diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-0.txt | 1257 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-0.zip | bin | 20553 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h.zip | bin | 262754 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/63318-h.htm | 1998 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 128724 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/dropcap-t.jpg | bin | 14036 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/header.jpg | bin | 56476 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/tailpiece.jpg | bin | 19128 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/titlepage-bottom.jpg | bin | 20548 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63318-h/images/titlepage-top.jpg | bin | 20627 -> 0 bytes |
13 files changed, 17 insertions, 3255 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91fee49 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63318 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63318) diff --git a/old/63318-0.txt b/old/63318-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index dd7db3e..0000000 --- a/old/63318-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1257 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Some Experiments concerning Mercury, by J. H. Boerhaave - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Some Experiments concerning Mercury - -Author: J. H. Boerhaave - -Release Date: September 27, 2020 [EBook #63318] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - [Illustration] - - SOME - - EXPERIMENTS - - CONCERNING - - _MERCURY_. - - [Illustration] - - [Price One Shilling.] - - - - - SOME - - EXPERIMENTS - - CONCERNING - - _MERCURY_. - - _By J. H. BOERHAAVE, Professor - of Physick at LEYDEN._ - - Translated from the _Latin_, communicated by the - Author to the ROYAL SOCIETY. - - [Illustration] - - _LONDON_: - - Printed for J. ROBERTS, near the _Oxford-Arms_, - in _Warwick-Lane_. MDCCXXXIV. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING _MERCURY_. - - -They who by Experiments have most diligently enquired into the Origin -of Bodies, and their peculiar Powers and Properties, are the only Men -who have discovered sure Methods of acquiring a true Knowledge of -these Things: And whenever the Lovers of natural Knowledge enumerate -the Instruments of this Science, they universally agree that Chemistry -has done the greatest Service, in most industriously promoting such -Discoveries: And when they come carefully to examine the most celebrated -Writers in this Art, they plainly perceive, that the most ancient -Alchemists far surpassed the rest in their Accounts of the Nature of -Things. Of this _Geber_ is an Instance, and the Writers nearest to him; -for they are content to describe, in the plainest manner, such Things -only as they had discovered by their Art; to improve which was their -great Application, having no other Design in view. And indeed no other -Men whatever have so strictly and obstinately labour’d in the Search -after natural Things, or have taken such great Pains to turn Matter, -thro’ all the various Modes of Enquiry, as the Alchemists. This is what -will be readily granted by all those who read the Hermetic Writers, -when they openly relate common Discoveries: But, on the contrary, when -these Writers treat of the Grand _Arcanum_ (or Secret of the Wise) they -are accused of making a bad Use of their Knowledge, out of a Desire to -conceal it, as if they intended, on that Occasion, not to be understood. -They are said to deal in Paradoxes, to write in a strange manner, -perfectly foreign to all that is known, and their Style is swell’d with -hyperbolical and sublime Expressions; which makes them be exploded as -Men out of their Senses, fabulous, false, and Liars: For whilst they -affect to write in the gravest Terms, and are rich in Promises, they so -cover the Thing they are treating of in Obscurity and Darkness, that -they seem unwilling the Secret should be reveal’d. And on this account -it is, that very many wise Men are of Opinion, that what the Alchemists -promise, is a Thing impossible both to Nature and Art, and therefore -count them unworthy the Perusal of Philosophers, as well as undeserving -of the Name. But it is a Maxim, That it is safer to credit an Artist in -his own Art, than one that is an utter Stranger to it; and consequently -it is rash to condemn what the Alchemists have defined to be possible; -especially, since these Chemists openly declare, that their Writings -are to be weighed in the Balance of the most certain Laws of Nature, -which have been discovered with the greatest Evidence by the Events of -Things; (that is, by exact and repeated Experiments) and they desire not -to be credited, whenever they produce any Thing contrary to the Powers -of Nature truly known by Experiments. Moreover they alledge, that they -express themselves in such an obscure manner, only to keep profane -Persons away from their Mysteries, which are unfolded to such as are -initiated in them; and so that it was necessary that Things strange, -obscure, and often false, should be mixed and interpolated with what is -sincere, clear, and true in their Writings. - -For my part, upon looking into chemical Matters, and perusing the -Writings of the Alchemists, I have found them all of the same Mind and -Meaning as to the following Particulars: That Metals are naturally -generated in their Veins, are nourished, grow, and multiply like other -natural Things, each in their proper Place: That the Aliments or -Nourishment of Metals, which before are of a foreign Nature to them, -are, by the genital Power of the Metallic Seed, converted into a truly -Metallic Nature; so that by this seminal Power alone they lose their -former, and receive a new Property by the sole cherishing of the -pregnant Warmth; for they will have all these Things to be effected -entirely by the same Means: That as the Seeds of Animals and Plants -change the Aliments they receive into their own Nourishment, so the -vivificating Seed of growing Gold, having got a proper Food, in a fit -Matrix, by the Help of a suitable and convenient Heat, digests the same -into its own particular Nature: Therefore by that Means, according to a -Law prescribed to subterraneous Things, they determine that true Gold -is always produced by Length of Time out of a Matter of a different -Nature from Gold: For having subdued its Aliment by its own Force, it -grows, by vital Increase, into a Matter like to it, so long as those four -Conditions that are absolutely required attend it. Upon pursuing their -Researches into Nature with more Accuracy, they discovered that the -Metals which are produced, and especially Gold, are very closely confined -within a very solid and pure Stone, which is on every Side so very -carefully closed up, that no Passage leading to or from the Metal can be -discerned. The Matrix of the growing Metal is thick, hard, impenetrable, -without Mixture, closed up on all Parts, and resembles Glass. There is -nothing more hard to understand, than to discern the Manner how the -solid Substance of the Metal could penetrate or force itself thro’ the -ponderous Mass of the hard Stone, into the Veins that are found pregnant -with Metal and loaded with it. Nor is it less difficult to conceive by -what Way the same Metal secretly passes into those concealed Places, if -it was liquid in its first Origin, as it is highly probable that it was. -And thus the genuine Matrix of Metal is known; the Heat of the Metallic -Mines is also known: It seldom equals the Warmth of a Man in Health, -but often sinks below the 66ᵗʰ Degree in the Scale of _Farenheitius_’s -Thermometer. Hence they who are versed in these Mysteries direct, That -the breeding Matter of the _Arcanum_ should be inclosed in a pure Glass -Vessel, and cherish’d with a _Majal Heat_; which we find, by Experience, -to be of 50 Degrees. And this has been found out to be at a Medium -throughout the Year, by the most exact Observations; which we owe to the -industrious Care of _Cruquius_. The Food of the Metal remains yet more -obscure as to what is that seminal, proliferous and genital Matter. Most -of these Philosophers say, That Quicksilver is the common Matter of all -Metals: That this being changed by the Power of the vital Seed, gives a -Metal which is defined or determined according to the peculiar Property -of the seminal Efficacy: That every Metal, when the Quicksilver and -this Metallific Power (which they call Sulphur) are maturely and, as it -were, thoroughly boil’d and concocted, is brought to a perfect Species of -each such Metal. And from hence, That every Metal is again resolved into -these two Principles, Mercury and Sulphur. But that there is an original -Flaw or Blemish inherent in Quicksilver from its first Production, that -wonderfully grows up with it, and is intimately concreted to it, and -therefore not without the greatest Difficulty to be separated from it; -and consequently the Quicksilver wou’d not be very simple, nor free, -but is by that strange Matter inherent in it, of a definite Nature, and -therefore wou’d hardly suffer itself to be obsequious to the particular -Virtue of the Metallic Seed, and be drawn into the single Nature of one -Metal: But if by a most difficult Art, the Quicksilver be thoroughly -purged of that foreign Blemish or Foulness, then it would become liquid, -metallic, most weighty, and most simple; neither by any Art or Nature -divisible into different Things; and in which the vivified Seed of every -dissolved Metal wou’d most perfectly multiply itself; in which the Gold -itself dissolving, being cherish’d and maturated, wou’d be the last so -much sought for, and so much celebrated Reward of the Labour. - -When I found that the chief Persons of the Art agreed in these Principles -for a long Time, I have endeavour’d to learn by Experience, by what -Artifice a pure unmix’d Mercury might be obtained? Whether it cou’d be -extracted out of Metals? What is that other Part of the Metal that is apt -to force under its Yoak the free Quicksilver, or Mercury? I am glad to -give an Account of what I have discovered; not that I pretend to teach -the Art, which I am as far from as any one; but I will faithfully relate -some laborious Experiments, and which are so very certain, that they -may justly pass for true. Others will not need to repeat them, but may -safely make use of these as true upon Occasion. And a diligent Artist, -by assuming (or supposing) these Experiments, may apply his Mind farther -to others, in order to promote the Study of Chemistry the more. It were -to be wish’d, that every Man directed his private Labours to the public -Good. Let the first Experiment be this: - - - - -EXPERIMENT I. - - _Pure Quicksilver contain’d in a dry Glass Vessel that is - very clean, being agitated only by a mechanical Shaking or - Concussion, gives a soft, black, and very fine Powder._ - - -_The Operation._ - -Having bought 16 Ounces of Quicksilver of the Company at _Amsterdam_, I -strain’d it thro’ a Leather Bag; there remain’d no Dregs: I pounded it a -long while with fair Water: The Quicksilver remained pure after pounding: -It was then a long time pounded with Sea-Salt, but the Colour of the -Salt was not fouled: after having poured Water to this Salt, and to the -Mercury, the pounding was repeated; but neither did this change the -Colour. In all this Work there appeared nothing black, nothing foreign or -foul. Then the Quicksilver was washed and dried, and was bright. I poured -it into a clean dry Glass Bottle, made of the dark-green _German_ Glass. -At the same Time I plac’d it in a Sand Furnace, with a Fire that almost -made the Mercury rise; and to be sure that all the Water was forced out, -which is often secretly present in the Mercury, I kept it thus for three -Days: Then having thrust a clean dry strong Cork into the Mouth of the -Vessel whilst it was yet warm, I fasten’d it up as close as possible. The -Head of the Bottle thus closed with a Cork, I dipt into a liquid Cement -of Pitch, Rosin, Tallow, and Brimstone, and covered it over with a Linnen -Cloth, which I tied fast with Packthread. When the Glass was thus made -ready, I put it in a small Wooden Box, which was so fitted to the Bottle, -that it touched the Sides of it; and the empty Spaces between the Bottle -and the Box, were well filled with Bran. Then I put on a Cover, with a -Hole bored in the Middle, for the Top of the Neck of the Bottle to stand -a little out. The Glass was immoveable in the Box; and it being thus -prepared, I had it fastened to the Hammering Block of a Fulling-Mill, -which always moves Night and Day when there is any Wind. Being thus -fixed, it was rais’d up and let down by a perpendicular Motion, from the -1st of _March_, 1732. _N. S._ to the 13ᵗʰ of _November_ of the same Year. - - -_The Effect._ - -The Bottle being opened, there was the same Weight of Mercury, which was -covered on all Sides with a very soft, black, copious and fine Powder. I -squeez’d it thro’ a clean Leather Bag; the liquid and pure Mercury pass’d -thro’. The Powder remained in the Bag of a sharp metallic Taste, somewhat -resembling the Taste of Copper or Brass. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Quicksilver, in itself very insipid, by meer shaking, acquires a -metallic Taste of Copper. - -2. From being very mild, it becomes sharp and penetrating. - -3. From a very bright Silver Colour, it turns very black. - -4. From a Fluid, it becomes Solid in the Form of Powder. - -5. It may therefore be concealed under the Appearance of such a Powder, -and deceive the Ignorant. - - - - -EXPERIMENT II. - - _Quicksilver exceedingly well purified, and treated as - aforesaid (EXPER. 1.) gives the same Powder in much greater - Plenty._ - - -_The Operation._ - -I suspecting that something of a foreign Nature to it might remain in -the Quicksilver, and be separated from it, by Motion, under the Form -of that Powder, I brought over all the Mercury in a Glass Retort with a -Sand-Heat. When it was all over, I pour’d it again into the same Retort, -and forc’d it by Fire, as before. This Method I repeated 60 times. The -Mercury was thus distilled 61 times. In the Bottom of the Vessel there -were five Drachms of Red Powder; of which hereafter. But this Mercury was -very fluid and shining. I got 2 Ounces of this Mercury to be shaken by a -Fulling-Mill in the same Manner, and by the same Operation, and for the -same Space of Time as in the first Operation. - - -_The Effect._ - -The Weight was the same: There was a Powder made, soft, black, of a sharp -metallic Taste, like Copper or Brass, to the Quantity of 2 Drachms and 26 -Grains: So it was above an eighth Part; whereas of the Mercury, as they -sell it, scarce ¹⁄₁₂₈ Part was turn’d into Powder by the same Operations; -that is, by the shaking of the Mill. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. The Mercury, which after being distilled 61 times, yet remained very -tasteless and insipid, acquires a metallic Taste. - -2. From being very mild, grows sharp and penetrating. - -3. From having a bright Silver Colour, and shining like a Looking-Glass, -becomes very black. - -4. From being more fluid than it was naturally, comes to a consistent -Powder. - -5. Tho’ forced by a long and strong Fire, so often repeated, the Mercury -still retains this Property (of Fluidity). - -6. Which therefore does not depend on any Feces or Dregs foreign to the -Mercury, and that may be separated from it by Fire. - -7. The Matter which, after the Distillation of the Mercury, remain’d -in the Bottom of the Retort, red, shining, and sharp, is no more like -the black Powder proceeding from the Shaking, than that Part is of the -Mercury, which remained volatile. - -8. Mercury is changed by Fire and Shaking; by Fire into red, by Shaking -into black: Therefore Mercury changes Colour. - -9. Whether Mercury shaken in a smaller Quantity, gives more of the black? -(Powder) - - - - -EXPERIMENT III. - - _The very black Powder (by EXPERIM. 2.) if it is forced out of - a Glass Retort by a strong Fire, returns to pure Quicksilver._ - - -_The Operation._ - -The 2 Drachms and 26 Grains of the black Powder (by _Operat. 2._) I -heated by a strong Fire, and forced out of a pure Glass Retort, insomuch, -that at last the Retort was red hot for 2 Hours. - - -_The Effect._ - -There were in the Receiver 2 Drachms and 2 Grains of the purest -Quicksilver, insipid and shining. There stuck to the Sides of the Glass, -which being join’d to the Retort, is luted to a Receiver full of Water, -a little Quicksilver here and there, which I could not entirely gather -together. In the Bottom of the Retort was a fix’d Spot, small, very thin -and fine, and but just visible. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Mercury, that has been 61 times distilled and shaken, and turned into -the afore described Powder, returns by Fire alone into its first Form. - -2. Of sharp and penetrating, it becomes very mild. - -3. Of very black, it comes to resemble pure Looking-Glass, with a Silver -Brightness. - -4. Of a consistent Powder, it becomes very fluid. - -5. In these three Operations it remains the same in itself; in the mean -time it alters its Appearance under various Disguises. - -6. The Taste and sharp Power are wonderfully changed in the Mercury, by -Motion alone, by Fire alone. - -7. In the mean time there arises, from these Operations, out of the -Quicksilver, a small Quantity of fix’d Mercury. - -8. The black (Spot) was no Dreg, or any Thing foreign, and so separated -from the Mercury. - - -SCHOLIUM. - -I exposed to a Fire of 180 Degrees, for several Months, some Quicksilver -in Glass Conic Vessels, with flat Bottoms, that were stopt with a -chemical inverted Phial: The Quicksilver became black, and gave a black -Powder, in all respects alike; from which I learnt, that a Fire in this -Degree, produced the same Effect in the Quicksilver as the shaking. - - - - -EXPERIMENT IV. - - _Quicksilver is changed by simple Distillation._ - - -_The Operation._ - -18 Ounces of Quicksilver, Weight of _Amsterdam_, I forced by a -Sand-Heat, out of a pure Glass Retort, into the Receiver that was filled -with the purest Water, 4 Inches high from the Bottom: This I continued -to do till there was no more running Mercury left in the Belly of the -Vessel. I dried and cleaned the Mercury with clean dry blotting Paper, -till it was perfectly dry, cleaned from any Dirt that might have fallen -in, and from the Black which in distilling is raised every time with -the Mercury as it distills: Then I poured this Mercury into another -Retort, and forced it again as before. This I repeated in the same manner -52 times. In each Distillation there was produced in the Retort a red -shining Powder. - - -_The Effect._ - -There was then four Drams and a half after 52 Distillations of a sharp, -red, shining Powder, purging upwards and downwards: There remained 16 -Ounces and 5 Drachms of Quicksilver; so 6½ Drachms were lost. This could -not be help’d. Some part expires thro’ the Glew; something black, with a -little Quicksilver, sticks to the Blotting-Paper every time the Mercury -is dried. This is but very little at one time; but when the Work comes -to be often repeated, it comes by Degrees to be a considerable part. The -Powder produced was heavy, of a red shining Colour, very brittle, of a -very sharp, metallic Taste, nauseous, penetrating, hardly to be taken out -of the Mouth, disordering the Human Body very much, and for a long time, -and disposing to Excretions. The Mercury which had been thus treated, -appeared more fluid than common Mercury. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Quicksilver thus forced by Fire, is turned from a Fluid into Powder, -in about the ¹⁄₂₈ part of its whole Weight. - -2. From a Silver Brightness, like Looking-Glass, into a shining red -Colour. - -3. From very insipid Taste, into one very sharp, rough, metallic, and -penetrating. - -4. From very mild, into sharp, virulent, venomous, disordering the Body, -and exciting Pains. - -5. From volatile into more fixed; which is no longer volatile by the same -Degree of Fire as it flew up with before. - -6. As to its other part, it changes into more fluid, in other respects -like what it was before. - -7. When the Vessel is stopt close, a mechanic Motion, and a small Fire, -give Quicksilver a black Colour; a greater Fire gives it a red Colour. - - - - -EXPERIMENT V. - - _I was desirous to know what would happen to the Mercury, if it - was still forced by a Fire requisite to Distillation._ - - -_The Operation._ - -I took care to distill, as before, the 16 Ounces and 5 Drachms of Mercury -remaining from the former Operation: I distill’d it so long, ’till -there remained none in the Bottom. What was came over, being cleaned and -dried, I always poured again into the same Retort. This Work I repeated -448 distinct times. Now this Mercury had been forced by Distillation -compleatly 500 times: It had risen always more fluid and pure. The last -time I heated the Fire more, but then the red Powder seem’d rather to be -lessened than increased, perhaps being in part revived. - - -_The Effect._ - -The Powder in the bottom of the Retort, weigh’d 1 Ounce, 5 Drams, and 21 -Grains. The Mercury remaining after 500 Distillations, weighed 9 Ounces -and 5 Drachms: But it happen’d, in so often distilling, that sometimes -the Retorts broke, and so some of the Mercury got away, besides what was -lost by so often cleaning and drying. