Mercurius Præcipitatus Albus

White Precipitate. Mercurammonium chloride. NHaHgCl. Trituration. GUnlosL— Dwarfism. Eczema facies.

Characteristics

The symptoms of Merc, prcedp. alb. are taken entirely from poisonings. The most peculiar symptoms are : Green tongue ; bilious stools scalding anus ; and the old-mannish appearance of a child poisoned with it Mossa (H. R., ix. 28) relates (i) a case of chronic eczema of the face in an elderly man, a moistening eruption < in winter and from exposure to cold ; vesicles on a reddened, swollen skin dry into scales which exfoliate ; eyelids, especially lower, œdematous, comers reddened ; lachrymation ; ear involved ; itching and burning on head preventing sleep. Merc, prctcip. *- 3 gr. i- every third day. First the burning itching ceased. Then formation of blisters abated. Exfoliation continued a long time, but the skin finally became normal. (2) Girl, 2, eruption on face and large part of scalp, covered with thick yellow crust, matter exuding from cracks. Offensive odour; swollen cervical glands. Merc, pntdp. alb. 3 gr. i once in three days cured in four weeks.

Relations p. 471

Compare : Dwarfish children, Bar. c, Syph. Eczema, Mez., aethiops. ant.

Face p. 471

Face : much flushed ; greatly swollen. — In one night a child (poisoned with 20 gr.) had undergone a remarkable change ; had become in appearance " quite an old man.'*

Mouth p. 471

Gums much swollen. — Tongue : much coated ; thick greenish fur.

Stomach p. 471

Thirst urgent. — Nausea and vomiting.-— Vomits deeply blood-stained fluid. — Much pain at stomach.

Abdomen p. 471

After half an hour pain began in epigastrium, gradually spreading over whole abdomen.-'-Great pain in abdomen ; continuing after taking any, even liquid, food, for more than a week. — Constant griping. — Whole abdomen painful to pressure.

Stool and Anus p. 471

One copious stool with mucous shreds in some quantities, much dark blood. — Numerous scanty stods with much blood. — Almost pure bile causing great scalding of anus.

Generalities p. 471

Slight subsultus.— Collapse.— During the nit the child shrieked as from great pain, in the morning it had changed to the appearance of an old man.

Sleep p. 471

Drowsy, semi-comatose.

Fever p. 471

Cold, clammy skin, much congestion of cutaneous vessels. — General perspiration.