322 SULPHUR 



sulphur, occurring as a product of volcanic action in beds 

 of blue clay in Sicily and Italy. 



The crude sulphur is purified by distillation, and when run 

 into wooden moulds forms the stick or roll sulphur, which 

 is yellow, crystalline, and so bad a conductor of heat that it 

 often cracks when held in the warm hand. 



Sublimed sulphur, also called flowers of sulphur, is prepared 

 by distilling the crude sulphur, and conducting it in the state 

 of vapour into large chambers, where it condenses in a fine 

 yellow powder consisting of spherical granules. 



Precipitated sulphur, or milk of sulphur, is prepared by 

 boiling sublimed sulphur with slaked lime, when calcium 

 sulphide and thiosulphate are formed, and when treated with 

 diluted hydrochloric acid are decomposed, sulphur being 

 precipitated in a finely divided yellowish- white powder. 



Sulphur vivum, caballum, or horse sulphur, the residue 

 left in the subliming pots, must be used with caution, for, 

 besides other impurities, it contains arsenic. 



PROPERTIES. Sulphur occurs in three allo tropic forms, 

 manifesting differences in physical condition, specific gravity, 

 fusing point, solubility in carbon disulphide, and electric 

 affinities. Most varieties have a yellow colour, a specific 

 gravity of about 2% have little or no taste, are insoluble in 

 water and cold alcohol, and are freely soluble in benzol, 

 carbon disulphide, fixed and volatile oils. All varieties 

 melt at 240 Fahr., are entirely volatilised by heat, inflame at 

 500 Fahr., burning with a pale blue flame, and giving off 

 suffocating fumes of sulphurous anhydride (S0 2 ). As it is 

 raised from the melting to the boiling point it exhibits 

 various curious changes. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Sulphur applied to skin or mucous 

 surfaces is a feeble, mechanical stimulant, and an irritant 

 in proportion to the amount of sulphide liberated. The 

 addition of an alkali increases the proportion of sulphide 

 present, and therefore the action of the drug. It destroys 

 parasites infesting the skin. Administered internally it is 

 laxative and alterative. 



GENERAL ACTIONS. It destroys fungi on vines, and kills 

 similar parasites affecting plants and animals. This toxic 

 effect depends not so much on the sulphur acting as sulphur, 



