mercury

(mer’ku-re) [1,. mercu’rius, or hydrar’- gyrum). A metallic element, liquid at ordinary temperatures; quicksilver. Its symbol is Hg; atomic weight, 199.7; specific gravity, 13.59. It is insoluble in ordinary solvents, being only partially soluble in boiling hydrochloric acid. It may be di olved, however, in nitric acid. Mercury forms two sets or cla es of compounds— mercurous, in which a double atom of mercury combines with a bivalent radical, and mercuric, in which a single atom of mercury combines with a bivalent radicle. Mercury and its salts are used in medicine as purgatives and cholagogues; as alteratives in chronic inflammations; as antisyphilitics, intestinal antiseptics, disinfectants, and astringents. They are absorbed by the skin and mucous membranes, causing chronic mercurial poisoning, or hydrargyrism. The mercuric salts are more soluble and irritant than the mercurous. See also under mercuric and mercurous. m. a lanate, m. amido propionate, a white, crystalline powder. Subcutaneous dose, gr. (0.005-0.01 gm.). m. albuminate, a salt whose triturate with sugar of milk is employed as an antiseptic dusting-powder. m. arsenite, a brownish powder, Hg,AsO;, used in syphilis and intestinal disorders. m. a spa rag in ate, m. imido succinate, a bright, crystalline powder, (C,H,(CO),N),Hg. Dose, x5 gr. (0.0013 gm.). Mm. atoxylate, the mercury salt of par amido phenyl arsenic acid: used in spirochetal disease. m. cacodyl ate, a white. hygroscopic, crystalline salt: used in syphilis and tuberculosis. m. carbo late, a salt in nearly colorle needles, (C,H,O),Hg + H,0O. Dose, }-} gr. (0.016-0.032 gm.). colloid- m. Sec Ayrgol. m. dimethyl ate. See asquirrol. m. ethyl chlorid, a substance, Hg(C,- H,)Cl, in shining scales and of an offensive odor: used subcutaneously. m. ethylene-diamin, a combination of mercury and ethylene-diamin: used in aqueous solution, 1 to 50 or 1 to 200, for disinfecting the hands. French m., Mercurial is annua. ™. gallate, a salt, (C,H,(OH);COO),Hg, 570 MERISTIC in a green-black powder: antisyphilitic. Dose, 4-4 gr. (0.03-0.05 gm.). m. iodocacodylate, an antisyphilitic solution of mercury cacodyl ate and sodium iodid. m. oleo bra i date, a compound resulting from the treatment of mercuric oxid with erucic acid and oleic acid. It contains 30 per cent. of mercury and is used like mercurial ointment. m. oxycyanid, a white, crystalline compound, HgO.Hg(CN),: used as an antiseptic in diphtheria, erysipelas, wounds, etc. m. peroxid, a red powder, HgO., which is decomposed by water, liberating oxygen and forming hydrogen dioxid and mercuric oxid. m. and pota ium sulphite, a crystalline salt, 2Hg(S,0;), + 5K,S,0,: used subcutaneously. m. and pota ium sulphite, a salt in colorle crystals: to be used hypo dermatic ally. m. pyro borate, a brown, insoluble powder, H,Br,O;: used in ointments. m. silicofluorid, a substance in crystalline prisms, Hg,SiF, + 2H,O: used as a surgical antiseptic like mercuric chlorid in 1: 1000 aqueous solution or 1: 2000 ointment. m. sozoiodolate, a fine, yellow powder, C,H,- I,.0.SO,Hg: antisyphilitic. Subcutaneous dose, σ gr. (0.06 gm.). m. succinimid, a white powder, (C,H,O,N),Hg: used like other mercury salts. Dose by mouth, 3-} er. (0.01-0.015 gm.); hypo dermatic ally, 8-16 min. (0.5-1 c.c.) of a 2.5 per cent. solution. m. tannate, a greenish-brown powder, used in syphilis. Dose, 1-2 gr. (0.06-0.12 gm.). Mm. i mol acetate, a crystalline powder, (CH,COO),- Hg + CuiLo Hs. Dose, τ5-ὦὁ gr. (0.005-0.01 gm.). m. t olate, an unstable, violet-green salt, C,,H,,OHgOH. m. thymol nitrate, a salt in colorle crystals: used subcutaneously. m. tri bro mph enol acetate, a salt in yellow crystals: antisyphilitic.