MERCURIUS.
SKIN.
►
Early color of skin (after thirty-eight years), [70]. ► Skin,
pale soft, [30]. ► Skin pale, dry, [21]. ► The
skin on the back of the hands was thin and glistening, [21]. ► So
full of Mercury, that putting a piece of brass in his mouth, or rubbing
it in his fingers, it immediately became white like silver, as if he had
rubbed Mercury upon it, [2]. ► Very great desquamation of the thickened
epidermis of both legs; the scales are rather red; under them the skin
has a dark-red pigmented look; formerly there had been numerous small
ulcers on the legs, followed by this desquamation, [21]. [770.] ► Fresh wounds healed very slowly, [20]. ►
Eruptions, Dry. ► Papular
eruption, [76]. ► Feverish, eruptive exanthem resembling
roseola, which began first in the throat and face, and from these parts
spread all over the body (five or six days after appearance of other
symptoms); in six days it disappeared without leaving any trace, [73]. ►
Papulous exanthema over the whole body, with nightly bone-pains, [19]. ►
Maculous, papulous, or even squamous eruptions; the latter especially in
old people (on the chest, back, and scalp); the eruptions often appeared
suddenly, lasted a few weeks and then disappeared, and then again
returned, [20]. ► Psoriasis in spots over the whole body, [18]. [This was ineffectually treated
with gray ointment until salivation occurred; the palms of the hands and
soles of the feet were free from the eruption.] ►
Urticaria on the genitals and thighs, and in spots on the chest and
abdomen, lasting two days, [26]. ► An itching and redness between the
fingers, also a swelling of the face, and especially of the inner side
of the elbow; with a somewhat altered state of bodily feeling, and a
sense of loathing. On one occasion, a letter was brought to me by a
countryman, who had carried it in his bosom, next to an undergarment
which he had besmeared with mercurial ointment for the destruction of
lice. Scarcely had he produced it, before a swelling bigger than a hen’s
egg appeared on my hand, and my face puffed up and became red and
itching, [3]. ► Eruptions, Moist. ► *It is an erythema, upon which vesicles form,
and pour out a thinnish, clear fluid. The vesicles are quickly broken,
then contents desiccate, and the redness remains for a week or ten days.
(It is clearly a local disease, and not a true eczema), [71]. ►
Groins and thighs very itchy and painful, with eruption on thighs (after
ten days). Very copious red eruption and general erythema all over the
thighs, Eruption slightly elevated above skin and somewhat rough to
touch. It extended pretty generally over lower extremities, and had also
appeared on arms and hands. In some places, small vesicles (after twelve
days). Erythema has extended over arms, and the eruption over greater
part of body. An exudation of a serous, yellowish fluid has also taken
place, particularly from the inside of his thighs, groins, and
contiguous parts, which, when dry, stiffens his linen (after fourteen
days). In a few days, the erythema had extended over the whole skin,
which was everywhere very painful, somewhat swelled, and most
distressingly itchy, attended with a considerable desquamation of the
cuticle. The exudation became more general, frequent, and copious; the
smell which issued from him was peculiar and very offensive. Cuticle
begins to come off in large portions. The discharge is attended with a
most unpleasant and peculiar odor. Trunk of body and extremities,
particularly feet, considerably swelled (after twenty-two days),
Exudation more general and copious than it has yet been, attended with
much itching. Smell from discharge still more offensive (after
twenty-three days). Swelling of face so considerable this morning when
he awoke, as nearly to close his eyes. The cuticle is falling off in
portions of very considerable side, especially from his hands. Feet
still more swelled, and of a deeper red color (after twenty-four days).
Erythema continues almost general, the pain and itching very
distressing, the exudation very profuse, and the fetor exceedingly
offensive. Lips and eyelids more swelled; tarsi and eyes considerable
inflamed (after twenty-five days). The exudation which had taken place
on the forepart of the breast, belly, and extremities, in also coming
from his face to-day, which is more swelled, and there is considerable
desquamation from his shoulders and back (after twenty-six days).
