The Elaboratory Laid Open; Or the Secrets of Modern Chemistry and Pharmacy Revealed

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1758. Excerpt: ... SECTION IV. Of the preparation of those medicines where metalline fubjlances make the whole, or principal part of thesubjeEt, Purification of mercury. Distill the quicksilver, in a retort; and then wash it well with water and salt, or vinegar. Note. This is the direction of the college of London. But the distillation of the quicksilver in a retort is hardly practicable: for the great heat, and density, of the fumes, when collected against the sides of the neck of the retort, heat it so unequally, that it is scarcely possible to prevent its being cracked, and falling to pieces, during the operation: and there is, indeed, another reason against the use of a retort; which is, that a sand heat is scarcely sufficient to raise the fumes of the mercury into the depending part of the neck of them; and the using them coated, and in the naked fire, is attended both with much trouble and hazard. If, however, a retort be used, it should be os a low round form; and placed so in the furnace, that the neck, which should also be very short, may be as depending as possible, that the quicksilver may not lodge ink; but fall, as it collects in drops, instantly into the receiver; which should be half filled with water, before it be put to the retort. The method, below given, saves all this trouble; avoids the hazard; and may be performed any where, with a common sire, without employing a furnace. The washing the quicksilver in salt and water, or vinegar, after the distillation, seems intirely needless and ineffectual; for the mercury will certainly be freed from any adulterate mixture, by the distillation: and; if it were not, the washing in brine, or vinegar, could not avail, in the least, to that end. More expedite method of purifying quicksilver by means of the alembic des...