,illustration ,,some ,,experiments ,,concerning ,,mercury4 ,illustration ,price ,one ,shilling4 ,,some ,,experiments ,,concerning ,,mercury4 ,by ,j4 ,h4 ,,boerhaave1 ,professor of ,physick at ,,leyden4 ,translated from the ,latin1 communicated by the ,author to the ,,royal ,,society4 ,illustration ,,london3 ,printed for ,j4 ,,roberts1 near the ,oxford-,arms1 in ,warwick-,lane4 ,,mdccxxxiv4 ,illustration ,,some ,,experiments ,,concerning ,,mercury4 ,they who by ,experiments have most diligently enquired into the ,origin of ,bodies1 and their peculiar ,powers and ,properties1 are the only ,men who have discovered sure ,methods of acquiring a true ,knowledge of these ,things3 ,and whenever the ,lovers of natural ,knowledge enumerate the ,instruments of this ,science1 they universally agree that ,chemistry has done the greatest ,service1 in most industriously promoting such ,discoveries3 ,and when they come carefully to examine the most celebrated ,writers in this ,art1 they plainly perceive1 that the most ancient ,alchemists far surpassed the rest in their ,accounts of the ,nature of ,things4 ,of this ,geber is an ,instance1 and the ,writers nearest to him2 for they are content to describe1 in the plainest manner1 such ,things only as they had discovered by their ,art2 to improve which was their great ,application1 having no other ,design in view4 ,and indeed no other ,men whatever have so strictly and obstinately labour'd in the ,search after natural ,things1 or have taken such great ,pains to turn ,matter1 thro' all the various ,modes of ,enquiry1 as the ,alchemists4 ,this is what will be readily granted by all those who read the ,hermetic ,writers1 when they openly relate common ,discoveries3 ,but1 on the contrary1 when these ,writers treat of the ,grand ,arcanum 7or ,secret of the ,wise7 they are accused of making a bad ,use of their ,knowledge1 out of a ,desire to conceal it1 as if they intended1 on that ,occasion1 not to be understood4 ,they are said to deal in ,paradoxes1 to write in a strange manner1 perfectly foreign to all that is known1 and their ,style is swell'd with hyperbolical and sublime ,expressions2 which makes them be exploded as ,men out of their ,senses1 fabulous1 false1 and ,liars3 ,for whilst they affect to write in the gravest ,terms1 and are rich in ,promises1 they so cover the ,thing they are treating of in ,obscurity and ,darkness1 that they seem unwilling the ,secret should be reveal'd4 ,and on this account it is1 that very many wise ,men are of ,opinion1 that what the ,alchemists promise1 is a ,thing impossible both to ,nature and ,art1 and therefore count them unworthy the ,perusal of ,philosophers1 as well as undeserving of the ,name4 ,but it is a ,maxim1 ,that it is safer to credit an ,artist in his own ,art1 than one that is an utter ,stranger to it2 and consequently it is rash to condemn what the ,alchemists have defined to be possible2 especially1 since these ,chemists openly declare1 that their ,writings are to be weighed in the ,balance of the most certain ,laws of ,nature1 which have been discovered with the greatest ,evidence by the ,events of ,things2 7that is1 by exact and repeated ,experiments7 and they desire not to be credited1 whenever they produce any ,thing contrary to the ,powers of ,nature truly known by ,experiments4 ,moreover they alledge1 that they express themselves in such an obscure manner1 only to keep profane ,persons away from their ,mysteries1 which are unfolded to such as are initiated in them2 and so that it was necessary that ,things strange1 obscure1 and often false1 should be mixed and interpolated with what is sincere1 clear1 and true in their ,writings4 ,for my part1 upon looking into chemical ,matters1 and perusing the ,writings of the ,alchemists1 ,i have found them all of the same ,mind and ,meaning as to the following ,particulars3 ,that ,metals are naturally generated in their ,veins1 are nourished1 grow1 and multiply like other natural ,things1 each in their proper ,place3 ,that the ,aliments or ,nourishment of ,metals1 which before are of a foreign ,nature to them1 are1 by the genital ,power of the ,metallic ,seed1 converted into a truly ,metallic ,nature2 so that by this seminal ,power alone they lose their former1 and receive a new ,property by the sole cherishing of the pregnant ,warmth2 for they will have all these ,things to be effected entirely by the same ,means3 ,that as the ,seeds of ,animals and ,plants change the ,aliments they receive