Copious exudation from the breast. Considerable desquamation from the
face (after twenty-seven days). Exudation very general. Desquamation
begins to extend to hairy scalp (after twenty-eight days). Back very
itchy, as usual before the exudations, which, however, have been rather
less frequent for several days; but his skin continues very painful, the
fetor very strong, and large portions of the cuticle are falling off
(after thirty days). Some swelling in many place where the cuticle had
peeled off. The newly formed cuticle cracked during the night, and a
considerable exudation succeeded (after thirty-two days). Exudation
diminished; but skin still very painful, and feet and hands much swelled
(after thirty-four days). Exudation again more profuse (after thirty-six
days). Exudation very profuse (after thirty-eight days). Swelling of
hands nearly gone; that of feet continues, and the newly formed cuticle
is coming off lower extremities in pretty large portions (after
thirty-nine days). ► Exudation much
diminished (after forty-four days). Exudation nearly gone except from
back of head; but skin still itching, and very painful, especially when
he moves; feels as if his flesh was cracking in pieces (after
forty-seven days). Skin more painful (after forty-eight days). Some
exudation for last two days, with restless night (after fifty days).
Less pain and itchiness of skin to-day, but some exudation (after
fifty-one days). Some flushing of face, and increased redness of trunk
and extremities. Some exudation from different parts (after fifty-two
days). Redness of trunk and extremities; pain and itchiness diminished.
Exudation more general, and there is a discharge of purulent matter from
his hands (after fifty-four days). Exudation chiefly from back (after
fifty-six days). State of skin still occasions considerable uneasiness;
some exudation from back of head, from which the hair is falling off
(after fifty-seven days). Two small tumors, one on left breast towards
sternum, the other on lumbar region of same side, which seem to contain
a fluid, and are of a darker color than the rest of skin, but are very
little painful (after fifty-nine days). Skin much better, itchiness much
less troublesome, and smell much less offensive (after sixty days). Feet
very tender (after eighty-three days). The soles of the feet continued
so tender for many weeks, that he could hardly put a considerable time
after he was quite well in every other respect, [13]. [780.] ► Whole surface of body hot and itching,
with swelling and inflammation of the integuments, most considerable on
face and eyelids. These symptoms were preceded and accompanied with
alternate cold and hot fits, languor, prostration of strength, loss of
appetite, thirst, and watchfulness. She continued in this state for
fourteen days, when a scarlet eruption appeared over the whole cuticle,
particularly on inside of arms, thighs, and legs; attended with an
exudation, which was greatest from the groins and thighs, and with a
disagreeable smell. In a few days, the eruption became dry and white;
and afterwards the cuticle peeling off, and leaving the cutis very
itching and tender, the new cutis became affected in the same way as the
former, [12]. ► Eruption of many large sudamina on
abdomen, chest, and upper limbs. The first appeared as round,
transparent vesicles, varying in diameter from half a line to two lines,
and with a red areola. These were filled with a clear liquid, excepting
on the abdomen, where it was slightly turbid. Under the lower jaw were
shreds of epidermis, caused by the desquamation of some of these
vesicles. On the third day, several of the sudamina had dried up, and
new one had appeared; on some portions of the chest and abdomen the
desquamation took place in patches, owing to the coalescence of the
swellings. On the sixth day, there were more new sudamina; and on the
eighth day, thirty-six hours after death, many were still to be seen,
containing a transparent liquid, and in all respects similar to the
preceding, [55]. ► Erysipelas of the forearm; of the legs, [18]. ►
Eczema on the back, appearing in the form of vesicles as large as the
head of a pin, with violent itching, [18].
► Eczema on the back of the foot, [18]. ►
Herpes oris, [18]. ► Mercurial sore are not necessarily
circular or oval in shape, neither are their regularly defined; on the
contrary they vary in these particulars, and assume different forms as
they spread; their edges are often quite ragged, loose, and undermined,
and their borders are often marked with a thin, transparent cuticle,
like that of a newly formed cicatrix, extending quite around them, and
giving them a silvery-white appearance; their base are not hard, neither
are their surfaces covered with the tenaciously adherent lymph so
characteristic of venereal; on the contrary the surface of the mercurial
ulcer may present every variety of shape and appearance, sloughy at one
spot, deeply excavated and rapidly ulcerating at another, with exuberant
granulations at a third, and exhibiting a tendency to heal at a fourth.
But the most striking characteristic of the mercurial ulcer is its
tendency to spread, and the manner in which it enlarges itself; it
generally spreads quickly, and there seems to be no limit to the size it
may possibly attain. I have seen one as large as my hand in each groin
of the same individual; they are easily distinguished from the venereal,
when they assume a herpetic character, and heal in one par whilst
spreading in another, which the latter never do. The mercurial
ulceration often attacks the cicatrix of a recently healed chancre, and
a fresh sore is thus formed, [61].
