Arsenic, this word derives from [the Greek] αρρην or αζρη, man , or rather male ; and from νηκαω, vanquish , kill , alluding to its poisonous nature. In natural history it is a mineral, heavy, volatile, and non-combustible; it whitens molten metals: it is extremely caustic and corrosive to animals, making it a violent poison to them. See Fossil, Corrosive, etc.

Arsenic is classified as a sulfur ( see Sulfur). There are different types of arsenic, specifically yellow, red, and crystalline or white. There is natural red arsenic and also natural yellow arsenic, which is called orpiment. Yellow arsenic has various hues, such as golden yellow, reddish yellow, greenish yellow etc.

Arsenic and sulfur are highly compatible, and sulfur will colour arsenic, however small a quantity is added. Some believe that orpiment contains a proportion of gold, but in such small quantity that it is not worth extracting. See Orpiment and Sandarach.

White and yellow arsenic can be obtained from cobalt. In Transactions Philosoph. no. 293 , M. Krieg communicates the method used in Hungary. The cobalt is pulverized and the light, sandy parts are removed by rinsing in water. What remains is placed in a furnace, whose flames, passing over the powder, takes away the arsenical part in the form of smoke, which passes up through a chimney and thence is carried along a narrow brick tunnel, being deposited in the process on the sides, from where it is scraped off as a whitish or yellowish powder. Enamel blue is made from the remaining cobalt. See Smalt Blue.

The addition of the smallest quantity of crystalline arsenic to any metal makes it brittle, absolutely destroying its malleability. This is why metal-refiners fear nothing more than the presence of arsenic in their metal. Nothing would be more useful to them, supposing such a thing could be obtained, than a solvent that could absorb arsenic, or which would act uniquely on it, for by this means their metal could be easily purified without losing any of its properties and without itself evaporating. One method has been found in France, which consists of adding to the contaminated metal a little iron, to which the arsenic becomes attached, leaving the metal pure. It is M. Grosse who discovered this.

Even in small quantities, arsenic gives copper a beautiful silver appearance. Many have striven to perfect this process, or make money from the idea, in the manufacture of coins, but without success because it could never be brought to the point of withstanding the hammer, that is, of becoming malleable. It did not pass the assay and it turned green. People have been hanged for minting these pieces of forged money and they have well deserved it. Copper is more difficult than iron to whiten with arsenic.

Chemists have sold many preparations of arsenic. All strive to soften or break up the corrosive salts in which it abounds by washing or sublimation, and to transform arsenic into a reliable medicine made from the sublimate, such as red arsenic etc. but this is not worth the trouble, etc. as whatever one might make could never be used internally in any form, as it always retains its property as a mortal poison. When arsenic vapour enters the lungs it kills instantly. The more arsenic is refined, Boerhaave says, the harsher it becomes.

Butter and cow’s milk taken in great quantity are good antidotes to arsenic.

The regulus of arsenic is the most stable and compact part of the mineral. It is prepared by mixing it with soap ashes and with soap, letting the whole dissolve and pouring it into a mortar, where the heaviest portion descends to the bottom. This is the regulus of arsenic, that is arsenic which, with an added oily ingredient, takes metallic form. See Regulus.

Caustic oil of arsenic is a butyraceous liquor, like antimony butter, a preparation of arsenic with a corrosive sublimate. It is used to dissolve spongy tissue and to clean and scale decayed bones etc.