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. The Corollaries of the second and fourth Operations, are likewise true -in this Operation. - -2. The Mercury is very unchangeable in one part, - -3. Yet continually changeable in the other part. - -4. Out of the altered Form, perhaps it returns into its former Shape. - -5. And perhaps after Regeneration by a new Action of Fire, it is carried -back again into the altered Shape. - - - - -EXPERIMENT VI. - - _That Property of Quicksilver, by which it is turned into this - Powder by Fire, is hardly taken from it by Distillation._ - - -_The Operation._ - -The very fluid and very pure Mercury (out of which I had made by 501 -Distillations, 2 Ounces, 1 Drachm, and 51 Grains of Powder, by the 2ᵈ, -4ᵗʰ, and 5ᵗʰ Operations) which remained to the Quantity of 10 Ounces, 5 -Drachms, and one half, I distilled out of a pure Glass Retort, till the -Mercury was all passed thro’ into the Receiver. The Bottom of the Retort -was as clean as if it had been just taken out of the Furnace at the -Glass-House: But at the Edge of the Surface, where it had stood before -the Distillation in the Belly of the Retort, there was a shining Ring, -of a beautiful red, fine and fair to the Eye. The Mercury that came out, -being purified and dried, I poured again into the same Retort, and forced -it into the Receiver. This was repeated ten times: Every time more of the -red Powder was made, and in no less Quantity then from the crude Mercury. - - -_The Effect._ - -The Mercury very vivid and very bright; the fix’d Powder of a beautiful -red, but (as in 2ᵈ, 4ᵗʰ, 5ᵗʰ Operations) to the Quantity of seven Grains. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. The Mutability of Mercury into this Powder by Fire, still remains in -the Mercury, after an eighth part of it has been changed into the Powder. - -2. After 511 Distillations, each of which had produced some of that -Powder, this Mutability remains, altho’ no new Mercury has been added. - -3. Therefore that Powder is scarce to be accounted the Dregs or Feces -separable by Distillation from the intimate Substance of the Mercury. - -4. And hence it is certain the Mercury is so changed by this Means; but -it is not certain that it is by this Means defecated. - -5. Fire is not united to Mercury, as some celebrated modern Chemists have -said it was, in their Writings. - -6. Diligence can scarce teach the constant Artists those Bounds beyond -which that Powder is no longer produced. - -7. If that Powder is produced by Fire out of the crude Sulphur of -Mercury, this Distillation does not purge the Mercury from it. - - - - -EXPERIMENT VII. - - _To examine the Powder produced by 2ᵈ, 4ᵗʰ, 5ᵗʰ, 6ᵗʰ - Operations._ - - -_The Operation._ - -Two Ounces, 1 Drachm, and 51 Grains of that Powder, I put into a clean -Glass Retort, covered with a Coat of Clay, mix’d or temper’d with Sand. I -heated it by Degrees, till at last the Retort, the bare Fire being laid -over it, grew almost red with the bright Fire that covered it in the Sand -Furnace, for three Hours together. - - -_The Effect._ - -There came out 1 Ounce, and half a Drachm of pure Mercury revived from -that Powder: There remain’d in the Bottom of the Retort seven Drachms -and a half of the bright red Powder. Something stuck in the Neck of -the Retort, and in the Glass Vessel applied to the Neck of the Retort. -Perhaps some was dissipated by so great and lasting a Fire. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. The Mercury returns out of the Powder into which it was turned by the -Fire. - -2. Being revived, it recovers all its former Properties, and lays aside -all those that it had acquir’d. Out of the Powder comes the same Mercury -as at first. - -3. The acquired Fixedness does not bear a great Fire. - -4. Yet in that Powder one part is more fixed than another; this still -remains a Powder, that returns to Mercury. - - - - -EXPERIMENT VIII. - - _Further to examine the Powder remaining after the foregoing - Operation._ - - -_The Operation._ - -Seven Drachms and 37 Grains of that Powder in a very clean Glass Retort, -cased over with a Coat of Sand and Clay, I put into the naked Fire, which -was carefully increased by Degrees, ’till the little Retort, which was -entirely covered with the Coals, grew quite red hot. In this Degree of -Heat I kept it for four Hours. - - -_The Effect._ - -In the Receiver was seven Drams of most pure Mercury reviv’d from this -Powder. In the Bottom of the Retort were 15 Grains of a dark, subtle, and -fixed Powder, in so strong and lasting a Fire. There was a broad Spot, -very thin, of a beautiful red, impressed on the Bottom of the Retort, -and, as it were, penetrating into the Glass. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Mercury by Fire alone is changed into the Powder above describ’d. (2, -4, 5, 6, 7, 8.) - -2. This Powder, by Fire alone, but a stronger, is changed into Mercury. - -3. Thus the Serpent that has bitten itself dies. - -4. It arises again more glorious from Death. - -5. So much Labour, and so great Fire being so long sustain’d, out of 17 -Ounces of Mercury, only 15 Grains remain’d fix’d in the Glass, which was -so hot, that it was ready to melt. - -6. Silver, Gold, and other Metals fought for by this Art out of -Quicksilver, is scarce any, in Proportion to the Charge and Labour. - -7. Of the Powder so fix’d from Mercury, only the 72ᵈ Part remains fix’d -in this Fire, the rest returns to Mercury. - -8. Twenty-two Grains were lost. Were they dispers’d? or was this Quantity -of Weight first accreted to the Mercury by Fire, thence again separated -by a stronger Fire? - -9. The Nature of Mercury is constant, simple, and cannot be separated -into dissimilar Parts by Distillation; not into fix’d and volatile; not -into pure and impure; not into feces and defecated; not into different -Elements. - - - - -EXPERIMENT IX. - - _I put thirteen Grains of this last fix’d Powder (VIII.) into - a Crucible, and set it over an open Fire before the Bellows: - I increas’d the Heat of the Fire, by blowing till the whole - Crucible was red hot: I kept it so for a Quarter of an Hour. - The Powder remain’d fix’d in the Bottom, but swell’d up like a - Spunge, and of a dark Colour. From hence I learn’d that this - Powder had acquired a considerable Degree of Fixedness by Fire - alone._ - - - - -EXPERIMENT X. - - _Then I added to this fix’d Powder (IX.) some Borax in a - Crucible, and increased the Fire by blowing. It became one - Mass, brittle, growing like Glass, and fix’d in this great - Fire._ - - - - -EXPERIMENT XI. - - _I gave 2 Grains of that Powder, which had remained fix’d, to - the Weight of 15 Grains (VIII.) to a sworn and very skilful - Essayer of Metals at AMSTERDAM, to examine it with all possible - Accuracy according to the Rules of Art, with Lead. Nothing - fix’d remain’d: Therefore in that Powder there was not the - least Gold or Silver._ - - - - -EXPERIMENT XII. - - _The thirteen Grains melted down with the Borax into a Mass - growing like Glass (almost vitrified) (X.) I gave to a sworn - and very skilful Essayer of Metals at AMSTERDAM, to examine - this whole little Mass with the greatest Accuracy, according to - the Rules of Art, in Lead. Nothing fix’d remain’d of the whole - Mass; so there was no Gold nor Silver in it._ - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Quicksilver persists in the Fire, retaining its Nature unalterable. - -2. Simple, and not separable, into different Parts by Distillation. - -3. It is fixed by Fire, and seems changed in its outward Form. - -4. Appearing so, in various Parts, it acquires different Degrees of -Fixedness. - -5. Yet none of these Parts acquired, by so strong and lasting a Fire, the -Fixedness of Gold or Silver. - -6. The fixating Cause is Fire passing thro’ the Glass; thus changing part -of the Mercury, either by its simple Action, or by its uniting itself -with the Quicksilver. - -7. The Fire so acting, by 511 Distillations, by its Action or -Conjunction, could not yet change the smallest Particle of the Mercury -into Gold or Silver. - -8. But from the Mercury so fixed by Fire, a greater Fire restores true -Mercury; or the known Power of Lead makes it vanish out of the Cupell. - -9. Therefore it does not appear, by these Experiments, that from Mercury -and Fire so conspiring, any known Metal is produced. Those 13 Grains did -not run by a Wind-Furnace; they did not persist in the Lead; they were -not dissolved with the Mercury into an Amalgama. - -10. Therefore Fire, by these Experiments, is not demonstrated to be the -Sulphur of the Philosophers that fixes Mercury into Metals. - -11. But it seems probable that the Sulphur of the Philosophers is -something else very near it. - -12. The fixed part is not the Feces of Mercury, nor its crude generating -Sulphur; it returns into Mercury. - -13. The Depuration of Mercury from the earthy Feces, and the watry -Crudeness, seems scarcely to be obtained so easily by Distillation alone; -perhaps by some more secret Work it is obtain’d. - -14. To make Gold or Silver of Mercury, does not proceed. Ignorant Men are -given up to Imagination, easy to Promises, rich in Hope. This Mercury -remained Mercury. - -15. Safe from the fallacious Writings and Prescriptions of the -Philosophers, who promise such Things in a short Time, or a few Months -from Mercury and Fire: Indeed, within the Space of many Years, I have not -discovered the least Marks of a first beginning. - - - - -EXPERIMENT XIII. - - _Mercury kept under boiling Water, is not rais’d from the - Bottom of the Vessel._ - - -_The Operation._ - -I pour’d a Drachm of Mercury twice distilled into a Glass Urinal, which -I fill’d with Rain Water: Then I set the Vessel upon the naked Fire: The -Water boil’d strongly for eight Hours, yet so that there still was some -Water swimming over the Mercury. The Mercury being afterwards weigh’d, -gave a Drachm without any Loss. - -Again; I pour’d a Drachm of Mercury into a clean dry Glass Vessel. This -I so fitted in a Kettle, that it cou’d not fall aside. I filled the -Kettle with Water; I made the Water boil eight Hours. This Vessel was -cylindrical, open, two Inches and one half deep, and placed so that the -Water cou’d not get in. After this was so done, the Mercury weighed one -Drachm without any Loss. - -I put pure Mercury into a Glass