24 A NATURAL HISTORY 



halations, they fometimes clear their way by Fire and the Bellows, 

 but generally by long Tubes or Pipes, reaching from top to bot- 

 tom, thro' which they let the Air in and out ; and by this Cir- 

 culation of the Air, they carry on their Work for fome time 

 without Danger. 



CREMNITS in Hungary (a fmali Town, reckon'd the 

 chief of the Berg, or Mine-Towns) is famous for its Gold-Mine 

 which has been work'd on 900 Years, where the Workmen fome- 

 times are troubled with pernicious Damps, and many are kill'd 

 by them ; and fo it happens in the Mines at Schemnits, the faireft 

 of the feven Mine-Towns *. 



Among the Minerals known to us, there are many more 

 noxious than wholefome ; and the Power of the former to do mif- 

 chief, is more efficacious than the Power of the latter to do good ; 

 which is evident from the little Benefit the Miner's Health re- 

 ceives from any mineral Effluvia, compar'd with the great and 

 fudden Damps, that are often caufed by the Expirations of Or- 

 piment, Sandarac, and white Arfejiic, which is a deadly Poifbn, 

 and mofl; fatal of the whole Tribe of Foffils. Hence the Refiners 

 dread nothing fo much as Arfenic in their Metals ; for its Fumes 

 taken into the Lungs kill inftantly, and the oftner 'tis fublim'd, 

 the ranker it grows ■\. 



MERCURY is extremely volatile, being convertible into 

 Fumes, even by a Sand-heat. Thofe who pradlife the Art of 

 Gilding, are but too well acquainted v/ith thefe mercurial Fumes, 

 which frequently render them epileptic and paralytic, and fome- 

 times throw them into a Salivation. This kind of Poifon is found 

 in Friuli^ a Province in Italy, belonging to the Emperor, and alfo 

 in Spain, Hungary, &c. 



The miferable People condemn'd, or hired to work in thefe 

 Mines, all die in a little time : they are feaffedled with thofe ve- 

 nemous Fumes, that from Tremors they proceed to falivate, then 

 their Teeth drop. — One of them who had been there fix Years, 

 was fo full of Mercury, that holding a Piece of Gold in his Mouth 

 a little while, it became of a Silver Colour, and w^hen taken out, it 

 was found heavier than before, ibid. p. 74. 



CO P P ER'is another poifonous Mineral, difficult of Fufion, and 

 when fufed, if a fmgle Drop of Water do but fall upon it j or any 



3 Veffel 



* Jtl. Georraph. p. 1640, — I, — 2, — 3. + Boerhaave's Tlieory cf Chem'tftry. 



