[Circulatory distribution of intravenously injected metallic mercury]

The mode of distribution and sites of deposition of mercury are discussed on the basis of the example of a 21-year old female nurse who had injected 4.5 ml of metallic mercury into her left cubital vein with suicidal intent, the findings being compared with the reports by 11 other authors. In particular, the influence of gravity on the distribution in the organism is emphasised. The proof of the decrease of an intrapulmonarily deposited amount of mercury within the observation period of 14 months furnishes ample evidence of the importance of a chronic absorptive mercury intoxication.