Vessel, I poured Water upon it; and -setting the Still over it, I boil’d it for a long while: No Mercury -ascended. I continued boiling, till all the Water being gone out, the -Mercury remained dry in the Bottom of the Vessel. However, I did not then -increase the Fire; but the Mercury presently ascended to the Sides of the -Vessel, and into the Head. The Reason of this appears from what I have -written in my chemical Institutions about Water and Fire. - - - - -EXPERIMENT XIV. - - _Mercury may be chang’d by Art so as that it shall ascend from - the Bottom of the Vessel, by the Heat of Vinegar, before it - boils up._ - - -_The Operation._ - -Having made a Mass of a Pound and a half of Mercury, with half a Pound of -Lead (the Chemists call such a Mass an Amalgama) I shook it in a Glass -Vessel. There was produced a very black Powder. This I put into a Glass -Cucurbite 14 Inches high; I pour’d pure distill’d Wine-Vinegar over it. -By a gentle Distillation I took away the Phlegm. I then increased the -Heat a little, but so that the Liquor did not boil. The Mercury ascended -into the Head, together with the Phlegm, and thence into the Receiver. -The same I tried and experienced other Ways. It is a Circumstance worthy -a Chemist’s Speculation; but I shall say no more of it here. By much the -like Artifice, I have seen Quicksilver made so volatile, that it was -rais’d in my Digestory-Furnace with a less Degree of Heat, than that of -a Man in Health, and ascended to the Sides of the Vessel. Do you think -the Mercury was then purer? It was mix’d with Metal, and very dry. But -perhaps I may some other time relate some very laborious Experiments -which I have made for several Years, in examining Mercury and Metals, if -I find that such Things are likely to meet with the Approbation of the -Learned. - - - - -EXPERIMENT XV. - - _GEBER has written, that pure Mercury is heavier than Gold: - For a long time I endeavour’d to learn, Whether Mercury could - be brought to a denser, and consequently a heavier State, - than that it is naturally in? I began to attempt this by a - Separation of the lighter and more changeable Part, from the - more heavy Remainder, but cou’d not do it. I afterwards strove - to defecate it by various Methods: It did not succeed. However, - I discovered some Things that deserve the Contemplation - of curious Observers, which I beg leave to mention, as - follows: Two Ounces of pure Gold in a Mass, by hydrostatical - Examination, in Rain-Water, defecated by gentle Distillation, - I found to weigh in proportion to Water, as 19¹¹⁹⁄₅₀₀ to 1. - Common Mercury, as sold, once distilled from the Retort to the - same Water, weighs as 13⁵⁷⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury amalgamated with - purest Gold, and then distilled some hundred times, as 13⁵⁵⁄₁₀₀ - to 1. Mercury so treated with the purest Silver, was to Water - as 13⁵⁷⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury united with Lead, and with it all - turn’d into Powder, and thence resuscitated by a strong Fire, - was to Water, as 13⁵⁸⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury 511 times distilled, - was as 14¹¹⁄₁₀₀ to 1._ - - -These Statical Weighings were made by Instruments that cou’d not be found -fault with, and with the most prudent Care. I spent some Years to prepare -Mercury for this Purpose; and, for ought I know, no one else has had any -Regard to it. Afterwards, many Things proper for Meditation may be drawn -from thence, by proper Judges in this Matter: But I may be allowed to -make a few Observations. - - -COROLLARIES. - -1. If Mercury, when defecated, becomes lighter, then it is rendred most -defecated by Gold and Lead. By the Art of _Suchtenius_ and _Philalethes_, -it remains the same. - -2. If Mercury, when defecated, becomes heavier, then it is rendred most -defecated by Silver, in proportion to other Metals; but most of all by -simple Distillation, by a Conversion into a Red Præcipitate of itself, -and a Resuscitation thence made. - -3. Mercury may be made thicker (condensated) by Silver and Fire. - -4. Mercury may be thickned by Distillation by Fire most of all. Is this -then the best Way to depurate and perfect it? - -5. Does Mercury deposite its heaviest Part in Gold? Is this deposited -Matter the Seed of Gold? - -6. Does Mercury deposite its heaviest Part in Lead? Is this deposited -Matter the Seed of Gold? - -7. Does Fire, boiling the Mercury 511 times, fixing and resuscitating it, -increase that heaviest Part? Can Mercury, by a continued Work, at length -be thickned into the Weight of Gold? Would it then be live Gold, or the -Mercury of the Philosophers? This let proper Judges examine. - -Let these few Remarks, and yet not made without Trouble and Caution, -concerning the Purification of Quicksilver, suffice at this time. I have -some by me much more operose concerning the extracting of Mercury out of -Metals, of its Action upon Metals, of Metals themselves; perhaps, when I -have Leisure, I may offer them to the Public, that Persons, after being -warned, may spare a fruitless Labour and Expence. _Farewell._ - -[Illustration] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Experiments concerning Mercury, by -J. H. Boerhaave - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING *** - -***** This file should be named 63318-0.txt or 63318-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/1/63318/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/63318-0.zip b/old/63318-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ed190e3..0000000 --- a/old/63318-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h.zip b/old/63318-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7bbee55..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/63318-h.htm b/old/63318-h/63318-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 8bcbffa..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/63318-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1998 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Some Experiments Concerning Mercury, by J. H. Boerhaave. - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - -<style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -h2.nobreak { - page-break-before: avoid; -} - -hr { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -div.chapter { - page-break-before: always; - margin: auto; - max-width: 30em; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -p.dropcap { - text-indent: 0em; -} - -p.dropcap:first-letter { - color: transparent; - visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -0.9em; -} - -img.dropcap { - float: left; - margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; -} - -.antiqua { - font-style: normal; -} - -.blacktop { - border-top: thick solid black; - padding: 0.5em; -} - -.blacktopandbottom { - border-top: thick solid black; - border-bottom: thick solid black; - padding: 0.5em; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.front-matter { - margin: auto; - max-width: 30em; -} - -.hanging { - padding-left: 2em; - text-indent: -2em; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; -} - -.allsmcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; - text-transform: lowercase; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -@media handheld { - -img { - max-width: 100%; - width: auto; - height: auto; -} - -img.dropcap { - display: none; -} - -p.dropcap:first-letter { - color: inherit; - visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0; -} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Some Experiments concerning Mercury, by J. H. Boerhaave - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Some Experiments concerning Mercury - -Author: J. H. Boerhaave - -Release Date: September 27, 2020 [EBook #63318] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="front-matter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/titlepage-top.jpg" width="500" height="75" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage">SOME<br /> -<span class="larger">EXPERIMENTS</span><br /> -CONCERNING<br /> -<span class="larger"><i>MERCURY</i>.</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter titlepage" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/titlepage-bottom.jpg" width="500" height="75" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage">[Price One Shilling.]</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage">SOME<br /> -<span class="larger">EXPERIMENTS</span><br /> -CONCERNING<br /> -<span class="larger"><i>MERCURY</i>.</span></p> - -<div class="blacktop"> - -<p class="center"><i>By <span class="smcap">J. H. Boerhaave</span>, Professor<br /> -of Physick at <span class="antiqua">Leyden</span>.</i></p> - -</div> - -<div class="blacktopandbottom"> - -<p class="center">Translated from the <i>Latin</i>, communicated by the<br /> -Author to the ROYAL SOCIETY.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="figcenter titlepage" style="width: 250px;"> -<img src="images/tailpiece.jpg" width="250" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>LONDON</i>:<br /> -<span class="smaller">Printed for <span class="smcap">J. Roberts</span>, near the <i>Oxford-Arms</i>,<br /> -in <i>Warwick-Lane</i>. <span class="smcap">Mdccxxxiv.</span></span></p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/header.jpg" width="500" height="250" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1><span class="smaller">SOME</span><br /> -EXPERIMENTS<br /> -<span class="smaller">CONCERNING</span><br /> -<i>MERCURY</i>.</h1> - -</div> - -<div> -<img class="dropcap" src="images/dropcap-t.