,,observations                          
,,on                                    
,,antimony1                 ,read before
 the ,,medical ,,society of ,,london1   
,and published at their ,request1       
,,by                            ,,john  
,,millar1 ,m4 ,d4                       
,,london3          ,printed for ,j4     
,,johnson1 ,no4 #gb1 ,st4 ,paul's       
,church-yard1                 and ,d4   
,,wilson and ,g4 ,,nicol in the ,strand1
                                        
,,mdcclxxiv4     ,,to ,,the ,,members   
,,of ,,the ,,medical ,,society ,,of     
,,london4   ,,gentlemen1  ,the following
 observations having been honoured with 
your approbation1 are now published at  
your request1 and presented to you as a 
testimony of the author's respectful    
regard4  ,candour requires him to       
acknowledge that some gentlemen of the  
,society were averse to the publication1
 judging that the free censure of       
popular opinions would rather provoke   
resentment than produce reformation4    

,not deterred from his purpose1 he has  
availed himself of their friendly       
cautions to obviate some objections     
which may be made to the design4  ,the  
account of the earlier chymists may1 on 
a superficial view1 appear superfluous2 
but it was thought necessary to         
illustrate the ,medical ,history of     
,antimony1 and to shew how little credit
 is due to those writers whose          
exaggerated praises of that medicine    
have contributed so much to mislead and 
abuse mankind4  ,it may be objected that
 the author has not himself assayed the 
antimonial ores1 nor repeated the       
chymical processes4 ,but by drawing the 
chymical and mineralogical materials    
from other sources1 all imputation of   
prejudice or partiality1 on his part1 is
 prevented1 since he appeals to the     
testimony of the patrons of antimony    
themselves1 for the authenticity of the 
facts by which some of their opinions   
are subverted4  ,i am1      ,,gentlemen1
                ,your most obedient1 and

 most humble servant1                   
,,john ,,millar4  ,pall ,mall1 ,april   
#b1 #aggd4     ,,the ,,contents4        
,,introduction                          
,page #a                                
,,section ,i4      ,some ,account of the
 earlier ,chymists1 and of their        
opinions       concerning ,antimony     
#d                                      
,,section ,,ii4      ,of the ,natural   
,history of ,antimony                   
#ac                                     
,,section ,,iii4      ,of the ,chymical 
,properties and ,analysis of ,antimony  
#bg                                     
,,section ,,iv4      ,of the ,antimonial
 ,preparations and their ,medical       
,effects      #dh                       
,,section ,v4      ,of the ,secret      
,antimonial ,medicines1 and particularly
 of       the ,fever-,powder            
#ga     ,,observations ,,on ,,antimony4 
,,introduction4  ,read #ast and #aeth   
,febry4 #aggd4   ,remedies have often   
acquired reputation without sufficient  

evidence of their innocence and         
efficacy4 ,some have been introduced by 
an injudicious application of the theory
 of the schools1 others by rash and     
precipitate conclusions drawn from      
partial experiment1 and many by a       
refined species of imposition on the    
credulity of mankind1 veiled under the  
specious pretence of strict morality1   
extensive benevolence1 and disinterested
 love of science4  ,it is not surprising
 that a steady exertion of these arts   
should prevail1 when we consider that   
physicians1 whose duty it is            
intelligently to examine these boasted  
remedies1 and if frivolous or dangerous1
 to expose and resist the patrons of    
them1 have too often contributed to     
establish the deceit4 ,some are borne   
along by the torrent of vulgar          
prejudice2 while others stand aloof     
beholding1 with indignant pride1 the    
triumph of imposture2 and many judging a
 compliance with popular prejudices     
their surest and safest course1 unite in

 supporting error and imposition1 and in
 confirming the most pernicious         
practices4  ,thus is the publick        
confidence betrayed1 the art of physick 
brought into contempt1 bold and         
extravagant assertions gain ground1 and 
dangerous remedies are established4     
,the common interest calls us to expose 
these intrigues1 since men do not       
knowingly sacrifice life and health1 but
 are unwarily misled by                 
misrepresentation4 ,let us therefore    
unite in promoting a safe and effectual 
practice1 and in repelling the common   
enemies of science and of mankind4      
,among the delusions of the present age1
 one of the most dangerous is the       
universal belief of the perfect         
innocence and superlative efficacy of   
antimony4 ,the extensive use of this    
mineral demands our particular          
attention1 since it not only obtains    
among regular physicians1 but has been  
generally adopted in domestic practice4 
,but if its reputation shall appear to  

have been raised by falsehood or        
misrepresentation1 it becomes us to     
resist that tyrannical fashion by which 
it hath been established4     ,,section 
,i4  ,some ,account of the ancient      
,chymists1 and of their opinions        
concerning ,antimony4   ,antimony was   
originally used by the ,chymists1 who1  
as they pretended to preternatural      
illumination1 affected to conceal from  
the vulgar and profane1 the sacred      
mysteries of the adepts1 who arrogantly 
stiled themselves the favourites of     
,heaven4 ,an exact chronological account
 is not to be expected in an art which  
took its rise among illiterate ,miners1 
and in the most superstitious country in
 the world4 ,how long it was cultivated 
by the lower set of people1 with whom it
 originated1 is uncertain2 but          
,trismegistus1 having1 as is believed1  
first treated it in a scientifical      
manner1 has been honoured by his        
successors as the ,inventor and founder 
of the art4 ,he is stiled a philosopher1

 a priest and a ,king1 is said to have  
been instructed in all manner of        
learning1 to have been the ,inventor of 
medicine among the ,egyptians1 and to   
have lived about fifteen hundred years  
before the christian ra1 or according to
 some about the time of ,moses4         
,chymistry1 among the ,egyptians1 was   
joined to the magic art1 it passed1 thus
 corrupted1 from them to the ,arabians1 
where it was rendered still more        
unintelligible2 and1 in the course of   
the pilgrimages1 and warlike expeditions
 to the holy land1 it was imported into 
,europe1 during the dark ages of        
ignorance1 where it was still further   
vitiated by those impostors who scrupled
 not to corrupt the christian doctrines1
 and to pervert a religion1 instituted  
to promote the happiness of mankind1 to 
the purpose of oppressing them1 by      
erecting1 under the pretence of         
obedience to its precepts1 a temporal   
and spiritual dominion over all whom    
they could intimidate or deceive4  ,in  

these rude times1 when the nations of   
,europe were overwhelmed with ignorance 
and slavery1 it was not to be expected  
that ,chymistry could be much reformed4 
,the little learning of that age was    
confined to the ecclesiastical orders1  
who avowedly reprobated all knowledge   
which was not derived from divine       
illumination4  ,hence we find the       
chymical writers of that period boasting
 of their weakness1 yielding up all     
confidence in their faculties1 glorying 
in what they termed poverty of spirit1  
which was a state of absolute quietism1 
and betaking themselves to the          
invocation of supernatural assistance1  
on which they depended for that         
information which had been wisely placed
 within the reach of their natural      
capacity4 ,an implicit submission to    
these monkish tenets was1 however1      
strictly enforced1 and all who presumed 
to depart from them1 called forth the   
severest censures of the catholic       
church4  ,but1 even in those times of   

ignorance an ecclesiastic arose worthy  
of a better age and happier fate4 ,roger
 ,bacon1 undaunted by the terrors of the
 church1 boldly attempted to stem the   
torrent of superstition1 and recal the  
world to truth and sound philosophy4    
,such of his writings as yet remain1 are
 composed in a rational1 manly stile1   
void of hypocrisy and dissimulation4 ,he
 leads us to examine the works of nature
 and of art1 chastly distinguishing     
those from the sacred truths of         
revelation1 and clearly demonstrating   
their united operations to be far more  
wonderful than the pretended miracles of
 those who boasted of supernatural      
assistance1 whom he justly censures as  
amusing the ignorant with the fumes of  
drunkenness1 or the ravings of a        
distempered brain4  ,the age in which he
 lived was too much depressed to be     
roused by his vigorous efforts2 and his 
laudable attempts to emancipate the     
christian world from that slavish       
ignorance in which it was held1 were1   

for very obvious reasons1 severely      
censured by the ,roman church3 he was   
arraigned1 condemned1 and cast into     
prison1 where he was exhausted by a     
tedious confinement and severe          
penance#a1 and soon after fell a victim 
to the vengeance of his enemies4  ,the  
papal tyranny having thus prevailed     
against the strenuous efforts of this   
rational and intelligent philosopher1 it
 was easy1 under the pretence of exalted
 devotion1 to suppress more feeble      
attempts toward improvement and         
reformation4  ,but those high           
pretensions to extraordinary sanctity   
have been so often used as a cloak1 by  
men of an intriguing spirit1 that they  
are now justly deemed suspicious2 and we
 need only look into the lives and      
writings of the ecclesiastical chymists 
to be convinced that they were assumed  
by them1 to cover their ignorance1      
ambition1 and dissolute manners4 ,an    
overweening conceit of their own        
opinions1 and an arrogant contempt for  

those of others1 is1 notwithstanding all
 their pretensions to humility and      
self-denial1 the genuine characteristic 
of those hypocritical writers4 ,thus we 
find them extolling themselves to the   
disparagement of all mankind4 ,ye       
doctors of physick and surgery1 says    
,basil ,valentine1 come to me1 a        
religious person1 and servant of ,god1  
,i will shew you what ye have never     
seen1 ,i will make manifest to you the  
way of health and salvation1 which you  
have not yet known4#b  ,in delivering   
their chymical processes1 an invocation 
of ,god is the first precept1 and they1 
then1 proceed in the name of the ,lord4 
,but not content with having magnified  
themselves beyond their equals1 they    
address their disciples in the stile and
 manner of the founder of the christian 
religion3 ,i warn you1 says the same    
ecclesiastical chymist1 my disciple and 
apostle1 if you would imitate me1 you   
must take up your cross1 and suffer as  
,i have suffered1 and learn to bear     

persecution as ,i also have done#c3 and 
having thus made themselves equal with  
,god1 they proceeded to disclaim all    
dependance on the supreme ,being1       
declaring1 in their pride1 that1 if ,god
 would not assist them1 they would      
rather consult the ,devil than the works
 of former writers#d4  ,but if the      
chymists were more intitled to our      
confidence2 the extravagant praises     
which they bestow on antimony1 would    
justly render their evidence suspected4 
,not content with attributing to it an  
infallible efficacy in the cure of      
diseases1 they assert its influence over
 the temper and disposition of the mind1
 and seriously affirm that it disposes  
to probity and chastity4                
,notwithstanding these miraculous       
effects they scruple not to own that1 in
 its original state1 it is of a         
poisonous nature2 but they pretend that 
they can easily convert the most noxious
 substances into salutary medicines1 and
 the mildest nourishment into deadly    

poison2 and thus is antimony rendered an
 infallible cure for all diseases1 and  
honey destructive to the human race#e4  
,the writings of modern physicians are  
indeed free from those gross            
absurdities2 yet the high character     
given1 even by them1 to antimonial      
medicines1 so greatly exceeds all bounds
 of probability1 that we shall be       
justified in witholding our assent1 till
 it is supported by proofs bearing some 
proportion to the boldness of their     
assertions4  ,by the study of           
mathematics a habit of accuracy and     
precision is acquired1 and it may be    
suspected that chymistry leads to       
credulity2 or else1 some of the modern  
chymists1 after the example of their    
predecessors1 have craftily obtained    
wealth and fame1 by the most criminal   
practices4 ,upon the whole1 the         
evidence1 as well ancient as modern1    
concerning the superlative efficacy of  
antimony is to be suspected1 and it is  
necessary impartially to enquire into   

