1817.) On Chinese Mercurial Preparations. 349 
neous affections, it is an efficacious application. I have seen it en- 
tered into a Chinese prescription for internal use in a chronic 
disease ; and I believe in siphylitic affections it is very generally 
administered, although perhaps, in accommodation to common 
prejudices, disguised from the patient’s knowledge. 
had at one time reason given me to suppose that they possessed 
a safe and mild submuriate of quicksilver, and a process was spoken 
of by which it was said to be procured—precipitation from a solution 
of some of their sublimates by means of salt dissolved in water. The 
Chinese who thus informed me was employed in European phar- 
macy, and had acquired sufficient knowledge of the Latin language 
to peruse pharmacopeeias or chemical books written in it. I there- 
fore suspect that his acquaintance with such a process was derived 
from his foreign knowledge, as I have never since been able to hear 
of any such preparation amongst them, and his death prevented my 
following out the inquiry by his means. 
As the Chinese are perfectly acquainted with the mode of oxi- 
dating quicksilver by triture, it may easily be supposed that they 
have many variatiens of mode by which to administer mercury in 
that form. I believe the most prevalent formula to be by triturating 
the quicksilver with recent and juicy leaves until it is extinguished. 
The leaf in which they wrap up betel nut for mastication is here 
generally made use of, and, with the addition of some other unim- 
portant ingredients, a mass for pills is formed. 
It appears, then, that the Chinese are possessed of a variety of 
active preparations of quicksilver, nearly similar to those which 
Europeans use; that their processes are greatly more imperfect, un- 
scientific, and uncertain, as to the results than ours, as well as much 
more expensive. 
I apprehend they apply them also to nearly the same practical 
purposes as we do; and whether for good or evil will depend, still 
more than amongst ourselves, upon the experience and good judg- 
ment of the individual practitioner, owing to the state of medical 
knowledge amongst them. 
With the disease in which the efficacy of the remedy is most 
_ complete, they as invariably associate the remedial use of, and neces- 
sity for recourse to it, as Europeans can possibly do. It has been 
stated by very respectable authority that the venereal disease is com- 
paratively rare throughout the Chinese empire, and almost unknown 
in the interior of it; but I have grounds for believing that it is quite 
as universally known and spread there as in all other countries ; and 
indeed a people so thoroughly vicious and sensual would be least of 
any entitled to the privilege of such an exemption. Although not 
confined to Canton, it may be peculiarly frequent there; but can 
only be so in the same sense that it is much more prevalent in 
Portsmouth or the purlieus of Wapping than in Northampton or 
Inverness, and the Chinese do designate it by an appellation denoting 
its foreign origin; * but what country has been willing to acknow- 
* The poison of the foreign plants. 
