The Antagonism of the Antibacterial Action of Mercury Compounds: Part I. The Antibacterial Activity of Mercuric Chloride

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Abstract
E. coli I was the most resistant of nine organisms tested to the bacteriostatic action of mercuric chloride. Incubation of peptone water or Lemco broth containing high concentrations of mercuric chloride produced a greyish-black sediment. The inclusion of dextrose in the medium increased the amount of mercuric chloride necessary for bacter-iostasis. The bacteriostatic values of the liquid and solid dilution methods differed, and the results of the liquid dilution method could be varied by alteration of the experimental technique. The bacteriostatic activity of mercuric chloride was greater at 37° than at 20°. The presence of culture medium has a protecting action on the organisms. Mercuric chloride prolongs the lag phase of E. coli I but its mechanism has not been investigated.