The Parts of no Liquid divide so readily as those of Quicksilver; and, of all Bodies, it is reducible into the finest or minutest Parts. It is also extremely volatile.
Gilders frequently become Epileptic or Paralytic by the fumes of Mercury, which are also of so penetrating a Nature as to take away scirrhous Tumours, though very apt to reach and destroy the noble parts.
To Gilders, to lay Gold on any other Body, dissolve it in hot Mercury; which done, they apply the Solution on the Body to be gilt: Suppose it be Silver; then setting it over the Coals, the Mercury flies away and leaves the Gold adhering to the Silver: Lastly, rubing it with Lapis Haematites the Silver is gilt.