Where is Lead found?
In various countries; but it abounds principally in Great Britain and Spain; the lead mines of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, are among the richest in the world. Lead is a metal of great utility; it easily melts and mixes with gold, silver, and copper; hence it is employed in refining gold and silver, as it separates all the dirt and impurities from them; it is much used in building, particularly for covering gutters, pipes, &c.; lead is also used in varnishes and oil-painting, and makes the basis of the glazing of all the earthen and pottery wares.
Refining, cleansing, purifying.
Varnishes, preparations for beautifying and preserving various articles.
What is peculiar to the ore of Lead?
The ore of this metal is so poisonous, that the steam arising from the furnaces in which it is smelted infects the grass of all the neighboring places, and kills the animals which feed on it: culinary vessels lined with a mixture of tin and lead, are apt to convey pernicious qualities to the food prepared in them. There are various preparations of lead, serving for different purposes.
Infects, corrupts.
Culinary, adapted to the purposes of cooking.
Pernicious, hurtful, dangerous.
Ore, the mineral soil, earth, or stone dug out of the mines, which contains the metal.