A compleat history of druggs / written in French by Monsieur Pomet ... to which is added what is further observable on the same subject, from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort, divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral; with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts. Illustrated with above four hundred copper cutts, curiously done from the life; and an explanation of their different names, places of growth and countries from whence they are brought; the way to know the true from the false; their virtues &c. A work of very great use and curiosity. Done into English from the originals.
- Pierre Pomet
- Date:
- 1725
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A compleat history of druggs / written in French by Monsieur Pomet ... to which is added what is further observable on the same subject, from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort, divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral; with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts. Illustrated with above four hundred copper cutts, curiously done from the life; and an explanation of their different names, places of growth and countries from whence they are brought; the way to know the true from the false; their virtues &c. A work of very great use and curiosity. Done into English from the originals. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![6. Of Lapis Lazuli, or the Azure Stone. Pomet. *TpHE Azure Stone, which is X mod commonly call’d Lapis Lazuli, and by fome Lapis Cyaneus, and La¬ pis Stellatus, is a heavy Stone of a Sky Blue, fometimes full of Rock Stone, and mod fre¬ quently dreak’d with Veins of Copper, which the Ancients, and fome Moderns, be¬ liev’d to be Gold. The greated Part of the Stone that we have comes from Perfia and the Eafi-Indies; and fome affirm that it is ufually found in Gold Mines, and that it is the Marchafite of that Metal : However it is certain that this Stone is got out of a Quar¬ ry as other Stones are here, which is the Reafon we have it of all Sizes; the Lapis Lazuli to be perfedt and fit for making the Ultra-marine, which is the chief Ufe it is put to, except the fine Works made of it, ought to be heavy, of a deep Blue, like fine Indi¬ go, with as few Copper or Sulphureous Veins as poffible, and take Care it be not rub’d with Oil Olive, in order to make it appear of a deeper Blue; but the Cheat is not hard to difcover, becaufe it ought to be of as fine a Blue within as without ; likewife refufe fuch as is full of Stones, and the pre¬ tended Veins of Gold; fo that when it is burnt to make Ultra-marine it will ftinck ex- treamly, having a fulphureous Smell, which fhows that it proceeds from Copper, and not from Gold. There is an Error fome People are guilty of in believing, as fome have pretended, that this Stone, when fine, will encreafe its Weight in the Fire: This is certain, that the finer this Stone is it will lofe the lefs in the Fire ; and that there is fome of it that lofes fo little that ’tis not worth fpeaking of; but let it be never fo good it will always lofe fomething ; fo far is it from being encreas’d in Weight : You ought to put the Stone into the Fire to fee if it be good, for if fo it will not change its Colour for being heated hot. The Choice of this Stone is quite otherwife than has been delcribed by others, who fay that that which is full of yellowiffi or golden Veins ought to be mod valued; wich I maintain to be falfe, fince the more it is fo, the lefs it is efteem’d, efpecially by thofe who know what Ufe they defign it for* namely, to make Ultra-marine, wherein you mult beware of the greenifh Stone, very common in France, which is found about Toulon, or that it be not a counterfeit Stone, made up of Tin and Saphre, as has been obferv’d. This Stone is of fome final 1 Ufa in Medicine, becaufe it is put into fevera! Galenical Compofitions, as Confection of Alkermes, &c. There are Authors who at¬ tribute great Virtues to this Stone, and amongft others Moniteur Demeure, to whom the Reader may have Recourfe; and there are feveral others who fay that Lapis Lazuli, and the Armenian Stone, are almod alike, which will be found to be falfe, as you will fee in the next Chapter. Lapis Lazuli, Lapis Cyaneus, La¬ pis Cicriileus, or the Azure Stone, is Lemery* of different Sizes and Figures, be¬ ing opaque, heavy, and of a blue Colour, intermix’d with the ftreaks of Gold and Cop¬ per; it is found in Quarries in the Eafl-ln- dies, and in Perfia, and fome fay in the Gold Mines; its Ufe is chiefly to make Ultra* marine of, for which Purpofe chufe the cleaned, weightied, of the highed Colour, and beft Blue; it contains a great deal of SuF phur and Salt. To make Ultra-marine, they calcine this Stone, and :grind it fine on a Porphyry, and mix it up in a Pade made of fat Pitch, Wax, and Oil ; then they waffi this Pade well to feparate the blue Part, which precipitates to the Bottom in a very beautiful Powder; they pour off the Water leifurely, and dry this Powder, which is for the Painters Ufe. Lapis Lazuli prepar’d purges melancholy Humours, fortifies the Heart, and is us’d in the Confe&ion of Al- kermes: The Dofe from half a Scruple to a Dram. There is found near Toulon in France, Germany, and feveral other Parts of Europe, a falfe or badard Lapis Lazuli, that is green- iffi and thicker, which is imploy’d for com¬ mon Ufes. Of Ultra-marine. Ultra-marine is, properly fpeak¬ ing, a Precipitate made from Lapis Pomet. Lazuli; [as you have it delcrib’d by L emery above] and fome fay it took its Name of Ultra-marine, from being made A a % beyond](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30412158_0605.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
