Chiefly Med. Also 8 calamel. [In F. calomel, calomélas; according to Littré f. Gr. καλό-ς fair, beautiful + μέλας black.
Littré says ‘so called, it is said, because the chemist who discovered it, saw a beautiful black powder change into a white powder in the preparation.’ Chambers (Cycl., 1727–51), s.v. says ‘The denomination Calomel rather seems to have first belonged to the Æthiops mineral; from καλος, pulcher, fair; and μελας, niger, black: for that white or pale bodies, rubbed herewith, become black. Some will have it first given to Mercurius dulcis, by a whimsical chymist, who employed a black in his laboratory; whose complexion, as well as that of the mercury, he alluded to in the term: the medicine being fair, the operator black.’ Nothing appears as to when, where or by whom the name was given: Littré calls it ‘ancien nom.’]
Mercurous chloride, or ‘protochloride’ of mercury (Hg2 Cl2); a preparation much used in medicine in the form of a white powder with a yellow tinge, becoming grey on exposure to light; also found native as horn-quicksilver in crystals.
1676. Wiseman, Chirurg. Treat., IV. v. 317 (J.). Lenient Purgatives with Calomel.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Calomel, in pharmacy, a name given to Mercurius dulcis, further sublimated to a fourth time, or upwards.
1800. W. Carson, in Med. Jrnl., IV. 410. I have been dissatisfied with the general and indiscriminate use of Calomel in the diseases of children.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., v. (1878), 229. She dosed them with calomel and jalap.
1873. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., 402. Pure calomel is a heavy, white, insoluble, tasteless powder.
attrib. 1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 466. The calomel pill was given morning and evening.
