Tellurium

TELLURIUM, Tellurium, chemical symbol Te, occupies the 52nd place in the periodic system. A homolog of sulfur and selenium (Group VI). Atomic weight 127.5. Tellurium is an amorphous black powder or brittle pieces of silver-white color, with a metallic luster; specific gravity 6.24, melting point 453°; Tellurium combines directly with halogens, oxygen, hydrogen, and many metals. Tellurium compounds are used in biology when studying the life of bacteria for the pigmentation of microorganism cells. When inoculating diphtheria bacilli onto a nutrient medium consisting of 50 cm³ of horse serum, 50 cm³ of a 0.8% sodium chloride solution, 2 cm³ of a 1% potassium tellurite solution (K₂Te), and one egg yolk, and heated until coagulation at 85-90° for 12-14 hours, distinct colonies of diphtheria bacilli grow, colored in a dark color; all other microorganisms die. To differentiate living tissue from tissue that has undergone coagulation under the influence of 96% alcohol, formalin, mercuric chloride, etc., the object is treated with a solution (1 : 10,000) of K₂Te and thoroughly washed with physiological saline; in this process, living cells are stained. Tellurium compounds act destructively on trypanosomes and intestinal typhoid bacilli; they produce a clearly expressed effect on the external manifestations of syphilis and on the seroreaction. As a therapeutic agent in humans and in experimental syphilis in animals, a 20% suspension of metallic tellurium in a 5% glucose solution or a 10% oil suspension of tellurium trioxide were used. Dose: 3 intramuscular injections of the tellurium-glucose suspension of 1-2 cm³ each, and then 0.5 cm³ of the 10% suspension, two to three injections per week. The use of tellurium is hindered by: frequent staining of the patient's skin blue, discoloration of hair, and a prolonged unpleasant smell of garlic on the breath. In leprosy, a 10% suspension of metallic tellurium in a 5% glucose solution or a 10% suspension of tellurium diiodide in oil was used at 1-2 cm³ every 5-8 days, depending on the strength of the reaction. With a mild general reaction, improvement was noted in leprous nodules and tumors; there were cases of regression and improvement in the presence of ulcers.

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