its natural history1 chymical analysis1 
and medical effects4     ,,section ,,ii4
  ,of the ,natural ,history of          
,antimony4   ,antimony is of different  
kinds3 by some it is described a        
blackish mineral substance staining the 
hands1 full of long1 shining needle-like
 stri1 hard1 brittle1 and considerably  
heavy4 ,it is found in different parts  
of ,europe1 as ,bohemia1 ,saxony1       
,transylvania1 ,hungary1 ,france1 and   
,england1 commonly in mines1 intermixed 
with earth and stones4 ,sometimes it is 
blended with the richer ores of silver1 
which renders the extraction of that    
metal difficult1 volatilising a part of 
the silver1 or1 in the language of the  
miners1 robbing the ore#f4  ,the        
,hungarian and ,transylvanian1 of which 
little or none comes to us1 is esteemed 
much the best for medicinal use4 ,the   
,english seems of all others the least  
proper for that purpose1 frequently     
containing a portion of lead#g1 which is
 not separable by any of the common     

methods of purification1 or else the    
,english miners are unacquainted with   
the method of purifying it in foreign   
countries4  ,the celebrated ,dr4 ,hunter
 has in his museum1 eighteen curious    
specimens of antimony1 very different   
from each other3 some are covered with a
 white calcareous crust2 some1 in       
external appearance1 resemble cobalt#h2 
others the lead ores2 and others1 those 
of arsenic2 some are almost perfectly   
black2 some have red stri1 interspersed 
throughout the ore1 and others shining  
spicul like polished steel4 ,but as they
 have not yet been assayed1 no very     
probable conjecture can be formed       
concerning their component parts1 nor of
 the proportion they bear to each other4
  ,chymists have not been sufficiently  
accurate in pointing out the signs by   
which the purity of this mineral is to  
be distinguished4 ,basil ,valentine     
says1 it is of two kinds which are very 
different1 one is beautiful and         
possessed of some of the properties of  

gold4 ,the other has more of sulphur and
 not so much affinity to gold1 it is    
distinguished by beautiful1 white       
shining stri4 ,the one is much to be    
preferred to the other for the purpose  
of the medicine as well as alchymy#i4   
,some direct antimony to be tried by    
rubbing the powder with a strong dog's  
tooth upon yellow paper1 where1 if it   
leaves a red spot it is pure4 ,others   
order a tincture to be made with spirit 
of vinegar and evaporated on an iron    
plate1 and if it leaves a red powder it 
is reputed good4 ,it is also said to be 
good1 when it is not spongy1 but heavy1 
and when it evaporates by a strong      
heat#aj4  ,the earlier chymical writers 
who praise it highly1 scruple not to own
 that it is1 in its natural state1 a    
virulent poison4 ,basil ,valentine1 its 
greatest advocate1 though he admits that
 it is given by farmers to their cattle1
 when they intend to make them fat and  
smooth2 yet declares it to be truly     
poisonous1 and strictly prohibits the   

use of it unprepared4  ,paracelsus1 as  
well as ,glauber1#aa recommends it as an
 external application in the cure of    
cancers1 judging it superior even to    
arsenic in all corroding diseases1 and  
expresses his ardent wishes that it     
should be substituted in place of all   
other remedies1 that the reproach of the
 chirurgical art might be removed1 and  
our humanity might not be offended with 
such numbers of maimed and mutilated    
objects#ab4 ,he highly extols its       
preparations1 and attributes to some of 
them the power of giving the bloom of   
youth to decrepit old age1 but strictly 
prohibits its internal use unprepared1  
and treats particularly of the baneful  
influence of the crude mineral1 in his  
book on the diseases occasioned by      
working in mines and in metals4  ,some  
later writers are silent concerning its 
noxious qualities1 and others positively
 assert1 that antimony1 in its crude    
state1 is not a poison1 but if given    
from four grains to half a drachm1 an   

excellent resolvent and purifier of the 
blood4  ,dr4 ,james in the universal    
,english ,dispensatory says1 it is      
astonishing that so many physicians1 and
 some of them men of learning1 should so
 strenuously oppose the introduction of 
antimony into medicine1 and without any 
manner of evidence or experience1 treat 
it as a deleterious poison4 ,for it     
appears that antimony reduced to powder 
is neither emetic nor cathartic3 though1
 if given in large quantities1 it may   
perhaps1 by its weight1 gently loosen   
the belly2 and so far is it from being  
deleterious1 that it is an excellent    
alterative in the mange of horses1 and a
 salutary medicine in some diseases of  
men as well as cattle4 ,it is therefore 
astonishing that any instances should   
occur of patients who have been deserted
 by physicians1 and afterwards found a  
remedy in antimony1 administered by     
quacks1 who do not so much as pretend to
 any degree of medicinal knowledge4     
,but the arguments drawn from the       

example of giving antimony in large     
quantities to horses1 do not prove its  
innocence in the human body4 ,the crocus
 metallorum is used by farriers to the  
quantity of an ounce or two in the day1 
yet a few grains of this preparation    
produce in men the most violent and     
dangerous effects4  ,the authority of   
,basil ,valentine1 which is brought to  
prove the innocence of crude antimony is
 also directly perverted1 and the story 
of his having introduced it into        
medicine from an accidental observation 
of its effects upon swine1 is no where  
to be found in the ,triumphal ,chariot  
of ,antimony4 ,basil ,valentine1 to     
whom1 says the same author1 we are      
obliged for discovering the medical uses
 of antimony1 first using it internally1
 and enriching medicine with many of its
 preparations1 having thrown away some  
antimony which he had used in the fusion
 of metals1 and observing some swine1   
who had accidentally eaten it1 to purge 
considerably1 and afterwards become     

sleek and fat1 took the hint of trying  
what it would do in human bodies4  ,but 
this matter is very differently         
represented by ,basil ,valentine        
himself4 ,let mankind1 says he1 be      
instructed1 that antimony not only      
purifies and refines gold1 and frees it 
from all metals and every foreign       
matter1 but accomplishes the same in men
 and cattle by its innate virtue4 ,i    
shall explain this by a rude experiment4
 ,if a farmer should set apart any      
animal1 a hog for instance1 to be fed1  
let him give the animal half a drachm of
 antimony1 for two or three days1 mixed 
with his food1 so that he may be purged1
 by which he will not only acquire an   
appetite and become sooner fat2 but if  
he labours under any disease the        
antimony will expel it#ac4 ,but ,i would
 not advise any person to give crude    
antimony to the human race1 as a        
medicine1 for he that would use it with 
safety and success1 must first know the 
method of preparing it1 in which the    

greatest part of the mystery consists2  
and an imprudent physician1 who gives it
 without this necessary knowledge1 will 
do more hurt than good#ad4  ,this is not
 taking a hint from the effects of      
antimony on swine1 but a direction to   
give it to those animals when they are  
to be made fat4 ,it is the more         
necessary to point out this mistake1    
since ,basil ,valentine is quoted by    
this author1 as having maintained the   
safety and efficacy of crude antimony1  
though he constantly asserts it1 in its 
natural state1 to be virulent and       
poisonous4 ,i shall be the first1 says  
he1 to protest and exclaim against      
those1 who1 being ignorant of the method
 of preparation1 give poisons to        
mankind1 for mercury1 orpiment1 and     
antimony are poisonous1 and will ever   
remain so1 unless they are fitly        
prepared#ae3 and again1 ,if antimony is 
given without being prepared1 it will   
quickly kill the patient#af4  ,hence it 
appears1 though he highly extols the    

preparations of antimony1 yet he not    
only exclaims against using it in its   
crude state1 but ranks it with orpiment1
 and declares it poisonous4  ,it may    
indeed be suspected that the writers of 
that age went to the opposite extreme1  
too easily admitting the poisonous      
quality of these minerals1 which were   
the subject of their ,chymical          
operations1 the more illustriously to   
display1 among the ignorant laity1 the  
supernatural powers of their mystical   
art4  ,yet this difference of opinion1  
between the earlier and some of the     
later writers1 may be otherwise         
accounted for1 from the present mode of 
purifying that mineral before it comes  
into the hands of the ,chymists4 ,it is 
not improbable it may have been formerly
 sent to them without any preparation1  
but it is now separated from its natural
 impurities at the mines1 by fusion in  
an earthen pot1 whose bottom is         
perforated with a number of holes1 the  
fusible antimony passing through1 whilst

 the infusible substances remain behind4
 ,the melting vessel is let into another
 pot1 sunk into the ground1 which serves
 as a receiver4 ,this last is of a      
conical figure1 and such is the shape of
 the loaves of antimony met with in the 
shops#ag4  ,but some of the modern      
chymists assert that1 if crude antimony 
is reduced to so fine a powder that the 
shining spicul cannot be seen1 its      
operation is similar to mild kermes     
mineral#ah1 and ,doctor ,james#ai1 and  
the author of the ,new ,dispensatory#bj1
 the greatest advocates for its perfect 
innocence1 admit1 that when acid1       
alcaline or oleaginous food have been   
taken liberally1 it has proved violently
 emetic4 ,it may therefore be fairly    
concluded1 even on their authority1 that
 the crude mineral contains such active 
particles as may1 by accident or        
mismanagement be rendered extremely     
virulent4  ,the best modern authors on  
mineralogy who have carefully examined  
the antimonial ores1 in their natural   

state1 affirm that all of them are      
arsenical2 and some of them were found  
in ,carls ort1 in the mine of ,salberg1 
about the end of the last century1 so   
similar to arsenical ores as to be      
preserved in cabinets1 as specimens of  
arsenical pyrites1 their real nature    
remaining undiscovered1 till it was     
explained in the year #agdh1 by ,mr4    
,van ,swob master of the mines1 in a    
treatise communicated to the royal      
academy of sciences at ,stockholm#ba4   
,antimony also frequently contains a    
portion of lead#bb1 the poisonous       
qualities of which have been clearly    
demonstrated by the learned ,doctor     
,baker in his elaborate critical        
dissertations on that subject1 published
 in the transactions of the college of  
physicians of ,london1 and by the       
ingenious ,doctor ,percival in his      
observations and experiments on the     
poison of lead4     ,,section ,,iii4    
,of the ,chymical ,properties and       
,analysis of ,antimony4   ,it appears   

from ,dioscorides1 ,pliny and ,galen1   
that in their time antimony was not     
chymically examined1 nor used internally
 though they recommend it as an external
 application4 ,it is not surprising that
 modern chymists should differ          
concerning its constituent parts1 since 
they cannot be separated without losing 
something in the operation4 ,their      
proportions are also various in         
different specimens of the crude        
mineral1 a pound of some yielding ten or
 eleven ounces of regulus1 whilst others
 scarce afford eight ounces#bc4  ,but   
whatever may be their opinion concerning
 the effects of crude antimony1 they are
 almost unanimous in affirming1 that it 
contains a portion of arsenic1 which by 
different management1 may be either     
converted into an efficacious remedy or 
a deadly poison4#bd  ,it is a fact1 says
 ,hoffman1 proved beyond all doubt among
 the chymists1 that antimony is composed
 of sulphur and a mercurial or arsenical
 substance#be4 ,the same is asserted by 

