The only certain remedy hitherto known in Europe for the cure of this disease, is mercury, which may be used in a great variety of forms, with nearly the same success. Some time ago it was reckoned impossible to cure a confirmed lues without a salivation. This method is now, however, pretty generally laid aside, and mercury is found to be as efficacious, or rather more so, in expelling the venereal poison, when administered in such a manner as not to run off the salivatory glands. Though many are of opinion that the mercurial ointment is as efficacious as any other preparation of that mineral; yet experience has taught me to think otherwise. I have often seen the most obstinate venereal cases, where great quantities of mercurial ointment had been used in vain, yield to the saline preparations of mercury. Nor am I so singular in this opinion. Mr. Clare, a very eminent surgeon, assured me, that for some time past he had employed in venereal cases a saline preparation of mercury with most happy success. This preparation, rubbed with a sufficient quantity of any mild powder, he applied, in small portions, to the tongue, where, with a gentle degree of friction, it was immediately absorbed, and produced its full effect upon the system, without doing the least injury to the stomach or bowels; a matter of greater importance in the application of this most active and powerful remedy. It is impossible to ascertain either the exact quantity of medicines that must be taken, or the time they ought to be continued in order to perform a cure. These will ever vary according to the constitution of the patient, the season of the year, the degree of infection, the time it has lodged in the body, &c. But though it is difficult, as Astruc observes, to determine a priori, what quantity of mercury will, in the whole, be necessary to cure this distemper completely, yet it may be judged of a posteriori, from the abatement and ceasing of the symptoms. The same author adds, that commonly not less than two ounces of the strong mercurial ointment is sufficient, and not more than three or four ounces necessary. The only chemical preparation of mercury which we shall take notice of, is the corrosive sublimate. This was some time ago brought into use for the venereal disease in Germany, by the illustrious Baron Van Swieten; and was soon after introduced into Britain by the learned Sir John Pringle, at that time a physician to the army. The method of giving it is as follows: One grain of corrosive sublimate is dissolved in two ounces of French brandy or malt spirits; and of this solution an ordinary table-spoonful, or the quantity of half an ounce, is to be taken twice a day, and to be continued as long as any symptoms of the disorder remain. To those whose stomachs cannot bear the solution, the sublimate may be given in form of a pill.[10] Footnote 10: