MERCURY. 
560 
formed, which unite, and exhibit the appearance of 
a tree. 
Mercury combines very easily with sulphur; and 
when the two substances are rubbed together for 
any length of time, they form a black preparation 
called ethiops mineral : when this has been repeat- 
edly sublimed it is converted into a deep red-co- 
loured mass, in small needle-form crystals, known by 
the name of artificial cinnabar. This again, when 
pulverized, becomes the beautiful colour called ver- 
milion. There are several other mercurial combi- 
nations of equal use in medicine and the arts ; but 
as they, like what we have already mentioned, are 
all strictly chemical, it would perhaps be stepping 
too far beyond our limits to describe them. 