,stahl4 ,antimony1 says he1 consists of 
two or three mineral substances1        
sulphur1 a portion of arsenic1 and an   
imperfect metallic matter4 ,that arsenic
 enters its composition is proved by the
 red tinge of sulphur of antimony2 its  
great power of vomiting1 and that       
sickness of stomach and faintness with  
which its operation is attended2 by the 
resemblance of glass of antimony1 to the
 saturnine arsenical glass2 by its      
solution in aquaregia1 and many other   
appearances4 ,but it is particularly    
demonstrated1 by the purity of antimony1
 which is regenerated from regulus and  
pure sulphur1 which is much finer and   
milder than vulgar or native            
antimony#bf4  ,the author of the ,new   
,dispensatory1 however1 in opposition to
 these weighty authorities1 and to the  
concurring testimony of almost all the  
chymists1 affirms1 that this opinion1   
however plausible1 does not seem to have
 any just foundation4 ,nothing          
arsenical1 he says1 has ever been       

separated from pure antimony4 ,the most 
violent antimonial preparations are     
rendered inactive by means which do not 
lessen the poisonous quality of arsenic1
 and the most inactive are rendered     
virulent by operations in which arsenic 
would either be dissipated1 or its      
violence abated#bg4  ,this opinion1     
contradicted by the general voice of    
mineralogical and chymical writers1     
since it is not supported by more       
convincing proofs1 should not have been 
published in a book intended for the use
 of every pupil in pharmacy2 if the     
prevailing opinion of the poisonous     
quality of antimony should be erroneous1
 it cannot affect the lives of mankind1 
but if it is well founded1 what words   
can express the dangerous tendency of a 
false doctrine so universally           
propagated6  ,he has not indeed treated 
this subject with his usual accuracy1   
for with ,hoffman and other celebrated  
chymists1 he elsewhere compares antimony
 to arsenic1 as well with respect to its

 virulence1 as the means of correcting  
it3 ,orpiment1 says he1 from which a    
perfect arsenic is obtainable in notable
 quantity1 is when it participates more 
largely of sulphur1 almost perfectly    
innocent2 and sulphur1 which restrains  
the power of the antimonial semimetal1  
remarkably abates the virulence of this 
poisonous mineral also#bh4  ,poppius    
affirms1 that an impure1 bituminous and 
arsenical sulphur1 noxious to the eyes1 
nose1 and lungs1 with a blue flame and  
arsenical smell1 which cannot be endured
 without danger1 is raised during the   
calcination or sublimation of           
antimony#bi4  ,glauber also directs     
antimonial cups to be made for the      
purpose of communicating an emetic      
quality to acid liquors1 which according
 to him produce the same effects as     
those prepared from orpiment#cj2        
,boerhaave asserts that antimony seems  
to be of the same nature with           
arsenic#ca2 ,macquer informs us1 that   
some of the antimonial ores contain a   

portion of the same poisonous           
mineral#cb2 and ,cronstedt affirms that 
all of them are arsenical#cc4  ,unless  
therefore those modern chymists1 who    
assert the perfect innocence of         
antimony1 expect from us that implicit  
confidence which their predecessors1 who
 held a very different opinion1         
rigorously exacted1 it cannot1 on their 
authority1 be admitted that it does not 
contain arsenic4 ,wonderful as the works
 are which they have atchieved1 many    
secrets of nature have escaped their    
researches1 which may hereafter be      
discovered1 and many will1 undoubtedly1 
elude all human investigation4  ,nor is 
more credit due to those who assert that
 all arsenical particles are            
volatilised1 and carried off by the     
force of fire2 the crocus1 regulus and  
glass of antimony containing such subtil
 virulent particles as must for ever    
escape observation1 since without losing
 in any degree their specific gravity1  
they impart1 almost inexhaustibly1 an   

emetic power to wine and other liquors1 
and the operation of these essences of  
antimony1 as they have been emphatically
 called1 is similar to those of         
arsenic4#cd  ,but although1 in          
opposition to the testimony of the best 
chymical writers1 it should be granted  
that there is no arsenic in antimony1 it
 cannot be affirmed1 that it does not   
contain poison1 since by unfolding its  
texture by the force or fire1 it is     
rendered highly virulent2 and by the    
addition of various substances1 in the  
stomach1 it becomes violently emetic#ce4
  ,by those who assert the perfect      
innocence of antimony1 and extol its    
virtues1 orpiment is allowed to be a    
poisonous substance1 and giving it as a 
medicine1 is declared a practice too    
dangerous to be followed#cf1 yet it is  
ranked by ,hoffman with antimony4 ,it   
ought to be remarked1 says he1 that     
orpiment was known to the ancient       
philosophers and physicians1 and        
universally deemed a poison1 and to this

 day is sold for arsenic4 ,yet it does  
not1 when taken internally1 give any    
molestation1 either by vomiting or      
purging1 and may be given1 in a large   
quantity1 to dogs1 without hurting them4
 ,but if it is exposed to the fire1     
then1 indeed1 it acquires a poisonous   
quality1 as is also the case with       
antimony1 which1 though in its natural  
crude state1 it is rather a medicine    
than a poison1 yet when melted by fire  
it exerts a violent emetic power#cg4    
,crude white arsenic1 the most virulent 
poison of that tribe1 is not always     
baneful#ch4 ,it is now more than twenty 
years since it was taken in large       
quantity by four persons1 on whom it had
 no other effect than1 what is usually  
produced by antimonial preparations1 to 
excite violent vomiting4 ,all of them   
were lately1 and1 ,i believe1 are still 
in perfect health4 ,to this ,i was an   
eyewitness1 and took large lumps of     
white arsenic out of the pot in which   
their victuals were prepared4 ,it       

happened at ,kelso1 in the shire of     
,roxburgh1 and is well known in that    
country4  ,i was a few years afterwards1
 desired to visit a gentleman in        
,northumberland1 who had taken white    
arsenic3 it operated in the same manner1
 and for several years after this       
accident he continued in his usual      
health4  ,thus far does arsenic resemble
 antimony1 but their affinity is still  
more strongly asserted by ,hoffman4     
,while1 says he1 the sulphureous part of
 antimony is intimately combined with   
the arsenical or reguline#ci2 it cannot 
exert its violence4 ,for mineral poisons
 cannot act or become noxious1 till the 
poisonous parts are freed from their    
union with those which correct their    
virulence4  ,but that mineral sulphur   
has a power of correcting poison1 is    
clearly proved by that experiment which 
shews1 that arsenic1 the greatest       
poison1 being melted on a slow fire1    
with an equal portion of mineral        
sulphur1 is converted into a mass1      

almost void of virulence2 and if regulus
 of antimony is fused with an equal     
portion of the same sulphur1 it         
immediately loses its drastic power#dj4 
,this theory probably introduced an     
arsenical medicine into practice at     
,berlin1 where ,hoffman1 who was        
physician to the king of ,prussia1      
resided4 ,newman1 professor of chymistry
 and director of the ,royal ,elaboratory
 and ,dispensatory in that city1        
observes1 that chymistry is capable of  
converting sundry poisons into remedies2
 thus the virulent antimonial regulus is
 changed1 by that art1 into the mild    
diaphoretic antimony2 and some have been
 hence induced to imagine1 that arsenic 
might also be corrected and rendered    
safe1 and have even ventured to put so  
dangerous a speculation in practice4 ,a 
preparation of arsenic with nitre has   
been actually sold at ,berlin1 and in   
other places1 under the title of a      
specific febrifuge#da4  ,there is1 in   
many instances1 a strong analogy not    

only between antimony and orpiment1 but 
the more virulent poison of white       
arsenic2 and those who have been bold   
enough to use that poisonous mineral as 
a medicine1 have found1 in its          
preparations1 a more certain and        
efficacious remedy than in those of     
antimony4 ,the illustrious ,stahl gives 
some account of a famous fever powder1  
which obtained great reputation in      
,germany1 and was used by most of the   
nobility in his neighbourhood4 ,this    
celebrated chymist does not deny its    
great efficacy1 but1 alarmed by a       
suspicion of poison in its composition1 
earnestly declaims against its use3 it  
was at length acknowledged to be a      
preparation of white arsenic#db4  ,the  
same fever-powder1 or a similar         
preparation1 was used1 with great       
success1 by the ,german ,physicians and 
,surgeons1 in the late ,flanders war4   
,it was also introduced among the       
,english1 but the late ,mr4 ,pringle1   
,inspector ,general of the ,british     

hospitals in ,flanders1 on whose        
authority this fact is related1 alarmed 
at the danger and uncertainty of this   
remedy1 ordered all the preparations of 
it to be destroyed4 ,this gentleman     
acknowledged it had proved successful1  
but dropsies and visceral obstructions1 
which sometimes followed the fevers in  
which it was given1 were1 perhaps       
unjustly1 ascribed to its use4  ,some   
account of an arsenical fever-powder is 
given by ,doctor ,werlhoff1 late        
physician to his ,britannic ,majesty at 
,hanover4 ,he mentions its being        
recommended from successful experience  
by ,michael ,friccius#dc1 who had used  
some drachms of it1 and by              
,sleuogtius#dd1 who had given it with   
safety in fifty cases1 but1             
notwithstanding these and many other    
recommendations1 he expressly condemns  
this dangerous remedy#de4  ,lemery also 
affirms1 that many diseases have been   
cured by giving four grains of white    
arsenic in a large quantity of water4   

,it operates1 according to this         
intelligent chymist1 by vomiting1 in the
 same manner as antimony4 ,but he highly
 disapproves of using it as an internal 
remedy#df4  ,poisons having been lately 
strongly recommended for the cure of    
many obstinate diseases1 and generally  
adopted in practice1 the dread of them1 
wisely implanted in our nature1 is in a 
great measure banished2 and such is the 
influence of novelty and fashion1 and so
 much has prejudice prevailed1 that one 
of the most eminent physicians in       
,europe has been disgraced for exposing 
a practice fraught with danger1 and     
supported by misrepresentation#dg4  ,but
 though the strong proofs of the poison 
of antimony1 drawn from its natural     
history and chymical analysis1 should be
 rejected by prejudice or scepticism1   
yet the easy transition of this mineral1
 by the simplest processes and slightest
 accidents1 from a salutary medicine to 
a deadly poison1 has not yet1 been      
seriously denied4  ,it is found by      

chymists generally to contain mercury1  
arsenic1 lead1 sulphur1 and sometimes   
copper1 silver1 and other metals#dh4    
,when it is melted by fire1 or          
deflagrated with half its weight of     
nitre1 it becomes a poison4 ,but if     
antimony1 or its regulus1 is mixed with 
an equal portion of common salt1 and    
calcined with a gentle heat1 stirring it
 constantly1 and afterwards washing it  
with pure water1 it becomes a gentle    
diaphoretic4  ,the mildest preparation  
of antimony2 its white calx1 which may  
be safely taken to the quantity of some 
drachms1 if melted with an equal portion
 of nitre1 a little powder of charcoal1 
and a small quantity of animal fat1 is  
immediately rendered poisonous4  ,if    
antimony is melted with a fourth part of
 salt of tartar1 a salutary medicine is 
obtained2 but if the same process is    
performed with two or three times that  
quantity of the salt1 so nice is the    
management of this wonderful mineral1 in
 place of a medicine it becomes a       

poison#di  ,when antimony is combined   
with other medicines1 as it frequently  
is by practical physicians1 unless the  
composition is directed with chymical   
skill1 it may be so changed1 or1 in the 
language of the chymists1 decomposed1 as
 totally to alter its usual qualities4  
,by marine acids the activity of        
antimonials is increased1 and they are  
rendered corrosive1 or virulently emetic
 and purgative2 but by the addition of  
the nitrous acid this virulence is      
diminished or destroyed1 and they become
 mild diaphoretics#ej4  ,such being the 
uncertainty and variety in the operation
 of antimonial preparations1 it cannot  
be improper1 since they are now in      
common family use1 to lay before the    
public the objections against the       
general application of them1 which arise
 from the accurate observations of the  
best chymists1 and most experienced     
physicians2 since it is not improbable1 
that many who deal them out with a      
liberal hand1 and with the most         

