402 PHYSIOLOGICAL REMAINS. 



tains most silver is accounted to be more brittle, and 

 yet otherwise poorer in itself. 



For principiation, I cannot affirm whether there be 

 any such thing or not ; and I think the chemists make 

 too much ado about it ; but howsoever it be, be it solu- 

 tion, or extraction, or a kind of conversion by the fire ; 

 it is diligently to be enquired what salts, sulphur, vit- 

 riol, mercury, or the like simple bodies are to be found 

 in the several metals, and in what quantity. 



Dr. Meverel's answers to the foregoing questions, touching 

 the separations of metals and minerals. 



1. For the means of separating. After that the ore is 

 washed, or cleansed from the earth, there is nothing simply 

 necessary, save only a wind furnace well framed, narrow 

 above and at the hearth, in shape oval, sufficiently fed with 

 charcoal and ore, in convenient proportions. 



For additions in this first separation, I have observed 

 none ; the dross the mineral brings being sufficient. The 

 refiners of iron observe, that that ironstone is hardest to 

 melt which is fullest of metal, and that easiest which hath 

 most dross. But in lead and tin the contrary is noted. 

 Yet in melting of metals, when they have been calcined 

 formerly by fire, or strong waters, there is good use of ad- 

 ditaments, as of borax, tartar, armoniac, and salt-petre. 



2. In extracting of metals. Note, that lead and tin con- 

 tain silver. Lead and silver contain gold. Iron contains 

 brass. Silver is best separated from lead by the test. So 

 gold from silver. Yet the best way for that is aqua regia. 



3. For principiation. I can truly and boldly affirm, that 

 there are no such principles as sal, sulphur, and mercury, 

 which can be separated from any perfect metals. For ev- 

 ery part so separated, may easily be reduced into perfect 

 metal without substitution of that, or those principles which 

 chemists imagine to be wanting. As suppose you take the 



