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CV. Medical and Chemical Obfervations up- 
on Antimony . By John Huxham, M. D . 
F.R.S. 
ReadDec. 5,i2,i9,^^T OT above two centuries ago, a 
> 754 - phyfician, who prefcrib’d an- 
timonials, was expelled the faculty ; nay, at Rome, 
anyone, who ufed Pulvis Cornachini, incurred the pe- 
nalty of being fent to the gallies, on account of the 
antimonium diaphoreticum, that was in it. Now, on 
the contrary, antimony, in fome form or other, is 
the grand catholicon, and ufed by dabblers, as well 
as doctors, in phySic. It is without all doubt a moft 
excellent mineral, when duly prepared, and judici- 
oufly administered. 
But whoever would give antimonial medicines 
with fafety and fuccefs, Should be well acquainted 
with the analyfis of that mineral, and its component 
principles; Should know what different combinations, 
preparations, and dofes of them, will affed : other- 
wife it may prove a poifon, inftead of a remedy. For 
who would imagine, without Sufficient experience, 
that Six or eight grains of the liver or regulus of an- 
timony, and even a much lefs quantity of its glafs, 
will caufe the moft violent vomitings; whereas a 
drachm or more of the crude, or common depurated 
antimony of the Shops may be taken with eafe and 
fafety ? But further, if equal quantities of antimony 
and lalt-petre are deflagrated and melted together, a 
very ilrongly emetic liver of antimony is produced ; 
and yet if three parts of that fait, and one of anti- 
mony 