charitable and benevolent intentions1   
would dread the danger of a drug1 which 
though published as an infallible       
remedy1 may1 without great skill and    
precision in the direction of it1 in    
place of a remedy become a poison4  ,but
 the ultimate decision of this point    
must depend on the real effects of      
antimonial medicines on the human body1 
which are therefore now to be           
considered4     ,,section ,,iv4  ,of the
 preparations of antimony1 and their    
medical effects4   ,the limits to which 
dissertations of this kind ought to be  
confined will not permit us to enter    
into a minute detail of the various     
antimonial preparations which may be    
found in every dispensatory4 ,those in  
most frequent use are calx of antimony1 
crocus of antimony1 antimonial wine1    
tartar emetic1 and kermes mineral4  ,the
 virtues of calx of antimony are        
variously represented by different      
writers1 some ascribing to it the power 
of an excellent diaphoretic1 others     

asserting that it even proves violently 
emetic1 and others1 among whom is the   
great ,boerhaave1 declaring it a mere   
inert earth intirely destitute of all   
medicinal virtue4 ,the ,college of      
,physicians of ,london1 who had formerly
 directed this preparation1 under the   
title of diaphoretic antimony1 thought  
proper1 because of the various opinions 
concerning its operation1 to change its 
name to that of calx of antimony1 till  
its medicinal qualities should be better
 ascertained#ea4  ,these different      
judgments can scarce be supposed to have
 been delivered by competent judges     
concerning the same medicine1 but may be
 accounted for from the different manner
 in which the process for making the    
calx may have been conducted4 ,the      
common nitre1 with which it is prepared1
 contains some portion of sea-salt1 and 
when that abounds1 the proportion of    
nitre being less1 the calx may prove an 
active remedy#eb4  ,if it is not        
sufficiently calcined1 or perfectly     

freed from the reguline parts by        
washing1 such of these as remain1 may   
produce more sensible effects than are  
to be expected when it is duly prepared1
 and hence perhaps proceed the          
contradictory opinions of chymists and  
physicians concerning this antimonial   
preparation4  ,but the assertion of its 
being a mere inert earth1 is not well   
founded1 since a small dose of it       
sometimes produces violent effects2 and 
it may be reduced by fusion1 with       
inflammable fluxes1 into pure regulus4  
,it enters the composition of a medicine
 described by the judicious ,doctor     
,morton1 with which1 in three instances1
 he cured an obstinate intermitting     
fever4 ,in one case the disease was of  
two years standing1 and in all of them  
had resisted a diligent and skilful     
application of the ,peruvian bark4 ,but 
these were the only opportunities he had
 of trying it2 for having never met with
 any other case in which that excellent 
febrifuge disappointed his expectation1 

he deemed it an unpardonable wantonness 
to use a precarious remedy1 while he was
 possessed of one more certain and      
efficacious#ec4 ,it is also recommended 
by ,van ,swieten in the peripneumony1 as
 a deobstruent and expectorant#ed4      
,crocus of antimony is made by          
deflagrating equal parts of antimony and
 nitre3 it operates as a violent emetic 
when given from two to six grains4 ,a   
preparation of this kind1 recommended to
 the ,london ,college of ,physicians by 
one of their own members1 under the     
title of milder crocus of antimony1 as a
 medicine of mild operation and         
eminently efficacious1 was inserted in  
their ,dispensatory2 but the committee  
appointed to review and correct it      
having had some comparative trials      
reported to them of this and the common 
crocus1 which rendered them dubious of  
their effects1 were induced to leave the
 matter to be further examined#ee4  ,it 
is seldom prescribed3 but an            
extraordinary cure is said to have been 

performed by the milk of an ass that had
 drank water in which it was accidently 
infused#ef2 and from such an improbable 
story1 an eminent physician was induced 
to use the milk of a goat which drank   
the same kind of water4  ,antimonial    
wine was formerly ordered1 in the       
,london ,dispensatory1 to be made1 by   
infusing an ounce of powdered glass of  
antimony in two pints of claret2 and is 
commended by ,salmon1 as a strong vomit1
 under the name of vinum rubellum4  ,the
 vinum benedictum is made by infusing an
 ounce of crocus metallorum in a pint   
and an half of ,spanish white wine4 ,a  
third form is1 to digest two ounces of  
regulus of antimony in three pints of   
white wine4 ,this last preparation is   
declared by ,salmon to be an excellent  
medicine in fevers and agues1 and in    
obstructions of the bowels1 emptying    
them of all evil humours4 ,it perfectly 
cures the falling-sickness1 convulsions1
 cramps1 gout1 sciatica and almost all  
other disorders4 ,another tincture of   

antimony is directed by the same author1
 and is said1 on account of its many    
virtues1 to be a gift sent from ,god4   
,it cures the plague and all            
pestilential fevers4 ,a tincture of     
antimony is also directed by ,basil     
,valentine1 eight drops of which are    
said to be a remedy for all diseases4   
,the simple infusion of crocus1 glass1  
or regulus of antimony in wine1 if not  
more efficacious1 is at least less      
dangerous than those preparations which 
are made by more elaborate chymical     
processes1 since the accuracy and       
attention of those who prescribe it1    
will not so readily be defeated by the  
carelessness or ignorance of an         
operative chymist4 ,but though it may be
 given with greater safety than other   
antimonials1 yet the extravagant        
encomiums bestowed upon it are          
contradicted by the testimony of the    
faithful1 attentive and judicious       
,sydenham4 ,that candid physician       
expresses his wishes1 that instead of   

the infusion of crocus of antimony1 we  
had safer vomits sufficiently           
efficacious4 ,when called to infants1   
and observing a vomit indicated1 whereby
 they might have been preserved from    
danger1 he durst not give this infusion 
for fear of bad consequences4 ,he was   
cautious of giving it1 even to grown    
people1 though1 when plentifully        
diluted1 he found no ill effect from it2
 but he positively declares that1 in a  
continued fever1 it is by no means safe 
to give it to children under the age of 
fourteen2 and expects no other benefit  
from it1 than what might be obtained by 
milder emetics#eg4  ,but the obsolete   
opinions of the universal efficacy of   
antimonial wine1 although expressly     
contradicted by the chaster judgement of
 ,sydenham1 were again revived in their 
full force by ,dr4 ,huxham4 ,in the year
 #agcg he recommended the vinum         
benedictum1 in a manner that might      
rather have been expected from the      
mystical chymists1 in times of ignorance

 and superstition1 than from an able and
 experienced physician1 in a liberal and
 enlightened age#eh4 ,as he had obtained
 much influence and authority in his    
profession1 his earnest recommendation  
could not fail widely to extend the use 
of this medicine in regular practice2   
and when further experience induced him 
to speak of it in more moderate terms1  
and physicians to look out for less     
precarious remedies1 a new and          
infallible antimonial medicine1 known by
 the name of the fever-powder1 was      
published1 which brought us again back  
to the abuse of antimonial preparations1
 which had already been often exploded4 
,that which next became fashionable1 as 
having the greatest supposed            
resemblance1 in its operation1 to the   
celebrated fever-powder1 was tartar     
emetic4 ,it is prepared by boiling equal
 quantities of washed crocus of antimony
 and crystals of tartar in water4 ,this1
 as being soluble in liquids1 is said to
 be less precarious in its effects than 

the other solid preparations2 yet the   
strength of it greatly depends upon the 
manner of conducting the process1 for   
some of the tartar1 in the ordinary     
method1 will be apt to shoot by itself1 
retaining little of the crocus4 ,some   
have therefore advised1 as soon as the  
solution is filtered1 to carry the      
evaporation much further than is usually
 done1 if not to the total exhalation of
 the liquor#ei4 ,its effects1 however1  
are uncertain1 six or eight grains      
sometimes proving a mild emetic2 though 
in other cases1 ,i have seen half a     
grain operate so severely as to bring on
 violent convulsions1 and ,newman has   
known three or four grains prove mortal4
  ,fatal consequences have also happened
 from want of attention to the different
 methods of preparing this medicine4 ,a 
,dutch physician1 being accustomed to an
 emetic tartar made with salt of tartar1
 which was given in doses of ten1       
twelve1 or fifteen grains1 prescribed a 
like dose from a ,german shop1 by which 

the patient vomited to death#fj4        
,kermes mineral1 a preparation similar  
to golden sulphur of antimony1 has been 
vended as a quack medicine in ,france   
and ,germany1 under the title of        
,mineral ,centaury1 ,kermes or ,alkermes
 ,mineral1 or ,poudre des ,chartreu1 and
 in ,england by that of ,wilson's       
,panaca1 and ,russel's ,powder4  ,the   
king of ,france was at length persuaded 
by ,m4 ,dodart1 his first physician1 to 
purchase it from ,m4 ,la ,ligerie1 a    
surgeon at ,paris1 and it was made      
publick in the year #agbj3 but1 like all
 other catholicons1 has lost its        
consequence since the secret has been   
divulged1 and the medicine found to be a
 well-known preparation described by    
,glauber1#fa and the elder ,lemery4#fb  
,how long this medicine was used by the 
mystical chymists cannot be known1 since
 they seldom communicated any of their  
processes excepting for a valuable      
consideration1 and under the strictest  
obligation to secresy4 ,but ,cristopher 

,farnner1 who was a humble retainer of  
,glauber's1 on the small stock of       
chymical knowledge which he had gleaned 
from him and from a servant whom he     
seduced to betray his master and        
discover his secrets1 attempted to      
become his rival1 and set the process   
for making the golden sulphur of        
antimony to sale1 at the price of thirty
 rixdollars4 ,glauber1 incensed at his  
treachery1 published his own improved   
method of preparing this medicine1 which
 he calls a ,panacea of common antimony1
 and it has since under different names1
 and with some variation1 been          
transcribed into most of the chymical   
books#fc4  ,according to ,geoffroy1 as  
well as the earlier chymists1 it was    
esteemed an universal medicine4 ,it     
sometimes vomits1 often purges1 and     
generally operates by sweat and urine2  
in a word1 says this celebrated writer1 
it promotes the feveral evacutions1     
according to the different channels by  
which nature may be disposed to throw of

 the vitiated humours4  ,it is          
recommended in the small-pox and        
measles1 in obstinate autumnal          
intermittents1 in spitting of blood1 and
 other pulmonary complaints1 in chronic 
diseases arising from obstructions in   
the bowels1 in dropsies and in the      
bloody-flux4 ,it is made by boiling     
antimony repeatedly in water1 with a    
certain proportion of alcaline salt1 and
 owes its virtues to a portion of       
regulus being rendered soluble in       
water#fd4  ,but this manner of preparing
 it is condemned by ,hoffman2 who       
affirms1 that the reguline or arsenical 
parts are not sufficiently sheathed by  
the sulphureous1 as appears from many   
circumstances which he mentions1 but    
especially from its violent emetic      
quality4 ,he recommends a different     
process1 by which he supposes the       
sulphur to be so blended with the       
reguline1 or arsenical particles as to  
render it a mild and effectual          
diaphoretic4  ,the fate of antimony and 

its preparations has been as various as 
the reports concerning their efficacy   
are contradictory4 ,they have been      
ranked among the wonders of the world1  
and their virtues extolled beyond all   
probability4 ,they have again been      
proscribed as baneful1 and prohibited   
under the severest penalties4  ,those   
who used antimony in ,rome were sent to 
the gallies4 ,it was prohibited in      
,france by an edict of parliament in    
#aeff2 and in #afji a physician was     
expelled the faculty of ,paris for      
prescribing it4 ,the edict was repealed 
in #afej1 and it was again received into
 the number of purgatives2 but this     
having been found inconvenient or       
dangerous1 its general use was          
prohibited by a new edict in #affh1 and 
it was only permitted to be prescribed  
by ,doctors of the faculty4  ,the       
opinions of different authors on this   
subject have not been more various than 
those of the same person at different   
times4 ,in the year #agcg ,dr4 ,huxham  

