It appears from Dioscorides, Pliny and Galen, that in their time antimony was not chymically examined, nor used internally though they recommend it as an external application. It is not surprising that modern chymists should differ concerning its constituent parts, since they cannot be separated without losing something in the operation. Their proportions are also various in different specimens of the crude mineral, a pound of some yielding ten or eleven ounces of regulus, whilst others scarce afford eight ounces[23].

But whatever may be their opinion concerning the effects of crude antimony, they are almost unanimous in affirming, that it contains a portion of arsenic, which by different management, may be either converted into an efficacious remedy or a deadly poison.[24]

It is a fact, says Hoffman, proved beyond all doubt among the chymists, that antimony is composed of sulphur and a mercurial or arsenical substance[25]. The same is asserted by Stahl. Antimony, says he, consists of two or three mineral substances, sulphur, a portion of arsenic, and an imperfect metallic matter. That arsenic enters its composition is proved by the red tinge of sulphur of antimony; its great power of vomiting, and that sickness of stomach and faintness with which its operation is attended; by the resemblance of glass of antimony, to the saturnine arsenical glass; by its solution in aquaregia, and many other appearances. But it is particularly demonstrated, by the purity of antimony, which is regenerated from regulus and pure sulphur, which is much finer and milder than vulgar or native antimony[26].

The author of the New Dispensatory, however, in opposition to these weighty authorities, and to the concurring testimony of almost all the chymists, affirms, that this opinion, however plausible, does not seem to have any just foundation. Nothing arsenical, he says, has ever been separated from pure antimony. The most violent antimonial preparations are rendered inactive by means which do not lessen the poisonous quality of arsenic, and the most inactive are rendered virulent by operations in which arsenic would either be dissipated, or its violence abated[27].

This opinion, contradicted by the general voice of mineralogical and chymical writers, since it is not supported by more convincing proofs, should not have been published in a book intended for the use of every pupil in pharmacy; if the prevailing opinion of the poisonous quality of antimony should be erroneous, it cannot affect the lives of mankind, but if it is well founded, what words can express the dangerous tendency of a false doctrine so universally propagated!

He has not indeed treated this subject with his usual accuracy, for with Hoffman and other celebrated chymists, he elsewhere compares antimony to arsenic, as well with respect to its virulence, as the means of correcting it: Orpiment, says he, from which a perfect arsenic is obtainable in notable quantity, is when it participates more largely of sulphur, almost perfectly innocent; and sulphur, which restrains the power of the antimonial semimetal, remarkably abates the virulence of this poisonous mineral also[28].

Poppius affirms, that an impure, bituminous and arsenical sulphur, noxious to the eyes, nose, and lungs, with a blue flame and arsenical smell, which cannot be endured without danger, is raised during the calcination or sublimation of antimony[29].

Glauber also directs antimonial cups to be made for the purpose of communicating an emetic quality to acid liquors, which according to him produce the same effects as those prepared from orpiment[30]; Boerhaave asserts that antimony seems to be of the same nature with arsenic[31]; Macquer informs us, that some of the antimonial ores contain a portion of the same poisonous mineral[32]; and Cronstedt affirms that all of them are arsenical[33].

Unless therefore those modern chymists, who assert the perfect innocence of antimony, expect from us that implicit confidence which their predecessors, who held a very different opinion, rigorously exacted, it cannot, on their authority, be admitted that it does not contain arsenic. Wonderful as the works are which they have atchieved, many secrets of nature have escaped their researches, which may hereafter be discovered, and many will, undoubtedly, elude all human investigation.

Nor is more credit due to those who assert that all arsenical particles are volatilised, and carried off by the force of fire; the crocus, regulus and glass of antimony containing such subtil virulent particles as must for ever escape observation, since without losing in any degree their specific gravity, they impart, almost inexhaustibly, an emetic power to wine and other liquors, and the operation of these essences of antimony, as they have been emphatically called, is similar to those of arsenic.[34]

But although, in opposition to the testimony of the best chymical writers, it should be granted that there is no arsenic in antimony, it cannot be affirmed, that it does not contain poison, since by unfolding its texture by the force or fire, it is rendered highly virulent; and by the addition of various substances, in the stomach, it becomes violently emetic[35].

By those who assert the perfect innocence of antimony, and extol its virtues, orpiment is allowed to be a poisonous substance, and giving it as a medicine, is declared a practice too dangerous to be followed[36], yet it is ranked by Hoffman with antimony. It ought to be remarked, says he, that orpiment was known to the ancient philosophers and physicians, and universally deemed a poison, and to this day is sold for arsenic. Yet it does not, when taken internally, give any molestation, either by vomiting or purging, and may be given, in a large quantity, to dogs, without hurting them. But if it is exposed to the fire, then, indeed, it acquires a poisonous quality, as is also the case with antimony, which, though in its natural crude state, it is rather a medicine than a poison, yet when melted by fire it exerts a violent emetic power[37].

Crude white arsenic, the most virulent poison of that tribe, is not always baneful[38]. It is now more than twenty years since it was taken in large quantity by four persons, on whom it had no other effect than, what is usually produced by antimonial preparations, to excite violent vomiting. All of them were lately, and, I believe, are still in perfect health. To this I was an eyewitness, and took large lumps of white arsenic out of the pot in which their victuals were prepared. It happened at Kelso, in the shire of Roxburgh, and is well known in that country.

