Chap. V.

Of Antimony.

391

verted into sulphuret, and combines with the remaining pro-toxide, in the proportions which form the glass of antimony.The glass of antimony is transparent, and has a fine hya-cinthine colour. On dissolving it in muriatic acid, it givesout sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Its medical operation is souncertain, that it is only used in making other preparations.

OXIDUM ANTIMONII VITEIFICATUM CUM CERA; dim VlTRUMANT1MON1I CERATUM. Ed.

Vitrified Oxide of Antimony with Wax, formerly CeratedGlass oj Antimony.

Take of

Yellow wax, one part;

Vitrified oxide of antimony with sulphur, eight parts.

Melt the wax in an iron vessel, and throw into it the pow-dered oxide; roast the mixture over a gentle fire, for aquarter of an hour, continually stirring it with a spatula;then pour it out, and, when cold, grind it into powder.

The glass melts in the wax, with a very gentle heat: afterit has been about twenty minutes on the fire, it begins tochange its colour, and in ten more, comes near to that ofScotch snuff, which is a mark of its being sufficiently prepa-red ; the mixture loses about one-ninth of its weight in theprocess.

This medicine was for some time much esteemed in dysen-teries. The dose is from two or three grains to twenty, ac-cording to the age and strength of the patient. In its opera-tion, it makes some persons sick, and vomit; it purges almostevery one; though it has sometimes effected a cure withoutoccasioning any evacuation or sickness. It is now, however,much less used than formerly.

SULPHURETUM ANTIMONII PRJECiriTATUM. Ed.

Precipitated Sulphuret of Antimony.

Take of

Water of potass, four pounds ;

Water, three pounds;

Prepared sulphuret of antimony, two pounds.

Boil them in a covered iron pot, over a slow fire, for threehours, adding more water, if necessary, and frequently stir-ring the mixture with an iron spatula; strain the liquor,while warm, through a double cloth, and add to it, whenfiltered,

Diluted sulphuric acid,