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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To Purify Mercury (As imported is usually very)
Mercury, as imported, is usually very pure. It may be prepared for medical purposes by putting 6 parts into a retort and distilling off 4 parts.
The whole of the mercury may, however, be safely drawn over. The product is to be agitated and boiled with 2 fluid drachms hydroand boiled with 2 fluid drachms hydrochloric acid and 1 fluid ounce water for each pound of the metal; then washed with pure applied, until the spontaneous incandescence of the matter ceases. When cold, throw the crucible into a large vessel of cold water, agitate and collect the gray powder deposited, and again wash it well and dry it. This gray powder consists of small metallic scales, resembling platina. It is not acted on by cold water, but is dissolved by the alkalies some of the acids. Heated to redness, it catches fire and burns with great rapidity in the air, and in oxygen gas, with intense brilof a candle, displays an immense number of inflamed points of great splendor. water, and dried by heat. A strong earthen- liancy. The powder, blown upon the flame ware or iron retort, with a low neck or tube dipping into a basin of water, may be used for this purpose.