O/TVlETALS.
Book IL
who believe that there is any Difference in
the Litharges from their Colours, fincerhofe are only occafion'd by the Force orViolence of the Fire. The Dant^ick, Lithargeis to be prefer'd before the EngHfh, fo like-wife that which is moft calcin'd, and of alively Colour, that will eafily diffolve in anyunctuous Liquors, in which it is ufually im-ploy'd. This Commodity is much us'd inFrance, as well by Potters to glaze theirEarthen Wares, Dyers, Painters, and others,as by Apothecaries, who make it the Bafisof moft Part of their Planters and Oynt-ments.
Litbargyriu, five Lithfltgyriuni ,Lemery. or Litharge, is a Lead ting'd withthe Impurities of Copper, and re-duc'd into the Form of Drofs, or meraliickScum, by Calcination ; this is made upon thePurification -of Copper in -Poland, Sweden,and Denmark: There are two Sorts, onecall*d Litbargyrium Ami, feu Qhryfuis, or Li'thargeoi Gold.; the other L'tharoy/ium At*genti, or Litharge of'^w; the Differenceof Colours makes no Difference in theVirtue of them. There is like wife a Li-tharge made in "Refining Gold or Silverby the Cupell , but it 'is but in fmallQuantities, tho' like the other. All the Sortsare deficcative, cooling, deterfive, and givea Confidence to feveral Plaifters, for theydiifolve in boiling with Oil and fatty Bo-dies.
Of Salt, or Sugar of Lead.
Pomet. HT H E Salt or Sugar of Lead is-*- made of White Lead, and thetrue Venetian Cerufe, infus'd in diftill'd Vine-gar, then filtred, evaporated, and reduc'dinto a light Mats, that is white and chryftal-liz'd, of a fweet lugary Tafte, yet neverthe-lefs pretty disagreeable. The greateft Partof thofe who make Salt of Lead, do it withDutch Cerufe, fuch as we fell, for which Rea-fon they can fell it nothing near fo cheap asthat made of Venetian Cerufe ; becanfe, as Ifaid before, the Dutch is mix'd with Chalk,which will yield no Salt ; and fome make itof Lead in Powder, Minium, or Litharge,none of which will afford fo much Salt, andconfequently can't be fold fo cheap : Chufethat which is of the Talte aferefaid, white,
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in little Shoots^ or finning Chryftals, and aslight as may be, which when diffolv'd inPlantain Water will look like Whey ; whichTryal will anfwer two Purpofes, the One to,know the Goodnefs of the Salt of Lead,and the Other that of the Plantain Water ;its Ule is to cool, being given internally orexternally, for which Reafon it is reckon'dproper to ftop the Flux of the Belly, andfor fore Throats, taken from three to fourGrains in Plantain Water. Moft of thofewho make this Medicine make it heavy andgreyifh colour'd, which proceeds from theLead not being well purified , or that itwas not maJe with good Vinegar. For tomake the Salt fine and light, it ought to bepurified at leaft four Times.
Of Baifam, or-Oil of Lead,
They call that Btlfam, or OiLoi Lead, thaiis made of the Salt dufolv'd in Oil of Tur-pentine; but others content rhernlelves withpatting Salt-of Lead in a Cellar to rim into aLiquor. The firft Balfun or Oil ought to beprefer'd to the other, in that it is proper tocleanfe and cicatrize Ulcers, and becaufe itis more capable of refitting Putrefaction.Ochers make Oil of Lead, by drawing aburning Spirit of Lead, which they make byfilling two Parts of a Retort with Salt ofLead, and by the Means of Fire, drawingthence a Spirit that burns like Brandy ; butas this Oil is not fo ftrong as that made withOil of Turpentine, it ferves to cleanfe theEyes, efpecially of Horfes and other Beafts.Spirit of Lead is an excellent Remedy to re-fill the Putrefaction of Humours.
Of Magiftery of Lead.
Magiflcry of Lead is made of Salt of theLead that has the required Qualities, dif-folv'd in diftill'd Vinegar mix"d with com-mon Water; and by the Affiftance of Oil ofTartar per deliquium, precipitated into awhite Powder, which after it is wafiYd anddry'd, is very ufeful to cure Tetters andRingworms, being mix'd with fome Poma-tum : It likewife makes, with Vinegar andWater, a Sort of Virgins Milk, that is goodto allay Inflammations and cure Pimples inthe Face.
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