i(5j ANALYSIS OF LITHOMARGE. 



eftimation, that it was never dug up without 

 great parade of religious ceremonies: And they 

 .'dlert, that whether ufed internally or external- 

 ly, it was a medicine endowed with nlexiphar- 

 mic, diaphoretic, detedive, and healing vir- 

 tues *. 



As to its outward appearance, it is dillinguifli- 

 ed by its colour more or lefs refembling clay : 

 for as yet we have not feen any of a flefh colour. 

 The furl ace of it is ihiooth and fhining, fomc- 

 fhing like agate, and efpccially in recent frac- 

 tures, which arc alme'ft always concave ajul 

 convex. When applied to the lip it adheres 

 clofely. The form of its mallls is rude and 

 fliapclcfs, rather angular, but not regularly de- 

 termined. The fmall particles, of which it is 

 compofed are fo very fubtle and minute, that 

 they efcape both the touch and the Ji^ht. It 

 is of fuch a texture as to be. fc raped with the 

 nail ; has an earthy inicll, but no talle ; and 

 feels between the teetli like tallow, and a little 

 filiceous. Old liilures often become black. 

 This is the defcription of the common kind not 

 fcaled, fuch as is found in the (hops, and which 

 we have examined by the following experi- 

 ments. 



When a lump of this earth is thrown into 

 water, it divides fpontaneoufly into feveral 

 pieces, and with fome degree of a cracking 



noiiV. 

 * 



* Ceoffrwi Traitc dc h Mal-erc Mcd 