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="dropcap">They who by Experiments -have most diligently enquired -into the Origin of -Bodies, and their peculiar -Powers and Properties, -are the only Men who have discovered -sure Methods of acquiring a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> -true Knowledge of these Things: -And whenever the Lovers of natural -Knowledge enumerate the Instruments -of this Science, they universally -agree that Chemistry has done -the greatest Service, in most industriously -promoting such Discoveries: -And when they come carefully to -examine the most celebrated Writers -in this Art, they plainly perceive, that -the most ancient Alchemists far surpassed -the rest in their Accounts of -the Nature of Things. Of this <i>Geber</i> -is an Instance, and the Writers nearest -to him; for they are content to describe, -in the plainest manner, such -Things only as they had discovered -by their Art; to improve which was -their great Application, having no -other Design in view. And indeed -no other Men whatever have so strictly -and obstinately labour’d in the Search -after natural Things, or have taken -such great Pains to turn Matter, thro’ -all the various Modes of Enquiry, as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> -the Alchemists. This is what will -be readily granted by all those who -read the Hermetic Writers, when they -openly relate common Discoveries: -But, on the contrary, when these Writers -treat of the Grand <i>Arcanum</i> (or -Secret of the Wise) they are accused -of making a bad Use of their Knowledge, -out of a Desire to conceal it, -as if they intended, on that Occasion, -not to be understood. They are said -to deal in Paradoxes, to write in a -strange manner, perfectly foreign to -all that is known, and their Style is -swell’d with hyperbolical and sublime -Expressions; which makes them be -exploded as Men out of their Senses, -fabulous, false, and Liars: For whilst -they affect to write in the gravest -Terms, and are rich in Promises, -they so cover the Thing they are -treating of in Obscurity and Darkness, -that they seem unwilling the -Secret should be reveal’d. And on -this account it is, that very many<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> -wise Men are of Opinion, that what -the Alchemists promise, is a Thing -impossible both to Nature and Art, -and therefore count them unworthy -the Perusal of Philosophers, as well -as undeserving of the Name. But it -is a Maxim, That it is safer to credit -an Artist in his own Art, than one -that is an utter Stranger to it; and -consequently it is rash to condemn -what the Alchemists have defined to -be possible; especially, since these -Chemists openly declare, that their -Writings are to be weighed in the -Balance of the most certain Laws -of Nature, which have been discovered -with the greatest Evidence by -the Events of Things; (that is, by -exact and repeated Experiments) and -they desire not to be credited, whenever -they produce any Thing contrary -to the Powers of Nature truly -known by Experiments. Moreover -they alledge, that they express themselves -in such an obscure manner,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -only to keep profane Persons away -from their Mysteries, which are unfolded -to such as are initiated in -them; and so that it was necessary -that Things strange, obscure, and -often false, should be mixed and interpolated -with what is sincere, clear, -and true in their Writings.</p> - -<p>For my part, upon looking into -chemical Matters, and perusing the -Writings of the Alchemists, I have -found them all of the same Mind -and Meaning as to the following -Particulars: That Metals are naturally -generated in their Veins, are -nourished, grow, and multiply like -other natural Things, each in their -proper Place: That the Aliments or -Nourishment of Metals, which before -are of a foreign Nature to them, are, -by the genital Power of the Metallic -Seed, converted into a truly Metallic -Nature; so that by this seminal Power -alone they lose their former, and receive<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> -a new Property by the sole cherishing -of the pregnant Warmth; for -they will have all these Things to be -effected entirely by the same Means: -That as the Seeds of Animals and -Plants change the Aliments they receive -into their own Nourishment, -so the vivificating Seed of growing -Gold, having got a proper Food, in -a fit Matrix, by the Help of a suitable -and convenient Heat, digests the -same into its own particular Nature: -Therefore by that Means, according -to a Law prescribed to subterraneous -Things, they determine that true -Gold is always produced by Length -of Time out of a Matter of a different -Nature from Gold: For having -subdued its Aliment by its own Force, -it grows, by vital Increase, into a -Matter like to it, so long as those -four Conditions that are absolutely -required attend it. Upon pursuing -their Researches into Nature -with more Accuracy, they discovered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -that the Metals which are -produced, and especially Gold, are -very closely confined within a very -solid and pure Stone, which is on -every Side so very carefully closed up, -that no Passage leading to or from -the Metal can be discerned. The -Matrix of the growing Metal is thick, -hard, impenetrable, without Mixture, -closed up on all Parts, and resembles -Glass. There is nothing more hard -to understand, than to discern the -Manner how the solid Substance of -the Metal could penetrate or force itself -thro’ the ponderous Mass of the -hard Stone, into the Veins that are -found pregnant with Metal and loaded -with it. Nor is it less difficult -to conceive by what Way the same -Metal secretly passes into those concealed -Places, if it was liquid in its -first Origin, as it is highly probable -that it was. And thus the genuine -Matrix of Metal is known; the Heat -of the Metallic Mines is also known:<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> -It seldom equals the Warmth of a -Man in Health, but often sinks below -the 66ᵗʰ Degree in the Scale of -<i>Farenheitius</i>’s Thermometer. Hence -they who are versed in these Mysteries -direct, That the breeding Matter -of the <i>Arcanum</i> should be inclosed -in a pure Glass Vessel, and cherish’d -with a <i>Majal Heat</i>; which we find, -by Experience, to be of 50 Degrees. -And this has been found out to be at -a Medium throughout the Year, by -the most exact Observations; which -we owe to the industrious Care of -<i>Cruquius</i>. The Food of the Metal -remains yet more obscure as to what -is that seminal, proliferous and genital -Matter. Most of these Philosophers -say, That Quicksilver is the -common Matter of all Metals: That -this being changed by the Power of -the vital Seed, gives a Metal which -is defined or determined according -to the peculiar Property of the seminal<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> -Efficacy: That every Metal, when -the Quicksilver and this Metallific -Power (which they call Sulphur) are -maturely and, as it were, thoroughly -boil’d and concocted, is brought to a -perfect Species of each such Metal. -And from hence, That every Metal -is again resolved into these two Principles, -Mercury and Sulphur. But -that there is an original Flaw or Blemish -inherent in Quicksilver from its -first Production, that wonderfully -grows up with it, and is intimately -concreted to it, and therefore not -without the greatest Difficulty to be -separated from it; and consequently -the Quicksilver wou’d not be very -simple, nor free, but is by that strange -Matter inherent in it, of a definite -Nature, and therefore wou’d hardly -suffer itself to be obsequious to the -particular Virtue of the Metallic Seed, -and be drawn into the single Nature -of one Metal: But if by a most difficult -Art, the Quicksilver be thoroughly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -purged of that foreign Blemish -or Foulness, then it would become -liquid, metallic, most weighty, -and most simple; neither by any -Art or Nature divisible into different -Things; and in which the vivified -Seed of every dissolved Metal wou’d -most perfectly multiply itself; in -which the Gold itself dissolving, being -cherish’d and maturated, wou’d -be the last so much sought for, and -so much celebrated Reward of the -Labour.</p> - -<p>When I found that the chief Persons -of the Art agreed in these Principles -for a long Time, I have endeavour’d -to learn by Experience, by -what Artifice a pure unmix’d Mercury -might be obtained? Whether it -cou’d be extracted out of Metals? -What is that other Part of the Metal -that is apt to force under its Yoak the -free Quicksilver, or Mercury? I am -glad to give an Account of what I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span> -have discovered; not that I pretend -to teach the Art, which I am as far -from as any one; but I will faithfully -relate some laborious Experiments, -and which are so very certain, that -they may justly pass for true. Others -will not need to repeat them, but -may safely make use of these as true -upon Occasion. And a diligent Artist, -by assuming (or supposing) these -Experiments, may apply his Mind -farther to others, in order to promote -the Study of Chemistry the more. It -were to be wish’d, that every Man -directed his private Labours to the -public Good. Let the first Experiment -be this:</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_I"><span class="smcap">Experiment I.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Pure Quicksilver contain’d in a dry -Glass Vessel that is very clean, -being agitated only by a mechanical -Shaking or Concussion, gives a soft, -black, and very fine Powder.</i></p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span></p> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>Having bought 16 Ounces of -Quicksilver of the Company at <i>Amsterdam</i>, -I strain’d it thro’ a Leather -Bag; there remain’d no Dregs: I -pounded it a long while with fair -Water: The Quicksilver remained -pure after pounding: It was then a -long time pounded with Sea-Salt, -but the Colour of the Salt was not -fouled: after having poured Water to -this Salt, and to the Mercury, the -pounding was repeated; but neither -did this change the Colour. In all -this Work there appeared nothing -black, nothing foreign or foul. Then -the Quicksilver was washed and dried, -and was bright. I poured it into a -clean dry Glass Bottle, made of the -dark-green <i>German</i> Glass. At the -same Time I plac’d it in a Sand Furnace, -with a Fire that almost made -the Mercury rise; and to be sure that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -all the Water was forced out, which -is often secretly present in the Mercury, -I kept it thus for three Days: -Then having thrust a clean dry strong -Cork into the Mouth of the Vessel -whilst it was yet warm, I fasten’d it -up as close as possible. The Head -of the Bottle thus closed with a Cork, -I dipt into a liquid Cement of Pitch, -Rosin, Tallow, and Brimstone, and -covered it over with a Linnen Cloth, -which I tied fast with Packthread. -When the Glass was thus made ready, -I put it in a small Wooden Box, -which was so fitted to the Bottle, -that it touched the Sides of it; and -the empty Spaces between the Bottle -and the Box, were well filled with -Bran. Then I put on a Cover, with -a Hole bored in the Middle, for the -Top of the Neck of the Bottle to -stand a little out. The Glass was -immoveable in the Box; and it being -thus prepared, I had it fastened -to the Hammering Block of a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -Fulling-Mill, which always moves Night -and Day when there is any Wind. -Being thus fixed, it was rais’d up and -let down by a perpendicular Motion, -from the 1st of <i>March</i>, 1732. -<i>N. S.