The Pharmacology of Mercury

Abstract

there was no mark at the point of inoculation. Cultures from the brain and blood yielded a pure growth of the greenproducing streptococcus. The

Effects of mercuric ions on isolated guinea-pig ileum

“…Finally, it should be emphasized that irreversible actions are characteristic of Hg2+ on excitable tissues (21,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)30). The potent neurotoxicity of Hg2+ as compared with other heavy metals is probably due to its very tight binding to SH groups (the stability constant of HgS is about combined with a relatively large access to the intracellular compartment of the tissues (10).…”

Intravenous Administration of Mercurial Diuretics in Man

“…Although sudden death following the intravenous administration of a mercurial diuretic has been attributed to anaphylactic shock3 and to speed shock,4 it is now commonly believed that the various immediate reactions are similar in nature and are a result of cardiac arrhythmias produced by mercury.2 This conclusion is supported by animal experi¬ mentation in which a variety of cardiac arrhythmias have been produced by the perfusion of isolated hearts with solutions containing mercury or by the intravenous injection of mercurial preparations into anes¬ thetized dogs and cats. 5 Investigations of the immediate effect of the mercurial diuretics on the human heart have been few. Bloom and Cashonß studied the effect of mersalyl on 20 patients without cardiac disease by recording electro¬ cardiograms before the intravenous injection of 2 cc.…”