Part 2

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.

SECTION IV.

_Of the preparations of antimony, and their medical effects._

The limits to which dissertations of this kind ought to be confined will not permit us to enter into a minute detail of the various antimonial preparations which may be found in every dispensatory. Those in most frequent use are calx of antimony, crocus of antimony, antimonial wine, tartar emetic, and kermes mineral.

The virtues of calx of antimony are variously represented by different writers, some ascribing to it the power of an excellent diaphoretic, others asserting that it even proves violently emetic, and others, among whom is the great Boerhaave, declaring it a mere inert earth intirely destitute of all medicinal virtue. The College of Physicians of London, who had formerly directed this preparation, under the title of diaphoretic antimony, thought proper, because of the various opinions concerning its operation, to change its name to that of calx of antimony, till its medicinal qualities should be better ascertained[51].

These different judgments can scarce be supposed to have been delivered by competent judges concerning the same medicine, but may be accounted for from the different manner in which the process for making the calx may have been conducted. The common nitre, with which it is prepared, contains some portion of sea-salt, and when that abounds, the proportion of nitre being less, the calx may prove an active remedy[52].

If it is not sufficiently calcined, or perfectly freed from the reguline parts by washing, such of these as remain, may produce more sensible effects than are to be expected when it is duly prepared, and hence perhaps proceed the contradictory opinions of chymists and physicians concerning this antimonial preparation.

But the assertion of its being a mere inert earth, is not well founded, since a small dose of it sometimes produces violent effects; and it may be reduced by fusion, with inflammable fluxes, into pure regulus. It enters the composition of a medicine described by the judicious Doctor Morton, with which, in three instances, he cured an obstinate intermitting fever. In one case the disease was of two years standing, and in all of them had resisted a diligent and skilful application of the Peruvian bark. But these were the only opportunities he had of trying it; for having never met with any other case in which that excellent febrifuge disappointed his expectation, he deemed it an unpardonable wantonness to use a precarious remedy, while he was possessed of one more certain and efficacious[53]. It is also recommended by Van Swieten in the peripneumony, as a deobstruent and expectorant[54].

Crocus of antimony is made by deflagrating equal parts of antimony and nitre: it operates as a violent emetic when given from two to six grains. A preparation of this kind, recommended to the London College of Physicians by one of their own members, under the title of milder crocus of antimony, as a medicine of mild operation and eminently efficacious, was inserted in their Dispensatory; but the committee appointed to review and correct it having had some comparative trials reported to them of this and the common crocus, which rendered them dubious of their effects, were induced to leave the matter to be further examined[55].

It is seldom prescribed: but an extraordinary cure is said to have been performed by the milk of an ass that had drank water in which it was accidently infused[56]; and from such an improbable story, an eminent physician was induced to use the milk of a goat which drank the same kind of water.

Antimonial wine was formerly ordered, in the London Dispensatory, to be made, by infusing an ounce of powdered glass of antimony in two pints of claret; and is commended by Salmon, as a strong vomit, under the name of vinum rubellum.

The vinum benedictum is made by infusing an ounce of crocus metallorum in a pint and an half of Spanish white wine. A third form is, to digest two ounces of regulus of antimony in three pints of white wine. This last preparation is declared by Salmon to be an excellent medicine in fevers and agues, and in obstructions of the bowels, emptying them of all evil humours. It perfectly cures the falling-sickness, convulsions, cramps, gout, sciatica and almost all other disorders. Another tincture of antimony is directed by the same author, and is said, on account of its many virtues, to be a gift sent from God. It cures the plague and all pestilential fevers. A tincture of antimony is also directed by Basil Valentine, eight drops of which are said to be a remedy for all diseases.

The simple infusion of crocus, glass, or regulus of antimony in wine, if not more efficacious, is at least less dangerous than those preparations which are made by more elaborate chymical processes, since the accuracy and attention of those who prescribe it, will not so readily be defeated by the carelessness or ignorance of an operative chymist. But though it may be given with greater safety than other antimonials, yet the extravagant encomiums bestowed upon it are contradicted by the testimony of the faithful, attentive and judicious Sydenham. That candid physician expresses his wishes, that instead of the infusion of crocus of antimony, we had safer vomits sufficiently efficacious. When called to infants, and observing a vomit indicated, whereby they might have been preserved from danger, he durst not give this infusion for fear of bad consequences. He was cautious of giving it, even to grown people, though, when plentifully diluted, he found no ill effect from it; but he positively declares that, in a continued fever, it is by no means safe to give it to children under the age of fourteen; and expects no other benefit from it, than what might be obtained by milder emetics[57].

