MERINO 



The Exports were as follow from the Californian mines : 



237 



Mercury is a substance of paramount value to science. Its great density, and 

 its regular rate of expansion and contraction by increase and diminution of tem- 

 perature, give it the preference over all liquids for filling barometric and thermo- 

 metric tubes. In chemistry it furnishes the only means of collecting and manipulating, 

 in the pneumatic trough, such gaseous bodies as aro condensible over water. To its 

 aid, in this respect, the modern advancement of chemical discovery is pre-eminently 

 due. 



This metal, alloyed with tin-foil, forms the reflecting surface of looking-glasses, 

 and, by its ready solution of gold or silver, and subsequent dissipation by a mode- 

 rate heat, it becomes the great instrument of the art of gilding and silvering copper 

 and brass. The same property makes it so available in extracting these precious 

 metals from their ores. This amalgam is used for electric machines. The anatomist 

 applies it elegantly, to distend and display the minuter vessels of the lymphatic 

 system, and secretory systems, by injecting it with a syringe through all their con- 

 volutions. It is the basis of many very powerful medicines. 



The nitrate of mercury is employed for the secrctage of rabbit- and hare-skins, that 

 is, for communicating to fur of these and other quadrupeds the faculty of felting, 

 which they do not naturally possess. With this view, the solution of that salt is 

 applied to them lightly in one direction with a sponge. 



The only mercurial compounds which are extensively used in the arts are factitious 

 cinnabar or VERMILION, and CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE, which see. 



ittEJacuKTT, CHLORIDE OF ; PROTOCHLORIDE (DeutocUorure de 



mercure, Fr. ; Aeteendcs quecksilber sublimat, Ger.) is made by subliming a mixture of 

 equal parts of persulphate of mercury and sea-salt in a stoneware cucurbit. The 

 sublimate rises in vapour, and iucrusts the globular glass capital with a white mass 

 of small prismatic needles. It is a very deadly poison ; raw white-of-egg, swallowed 

 in profusion, is the best antidote. See CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE. 



MERCURY, FUIilVIIM'ATZKrG. For this compound of mercury with fulminic 

 acid, see FULMINATING MERCURY. 



MERCURY, PERIGDIDiS OF, is a bright but fugitive red pigment. It is 

 easily prepared by dropping a solution of iodide of potassium into a solution of corro- 

 sive sublimate, as long as any precipitation takes place, decanting off the supernatant 

 muriate of potash, washing and drying the precipitate. 



MERCURY, SUSCHX.ORXDE OF ; Calomel. (Protochlorure de mere-lire, F ; 

 Vcrsusstes qiicclcsilber, Ger.) See CALOMEL. 



MERINO. For the following we are indebted to the ' History of the Woollen 

 Trade of Bradford,' by John James : 



George III., ever desiroiis of the welfare of his people, though oftimes mistaken in 

 the means for accomplishing his wishes, amongst other improvements projected by 

 him in agriculture and husbandry, imported in 1786 a few merino sheep from Spain, 

 for the purpose of improving the wool of England. Unqiiestionably this variety of 

 sheep sprung from the English flock which Edward III. permitted to be exported to 

 Spain, where, by assiduous care and crossing, the fleece had become the finest in its 

 staple of any in the world. His Majesty made from time to time considerable acces- 

 sion to his original flock, which throve well, and increased very fast, so that in a few 

 years, by distribution and sale, they had come into the hands of the most eminent 

 sheep-breeding gentlemen in the kingdom. Among these the late Lord Western 

 stood tho most distinguished for his breeding and culture of merino sheep. His flock 

 had its origin in a gift from His Majesty of 40 ewes, selected from 500 merinos sent 

 by the Cortes of'Spain to the king for distribution among his subjects. His lordship's 

 chief care in his improvement of the fleece was to adapt it for the finest articles of 