</i> to the 13ᵗʰ of <i>November</i> of the -same Year.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>The Bottle being opened, there -was the same Weight of Mercury, -which was covered on all Sides with -a very soft, black, copious and fine -Powder. I squeez’d it thro’ a clean -Leather Bag; the liquid and pure -Mercury pass’d thro’. The Powder -remained in the Bag of a sharp metallic -Taste, somewhat resembling -the Taste of Copper or Brass.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. Quicksilver, in itself very insipid, -by meer shaking, acquires a -metallic Taste of Copper.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span></p> - -<p>2. From being very mild, it becomes -sharp and penetrating.</p> - -<p>3. From a very bright Silver Colour, -it turns very black.</p> - -<p>4. From a Fluid, it becomes Solid -in the Form of Powder.</p> - -<p>5. It may therefore be concealed -under the Appearance of such a -Powder, and deceive the Ignorant.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_II"><span class="smcap">Experiment II.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Quicksilver exceedingly well purified, -and treated as aforesaid (<span class="antiqua"><a href="#Experiment_I">Exper. 1.</a></span>) -gives the same Powder in much -greater Plenty.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>I suspecting that something of a -foreign Nature to it might remain in -the Quicksilver, and be separated<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -from it, by Motion, under the Form -of that Powder, I brought over all -the Mercury in a Glass Retort with a -Sand-Heat. When it was all over, I -pour’d it again into the same Retort, -and forc’d it by Fire, as before. This -Method I repeated 60 times. The -Mercury was thus distilled 61 times. -In the Bottom of the Vessel there -were five Drachms of Red Powder; -of which hereafter. But this Mercury -was very fluid and shining. I -got 2 Ounces of this Mercury to be -shaken by a Fulling-Mill in the same -Manner, and by the same Operation, -and for the same Space of Time as in -the first Operation.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>The Weight was the same: There -was a Powder made, soft, black, of -a sharp metallic Taste, like Copper or -Brass, to the Quantity of 2 Drachms -and 26 Grains: So it was above an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -eighth Part; whereas of the Mercury, -as they sell it, scarce ¹⁄₁₂₈ Part -was turn’d into Powder by the same -Operations; that is, by the shaking -of the Mill.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. The Mercury, which after being -distilled 61 times, yet remained -very tasteless and insipid, acquires a -metallic Taste.</p> - -<p>2. From being very mild, grows -sharp and penetrating.</p> - -<p>3. From having a bright Silver -Colour, and shining like a Looking-Glass, -becomes very black.</p> - -<p>4. From being more fluid than it -was naturally, comes to a consistent -Powder.</p> - -<p>5. Tho’ forced by a long and -strong Fire, so often repeated, the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -Mercury still retains this Property (of -Fluidity).</p> - -<p>6. Which therefore does not depend -on any Feces or Dregs foreign -to the Mercury, and that may be -separated from it by Fire.</p> - -<p>7. The Matter which, after the -Distillation of the Mercury, remain’d -in the Bottom of the Retort, red, -shining, and sharp, is no more like -the black Powder proceeding from -the Shaking, than that Part is of the -Mercury, which remained volatile.</p> - -<p>8. Mercury is changed by Fire and -Shaking; by Fire into red, by Shaking -into black: Therefore Mercury -changes Colour.</p> - -<p>9. Whether Mercury shaken in a -smaller Quantity, gives more of the -black? (Powder)</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_III"><span class="smcap">Experiment III.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>The very black Powder (by <span class="antiqua"><a href="#Experiment_II">Experim. -2.</a></span>) if it is forced out of a Glass -Retort by a strong Fire, returns to -pure Quicksilver.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>The 2 Drachms and 26 Grains -of the black Powder (by <i><a href="#Experiment_II">Operat. 2.</a></i>) -I heated by a strong Fire, and forced -out of a pure Glass Retort, insomuch, -that at last the Retort was -red hot for 2 Hours.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>There were in the Receiver 2 -Drachms and 2 Grains of the purest -Quicksilver, insipid and shining.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -There stuck to the Sides of the -Glass, which being join’d to the Retort, -is luted to a Receiver full of -Water, a little Quicksilver here and -there, which I could not entirely -gather together. In the Bottom of -the Retort was a fix’d Spot, small, -very thin and fine, and but just -visible.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. Mercury, that has been 61 -times distilled and shaken, and -turned into the afore described -Powder, returns by Fire alone into -its first Form.</p> - -<p>2. Of sharp and penetrating, it -becomes very mild.</p> - -<p>3. Of very black, it comes to -resemble pure Looking-Glass, with -a Silver Brightness.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span></p> - -<p>4. Of a consistent Powder, it -becomes very fluid.</p> - -<p>5. In these three Operations it -remains the same in itself; in the -mean time it alters its Appearance -under various Disguises.</p> - -<p>6. The Taste and sharp Power -are wonderfully changed in the -Mercury, by Motion alone, by Fire -alone.</p> - -<p>7. In the mean time there arises, -from these Operations, out of the -Quicksilver, a small Quantity of -fix’d Mercury.</p> - -<p>8. The black (Spot) was no Dreg, -or any Thing foreign, and so separated -from the Mercury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Scholium.</span></h3> - -<p>I exposed to a Fire of 180 Degrees, -for several Months, some -Quicksilver in Glass Conic Vessels, -with flat Bottoms, that were stopt -with a chemical inverted Phial: -The Quicksilver became black, and -gave a black Powder, in all respects -alike; from which I learnt, that a -Fire in this Degree, produced the -same Effect in the Quicksilver as -the shaking.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_IV"><span class="smcap">Experiment IV.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Quicksilver is changed by simple -Distillation.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>18 Ounces of Quicksilver, Weight -of <i>Amsterdam</i>, I forced by a Sand-Heat,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> -out of a pure Glass Retort, -into the Receiver that was filled -with the purest Water, 4 Inches -high from the Bottom: This I continued -to do till there was no more -running Mercury left in the Belly -of the Vessel. I dried and cleaned -the Mercury with clean dry blotting -Paper, till it was perfectly dry, cleaned -from any Dirt that might have -fallen in, and from the Black which -in distilling is raised every time with -the Mercury as it distills: Then I -poured this Mercury into another -Retort, and forced it again as before. -This I repeated in the same -manner 52 times. In each Distillation -there was produced in the -Retort a red shining Powder.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>There was then four Drams and a -half after 52 Distillations of a sharp,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -red, shining Powder, purging upwards -and downwards: There remained -16 Ounces and 5 Drachms of -Quicksilver; so 6½ Drachms were lost. -This could not be help’d. Some part -expires thro’ the Glew; something -black, with a little Quicksilver, sticks -to the Blotting-Paper every time the -Mercury is dried. This is but very -little at one time; but when the -Work comes to be often repeated, -it comes by Degrees to be a considerable -part. The Powder produced -was heavy, of a red shining Colour, -very brittle, of a very sharp, metallic -Taste, nauseous, penetrating, -hardly to be taken out of the Mouth, -disordering the Human Body very -much, and for a long time, and -disposing to Excretions. The Mercury -which had been thus treated, -appeared more fluid than common -Mercury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span></p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. Quicksilver thus forced by Fire, -is turned from a Fluid into Powder, -in about the ¹⁄₂₈ part of its whole -Weight.</p> - -<p>2. From a Silver Brightness, like -Looking-Glass, into a shining red -Colour.</p> - -<p>3. From very insipid Taste, into -one very sharp, rough, metallic, and -penetrating.</p> - -<p>4. From very mild, into sharp, -virulent, venomous, disordering the -Body, and exciting Pains.</p> - -<p>5. From volatile into more fixed; -which is no longer volatile by the -same Degree of Fire as it flew up -with before.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span></p> - -<p>6. As to its other part, it changes -into more fluid, in other respects -like what it was before.</p> - -<p>7. When the Vessel is stopt close, -a mechanic Motion, and a small Fire, -give Quicksilver a black Colour; a -greater Fire gives it a red Colour.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_V"><span class="smcap">Experiment V.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>I was desirous to know what would -happen to the Mercury, if it was -still forced by a Fire requisite to -Distillation.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>I took care to distill, as before, -the 16 Ounces and 5 Drachms of -Mercury remaining from the former -Operation: I distill’d it so long,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> -’till there remained none in the Bottom. -What was came over, being -cleaned and dried, I always poured -again into the same Retort. This -Work I repeated 448 distinct times. -Now this Mercury had been forced -by Distillation compleatly 500 -times: It had risen always more -fluid and pure. The last time I -heated the Fire more, but then the -red Powder seem’d rather to be lessened -than increased, perhaps being -in part revived.