Page 425 - My FlipBook

MERCURY. 423

and dysentery. Externally in diseases of the eye, diseases of the
skin, ulcers, gonorrhoea and gleet, etc., etc. The external appli-
cation to large surfaces is dangerous. Its use is contra-indicated in
patients affected with pulmonary disease. Drs. Yates and Kings-
ford report three cases of cancrum oris in children cured by wip-
ing the affected parts with a solution of the bichloride of mercury
(i to 500), and afterwards dressing them with lint soaked in a
similar solution (i to 1000). He.althy granulations soon made
their appearance, and the wound quickly contracted.
For cases of poisoning the antidotes are albumen, white of egg,
wheat flour, milk, etc.
Dose.—Of corrosive sublimate gr. ^^ to gr. ^i^j, in pill or solu-
tion.
Dental Uses.—In addition to what has already been stated in
regard to the dental uses of bichloride of mercury, it is employed
as a lotion, injection or gargle, in chronic diseases of the mucous
membrane, ulcers, ulitis, etc. Dr. C. T. Stockwell reports a case
of acute ulitis in which bichloride of mercury, in solution i-iooo,
was used to bathe the parts, and the pockets about the teeth in-
jected with it, the result being very satisfactory ; and the same
solution used as a sterilizing agent is considered to be very effi-
cient. For sterilizing cavities and root-canals of the teeth it is a
valuable and efficient antiseptic and germicide ; also weak solu-
tions are useful for treating abscess, ulcers. When used as a
sterilizing agent, the rubber-dam should be adjusted previous to
its application.
Test for Bichloride of Mercury.—Dr. Chas. Mayr recommends
the following to determine whether a solution of bichloride of
mercury is still reliable or not: Saturate a nice grade of paper
with a solution of a given amount of iodide of potassium in water;
with the proper gauging of this solution, after it has dried on the
paper, a drop of the solution of the bichloride (i to 500) will pro-
duce a scarlet spot when dropped on the paper ; a solution of i
to 1000, a yellow spot ; a more dilute solution, no spot at all.
To obtain this result, a certain strength of the solution of iodide
of potash guaged for the paper to be used is required. The solu-
tion of iodide of potash should be made slightly alkaline, which