4 Answers

Mercurochrome™ is a product which was once widely marketed for use as a topical antiseptic. Thanks to changes in the way the US Food and Drug Administration regards Mercurochrome™, the product is not readily available in the United States today, although it can be found in many other regions of the world. This antiseptic is part of a family of products made with a base of merbromin, a chemical which must be suspended in an alcohol or water solution before it can be used as an antiseptic.

This product was marketed for use on minor cuts and scrapes during the 20th century. It typically had reddish to brown color which would stain the skin when it was applied, and if it was suspended in alcohol, it might sting slightly. Mercurochrome™ was recommended for use on people of all ages, and many people in the middle of the 20th century had a bottle in the bathroom cabinet for household use.

There are two issues with Mercurochrome™ and other merbromin products. The first is that they contain mercury, a metal which is known to be poisonous. Although no one has definitively linked Mercurochrome™ to mercury poisoning, presumably because the metal is only present in trace amounts, many people prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to mercury. The FDA originally grandfathered the drug in, and later decided that it should be banned until additional research could prove that it was safe for use.

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin#Mercurochrome

First off, I believe it is "Mercuracrome" and it is/was a liquid used as an antiseptic agent for cuts/scrapes.  I remember my Mother using it on me as a child and I hated it because it stung so much!  It had a color that was part orange with a greenish tint.

@ jsonny...Before 'Mercurochrome' it was 'iodine' used as an antiseptic. As I remember, Iodine was the real pain event with stinging the affected area. It was red also but a bit more red than the 'brownish red of mercurochrome.  I remember the latter as being less painful. neither are on the market today, iodine is gone for obvious reasons, its iodine.. I remember the little skull and cross bones on the label. In those days though, the g'ment thought we were smarter and I don't recall anyone actually using the stuff to kill themselves, today, I guess we aren't as smart, g'ment takes all the good stuff away.. LOL, that's ok though, I like 'Neosporin'  Its pretty good and doesn't sting..