into their own ,nourishment1 so the vivificating ,seed of growing ,gold1 having got a proper ,food1 in a fit ,matrix1 by the ,help of a suitable and convenient ,heat1 digests the same into its own particular ,nature3 ,therefore by that ,means1 according to a ,law prescribed to subterraneous ,things1 they determine that true ,gold is always produced by ,length of ,time out of a ,matter of a different ,nature from ,gold3 ,for having subdued its ,aliment by its own ,force1 it grows1 by vital ,increase1 into a ,matter like to it1 so long as those four ,conditions that are absolutely required attend it4 ,upon pursuing their ,researches into ,nature with more ,accuracy1 they discovered that the ,metals which are produced1 and especially ,gold1 are very closely confined within a very solid and pure ,stone1 which is on every ,side so very carefully closed up1 that no ,passage leading to or from the ,metal can be discerned4 ,the ,matrix of the growing ,metal is thick1 hard1 impenetrable1 without ,mixture1 closed up on all ,parts1 and resembles ,glass4 ,there is nothing more hard to understand1 than to discern the ,manner how the solid ,substance of the ,metal could penetrate or force itself thro' the ponderous ,mass of the hard ,stone1 into the ,veins that are found pregnant with ,metal and loaded with it4 ,nor is it less difficult to conceive by what ,way the same ,metal secretly passes into those concealed ,places1 if it was liquid in its first ,origin1 as it is highly probable that it was4 ,and thus the genuine ,matrix of ,metal is known2 the ,heat of the ,metallic ,mines is also known3 ,it seldom equals the ,warmth of a ,man in ,health1 but often sinks below the #ff ,degree in the ,scale of ,farenheitius's ,thermometer4 ,hence they who are versed in these ,mysteries direct1 ,that the breeding ,matter of the ,arcanum should be inclosed in a pure ,glass ,vessel1 and cherish'd with a ,majal ,heat2 which we find1 by ,experience1 to be of #ej ,degrees4 ,and this has been found out to be at a ,medium throughout the ,year1 by the most exact ,observations2 which we owe to the industrious ,care of ,cruquius4 ,the ,food of the ,metal remains yet more obscure as to what is that seminal1 proliferous and genital ,matter4 ,most of these ,philosophers say1 ,that ,quicksilver is the common ,matter of all ,metals3 ,that this being changed by the ,power of the vital ,seed1 gives a ,metal which is defined or determined according to the peculiar ,property of the seminal ,efficacy3 ,that every ,metal1 when the ,quicksilver and this ,metallific ,power 7which they call ,sulphur7 are maturely and1 as it were1 thoroughly boil'd and concocted1 is brought to a perfect ,species of each such ,metal4 ,and from hence1 ,that every ,metal is again resolved into these two ,principles1 ,mercury and ,sulphur4 ,but that there is an original ,flaw or ,blemish inherent in ,quicksilver from its first ,production1 that wonderfully grows up with it1 and is intimately concreted to it1 and therefore not without the greatest ,difficulty to be separated from it2 and consequently the ,quicksilver wou'd not be very simple1 nor free1 but is by that strange ,matter inherent in it1 of a definite ,nature1 and therefore wou'd hardly suffer itself to be obsequious to the particular ,virtue of the ,metallic ,seed1 and be drawn into the single ,nature of one ,metal3 ,but if by a most difficult ,art1 the ,quicksilver be thoroughly purged of that foreign ,blemish or ,foulness1 then it would become liquid1 metallic1 most weighty1 and most simple2 neither by any ,art or ,nature divisible into different ,things2 and in which the vivified ,seed of every dissolved ,metal wou'd most perfectly multiply itself2 in which the ,gold itself dissolving1 being cherish'd and maturated1 wou'd be the last so much sought for1 and so much celebrated ,reward of the ,labour4 ,when ,i found that the chief ,persons of the ,art agreed in these ,principles for a long ,time1 ,i have endeavour'd to learn by ,experience1 by what ,artifice a pure unmix'd ,mercury might be obtained8 ,whether it cou'd be extracted out of ,metals8 ,what is that other ,part of the ,metal that is apt to force under its ,yoak the free ,quicksilver1 or ,mercury8 ,i am glad to give an ,account of what ,i have discovered2 not that ,i pretend to teach the ,art1 which ,i am as far from as any one2 but ,i will faithfully relate some laborious ,experiments1 and which are so very certain1 that they may justly pass for true4 ,others will