70 
Book II. 
Division II. 
SALTS Or 
yellow, and yields by evaporation small needle-form 
crystals, consisting no doubt ot muriat of antimony, or 
of muriatic acid combined with antimony, oxidated to a 
minimum. 
Muriatic acid dissolves the white oxide of antimony 
with facility; but it is nitro-muriatic acid which is con 
sidered as by far the best solvent of that metal. These 
solutions may be considered as containing an oxy-muriat 
of antimony, or muriatic acid combined with antimony 
oxidated to a maximum. That salt was formerly known 
by the name of butter of antimony. It was usually pre 
pared by triturating together one part ef antimony and 
two parts of oxy-muriat of mercury, and then distilling 
them in a retort. At a moderate temperature the oxy 
muriat of antimony passes over. It is in the state of a 
thick fatty mass, of a greyish white colour, and often 
crystallized in four-sided prisms. It is exceedingly 
caustic, becomes coloured when exposed to the air, and 
melts at a very moderate temperature. When diluted 
with water, it is partly decomposed, and the greater 
part separates in the form of a white oxide. In this 
state it was formerly known by the name of powder oj 
Algorotb. 
Sp. 5. Pbospbat of Antimony. 
THE action of phosphoric acid on antimony has never 
been examined. Neither is the salt better known which 
that acid may be supposed capable of forming with the 
oxides of that metal. 
Sp. 6. Phosphat of Lime-and-antimony. 
THE well-known medicine called James's powder has 
been shewn by the analysis of Dr Pearson to be a com 
pound of phosphoric acid, lime, and oxide of antimo¬