Blue Pill

Blue Pill (Pilula hydrargyri) is the most simple form in which mercury can be administered internally. It consists merely of two parts of mercury rubbed up with three parts of conserve of roses, till globules of mercury can no longer be detected; to this is added one part of powdered liquorice-root, so that a pill of three grains contains one grain of mercury. In cases of torpid condition of the liver or inflammation of that organ, blue pill is much used as a purgative, either alone or combined with some other drug, such as rhubarb. When it is given with the view of bringing the system under the influence of mercury (Salivation, q.v.), small doses of opium should be added to counteract its purgative tendency, and the state of the gums watched carefully from day to day, so that the first symptoms of salivation may be noticed, and the medicine omitted. As a purgative, the common dose of blue bill is one or two pills of five grains each, followed by a purgative draught. When the system is to be saturated with it, or salivated, one pill may be given morning and evening, or one every night combined with $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ of a grain of opium, repeated till the gums become sore. But the sensibility to the action of mercury varies with the individual; some may take large quantities before it exhibits its physiological effects, and, on the other hand, three blue pills, one taken on each of three successive nights, have brought on a fatal salivation. When taking blue pills, all sudden changes of temperature should be avoided; and, indeed, though they are found in every domestic medicine-chest, neither they nor any other form of mercury should be given without good cause and without the greatest caution.