not need to repeat them1 but may safely make use of these as true upon ,occasion4 ,and a diligent ,artist1 by assuming 7or supposing7 these ,experiments1 may apply his ,mind farther to others1 in order to promote the ,study of ,chemistry the more4 ,it were to be wish'd1 that every ,man directed his private ,labours to the public ,good4 ,let the first ,experiment be this3 ,,experiment ,i4 ,pure ,quicksilver contain'd in a dry ,glass ,vessel that is very clean1 being agitated only by a mechanical ,shaking or ,concussion1 gives a soft1 black1 and very fine ,powder4 ,the ,operation4 ,having bought #af ,ounces of ,quicksilver of the ,company at ,amsterdam1 ,i strain'd it thro' a ,leather ,bag2 there remain'd no ,dregs3 ,i pounded it a long while with fair ,water3 ,the ,quicksilver remained pure after pounding3 ,it was then a long time pounded with ,sea-,salt1 but the ,colour of the ,salt was not fouled3 after having poured ,water to this ,salt1 and to the ,mercury1 the pounding was repeated2 but neither did this change the ,colour4 ,in all this ,work there appeared nothing black1 nothing foreign or foul4 ,then the ,quicksilver was washed and dried1 and was bright4 ,i poured it into a clean dry ,glass ,bottle1 made of the dark-green ,german ,glass4 ,at the same ,time ,i plac'd it in a ,sand ,furnace1 with a ,fire that almost made the ,mercury rise2 and to be sure that all the ,water was forced out1 which is often secretly present in the ,mercury1 ,i kept it thus for three ,days3 ,then having thrust a clean dry strong ,cork into the ,mouth of the ,vessel whilst it was yet warm1 ,i fasten'd it up as close as possible4 ,the ,head of the ,bottle thus closed with a ,cork1 ,i dipt into a liquid ,cement of ,pitch1 ,rosin1 ,tallow1 and ,brimstone1 and covered it over with a ,linnen ,cloth1 which ,i tied fast with ,packthread4 ,when the ,glass was thus made ready1 ,i put it in a small ,wooden ,box1 which was so fitted to the ,bottle1 that it touched the ,sides of it2 and the empty ,spaces between the ,bottle and the ,box1 were well filled with ,bran4 ,then ,i put on a ,cover1 with a ,hole bored in the ,middle1 for the ,top of the ,neck of the ,bottle to stand a little out4 ,the ,glass was immoveable in the ,box2 and it being thus prepared1 ,i had it fastened to the ,hammering ,block of a ,fulling-,mill1 which always moves ,night and ,day when there is any ,wind4 ,being thus fixed1 it was rais'd up and let down by a perpendicular ,motion1 from the #ast of ,march1 #agcb4 ,n4 ,s4 to the #ac of ,november of the same ,year4 ,the ,effect4 ,the ,bottle being opened1 there was the same ,weight of ,mercury1 which was covered on all ,sides with a very soft1 black1 copious and fine ,powder4 ,i squeez'd it thro' a clean ,leather ,bag2 the liquid and pure ,mercury pass'd thro'4 ,the ,powder remained in the ,bag of a sharp metallic ,taste1 somewhat resembling the ,taste of ,copper or ,brass4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,quicksilver1 in itself very insipid1 by meer shaking1 acquires a metallic ,taste of ,copper4 #b4 ,from being very mild1 it becomes sharp and penetrating4 #c4 ,from a very bright ,silver ,colour1 it turns very black4 #d4 ,from a ,fluid1 it becomes ,solid in the ,form of ,powder4 #e4 ,it may therefore be concealed under the ,appearance of such a ,powder1 and deceive the ,ignorant4 ,,experiment ,,ii4 ,quicksilver exceedingly well purified1 and treated as aforesaid 7,,exper4 #a47 gives the same ,powder in much greater ,plenty4 ,the ,operation4 ,i suspecting that something of a foreign ,nature to it might remain in the ,quicksilver1 and be separated from it1 by ,motion1 under the ,form of that ,powder1 ,i brought over all the ,mercury in a ,glass ,retort with a ,sand-,heat4 ,when it was all over1 ,i pour'd it again into the same ,retort1 and forc'd it by ,fire1 as before4 ,this ,method ,i repeated #fj times4 ,the ,mercury was thus distilled #fa times4 ,in the ,bottom of the ,vessel there were five ,drachms of ,red ,powder2 of which hereafter4 ,but this ,mercury was very fluid and shining4 ,i got #b ,ounces of this ,mercury to be shaken by a ,fulling-,mill in the same ,manner1 and by the same ,operation1 and for the same ,space of ,time as in the first ,operation4 ,the ,effect4 ,the ,weight was the same3 ,there was a ,powder made1 soft1 black1 of a sharp metallic ,taste1 like ,copper or ,brass1 to the ,quantity of #b ,drachms and #bf ,grains3 ,so it was above an eighth ,part2 whereas of the ,mercury1 as they