MERCURIUS.
THROAT.
►
Chronic angina of the root of the palate, uvula, tonsils, and fauces, [23]. ►
Sensation as of a foreign body sticking in the throat, seeming to be
dependent upon involuntary contraction of the muscles of the pharynx, [79]. ►
Uvula and Tonsils. ► *Soft
palate, and especially the uvula, of a coppery-red color; on the left
side, a long superficial ulcer, [21]. ► Ulcers
on the right side of the soft palate, [21].
► *Great swelling of the uvula,
[18]. [340.]
► *Uvula elongated and enlarged,
[18]. ►
Tonsils red, [80]. ► Left tonsil greatly swollen, [18]. ►
Tonsils much swollen and red, without patches (after nine days), [39]. ►
*Tonsils much enlarged (after eight days), [60]. ► One of
the men who escaped the salivation suffered from acute tonsillitis, [62]. ►
Fauces and Pharynx. ►
Mucous membrane of the fauces red, streaked with mucus, [21]. ► Angina
faucium dark red, [18]. ► *Angina of the fauces of a coppery red color,
[18]. ►
Chronic angina of the fauces, [18].
[350.] ►
Chronic angina of the fauces without ulceration, [18]. ► All
the workers not salivated were affected with ulcers of the fauces, [20]. ►
Constriction and dryness of fauces (after twenty minutes), [81]. ►
Circumscribed swelling of the pharyngeal mucous membrane, [18]. ► *Mucous
membrane of the pharynx swollen in spots, [18]. ► Ulcers
developed upon the posterior wall of the pharynx (after working a few
weeks), [20]. ► Swallowing. ►
Swallowing was convulsive, and often nearly caused suffocation, [10]. ►
Great pain from swallowing or speaking, [10].
► External Throat. ► Loud bruit de souffle in the veins of the
neck, especially in the left side, [18].
► *Lymphatic glands of the throat hard
and rather large, but those on the nape, elbows, and inguinal region not
enlarged, [18]. [360.] ►
*Submaxillary glands swollen, [18].
► In some cases the submaxillary
glands were swollen without salivation, [25].
► Submaxillary glands slightly
swollen (after nine days), [59];
(after ten days), [58]. ► Submaxillary glands much swollen,
especially left (after eight days), [60].
► Submaxillary glands slightly
engorged, [57]. ► *Cervical glands swollen, [21]. ►
Cervical glands swollen, soft, [21].
► *Cervical gland very much swollen,
[21]. ►
*Cervical glands large, hard, [21].
► Hard swelling of the cervical and
parotid glands, [29]. [370.] ►
Right side of the thyroid gland very much enlarged, [21]. ► Great
hardness of the parotid gland, behind the ramus of the jaw, [21]. ►►
*The right sublingual glands were as
large as hazel nuts, and very hard, [18]. ►
Trembling of the sublingual glands, [11a].
STOMACH.
►
Appetite. ► Loss of appetite,
[2a], [17], [18],
etc. ► Want of appetite, [73]. ►
His appetite fell off, [15]. ► No appetite, [74]. ► During
the salivation, there was little appetite; when she had no salivation,
she had ravenous hunger, [18]. ► Thirst. ►
Thirst, [2a]. [380.] ►
Much thirst, [13]. ► Great thirst, [18], [78].
► Urgent thirst, [74]. ►
Eructations and Hiccough. ►
Eructations, especially after eating, [18].
► Violent eructations, [18]. ►
Hiccough, that could not be quieted, aggravated by eating, with general
weakness, [18]. ► Nausea and Vomiting. ► Nausea, [78].
► Distressing nausea, [13]. ►
Vomiting, [18], [45], [73].
► Vomiting of bile and food, with
constipation, coated tongue, and great vertigo, [18]. [390.] ► Frequent vomiting of saliva and bile
after eating, [18]. ► Stomach. ►
Digestion disturbed, [45]. ► Difficult digestion, [74]. ► Pain
and sensation of constriction in the epigastric region, [31]. ►
Sensation of tightness and pain in the epigastrium, [31]. ► A
contraction of the epigastrium, which increased during a sleepless
night, with dyspnœa and hiccough, accompanied by cough, and followed by
vomiting, [73]. ► Pressure in the stomach, [21]. ►
Pressure in the stomach and eructations, especially after eating, [18].
