OF EARTHS. 41 



its name, from ptx\, Honey- Drawn on a board, they make a 

 white line. They do not effervefce with Aqua forth. Under 

 proper management, they are capable of a fine polilh. Drink> 

 ing-cups, and other things, were formerly made of them abroad, 

 in the Mdrgraviate of Baynith, polifhed after a curious manner, 

 but the art is faid to be now near loft. They are ufed in making 

 the fineft Porcelain, for which they are excellently well qualified ; 

 the talc in them being proof againft fire, and preventing a per- 

 fect vitrification. 



Mineral Agaric, or Lac Lunt, a fine loofe friable earth or chalk, 

 the Seleneufia of the Antients (h), is found plentifully in the perpen- 

 dicular and horizontal firTures of a freeftone-quarry on the weft 

 fide of Hall-Barns, near Simonburn. It lies in the form of a fari- 

 naceous powder, on thin, fparry plates. It is of a bright white 

 colour. It is extremely foft in handling, colours the fingers, 

 melts freely in the mouth without the leaft grittineTs. In water 

 it makes an ebullition, and gives it a milky colour. It makes 

 a violent effervefcence with Aquafortis. It Was valued among the 

 antients as an aftringent, and ufed in hemorrhages. They ufed it 

 alfo as a cofmetic, to cleanfe the flcin, and deface wrinkles. 

 Scilly affords the fineft, from which they had it. The Germans are 

 faid to have ufed it with fuccefs externally, in drying all kinds of 

 ulcers; and internally, in all difeafes proceeding from the acids; 

 in hemorrhages, and peftilential or malignant fevers. It is com- 

 mended as an excellent abforbent. 



(f) Greta fdngofa sibiflirrW, Agaricus mineralis, et Lac Lunse di&a. Da Cofta. Hifb 

 FofT. p. 30. n. 6. 



Stenomarga. Agricol. 378. Terra Seleneufia. Matth. 1392. 



Lac Luna:. Plot's Oxfordfhire, c. 3. p. 60. 



Woodw. Meth. of FofT. p. 4. n. 20. 



Cat. A. a. 62, Cat. i. a. 49, et Cat. 1. a. 28, et 295 



VOL. L G A! 



