EFFECTS or QUICKSILVER IN BU>GE WATER. l;^^^ 



degree of ptyalisra, in upwards of 200 men. The ship was andsalmted 



sent to Gibraltar, had all her stores taken out, the hold f'^'*' P^""* *^ 



. . the crew, 



made clean, and all the quicksilver, that could be reached, 



removed ; but near ten tons are supposed still to remain be- 

 tween the ship's timbers below, which can only be cleared 

 away by docking the ship, and dislodging a plank at the 

 most descending part near the keel. Since the process of 

 cleaning the ship has taken place, and a new atmosphere 

 created, all effects from the quicksilver have ceased. 



Dr. Balrd having requested an explanation from his friend 

 in London, the following account was transinitted to 

 Plymouth. 



To Dr. BAIRD. 



From well established principles, as well as analogies, ^ TImaccountdl 

 very reasonable explanation may be given of the *^ffects at- '"^* 

 tributed to thirty tons of quicksilver, exposed on board 

 the Triumph in bilge water, with rotten leathern bags, in a 

 hot climate, the beginning of summer. 



The stinking gas, which was generated, was sulphuret- Gassesnatu- 

 ted and perhaps phosphuretted hidrogen gas, mixed with '^^'^ arising 

 carbonic acid and perhaps other gasses compounded by the ter. 

 putrefaction of animal and vegetable matter. The deadly 

 suffocating effects of which gasses are fully ascertained, 

 unless diluted with a large proportion of fresh air; and the 

 tarnishing of metals, especially of silver, at a great dis- 

 tance, even when mixed with a large proportion of fresh air, 

 is a well known effect of sulphuretted hidrogen. 



These last named effects are attributable to the gasses of The qaickdl- 

 putrefaction independently of quicksilver. But when the ^^"^ ^ould rise 

 influence of so large a body of this metal is considered, it the action of 

 will be easy to account for the whitening of metals, and heat, 

 the salivation or sore mouth of many persons in the ship. 

 The quicksilver would rise united or suspended by the 

 above gasses, or be even evaporat«:;d by the heat of the ship, 

 in the common fresh air. This metal so suspended or djsi- 

 solved is very likely to penetrate the human body, and act 

 upon it like the fumigation with quicksilver ; but sulphur- 

 etted 