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>The Powder in the bottom of the -Retort, weigh’d 1 Ounce, 5 Drams, -and 21 Grains. The Mercury remaining -after 500 Distillations, -weighed 9 Ounces and 5 Drachms: -But it happen’d, in so often distilling, -that sometimes the Retorts -broke, and so some of the Mercury<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -got away, besides what was lost by -so often cleaning and drying.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. The Corollaries of the second -and fourth Operations, are likewise -true in this Operation.</p> - -<p>2. The Mercury is very unchangeable -in one part,</p> - -<p>3. Yet continually changeable in -the other part.</p> - -<p>4. Out of the altered Form, -perhaps it returns into its former -Shape.</p> - -<p>5. And perhaps after Regeneration -by a new Action of Fire, it is -carried back again into the altered -Shape.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_VI"><span class="smcap">Experiment VI.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>That Property of Quicksilver, by -which it is turned into this Powder -by Fire, is hardly taken from it -by Distillation.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>The very fluid and very pure -Mercury (out of which I had made -by 501 Distillations, 2 Ounces, 1 -Drachm, and 51 Grains of Powder, -by the <a href="#Experiment_II">2ᵈ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_IV">4ᵗʰ</a>, and <a href="#Experiment_V">5ᵗʰ</a> Operations) -which remained to the Quantity of -10 Ounces, 5 Drachms, and one -half, I distilled out of a pure Glass -Retort, till the Mercury was all passed -thro’ into the Receiver. The -Bottom of the Retort was as clean -as if it had been just taken out of -the Furnace at the Glass-House: But<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span> -at the Edge of the Surface, where -it had stood before the Distillation -in the Belly of the Retort, there was -a shining Ring, of a beautiful red, -fine and fair to the Eye. The Mercury -that came out, being purified -and dried, I poured again into the -same Retort, and forced it into the -Receiver. This was repeated ten -times: Every time more of the red -Powder was made, and in no less -Quantity then from the crude Mercury.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>The Mercury very vivid and very -bright; the fix’d Powder of a beautiful -red, but (as in <a href="#Experiment_II">2ᵈ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_IV">4ᵗʰ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_V">5ᵗʰ</a> Operations) -to the Quantity of seven -Grains.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. The Mutability of Mercury into -this Powder by Fire, still remains<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> -in the Mercury, after an eighth part -of it has been changed into the Powder.</p> - -<p>2. After 511 Distillations, each of -which had produced some of that -Powder, this Mutability remains, altho’ -no new Mercury has been added.</p> - -<p>3. Therefore that Powder is scarce -to be accounted the Dregs or Feces -separable by Distillation from the intimate -Substance of the Mercury.</p> - -<p>4. And hence it is certain the Mercury -is so changed by this Means; -but it is not certain that it is by this -Means defecated.</p> - -<p>5. Fire is not united to Mercury, -as some celebrated modern Chemists -have said it was, in their Writings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span></p> - -<p>6. Diligence can scarce teach the -constant Artists those Bounds beyond -which that Powder is no longer produced.</p> - -<p>7. If that Powder is produced by -Fire out of the crude Sulphur of -Mercury, this Distillation does not -purge the Mercury from it.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_VII"><span class="smcap">Experiment VII.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>To examine the Powder produced -by <a href="#Experiment_II">2ᵈ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_IV">4ᵗʰ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_V">5ᵗʰ</a>, <a href="#Experiment_VI">6ᵗʰ</a> Operations.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>Two Ounces, 1 Drachm, and 51 -Grains of that Powder, I put into -a clean Glass Retort, covered with a -Coat of Clay, mix’d or temper’d -with Sand. I heated it by Degrees,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> -till at last the Retort, the bare Fire -being laid over it, grew almost red -with the bright Fire that covered it -in the Sand Furnace, for three Hours -together.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>There came out 1 Ounce, and -half a Drachm of pure Mercury revived -from that Powder: There remain’d -in the Bottom of the Retort -seven Drachms and a half of the -bright red Powder. Something stuck -in the Neck of the Retort, and in -the Glass Vessel applied to the Neck -of the Retort. Perhaps some was -dissipated by so great and lasting a -Fire.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. The Mercury returns out of the -Powder into which it was turned by -the Fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> - -<p>2. Being revived, it recovers all -its former Properties, and lays aside -all those that it had acquir’d. Out -of the Powder comes the same Mercury -as at first.</p> - -<p>3. The acquired Fixedness does -not bear a great Fire.</p> - -<p>4. Yet in that Powder one part is -more fixed than another; this still -remains a Powder, that returns to -Mercury.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_VIII"><span class="smcap">Experiment VIII.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Further to examine the Powder remaining -after the foregoing Operation.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>Seven Drachms and 37 Grains of -that Powder in a very clean Glass<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -Retort, cased over with a Coat of -Sand and Clay, I put into the naked -Fire, which was carefully increased -by Degrees, ’till the little Retort, -which was entirely covered with the -Coals, grew quite red hot. In this -Degree of Heat I kept it for four -Hours.</p> - -<h3><i>The Effect.</i></h3> - -<p>In the Receiver was seven Drams -of most pure Mercury reviv’d from -this Powder. In the Bottom of the -Retort were 15 Grains of a dark, -subtle, and fixed Powder, in so -strong and lasting a Fire. There was -a broad Spot, very thin, of a beautiful -red, impressed on the Bottom -of the Retort, and, as it were, penetrating -into the Glass.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. Mercury by Fire alone is changed -into the Powder above describ’d. -(<a href="#Experiment_II">2</a>, <a href="#Experiment_IV">4</a>, -<a href="#Experiment_V">5</a>, <a href="#Experiment_VI">6</a>, -<a href="#Experiment_VII">7</a>, <a href="#Experiment_VIII">8</a>.)</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span></p> - -<p>2. This Powder, by Fire alone, -but a stronger, is changed into Mercury.</p> - -<p>3. Thus the Serpent that has bitten -itself dies.</p> - -<p>4. It arises again more glorious -from Death.</p> - -<p>5. So much Labour, and so great -Fire being so long sustain’d, out of -17 Ounces of Mercury, only 15 -Grains remain’d fix’d in the Glass, -which was so hot, that it was ready -to melt.</p> - -<p>6. Silver, Gold, and other Metals -fought for by this Art out of Quicksilver, -is scarce any, in Proportion to -the Charge and Labour.</p> - -<p>7. Of the Powder so fix’d from -Mercury, only the 72ᵈ Part remains -fix’d in this Fire, the rest returns to -Mercury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span></p> - -<p>8. Twenty-two Grains were lost. -Were they dispers’d? or was this -Quantity of Weight first accreted -to the Mercury by Fire, thence again -separated by a stronger Fire?</p> - -<p>9. The Nature of Mercury is constant, -simple, and cannot be separated -into dissimilar Parts by Distillation; -not into fix’d and volatile; -not into pure and impure; not into -feces and defecated; not into different -Elements.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_IX"><span class="smcap">Experiment IX.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>I put thirteen Grains of this last fix’d -Powder (<span class="allsmcap"><a href="#Experiment_VIII">VIII.</a></span>) into a Crucible, and -set it over an open Fire before the -Bellows: I increas’d the Heat of -the Fire, by blowing till the whole -Crucible was red hot: I kept it so -for a Quarter of an Hour. The -Powder remain’d fix’d in the Bottom, -but swell’d up like a Spunge,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> -and of a dark Colour. From hence -I learn’d that this Powder had acquired -a considerable Degree of -Fixedness by Fire alone.</i></p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_X"><span class="smcap">Experiment X.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Then I added to this fix’d Powder -(<span class="allsmcap"><a href="#Experiment_IX">IX.</a></span>) -some Borax in a Crucible, and increased -the Fire by blowing. It became -one Mass, brittle, growing like -Glass, and fix’d in this great Fire.</i></p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_XI"><span class="smcap">Experiment XI.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>I gave 2 Grains of that Powder, which -had remained fix’d, to the Weight -of 15 Grains (<span class="allsmcap"><a href="#Experiment_VIII">VIII.</a></span>) to a sworn -and very skilful Essayer of Metals -at <span class="antiqua">Amsterdam</span>, to examine it with -all possible Accuracy according to -the Rules of Art, with Lead. Nothing -fix’d remain’d: Therefore in -that Powder there was not the least -Gold or Silver.</i></p> - -</div> -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_XII"><span class="smcap">Experiment XII.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>The thirteen Grains melted down with -the Borax into a Mass growing like -Glass (almost vitrified) (<span class="allsmcap"><a href="#Experiment_X">X.</a></span>) I gave -to a sworn and very skilful Essayer -of Metals at <span class="antiqua">Amsterdam</span>, to examine -this whole little Mass with the -greatest Accuracy, according to -the Rules of Art, in Lead. Nothing -fix’d remain’d of the whole -Mass; so there was no Gold nor -Silver in it.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. Quicksilver persists in the Fire, -retaining its Nature unalterable.</p> - -<p>2. Simple, and not separable, into -different Parts by Distillation.</p> - -<p>3. It is fixed by Fire, and seems -changed in its outward Form.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span></p> - -<p>4. Appearing so, in various Parts, -it acquires different Degrees of Fixedness.</p> - -<p>5. Yet none of these Parts acquired, -by so strong and lasting a -Fire, the Fixedness of Gold or Silver.