The sulphocyanide of mercury gives, when burnt, a most abundant ash, a fact utilised in the toy known as Pharaoh’s serpent; the products of combustion are mercurial vapours and sulphurous anhydride. That the substance itself is poisonous, is evident from the following experiment:—·5 grm. was given to a pigeon without immediate result; but ten hours afterwards it was indisposed, refused its food, and in forty hours died without convulsions.[911]
[911] Eulenberg, Op. cit., p. 472.
§ 832. The more Common Patent and Quack Medicines containing Mercury.
Mordant’s Norton’s Drops.—This patent medicine is a mixture of the tincture of gentian and ginger, holding in solution a little bichloride of mercury, and coloured with cochineal.
Solomon’s Anti-impetigines is a solution of bichloride of mercury, flavoured and coloured.
Poor Man’s Friend.—An ointment of nitrate of mercury.
Brown’s Lozenges.—Each lozenge contains 1⁄2 grain of calomel, and 31⁄2 grains of resinous extract of jalap; the rest is white sugar and tragacanth.