A R S 
/ . 
ffSlt*! ores, and is difengaged from then! by calcination. 
In various mine-works, long winding chimneys are con- 
ftrudted, through which the arfenical vapours pafs, and 
in which they attach them themfelves. The cruft, which 
front time to time is formed againft the internal furface of 
thefe chimneys, is taken away, and is the fubftance met 
with in the fttops under the name of arfenic. The cobalt 
ores of Saxony, which are torrefied to feparate this femi- 
metal, afford almoft the whole of what is fold. This ox¬ 
ide or calx of arfenic may be found native, and very abun¬ 
dant, in fucli places as are fituated in the vicinity of fub- 
terranean fires, fuch as the folfatara, <i'c. 
Of all metals, arfenic abforbs iron moft greedily; after 
this, copper, tin, lead, filver, and gold, in this order of 
fuccelfion; therefore, all metals may be freed from the 
foulnefs of arfenic by iron. The fcoriae may be ufed for 
this purpofe in fufion, in an open fire ; for, though they do 
not produce this eftedt as fcorite, yet here, being reduced 
to iron again, they adl in the fame manner as if pure iron 
had been put in. Lead mixed with arfenic, and expofed 
to the fire, is, in great part, immediately carried away in 
form of a thick fmoke ; the remainder is a glafs of a fine 
faffron colour. Silver is alfo penetrated by arfenic in the 
fame manner, and loles it malleability ; but the arfenic 
vanilhes from it in a ftrong fire, in the form of a fmoke. 
Gold, penetrated by arfenic, becomes very brittle, and 
lofes its colour; and, being fuddenly thrown into a violent 
lire, part of it is fublimed. 
Arfenic is applied to many mechanical purpofes. It is 
ufed by dyers, as an ingredient in their compofition for 
fcarlets, and other fine red colours; by goldfmith% for 
enamelling ; by makers of glafs, for promoting the fufion 
cf frit, and the tranfparency of glafs; by potters, for a 
white glazing ; by allayers, in form of glafs, for promo¬ 
ting the fcorification of ores which contain tin and anti¬ 
mony, for the preparations of compound metals, and for 
whitening copper and brafs. Neumann obferves, that a 
beautiful metal, like the fineft fteel, may be made by 
melting caft-iron with arfenic, glafs, and a little tin; and 
that a metal refembling filver may be made from iron, tin, 
arfenic, and perhaps a little copper. Mr. Brandt (Aft. 
Upfal 1733) propofes to make a varnifli for ftiips of arfe¬ 
nic, with pitch, fulphur, or rofin, to preferve the timber 
from rotting and from worms. 
Many attempts have been made to introduce arfenic in¬ 
to the materia medica. Mr. Boyle mentions a balfam made 
of arfenic, with nitre and fpirit of wine, or vinegar, as ef¬ 
ficacious in the cure of venereal ulcers. Dr. Cheyne 
mentions pills made of arfenic, as ufed for the cure of ob- 
ftinate quartans ; and in faff it has lately been adopted by 
many phyiicians for this particular purpofe. Surgeons 
have alfo employed it in the cure of cancers; and various 
formulae into which arfenic enters as an ingredient are to 
be found in the pharmacopoeia chirurgica. 
Yet, after all, arfenic is one of thofe productions which 
are fo extremely dangerous, that its advantages are not 
fufficient to compenfate for its bad effedls. This metal, 
which is very abundant, and frequently met with in mines, 
caufes the deftruclion of a number of workmen who ex¬ 
plore them: being very volatile, it forms a dull which af- 
fedls and deftroys the lungs; and the unhappy miners, af¬ 
ter a languilhing life of a few years, all perifh, fooner or 
later. The property which it potfeftes of being foltible 
in water, multiplies and facilitates its deftruclive power; 
and it ought always to be proferibed in commerce, by the 
ftridt law which prohibits the fale of poifon to unknown 
perfons. Arfenic is continually the inftrument by which 
vidliins are facrificed, either by the hand of vvickednefs or 
imprudence. It is often miftaken for fugar; and thefe 
miltakes are attended with the moft dreadful confequen- 
ces. Whenever there is the leaft reafon to fufpedt its pre¬ 
fence, the doubt may be cleared up by throwing a fmall 
quantity of the powder upon heated coals. The fmell of 
garlic, and the white fumes, are indications of the prefence 
pf arfenic. The fymptoms which characlerife this poifon 
Vo l. II. No. 67. 
