To test for myself the accuracy of such statements, I have made some experiments, the object of which is to discover if some of the most insoluble of our known remedies, which are yet known to obtain entry somehow into the blood, could do so while yet in the insoluble state. They are as follow:--
EXP. 1.--Ten grains of calomel were given to a large dog. It was killed after three hours, allowing this time for digestion. A considerable quantity of blood was collected from the Portal vein, and submitted to analysis to determine whether it contained any compound of Mercury in an insoluble form. The blood was dried and pulverized. The result was boiled for some time in water, and the insoluble part collected. It was dissolved in a small quantity of aqua regia, and the clear acid solution placed in a test tube. A slip of zinc foil was folded round a narrow plate made of gold foil, and introduced into the solution. A galvanic current being thus set up, the minutest quantity of mercury, if present, would have been deposited on the gold, so as to tarnish it. But this did not take place, and when at last the zinc was completely dissolved, the gold remained as bright as before. Thus there was _no_ Calomel, or compound of mercury, present in the insoluble form.
EXP. 2.--Ten grains of strong mercurial ointment (containing half its weight of metallic mercury, with some oxide) were given to another dog. He was killed after the same time, and the Portal blood analyzed carefully in the same way, but here also _no_ mercurial compound was present in the insoluble form.
EXP. 3.--To a third dog five grains of Oxide of Silver were administered. After three hours he was killed. The Portal blood was dried in a water-bath, and reduced to powder. This was boiled for some time in water, which was separated by filtration. Aqua regia was then boiled on the insoluble part. This would convert any silver into chloride. The acid was evaporated off as much as possible, and the solid remainder heated in a small porcelain crucible to dull redness. The result was powdered, and digested in liquor ammoniæ. It was filtered, and excess of nitric acid was added. There was not any precipitate. Had chloride of silver been present, it would have been dissolved by the ammonia, and precipitated by the acid. Thus no insoluble silver compound was contained in the blood analyzed.