QUICKSILVER.

I6 5

fary to increafe the produce,—as fuch increafe can beeffected without the admixture of any arfenic at all.

The Operator fhculd be careful to avoid the per-nicious fumes, which arife on mixing the vitriolic a~cid with the Quickfilver, and to choofe for the fub-limation a glafs cucurbit, of which the ingredientswill occupy only one third. In the procefs, the vi»triolic acid, after having corroded the Quickfilverto a white calx, and to this the fea-falt has been ad-ded, quits the falt to unite itfelf with the Natron,which is the bafis of fea-falt ; the mtiriatic acid,thereby fet free, unites With the Qyjickfilver morereadily when affifted by the increafing heat, andfublimes with it in a white cryftalline mafs, adheringto the upper part of the cucurbit.

This preparation is a very ftrong aftive poifon,■— yet a folution of it was given to the Tranfla-tor repeatedly as an emetic fifty yeärs ago. It hasbeen employed in very fmall dofes as an aiterative,in venereal cafes, for more than a Century j but itsufe was not generally known tili Van Swieten, aboutthe middle of this, warmly recommended it, and notunjuftly.

M

CALO-