Note note 58, p. 432 — BOOK IX.[1] (continued 2)

[Pg 432][58] Historical Note on the Metallurgy of Quicksilver. The earliest mention of quicksilver appears to have been by Aristotle (Meteorologica IV, 8, 11), who speaks of it as fluid silver (argyros chytos). Theophrastus (105) states: "Such is the production of quicksilver, which has its uses. This is obtained from cinnabar rubbed with vinegar in a brass mortar with a brass pestle." (Hill's Trans., p. 139). Theophrastus also (103) mentions cinnabar from Spain and elsewhere. Dioscorides (V, 70) appears to be the first to describe the recovery of quicksilver by distillation: "Quicksilver (hydrargyros, i.e., liquid silver) is made from ammion, which is called cinnabari. An iron bowl containing cinnabari is put into an earthen vessel and covered over with a cup-shaped lid smeared with clay. Then it is set on a fire of coals and the soot which sticks to the cover when wiped off and cooled is quicksilver. Quicksilver is also found in drops falling from the walls of the silver mines. Some say there are quicksilver mines. It can be kept only in vessels of glass, lead, tin (?), or silver, for if put in vessels of any other substances it consumes them and flows [Pg 433]through." Pliny (XXXIII, 41): "There has been discovered a way of extracting hydrargyros from the inferior minium as a substitute for quicksilver, as mentioned. There are two methods: either by pounding minium and vinegar in a brass mortar with a brass pestle, or else by putting minium into a flat earthen dish covered with a lid, well luted with potter's clay. This is set in an iron pan and a fire is then lighted under the pan, and continually blown by a bellows. The perspiration collects on the lid and is wiped off and is like silver in colour and as liquid as water." Pliny is somewhat confused over the minium—or the text is corrupt, for this should be the genuine minium of Roman times. The methods of condensation on the leaves of branches placed in a chamber, of condensing in ashes placed over the mouth of the lower pot, and of distilling in a retort, are referred to by Biringuccio (A.D. 1540), but with no detail.