APPARATUS FOR TRITURATING MERCURY, &C. , -SI 5 



to the throw of the crank, that at every revolution of the 

 wheel the pallet shall move backward and forward through 

 the whole extent of the box; to which a cover may be 

 fitted, with a longitudinal aperture sufficient for the shaft, 

 as shown at Fig. 4. 



The mercury, and the composition with which it is in- Mode in which 

 tended to be mixed, being placed in the box or trough, half" acts ' 

 on one side of the pallet standing in the middle, and half on 

 the other, the fly wheel is to be turned by its handle, P, 

 as in common operations. As long as the mercury remains 

 in a fluid state, by its gravity it will follow the pallet to the 

 centre of the box; and as some portion will mix with the 

 composition at every turn, the whole will soon be com- 

 pletely blended together. 



This apparatus is particularly adapted for combining Particularly 

 mercury with a composition of sufficient tenacity to form cuXrolasters 1 "" 

 a plaster, which cannot be done directly in the common 

 way; so that it is necessary first to subdue the quicksilver 

 with turpentine, or sulphuretted oil, and then to mix it 

 with a plaster previously melted. But with this apparatus 

 the plaster is softened by the heat generated by the friction, 

 and the power is sufficient to mix the mercury with it directly; 

 ■and this both intimately and speedily. 



It is almost superfluous to say, that the apparatus need Applicable to 



by no means be confined to the dimensions here given ; and varous ot ier 

 J ° J purposes. 



by enlarging them it may be adapted to various useful pur- 

 poses, which will readily suggest themselves to you. Where 

 this is done, however, it might be found necessary to steady 

 the horizontal piece, H, I, by allowing its extremity II to >. 

 work between two uprights. 

 I am, 

 SIR, 

 Your obedient humble Servant, 



W. X. 



J^/20, 1807. 



Y 2 A Memoir 



