122 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [ APR. 18, . 
(II Kings ix, 30), a custom still prevailing in the East. The art 
of dyeing fabrics in brilliant hues is among the most ancient of 
the chemical arts (II Chron. ii, 7). The luxury of the Israelitish 
women is well described by Isaiah in chapter iii, 18-238. 
The ancients were acquainted with alum, salts of iron, and cop- 
per and alkaline carbonates, and used them in mordanting. They 
also knew brilliant pigments whose durability is unsurpassed. 
Besides these chemical bodies, the ancients used sulphur, borax, sal- 
ammoniac, and saltpetre; but the word ‘‘niter’ in the English 
Bible is not saltpetre; it is a translation of natron, which is carbon- 
ate of soda. 
Lye is mentioned by Jeremiah (ii, 22), and soap by Malachi 
Tide t2). 
bee as such were hardly recognized by the ancients; the Bible, 
however, contains one peculiar reference to carbonic acid gas. 
Solomon wrote: ‘‘ As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, 
and as vinegar upon niter, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy 
heart.”” (Proverbs xxv, 20.) This refers to the effervescence of 
carbonate of soda when acted upon by the acid of vinegar. 
In the apocryphal work of an Alexandrine Jew, called the Wisdom 
- of Solomon, a remarkable passage occurs which seems to fore- 
shadow the fundamental laws of chemistry :— 
“ navra metp@ xot apLOua xa oradua Suéeragas.”? (Chapter xi, 20.) 
‘““Thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and 
weight.” 
Two centuries succeeding the birth of Christ saw many illustrious 
men, Pliny, Dioscorides, Plutarch, Ptolemy, Galen; but the suc- 
ceeding six centuries were unfruitful in scientific research, owing 
to the intellectual degradation accompanying the anarchy which pre- 
vailed in the political world. Chemistry became the ‘sacred art” 
or occult science, and was largely devoted to attempts at the arti- 
ficial manufacture of precious metals, and the futile search for the 
Philosopher’s Stone. 
At the close of the paper the meeting adjourned. 
April 18th, 1892. 
SratTeD MEETING. 
Pror. D. S. Martin in the chair. One hundred and fifty per- 
sons present. 
The minutes of April 11th were read and approved. 
Dr. A. A. JuLIEN, of Columbia College, delivered the seventh 
lecture of the Public Course on— 
