The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6) by the Elder Pliny

[1017] See B. vi. cc. 27, 28, 32. [1018] See B. iii. c. 3, Vol. I. p. 163. He alludes to the district of Almaden, in Andalusia, still famous for its quicksilver mines. [1019] When sold by the “publicani,” or farmers of the revenue. [1020] Of the publicani. [1021] Red oxide of lead, a much inferior pigment to cinnabar, or the minium of Chapter 36. [1022] In Chapter 32 of this Book. [1023] Dana informs us that minium is usually associated with galena and with calamine. Syst. Mineral, p. 495. [1024] “Steriles.” Barren of silver, probably; though Hardouin thinks that it means “barren of lead.” Holland renders it “barraine and void of the right vermilion.” [1025] In Chapter 37. [1026] B. xxxv. c. 24. [1027] When hired by the job for colouring walls or objects of art. See B. xxxv. c. 12. [1028] See B. xvi. c. 12, and B. xxiv. c. 4. [1029] “Candelis.” The Abate Requeno thinks that these “candelæ” were used as a delicate cauterium, simply to keep the wax soft, that it might receive a polish from the friction of the linen. [1030] Hence the use of it in the middle ages; a reminiscence of which still exists in our word “rubric.” [1031] Or artificial quicksilver. In reality, hydrargyrus is prepared from the _genuine_ minium of Pliny, the cinnabar mentioned in Chapter 36] it being obtained by the sublimation of sulphuret of mercury. [1032] In Chapters 20 and 32. [1033] This, probably, is the meaning of “lubrico humore compluere.” [1034] See the end of Chapter 38. [1035] Artificial quicksilver is still used for this purpose. See Note 971 to Chapter 32 of this Book; also Beckmann’s Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p.