Sulphuretum Antimon1i PraeParatum. Edin. Prepared Sulphuret of Antimony

"Put sulphuret of antimony, rubbed to powder in an iron mortar, and levigated with a little water upon a porphyry stone, into a large vessel; then pour water on it, and, after frequently agitating the vessel, pour it off loaded with the fine powder.

"The coarse powder, which the water cannot suspend, is to be again levigated, and treated in the same manner."

1 The London College have wisely discarded the oxide of antimony from the list of their preparations. As a remedy it was too violent and uncertain in its operation to be generally employed; and for the composition of any other anti-monial preparation it was utterly useless.

Dublin. "Take of sulphuret of antimony, any quantity; let it be reduced to powder, and separate for use the very fine particles, in the manner directed for the preparation of chalk."

Syn. Sulphure d'Antimoine (F.), Schwaser Schwefelspeiss-glanz ( G.), Solfuro d'antimonio depurato (I.), Kohul (Arab.), Surmah (Hind.).

This mechanical preparation is intended to fit the sulphuret for internal use.

Qualities. - Prepared sulphuret of antimony is an inodorous, insipid, blackish, or deep leaden-grey, dull powder, which stains the fingers, and is insoluble in water.

According to the analysis of Dr. Thomas Thomson, sulphuret of antimony is a compound of ] 00 parts of antimony and 35.572 of sulphur; it is a sesquisulphuret, and consists of 2 equivalents of antimony 125.2+ 3 of sulphur=48.3, making the equivalent 177.5.

Medical properties and uses,-Sulphuret of antimony is inert, unless it meet with acid in the stomach, in which case it usually operates either as a diaphoretic or a mild cathartic, but occasionally it produces excessive vomiting and purging; thence it is proper to evacuate the stomach and bowels previous to its use. It has been found efficacious in scrofula, gout, chronic rheumatism, and herpetic eruptions; but its beneficial effects are very slowly produced, and consequently the use of the remedy, in order that it may prove serviceable, must be continued for a considerable length of time. The dose is from grs. v. to Эj. mixed with any convenient vehicle.

Officinal preparations. - Antimonii Oxysulphuretum, L. E. D. Pulvis antimonii compositus, L. E. D. Antimonii Oxydum nitro-muriaticum, D. Oxydum Antimonii cum phosphate Calcis, D. Tartras Antimonii, D.

Antimonii1 Oxysulphuretum. Lond. Oxy-sulphuret of Antimony

"Take of sesquisulphuret of antimony, in powder, seven ounces; solution of potassa, four pints; distilled water, two gallons; diluted sulphuric acid, as much as may be required. Mix the sesquisulphuret of antimony, the solution of potassa, and the water together, and boil with a gentle fire for two hours, assiduously stirring, and occasionally adding distilled water, so that the same measure may be kept up. Strain the solution, and drop into it gradually as much diluted sulphuric acid as may be necessary for precipitating the oxysul-phuret of antimony; then wash away the sulphate of potassa with water, and dry what remains with a gentle heat."

1 Formerly, Sulphur antimonii praecipitatum. Sulphur auralum Antimonii. Antimonii Sidphuretum praecipitatum.

Sulphuretum Antimonii Praecipitatum, Edin.

"Take of solution of potassa, four parts; water, three parts; prepared sulphuret of antimony, two parts; diluted sulphuric acid, a sufficient quantity. Mix the sulphuret with the solution of potassa and the water, then boil them in a covered iron pot over a gentle fire for three hours, frequently stirring with an iron spatula, and adding water as it may be required. Strain the hot liquor through a doubled linen cloth, and add to it, when strained, as much diluted sulphuric acid as may be necessary for precipitating the sulphuret, which must be well washed with warm water."

Sulphur antimoniatum fuscum, Dub. Brown antimo-niated Sulphur.

"Take of prepared sulphuret of antimony, one part; water of caustic potassa, eight parts; diluted sulphuric acid, eleven parts, or a sufficient quantity : add the sulphuret of antimony to the solution of caustic potassa, and boil for an hour. Strain the hot solution through a doubled cloth, and drop into it the sulphuric acid. Wash away the sulphate of potassa with hot water : finally, rub the dried, brown, antimoniated sulphur to powder.",

Syn. Soufre dore d'antimoine (F.), Gelber Spiessglanzschwefel (G.), Zolfo dorato di antimonio (I.).

Although the last of these formulae differs from the two former, the products of all of them are the same, namely, an oxysulphuret of antimony. The following is the theory of its formation:-During the boiling, the potassa and the sesqui-sulphuret of antimony, are each partially decomposed, and form sulphuret of potassium, and sesquioxide of antimony, mixed with much of the sesquisulphuret dissolved in the potassa. The diluted sulphuric acid, which is added to the strained solution whilst it is hot, combines with the potassa, changing it into the sulphate, and disengaging sulphureted hydrogen gas, whilst the oxide and the sulphuret of antimony are precipitated together, forming the oxysulphuret. Qualities. - The oxysulphuret of antimony is an orange-coloured powder, slightly styptic to the taste, inodorous, and insoluble in water. It readily catches fire, and burns with a blue and greenish flame, exhaling the odour of sulphurous acid, and leaving the metal after the combustion in the form of a greyish white oxide. It is said to be frequently sophisticated.

When pure it does not effervesce with acids, a fact which enables its adulteration with chalk to be readily discovered.

Mr. Phillips regards it as a compound of 12 parts of sesquioxide of antimony, + 76.5 of the sesquisulphuret+ 115 of water in 100 parts: or its composition is 2 eq. sesquisulphuret=355 + 1 eq. sesquioxide = 153.2 making the equiv. 508.2.