
The symptoms relating to the diseases of the ear are as 
follows: 
Mercur viv.: Much roaring in the ears in several cases; ear- 
ache (No. 54) and cophosis are mentioned by many older writers. 
Mercur. sol.: lie is hardly able to hear, and still every sound 
reverberates much in the ear. The ears seem stuffed, with 
roaring in them. Roaring in the ears in the morning. Roar- 
ing and rushing sound in the ear, as if something stuck in 
the ear. Rushing sound in the ear as if something had been 
stuffed into it. Whirring sound before the ear as if fainting 
were to be anticipated. Roaring before the ear, synchronous 
with the pulse. Hardness of hearing in both ears. Roaring 
m the ears. Roaring before both ears while lying in bed. 
Roaring in the ears with deafness in both ears. Rushing sound 
before the left ear. Buzzing as if caused by wasps in the left 
ear. Fluttering before the left ear. Fluttering and crawling 
in the left ear. Ringing like the sound of high pitched glasses, 
especially evenings. All kinds of ringing before both ears for 
many days, worse evenings. Tearing pain deep in left ear at 
the beginning of measles. Pressing, piercing pain in the ear; 
the warmer she became in bed, the colder and moister her ear 
felt, at last as if she had ice in her ear. Stitches in the inter- 
nal ear on stooping. The left ear is painful as if inflamed; 
the meatus is also painful as if inflamed. Violent pains in the 
ear as if something were pressing out. The ear feels as if ex- 
ternally and internally inflamed, partly with cramp-like, partly 
with piercing pains, and stopped up as if swollen. Jamming 
earache. Piercing and tearing pains in the ear. Piercing and 
burning pain deep in both ears, worse in the left. Both ears 
are internally sore and denuded of skin, worse in the right ear. 
Several times a day there was a feeling in the right and left 
ear as if cold water were running out, which comes suddenly 
and disappears after several minutes, meantime there is much 
itching in both ears. Moisture runs from both ears. In the 
morning blood runs from the left ear. Blood and offensive 
pus runs from the right ear, with tearing pain in the same. 
248 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Pus runs from both ears; in the outer portion of the right ear 
there is a boil which discharges pus from the ear on being 
touched, accompanied with pain in the entire right side of the 
head and face, which prevents her from lying on this side. 
Yellowish pus flows from the left ear. Liquid cerumen runs 
from both ears. 
Mercur. sub. corr.: Piercing internally in left ear. Inflam- 
mation of ear passages; piercing pain in the same. Strong 
pulsation in the ears, particularly in the left. Pulsation of 
the arteries in the left ear. Piercing twitching pains in the 
right ear; blubbering sound in the left ear, with the pulse. 
Offensive purulent discharge from the ear; digging and pierc- 
ing pain in left ear, of such violence as to cause him to cry and 
scream for three minutes; later there were admonitions of the 
same feeling. Roaring and crackling in the left ear, followed 
by pressing pain in the vertex, extending to the occipital bone, 
and thence to the left jaw, causing sponginess and swelling of 
the gums. The ears feel as if stuffed inside. Rushing as if 
caused by water in the ears. 
Cinnabar: Pressing and jamming pain deep in the right ear, 
internally toward the nape of the neck, after sitting down, and 
passing off while sitting ; with dizziness after two hours, in the 
forenoon. In half an hour he felt a sharp pain in the right 
supraorbital region streaming backwards and downwards to- 
wards the ear, and the side of the neck; the forehead is very 
hot; the pain is worse in the warm room and on moving the 
eyes and the scalp. Drawing sensation from the right inner 
canthus of the eye, across the jaw to the ear. Violent itching 
in the right ear, and after using the ear-spoon there is a pain 
deep in the ear on the ninth day. Rush of blood to the occi- 
put, accompanied by violent itching and heat in both ears; 
behind the left ear there appear three hard swellings, one of 
the size of a small shot, the second as large as a buck-shot 
and the third still larger. Pain and feeling of fulness in the 
meatus of the left ear for a short time. At ten a.m. there was 
a feeling- of water in the left ear which soon vanished. Violent 
itching in the left ear from the first to the fourth day. Scabby 
eruption in the right external ear, between the helix and anti- 
249 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
helix, on the fourth day. Pains in both ears lasting five 
minutes. Noises in the ears after eating. Roaring in the 
ears with swelling of the face. 
Mercury is recommended in affections of the ear by the fol- 
lowing writers: 
Kafka mentions it in catarrhal otorrhoea in these words: 
“According to our experiences collected with reference to this 
subject, we have the choice between Mercur., Hepar, Calc, 
sulph., Lycop., and Arsen. If the otorrhoea is accompanied 
by catarrh of the eyes or nose, swelling of glands, eczema of 
face or scalp, or when we see only a portion of these symptoms, 
or when the excoriating discharge from the ear is alone present, 
we resort to one of the above remedies in two doses daily, and 
we are convinced that each of these remedies is capable of re- 
lieving the entire complex of symptoms in a space of time 
varying from three to six weeks without the necessity of re- 
sorting to any external application.” 
The more simple the scrofulous and excoriating discharge 
from the ears appears, so much the more certain will be the 
effect of the above-named remedies, provided the patient ob- 
serves the proper diet and regimen. The excoriating property 
of the secretion grows less, the discharge gradually assumes a 
laudable appearance, and finally becomes watery. In obstinate 
cases he makes use of injections of corrosive sublimate (one- 
quarter grain to three ounces of water), alum, tannin and sul- 
phate of zinc. 
Bcehr says (after treating of two chief remedies Pulsat. and 
Bellad.), that in otitis interna, we have also to consider the 
remedies which come into play when the disease becomes pur- 
ulent; here, again, mercury takes the first rank. As a matter 
of course it will have to be employed in cases where otitis is of 
syphilitic origin, provided the patient has not already con- 
sumed mercury in excess; to ordinary cases it is completely 
adapted. / 
In otitis externa he recommends mercury when there is for- 
mation of abscesses. 
Hughes promises good effects of Mercur. sol. (Hepar and 
Nitric acid) in cases of otorrhoea dependent on chronic inflam- 
250 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mation of the lining of the meatus externus and of the mem- 
brana tympani (otitis externa). The chlorides of mercury or 
corrosive sublimate (together with Pulsat., Iodine, Iodide of 
potash), are applicable in those forms of otorrhoea which pre- 
sent themselves as a symptom of the chronic catarrh of the 
middle ear, as well as chronic inflammation of the middle ear. 
He also recommends mercury in cases of rigidity and hypertrophy 
of the mucous membrane, as found in scrofulous children and 
advanced age. Mercur. corr. subl. in caries of the mastoid pro- 
cess (with Aurum); in deafness after taking cold, when the 
disorder has become chronic. 
Goidlon mentions mercury as chief remedy in otitis catarrb- 
alis externa of scrofulous persons (Calc. carb. as principal 
remedy). 
The same author says in regard to therapeutics of scrofulous 
diseases of the ear (external and internal otitis, periostitis of 
the middle ear and of the external meatus, and inflammation 
of the tympanum): “We might mention more than one unfor- 
tunate case where polypous growths, profuse and putrid dis- 
charge, affection of the constitution in general, and a consid- 
erable degree of deafness followed allopathic treatment, and 
where nevertheless Calc, carb., Silic. and mercury (the former 
and the later in their various preparations), were amply suffi- 
cient to conquer the pathological condition. 
Jahr regards a dose of mercury rarely necessary after Pulsat. 
in external otitis. In cases of internal otitis in the depth of 
the cavity of the tympanum, in the presence of dangerous 
symptoms such as violent headache, cramps in the face, com- 
plete deafness and roaring in the ears (Llepar, Laches.), mercury 
may succeed in accomplishing the discharge of pus through 
the external meatus or eustachian tube and fauces. On the 
other hand Jahr asserts that he has always found Bellad. and 
mercury quite sufficient in all other inflammations of the inner 
parts of the ear, and that he rarely had to resort to Bryonia as 
an intercurrent remedy when indicated by violent headache. 
He recommends mercury in rheumatic headache, when the eu r 
discharges moisture, with stitches deep in the internal parts 
and burning in external parts, especially when accompanied by 
251 perspiration without relief. In general the following symp- 
toms demand the use of mercury: Boring pains, tearing, jam- 
ming; feeling of coldness in the internal and burning in the 
external ear; nocturnal aggravations ; when the whole is caused 
by taking cold; when there is offensive discharge from the 
ear. Difficulty of hearing demands mercury, when there is at 
the same time discharge from the ear; when it appears as ac- 
companiment or consequence of coryza; when it remains after 
measles, or is caused by hypertrophied tonsils, and when the 
ears seem to be stuffed. In hemorrhage from the ear, Jahr 
mentions mercury and Tulsat. as prime remedies. 
Hering finds mercury indicated in pains in the ear, deep 
seated, tearing, pressing and burning; when the pain extends 
into the cheek or burns externally and feels cold inside, accom- 
companied with violent jamming and pinching pains, espe- 
cially when the ear discharges moisture. 
Alther observed the following cases to be cured with mercury: 
Catarrhal deafness from colds; roaring in the left ear with di- 
minished hearing; hardness of hearing which is relieved by 
blowing the nose; stuffed feeling of the right ear, with ring- 
ing; enlarged tonsils closing the eustachian tube, and causing 
diminution of hearing. 
Deutsch reports a case of profuse, offensive discharge after 
measles, where the external meatus was closed by polypi of 
soft consistency and easily bleeding. After using Mercur. sol.3 
internally and 1st externally, the polypus dropped oft*, with 
perceptible diminution of the bad odor and discharge. 
According to Lobethal the simple catarrhal otorrhcea of 
scrofulous children accompanied with loss of hearing, yields 
most rapidly to Calomel in the 2d or 3d trit., given at reason- 
ably short intervals. 
If we glance at the pathogenesis of mercury and the cases in 
which it has been prescribed, we find that it is principally 
the chronic catarrh of the middle ear, when it extends from 
the pharynx through the eustachian tube to the ear, which 
calls for mercury. 
Halfort says that in mercurial angina the eustachian tube is 
not infrequently affected and hearing impaired. 
MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
252 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The affections of the ear which are next in importance, are 
inflammation of the external ear; acute inflammation of the 
tympanum; acute catarrh, and chronic inflammation of the 
middle ear. The etiological causes which point to mercury 
are cold, rheumatism, scrofula, tuberculosis and syphilis. Acute 
inflammation of the middle ear is connected at the outset with 
cerebral symptoms of such violence, that mercury is out of the 
question at this stage, but as soon as pus makes its appearance 
the time for the administration of that medicine has arrived. 
Mercury and Calc, carb., etc., will be indicated when deafness 
appears as a result of chronic inflammation of the fauces with- 
out inflammatory or catarrhal affection of the eustachian tube, 
but in consequence of those pathological processes leading to 
hypertrophy of the mucous membrane of the velum, tonsils 
and lymphatic glands of the fossa of Rosenmiiller, and even of 
the mucous lining of the posterior cavity of the nose in chronic 
coryza. 
We are unable to decide whether the deafness caused by 
mercury (cophosis) is of a nervous character, or whether it is 
the result of swelling and hypertrophy of the mucous mem- 
brane of the middle ear; occlusion of the tuba or hypertrophy 
of the mucous lining of the fauces; hence we cannot recom- 
mend that remedy in nervous deafness. If we were justified in 
judging by analogy, we might consider it as a direct affection 
of the acoustic nerve, because among serious lesions of the brain 
we also observe amaurosis to follow mercurial poisoning, and 
may attribute the latter to a direct affection of the optic nerve. 
The following observation of Falck indicates an affection of 
the acoustic nerve: Great sensitiveness to sounds; paralysis of 
the nerves of hearing with deafness, may originate suddenly 
as well as gradually, and they are very persistent when once 
established. 
Halfort says that there is great sensitiveness to noise; the 
sound of wagons in the street causes the patient to shudder. 
The results of provings of Cinnabar may disappoint us in our 
expectations, since they present very few symptoms relating to 
the ear. nevertheless this preparation might prove useful in 
scrofulous affections of the ear in preference to other remedies. 
253  MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Diseases of the concha, caries of the petrous portion, etc., are 
discussed in the chapters on skin, bones, etc. 
12. DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 
a. Cavity of the Mouth. 
1. Stomatitis. 
In summing up the accounts of mercurial stomatitis of var- 
ious authors, we obtain the following image of the same: The 
mucous membrane of the mouth at first shows a blueish-red 
color, while the teeth as well as the edges of the gums are 
coated with a yellowish cheesy mass. The gums retract from 
the teeth and bleed easily; while the teeth become loosened, 
shake on being touched and sometimes fall out. The salivary 
and lymphatic glands, as well as the parotid and the cheeks are 
swollen, together with the tongue, and are painful. The latter 
shows the imprint of the teeth along its edges, and is some- 
times swollen to such an extent as to fill the cavity of the 
mouth, obliging the patient to keep his mouth open to afford 
more room. Burning pain and fetid odor soon appear. The 
secretion of saliva is increased, so that it runs from the mouth 
continually. The saliva is viscid, stringy, corroding; its taste 
is sometimes sour or salty, at others sweetish and flat, or bitter, 
foul, or metallic.. From two to sixteen pounds may be secreted 
in twenty-four hours. This state is accompanied with febrile 
symptoms; the pulse is rapid, soft, feeble and small; the skin 
is at first dry, later it is wilted; the urine is red; the head is 
dull and heavy; the nose stuffed and the debility is very great. 
The teeth are covered with thick, fetid, cheesy coating, which 
corrodes the enamel; on which account the teeth often turn 
black and then always remain so. 
On the sides of the mucous membrane of the tongue and 
cheeks, where it borders upon the teeth, we observe shallow 
and very painful ulcers which begin in the following manner: 
The epithelium of the mucous membrane separates; while the 
tissue underneath is swollen, red and sensitive. Sooner or 
later the epithelium is destroyed in the diseased place; while 
254 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the subjacent tissue secretes a thin acrid fluid and begins to be 
very painful. The ulcer which is thus formed extends more 
laterally than deeply, and represents an irregular, extremely 
sensitive, easily bleeding cavity, of whitish dirty appearance, 
with a livid border and without elevated edges. The offensive 
secretions always remain acrid and thin when the ulcer ex- 
tends. Sometimes one ulcer will begin to heal spontaneously 
from its centre, but only to make room for a new one near by. 
Frequently several adjacent ulcers will become confluent, and 
will then represent a large, irregular confluent cavity. They 
extend from the lips and gums to the palate. (Syphilitic ul- 
cers which are easily mistaken for mercurial ulcers are more 
confined to the palate; they have sharply defined and elevated 
edges, are round and cup-like in shape; have lardaceous base 
and copper colored areola, and remain with great tenacity in 
the same place.) In severe cases we may meet with gangre- 
nous destruction of the soft parts, and even with necrosis of 
the alveoli and maxillary bones, accompanied by hectic fever. 
Frequently the disease results in the formation of diphtheritic 
products, consisting in a coating of the free edges of the gums; 
in pseudo-membranous patches on the inside of the cheeks, 
palati, corners of the mouth, lips, edges of the tongue, velum 
palati and tonsils. In these places the coating remains for a 
long time in the form of a gray mass of exudation, or it after- 
wards deteriorates and gives rise to the formation of ulcers in 
the fauces; suppuration of the tonsils even with cancerous ap- 
pearance and perforation of the soft palate (Hermann.) 
As we meet with these phenomena as effects of all mercurials, 
we omit the repetition of each particular one, and confine our- 
selves to the statement that Calomel produces salivation more 
rapidly than the rest. 
Since salivation may be absent notwithstanding the presence 
of considerable ulceration, the former is to be attributed to a 
direct irritation of the salivary glands by mercury. But as 
the parotid and other salivary glands exhibit little or no pa- 
thological change excepting a little serous exudation in their 
neighborhood, the irritation causing the salivation must be of 
nervous character, and in fact the viscidity of the saliva indi- 
255 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cates an irritation of the sympathetic. After cutting the 
glandular nerves, the copiously secreted saliva is thin and 
fluid; hence the salivation depends upon irritation and not 
upon paralysis of the sympathetic. 
Since mercury produces the above-named form of stomatitis, 
so in various stages of development in different individuals 
mercury is the chief remedy in stomatitis catarrhalis, crouposa, 
diphtheritica, aphthosa and in stomacace. 
In stomatitis catarrhalis Kafka prescribes Mercur. sol.3 when 
the cavity of the mouth is pale red, when the temperature of 
the mouth is less than with Bellad., when the sensitiveness is 
less, but when the secretion of saliva is increased; when the 
inflammation extends to the tonsils, and when the odor of the 
mouth is very disagreeable. This remedy is also applicable in 
difficult dentition when the same symptoms are present and 
subject to aggravations. When there are single aphthous ulcers 
in the oval cavity; when the pain has been allayed by Bellad., 
and when salivation is excessive, Kafka gives Mercur. sol. 2d 
or 3d. When aphthae resist the application of Borax, Bellad., 
Sulph. ac. and llepar, he employs corrosive sublimate 3d to 6th 
internally and also as a gargle (one-quarter of a grain to one 
ounce of water). When aphthae are combined with intestinal 
catarrh (diarrhoea?), with violent colic, and when the secretion 
is acrid and corroding, he uses Mercur. sol.3 
Bcehr designates Mercur. sol. as a specific in certain forms of 
diseases of the mouth just as Bellad. is a specific for others. 
After describing mercurial stomatitis he continues: “There 
certainly is no medicine capable of producing so perfect an 
image of intense inflammation of oral cavity as mercury. The 
similitude is so great that in a given case, without exact 
knowledge of the cause, it is difficult to describe whether we 
have before us a case of simple or mercurial stomatitis. After 
these remarks it is unnecessary to mention further indications 
for mercury. It is indicated in all degrees of the evil, also in 
the formation of ulcers of the mucous membrane and in aphthae. 
It is more questionable whether it is also applicable in chronic 
catarrh of the fauces. Guernsey recommends mercury in aph- 
256 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
thse with severe salivation, or at least greater secretion of 
fluids than necessary. Also in ulcers of the gums. 
In speaking of aphthae, Hughes considers Borax as a chief 
remedy, but mentions mercury as the second homoeopathic 
remedy. Ulcers of the mouth, according to the latter author, 
are rapidly to be cured by a few doses of mercury, which may 
be followed if necessary by Hitr. ac., if the ulcers are of recent 
origin. 
In catarrhal stomatitis Goullon recommends mercury when 
there is salivation. In regard to stoinacace he quotes Alfred 
Vogels words: “Calomel produces an affection of the mouth 
in children, which is in no respect different from stomacace, 
unless we choose to consider the absence of contagion in mer- 
curial stomacace as a diagnostic mark.” These facts together 
with the other fact that mercury is unconditionally demanded 
in stomacace, we find another proof of the correctness of the 
law of similars. 
When Aeon, and Apis are ineffectual in syphilitic stomatitis, 
Yeldham uses corrosive sublimate (Bellad. and Lachesis.) 
Jahr furnishes the following indications for mercury in 
stomatitis and stomacace: “lied spongy, retreating, ulcerating and 
easily bleeding gums with burning and pain at night, accompanied 
by soreness to the touch, looseness of the teethf inflammation, sore- 
ness and ulceration of the' tongue and cavity of the mouth, 
which are occasionally covered with aphthae. Offensive carrion- 
like odor of the mouth and ulcers; excessive discharge of offen- 
sive, sometimes bloody saliva, with ulceration of the orifices of 
the salivary ducts; the tongue is swollen, stiff*, hard and moist 
and covered with white slime. Bailor and rigors are present; 
burning stools.” lie furthermore remarks: “In cases of aph- 
thae of children mercury is and will be the chief remedy, even 
if these do not only occupy the mouth, but also the stomach 
and intestinal mucous membrane.” (When there is no im- 
provement he gives Sulphur and Calc. carb. after five or six 
days). “I have sometimes witnessed very good results from 
Borax and Sulph. ac., but never equal to those obtained from 
mercury, Sulphur and Calcarea.” lie also recommends mercury 
in small aphthous ulcers of children during dentition and also 
257 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
in adults. In stomacace of children he uses mercury with ex- 
cellent effect, and in adults when the disease is of a rheumatic 
or scorbutic origin. 
Knorre found mercury useful in cases of little ulcers of the 
tongue and inside of the lips and cheeks; when these ulcers 
exhibited a lardaceous base and red inflamed edges. Further- 
more he gave it (in the 3d trit.) in the following cases: After 
preceding febrile excitement, with catarrh or gastric symp- 
toms, there are to be observed small round single vesicles upon 
the reddened mucous lining of the mouth; these soon break 
and form shallow ulcers of variable size with reddened edges, 
and whitish or yellowish base; they burn and are painful, 
bleed easily and interfere with suckling. At the same time 
there is pallor of the face; bloated cheeks; swelling of glands; 
great salivation; offensive breath, diarrhoea; intertrigo and 
emaciation. 
Gerson recommends Mercur. viv. in syphilitic ulcers of the 
mouth, which he describes as follows: Upon the mucous mem- 
brane of the mouth, fauces and nose there arise isolated shallow 
nodules, which change into round ulcers with hard edges and 
lardaceous base: that prickle slightly and burn, and disappear 
after a short time to reappear again in neighboring parts. 
When they appear upon the lips or alfe of the nose, a hardness 
can be felt extending deeply into the tissues surrounding the- 
ulcer. These ulcers depress the mind of the patient exceed- 
ingly, because they cause constant annoyance by the fear they 
arouse of a renewed eruption of syphilis. In cases of this kind 
the Mercur. bin. is a specific. There is a syphiloid disease of 
peculiar kind, which occurs exclusively upon the lips and 
buccal lining, and which is exceedingly obstinate with regard 
to the effects of medicines. This form of disease becomes 
manifest in the form of circular, very shallow, spots, which 
shed their epithelium and secrete a whitish exudation like the 
skin of thickened cream that changes frequently. These spots 
are very sensitive, but do not bleed like mercurial ulcers, from 
which they are to be distinguished by hardness at their base. 
In cases of this kind also Mercur. bin. is the specific. 
Hartmann says: Mercury is particularly indicated in con- 
258 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
fluent aphthae with much salivation, and also in cases where 
syphilitic symptoms are unmistakable. In the later case the 
aphthae spread more rapidly, and the tonsils, fauces and larynx 
are effected; the aphthae penetrate more deeply, they begin to 
ulcerate and diffuse an offensive odor; the voice grows hoarse 
and the child becomes emaciated, and a hectic fever threatens 
to wear out its life. 
Ilirsch recommends Mercur. in croupous stomatitis. 
Escalier also cured cases of mercurial stomatitis with Mercur. 
solI2, and Mercur. nitr12. In acute cases, especially of scrofu- 
lous children, Calomel deserves our preference, but in chronic 
cases, especially of scorbutic or cachectic individuals, Mercur. 
viv. is the remedy. Red precipitate or corrosive sublimate are 
the principal remedies in syphilis. 
Stomatitis crouposa is so often produced by mercury, as we 
have seen by the above cases of poisoning, that the administra- 
tion of this remedy according to the law of similars is justified 
in this form of disease when it appears idiopathically. 
2. Glossitis. 
In many of our histories of cases we find, under Mercur. viv., 
inflammation or ulcers of the tongue; in two individuals on 
board the ship “Triumph” gangrene of the tongue occurred; 
in No. 43 we meet with a violent hemorrhage from this organ. 
Mercur sol. has the following tongue symptoms indicating 
local disease: Great swelling of the tongue; swelling and 
white coating of the tongue; tongue much swollen and coated 
white; pains like the prickling of a needle in the point of the 
tongue; on the surface of the tongue a longitudinal groove 
with pains in it as of pins; painful sensation in the tongue as 
if it were cracked with burning pain; edge of the swollen 
tongue extremely painful and ulcerated; tongue swollen, hol- 
lowed out, ulcerating; the tongue is swollen and so soft at the 
edges as to show the impression of the teeth, with indentations 
which appear ulcerated; at the hyoid bone, the tongue feels 
sore and stiff on the right side. 
Mercur. corr. subl.: The tongue much swollen and highly 
inflamed; tongue rigid and swollen; tongue white, it fills the 
259 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
whole cavity of the mouth; tongue and tonsils swollen and 
covered with a thick white crust (Borke); tongue and lips 
swollen; tongue much swollen, of a pale yellow color, protrud- 
ing beyond the no less tumihed and pale yellow lips; yellow- 
ish saliva streams from the open mouth which is prevented 
from closing by the swelling of the tongue; the posterior part 
or the tongue and pharynx show a blue discoloration, they are 
easily broken down and gangrenous; a piece, no larger than a 
pea, becomes separated from the tongue. 
Mercur. prcecip. rub.: The tongue is so much enlarged that it 
completely tills the mouth, and appears to be perforated in 
several places (No. 2); papillae of the tongue much swollen 
(No. 5). 
Mercur. dulcis.: Tongue and gums swollen (8); gums, palate 
and tongue thickly studded with aphthae (8); all the inner por- 
tions of the mouth swell considerably (9); salivary glands and 
tongue much swollen (11); the tongue was swelled to such a 
degree that there was danger of suffocation. 
Mercur. cyanid.: Vesicles at the left edge of the tongue 
which is much coated; the lips, tongue and lining membrane 
of the cheeks are thickly covered with great numbers of small 
ulcers under a grayish white coating; tongue swollen. 
Kafka saw improvement follow much more speedily after 
Bellad. than after Mercurius. He recommends that Bellad. 
be followed by Mercur. where it is desirable to produce a rapid 
breaking down and absorption of exudations on the tongue 
after the subsidence of violent inflammatory processes. 
Bcehr on the other hand says: In the majority of cases of 
glossitis, more especially where the disease occurs idiopathi- 
cally, Mercur. is the most certain and appropriate remedy. 
Hartmann adds that it should be given in the 2d or 3d trit., 
and that he has seen in cases not too far advanced a marked 
improvement follow its use within a few hours. It must not 
be forgotten that in those cases also, which are of syphilitic 
origin, mercury is the proper remedy, but here it is advisable 
to choose one of the more powerful preparations, such as the 
corrosive sublimate or the white precipitate. Where corrosive 
260 MERCURY and its preparations. 
substances or burns are the causes of the inflammation, Mercur. 
will remain ineffectual. 
Gerhardt recommends Mercur. in violent inflammation with 
salivation, suppuration and the formation of ulcers. 
Hughes administers Mercur. in alternation with Bellad. in 
simple, uncomplicated forms of glossitis; in syphilitic ulcera- 
tions Mercur. or Nitric acid. 
According to Jahr mercury is without doubt the most ser- 
viceable remedy. For indurations of the tongue it may also 
be used with advantage. (This is warranted by the symptom 
301: “The anterior half of the tongue is so hard that tapping 
it with the finger nail produces a clicking sound; the part is 
also perfectly dry.”) 
Gerson has observed permanent benefit from the persistent 
use of red precipitate in those cases of syphilitic, nodular de- 
posits in the parenchyma of the tongue, which have the ap- 
pearance of schirrous nodes, and are accompanied by intense, 
burning pains. 
Mercury should also be tried in cancer of t\e tongue, as its 
pathogenesis has in addition to the incipient induration, the 
ulcerations and symptoms of general cachexia. 
3. Diseases of the Teeth. 
The destructive effect of Mercur. upon the teeth is suffi- 
ciently known. The number of those who have lost their 
teeth in consequence of the abuse of mercurial preparation is 
not to be told; and the cases are scarcely less numerous in 
which a minute cavity has been filled with a mercurial amal- 
gam, followed in a very few years, or perhaps months, by a black 
discoloration of the whole crown, the dropping out of the fill- 
ing and a crumbling of the whole tooth, which without the 
filling would have remained serviceable for many years. 
In workers in quicksilver we find the teeth not only loosened 
and falling out in consequence of atrophy of the gums, but 
they are also black, defective and carious, and the subjects 
are often tortured by violent toothache. After mercurial in- 
unctions we find soreness and swelling of the gums (No. 2); 
swelling of the gums (No. 16). Kussmaul mentions under the 
261 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
head of Algsesthesia mercurialis: 1. Toothache; 2. Tearing 
pains proceeding from the teeth, radiating over the face, tem- 
ples and scalp in connection with carious teeth and inflamma- 
tion of the nerve-pulp. 
Mercur. sol. has the following symptoms of the gums and 
teeth: The gums are painful to the touch and on chewing 
more especially of solid food; itching of the gums; the gums 
shrink away from the teeth; tearing pains in different parts 
of the gums; gums sore and swollen; gums swollen and sepa- 
rated from the teeth; the upper edge of the gums is ragged, 
projecting, white and ulcerated; ulcerating gums; painful, 
swollen gums; swelling of the gums at night, better during 
the day; swelling of the gums every night; transient swelling 
of the gums in the early morning; every night, when he is on 
the point of going to sleep, burning pain in the gums which 
wakes him up; burning, throbbing pain in the gums increas- 
ing in the afternoon, soothed by lying down, and disappearing 
at night; the greatly swollen and painful gums are retracted 
from the teeth; fine painful stitches almost all day long and 
on rising in the morning, felt in the gums which are spongy, 
retracted from the teeth and bleeding, and in the roots of the 
denuded teeth; pain mitigated somewhat in the evening and 
by smoking tobacco. The gums whiyh project from the teeth 
are discolored and white at the edges; painless swelling of the 
gums for several days; bleeding of the gums from the least 
touch during fiftj’-six days; intense pains in the teeth, aggra- 
vated by eating; the teeth begin to be loose; pains in the 
teeth as if they were decayed, especially after eating; the teeth 
become grayish-black, or black; sensation while moving the 
mouth as if the teeth were loose, especially in the lower inci- 
sors; sensation as if all the teeth were loose; looseness of the 
teeth, which are painful on being touched by the tongue; 
weakness in the teeth; front teeth feel as if they had been 
dislocated; pain in the incisors ; pain in the front teeth ; sharp 
pains in the front teeth on drawing air into the mouth, or 
from warm or cold drinks, but the pains continue only during 
these acts; toothache as if the teeth were set on edge; violent 
toothache during the night, followed after it had subsided, by a 
262 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
severe chill through the whole body; pains in the roots of all the 
teeth throughout the whole day; tearing toothache after mid- 
night, particularly towards morning; tearing toothache shoot- 
ing to the ears, worse at night, he is unable to remain in bed 
in consequence, and is forced to sit up all night; jumping 
toothache, especially at night; toothache with pulse-like jerk- 
ings from the lower teeth to the ear and from the upper jaw to 
the head, with painfulness of the gums from 9 o’clock p.m., re- 
lieved only by lying down and falling asleep; toothache like 
violent stitches; excruciating stitches in the teeth in the 
evening. 
Mercur. corr. subl.: A burning pain in the gums and mouth; 
loosening and tumefaction of the gums; swelling, soreness and 
bleeding of the gums; swelling of the gums, with false mem- 
brane, followed by gangrene and copious hemorrhages; bleed- 
ing of the gums and drawing pains in the teeth; swelling of 
the gums about the molar teeth of the right side; the gums 
around the base molars begin to swell, with burning pains; 
blackish discoloration of the teeth; the gums are spongy and 
the teeth loose; the teeth loosen and grow painful; teeth 
which are perfectly sound grow loose and six of them fall out; 
nocturnal toothache jumping and throbbing; tearing, burning 
pain from the teeth of the upper jaw to the eye; tearing tooth- 
ache after warmth and catching cold (catarrh); tearing stitches 
in one of the posterior molars passing to the ear; pressure with 
fine stitches at the roots of the teeth, rising up between the 
teeth, where it is lost; the sleep at night is disturbed by tooth- 
ache ; pain in the lower jaw ; redness, pain and hardness of 
cheeks are mentioned in the records of some cases of poisoning. 
Calomel: Swollen gums (No. 8); toothache on the left side 
with swelling of the lower jaw which afterwards became ca- 
rious and exfoliated (No. 9); excrescences and bleeding of the 
gums (No. 11.) 
Mercur. prcec. rub.: Gums swollen, inflamed (No. 2); gums 
quite destroyed about the front teeth (No. 9); violent burning 
in the gums (No. 8.) 
Mercur. cyanid.: The gums swollen and covered with a coat- 
263 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing (scliieht), the edges of the gums show a violet colored 
border. 
Citmabaris: Tain in the molars of the right side; painful 
sensitiveness in the teeth; on the eleventh day profuse hem- 
orrhage from the right upper incisor. 
As the ulcers of the gums have already been discussed in 
treating of stomatitis, and as bleeding of the gums will find its 
place under the head of scurvy, necrosis of the jaw coming 
under diseases of the bones, we have only to consider here the 
subjects of toothache and ulceration of the teeth. 
