Manufacture of Gilt Buttons . 231 
affinity of the acid to the copper, and the tendency which 
the gold has to extend itself to the mercury with which 
the buttons have been previously quicked, completely at- 
taches to the whole surface. 
It is the next process in which we principally wish to 
recommend a deviation from the old practice, by which 
most of the mercury will be recovered, and the gilder’s 
health, in a great measure, preserved from the dreadful 
effects of volatilised mercury. 
The old practice is as follows : The buttons being 
completely covered with mercury and gold, the operator 
proceeds to that business which is called drying-off? 
which is performed thus : The buttons, to the quantity 
of a few dozens, are put into an iron pan somewhat like 
a large frying-pan, placed over a lire, and gently shook., 
while the operator watches carefully till he observes the 
mercury begin to flow 1 upon the first symptom of 
which, he takes the pan from the fire, and throws the 
buttons into a large cap, called a gilding cap , like a 
man’s hat with a very small brim, but much larger in the 
crown, made of coarse wool and goats hair. In this cap, 
with a circular brush, the buttons are stirred, to spread 
the gold and mercury while in a degree of temperature 
nearly sufficient to volatilise the mercury. The buttons 
are again thrown into the pan, placed over the fire, and 
shaken, while the mercury gently volatilises. The but- 
tons are again thrown into the cap, and stirred with the 
brush. This process is continually repeated, till all the 
mercury is volatilised, leaving the gold on the buttons, 
which appear again of a yellow colour. 
Thus a principal part of the mercury ascends the 
chimneys, is deposited on the tops of the houses and 
about the adjacent neighbourhood, and great quantities 
are inhaled and absorbed by the operator, keeping him 
