Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
Three mercurial diuretics, Thiomerin, Mercuzanthin and Mer-cuhydrin have been compared with respect to the tissue reaction which they produce. Thiom-erin was tolerated by mice on subcutaneous injection without exhibiting gross pathology while Mercuzanthin and Mercuhydrin gave rise to necrosis of the skin under the same conditions. After intramuscular injection in rats all three drugs gave an early inflammatory response characterized by the appearance of a polymorphonuclear exudate. In the case of Thiomerin this exudate was entirely resorbed without evidence of residual damage. After injection of Mercuzanthin, or Mercuhydrin, however, the irreversible nature of the response was indicated by marked fibroblastic proliferation.
These results would seem to furnish an adequate experimental basis for the clinical use of Thiomerin by subcutaneous injection.
The authors wish to thank the Misses Florence Katine and Josephine Brosseau for able technical assistance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.