Interiml. — The  irritant  salts  of  mercury,  as  the  bi-
chloride, iodide,  nitrate,  and  some  of  the  oxides,  in  large
doses,  produce  gastro-enteritis,  vomiting,  colic,  bloody  diar-
rhoea, anuria,  or  urine  holding  albumin  and  casts,  collapse
and  death.  The  white  of  egg  is  an  antidote  to  corrosive  sub-
limate, forming  an  insoluble  albuminate.  Emetics,  or  the
stomach  pump,  should  be  used  in  ease  vomiting  is  not  spon-
taneous.
The  use  of  mercury,  or  any  of  its  compounds,  if  con-
tinued for  any  considerable  time,  either  internally  or  exter-
nally, in  such  a  way  as  to  lead  to  alwnrption,  may  cause  a
chronic  form  of  poisoning  or  mercurialisra.  This  condition
is  characterized  hy  fetor  of  the  breath  and  soreness  of  ihe
gums,  making  mastication  painful.  The  gums  are  swollen
and  bleed  easily;  the  tongue  swells  and  salivation  ensues.
The  teeth  become  loosened,  the  salivary  and  parotid  glands
enlarge,  the  temperature  is  elevated,  and  if  the  cundition
continues,  there  are:  ulceration  of  the  mouth  (due  tu  irrita-
tion produced  by  mercury  eliminated  in  the  saliva),  necrosis
oC  the  jaw,  general  weakness,  a  watery  condition  of  the  blood,
u?dema,  ameraia  and  cachexia,  prostratiun  and  death.  Local
poisoning,  as  exhibited  by  pmralysis  of  tlic  hand  and  forearm,
has  occurred  in  a  man  who  applied  the  ointment  of  red  iodide
of  mercury  to  cattle.  There  is  a  tendency  for  mercury  to
accunudatc  in  the  liver  and  kidneys,  chietly,  and  also  in  the
tissues  generally,  when  given  in  large  doses,  or  in  smaller
doses  when  continued  for  a  considerable  period.
The  prevailing  fashion  of  administering  calomel  in
small  and  repeated  doses,  may  lead  to  mercurialism  if  purga-
tion does  not  occur.
