Observations on the use and abuse of mercury, and on the precautions necessary in its employment / by A. Philips Wilson.

  • Philip, Alexander Philip Wilson, 1770-1847.
Date:
1805
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the use and abuse of mercury, and on the precautions necessary in its employment / by A. Philips Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    much as possible, by the use of diuretic me¬ dicines, to direct it to this channel; for it happens with respect to the kidneys, as with respect to the bowels, that whatever tends to irritate and increase the discharge from them, solicits the mercury to them. It is partly in this way that it often proves a cure in various species of dropsy. As far as we have considered the effects of mercury, its debilitating tendency seems to arise from the evacuation it occasions. But it debilitates in another way, which has not been sufficiently attended to. Whatever weakens the stomach and bowels is soon felt in every part of the system, and even medical men, as far as I can judge, are not in general sufficiently avcare of the bad effects which often arise from the internal use of mercury. To prescribe calomel, one of the most active preparations of this medi¬ cine, with the same freedom, and for the same purposes, as rhubarb or senna, is in my opinion altogether a misapplication of it. Few things apply to the stomach and in¬ testines a more hurtful irritation* I have often seen temporary dysentery induced by a few i