_Of the Chymical Properties and Analysis of Antimony._
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.