Kafka, while he refers to some good repertory for the treat- 
ment of toothache, recommends in inflammation of the gums 
(parulis): Mercur. sold where the following signs exist. The 
parulis arises from a preceding or still present tearing or draw- 
ing toothache, extending to one or the other ear, coming on 
from cold draught of air, or in damp, cold weather, most fre- 
quently setting in on getting warm in bed and growing so 
severe at night that the patient is forced to leave his bed; the 
inflamed gums are deep red and detached from the teeth; the 
patient feels as if the teeth were loose and shaking; the swell- 
ing of the cheeks is not excessively hot, it is soft from serous 
infiltration which extends to the eyelids. When, after artifi- 
cial or spontaneous opening of the abscess, a hard swelling 
remains with great sensitiveness to pressure, he also gives 
Mercur. sol.3 
Bcehr says: Mercur. is the leading remedy here, as no other 
produces such constant symptoms in the teeth as this. Mer- 
cury is especially suitable for the suftering caused by carious 
teeth. The pains are of a piercing, tearing or boring character ; 
are not confined to their point of origin, but radiate to the ear, 
the forehead and even to the entire scalp. They are aggra- 
vated by the warmth of the bed, by the recumbent position, 
by eating and drinking, and are mitigated momentarily by the 
application of cold water. Their constant period of exacerba- 
tion is from late in the evening until midnight when they may 
become unbearably severe, but do not wholly subside even 
after this time. The application of warmth to the tooth in- 
creases the pain, while when applied to the cheek it not unfre- 
264 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
quently relieves. External cold, draughts of air, etc., are par- 
ticularly apt to cause an aggravation. The pains are attended 
with an evident inflammation of all the surrounding soft parts; 
the gums are reddened, swollen, sensitive ; the glands hyperse- 
mic; the secretion of saliva increased; the general condition 
feverish, with a marked tendency to perspiration which pro- 
duces no relief, and an anxious restlessness necessitating a fre- 
quent change of position. When the pain is of long standing 
it is followed by loosening of the gums which become detached 
from the teeth, disposed to bleed easily, and show ulcerated 
spots particularly at the edges. Furthermore, all the symp- 
toms of catarrh of the mouth ; formation of abscesses at the 
roots of the teeth. Extensive experience teaches that Mercur. 
sol. is the most efficacious preparation, and next in order comes 
the metallic quicksilver. 
Hughes, in his manual of Pharmacodynamics, says under 
mercury, that in regard to the teeth he would wish very much 
to see a thorough and unbiased study of the effects of quick- 
silver, and asks: Does it attack these directly, producing ac- 
tual caries, or do the teeth loosen and fall out in consequence 
of the degeneration of the gums without becoming unsound? 
He declares himself unable in the present state of his knowl- 
edge to form a decided opinion in the matter, and further on, 
he observes once more that in the present uncertainty of our 
knowledge concerning the effects of mercury upon the teeth, 
it would be premature to determine its precise position in the 
treatment of the diseases of these organs. Without well de- 
fined indications, however, it is largely used in affections of 
the teeth. 
The question here raised by Hughes is answered by the ob- 
servations on quicksilver workers, especially mirror makers, 
where we see both falling out of sound teeth in consequence 
of atrophy of the gums, and caries of these organs. The prov- 
ings of Mercur. sol. supply the general accompaniments which 
serve to indicate this remedy, and it has performed brilliant 
cures when administered with reference to its particular char- 
acteristics. 
Hughes recommends that Mercur. be tried in parulis when, 
265 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
as is commonly the case, a diseased tooth is the cause of the 
trouble and extraction undesirable, but he looks for better re- 
sults from the use of Phosphorus. 
Jahr gives mercury in tearing, piercing pains in carious 
teeth, or in the roots of the teeth, spreading over the entire 
affected side of the head and face to the ears, accompanied by 
painful swelling of the cheek or the submaxillary gland, and 
salivation; the pakis come on or grow worse in the evening or 
at night after getting warm in bed, when they become unbearable; 
renewal of the pains from cool or moist air while eating, or 
from taking either hot or cold food or drink; the teeth are on 
edge, loose and feel as if they were too long; swollen, whitish, 
ulcerated and colorless gums, bleeding easily, with itching and 
burning and painful soreness to the touch; night sweats, ver- 
tigo, rheumatic pains in the extremities; morose, irritable 
moods, or great disposition to weep; chilliness with redness of 
the cheeks, etc. 
As Brehr and Jahr have already given all the indications for 
mercury in toothache, it would be superfluous to cite other 
authors. We will only mention the great remedial power of 
mercury in cases of neuralgia of the branches of the trigeminus 
which supply the teeth of the upper jaw, when the affection 
appears with the above named symptoms, while it resists allo- 
pathic treatment and continues to rage even after extraction of 
the sound teeth. 
In conclusion, we will mention that in parulis, under the 
emotions enumerated, Mercur. viv., according to others Mercur. 
corr. subl., ptroves more efficacious than the soluble preparation, 
while the latter is most appropriate in toothache, even when 
of a neuralgic character. 
4. Noma. 
Mercur. viv.—Dieterich quotes *the following case reported by 
Erdmann: A barometer maker threw a p>aper bag, through 
which mercury had been filtered in the usual way, into the 
hot stove. The fumes arising from this caused active ptyalism 
with swelling of the mouth and fauces in his wife; while in 
his infant lying in the cradle it produced so great a destruction 
266 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
of the parts that both cheeks sloughed away, exposing the jaws 
with the teeth and leaving only small portions of both the 
upper and lower lips in the middle line. In this condition of 
misery the child died in the hospital at Dresden. 
Bust, too, saw noma follow mercurial inunctions in a woman 
set. 63 (compare inunction of Mercur. viv. No. 3.) 
Two cases of gangrene of the cheeks occurred on board the 
ship “Triumph.” 
Calomel.—In his report of a case of noma (10), Knorre says 
that Calomel not unfrequently causes this disease. 
The symptom 223 of Mercur. sol. is as follows: “Marked 
swelling of the upper lip and of the lower part of the cheek, 
which was soft but very red; holes an inch deep (as if they 
had been bored out), appeared at this part, lined with a grayish- 
yellow matter, from which a mere watery yellow moisture ex- 
uded; they were somewhat fetid and bled on being touched, 
but only at the edges.” 
Bcehr after recommending Secale cornutum against this dis- 
ease, mentions Mercur. sub. among the remedies likely to be 
of service, while Kafka makes no mention whatever of the mer- 
curial preparation. 
Hughes observes that the well known tendency of quick- 
silver to produce this grave disease will justify us in using one 
of its salts at least for the incipient phenomena. The only 
case which had come under his own eye followed an attack of 
measles and yielded to Mercur. sol. and Nitric acid. He recom- 
mends that Arsenic be held in reserve, etc. 
Jahr does not mention the mercurials. 
Aegicli was successful in treating several cases of noma with 
one-fifteenth to one-fifth of a grain of corrosive sublimate after 
having failed to arrest the disease with other homoeopathic 
remedies. 
5. Parotitis. 
Halfort remarks that pains in the parotid and other salivary- 
glands and swellings of the same precede the mercurial saliva- 
tion, with the exception of some serous infiltration, however, 
around these glands they show no structural changes. 
267 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Kussmaul observed occasionally in mirror makers induration 
of the parotid. 
Other authors, as Dieterich, Falk, etc., mention swelling of 
the salivary glands. 
In the experiments of Overbeck we find the salivary glands 
swollen in several of the animals, concerning which the author 
remarks as follows: There can be no doubt that the inflamma- 
tion of the salivary glands and oral mucosa is caused by the 
elimination of the mercury by these structures. The salivary 
glands were found in the autopsy to be much swollen and con- 
jested; but a plastic exudation could nowhere be found in 
them. 
In our cases of poisoning with Mercur. viv. we find swelling 
of the salivary glands in Nos. 2, 15, 25, 49, 50, 51. 
Mercur. sol. has the following symptoms: Pain and swelling 
of the salivary glands; swelling of the cervical and parotid 
glands to such a degree that the jaws are closed, and cannot 
be moved on account of the pain; swelling and burning, pres- 
sive pain in the parotid, passing away from exposure to cold 
and returning from warmth; when he touched them with any 
woolen material he was invariably seized with a desire to 
cough. 
Under Mercur. sub. we find in No. 34, swelling of the sali- 
vary glands. Taylor found the salivary glands unusually 
prominent. In No. 11: Swelling of the salivary glands after 
Calomel. 
In Kopeler’s case of poisoning by Mercur. cyanid. the sali- 
vary glands were also swollen. 
Kafka says: After the violence of the inflammation is broken 
and the swelling becomes less hot and red, hard and painful, 
we discontinue the use of the Bellad. and give Mercur. sol.3, as 
the remedy corresponds with the retrogressive metamorphosis 
of a violent inflammation. We* administer the same remedy 
when the primary parotitis exists with slight febrile symptoms, 
and when the local affection develops slowly without violent 
pain or redness. In such cases Mercur. causes a speedy absorp- 
tion. Under these conditions we rarely find suppuration as 
these subacute forms of parotitis without active inflammatory 
268 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
phenomena, show but little disposition to form abscesses. In 
secondary forms of this kind we have almost invariably failed 
to produce any beneficial change with Mercur.” 
Bcehr declares in the following words mercury to be the 
most important remedy: “It is well known how specifically it 
affects the salivary glands. It not only increases their secre- 
tion, but also gives rise in them to inflammatory processes 
having a marked tendency to end in suppuration, as may be 
seen often in heroic courses of mercurial treatment. On the 
other hand there is no remedy which will prevent suppuration 
with so much certainty as mercury. 
Hughes recommends mercury in mumps; in the parotitis of 
scarlet fever and typhoid he prefers the salts of iodine and 
quicksilver. Concerning the effects of mercury upon the sali- 
vary glands he saj7s that while this poison destroys the mucous 
membrane of the mouth, it merely stimulates the salivary 
glands, causing them to pour out their secretion copiously. 
Orjila declares that no actual inflammation exists in these 
glands in mercurial salivation, but merely a serous infiltration 
of the surrounding cellular tissue. Occasionally, however, (as 
in a case reported by Prof. Taylor), the glands enlarge and 
grow softer; under these circumstances the salivary secretion 
is diminished. 
Jahr says: When I can treat these cases from the outset, 
and if the disease is not symptomatic; when the swelling is 
pale and fever absent; I begin the treatment with mercury, 
and most commonly end it with this medicine alone, giving it 
in the 30th dissolved in water, a teaspoonful every three hours. 
Gerhardt, too, looks upon Mercur. as the chief remedy when 
suppuration threatens. 
Kreussler, Knorre, Hirsch, Gross and others speak highly of 
their results with mercury. „The indications upon which they 
gave it were those above mentioned. In isolated cases closure 
of the mouth, induration of the gland, pains in carious teeth 
and jaundice were present. 
Although Mercur. sol. is recommended in the majority of 
cases, we should prefer Mercur. viv. In scrofulous children 
Calomel or Mercur. jodat. might be found to act more promptly. 
269 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
6. Salivation. 
This is one of the most constant and early of the symptoms 
of mercury. As it has already been presented in speaking of 
stomatitis we may proceed at once to consider the recommen- 
dation of authors. 
Bcehr says: The most important remedy in this affection is 
mercury under all circumstances, unless the abuse of this drug 
can be assigned as the cause. Its invariable effect upon the 
salivary glands warrants us a priori in looking for decided 
effects from it in this disease. It is suitable in that uncompli- 
cated form which occurs without other troubles, as well as in 
those which accompany affections of the mouth, fauces, stom- 
ach, liver and pancreas. Recent cases, or such as are not of too 
long standing, are most speedily removed by it. The saliva 
should have a sweetish metallic flat taste; the secretion should 
be stringy, viscous and attended by a fetid sweetish smell from 
the mouth. The most serviceable preparation here is the 
Mercur. viv. in trituration; next in order is corrosive sublimate. 
Hughes recommends Mercur. in idiopathic salivation; but 
he has observed no beneficial effect from any remedy in the 
salivation of pregnancy. 
Guernsey speaks well of Mercur. in the salivation of preg- 
nancy, unless the affection is complicated with other, more 
especially with gastric symptoms. 
Jahr mentions quicksilver among the foremost remedies for 
salivation. 
Inasmuch as Calomel causes a more intense salivation than 
all the other mercurials, and produces this symptom the most 
speedily, it should be preferred to Mercur. viv. in all acute 
cases, while in those of a more chronic course the latter may 
be more safely relied upon. 
7. Ranula. 
Although no writer asserts that the excretory ducts of the 
salivary glands may be inflamed by the action of mercury, we 
may nevertheless declare this to be the case in the majority of 
instances, particularly as we are enabled to observe that the 
270 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mercurial inflammation of the fauces extends into the Eusta- 
chian tube by means of the continuity of the mucous mem- 
brane. If, therefore, ranula is caused by inflammation of 
Wharton’s duct, mercury must necessarily be its remedy. The 
following symptom indicates inflammation of the duct of the 
parotid as affected by Mercur. sol.: “The orifice of the duct of 
the salivary gland behind the back teeth is swollen, white, 
ulcerated and very painful.” 
Kafka administers Mercur. sol. when, after the use of Bellad., 
the pain and redness have diminished, but the swelling re- 
mains hard, preventing mastication and expectoration. In a 
tedious course of the disease he begins the treatment with 
Mercur. sol., and then proceeds to use other remedies if in the 
course of six or eight days there is no diminution or softening 
of the swelling. 
Jahr cured nearly every case he met with by means of 
mercury. 
Helmuth finds mercury indicated when there is great saliva- 
tion with painfulness of the surrounding gums, inclination to 
profuse sweats, and aggravation of the pain at night. 
Thorer cured a case of ranula which had frequently been 
opened, with mercury alone. 
Mercury often prevents suppuration. We would also prefer 
Calomel to other mercurials on account of its prominent rela- 
tion to diseases of the mouth. 
b. Diseases of the Fauces. 
The above quoted authors furnish the-following description 
of mercurial inflammation of the fauces. The fauces and 
tonsils are dark red, darker in spots, swollen. There is much 
burning and difficult deglutition. The dryness of the fauces 
causes frequent efforts at swallowing of saliva. The nose is 
stuffed and dry. On talking there is a pain like burning and 
pressing; on continued talking there is slight burning and 
flying stitches. Tough glossy mucus is raised by hawking in 
the morning. If these symptoms return frequently an exten- 
sive ramification of vessels is to be observed upon the mucous 
membrane, especially the uvula is surrounded with a circle of 
271 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
them. In other places isolated vessels may be seen running 
like thickened cords in various directions, and of livid blueish 
color, while clusters of varicose vessels surround the former. 
Frequently the mucous membrane becomes spongy and ex- 
coriated, and finally ulcers develop in these places. These 
are seated particularly upon the tonsils, above the uvula or on 
the side of the velum near the cheeks, and also upon the latter. 
An ulcer very rarely appears upon the posterior wall of the 
fauces. The ulcers are generally of the size of a split pea, and 
are close together. (The syphilitic angina is of a copper col- 
ored redness and is sharply defined by the velum). 
Mercur. viv. commonly causes chronic angina in workers in 
quicksilver, while the acute inflammation of the fauces with 
great swelling of the tonsils and painful deglutition is met 
with in cases where mercurial fumes are suddenly inhaled in 
great quantity and after mercurial inunction. 
Mercur. sol. exhibits the following symptoms bearing upon 
this subject: Sore throat; sensation as if something had become 
lodged in the throat; pain in the throat as if an apple core 
were sticking in it. Sensation as if he had something in his 
throat that he ought to swallow. Difficult deglutition; only 
with great difficulty and forcible pressure he was able to 
swallow something. Pain in the throat on swallowing, with 
hoarseness. Roughness on the roof of the mouth, which 
smarts on being touched with the tongue as if the palate were 
sore. Dryness of the palate as if caused by heat. Heat rises 
up in her throat. Pressing pain in the throat. First there is 
burning down the oesophagus, then in the abdomen. Degluti- 
tion is difficult and painful, as if he had burned the back of 
his throat, or swallowed burning oil. After a moderate dinner 
a scalding vapor rose from abdomen into the throat, with in- 
creasing pain of the throat and violent thirst. Ileat rises up 
into her throat. Pain in the throat as if caused by dryness. 
The anterior part of the tongue is very slimy, with dryness 
back of the throat. Pain in back of the throat as if caused by 
great dryness. His throat feels so dry that he has to keep 
swallowing. The throat is continually dry and is painful as if 
the posterior part were narrower than the rest; there is a 
272 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pressing sensation in it when he swallows which he is con- 
stantly obliged to do, because his mouth constantly fills with 
saliva. Fine pricking sore throat as if a needle were lodged 
in the same; the stitches penetrate to the ears. Pricking in 
the posterior part of the palate. Pricking gain in the tonsils on 
swallowing. Great elongation and swelling of the uvula. Pain 
in the side of the throat on blowing the nose; also pressing in 
the throat as if it were swollen. Ulceration of the tonsils, 
with sharp piercing pains in the fauces when swallowing. 
Sensation as if sore in the right side of the throat, also when 
not swallowing. 
Corrosive sublimate: Dryness in the throat extending up from 
the chest. Beer causes a scratching sensation in the throat, 
and after drinking she grows hot and has a red face. Pricking 
in the throat as if caused by needles. Difficult deglutition as 
if the throat were closing up. Deglutition very difficult and 
painful, so that a little fluid causes contraction of the oesopha- 
gus and stomach. Tonsils swollen and covered with ulcers. 
Sore throat from pain in the uvula. Violent paroxysms of 
spasmodic deglutition during the night. The neck and nape 
of the neck are much swollen, especially on the right side. 
The inner portions of the mouth were so much swollen as to 
cause retching and vomiting on trying to swallow. Excrucia- 
ting pain at every attempt at deglutition. Fauces much in- 
flamed. Scratching rawness back in the throat causing fre- 
quent hawking. Swelling of the fauces with danger of suffo- 
cation. Inability to swallow even liquids, with heat in the 
mouth, tongue and fauces like burning coals; followed next 
day by expectoration of liquid and coagulated blood. The 
membranes formed on the palate can be drawn out with, the 
fingers. In the fauces there is an ulcer as large as a pea, and 
on the left side of soft palate there is separation of solid parts, 
looseness of the teeth; copious salivation which afterwards 
becomes bloody (after external application of the drug). Cica- 
trices in the cavity of the fauces, with only a trace of the re- 
maining uvula; the pharynx is dark red and painful to the 
touch. Koughness in the throat which impedes the speech 
but not deglutition. Troublesome roughness of the pharynx, 
273 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
increased on swallowing liquids. Difficult deglutition; when 
attempted, it causes retching and vomiting. Great pain in 
pharynx with dysphagia. Excruciating pain in the pharynx. 
Burning pain in the fauces. Burning in the pharynx. 
Calomel: Burning in the throat. Ulcers in the pharynx. 
Throat is internally swollen. Almost complete inability to 
swallow. Deglutition is impossible. All the internal parts 
of the mouth were much swollen. Deep bleeding ulcers which 
extend to the posterior nares (choanse). Inflammation of the 
throat. Excessive pain on swallowing. 
Red precipitate: Burning in the mouth and throat. Violent 
burning in the throat. Dryness, pain and redness of pharynx. 
Discoloration of the internal surface of pharynx. 
Mercur. cyanid.: Compare chapter on Diphtheritis. 
Cinnabar: Pricking sensation in mouth and fauces. Slight 
painfulness of palate. A contracting, burning sensation in the 
palate. Burning in the pharynx and whole chest, with gen- 
eral weakness. At night there is much dryness and heat in 
the mouth and throat, obliging him to drink frequently; there 
is some pricking pain beneath the back of the tongue. After 
having taken the 3d trit. he had the following symptoms next 
night: Dryness of fauces, thirst, feeling as if he had had no 
refreshing sleep. Pressing contracting pain in throat in swal- 
lowing saliva. Fulness in the fauces, which constantly impels 
him to perform the act of deglutition. His cravat oppresses 
him very unpleasantly as if his fauces were constricted from 
below upwards on both sides, and were being drawn together 
inside, as if he would lose the power of swallowing, in the 
forenoon of the first day. Constriction in the throat as after 
eating sour pears, which passes off after rising. Little mucus 
in the fauces on the third day. The following cured symptoms 
are recorded: Inflammation with great dryness in the mouth 
and pharynx (in many cases cured very rapidly, Pehoson). 
Dryness and irritation of the fauces (posterior nares, tonsils, 
fauces) in the night, with painfulness in the morning. Secre- 
tion of viscid mucus in the day-time, with inclination to empty 
deglutition (with one prover). 
Kafka says with regard to the therapeutics of catarrh of the 
274 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
fauces:-“If we are consulted regarding light cases of dysphagia 
we prescribe Mercur. sol.3 in two or three doses daily when the 
mucous membrane of the pharynx is pale red, spotted or 
striped, whereupon the dysphagic symptoms improve as a 
general thing after several hours, a result wThich probably 
might also be obtained without medicine. Pains of the neck, 
stiimino- in the ears, and difficult motion of the head also soon 
disappear after Mercur. sol. We also prescribe the same rem- 
edy when the tonsils are considerably swollen and covered 
with yellow exudation.” He also uses mercury (and Sulphur) 
with benefit in angina aphthosa, when uncombined with hoarse- 
ness. He says concerning angina phlrgmonosa: As soon as 
rigors or throbbing and pulsating pains appear in the tonsils, 
we give Mercur. sol.3 for the purpose of promoting the dissolu- 
tion of plastic exudation and hastening the termination by the 
formation of pus, while linseed poultices are applied to the 
neck. We are awTare of differing in this respect with many 
practitioners who believe that we are able to prevent the for- 
mation of pus by means of Mercurius; our experience leads us 
to opposite conclusions. A case of angina tonsillaris which 
is rapidly cured with mercury, without suppuration, belongs 
to the catarrhal form which rarely ends in suppuration. No 
remedy has yet, in our experience, been able to prevent sup- 
puration in the phlegmonous form of the disease. As the 
abscesses are often upon the surface and very minute, they 
frequently escape investigation and this constitutes the cause 
of error. 
Bcehr speaks of mercury as follows: It will rarely be the 
proper remedy in angina tonsillaris in the beginning, unless 
this affection arises in company with, or out of severe catarrhal 
inflammation of the fauces. But the physician is generally 
not called until the inflammatory swelling has attained a high 
degree, and in that case mercury wTould be the remedy at the 
outset. The precise indications for this remedy are as follows: 
“The whole of the fauces are deep red or brownish-red, gen- 
erally the redness is unevenly distributed; all parts are much 
swollen, especially the tonsils on which the redness is deepest, 
and where we generally discover little ulcerated spots with 
275 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pseudo-membranous exudation. The saliva is very viscid and 
slimy, and causes frequent desire to swallow, while the cavity 
of the mouth is affected with catarrhal inflammation. The 
breath is peculiarly offensive. The pains are generally less 
severe than when Bellad. is indicated, but the general feeling 
of the patient is worse. All those symptoms are present, re- 
garding which we may persistently affirm that they are the 
precursors of suppuration, but we shall generally succeed in 
preventing that termination if the inflammatory process has 
not advanced too far. 
Mercury is best administered in the form of Mercur. sol. in 
one of its lower triturations and in frequent doses, but we 
should be careful not to omit the remedy too soon, because 
visible improvement does not appear at once, while the disease 
even seems to progress. Nevertheless the symptoms of exuda- 
tion not infrequently diminish, although suppuration appeared 
imminent. 
Hughes prefers mercury to Bellad. only in those cases where 
there is a tendency to suppuration, notwithstanding slight in- 
flammatory action. According to Hughes the proportion of 
application of mercury to that of Bellad. is as 1 to 20. 
In chronic tonsillitis he recommends Mercur. jodat upon the 
following indications furnished by Cooper: “When we have 
reason to fear relapse, when there are superficial ulcerations; 
when the tongue is coated, and when there is a tendency to 
glandular swellings in other parts, or when we suspect heredi- 
tary syphilis.” According to Cook the same remedy is very 
efficacious in chronic follicular catarrh. 
According to Helmuth, Mercur. sol. or viv. is indicated when 
the tonsils are much swollen; when the secretion of saliva is 
increa ed and deglutition difficult, or when there is suppura- 
tion with throbbing and shooting pains and with little, solitary 
round ulcers of indolent character. 
Jahr-does not mention mercury in his Therapeutic Guide, in 
catarrhal, rheumatic, sloughing and chronic angina. But un- 
der the head of phlegmonous inflammation of the throat he 
says: “ When suppuration has already begun and when Bellad. 
has not been able to prevent it, I always administer mercury, 
276 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
which generally causes the abscess to break in less than twenty- 
four hours, but it should never be given too early, because if 
the abscess has not come to maturity, it will only increase the 
inflammation and cause it to be more obstinate. In slowly 
progressing ulcers which are not very painful, mercury is the 
most useful remedy.” He mentions mercury in aphthous in- 
flammation of the throat, but in his Clinical Guide mercury is 
mentioned among- the first seven remedies with the following- 
indications: “It is to be used in the beginning of treatment, 
before Bdlad., or in alternation with this remedy, and is used 
in general as follows: Violent stitches in the throat and tonsils, 
especially on swallowing, when the piercing pain extends to 
the parotids, ears and submaxillary glands, during swallowing 
especially. Burning in the throat with soreness and pain. 
Swelling and much inflammatory redness of the affected, parts. 
Elongation of the uvula. Constant inclination to swallow, 
with the feeling as if a plug were lodged in the throat and 
which ought to be swallowed. Difficult deg'utition, especially 
of fluids, which regurgitate through the nose. Foul taste in 
the mouth; copious salivation. Swelling of the gums and of 
the tongue. Suppuration of the tonsils, or ulcers in the throat 
which spread very slowly. Aggravation of the disease at night 
or evenings, as well as in the open air and while talking. 
Chills and rigors toward evening, or alternate chills and heat. 
Sweat without relief, rheumatic tearing or drawing pains in 
the head and neck. 
Gerhardt repeats these same indications and considers mer- 
cury as the chief remedy in tendency to relapses, and recom- 
mends it in chronic and syphilitic angina. 
Kreussler finds Mercur. sol. to be a very useful medicine in 
dark redness in the throat, swelling first of the tonsils, then of 
the surrounding parts; collection of mucus in the throat. Hot 
infrequently there are aphthse and foul breath. 
According to Hering, mercury is often to be given when, 
after taking Bellad., the throat still remains red, especially 
when there are ulcers present which originate slowly and cause 
slight pain. 
Moly cured chronic and habitual angina with Mercur. sol. in 
277 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
two to four days, when the disease was aggravated in cool air 
and at night, accompanied with piercing pain on empty swal- 
lowing. 
Segin observed beneficial effects of mercury, particularly 
when the pain and swelling of the structures of the mouth 
were accompanied with salivation, with circumscribed redness, 
inclination to suppuration or actual commencement of the 
same, with ulcers in the throat and also in the mouth. 
Meyhofer found mercury to be a true specific when in epi- 
demic angina attacking particularly young people, already the 
second stage had begun, which occurred on the second or third 
day. Younger patients received Mereur.6, every three hours, 
in one drop dose. Older patients took Mereur. 5th or 4th. 
In irritable subjects salivation would set in, accompanied with 
the peculiar odor. The disease lasted from three to five or 
seven days. But cases that were treated allopathically during 
the same epidemic lasted from nine to eleven days. 
Knorre says that Mereur. so/, produces excellent results if 
the local inflammation and the fever of angina faucium is not 
very violent, if the former is confined to the mucous membrane 
of the tonsils, and when the fauces are but slightly reddened, 
or covered with slimy thickened masses; or when the tonsils 
are considerably swollen but not very painful in proportion to 
the degree of swelling, and covered with white flakes of loos- 
ened mucus; when the tongue has a whitish coating, growing 
yellow toward the back; when the odor proceeding from the 
mouth is very offensive, and when the parotids are painful 
and enlarged; when there is salivation and tearing pains in 
the limbs. 
Hendricks assures us that since he has used Calomel2 every 
two or three hours, the disease has terminated much more 
rapidly than when he gave Bellad. and Mereur. sol. 
Wurmb says: The submucous angina which differs from the 
catarrhal form by the great redness and swelling of the mucous 
membrane; dysphagia; active participation of the circulation 
and tendency to the formation of pus; found its remedies 
chiefly in Bellad. and Mercurius. The latter particularly in 
278 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
threatening or actual suppuration. In recent cases of follicular 
tonsillitis, Mercur. sol. is the remedy, but in chronic cases Ilepar. 
According to Hofrichter, mercury will not fail to cure when 
the tonsils and neighboring parts are seriously swollen and 
red; when the swelling and flaming redness extended over the 
palate far forward, accompanied with a desire to swallow. 
There is dysphagia and fluids regurgitate through the nose; 
secretions are offensive, 
Goezes observed that Mercur. sol. is almost a specific in most 
cases of angina, characterized by swelling of the tonsils or sub- 
maxillary glands, but especially in those forms in which cheesy 
exudation occurs at an early stage upon the inflamed portions 
of mucous membrane, and which appear to be croupous if not 
actually diphtheritic in character. 
Last!}7, we would lay stress on the fact that Mercur. sol. does 
not correspond well to angina phlegmonosa, but the appear- 
ance of the throat as found in cases of poisoning with corrosive 
sublimate, furnishes a very excellent simile of this disease, on 
which account we earnestly recommend this remedy. 
Calomel likewise deserves more attention, especially in scrof- 
ulous children, or in complication with aphthse. 
Mercur. viv. causes chronic angina, characterized by re- 
markably enlarged and tortuous veins, and should be more 
frequently employed in such cases. 
If the symptoms indicating Cinnabar are present, as in the 
case of a prover who, during a proving was cured of chronic 
angina, characterized by dryness at night and pain in the 
morning, secretion of viscid mucus in the day-time and incli- 
nation to empty swallowing, in that case that remedy should 
be tried. 
Kafka writes concerning syphilitic angina: We generally 
succeed entirely in syphilitic catarrh of the fauces by the 
methodical use of Mercur. sol.3, given in two daily doses for 
six days and then omitted for three days. Ulcers of the 
pharynx require the methodical administration of red precipitate, 
or Cinnabar, each in the third trituration. Also corrosive 
sublimate3 may be of excellent service. The various forms of 
mercury txnd iodine (protiodide), should be employed in destruc- 
279 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tive disease of the bones or cartilages; the methodical use of 
the 3d trit. is recommended. 
Bcehr recommends Mcrcur. viv. in syphilitic cutaneous erup- 
tions, and remarks: “We do not hesitate to recommend it 
highly in this disease, particularly because it corresponds so 
well to the hypersemia and ulceration of the mucous membrane 
of the pharynx.” 
Hughes mentions mercury as being the first remedy in sy- 
philitic affections of the mouth and fauces. 
Yetdham recommends corrosive sublimate when Aconite and 
subsequently Apis have failed to cure. 
Jahr uses mercury first in all ulcerations, chancre-like forms 
of syphilitic affections of the mucous membrane, especially in 
those which resemble the simple or Hunterian chancre, but in 
the phagedenic forms he prefers principally corrosive sublimate 
until improvement ensues, at which period he continues the 
treatment with Mercur. sol. 
Gerson found that red precipitate was particularly efficacious 
in syphilitic throat diseases, when the ulcers were seated upon 
the tonsils, the posterior wall of the pharynx, tongue and lips, 
accompanied by burning pain, profuse suppuration, and when 
they exhibited elevated edges, and when the adjoining por- 
tions of mucous membrane were not very livid in color. He 
often has met with cases of syphilis in which ulcers would come 
and go upon the tonsils, or the posterior wall of the pharynx, 
after every slight cold; when these were imbedded in folds of 
mucous membrane, they resembled simple angina; they tor- 
ment the patient exceedingly, almost drives him to distraction. 
In subjects of this kind, a dyscrasia of another form was gen- 
erally demonstrable. But even in these cases, he found the 
red precipitate to be the best remedy, after many experiments. 
Calomel, if more frequently employed in such cases, would 
certainly be found to occupy a prominent place among mer- 
curials, as it acts so decidedly upon the mucous membrane of 
the mouth and pharynx. 
280 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
c. Diseases of the (Esophagus. 
The following symptoms are those of the oesophagus: In the 
se of the seventh animal experimented on by Overbeck, we 
find that the inflammation of the cavity of the mouth extends 
also to the oesophagus. 
Mercur. sol.: “ Constant pressing pain in the oesophagus, in 
the region of the larynx, worse while eating, and causing a sen- 
sation as if she had to swallow over a piece of raw surface, with 
burning pain in that place. A worm seems to rise up into his 
throat, so that he is constantly obliged to swallow, which gives 
some relief, without, however, feeling that anything actually 
p sses down. Paroxysms of pressing pain in the oesophagus, as 
ii an ulcer were about to form there.” 
Merc. corr. subl. Dysphagia.—An attempt at swallowing 
ciuses retching and vomiting. Heat and burning throughout 
the entire oesophagus. Burning pain in the oesophagus, in- 
creased by external pressure. Pain along the oesophagus extend- 
ing into the stomach, which impedes deglutition very much. 
C<-nstricted feeling of oesophagus. Dysphagia; after partaking 
of soup he is unable to swallow the meat. Complete dysphagia. 
Acute pain like stitches in the chest and deep in the oesopha- 
gus as if a morsel had lodged there, at noon while eating beef 
and vegetables. Although he is able to swallow food and 
diitik, the pain is somewhat increased by swallowing, as well 
as by regurgitation of wind; when this pain subsides there is 
cutting pain in upper and right side of the abdomen. Con- 
traction of the oesophagus and stomach when swallowing the 
least mouthful of fluid (No. 27, 29). The whole length of the 
(esophagus is painful (No. 27, 40). Burning in the oesophagus 
p30, 45, 30). Autopsies revealed the oesophagus injected at its 
lower third (31-41). Inflammation of the oesophagus. Where 
the oesophagus enters the stomach, the mucous membrane is 
much injected and thickened ; on cutting through it, a whitish 
purulent matter poured out (No. 33.) Lymphatic exudation 
into the oesophagus (No. 50.) Ulceration of the oesophagus 
(No. 59.) While we see the characteristic symptoms produced 
by corrosive sublimate upon the fauces, stomach, and intestinal 
281 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
canal, when the remedy is applied externally and internally, 
proving the specific effect of that medicine beyond a doubt, we 
are not able to make the same distinctions with regard to the 
oesophagus. But as serious anatomical lesions appear in the 
oesophagus, through which the poison passes with so much 
rapidity, we feel justified in assuming that these lesions are not 
the result of local corrosive action, but that they are produced 
by the resorption of the poison. Indeed the provings of Kusser 
have resulted in the production of symptoms relating to the 
oesophagus, and Merc. sol. also has been shown to produce such 
symptoms in Ilahnemami’s provings. 