sell it1 scarce ,part was turn'd into ,powder by the same ,operations2 that is1 by the shaking of the ,mill4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,the ,mercury1 which after being distilled #fa times1 yet remained very tasteless and insipid1 acquires a metallic ,taste4 #b4 ,from being very mild1 grows sharp and penetrating4 #c4 ,from having a bright ,silver ,colour1 and shining like a ,looking-,glass1 becomes very black4 #d4 ,from being more fluid than it was naturally1 comes to a consistent ,powder4 #e4 ,tho' forced by a long and strong ,fire1 so often repeated1 the ,mercury still retains this ,property 7of ,fluidity74 #f4 ,which therefore does not depend on any ,feces or ,dregs foreign to the ,mercury1 and that may be separated from it by ,fire4 #g4 ,the ,matter which1 after the ,distillation of the ,mercury1 remain'd in the ,bottom of the ,retort1 red1 shining1 and sharp1 is no more like the black ,powder proceeding from the ,shaking1 than that ,part is of the ,mercury1 which remained volatile4 #h4 ,mercury is changed by ,fire and ,shaking2 by ,fire into red1 by ,shaking into black3 ,therefore ,mercury changes ,colour4 #i4 ,whether ,mercury shaken in a smaller ,quantity1 gives more of the black8 7,powder7 ,,experiment ,,iii4 ,the very black ,powder 7by ,,experim4 #b47 if it is forced out of a ,glass ,retort by a strong ,fire1 returns to pure ,quicksilver4 ,the ,operation4 ,the #b ,drachms and #bf ,grains of the black ,powder 7by ,operat4 #b47 ,i heated by a strong ,fire1 and forced out of a pure ,glass ,retort1 insomuch1 that at last the ,retort was red hot for #b ,hours4 ,the ,effect4 ,there were in the ,receiver #b ,drachms and #b ,grains of the purest ,quicksilver1 insipid and shining4 ,there stuck to the ,sides of the ,glass1 which being join'd to the ,retort1 is luted to a ,receiver full of ,water1 a little ,quicksilver here and there1 which ,i could not entirely gather together4 ,in the ,bottom of the ,retort was a fix'd ,spot1 small1 very thin and fine1 and but just visible4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,mercury1 that has been #fa times distilled and shaken1 and turned into the afore described ,powder1 returns by ,fire alone into its first ,form4 #b4 ,of sharp and penetrating1 it becomes very mild4 #c4 ,of very black1 it comes to resemble pure ,looking-,glass1 with a ,silver ,brightness4 #d4 ,of a consistent ,powder1 it becomes very fluid4 #e4 ,in these three ,operations it remains the same in itself2 in the mean time it alters its ,appearance under various ,disguises4 #f4 ,the ,taste and sharp ,power are wonderfully changed in the ,mercury1 by ,motion alone1 by ,fire alone4 #g4 ,in the mean time there arises1 from these ,operations1 out of the ,quicksilver1 a small ,quantity of fix'd ,mercury4 #h4 ,the black 7,spot7 was no ,dreg1 or any ,thing foreign1 and so separated from the ,mercury4 ,,scholium4 ,i exposed to a ,fire of #ahj ,degrees1 for several ,months1 some ,quicksilver in ,glass ,conic ,vessels1 with flat ,bottoms1 that were stopt with a chemical inverted ,phial3 ,the ,quicksilver became black1 and gave a black ,powder1 in all respects alike2 from which ,i learnt1 that a ,fire in this ,degree1 produced the same ,effect in the ,quicksilver as the shaking4 ,,experiment ,,iv4 ,quicksilver is changed by simple ,distillation4 ,the ,operation4 #ah ,ounces of ,quicksilver1 ,weight of ,amsterdam1 ,i forced by a ,sand-,heat1 out of a pure ,glass ,retort1 into the ,receiver that was filled with the purest ,water1 #d ,inches high from the ,bottom3 ,this ,i continued to do till there was no more running ,mercury left in the ,belly of the ,vessel4 ,i dried and cleaned the ,mercury with clean dry blotting ,paper1 till it was perfectly dry1 cleaned from any ,dirt that might have fallen in1 and from the ,black which in distilling is raised every time with the ,mercury as it distills3 ,then ,i poured this ,mercury into another ,retort1 and forced it again as before4 ,this ,i repeated in the same manner #eb times4 ,in each ,distillation there was produced in the ,retort a red shining ,powder4 ,the ,effect4 ,there was then four ,drams and a half after #eb ,distillations of a sharp1 red1 shining ,powder1 purging upwards and downwards3 ,there remained #af ,ounces and #e ,drachms of ,quicksilver2 so #f ,drachms were lost4 ,this could not be help'd4 ,some part expires thro' the ,glew2 something black1 with a little ,quicksilver1 sticks to the ,blotting-,paper every time the ,mercury is