Mercurius Nitrosus

Hydrargyrum oxydulatum nitricum crystallisatum.

Neutral nitrate of Mercury Hg(NO)32 +2Aq.

Preparation, Solutions of crystals in water (Liquor Bellostii).

Authorities. 1, Orfila (from Bigley’s Med. Gaz., 1831), a man took an indefinite quantity with suicidal intent; 2, Brett, Lond. Med. Gaz., 1834, a Avoman took an indefinite quantity; 3, Edin. Med. and Surg. J., 1835, a man took a solution, quantity indefinite; 4, Gerard, Annal. de Therap., 1846, effects in two women from dyeing their hair with a solution; 5, Laforgue, Lond. Med. Gaz., 1850, p. 1025, effects of applying the acid nitrate to the cervix uteri; 6, Taylor, Guy’s Hosp. Rep., 1864, p. 173, effects of working in furs washed with a solution and afterwards dried, fatal; 7, Vital, Ed. Med. J., 1864, poisoning of a woman, aged twenty-six, by friction on chest and back, with a cloth saturated with a solution; 8, Dubar, Gaz. des Hop., 1867 (S. J., 137, p. 295), effects of application of solution to psoriasis, in a woman aged twenty-two ; 9, Border, Gaz. des Hop., 1870, effects in a man who worked at preparing skins with the solution.

Mind

Fmotional. Delirious

Extreme anxiety

tual. Complains of very poor memory

A marked degree of stupor, approaching to narcotism

Head

Dizziness (sixth day)

Headache

Fife

Eyes sunk (second day)

The pupils, although somewhat dilated, were to a certain extent obedient to light

Far

Ringing in ears (sixth day)

Face

Flushed countenance

Face pale, expressive of frightful anxiety

Face pale and livid (second day)

Features contracted (second day)

Lips bluish-red

Mouth

Gums. Very characteristic blackish line on free border of gums, which was very well marked around the insertion of the incisor and canine teeth of the lower jaw, but less marked around the molars (third day)

Gums szvollen and bleeding (third day)

Tongue. Tongue furred

Tongue and lips tumid, parched, and painful

Cannot protrude his tongue very well

General Aloiith. Buccal mucous membrane red and tumefied (third day)

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of mouth (after a few days)

Strong mercurial fetor

Violent pain in the mouth and throat

Saliva. Ptyalism

Salivation

Profuse salivation (third day)

Salivated for about three months, when he first began this occupation ; but his gums have not been tender

Taste. Coppery taste in mouth

Throat

Sore throat

Fauces and internal mouth red and painful

A good deal of dryness, soreness, and redness of the fauces

Stomach

Friictation and Hiccough. A good deal of eructation and frothy discharge from the mouth, with occasional vomiting; the first portion of fluid voided from her stomach after admission contained a red powder, which, after a few minutes, subsided to the bottom of the vessel, afterwards vomited mucus

Constant hiccough

Nausea and

nif/. Nausea (second day)

Vomiting,’; (after two hours)

A vomiting ot glairy and tenacious matter (fourth day)

Several attacks of bilious vomiting, during the night

Vomiting of bilious matter streaked with blood (third day)

StouiflcJi. Pain in the stomach and vomiting

Extreme epigastric pains (second day)

Considerable pain on pressure over the region of the stomach and abdomen generally

Abdomen p. 293

Pain in the hypogastrium (after two hours)

Rectum and Anus p. 293

Tenesmus (after two hours)

Stool p. 293

l)i(l}'rhw(t. Severe diarrhoea, with colic (sixth day)

Frequent stools (after two hours)

Bowels moved several times, without pain or admixture with blood

Bloody stools, with collapse, followed by death

Constipation. Constipation (second day)

Bowels costive

Urinary Organs p. 293

[50.j Some pain on voiding urine

Urine high-colored, sp. gr. 1025, contains no albumen or sugar; passed involuntarily

Suppression of urine (second day)

Suppression of urine for five days ; urea was found in the blood drawn from the arm

During the suppression of urine large quantities of water were taken and he had no symptoms of coma

Sexual Organs p. 293

Marked diminution of sexual power

Respiratory Organs p. 293

Voice feeble and almost suppressed (second day)

Heart and Pulse p. 293

The heart-sound cannot be distinctly heard in consequence of the continuous spasmodic movements of the muscles of his chest

Pulse frequent, small, and weak

Pulse small, frequent, thready (second day)

Pulse 140, small and thready (sixth day)

Pulse small, regular

Pulse exceedingly small and thready

Extremities in General p. 293

Considerable tremor of upper and lower limbs, causing great difficulty in prehensile movements and in walking

About twelve mouths ago he found he could not hold his hand steady enough to shave himself, and he soon after lost complete control over his limbs; by degrees he lost control over his muscles when standing or walking about, and three or four months back, first began to have slight twitchings when in bed ; on admission to the hospital he managed to walk pretty well with a little assistance; but when standing could not control his limbs, which trembled considerably, and even when in bed they had the same tremulous motion; spasms more violent towards evening

Feels sore all over his limbs where they come in contact with the bed; they look quite red and inflamed.®.

Inferior Extremities p. 293

Suffers much from cramps in lower extremities

Generalities p. 293

Objective. Naturally of a robust constitution, his complexion, the discoloration of his mucous surfaces, and the flabbiness of his tissues, indicated a decided cachectic condition

Subsultus tendinum, so that the muscles seemed to jump under the skin like a mouse under a cloth

Tremor began after he had followed his trade with apparent impunity for seven years

Tremors, so that they were no longer able to stand, walk, nor feed themselves

Some general weakness, the first three years

Extreme weakness (sixth day)

Very much exhausted (after four years)

State of prostration

Frequent fainting (second day)

Subjective. General indisposition (after tw'o hours)

Pain (after two hours)

Excessive pains, so that he rolled about the ground and called for a knife to kill himself

Skin p. 294

On left side of chest, and in a space of the size of two hands, a large eschar of a brownish-red color swelled and projecting above the healthy parts. Behind, and on a level with the left scapula, was a second eschar about the size of the hand ; the skin, acutely inflamed, was of a bright red color, had an ecchymosed appearance, and scattered over it were yellow-brown patches; from this downwards towards the right haunch proceeded a similar tract about half an inch broad, occasioned by a portion of the liquid having flowed down below the limit of the part rubbed

Sleep p. 294

No sleep for several nights (after four years)

Fever p. 294

Chilliness. Skin cold (second day)

Cold clammy condition of the surface of the body, especially of the extremities,Violent chill, lasting half an hour (after one hour)

Extremities cold and cyanosed (third day),Heat. Plot skin

Fever (after two hours)

Sieeat. Skin perspires profusely

Conditions p. 294

Aggravation.

(Towards evening), Spasm of extremities.