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150 PRECIOUS STONES.
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only
the fat borace refin'd, and shot into crystals." " The refin'd borace
ought to be prefer'd in medicine ; it is incisive, and penetrating." "
They also use it externally to consume the excrescences of flesh ; 'tis
of some profit likewise, since 'tis an ingredient of the unguent:
citrinum."
This said " Unguent," according to directions given in the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, by
Dr. Wm. Salmon (1690), " was to be prepared with fresh hog's lard, the
outward rind of citrons bruised, crystal shells of the limpet, white
alabaster, white Venetian borax, and beaten up, with suet of goat, or
deer, being made into an oyntment according to art." " It was intended
to take away deformities of the skin, as scabs, pimples, breakings-out:
some say it will dispel freckles; but that I question much." The chief
modern use of borax is by jewellers and goldsmiths, for facilitating
their practice of soldering gold, and silver.
Free Potash goes
by the medicinal name of " Causticum." It is the active principle to
which quick-lime and the caustic alkalies owe their causticity. This
bears also the name " iEerstoff," which is our " hydrated causticum,"
or potassium. " It has been well ascertained," writes a competent
author, " of late years that potash exerts a poisonous action quite
distinct from that of any alkali; which may be especially seen by the
way potash, when harmfully employed paralyses the spinal cord and the
heart." Dr. Meyhoffer says that for any overstrained exercise of the
vocal apparatus, such as public singers, and speakers are liable to
incur, "a specific remedy is at hand in kali causticum (the mineral
potassium), which often in a single dose, infinitesimally attenuated,
will remove any functional exhaustion of
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