Kafka generally claims to accomplish his object with Bellad. 
in acute inflammation of the oesophagus. But when there are 
signs of incipient suppuration, such as rigors, or pulsating pains 
in any part of the oesophagus, Merc. sol. might possibly be 
the suitable remedy, in order to assist the resorption of the 
exudation. 
Bcehr says that in inflammation arising without visible cause, 
Mercury should be given, preceded, however, by a few doses of 
Bellad. In stricture of the oesophagus, caused by hypertrophy 
of the mucous membrane, he also mentions mercury among 
other remedies. 
Joslin furnishes the following indications for mercury in 
stricture of the oesophagus: “Feeling of a foreign body in the 
pharynx, dysphagia, violent exertion in swallowing something. 
Spasmodic impediment in swallowing, with danger of suffoca- 
tion. Violent pain in the oesophagus. 
Jahr also mentions mercury in (Esophagitis. 
As far as the symptoms are concerned, corrosive sublimate 
deserves the preference in inflammations of the oesophagus. It 
may also be chosen as the proper remedy in simple oesophagitis, 
and also when it is caused by burning, wounds from foreign 
bodies, swallowing of corroding substances, etc.; in the latter 
class of cases proper measures should first be taken to remove 
the irritating cause according to the indications given by 
Kafka. 
282 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
d. Diseases of the Stomach. 
1. Dyspepsia. 
We learn from Hermann’s report, on the diseases of workmen 
in Idria, that among 122 sick workmen, twenty suffered from 
dyspepsia. In a second observation, he found that six out of 
eighteen had dyspepsia. Also among the mirror-makers men- 
tioned by Kussmaul, there were many who had lost their appe- 
tite; the same was the case in several instances (6, 10, 11,) 
observed upon man, and almost every animal experimented on 
by Overbeck. 
Merc. sol. has the following symptoms: Loss of appetite, 
satiety after a few mouthfuls; aversion to meat, coffee, butter, 
warm food. Aversion to wine and brandy. The taste is bitter, 
foul, like rotten eggs, salty, metallic, sweetish, slimy. Qualm- 
ishness ; colUction of water in the mouth at night. Eructation of 
wind, sometimes of sour taste, bilious, bitter. Heartburn ; 
eructations so that acrid fluid rises into the mouth. Frequent 
hiccough. 
Jahr mentions the following indications for mercury: Foul, 
sweetish or bitter taste, sometimes in the morning ; loss of appetite 
or great gluttony, with rapid satiety while eating. Aversion 
to solid food, meats, and boiled or warm food, with longing for 
refreshing things; longing for milk, cold drinks, or even for 
wine and brandy. Pressure in the pit of the stomach, eructation, 
heartburn, and other inconveniences after every meal; especially 
after eating bread. Much eructation, nausea, and qualmishness ; 
painful sensitiveness, fulness, pressure and tension in the region of 
the stomach. Flatulence, constipation, often with ineffectual 
straining at stool. Melancholy, hypochondriacal, distressful 
mood and irascibility. 
The symptoms which principally point to mercury are: in- 
creased secretion of saliva, and collection of water in the mouth. 
Advanced age, and hypochondriacal mood also indicate mer- 
cury. Of the various preparations, Merc. sol. is best suited 
for acute affections, and Merc. viv. for chronic affections. 
283 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
2. Gastritis.—II^ematemesis. 
In-order to form a correct opinion regarding the effect of 
mercury upon the stomach, and in order to meet the objection 
that the effect is that of local irritation, we should examine the 
gastric sjnnptoms produced by the external application of 
mercury. 
Animals which have had corrosive sublimate applied to the 
subcutaneous cellular tissue, or injected into the jugular vein, 
are affected with vomiting. Dissection reveals inflammation 
of the gastric mucous membrane, with extravasation of blood 
and ulcers ; especially at the pyloric extremity. That the vom- 
iting is not produced by irritation of the vagus, is proved by 
the experiments of Brodie, in which vomiting also occurred 
after cutting the nerve. 
In our cases of poisoning after external application of Corro- 
sive sublimate, we find in No 2, bloody vomiting; in No. 3, 
violent pains in the epigastrium, especially in the region of the 
stomach, eructation, loathing, vomiting ; in No. 4, cardialgia, 
bilious vomiting; in No. 5, vomiting of green masses; in No. 
6, pains in the stomach, nausea, vomiting without cessation ; in 
No. 7, vomiting; in No. 8, retching and vomiting, gastralgia; 
in No. 9, inflammation of the stomach ; in No. 10, violent 
]>ains in the stomach, painful eructation and vomiting; in No. 
13, inclination to vomit; in No. 14, the serous and mucous 
coats of the stomach are inflamed ; in No. 15, repeated vomiting. 
The records of autopsies which portray the appearance of a 
perforating ulcer of the stomach, we are unable to make use of 
as indications for corrosive sublimate in this disease, as these 
appearances may be dependent on local corrosive effects; 
although we have seen similar effects resulting from hypoder- 
mic application of the poison. We are constrained to express 
this opinion in consideration of the result of an autopsy after 
poisoning with red precipitate, No. 5. In this case a particle of 
the poison was found in the centre of each ulcer. Nevertheless, 
it is a fact that corrosive sublimate produces gastritis with all 
its symptomatic and anatomical signs. 
After the internal administration of corrosive sublimate, we 
284 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
meet with bloody vomiting very frequently, just as we find the 
same after external application; on this account these two 
affections of the stomach point to this remedy, particularly in 
the presence of other symptoms characteristic of corrosive sub- 
limate ; especially in case of complications, or in the form of 
symptoms of circumscribed or general peritonitis. 
The choice will be especially confirmed in the presence of 
adynamic fever with irregular pulse, and cold sweats, violent 
gastralgia, especially of burning pains. Aggravation at night: 
complications with affections of the mouth or of the liver, with 
bilious vomiting, etc. 
The three cases diagnosticated by Bicking as gastromalacia, 
treated and cured with calomel, have reference to this subject. 
In his monograph on gastralgia, IJerschel says that only ma- 
terial affections of the mucous membrane, from catarrhal swell- 
ing to actual inflammation and organic metamorphosis, are 
especially adapted to the more powerful mercurials. These 
are suited particularly to acute and febrile forms of the disease, 
while in chronic cases they are to be administered as intercur- 
rent remedies at most, when there are acute aggravations, as in 
indurations, scirrhus, etc.; they should be administered cau- 
tiously and at long intervals in ulceration and softening. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE INTESTINAL CANAL. 
1. Acute and Chronic Intestinal Catarrh.—Typhlitis. 
This affection is caused by all preparations of mercury, when 
given in doses so small as not to cause enteritis. Thus, under 
Merc. viv. we find profuse diarrhoea (28); diarrhoea with uncon- 
scious discharges (28); diarrhoea (80, 38, 35, 36, 47). From 
mercurial inunction we find painful dysentery under 1 and 2. 
Moreover under 2, colic, frequent desire for discharges, bilious 
diarrhoea; also loose discharges, under 10 and 11. Post mor- 
tem examination reveals: Mucous membrane of the ascending 
colon swollen and softened ; solitary patches also swollen; mu- 
cous membrane of sigmoid flexure and rectum excoriated in 
spots (29). Constipation, which is so common in chronic intes- 
285 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
final catarrh, is frequently observed among laborers in mercury 
(26, 32, 33, 38, 42). 
Merc. sol. Hahn.: Discharges after some pain ; discharge after 
pinching and twisting pain in abdomen; continued pressure 
with but small passages, and pain. Cold sweat in face with 
great distress, for fifteen minutes, then loose discharge. Before 
discharge much pressure, distress and trembling of whole body; 
after discharge, bitter, acrid eructations and some heartburn. 
Violent pressure, calling for immediate evacuation; sour smell 
of discharge ; chill before each discharge ; shivering before each 
discharge; chill and pressure before the discharge, and par- 
oxysms of heat during chill. Chill between the discharges, 
but heat, especially of face, during defecation. Much exhausted 
after painful discharge; nausea and eructation during evacua- 
tion. Discharge of bloody mucus, with pain and tenesmus. 
Many discharges, of small quantity, during the day, irritating 
the rectum ; marks of mucus and blood in the feces; soft dis- 
charge, with mucus ; yellow discharge ; yellow discharge twice 
a day, without pain; discharges now mucus, then feces, four 
or five times ; discharges only at night, very sudden desire to 
defecate, becoming involuntary if not gratified; diarrhoea; diar- 
rhoea in the evening; diarrhoea at night; diarrhoea with 
bloody streaks; discharges looking red after several hours; 
lloody discharge with sharp, painful sensation in rectum; dis- 
charge of dark green slime after pressure in abdomen; dark 
green, bilious, foaming discharges; green, mucous, sharp dis- 
charges, irritating the rectum; green, slimy discharge, with burn- 
ing and protrusion of rectum ; soft, brown discharges, floating 
on water; discharge with cutting and pressure in rectum; 
burning discharge; burning in rectum; discharge, with much 
blood, for many days, then hard discharges, with blood ; green 
discharge, with cutting and pinching; burning pain in rectum, 
with soft discharges; burning in rectum after each discharge; 
pain ; desire for discharge with much passage of wind. 
The following symptoms indicate chronic intestinal catarrh 
with constipation. Discharge only once in three days; con- 
stipation for many days, with catarrhal fever, anorexia and dis- 
gust for everything, except beer; discharge consisting of small 
286 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
fragments, coming slowly and with much pain ; discharge of 
small, hard lumps; hard discharges. 
Merc. subl. corros., sensitiveness and meteorism of abdomen, 
with dry tongue; painful sensations through the whole intesti- 
nal canal, with general weakness; violent pain in intestines; 
abdomen painful to pressure; pain in stomach and bowels; 
violent colic and cardialgia; burning pains about the umbili- 
cus, with remissions and intermissions, coming at continually 
shorter intervals; pain extending over whole abdomen, which 
is distended and painful, but soft; also restlessness, heat, thirst 
and flushed face: pulse tense and rapid ; pain and tenesmus 
after eating potatoes; pain about navel after eating bread and 
fresh butter; pain on right of navel after using sugar; pain in 
abdomen with chill, although the air is warm ; abdominal pain 
below the navel, after partaking moderately of sour, but ripe, 
apples; tenderness and desire for a discharge on going out in 
the evening; peculiar distressed feeling in abdomen, especially 
in the region of the csecum and transverse colon ; both regions 
sensitive on pressure, the pain being worse during the morning 
and diminished towards night; feeling of pressure in region of 
caecum and colon ; violent pain in caeca 1 region; after the usual 
morning discharge, diarrhoea, as long as Merc. subl. is taken; 
pain before the discharges; watery stools with pain; pain, 
with six discharges; gurgling with three soft, brown stools ; 
copious and bilious discharges per mouth and rectum; green 
discharges; bilious excrement; two slate-colored stools; very 
offensive discharges; two offensive, greenish-black, soft dis- 
charges; after breakfast, soft, yellow, painless discharge, with 
tenesmus; during the day frequent desire to go to stool, with 
flatulence; after cessation of vomiting, colicky pain about the 
navel, followed by three liquid discharges, with tenesmus ; con- 
tinued tenesmus, with discharge of circular masses of coagulable 
lymph. The other symptoms are given under the head of 
dysentery. 
Post-mortem examinations after poisoning with sublimate 
show: Throughout the whole intestinal tract, signs of inflam- 
mation, softening and ulceration. That this inflammation of 
the mucous membrane is not the result of local action of the 
287 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
poison, is shown by the two dissections (No. 14), where inflam- 
mation of the small intestine was found after the external 
application of sublimate. 
Calomel.—About twenty discharges daily (5); three to four 
discharges daily (10); discharges (11); pain, and eighteen 
watery, green, mucous discharges, mixed with blood (12). 
Merc, prcecip. rubr.—Pain over whole abdomen (1,2); abdo- 
men distended and too painful to 6ndure the least pressure; 
feeling of pressure in abdomen (4); painful colic with inclina- 
tion to stool, with sensation in rectum of a red-hot iron ascend- 
ing and descending (6); violent colic (7); severe abdominal 
spasms (9); rumbling in bowels (5); severe diarrhoea (1, 2); 
many painless discharges (4); discharges, with pain and press- 
ure (5); bloody discharge (5); frequent watery stools (5); pas- 
sage of a small quantity of blood, with violent pain and tenes- 
mus (6); bloody diarrhoea (7, 9). 
The dissection in No. 5 revealed no noticeable changes, only 
the contents of the duodenum consisted of a brownish opaque 
fluid. 
Mercur. cyanid.—Vomiting and diarrhoea, occurring alter- 
nately twenty to thirty times during twelve hours ; the patient 
drank freely, vomiting six times, and had eight offensive, green, 
mucous discharges; copious discharges with violent pain ; sen- 
sation of coldness, followed by nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, 
with pain; epigastrium and abdomen sensitive to pressure; 
violent pain, worse after each discharge ; two thin, bloody dis- 
charges, without urinating; mucous discharges, with tenesmus, 
at night; continual tenesmus but infrequent stools, the dis- 
charge being mixed with blood; soft discharge after some 
pressure; six fluid, offensive discharges in eight hours, after 
much straining; no stool during the second, third, or fourth 
day. After an injection, two feculent, dark-colored and 
bloody discharges, without micturition; a feculent stool of dark 
color; no discharge during third, fourth and fifth day, then 
again diarrhoea. 
Cinnabaris.- -Pain in abdomen on second day; pain in colon, 
with frequent discharge of offensive gas, and a stool the first 
day; drawing pain in abdomen for three hours, beginning at 
288 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
11J a.m. ; sharp pain in the intestines, occurring in a subject 
who often took the 3d trituration; colic in lower bowels, and 
flatulence, after taking the first dose (colic after eating cabbage); 
the first day and second night after taking the medicine, pain 
about abdomen by day and night, causing uneasiness; cutting 
pains at intervals during the day, more flatulence mornings 
than afternoons or evenings; pain in bowels before each dis- 
charge; six hours after taking the same trit., rumbling in bowels 
and transverse colon for an hour and a half; after retiring at 
night, rumbling in bowels with pain and nausea ; feeling of 
distension of abdomen and intestines ; pain in intestines ; desire 
to go to stool in the morning but no discharge ; while first tak- 
ing the 3d trit., the bowels are confined; after a week they are 
open ; no discharge the seventh and eighth day; on the ninth 
day a natural discharge with much straining and flatulence; the 
prolapsus of rectum with pain, until night; inclined to constipa- 
tion while taking the medicine; only one discharge a week ; 
abdomen distended, stool hard and copious; obstinate consti- 
pation, continuing while taking the medicine and afterwards; 
bleeding piles for two days; violent itching in rectum, worse at 
night; two moderate, soft stools, daily, preceded by pain; two 
stools in the afternoon, the last with difficulty ; two stools 
daily ; morning, moderate passage of wind, with sensation as if 
a copious stool would follow; on rising, a soft stool, with pain 
in rectum ; small lumps about anus, with tickling and burning ; 
soft stools and tenesmus; after stool in afternoon, a sensation 
of tickling in rectum as from a worm ; after dinner a sensation 
of weight and pain in rectum. 
Kafka prescribes Merc. sol. in intestinal catarrh, with fever; 
if, after the use of Aconite, the diarrhoea continues, although 
the fever has diminished, and copious perspiration has set in ; 
when pain before stool is still severe, and the discharges are 
watery, mucous, bloody, irritating, with more or less tenesmus 
and burning in rectum. He prescribes the same remedy when 
the lower part of the small, or the upper part of the large intes- 
tines, is affected with painful symptoms referable to those parts, 
violent before, and ceasing after, an evacuation. Also for fre- 
quent, thin, faecal, very offensive discharges, more frequent at 
289 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
night, and caused by taking cold. He also recommends Merc, 
sol. for bloody stools; or if they irritate and inflame the rec- 
tum; also in gastro-intestinal catarrh, with jaundice. In ca- 
tarrh of the lower part of the colon, with mucous and bloody 
discharges and tenesmus, he has seen the best results from 
Merc. sol. or eorr. (Puls., Ipee., Sulph.). In acute catarrh of rec- 
tum, caused by cold, with violent tenesmus, but no discharge, 
he found Merc. (Puls., Sulph.) very useful. 
lie gives Mtrcur. in chronic intestinal catarrh when the diar- 
rhoea is chronic, the stools mucous or fseculent, with pain about 
the navel, and straining before stool. The discharges are most 
frequent at night, with burning and pressure in the rectum, 
and irritation of the anus. 
Bcehr finds Merc, more useful for the diarrhoea of children, 
especially if teething, than for adults. The discharges are not 
frequent, they are fseculent, mixed with some mucus and dark 
green secretions, and irritate the rectum. The pains are sharp, 
and precede the discharge. The presence of fever indicates the 
remedy also. 
Bcehr recommends Mercur. in bilious fever, when the fever is 
violent and worse at night, with headache, restlessness, tender- 
ness over liver and stomach, yellowish coloring of skin and 
eyes; bitter taste and nausea; bilious vomiting; desire for 
acid ; and, finally, discharge of bile mixed with mucus. 
Hartmann prescribes Merc, in gastric fever, when the appetite 
is impaired ; with furred tongue ; dryness of throat; bad taste 
in mouth; nausea and headache; distress over region of 
stomach and liver; some eructations; sedimentitious urine; 
irregular discharges; yellowish coloration of skin, great pros- 
tration. 
In acute intestinal catarrh he recommends Merc, if the dis- 
charges are slimy and painful, and mixed with blood, causing 
irritation and prolapsus of the rectum. 
Hughes does not mention Merc, in diarrhoea, but recommends 
Merc. eorr. (alternately with aconite), in inflammatory dis- 
charges of children, located in the colon, and with a tendency to 
dysentery. 
Guernsey uses Mere. sol. in diarrhoea where there is violent 
290 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pain before, and less after, a discharge ; discharges foamy, slimy, 
bloody and dark green ; the lower extremities of children cold 
and clammy. He recommends mercury in the constipation of 
children, where there is salivation, irritation of throat, swelling 
of glands, frequent desire to go to stool, aggravation on taking 
cold. 
Jahr recommends Merc, when the stools are most frequent at 
night, when they are watery, mucous, foaming, bilious or bloody, 
light yellow or greenish ; frequent discharges and irritation of 
the rectum ; violent colic pains; acid stomach and eructations ; 
chills, cold sweats and prostration ; in autumnal diarrhoea, from 
catching cold, with much pain, and green, watery, mucous and 
bloody discharges, and sometimes vomiting. In constipation 
he recommends mercury when there is a bad taste in the 
mouth, and the gums are sore, but no loss of appetite. 
Gerhardt gives the usual indications in diarrhoea, but recom- 
mends Merc, in constipation following diarrhoea and organic 
diseases ; when the discharges are alternately liquid and lumpy, 
with pain and tenesmus. 
Henng gives Merc. sol. in painful discharges, causing cries 
and writhings, frequent desire but often unsuccessful; cold 
sweat and trembling ; passage of green, watery, mucous, bilious 
matter, sometimes mixed with blood ; great weakness, offensive 
breath; no appetite, nausea, or vomiting at time of discharge. 
Knorre found Merc. sol. useful in the diarrhoea of infants 
about four months old, with acidity and symptoms of teething. 
The discharges were of the ordinary bilious character, with 
pain, crying and emaciation. It was also used for older chil- 
dren, when aphthre were observed. 
Schwarze uses Merc. sol. principally in cases of painful diar- 
rhoea, occurring suddenly from catching cold. Schellivg used it 
in painful diarrhoeas with a tendency to such discharges. 
Hofrichter and Midler also give Merc. sol. according to the 
above indications. 
Hofrichter prefers Merc. dale, in bilious diarrhoeas of young 
children, very copious, irritating the rectum, with prostration, 
tendency to canker, offensive breath, salivation and swelling of 
glands. 
291 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Clotar Midler prefers calomel 2d or 3d centesimal to the 
solubilis in the diarrhoea of children. In dysentery he prefers 
Merc. corr. 
Gerson saw good effects from Merc. corr. in two cases of 
croupy affection of the bowels, with pain, tenesmus and bloody 
discharges, where Arsen, and Laches, had no effect. He re- 
commends Calomel for constipation when it is caused by an in- 
flammatory or croupy affection of the mucous membrane of the 
colon. 
The great curative sphere of the mercurials is in the region 
of the colon, as is shown by tbe remarkable effects of Merc, 
corr. in dysentery, in typhlitis and in catarrh of the rectum. 
The irritating influence of mercury upon the liver gives an in- 
dication for its use in bilious diarrhoeas. The specific influence 
of calomel upon the mucous membrane of both mouth and in- 
testine, indicates its use in diarrhoea during dentition. The 
tendency to take cold while under the influence of mercury, 
points to its use in rheumatic diarrhoeas, Merc. sol. being the 
most applicable. In acute diarrhoea of scrofulous, rachitic child- 
ren, Cinnab. and Merc. jod. should be considered. Merc. viv. 
in medium doses, or Cinnab. should be used for chronic consti- 
pation with hypertrophy of the liver, dyspepsia, psychical dis- 
turbances, occasional colic and intercurrent diarrhoeas. 
2. Enteritis. 
The enteritis caused by all mercurial preparations depends 
upon their specific influence, and not upon local irritation. 
This is proved by cases of poisoning in the human race, as well 
as in animals, and is confirmed by post-mortem examinations, 
the particulars of which need not be repeated. In Typhlitis 
stercoralis Kafka gives Merc. sol. 1st every two hours, it' the 
pain is not severe, and there is no sign of antiperistaltic action. 
In 10 or 12 hours the pains diminish, a noticeable activity takes 
place in the bowels, and large masses of faeces are discharged 
to the great relief of the patient. 
For the absorption of the exudation after Inflammation of the 
Caecum, he gives Bryon.3, Sulphur6, or Merc, sol.3 In Catar- 
292 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rhnl l flammation of the Vermiform Process, he finds that Merc, 
si l3 favors the resorption of exudation. 
In Catarrhal Inflammation of the Rectum he uses Merc, sol., if 
there is violent pain, and mucus and blood with the discharge, 
irritating the anus. 
Bcehr considers Merc. sol. indicated in Typhlitis more by clin- 
ical experience than by physiological provings; most useful 
while the exudation is increasing and there is danger of suppu- 
ration. In Enteritis he prefers it to Bellad. unless there is 
severe diarrhoea. 
Hughes recommends Merc. corr. after Arsen, in muco-enteritis 
of adults, characterized by the peculiar “ beefy tongues.” In 
inflammation of the colon, with severe pain and constipation, 
he uses Merc. corr. and Coloc. Gerhardt calls Mercur. 
the principal remedy in enteric inflammation, with cutting 
pains, bloody, bilious and mucous discharges, chills and sweat, 
thirst and coated tongue. 
Jahr recommends Merc, (besides Laches,, Bellad., Bryon.), 
sifter Aeon, has reduced the fever. Also in Colitis (besides 
Bellad.); superficial erysipelatous inflammation (besides Arsen. 
stud Bellad.), and in suppuration (besides Laches.). 
Several cases of Typhlitis cured by Mercur. are to be found 
in our periodical literature. Periproctitis and perityphlitis are 
treated on the same indications; the circumstance being re- 
garded that mercurials tend to absorb exudations. 
3. Enteralgia.—Colic. 
Symptoms of colic are frequently found in cases of poisoning 
with mercurials. As this metal has often been found to affect 
the sympathetic system, it is not surprising that the mesenteric 
plexus is under its influence. Kafka uses Merc, sol.3 in Rheu- 
matic colic, when the abdomen is sensitive, the pain is in the 
region of the navel, and is followed by bloody and irritating 
discharges. Further indications are the presence of coryza, or 
nocturnal cough, and pain in the limbs. A dose is given every 
hour or half hour, and a cure is effected very soon. 
In colic from poisoning with copper, Bcehr recommends first 
Bellad., if there is a tendency to inflammation, and then Mere. 
293 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Jahr’s indications for Mercur. are: Distention, sensitiveness 
and pain, especially about the navel; with hiccough, nausea, 
salivation, disgust for sweets, frequent discharges, aggravation 
at night, especially after midnight, chills and fever, prostration. 
liering and Gerhardt give the same indications. The most ap- 
propriate preparations are: Mer. corr. and Merc, prcec. rubr. 
4. Hemorrhoids. 
Having seen that mercury has a specific irritating effect upon 
the rectum, and a paralyzing effect upon the sympathetic 
nerves, causing dilatation of the blood vessels ; we are prepared 
to find, in cases of chronic poisoning, congestion of the liver, 
constipation and formation of hemorrhoidal tumors. 
Swellings, resembling piles, were found in the case of poi- 
soning by Merc. corr. (28). Among the symptoms of Merc. sol. 
we find pressure and extrusion of piles (534), A pile is forced 
out during stool and is painful (580). Bleeding from rectum 
during micturition (581). Hemorrhages after stool (582). 
Kirsch reports a case of bleeding piles with watery discharges 
and great pain. Mercury relieved. The indications for mer- 
cury are : Bleeding piles, straining and itching at anus, watery 
and mucous stools, alternations of constipation and diarrhoea, 
colic, prolapsus of rectum, affection of liver. Cinnab. would 
seem most indicated. 
JBcehr gives mercury in real inflammation of the piles, with 
suppuration. Kajka also uses it, together with Aeon., Bellad., 
Chamom. and Gelsern. Guernsey gives it for hemorrhoids 
during pregnancy, when the usual mercurial symptoms are 
present. 
5. Intestinal Ulcers. 
In an experiment of Overbeck''s, where mercury was applied 
by inunction, and care was taken that the animal could not 
lick itself, ulceration was found in the duodenum. 
Merc. viv. produces excoriation of the mucous membrane of 
the rectum and sigmoid flexure (29). 
Merc. corr. causes inflammation of the lower part of the ileum, 
294 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and small ulcers below the csecum (52). Ulceration of sigmoid 
flexure (53). Ulceration of ileum and colon (5b). 
Mmc. corr. and Merc. viv. should be used in chronic diarrhoea, 
where ulceration is suspected, and in tubercular disease Ger- 
son recommends Merc. corr. in dyscratic ulcers, with violent 
pain in certain spots, tenesmus and discharges of pus and blood. 
6. Helminthiasis. 
Mercury was first introduced into medical practice as a para- 
siticide by the Arabians, and is still so used by the Allopaths. 
In worms they recommend water that has been boiled with the 
metallic mercury, although none of the metal can be found in 
it chemically. 
Scopoli says that the mercury-workers of Idria are generally 
afflicted by the presence of lumbrici, with the usual symptoms: 
'pain after eating, bad breath, pale face, tickling in fauces and 
nausea ; the worms departing by the mouth and rectum. We 
do not suppose that mercury favors the development of the 
worms at first, and then destroys them according to the law of 
similars, and we do not believe that the worms are more com- 
mon in Idria than elsewhere; but the presence of the mercury 
in the human organism, no doubt, annoys the worm and makes 
it more troublesome until it is expelled. 
Under Merc. sol. we find these symptoms: Tickling at anus 
as from ascarides (585); ascarides pass from the rectum (587); 
several large lumbrici are passed (588). 
In the case of poisoning with Mmc. com. (38), we find the 
passage of one worm with the discharge; in case 56, loose dis- 
charges, with passage of two living worms. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. among other remedies for the 
stomach pains caused by lumbrici. For the nocturnal itching 
of ascarides, he uses inunction with TJng. Hgdrarg., or if this 
does not help, he introduces into the rectum a suppository of 
the ointment made with cocoa-butter. This is usually sufficient, 
if not he injects into the rectum a solution of Merc. com. (one 
grain to the ounce of water), or of Asafcetida or 01. terebinth. 
In tapeworm he recommends Merc. sol. for the pains, and con- 
295 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
vulsions caused by them. Bcehr mentions mercury among the 
remedies against the disagreeable symptoms caused by worms. 
Hughes found that drop doses of Merc, corr., or Filix mas., or 
Cupr. ac. relieved the trouble caused by tapeworm, although 
the joints continue to be passed. Guernsey uses Merc. sol. when 
ascarides and lumbrici can be seen to leave the body. Jahr 
considers mercury the chief remedy for Lumbrici when there is 
fever, colic, nausea, distended abdomen, and small, mucous 
stools; if Aeon, and Gina have had no effect. He also uses it 
for ascarides, besides Sulphur. Hering rcommends two doses 
of Sulphur and one of mercury, at the decreasing moon. This 
has not been found reliable by Jahr. Malz found mercury 
useful in some cases of worm troubles. He uses the old remedy 
of one drachm of the mineral boiled for half an hour with four 
ounces of distilled water, one tablespoonful of this to be taken 
2 to 3 times a day. The effect was so decided that the presence 
of mercury in the decoction could not be doubted. 
DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 
Peritonitis. 
In this disease Merc. corr. is indicated not only by the subjec- 
tive symptoms, but by the results of dissections in our cases of 
poisoning: mesentery and peritoneum much inflamed, with 
exudation (35); omentum much inflamed (36); peritoneum 
inflamed, omentum nearly destroyed (37); peritoneum con- 
gested, omentum nearly destroyed (38); peritoneal covering of 
intestine very vascular (34); omentum inflamed (including the 
two cases of external application in 14); an inflamed spot in 
the serous covering of the liver (in one of the two cases 14); 
many eeehymoses in the omentum along the two curvatures of 
the stomach (27). The subjective and objective symptoms in- 
dicating peritonitis, are: abdomen sensitive, meteoristic, dry 
tongue (31); abdomen swollen and sensitive (44); abdomen 
sensitive to the least pressure (38); abdomen swollen and not 
allowing pressure of clothes (62); patient shrinks from the least 
touch (34); pains about navel, with intermission ; pain extend- 
ing over whole abdomen, which is distended and sensitive to 
296 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pressure; also restlessness, heat, thirst, quick and tense pulse 
(25); great pain about navel (38); epigastrium and whole 
abdomen painful on pressure (50); abdomen distended and sen- 
sitive (18); abdomen contracted and very sensitive (29); epi- 
gastrium sensitive to the least pressure (3); burning heat, and 
the least pressure unendurable over epigastrium (27). 
Besides the characteristic symptoms of peritonitis, intense 
pain and distention, we find also frequent vomiting (even after 
external application), frequent, small pulse, the sensorium at 
first undisturbed, intense anxiety and cold sweat. In Partial 
Peritonitis, Mere. *ol. is also indicated by these symptoms: in- 
flammation of the omentum ; of the serous covering of the liver 
and intestines; sometimes pain over the caecum and sigmoid 
flexure (62); frequent micturition and retention of urine. 
In the first stage of peritonitis, a few doses of aconite should 
be given. Kafka recommends Aeon., Bellad., or Atropin, and 
Opium1, and gives Merc, sol.2, or Iod.2, when there are signs of 
a fibrinous exudation. In chronic cases he uses Bryan? or 
Merc. sol. 2-3. 
Bcehr considers Mercur. indicated less for peritonitis than for 
enteritis. It is indicated in both forms when there are signs of 
suppuration, and this would be in the second or third week. 
A special indication would be: chills with fever, followed by 
copious sweats. In partial peritonitis he uses Merc. sol. at once, 
especially is there is suppuration and signs of an abscess open- 
ing externally. 
Hughes uses first Aeon., then Bryon. and Merc. corr. 
Whether these remedies would suffice in cases of perforation of 
the stomach or bowels, he thinks doubtful. Jahr employs 
Merc. sol. only when there is suppuration. Wurmb uses Merc, 
sol. only in severe cases of chronic peritonitis, with suppuration. 
Of all mercurials, Merc. corr. is more specific in affections of 
serous membranes, as meninges, peritoneum, peri- and endo- 
cardium and pleura. We agree fully with Hughes in his 
recommendation of this remedy in peritonitis, and hope that it 
will soon be recognized by all practitioners as the principal 
remedy, after Aeon. 
297 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 
Herman says, speaking of the effects of mercury on the liver, 
that all the inhabitants of Idria are troubled with diseases of 
this organ; generally enlargement with all its consequences, 
and sometimes chronic atrophy. Dieterich says that calomel 
causes congestion of the liver and increased secretion of bile ; 
also induration, jaundice and dropsy. 
Chapman believes that the large doses of mercurials ordered 
by physicians in some parts of America, account for the fre- 
quency of chronic diseases of the liver. Some physicians of 
Virginia have observed that such diseases were less frequent 
before it became customary to prescribe large doses of calomel 
in autumnal fever. 
Oppolzer has remarked that many cases of supposed syphilitic 
liver, were such as had been submitted to mercurial inunction. 
Virchow is in doubt as regards amyloid degeneration of the 
liver, whether it is caused by mercury or the affection of the 
bones, but does not consider it syphilitic. Niemeyer mentions 
mercurial ism as one of the causes of fatty liver. Crampton 
speaks of enlargement and induration of the liver, caused by 
mercury. Grau describes two cases of mercurialism where 
enlargement of liver, jaundice and ascites were prominent 
symptoms. Dekeere, in his reports of the Hospital des Vene- 
riens, speaks frequently of icteric coloring and pain in the liver, 
where Mercury has been used. Cheyne, Hennen, Copelanes, and 
many others speak of jaundice after the use of mercury. 
