490 BOOK X. 



muffle has small windows at the sides, and in front a little bridge. In order 

 to melt the silver, at the sides of the muffle are laid bricks, upon which the 

 charcoal is placed, and burning firebrands are put on the bridge. The 

 furnace has an iron door, which is covered on the side next to the fire with lute 

 in order that it may not be injured. When the door is closed it retains the 

 heat of the fire, but it has a small window, so that the artificers may look 

 into the test and may at times stimulate the fire with the bellows. Although 

 by this method silver is refined more slowly than by the other, nevertheless it is 

 more useful, because less loss is caused, for a gentle fire consumes fewer particles 

 than a fierce fire continually excited by the blast of the bellows. If, on 

 account of its great size, the cake of silver can be carried only with difficulty 

 when it is taken out of the muffle, they cut it up into two or three 

 pieces while it is still hot, with a wedge or a hammer-chisel ; for if they cut 

 it up after it has cooled, little pieces of it frequently fly off and are lost. 



END OF BOOK X. 



