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OBSERVATIONS
ON
ANTIMONY,

Read before the Medical Society of London,
And published at their Request,

BY
JOHN MILLAR, M. D.

LONDON:
Printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul’s Church-yard,
and D. Wilson and G. Nicol in the Strand,
MDCCLXXIV.

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TO THE
MEMBERS
OF THE
MEDICAL SOCIETY
OF
LONDON.

GENTLEMEN,

The following observationshaving been honoured withyour approbation, are now publishedat your request, and presentedto you as a testimony ofthe author’s respectful regard.

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Candour requires him to acknowledgethat some gentlemenof the Society were averse to thepublication, judging that the freecensure of popular opinions wouldrather provoke resentment thanproduce reformation. Not deterredfrom his purpose, he hasavailed himself of their friendlycautions to obviate some objectionswhich may be made to thedesign.

The account of the earlierchymists may, on a superficialview, appear superfluous; butit was thought necessary to illustrate[v]the Medical History of Antimony,and to shew how littlecredit is due to those writerswhose exaggerated praises of thatmedicine have contributed somuch to mislead and abuse mankind.

It may be objected that theauthor has not himself assayedthe antimonial ores, nor repeatedthe chymical processes. But bydrawing the chymical and mineralogicalmaterials from othersources, all imputation of prejudiceor partiality, on his part,is prevented, since he appeals tothe testimony of the patrons of[vi]antimony themselves, for the authenticityof the facts by whichsome of their opinions are subverted.

I am,

GENTLEMEN,

Your most obedient, and most humble servant,

John Millar.

Pall Mall, April 2, 1774.

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THE CONTENTS.