216 
MERCURY. 
press, and thus formed into a compact mass, are cut by a plane into 
small shreds. 
From the mineral kingdom the Chinese appear to draw some 
remedies, and especially mercury, which they employ in several forms, 
and in the diseases for which its specific powers are used in other 
countries. They employ some of its oxides and its muriate exter- 
nally in cutaneous diseases ; and a very beautiful preparation, con- 
sisting of fine flakes, of a pearly white colour, internally in chronic 
disorders; but fumigate with the sulphuret of mercury when they 
wish to produce its most powerful effects. To Mr. Pearson’s Paper, 
in the ninth volume of the Annals of Philosophy, I may refer my 
readers for further information on this subject. It is especially 
curious, as affording illustrations of the complicated and blundering 
methods by which the Chinese, in their chemical operations, arrive 
at vague results unaided by the slightest glimmering of science.* 
Although the Chinese understand the use of mercury they seldom 
intentionally exhibit it to the extent of producing salivation, and 
consequently often fail in curing complaints for which they prescribe 
it. The Hong merchants are so sensible that European practitioners 
know its qualities much better than their countrymen, that they 
always place themselves under their care in all cases requiring its use. 
The practice of medicine of the Chinese is entirely empirical. 
Through the kindness of Mr. Manning, who acted as my interpreter, 
I had an opportunity of conversing with one of the most respectable 
native practitioners of Canton, and found him entirely destitute of 
anatomical knowledge. He was aware of the existence of such 
* The following is a preparation of mercury peculiar to the Chinese : “ On choisit 
des poulets de six mois, bien forts et bien portans; apres les avoir enfermes dans un endroit 
ou ils ne puissent manger que ce qu’on leur donne, on les engraisse pendant un mois, 
en les nourrissant de bon grain et de seneve ; puis apres les avoir fait jeuner un ou deux 
jours pour les ouider, on les nourrit avec de la pate ou l’on a broye du mercure bien 
purifie, puis on recueille avec soin leurs excremens, qu’on fait secher, et qu’on donne 
ensuite d’une maniere appropriee a la maladie. Le vif argent ainsi prepare, est admi- 
rable pour les maladies de langueur. Du reste, il faut changer les poulets apres trois jours.” 
Memoires concernant les Chinois, tom. ii. p. 314. 
