APPENDIX B. 6ic 



It comprises ten chapters in i68 folios demi-octavo. Other Italian editions of which 

 we find some record are the second at Venice, 1552 ; third, Venice, 1558 ; fourth, Venice, 

 1559 ; fifth, Bologna, 1678. A French translation, by Jacques Vincent, was published in 

 Paris, 1556, and this translation was agam published at Rouen in 1627. Of the ten chapters the 

 last six are almost wholly devoted to metal working and founding, and it is more largely for 

 this description of the methods of making artillery, munitions of war and bells that the book 

 is celebrated. In any event, with the exception of a quotation which we give on page 297 on 

 silver amalgamation, there is little of interest on our subject in the latter chapters. The 

 first four chapters are undoubtedly of importance in the history of metallurgical literature, 

 and represent the first work on smelting. The descriptions are, however, very diffuse, difficult 

 to follow, and lack arrangement and detail. But like the Probierbiichlein, the fact that it was 

 written prior to De Re Metallica demands attention for it which it would not otherwise receive. 

 The ores of gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, and iron are described, but much interrupted with 

 denunciations of the alchemists. There is little of geological or mineralogical interest, he too 

 holding to a muddle of the classic elements astrology and alchemy. He has nothing of con- 

 sequence to say on mining, and dismisses concentration with a few words. Upon assaying 

 his work is not so useful as the Probierbiichlein. On ore smelting he describes the reduction 

 of iron and lead ores and cupriferous silver or gold ores with lead. He gives the barest 

 description of a blast furnace, but adds an interesting account of a reverbero furnace. He 

 describes liquation as consisting of one operation ; the subsequent treatment of the copper 

 by refining with an oxidising blast, but does not mention poling ; the cupellation of argen- 

 tiferous lead and the reduction of the litharge ; the manufacture of nitric acid and that 

 method of parting gold and silver. He also gives the method of parting with antimony and 

 sulphur, and by cementation with common salt. Among the side issues, he describes the 

 method of making brass with calamine ; of making steel ; of distilling quicksilver ; of melting 

 out sulphur ; of making vitriol and alum. He states that arsenico and orpimenio and etrisa- 

 gallio (realgar) are the same substance, and are used to colour copper white. 



In general, Biringuccio should be accredited with the first description (as far as we 

 are aware) of silver amalgamation, of a reverberatory furnace, and of liquation, although the 

 description is not complete. Also he is, so far as we are aware, the first to mention cobalt 

 blue (Zaffre) and manganese, although he classed them as " half " metals. His descriptions 

 are far inferior to Agricola's ; they do not compass anything like the same range of metal- 

 lurgy, and betray the lack of a logical mind. 



Other works. There are several works devoted to mineralogy, dating from the fifteenth 

 and early sixteenth centuries, which were, no doubt, available to Agricola in the compilation of 

 his De Natura Fossiliuni. They are, however, practically all compiled from the jeweller's point 

 of view rather than from that of the miner. Among them we may mention the poem on 

 precious stones by Marbodaeus, an author who lived from 1035 to 1123, but which was first 

 printed at Vienna in 1511 ; Speculum Lapidtim, a work on precious stones, by Camilli Leonardi, 

 first printed in Venice in 1502. A work of wider interest to mineralogists is that by Christoph 

 Entzelt (or Enzelius, Encelio, Encelius, as it is variously given), entitled De Re Metallica, 

 and first printed in 1551. The work is five years later than De Natura Fossiliuin, but contains 

 much new material and was available to Agricola prior to his revised editions. 



