s the freeing of any fluid from its heterogeneous matter or feculence. It is of three kinds. 1. Decantation; which is performed by letting the liquid to be depurated stand for some time in a pretty deep vessel, till the gross sediment has fallen to the bottom; after which the clear fluid is poured off. 2. Defumation; which is performed by means of the whites of eggs, or other viscid matter, and is also called Clarification. 3. Filtration. See Chemistry, No. 69.

DEPUTATORY FEVER, a name given by Sydenham to a fever which prevailed much in the years 1661, 1662, 1663, and 1664. He called it depuratory, because he supposed that nature regulated all the symptoms in such a manner, as to fit the febrile matter, prepared by proper concoction, for expulsion in a certain time, either by a copious sweat or a freer perspiration.