Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Corrosive Sublimate
also called mercuric chloride, HgCl2, bichloride of mercury, perchloride of mercury; prepared by heating mercuric sulphate with dry sodium chloride; the mercuric chloride sublimes as a white transparent crystalline mass, sp. gr., 5.43. It is dissolvable in about 20 parts of cold water, and very soluble in alcohol and ether.
It precipitates albumen, hence white of egg is an antidote. It is very poisonous, and is used to preserve both animal and vegetable substances. It is used in pharmacy as Liquor Hydrargyri Perchloridi, and as Lotio Hydrargyri Flava when mixed with lime. Corrosive sublimate is a powerful irritant, and is used externally in skin diseases. It is administered internally in syphilis, usually in conjunction with iodide of potassium.
It is also much in use by surgeons in an antiseptic spray and as a cleansing agent for sterilizing their operating instruments. As an antiseptic wash for wounds or sores its strength is generally used in proportion of one part art of the salt to 5,000 of the solvent.