842 Statistical Account of 



One operation of the furnace produces about 80 quintals of 

 mercury, more or less, according to the quality of the ores. 



The quicksilver, after being poured into the common reservoir, 

 is taken out and packed in sheepskins in portions of 100, 50, 

 and 25 pounds: they arR tied with cords previously rubbed with 

 soap. IMie skins are then conveyed to another department, 

 where each is inclosed within a second skin. 



But the Austrian government has not confined its attention to 

 the production of pure quicksilver alone: all the preparations 

 of mercury known in commerce are also made .t Idria. 



Corrosive sublimate (muriate of mercury oxygenated to the 

 waximum), mild sublimate (or submuriate of mcrcTuy at the mi- 

 nimum), red precipitate, cinnal)ar or red sulphuret, vermilion 

 or washed mercurial sulphiuet, &;c. are also daily manufactured 

 at Idria. 



These articles are so well manufactured under the Austrian 

 regime, that nothing is left to desire. Chinese vermiiion, as it 

 is called, forms the only exception ; and even in thi^ branch of 

 the manufacture I conceive that in the four vcars of my super- 

 intendance I made several valuable improvements. 



The buildings destined for the preparation of mercurial pro- 

 ducts contain three very large laboratories. The first is intended 

 for the amalgamation of the mercury with the sulphur by means 

 of casks which a hydraulic machine turns on its axis. The 

 same wheel acts as a stamper for pulverizing the sulphur. 



The mixture of sulphur and mercury, when once effected, is 

 converted into cinnabar. For this purpose furnaces are placed 

 beside the apartment for the amalgamation ; they contain each 

 six vessels, into which eighty pounds of matter may be intro- 

 duced. Nine hours of a graduated and steady heat are suffi-^ 

 cient to finish one operation. 



The second laboratory is destined for the preparation of ver- 

 milion; and for this purpose eight mills are arranged for the 

 grinding of the cinnabar, as well as a certain number of large 

 wooden tubs to wash the products. The washing being finished, 

 the vermilion is dried in a stove which is warmed by the waste 

 heat of the furnaces in which the cinnabar is sublimed. 



In the third laboratory there are twenty furnaces, each fur- 

 bished with six large iron capsules. In this laboratory are pre- 

 pared all the mercurial salts, the red oxides at the maximum, 

 the sulphates of mercury, the nitric acid, &c. &c. 



The accessory apparatus consists of stampers, a reverberating 

 furnace for the calcination of such substances as require thap 

 operation before they enter into saline compositions ; sieves 

 for cleansing the ores, and casks fitted with measurements for 

 ascertaining precisely the matters which enter into the coni- 

 pounds. In 