Overheck found in his experiments that the microscope never 
revealed any change in the structure of the liver; but conges- 
tion of the organ and increased formation of bile were usually 
found. 
Mosler, in experiments on dogs with fistula of the gall-blad- 
der, found no increase of the secretion of bile, and no mercury 
was found in it. Bennett, in similar experiments on dogs, 
found that mercurial pills and calomel, in moderate doses, did 
not increase the secretion of bile, while in purgative doses it 
was diminished ; that Merc, corr., in moderately increasing 
doses, is not a cholagogue, while it diminishes the secretion of 
298 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
bile when a sufficient dose is taken to disturb the system; that 
the sublimate can influence the secretion of bile with or with- 
out salivation or purgation. Although these experiments on 
animals, after a serious operation, may not hold good in their 
application to the human race, still they are to some extent of 
value. Overbeck’s experiments on dogs show an increase of 
bilious excretion. The same result is produced in man by 
rather large doses of calomel, and medium doses of sublimate. 
But in fatal cases of poisoning by sublimate we find no bile, 
where there were frequent and bloody discharges. This has 
been observed in the cases previously reported (26, 27, 29, 33, 
34, 35, 36, 43, 45, 48, 49, 52). 
From these observations we can make the following deduc- 
tion : If the dose of sublimate is enough to cause profuse and 
bloody discharges, the portal system is deprived of a large pro- 
portion of its blood. In consequence the liver receives a 
smaller supply of blood, and therefore secretes less bile. But 
this does not vitiate the experience of centuries, that mercury 
increases the biliary secretion, if given in moderate doses; and 
explains the apparently contradictory results of Bennett’s ex- 
periments. 
Among the symptoms of Merc. viv. we find : Liver congested 
and dark (7, 8, 9); liver congested (28); bilious vomiting (32, 
38). Under Merc. sol. we find : Bitter taste, eructation ; pain in 
region of liver and epigastrium ; yellow stools ; whitish stools; 
icterus with itching; yellow staining of under-clothes; (436, 
453, 491, 500, 556, 557, 558, 1004, 1005, 1202). 
Merc corr. Liver enlarged and congested ; gall-bladder full; 
gall-bladder empty ; icterus; secretion of bile, extensive and 
more liquid than normal; enlargement of liver with pain, with 
pressure over it; chronic liver disease; yellow discharges; pru- 
ritus (34, 52, 54, 33,41, 38, 260, 263, 310, 325). 
Merc. dulc.—Icterus (2). 
Merc, cyanat.—Bilious vomiting; bitter taste; liver enlarged; 
gall-bladder contains green, tenacious fluid (1, 3). 
Cinnabaris.—Salivation ; pain over liver extending over right 
chest; the pains are intermittent and relieved by bending 
forwards; nausea and bilious vomiting. Tn cases of poisoning 
299 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the same symptoms occur, but aggravated; violent vomiting 
and purging, and sensitive abdomen. In chronic cases (as in 
Idria) granulated liver is found. 
1. Hyperjemia of the Liver. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. in congestive hyperiemia, occur- 
ring in hot weather, with diarrhoea and tendency to dysentery 
or icterus; also when there is malarial influence. Hughes uses 
Merc. sol. in subacute congestion, alternately with Bryon. 
Beehr thinks it more indicated in hepatitis. Kreussler uses 
Merc, sol.30, for the following indications: distention of right 
hypochondrium, with pain; pain extending to shoulders; 
icterus with relaxed system. 
Kafka uses Merc. sol. if there are pronounced icteric symp- 
toms, enlargement and tenderness of liver. Beehr recommends 
Merc. sol. for the same local symptoms, and also of general 
symptoms, such as chills and fever, indicating the beginning of 
suppuration. Hughes employs Merc. sol. for congestion and 
suppuration; Bryon. for perihepatitis, and Hepar sulph. for 
metastasis. Guernsey g ives these indications: “abdomen tense 
and sensitive, slimy and light-colored, offensive stools, saliva- 
tion, offensive urine. Jahr gives Merc. sol. if Bellad. does not 
relieve, for pain in right side ; bitter taste in mouth, thirst and 
loss of appetite ; chills and icteric coloring. Gerhardt adds to 
Jahr’s indications: Enlargement and pain of liver, and bilious 
vomiting. Schelling mentions similar symptoms in an epidemic 
occurring in 1810. Gerson has used calomel with brilliant re- 
sults in severe cases, with great general constitutional dis- 
turbance. 
2. Hepatitis Parenchymatosa. 
3. Chronic Interstitial Hepatitis. 
Cirrhosis of the Liver, Granulated Liver.—Hermann’s obser- 
vations in Idria give us indications for the use of mercury in 
cirrhosis, in its first stage of enlargement, not in the second, 
of atrophy. The main symptoms are : dyspepsia ; constipation ; 
300 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
icterus; intestinal hemorrhage ; ascites; cachectic appearance ; 
hypochondriasis. Cinnab. and Merc. viv. seem most appro- 
priate. Kafka advises symptomatic treatment. Bcehr merely 
mentions mercury in this disease. Hughes advises mercury 
and iodine, alone or in combination, in the first stage. 
4. Amyloid Degeneration op the Liver. 
The symptoms of amyloid degeneration of the liver, as de- 
scribed by Kafka, are analagous to those of mercurial cachexia, 
lie recommends Merc. sol. in scrofulous, and Merc. bin. in syphi- 
litic subjects. We should prefer metallic mercury, as this most 
frequently causes the amyloid condition. 
5. Icterus. 
Kafka recommends Merc, sol.3 every 2 to 8 hours, in icterus 
gastro-duodenalis, with pain, chills and fever, drowsiness, and 
sometimes diarrhoea. In icterus neonatorum, he uses Cham.3, 
Merc, sol.3, Rheum.3 Bcehr uses mercury without regard to the 
presence of fever, when the biliary secretion is not entirely sus- 
pended, and the symptoms of acute gastric catarrh are promi- 
nent. He considers it especially indicated in icterus neonatorum. 
Hughes has never had occasion to use any other remedy than 
mercury in icterus. Guernsey gives mercury in icterus neona- 
torum. 
Jahr gives Aconite in recent cases, if there is fever, followed 
by mercury. If there has been no fever, he first uses China for 
eight days. Hartmann considers mercury a specific in icterus. 
6. Cholelithiasis. 
Mercury has no influence in arresting the formation of gall- 
stones, neither does our Materia Medica give us indications for 
its use during the colic attending the passage of stones. But 
Dr. Gorges, of Carlsbad, who sees from 20 to 25 such cases 
every year, declares mercury the best remedy, after Bellad. ; 
even when morphine has failed to relieve in allopathic hands. 
301 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
DISEASES OF THE PANCREAS. 
Our knowledge of the diseases of this organ and their diag- 
nosis is so limited, and the condition of the gland, on examina- 
tion after mercurial poisoning, has been so neglected, that we 
have but little knowledge of the extent to which it is influenced 
by mercury. According to the records, after Merc, corr., the 
pancreas was very large, hard and of yellowish color (84). 
Merc, cyanid. (1): The pancreas is large, hard, dry and easily 
torn. Some of the older physicians report cases of pancreatic 
disease, in syphilitics, who were using mercury, where it is dif- 
ficult to decide whether the drug or the disease was the ex- 
citing cause. The proper inference seems to be, that acute in- 
flammation of the pancreas is caused by mercurials, while 
chronic disease is of syphilitic origin. 
The symptoms of pancreatic disease and the effects of mer- 
cury will be found to correspond in the following forms: ema- 
ciation ; salivation, not constant; fatty stools, common in pan- 
creatic disease, but not caused by mercurials; icterus, a com- 
mon symptom, caused by the pressure of the enlarged gland 
upon the ductus choledoch us; epigastric pains, caused by pan- 
creatic disease and by all mercurials, but no doubt often to be 
located in the stomach. Finally, melancholia and desire to 
commit suicide. 
Bcehr mentions Atrop. sulph. as very efficacious in one case, 
and also recommends Mercur. and Sulphur. Hughes recom- 
mends Iodine, Mercur. and Iris. Beil considers the milder 
preparations, Merc. sol. and calomel, specific in diseases of the 
pancreas. In acute and subacute inflammation we should 
recommend the sublimate. 
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS 
1. Coryza. 
This disease is too slight to call for much discussion. We 
merely refer to Hering’s indications for Mercur.: common 
colds, with sneezing, running from the nose, with irritation, 
thirst, fever, chills, sensitiveness to cold. Trinks recom- 
302 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
mends Merc. iod. when the larynx, trachea and bronchi are 
affected, with or without fever; hoarseness, tickling, dry cough, 
with or without fever. In these cases we prefer Merc, bin., 
3-6. 
Merc. iod. should be used in scrofulous and syphilitic ozcena, 
before Mercur. or Calcar. 
2. Epistaxis. 
Among other hemorrhages, epistaxis is often found in cases 
of slow mercurial poisoning. Hering, Kafka and Jthr recom- 
mend Merc. sol. where the blood coagulates quickly, the fibrine 
of the blood being increased in acute poisoning. Kafka also 
uses mercury in epistaxis, in cases of Bright’s disease and 
scurvy. Jahr speaks of it for the epistaxis of children troubled 
with worms, or if it-oceurs at night. 
DISEASES OF THE LARYNX. 
Dietrich and Falk cite as the effects of mercury: peculiar 
roughness and hoarseness of the voice, as if the glottis were 
swollen; also in old cases, laryngitis and ulceration of the 
larynx ; also paralysis of the laryngeal muscles with complete 
aphonia. This may be merely local, or accompanying mercu- 
rial paralysis of other muscles. According to Halford., laryn- 
gitis, tracheitis and laryngeal phthisis is not uncommon among 
operatives with mercury. Among the results of Merc. viv. we 
find (in 7, 8 and 9), congestion of the mucous membrane of the 
larynx and trachea; local congestions (28); tubercular ulcers 
(37); hoarseness and cough, with fever (32). Merc. sjI. gives 
no decided laryngeal symptoms. 
Under Merc, corr., we find : congestion of the epiglottis and 
larynx ; painless exudation over mucdus membrane ; hoarseness 
and aphonia; violent pain, tickling, convulsive cough, with 
expectoration of bloody mucus (27, 32, 42, 60, 14, 33, 48, 34, 61). 
Buchner’s symptoms are: irritation of larynx; burning in 
trachea; aphonia for two hours in the morning; evenings, irri- 
tation in larynx and cough ; dry and spasmodic cough, with 
tough mucous secretion. 
303 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Merc, preecip. rvlr., larynx inflamed (2). 
Cinnabar.—The principal symptoms are : cough, with tick- 
ling, dryness and burning; hoarseness towards night. In eases 
of poisoning: irritation of larynx, swelling of epiglottis; 
hoarseness and aphonia; cough worse at night; expectoration 
at first clear, then gra}7, purulent, offensive and sometimes 
blood}7. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. for hoarseness with coryza; 
or if complicated by aphthae or syphilis; in acute laryngitis 
with cough at night; also in chronic cases, lie also uses it in 
laryngeal perichondritis, and in affections of the epiglottis ; also 
in aphthous and syphilitic ulcers of the larynx. Baehr uses 
mercury principally in the early stages of laryngitis, when 
there are chills and fever; local tenderness; cough worse at 
night; catarrhal affection of nose and mouth; hoarseness and 
aphonia. In chronic cases he only gives mercury for occasional 
aggravation. 
Hughes recommends iodine and mercury in combination for 
syphilitic affections of the larynx. Jahr uses mercury for 
hoarseness with coryza, cough and tickling in larynx, increased 
in cool, damp weather; in catarrhal hoarseness and aphonia. 
LoUthal uses mercury in chronic hoarseness with salivation and 
tendency to perspiration. He recommends Merc. sol. in phthisis 
of the trachea and larynx, with complete aphonia, regurgita- 
tion of food; expectoration, emaciation and colliquative sweats. 
In reviewing the experience of our writers, it would seem as 
if M(rc. corr. had been too much neglected. It deserves to be 
placed in the first rank in acute affections of the larynx. In 
chronic cases, Cinnab. and Merc. viv. should be considered. 
In slight catarrhal cases, Merc. sot. would suffice, while Merc, 
viv. would be called for in aphonia with paralysis of the laryn- 
geal muscles. 
DISEASES OF THE BRONCHIAL TUBES, 
1. Acute and Chronic Bronchial Catarrh.—Whooping Cough. 
Falk mentions, among the effects of mercury: bronchitis, 
tracheitis and tracheal phthisis; Blaeklock mentions bronchor- 
304 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rhoea; Gilbert and most other authors speak of obstinate 
catarrh. Hirt says that workers in mercury suffer from attacks 
of catarrh of the respiratory organs, from the slightest causes. 
After inunction with Merc, viv., we find the mucous mem- 
brane of the larynx filled with blood (8, 9). After inhaling 
the fumes of mercury : congestion of bronchial mucous mem- 
brane, subacute bronchial catarrh, dry cough, pain in various 
parts of chest, inspiration interrupted; cough, with pain in left 
side and shoulders; violent cough and expectoration (phthisis); 
suffocative catarrh ; violent cough with pain (28, 33, 36, 53, 37, 
39, 47). 
Merc. sol. causes the following symptoms: cough with rais- 
ing; dry cough, with tickling at upper part of chest, aggra- 
vated by talking; violent cough at night, with irritation as if 
from the stomach ; dry cough with pain in back ; irritating at 
various periods of the night, with pain; tendency to vomit while 
coughing; shortness of breath while walking, or mounting 
stairs, and after eating ; pain from front to back of chest, worse 
on walking, and preventing taking a deep breath. 
Merc. corr.— Mucous membrane of trachea and larynx cov- 
ered with bloody mucus; the trachea rose-colored, the bron- 
chial tubes violet; mucous membrane of trachea inflamed and 
covered with b'oody foam ; the entire mucous membrane con- 
gested, of various colors, and the smaller bronchi filled with 
bloody, foamy liquid ; respiration impeded; oppressive; dysp- 
noea ; cough ; rattling over chest (14, 27, 32, 42, 52, 60, 18, 2, 
31, 32, 34, 42, 24, 45, 48). Buchner cites similar symptoms. 
Cinnabaris.—Cough worse at night; expectoration at first 
clear, then opaque, later gray, purulent, offensive and streaked 
with blood; pain under sternum. Midhardt cites: Cough 
worse when lying down, and dry; dyspnoea without cough. 
Kafka gives Merc. sol. in Bronchitis with Fever, after Aeon.; 
if the cough is troublesome at night and the patient perspires. 
If there is besides intestinal catarrh, with violent pain and dys- 
enteric stools, he also gives Merc. sol. (Sulphur, Pulsat, Bellad.); 
in severe cases Merc. corr. (or Colchic.). He also gives Merc, 
sol. in Chronic Bronchial Latarrh with night cough and per- 
spiration. In Biphtluritic Bronchitis, Merc. sol. comes after 
305 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Arsen. In Whooping Cough he recommends Merc. sol. if the 
children cough much at night and are excitable, with night- 
sweats, painful, green discharges and bleeding from the nose, 
eyes, or ears. Also in the tickling cough of children during 
dentition, with swelling of the gums and salivation ; when the 
cough is brought on by cold and is worse at night. Also in 
the following complications: coryza, catarrh of larynx, mucous 
rales and thirst, influenza and greenish discharges, with pain. 
Bcehr thinks Merc. sol. more appropriate for children and 
adults than for the bronchitis of the aged. The fever should 
be high, with tendency to sweating and chills, if exposed to 
change of temperature; if the stomach and the digestive organs 
are implicated, and the tongue coated. The most important 
local symptoms are: dryness; hoarseness; pain in chest; cough 
dry and worse at night; with slight, tough, yellow, or bloody 
secretions; desire for cold drink, which aggravates the cough. 
In Chronic Bronchitis he uses Merc. sol. for aggravations. 
For Whooping Cough he does not mention it. Hughes employs 
Merc. corr. in bronchitis accompanying Bright’s disease; Merc, 
sol. in chronic bronchitis with purulent discharge. 
Brinks recommends Merc. sol. in bronchitis when inflamma- 
tion is at its height. Schron speaks highly of it in the exacer- 
bations of chronic bronchitis, when the mucous membrane is 
much inflamed and swollen, causing great dyspnoea. 
Hering uses Merc. sol. in Whooping Cough when two attacks 
occur at night, close together, followed by a long free interval; 
if the child bleeds from the nose while vomiting; when there 
is night-sweat and there had formerly been worm symptoms. 
Bonninghausen thinks Merc. sol. indicated in spasmodic cough 
accompanying a severe form of influenza. In acute bronchitis 
we should prefer Merc. corr. according to Bsehr’s indications, 
also in the spasmodic forms of cough. 
2. Asthma Nervosum. 
Dieterich describes Asthma Mercuriale in the following terms : 
The patient feels a constant pressure on his chest, with dyspnoea 
and noisy respiration. This condition may last for several 
months. Then comes attacks, a few hours after sunset, of dif- 
306 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ficult breathing, like real asthma. The patient feels his chest 
contracted; he is obliged to sit with the body bent forward, 
and breathes with the assistance of the abdominal muscles. 
The face is never swollen or cyanotic, as in other forms of 
asthma, but pale and sunken, with an expression of anxiety. 
The skin of the extremities is cool, the heart beats with a wave- 
like impulse, the pulse is contracted and small. At the end of 
the attack perspiration appears on the face, and there are other 
signs of the intermission of the attack, but no expectoration. 
The disease is caused by direct inhalation of the fumes of the 
metal, and therefore occurs among laborers in quicksilver works, 
gilders and looking-glass makers. The attacks are worst in 
the spring and autumn, especially at the time of equinoctial 
storms. 
Scopoli’s description of this disease among the workmen in 
Idria is given elsewhere. 
Halford says that, after death, the lungs are found tilled with 
serous, bloody fluid. Many other authors describe this form of 
asth ma. 
An exquisite case of JRamazzini’s, described under Merc, 
viv., No. 19, lasted eighteen years, but without cough or expec- 
toration. 
The symptoms of acute poisoning with sublimate are not those 
of asthma, but show affection of the larynx, bronchial tubes 
and lungs ; also peritonitis. 
Cinnab. has some symptoms of asthma: difficult breathing, 
oppression of chest after speaking; body bent forward to assist 
in breathing; on the first and eighth day attacks occur mostly 
in the forenoon. Awakening after midnight from inability to 
breathe. 
The cause of this form of asthma is to be found in disordered 
action of the diaphragm. In Ramazzini’s case this muscle must 
have been paralyzed, as the asthma was continuous. 
In Ditteridis and Scopoli’s cases there must have been spasm 
of the diaphragm, judging from the character of the respiration 
and the patient’s enforced erect position. In cases of acute sub- 
limate-poisoning, singultus often occurs, indicating clonic spasm 
of the diaphragm. 
307 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
The occurrence of both spasm and paralysis is easily explained. 
If the phonic nerve is merely irritated at its origin, spasm is 
produced; if there is pressure upon it from an exudation, or if 
it becomes atrophied by the gradual sclerosis of the brain and 
spinal cord, then paralysis takes place. The peculiar manner 
of breathing confirms our explanation. That irritation of the 
par vagum is not in play, is shown by the fact that the activity 
of the heart is increased during the attack. 
Kafka, Ecehr, and Hughes do not mention mercury in the 
treatment of asthma. Jahr thinks its use not yet sanctioned by 
experience or the Materia Medica, but advises it when there is 
congestion of blood in the chest; where there is irregular men- 
struation ; in asthma humidum; when caused by the vapors of 
copper or arsenic; also for dyspnoea, with offensive breath, 
worse at night or when mounting stairs. 
Mercur. might be in place in the treatment of asthma if there 
was spasm or paralysis of the diaphragm; to be given in the 
higher attenuations, during the interval between the attacks. 
Nocturnal attacks indicate Merc. viv.; occurring during the 
day, Cirtnab. In paresis of the diaphragm with continuous 
dyspnoea, Merc. viv. might be tried if other remedies are inef- 
fectual. Paleness of the face would also be an indication for 
mercury. 
DISEASES OF THE LUNGS 
1. Pneumonia. 
Merc. viv. causes hypostatic ansemic infiltration of the lungs 
in animals in two experiments (3 and 5). In case 49, a man 
of 64, long exposed to the influence of mercury, after the burn- 
ing of a keg which had contained the metal, was first attacked 
with croupy stomatitis, and died, on the twentieth day, in the 
third stage of pneumonia. In case 55, the lungs were hepa- 
tized, not crepitant, and filled with dark blood ; although there 
had been no signs of pneumonia during life. In three cases of 
acute poisoning (7, 8 and 9), the lungs were very hypersemic. 
Merc. sol.—Besides the bronchial symptoms already cited, 
the following deserve notice: Pain in chest on motion, while 
308 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sneezing or coughing, extending to back ; pains in various parts 
of the chest while breathing, with impeded respiration. 
Merc. corr.—In animals the following symptoms were found : 
lungs infiltrated, filled with dark blood, inflamed, sinking in 
water; lungs filled with small tumors, some inflamed, some 
ulcerated and gangrenous; dyspnoea and pain in lungs (5, 
7, 9, 10, 11). In man we find : lungs congested; bases of 
both lungs inflamed; pain in side. Other symptoms were 
bronchial, and have been noted above. Cinnab. gives symp- 
toms of pain in the chest, but it does not appear that they 
had any connection with pneumonia. In animals the lungs 
were congested in one case and inflamed in another. 
Kafka says that many practitioners give Merc. sol. in pneu- 
monia, during the stage of purulent infiltration, occurring in 
reduced, scrofulous or tubercular subjects ; with profuse sweats, 
emaciation and weakness. He much prefers Kali iod. or Sul- 
phur, as he thinks mercury favors suppuration and leads to the 
formation of cavities'?). 
Bcehr, on the other hand, says: “ Mercury is one of the reme- 
dies more often recommended than prescribed, as we think un- 
justly. Certainly it is not called for in simple cases, but is fre- 
quently most useful in complicated ones. Our Materia Medica 
gives us sufficient indications for the use of mercury in pneu- 
monia. We do not agree with M'u.ler that it is only indicated 
in chronic cases, where hepatization of the lung persists, with 
absence of expectoration ; with* dry cough, continued fever and 
debilitating sweats, and diarrhoea. Ho doubt it is indicated 
here, but also in other forms. We have of late often used it 
in cases of pneumonia complicated with bronchitis. Such cases 
have been prevalent with us of late in the shape of an epidemic 
of influenza, with high fever, pulse 120 to 150, great prostra- 
tion of the nervous system, cough and sometimes bloody expec- 
toration ; head symptoms; sopor and delirium. On ausculta- 
tion, hepatization was discovered. The general symptoms so 
much resembled those of typhoid, that many physicians made 
a mistake in their diagnosis. Mercury was the principal remedy 
used by homoeopaths during this epidemic. We had no fatal 
cases, while a number of deaths occurred under allopathic prae- 
309 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tice. Mercury is also indicated in catarrhal, lobular pneumo- 
nia, occurring during bronchitis or whooping-cough. In 
tubercular pneumonia mercury cannot be recommended. Our 
favorite remedy has been Merc, sol Its effect has been so satis- 
factory that we have hesitated to use other preparations. We 
have used the 3d or 4th trituration exclusively; higher atten- 
uations are useless. In conclusion Bcehr thinks mercury indi- 
cated at the beginning of the third stage of pneumonia, unless 
there is great prostration. He thinks it may be used in the 
second stage of the croupy pneumonia of children ; also in 
pneumonia complicated with bronchitis, when there are chills, 
high fever and copious sweats; also if there is congestion of 
the liver or jaundice. 
Guernsey uses mercury in the pneumonia of children if there 
is great thirst, fever, salivation and sweat. Jahr considers 
mercury an important remedy in pneumonia, complicated with 
bronchitis; if there is copious, purulent and bloody secretion; 
also in pleuro-pneumonia. 
Hartmann recommends mercury on similar indications; also 
if there are sharp pains in the chest and dyspnoea. 
Trinks found the remedy very useful after the fever had been 
quelled by Aeon., when the pain, dyspnoea and perspiration 
continued. Buchner uses mercury in asthenic, rheumatic and 
tubercular subjects, also in syphilitics. In these cases there is 
great prostration and also violent general symptoms ; much 
local pain and cough. Arnold thinks calomel indicated if the 
inflammation extends to the liver. 
As Merc, corr., in cases of acute poisoning, has been found to 
produce pneumonia, it would seem to be the most proper 
remedy in genuine croupy pneumonia, after Aeon. Unfor- 
tunately no record of its use can be found in our literature. In 
fact, in normal cases of pneumonia, mercury would scarcely be 
needed. We find the proper remedies in Aeon., Phosphor., 
Bryon., Iod., Sulphur, etc. 
2. Hemoptysis. 
Henna, and Scopoli are the only writers who mention raising 
of blood among the diseases of mercury workers. In case 28 
310 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Merc. viv. caused violent hemorrhage. Among the symptoms 
of Merc. sol. we find: bloody expectoration during exertion; 
also while lying down. Raising of blood from Merc. corr. is 
mentioned by Quain, Girtanner, Bfacklock, Colson, Wibmer, Or- 
fila, etc., but the blood probably came from the vessels divided 
in tracheotomy. Bcehr recommends mercury when there is also 
catarrh or congestion; Jahr when the amount of blood is slight. 
J. B. Muller, of the hospital in Sechshaus, uses Merc. sol. in 
haemoptysis with congestion, in the first stages of consumption, 
or after discharge from a cavity in the lung. These are the 
only records found in our literature. Mercury seems to be in- 
dicated for moderate expectoration of blood, during bronchitis, 
or in tubercular, scrofulous, or scorbutic subjects. 
3. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. 
Pope, Sandelin, Burdin, Mair, Ilennen, Scopoli, Halford, and 
many others have observed that workers in quicksilver are very 
subject to phthisis. The statistics of Kussmaul show that of 
56 deaths among people of this class, 39 or 40 were caused by 
consumption. This fatal result is not owing to the effect of 
inhaling the dust or rapid changes of temperature, because a 
number of cases are on record where consumption ensued only 
from the poison being inhaled. Merc. corr. is said to have 
similar properties by Quain, Hanzosky, Richter, Brombilla, 
Peyne, Jeannot de Longrois, Owen, Hartmann, Orjila, etc. 
It seems therefore that mercurials are indicated in that 
form ot chronic catarrhal pneumonia which is now considered 
identical with phthisis, tuberculosis, or pulmonary consumption. 
We believe that in this disease all preparations of mercury in 
small doses are indicated according to the nature of the symp- 
toms. Thus, in affection of the larynx, Merc. iod. would be 
indicated; for diarrhoea with tenesmus, Merc, corr.; for affec- 
tion of the lymphatic glands, Calomel or Merc. iod.; while in 
ordinary cases, Merc. sol. or Merc. viv. should be used. 
Kafka objects to the general use of mercurials in phthisis, 
because they favor suppuration and the formation of cavities in 
the lungs. He only recommends Merc. sol. for bloody dis- 
charges, and Merc. corr. in severe cases, with tenesmus. 
311 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Hughes and Bcehr do not mention mercury in this disease, 
and Jahr places it among the less important remedies. Siebar 
has used Merc. sol. with good effect, after Sulphur, or in alter- 
nation with it. Schmidt has found Hepar sulph. and Merc, sol.8 
in alternation very useful for copious expectoration. 
Hartmann recommends sublimate in phthisis florida, where 
there is great dyspnoea and suffocation; hoarseness, deep cough, 
without expectoration, worse at night; dryness of throat and 
thirst; quick pulse; cold feet and frequent sweating. Cl. 
Mliller has found mercury useful for night-sweats. Merc., 
Ferrum, and Iodine, with cod-liver oil as a nutritive agent, 
have been the most useful remedies in his hands. 
On reviewing the opinions of authors, we find that those 
using low attenuations are not satisfied with the results 
obtained from treatment with mercurials; while others using 
higher dilutions are pleased with their effect. It would seem, 
therefore, that the higher dilutions should be used in phthisis. 
DISEASES OF THE PLEURA 
Pleuritis. 
Merc. viv.—In Overbeck’s experiment, No. 3, we find a 
voluminous pleuritic exudation in the right thorax, Scopoli 
cites a case where pleuritic effusion was found after death, but 
it is uncertain whether mercury was the cause of it. 
Merc. corr. gives us, in case 38, about two ounces of effusion 
into the pleural cavity; in 52, pleuritic adhesions; in 4, pain 
in side after external use. The subjective symptoms of these 
remedies have been already enumerated. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. when there is abundant sero- 
fibrinous exudation, with sharp pain in the infra-cjavicular 
region. Bcehr thinks that the value of mercury in pleuritis 
has not been generally appreciated by physicians, although our 
provings show that it is often indicated. By analogy we can 
reason that it is as useful here as in peritonitis, as mercury has 
a special affinity for serous membranes. It is indicated when 
there is a tendency to suppuration, when there are chills and 
312 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
severe fever, and profuse perspiration, with catarrh of stomach 
and bowels, and slight icteric symptoms. In pleuro-pneumonia, 
with considerable exudation, mercury is one of our best reme- 
dies ; also in epidemic pleurisies, whether rheumatic or in con- 
nection with bronchitis. 
Schilling lauds, the value of mercury in inflammation of the 
pleura, occurring epidemically in the spring of the year, with 
pronounced bilious symptoms, high fever, local pains, bloody 
expectoration, and frequent sweating. Kuihr uses Merc. sol. 
in pleuritic exudations, if they are not removed by Sulphur. 
DISEASES OF TIIE HEART AHD BLOOD-VESSELS. 
Kreysig speaks earnestly of the debilitating effects of mercu- 
rial treatment upon the circulation ; and Paraus already notices 
that aneurisms were common among those who had been under 
the influence of the drug. Hartman mentions affections of the 
heart and blood-vessels among its later effects. Among subjects 
of mercurial treatment Albertini observed in one case, violent 
palpitation, in another, aneurism, and, in a third, dilatation of 
the heart and dropsy of the pericardium, ending fatally. 
Among more modern observations we find under Merc. viv.: 
palpitation, in 34 and 35 ; blood spread over the endocardium 
(28). From Merc. corr. the following was observed in animals: 
mitral valve bright red (6); tricuspid valve covered with small 
points of bloody exudation (7); endocardium of both ventricles 
red and inflamed; red spots upon some of the column® car- 
ne® (8). 
In man: fluid in the pericardium, serous and bloody; inflam- 
mation of the endocardium and internal coat of large arteries; 
spasmodic, wavy, trembling palpitation; souffle at base of 
heart, marking first sound, increased action of heart (38,12,14, 
34, 35, 43, 56). 
Among Buchner’s symptoms are: restlessness and anxiety, 
inflammation of lymphatics from external use. Kreysig ob- 
serves abdominal pulsation. 
Merc. sol.—Palpitation (1218); much anxiety and congestion 
at night (1225). 
313 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATONS. 
Cinnabar.—Ten minutes after taking the 14th dilution, vio- 
lent pain in cardiac region, with dyspnoea; pain on breathing, 
extending from heart into the left arm. In eases of poisoning 
from Cinnabar we find: Violent palpitation, worse when lying 
down, or when dreaming; pain in upper part of right lung; 
also in the region of the heart, and extending into left arm. 
Kafka does not speak of Mercury for peri- or endocarditis or 
valvular disease; but he uses it in nervous palpitations, conges- 
tive, or caused by worms; or if there is congestion of the spinal 
marrow, or disease of the womb. He also speaks of it in the 
treatment of peritonitis, aneurism, hypersemia and neuralgia ; 
also in lymphangitis, if the pain is worse at night. 
Beehr does not consider Mercury a remedy for the heart; and 
thinks it is indicated only for pericarditis, during the course of 
acute rheumatism or small-pox. Jahr mentions it among the 
remedies for palpitation. Russell is inclined to use Mercur., 
after Aeon, and Spigel., in acute pericarditis, on account of 
its well-known power to prevent plastic exudation in serous 
membranes. 
It should be taken into account that the earlier observations 
were made at a time when the diagnosis of diseases of the heart 
was but little understood. In more recent observations we find 
symptoms of peri- and endocarditis in living and dead subjects. 
We should use Merc. corr. after Aeon., Spigel., Bryon., Iod., etc., 
had been used without effect, especially in cases of acute articu- 
lar rheumatism, with nocturnal pains and sweats, thirst, great 
anxiety, irregular pulse, chills and fever, coated tongue, diar- 
rhoea and scanty urine. 
DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 
Diseases of the Kidneys. 
Merc. viv.—Overbeck reports: kidneys large, congested epi- 
thelium and cylindrical cysts (5); pyramids dark red (6); epi- 
thelium fatty (8); cortical substance yellow (4); retention of 
urine (1, 2, 4, 6); urine contains large quantities of albumen, and 
sometimes bile (5). Overbeck is of opinion that in these cases the 
mercury caused, congestion and catarrhal inflammation of the 
314 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
kidneys; but their condition was not equivalent to the appear- 
ances found in the second stage of Bright’s disease. 
In man, many authors have noticed increase of the urine 
after the use of mercurials (.Dieterich, Cartheuser, Rchlichting). 
Lowenhardt records increased secretion of urine with the pres- 
ence of a large quantity of albumen. Reichenbach witnessed 
the same after the application of a mercurial plaster over the 
epigastrium. 
Kussmaul believes that, in these cases, the presence of albu- 
men in the urine is owing to a mercurial catarrh of the kidneys. 
