Plate 5th
This Asbestos, or Matter out of which this wonderful Cloth ... is made, is a Fossil, a mineral stony Substance, of a whitish Colour, and woolly Texture (call’d Salamander’s-Wool) the downy Fibres, separable into short Filaments of Threads, capable of being spun, and made into a sort of Cloth, which will endure the Fire without consuming. When foul, instead of washing, they throw it into the Fire, which cleanses without burning it. Whole Webs and Coats, Napkins, Handkerchiefs, Towels, have been made of it; which were so far from being consumed by Fire, that they were only cleansed from their Dross, and came out purified into a greater Lustre than if wash’d with Water.
Its principal use, according to Pliny[[201]], was for making of Shrouds, in which the Corps of their Kings were usually burnt, lest their royal Ashes should be blended with common Dust. The Princes of Tartary use it to this day in burning the Dead[[202]]. Nero had a Napkin or Towel made of it. The Brachmans among the Indians, are said to make Clothes of it. The Wicks for their perpetual Candles were made of it[[203]]; and some to this day use it for Lamp-Wicks.
[201]. Book xix. cap 1.
[202]. Philos. Transact.
[203]. Dr. Lister.
The Emperor Constantine ordered an incombustible sort of Linnen to be made of Lapis Amianthus, the growth of Cyprus, that might burn in his Lamps, which were in his Baths at Rome. The Commentator on St. Augustin says, that he saw several Lamps at Paris, which would never be consumed: and at a Feast at Louvain, there was a Napkin thrown into the Fire, which was restored to the Owner clearer and brighter than if it had been rinsed in Water[[204]].
[204]. Ludovicus Vives, in his Scholia—de Civitate Dei. Pancirol. Historia rerum deperdit.
The incombustible Paper is made of this lanuginous Mineral, viz. Asbestine-Stone, which will bear burning without being injured. Whoever would be further informed about this wonderful incombustible Stone, may peruse Dr. Bruckman, Professor at Brunswick, who has publish’d a natural History of the Asbestos, or incombustible Paper; and what is most remarkable, has printed four Copies of his Book on this Paper, which are deposited in the Library of Wolfembuttle. The manner of making this extraordinary Paper is described by Mr. Lloyd, in Philosoph. Transactions, No. 166.
N. B. The Salamander is said to live in the Fire, and has power to extinguish it: “From which Conjuncture was taken the Device of Great King Francis, the first of the Name, (Father of Arts and Sciences) Nutrisco & Extinguo, I Feed and Extinguish[[205]].”