ABDOMEN.
►
Hypochondria. ► Twitching
in muscles of right hypochondrium (after a few minutes, [82]. ► *Chronic
atrophy of the liver, with emaciation and desiccation of the body,
[19]. [400.] ►
One of the men who escaped the salivation suffered from chronic
hepatitis, [62]. ► Subacute aching over hepatic region,
preceded by acute aching in left wrist and dorsum of hand (second day), [81]. ►
General Abdomen. ► *Abdomen
greatly distended by gas, [18].
► *Abdomen tympanitic, [2a]. ►
Parietes of the abdomen tense, [79].
► Abdominal muscles tense, [34]. ►
Abdomen somewhat retracted, [34]. ► Pains in the abdominal muscles, [17]. ►
Twitching pain in belly, [64]. ► Tearing pains in the abdominal muscles, [18]. [410.]
► Much colic, [18]. ►
Flatulent colic, with constipation, [18].
► Hypogastrium and Iliac Regions.
► Griping in the lower part of
abdomen (after a few minutes), [82].
► Aching in right inguinal region
(after two hours and a quarter), [91].
ANUS.
STOOL.
►
Diarrhœa. ► Diarrhœa, [37], [45],
[79]; in a few cases, [33]. ►
Diarrhœa occurred to some simultaneously with the appearance of
salivation, [62]. ► Diarrhœa alternating with constipation, [18]. ►
Exhausting diarrhœa, [28]. ► Offensive diarrhœa, [37]. [420.] ► Diarrhœa thin, very offensive; at times
involuntary, [68]. ► Involuntary stools, [17], [34].
► Stools at first thin and green, but
afterwards constipated, [25]. ► Flatulent motion, with softened,
orange-yellow fæces (second morning), [81].
► Bloody stools, [78]. ►
Indolent stools (after two years), [18].
► Constipation. ► Stool constipated, [80]. ►
Constipation, [18], [31], [33],
etc. ► Constipation, with occasional
gripings; bowels opened every alternate day, [64]. ►
Obstinate constipation, [18]. [430.] ►
Bowels inclined to be costive, [16].
► Bowels rather costive, [67]. ►
Bowels would not act, nor could the costiveness in any way be relieved,
and on the second day he died, [42].
URINARY ORGANS.
►
Incontinence of urine, [45]. ► Urine scanty; specific gravity 1022, [79]. ►
Urine scanty, dark-yellow, albuminous, [18].
► Urine thin, frequently passed, [30]. ►
Albuminuria with dropsical symptoms; during pregnancy, [18].
SEXUAL ORGANS.
►
Male. ► *Total loss of sexual
power, [74]. ► Female. ►
Women frequently aborted, [20]. [440.] ►
Profuse hæmorrhage from the female genitals, [37]. ►
Sudden, profuse hæmorrhage from the genital organs, [68]. ► Very
profuse metrorrhagia; once there was menstrual flow for ten weeks, [18]. ►
Menstruation irregular and scanty, [18].
► Menstruation irregular, sometimes
omitting, sometimes too copious, and too late, [18]. ► Menses
scanty, [18]. ► Menstruation scanty, pale, lasting only a
few hours, [18]. ► Suppression of menses, [47a].
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
► Larynx and Bronchi. ► Complete picture of laryngeal phthisis,
with erosions and ulcers on the posterior wall of the pharynx, [19]. ►
One of men who escaped the salivation suffered from chronic bronchitis, [62]. ►
Voice. [450.] ► Tone of voice altered (after eight days),
[60]. ►
Voice tremulous, pretty much like that of a person during rigor, [54]. ►
Cough. ► Cough and
tightness of the chest, [15], [31]. ►
Cough, with tightness of the chest, [31].
