FOOTNOTES:
[194] Acqua da partire is the acid into which you put alloys and clippings, filings, etc., to separate gold from silver, or silver from copper, or gold from gilt copper, in other words nitric acid. Partitore is the man who exercises this trade. Hoepli’s Manual, ‘Oreficeria,’ published Milan, gives information about the modern way of using acids for ‘separating or parting.’
[195] Solimato: can this be sublimed sal ammoniac?
[196] Allumi di rôcca.
[197] Vernice ordinaria.
CHAPTER XXXV. HOW TO MAKE AQUAFORTIS FOR PARTING.
Aquafortis for parting[198] is made thus. You take 8 lbs. of burnt rock alum[199] & an equal quantity of the best saltpetre, and 4 lbs. of Roman vitriol, & put them altogether into the alembic,[200] add to these things a little aquafortis that has already been used, exercising your discretion as to the quantity. And in order to give a good luting[201] to your alembic take horse-dung, iron filings & brick dust in equal proportions, and mix them up with the yolk of a hen’s egg, then smear the mixture over the alembic as far as the furnace will allow. Then for the rest put it to a moderate fire, as the wont is.