What is "mercuric bichloride"

Corrosive \Cor*ro"sive\ (k?r-r?"s?v), a. [Cf. F. corrosif.]

1. Eating away; having the power of gradually wearing, changing, or destroying the texture or substance of a body; as, the corrosive action of an acid. ``Corrosive liquors.''
   --Grew. ``Corrosive famine.''
   --Thomson.

2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.

   Care is no cure, but corrosive.
   --Shak.

   Corrosive sublimate (Chem.), mercuric chloride, HgCl2; so called because obtained by sublimation, and because of its harsh irritating action on the body tissue. Usually it is in the form of a heavy, transparent, crystalline substance, easily soluble, and of an acrid, burning taste. It is a virulent poison, a powerful antiseptic, and an excellent antisyphilitic; called also mercuric bichloride. It is to be carefully distinguished from calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.