323 COMPILATION OF MERCURY 



the mineral alkali, feparate the muriatic acid 

 from the common fait, \vith which the mercu- 

 ry, railed into vapours, readily combines. The 

 addition of the corrofive fublimate ailiils in the 

 extinction of the crude mercury. Inftead of vi- 

 triol, the Chinefe ibmetimes make ufe of alum*. 

 The pure vitriolic acid may be employed in 

 diilcrcnt \vays in a lluid form. If turpith mi.- 

 neral is preferred, (which is a mercurial calx 

 according to Baumef, deprived of all acid by 

 ablution in water), it is not fufficicnt to have 

 added the common fait, but it becomes neceifa- 

 ry to add bciides the vitriolic acid, in order to 

 expel the acid of the fait. The method invent- 

 ed by Kunkel {, ha> confiderable merit. E- 

 qual weights of crude mercury and itrong vi- 

 triolic acid are dillilled together ; an exceeding 

 volatile and fetid fpirit puttcs over into the re- 

 ceiver, leaving behind in the retort a white la- 

 line matter, commonly named Turpcthum al- 

 bum, but which would be more properly cal- 

 led, vitriolated mercury. This fait combined 

 with the common fait exficcated, and put into 

 a fubliming vcflcl, produces mercurial fubli- 

 ijiatc. If the operation is rightly conducted, it 

 js not requifite, as Kunkel would perfuadc us, 

 to diflblve and fublimc repeatedly this fait in the 



muriatic 



aJn, Clicmie medic. 

 Diftionnairc dc Chcmic. 

 JL-bort. Clicm. 1716. 



