Diaphoretic Antimony (calcined antimony) is simply antimoniate of potash.
Glass of Antimony is a mixture of sulphide and oxide of antimony, contaminated with a small quantity of silica and iron.
A quack pill, by name, Ward’s Red Pill, is said to contain glass of antimony and dragon’s blood.
Antimonial Compounds used in Pyrotechny:—
| Blue Fire:— | ||
| Antimonious sulphide, | 1 | |
| Sulphur, | 2 | |
| Nitre, | 6 | |
This composition is used for the blue or Bengal signal-light at sea. Bisulphide of carbon and water are solvents which will easily separate the powder into its three constituents.
| Crimson Fire:— | |||
| Potassic Chlorate, | 17· | 25 | |
| Alder or Willow Charcoal, | 4· | 5 | |
| Sulphur, | 18· | ||
| Nitrate of Strontia, | 55· | ||
| Antimonious Sulphide, | 5· | 5 | |
The spectroscope will readily detect strontia and potassium, and the analysis presents no difficulty. In addition to these a very great number of other pyrotechnical preparations contain antimony.
§ 753. Alloys.—Antimony is much used in alloys. The ancient Pocula emetica, or everlasting emetic cups, were made of antimony, and with wine standing in them for a day or two, they acquired emetic properties. The principal antimonial alloys are Britannia and type metal, the composition of which is as follows:—