► Cough, with pain in the left side
and left shoulder, [18]. ► Cough, with profuse perspiration and
great prostration, so that she kept her bed for a year, [18]. ► Cough
at first dry, afterwards with white frothy expectoration, with
emaciation and weakness, [18]. ► Loose cough, which finally was
accompanied by such acute pain in the chest that leeches were applied in
order to relieve it; the leech bites bled upwards of twenty-four hours,
and the blood seemed very thin, [17].
► Cough, with expectoration, and so
great emaciation that she was thought to have consumption, [18]. ►
Respiration. ►► *Fetid
breath, [10], [54], [74],
etc.; (after thirty-eight years), [70].
[460.] ►
Mercurial odor of breath (after nine days), [59]. ► Strong
mercurial odor of the breath, [57].
► While breathing quietly,
respiration perfectly normal; but on attempting to take a deep breath,
neither inspiration nor expiration was performed in one act, but in
three or four jerks, [18]. ► Respiration rapid, accompanied by a
sensation of constriction and by cough, [31].
► Respiration very rapid, [64], [78].
► Respiration was frequently very
weak, with dyspnœa, and even asthmatic attacks, [18]. ►
Oppression of respiration, upward from diaphragm (after twenty minutes),
[81]. ►
Very short of breath, [5]. ► Dyspnœa, [18],
[28]. ►
Dyspnœa and cough, [73]. [470.] ►
Asthma, [5]. ►
Finally, became asthmatic; the paroxysms at first occurring with long
intermissions, but gradually becoming more frequent; there was a
constant rattling, but no cough or expectoration; towards the close of
the disease, which lasted eighteen years, she could not walk or bend
over, for fear of suffocation; the symptoms becoming worse, she was
confined to her arm-chair for more than a year before death came to her
relief, [11]. ► Asphyxia, [9].
CHEST.
►
Objective. ► It was
remarkable that in deep inspiration the diaphragm seemed scarcely moved,
[18]. ►
Tremors; after lasting six weeks they were followed by profuse
hæmorrhage from the lungs at intervals for nearly three months; this
disappeared after leaving off work, but reappeared on returning to it, [36]. ►
The women who work in quicksilver are much more affected than the men,
and a much larger proportion of them die; of the disease with which the
workers die, tuberculosis greatly preponderates, so that it seems
settled that mercurialismus frequently passes into tuberculosis of the
lungs, and there is no doubt that working in quicksilver produces
pulmonary consumption, [18]. ► (One case developed tuberculosis of the
right side of the chest, which progressed while the immediate symptoms
of mercurial poisoning passed off), [18].
► *Emphysema of the lungs, [37]. ►
Chronic emphysema of the lungs, [18].
► Subjective. ► Pains in various parts of the chest,
especially on deep inspiration, [18].
[480.] ►
Tightness of the chest, and cough, [15].
► Great tightness of the chest, [18]. ►
Constriction of chest; lower lobes (diaphragm?), (after one hour and a
half), [82]. ► *Severe constriction of the chest, [9]. ►
Constriction pains in various parts of the chest, [18]. ►
Sensation of pressure upon the chest, [31].
► Pressure upon the chest, without
cough, [18]. ►
Oppression of the chest, [18]. ► Lungs dreadfully oppressed, [13]. ►
Pain in the left side, aggravated by inspiration, [18].
HEART AND PULSE.
►
Præcordium. [490.] ► Aching pain at apex of heart, extending
upwards towards the base (pericardial), [81].
► Cardiac oppression (after one hour
and a half), [82]. ► Heart’s Action. ►
Palpitation, [18]. ► *Palpitation on the slightest exertion,
[18]. ►
Palpitation of the heart, with pulse that could not be counted, [78]. ►
Frequent palpitation, [18]. ► Palpitation violent, irregular, [18]. ►
Pulse. ► Pulse full,
tremulous, frequent, [17]. ► On retiring to bed quickened pulse (first
night), [81]. ► Pulse quick, weak, and small, [16]. [500.] ►
Pulse quick and small, but difficult to be felt, on account of the
constant tremor, [15]. ► Pulse small and rapid, [31]. ► Pulse
slow, [32]. ►
Pulse weak and slow, [54]. ► Pulse slow, 53 and 54, [24]. ► Pulse
only 52 and 56; heart’s impulse very weak, [24]. ► Pulse
weak, frequently slow, sometimes rapid and frequent, [30]. ► The
pulse was slow, in many cases 50 to 56; in one 60, but showing great and
rapid changes, running up to 80 or 100 on the slightest excitement, [18]. ►
Pulse very slow in one case of ptyalism and weakness, but without
tremors; and very small and slow in a case of tremors without ptyalism;
in other cases, the pulse was increased in frequency, [33]. ► Pulse
rather weak, [53]. [510.] ►
Pulse small, soft, anæmic, [45]. ► Pulse very soft, [64].
