MERCURY OR QUICKSILVER.

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most valuable agent. Hennen, Rose, Guthrie, and Thomson, advise theemployment of moderate quantities of mercury whenever the disease doesnot readily subside under the use of ordinary methods of treatment. Butunless some special circumstances contra-indicate the use of mercury, it

is, I think, advisable to affect the mouth slightly in most forms of thedisease.

The circumstances which deserve attention, as affecting the use of mer-cury, are numerous. The following are the principal:—

a. Scrofula . —Some of the worst and most intractable forms of thevenereal disease occur in scrofulous subjects ; and in such, mercury is ingeneral prejudical. I have seen numerous instances of its injuriouseffects. One case which fell under my notice was that of a medical stu-dent, who, after three years’ suffering, died; having been made muchworse on two occasions by what I conceived to be the improper use ofmercury, once by his own act, and a second time by the advice of thesurgeon of his family. Mr. Colles {op. cit. p. 23fi), however, denies thebaneful influence of mercury in scrofula, and advises its use for the cureof syphilis in scrofulous subjects ; but he admits that the profession gene-rally entertain a contrary opinion.

(3. Condition of the primary ulcer. —Another point deserving attentionin deciding on the use of mercury, is the condition of the primary sore:if it be much inflamed, or of an irritable nature—if it be of the kindcalled phagedenic, or at all disposed to slough—mercury must be mostcarefully avoided, as it increases the disposition to sloughing. In onecase that fell under my notice, a gentleman lost his penis by the impro-per use of mercury, under the circumstances just mentioned.

y. Extreme debility with hectic fever .—This condition is usually be-lieved to contra-indicate the employment of mercury. But Mr. Colles{op. cit. p. 20b) asserts, “ that a patient affected with secondary symp-toms, even though extremely attenuated, and, as it were, melting awayunder the effects of hectic, can with perfect safety and advantage at oncecommence a course of mercury; by which not only shall his venerealsymptoms be removed, but at the same time his general health be re-established.”

{d.) Cholera. —Writers on the spasmodic cholera, both of this countryand of India , speak for the most part favourably of the effects of mercury,especially in the form of calomel. I may refer to the works of Drs.Johnson, Venables, and Harnett, and of Messrs. Annesley, Orton, andSearle, in proof. I have met with no writers who attribute ill effects to

it. Unfortunately those who advocate its use are not agreed as to thedose, or frequency of repetition; some advising it as a purgative ; someas a sedative, in combination with opium ; others, lastly, using it as asialogogue. It is deserving of especial notice, that when salivation takesplace, the patient in general recovers. Dr. Griffin {Lond. Med. Gaz. xxi.p. 882), however, has shown that this is not invariably the case. (For fur-ther information on the use of mercurials in cholera, vide IIydrargyriChloridum).

(e.) Dropsy. —In this disease, mercurials may do either good or harm.Thus when the dropsical effusion depends on inflammation, they may beemployed with the best effects, as when hydrocephalus arises from menin-gitis, or hydrothorax from pleuritis. When ascites is occasioned by anenlarged liver, which compresses the vena portae , and thereby gives rise