_11 errurial plaster is a combination of m tallic mercury, oleate of mercury (see and lead plaster.
THERAPEUTICS.—Metallie mercury is rra'rly rmployed as a cathartic in the fr.rn, f blue pill. As such it is an ex c. d-nt agent when hepatic torpor is thoug.h it sometimes proves irri tating to the intestinal tract. Nine grains, rr three 3-g-rain pills, usually give rise. to little, if any, .ariping. If this spnptom is feared, however, a little opium may be added. It is customary to administer a saline purgative the next day to enhance the effect produced.
Case of heart-failure of a year's stand ing, increasing severity of symp toms, in which the administration of blue mass produced the most excellent results after other treatment had failed. The ding was combined with digitalis and sulphate of cinchonidine in the same pro portion, 1 grain of each in every pill. Three pills were taken daily. Excellent results obtained with the same combina tion in cases of general cedema, as a re sult of weak heart simply or of organic ally diseased heart. Regulated diet and hygiene should accompany the use of the remedies. William Pepper (T_Tniv. Med. Mag., Jan., '90).
When a series of symptoms would in dicate a bilious state of the system, oc curring in persons over 40, especially women, and characterized by sleepless ness, the best results are produced by the use of blue pill. This acts distinctly as soporific. W. J. Tyson (Brit. Med. Jour., Jan. 31, '91).
Gray powder, or mercury with chalk, possesses much the same properties as blue mass, but it acts more mildly and is, therefore, considerably used in the treatment of children suffering from hepatic atony and the intestinal ail ments resulting therefrom. The antacid power of the chalk adds to its value in the treatment of infantile diarrhcea with watery, colorless stools. It is also used in infantile syphilis with marked success, especially in syphilitic marasmus.
Mercurial ointrnent, besides its well known value in the treatment of syphilis (q. v.), is also employed as an anti phlogistic and resolvent in inflammatory disorders of the joints. It is especially valuable when effusions and ankylosis are feared as a result of the local changes.
Its antiphlogistic properties also fest themselves in inflammatory esses of the peritoneum, and it is often used in peritonitis. The same may be said of orchitis and epididymitis, gland ers, and other surgical mycoses.
Three cases of human glanders treated by gray ointment. The first case died the day after examination by the author. The other two received the infection from the first. Abscesses were incised and dis infected, and friction with the gray oint ment, 1 draclun daily, prescribed. One and one-lialf ounces were used in the one case, and 6 V, ounces in the other. Cure
resulted in both. Gralevsky (Wratsch, No. 25, '93).
Neapolitan ointment successfully used in treatment of malignant pustule. The ulcer was daily washed with sublimate, carefully wiped with cotton soaked in the same solution, in order to remove all the mortified portions, and covered with a piece of linen upon which the ointment had been spread. This dressing AA-as re moved only during the time required to wash the ulcer. Definite recovery took Plaee AA-ithin four or five weeks. N. Vertepoff (Medit. Oboz., No. 5, '94).
A substitute for inunction in mercurial treatment, namely: impregnating the garments of patients needing mercurial treatment with some preparation of the metal, as suggested by Merget. Welan der used a powder consisting of 40 per cent. of mercury, with zinc and alu minium in amalgam. Personal modifica tion of this method used the last two years with good results. A coarsely woven cloth, "mercolint" (made by the firm of Beirsdorf, in Hamburg), is im pregnated with a salve containing 90 per cent. of mercury. Shirts made of mer colint are worn by the patients night and day. When in about four weeks the gray color of the garment changes to Avhite, it is concluded that all the mer cury has been absorbed: i.e., 2 V, drachms to 121/2 drachms. Mercury ap pears in the urine and stomatitis, with salivation, is produced. Illaschko (Ber liner klin. Woch., Nov. 13, '99).
It is considerably used in the treat ment of pediculi, or other parasites of the hairy regions of the body; but, as shown by Leidy, any fixed or volatile oil or even a bland ointment will act as effectually. Hence mercurial ointment should only be employed after trying the less dangerous preparations. If the former is used, care should be taken to avoid salivation.
When turpentine is placed in a. bottle with mercury and shaken, the metal will separate into the finest particles. This facilitates the preparation of salves, etc. M. R. Laza (Gaceta Medica, May 15, 1900).
Mercurial plaster may be used in the same disorders as the ointment and with the same objects in view. It is especially valuable in the treatment of splenic en largements of malarial origin. It is also used to prevent pitting in small-pox.
Nitrates of IVIereury.The nitrate or pernitrate of mercury is only used in the preparation of a solution and an oint ment.
Solution of acid nitrate of mercury, the liquor hydrargyri nitratis, contains about 60 per cent. of nitrate of mercury and 11 per cent. of free nitric acid. It is used. as a caustic.
Ointment of nitrate of mercury, the unguentum hydrargyri nitratis, or citrine ointment, contains about 7 parts of mer cury, 18 parts of nitric acid, and 75 parts of lard-oil. It is not a stable prepara tion and should be freshly prepared.