asserts1 without reserve1 that no       
medicine is more safe or more           
efficacious than ,vinum ,benedictum1    
which1 from a supposition of its        
possessing all the powers of this       
mineral1 he calls essence of            
antimony#fe4 ,but after almost twenty   
years further experience1 he declares1  
whoever would give antimony with safety 
and success1 should be well acquainted  
with its analysis and component         
principles1 and should know what        
different combinations1 preparations1   
and doses1 will effect1 otherwise it may
 prove a poison instead of a remedy#ff4 
,from what has already been advanced1 it
 will not be difficult to account for   
these contradictory reports4 ,different 
specimens of antimony when dug out of   
the mines are not made up of the same   
component parts2 and it is so changed by
 fusion1 that different pieces of the   
same lump are not of equal virtue#fg4   
,there are few antimonial preparations  
which may not be made by various        

processes1 none of which can be         
conducted with such accuracy as         
uniformly to produce a medicine of      
invariable strength1 and their operation
 is rendered yet more precarious by     
their combination with a variety of     
humours1 food1 drink and medicines in   
the stomach4  ,but since no judgment can
 be formed from the opposite and        
contradictory opinions of others1 it may
 now be proper to mention the result of 
my own experience and observation4 ,in  
one instance1 ,i have seen a dangerous  
pleuritic fever1 of seven days standing1
 accompanied with an incessant cough1 a 
hard1 full1 quick pulse1 laborious      
breathing1 and violent pain in the      
breast1 perfectly cured in a few hours  
by the use of antimonial wine#fh4  ,a   
dropsy of two years standing1 occasioned
 by a tedious remitting fever1 and      
accompanied with an obstruction in the  
liver1 which had withstood the diligent 
application of a variety of medicines1  
under the direction of several skilful  

practitioners1 was cured in a few days  
by a medicine which owed its efficacy to
 tartar emetic#fi4  ,an obstinate       
dysentery1 which had long resisted many 
other methods of cure1 was perfectly    
removed by two doses of the vitrum      
antimonii ceratum4  ,encouraged by these
 signal instances of the efficacy of    
antimonial medicines1 and by the        
universal prejudice in their favour1 ,i 
have used them in many thousand cases1  
but never1 even in slighter diseases    
with the same success4 ,when given with 
much attention and caution1 they have   
generally failed where milder medicines 
have proved effectual1 and in some      
instances they have been prejudicial4   
,in a recent dropsy and visceral        
obstructions occasioned by a remitting  
fever1 tartar emetic was prescribed not 
only without success1 but with an       
apparent aggravation of the symptoms1   
which were afterwards perfectly removed 
by the use of ,peruvian bark1 snake-root
 and rhubarb#gj4  ,i have been desired  

to visit children and some grown persons
 in fevers1 attended with convulsions1  
which were1 with good reason1 attributed
 to the misapplication of antimonials1  
and in one case an imprudent use of them
 was judged to be the cause of death4   
,though it is asserted that antimonial  
preparations may be so directed as to   
vomit1 purge1 or sweat according to the 
intention of the prescriber1 yet those  
who have had much experience will not   
obstinately defend the assertion1 since 
nothing perhaps is more difficult than  
to foretel their effects when           
administered alone4 ,if they are        
combined with other medicines their     
operation may be more certainly         
directed1 since by opium they may be    
determined to the skin1 by senna or     
manna they may be carried off by the    
intestines1 and by an addition of       
ipecacuan or oxymel of squills they may 
be rendered emetic4  ,but much prudence 
and skill are requisite in conducting   
the operation of these compound         

medicines4 ,for tho' no danger were to  
be apprehended from joining antimonials 
with emetics or purgatives1 yet1 by     
unskilful combinations1 the peculiar    
efficacy of antimony may be destroyed2  
and by opiates those virulent particles 
may be retained1 and prove noxious1     
which would have been carried off1      
without any other inconvenience than    
what might arise from the violence of   
their operation4  ,upon the whole1 the  
evidence in favour of antimony and its  
preparations is too slight to justify   
the exaggerated encomiums with which it 
has been extolled3 it contains in its   
crude state1 and in all its             
preparations1 such virulent particles as
 may1 by slight accidents1 become       
poisonous in the stomach3 well-attested 
instances of remarkable cures performed 
by it are few2 cases in which it has    
failed or been prejudicial1 numerous2   
the reports of chymists and physicians  
concerning it are various and           
contradictory2 its effects are          

precarious1 and more skill1 experience  
and attention requisite to conduct its  
operation than are to be expected among 
the generality1 even of regular         
practitioners#ga4 ,it is therefore very 
improper for common use2 and as there is
 no certain rule to direct the          
management of it1 every physician must  
form his judgment by comparing his own  
observations with the opposite and      
contradictory assertions of others4  ,it
 would be imprudent to reprobate a      
medicine which1 in some instances1 has  
certainly performed such cures as are   
seldom obtained by milder methods4 ,no  
bounds are to be fixed to discreet and  
experienced practitioners1 who1 on      
mature deliberation1 may determine the  
propriety of hazarding1 in particular   
circumstances1 a violent and precarious 
remedy1 and can conduct its operation   
with skill and sagacity4 ,yet the       
present indiscriminate use of antimony1 
which is now grown up into a fashion too
 formidable to be attacked with much    

hope of success1 must1 after a candid   
and impartial examination1 be condemned 
as pernicious4     ,,section ,v4  ,of   
the ,secret ,antimonial ,medicines1 and 
particularly of the fever-powder4   ,if 
the difficulty of conducting the        
operation of antimony1 renders the      
general application of it1 in regular   
practice1 dangerous1 it must1 as a      
secret remedy1 in the hands of those who
 have no medicinal skill1 be still more 
pernicious4 ,but as some secrets1 now1  
universally extolled1 are avowed1 by    
their proprietors1 to be preparations of
 antimony1 let us next proceed to       
examine their claim to the high         
character which they have obtained4 ,for
 this purpose the fever-powder may be   
selected1 since if the impropriety and  
danger of its general use should be     
demonstrated1 the arguments in favour of
 less celebrated secrets will not       
require a serious refutation4           
,unpleasing as the task may be1 and     
however odious1 to some1 it may render  

the man who undertakes it1 yet the great
 importance of life and health requires1
 that the precepts of the most          
illustrious physicians should not pass  
without examination1 nor secret and     
mysterious remedies be adopted with     
implicit faith4  ,the devout solemnity  
with which the fever-powder is ushered  
into the world1 the exorcisms against   
detractors and malicious persecutors1   
and the invocation of ,god to support   
his own work1 being in the usual stile  
of the mystical chymists1 require no    
comment4 ,as there may be some1 says the
 ,inventor1 whose lucrative views may   
tempt them to persecute me1 and the     
method ,i propose1 with all the         
detraction and falsehood which may be   
expected from self-interest and         
unprovoked revenge1 these ,i shall      
advise to save themselves a good deal of
 unnecessary trouble1 and to let it     
alone2 for if it be of men it will come 
to nought1 but if it be of ,god ye      
cannot overthrow it#gb4 ,when magical   

chymistry and superstition reigned over 
the dark ages of ignorance1 this charm  
would have secured it from all enquiry4 
,but as the sober light of religion and 
philosophy hath now illuminated the     
world1 and displayed the absurdity of   
that servile bondage which obstructed   
all improvement1 we may1 notwithstanding
 this solemn prohibition1 with candor   
and modesty1 proceed to examine the real
 merit of this boasted arcanum4  ,the   
process for making it has been carefully
 concealed1 while its being an          
antimonial preparation1 hath1 with      
industry and ostentation1 been          
universally published4 ,from the view   
which has already been given of the     
natural history of antimony1 its        
analysis and chymical properties1 its   
preparations and their medical effects1 
it has1 ,i think1 been clearly proved1  
that however efficacious it may have    
been in particular circumstances1 and   
under judicious management1 yet there is
 not1 in unskilful hands1 a medicine    

more dangerous and destructive4  ,by a  
judicious regulation of the doses of    
different preparations of antimony1 by  
guarding against the pernicious effects 
which might arise from the virulent     
particles which it contains1 by         
directing such food1 drink1 and         
medicines as may promote its salutary   
operation1 and prohibiting those by     
which it might be rendered noxious2     
skilful and experienced physicians have 
been able1 in singular instances1 to    
render it a safe and efficacious remedy3
 but when it has been accidentally or   
imprudently given in too large doses#gc1
 or joined with such food or medicines  
as excite its poisonous qualities#gd1 it
 has not only proved too violent in its 
operations1 but has been productive of  
fatal consequences4  ,had1 therefore1   
the ,inventor discovered a method of    
divesting this ,proteus-like mineral of 
all pernicious qualities1 and rendering 
it a medicine invariably safe and       
efficacious1 however combined with other

 remedies1 or mixed with a variety of   
humours1 food1 and drink in the stomach1
 his powder would have been more proper 
for common use1 and might have been     
trusted1 in unskilful hands1 with less  
danger1 than other antimonial           
preparations4 ,but it does not in this  
respect lay any claim to superiority4   
,supposing1 says the ,inventor1         
physicians perfectly well skilled in the
 preparation and uses of it1 that       
knowledge will inform them1 that nothing
 can be added to it that will in any    
degree increase its virtues2 or rather  
that no addition can be made to it that 
will not diminish them#ge4  ,by this    
frank declaration we understand that the
 fever-powder retains the mutability of 
antimony1 and is1 from slight accidents1
 changed from a salutary medicine to a  
noxious substance2 and hence proceeds   
the ,inventor's anxiety to prevent      
improper combinations4 ,but the dread of
 dangerous consequences1 or some other  
cause1 has led him unwarily and         

inconsistently to depreciate his powder1
 and reduce it below all other          
antimonial preparations2 for though by  
certain additions the virtues of        
antimony may be diminished1 yet by      
others they may be improved2 and this1  
it is probable1 from the known          
properties of that mineral1 will also   
hold with the fever-powder1 although the
 contrary is here expressly asserted4   
,but1 lest the assertion should give    
unfavourable impressions1 it is         
immediately retracted2 and we are told  
that1 occasion may sometimes occur of   
employing1 advantageously1 a regimen1 or
 even medicine1 when judgment directs   
and integrity presides#gf4 and again3   
,it sometimes happens1 when little or no
 putrid bile is contained in the        
stomach1 bowels1 c4 c4 that the powder1 
though given in the largest doses1 will 
have no sensible operation of any kind  
whatever4 ,in these cases half1 or a    
whole paper should be repeated every    
four or six hours4 ,but on those        

occasions1 it will be proper to procure 
two stools in twenty four hours1 either 
by a clyster1 which is the most easy    
way1 or by giving1 with every dose of   
the powder1 from five to ten grains of  
rhubarb#gg4 ,but in some constitutions  
where a putrid bile has very much       
abounded1 and for this reason the       
stimulus of the medicine1 added to that 
of the bile1 has been apt to operate    
more than was sufficient1 it has been   
necessary to reduce the dose so low as  
two or three grains#gh3 and thus1 after 
a series of contradictions1 the         
fever-powder1 as might have been        
expected1 is declared to require the    
addition of other medicines1 and to be  
as uncertain in its operation as other  
antimonials4  ,these contradictions are 
suspicious1 but if the efficacy of the  
medicine is confirmed by authentic      
facts1 the ,inventor may still be       
intitled to our confidence2 and for this
 purpose some cases are related in which
 it was successfully used3 the first is 

that of ,mrs4 ,morton1 on which it is   
remarked1 that many gentlewomen were    
present during her whole disorder1 saw  
her take the medicine1 observed the     
effects1 and are ready to give their    
testimony to the truth of what has been 
asserted4 ,from what has been advanced  
on this subject1 it clearly appears1    
that the operation of antimony is       
precarious1 and its effects uncertain4  
,not only the most skilful physicians   
have given various and contradictory    
opinions concerning it1 but the judgment
 of the same person has varied at       
different times#gi3 it is not therefore 
to be expected1 that a fact1 which has  
not yet been agreed upon by the most    
intelligent and attentive practitioners1
 should be ascertained by these         
charitable gentlewomen1 who1 however    
sincere and humane their intentions     
might be1 cannot be supposed to have any
 pretensions to that critical and       
discriminating skill which is necessary 
to determine a question so intricate4   

