[23.] Flower of copper.) Flos æris is obtained, when the melted copper runs from the furnace, by pouring cold water upon it to refrigerate it. For by the sudden check, this substance is as it were spued out, and concretes into flowers. Id. lib. v. cap. 862.
[24.] Spodium was scraped off the walls of furnaces mixed with sparks, and sometimes coals; that, which was generated in the gold furnaces, was reckoned best for the eyes. Plin. lib. xxxiv. cap. 13.
[25.] Phrygian.) This was made use of by the dyers in Phrygia, whence its name. The best is pale-coloured and moderately ponderous, not firm in its concretions, and having white veins. Diosc. lib. v. cap. 915.
[26.] Scissile.) This is produced in the western Iberia. The best is of a saffron colour; easily broken and split; in its contexture it resembles the sal ammoniac. Dioscorid. lib. v. cap. 919.
[27.] Vinegar is superfluous, because mentioned before in the same chapter.
[28.] Burned paper.) It must be observed the paper of the ancients was made from the papyrus or paper-reed.
[29.] Sansucus.) Dioscorides says this is the same with the amaracus, or sweet marjoram, which is the name given to sansucus by the Sicilians and people of Cyzicum. Lib. iii. cap. 452.
[30.] Asteriace.) I do not find that this word occurs any where else.
[31.] Eretrian earth is very white, or of an ash-colour: this last, and the soft is best. Dioscorid. lib. v. cap. 945.
[32.] Poppy-tears.) Dioscorides after describing the papaver sativum and its virtues, says, ‘It is not improper to subjoin the method in which the opos or juice of it is collected. Some then cutting the poppy heads with the leaves, squeeze them through a press, and rubbing them in a mortar, form them into troches. This is called meconium, and is weaker than the opos. But whoever desires to gather the juice, must proceed thus. After the heads are moistened with dew, let him cut round the asterisk with a knife, but not penetrate through them, and from the sides, cut straight lines in the surface, and draw off the tear that flows, with his finger, into a shell; and come again not long after, for it will be found standing upon it; and the day following, it will be found in the same manner. It is proper to rub it in a mortar, and forming it up, to set it by.’ Dioscorid. lib. iv. cap. 647.—Pliny says, that the meconium is prepared from a decoction of the heads and leaves; but is much weaker than opion. Lib. xx. cap. 18.