► *Several ulcers with whitish-gray bases,
bleeding easily, and exuding thin matter, [75]. ►
*Serpiginous ulcers in the skin (after working several
years), [20]. ► On the face, eruption consisting of a
tetter about the mouth and on the cheeks, with hard and very superficial
ulcers, [18]. [790.] ►
Erysipelas and gangrene of the lips, with violent fever, thickly coated
tongue; the gangrene extended and destroyed also a portion of the right
cheek; there developed also on the right temple a gangrenous spot, which
on opening discharged offensive gas and pus (the patient died after
three weeks with hepatization of the upper portion of the left lung), [63]. ►
Ulcer on the foot, [19]. ► Small easily bleeding ulcers, of a
dirty-white color, with livid borders, on the lips, [37]. ►
Varicose ulcers on the extremities were frequent; indeed it was an
exception to find a worker free from them, [18]. ►
Sensations. ► Formication,
[37]. ►
Fuzzy feeling in the arms and hands, [37].
SLEEP AND DREAMS.
►
Sleepiness. ► Sleepiness,
for eight weeks, [18]. ► Sleepiness, with great anxiety, [18]. ►
Great sleepiness, but sleep very much interrupted and disturbed by bad
dreams, [18]. ► Drowsiness, [54]. [800.]
► Sleep but half awake, with heavy
dreams and fantasies, [18]. ► Sleeplessness. ►
Sleep very imperfect; frequently awoke starting and frightened, and was
troubled with incessant unpleasant dreams (one), [51]. ► Sleep
bad, with frightful dreams, [18]. ► Disturbed sleep, [54]. ► Sleep
greatly disturbed, [15]. ► Restless sleep, with frightful dreams, [33]. ►
Loss of sleep, [47a]. ► Very little sleep, which is disturbed by
dreams and nightmares (after thirty-eight years), [70]. ►
*Sleeplessness, [33], [34], [37],
etc.; for months, [18]. ► Sleeplessness, with hallucinations, heavy
dreams, nightmare, [18]. [810.] ►
Sleeplessness; or the sleep was frequently interrupted by jerkings, and
disturbed by heavy dreams, [18]. ► Sleeplessness; on falling asleep he
fancied that some one called him, started up in fright and became
chilly, [18]. ► Obstinate sleeplessness; nights disturbed
by nightmare and half-waking dreams, [69].
► Sleepless night, [73]. ► Night
sleepless, especially after midnight, [36].
► The patient had no rest at night
would stand up, wanted to walk about, saw ghosts, animals which were
jumping at her, thought men were on the bed, thought living things were
creeping into her mouth and vagina, [33].
► Starting up in sleep, [21]. ►
Dreams. ► Heavy dreams, [18]. ►
Frightful dreams at night, [18].
FEVER.
►
Chilliness. ► Skin cold
and dry, [16], [30]. [820.] ► Whole body cold, [78]. ►
Constant chilliness, even in a heated room and in bed, [18]. ►
Frequent chill and heat, [18]. ► *Those suffering from tremor frequently
complained of a sensation of coldness, though without diminished
temperature; one person wore a heavy
overcoat, even in the hot summer, [25]. ► Heat.
► Increased temperature, [31]. ►
Heat of the skin above the natural standard, [15]. ► Skin
hot and dry, [31]. ► Feverish and very uneasy (after twelve
days), [13]. ►
Fever, [17], [31]. ► The
common erethic fever, or fever of salivation, characterized by quick
pulse, hot and dry skin, red gums, swollen tongue, salivation, loss of
appetite, restlessness, headache, etc.; this may continue as long as the
poisonous effects of Mercury continue in the system, for weeks and even
months. Another kind of fever is the dynamic mercurial fever,
characterized by depression of strength, præcordial anxiety, frequent
sighing, partial or universal trembling, a small quick pulse, a pinched
and cadaverous countenance, a sense of coldness; the tongue is seldom
furred; a sudden and violent exertion may sometimes prove fatal, [14]. [830.]
► Hectic fever, [44]. ► Hectic
fever and phthisis pulmonalis, [30].
