![]() ![]() The Hg–Hg bond length of 253 pm (Hg–Hg in the metal is 300 pm) and the Hg–Cl bond length in the linear Hg 2Cl 2 unit is 243 pm. The unit cell of the crystal structure is shown below: The mineral calomel crystallizes in the tetragonal system, with space group I4/m 2/m 2/m. ![]() Mercury is unique among the group 12 metals for its ability to form the M–M bond so readily. Modern researchers used that same mercury, found deep in latrine pits, to retrace the locations of their respective locations and campsites. Lewis and Clark brought along the wonder drug of the day, mercury chloride (otherwise known as calomel), as a pill, a tincture, and an ointment. Mormon prophet Joseph Smith's eldest brother Alvin Smith died in 1823 from mercury poisoning from calomel. Anecdotal evidence indicates calomel was more effective than bleeding. A war of words erupted in the press concerning the best treatment for yellow fever: bleeding or calomel. Shortly after yellow fever struck Philadelphia, the disease broke out in Jamaica. ![]() Calomel was given to patients as a purgative or cathartic until they began to salivate and was often administered to patients in such great quantities that their hair and teeth fell out. Benjamin Rush was one particular well-known advocate of mercury in medicine and used calomel to treat sufferers of yellow fever during its outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. It was used by doctors in America throughout the 18th century, and during the revolution, to make patients regurgitate and release their body from "impurities". Mercury became a popular remedy for a variety of physical and mental ailments during the age of " heroic medicine". Until fairly recently, it was also used as a horticultural fungicide, most notably as a root dip to help prevent the occurrence of clubroot amongst crops of the family Brassicaceae. Ĭalomel was taken internally and used as a laxative, for example to treat George III in 1801, and disinfectant, as well as in the treatment of syphilis, until the early 20th century. It is also referred to as the mineral horn quicksilver or horn mercury. The "black" name (somewhat surprising for a white compound) is probably due to its characteristic disproportionation reaction with ammonia, which gives a spectacular black coloration due to the finely dispersed metallic mercury formed. The name calomel is thought to come from the Greek καλός "beautiful", and μέλας "black" or καλός and μέλι "honey" from its sweet taste. ![]()
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