ANTIMONY. 273 



antimony, but they appear to have used some of its ores medi- 

 cinally. 



Sp. 1. Native Antimony.— Gedicgen spiesglas, Werner; 

 Antimoine natif, Ham/, — Its colour is tin-white, sometimes" ex- 

 ternally tarnished. It occurs massive and crystalized in octahe- 

 drons and rhomboidal dodecahedrons. Its structure is lamellar, 

 with a splendent metallic lustre. It is harder than calcareous 

 spar. The specific gravity is 6*7. It consists of 98 antimony, 

 1*0 silver, and 0*25 iron. 



Sp. 2. Grey Sulphuretof Antimony, or Antimony Glance. 

 Pl. XXXVII. fig. 4.— Grau Spiesglaserz, Werner-, Antimoine 

 sulfure, Hauy. — Its colour is lead-grey. It occurs massive dissemi- 

 nated, in distinct concretions, which are radiated, fibrous, and gra- 

 nular; also crystalized in four, six, ten, or twelve-sided rhomboidal 

 prisms. The lustre varies from glistening to splendent and me- 

 tallic. It is extremely soft, yields easily to the knife, and soils the 

 fingers. The specific gravity is from 4- 10 to 4 -50. It melts in 

 the flame of a candle, and when placed before the blow-pipe on 

 charcoal it is principally volatilized in the form of a white vapour, 

 with a sulphureous odour. Its constituent parts are antimony 

 74, sulphur 26 » 100. Bergman. Sulphuret of antimony is 

 found in beds and veins in transition rocks. In Dumfrieshire, 

 it occurs in veins traversing greywacke; in Cornwall, in veins 

 accompanying copper and tin. There are considerable deposits of 

 it on the continent, and also in America. 



In its impure state this mineral is very rarely used, but it forms 

 the basis of several important and valuable medicinal preparations. 

 To free it from the earthy matters with which it is naturally com- 

 bined, the ore, mixed with charcoal, is exposed to heat in a covered 

 earthern crucible perforated at the bottom ; the sulphuret is melted 

 and is received into another crucible, placed below the former, 

 while the impurities remain. It is then cast into the form of 

 loaves or large cakes, and is termed crude antimony, to distinguish 

 it from the pure metal or regulus as it was formerly called. These 

 loaves have a grey or blucish-black colour externally; they are 

 opaque, and when broken present a striated texture and metallic 

 lustre. When reduced to powder and thrown into water, the 



