Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-06-03
Mercury and the Liver.

Good Health a popular maya
zine, the scope Of which is seen in Its
title, makes some striking statement,
about mercury in relation 10 the IlV'
er:
A committee composed Of the most
scientific physicians known to the
medical profession, a few months
ago, startled the world by the mar
velous revelation that mercury dld
=! not arouse the action of the liver!
| Nay, it was demonstrated that none
Of the medicines so confidently as
serted TO excite the action of the liv-
er, did any such thing; but on the
contrary checked the secretion OF
bile! The truth of their original in
vestigation is confirmed now as in
di~sputable. =,
/, Ii is shown that when mercurial
preparations are given they do not
i~rritate the liver aud thereby induce
the flow of bile into the stomach ;
nor does any local irritation cause
increased flow of bile.
,. 1t is proyed that the gall-bladder
is not contractile, and that, cOnse-
quently, no irritation, direct or indi-
rect, nor any kind Of reflex action,
influences it.
3. But pressure under the gall
bladder or liver, in consequence of
extensive c%outf2ctionS CT the muscles
surrounding these organs, causes a
copious flow OF the bile into the
stomach. In consequence Of the dis
cOvery that the liver does not con
tract at all there was a careful exam
nation made of the structure of this
viscus in animals and man; and the
result of the examination has demon
strated beyond the shadow Of a
doubt that the HUer has no muscular
coat! The discovery and demon
stration of this truth is one Of the
most remarkable in the annals Of
medicine. The structure Of the liver
is thoroughly described in the recent
edition of Quain's Anatomy, P. SIS.
So positive were the old doctors
that blue mass promoted the activity
of the liver that it was called zone
of Natures miracles, and a most rare
gift of Providence" This idea of its
supposed virtue has been transmit
ted to the public, and it has influence
ed them as one of the settled matters
of fact, and is a standing household
almost everywhere. So uni
versal is the conviction that to have
lazy liver instinctively suggests the
use of some preparation Of mercury
or other popular liver remedy. The
discovery is q terrible blow to the
boosted sources of knowledge, viz,
by observation and experience. 1t is
also a convincing illustration of the
profound ignorance there is as to the
action of medicine, on the human
system, and no less greater ignorance
of the nature of disease itself. 1t
shows too how we have falsely charg-
ed that noble seryant--the liver
with sins OF omission and commits
sion. This good friend is grossly ac-
cused of Indifference, or downright
laziness, whenever the tonguc-that
index of falsc-witness-gets coated;
while, indeed, it may then be doing
the best of service.
These circumstances throw a great
deal of doubt on the importance Of
the tongue as indicating the condi-
ton of the liver. The old theory
us when the constitution be-
affected with heaptic medicine
the liver became active, and the
tongue invariably clcaneds But the
theory is erroneous and the practice
a delusion.
The dark stools which are said to
be a proof of the action of the liver,
and to which the doctor points as an
evidence hat the medicine has acted
well, are most often destitute of bile
and the dark color is owing to the
presence of sulphuret of mercury.
The experiments showed that the
secretion Of bile is not near so requi-
site to health as Is generally suppos-
ed; for al animal will thrive for a
considerable time without any bile
flowing into the alimentary canal.
Such a fact as this ought to be of
great benefit to those who are ever
blaming the innocent liver for every
variation from health. The liver
does not exert an hundreth part of
the mischief as the mind which
thinks it does. Never swallow ano-
Their ambitious pill-throw them to