Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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First, or Whitening Solution
with silver it is diluted, and the silver is pre- Dissolve 24 troy pounds cyanide of potassium, cipitated by a solution of common salt; the 8 ounces carbonate of soda, and 5 ounces chloride of silver formed is collected and fused cyanide of silver in 1 gallon rain or distilled in a crucible with carbonate of potash, when water. This solution should be used with a compound battery of 3 to 10 pairs, according to the size of the work to be plated. The use of this solution will insure the adhesion of silver to all kinds of brass, bronze, type metal, &c., without employing mercury, the frequent use of which is injurious to the health of the operator. the silver is obtained in a metallic state, as a knob or button. The crucible should not be over two-thirds full, and should be kept in fusion till effervescence ceases. The crucible is then removed from the fire, and, when cool, it is broken. (See No. 3702.) The article thus stripped by acids often shows a little roughness, not from the effects of the acid, but because the copper under the silver has not