Everyone -
Thank you for your fascinating and informative responses to my questions about
mercury and silver, and for the references, which I will pursue.
One can only hope that because the early 17th C. coincided with the nadir of the
demographic collapse in New Spain, the refiners were compelled by self interest
to take SOME precautions - certainly the rationing of mercury referred to by Dr.
Claughton would have led to care in the recovery of the metal, and possibly to
less escape to the environment. One wishes the records of the hospital of John
of God had survived.... A despressing subject.
Thank you all again.
Saludos,
Charles E. Rignall
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