► (Intermittent fever seems very
prevalent among the workers in nearly all the mines and factories, as
reported by nearly all observers, but whether due to Mercury or local
causes is uncertain. T. F. A.), [2a].
► One of the men who escaped the
salivation suffered from quotidian ague, [62].
► Sweat. ►► *Sweat, [17]. ► *Profuse
sweats at night, [21]. ► Constantly bathed in sweat, though in a
state of collapse, [78]. ► Very copious perspiration, [34]. ►
*Profuse perspiration, at night, [18]. ► *Profuse
offensive perspiration, [18].
[840.] ►
Skin dry; easily desquamating, [21].
CONDITIONS.
►
Aggravation. ► (Morning), On rising, headache; aching in left
arm; tremors. ► (Evening), Vertigo; tremor. ► (Night),
Hallucinations, etc.; falling asleep of arms, etc.; heaviness in
extremities, etc.; tearings in hands, etc.; oppression of breath; sweats. ►
(In bed), Tearing in limbs. ► (Beer),
Headache, etc. ► (Closing eyes), Tremors. ►
(Eating), Eructations; hiccough;
vomiting; pressure in stomach. ► (Emotional disturbance), All symptoms, [49]; tremor.
► (Exertion),
Jerking of hands. ► (Change of weather), nervous feelings. ► Amelioration. ►
(Intoxication of wine), Tremor. ► (Rest),
Tremor. ► (Ardent
spirits), Loss of power in hands.
SUPPLEMENT: MERCURIUS.
Authorities.
84,
Dr. Goolden, Lancet, 1853 (2), p. 231, effects on a silvever; 85, H. J. Franks, ibid. p. 317, same; 86, Dr. H. Jackson, Med. Times and Gaz., 1877
(1), p. 641, effects on a man employed in amalgamating zinc plates with
Mercury; 87, T. Pratt, M.D., Hahn.
Month., vol. xiii, 1878, p. 472, prescribed a powder 3 1/10th trit.,
every three hours, for a severe cold in the head, in the second stage.►
After he had taken the fourth powder I
was summoned to see him, when he informed me that the catarrhal symptoms
were much improved, but he was then having a most violent facial
neuralgia on the right side, originating in the dental nerve, and
radiating upwards over the side of the face. This he first felt after
taking the second dose, and immediately after each of the two last the
aggravation was marked and intense, so much so, that he felt that he
could not take another dose. I discontinued the remedy and the
difficulty soon subsided, [87]. ► His teeth, which are carious, are
becoming loose; there is a white line, from undue epithelial secretions,
at the margin of the gums; there are great tremors, approaching to
paralysis, and an indecision in speaking, resembling stammering. He has
lost two stone weight during the last two years. The tongue is wavy from
nervous debility, and he suffers from nocturnal perspirations; memory is
rather failing, and appetite is bad, [85].
► Pale, weak, and anxious-looking,
with a slow but regular pulse; tongue furred; teeth mostly greenish
black and carious; skin generally dry and cold. He could not walk at
all, hardly speak, and when he attempted to move, or was asked a
question, his whole frame was thrown into the most immoderate convulsive
actions, [84]. ► Old-looking for his age; thin and pale;
sallow, but not to an extreme degree. Has slight blue line along lower
gums. Teeth, lower incisors; pegged flattened at the top, the centre
brown, the enamel everywhere deficient. All of them chipped and decayed.
Mental condition defectivee. He cannot give a history of his illness. To
every question about it, answer only, “Mercury.” When pressed
about it, says, “Too much is expected of him,” and he begins
to sob and cry. Cries with the least excitement. He cannot remember his
age to within ten years. Speech very thick; the words are drawled out,
but he often fails to complete them. After he has been talking a little
time, articulation becomes less and less distinct, apparently from
defective control over the muscles. Tremors; when he is not talking the
face is tranquil, but directly he begins to speak all the face muscles
become tremulous. When told to open his mouth he gets marked tremor of
muscles of mastication. Tongue very tremulous when protruded; no
nystagmus. Coarse tremor of whole right upper limb elicited on movement.
Lower limbs: Able to walk a mile fairly well, but no more. No trembling
of legs when he stands or walks. Staggers when eyes are closed; would
fall unless prevented. When sitting in a chair, and told to raise the
right leg off the ground, there is coarse tremor in the whole limb, [86].® 2000
Article