Difficult choices as death nears. As the changes described in this article develop in the final days or hours of a progressive terminal illness, difficult choices may arise. There may be questions about whether to provide food and fluids, receive blood transfusions, or treat infections.
The use of mercury in thermometers dates back hundreds of years. It was widely used because it reliably expands and contracts with changes in temperatures. It is highly poisonous, however, and can enter the body through the respiratory or digestive tracts, or directly through the skin.
Due to concerns about the element's toxicity levels, the use of mercury is slowly being phased out. However, being the only metal that possesses the property of maintaining a liquid state at room temperature, it is not surprising that mercury has found a number of special applications throughout past decades.ue to concerns about the element's toxicity levels, the use of mercury is slowly being phased out. However, being the only metal that possesses the property of maintaining a liquid state at room temperature, it is not surprising that mercury has found a number of special applications throughout past decades.