calomel
/'kæləmel/
Definition
- Noun:
- A white, tasteless, and odorless powder: Calomel is a chemical compound, specifically mercurous chloride (Hg₂Cl₂), that appears as a fine white powder.
- A medicinal substance used as a purgative: Historically, calomel was used in medicine as a cathartic to induce bowel movements.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The 19th-century doctor prescribed calomel for the patient's ailment.
- Calomel was a common ingredient in many historical remedies.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Medical Context: Calomel is primarily discussed in historical or medical history contexts, as its use has been largely discontinued due to the toxicity of mercury.
- The dangers of mercury poisoning led to the decline of calomel's use in medicine.
Variants and Related Words
- Mercurous chloride: The systematic chemical name for calomel.
- Cathartic: A type of medicinal substance used to purge the bowels; a category that included calomel.
Synonyms
- Mercurous chloride (chemical name).
- Purgative (describes its function, not a direct synonym for the substance itself).
Notes on Meaning
- The term "calomel" refers specifically to the chemical compound mercurous chloride. Its primary historical meaning is tied to its use as a medicine. It is not used in modern therapeutic contexts and has no other common meanings in general English.
Noun
-
a tasteless colorless powder used medicinally as a cathartic
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