Clmp :>;.] CKETACEOUS EATITIIS. 299 



in the sun ; after which, they are again triturated in water, 

 and loll to settle : this done, they are divided into tablets. 

 They are usually boiled in earthen vessels, which arc well 

 shaken every now and then. 



CHAT. ,50. CIITAX EAUTH; TIIRFE KF.MKTUKS. SKLIXUSTAN EARTH; 



TI1KKK JIKMKDIKS. 1'MliiTlS; MNK KKMKDIKS. AMl'KLITISJ FOUtt 

 HEM E DIES. 



Among the medicinal substances, there is the white earth of 

 Chios also, the properties of 'which are the same as those of 

 Sjuniau earth. It is used more particularly as a cosmetic for 

 the skin of females; the Selinusian* 4 earth being also employed 

 for a similar purpose. This last is of a milk-white colour, 

 and melts very rapidly in water: dissolved in milk, it is em. 

 ployed for whitening the plaster coats on walls. Pnigitis^ is 

 very similar to Kretrian earth, only that it is found in larger 

 masses, and is of a glutinous consistency. Its effects are 

 similar to those produced by Cimolian 3 * earth, but are not so 

 energetic. 



Ampelitis 37 is an cnrt'i which bears a strong resemblance to 

 bitumen. The test of its goodness is its dissolving in oil, like 

 wax, and preserving its black colour when submitted to the 

 action of lire. Its properties are emollient and repercussive; 

 for which reason, it is used in medicinal compositions, those 

 known as "calliblephara," 3 * more particularly, and in prepara- 

 tions for dyeing the hair. 



CHAT. 57. (17.) CHKTACKOUS EARTHS USED FOR SCOURING CLOTH. 

 CIMOMAN KART1I; MNK KKMKDIKS. SARDINIAN KAKT1I. VM- 

 UKIAN KAKTII. SAXUM. 



Of cretaceous 39 earths there are several varieties ; and among 



* 4 It appears to be a matter of doubt whether it was found at Selinus, 

 in Sicily, or the place of that name in Ciliciu. See U. iii. c. 14, and B. v. 

 c. 22. 



34 Acrricola is of opinion that, this earth had its name from the place 

 culled I'nigi'iiin, in the Libyan Mareotis. Othor commentators would have 

 it to be derived from Trviyto, " to suffocate," such bein^ its etIVct if takta 

 internally. i<; Sec the next Chapter. 



37 So called from a/iiriXoc, a "vine;" either herause it was applied to 

 Tines to kill the insects, or Wausc its admixture with the soil wtu> favour- 

 able to tin? ciihivatitji of the vine. 



3< * ' Washes for b.-autifying the eye-hrows." S c B. xxi. c. 73, B. xxiii. 

 C. 51, nnd H. \xxiii. c. 34. 



3W Ciniolian earth, known in modern chemistry na Cimolite, is not a 



