calomel
/ˈkaləmɛl
/noun [mass noun]
Mercurous chloride, a white powder formerly used as a purgative.
- Chemical formula: Hg2Cl2.
- Reports of mercury poisoning from beauty creams containing calomel, or mercurous chloride, also surface regularly.
- It includes the famous Livingstone Rousers - the combination of purgatives including calomel, quinine, rhubarb, essence of jalop and opium - which Livingstone found effective in treating his bouts of malaria.
Origin
Late 17th century: modern Latin, perhaps from Greek kalos 'beautiful' + melas 'black' (perhaps because it was originally obtained from a black mixture of mercury and mercuric chloride).
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- hyperthermia
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