Some investigators claim that if a patient's skin is sensitive to one of the mercurials he may be sensitive to any compound containing mercury. We have investigated 5 patients with dermatitis due to merthiolate and found that 4 were sensitive to merthiolate and not to any other organic or inorganic mercury compounds with which they were tested.
Gross1 reported on a patient who was sensitive to mercurophen (sodium hydroxymercury orthonitrophenolate). The patient was sensitive also to tincture of metaphen, 2 per cent yellow mercuric oxide ointment, 1: 10,000 solution of mercury bichloride and 3 per cent mercurous chloride ointment but reacted negatively to patch tests with tincture of merthiolate and mercurochrome. Butterworth, discussing Gross's case, described a patient who was sensitive to 3 per cent ammoniated mercury ointment but not to 1: 150 solution of mercurophen. Traub and Holmes2 reported on a patient with dermatitis and stomatitis due