CHAP. XXX. Of Lead.
LEad is of 3. sorts, white, ash-coloured, and black. The first is not found of its own colour, but the stones are whitish of which it is made. Ceruss is made of it corroded by the steam of vineger. The ash-coloured is dug up at Sneberg. When silver is boyled out of it, the fire consumes it all. Of the black are made square vessels, in which salt is boyled from salt water; from nitrous water, Nitre, Agri∣col. in observat. These filled with liquor, and set in the Ayr, fore∣shew rain, if there be drops on the outside. There is nothing hotter than it, yet if you anoint your hands with the juice of Mallowes or Mercury, you may wash your hands in melted lead, so you do it quickly with swift motion, Lemnius l. 2. de occult. c. 34. It is heavier than silver, yet will swim upon it being melted. It may be, the vo∣latil parts of evaporating Lead fly away by the fire; but the sil∣ver not evaporating, sinks down, Libavius l. 2. Epist. Chym. Ep. 98▪ It is said to increase in weight and magnitude, if it be hid in C••llars, where the Ayr is troubled, so that what is put there, presently gathers rust. The Leaden bands of Statues that bind their feet, are sometimes found to grow, and to swell sometimes so much, that they will hang like Crystal out of the stones. Experience hath proved it to be unfit for Medicament, Fernel. lib. de lue Vener. c. 7. For when as one by the advice of an Emperick, had eaten half a pound of the powder of it with his meat in 15 dayes, to cure the joynt Gout, those things that were taken in, had a nidorous taste of Lead, and what was voided by stool, looked of Lead colour. Yet it is found also to be for externall medicinal use. For it cools. Wherefore both Mortars and Pessels are wont to be made of it, in which if Liquors are beaten, what comes by the mixture of both is very cooling. The plates are good to lay to the loyns over-heat with venery, and against nocturnal pol∣lutions in dreaming. Calvus the Orator, did prevent lust therewith,