I was a few years afterwards, desired to visit a gentleman in Northumberland, who had taken white arsenic: it operated in the same manner, and for several years after this accident he continued in his usual health.

Thus far does arsenic resemble antimony, but their affinity is still more strongly asserted by Hoffman. While, says he, the sulphureous part of antimony is intimately combined with the arsenical or reguline[39]; it cannot exert its violence. For mineral poisons cannot act or become noxious, till the poisonous parts are freed from their union with those which correct their virulence.

But that mineral sulphur has a power of correcting poison, is clearly proved by that experiment which shews, that arsenic, the greatest poison, being melted on a slow fire, with an equal portion of mineral sulphur, is converted into a mass, almost void of virulence; and if regulus of antimony is fused with an equal portion of the same sulphur, it immediately loses its drastic power[40].

This theory probably introduced an arsenical medicine into practice at Berlin, where Hoffman, who was physician to the king of Prussia, resided. Newman, professor of chymistry and director of the Royal Elaboratory and Dispensatory in that city, observes, that chymistry is capable of converting sundry poisons into remedies; thus the virulent antimonial regulus is changed, by that art, into the mild diaphoretic antimony; and some have been hence induced to imagine, that arsenic might also be corrected and rendered safe, and have even ventured to put so dangerous a speculation in practice. A preparation of arsenic with nitre has been actually sold at Berlin, and in other places, under the title of a specific febrifuge[41].

There is, in many instances, a strong analogy not only between antimony and orpiment, but the more virulent poison of white arsenic; and those who have been bold enough to use that poisonous mineral as a medicine, have found, in its preparations, a more certain and efficacious remedy than in those of antimony. The illustrious Stahl gives some account of a famous fever powder, which obtained great reputation in Germany, and was used by most of the nobility in his neighbourhood. This celebrated chymist does not deny its great efficacy, but, alarmed by a suspicion of poison in its composition, earnestly declaims against its use: it was at length acknowledged to be a preparation of white arsenic[42].

The same fever-powder, or a similar preparation, was used, with great success, by the German Physicians and Surgeons, in the late Flanders war. It was also introduced among the English, but the late Mr. Pringle, Inspector General of the British hospitals in Flanders, on whose authority this fact is related, alarmed at the danger and uncertainty of this remedy, ordered all the preparations of it to be destroyed. This gentleman acknowledged it had proved successful, but dropsies and visceral obstructions, which sometimes followed the fevers in which it was given, were, perhaps unjustly, ascribed to its use.

Some account of an arsenical fever-powder is given by Doctor Werlhoff, late physician to his Britannic Majesty at Hanover. He mentions its being recommended from successful experience by Michael Friccius[43], who had used some drachms of it, and by Sleuogtius[44], who had given it with safety in fifty cases, but, notwithstanding these and many other recommendations, he expressly condemns this dangerous remedy[45].

Lemery also affirms, that many diseases have been cured by giving four grains of white arsenic in a large quantity of water. It operates, according to this intelligent chymist, by vomiting, in the same manner as antimony. But he highly disapproves of using it as an internal remedy[46].

Poisons having been lately strongly recommended for the cure of many obstinate diseases, and generally adopted in practice, the dread of them, wisely implanted in our nature, is in a great measure banished; and such is the influence of novelty and fashion, and so much has prejudice prevailed, that one of the most eminent physicians in Europe has been disgraced for exposing a practice fraught with danger, and supported by misrepresentation[47].

But though the strong proofs of the poison of antimony, drawn from its natural history and chymical analysis, should be rejected by prejudice or scepticism, yet the easy transition of this mineral, by the simplest processes and slightest accidents, from a salutary medicine to a deadly poison, has not yet, been seriously denied.

It is found by chymists generally to contain mercury, arsenic, lead, sulphur, and sometimes copper, silver, and other metals[48]. When it is melted by fire, or deflagrated with half its weight of nitre, it becomes a poison. But if antimony, or its regulus, is mixed with an equal portion of common salt, and calcined with a gentle heat, stirring it constantly, and afterwards washing it with pure water, it becomes a gentle diaphoretic.

The mildest preparation of antimony; its white calx, which may be safely taken to the quantity of some drachms, if melted with an equal portion of nitre, a little powder of charcoal, and a small quantity of animal fat, is immediately rendered poisonous.

If antimony is melted with a fourth part of salt of tartar, a salutary medicine is obtained; but if the same process is performed with two or three times that quantity of the salt, so nice is the management of this wonderful mineral, in place of a medicine it becomes a poison[49]

When antimony is combined with other medicines, as it frequently is by practical physicians, unless the composition is directed with chymical skill, it may be so changed, or, in the language of the chymists, decomposed, as totally to alter its usual qualities.

By marine acids the activity of antimonials is increased, and they are rendered corrosive, or virulently emetic and purgative; but by the addition of the nitrous acid this virulence is diminished or destroyed, and they become mild diaphoretics[50].

Such being the uncertainty and variety in the operation of antimonial preparations, it cannot be improper, since they are now in common family use, to lay before the public the objections against the general application of them, which arise from the accurate observations of the best chymists, and most experienced physicians; since it is not improbable, that many who deal them out with a liberal hand, and with the most charitable and benevolent intentions, would dread the danger of a drug, which though published as an infallible remedy, may, without great skill and precision in the direction of it, in place of a remedy become a poison.

But the ultimate decision of this point must depend on the real effects of antimonial medicines on the human body, which are therefore now to be considered.