Metallic mercury in the gastrointestinal tract. A case of ingested thermometer mercury.

In a healthy, intact gastrointestinal tract, metallic mercury cannot produce symptoms of systemic intoxication. If retained in the appendix, however, the mercury can cause local inflammation and--should penetration result--also systemic poisoning. A case is described in which ingested thermometer mercury was retained in the appendix and thereby constituted an indication for appendectomy.