That mercury can cause parenchymatous nephritis, or fatty, 
amyloid or cystic degeneration of the kidneys, has not been 
demonstrated. The disease of the kidneys, found after death 
in mirror manufacturers, was always accompanied by tubercu- 
lar disease of the lungs. The amyloid degeneration of the 
kidneys, occurring in syphilitics who had been treated with 
mercury, is caused, according to Virchow, not by the disease, 
but by the mercury or the affection of the bones. 
Bartels treated a case of hereditary syphilis with mercurial 
inunction. After a certain time albuminuria was detected; 
but he denies that this was owing to the mercury, because its 
use had been suspended for several months before the appear- 
ance of disease of the kidney. But it is a question whether 
the action of mercury is only transitory. Older English 
writers (Wells, Blackall) have ascribed albuminuria to the 
abuse of mercurial treatment.- Ayres found the following 
changes after the use of mercury: urine watery, phosphates 
increased ; urea, uric acid, mucus and alkaline salts diminished. 
In cases of poisoning with Merc. viv. we find: kidneys filled 
with dark, foamy blood; kidneys slightly granulated and 
atrophied; fatty degeneration of supra-renal capsule in a case 
of phthisis ; right kidney hypertrophied, the left atrophied, the 
pyramids scarcely to be recognized; albuminuria with dropsy; 
urine scanty, dark-colored, albuminous, sp. gr. 1,016; urea 
diminished ; hemorrhage from kidneys (7, 8, 9, 28, 37, 34, 55, 
36, 48). 
Merc. sol.—In many cases frequent desire to micturate, with 
scanty passage of urine and irritation of the urethra; urine 
315 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
dark and cloudy, also with sediment; excessive secretion of 
urine; small pieces of hardened mucus are passed with the 
water ; urine of the color of blood. 
Merc. corr.—Congestion and inflammation of the kidneys, 
ureters and bladder; deposit of pus in kidneys, with empty 
bladder; many red points in the cortical substance of the kid- 
neys, and bladder much contracted; urine albuminous with 
epithelial cells and tubular casts; albuminous urine in several 
other cases; hsematuria ; scanty urine or retention, in many 
cases (14, 36, 38, 41, 52, 58, 43, 56, 59, 18, 30, 37, 38, 42, 45, 
29, 35, 36, 38, 39). Buchner gives similar symptoms. 
Calomel.—In animals, the cortical substance swollen and yel- 
low, in contrast with the red medullary substance, the tubules 
of the former filled with fat-globules. 
Merc. cyan.—The right kidney enlarged and pale (fatty infil- 
tration); left kidney smaller and less pale ; bladder contracted, 
containing little milky urine (1); retention of urine; urine 
containing many cylinders with granular detritus; no blood- 
globules but much albumen (2); urine light-colored but 
scanty (3). 
Merc. bin.—Piercing pains in the region of the kidneys. 
Cinnab.—Urine copious, with sediment, first whitish, then 
red. 
Neidhardt, after using the 2d ceut. trituration, was seized, in 
the night, with violent pain in the region of the kidneys, radi- 
ating to the loins and into the thighs ; also increased secretion 
of limpid urine. 
In reviewing the effect of mercurials, we find that small 
doses of the various preparations cause congestive hyperaemia 
of the kidneys. In large doses albumen appears in the urine, 
as in congestion of some duration. 
The more powerful preparations, Merc. corr. and Merc, cyan., 
give us all the symptoms of acute parenchymatous nephritis, with 
not only the subjective symptoms, but all the pathological ap- 
pearances. 
Symptoms of uraemia are absent in cases of poisoning, proba- 
bly because death occurs too rapidly from affection of other 
parts of the system. 
316 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
We see, therefore, that Merc. corr. and Merc. cyan, are true 
specifics foe acute parenchymatous nephritis, according to the law 
of similarity, and are worthy to be placed by the side of Canthar., 
Tereb., etc. 
Mercury does not seem to produce chronic parenchymatous 
nephritis, as no cases have been observed of atrophy of the kid- 
ney, with albuminous urine. 
According to the similarity of symptoms Mercury might also 
be indicated in interstitial nephritis, and the following symptoms 
point clearly to its .application: obstinate bronchial catarrhs, 
dyspnoea, especialty at night; vertigo, uneasiness, paroxysms 
of headache, itching of the skin, muscular pains, sleeplessness, 
disturbed vision, digestive troubles (nausea, vomiturition, dys- 
pepsia), troublesome thirst, emaciation, anaemia and loss of 
strength, downhearledness and irritability; hydrops is mostly 
absent; twitching in solitary groups of muscles ; the quantity 
of urine passed is greatly increased, especially during night; 
mostly albuminous urine, with solitary urinary cylinders (in 
short, all the symptoms of this disease enumerated by Bartels). 
Everything in relation to the pathological state (the shrinking 
of the kidney) has already been mentioned when treating of the 
chronic parenchymatous nephritis. 
It is more than probable, that mercurial cachexia may cause 
amyloid degeneration of the kidneys. Of the most important 
symptoms of this disease we find under Mercury : copious dis- 
charge of a limpid, extremely pale, albuminous urine, with 
hyaline urinary cylinders; diarrhoea, vomiting. The cause, 
tuberculosis, syphilis, tedious suppuration, especially in conse- 
quence of caries and necrosis, would also suggest Mercury, 
though a cure is out of the question. 
In the two cases, 14 and 41 (under Merc, corr.), where ab- 
scesses were found in the kidneys, the symptoms of these organs 
during life are omitted. In addition to these anatomico-patho- 
logical changes in the kidneys, found in suppurative nephritis, 
the following symptoms of Mercury, and especially of the cor- 
rosives, suggest its application in this disease: fever interrupted 
by shaking chills, loss of appetite, frequent mucous or bilious 
vomiting, diarrhoea, frequent and painful inclination to urinate ; 
317 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
urine containing but little albumen or pus; or anuria. Mer- 
cury also gives us the paralyses, which sometimes occur in 
chronic cases of renal abscess. 
Although neither pathological changes nor subjective symp- 
toms suggest the application of Mercury in peri- and para- 
nephritis, according to its pathogenesis, still its well-known 
beneficial effect in suppurations recommends it in this disease. 
Among several authorities who have used mercurials in 
renal diseases, we may mention: Kafka, who uses Merc, sol.3 in 
croupous (acute parenchymatous) nephritis, as soon as the fever 
has moderated and the pains lessened, with scanty urination, 
and blood-colored urinary sediment. It seemed to act very 
beneficially in these small doses, on the process of casting off 
the fibrinous cylinders, which were formed in large quantities 
by the croupous inflammation, without simultaneously produc- 
ing a deterioration of the blood mass, as it is done by large and 
frequently repeated doses of calomel. But we will never wit- 
ness any benefit when the inflammatory stage has passed and 
hydropic manifestations developed themselves; neither from 
Mercury nor from Kali hydriod., which Kafka gives for dark- 
colored urine, scantily and painfully secreted ; not bloody, but 
rather with a yellowish-tinged sediment, with thirst and heat 
in the head. In chronic morbus Brightii he recommends Merc, 
sol. where albumen can be shown in the urine, and the disease 
has originated in catching cold or getting wet. It acts espe- 
cially well, where the patient complains of dull or stitching 
pains in the kidneys, or where the renal region is sensitive to 
pressure; when the patient feels a constant inclination to uri- 
nate, but discharges only a small quantity of a dark color; 
when diarrhoea is also present, the mucous stool is bloody ; 
stools preceded by pains in the umbilical region. According 
to the law of similarity it not only corresponds to the patholog- 
ical process, but also to the anaemia, to the somatic and men- 
tal state; it acts in fact quickly, whenever cold is the cause, as 
it mostly produces a mild perspiration, followed by a steady 
amelioration. But only in our small doses can such a favorable 
turn be expected—for large doses give an opposite effect. Even 
where Bright’s disease has already developed itself to a high 
318 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
degree, and after having been subdued a sudden aggravation 
sets in with increased urinary tenesmus and scanty discharges, 
we may still expect a good effect from this remedy. Even in 
pulmonary tuberculosis we may be able to produce a retroces- 
sion of a dropsy from morbus Brightii, if we only take it in 
time ; provided tuberculosis does not appear as galloping con- 
sumption. How frequently do we find such manifestations 
after catching cold : frequent inclination to urinate, scanty dis- 
charge, great lassitude, sleepiness, irritability, and simulta- 
neously oedema around the ankles. We may expect to meet 
such a state when the patients sleep little in consequence of the 
severe cough, when they have had dyspepsia for a long while, 
sweat much at night or complain of an exhausting, tedious 
diarrhoea. With such symptoms Merc, sol.3 (or Phosphor, or 
Arsen.) will be indicated ; but its action is in most cases only 
palliative, for the tuberculosis advances and the morbus 
Brightii developes anew. In the therapeutics of nephritis sup- 
purativai, Kafka says: When the fever has diminished, but the 
patients still complain of dull pains in the renal region, aggra- 
vated by pressure and motion, with frequent tenesmus vesicse 
and scanty discharge, we may expect that exudation has begun 
already in the renal parenchyma, in consequence of which the 
urinary canals become compressed and hypersemic; and for such 
a state we always prescribe Merc, sol.3, a dose every two hours. 
After a few days the pains decrease, the urine flows more abun- 
dantly and free from bloody admixture, showing us a decrease 
of the compression and hypersemia of the urinary canals. lie 
recommends Mercur. in colica renalis, when, after the paroxysm 
is passed, dull pains continue in the renal region and the urine 
is still quantitatively diminished and bloody: symptoms of a 
remaining nephritis. lie orders Mercur. in acute pyelitis, where 
the pains are dull and the fever not severe, but attended by 
bloody urine. 
Bcehr speaks thus about the use of Mercur. in nephritis sup- 
purativa: There are no general indications, but according to 
the Materia Medica we find Mercur. indicated, when the 
nephritis passes into the suppurative stage, by the increased 
desire to urinate with a diminished secretion ; urine saturated, 
319 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
dark brown, mixed with blood ; jumentous with white, flour- 
like, sediment, or with a white sediment, becoming flocculent 
and cloudy when stirred. 
Mercur. also corresponds to the course of uraemia, as it may 
produce a state simulating typhus with severe convulsions. 
The difference between Mercur. and Bellad. lies in the circum- 
stance that in the latter the convulsions set in rapidly and at 
the beginning of the poisoning; in Mercur., on the contrary, 
only after a longer intensive action of the drug, and it will be 
therefore indicated, where after nephritis has existed some time 
with decided formation of pus, symptoms of uraemia gradually 
develop themselves. It is also of importance what preparation 
of Mefcury we use, and that one is to be chosen which shows 
most constantly the nephritic symptoms, namely the Mercur. 
corrosivus. 
Even in severe cases of poisoning with calomel, or metallic 
mercury, nephritic symptoms are often entirely absent; whereas 
they are as characteristic in poisoning by Merc. corr. as the 
dysenteric diarrhoea I also find among my pharmacodynamic 
records three autopsies after poisoning with corrosivus, contain- 
ing such data, viz.: kidneys enlarged, red on incision, the 
pyramidal and cortical substance can hardly be distinguished 
(secretion of urine was almost totally suppressed). The second 
autopsy is that of Ho. 41, but Bsehr fails to quote the third 
one. We have thus clearly presented to us the picture of 
nephritis, from the first bloody exudation to the very formation 
of abscesses. 
Hughes says: We possess in the corrosivus a homoeopathic 
remedy for nephritis and albuminuria. Clinical experience has 
so far failed to give its place in the treatment of these diseases. 
Jahr mentions Mercur., when the secretion of urine is too 
copious, too frequent, rare, diminished, dark red, dark brown, 
milky, sour smelling, fetid, jumentous, becoming murky, 
cloudy, bloody, tiocculent; with a flour-like sediment, contain- 
ing mucous threads, mucus or uric salts ; also for tenesmus, for 
involuntary nightly micturition, where the urinary troubles 
are based on an inflammatory state; when stenosis, indurations, 
or thickening take place in the urinary organs, when the 
320 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
urinary troubles are caused by catching cold, or by the abuse 
of alcoholic beverages ; where there is constant nightly tenes- 
mus with only stillicidium urinte with burning, cutting pains. 
Hering recommends Mercur. for constant strong desire to 
urinate, but only a trifle passes, especially when the patient at 
the same time perspires and the urine soon becomes jumentous 
and offensive. 
Pope says: Mercur. causes an inflammatory affection of the 
kidney, and has at the same time decided relations to the skin, 
but the manifestations are less intensive than in other drugs; 
blood-globules in the urine contra-indicate its application, 
whereas pus is its chief recommendation. In far-advanced 
Brightian nephritis and consequent dropsy, Pope only expects 
benefit from Mercur. or Arsen., if anything can still benefit the 
patient. 
Kidd finds the Merc corr. only of benefit in the first stage 
of albuminuria, especially when the parenchymatous nephritis 
was caused by abuse of alcoholic beverages, by catching cold or 
by stagnation in the portal system. Especially where the urine 
contains fibrine and fat-globules, or where the pale urine is 
albuminous and passed in large quantities, or where a bilious 
diarrhoea and copious expectoration accompanies the diseased 
state. 
Quaglio gives the corrosivus in the first two stages of morbus 
Brightii, where so-called stagnations in the portal system have 
preceded the disease; where the profusely secreted urine con- 
tains fat-globules; or where the disease is based on a syphilitic 
dyscrasia. 
Peis, in Saarlouis, treated two cases of morbus Brightii com- 
plicated with dropsy, and where the urine contained large quan- 
tities of albumen, with Merc, sol.3, and cured his patients in a 
very short time. Arsen, failed entirely in the first case 
(Hirschel’s N. Z. f h. K. XIII. 17). 
Scliuessler gave a boy of four years, suffering from morbus 
Brightii, Merc, corr.3, 2 drops every two hours, and five days 
afterwards received the news that he was cured. [A. H. Z., 77.) 
Cl. Muller says: Mercury produces an inflammatory state 
of the cortical substance with anasarca and slight albuminuria ; 
321 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
but the whole state is less acute and thorough than we find it 
in Tereb. or Digital.., and the exudation of lymph seems 
to possess a more decided tendency to purulent degeneration. 
The presence of blood-globules in the urine in large quan- 
tities would contraindicate Mercur., whereas pus-globules 
strengthen its indications. 
Diseases of the Bladder. 
In acute and chronic cases of poisoning with Merc, vivus, we 
see hardly any symptoms of the bladder. In Overbeck’s ex- 
periments on animals (Ho. 5) the urine contained mucous glob- 
ules and crystals of magnesium and ammonium phosphate, such 
as we find in vesical catarrh ; there was also a blenorrhcea 
urethrae, and the catarrh might have extended therefrom to the 
bladder. 
Merc. sol.—Hahn gives us the following vesical symptoms: 
extremely feeble stream of urine ; pressure on the bladder after 
micturition; urine with whitish flocks (mucus?); pieces of 
hardened mucus pass with the urine, like pieces of flesh ; whole 
pieces of white filaments and flocks are emitted after the urine, 
without pain; inability to retain the urine when he feels the 
desire to urinate (other symptoms of the urine are found in 
the chapter on renal diseases). 
Merc. subl. corr.—Redness of the mucous membrane of the 
bladder in Ho. 14. The dark blue color which the catheter 
took on after its introduction into the bladder, disappeared 
only after hard rubbing with chalk (ammoniacal urine, Ho. 
49j; bladder contracted (as in most cases), and in two places 
dark red (Ho. 50). From Buchner's symptoms: urine pale 
yellow, somewhat turbid with mucous flocks ; after standing, a 
pale, grey sediment wTas deposited with a white layer on top of 
it; the urine, after standing, had a strong ammoniacal smell; 
sensation of urine in the urethra with scanty discharge ; after 
a while no inclination with a full bladder; a sensation of ful- 
ness in the bladder after micturating. Hence we see that Mer- 
cury does uot act as prominently on the bladder, as it does on 
the kidney and urethra. We find in two cases of poisoning 
with Merc, corr., hypersemia of the bladder, and in Buchner’s 
322 MERCURY and its preparations. 
proving, mucus in the alkaline urine, as in vesical catarrh. 
The characteristics of the urine in the symptoms of the solu- 
bilis are all of a general character, but relate mostly to a vesi- 
cal catarrh. Two symptoms suggest paresis of the sphincter, 
and one of the corros. paresis of the detrusor. 
Kafka prescribes Merc, sol.3, a dose every one to two hours, in 
vesical catarrh, when the pains in the bladder are only slight 
or dull, but the tenesmus very great and the scantily discharged 
urine is mixed with blood. Cystitis, in consequence of exten- 
sion of the inflammation of the urinary organs to the bladder, 
is ameliorated by Merc. sol. (also by Cannab. or Canthar.). He 
remarks about chronic vesical catarrh, that where we surmise 
ulcers in the bladder, we give Ilepar 3 to 6, or Merc, sol 3 to 6 
(or Carb. veg.6), two doses daily for some time; and recommend 
strengthening diet for the marasmus. In cystitis parenchyma- 
tosa, as soon as chills set in simultaneously with retention of 
urine, it is advisable to examine the vesical region above the 
symphyses, as well as through the rectum or vagina, in order to 
find out whether a tumor is present. Should such a one feel 
hard to the touch, Merc, sol.3 (or Ilepar sulph.3), a dose every 
two hours is indicated, in order to produce as quickly as pos- 
sible the solution and absorption of the exudation. Merc. sol. 
is also our first remedy in paresis of the sphincter vesicce, based 
on a rheumatic affection. 
According to Bcehr, Merc. sol. stands in close relationship to 
Coloc. in acute cystitis. He also mentions the excessive mu- 
cous discharge as characteristic of Mercury; also the severe 
fever with chills, the great painfulness of the vesical region to 
the touch, and perhaps also gonorrhoea as a cause. Whenever 
we find pus in the urine, Mercur. is far better indicated than 
Coloc. 
Diseases of the Urethra. 
Whereas we never find affections of the urethra mentioned 
in cases of poisoning of human beings with Merc, viv., we meet 
in Overbeck’s experiments on animals (No. 3, 5, 6), blenorrhoea 
of the urethra. Hahnemann observed, in his allopathic prac- 
tice, that gonorrhoea after the use of mercury, degenerates into 
323 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
gleet, and those who are cured, again discharge a fluid. The 
soluble mercury gives us the following urethral symptoms: 
burning in the urethra wThen not urinating; burning in the 
urethra when beginning to micturate; in the morning, cutting 
when urinating. During micturition, at first burning then 
smarting pain, burning during micturition ; bloody discharge 
from the urethra; gurgling in the urethra resembling stitches; 
more of a hammering than a stitching pain in the urethra; 
stitches in the forepart of the urethra between the acts of mic- 
turition; stitches in the urethra towards the abdomen, about 
evening; dull, stitching pain in the urethra; cutting, smarting 
pain in the whole urethra during micturition, especially 
towards the end of it, when the last drops pass oft', with irre- 
sistible desire to urinate, frequently some urine passed involun- 
tarily, before he was ready to micturate; a drawing-stitching 
in the urethra when not urinating; a greenish, painless gonor- 
rhoea, especially at night. 
As we treat also balanorrhoea in this chapter, we will men- 
tion these symptoms: titillation of the glans; itching-stinging 
in the gland, when pressing the part; itching of the glans after 
micturition; voluptuous titillation in the glans; swelling of 
the anterior part of the urethra, with suppuration between the 
glans and prepuce; the prepuce feels red and hot, and is very 
painful when walking or touching it; tearing, lancinating pain 
in the forepart of the glans, extending through the whole penis 
as far as the anus, sometimes as far as the groins: inflammation 
of the prepuce with burning pain; considerable swelling of the 
prepuce as if distended into a blister by water or air; swelling 
of the prepuce and inflammatory redness of its internal surface 
with great sensitiveness to pain; balanorrhoea; voluptuous itch- 
ing on the surface and in the interior of the prepuce, so that he 
cannot help scratching; swelling of the prepuce with burning, 
smarting and redness, with cracks and rhagades on the internal 
surface, and a red, fine eruption on the surface; stitching-itch- 
ing on the frenulum; painful erections. 
In Merc. corr. we meet the following symptoms: scanty 
urine, burning when passing (No. 30); the catheter can only be 
introduced with difficulty, on account of the inflammation and 
324 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
swelling of the urethra (49); the urine passes in drops and with 
pain (50). Hahnemann mentions: itching in the anterior part 
of the urethra; gonorrhoea, the discharge being first thin, then 
thick, finally smarting pain when urinating, with, lancinations 
through the urethra. Buchner's proving shows: burning before 
micturition, less during, none after it; burning during mictu- 
rition; considerable burning before urinating; after an em- 
brace, burning lancinating in the anterior part of the urethra 
and sensation of strength and cheerfulness; burning in the 
glans at the mouth of the urethra; lancinations in the forepart 
of the urethra during an out-door walk, followed by itching in 
ano; severe itching at the mouth of the urethra, changing to 
smarting during micturition, with some stitches through the 
whole urethra ; after micturition slight stitches in the forepart 
of the urethra and sphincter ani. Towards morning erections 
and desire for an embrace; very severe erections during sleep, 
continuing after waking up. 
In Merc, prcec. rubr.: pain when urinating, the quantity and 
quality of the urine being normal (No. 4). 
Merc. cyan.: the semi-erected penis was of a dark brown color. 
Cinnabaris.—According to Hahnemann: soreness in the ure- 
thra during micturition, although the urethra is not painful to 
pressure; swelling of the penis; jerkings in the penis; painful 
itching behind the corona glandis with exudation of fetid pus; 
small red spots on the g'and; tearing stitches in the glans; 
red points on the glans, as if they would turn to pimples; in 
the evening, at the corona glandis, burning, lancinating, itching, 
not decreased by friction, but rather aggravated by it; redness 
and swelling of the prepuce, it looks sore with itching pains; 
violent erections ip the evening in bed. Neidhardt adds to 
these: violent itching of the glans with profuse discharge of 
pus, friction relieves only for a little while, after which it re- 
turns with ten-fold severity; two small red spots on each side 
of the glans, exuding a large quantity of a lardaceous mass, 
looking like herpes prseputalis; balanorrhcea; violent erections 
after midnight towards morning; on the seventh day a very 
violent erection, increasing nearly to priapism ; several symp- 
toms with erections suggest an increased sexual nisus. 
325 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Kafka: When the gonorrhoea is of a high grade, the dis- 
charge thick, the orificium urethra swollen, the glans dark red 
and swollen ; when simultaneously the gonorrhoeal secretion is 
in large quantities between preputium and glans; when the 
erections are very painful and urination combined with great 
tenesmus, we mollify such important manifestations either with 
Merc, solf a dose every 2 to 3 hours (or with Nux vom.3, in so- 
lution, a dose every 2 hours). Where the urethritis extends to 
the surrounding cellular tissue or to the corpora cavernosa, thus 
producing hard circumscribed places adjacent to the urethra, 
we still adhere to Merc. sol.3 (or Jod.3) a dose thrice daily, and 
apply tepid moist poultices to the swelling, and sometimes we 
thus fully succeed in breaking down these tumors, and suppu- 
ration is prevented. Fhimosis as well as paraphimosis and the 
gonorrhoeal bubo indicate Merc, sol., and in prostatitis we may 
use the same remedy, as soon as the pains decrease, in order 
that rapid dispersion may take place. When in the course of 
a gonorrhoea the seminal cord becomes sensitive and the testicle 
of the same side heavy and deeply dependent, a suspensory may 
be advisable, but we give him at the same time Merc, sol.3, to 
prevent an extension of the disease, and if this still takes place, 
so that with great sensitiveness to pain the testicle and epididy- 
mis feel hot and swollen, we rely on Bellad. or Atrop. to re- 
lieve the pain, and then give our Mere, sol., in order that the 
exudation may be quickly absorbed. Blenorrhoea oculorum in 
the course of a gonorrhoea also indicates Merc, sol.3 (or Ilepar 
sulph.3), a dose every 2 or 3 hours ; where the eyelids are cede- 
matous, the pains burning, the purulent secretion copious, and 
rendering the corners of the eyes and the surrounding tissues 
sore. In gonitis blenorrhoica Merc, sol.3 (or* Ilepar sulph.3) act 
better than any other remedy, where exudation shows itself 
above and below the patella. To reduce the hypertrophied 
places in strictures of the urethra without surgical interference, 
we may rely on Sulphur 6-30, and Merc, sol.6, especially where 
the gonorrhoeal process is still present, where the urine shows 
catarrhal sediments, or where at the same time the bladder is 
thickened and shows itself prominently above the symphisis 
pubis. 
326 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Bcehr gives during the first stage of a simple gonorrhoea, 
Merc, sol., as it contains every symptom of this disease: titilla- 
tion in the urethra to the touch ; when urinating, a voluptu- 
ous sensation in the urethra with violent sexual desire ; green- 
ish-yellow purulent discharge from the urethra with traces of 
blood; inflammation of the prepuce and glans, with balanor- 
rhcea ; small ulcers; constant inclination to urinate, with fre- 
quent and painful emission. The selection of Merc, is therefore 
purely homoepathic, but is not based, as Hartmann thought, on 
the similarity of the gonorrhoeal and chancre-poison, for such 
a similarity does not exist. Hartmann complains that not 
many cases are cured by Mercury, a fact which we can easily 
understand, as this drug does not suffice for a cure, or at any 
rate could not effect one in a short time; for it is impossible to 
cut the disease short by internal remedies. But the majority 
of homoeopathic physicians certainly speak favorably of Mer- 
cur. in this disease, as long as inflammatory symptoms prevail. 
Even some complications may indicate Merc., as inflammatory 
infiltrations in the neighborhood of the urethra and prostate, 
and it is noteworthy that we never meet them, where the gon- 
orrhoea was treated from the start with Merc. It also corre- 
sponds to chordee and to gonorrhoeal buboes; and we shall be 
more successful in treating it if our doses are not too small 
(2d trit., one or two grains every morning or every other morn- 
ing); but it is not advisable to continue the remedy longer than 
ten to fourteen days. 
According to Yeldham, Merc. corr. is one of the best reme- 
dies in the earlier stages of the disease. He gives it in the 
course of the first week in acute cases, in alternation with 
Aeon, every four hours, 5 drops of the 3d decimal dilution. 
These two remedies quiet the most severe symptoms, and open 
the way for other remedies. Where amelioration continues 
under the use of these remedies, he continues with them, where 
other manifestations do not suggest another remedy. His 
favorite preparation is the corrosivus. In cases of gleet, where 
Mercur. is indicated, Cinnab. acts most favorably. In orchitis 
he recommends Merc. corr. (and Sulph.) for the remaining 
swelling of the testicle, after the disease has run its course. In 
327 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
prostatitis he prefers Aeon, in alternation with Merc, for the 
first few days, then the latter alone, finally Pulsat. He also 
saw good effects from Tinet. Sulph. and Merc. corr. in alterna- 
tion. In the treatment of strictures Mercur. also plays a promi- 
nent part (also Aeon., Canthar., Nux vom., Sulphur), especially 
where there is a purulent discharge. In balanitis, washing the 
parts with Calendula is advised, and he gives, during the day, 
two doses Merc, corr.3, and in the evening a dose of Aeon. 
Attomyr gives the following indications for Merc. sol.: the 
gonorrhoea discharges very copiously at night a greenish secre- 
tion ; painless gonorrhoea, prseputial affections with phimosis, 
bloody pollutions. 
Meyer uses Merc. sol. in all obstinate forms of gonorrhoea, 
where, after the first stage is passed, the discharge continues 
or is even increased ; or where the inflammation is light or ab- 
sent. Though he cured many cases with it, still he finds it 
impossible to give clear and strict indications. It does not cor- 
respond to the inflammatory stage. Tn gonorrhoea complicated 
with buboes, prostatitis, orchitis, etc., he witnessed the great- 
est benefit from this remedy, especially when the discharge still 
showed a greenish or yellowish color and purulent quality, 
though there was no ulcus in the urethra—which, if it existed, 
would furnish but another indication for this remedy. For 
phimosis with extensive oedematous swelling of the prepuce, 
after the inflammatory stage has passed, Mercur. is as useful as 
Cannab., where this secondary process happens during the in- 
flammatory stage. In gleet he considers Mercur. especially indi- 
cated, where the discharge is still copious and consistent, of a 
yellowish or greenish color, and leaves such marks on the linen; 
showing itself not only in the morning, but at all times, and. 
especially after a meal. The patient sometimes complains still 
of a slight pain when urinating, or solitary stitches pass 
through the urethra, or there is a momentary drawing in the 
urethra and groin ; Mercur. either cures such a case alone or 
opens the way for Phosphor., which finishes the case. 
Muller gives Mercur. before Cannab., where the gonorrhoea 
is complicated with violent redness and swelling of the urethra, 
with balanorrhoea or glandular swellings. 
328 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Quin uses Merc. sol. for phimosis and paraphimosis. 
Finally, we may be allowed to give our own treatment, 
which we begin with Cannab4. in alternation with Merc, corr.6 
After the disappearance of all symptoms of violent irritation 
we rely on Merc, sol.3 Gleet hardly ever needs Mercur. ex- 
cept where other symptoms indicate it. In balanitis we prefer 
Cinnab., in orchitis Merc, bijod. 
DISEASES OF THE MALE SEXUAL ORGANS. 
It is difficult to decide whether the orchitis, arising in the 
case of a gonorrhoea during the use of mercury, should be 
ascribed to the former or to the latter; but it is said that 
where mercury is to blame, the discharge continues, which is 
not the case in sympathetic orchitis. 
Whereas in workmen in looking-glass factories the sexual 
nisus is decidedly increased, the Chinese believe that mercury 
destroys the virile power in both sexes. Their contradictory 
views, compared with the results of provings, lead to the con- 
clusion that small doses of the metal and its preparations, 
though used for a long time, excite the nerves of the sexual 
organs, but large ones paralyze; still as the action of small 
doses accumulates, the virile power is sooner destroyed with 
laborers in mercury. 
We find the following symptoms under Merc, sol.: sensation 
of coldness in the testes during the afternoon and evening, for 
fourteen days; previous to emission of flatulence, the swollen 
testicle is sensitive, but not painful; violent stitches in the 
scrotum; drawing and pressure in the testicles, the drawing 
predominates; drawing pain in the testicles and in the groin; 
drawing in the spermatic cord, at intervals; itching in the 
right testicle; spasmodic tearing pain, commencing between 
the testicles,extending into the penis and causing considerable 
itching in the ulcers. Emission of semen without any volup- 
tuous dreams; imperfect erection with tension in the region 
of the genital organs; they are apparently occasioned by flatu- 
lence; emission during the siesta, followed by burning pain in 
the orifice of the urethra during micturition; painful erections; 
nightly emission of semen, mixed with blood; after having 
329 MERCURV AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
had an emission during the night, lie is cold all over early in 
the morning, but not weak; burning in the urethra of the 
male during an embrace; when walking, copious perspiration 
in and near the genitals. 
Buchner’s provings gave the following symptoms of Merc, 
suhl. corr.: in the morning violent erections and great sexual 
desire; very violent erections during sleep (without pollution), 
continuing after waking up; during an embrace tardy and 
slow ejaculation of semen; tine but sensitive stitches in the 
centre of the left testicle, continuing the next day. Cinnab.: 
sudden electrical shock through the right testicle and in the 
seminal cord, in the evening; violent erection at night in bed; 
violent erections after midnight, towards morning; on the 
morning of the seventh day a very severe erection, increasing 
nearly to priapism us; profuse perspiration between the thighs; 
violent erections in the evening; after taking the drug every 
inclination for an embrace disappeared. Sexual desire on the 
slightest occasion; sexual desire in the afternoon, as if there 
would be a seminal discharge, but he could suppress the sensa- 
tion ; great desire for food and tor an embrace; increased desire 
for coition with long-continued orgasm; for two days nearly 
irresistible desire for an embrace (seventh and eighth day). 
Freqeuntly a platonic sexual love without any desire for an 
embrace (first and third day). Sudden paroxysm of mental 
erotomania (third day). Pollution of a large quantity of 
semen without any smell (eighth day). A daily pollution 
from the seventeenth to the twenty-third day; after several 
doses increased desire for an embrace with erections, continu- 
ing during the night. 
Kafka gives us the treatment of orchitis gonorrhceica. In 
orchitis traumatica, when the inflammatory symptoms are sub- 
dued by Aeon, and cold lotions, he relies on Merc. sol. or 
Arnica to produce the absorption of the exudations. In the 
pollutions of the onanists, as long as they look well yet, he saw 
satisfactory results from Merc, sol.3 when they complained of 
burning pains in the back, or when the pollutions happen 
without erections, or without any sensation of pleasure, or 
when the erections are painful and the ejected semen is colored 
330 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
with blood; or when the patients complain after a pollution 
of icy-cold hands, during the whole day; feel no inclination to 
work and are very apathetic. 
JBcehr remarks: During the first stage of orchitis most au- 
thorities consider Merc. sol. or vivus the best and safest rem- 
edy, and especially where the gonorrhoea is still recent, which 
produced the inflammation. lie gives it steadily in one of 
the lowrer triturations till there is a decided decrease of the 
inflammation. 
According to Jahr Merc. sol. is not only indicated in gonor- 
rhoeic and metastatic orchitis, but also in erysipelas scroti (Bellad., 
Rhus, Arsen.). In satyriasis Mercur. holds a front rank, and 
Jahr mentions it among the remedies for the evil consequences 
of onanism, or where an embrace cannot be enjoyed without 
evil consequence; it is also mentioned among the remedies for 
excessive pollutions. 
Hartman: Mercur. suits orchitis in consequence of gonor- 
rhoea; and it even acts well when indurations of the testicles 
are present. 
DISEASES OF THE FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS. 
