1. The Mercury returns out of the Powder into which it was turned by the Fire.
2. Being revived, it recovers all its former Properties, and lays aside all those that it had acquir’d. Out of the Powder comes the same Mercury as at first.
3. The acquired Fixedness does not bear a great Fire.
4. Yet in that Powder one part is more fixed than another; this still remains a Powder, that returns to Mercury.
Experiment VIII.
Further to examine the Powder remaining after the foregoing Operation.
The Operation.
Seven Drachms and 37 Grains of that Powder in a very clean Glass Retort, cased over with a Coat of Sand and Clay, I put into the naked Fire, which was carefully increased by Degrees, ’till the little Retort, which was entirely covered with the Coals, grew quite red hot. In this Degree of Heat I kept it for four Hours.