The transfer of radioactive mercury across a membrane produced by the application of cantharides to the skin of man.

This report is concerned with the rate and mode of transfer of mercury across a biologic membrane. The experiments reported herein represent part of a series of studies of the pharmacologic properties of mercurial diuretics carried out in this laboratory with a mercurial diuretic (Mercuhydrin)s labeled with radioactive mercury.4 The biologic membrane consisted of the base of a blister produced by the application of a vesicant, cantharides, to the forearm of man. It is apparent that this type of membrane is of special nature; however, it is probably -more comparable to normal intact membranes of man than to isolated membranes obtained at necropsy. It is hoped that such a study of the transfer of the radiomercury of the diuretic across the blister surface might clarify some of the problems concerned with the pharmacologic properties of the diuretic. Mercury was observed to move in both directions across this membrane in a predictable manner. Studies on confrol patients were contrasted with those on patients with cardiac disease. Certain variables were introduced to observe their effects on the transfer of mercury. The cantharides blister, as a physiologic model, is not new, most of the earlier work having been reported in the German literature. Among the