,the ,inventor therefore1 in offering to
 the publick a proof so incompetent1    
must have relied on that credulity      
which1 though generally abused1 is still
 continued4  ,but though the cases had  
been attested by competent judges1 yet  
the inferences in favour of the powder  
are not warranted by the circumstances  
related4 ,thus ,mr4 ,french of ,st4     
,albans street1 late ,surgeon of his    
,majesty's ship the ,levant1 8having    
given tartar emetic and other medicines 
unsuccessfully1 prescribed the powder on
 the fourth day of the fever3 it was    
continued on the fifth1 and on the      
evening of that day1 the fever being    
entirely removed1 on account of the     
lowness and weakness of the patient1 a  
drachm of bark was given every hour in a
 glass of ,madeira#hj40 ,the            
misrepresentation1 in this case1 is     
evident1 since the cure must be         
attributed1 by candid and intelligent   
judges1 not to the powder1 but to the   
bark and ,madeira2 and the slovenliness 

of the deception is an insult to the    
credulity of the publick1 as this is    
perhaps the only instance in which it   
has been pretended1 on account of       
lowness and weakness1 to give every hour
 a drachm of bark in a glass of         
,madeira4  ,these are not the only      
circumstances in which the evidence is  
deceitful2 successful cases are         
industriously published1 while those    
ending fatally are carefully concealed4 
,the medicine is frequently given in    
slight disorders which could not1 even  
by improper management1 be rendered     
dangerous1 and when the sick recover1   
its praise is loudly proclaimed4  ,those
 who use it often become insensibly     
interested in advancing its reputation1 
and are not only incompetent judges1 but
 partial in their testimony4 ,thus some 
who1 with horror and remorse have       
applied for assistance1 accusing        
themselves of murder1 and vowing1 for   
ever1 to renounce quackery1 have        
afterwards triumphed and assumed the    

credit of cures of which they had       
absolutely despaired1 though the sick   
were1 by other means1 rescued from the  
danger incurred by the severe operation 
of this violent remedy2 while others1   
shocked by the fatal consequences of    
their facility and misplaced confidence1
 wish to banish it for ever from their  
remembrance4 ,the cases must therefore  
be dismissed as insufficient to justify 
the claim of infallibility to this      
antimonial preparation4  ,a proof of its
 salutary influence is attempted to be  
drawn from the bills of mortality4      
,fewer having1 on an average1 died in   
the space of thirteen years1 from the   
year one thousand seven hundred and     
fifty1 to the year one thousand seven   
hundred and sixty-three1 than in the    
preceding thirteen years2 this decrease 
in the funerals amounting to sixty-two  
thousand1 two-hundred and sixty-six1 is 
attributed to the fever-powder#ha4  ,it 
might with some plausibility be         
objected1 that the bills of mortality   

being collected from the reports of     
incompetent judges1 cannot be admitted  
as proper evidence of the fact2 but as  
no extraordinary skill seems necessary  
for the employment1 and as the bills    
cannot be supposed to be made up with   
any partial intention1 this argument    
must be admitted2 and if the deaths1 by 
fevers1 shall be found to have          
decreased1 in so great proportion1 since
 the powder has been in general use1 its
 reputation will be established by the  
most desirable evidence4  ,in collecting
 this proof1 the whole circle of        
disorders1 accidents and casualties has 
been calculated1 though the powder was  
then only recommended for fevers4 ,it   
has1 indeed1 been since extended to     
other diseases1 but our examination     
shall be restricted to fevers1 during   
the period to which the ,inventor       
refers4  ,though some of the cases which
 he relates happened in the year one    
thousand seven hundred and forty-one1   
yet the medicine was not much known till

 one thousand seven hundred and fifty1  
the ra from which its auspicious        
influence on the bills of mortality is  
dated4 ,but antimonial medicines were   
more in fashion before the powder came  
into general use1 than at any future    
time4 ,dr4 ,huxham having1 in the year  
one thousand seven hundred and          
thirty-seven1 recommended1 in the       
highest strain of panegyric1 the vinum  
benedictum1 it was universally adopted1 
though expressly condemned by the       
,inventor of the fever-powder4 ,great   
numbers1 says he1 of those whose        
employment it is to attend the sick1    
cunningly exhibited to their patients   
something1 which they asserted was like 
the fever-powder1 and would do as well4 
,i leave it to the relations of those   
who took the something1 to judge the    
consequence1 for ,i suppose few or none 
of them who were thus treated           
survive#hb4  ,the something1 it is well 
known1 was essence of antimony or tartar
 emetic1 medicines under the direction  

of prudent practitioners1 similar in    
their operation and in their effects1   
not only to each other1 but also to the 
fever-powder2 and though the ,inventor  
has perhaps too much indulged his       
indignation against his competitors in  
the antimonial trade1 yet his general   
position1 concerning the fatal          
consequences of the universal           
administration of antimonial medicines1 
is well supported by the evidence to    
which he has appealed1 the bills of     
mortality having greatly increased      
during the prevalence of that practice4 
,the numbers of those who died of fevers
 from the year one thousand seven       
hundred and thirty-eight1 to one        
thousand seven hundred and fifty1       
including a series of thirteen years1 is
 fifty-five thousand four hundred and   
ninety1 and those in a like series of   
years1 immediately succeeding1 is       
thirty-six thousand three hundred and   
seventy-two2 consequently nineteen      
thousand one hundred and eighteen fewer 

have died in the latter than in the     
former period1 and this has1 with some  
appearance of justice1 been urged as a  
proof of the efficacy of the            
fever-powder4  ,but if this decrease in 
the funerals were actually owing to that
 medicine1 it should have been still    
more observable in the last ten years1  
when the powder has been more           
universally used4 ,but1 in that period1 
thirty-five thousand four hundred and   
ninety-four have died1 and consequently1
 the number of deaths1 by fevers1 have  
increased eight thousand seven hundred  
and eighty2 and if inflammation1 rash1  
and sore-throat1 which were included in 
the former calculations1 are added1 the 
number will amount1 nearly1 to ten      
thousand1 and therefore1 on an average1 
one thousand1 or near one-third more    
have died1 of fevers1 every year1 in the
 last ten years1 while the medicine has 
been universally used1 than in the      
thirteen immediately preceding4 ,the    
proof1 therefore1 from the bills of     

mortality is fatal to the fame of the   
fever-powder1 and the decrease in the   
funerals during the thirteen years to   
which the ,inventor appeals for the     
success of his antimonial powder1 must  
be attributed to the desertion of the   
antimonial practice1 and not to its     
prevalence4  ,but an appeal to the      
sum-total of the funerals1 to prove the 
efficacy of the fever-powder1 is unfair 
and inconclusive1 since a great number  
of deaths happen from disorders1        
accidents and casualties with which it  
cannot possibly have any connection4    
,that it might have a fair trial1 our   
calculation has been restricted to      
fevers2 and if the other diseases1 in   
which it is recommended1 had been       
included1 the evidence would have been  
still more unfavourable4  ,another      
argument in favour of the powder is1 if 
it had not been attended with general   
success1 it could not1 amidst the       
opposition of ,physicians1 have grown   
into reputation4 ,but transitions1 from 

the highest approbation of antimony1 to 
the absolute condemnation of it1 have   
been so frequent1 and are so familiar to
 those acquainted with its history1 that
 no conclusion can be drawn from its    
casual reputation1 or transitory        
condemnation2 and since1 in the course  
of our enquiry1 no advantage has been   
taken of the penal laws enacted against 
its use1 nor of the public edicts by    
which it has been prohibited1 neither   
can any concession be made on account of
 the transient applause1 artfully1      
obtained to some of its preparations4   
,as to the opposition of physicians1 the
 ,inventor1 indeed1 that the prophecy   
with which he set out might be          
fulfilled#hc1 complains1 that all laws  
human and divine1 have been trampled    
upon in opposing him2 that he has been  
persecuted with malice1 rancour1        
virulence1 detraction and unprovoked    
revenge1 and that his enemies have not  
only sacrificed candour1 honour1 truth  
and reputation1 but even the lives      

committed to their care1 in order to    
discredit his boasted arcanum#hd4  ,were
 we not witnesses of his triumph1 we    
should naturally conclude that he had   
suffered as a martyr in the cause of    
truth and humanity4 ,yet we find1 in his
 ,dissertation1 many cases in which the 
powder was given under the sanction of  
eminent physicians1 and these1 too1     
produced by the author1 in proof of its 
efficacy2 though by his own account of  
the medicine1 it is of all others the   
most improper to be used without an     
accurate knowledge of its composition1  
and cannot therefore be prescribed by   
physicians on any justifiable           
principles2 although they may1 from     
facility or complaisance1 yield to the  
importunity and prejudice of the sick or
 their relations1 and assent1 even      
against their better judgement1 to its  
administration4  ,when the fever-powder 
is given1 says the ,inventor1 no other  
medicine should be taken either with it1
 or during the course of it4 ,for want  

of this caution many have perished4 ,for
 it may be depended upon1 that in the   
state of credit in which it has at      
present the honour of standing amongst  
many of the medicinal worthies1 nothing 
is meant by any addition1 but to        
counteract or discredit the powder at   
the expence of the patient's life4 ,it  
is usual for them to say1 that they are 
acquainted with the preparation of the  
medicine1 or that they cannot use a     
medicine that they do not know1 just as 
either favours the present intention and
 purpose4 ,now let us suppose they do   
not know it1 which is very true2 by what
 conjuration1 magic1 or inspiration are 
they taught a method of improving1 by   
adding something to a medicine1 of which
 they are so totally ignorant1 that they
 choose to suffer their friends to      
perish rather than employ it#he4  ,it   
may be left to the ,author to explain   
how those physicians1 who do not use the
 powder1 kill their friends1 by adding  
something to counteract or discredit it1

 while from his own declaration1 we may 
fairly conclude that those who do use   
it1 must1 in his opinion1 be destitute  
either of judgment or integrity4 ,for   
supposing them1 says he1 perfectly well 
skilled in the preparation and uses of  
it1 their behaviour is1 for this very   
reason1 abundantly more infamous4 ,for  
the same knowledge would inform them1   
that no addition can be made to it that 
will not diminish its virtues#hf4  ,but 
so far is this heinous charge of        
committing murder to discredit the      
powder from being supported by any      
shadow of proof1 that physicians1 on the
 contrary1 have been complaisant to     
excess1 or culpably indolent1 in        
suffering the many misrepresentations   
concerning this medicine to pass        
uncensured and unexposed2 and those who1
 from the most laudable principles1 have
 refused to adopt it1 are wanting to    
themselves1 to their profession1 and to 
the public1 in neglecting to explain the
 honourable principles on which they    

