276 ANTIMONY. 



been known by the name of Crocus metallorum, or Liver of Anti- 

 mony, is merely the glass of antimony containing a larger quantity 

 of the sulphuret. The Pulvis Algarotti is a protoxide of antimony, 

 with a small portion of the muriatic acid ; and is the Oxidum 

 Antimonii Nitro-miiriaticum of the Dublin College, and is used 

 only in the preparation of emetic tartar. 



Vitrified Oxide of Antimony with Wax, formerly Vitrum 

 Antimonii Ceratum, is prepared by adding eight parts of vitrified 

 oxide of antimony, with sulphur, to one part of melted wax, and 

 exposing them to a moderate heat for a quarter of an hour, stirring 

 constantly with a spatula. The matter is then poured out, and, 

 when cold, it is ground into a fine powder. By this process, the 

 antimony is rendered much milder in its operation. It was 

 formerly regarded as a specific in dysentery, but as it possesses no 

 advantages over other antimonials, and is moreover very uncer- 

 tain in its operation, it is never employed in the present practice. 

 Its dose was from five to fifteen grains, and its principal operation 

 was that of a cathartic. 



Precipitated Sulphuret of Antimony. Antimonium Sulphu- 

 return Precipitatum. — Of this there are three varieties, differing in the 

 proportion of their elements. The first is what used to be named 

 Kermes Mineral, and is now called by the Dublin College 

 Sulphur Antimoniatum fuscum. It is a compound of the pro- 

 toxide of antimony with sulphuretted hydrogen, and a small portion 

 of sulphur. To prepare this compound, sulphuret of antimony 

 must be fused with an equal weight of subcarbonate of potash, and 

 boiled in water ; the liquor is to be strained while hot, and, on 

 cooling, the kermes is deposited of a brick-red colour. In this 

 process a portion of the water is decomposed, its oxygen combines 

 with the antimony, and its hydrogen with the sulphur ; the anti- 

 mony being converted into a protoxide, and the sulphur into sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen, the latter partly combining with the pro- 

 toxide and partly with the potash. If dilute sulphuric acid be 

 added to the cold liquor, a precipitate is obtained which has been 

 called the Golden Sulphuret of Antimony ; it is of a bright orange 

 colour, and differs from kermes in containing a larger quantity of 

 sulphur. When a diluted acid is added to the liquor while it is 



