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$is ministering to Telemachus a medical preparation 

 of this kind. They also made a composition or pre- 

 paration of clay or fullers <jarth, adapted to the re- 

 lief of many disorders,particularly to render the fleshy 

 parts dry, and thence to cure the dropsy and the he- 

 morrhoides. They knew all the different ways of 

 composing salts, nitre, and alum, sal cyrenaic or 

 ammoniac, so called from being found in the envi- 

 tons of the temple of Jupiter Ammon. They made 

 use of the Jitharge of silver, the rust of iron, and cal* 

 cined alum, in the cure of ulcers, cuts, boils, de- 

 fluxions of the eyes, pains of the head, &c. and of 

 pitch against the bite of serpents. They successfully 

 applied caustics. They knew every different way of 

 preparing plants, or herbs, or grain, whether for me- 

 dicine or beverage. Beer in particular had its origin, 

 among them. Their unguents were of the highest es- 

 timation and most lasting ; and their using remedies, 

 taken from metallic substances, is so manifest in the 

 writings of Pliny and Dioscorides, that it would be 

 needless to enter upon them here. Dioscorides often 

 makes mention of their metallic preparations, such as 

 burnt lead, ceruse, verdigrease, and burnt antimony, 

 all which they made use of in their plaisters, and 

 other external applications. It should be observed 

 here, that I have had nothing in view, but the phar- 

 macy of the Egyptians, otherwise I might have made 

 mention of the theriac, that famous composition of 

 Andromachus the physician of Nero, which has at 

 ail times been in high estimation; and is now in as 

 much repute as ever. What little I have advanced 

 respecting the medicinal chymistry of the ancients, must 

 sutlice upon this occasion, the Greeks and Romans 

 presenting a field too vasi to be comprised in a tract 

 of this kind. Hippocrates especially, the cotempo- 

 rary and friend of Democritus, was remarkably assi. 

 duous in the cultivation of chymistry. A learned man. 

 has composed an entire book on the extensive com. 

 prehension he had of it, whereby it appears that he 



