MERCURIUS METHYLENUS.

Mercuric methide Hg (CH3) 2.

Authorities.

1 , Dr. Geo. N. Edwards, St. Bartholomew's Hosp. Resp., 1865, p. 141, a man (who sometimes had epileptic fits) was engaged in the preparation of Mercuric methide; 2 , same, T. S., employed in same business.

MIND

• Moves his arms about apparently without objects, and in an idiotic manner; at times in even violent, shrieking out, making loud incoherent noises, or laughing or crying in an idiotic manner; occasionally makes efforts to get out of bed, 2.

HEAD

• Giddiness, 2.

EYE

• A dark margin around his eyes, 2.
• Some inflammation of both conjunctivæ, with a muco-purulent discharge, 2.
• Pupil.
• Pupils dilated, 1.
• Pupils dilated, but act equally to light, conjunctiva rather injected, sclerotics slightly yellow, 2.
• Pupils dilated at one time, at another contracted, 1.
• Vision.
• Impairment of sight, 1.
• Slight slightly impaired, 2. [10.]
• Dimness of vision, pain and redness of the eyes, 2.

EAR

• Deafness; it is with difficulty that he understands what is said, 1.
• Lost his hearing, 2.

NOSE

• Power of smell much impaired, 2.

FACE

• Expression very vacant, 1.
• Countenance pale and sunken; afterwards also dusky; later flushed, 1.
• Cheeks sometimes flushed, sometimes pale, 2.

MOUTH

• Teeth.
• Teeth and lips dry, covered with sordes, 1.
• Gums.
• Gums rather spongy, and of whitish color; lips dry, 2.
• Gums spongy and swollen, 2. [20.]
• Gums became sore, 1.
• Tongue.
• Soreness of gums and looseness of teeth, 2.
• Tongue coated and moist, 1.
• Tongue coated with a yellowish fur, 1.
• Tongue moist, coated on the dorsum with a white fur, red at tip and edges, 2.
• Tongue numb, 2.
• Saliva.
• He was observed to spit and wipe his mouth very often, 2.
• Taste.
• Nasty taste in his mouth, like brass, 2.
• Taste became imperfect, all things tasting alike, 2.
• Speech.
• Powers of speech much impaired, 2. [30.]
• Makes constant efforts to speak, but only utters incoherent noises, 2.

THROAT

• Swallows with difficulty, 2.

STOMACH

• Refuses to take nourishment, and struggles and becomes furious upon any attempt being made to force him to drink, 1.
• Nausea and vomiting, the vomited matters being greenish and watery, 2.

ABDOMEN

• Some pain in the right hypochondrium on pressure, 2.

STOOL

• Diarrhœa.
• Passes all his evacuations beneath him, 2.
• Bowels open, motions dark-colored, fluid, mixed with scybala, 1.
• Constipation.
• Bowels generally confined, 2.
• Bowels not opened for five days, 2.

URINARY ORGANS

• Urine passed involuntarily, 2. [40.]
• Urine pale, slightly turbid, acid, sp. gr. 1018, containing a considerable quantity of albumen, and showing renal epithelium and granules under the microscope; afterwards passed in bed and very offensive, 1.

RESPIRATORY ORGANS

• Breath offensive, 2.
• Odor of his breath and body very offensive, 1.
• Distinct mercurial fetor in his breath, 1.
• Breathing sometimes seems to cease altogether for a few seconds, and then to become quick and stertorous, 1.

EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL

• Violent movements of his limbs, much increased on tickling his feet, 2.
• The left wrist is rather rigid, and the left knee almost completely so; he never bends it voluntarily, but it can be slightly ben by using considerable force; later there is no sensation of or motion in the left leg, which is extended, rigid at the knee, and the foot turned slightly inward; sensation is also somewhat impaired in the left hand, 1.
• He can move his limbs perfectly, but slowly; can grasp only very imperfectly, and takes some time to close his hands; he dragged his legs after him in walking; lost the power of bringing his hands directly to the point that he wishes, 2.

SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES

• Fingers drawn together and stretched out unnaturally, 1.
• Numbness of the hands, 1.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS. [50.]

• Great weakness, 1.
• Too weak to walk out, 2.
• So restless and noisy that his hands had to be strapped to the bed-stead; attempts to start up in bed, and utters incoherent noises at frequent intervals, 1.
• Sensation less than natural, though he is aware when his hands and feet are touched; the latter feel warm to himself although they appear cold to others, 2.

SKIN

• The skin over the sacrum is red, 2.

SLEEP

• Restless nights, 1.
• Sometimes sleeps well, but is often restless at night, 2.

FEVER

• Cold hands, 1.
• Skin generally warm and dry, that of hands and feet cold, 2.