MERCURY OR QUICKSILVER.

445

whatever part of the body they be applied, whether to the mucousmembranes, the cutaneous system, or the cellular tissue, or injected intothe veins. Secondly, the action of mercurials on the system is assisted bythe use of bloodletting and emetics;—agents which promote absorption.Thirdly, when mercurials are administered by the stomach, and excitepurging, they rarely affect the general system, apparently in consequenceof the function of absorption being suspended.

S. After absorption, mercury effects changes in the qualities of theblood, and in the action of the whole organism, but especially the appa-ratus of organic life. —Soon after salivation has been established, theblood exhibits an inflammatory crust. At a later period its colourdeepens, and its coagulability is diminished: the proportion of clot, andtherefore of fibrin, to serum becomes smaller. “ The formation of albu-men and mucus,” says Dieterich {op. cit. 80), “ sinks to that of serum;the whole organic formation of the patient is less consistent and cohe-sive.” The same authority also tells us, that under the influence ofmercury the electrical condition of the blood changes from the negative(healthy) state to that of positive. The evacuations from all the secretingand exhaling organs, especially from the mucous follicles and salivaryglands, is much increased. The secretion of bile is also promoted. Dr.Wilson Philip {On the Influence of Minute Doses of Mercury, p. 14)says, “mercury has a specific operation on the liver,—a power not merelyof exciting its functions, but of correcting the various derangements of thatfunction in a way whichit does not possess with respect to any other organ,and which no other medicine possesses with respect to the liver.” I confessI am not acquainted with any facts warranting this assertion. The pur-gative effects of mercury arise partly from the increased secretion of bile,and partly from the stimulus given to the mucous lining of the alimentarytube ; more particularly to its follicular apparatus. The nervous systemappears also to be specifically affected by mercurials. This is to be in-ferred partly from the effects produced in those who are subjected to thevapours of this metal, such as the shaking palsy, &c. and partly from theeffects of the soluble salts, when given in enormous doses. The heart andlungs are, in some cases, remarkably affected. This was particularlyobserved by Sir Benjamin Brodie {Phil. Trans, for 1812) in his experi-ments on animals with corrosive sublimate; as also by Smith, Orfda,and Gaspard. The affection of the urinary organs in poisoning by cor-rosive sublimate is also not to be forgotten.

4. The nature of the influence exercised by mercury over the organismhas been a fertile source of discussion. One class of writers has regardedit as mechanical, a second as chemical, a third as dynamical.

(a.) Mechanical hypothesis. —Astruc {De Morb. Ven. ii. 149) and Barry{Med. Tram. i. 25) fancied that mercury acted by its weight, its divisi-bility, and its mobility; and thus getting into the blood separated itsglobules, rendered it more fluid and fit for t secretion, made the lymphthinner, and overcame any existing obstructions.

{b.) Chemical hypotheses. —Some have advocated the chemical opera-tion of mercurials, and have endeavoured to explain their curativepowers in the venereal disease by reference to their chemical proper,ies,but without success. Thus Mitie, Pressavin (quoted by Richter, Ausfuhr .Arzneim. iv. 305), and Swediaur {Prac. Observ. on Venereal Complaints ),assumed that mercury acted chemically on the syphilitic poison, as adds