26 6X DR> jAMts'-S POWDER. 



It is probably a Whether this compofition be a chymical combination Or a 

 mixture, I will not take upon me to determine ; but, for the 

 reatbns above mentioned, in fpcaking of Dr. James's powder, 

 I believe it to be merely a very intimate mixture. At all 

 events, it mult be more homogeneous than any that can be 

 prepared in the dry way. It is entirely foluble in every acid 

 that can diflblve either phofphate of lime or oxide of antimony 

 feparately ; and, to have it conftantly and uniformly the fame, 

 no further addrefs, in preparing it, is required, than to avoid 

 the errors I have mentioned. 



Stronger prepa- As, after fome medical trials of the powder, it was fug- 

 gefted to me, that it might be advantageous to render it 

 fomewhat ftronger, I prepared another portion, by taking 

 two parts of oxide of antimony and but one of phofphate of 

 lime, and precipitating as above defcribed. The medicinal 

 power was then confiderably increafed. 



Medical teftl- Dr. James's powder is a medicine which has been fo long 



mony of its ufc. j n u f e ^ anc j [ s f defcrvedly ranked among the moil valuable 

 we poffefs, that every attempt to render the procefs for 

 preparing it more flmple and more certain, muft be allowed 

 to be of fome importance. But, whatever reafon there was 

 to think,, by arguing upon its chymical properties, that I 

 had really fucceeded in improving its medicinal virtues, it 

 flill remained to be proved, by actual experiment, that the 

 hoped-for fuccefs was not merely conjectural. To afcertain 

 this, I gave fome of my powder to Dr. Crichton, Dr. Ba- 

 bington, and Mr. Abernethy ; gentlemen whofe extenfive 

 practice and acknowledged fkill fufticiently enabled them 

 to judge of its medical properties. They all concur in opi- 

 nion, that, in its general effects, it agrees with Dr. James's 

 powder and the Pulvia Antimonialis ; but, that it is more 

 mild, and confequently may be given in larger quantities, 

 feldom producing naufea or vomiting, in dofes of lefs than 

 eight or ten grains. 



V.— Ctm- 