have acted2 while others from different 
motives1 which they can best justify to 
themselves1 have acquired fame and      
fortune by a studied compliance with the
 popular prejudices in favour of this   
fashionable remedy4  ,in the course of  
more than twenty years practice1 though 
,i have never prescribed this medicine1 
yet1 ,i have not1 after fairly declaring
 my opinion1 opposed its being given1   
when desired by the sick or their       
relations2 and as the cure1 where ,i    
have been concerned1 has been wholly    
committed to it1 without the addition of
 any medicine1 or even regimen1         
excepting what is prescribed in the     
printed directions1 or what the         
,inventor himself has ordered1 some fair
 opportunities have occurred of         
observing its effects1 to which1 and to 
every other information that could be   
obtained1 with a mind open to           
conviction1 ,i have carefully attended4 
,but in this1 as in all our former      
researches1 the evidence has been       

unfavourable to the fame of the powder4 
,in some instances it has occasioned    
fainting1 convulsions1 and other violent
 symptoms1 which terrified those who    
gave it4 ,in all which ,i have seen1 it 
has proved unsuccessful1 though1 in some
 cases the cure has afterwards been     
accomplished by safer methods2 and in   
those where it was too late to use other
 remedies1 the sick have died1 although 
it was probable they might have         
recovered by a different management1    
which has succeeded in similar          
instances1 but from an abused and       
misplaced confidence1 has too often been
 set aside to make way for this         
favourite medicine4  ,an argument still 
remains in favour of the powder drawn   
from the credit due to its ,inventor4   
,if that is impeached by what has       
already been advanced1 it is only by the
 force of the evidence1 since all       
personal application has been avoided4  
,but as the reputation of the medicine  
is chiefly supported by an implicit     

confidence in the ,inventor1 it is      
necessary1 however unpleasing1 that this
 should also be considered4  ,when our  
assent is demanded1 on the credibility  
of the relator1 to any fact which we are
 not permitted to examine1 we can only  
judge of its probability from his known 
accuracy and ability4 ,several specimens
 of these have occurred in the course of
 our enquiry4 ,quotations have been     
misrepresented#hg4 ,authorities         
misapplied#hh4 ,evidence produced which 
establishes facts1 directly opposite to 
those in support of which it is         
perverted#hi4 ,palpable contradictions  
have been pointed out#ij2 and an air of 
mystery and devotion detected1 the      
tendency of which1 when joined to a     
train of suspicious circumstances1      
cannot be mistaken#ia4  ,but the        
inaccuracy betrayed in the directions   
given with the powder1 is sufficient to 
put us on our guard4 ,the best general  
and plain direction1 we are told1 is to 
repeat half a paper1 or ten grains and a

 half of the powder once in six         
hours#ib1 but in ,south ,america they   
seldom give less than twenty1 which the 
,inventor thinks right#ic1 yet when it  
fell under the direction of the         
navy-surgeons1 the general rule which   
was avowedly intended1 and is still     
continued1 for the common people1 was   
found to be fraught with danger1 and the
 ,inventor admits that it has been      
necessary to reduce the dose so low as  
two or three grains#id1 thereby         
acknowledging the best plain general    
direction1 to be a very improper one for
 the common people1 since no good reason
 can be assigned1 why ten or twenty-one 
grains should be given by those who have
 no medical skill1 though it is judged  
necessary to warn others1 who may be    
supposed capable of conducting its      
operation1 and detecting and            
counteracting its pernicious effects1 of
 the necessity of reducing it1 in some  
cases1 to two or three grains4 ,the only
 solution of this parodox1 is1 there is 

one faith for the learned1 and another  
for the unlearned4  ,but not to insist  
on the contradictions abounding in this 
dissertation1 one more only shall be    
mentioned4 ,no addition1 it has been    
said1 can be made to this medicine1 by  
which its virtues will not be           
diminished1 and that assertion has again
 been retracted2 but as one affirmation 
is as good as another1 that there may be
 no doubt which is to be credited1 the  
,inventor being extremely cautious of   
leading any one into error in an affair 
of so much importance as is that of     
life1 thinks it imprudent to neglect    
repeated bleeding1 purges1 clysters1 and
 all other assistances which the art of 
medicine can afford#ie1 and is obliged  
to own1 that1 as he esteemed life too   
sacred to be hazarded for the sake of an
 experiment1 he had never neglected to  
call in all other medical aids to his   
assistance when he thought the case     
required them1 and believed they would  
of service#if4 ,but though he is        

extremely cautious1 and though life is  
too sacred to be hazarded1 yet the      
experiment of using the powder without  
any addition or aid1 is still to be     
tried throughout the whole ,british     
dominions1 and in other parts of the    
world1 where our commerce has conveyed  
it#ig1 excepting by the ,inventor and   
the ,navy ,surgeons1 who being persons  
versed in practice will readily         
distinguish when the rules laid down are
 punctually to be followed and when     
not#ih4  ,the real motives assigned for 
these contradictions and this mysterious
 conduct1 waving whatever artifices     
might be employed by way of palliation  
or disguise1 are represented without    
reserve1 and with that sincerity which  
will stand the strictest scrutiny4 ,the 
,inventor was very cautious of divulging
 a medicine of such vast importance1    
because if it failed of success1 it     
would subject him to infinite reproach4 
,he was so ignorant as to expect        
assistance and applause from every one  

concerned in any branch of physic1 not  
considering that a miliary or nervous   
fever of twenty days continuance1 was   
attended with greater emoluments than   
one that terminated in two or three4    
,but he had soon an opportunity of      
discovering his error1 for some became  
his avowed enemies1 without the least   
pretence to any provocation2 whilst     
others1 with the countenance of         
friendship1 pointed a dagger to his     
breast#ii1 and therefore1 after a       
contest between simplicity and caution1 
ignorance and shrewdness1 the           
unsuspecting ,inventor thought it time  
prudently to consult his own interest1  
and the advancement of his private      
fortune1 by securing to himself the     
exclusive privilege1 and putting it out 
of the power of others to disguise1     
misrepresent1 deny1 or forge facts#ajj4 
,thus1 from the parade1 ostentation1 and
 mysterious secrecy1 with which this    
medicine has been published1 from its   
resemblance to the ,berlin specific     

febrifuge1 from its being prepared from 
an arsenical mineral1 and easily        
converted into a noxious substance2 from
 the difficulty of ascertaining the     
dose1 and conducting its operation1 and 
from the necessity of calling in other  
medical aids to its assistance2 from the
 incompetency of the generality of the  
witnesses in its favour2 from the unfair
 conclusions drawn from their testimony2
 from the dangerous symptoms and fatal  
consequences1 which have followed its   
administration2 from the inaccuracy and 
inconsistency of its ,inventor2 and from
 the increase of the bills of mortality 
during its general use1 it appears1 not 
only1 that no proof of its salutary     
efficacy has been produced1 but that    
many circumstances and facts1 which have
 been perverted to that purpose1 concur 
to demonstrate its general and          
indiscriminate application to be highly 
dangerous to mankind1 to whom1 to borrow
 the language of the ,inventor1 it is   
not material1 whether they lose their   

lives by ignorance1 mistake1 or design4 
,,footnotes   #a ,prelati enim1 et      
fratres1 me jejuniis macerantes tuto    
custodiebant1 nec aliquem ad me venire  
voluerant1 veriti ne scripta mea1 aliis 
quam summo pontifici et sibi ipsis      
pervenirent4 ,epistola ,rogeri ,bacon ad
 ,clement4 ,,iv4  #b ,triumphal ,chariot
 of ,antimony4  #c ,id4 p4 #c1 and p4   
#aah4  #d ,paracelsus4  #e ,triumphal   
,chariot of ,antimony1 p4 #ic4  #f      
,poppius's ,basilica ,antimonii1        
,newman's ,chemistry1 c4 c4  #g ,new    
,dispensatory1 p4 #ba4  #h ,dr4 ,james  
describes cobalt1 from which the most   
virulent kind of arsenic is extracted1 a
 ponderous1 hard1 fossil substance1     
almost black1 not unlike antimony4      
,universal ,english ,dispensatory1 p4   
#bhh4  #i ,triumphal ,chariot of        
,antimony1 p4 #cg4  #aj ,see ,schroder's
 ,pharmacopia1 ,poppius's ,basilica     
,antimonii4  #aa ,philosophical         
,furnaces1 book i4 and ii4 and ,mineral 
,work1 part first4  #ab ,ninth chapter  

of the first book of ,surgery4  #ac     
,triumphal ,chariot of ,antimony1 p4    
#ahg4  #ad ,triumphal ,chariot of       
,antimony1 p4 #ahh and #ahi4  #ae       
,triumphal ,chariot of ,antimony1 p4    
#fd4  #af ,ibid4 p4 #di4  #ag ,lemery   
,cours de ,chymie1 p4 #bhc4 ,geoffrey's 
,treatise of the ,materia ,medica1 tom4 
i4 p4 #da4 ,poppius ,basil4 cap4 #h4 p4 
#baf1 ,newman's ,chymistry1 ,new        
,dispensatory1 c4  #ah ,geoffroy        
,memoires de l',academie des ,sciences  
#agce4  #ai ,dr4 ,james's ,dispensatory1
 page #bhb4  #bj ,new ,dispensatory1    
page #bcf4  #ba ,cronstedt's ,essay     
toward a ,system of ,mineralogy1        
translated by ,da ,costa1 ,sect4 #ace4  
p4 #bbc4 ,london #aggb4  #bb ,see p4    
#ad4 ,cronstedt's ,essay1 sect4 #bcf1   
and the ,new ,dispensatory4  #bc        
,newman's ,chymistry1 ,new              
,dispensatory1 c4  #bd ,cronstedt's     
,essay toward a ,system of ,mineralogy1 
p4 #bbc1 #bbd4 ,stahl on the ,arsenical 
,substance of ,antimony4 ,hoffman of the

 wonderful1 virulent and medical powers 
of ,antimony1 and the easy transition   
from one to the other4  #be ,id4 ,ibid4 
#bf ,stahl's ,chymico-,physico-,medical 
,works1 page #dhh-eia4 ,on the          
arsenenical substance of antimony4  #bg 
,new ,dispensatory1 page #cdc4  #bh ,new
 ,dispensatory1 p4 #he and #hf4  #bi    
,basilica ,antimonii1 in the ,appendix  
to ,hartman's ,chymistry1 p4 #hif4  #cj 
,see the fifth part of the              
,philosophical ,furnaces4  #ca ,vol4 ,i4
 ,of the ,theory of ,chymistry1 p4 #ca1 
of sulphureous semi-metals4  #cb        
,chymical ,dictionary on the ,ores of   
,antimony4  #cc ,cronstedt's ,essay     
toward a ,system of ,mineralogy1        
translated by ,da ,costa4 ,london1      
#aggb4  #cd ,compare ,glauber's account 
of the effect of orpiment cups1 in page 
#ca1 with that of essence of antimony in
 the fourth section4  #ce ,mais         
quelquefois il se 7antimoine7 rencontre 
avec des sels acides qui l'ouvrent1     
7dans l'estomach1 et dans les           

