§ 782 .] 
ANTIMONY. 
615 
§ 782. Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, and Quack Preparations 
of Antimony. 1 
1. Pharmaceutical Preparations:— 
(a) Official. 
Oxide of Antimony (Sb 2 0 3 ) is a white powder, fusible at a low red 
heat, and soluble without effervescence in hydrochloric acid, the solution 
responding to the ordinary tests for antimony. Arsenic may be present 
in it as an impurity. Carbonate of lime appears also to have been found 
in the oxide of commerce. 
Antimonial Powder is composed of one part of oxide of antimony 
and two parts of phosphate of lime ; in other words, it ought to give 
33-3 per cent, of Sb 2 0 3 . 
Tartar Emetic itself has been already described. The preparations 
used in medicine are— 
The Wine of Antimony (Vinum antimoniale), which is a solution 
of tartar emetic in sherry wine, and should contain 4 grins, in 1000 
millilitres. 
Sulphurated Antimony is described in the B.P. 1914 as a mixture 
of antimony sulphides and oxides and sulphur. 
200 grms. 
200 „ 
100 „ 
Dissolve the soda in 2000 millilitres of the distilled water ; with this 
solution mix the antimonious sulphide and the sublimed sulphur ; 
boil for two hours, with frequent stirring, adding distilled water occa¬ 
sionally to maintain the same volume ; then, while the mixture is still 
hot, add 3600 millilitres of boiling distilled water ; strain the product 
through calico ; before the strained liquor cools, add to it by degrees 
diluted sulphuric acid till the latter is in slight excess ; collect the 
precipitate on a calico filter ; wash with distilled water till the washings 
are free from sulphates ; dry at a temperature not exceeding 100°. 
Characters and Tests .—An orange-red powder, readily dissolved 
by hydrochloric acid, with evolution of hydrogen sulphide and separation 
of sulphur. 1 grm. digested with 20 millilitres of hot water yields a 
filtrate which, after acidification with diluted nitric acid, becomes 
not more than slightly cloudy on the addition of solution of barium 
chloride (limit of sulphates). Arsenic limit, 1000 parts per million. 
1 The history of antimony as a drug is curious. Its use was prohibited in France 
in 1566, because it was considered poisonous, one Besnier being actually expelled from 
the Faculty for transgressing the law on this point. The edict was repealed in 1650 ; 
but in 1688 there was a fresh enactment, confining its use to the doctors of the Faculty. 
Antimonious sulphide (black antimony of commerce) 
Sublimed sulphur ....... 
Caustic soda of commerce ..... 
Diluted sulphuric acid 1 „ . . 
Distilled water / °* eac ^ a su ™ cien f quantity. 
