[ 8 57 3 
and therefore is commonly added, in fmall quantities, 
in preparing liver of antimony, and regulus medici- 
nalis, yet its highly concentrated acid hath a very pe- 
culiar effed on the reguline fubftance, rendering it 
not only much more volatile, but likewife exceffive- 
ly cauftic, as is feen in common butter or oil of an- 
timony ; for, in this preparation, the fublimate cor- 
rofive contributes nothing but its moft highly de- 
phlegmated and moft penetrating acid fait, which 
the regulus more ftrongly attrads than the mercury; 
and thefe, uniting, form a moft corrofive liquid, 
which comes over by diftillation ; from which is 
precipitated, by the affufion of common water, what 
is very improperly called mercurius vitas, as it hath 
nothing of mercury in it but the name, and is, in 
truth, when duly edulcorated with boiling water, a 
mere regulus antimonii, as plainly appears when it 
is melted. Though there are feveral other ways 
(and thefe too lefs dangerous) of making butter of 
antimony ; yet this procefs with fublimate corrofive 
fhews the regulus naked as it were, when precipi- 
tated, and the antimonial fulphur left behind with 
the mercury, which are eafily fublimed into cinna- 
bar : fo that this alfo confirms the above dodrine ; 
for with well purified regulus antimonii and fubli- 
mate corrofive no cinnabar can be prepared; there 
being no more fulphur in the regulus than is barely 
neceflary to prefer ve the metallic form and conftitu- 
tion. 
I have but feldom ufed mercurius vitas in my 
pradice, and that many years ago in fome maniacal 
cafes : it always proved a very churlifti medicine, 
and I foon grew weary of it. If any one is inclined 
1 Q_ to 
