Hydrargyrum

Mercury. Mercure, Fr.; Quecksilber, Ger. A silver-white metal, liquid at common temperatures, and having the specific gravity 135.

Preparations

Emplastrum Ammoniaci cum Hydrargyro.— Plaster of ammoniac with mercury. Composition: Ammoniac, 720 grm.; mercury, 180 grm.; oleate of mercury, 8 grm.; diluted acetic acid, 1,000 c. c.; and lead plaster, q. s. to make 1,000 grm.

Emplastrum Hydrargyri

Mercurial plaster. Composition: Mercury, 300 grm.; of mercury, 12 grm.; lead plaster, q. s. to make 1,000 grm.

Hydrargyrum cum Creta

Mercury with chalk. Composition: Mercury, 38 grm.; prepared chalk, 57 grm.; clarified honey, 10 grm. A gray powder partly dissipated by heat. When a small portion is treated with dilute acetic acid in excess, it is partly dissolved, nothing remaining but mercury in the form of minute globules. Dose, gr. ss —gr. x. Eight grains contain three grains of mercury.

Massa Hydrargyri

Pills of mercury. Blue mass. Composition: Mercury, confection of rose, and powdered licorice-root. Three grains contain one grain of metallic mercury. Dose, gr. ss—gr. xv.

Unguentum Hydrargyri

Mercurial ointment. Composition: Mercury, lard, suet, and oleate of mercury.

Hydrargyri Oxidum Flavum

Yellow mercuric oxide. An orange-yellow powder, which, on being heated, assumes a red color; then, if the heat be increased, it evolves oxygen, and finally the mercury evaporates without residue.

Unguentum Hydrargyri Oxidi Flavi

Ointment of yellow mercuric oxide. Composition: Yellow oxide, 10grm.; ointment, 90 grm.

Oleatum Hydrargyri

Oleate of mercury. Yellow oxide, 10 parts; oleic acid, 90 parts.

Hydrargyri Oxidum Bubrum

Red mercuric oxide. Red precipitate. An orange-red powder, entirely soluble in muriatic acid. When heated it does not emit reddish fumes, but gives off oxygen, while the mercury either runs into globules or is wholly dissipated.

Unguentum Hydrargyri Oxidi Bubri

Ointment of red mercuric oxide. Composition: Red oxide, 10 grm.; ointment, 90 grm.

Hydrargyri Subsulphas Flavus

Yellow mercuric subsulphate. Turpeth mineral. A lemon-yellow powder, sparingly soluble in water. It is entirely dissipated by heat, sulphurous acid being evolved, and globules of mercury sublimed. Dose, gr. ij—gr. v, as an emetic.

Hydrargyri Chloridum Corrosivum

Corrosive mercuric chloride. Corrosive sublimate. In colorless crystals or crystalline masses, which are fusible, and sublime without residue. It is entirely soluble in water (1 in 16), alcohol (1 in 3), and in 4 parts of ether. Lime-water causes a yellowish precipitate and ammonia a white one, from its solution. Dose, gr. 1/30—gr. 1/10.

Hydrargyri Chloridum Mite

Mild mercurous chloride. Calomel. A white powder, wholly volatilized by heat, and insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether. With solution of potassa it yields a black precipitate of oxide of mercury, which is reduced by heat to the metallic state. Distilled water, after having been boiled with it, yields no precipitate with ammonia or nitrate of silver. Dose, gr. -1/20—gr. x

Piluke Antimonii Compositae

Compound pills of antimony. Plummer's pills. Composition: Sulphurated antimony, calomel, and guaiac. Each pill contains one-half grain each of antimony and calomel, and one grain of guaiac.

Hydrargyri Cyanidum

Mercuric cyanide. In white prismatic crystals, soluble in 12·8 parts of water. When muriatic acid is added to the solution, hydrocyanic acid is evolved, made evident by its odor, and bichloride of mercury is left, which is entirely volatilized by heat. Dose, gr. 1/20—gr. 1/6.

Hydrargyrum Ammoniatum

Ammoniated mercury. White precipitate. In white powder or pulverulent masses, decomposed and entirely dissipated by a strong heat, insoluble in water and alcohol, but dissolved without effervescence by muriatic acid.