CADMIUM

A white metal, much like tin; it fuses and volatilizes at a temperature a little below that at which tin melts. Specific gravity about 9. Its ores are a ociated with those of zinc. It was discovered in 1818 by Profe or Stromeyer of Gottingen. Its equivalent number is 56. It forms a yellow salifiable oxide, composed of 66 cadmium + 8 oxygen = 64 oxide, of cadmium. Its scarcity prevents its employment in the arts, but the oxide has been used as a pigment. CADUCEUS, In Antiquity, a rod of laurel or olive with a representation of two snakes twisted round it. It was the symbol of peace, and formed the chief badge of the Grecian heralds, whose persons were held sacred. In Mythology, the Caduceus was the symbol of Mercury, thence called Caducifer, to whom it was said to have been presented by Apollo in return for his invention of the lyre. [s. 192]