DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19574#0032
A OU i9
lady of a middle ftatue, cloathed all in white; brill: and a£tive,
difpofed to liften to another fpeaking; having in one hand a
cameleon, and in the other a mirrour.
Her youth denotes her aptnefs to apprehend and learn ; the
fame is intimated by her middle ftature ; for the upper rooms
are always worn1 furnifhed, is ufually fpoken of a very tall per-
fon. Her white cloathing is, becaufe white is the ground of
all colours ; fhe, being on tiptoe, (hews her being in readinefs
to learn and underftand ; the glafs intimates, that fne imprints
things on herfelf, and makes all fhe hears and fees her own.
APRIL, is reprefented like a young man in green, adorned
with a garland of myrtle, and hawthorn buds, winged, holding
in one hand primrofes and violets, and in the other the zodiac
fio;n Taurus.
AQUA-FORTIS, is a corrofive liquor, ufed as a men-
ifruum for difiblving filver and all other metals, except gold.
Aqu a-fortis, is principally extracted from falt-petre, which
is the only fait that will a£fon filver.
In preparing Aqua-fortis, either fand, alum, or vitriol,
is mixed, or the two laft together with falt-petre, and then
diftilled by a violent fire, and the fumes being caught, condenfing
in the receiver, become the Aqua-fortis.
If fome of thefe matters are not added to the nitre, it will
run too readily, and fo prevent the evaporation ; but, the fufion
being prevented, the parts of the fait, receiving more violent
impreffions from the fire, are converted into a volatile fpirit.
Hence to try, whether or no Aqua-fortis be pure, put a
grain of a folution of filver in Aqua-fortis into a like quantity
of the water, and if the folution remains without either the
water's turning milky, or the filver precipitating, the Aqua-
fortis is pure.
Dyers ufe it in dying fcarlet, &c. refiners for parting or fe-
parating filver from gold or copper.
Alfofor colouring of bone, ivory, &c. which is done by fteep-
ing the things therein, after they have been firft tinged with
copperas or verdigreafe.
Some aifo turn it into Aqua regia, by diffolving in it a fourth
part of its weight of fal armoniac, and then ftain therewith ivory
hafts and bones of a fine purple colour.
Book-binders alfo throw it on leather, and fo marble the
covers of books.
Diamond-cutters alfo ufe it, to feparate diamonds from me-
talline powders.
It is alfo ufed in etching on copper or brafs plates.
Mr. Boyle tells us, he has caufed canes to be ftained like
tortoife-fhell, by laying on them a mixture of it with oil of
C 2 vitriol
lady of a middle ftatue, cloathed all in white; brill: and a£tive,
difpofed to liften to another fpeaking; having in one hand a
cameleon, and in the other a mirrour.
Her youth denotes her aptnefs to apprehend and learn ; the
fame is intimated by her middle ftature ; for the upper rooms
are always worn1 furnifhed, is ufually fpoken of a very tall per-
fon. Her white cloathing is, becaufe white is the ground of
all colours ; fhe, being on tiptoe, (hews her being in readinefs
to learn and underftand ; the glafs intimates, that fne imprints
things on herfelf, and makes all fhe hears and fees her own.
APRIL, is reprefented like a young man in green, adorned
with a garland of myrtle, and hawthorn buds, winged, holding
in one hand primrofes and violets, and in the other the zodiac
fio;n Taurus.
AQUA-FORTIS, is a corrofive liquor, ufed as a men-
ifruum for difiblving filver and all other metals, except gold.
Aqu a-fortis, is principally extracted from falt-petre, which
is the only fait that will a£fon filver.
In preparing Aqua-fortis, either fand, alum, or vitriol,
is mixed, or the two laft together with falt-petre, and then
diftilled by a violent fire, and the fumes being caught, condenfing
in the receiver, become the Aqua-fortis.
If fome of thefe matters are not added to the nitre, it will
run too readily, and fo prevent the evaporation ; but, the fufion
being prevented, the parts of the fait, receiving more violent
impreffions from the fire, are converted into a volatile fpirit.
Hence to try, whether or no Aqua-fortis be pure, put a
grain of a folution of filver in Aqua-fortis into a like quantity
of the water, and if the folution remains without either the
water's turning milky, or the filver precipitating, the Aqua-
fortis is pure.
Dyers ufe it in dying fcarlet, &c. refiners for parting or fe-
parating filver from gold or copper.
Alfofor colouring of bone, ivory, &c. which is done by fteep-
ing the things therein, after they have been firft tinged with
copperas or verdigreafe.
Some aifo turn it into Aqua regia, by diffolving in it a fourth
part of its weight of fal armoniac, and then ftain therewith ivory
hafts and bones of a fine purple colour.
Book-binders alfo throw it on leather, and fo marble the
covers of books.
Diamond-cutters alfo ufe it, to feparate diamonds from me-
talline powders.
It is alfo ufed in etching on copper or brafs plates.
Mr. Boyle tells us, he has caufed canes to be ftained like
tortoife-fhell, by laying on them a mixture of it with oil of
C 2 vitriol