cinal use of mercury, there may be salivation, a
coppery taste in the mouth, peculiar foetor of breath, tenderness and
swelling of mouth, inflammation, swelling and ulceration of gums
(cancrum oris), a blue line on the gums, and the loosening of teeth.
Mercury is less quickly eliminated from the body than arsenic. In
chronic cases 'mercurialism,' 'hydrargyrism,' 'ptyalism,' or
'salivation,' including most of the symptoms enumerated above. May get
_eczema mercuriale_ and periostitis. Profound anaemia often a prominent
symptom; neuritis not uncommon. If fumes of mercury inhaled, mercurial
tremors develop.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Corrosion, softening, and sloughing
ulceration of stomach and intestines. The mucous membrane of the
oesophagus and stomach is often of a bluish-grey colour. The large
intestine and rectum are often ulcerated and gangrenous. Inflamed
condition of urinary organs, with contraction of the bladder.

_Treatment._--Encourage or produce vomiting. Albumin, as white of egg,
gluten, or wheat flour, is the best antidote. Demulcent drinks, milk,
and ice. Stomach-tube to be used with care, owing to softened state of
gullet and stomach.

_Fatal Dose._--Three grains in a child.

_Fatal Period._--Half an hour the shortest.

_Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--A trial test may be made of
the contents of the stomach with copper-foil. If mercury is found, the
contents of the stomach may be dialyzed, the resulting clear fluid
concentrated and shaken with ether, which has the power of taking
corrosive sublimate up, and thus separating it from arsenic and other
metallic poisons. The ether allowed to evaporate will leave the
corrosive sublimate in white silky-looking prisms. Suppose no mercury is
found in the dialyzed fluid, owing to the fact that corrosive sublimate
enters into insoluble compounds with albumin, fibrin, mucous membrane,
gluten, tannic acid, etc., we must dry the insoluble matter, and heat it
with nitro-hydrochloric acid until all organic matter is destroyed and
excess of nitric acid expelled. The residue dissolved in water,
filtered, and tested with copper-foil, etc.

_Tests._--The following table gives the action of corrosive sublimate
with reagents:

1. With iodide of potassium Bright scarlet colour.
2. With potash solution Bright yellow colour.
3. With hydrochloric acid and First a yellowish and then a black
sulphuretted hydrogen colour.
4. Heated in a reduc