Glass of antimony,
vitrum antimonii, is a transparent
glass created from a preparation of antimony, historically used as an
emetic. It was created using crude
antimony, ground and calcined by a vehement fire, in an earthen
crucible, until it no longer fumed, indicating that its
sulfur was evaporated. The remaining substance (
calx) was then
vitrified in a wind
furnace, upon which it became transparent, ruddy, and shining.
It has been considered the strongest emetic of any preparation of antimony. Yet, if dissolved in spirit of urine, it ceased to be either emetic or cathartic.
See also