LIT 
oxydable. When first fused its surface is 
perfectly bright, but by the contact of the 
air it is quickly covered with a thick film, 
called the dross of lead. If this be taken 
off, the same circumstances again take 
place, and thus the whole of the lead may 
be converted into a kind of grey powder, 
which is the oxide of lead. By exposing it 
to a higher degree of heat, it acquires a 
yellow colour, forming a pigment named 
, “ massicot and by a still greater heat, and 
causing tlie flame to play upon the surface, 
while the powder is constantly stirred, the 
yellow colour becomes red, and the sub- 
stance is then called minium, or red lead, 
which is the metal in a high degree of 
oxydizement. By a particular management 
of the heat, during the oxydizement of lead, 
supplying it quickly with a current of air 
blown over the surface of the metal, the 
oxide is semi-vitrified, forming the soft 
flaky substance named litharge. By a 
stronger heat, the lead may be vitrified, 
when it forms the glass of lead. 
LITHOMARGE, in mineralogy, is a 
species of the clay genus, and divided by 
Werner and others into two sub-species, 
viz. the friable and tlie indurated. Friable 
lilhomarge or rock-marrow is white and 
massive ; it occurs likewise as a crust, and 
disseminated. Its lustre is feebly glimmer- 
ing, is generally coherent, feels greasy, and 
adheres to the tongue. It is found in large 
quantities in the Saxon tin veins. Indu- 
rated lithomarge is commonly white, but 
with many varieties of colour. 1'he white 
and red are uniform, but the other colours 
are usually disposed in clouded and spotted 
delineations. It is found in many parts of 
Germany, and occurs in veins of porphyry, 
gneiss and serpentine ; in drusy cavities of 
topaz rock, or nidular in basalt, amygdaloid 
and serpentine ; and in beds over coal. Ac- 
cording to Jameson, the terra-miraculosa, 
which is remarkable for the beauty of its 
coloured delineations, is a variety of the in- 
durated lithomarge. 
HTHOPHILA, in botany, a genus of 
the Diandria Monogynia class and order. 
Essential character : calyx three-leaved ; 
corolla three-petalled ; nectary two-leaved. 
There is only one species, a native of Navaza. 
LITHOSPERMUM, in botany, grom- 
well, a genus of the Pentandria Monogynia 
class and order. Natural order of Asperi- 
foliffi. ■ Borraginem, Jussieu. Essential cha- 
racter : calyx five parted ; corolla funnel 
form, perforated at the throat. There are 
twelve species, natives of most parts of Eu- 
LIV 
rope, particularly in corn-fields and waste 
places, flowering from May to July. 
LITHOTOMY, in surgery, the opera- 
tion by which a calculus is removed from 
the bladdei;. 
LITMUS, in chemistry, a substance, tire 
tincture of which is extremely useful, as a 
test of the presence of an acid or alkali. All 
acids, and salts, with an excess of acid, 
change the natural violet purple of litmus to 
red ; when reddened by an acid, the blue is 
restored by an alkali. 
LITTORELIA, in botany, plaintain 
shoreweed, a genus of the Monoecia Te- 
trandria class and order. Natural order of 
Plantagines, Jussieu. Essential character: 
male, calyx four-leaved ; corolla four-cleft ; 
stamina long : female, calyx none; corolla 
slightly, four-cleft ; styles long ; seed a nut. 
LITURGY, a name given to those set 
forms of prayer which have been generally 
used in the Christian church. Of these 
there are not a few ascribed to the apostles 
and fathers, but they are almost universally 
allowed to be spurious. 
LIVER, in anatomy, a very large viscus, 
of a red colour, situated in tlie right hypo- 
chondrium, and serving for the secretion 
of the bile or gall. See Anatomy ; Phy- 
siology, 
Liver, a name formerly given to dif- 
ferent chemical combinations, because they 
were supposed to reselnble the animal liver 
in colour only. Thus we had liver of 
sulphur, liver of antimony, &c. &c. See 
SULPHURET. 
LIVERY of seisin, a delivery of posses- 
sion of lauds, tenements, or other corporeal 
tiling (for of things incorporeal there can be 
no seisit^ to one that has right. 
Livery of seisin must be on the land in 
the presence of two witnesses, and was 
anciently used to give publicity to gifts or 
transfers of land. It is now necessary, in 
order to complete a feoffhient, and to make 
good a lease for life or grant of the freehold 
to commence at a future day. See Estate, 
Lease. Where there is land and a house, 
it must be made in the house, that being 
the principal. 
LIVERYMEN, of London, are a number 
of men chosen from among the freemen of 
eaeh company. Out of this body the com- 
mon council, sheriff, and other superior of- 
ficers for the government of the city are 
elected, and they alone have the privilege 
of giving their votes for members of parlia- 
ment ; from which the rest of the citizens 
are excluded. 
