MERCURY. 
same bed of clay; and that it then appeared to be 
impregnated with native mercury, which ran out in 
small globules. 
Mercury is sometimes imported into Europe from 
Peru, and from the East Indies. 
The mode of extracting it from cinnabar is said to be 
by mixing this ore either with pounded chalk, or with 
half its weight of iron filings, and distilling it in a stone- 
ware retort. By this process the sulphur combines with 
the iron, and the mercury, in a state of purity, passes 
into the receiver. 
When pure or native mercury occurs in mixture with 
other substances, these are stamped or ground into a 
coarse powder. Water is poured upon them ; they 
are briskly stirred until the water becomes thick and 
turbid, and then are left to settle. This operation is 
repeated till the water runs off perfectly clear. The 
substance at the bottom, which is principally mercury, 
is then put into large iron retorts and the metal is 
obtained, free from all extraneous matters, by distil- 
lation. 
It is the singular property of this metal, which has 
no other alliance whatever with silver than its appear- 
ance,, to be capable of division, by the least effort, into 
an indefinite number of particles, each of which assumes 
a spherical form ; and to be always in a fluid state in 
the common temperature of our atmosphere. Even 
during the most intense frost, it still retains its fluidity. 
By the effect, however, of extreme cold artificially 
produced, mercury becomes a solid metal, and in this 
state may be beaten with a hammer and extended 
without breaking ; but care must be taken that it does 
not touch the fingers, as it would blister them and 
cause unpleasant sores, in the same manner as any 
burning substance. 
Mercury has been known from the remotest ages ; 
and it was employed by the ancients in gilding, and in 
the operations of separating gold and silver from their 
