45 
to be luted. These are to be then placed over a strong fire 
for twelve hours; when cool, the muriates will be found in 
the uppermost. (Ahmlie and Fleming.) 
As the above substances are all noticed and described in 
medical works, we may conclude that they were so only for 
medical purposes. Though the ancient Greeks and Romans 
used many metallic substances as external applications, 
it is generally supposed that the Arabs were the first 
to prescribe them internally. Le Clerc, indeed, says, that 
the first physicians in Europe, who used mercury, lived in 
the fifteenth century, and were induced to do so from 
reading the works of Mesue. But in the works of Charak 
and Susruta, to which, as has been proved, the earliest of 
the Arabs had access, we find numerous metallic substances 
directed to be given internally; as oxide of iron, with 
ginger and cinnamon as a tonic; the rust in cachexy, and 
the sulphate in dropsy. Arsenic they prescribed not only 
in leprosy, and probably other cutaneous affections, but 
the oxide (arsenious acid) has long been with them a 
favourite and most efficacious remedy, in conjunction with 
pepper and aromatics, for the cure of intermittent fevers. 
Mercury appears to have been externally employed in 
the time of Pliny, as in his work occurs the remarkable 
passage (lib. xxxiii. cap. 8): " Omnia quas de minio in 
medicinae usu traduntur, temeraria arbitror : praeterquam 
fortassis illito capite ventreve sanguinem sistendum, dum 
ne quid penetret in viscera, ac vulnus attingat : aliter 
utendum non equidem censeam. 11 But the Hindoos have 
from very early times been in the habit of prescribing the 
sulphuret in the form of fumigation; and the prepara- 
tions which we consider equivalent to calomel and to 
corrosive sublimate, in the form of pills combined with 
sugar, pepper, and aromatics ; in a great variety of affec- 
tions and to the extent of exciting salivation. 