dried4 ,this is but very little at one time2 but when the ,work comes to be often repeated1 it comes by ,degrees to be a considerable part4 ,the ,powder produced was heavy1 of a red shining ,colour1 very brittle1 of a very sharp1 metallic ,taste1 nauseous1 penetrating1 hardly to be taken out of the ,mouth1 disordering the ,human ,body very much1 and for a long time1 and disposing to ,excretions4 ,the ,mercury which had been thus treated1 appeared more fluid than common ,mercury4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,quicksilver thus forced by ,fire1 is turned from a ,fluid into ,powder1 in about the part of its whole ,weight4 #b4 ,from a ,silver ,brightness1 like ,looking-,glass1 into a shining red ,colour4 #c4 ,from very insipid ,taste1 into one very sharp1 rough1 metallic1 and penetrating4 #d4 ,from very mild1 into sharp1 virulent1 venomous1 disordering the ,body1 and exciting ,pains4 #e4 ,from volatile into more fixed2 which is no longer volatile by the same ,degree of ,fire as it flew up with before4 #f4 ,as to its other part1 it changes into more fluid1 in other respects like what it was before4 #g4 ,when the ,vessel is stopt close1 a mechanic ,motion1 and a small ,fire1 give ,quicksilver a black ,colour2 a greater ,fire gives it a red ,colour4 ,,experiment ,v4 ,i was desirous to know what would happen to the ,mercury1 if it was still forced by a ,fire requisite to ,distillation4 ,the ,operation4 ,i took care to distill1 as before1 the #af ,ounces and #e ,drachms of ,mercury remaining from the former ,operation3 ,i distill'd it so long1 'till there remained none in the ,bottom4 ,what was came over1 being cleaned and dried1 ,i always poured again into the same ,retort4 ,this ,work ,i repeated #ddh distinct times4 ,now this ,mercury had been forced by ,distillation compleatly #ejj times3 ,it had risen always more fluid and pure4 ,the last time ,i heated the ,fire more1 but then the red ,powder seem'd rather to be lessened than increased1 perhaps being in part revived4 ,the ,effect4 ,the ,powder in the bottom of the ,retort1 weigh'd #a ,ounce1 #e ,drams1 and #ba ,grains4 ,the ,mercury remaining after #ejj ,distillations1 weighed #i ,ounces and #e ,drachms3 ,but it happen'd1 in so often distilling1 that sometimes the ,retorts broke1 and so some of the ,mercury got away1 besides what was lost by so often cleaning and drying4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,the ,corollaries of the second and fourth ,operations1 are likewise true in this ,operation4 #b4 ,the ,mercury is very unchangeable in one part1 #c4 ,yet continually changeable in the other part4 #d4 ,out of the altered ,form1 perhaps it returns into its former ,shape4 #e4 ,and perhaps after ,regeneration by a new ,action of ,fire1 it is carried back again into the altered ,shape4 ,,experiment ,,vi4 ,that ,property of ,quicksilver1 by which it is turned into this ,powder by ,fire1 is hardly taken from it by ,distillation4 ,the ,operation4 ,the very fluid and very pure ,mercury 7out of which ,i had made by #eja ,distillations1 #b ,ounces1 #a ,drachm1 and #ea ,grains of ,powder1 by the #b1 #d1 and #e ,operations7 which remained to the ,quantity of #aj ,ounces1 #e ,drachms1 and one half1 ,i distilled out of a pure ,glass ,retort1 till the ,mercury was all passed thro' into the ,receiver4 ,the ,bottom of the ,retort was as clean as if it had been just taken out of the ,furnace at the ,glass-,house3 ,but at the ,edge of the ,surface1 where it had stood before the ,distillation in the ,belly of the ,retort1 there was a shining ,ring1 of a beautiful red1 fine and fair to the ,eye4 ,the ,mercury that came out1 being purified and dried1 ,i poured again into the same ,retort1 and forced it into the ,receiver4 ,this was repeated ten times3 ,every time more of the red ,powder was made1 and in no less ,quantity then from the crude ,mercury4 ,the ,effect4 ,the ,mercury very vivid and very bright2 the fix'd ,powder of a beautiful red1 but 7as in #b1 #d1 #e ,operations7 to the ,quantity of seven ,grains4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,the ,mutability of ,mercury into this ,powder by ,fire1 still remains in the ,mercury1 after an eighth part of it has been changed into the ,powder4 #b4 ,after #eaa ,distillations1 each of which had produced some of that ,powder1 this ,mutability remains1 altho' no new ,mercury has been added4 #c4 ,therefore that ,powder is scarce to be accounted the ,dregs or ,feces separable by ,distillation