A R S zr f 
are, a great conftriclion of the throat, the teeth fet on edge, 
and the mouth,llrongly heated; an involuntary fpitting, 
with extreme pains in the ftomach ; vomiting of glairotis 
and bloody matter, with cold fweats and convulfions. Mu¬ 
cilaginous drinks have been long ago given to perfons poi- 
foned by arfenic. Milk, fat oils, butter, &c. have been 
alfo fucceffively employed. But Mr. Napier has propofed 
a more diredl counterpoifon. He prelcribes one dram of 
fulplntr, of pot-alh, or liver of fulplutr, to be diftolved 
in a pint of water, which the patient is diredled to drink, 
at fevera! draughts: the fulphur unites to the arfenic, and 
deftroys its caufticity and effect. When thefe firft fymp- 
toms are dillipated, he advifes the ufe of mineral fulphu- 
reous waters. He likewife approves of milk, but con¬ 
demns the ufe of oils. Vinegar, which difiblves arfenic, 
has been likewife recommended by Mr. Sage. For the 
chemical operations on arfenic, fee Chemistry. 
Motherby, in his new Medical Dictionary, fays of ar¬ 
fenic, “ that it produces fpeedy drynefs in the throat, and 
inflammation, dejedtion, fainting, ftttpor, delirium, tre¬ 
mors, convulfions, palfy, third, burning in the ftornach, 
gripes, vomiting, cold fweats, hiccoughing, and at lafl 
death. Befides the effedls which it hath in common with 
other poifons, it remarkably attenuates the coats of the 
ftomach, and perforates the inteftines, occafions a ("welling 
and fphacelation of the whole body, and a 'hidden putre¬ 
faction after death, and particularly of the pudendae. 
When the quantity taken is not fatal, it occafions tremors, 
palfies, or lingering hedtics. And though there is but lit¬ 
tle hope, after this poifon is fwallowed, yet, if alliftance is 
to be had (fays Dr. Motherby), immediately give a feru- 
ple of the white vitriol to excite a vomiting, and repeat 
it two or three times; give the patient plentifully of warm 
water mixed with fweet oil, after each dole of the vitriol, 
that if poflible the ftomach may be well cleared of the 
poifon ; large draughts are peculiarly proper, as they dil- 
tend the ftomach, and fo more effectually wafh away what 
may be lodged in its villous rugae. After fufficient vo¬ 
miting, give mucilages and demulcents, particularly plen¬ 
ty of gum arabic, new milk, and oil, both by the mouth 
and clyfterwife ; fat broth Ihould be continued fome time, 
and the bowels muft be kept lax. If the poifon hath had 
time to get into the blood, let cordial perfpiratives be add¬ 
ed, fuch as rad. ferpent. V. &c. 
Arsenic, Native, called orpiment, is of a yellow co¬ 
lour; whence it is alfo denominated auripigmeetum. There 
is alfo a factitious arfenic, made of white arfenic, fubli¬ 
med with one-tenth of its weight of fulphur: with one- 
fifth it becomes red, and is called realgar. 
Arsenic, Regulus of, is its metallic ftate, prepared by- 
mixing white arfenic with pot-afhes and (oap, then filling 
the whole, and calling it into a mortar; upon which the 
regulus falls to the bottom. 
Arsenic, CauJlicOil of, is a butyrous liquor, like butter 
of antimony, prepared of arfenic and corrofive fublimate, 
being a combination of marine acid with the arfenic. Sur¬ 
geons employ it to eat off fungous excrefcences, and to 
deftroy carious bone, &c. 
ARSEN'ICAL, adj, Containing arfenic; confiding of 
arfenic.—An hereditary confumption, or one engendered 
by arfenical fames under ground, is incapable of cure. Harvey. 
Arsenical Magnet, [m agnes arfenic alls, Lat.] Is a ■ 
preparation of antimony, with fulphur and white arfenic. 
ARSE'NIUS, a deacon of the Roman church, of great 
learning and piety. He was chofen by the emperor Theo— 
dofius, as tutor to his fon Arcadius. Arfenius arrived at 
Conftantinople in the year 383. The emperor happening 
one day to go into the room where Arfenius was inftrudl-- 
ing Arcadius, his fon was feated and the preceptor ftand- 
ing; at this he was exceedingly difpleafed, and thereupon 
he took from his fon the imperial ornaments, made Ar¬ 
fenius lit in his place, and ordered Arcadius for the future 
to receive his lelfons (landing uncovered. Arcadius, how¬ 
ever, profited but little by his tutor’sinftrnclions, for fome 
time after he formed a delign of difpatching him. The- 
3 K. office? 
