Chap. 31.] Vfes of 'Red Lead. 191 



being cut and polimed with lefs danger of breaking. 

 Lead enters particularly into the compofition of flint 

 glafs, and the compofitions called paites, or artificial 

 gems. The chief defect of flint glafs is, that it is apt 

 to be of unequal denfity, which renders it difficult 

 to find pieces of any confiderable dimenfions free from 

 ftrias. Litharge is alfo employed by potters for glaz- 

 ing their ware. 



The ufes of red and white lead, as pigments, are 

 well known. The common red wafers are coloured 

 with red lead, as may be eafily feen by holding one 

 of them in the flame of a candle, when the lead will 

 be reduced, and appear in little globules j thefe wafers 

 ihould, therefore, never be left in the way of children, 

 as they may be induced to fwallow them, and may 

 confequently fubjecl: themfelves to all the ill effects 

 arifing from this fatal poifon. The beft red wafers 

 are coloured with vermilion. 



