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CHAP. XVII. 
Salt Ammoniac, or Armoniac* 
W HAT the Ancients called by this 
Name, is fuppofed to have been 
a Salt generated in the Earth or Sands, 
from the Urine and Dung of Camels (made 
ufe of by the Multitudes of Pilgrims that 
reforted to the Temple of Jupiter Ammon) 
which, being fublimed by the Sun, pro¬ 
duced this Kind of Salt; and the Difufe of 
that Cuftom for many Ages, is imagined to 
be the Reafon why none of it is now found* 
What we have at prelent is undoubtedly 
factitious, being made of Urine, Sea-Salt, 
and Soot. It is fuppofed to come from Egypt 
or Syria , in round Cakes near three Inches 
thick, and about half a Foot in Diameter : 
in Colour it is greyifh on one Side, and 
appearing, for the moft Part, black, or ra¬ 
ther footy on the other. When broke, the 
Infide (if good) is white, tranfparent, and 
cryftaline, and in * Appearance much like 
Camphire. We are told, that in thofe 
Countries they colleCl a Soot from the 
burning of Camel’s Dung, which they 
fprinkle with a Solution of Salt made in 
Urine of the fame Animal, and then fub- 
lime in Glafs VeiTels, till a Cake is thrown 
up to the Top of each, correfpondent to 
the Shape of the Glafs, which they mull 
break 
