concept

A horse-drawn hearse pulls away from a doctor's; representing the dire state of the medical establishment according to James Morison, pill-vendor and self-styled 'Hygeian'. Lithograph, c. 1848.

Men vainly seeking alchemical 'white' (mercurial) water in the ground and in trees. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

Processing of mercury. Etching.

A moon above a queen dressed in blue, and a sun above a king dressed in red; representing two alchemical principles: the dissolving 'lac virginis' (mercury) and the coagulating masculine principle (sulphur). Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.

Memoria sobre el modo de hacer y administrar el subnitrate de mercurio, o pildora de Ugarte / escrita por José Antonio Bernal Muñoz ... Impresa el año de 1829.

Two trees being cultivated by doctors; symbolising the differences claimed by James Morison between the 'organic' and his 'hygeist' approached to health. Lithograph, c. 1835.

A three-headed eagle in a crowned alchemical flask, representing mercury sublimated three times. Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.

Dragons and griffins around a lone flowering tree in a landscape on the outskirts of a town; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

Christ, with a sword in his mouth, between seven candlesticks; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, 1772/3.

De mercurio dulci novaque eum adhibendi methodo : dissertatio inauguralis medica ... / auctor Carolus Exner.

Some experiments concerning mercury / by J.H. Boerhaave ; Translated from the latin, communicated by the author to the Royal Society.

A new and easy method of giving mercury, to those affected with the venereal disease : To which is annexed a new theory of the action of this metal on the salivary glands / Translated from the Latin of Joseph James Plenck.

Teinture alcalin.  / par Mr. Bonneau.

An inquiry into the action of mercury on the living body / by Joseph Swan.

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Mercury

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De mercurio dulci novaque eum adhibendi methodo : dissertatio inauguralis medica ... / auctor Carolus Exner.

Some experiments concerning mercury / by J.H. Boerhaave ; Translated from the latin, communicated by the author to the Royal Society.

A new and easy method of giving mercury, to those affected with the venereal disease : To which is annexed a new theory of the action of this metal on the salivary glands / Translated from the Latin of Joseph James Plenck.

Teinture alcalin. / par Mr. Bonneau.

An inquiry into the action of mercury on the living body / by Joseph Swan.