them.
Words in parentheses are lacking in the original but are added to give
a true meaning in English where it has been thought necessary. For
purposes of greater convenience in referring to them the translator has
taken the liberty of numbering the recipes consecutively although in
neither the original nor in the German translations of Lagercrantz was
this done. A few short comments upon the chemical aspects and the
general technical significance of the recipes will follow the
translation.
II. The Translation
1. Manufacture of Silver.
Plunge
Cyprian copper, which is well worked and shingled for use, into dyer's
vinegar and alum and let soak for three days. Then for every mina of
copper mix in 6 drachmas each of, earth of Chios, salt of Cappadocia
and lamellose alum, and cast. Cast skillfully, however, and it will
prove to be regular silver. Place in it not more than 20 drachmas of
good, unfalsified, proof silver, which the whole mixture retains and
{this) will make it imperishable.
Many
of the substances used in ancient times were named according to their
place of origin rather than from their chemical nature. This is well
shown in this recipe. The island of Cyprus was a famous source of
copper in ancient times. The term alum or "alumen" referred to a
variety of natural products which were usually impure mixtures of iron
and aluminum sulfates put up in various forms. The "earth of Chios" was
probably a kind of a clay, while "salt of Cappadocia" was our common
salt, from a chemical point of view.
2. Another {Recipe).
Anaxilaus
traces back to Democrites also the following recipe. He rubbed common
salt together with lamellose alum in vinegar and formed very fine small
cones from these and let them dry for three days in the bath chamber.
Then he ground them small, cast copper together with them three times
and cooled, quenching in sea water. Whatever comes out will show a
purification.
3. Another {Recipe).
Purify
white tin four times and melt together 6 parts of this and 1 mina of
white Gala-tian copper; rub off and make what you "wish. It will be
silver of the first quality, except that the artisans can notice
something {peculiar) about it because it is formed by the procedure
mentioned.
4. Purification of Tin.
The
purification of tin, which enters into the alloy with silver, is done
in the following way. Let pure tin cool, coat it with oil and bitumen,
and melt it four times. Lay it aside after washing in a clean manner.
Alloy 6 parts of this and 7 parts of Galatian copper with
4 parts of silver and it 'will be regarded as wrought silver.
5 Doubling of Silver.
It
is done by different procedures. Melt Cyprian copper, which is purified
with "coral," six times and add silver for the purpose of doubling.
6. Another {Recipe).
Dip
clippings from small copper plates into brine and let them soak six
days in alum and brilliant earth which have been previously dissolved
in fresh water. Melt it afterwards and gradually alloy silver with it.