Women, working in mirror factories, suffer according to 
Kussmaul frequently from menstruatio parva and amenorrhcea, 
or from menstruatio nimia et irregularis. We mostly find the 
menses scanty or absent, sometimes irregular, more rarely too 
copious and in short intervals. Astruc observed from abuse of 
mercury precocious or too abundant menses. Uichter considers 
mercury contra-indicated during menstruation, as it may pro- 
duce hemorrhage or leucorrhcea. 
In cases of poisoning by Merc. viv. we find: suppressio men- 
sium (case 12); menstrual discharge for ten weeks (32); men- 
ses scanty, amenorrhoea (34); menses irregular and scanty, pale, 
only for a few hours (36, albuminuria). 
Merc. sol.—During the menses anxiety; six days after the 
menses again a bloody discharge; the menses are too profuse 
and attended with colic; metrorrhagia of an old female, whose 
menstruation had ceased eleven years ago; metrorrhagia for 
three weeks; suppressio mensium. 
331 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Merc. subl. corr., according to Buchner: After nineteen days 
menses with fluor albus; menses after eleven days; menses 
every two weeks; menses every two weeks three times in suc- 
cession; menses three times in two months; menses anticipa- 
ting; menses very copious during the first two days. 
Cinnabans.—Catamenia one day too soon. Several times 
observed. 
Hence we may conclude that Mercur. after a few small doses 
increases and anticipates the menstrual flow; but where the 
poison acts for a longer period, the flow becomes irregular and 
scanty, according to the qualitative and quantitative degenera- 
tion of the blood. Colson observed from large doses menor- 
rhagia and metrorrhagia, especially in women of more ad- 
vanced age, amenorrhoea in young girls, a hint worthy of con- 
sideration in selecting the remedy. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. in dysmenorrhoea from catch- 
ing cold, in menstrual colic from neuralgia uteri, when there 
are tearing pains in hypogastrium; in neuralgia uteri from 
chronic uterine infarctions. 
Jahr gives under amenorrhoea the following indications for 
Mercur.: rush of blood to the head with dry heat and conges- 
tions; leucorrhoea; oedematous swelling of the hands and feet 
or of the face; pale face with sickly features; great lassitude 
and debility with tremors and congestions after the slightest 
labor; irritability, she feels downhearted, queer and quarrel- 
some. He also gives Mercur. in scanty or too copious men- 
struation, when there is at that period rush of blood to the 
head or vertigo; when the eyes are affected, when menstrual 
troubles set in just before this appearance, or during the flow. 
Diseases of the Ovaries—Oophoritis, 
Neither Merc. viv. nor sol. give any symptoms relating to 
the ovaries. The painful sensations in the right side of the 
abdomen rather belong to the ccecum, where, in acute fatal 
cases of poisoning with preparations of mercury, deep ana- 
tomical changes are found. 
Kafka: When the inflammation runs its course rather slowdy 
and one or the other ovary is sensitive during an examination 
332 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
per anum, and feels rather hard, we may suspect an inflam- 
mation of parenchyma, which yields best to Merc. sol. (Iod., 
Conium), three doses per day, and this remedy may also pre- 
vent suppuration or iehoration. 
Bcehr mentions Mercur. among the remedies for chronic 
oophoritis. 
Hughes recommends the corrosivus when the peritoneum is 
also a fleeted, whereas the oophoritis yields to Pulsat. 
Jahr mentions Mercur. among the remedies for chronic ovar- 
ian affections. 
Cl. Midler cured a ease of chronic oophoritis and peritonitis 
with Merc. sol. 
We would prefer Merc. corr. where peritonitic manifestations 
show themselves, and Merc, hijod. where other symptoms lead 
to the selection of mercurials. 
Diseases of the Uterus and Vagina. 
Abortus is so easily caused by Mercur. that married women 
are not allowed to work in looking-glass factories. Women, 
treated with large doses of mercury during pregnancy, give 
birth to small babies or they loose them prematurely (Colson, 
Holcombe, Richter, Fallopia, Sala, Mattiolus and others). As 
we find cases recorded in older works, where abortus happened 
after a solitary dose or after a few doses of four grains up to 
pounds (Fallopia, Sala, Friverius, Merat, etc.) of metallic quick- 
silver, we cannot ascribe the action alone to the degeneration 
of the blood-mass and consequent hemorrhages and loosening 
of the placenta, nor to any direct action on the substance of 
the uterus; but we must suppose that the foetus is destroyed 
by the poison and then expelled. We know that even from a 
less intense action of Mercur. the nutrition of the foetus suffers, 
and that the infants are born small. We may therefore con- 
sider Merc. viv. the remedy in those rare cases of abortus, where 
this mishap has already frequently happened and the foetus ap- 
peared too small in comparison to the size of the uterus, or 
shows as cause of death symptoms of a disease, for which mer- 
curials are usually prescribed, e. g., hemorrhages (of the brain, 
333 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
meninges, spinal cord, liver), inflammations of different organs, 
dropsies, rachitis and especially syphilis. 
Hughes recommends it, where syphilis is the cause of re- 
peated abortus, though the mother shows at the time no symp- 
toms of the disease ; a high dilution of Mercur. might favorably 
modify the nutrition of the foetus. 
Merc. corr.—Congestion of the uterus and of the tubae (14) > 
bearing down pains in genitals, as during labor; clear, thin, 
mucous discharge from the genitals (after local applications, 
15); uterus inflamed (35). Hahnemann: pale yellow leucor- 
rlicea, of a disgustingly sweetish smell; aching pain, succeeded 
by pressing, on touching the os uteri during an embrace. 
Merc, bijod.—Strong pressure in hypogastrium, sensation as 
if a prolapsus vaginae and uteri would take place; uterus en- 
larged and congested. 
In mnlpositions of the uterus, Guernsey expects a radical cure 
by internal treatment, which restores the elasticity of the liga- 
ments, relaxed through some morbid states of the organism. 
Indications for Mercur. are : during every menstruation anxiety, 
red tongue with dark spots and burning, salty taste; morbid 
color of the gums; the teeth are dull; cold and clammy sweat 
between the thighs. 
Jahr recommends Mercur. in prolapsus vaginae. After the 
reduction of the prolapsed uterus Mercur. may he tried to pre- 
vent a relapse; especially there is also a chronic leucorrhcea 
suitable to Mercur. present. Merc, bijod. would be the best 
preparation. 
Kafka recommends Merc. sol. in acute catarrh of the uterus 
with continual tenesmus vesieae and ani, or even without the 
latter; when simultaneously the portio vaginalis is also affected, 
the discharge acrid and corroding and the vulva and inside of 
the thighs reddened; in chronic catarrh when granulating ulcers 
are present at the cervix uteri, which easily bleed. 
Hughes with Leadam recommends Merc. sol. in leucorrhcea 
vaginae, showing a chronic inflammatory state of the urethra. 
Guernsey gives in acute and chronic leucorrhcea the follow- 
ing indications for Cimmb.: leucorrh a, causing during its 
discharge a pressing in the vagina, and for Merc, sol.: leucor- 
334 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rhcea always worse at night, itching, burning, smarting, corrod- 
ing with a sensation of rawness, but all symptoms are always 
worse at night; discharge of flocks of pus and mucus of the 
size of hazel-nuts. 
Jahr mentions Mercur. especially for purulent, green, mu- 
cous, smarting and corroding leucorrhcea. 
Hartmann recommends it in leucorrhcea with sensitive itch- 
ing in the external genitals; considerable swelling and sensi- 
tiveness of the lymphatics, of the labia; inflammatory swelling 
of the vagina, which feels raw and sore, the discharge being 
purulent and corroding. 
Kafka gives Mercur. in parenchymatous metritis, as soon as 
fever and pains decrease through Aeon., in order to remove 
every remnant of inflammatory action in the parenchyma of 
the uterus, and to dissolve the plastic exudation, as only thus 
the formation of abscesses is prevented. In chronic parenchy- 
matous metritis, the uterine infarctus, Mercur. aids the retro- 
grade metamorphosis (also Iodum), when a considerable swell- 
ing of the uterus still remains after- the removal of all pains 
and nervous symptoms. In metritis parenchymatosa puerperalis 
Merc. sol. is indicated, to soften the tumors in and around the 
uterus, formed by deposition of solid exudations or to break 
them down by suppuration. 
Guernsey gives the following indications in metritis: lan- 
cinating, boring and pressing pains. Much perspiration, which, 
however, affords no relief. Moist tongue, often accompanied 
by intense thirst; she is worse throughout the night. 
Hughes gives Merc. corr. (and Platin.) where long-standing 
congestions of the uterus produced a state of induration. In 
cervico-metritis he recommends Merc. sol. (or Arsen.) where we 
find ulcerations outside of the cervix and superficial; but he 
prefers the corrosivus where the ulceration penetrates the sub- 
stance and the visible part of the orificium and cervix are 
swollen and indurated. 
Jahr gives Merc, in endometritis, where the pains in the ute- 
rus are lancinating, pressing or boring, and especially when at 
the same time there is little heat, but frequent sweats and chills. 
According to Espenat, Merc, bijod. is the most suitable prep- 
335 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
aration in chronic metritis with prolapsus, hypertrophy, swell- 
ing. sensation of heaviness, heat of the uterus with drawing 
pa i ns. 
We prefer Merc. subl. corr. in acute parenchymatous metritis 
with peritoneal symptoms, on account of its rapid and energetic 
action: in chronic cases the solubilis suffices; where exudation 
prevails, we rely on Merc, bijod. or Cinnab. Where symptoms 
of metrophlebitis appear, Merc. cyan, is the remedy, as it (comp, 
poisoning, Case 3), causes phlebitis, also in phlegmasia alba 
dolens. 
Kidd justifies the application of Merc, in fibroid tumors of 
the uterus thus: Mercury produces in its primary action an in- 
crease of fibrine in the blood, and therefore, also, an increased 
activity in the fibrous tissues and organs in the uterus. Mer- 
cury also causes an increased tendency to hemorrhages, and a 
muco-purulent discharge of the membrane lining the cavity of 
the uterus; Mercury, therefore, in uterine fibroids, moderates 
the hemorrhages and retards the progress. The corrosivus is 
preferable, especially where there is also a muco-purulent, exco- 
riating leucorrhoea. But it must be continued for several 
months (1-3 drops of the 2d dec., in a wineglassful of water, 
two or three times daily). Merc, bijod. suits more those cases 
where the tumor is of a stony hardness, and where there is 
little leucorrhoea. Homoeopathic remedies act well for the ab- 
sorption of smaller tumors, but after a lapse of a few weeks 
without any amelioration, we would advise recourse to mechan- 
ical means. 
Kafka mentions Merc. sol. as a remedy which might dimin- 
ish the excruciating pains at night in women suffering from 
carcinoma uteri. Hehnuth hopes for some relief from Merc. 
(Staphis.) in carcinoma uteri, especially where the pains 
are severe in the bones of the pelvis and thighs, and where 
syphilis may be present. Guernsey finds Merc, indicated in 
carcinoma uteri with prolapsus vaginae and where the inguinal 
glands are affected. In hydrops uteri: much sweating without 
relief; continued, short, exhausting cough, anxiety, in ulcera- 
tions with sensation of coldness in them. 
In nymphomania we find these indications: the symptoms 
336 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
are more constitutional than local; aggravation at night and 
in bed. In inflammations of the external genitals: sensation of 
rawness; long-continued itching of the labia; terrible itching, 
aggravated after micturition by the urine adhering to the parts, 
which she has to wash off. Sweat, which not only does not 
relieve, but she feels worse after sweating; worse at night; 
affection of gums and teeth. In erysipelatous vulvitis: sensation 
of soreness, worse at night; in exanthemata of the parts: long- 
continued itching of the vulva, shortly before the menses; 
aggravated by every drop of urine passing over the parts. 
Pimples or tubercles on the labia, worse at night; in chancres: 
Cinnab. with redness and swelling, Merc. jod. for painless 
chancres. 
Kafka gives in Catarrhus vagince acuius, Merc, sol.3, where 
the hypereemia is less intense, the discharge copious, acrid 
and corroding, with tenesmus urinse and burning in the urethra 
and vagina. It acts well even after excesses in venere and 
onauismus, also in vaginismus, where the itching remains 
limited to the labia and introitus. 
Espanet gives the following indications for Mercury in 
nymphomania and venereal excesses: the repeated shocks leave 
an involuntary trembling and great nervous debility, so that 
even nutrition suffers. Unbearable itching in the genitals, 
nearly driving her crazy; frequent sexual desire; burning dur- 
ing micturition, corroding leucorrhsea; dulness of the senses, 
apathy and irritability. 
Diseases of the Mamma 
Merc, sol.: pains in both mammae; unnatural swelling of the 
mammae, especially of the nipples, which feel harder than 
usual; periodical pain in the mammae, as if furuncles would 
form. In a puerperal woman, poisoned by corrosivus, the secre- 
tion of milk stopped in one breast; and three years after the 
poisoning milk appeared in that breast later than in the other 
one (Case 40). 
Kafka gives Merc, sol.3 in inflammation of the nipple and 
around it, when the pains have .become less intense and the 
swelling less sensitive to pressure. He also recommends it in 
337 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
diffused inflammation of the cellular tissue, after Bellad., 
which moderates the inflammatory tension; as soon as chills 
set in with hammering pains, threatening suppuration. Moist 
poultices and Mercur. will soon bring the pus to the surface, 
where the abscess ought to be opened; or we may give Merc, 
from the very start, where the pains are not intense, the breast 
not hot and only of a slight redness. Circumscribed inflamma- 
tion of the glandular and cellular tissues must be treated on 
the same principles. He saw no benefit in inflammation of the 
submammary cellular tissue from Merc. In carcinoma mam- 
mae Merc, might moderate the tearing, drawing pains. 
Boelir says: As soon as the skin reddens, Mercury may some- 
times still be able to produce a retrogression; but this is only 
exceptionally the case, but even where suppuration sets in, the 
continued use of Mercury for about two weeks will finish the 
whole process by cicatrization. 
Guernsey. Mercur. in mastitis: hard swelling of the breast 
with sore and raw sort of feeling; the milk is not good and 
the babe refuses it; she has scorbutic gums and other general 
symptoms of Mercurjr. 
In mammary cancer, when it feels sore and raw, Jahr and 
Hartmann give Merc, when neither Bellad. nor Bryon. were 
able to remove the erysipelatous inflammation, and hard and 
painful nodes remain in the breast. In induration of the 
mammse with hard knots in them, or where there is a sensation 
of enlargement, he also gives this drug. 
Griesselick recommends Merc. corr. for dwindling of the 
nipples, half a grain in several ounces distilled water, with 
which he touches the fissures, after the child has nursed, or at 
intervals. In one case the fissures disappeared in about a week, 
and also the accompanying erysipelas, although other remedies 
had entirely failed to give relief. Merc, and Iod. are both 
known to act energetically on the glandular system, and there- 
fore Merc. iod. or bijod. might, be preferable for the dispersion 
of indurations. 
338 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
DISEASES OF THE MOTORY APPARATUS. 
We extract from Keller’s observations in looking-glass man- 
ufactories: “Swelling of the bones, most frequently on the 
tibia, more rarely on the upper arm and bead. These tophi, with 
swelling and sensitiveness of the periosteum, cause severe pains 
to the laborers at night and in bed, during moist weather, 
thunder-storms, and at the first fall of snow. Among thirty 
affected laborers in Idria, Hermann found two cases of caries 
(elbow and ankle), one case of spinal curvature in consequence 
of softening of all vertebrae (the patient, usually five feet high, 
hardly measured two and a half feet), a case of periostitis with 
consequent necrosis, and six cases of dolores osteocopi nocturni. 
He says: “At Idria we meet all syphilitic bone-diseases in per- 
sons who never had syphilis;” and Hr. Gobey, who practised 
for eighteen years among these laborers, coincides in this 
opinion, and cured many a case with Iodide of Potassium. 
The bone-diseases, which only twenty or thirty years ago were 
considered as effects of gonorrhoeal cachexia, disappeared as 
soon as the gonorrhoea was treated without mercury. The 
same osseous affections are observed in persons who had never 
suffered from syphilis, nor taken mercury for any disease, but 
who were, by their trades, exposed to the action of mercury. In 
his work on the action of mercury he mentions: the character- 
istic night pains and the periostitis, endostitis, show themselves 
thus: at sunset the pains begin and increase in intensity up to 
midnight, then gradually decrease in severity towards morning, 
or rather with the rising of the sun. Only in rare cases the 
patient feels the pain also in daytime. The pain is boring, 
gnawing, less drawing, stitching or tearing. At night it pre- 
vents all sleep or disturbs it repeatedly. The nightly bone- 
pain is either without any visible, objective manifestation of 
the periosteum, or is connected with chronic periostitis; in the 
former case we may suspect an endostitis or an inflammation 
of the fibrous membrane of the marrow; in the latter we find 
a more or less firm, often elastic swelling, firmly adhering to 
(l) Diseases of the Bones. 
339 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the bones, of various size, mostly longitudinal and sharply 
limited. As long as the exudation remains purely fibrinous, 
the swelling remains firm and hard; as soon as it softens, the 
swelling feels elastic and retains the impression of the finger. 
The skin over it is not discolored, not reddened, the swelling 
is at first very sensitive even to the slightest pressure. These 
nocturnal pains disappear in most cases after a few doses of 
Iodide of Potassium ; and electrolytically we are sure by such 
treatment to find the quicksilver in the urine. This so charac- 
teristic nocturnal bone-pain is no specific diseased state, but 
rather the most prominent symptom of a periostitis, also an ex- 
quisite form of hydrargyrosis, sometimes the sole product of 
chronic hydrargyrosis, showing itself by such peculiarities. 
(a) It attacks, in preference, the long, tubular bones, and here 
especially the tibia; among the broad bones, especially the 
frontal bone. Just as mercurial periostitis attacks hardly ever 
any other bone, any other periostitis, whether arising from a 
scrofulous or tuberculous process, hardly ever attacks these 
bones; while arthritis as well as rheumatismus are more articu- 
lar affections. (b) Mercurial periostitis appears idiopathically, 
and necroses are consecutive to it; symptomatic periostitis is 
always a sequel of a specific disease of the bone-substance, or 
rather of the fibrous tissues spread through the substance; in 
the latter the inflammatory pain is continuous, whereas it is 
nocturnal in the former, (e) Mercurial idiopathic periostitis 
runs a specific course: the exudate either disappears entirely 
or it hardens in consequence of the formation of osteophytes, 
so that it forms an ivory mass (eburnation), closely adhering to 
the bones, or it softens, forming a more or less fluctuating, im- 
movable, firmly adhering swelling, enclosed in a sac, with a 
final tendency to the formation of abscesses. In the former 
case it is a tophus, in the latter a gumma. 
Symptomatic periostosis, on the contrary, has the prevailing 
tendency to suppurative dissolution of the exudation; to the 
formation of abscesses, in order that the little necrotic parts 
may find their way outside. 
Mercurial crasis causes in the osseous system only one dis- 
ease, an inflammation of the osseous substance—ostitis, which 
340 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
in fact is only an inflammation of the sero-fibrous parts of the 
bony substance to the exclusion of the bone-earth, and where 
pathic products appear either as necrosis or as caries. 
Mercurial ostitis has no other objective or subjective symp- 
tom except the nocturnal dolores osteocopi and the elect.rolyti- 
cal-proof of Hg, by which it could be differentiated from 
another ostitis and its products. Mercurial ostitis especially 
attacks the nasal and palatinal bones, the forehead, the cranial 
bones, and in secondary frequency, in opposition to idiopathic 
periostitis, the long bones; and finally the joints. 
We find in our poisonings with Hg, for Merc, viv., caries of 
several ribs, caries of the superior thoracic vertebrae, in the son 
of a manufacturer of barometers, living with his family in the 
work-room; the father suffered from nocturnal boring pains in 
the bones; periostitis in the centre of the tibia (Case 25); exfo- 
liation of the upper and lower maxilla (Case 20); loosening of 
large necrotic pieces of the mandibula (26); severe nocturnal 
pains in all extremities (46). Merc. subl. corr.: expulsion of a 
large piece of the necrotic upper maxilla. (21) Calomel (14) Nec- 
rosis of lower maxilla. Merc. sol. Hahn, gives us: headache, a 
pressing out pain in the forehead, and bone-pains over the eye- 
brows, even to the touch; pain above the occipital bones; in 
the small of the back, as if he was lying on some hard sub- 
stance; solitary, lancinating stitches for about five minutes in 
the zygoma, chest, knee and olecranon, more in the forenoon 
and when walking; drawing and twitching behind the left ear, 
preventing sleep; the place is sore to the touch (os mastoi- 
deum?); swelling of the root of the nose; the nasal bone is 
painful to the touch; towards evening tearing in the man- 
dibula; in the bones of the upper extremity a crushing pain; 
in the bones of the forearm and tibia a subjective pain, as if 
tired, not sore to the touch; (when walking) dull, stitching, 
cramping pain in the periosteum of the right inner forearm; 
pain in the left hand (in the bones), when stretching it out, 
taking hold of something, then a pressure, the hand feels as if 
paralyzed and stiff*. Sharp stitches in the posterior part of the 
right pelvis; in the anterior lower part of the left os ilium 
sharp stitches at regular intervals, very sensitively felt; tearing 
341 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
in the hip-joint (at night), in the knee, in the thigh-bone, in 
the right shoulder-joint, in the carpus and the bone of the 
upper arm; a hard swelling on the right tibia, looking white, 
shining and constantly painful; a boring pain in the tibia; a 
drawing pain in both tibiae; a pressing pain in the periosteum 
of the right tibia, almost cramp-like (when standing): dull, 
stitching, cramp-like pain, almost tearing, in the periosteum of 
the left anterior surface of the tibia (when standing); tearing 
in the ankles to the dorsum of the foot, with swelling around; 
when sitting, tearing pain in the left heel, as if sprained; on 
several places of the body very tine, short pricks, as from pins, 
3-4 minutes on the same spot in quick succession, as if it were 
in the bone. All the bones ache when sitting, lying, walking, 
or standing. 
Kafka says in the therapeutics of the scrofulous, osseous affec- 
tions: “We are not always able to prevent suppuration by lie- 
par or Mercur., but if we only succeed at times to break up the 
inflammation, we find it advisable to use such means; in com- 
plication with latent or congenital syphilis, we meet severe, 
most'y nocturnal, pains; which yield best to the Merc. corr. or 
bijod., or to Iodide of Potash.” Speaking of simple erosion of 
the cartilages and bones, he says: “ where at the joints the bones 
are puffed up or at any other place, and very painful at night, 
we give for two or three weeks Merc. sol. (or Mezer. or 
Phosphor ), and then return to a former remedy (Siiic., Calc, 
carb., Sulphur). Where, in rachitis, the joints of the hands, feet, 
and vertebrae are swollen and sensitive to pressure, Merc, sol.3, 
two or three doses daily, will remove the hyperaemia of the 
epyphises and of the periosteum.” 
Baohr considers Mercury a remedy of the first order in ostitis 
and periostitis, and he considers it only contraindicated where 
the disease has arisen from abuse of the same drug. Ilis 
especial indications are: severe bone-pains, swelling, redness of 
the skin; especially in more acute cases; but chronicity is no 
contraindication. Mercury acts more rapidly and with more 
certainty in children. Affections of the head are more suitable 
than any other locality, lie advises care regarding the dose, 
342 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
the slow course of the disease admonishing us to use small 
doses rarely repeated. 
Helmuth says: “We should think well of mercury in perios- 
titis and nodi, but it should never be given where the patient 
has already taken the drug in large doses. Many cases of 
secondary syphilis with its affections of the bones and perios- 
teum come under treatment, where these pains are sequelse of 
former large doses of Mercury, prescribed during the primary 
stage. He recommends it for nocturnal bone-pains, in perios- 
titis characterized by stitching, boring and gnawing pains, be- 
coming unbearable at night; redness and swelling of the soft 
parts covering the bones; stitching, crampy pains in the mus- 
cles or periosteum ; boring pains along the tibia and pains in 
the bones. In ostitis Merc. sol. acts powerfully when the 
symptoms are: pain severe, as if the bone were broken; pro- 
fuse sweats; drawing pains, flying from one place to another. 
It is especially indicated where the periosteum is also affected; 
in soft swelling of the bones; in great sensitiveness to air and 
nocturnal aggravations. Where suppuration takes place, Mer- 
cur. is still indicated; but the pus ought to be evacuated. In 
osteomyelitis the corros. acts best, and it is especially indicated 
in bone-pains with swelling and tension of the parts; where 
the disease runs a rapid course and mercury has not already 
been taken in large doses. In caries mercury is important for 
the ostitis and periostitis, the inflammatory process is thus 
stopped, before other mischievous symptoms appear. In the 
first stage of necrosis with severe, extensive inflammation of 
the soft parts. In exostosis of the tarsal bones. In osteocys- 
toma, Merc, sob, according to Hartmann, should be given when 
the bones are swollen, but not greatly inflamed; but still he 
fears that in some cases Mercur. might increase the inflamma- 
tion, and whenever given in such a case, it ought to be a simili- 
mum. In carcinoma osseum it might act well during the first 
stage. 
Goulton recommends Merc, (sol.) for the alleviation of the 
intense nocturnal pains. Mercur. and Phosphor, cause necrosis, 
and both have done good service to us in the treatment of that 
disease. Merc, prase, rubr. cures ozoena far better than Aurum, 
343 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
when caused by ulceration in the nose. Its curative influence 
in caries and necrosis explains its beneficial action in many a 
case of hard-hearing and in dental practice. As a remedy in 
bone-diseases, Mercur. approximates Silic.; and it is our sheet- 
anchor in scrofulous suppurative processes. We might espe- 
cially mention : nocturnal bone-pains, and distortion and fria- 
bility of the bones. 
Yeldham. Periostitis, following quickly the primary syphi- 
litic ulcer. Merc. sol. or bijod. 
Schelling leads our attention to Mercury in inflammation of 
porous bones, especially in acute inflammation of the spinal 
column. 
Hofrichler cured exostosis, e. y., on the tibia, sternum and 
ribs, with Merc, corr., a severe diet, and strict confinement to 
the room. 
Diseases of the Joints. 
Dieterich thus describes the mercurial inflammation of the 
joints: A slight stitching, pressing pain in the joint sets in ; 
the joint swells up and becomes of a pink or dark red color. 
This redness disappears on pressure, but returns immediately. 
The swelling is neither hard nor doughy, and feels hot to the 
touch. When at rest and at a low temperature the pain is 
moderate; but becomes severe during motion and in the heat 
of the bed (especially from Merc. corr.). It may end in caries 
or anchylosis. Wilhelm, Iiandschuh, Warbeck tie Chateau and 
Stokes, also speak of a mercurial rheumatism, attacking the 
knee and shoulder-joint, more rarely the hip-joint, elbow and 
carpus; sometimes in the form of an acute rheumatism, leading 
to hydrarthos on to suppuration in the joint. Richter ascribes 
especially to the corrosivus the quality of causing rheumatitis; 
and Kussmaul acknowledges that painful ness of the joints is 
frequently observed in mercurial trades; but denies that inflam- 
mation or exudation in the joints follows such labor. Lead- 
rich, on the contrary, observed in consequence of the abuse of 
mercury, swelling of the joint with considerable exudation in 
its cavity. 
344 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Russdorf thus describes mercurial rheumatismus: In the first 
stage pains in the joints of the extremities when using them, 
aggravated by pressure. Their seat is in the perichondrium 
where the muscles are inserted, and the pains migrate in all 
directions; in the second stage hydropic exudation takes place, 
especially in the knee-joint; the swelling is painless; by and 
by the muscles are attacked and become painful to pressure. 
Concomitant symptoms are: palpitation of the heart; frequent 
pulse; horripilations; great malaise; sleeplessness; crepitus 
articulorum. There is also a rheumatismus vagus, emanating 
from the sensory nerves. When at rest we find subsultus 
tendinum frequently over a whole extremity. 
Merc, sol.: The left axilla is considerably higher than the 
right one, although it did not enlarge laterally; with pains 
waking him from sleep, especially during motion; terrific 
stitches in the shoulder-joint in the evening; a cracking sound 
in the axilla and elbow-joint; a kind of twitching in the 
axilla every quarter of an hour; tearing in the right shoulder- 
joint, the upper arm and corpus, in the knee and hip-joint 
and in the thigh-bone; in the axilla pain as if something 
was pressing downwards; tearing in the elbow-joint; slow, 
tearing stitch in elbow; red, very hot swelling of the left 
elbow, extending down to the hand, with burning, tearing 
pains and crawling sensation as from ants; burning in the 
elbow-joints; stitches in the elbow; in the joints of the hand a 
painless hammering; painful stiffness of the joints of the right 
hand; loss of power and paretic sensation in the joints of the 
left hand, with stitches and cracking therein; the left wrist is 
swollen and painful when moving it and seizing anything 
hard; painful stiffness of the hand; considerable swelling of 
the left hand; tension in the whole hand; drawing pains in 
the hands with coldness of the fingers; in the morning the 
fingers go asleep, with buzzing in the fingers, afterwards tear- 
ing, extending to the middle of the forearm; painful swelling 
of the posterior knuckles; tearing here and there in the finger- 
joints; aching pain in the middle joint of the middle finger 
when bending it; a pressing pain in the middle joint; stitches 
in the right hip-joint when walking; the leg is quite stiff 
345 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
when walking; the knee-joints are painful when lying down, 
as if broken; slow tearing stitch in the right knee when sitting 
or walking; tearing in the knee-joint; simple pain in the right 
knee and as if it were stiff; in the knee-joints paroxysms of 
painless hammering; when walking out stitches in the knee- 
joints; sensation of stiffness in the left leg, extending to the 
bend of the knee; violent pressure under the ankles and in the 
tarsal joints superiorly, rendering walking difficult; violent 
swelling of the right tarsal joints with stitching pains in the 
joint, especially when walking and in the evening; pain as if 
sprained in the right tarsal joint; painful slow drawing in the 
right tarsal joint, below the outer ankle, extending to the 
hollow of the sole of the foot and commencing with stitching 
and griping (cracking in all joints); in the joints paroxysms 
of painful hammering; arthritic pains in the joints with swell- 
ing of them; nearly uninterrupted pain in the joints, as if 
sprained, compressed and mashed, so that he cannot rest on 
any place; he has to move his limbs continually to all sides. 
The following symptoms point to contraction of limbs: Con- 
traction of the fingers of both hands, especially the thumb, 
which is clenched, as in epilepsy; without aid he is only able 
with great exertion to stretch the fingers two-thirds, the hands 
trembling all the while; painful cramps in the fingers and 
hands, first the fingers become stretched, making the bending 
difficult; after bending them the cramp contracts the fingers; 
sensation as if the bend of the knee were too short; spasmodic 
drawing up of the legs; they remained contracted the whole 
night, although he wished to stretch them. Hence we see that 
Mercur. suits acute rheumatism as well as rheumatic, dyscratic, 
etc., inflammation of single joints with serous exudation and 
even suppuration. 
(a) Inflammation of solitary joints.—Kafka gives in scrofulous 
inflammation of joints Merc. sol. (Bryon., Arnica, Sulphur), 
when the inflammatory symptoms have passed, but the joints 
are still swollen, their functions disturbed and exudation re- 
mains; also in the second stage of coxitis, when the affected 
limb is elongated, every movement, by which the surfaces of 
the respective joints come in contact one with another, very 
346 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
painful; the patient limps; exudation has already taken place, 
with a simultaneous inflammation of the cartilages of the 
periosteum and of the hone itself. He gives Mercur. or Iodum 
internally, and externally Ungu. ein. 3i, Axung si, to prevent 
rapid absorption of the exudation in order to prevent its evil 
influence on cartilage and bone. During the third stage, when 
the extremity appears shortened and the exudation causes 
spontaneous luxation, Mercur. or Iodum are still the remedies 
indicated. 
Bce.hr remarks in acute coxitis: Where the symptoms of sup- 
puration are clearly present, Mercury remains our mainstay. 
In the second stage of chronic coxitis purulent destruction 
takes place, if not prevented by Mercury, especially in scrofu- 
lous individuals. In tumor albus genu, when the affection 
begins in the bone, with great painful ness and but little swell- 
ing, Mercury is in place and still more so, where suppuration 
threatens. Mercur. and Sulphur correspond more to that form 
where the swelling is very hard and of little circumference. 
In inflammation of the ankle, emanating from the bone, Bellad. 
and Mercur. are indicated. 
Hughes recommends Mercur. in chronic rheumatic synovitis; 
Merc. corr. in painful ulceration of the cartilages of the joints. 
Helmuth prescribes Mercur. in synovitis, complicated with 
syphilis, with drawing pains and stiffness of the parts affected, 
especially where we meet profuse sweats and nocturnal exacer- 
bations; also in scrofulous inflammation of the joints and ul- 
ceration of its cartilages, with purulent or serous infiltration. 
In the first stage of coxitis, when the patient complains of 
pains in the knee, we may begin with Bellad. in alternation 
with Mercury. 
Hirschel found Merc. sol. very useful in the first and second 
stage of coxalgia; as we nearly always find then nocturnal 
exacerbations. 
Cl. MiiUer remarks: In recent cases, where the head is not 
yet pushed out of the acetabulum, Bellad. and Mercur. act 
beneficially. 