NECK AND BACK.
►
Neck. ► *Indurated lymphatics
in the nape of the neck, [18].
► Boring sensation in right side of
neck (after a few minutes), [82]. ► Back. ►
Softening and curvature of the spine, [19].
► Periosteal aching down spine (after
twenty minutes), [81]. ► Twitching pain in back, [64]. ► Dorsal.
► Sensation of heat and
hyperæsthesia in upper half of back (after a few minutes), [82]. ►
Aching in mid-dorsal region to right of spine (after twenty minutes), [81]. ►
Right subscapular aching, becoming also interscapular, lasting two
hours, at 11 A.M. (second day), [81].
[520.] ►
Right subscapular aching, extending over hepatic region, on waking
(third day), [81]. ► Continuous achings beneath lower angles
of scapulæ, severe, continuing three-quarters of an hour (after one
hour and a half), [81]. ► Continuous aching beneath right scapula
(after twenty minutes), [81]. ► Long-continued severe interscapular
aching (after twenty minutes), [81].
► Slight tenderness on pressure over
the fourth and fifth dorsal vertebræ, but the rest of the spine
exhibited no increase of sensibility, [16].
► Throbbing over left acromion (after
a few minutes), [82].
EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL.
► Objective. ►
Loss of power in the limbs was accompanied by a certain hastiness of
motion, [33]. ► *Tremor of the limbs, [1], [9], [11a], etc. ►
*Trembling of the extremities, especially of the hands, so that the
patient cannot hold them still for a moment, indeed, can carry nothing
to the mouth, [28]. [530.] ►
Tremor of the upper and lower limbs, which became worse when they were
spoken to at all severely, [56]. ► Electric irritability was good, but the
muscles of both the upper and lower extremities did not contract in a
tonic manner but tremulously, so that the fingers upon the electrode
felt a kind of whirring, [80]. ►► *Trembling of the hands and feet, so that
the patient was unable to write, [17]. ► *Trembling
of the hands, sometimes also of the feet, [20]. ►
Periodic trembling of the extremities, [24].
► *Great trembling of the limbs,
[18]. ►
Trembling of the limbs so great that she could no more use her hands and
could not ascend a height alone; she could only talk with difficult, and
sometimes could not at all carry the food to her mouth, and was even
disturbed in bed by trembling, though it never amounted to convulsions;
she could not hold light things in her hands, for the violent trembling
would throw them away; but she was able to carry heavy articles, [18]. ►
Excessive trembling in all the limbs, especially the upper;
progressively increasing, until he was unable to work, or to eat, drink,
or perform the offices of nature, without assistance, [1]. ► A woman
had violent tremor of the extremities, [24].
► Legs trembled moderately; arms
violently; had to be assisted in everything, like a child. So much
difficulty in walking, that he often fell to the ground on his back, as
if from some external force, even while striving to keep himself up by
bending forwards, [1]. [540.] ►
Quite unable to hold either hand steady for a moment; the muscles are
wasted and thin, and always in a state of spasmodic activity; it is with
the greatest difficulty that he can manage to feed himself; the
affection is not so severe in the legs; he walks very slowly, and with a
tottering gait; he continued, however, to come upstairs without
assistance, holding on by the banister all the way; in bed his movements
are often sufficient to shake the bed, [64].