But the obsolete opinions of the universal efficacy of antimonial wine, although expressly contradicted by the chaster judgement of Sydenham, were again revived in their full force by Dr. Huxham. In the year 1737 he recommended the vinum benedictum, in a manner that might rather have been expected from the mystical chymists, in times of ignorance and superstition, than from an able and experienced physician, in a liberal and enlightened age[58]. As he had obtained much influence and authority in his profession, his earnest recommendation could not fail widely to extend the use of this medicine in regular practice; and when further experience induced him to speak of it in more moderate terms, and physicians to look out for less precarious remedies, a new and infallible antimonial medicine, known by the name of the fever-powder, was published, which brought us again back to the abuse of antimonial preparations, which had already been often exploded.

That which next became fashionable, as having the greatest supposed resemblance, in its operation, to the celebrated fever-powder, was tartar emetic. It is prepared by boiling equal quantities of washed crocus of antimony and crystals of tartar in water. This, as being soluble in liquids, is said to be less precarious in its effects than the other solid preparations; yet the strength of it greatly depends upon the manner of conducting the process, for some of the tartar, in the ordinary method, will be apt to shoot by itself, retaining little of the crocus. Some have therefore advised, as soon as the solution is filtered, to carry the evaporation much further than is usually done, if not to the total exhalation of the liquor[59]. Its effects, however, are uncertain, six or eight grains sometimes proving a mild emetic; though in other cases, I have seen half a grain operate so severely as to bring on violent convulsions, and Newman has known three or four grains prove mortal.

Fatal consequences have also happened from want of attention to the different methods of preparing this medicine. A Dutch physician, being accustomed to an emetic tartar made with salt of tartar, which was given in doses of ten, twelve, or fifteen grains, prescribed a like dose from a German shop, by which the patient vomited to death[60].

Kermes mineral, a preparation similar to golden sulphur of antimony, has been vended as a quack medicine in France and Germany, under the title of Mineral Centaury, Kermes or Alkermes Mineral, or Poudre des Chartreu, and in England by that of Wilson’s Panacæa, and Russel’s Powder.

The king of France was at length persuaded by M. Dodart, his first physician, to purchase it from M. La Ligerie, a surgeon at Paris, and it was made publick in the year 1720: but, like all other catholicons, has lost its consequence since the secret has been divulged, and the medicine found to be a well-known preparation described by Glauber,[61] and the elder Lemery.[62]

How long this medicine was used by the mystical chymists cannot be known, since they seldom communicated any of their processes excepting for a valuable consideration, and under the strictest obligation to secresy. But Cristopher Farnner, who was a humble retainer of Glauber’s, on the small stock of chymical knowledge which he had gleaned from him and from a servant whom he seduced to betray his master and discover his secrets, attempted to become his rival, and set the process for making the golden sulphur of antimony to sale, at the price of thirty rixdollars. Glauber, incensed at his treachery, published his own improved method of preparing this medicine, which he calls a Panacea of common antimony, and it has since under different names, and with some variation, been transcribed into most of the chymical books[63].

According to Geoffroy, as well as the earlier chymists, it was esteemed an universal medicine. It sometimes vomits, often purges, and generally operates by sweat and urine; in a word, says this celebrated writer, it promotes the feveral evacutions, according to the different channels by which nature may be disposed to throw of the vitiated humours.

It is recommended in the small-pox and measles, in obstinate autumnal intermittents, in spitting of blood, and other pulmonary complaints, in chronic diseases arising from obstructions in the bowels, in dropsies and in the bloody-flux. It is made by boiling antimony repeatedly in water, with a certain proportion of alcaline salt, and owes its virtues to a portion of regulus being rendered soluble in water[64].

But this manner of preparing it is condemned by Hoffman; who affirms, that the reguline or arsenical parts are not sufficiently sheathed by the sulphureous, as appears from many circumstances which he mentions, but especially from its violent emetic quality. He recommends a different process, by which he supposes the sulphur to be so blended with the reguline, or arsenical particles as to render it a mild and effectual diaphoretic.

The fate of antimony and its preparations has been as various as the reports concerning their efficacy are contradictory. They have been ranked among the wonders of the world, and their virtues extolled beyond all probability. They have again been proscribed as baneful, and prohibited under the severest penalties.

Those who used antimony in Rome were sent to the gallies. It was prohibited in France by an edict of parliament in 1566; and in 1609 a physician was expelled the faculty of Paris for prescribing it. The edict was repealed in 1650, and it was again received into the number of purgatives; but this having been found inconvenient or dangerous, its general use was prohibited by a new edict in 1668, and it was only permitted to be prescribed by Doctors of the faculty.