640 ' Metallic Preparations. — Antimony, part m.

retted hydrosulphuret of potass, while its oxygen, aided by thesulphuretted hydrogen, oxidizes the antimony, which is dis-solved by the sulphuretted hydrosulphuret of potass. The sul-phuric acid, which is now added to the strained solution, com-bines with the potass, disengaging sulphuretted hydrogen gas,and the oxide of antimony is precipitated combined with thedisengaged sulphur and the remaining sulphuretted hydrogen.In the Dublin process, the precipitate thrown down whilst thedecanted liquor cools is a powder of a brick-red colour, thewell-known kermes mineral, 1 which is the oxide of antimony inunion with such portions of sulphur and sulphuretted hydrogenonly as it can attract; while the precipitate, afterwards throwndown by the acid, is the old Sulphur attratum Antimonii, or ahydrosulphuret of antimony with an excess of sulphur; andhence, by agitating the mixture, a compound, or intermediateproduct, is obtained, which is the sulphuretted hydrosulphuretof the oxide, as in the former cases. According to Thenard,the oxide in these two powders is in a different state of oxidize-ment; an opinion, however, which is at least very problemati-cal. The following are the proportions of their constituentsgiven by him : Kermes mineral consists of 72-760 parts ofbrown oxide of antimony, 20-298 of sulphuretted hydrogen,4-156 of sulphur, and 2*786 of water and loss : Golden Sulphurof Antimony contains 68S0 of orange oxide of antimony,11-877 of sulphuretted hydrogen, 12-00 of sulphur, and1-823 of water and loss—in 100 parts. 4 But the real differ-ence appears to consist in the larger portion of sulphur throwndown with the golden sulphur ; the base being the same in both,as stated by Trommsdorff. i

Qualities. — The precipitated sulphuret of antimony, as it iscalled, is an orange-coloured powder, slightly styptic to thetaste, inodorous, and insoluble in water. It readily catchesfire, and burns with a blue and greenish flame, exhaling theodour of sulphurous acid, and leaving the metal, after the com-bustion, in the form of a grayish-white oxide. It is said to befrequently sophisticated. When pure it does not effervescewith acids.

Medical properties and uses. — This preparation of antimonyis diaphoretic, expectorant, and emetic according to the dose.

1 This powder, although now discarded from the pharmacopoeias,, was longa celebrated remedy. It was discovered by Glauber, and hence named PanaceaGlauberiana i and the process kept secret until the French Government publishedit in 1720, having purchased it from one La Legerie, a surgeon, to whom it hadbeen communicated by a pupil of Glauber.

2 Annates de Chimk, xxxii. 268.

3 Annates de Chime, xxxiv. 132. The quantity of the sulphuretted hydrosul-phuret is much increased, by adding to the sulphuret of antimony a small portionpf sulphur.