Substance
Mercuric salts

Pathology
Reaction with carboxyl, sulfhydryl, phosphoryl, and amide groups; interference with enzyme and cellular functions; toxicity involving multiple organ systems.

Symptoms
Burning of mouth and throat, thirst, abdominal pain, nausea, corrosive gastroenteritis, hematemesis, diarrhea, dehydration, shock, acute tubular necrosis. Neurological symptoms such as tremor, irritability and other personality changes, and depression are common.

Emergency Measures
The patient should be treated with oxygen and the gastrointestinal tract decontaminated (e.g., with whole-bowel irrigation). Chelating agents such as dimercaprol, dimercaptosuccinic acid, or d-penicillamine, should be given to bind and remove mercury from the body.

Comments
Doses of 1–4 g of mercuric chloride can be fatal. Chronic poisonings have resulted in neurological abnormalities, renal dysfunction, and gastrointestinal symptoms.