t S A brief Account of the ■ \ 



acid tpv the x:ppp€r, and the^ tendency which' the gold has id 

 extend itfclf to the mercury with which the buttons have been 

 pi*evioufly:quicked, completely attaches to the whole furface. 

 ^uJjt is the next procefs in which we principally wiOi to re- 

 commend a deviation from the old pradlticc, by which ipoft 

 of , the mercury will be recovered, and the gilder's h(;alth, in 

 a^reat meafure, preferved from the dreadful efTciSts of vola- 

 tihled mercury. 



The old praftice is as follows : The buttons being com- 

 pletely covered with mercury and gold, the operator proceeds 

 to^hat bufmefs which is called drytng-off, which is performed 

 thus : The buttons, to the quantity of a few dozens, are put 

 into an iron pan fomewhat like a large frying-pan, placed 

 oyer a fire, and gently fliook, ,while the,. operator watches 

 carefully till he obferves the mercury begin to flow;— upon 

 the lirll fymptorn of which, he takes the pan from the tire, 

 anil throws the buttons. into a large cap, called a gihling cap^ 

 hke a man's hat with a very fmall- brim, but much larger 

 in the crown, made of eoarfe wool , and goats hair. In this 

 cap, with a circular hrufli, the buttons are ftirred, to fpread 

 the gold and mercury while in a degree of temperature nearly 

 fufficient to^volatillfe the mercury. The buttons are again 

 thrown into the pan, placed over the fire, and lliaken, while 

 the mercury gently volatilifes. The buttons are again thrown 

 into the cap, and llirred with the brufli. This procefs is 

 continually repeated, till all the mercury is volatilifed, leav- 

 ing the gold on the buttons, which appear again of a yellow 

 colour. 



Thus a principal partof the mercury afcends the chimneys, 

 is depofited on the tops of the houfes and about the adjacent 

 neighbourhood, and great quantities are inhaled and abforbcd 

 by the operator,, keeping him nearly in a (late of falivation 

 till difeafe obliges him to dcrid. 



Confiderable quantities of mercury thus volatilifed are found 

 united and collefted in fmall pools in the fpouts and gutters 

 on the tops of the buildings. Thus many tons of mercury 

 have been diflipated about the town and neighbourhood of 

 Birminghatn, to the great injury of the inhabitants, Th^ 



poor 



