| Mercury bichlorid or | |
| corrosive sublimate, | gr. xv (1 gm.); |
| Common salt, | gr. xv (1 gm.); |
| Sterile water, | Oij (1 L.). |
The salt in this formula is added to prevent decomposition of the mercurial salt by the albuminous juices of the tissues.
ALKALINE SOLUTION OF
CYANID OF MERCURY.
Some surgeons recommend cyanid of mercury in solutions of 1: 1000 or 1: 2000 in place of the bichlorid of mercury. It is a powerful antiseptic that does not coagulate albumin, irritate the tissues, or attack metals.
| Mercury cyanid, | gr. viiss (0.5 gm.); |
| Sodium borate, | gr. xv (1 gm.). |
| These tablets are made to correspond to bichlorid tablets. | |
Compressed tablets, each containing 7½ grains (0.48 gm.) of corrosive sublimate with tartaric acid, are also in common use. One of these added to 1 pint of water makes a solution of 1: 1000.
SATURATED BORIC OR BORACIC-ACID SOLUTION.
| Boric acid crystals, | ℥jss (47 gm.); |
| Hot sterile water, | Oij (1 L.). |
This solution may also be made by putting an excess of the crystals into the water, then sterilizing by boiling twenty minutes and straining through sterile cotton.