Re: Silver Nitrate

Philippe Monnoyer (philippe.monnoyer@fundp.ac.be)
Wed, 28 Feb 1996 19:27:15 +0100

>To all with the sign of the Black Hand
>
>Chiropodists, until fairly recently used silver nitrate pencils to cure corns.
>They called it lunar caustic.
>
>But then I had a retired GP on a course recently who told me in his early days
>in practice it was not unusual for him to prescribe mercury for internal use !
>
>The point is that one tries one's hardest to underline to students that they
>should treat all chemicals with respect. Even water, which is a chemical, can
>be
>toxic, as we have seen from the deaths arising from dropping 'E' s.
>
>Terry King
>
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Terry,

You should not care about the toxicity of silver nitrate. It's
quite safe. Just do not eat it.

Some other reactants used in alternative non-silver photography as
Ammonium Dichromate for example are really more toxic. Chromium at
oxidation state 6 is carcinogenic !

However, I think it's a kind of fashion to be afraid of chemicals
if you're not working with all day long.

Philippe

******************************************************************************
Philippe Monnoyer
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