[3.] Calcined lead. Plumbum combustum.) The process of this is mentioned by Dioscorides under the correspondent Greek name—It was prepared by putting very thin laminæ of lead, with sulphur strewed upon each of them, into an earthen pot, and keeping them on the fire, stirred with an iron rod, till the lead was converted into ashes. It was afterwards rubbed in a mortar, and washed by repeated affusions of water, till no dross swam at top. Dioscorid. lib. cap. 870.
[4.] Misy.) This hath the same virtues as the chalcitis, and they only differ in the degree of strength. The best comes from Cyprus, of a gold colour, hard, and when broken, shining and stellated. Dioscorid. lib. v. cap. 891.
[5.] Allum.) There are several kinds of this mentioned by the ancients. Dioscorides says, the scissile, round and liquid, were applied to medicinal purposes, and that the scissile was the best. Lib. v. cap. 897.
[6.] Melinum.) As our author in this place mentions only simples, he cannot intend by this word, oil of quinces; so that it must either be a kind of colour that came from Melos, or else the Melian allum; in which last sense the comma ought to be expunged betwixt alumen, and Melinum.—But it is necessary to observe, that our author mentioning this species of allum in the sixth book, calls it Alumen Melium, which in other editions is Alumen Melinum.
[7.] Iron scales are reckoned to have the same virtue as its rust, but not so efficacious.
[8.] White vine.) Paul Ægineta mentions the Ampelos leuce, or white vine, which he said was also called bryonia. Lib. vii.
[9.] Propolis is a gluey matter, of a fetid smell, found in the honey-combs, which Pliny says serves to keep out the cold.—Dale calls it bee-bread.—Others call it bee-glue.
[10.] Soot of frankincense.) Dioscorides orders it to be made thus,—“With a pair of small tongs light a bit of thus at a lamp, and put it into a new hollow earthen vessel, which is covered with a concave copper one, with an opening in the middle, and carefully anoint it over; on one side or both, put small stones to the height of four fingers, to show if it burns, and that there may be room to put in other bits, before the first be entirely extinguished; and continue this, till you observe a sufficient quantity of soot collected; always wetting the external side of the copper with a sponge dipped in cold water. For thus all the soot will be fixed, when this is not too much heated: otherwise it would fly off again by reason of its lightness, and be mixed with the ashes of the thus.” Lib. i. cap. 85.
[11.] Sandarach.) This is the mineral sandarach, or red arsenic.
[12.] Gnidian berry.) Modern botanists are not agreed, what this berry of the ancients was; some taking it for the mezereon, or spurge olive, others for the spurge flax.