Properties.—A scarlet-red, amorphous powder; odorless and tasteless; permanent in air, insoluble in water; soluble in one hundred and twenty-five parts of alcohol.
Actions.—Red iodide of mercury is a stimulant irritant, resolvent pustulant antiseptic and parasiticide.
Uses.—Mixed with one to eight parts of lard it is a blister used to reduce bony enlargements or bone-tumors as in splints, bone spavin, ringbone, sidebone and actinomycosis; it is also used with good results in reducing soft swellings, to arrest chronic inflammation and promote absorption of inflammatory deposits, as seen in sprained tendons, curbs, enlarged joints, bursae, etc. It is frequently used as a counter-irritant in sore throat, chronic cough and roaring. Mixed with cantharides the strength can be reduced as an irritant and less apt to permanently destroy the hair bulbs. It is used internally to arrest the growths of actinomycoses and scirrhous cord, but in those cases the benefits are derived from the potassium iodide which it contains, and I would recommend administering internally without the mercury.
HYDRARGYRI OXIDUM FLAVUM—YELLOW MERCURIC OXIDE
Origin.—Yellow mercuric oxide is obtained by the interaction of mercuric chloride and sodium hydroxide.
Properties.—Mercuric oxide is of a yellow color, similar to that of the yolk of egg, and is a completely amorphous powder; odorless, and having a somewhat metallic taste; permanent in the air, but turning dark on exposure to light; insoluble in water or alcohol.
Actions.—A stimulant caustic and anesthetic.
Uses.—The official ointment of yellow mercuric oxide is prescribed as a stimulant and anesthetic in chronic inflammation and ulceration of the eye (4 gr. of yellow mercuric oxide to 1 oz. of vaseline). It is also employed on skin diseases, indolent ulcers, swollen glands and granulated wounds.
HYDRASTIS—GOLDEN SEAL
The rhizome and roots of hydrastis canadensis Linne, yielding not less than 2.5 per cent of hydrastine.