from the intimate ,substance of the ,mercury4 #d4 ,and hence it is certain the ,mercury is so changed by this ,means2 but it is not certain that it is by this ,means defecated4 #e4 ,fire is not united to ,mercury1 as some celebrated modern ,chemists have said it was1 in their ,writings4 #f4 ,diligence can scarce teach the constant ,artists those ,bounds beyond which that ,powder is no longer produced4 #g4 ,if that ,powder is produced by ,fire out of the crude ,sulphur of ,mercury1 this ,distillation does not purge the ,mercury from it4 ,,experiment ,,vii4 ,to examine the ,powder produced by #b1 #d1 #e1 #f ,operations4 ,the ,operation4 ,two ,ounces1 #a ,drachm1 and #ea ,grains of that ,powder1 ,i put into a clean ,glass ,retort1 covered with a ,coat of ,clay1 mix'd or temper'd with ,sand4 ,i heated it by ,degrees1 till at last the ,retort1 the bare ,fire being laid over it1 grew almost red with the bright ,fire that covered it in the ,sand ,furnace1 for three ,hours together4 ,the ,effect4 ,there came out #a ,ounce1 and half a ,drachm of pure ,mercury revived from that ,powder3 ,there remain'd in the ,bottom of the ,retort seven ,drachms and a half of the bright red ,powder4 ,something stuck in the ,neck of the ,retort1 and in the ,glass ,vessel applied to the ,neck of the ,retort4 ,perhaps some was dissipated by so great and lasting a ,fire4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,the ,mercury returns out of the ,powder into which it was turned by the ,fire4 #b4 ,being revived1 it recovers all its former ,properties1 and lays aside all those that it had acquir'd4 ,out of the ,powder comes the same ,mercury as at first4 #c4 ,the acquired ,fixedness does not bear a great ,fire4 #d4 ,yet in that ,powder one part is more fixed than another2 this still remains a ,powder1 that returns to ,mercury4 ,,experiment ,,viii4 ,further to examine the ,powder remaining after the foregoing ,operation4 ,the ,operation4 ,seven ,drachms and #cg ,grains of that ,powder in a very clean ,glass ,retort1 cased over with a ,coat of ,sand and ,clay1 ,i put into the naked ,fire1 which was carefully increased by ,degrees1 'till the little ,retort1 which was entirely covered with the ,coals1 grew quite red hot4 ,in this ,degree of ,heat ,i kept it for four ,hours4 ,the ,effect4 ,in the ,receiver was seven ,drams of most pure ,mercury reviv'd from this ,powder4 ,in the ,bottom of the ,retort were #ae ,grains of a dark1 subtle1 and fixed ,powder1 in so strong and lasting a ,fire4 ,there was a broad ,spot1 very thin1 of a beautiful red1 impressed on the ,bottom of the ,retort1 and1 as it were1 penetrating into the ,glass4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,mercury by ,fire alone is changed into the ,powder above describ'd4 7#b1 #d1 #e1 #f1 #g1 #h47 #b4 ,this ,powder1 by ,fire alone1 but a stronger1 is changed into ,mercury4 #c4 ,thus the ,serpent that has bitten itself dies4 #d4 ,it arises again more glorious from ,death4 #e4 ,so much ,labour1 and so great ,fire being so long sustain'd1 out of #ag ,ounces of ,mercury1 only #ae ,grains remain'd fix'd in the ,glass1 which was so hot1 that it was ready to melt4 #f4 ,silver1 ,gold1 and other ,metals fought for by this ,art out of ,quicksilver1 is scarce any1 in ,proportion to the ,charge and ,labour4 #g4 ,of the ,powder so fix'd from ,mercury1 only the #gb ,part remains fix'd in this ,fire1 the rest returns to ,mercury4 #h4 ,twenty-two ,grains were lost4 ,were they dispers'd8 or was this ,quantity of ,weight first accreted to the ,mercury by ,fire1 thence again separated by a stronger ,fire8 #i4 ,the ,nature of ,mercury is constant1 simple1 and cannot be separated into dissimilar ,parts by ,distillation2 not into fix'd and volatile2 not into pure and impure2 not into feces and defecated2 not into different ,elements4 ,,experiment ,,ix4 ,i put thirteen ,grains of this last fix'd ,powder 7,,viii47 into a ,crucible1 and set it over an open ,fire before the ,bellows3 ,i increas'd the ,heat of the ,fire1 by blowing till the whole ,crucible was red hot3 ,i kept it so for a ,quarter of an ,hour4 ,the ,powder remain'd fix'd in the ,bottom1 but swell'd up like a ,spunge1 and of a dark ,colour4 ,from hence ,i learn'd that this ,powder had acquired a considerable ,degree of ,fixedness by ,fire alone4 ,,experiment ,x4 ,then ,i added to this fix'd ,powder 7,,ix47 some ,borax in a ,crucible1 and increased the ,fire by blowing4 ,it became one ,mass1 brittle1 growing like ,glass1 and