ANTIMONY, a name given by the alchemists to a mineral of a dark grey colour, metallic lustre, striated texture, and very considerable specific gravity. It was afterwards discovered, that this substance consists of a peculiar metal, combined with sulphur. The term re gulus of antimony was then employed to distinguish the metal; and the native sulphuret, when freed by fusion from the earthy matter, naturally mixed with it, was distinguished by the name of crude antimony. At the framing of the new nomenclature, the term antimony was appropriated to the metal itself, and in this name it is now understood by the chemist; though, in the lan guage of natural history, and of commerce, it is still often applied to the sulphuret. In the state of the na tive sulphuret, it appears to have been known to the an cients, and is said to have been the substance to which the name of stibium is given by Pliny.
Antimony, when obtained in its pure Metallic form, is of a white colour, with a shade of grey, with a lustre which is not very liable to tarnish from exposure to the air. Its texture is distinctly foliated ; it is very brittle, moderately hard, and has a specific gravity of 6.702. It is used principally in the formation of the compound metal, of which printing types are cast, this being an alloy of lead and antimony ; and in various states of pre paration, in the practice of medicine. The account of its chemical properties and combinations belongs to the article CHEMISTRY; and the history of its medicinal applications, and forms of preparation, to MATERLA MEDICA and PHARMACY. See DUMFRIES-SHIRE, for an account of the antimony mine in that county. (b)*