► The principal affection under which
he labored was not, as has sometimes been described in these cases, a
constant tremor of the limbs and seesaw of the head, such as occur in
old paralytic persons, but a sort of rapid convulsive agitation of the
limbs (whenever the act of volition was exerted upon the muscles), which
moved the extremities quickly in all directions except that which the
will prompted. Thus, he could sit on his chair still and nearly unmoved,
but the moment he got up and attempted to walk, his legs began to dance,
as it were, in spite of himself, and performed very rapid and irregular
motions, with so much violence as to compel him to drop on his chair
again, or to throw him down. Somewhat similar motions were performed by
his arms, if he attempted to use them; so that he was unable to carry
anything to his mouth, and the smallest quantity of liquid was
immediately dashed out of any vessel from which he made an attempt to
drink. He was under the necessity, therefore, of being fed like a child.
These spasmodic tremors were greatly increased by any circumstance that
agitated his mind, or occasioned any anxiety (one), [51]. ► They
thought they were cured, when in about fifteen days after leaving off
treatment, they were seized with jactitation of the muscles of the
limbs, [47a]. ► Sudden jerking of the extremities, so
that he could scarcely walk or eat; the fear of falling induced him to
keep his bed, [18]. ► Paralysis of the extremities except of
the left arm; afterwards motion returned in the arm but not in the lower
extremities, [37]. ► *Weakness of the limbs, [18]. ►
Painful prostration in all the limbs (second day), [58], [59],
[60]. ►
Subjective. ► Frequent
falling asleep of the arms and legs, especially at night, [21]. ►
Sensation of fuzziness and paralysis in the limbs, [18]. ► *Unusual
heaviness of the limbs, [28].
[550.] ►
Feeling of heaviness and fuzziness in the limbs, [21]. ►
Feeling of heaviness in the extremities, especially feeling very sleepy,
especially at night, [21]. ► Pain in the extremities, [17], [18].
► Pains in the arms and legs, [21]. ►
Pains in the forearms and legs, [18].
► Slight pain in the joints,
especially of the wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles, [43]. ► Great
pain and tremor in the limbs, [66].
► Obstinate and intense pain in the
limbs for a month, [73]. ► Dull pains in the joints, [28]. ►
Returns of aching pains in limbs (second day), [81]. [560.] ► Tearing in the limbs, especially in the
arms, [18]. ►
Tearing pains in the extremities, [18],
[21]. ►
Painful tearings in the hands and feet, worse at night, [28]. ►
Violent tearing pains, like rheumatism, in the arms and legs; increased
in bed, so that she was often obliged to leave it, [18].
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► Objective. ►
Trembling of the arms, [78]. ► Suddenly seized, after a day of unusually
laborious work, with cramps in the fingers, which were shortly followed
by a shaking and tremulous motion of both upper extremities. They were
slight at first, but gradually increased, so as to become very
distressing. This agitation of the muscles continued even during sleep,
and was accompanied with a gnawing pain, as he expressed it (after two
weeks). The symptoms have become still more general, the lower
extremities having been affected the previous evening, so that, in fact,
the whole body appeared in constant motion. Towards the latter part of
the day, the tremulous motion of the muscles of the right arm subsided,
but the limbs remained almost paralyzed (after three weeks), [67]. ►
Entire loss of control of the left upper extremity; all the limbs were
more or less affected, [79]. ► The left arm cannot be raised; the
forearm is moved with difficulty, the hand more easily, while the
fingers are perfectly flexible; right arm similarly affected, but in a
less degree; the right hand can be lifted to the chin, [55]. ►
Paresis of the right upper extremity, with trembling, [21]. ►
Subjective. ► At times, a
disturbance of sensibility in the left arm, [79]. [570.] ► Rheumatic pains in the arms, [18]. ►
Rheumatic pains in the left arm, [18].
► Drawing pains in the arms and
hands, [37]. ►
Tearing pains in the left arm, [21].
► Much soreness in the muscles of the
arms, [64]. ►
Periosteal aching in outer side of left arm, changing to left wrist and
forearm, on waking and subsequently (second morning), [81]. ► Forearm.
► Patients are subject to cramps and
paralysis of the extensor muscles of the forearm, [76]. [An important point in the differential
diagnosis between this and lead poisoning, since in this latter the
flexor muscles are the ones particularly affected.] ► Achings in flexor muscles of left forearm
(after two hours and a quarter), [81].
