The Placer herald., 1872-03-09
Written for the HERALD.
METALS-THEIR ANTIQUITY AND USES
No. TIN. (Conci,ided.)

but little lin is used in manufacturing articles
of the solid metal, the consumption of the
pure metal being chiefly in the state of leaves
or tin foil. The great quantity of metal an
nua'ly obtained from the mines is either en-
ployed to form the various alloys before
enumera ed, Or to export to other countries
In 1857 the declared value of tin, that is,
timed iron plates, exported to various co IN
lies, was IL SOC, 800, and of hardware, a
cat deal of which is made from timed
iron, f4,016,327. Next to timed iron
p'ates, the most important alloy of lin, which
has nearly superseded the use of pewter in
domestic utensils, is that called Britannia
metal. This is mixture of 81 cwt. of the
best block tin, 2S lbs. of reglus of antimony,
8 lbs. of copper and lbs. of brass. The
tin is first melted and raised to dull red
heat, the other ingredients are added in
certain order, in melted state; the mass
being well stirred after each addition, to ef-
feet thorough union.
There are various qualities of this alloy
The common sorts are scarcely equal to good
pewter. Solutions of tin in nitric, mura ic
and tartaric acids are much used as NOR
dants tor impartng permanency and brillancy
to dyeing. So little is seen or known of tin
in its pure metallic state that very few per-
.ons, excepting those directly connected with
ae metal trades have any notion of its real
value. What are commonly called tin YES
sells are SO various, so useful, so c cap and
so universally distributed to the utmost lin
its of civilization, and sometimes beyond
them, that it is difficult to make people un-
derstand why kettle, or a sauce pan, made
of iron and only thinly coated with tin should
go by the name of the latter metal. Custom
and usage have go decided it, and it is not
easy to disturb the arrangement. The won
derful part of it is that the iron and tin so
closely unite that one is so good preserva
tive of the other, and that both metals, so
far as all culinary purposes are concerned,
are so admirably adapted to the wants of the
whole human family.
ANTIMoNY.
This metal is of bluish-white color, and
considerable brilliancy, with specific gravity
of 6.7. 1t is not malleable, being so brittle
as to be easily reduced to powder by tritura-
ton or pounding, and its ductility is incon-
siderable. A wire one-tenth of an inch in
diameter has been formed of it, which only
supported ten pounds. When rubbed it has
a peculiar taste and smell. There are three
oxides of antimony, one of them being acid.
OF the others, one is employed in coloring
glass purple and in vitrifying the eartbs; the
other is doubtful as to its chemical constitu-
ton. Anthony combines so rapidly with
chlorine as to produce a shower of fire, if it
be poured, finely powdered, into glass jar
filled with that gas. 1t unites with many
metals, some of the alloys being use
full. That with lead is ed for the plates
on which music is engraved With tin it
forms kind of pewter, and with lead and
copper it forms printers type metal. An
oxide, combined with one of lead, forms
Naples yellow, and is used in enameling.
Tartar emetic is salt composed of potash
and teroxide of antimony. Hydrochloric
acid forms salt with the oxide, called of
antimony, which is highly corrosive. Anti
monial wine is tartrate of antimony dissolved
in alcohol. In the East preparations of anti
mony are employed by the women to stain
the eyelids. The Arabic name of one of
these is Kohol, which, with the article al
added, is the origin of the name now given
to the spirits of wine. Its use as an orna-
mental pigment for rendering the eyes bril-
liant, is of the highest antiquity; the custom
is alluded to in Scripture DER. ". 80, and
Ezek. XIII. 4O.) Anthony occurs ma
tive; in ores, as sulphurets called gray and
red antimony, and is an oxide. The metal,
exposed to air and water, undergocs no alter
alton, but at red heat it decomposes
steam SO rapidly as to produce violent cx-
plosion, the oxygen of the water forming an
oxide with the metal, and the liberated hy
drogen burning. 1t was not known to the
ancients as metal, but they were arquaint-
en- with its oxide, which Ping calls S1,bium,
as accompanying silver. Basil Valentine,
Monk of Erfurt, appears to have been the
discoverer of the metal, in 1920. 1t is stated
that he practsed as physician, and made
trial of the new substance on some hogs of
his convent, on which it acted as a cathartic,
and the pigs fateped. Being induced from
this success to administer it to his brother
Monks, he gave them too strong doses, and
they died under its effects; hence, az is al
legged, its name of antimony (anti-monk).
A MAN was once travelling through the
State Of Illinois, and coming TO a ferry,
and being out of money, the following collo-
guy took place between him and the ferry
man:
Ferryman-I say, mister, have you got
any money?
Trave!er-No, sir.
Feryman--Have you got any at home?
Travcler-NO, sir.
Ferryman-Do you expect to get any on
the other side?
Traveler-No, sir.
Ferryman--Well, then, you had better
stay where you are, for it makes ID little
difference which side you are on.
"Harry," said young lady on a seat be-
fore us at the thcater the other evening,
chow should love to be an actress! san
actress, Henrietta why?" ooh, it must
no on n;ca to ba mazda love tn in such nrettv