IO4 The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. 



and neglected of ulcers, even those that 

 are alive with worms cannot withstand 

 it.* 



I am acquainted with two methods 

 of reducing the glass of Antimony to an 

 oil by means of distillation in the alembic. 

 Take glass of Antimony, just as it is7 

 :> composed from the minera of Antimony, 

 pound to fine powder, extract its tincture 

 by means of distilled vinegar, remove all 

 traces of acidity (as above), add spirit of 

 wine, and circulate in a pelican vessel, 

 well closed, for a month ; dexterously 



* If our Surgeons believed the words of Basilius, how 

 ea -jer they would be to obtain this balm of Antimony ! And, 

 indeed, the Author rather underrates the virtues of this 

 remedy than otherwise, as I myself can testify. A woman 

 of 40 years had for seven years suffered from a hard 

 malignant swelling in her left breast. All the Doctors and 

 Surgeons whom she consulted declared her disease to be an 

 aggravated case of cancer. A most celebrated physician 

 said that the only means of cure was the amputation of the 

 breast. To this doubtful and desperate course the woman 

 would not consent, and, as a last resource, she came to me. 

 I thought that, in an extreme instance like this, where one 

 breast was twice as large as the other, and filled with 

 cancerous matter, I might venture to employ the balm of 

 Antimony, even for a disease in which Basilius does not 

 authorize its use. The upshot of the matter was that, in less 

 than two months, the woman was restored to perfect health. 



