Some aspects of the pharmacology of mercury.

Although the oral administration of calomel has long been recognized to be of value in ridding the organism of water in cases of cardiac oedema (Jendrassik, 1886 (1) ), the mechanism of this action is still an open question. The experiments herein described were undertaken with the hope of throwing some further light upon the pharmacology of this phenomenon. The results of our studies are considered in respect to both quantitative and qualitative changes in urinary elimination and a comparison is made of the diuresis resulting from the injection of the organic mercury oomplex, novasurol, and that following the inorganic compound, mercuric chloride. Finally, some conclusions are drawn concerningthe mechanism of the process. [...