</p> - -<p>6. The fixating Cause is Fire passing -thro’ the Glass; thus changing -part of the Mercury, either by its -simple Action, or by its uniting itself -with the Quicksilver.</p> - -<p>7. The Fire so acting, by 511 -Distillations, by its Action or Conjunction, -could not yet change the -smallest Particle of the Mercury into -Gold or Silver.</p> - -<p>8. But from the Mercury so fixed -by Fire, a greater Fire restores true -Mercury; or the known Power of -Lead makes it vanish out of the Cupell.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span></p> - -<p>9. Therefore it does not appear, -by these Experiments, that from Mercury -and Fire so conspiring, any -known Metal is produced. Those -13 Grains did not run by a Wind-Furnace; -they did not persist in -the Lead; they were not dissolved -with the Mercury into an Amalgama.</p> - -<p>10. Therefore Fire, by these Experiments, -is not demonstrated to be -the Sulphur of the Philosophers that -fixes Mercury into Metals.</p> - -<p>11. But it seems probable that the -Sulphur of the Philosophers is something -else very near it.</p> - -<p>12. The fixed part is not the Feces -of Mercury, nor its crude generating -Sulphur; it returns into Mercury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span></p> - -<p>13. The Depuration of Mercury -from the earthy Feces, and the watry -Crudeness, seems scarcely to be -obtained so easily by Distillation -alone; perhaps by some more secret -Work it is obtain’d.</p> - -<p>14. To make Gold or Silver of -Mercury, does not proceed. Ignorant -Men are given up to Imagination, -easy to Promises, rich in Hope. -This Mercury remained Mercury.</p> - -<p>15. Safe from the fallacious Writings -and Prescriptions of the Philosophers, -who promise such Things in -a short Time, or a few Months from -Mercury and Fire: Indeed, within -the Space of many Years, I have not -discovered the least Marks of a first -beginning.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_XIII"><span class="smcap">Experiment XIII.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Mercury kept under boiling Water, -is not rais’d from the Bottom of -the Vessel.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>I pour’d a Drachm of Mercury -twice distilled into a Glass Urinal, -which I fill’d with Rain Water: -Then I set the Vessel upon the naked -Fire: The Water boil’d strongly for -eight Hours, yet so that there still -was some Water swimming over the -Mercury. The Mercury being afterwards -weigh’d, gave a Drachm -without any Loss.</p> - -<p>Again; I pour’d a Drachm of -Mercury into a clean dry Glass Vessel. -This I so fitted in a Kettle, -that it cou’d not fall aside. I filled -the Kettle with Water; I made the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -Water boil eight Hours. This Vessel -was cylindrical, open, two Inches -and one half deep, and placed so -that the Water cou’d not get in. -After this was so done, the Mercury -weighed one Drachm without any -Loss.</p> - -<p>I put pure Mercury into a Glass -Vessel, I poured Water upon it; and -setting the Still over it, I boil’d it for -a long while: No Mercury ascended. -I continued boiling, till all -the Water being gone out, the Mercury -remained dry in the Bottom of -the Vessel. However, I did not then -increase the Fire; but the Mercury -presently ascended to the Sides of the -Vessel, and into the Head. The -Reason of this appears from what I -have written in my chemical Institutions -about Water and Fire.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_XIV"><span class="smcap">Experiment XIV.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i>Mercury may be chang’d by Art so as -that it shall ascend from the Bottom -of the Vessel, by the Heat of -Vinegar, before it boils up.</i></p> - -</div> - -<h3><i>The Operation.</i></h3> - -<p>Having made a Mass of a Pound -and a half of Mercury, with half a -Pound of Lead (the Chemists call -such a Mass an Amalgama) I shook -it in a Glass Vessel. There was produced -a very black Powder. This -I put into a Glass Cucurbite 14 Inches -high; I pour’d pure distill’d -Wine-Vinegar over it. By a gentle -Distillation I took away the Phlegm. -I then increased the Heat a little, -but so that the Liquor did not boil. -The Mercury ascended into the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> -Head, together with the Phlegm, -and thence into the Receiver. The -same I tried and experienced other -Ways. It is a Circumstance worthy -a Chemist’s Speculation; but I shall -say no more of it here. By much -the like Artifice, I have seen Quicksilver -made so volatile, that it was -rais’d in my Digestory-Furnace with -a less Degree of Heat, than that of a -Man in Health, and ascended to the -Sides of the Vessel. Do you think -the Mercury was then purer? It was -mix’d with Metal, and very dry. -But perhaps I may some other time -relate some very laborious Experiments -which I have made for several -Years, in examining Mercury and -Metals, if I find that such Things -are likely to meet with the Approbation -of the Learned.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Experiment_XV"><span class="smcap">Experiment XV.</span></h2> - -<p class="hanging"><i><span class="antiqua">Geber</span> has written, that pure Mercury -is heavier than Gold: For a -long time I endeavour’d to learn, -Whether Mercury could be brought -to a denser, and consequently a -heavier State, than that it is naturally -in? I began to attempt -this by a Separation of the lighter -and more changeable Part, from -the more heavy Remainder, but -cou’d not do it. I afterwards strove -to defecate it by various Methods: -It did not succeed. However, I -discovered some Things that deserve -the Contemplation of curious Observers, -which I beg leave to mention, -as follows: Two Ounces of pure -Gold in a Mass, by hydrostatical -Examination, in Rain-Water, defecated -by gentle Distillation, I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -found to weigh in proportion to -Water, as 19¹¹⁹⁄₅₀₀ to 1. Common -Mercury, as sold, once distilled -from the Retort to the same Water, -weighs as 13⁵⁷⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury -amalgamated with purest Gold, and -then distilled some hundred times, -as 13⁵⁵⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury so treated -with the purest Silver, was to Water -as 13⁵⁷⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury united -with Lead, and with it all turn’d -into Powder, and thence resuscitated -by a strong Fire, was to Water, -as 13⁵⁸⁄₁₀₀ to 1. Mercury 511 -times distilled, was as 14¹¹⁄₁₀₀ to 1.</i></p> - -</div> - -<p>These Statical Weighings were -made by Instruments that cou’d not -be found fault with, and with the -most prudent Care. I spent some -Years to prepare Mercury for this Purpose; -and, for ought I know, no -one else has had any Regard to it. -Afterwards, many Things proper for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> -Meditation may be drawn from -thence, by proper Judges in this -Matter: But I may be allowed to -make a few Observations.</p> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Corollaries.</span></h3> - -<p>1. If Mercury, when defecated, -becomes lighter, then it is rendred -most defecated by Gold and Lead. -By the Art of <i>Suchtenius</i> and <i>Philalethes</i>, -it remains the same.</p> - -<p>2. If Mercury, when defecated, -becomes heavier, then it is rendred -most defecated by Silver, in proportion -to other Metals; but most of -all by simple Distillation, by a Conversion -into a Red Præcipitate of -itself, and a Resuscitation thence -made.</p> - -<p>3. Mercury may be made thicker -(condensated) by Silver and Fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span></p> - -<p>4. Mercury may be thickned by -Distillation by Fire most of all. Is -this then the best Way to depurate -and perfect it?</p> - -<p>5. Does Mercury deposite its heaviest -Part in Gold? Is this deposited -Matter the Seed of Gold?</p> - -<p>6. Does Mercury deposite its heaviest -Part in Lead? Is this deposited -Matter the Seed of Gold?</p> - -<p>7. Does Fire, boiling the Mercury -511 times, fixing and resuscitating -it, increase that heaviest Part? Can -Mercury, by a continued Work, at -length be thickned into the Weight -of Gold? Would it then be live Gold, -or the Mercury of the Philosophers? -This let proper Judges examine.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p> - -<p>Let these few Remarks, and yet -not made without Trouble and Caution, -concerning the Purification of -Quicksilver, suffice at this time. I -have some by me much more operose -concerning the extracting of -Mercury out of Metals, of its Action -upon Metals, of Metals themselves; -perhaps, when I have Leisure, I may -offer them to the Public, that Persons, -after being warned, may spare -a fruitless Labour and Expence. -<i>Farewell.</i></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> -<img src="images/tailpiece.jpg" width="250" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Experiments concerning Mercury, by -J. H. Boerhaave - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME EXPERIMENTS CONCERNING *** - -***** This file should be named 63318-h.htm or 63318-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/1/63318/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 214088b..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/dropcap-t.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/dropcap-t.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d6ba598..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/dropcap-t.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/header.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/header.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0d7e420..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/header.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/tailpiece.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/tailpiece.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 157e406..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/tailpiece.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-bottom.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-bottom.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 11fa6cf..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-bottom.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-top.jpg b/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-top.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c1cde07..0000000 --- a/old/63318-h/images/titlepage-top.jpg +++ /dev/null |
