MERCURY.
Abuk, Zibakh, . ARAB. Hydrargyrum, . . LAT. Shwuyyiu, Hung, . CHIN. Sim-ab, . . . PERS. Mercure, Vif-argent, FR. Pamda, Rasa, . . SANSII. Quicksilber, . . GER. Rasam, . . TAM., TEL.
Para, ..... HIND.
Mercury or quicksilver was known to the ancients. The Romans and Arabs seem to have employed it as a medicine externally, and the Hindus prescribed it internally. It is found in China, at Almaden in Spain, at Idria in Carniola, and likewise in S. America. Mercury was found by Dr. J. P. Malcolmson in the lava of Aden and in the laterite on the western coast of the Penin sula of India. It occurs usually as the native bisulphuret or cinnabar, combined with silver, forming a native amalgam ; or with chlorine, as in horn mercury. It is chiefly obtained from the sulphuret by distillation with lime or with iron, which, combining with the sulphur, the metal distils over and is condensed. Quicksilver is said to be brought to Ava from China.
Bichloride of Mercury, corrosive sublimate.
Hydrargyri bichloridum. I Rus-capoor, GUJ., HIND., This is white, with an acrid, metallic, and per sistent taste, without smell. It is met with in small crystals, or in semi-transparent masses. It is made in many parts of British India, and seems to have been long known to and prepared by the natives of India. It is much used as a preservative of timber, canvas, etc., from the ravages of mildew, the dry rot, and of white ants. A solu
tion is made in the proportion of one pound to four gallons of water, and in this the article to be protected is steeped a variable time, according to its nature.
Chloride of Mercury.
Hydrargyri chloridurn. I Calomel, . . . ENG.
Several preparations of mercury are described by the Sanskrit and Tamil writers. Dr. O'Shaugh nessy examined the processes, and found that they generally led to the production of a mixture of calomel and corrosive sublimate. The ras-karpur is usually calomel. Once, however, he met a specimen which was corrosive sublimate of the finest kind.
Russapuspum, in great repute amongst the Tamil people, appears to be administered by them in larger doses than any other preparations of this metal. But it generally happens that through defective manipulation a mixture of calomel and bichloride is formed.
Shavirum is a strange compound, administered by the Tamils in very small quantities ; is a harsh, uncertain, and dangerous preparation. In the mode of preparing it, the vapours of calomel simultaneously rising and meeting the chlorine are converted into the bichloride of mercury.
Nitrate of Mercury, Hwang shing-yob, CHIN. Made in China by heating and subliming a mixture of red led, mercury, sulphate of iron, and nitre.
Nitric Oxide of Mercury.