Difficult choices as death nears. As the changes described in this article develop in the final days or hours of a progressive terminal illness, difficult choices may arise. There may be questions about whether to provide food and fluids, receive blood transfusions, or treat infections.
The use of mercury in thermometers dates back hundreds of years. It was widely used because it reliably expands and contracts with changes in temperatures. It is highly poisonous, however, and can enter the body through the respiratory or digestive tracts, or directly through the skin.
Mercury is the 80th element on the periodic table and is represented by the chemical symbol Hg. It is a metal, but remains in liquid form at room temperature. Mercury is a very toxic substance and accumulates in the body.It causes damage to the brain, kidney and lungs and even small doses can cause mercury poisoning. Despite the danger of this element, mercury still has many important uses.t is a metal, but remains in liquid form at room temperature. Mercury is a very toxic substance and accumulates in the body. It causes damage to the brain, kidney and lungs and even small doses can cause mercury poisoning.