304 INFLAMMABLES. 



(g.) In the arts, to form the flowers, it is sublimed in rooms lined 

 with sheet lead. 



(h.) Examined by the test fluids, to ascertain whether it is acid ; 

 agitate it with infusion of cabbage or litmus. 



(i.) Crystallization natural in volcanos often beautiful modi- 

 fied octahedra ; by art sulphur melted in a broad deep vessel, sev- 

 eral pounds at once, (a crucible or earthen pot will answer,) when 

 its surface congeals, break it and pour out the liquid interior. 



(j.) The cavity will be found lined with prismatic or needle form 

 crystals, of which the basis is an oblique rhombic prism. 



(k.) With water no action ; if the sulphur be pure, it comes off 

 tasteless ; but precipitated sulphur is a hydrate, and is white ; it was 

 formerly called lac sulphuris. 



(I.) With liquid alcohol no action ; in vapor they unite, a vial 

 of alcohol being suspended in an alembic in which sulphur is sublim- 

 ed, the spirit rises too, and a union results ; water precipitates the 

 sulphur. 



(m.) Boiling essential oil of turpentine dissolves sulphur entirely, 

 but not the usual impurities ; hence, used to detect its adulterations ; 

 when properly purified, it has a fine sparkling brilliant yellow color.* 



4. An element in relation to our knowledge. 



(a.) Sir H. Davy evolved sulphuretted hydrogen from it, by gal- 

 vanism but is not certain that the gas did not come from decom- 

 posed water, lodged in the interstices. f 



(b.) Potassium evolves sulphuretted hydrogen, with intense heat 

 and light. 



7. USES. 



(a.) An important article in the materia medica, both internally, 

 as a laxative, and externally, as a remedy against cutaneous dis- 

 eases. 



b.) The basis of the manufacture of sulphuric acid, 

 c.) Used with iron filings as a cement, and for matches. 

 d.) In its viscid form for copying medals, &tc. 

 e.) The chief use is in the fabrication of gunpowder, of which it 

 visually forms 15 per cent. For these and other purposes it is large- 

 ly imported into this country from Italy, whose volcanic regions 

 abound with sulphur, particularly in the Solfaterra near Naples, and 

 it comes, in perhaps larger quantities, from Sicily than from Naples. 



* Aikin's Diet. Vol. II, p. 353. 



i Berzelius found that when metals combine with sulphur, as dry as possible, little 

 or no sulphuretted hydrogen is exhaled. 