intestines7 luy donnent une nouvelle    
fermentation1 et lui sont produire des  
super-purgations incommodes4 ,trate de  
l'antimoine1 par ,m4 ,nicholas ,lemery1 
p4 #g4  #cf ,dr4 ,james's1 in his       
,dispensatory1 page #bhe4  #cg          
,observationes ,physico-,chymic1 p4     
#bcc4  #ch ,we are told by ,newman1 that
 the utmost caution is necessary to     
avoid the fumes of arsenic1 and that it 
is on account of the danger arising from
 them that this mineral has been so     
little examined by the chymists2 but    
according to ,dr4 ,percival's late      
observations1 they seem to have been    
mistaken4 ,i have1 says he1 some doubt1 
whether the vapours of arsenic be so    
poisonous as is commonly supposed1 and  
if the candid reader will excuse the    
digression1 ,i will lay before him my   
reasons for it4 ,to solder works of     
silver filligree1 and other delicate    
manufactures of that kind1 a composition
 is used of which arsenic is the        
principal ingredient4 ,the solder is    

melted by the flame of a lamp1 directed 
by a blow-pipe2 and this operation      
cannot be performed with due accuracy1  
but in a close room4 ,the greatest part 
of the arsenic is evaporated by the     
blast and flames1 and some part also of 
the rest of the solder4 ,the workmen    
must constantly breath these vapors1    
because there is little or no current of
 air to carry them into the chimney4    
,yet the men appear to enjoy as good    
health1 and to live as long as other    
artists who pursue their business in    
close rooms1 and use lamps4 ,amongst    
other examples of the truth of this     
observation1 ,i saw one lately at the   
manufactory at ,soho1 near ,birmingham3 
a man1 aged upwards of fifty years1 who 
has soldered silver filigree more than  
five and thirty years1 and has regularly
 passed from eight to twelve hours daily
 in his occupation1 and is at present   
fat1 strong1 active1 chearful1 and of a 
complexion by no means sickly4 ,neither 
he1 nor his brother artists1 use any    

means to counteract the effects of their
 trade4 ,dr4 ,percival's ,observations  
and ,experiments on the ,poison of      
,lead1 p4 #ge1 #gf1 and #gg1 ,london1   
#aggd4  #ci ,the word reguline signifies
 royal1 and has been applied by chymists
 to the harder or more fixed parts of   
minerals or metals4 ,hoffman uses       
reguline and arsenical indifferently    
when applied to antimony2 and           
,carthusier asserts that the intimate   
union of the reguline part with the     
arsenical principle of antimony1 is the 
cause of its being caustic1 drastic1    
emetic1 and virulent4  ,la parte        
reguline est etroitement unie au        
principe arsenical1 qu'elle est par     
elle-meme caustique drastique1 emetique1
 et virulente4 ,matiere ,medicalle1 tom4
 ii4 sect4 xv4 chap4 v4 ,de l'antimoine 
crud4 ,a ,paris1 #agfe4  #dj            
,observationes ,physico-,chymic1 p4 #bea
  #beb4  #da ,newman1 p4 #adf4  #db     
,opuscula ,chymico-,physico-,medica1 p4 
#dcd-dda4  #dc ,in a treatise on the    

medical virtues of poisons1 published in
 #agjb4  #dd ,in an inaugural speech    
printed in #agjj4 ,this and the last    
quoted author ,i have not seen4  #de    
,observations1 on fevers1 p4 #db1 and   
#bjd1 published at ,hanover in #agde4   
#df ,cours de ,chemie1 p4 #cgd4  #dg    
,this matter is explained in a letter   
from ,doctor ,de ,haen1 of ,vienna1 to a
 physician in ,england4 ,i have1 says   
this celebrated physician1 made many    
experiments with hemlock1 in consequence
 of an order from high authority3 the   
result was1 that not one of one hundred 
and twenty patients was cured or        
relieved by it2 many grew worse1 and    
seven unhappy women1 with cancers in    
their breasts1 perished in my hands1    
some of whom might have been saved by   
the knife4 ,how did ,i intreat those to 
whom it belonged to use more precaution1
 or at least to suspend publishing in   
praise of poisons1 till repeated trials 
had been made by several hands1 lest the
 public faith should be abused1 and the 

author rendered ridiculous in the face  
of the universe4 ,but my remonstrances  
were fruitless1 and1 to my great        
concern1 my best friend abruptly fell   
out with me1 and ,i have incurred the   
disgrace of the best of sovereigns4     
,since ,i have spoke my sentiments      
freely1 ,i am looked upon as the chief  
of heretics1 as an enemy of the public  
and of the author's reputation2 and for 
this reason ,i have been unhappily      
disgraced1 and defamatory libels1 of the
 most virulent kind1 have been printed  
against me4 ,i expect yet more terrible 
storms2 however1 ,i adore that          
,providence which directs all for his   
glory and my good1 from whom ,i should  
deserve a disgrace infinitely more      
fearful than that which ,i now suffer1  
if for the sake of transitory glory1    
perishable treasures1 or tranquillity of
 life1 that may be taken from me in this
 world1 ,i should become a confederate  
with those who have thus infamously     
abused the publick confidence1 to the   

disgrace of physick4 ,see ,medical      
,museum1 vol4 ,,iii4 ,london1 #agfd4    
#dh ,cronstedt1 ,hoffman1 ,stahl1 c4 c4 
#di ,see ,hoffman's ,physico-,chymical  
,observations4 ,of the wonderful1       
virulent and medical powers of antimony1
 and by what means the one may easily be
 changed into the other4  #ej ,newman1  
p4 #acc4 ,new ,dispensatory1 p4 #cdc4   
,geoffroy ,tractatus de ,materia        
,medica1 tom4 ,i4 p4 #bcd-bci4  #ea ,see
 a narrative of the proceedings of the  
committee appointed by the ,college of  
,physicians to review their             
,pharmacopia4 p4 #fd4  #eb ,new         
,dispensatory1 page #cdg4  #ec ,see     
,morton's ,treatise of ,acute ,diseases1
 printed at ,geneva1 #agbg4  #ed ,see   
,baron ,van ,swieten's ,commentaries on 
,boerhaave's ,aphorisms1 ,vol4 ,,ii4 p4 
#gig4  #ee ,see the narrative of the    
proceedings of the committee appointed  
by the ,college of ,physicians to review
 their ,pharmacopia4  #ef ,medical      
,museum1 ,vol4 ,,iii4 p4 #ecj4 ,london1 

#agfd4  #eg ,sydenhami ,opera1 p4 #fg4  
,lipsi1 #afie4  #eh ,observations made  
at ,plymouth1 on the weather and        
prevailing diseases from the year one   
thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight1
 to one thousand seven hundred and      
thirty-seven1 p4 #adj1 c4  #ei ,newman1 
page #acg4  #fj ,newman's ,chymistry1 p4
 #acg4  #fa ,geoffroy's ,treatise on the
 ,materia ,medica1 tom4 i4 p4 #bbe1 and 
,glauber's ,apology against the lying   
calumnies of ,christopher ,farnner4  #fb
 ,histoire de l',academie ,royalle des  
,sciences1 pour l'anne #agbj1 and       
,lemery1 ,trate de l',antimoine4  #fc   
,see the apology of ,john ,rudolph      
,glauber1 against the lying calumnies of
 ,cristopher ,farnner4  #fd ,geoffroy's 
,treatise of the ,materia ,medica1 tom4 
i p4 #bbe4  #fe ,observationes de ,aere 
et ,morbis ,epidemicis ab anno #agbh1 ad
 finem anni #agcg1 ,plymuthi fact1 p4   
#adj1 #ada1  #adb4 ,london4 #ageb4  #ff 
,medical and ,chymical ,observations on 
,antimony1 p4 #f and #ge4 ,london4      

#agef4  #fg ,new ,dispensatory1 p4 #cea4
  #fh ,observations on the prevailing   
,diseases of ,great ,britain1 part i4   
chap4 iv4 case #b;d1 p4 #cd4  #fi ,ibid4
 part #b;d1 chap4 x4 p4 #cje4  #gj      
,observations on the ,diseases of ,great
 ,britain1 part i4 chap4 iii4 case x1 p4
 #ajf4  #ga ,see p4 #di-ff4  #gb        
,dissertation on ,fevers1 p4 #f4        
,london1 #aggj4  #gc ,see p4 #eg and    
#eh4  #gd ,see p4 #bd1 #de and #df4  #ge
 ,introduction to the ,dissertation on  
,fevers1 p4 #aj4  #gf ,introduction to  
the ,dissertation on fevers1 p4 #aa4    
#gg ,dissertation1 p4 #he4  #gh         
,dissertation on ,fevers1 p4 #ia4 ,ibid4
 p4 #g4  #gi ,see p4 #fb and #fc4  #hj  
,addenda to the ,dissertation4  #ha     
,introduction to the ,dissertation1 page
 #d4  #hb ,introduction to the          
,dissertation1 page #d4  #hc ,see page  
#gb4  #hd ,introduction to the          
,dissertation on ,fevers1 pages #ast1   
#b;d1 and #ajth4  #he ,introduction to  
the ,dissertation on ,fevers1 pages #i1 

#aj4  #hf ,introduction to the          
,dissertation on ,fevers1 page #aj4  #hg
 ,see page #ah-bb4  #hh ,ibid4  #hi     
,ibid4 and page #gi1 #hj1 #hf1 and #hg4 
#ij ,page #ge-gh4  #ia ,see page #gb1   
and #gc4  #ib ,dissertation on ,fevers1 
p4 #hd4  #ic ,ibid4 p4 #ha4  #id ,ibid4 
p4 #ia4  #ie ,dissertation on ,fevers1  
p4 #gf4  #if ,dissertation on ,fevers1  
p4 #gj4  #ig ,introduction to the       
,dissertation on ,fevers1 p4 #a4  #ih   
,dissertation on ,fevers1 p4 #ij4  #ii  
,dissertation on ,fevers1 p4 #gb4  #ajj 
,dissertation1 p4 #gb4                  
,,advertisement4   ,the ,medical        
,society of ,london1 have resolved to   
give an honorary ,gold ,medal to the    
,author of the best ,dissertation on    
fevers4  ,gentlemen who become          
candidates are desired to attend to the 
following regulations4  ,dissertations  
on this subject are to be delivered to  
the ,secretary in ,crane ,court1 on or  
before the third ,tuesday of ,april1    
#agge1 written in a fair hand1 and in   

the ,english or ,latin language1 and    
along with each a packet 7sealed up7    
containing the name of the ,author1 and 
his place of residence1 some motto or   
device being written on the outside of  
the packet1 and at the beginning or end 
of the ,dissertation4  ,it is resolved  
that the medal shall be publickly       
adjudged on the fifth day of ,june1     
#agge1 after which all the papers1      
excepting that which obtains the        
honorary reward1 shall be returned with 
the packets unopened1 so that all the   
names excepting that of the successful  
candidate shall be concealed4  ,n4 ,b4  
,no ,member of the ,society will be     
admitted a ,candidate for the ,medal4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,the ,medical ,society1 being instituted
 for the improvement of medicine in all 
its branches1 will be obliged to all who
 shall contribute toward the execution  
of their extensive design4  ,papers     
intended for them may be directed to    
their ,secretary in ,crane ,court1      

,fleet ,street1 or to any of the        
,members4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,,books printed for ,j4    
,,johnson1 ,no4 #gb1 ,st4 ,paul's       
,church-yard2 and ,d4 ,,wilson1 and ,g4 
,,nicol1 opposite to ,york ,buildings1  
in the ,strand4  ,i4 ,observations on   
the prevailing ,diseases in ,great      
,britain4 ,together with a ,review of   
the ,history of those of former         
,periods1 and in other ,countries4 ,by  
,john ,millar1 ,m4 ,d4 ,price #abs4 in  
,boards4  ,,ii4 ,a ,discourse on the    
best ,means of promoting ,medical       
,enquiries1 delivered before the        
,medical ,society at their annual       
,meeting1 on ,tuesday the #ahth ,jan4   
#aggd4 and published at their ,request4 
,by ,james ,sims1 ,m4 ,d4