fix'd in this great ,fire4 ,,experiment ,,xi4 ,i gave #b ,grains of that ,powder1 which had remained fix'd1 to the ,weight of #ae ,grains 7,,viii47 to a sworn and very skilful ,essayer of ,metals at ,,amsterdam1 to examine it with all possible ,accuracy according to the ,rules of ,art1 with ,lead4 ,nothing fix'd remain'd3 ,therefore in that ,powder there was not the least ,gold or ,silver4 ,,experiment ,,xii4 ,the thirteen ,grains melted down with the ,borax into a ,mass growing like ,glass 7almost vitrified7 7,x47 ,i gave to a sworn and very skilful ,essayer of ,metals at ,,amsterdam1 to examine this whole little ,mass with the greatest ,accuracy1 according to the ,rules of ,art1 in ,lead4 ,nothing fix'd remain'd of the whole ,mass2 so there was no ,gold nor ,silver in it4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,quicksilver persists in the ,fire1 retaining its ,nature unalterable4 #b4 ,simple1 and not separable1 into different ,parts by ,distillation4 #c4 ,it is fixed by ,fire1 and seems changed in its outward ,form4 #d4 ,appearing so1 in various ,parts1 it acquires different ,degrees of ,fixedness4 #e4 ,yet none of these ,parts acquired1 by so strong and lasting a ,fire1 the ,fixedness of ,gold or ,silver4 #f4 ,the fixating ,cause is ,fire passing thro' the ,glass2 thus changing part of the ,mercury1 either by its simple ,action1 or by its uniting itself with the ,quicksilver4 #g4 ,the ,fire so acting1 by #eaa ,distillations1 by its ,action or ,conjunction1 could not yet change the smallest ,particle of the ,mercury into ,gold or ,silver4 #h4 ,but from the ,mercury so fixed by ,fire1 a greater ,fire restores true ,mercury2 or the known ,power of ,lead makes it vanish out of the ,cupell4 #i4 ,therefore it does not appear1 by these ,experiments1 that from ,mercury and ,fire so conspiring1 any known ,metal is produced4 ,those #ac ,grains did not run by a ,wind-,furnace2 they did not persist in the ,lead2 they were not dissolved with the ,mercury into an ,amalgama4 #aj4 ,therefore ,fire1 by these ,experiments1 is not demonstrated to be the ,sulphur of the ,philosophers that fixes ,mercury into ,metals4 #aa4 ,but it seems probable that the ,sulphur of the ,philosophers is something else very near it4 #ab4 ,the fixed part is not the ,feces of ,mercury1 nor its crude generating ,sulphur2 it returns into ,mercury4 #ac4 ,the ,depuration of ,mercury from the earthy ,feces1 and the watry ,crudeness1 seems scarcely to be obtained so easily by ,distillation alone2 perhaps by some more secret ,work it is obtain'd4 #ad4 ,to make ,gold or ,silver of ,mercury1 does not proceed4 ,ignorant ,men are given up to ,imagination1 easy to ,promises1 rich in ,hope4 ,this ,mercury remained ,mercury4 #ae4 ,safe from the fallacious ,writings and ,prescriptions of the ,philosophers1 who promise such ,things in a short ,time1 or a few ,months from ,mercury and ,fire3 ,indeed1 within the ,space of many ,years1 ,i have not discovered the least ,marks of a first beginning4 ,,experiment ,,xiii4 ,mercury kept under boiling ,water1 is not rais'd from the ,bottom of the ,vessel4 ,the ,operation4 ,i pour'd a ,drachm of ,mercury twice distilled into a ,glass ,urinal1 which ,i fill'd with ,rain ,water3 ,then ,i set the ,vessel upon the naked ,fire3 ,the ,water boil'd strongly for eight ,hours1 yet so that there still was some ,water swimming over the ,mercury4 ,the ,mercury being afterwards weigh'd1 gave a ,drachm without any ,loss4 ,again2 ,i pour'd a ,drachm of ,mercury into a clean dry ,glass ,vessel4 ,this ,i so fitted in a ,kettle1 that it cou'd not fall aside4 ,i filled the ,kettle with ,water2 ,i made the ,water boil eight ,hours4 ,this ,vessel was cylindrical1 open1 two ,inches and one half deep1 and placed so that the ,water cou'd not get in4 ,after this was so done1 the ,mercury weighed one ,drachm without any ,loss4 ,i put pure ,mercury into a ,glass ,vessel1 ,i poured ,water upon it2 and setting the ,still over it1 ,i boil'd it for a long while3 ,no ,mercury ascended4 ,i continued boiling1 till all the ,water being gone out1 the ,mercury remained dry in the ,bottom of the ,vessel4 ,however1 ,i did not then increase the ,fire2 but the ,mercury presently ascended to the ,sides of the ,vessel1 and into the ,head4 ,the ,reason of this appears from what ,i have written in my chemical ,institutions about ,water and ,fire4 ,,experiment ,,xiv4 ,mercury may be chang'd by ,art so as that it shall ascend from the ,bottom of the ,vessel1 by the ,heat of ,vinegar1 before it boils up4 ,the ,operation4 ,having made a ,mass of a ,pound and a half of ,mercury1 with half a ,pound of ,lead 7the ,chemists call such a ,mass an ,amalgama7 ,i shook it in a ,glass ,vessel4 ,there was produced a very black ,powder4 ,this ,i put into a ,glass ,cucurbite #ad ,inches high2 ,i pour'd pure distill'd ,wine-,vinegar over it4 ,by a gentle ,distillation ,i took away the ,phlegm4 ,i then increased the ,heat a little1 but so that the ,liquor did not boil4 ,the ,mercury ascended into the ,head1 together with the ,phlegm1 and thence into the ,receiver4 ,the same ,i tried and experienced other ,ways4 ,it is a ,circumstance worthy a ,chemist's ,speculation2 but ,i shall say no more of it here4 ,by much the like ,artifice1 ,i have seen ,quicksilver made so volatile1 that it was rais'd in my ,digestory-,furnace with a less ,degree of ,heat1 than that of a ,man in ,health1 and ascended to the ,sides of the ,vessel4 ,do you think the ,mercury was then purer8 ,it was mix'd with ,metal1 and very dry4 ,but perhaps ,i may some other time relate some very laborious ,experiments which ,i have made for several ,years1 in examining ,mercury and ,metals1 if ,i find that such ,things are likely to meet with the ,approbation of the ,learned4 ,,experiment ,,xv4 ,,geber has written1 that pure ,mercury is heavier than ,gold3 ,for a long time ,i endeavour'd to learn1 ,whether ,mercury could be brought to a denser1 and consequently a heavier ,state1 than that it is naturally in8 ,i began to attempt this by a ,separation of the lighter and more changeable ,part1 from the more heavy ,remainder1 but cou'd not do it4 ,i afterwards strove to defecate it by various ,methods3 ,it did not succeed4 ,however1 ,i discovered some ,things that deserve the ,contemplation of curious ,observers1 which ,i beg leave to mention1 as follows3 ,two ,ounces of pure ,gold in a ,mass1 by hydrostatical ,examination1 in ,rain-,water1 defecated by gentle ,distillation1 ,i found to weigh in proportion to ,water1 as #ai to #a4 ,common ,mercury1 as sold1 once distilled from the ,retort to the same ,water1 weighs as #ac to #a4 ,mercury amalgamated with purest ,gold1 and then distilled some hundred times1 as #ac to #a4 ,mercury so treated with the purest ,silver1 was to ,water as #ac to #a4 ,mercury united with ,lead1 and with it all turn'd into ,powder1 and thence resuscitated by a strong ,fire1 was to ,water1 as #ac to #a4 ,mercury #eaa times distilled1 was as #ad to #a4 ,these ,statical ,weighings were made by ,instruments that cou'd not be found fault with1 and with the most prudent ,care4 ,i spent some ,years to prepare ,mercury for this ,purpose2 and1 for ought ,i know1 no one else has had any ,regard to it4 ,afterwards1 many ,things proper for ,meditation may be drawn from thence1 by proper ,judges in this ,matter3 ,but ,i may be allowed to make a few ,observations4 ,,corollaries4 #a4 ,if ,mercury1 when defecated1 becomes lighter1 then it is rendred most defecated by ,gold and ,lead4 ,by the ,art of ,suchtenius and ,philalethes1 it remains the same4 #b4 ,if ,mercury1 when defecated1 becomes heavier1 then it is rendred most defecated by ,silver1 in proportion to other ,metals2 but most of all by simple ,distillation1 by a ,conversion into a ,red ,prcipitate of itself1 and a ,resuscitation thence made4 #c4 ,mercury may be made thicker 7condensated7 by ,silver and ,fire4 #d4 ,mercury may be thickned by ,distillation by ,fire most of all4 ,is this then the best ,way to depurate and perfect it8 #e4 ,does ,mercury deposite its heaviest ,part in ,gold8 ,is this deposited ,matter the ,seed of ,gold8 #f4 ,does ,mercury deposite its heaviest ,part in ,lead8 ,is this deposited ,matter the ,seed of ,gold8 #g4 ,does ,fire1 boiling the ,mercury #eaa times1 fixing and resuscitating it1 increase that heaviest ,part8 ,can ,mercury1 by a continued ,work1 at length be thickned into the ,weight of ,gold8 ,would it then be live ,gold1 or the ,mercury of the ,philosophers8 ,this let proper ,judges examine4 ,let these few ,remarks1 and yet not made without ,trouble and ,caution1 concerning the ,purification of ,quicksilver1 suffice at this time4 ,i have some by me much more operose concerning the extracting of ,mercury out of ,metals1 of its ,action upon ,metals1 of ,metals themselves2 perhaps1 when ,i have ,leisure1 ,i may offer them to the ,public1 that ,persons1 after being warned1 may spare a fruitless ,labour and ,expence4 ,farewell4 ,illustration