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.
Transport mercury and mercury-containing items in a rigid, sealed container to avoid breakage on the way to the collection site. Mercury thermometers are made of glass and contains a silver, metallic gray or black liquid. If your thermometer contains a red or blue liquid, itâs an alcohol thermometer.