MERCUROCHROME IN NOSE AND THROAT

Abstract

To the Editor: —Apropos of the recent article inThe Journal(April 30, p. 1391) by Earl B. McKinley and Margaret Holden on the dangers attending the intraspinal injection of mercurochrome, allow me to voice my own opposition to the prevalent use of this remedy in the treatment of nose and throat conditions, especially in children. It has become the almost universal practice in this part of the country to use various strength solutions of mercurochrome in the treatment of acute pharyngeal conditions and acute cold in the head. Mothers are now dropping solutions of this remedy in the nasal cavities of young children just as they previously had done with mild silver protein solutions, and in some instances even sprays have been used. I have recently seen two cases in which I am sure this remedy produced a decided toxic effect from its use in the nose. Small children