BOOK XXXTV. xLix. 164-L. 167 



have the following names — Oviedo lead, Capraria 

 lead, Oleastrum lead, though there is no difference 

 between them provided the slag has been carefully 

 smelted away. It is a remarkable fact in the case 

 of these mines only that when they have been 

 abandoned they replenish themselves and become 

 more productive. This seems to be due to the air 

 infusing itself to saturation through the open 

 orifices, just as a miscarriage seems to make some 

 women more proHfic. This was recently observed 

 in the Salutariensian mine in Baetica, Mhich used to 

 be let at a rent of 200,000 denarii a year, but which 

 was then abandoned, and subsequently let for 

 255,000. Likewise the Antonian mine in the same 

 province from the same rent has reached a return 

 of 400,000 sesterces. It is also remarkable that 

 vessels made of lead will not melt if they have water 

 put in them, but if to the water a pebble or quarter- 

 as coin is added, the fire burns through " the vessel. 



L. In medicine lead is used by itself to remove Medimi 

 scars, and leaden plates are applied to the region l'^^ °^ 

 of the loins and kidneys for their comparative chilly 

 nature to check the attacks of venereal passions, 

 and the hbidinous dreams that cause spontaneous 

 emissions to the extent of constituting a kind of 

 disease. It is recorded that the pleader Calvus 

 used these plates to control himself and to preserve 

 his bodily strength for laborious study. Nero, 

 whom heaven was pleased to make emperor, used to 

 have a plate of lead on his chest when singing songs 

 fortissimo, thus shomng a method for preserving the 

 voice. For medical purposes lead is melted in 

 earthen vessels, a layer of finely powdered sulphur 

 being put underneath it ; on this thin plates are 



247 



