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earthen Veflftls for kitchen ufe, may indeed diminifh 

 their tendency to rancidity, but not without com- 

 municating a more dangerous quality. 



But what fhall we fay to the ftill more hazardous 

 pradice of chemifts and apothecaries, who, till 

 very lately, have been fan6tioned by no Jefs autho- 

 rity than that of the College Difpenfatory to boil 

 their oxymels, compofed chiefly of honey and vi- 

 negar, in glazed earthen veflels, for fuch the words 

 ^^ vaje Ji5fili vitreato'* plainly import! And it is 

 much to be feared the diredtion will continue to be 

 literally obeyed by thofe who are ftill ignorant 

 of its dangerous tendency. Such an over fight can- 

 not be fuppofed long to have efcapcd the notice 

 of that learned body; but is it not ftrange they 

 (hould fuflfer this, and fome other obvious ble- 

 mifhes, to difgrace one of the mod elegant Dif- 

 penfatories in Europe, from the year 1746 till the 

 new edition of 1788, wherein I am glad to find 

 them expunged, and that glafs veflels only are ex- 

 prefsly ordered for fuch purpofes in future ? The 

 old pewter funnels and meafures, however, ftill 

 continue to be found in almoft every ftiop. Into 

 thefe are poured, without hefitation, vinegar and 

 other acidsi and the veflfels fometimes, through 

 hurry, are fet by unwafhed. On expofure to the 



air for fome time, a fine efflorefccncc of fugar of 

 Bbj lead 



