calomel
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of calomel
1670–80; < New Latin calomelas coined from Greek kaló ( s ) fair + mélas black; allegedly so called because its original preparation involved turning black powder into white
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their patients rarely suffered any mercury poisoning from the treatments because calomel has a very low solubility, as suggested by its very small Ksp:
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Although most mercury compounds are now known to be poisonous, eighteenth-century physicians used calomel as a medication.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
The carbonate and bicarbonate of soda tend to alkalize the system; the colon bacilli prevent putrefaction and toxemia; calomel and purge clean out the gall bladder and bowels.
From Time Magazine Archive
One doctor reported a patient who took so much calomel that his teeth fell out, then the upper and lower jawbones came out "in the form of horse shoes."
From Time Magazine Archive
To ease the dying man, he administered a dose of calomel and placed loaves of hot bread around his body.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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