(6) Acute Arthro-rheumatismus.—We find in Kafka: Where 
fever and articular pains are moderate during the day, but be- 
347 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
come aggravated at night, especially in bed; where simultane- 
ously the joints are very red, the epiphyses greatly enlarged, and 
where in the synovial capsules, e. g., of the knee, ankles and 
elbow, a soft exudate is present, very painful to pressure, with 
profuse, sour smelling, not alleviating perspiration, great thirst 
and scanty urination, the urine being highly saturated, where 
the patients are not allowed a moment’s rest in spite of the 
increasing pains on every motion, we apply Merc, sol.3 in trit- 
uration, a dose every two hours, till decided amelioration sets 
in, which usually happens in 24 to 36 hours. 
Boehr remarks: Many a syphilitic patient, treated with Mer- 
cury, suffers terribly from rheumatism, a fact showing us clearly 
its great remedial power in rheumatic affections. It suits 
more acute and subacute rheuma than chronic cases, according 
to the symptoms: high fever, very quick and hard pulse, co- 
pious and foul smelling perspiration, excessive thirst. The 
local swelling is of less degree, but rather painful, very red, 
with threatening suppuration; it does not easily change its 
location, and where other joints become affected the former 
swelling still remains very painful; the breath is foul; the 
tongue heavily coated; all appetite gone; food causes nausea; 
copious sudamina on the skin; the pains increase every evening 
towards midnight from the slightest effect of cold air ; whereas 
strong external heat diminishes them. It is especially suitable 
where frequent relapses take place. Indications in muscular 
rheuma are: The nocturnal exacerbation and deep-seated pain 
as if the periosteum were attacked, with great sensitiveness to 
slight or severe pressure. Mercur. takes a front rank for the 
complicating inflammations of internal organs, as in carditis, 
pneumonia, pleuritis, meningitis. 
(c) Chronic Articular JRheumatismus.—Kafka uses Merc, sol.3 
for the absorption of the exudation in the synovial capsule and 
in the cartilages of the joints; when the affected joints ciack 
during motion, with the usual mercurial aggravations. 
Hughes recommends Merc. cor. and sol. in low potencies, in 
chronic articular rheuma with profuse, non-alleviating sweats 
and nocturnal aggravations. 
Ilelmuth prescribes Mercur. for continual changes between 
348 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cold and heat, or for internal heat with continual horripilations 
on the affected parts, which are continually moved about on 
account of the internal malaise, or on account of the drowsy, 
tearing pains. 
Diseases of the Muscles. 
All authorities agree that not only abuse of mercury, but 
also relatively small doses may produce rheumatic muscular 
pains. 
We find in Merc. viv.: severe pains through the whole body, 
exacerbating at night (12, 13); tearing pains in the abdominal 
muscles (47); severe pains in the abdominal muscles (47); 
stitching, pinching pains in different parts of the body (24); 
tearing in the extremities (33); tearing in the extremities, 
especially in the arms (35). 
Merc, sol.: Tearing in the right cheek; tearing in the left 
cheek, extending to the ear; bruised sensation to the touch in 
the left chest; violent tearing pains in the muscles of the chest 
towards the left axilla; tearing pain at the coccyx, diminished 
by pressing it to the abdomen; griping pain in the small of the 
back, especially when standing, somewhat diminished when 
walking; bruised sensation in the small of the back; pain in 
the small of the back diminished when sitting; a stitching 
pain in the small of the back and thighs, so that he has hardly 
any power there and in the knees and feet; fine stitches close 
to the false processus spinosi of the os sacrum; sharp stitches, 
as of needles, in the spine between the shoulder-blades; fine 
and coarse stitches in the dorsal muscles when walking; tear- 
ing pains in the back when sitting; the back pains as from 
bruises; when walking in the fresh air a bruised sensation in 
the left side of the back, as from frequent stooping, for several 
days ; burning pains in the right shoulder up to the neck when 
sitting; burning between the shoulders down the back; be- 
tween the shoulders, where the neck begins, when turning the 
head or the whole body (when lying) severe pains, aggravated 
by lifting, so that he compresses his teeth; tearing in the 
shoulder-blades; a crampy pain under the shoulder-blades 
during motion, at midnight in bed; a bruised pain with stitches 
349 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
and tension in the left shoulder-blade, so severe when turning 
the head that he weeps and screams (soon after waking up in 
the morning); burning pain when sitting in the right shoulder 
up to the neck; stiffness of the neck with stitches when mov- 
ing it. Rheumatismus in the neck like a pressure even at rest, 
mostly when bending the head backwards; neck stiff and 
swollen, so that he can only turn it with difficulty; painful 
stiffness of neck and sensation of heaviness, he can hardly turn 
it; twdtching, tearing in both upper arms; soreness of the 
muscular fibres to the touch; burning in both arms, so that 
everything drops from his hands and the arms hang down; the 
right arm and hand as if asleep, relieved by motion; tearing 
in right arm (inside); a dull, stitching pain in the right lower 
forearm in all positions; a dull, stitching, crampy pain in all 
positions in the muscles of the left lower forearm; boring pain 
in the right glutfei; burning in the glutsei; pain in the right 
thigh as if bruised, aggravated by touch and by walking; a 
stitching, tearing in the muscles of the right thigh in all posi- 
tions; a tensive pain in the right thigh when sitting; drawing 
pain in the anterior surface of the left thigh; bruised sensation 
in the right thigh; drawing and heaviness in the legs; when 
walking in the fresh air stitching, tearing in the muscles of 
the right thigh; paroxysmal tearing from the great toe to the 
knee; tearing in different parts of the body; tearing here and 
there in the extremities, more in the muscles, aggravated by 
the touch; twitching and tearing in the extremities here and 
there; tearing pains in the hands, back and chest, with head- 
ache; nocturnal drawing pains in extremities; the whole body 
feels bruised, especially the thighs, for many dajs; lassitude 
with tearing, drawing pains in both thighs, after midnight in 
bed, when getting up; when stepping about pain in the in- 
guinal region down to the knee as if the anterior muscles of 
the thigh were torn away; he does not feel tired when sitting, 
but greatly when moving about ever so little, especially about 
the legs, as if he had walked great distances. 
Merc. subl. corr.: Pains in all extremities (41). From Buch- 
ner’s symptoms: fine stitching pains here and there in the 
muscles during the day; a tensive pain exteriorly next to the 
350 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
left scapula; repeated tearing in the left shoulder; tearing in 
the arms to the bone, especially at night when she awakens; 
peculiar relaxed sensation in the deltoids; itching, contracting 
pain in the muscles of the right metacarpus; stitching pains 
in the dorsum of the hand, especially in the adductor and ex- 
tensor pollicis and in the extensors of the foot; could not sleep 
at night on account of the burning and stitching from the left 
inguinal ring to the thigh ; stretching the foot out ameliorates; 
sensation as if clasps were loosened from the lower region of 
the musculi recti; rheumatic pains as from the insertion of 
needles in the feet; stitches in the muscles of the lower ex- 
tremities; peculiar sensation of relaxation in the calves and 
muscles of thighs; tearing on the inside of the left calf. 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
Hermann ascribes to mercurial skin diseases the following 
characters: (1) The affection of the skin is commonly of a 
higher grade, the pustule, the vesicle, the nodule. (2) Its color 
is mostly coppery on any part of the body, and, according to 
duration, lighter or darker; (3) the seat from the beginning to 
its full development is not limited to any part particularly; (4) 
they have a decided tendency to ulceration, and thus form the 
bases of the so-called secondary syphilitic ulcer of the skin, 
which ought rather be called a serpiginous one (5). Treated 
with Kali hydrojod., which is here specific, Mercury is shown 
by electrolysis in the urine and other secreta. 
(a) Pruritus—Itching. 
Merc. viv.: Erythema with violent itching and burning (4, 
5,6); heat and itching on the whole body, especially on the 
face and eyelids, with swelling of the integuments (10); itching 
on the thighs (11); skin swollen and inflamed, partly itching, 
partly without sensation (11). 
Merc, sol.: Itching on the forehead; burning-itching on the 
forehead and scalp; itching-tearing in the neck and hairy 
scalp; itching and burning on the hairy scalp day and night; 
eruption on the head, itching so violently that he has to 
scratch; violent itching on the right side of the nose, he has to 
351 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
rub it; stitching-itching of the abdomen in the evening, burn- 
ing after scratching, no eruption on the head; itching when 
walking, at the os sacrum; itching on the hack, in the evening 
in bed; titillating-itching on the left side of the back, so that 
he has to scratch; burning-itching and heat over the whole 
back, mostly when taking the fresh air; itching at the right 
shoulder-blade; itching at the left elbow; corroding itching on 
the back of the head in the evening in bed, passing off after 
scratching, but soon returning; titillating, stitching, itching on 
the inside of the lower joint of the thumb of the right hand, 
so that he has to scratch; in the evening itching of the lower 
extremities; itching relieved by scratching on the inside of the 
thighs, causing small elevations; itching on the thighs; stitch- 
ing-itching in the skin of the thighs, waking him after mid- 
night; itching of the legs; itching between the toes, especially 
in the afternoon and evening; itching in the joint, as from 
scabies, worse in the evening and night, but without any visible 
eruption; unbearable stitching-itching, as if from flea-bites, in 
the evening; violent itching all over the body, so that she has 
to scratch much at night, with great redness and heat of the 
face. 
Kafka gives Mercur. in pruritus: burning, stitching-itching 
from warm air, heated rooms, especially from the warmth of 
the bed; when perspiration breaks out; or when going to bed, 
undressing—continuing the whole night and disturbing sleep. 
Itching of the glans, external labia, and between the toes. 
Hughes recommends for pruritus Mercur. internally and ex- 
ternally. 
Jahr recommends Mercur. for an acridity, showing itself at 
the anus, genital organs, etc., and itching violently. 
Merc. subl. corr.: Itching over the whole skin, which feels 
dry (56). Buchner: Itching on different parts of the skin (scalp, 
thighs, etc.), changing frequently to tine stitches, and burning; 
itching, burning, stitching, immediately under the skin; itch- 
ing passing into fine stitches in the centre of the back, as if it 
were in the skin; she awakes at 1 a.m., with such a violent 
itching of the scalp, that she not only scratches herself with the 
nails, but also with her comb. 
352 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Cinnabaris: Itching of both eyelids; itching over the body 
and on the corners of the eyes; for two days unbearable itching 
at the corners of the eyes; violent itching in the right ear; 
itching on the left side of the face; itching in the palm of the 
right hand; itching on the right wrist; violent itching on the 
inner surface of the thighs and knees, especially of the latter 
and at night; severe itching and stitching on the inner surface 
of the knee; worse at night and before getting up in the morn- 
ing; sensation of soreness at the ankle, accompanied by heat 
and itching over the whole thigh; violent itching of the anus, 
worse at night in bed ; itching on different parts of the body in 
the fresh air; from time to time itching over the body. 
(6) Burning, Titillating, Stitching. 
Merc, viv.: Erythema with violent itching and burning (4, 
5,6.) 
Merc, sol.: Burning on the left temple; burning on the left 
side of the forehead, passing oft*after touching it; burning and 
itching on the scalp; burning in the hand, the cheek and chin; 
burning hot sensation over the whole back (burning in the soles 
of the feet in the evening); herpes, causing burning when 
touched; violent titillation in the palm of the left hand, so that 
he has to scratch; a fine titillation in the right palm, necessi- 
tating scratching; stitching and itching on the skin of the 
thigh, rousing him out of his sleep at 3 a.m. 
Merc, corr.: Skin very hot and stitching; burning and red- 
ness of the skin; itching on different parts of the body, increas- 
ing to fine stitching and burning. 
1. IIyperjemia of the Skin, Erythema. 
Merc. viv.: Erythema with severe itching and burning (4, 5, 
6); general erythema with desquamation (11). 
Merc. sol.: Itching eruption of the head, necessitating scratch- 
ing (?) dry eruption of the whole head, feeling sore to the 
touch (?) 
Calomel: Erythema of the whole body (7); severe burning of 
the reddened skin (8); erythema (9). 
Cinnabaris: Redness of the skin, as of a chronic eruption. 
353 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Kafka considers Mercur. of first importance in erythema from 
acrid secretions. Bcehr praises Merc. viv. or sol. highly for the 
chafing of infants. Hughes also recommends them in intertrigo, 
when the affected parts become raw and painful. Guernsey, 
where the excoriation is worse at night, very raw and bloody, 
preventing the sleep of the child. 
2. Anomalies of Secretion. 
Sebaceous Glands. 
Hypersecretion of the sebaceous glands is not mentioned 
among the symptoms of Mercur., still we know that all glandu- 
lar secretion is increased, especially of the perspiratory glands. 
We find in Merc, sol.: At night a kind of fatty or oily perspi- 
ration, making the linen stiff and yellow, so that it can hardly 
be removed by washing; small, elevated, firmly adhering 
crusts on the hair of the head ; crusts on the scalp, itching and, 
after scratching, burning. 
Kafka saw great benefit from Merc, sol.3, where the sebum 
is secreted in large quantities on the head, so that the hair be- 
comes matted, with severe itching and heat of the scalp; in se- 
borrhoea of the fossa coronaria with hypersemia of the glans or 
prepuce. He also gives Merc, corr.3 internally, and applies a 
weak solution externally (one grain to three ounces water). It 
is also useful in seborrhoea of the female sexual organs. 
b. Perspiratory Glands. 
Dieterich describes the mercurial hyperidroses, saying: The 
skin is at first very hot, followed hy copious perspiration all 
over the bodjq especially over the chest, continuing uninter- 
ruptedly for 24 to 30 hours, then gradually decreasing, so that 
toward the close of the second day the skin feels only moist. 
Thirst excessive; the perspiration of a foul odor, between flat 
and putrescent. The patient then feels exhausted and tired. 
There remains a great tendency to perspire; even when only 
eating a warm soup the skin gets in abnormal action. Persons 
with chronic mercurialism suffer often from frequent perspira- 
tion. Laborers in Hg. with habitual mercurialism, suffer from 
354 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
nocturnal perspiration, which often continues for a long time 
afterwards. 
Mere, sol.: Cold sweat of anguish in the face, with great ma- 
laise for one-fourth of an hour, followed by diarrhoea; towards 
morning cold, sweaty feet; he has to lie down in the forenoon 
on account of itching and heaviness of the thighs, with copious 
sweating of the face and of the whole body; frontal perspira- 
tion in the fresh air; copious perspiration when walking; per- 
spires from the least motion; perspiration when drinking some- 
thing warm; sleeplessness and vigilance at night up to 3 a.m., 
followed by sweat before falling asleep; he does not sleep be- 
fore midnight, and awakens early in the morning, when it is 
still dark, with some sweat; he wakes up during the night and 
perspires only on the legs, from the knee down to the soles, not 
on the thighs or soles; by putting the feet out of the bed, the 
perspiration disappears immediately. Sweat causing a burning 
sensation in the night; day and night greatly inclined to sweat, 
still more at night; copious perspiration all through the night, 
from the evening to the morning; foul-smelling perspiration for 
many nights; copious night-sweat; violent sticking sweat, so 
that the covering and matress are soaked through; sweat on 
the face and chest; frequent cold sweats on face, the other body 
being dry; excessively copious, sour and disgustingly smelling 
sweat, softening, as it were, the fingers, and rendering them 
spongy and wrinkled, as in washerwomen; sour smelling sweat 
and when she puts a foot out of the bed, severe tearing in it; 
sweat every evening for half an hour after lying down; copious 
perspiration in the morning, with thirst, nausea and vomiturition 
and excessive palpitation of the heart; perspiration in daytime 
with nausea; copious perspiration at night in bed, he falls 
asleep sweating; copious night-sweats; sweat in the palms of the 
hands and soles of the feet; sweat at night on some parts of 
the body and dryness of other parts, the sweating places are 
not over six inches in circumference, but there it is trickling 
down; head and face dry. Immediately after eating, anguish 
with sweat on the face and forehead, which appears to him of 
icy-coldness; she has to go out, before the sweat disappears 
with dyspnoea and stitches in the right side close to the ribs. 
355 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Merc. subl. corr.: Skin cold, covered with sweat (27, 29, 33); 
copious night-sweats (61); sweat and sensation of coldness (3); 
cold sweat (34); night-sweat (20). Buchner: Skin covered with 
cold sweat of anguish; sweat under the left axilla, then gen- 
eral, when he awakes at night from sleep; sweat at night (Van 
Swieten); sticking sweat towards morning; moderate sweat 
during the night when he is awake. 
Merc, prcec. rubr.: Skin cold, covered with sweat (1); night- 
sweat (1); cold, clammy skin, especially of the extremities (4). 
Cinnabaris: Chilliness in the morning, with sweat under the 
arms; profuse sweat between the legs, worse towards noon. 
Characteristic of sudor mercurialis are therefore: Sweat foul- 
smelling, sometimes cold; cold sweat with anguish (Merc, corr., 
but also other preparations); partial sweat, most frequently on 
the face and chest, especially at night arjd in the morning, 
during motion or when drinking something warm. It is indi- 
cated for profuse, foul-smelling sweat, based on tuberculosis, 
scrofulosis, etc., or where other symptoms suggest mercury, and 
the patient is not relieved by the sweat. 
Jahr: Frequent night-sweats, the perspiration setting in as 
soon as his head touches the pillow; he perspires easily in day- 
time from the least exertion or motion; partial sweat on the 
head, face, genitals; weakening, not relieving, oily, fatty, 
clammy, sour or foul-smelling perspiration, staining the linen. 
3. Inflammation of the Skin. 
a. Erythematous Inflammation. 
a. Urticaria. 
Frank and Kussmaul observed urticaria in laborers with Hg. 
Merc, sol.: Urticaria, changing after two days to red spots; 
eruption of red, raised spots, itching and stitching. 
Cinnabaris.: At night severe itching on both shoulders, red 
streaks appearing after scratching; small red elevations, itch- 
ing unbearably till he goes to bed. 
356 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
/3. Erysipelas. 
Merc. viv.: Stens observed a febrile erysipelas in a patient, 
who rubbed mercurial ointment around his hemorrhoidal tu- 
mors. Kussmaul observed erysipelas in workers on looking- 
glasses (10). We also read in our cases: heat and itching over 
the whole body, especially on the face and eyelids, with swell- 
ing and inflammation of the integuments (probably Stens’s 
case). Erysipelas antebrachii (34). 
Merc. subl. corr.: Vesicular erysipelas (14, after external ap- 
plication), the arm up to the shoulder wras excessively swollen, 
red and covered with vesicles (6, after ext. use). 
Merc, dulc.: The whole skin very red and somewhat swollen, 
wrorse on head and neck, which appear livid (7). 
Merc. sol.: The right side of the face swollen, especially under 
the eye, and hot; great swelling of the left cheek; the wdiole 
nose, especially on the left side, is swollen, very red and shin- 
ing, with itching of the nostrils; inflammatory swelling of the 
nose; top of the nose swollen, red, inflamed, itching. (Comp, 
eczema.) 
Kafka gives Merc, sol.3 (or Jod.3), a dose every two hours, in 
erysipelas verum combined with cellulitis. 
Boehr: Where suppuration threatens, we can hardly ever pre- 
vent it with Mercur., and it is better to have immediately re- 
course to Hepar. He recommends Mercur. where there is great 
pain and the erysipelas not seated on the face. 
Guernsey gives it in erysipelas syphil. of infants. 
Jahr mentions Mercur. in phlegmonous, scarlet colored, 
secondary erysipelas, but does not mention it in that of the face. 
Hartmann: Erysipelas neonatorum is based in most cases on 
a syphilitic or herpetic dyscrasia. During the first few days of 
infantile life there appear red spots, especially between the 
thighs, on the scrotum and inguinal region, at first pale red, 
but soon of a more intense color, forming a kind of intertrigo, 
with a disagreeably smelling exudation and easily suppurating; 
spots of a deeper redness soon appeared on other parts of the 
body, especially on the abdomen, near the umbilicus, etc., tak- 
ing on more and more an erysipelatous character, and extend- 
357 MERCUR 5T AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
ing to places already affected; diarrhceic fermented stools and 
high fever are now added to it. Mercur. corresponds to such 
a state, and no other remedy can be compared to it. It ought 
to be given in alternation with Sulphur30, where the mixed her- 
petic dyscrasia is clearly proven. 
Quin recommends Mercur. for erysipelas bullosum. 
Hirschel recommends it in suppurating erysipelas, and in ery- 
sipelas neonatorum with suppuration. 
Goullon, jun., cured with three doses of Calomel an erysipe- 
las faciei with typhoid symptoms after the failure of Bellad., 
Bryon. and Rhus. 
Comparing the manifestations of Calomel, found under ec- 
zema, we easily understand its indications in grave forms of 
erysipelas (typhus, meningitis, etc.). 
b. Phlegmonous Inflammations—Furuncle, Vhlegmon, Pana- 
ritium. 
Kussmaul observed phlegmon and furuncles on different parts 
of the body, also several times panaritia in workers on mirrors, 
suffering from habitual mercurialismus. Other authorities 
have seen the same from the internal as well as external use of 
Hg. 
Merc, sol.: Pimples and small boils on shoulder-blades and 
abdomen; small sores on the finger-joints, which are somewhat 
ulcerated; a boil on the left upper thigh painful to the touch 
and when walking; many ulcerating sores from small pimples 
on the left leg, remaining open for 8-10 days, and healing by 
exfoliation of the skin. 
Por 'phlegmon: Digging up pain along the ball of the right 
little finger on the outside, worse during rest; (when standing) 
a digging pain in the right sole; great swelling of the heel, so 
that she can hardly stand with burning and gnawing pains in 
the whole foot; he could not keep his foot in bed; for pana- 
ritia: burning twitching under the nail of the thumb, when 
writing; boring pain at the first joint of the third toe at rest 
and during motion; burning pain under the left big toe (when 
resting). 
Kafka uses Merc, sol.3 in phlegmonous inflammation of the 
358 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
skin, wffien, in spite of cold applications, the pains, the heat and 
the tension increase in the inflamed parts, with no fever and 
total sleeplessness. 
Bcehr: Where the furuncule is very extensive, and the cellu- 
lar tissue highly inflamed with high fever, and the boil will 
not come to a head, a few doses Merc, viv., to be followed by 
Hepar, will hasten the cure. 
Kreussler expects much from Mercur. in panaritia, where the 
inflammation is seated in the cellular tissue, between skin and 
sinews; in the sheath of the sinews; in the sinews, and in the 
joints connectings the phalanges. 
But cutaneous inflammations are only caused by Mercury 
after a protracted action of the drug on the organism; it does 
not influence the idiopathic process; hence we cannot expect 
much from it in such affections. In Andrien’s experiments the 
Merc, bijod. caused small boils on different parts of the body, 
and thus perhaps this preparation might be here preferable. 
c. Vesicular Inflammations. 
Pearson, Bartels observed them after mercurial action. 
d. Herpes. 
Merc, sol.: On the inside of the wrist-joint blisters full of a 
watery fluid; transparent blisters, containing a small quantity 
of watery fluid, on different parts of the body, early in the 
morning; pimples below the vermilion border of the lower lip, 
with stinging pain when touching them, more towards the cor- 
ner of the mouth. 
Cinnabaris: lied, herpetic (?) spots on the forehead, especially 
over the right arcus supraciliaris; two small red spots on each 
side of the glans, secreting a large quantity of a lardaceous 
mass (Herpes prseputialis). 
Kafka does not consider Mercury a remedy for herpes; still 
he finds it indicated by the burning pains, preceding the break- 
ing out and course of herpetic forms, and in zoster refers to the 
accompanying neuralgite. 
Bcehr remarks on zoster that Mercury may counteract the 
formation of new vesicular groups. 
359 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Jalir mentions Mercur. only as a remedy of secondary rank ; 
it may even aggravate a herpes prceputialis. The different 
forms of herpes, as phlyclenoides, circinnatus, zoster, find 
mostly their chief remedy in Mercur. and Sulphur. In zoster 
he relies on Mercur. 
Trinks gave to a patient, suffering from zona, Mercur.3 and 
received the report that the disease yielded more rapidly than 
at any other time. Wolf also cured several cases of zona in 
nine days with Mercur. Lobethal considers Mercur. the only 
remedy which rapidly removes the burning pains of zona and 
considers it specific. 
Eczema Mercuriale Symptomaticum.—A few days after the 
inunction with mercurial ointment the patient feels a trouble- 
some itching at the places of friction. The skin takes on a 
pink color, interspersed with white spots, as the redness is com- 
posed. of many irregular plaques. The redness disappears at 
pressure, but returns with the cessation of it. The skin feels 
burning hot. After ten to twelve hours the examining finger 
detects small insignificant elevations on the reddened surface, 
and under the microscope we see quite small but closely stand- 
ing vesicles. On the second day the vesicles become more 
raised, so that they can be seen with the eye filled with a 
yellowish lymph. With the appearance of the vesicles the 
itching ceases. On the third day they sink in, dry up, and by 
the fifth day bran-like desquamation takes place. Where the 
Hg. acts more powerfully the symptoms are also more pro- 
nounced, the skin darker, the vesicles larger, nearly pustular, 
and the patient has fever. Whereas at the place of inunction 
the vesicles always appear first, we soon find similar red spots 
in the groins, inner surface of the thighs, scrotum, even on the 
chest. The skin desquamates in pieces. Some consider such 
a state caused by a peculiar idiosyncrasy, and it may last three 
to four weeks. 
Eczema Mercuriale Criticum (Plumbe, Dieterich, Falke), first 
stage.—After a febrile prodrome the patient feels an itching, 
crawling in the skin, extending over the greater part of the 
y. Eczema. 
360 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
body, but especially severe in the bend of the joints, at the 
inner surface of the thighs, in the inguinal region, pubic region 
and under the axilla. The second stage begins with rawness 
of the skin of the affected parts, followed by an exanthema 
simulating measles. On the second day the rawness is in- 
creased, the small spots become confluent and form red patches 
of different size and form, with vesicles of the size of a pins- 
head, standing closely together and surrounded by a red halo. 
On the third day the parts of the body, which are usually more 
exposed, are also covered with vesicles containing a transparent 
fluid; whereas those on the thighs and groins become dull and 
milky. On the fourth day many burst, and the affected sur- 
face is covered with an exudation of a viscous fluid, smelling 
disagreeably, penetrating and stiffening the linen. On the 
fifth day desquamation in large pieces follows. The inner 
surface of the thighs as well as the inguinal region, the scrotum 
and the edges of the axilla are sore and covered with the same 
fluid. Every attempt to change position is excessively painful 
to the patient. The pulse is weak and quick, the tongue 
slightly coated, debility, but appetite is not diminished. It 
runs a tedious course, as the eruption is apt to reappear on 
places where a new cuticle had shown itself. Such an eczema 
is idiosyncratic and takes the place of salivation. 
What Dieterich and Falke calls impetigo, may he considered 
as eczema impetiginosum: The skin begins to swell and expand, 
so that the features can hardly be recognized, and the eyelids 
closed. The swelling goes over the whole body, the temperature 
increases and the pains are severe. First in the pubic region, 
then on the chest, appear dark pinkish spots of different sizes, 
of irregular borders, confluent, on a smooth surface and vio- 
lently itching. Large vesicles arise upon them, which subside 
at about the fifth day with a bran-like desquamation; about 
the ninth day the itching continuing during its whole course, 
whereas they appear at first only at the sternal region, they 
spread gradually over the whole chest, appear also on the arms, 
calves and inside of thighs. Sometimes we find bullae instead 
of the vesicles, which burst and discharge considerable fluid. 
After eight to ten days, exfoliation of the inflamed skin in 
361 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
large pieces takes place. It may happen that the cuticle comes 
off in one piece, as e. g., on the hand like a glove. After the 
casting off of the cuticle, peculiar, fish37-smelling, lymphatic 
and purulent exudations take place on the inflamed skin, 
which dry up to crusts, covering deeply ulcerated surfaces 
where the exudation continues. The upper part of these crusts 
become gradually withered and whitish-grey and fall off in 
scales. This process of dying off externally and of regeneration 
of the crust from below may repeat itself continually. Finally, 
also the skin on the hairy parts of the head, beard and eye- 
brows become dry, rough, fissured, and white, bran-like scales 
fall off' in large quantities, alopecia follows (with the exception 
of the cilia), and also the nails on hands and feet fall off. In 
some cases misformed nails may grow and the skin also remains 
rough and seal}7. It differs from syphilitic eruptions by the 
coppery color of the latter and their painless progress, also by 
the appearance of new syphilitic symptoms after the exanthema 
has run its course. 
In our cases of poisoning all forms and stages of eczema are 
found. 
31trc. viv.: (4) eczema vesiculosum and squamosum; (5 and 6) 
eczema impetiginosum; (10) eczema squamosum; (11) eczema 
acutum in all stages; (25 and 27) eczema from the vapors of 
Hg. 
Merc. subl. corr.: (1) Eczema vesicolosum squamosum, an ex- 
quisite case; internally given we never meet cutaneous affec- 
tions, as in large doses the manifestations of the mucous mem- 
branes appear more in the foreground. Hahnemann’s proving 
gives us the symptoms: painless blisters on the arms and ab- 
domen in the morning, which pass off during the day. 
Calomel.—Eczema vesiculosum squamosum (8). Duncan and 
Alley observed eczema from two grs. Calomel. 
Merc. sol.—In Andrien’s experiments we find eczema and the 
Materia Medica gives us: small, raised, firmly adhering crusts 
between the hair of the head, itching and burning after scratch- 
ing. Moist eruption on the hairy scalp, eating away the hair 
with painful pressure, especially at the sore places; eruption 
near the corners of the upper lip with yellow crusts, with a 
362 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
smarting, burning pain; under the chin yellow crusts quarter 
of an inch thick; nearly painless eruption on both thighs in 
the evening, preceded by heat in the head, and itching in the 
dorsum of the feet; a burning water oozing out after scratch- 
ing, as when one pours brandy into a wound; after itching, 
about midnight, sweat on abdomen and thighs, all without 
thirst. Eruption on the legs, sexual organs, bend of knees, 
neck and abdomen, red, sore, humid, itching, considerably ele- 
vated and on several places looking like fatty scabies; a place 
swelled up and a grey flat crust formed upon it, after which 
swelling and pain ceases. 
Cinnabaris causes eczema according to the experiments of 
Andrien. 
An extensive eczema was observed after the internal use of 
Merc. oxyd. nigr. and application of unguent, cinereum. Al- 
though the inunction produces most frequently the eczema, 
still we cannot put the whole blame on the local irritation, as 
the eruption is also observed on places far from the eruption, 
during internal use, in laborers and provers of Hg 
Kafka.—Merc, sol.3 in acute eczema with humid vesicles, 
with heat and burning of the atfected parts; cedematous swell- 
ing, e.g., of the eyelids, of the penis, ear, scrotum, etc.; simul- 
taneous swelling of the cervical glands; sleeplessness, restless- 
ness in the evening and flrst part of the night. Where no 
amelioration is seen in a week the remedy will be better dis- 
continued. He gives Merc, sol.3 (Rhus tox.3) for chronic capil- 
litic eczema; the groups of vesicles discharge continually a 
fluid, matting the hair together and causing a burning-itching. 
In obstinate cases it may be advisable to give Merc, prcec. rub. 
internally and externally. Chronic eczema behind the ear and 
copiously discharging improves quickly under Merc, sol.3 (or 
llepar); crusty eczema behind the ear, at the lobe of the ear or 
on the concha require at flrst the removal of the crusts and 
then Merc, prsec. rub., which also acts well in crusty eczema 
of the nipples, with fissures and rhagades, also in chronic 
eczema rubrum umbilici, externally (1 gr. to 2 drachms fat). 
Chronic eczema on the dorsum of the penis improves under 
Merc, sol.3, two doses daily; but where we find sore, horizon- 
363 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tally running streaks, it is better to combine the internal and 
external use of Merc, prsec. rub., especially where there are also 
rhagades and fissures. (Riiseberg prefers Merc, bijod. in such 
cases.) In chronic eczema of the extremities the indications 
are the same as in capillitic eczema. In eczema, caused by dirt, 
sweat, etc., and where cleanliness and anointing with fat does 
not suffice, he gives to the children Calc. carb. or Merc. sol. 
Hughes considers Hg. specific for eczema rubrum, as it is pa- 
thologically identical with eczema mercurialis, and expects also 
some benefit in eczema impetiginosum. 
Jahr gives Mercur. for the impetiginous eczema on the hand 
and fingers and of the ears. 
Marsten finds it indicated in eczema of the lower extremities; 
Blake in vesicular eczema, although it does not cure every vesi- 
cular eruption; Guernsey, where we meet also salivation and 
scorbutic gums; Cl. Muller considers it the chief remedy in ec- 
zema, especially of the extremities, and here again most fre- 
quently on the lower ones. Sulphur alone could be compared 
to it in value, still he prefers Mercur. as long as there are no 
complications. Even where there was already considerable in- 
filtration, and the patient was unable to take the necessary 
care of himself, Mercur. sufficed in many a case for a cure; but 
where there is considerable swelling and a varicose state, he 
prefers Sulphur. For the capillitic eczema (tinea capitis), found 
so frequently in children as eczema impetiginosum, with swell- 
ing of the lymphatic glands, Mercur. is less sovereign. In 
complication with impetigo or real ulceration, he gives Mercur., 
especially in impetigo on and behind the concha auris, some- 
times also Sulphur. Both remedies are also indicated in ec- 
zema scroti. Mercur., in fact, suits every eczema, except the 
papular, especially those running an acute or subacute course. 
Where Mercur. fails in chronic cases after a week or so, it is 
no use to expect anything from it. All mercurial preparations 
act well in eczema; least perhaps the corr. Merc, bijod. is 
preferable for rhagades, and Merc. viv. in chronic and less 
humid cases; Merc. sol. in all the common forms. 
