A—VAT IN WHICH THE SODA IS MIXED. B—CALDRON. C—TUB IN WHICH
chrysocolla IS
CONDENSED. D—COPPER WIRES. E—MORTAR.
CONDENSED. D—COPPER WIRES. E—MORTAR.
Saltpetre9 is made from a dry,
slightly fatty earth, which, if it be re
tained for a while in the mouth, has an acrid and salty taste. This earth,
together with a powder, are alternately put into a vat in layers a palm deep.
The powder consists of two parts of unslaked lime and three parts of ashes of
oak, or holmoak, or Italian oak, or Turkey oak, or of some similar kind. Each
vat is filled with alternate layers of these to within three-quarters of a foot
of the top, and then water is poured in until it is full. As the water percolates
through the material it dissolves the saltpetre; then, the plug being pulled
out from the vat, the solution is drained into a tub and ladled out into small
tained for a while in the mouth, has an acrid and salty taste. This earth,
together with a powder, are alternately put into a vat in layers a palm deep.
The powder consists of two parts of unslaked lime and three parts of ashes of
oak, or holmoak, or Italian oak, or Turkey oak, or of some similar kind. Each
vat is filled with alternate layers of these to within three-quarters of a foot
of the top, and then water is poured in until it is full. As the water percolates
through the material it dissolves the saltpetre; then, the plug being pulled
out from the vat, the solution is drained into a tub and ladled out into small