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has its Uſes: This is obtained from native Cinnabar, rubbed with Vinegar in a braſs Mortar with a braſs Peſtle. And many other Things of this kind others, perhaps, may hit upon.
CVI. There yet remain alſo of the
abſorb the Sulphur. This Kind is generally deſtilled by the Retort, with Quicklime, Filings of Iron, Wood-aſhes, Salt of Tartar, Potaſhes, or ſomething of that kind. And from the Reſiduum of theſe Deſtillations, a pure and genuine Lac Sulphuris may be prepared, by the common Way of boiling and precipitating with deſtilled Vinegar. Our factitious Cinnabar, made only by ſubliming Mercury and Sulphur together, exactly reſembles the native of ſome kinds in all its Qualities; and yields its Quickſilver pure and fluid again by the ſame Means.
But beſide all theſe Ways of procuring Quickſilver from the Cinnabars, it is ſometimes found pure, unmixed, and fluid in the Bowels of the Earth. And this Kind Dioſcorides diſtinguiſhes by the Name of ὑδράργυρος καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν. This is cleared from its Earth by waſhing in common Water; and from ſome other heterogene Matters, by Salt and Vinegar, and then is ſtrained through Leather, and called Virgin Quickſilver.
It is a Mineral of a perfectly ſingular kind,