364 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
d. Bullous Inflammations. 
Fourcroy mentions the case of a bullous exanthema in a 
gilder. In the case of poisoning with Hg. oxyd. nigr. and 
Ung. ciner., No. 1, we see bullee on an inflamed basis, not on 
normal skin as in pemphigus. 
Wolfsheim observed from Merc. corr.: Burning and redness 
of skin, a bulla forms containing a yellowish serous fluid, rais- 
ing the cuticle, and after being lanced, drying up with scaling 
of the epidermis. Bcehr mentions Hg. in pemphigus. He saw 
in Vienna a case of pemphigus in a nurse, who for >several 
years attended the syphilitic wards, and who had rubbed a 
large quantity of mercury with her hand. 
Schelling cured a case of pemphigus with Merc. sol. We 
have to rely here on general symptoms rather, as Hg. does not 
give the characteristic symptoms of pemphigus. 
e. Pustular Eruptions. 
Pustular eruptions, caused by mercury, are mentioned by 
Herrmann, Jussein (in Almaden), Alley (8 cases which ended 
fatally), Girtanner, Gardane, Stoll, Fleury, Hacker, Kahleis, 
Acberson, etc. Van Chersante described small-pox-like, cop- 
per-red pustules, on the face of a gilder, suffering from tremor. 
Hieterich’s impetigo we mentioned in eczema. He also 
describes a phydracia mercurial is, differing from acne syphi- 
litica, that the nodules appear on hairy parts with violent 
itching, of a dark pinkish color, and remaining thus for years, 
whereas acne syphilitica appears everywhere on the skin, 
causes no itching, is of a more coppery color, and does not last so 
long. The latter attacks first the chest and the forehead, more 
rarely the extremities, whereas in the former it is just the 
opposite. 
In Calomel we see in No. 6 great pustules over the whole 
body with ulcerations, but this case might have been compli- 
cated with syphilis. But in No. 9 Calomel caused pustules 
over the whole body, which dried in (showing great similarity 
to small-pox). 
Cooper witnessed after Merc. corr. pustules on the forehead. 
365 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Andrien observed in his experiments with Merc, bijod. hard- 
ened pustules (in 12 provers) once, the proving being made 
with the third decimal trituration. 
Merc, sol.: A very painful pustule on the nose; on the chin a 
pustule full of pus, of the size of a pea; small-pox-like eruption 
immediately above the anus, with pressing pain when sitting; 
a small red boil with red tip on the glutaus, with a stitching 
pain in it; pustules on the upper and lower limbs, the tips of 
which are tilled with pus, with itching: small itching pimples, 
afterwards changing to ulcers, during the healing of which the 
surrounding skin peels off; round stigmata on the thighs and 
legs; gradually changing to round, ulcerated spots, and becom- 
ing finally covered with a scurf. 
Kafka uses Merc. sol. and Merc, prac. rubr. for pustular erup- 
tions. In acne disseminata he gives Merc. sol. where the papu- 
lar form prevails, the inflamed follicle remaining at the acme 
of inflammation, without passing into suppuration, forming a 
bluish-red stigma, which, after detumescence, becomes covered 
with small scales, and gradually decreases in size. Of 'sycosis 
he says: We cut away the hair of the beard, of the eyebrows, 
of the axillae and mons veneris, extract with fine tweezers the 
hairs which penetrate the stigmata, pustules, or crusts, soften 
the crusts with oily applications, prescribe internally Merc, 
prac. rubr.2, a dose morning and evening, and apply the red 
precipitate ointment over all syeotic spots, at least twice a day. 
As often as fresh stigmata or pustules arise, the hairs must be 
again extracted, which manipulation ought to be nearly pain- 
less; and continue the external and internal use of red precipi- 
tate, till all stigmata and pustules have disappeared and no new 
ones make their appearance. 
According to Bcehr, Mercur. acts well in infantile impetigo 
of the face or hairy scalp, where the impetigo has a very red 
base (eczema impetiginosum). In ecthyma Tart. stib. is prefer- 
able to Mercur. 
We learn from the impetiginous eczemata and pustular erup- 
tions, caused by mercurial inunctions and the internal use of 
Calomel, that these two preparations may be considered chief 
remedies for the rare, but frequently fatal eruption, which 
366 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Hebra calls impetigo herpetiformis, and which so far has been 
exclusively observed in women during pregnancy or puer- 
perium. 
/. Squamous Inflammations of the Skin. 
Tn Hahnemann's proving we find the following symptoms: 
Skin dirty-yellow, rough and dry; reddish-white, rough, her- 
petic spot on the left malar bone; burning, corrosive, humid 
and itching pimple on the right lobule, having a scaly appear- 
ance like herpes, which he has to scratch; the left arm, especi- 
ally the elbow, is covered with small, red, not inflamed eleva- 
tions, the tips of which become white, scaly and itching; they 
burn when scratched; herpes on the right forearm, round, the 
skin peeling oft', with voluptuous itching, and lasting 18 days; 
large, red, round, scaly spots, with burning pain, one inch in 
diameter, on the forearm and wrist; herpes on the posterior 
surface of the thigh, painful when scratched, and the epidermis 
coming off when scratching, for 30 days; herpes, causing a 
burning when touched; dry, elevated, burning-itching herpes 
over the whole body, especially extremities, arms, joints of the 
hand even between the fingers; rliagades, as they appear in 
psoriasis, especially on the flexor surfaces of the extremities, 
palma man us and planta pedis and on the face. Merc. sol. has 
fissures and rhagades of the corners of the mouth; deep fissures 
in the fingers, looking sore and bloody at their base; the 
fingers look as if they had a cut, especially on the inner surface ; 
a deep fissure, like a cut, between thumb and index-finger, 
bloody and painful. 
Hence we may conclude, that squamous eruptions only arise 
from the action of small doses; sometimes after a few doses of 
Merc. sol. or Merc, viv., the only two preparations which mani- 
fest such symptoms. 
Whereas Bcehr and Kafka fail to mention Mercur. in 
psoriasis and pityriasis, Hughes witnessed good effects from 
Mercur. in recent affections of the hands, and even in chronic 
cases it will act beneficially, though we may need Arsen, to 
finish the cure, where this is possible. 
Jahr praises Mercur. in psoriasis infantilis and syphilitica. 
367 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Cl. Muller considers Mercur. to correspond fully in its skin 
symptoms to psoriasis, although it must be admitted that the 
usual and characteristic Hg. exanthemata fail to show the spe- 
cialties of psoriasis. After giving the usual squamous symp- 
toms he adds: The parts of the skin remaining unaffected by 
impetigo mercurialis, become rough, dry, somewhat fissured, 
and continually desquamate white, bran-like leaflets, especially 
on the hairy scalp, beard and eyebrows, but the face escapes. 
The occurrence of psoriasis in syphilitic organisms is an argu- 
ment in favor of mercury; but even where such a complication 
was not present, I have witnessed good effects from Mercur., 
alter the fruitless use ot' Arsen., or where the latter produced 
only a temporary amelioration. This most frequently happens 
in cases where the lower extremities are especially affected. 
He uses mostly Merc, sol.; in rare cases, Merc, prsec. rubr. 
g. Papular Inflammations of the Skin. (Lichen, Prurigo). 
In Case 25 we find that Mereur. caused a papular eruption 
on the back. 
Merc, sol.: Under the skin of the left cheek a large tubercle; 
heat and redness of the lobule which is excessively painful. 
Two days afterwards a tubercle forms in the left lobule which 
lasts twelve weeks; the left arm, especially the elbow, is cov- 
ered with small, red, not inflamed elevations, the tips of which 
become white, scaly and itching, they burn when scratched; 
small pimples on the inner surface of the thigh, itching and re- 
lieved by scratching; small efflorescences on the inner surface 
of the thighs. 
Merc. sail. corr.—Knorre speaks of a fine red eruption over 
the whole head [A. Tl. Z., 19, 283). Trousseau observed a pap- 
ular exanthema on the calves, similar to lichen agrius. 
Cinnabaris: Stinging-itching of the neck and chest, with 
swelling of the cervical glands; red points and spots on those 
parts changing to hard little blotches, with burning and in- 
creased itching after scratching. In the morning a red papular 
eruption without itching on both elbows, worse on the left. 
Whereas 'Kafka does not mention Mereur. in lichen, he says 
of it in 'prurigo, that Merc. sol. corresponds to most of the 
368 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
symptoms, and during the first stage of development he found 
the use of this preparation beneficial in children as well as in 
grown persons. Efflorescences, arising spontaneously from 
some unknown cause and causing violent itching during the 
night and becoming pale red in consequence of the scratching 
and rubbing, become paler and smaller after five to six days 
and the itching diminished so rapidly that after six to eight 
days sleep was fully restored. The efflorescences either re- 
mained in statu quo without causing any further disturbance 
or passed off entirely. In old cases other remedies are required. 
Cl. Muller gives in prurigo Mercur. (or Ant. crud.), when 
complicated with eczema, impjetigo and ecthyma, both reme- 
dies also in p>rurigo genitalium. Inasmuch as the phydracia 
mercurial, mentioned by Dieterich, has great similarity with 
Lichen pilaris, we may try it whenever the indications corre- 
spond. 
In prurigo and lichen scrofulosorum Cinnab. may act in some 
cases better than Merc. sol. 
4. Lupus. 
Lupus is a cutaneous neoplasiua; Mercur. never produces 
such and therefore cannot be indicated. But Merc, bijod. 
causes tubercular formations in the skin and especially when 
caused by syphilis it may find its place in the treatment of 
lupus tuberosus, and other mercurial preparations may be used 
in lupus exedens to restrict the ulcerative process. 
According to Kafka, where syphilis is suspected, the proto- 
iodide of Mercur. 2d or 3d (or Nitr. ac.2) may be given for some 
time in an ascending scale. Jahr mentions Mercur. here among 
the remedies of the third order. CL Midler has sometimes 
witnessed beneficial results from Arsen, and Mercur. but they 
failed entirely in other cases. In one case, where the affections 
already lasted ten years and where the left eye, the nose and 
upper lip were totally destroyed and the lower lip partially, 
the destructive process was stopped by the use of Mercur. 
369 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
5. Cutaneous Ulcers 
In Hahnemann’s case of poisoning with Calomel cutaneous 
ulcers were found on several places. Poisonings with Merc, 
corr. run too rapid a course and hence ulcera are out of the 
question. Simon observed from Merc. cyan. (3) ulcera with 
diphtheritic deposit around the anus. We find in Merc, sol.: 
Ped ulcers of the size of a millet-seed on the right side of the 
chin, painless when touched; suppurating, small, red ulcers on 
the left side of the knee, painless; gnawing-itching ulcers on 
the outer side of the right thigh, necessitating scratching; 
small, itching pimples, afterwards changing to ulcers, during 
the healing of which the surrounding skin peels off; dropsical 
persons lost their swelling, in the place of which fetid ulcers 
made their appearance on the legs, which became speedily 
putrid. Symptoms suggesting chancre are: A number of small 
red vesicles at the termination of the glans behind the prepuce, 
changing to ulcers, which burst and discharge a yellowish- 
white, staining, strong-smelling matter; afterwards the larger 
ulcers bleed and when touching them a pain is felt in them 
which affects the whole body; they are round, their edges, 
which look like raw flesh, overlap the ulcers, the base of which 
is covered with a cheesy lining; burning around the glans in 
the evening, afterwards vesicles on the inner surface of the 
foreskin, which soon form little ulcers, healing rapidly. 
Kafka says in the therapy of the inflammatory ulcer: We 
give Bellad.3, a dose every hour where the pain is severe, the 
secretion scanty, and the swollen, red and hot periphery of the 
ulcer surrounded by blisters; or Merc. sol. (or Rhus) where the 
secretion is acrid and corroding, producing an eczematous erup- 
tion at the edges and in the neighborhood of the ulcer. Where 
the ulcer takes on an inflammatory character in consequence of 
cold, or where it is very painful, Mercur. is indicated. Where 
in necrotic ulcers numerous worms or maggots are present, ir- 
rigation is necessary for their removal, or where this does not, 
suffice, Aqua Merc. corr. (1 gr. to 3 ounces distilled water). 
Ilalfort thus describes the mercurial ulcer, hence also the in- 
dication of Mercur.: The ulcers usually arise from an ecthyma- 
370 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
pustule from wounds, scars or ulcers of another character; they 
have irregular, not sharply defined, slightly elevated edges, an 
irregular indented form, a dirty grey base (as if covered by 
blotting paper) and are surrounded by a red halo, bleed easily 
and are not very sensitive. They heal easily in one place, to 
break open again in another. Scrofulosis in ulcers is another 
indication for Mercur. 
6. Syphilis of the Skin, 
Where syphilis is the cause of the already treated papular, 
squamous, pustular, bullous, ulcerous, cutaneous affections not 
treated by Mercur , we have one more indication for this drug, 
and Merc. sol. or vivus will mostly suffice. In condylomata 
we use Merc, cyanat., in tubercles and rhagades of the skin 
Merc, bijod. 
We have only still to consider the macular syphilides and 
rupia. Keller, Hermann, Halfort observed macular eruptions 
in workers with Hg., and numerous cases could be mentioned 
where they appeared after the internal and external application 
of mercurials. 
Merc. subl. corr. (61): Over the whole body an eruption of 
pale red, apparently elevated, roundish maculae, disappearing 
by pressure of the fingers, not sharply limited and itching; in 
some places they become confluent, like rubeola. 
Merc, sol.: Red spots on the face; eruption of red, elevated 
spots, itching and stitching. In Andrien’s provers: red spots 
with small maculae at the upper and lower extremities and on 
the trunk, not on the face, with severe burning-itching. 
Whereas Hermann considers rupia the exclusive product of 
hydrargyrosis and the representative of mercurial eruptions, 
Ilebra considers it caused by syphilis. At any rate we know 
that Mercur. produces pustules which become incrusted and 
may try it in rupia, if not caused by large doses of the drug. 
Kafka recommends Merc, bijod., internally and after softening 
and removal of the crusts Merc. corr. externally. Hughes says: 
If it is true that rupia appears rarely in syphilis, not maltreated 
already by large doses of Mercur., the latter may become a 
useful remedy for the simple form. 
371 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Eruptions of secondary syphilis yield best to Cinnabaris; the 
tubercular syphilide of tertiary syphilis is amenable to Mtrc. 
bijod., especially where there are also ulcera faucium and broad 
condylomata. Where the tubercles are already exacerbated 
(lupus syphiliticus) and the condylomata show fissures and 
ulcers, Merc, prcec. rub. may be prescribed internally as well as 
externally, and if no amelioration sets in it is advisable to 
change to Merc, bijod. Squamous syphilis does not need Cin- 
nabaris as long as there are no ulcers in the folds of the skin, 
but as soon as fissures or ulcers appear we use red precipitate 
internally and externally. 
Bcehr uses Cinnabaris, Merc. jod. and bijod. in syphilitic 
skin affections. Andrien gives Merc, bijod. for syphilides with 
indurated bases, or with ulcers with callous edges. 
Gerson recommends Merc, prcec.rub. for that form of syphilides 
where one solitary place, especially on the extremities, papular 
eruptions form of a brown-red color which burn and itch, have 
a doughy feeling, burst and form ulcers of the size and form 
of half an apple. These ulcers are mostly circular, have only 
slightly elevated edges, a lardaceous base, secreting pus abun- 
dantly. He also uses it in lupous and impetiginous syphilides 
where ulceration takes place under the crusts, showing the 
characteristic symptom of chancre which so closely indicate 
Merc, prcec. rub. 
Merc, bijod. corresponds to those syphilides whose chief ele- 
ment is the nodule, and whose especial form is the elevated, 
round herpes. He also recommends this preparation for a pe- 
culiar form of tertiary syphilis, appearing exclusively on the 
scrotum. Without any general discoloration or inflammatory 
irritation of the scrotal skin, we find deeply penetrating indu- 
rations of the size and form of a struma, on whose surface con- 
tinual desquamation takes place; so that the denuded surfaces 
look like raw flesh, on which thin diphtheritic exudations 
form. These places itch and burn violently, and whereas some 
pass off, new ones reappear. This is a very obstinate, painful 
syphilide, but it will yield readily to Merc, bijod. 
Espanet prefers Cinnabaris for the vesicular form, for isolated 
vesicles and patches on a reddish base; for the red, erysipela- 
372 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tous tumors on the cheeks and eyelids; for the plaques muqueu- 
ses, the inflammation of the nose with copious secretion, and 
with simultaneous vesicular affection of the lips. Calomel suits 
especially the abscesses of the anus; Merc, bijod. the nodosities, 
indurations and tubercles; Corrosivus the obstinate cases, the 
cachectic state, the destructive ulcerations and the red spots, 
migrating from one place to another; Merc. nitr. intertrigo and 
excoriations; Merc. viv. and sol. the non-syphilitic zona, even in 
preference to Arsen., Graph it., Caustic, and Phosphor. In pso- 
riasis he prefers Merc.- corr. to Oinnabaris. 
Syphilis is frequently combined with alopecia, a symptom 
also found in IIg.; even Kussmaul found it in workmen on 
mirrors. We meet the same symptom also in case 84 and 35, 
from Merc, viv., and in Merc. sol. we read: The hair comes out 
without any headache, and there is exfoliation of the finger- 
nail; the nails of the fingers and toes ulcerate with itching. 
7. Parasites of the Skin 
Scabies.—Small, internal doses of Ilg. will not destroy the 
acarus; we need for that purpose the external use of Sulphur. 
Still we meet indications for the use of Hg. even in Virchow's 
Pathology and Therapy, I, 471, where he says that it depends 
greatly on the soil on which the sarcoptes flourishes, inasmuch 
as in some cases these parasites may pass through their whole 
development in man, fructify, deposit their eggs, and give birth 
to a new generation, without our meeting a trace of scabies. 
Mercur. also produces all those cutaneous eruptions which are 
produced in scabies by the irritation of the parasite and by 
scratching. A large dose of Ilg. might therefore render the 
soil suitable for the development of itch, and small doses cor- 
respond therefore to scabies in a twofold manner. We find, 
furthermore, the itching in places, free from the furrows made 
by the sarcoptes, and there also the efflorescences caused by the 
scratching. 
Kafka gives in Sulphur-eczema, caused by the heroic treat- 
ment of scabies, Merc. sol. 2 or 8 doses a day, especially when 
they become obstinate, secrete copiously, and itch so terribly 
that the sufferer is forced to scratch. Blake considers theoreti- 
373 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
cally Mercur. far more indicated in scabies than Sulphur, inas- 
much as the characteristic eruption of Sulphur is papular, but 
scabies more vesicular; although we also find pointed tubercles 
mixed with the vesicles. The mere diagnosis of scabies fails 
to indicate Sulphur, and wherever we find vesicular eruption, 
Mercur. is certainly to be preferred. 
General Disturbances of Nutrition. 
1. Anosmia, Chlorosis. 
Headland's studies prove, that in chronic toxicat.ions with 
Ilg. the blood not only becomes poorer in fibrine and albumen, 
but that it also loses one-third or more of its blood-corpuscles. 
We meet at the same time paleness of the skin, which is re- 
laxed, wrinkled and cold; the face is pale, sallow, the cheeks 
sunk in, the nose pointed. The visible mucous membranes are 
pale, and of a bluish, muddy-looking color. There is general 
malaise and lassitude; he feels always chilly; the feet become 
cedematous, whereas all other parts of the body are emaciated. 
Buzzing in the ears, vertigo, syncope, are frequent symptoms, 
also periodical attacks of pain. Dyspepsia, retarded stool, 
irregular and scanty menses, leucorrhcea, sleeplessness—in short 
all the symptoms of anaemia, as we find them after great losses 
of fluids, hemorrhages, and all the symptoms of chlorosis are 
again found in chronic mercurialism. 
Canstatt and Marshall Hall consider the so-called mercurial 
erethismus as an acute anaemia. Dieterich and Falk described 
it thus: after Ilg. has been taken for some time, a chlorotic 
state of the body arises, with pale face, great restlessness, sigh- 
ing and yawning, lassitude, loss of power, and emaciation. 
Respiration frequent, chest oppressed with a sensation of con- 
striction, fluttering in the praecordia; pulse small, frequent, 
sometimes intermittent. With the progress of the disease the 
adynamia also increases with a steadily increasing sensation of 
anguish in the praecordia, of the sighing and yearning, of the 
beating and fluttering of the heart. The function of the latter 
in general becomes more irregular, so that during sleep the beat 
of the heart can hardly be felt externally. A gradually in- 
374 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
creasing tremor of the whole body is now added to the other 
ailments, especially of the fingers and corners of the mouth; 
desire for sour drinks; sometimes vomiting of food or mucus, 
of bile; diarrhoea off and on, of a green color, followed by con- 
stipation, even choleraic attacks; fainting spells, pale, collapsed 
face, sensation of coldness over the whole body, with excessive 
debility. Death frequently sets in very suddenly in conse- 
quence of the debility of the heart, when the patient exerts 
himself a trifle during a walk or at home; even rising up in 
bed may kill him. Bellows murmur has been heard in the 
carotids and veins of the neck. Hermann mentions twenty-two 
cases of anaemia in his one hundred and twenty-two patients. 
Kafka mentions Merc. sol. among the remedies for congenital 
ancemia, when the children do not wish to go to sleep; also for 
the anaemia of evolution, with copious salivation, chronic stoma- 
titis or gungivitis. 
Goullon, Jr., justly remarks: We are astonished that Mercur. 
is not more frequently mentioned as a remedy for chlorosis, as 
its pathogenesis in that disease is as rich as that of Calcar., 
Pulsat., Sulphur, Sepia, Platin. and others; many think of it 
only during the prodromal stage, -which is one of scrofulosis. 
Still we find in Mercur. as chlorotic symptoms: disagreeable, 
metallic taste, loss of appetite; nausea, coated tongue, foul 
breath, loose gums, labored respiration, pressing, tensive sensa- 
tion in the pnecordia; abdominal restlessness, sleeplessness, las- 
situde, loss of strength, tremor of extremities, pale, sallow fea- 
tures, pale lips, blue rings around the lustreless, sunken eyes. 
All these symptoms are found in allopathic works, just as they 
give us also the poverty of blood-globules, the decrease of 
fibrine, serum and alkaline salts. We would recommend 
Mercur. especially in protracted cases of chlorosis, appearing in 
connection with polyuria, profuse loss of fluids during suppura- 
tion; sweating, salivation, hemorrhages, diarrhoea. We do not 
find in mercurialism an increase of the white blood-corpuscles, 
and leucaemia therefore excludes Mercur. 
375 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
2. Di'betes Mellitus. 
Sackowsky observed in rabbits after subcutaneous injections 
of 0.02 to 0.04 grammes of Merc, corr., that in twelve cases 
eight times the urine was passed in larger quantities, pale and 
transparent, containing more or less large quantities of sugar. 
In five cases the diabetes was so severe that two centimetres of 
urine during a fermentation of forty-eight hours and at a tern 
perature of 31° C. gave between 3 to 4 centimetres carbonic 
acid. This artificially produced diabetes lasted sometimes four 
to five days, in one case a whole week and the animals sur- 
vived. Two dogs were slowly poisoned by subcutaneous in- 
jections of 2 grain doses for thirteen or fifteen days; they 
emaciated fearfully and suffered for four weeks from violent 
diabetes. Calomel and Hg. jod. cause the same symptoms.— 
Virchow’s Archiv.f. Path. Anai., Yol. XXXVII. 
Kletzynsky observed in the hydrargyrosis of man an increased 
secretion of sugar in the urine. In their respective chapters 
we treated already the polyuria of Mercur. as also the furun- 
culosis and dryness of the skin. 
Jahr mentions Mercur. favorably among the remedies for 
diabetes, and Goullon remarks that Jousset failed to see any 
benefit in diabetes mellitus from Mercur. prsec. rubr. As this 
mercurial preparation has never been proved, we have no strict 
indications for its use; yet it certainly makes some difference 
which preparation we use. Merc. sol. and dulc. have import- 
ant relations to the liver, and we may expect the same from 
the red precipitate. At any rate its administration was fol- 
lowed in one case by very large bilious stools; but it must be 
added that the patient took at the same time rhubarb and 
drastic pills. The patient had taken for his diabetes mellitus 
eight powders of Merc. prtec. rubr., each containing one-third 
grain. The cause of the disease was a fall from a great height, 
causing loss of consciousness, somnolent stupor; cerebral symp- 
toms with diminished frequency of pulse; all symptoms which 
Cl. Bernard produced by his piqure on rabbits. 
376 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
3. Scrofulosis. 
Hermann found in Ischia among 122 patients, fifteen grown 
persons suffering from scrofulosis. He considers this disease 
endemic in Ischia and gives us the interesting fact that two 
children, born at a time when the parents worked in salt mines, 
were not scrofulous; whereas those born in Ischia suffered from 
it, although the parents enjoyed all the time excellent health. 
It is evidently the atmosphere at Ischia, impregnated with Hg., 
which produces the disease. Hermann saw scrofulosis also in 
persons making barometers or working in looking glass facto- 
ries, where all the children suffer from it, whereas the parents 
suffer only from liydrargyrosis, and not from scrofulosis. 
Mayr, of Furth, witnessed frequent abortions or dead foetuses 
in pregnant women working in looking glass factories, and 
their infants, born alive, suffer from scrofulosis, rachitis, erup- 
tions and miasmus. Keller says that the children of such 
parents look pale and cachectic, showing clearly the scrofulous 
type and anaemia. Want of animal food and low, ill ventilated 
dwellings cannot be blamed for it, as the children of parents 
living under the same circumstances, but having different 
labor, do not suffer in like manner. Schneider found in autop- 
sies of workers with Hg. indurations of the lymphatic glands. 
Graves says that syphilitic patients, who take a large quan- 
tity of Hg , easily fall into a state of mercurial cachexia, look- 
ing exactly like scrofulosis. They exhibit emaciation, nutri- 
tive disturbances, irritability, fever, affections of the skin, of 
the lymphatic glands, of the periosteum. 
Having treated already of most of the affections, it remains 
only for us to study those of the lymphatic glands. Habershon, 
Guldbrand and Dietrich mention them in general, Mathias 
especially the bubo mercurialis, and Hunter the hypertrophy 
of the inguinal glands. Dietrich also witnessed from the in- 
ternal use of Merc. dulc. intumescence of the mesenteric glands. 
As the swelling of the lymphatic glands is caused by infiltra- 
tion with cellular elements, we see here again a part only of 
the general action of Mercury, showing us that this drug never 
produces a neoplasma, not even of connective tissue. 
377 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
In Merc. viv. we find: Swelling of the maxillary glands (2); 
left submaxillary glands swollen (15); both (49, 50, 51); swell- 
ing of the glands of the neck and throat (25); submaxillary 
glands swollen, hard and painful (26); anterior lymphatic 
glands of the neck hard and large (34). In 25 we see that the 
children of a barometer manufacturer suffer and some of them 
die from scrofulosis. 
Merc, sol.: Painful swelling of the glands of the neck and 
ear, so that the jaws cannot be moved; stitching pains of the 
cervical glands, and symptoms 510 to 525 relating to bubo. 
Goullon justifies the use of mercurials in scrofulosis, as we 
know that they all modify the lymphatic system and produce 
in the whole organismus a state similar to scrofulosis. Hunter, 
Vigaroux, Samuel Cooper, JRicherand, Alibert, etc., show that 
persons exposed to the noxious influence of Hg., frequently 
have scrofulous children. Without putting too much stress on 
the source of scrofulosis, as homoeopaths we should take note 
of such experience. 
Goullon mentions as manifestations of scrofulosis: Inflamma- 
tion of the glands with phlegmonous redness, swelling and 
pain ; evening aggravation ; blepharodenitis with ulceration of 
the cornea and photophobia; atrophia meseraica with debilita- 
ting diarrhoea and fever of dentition; coxalgia; coryza with 
copious discharge from the nose; panaritium in the inflam- 
matory stage; osseous affections; eczema, stomacace, otorrhcea. 
Kafka says of Merc. sol.: In eczema scrofulosum on and 
behind the ears, when the edge and base of the eczema is red 
and hot, the discharge copious, we give Merc, sol., two or three 
doses daily till we see a decided amelioration. Only then he 
allows the crusts to be softened with oil and applies the red 
precipitate ointment on the affected parts, continuing at the 
same time the internal use of Merc. sol. in acute coryza, in 
chronic coryza with purulent, blood mixed, foul-smelling dis- 
charge, or with dry crusts, or with ulcerating nostrils; we 
sometimes fail to see any benefit from Calcar, or Silic., and 
then Merc, prsec. rubr., internally and externally, is indicated. 
In acute swelling of the lymphatic glands Mercur. is indicated, 
when the gland feels hard, is not intensely red and not too 
378 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
sensitive to the touch (after Bellad.) and may be continued 
even when suppuration threatens, or when, without going into 
suppuration, the gland remains hard and painless (Bellad. or 
Conium). In scrofulous inflammation of the joints, after the 
removal of the inflammatory symptoms, in order to induce 
absorption (Bryon., Arnica, Sulphur). 
Bcehr considers as general anti-scrofulose remedies: Calcar., 
Arsen., Ferrum and Sulphur, and uses Mercur. where specific 
indications exist. We rather count it among the former after 
Calcar, and Sulphur. 
According to Lobethal Mercur. in general corresponds to the 
diseases of reproduction and vegetation, to those of the lym- 
phatic glands, the skin and the serous and mucous membranes; 
only secondarily to the blood and nervous system. It suits, 
therefore, the leucophlegmatic habitus, the bloated skin with 
tendency to cold and sweat. The fuller the reproductive 
power, the more depraved the nutrition, the slower the mental 
development from bodily weakness, the more Mercur. will be 
indicated; a remedy hardly ever suitable to the choleric or 
choleric-sanguine temperament with its dry skin and tense 
fibre. 
Espanet considers Mercur. not only to correspond to the 
glandular swellings and to the subacute phlegmasise of the 
mucous membranes, hut also to the advanced stage with its 
night-sweats, colliquations, rapid emaciation, indurated or ul- 
cerated glands; encrusted and itching eruptions, especially on 
the hairy scalp; frequent and jumentous urine, lienteria, diar- 
rhoea, enlarged abdomen and rachitis. Merc. sol. or viv., in 
alternation with Sulphur, is useful in scrofulous indurations of 
the skin and cellular tissue. 
4. Scorbutus. 
Post-mortem examination of persons dying from scurvy, or 
from chronic poisoning with Ilg., alike give us the following 
results: Extreme emaciation of the cadaver, moderate oedema 
especially of the lower extremities, a sallow color of the skin, 
which is covered with dry scales of the epidermis. Extrava- 
sations here and there in the cutis and subcutaneous cellular 
379 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
tissue, the blood very fluid and dark; the endocardium and 
the walls of the blood-vessels strongly infiltrated (especially in 
corros.), serous or sero-fibrinous exudation in the cavities of 
the pleura, pericardium, peritoneum and in the articular cap- 
sules; the liver, spleen and kidneys full of ecchymoses, relaxed, 
full of blood and infiltrated with extravasated blood, ecchy- 
moses are even found between the serosa and muscularis of the 
intestines. 
We miss a characteristic symptom of scurvy in acute and 
chronic poisoning with Hg., the tough, red infiltrations under 
the skin, between and in the muscles and in the periosteum. 
The latter have nothing in common with the gumma, as they 
are not a sequel of periostitis. 
Both have in common: Debility and lassitude, depressed 
mood, pale and dirty complexion; eyes sunken and surrounded 
by blue rings; tearing, stitching pains in the extremities, 
stomatitis, ecchymosis, hemorrhages from nose, lungs, kidneys, 
stomach and female sexual organs. 
Merc. viv.: Round, dark red petechise on the abdomen and 
lower extremities, hemorrhages from mouth, nose, eyelids, 
forehead, bloody urine (48). 
Merc, corr.: The cortical substance of the kidney full of 
small red points, towards the infundibula. Ecchymosis in the 
ovary (27), numerous reddish-grey, round eccbymotic spots, not 
disappearing by pressure, over the trunk and extremities; 
especially numerous in the small of the back (43); bloody dis- 
charge into the stomach (53); mucous membrane of the stom- 
ach inflamed, softened, discolored from the extravasated 
blood (57 and 59); ecchymosis under the serous membrane of 
the stomach (27); coagulated blood in stomach (28, 37); dis- 
coloration in the large curvature of the stomach, near the 
pylorus (34); ecchymosis in coecum, like hemorrhoidal knobs, 
more numerous near the anus (28); intestinal mucous mem- 
brane covered with ecchymosis (29); darkened spots on the 
inner surface of the duodenum (41); ecchymosis in the endo- 
cardium. We see thus that the corrosivus corresponds most to 
scurvy; while the Merc. dulc. is preferable where the gums 
are especially affected. 
380 MERCURY AND ITS PREPARATIONS. 
Hydrops. 
A sequel of many diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidney, 
anaemia, etc. We have seen already that chronic hydrargyrosis 
produces dropsy, especially anasarca; without showing whether 
it emanated from the liver or kidneys (we may exclude heart 
and lungs), or whether the whole blood mass became affected. 
Mercur. suits anasarca of the lower extremities, especially 
that arising from eruptive diseases, as scarlatina, or from hy- 
dreemia. Inasmuch as Hg. also affects liver and kidney, and 
inasmuch as we already mentioned that in poisoning with 
corros. death ensues sooner than the possible appearance of 
dropsy, we consider the corros. indicated in nephritis and 
hydrops post scarlatinum. 
381