► Periosteal aching down left
forearm; then down right forearm; then in right elbow; then down spine;
with varying intensities, (after twenty minutes), [81]. ►
Constant repeated, prolonged convulsive movement of both forearms on the
radial side, causing flexion of the thumb and forefinger, [55]. [580.] ► First symptom was weakness of the forearm
and pain of the elbows, [53]. ► Wrist. ►
Wrists permanently flexed at a right angle with the forearm, but are
easily straightened out, [55]. ► Acute aching in left wrist and dorsum of
hand, succeeded by subacute aching over hepatic region (second day), [81]. ►
Hand. ► As soon as they
were desired to do anything with their hands, it was evident that they
had no power of directing them with decision to the performance of
voluntary motion; thus, instead of taking hold of a book or paper
presented to them, they caught at it with sudden spasmodic jerks; and
whenever at last the paper was seized it was crumpled in the hand, [49]. ►►
*Tremor of hands, [1], [18]. ►
*Trembling of the hands, so that it became impossible to hold anything,
with great weakness, [34].
► Trembling of the hands, at first
lasting about a quarter of an hour, and passing off, afterwards becoming
more and more frequent, and lasting a longer time, [79]. ► *Hands
trembled so that he could scarcely work, [1]. ► *Constant
trembling of the hands, so that the patient cannot hold them still for a
moment, and every movement is impeded thereby, [80]. ►
*Involuntary trembling of the hands, [80]. [590.] ► *He could neither feed nor dress himself,
[77]. ►
*One could not carry a glass of water to the mouth without spilling it;
could take neither food nor drink, but had to be fed like a child,
[2a]. ►
*So paralytic that he could not, with both his hands, carry a glass half
full of wine to his mouth without spilling it, [2]. ► *Frequent
involuntary jerking of the hands and fingers; the convulsions are
greatly aggravated by every exertion, [79]. ► A
slight loss of power in the hands, which came on at various times, and
was generally relieved by the use of ardent spirits, [16]. ► He was
in the habit of intoxication; and noticed that when in this state he
could hold his glass without spilling, which he could not do when sober,
[10]. ►
Fingers. ► Finger nails
blue, [28]. ►
Trembling of the fingers, [18]. ► The fingers of the left hand became
permanently contracted, [79]. ► Sensation of coldness and deadness of the
fingers, [80].
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES.
[600.] ► Considerable œdema of lower extremities
(while the eruption was going off), [12].
► Veins of the lower extremities
dilated, [21]. ► Varicose veins in the legs, [18], [21].
► Varicose veins of the legs, without
ulcers, [18]. ► Saphena vein as large as the thumb, [21]. ►
Trembling of the legs, so that he could scarcely stand or walk, with
trembling of the hands, so that he could carry nothing to his mouth, and
trembling of the tongue, [31]. ► Movements of the lower limbs were
performed naturally, but slowly; those of the hip-joint were difficult, [55]. ►
Gait in walking uneven and hesitating (younger), [56]. ► His
walk was hesitating and difficult, [77].
► Remarkable heaviness of the lower
extremities, so that the gait was unsteady, followed by tremors of the
hands, and gradually of the whole body, [37].
[610.] ►
Staggering gait, [6]. ► Patients suffering from mercurial tremors
had a gait very similar to those suffering from tabes dorsalis, [33]. ►
Unable to stand steadily, [49]. ► *Great weakness of the legs, so that he could
scarcely stand, [18]. ► Confined to his chair; unable to walk a
step, [10]. ►
Bursting sensation in right leg, followed by periosteal tingling (after
a few minutes), [82]. ► Although every muscle of their legs was
trembling, they were frequently obliged to stretch them out upon chairs,
in order to relieve the severe cramps in those parts, [47a]. ►
Periosteal aching in anterior surface of left tibia (second morning), [81]. ►
Pains in the knees at times, [18].
► Soles of both feet turned inwards
and upwards; the tendon of the tibialis anticus is rigid and prominent;
this contraction is permanent and painless, [55]. [620.] ► Tingling of toes (left foot), (after a
few minutes), [82].® 2000
Article