DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19574#0095
CAR 3r
the Carbuncle is, that it is a gem of great hardnefs, and of a
deep red with a mixture of fcarlet. It was known among the
ancients by the name anthrax, which was ufed metaphorically,
to fignify that this gem was in feme lights of a fire colour ; the
proper fignification of the word being a lighted charcoal, the
Latin name is a tranflation from the Greek, and mod nations
have agreed to call it by a name of the fame fignification.
Our jewellers, among whom it is very rare, know it by no
peculiar name, and not only now, but for many ages back this
has been the cafe : and, while the genuine Carbuncle was often,
feen, it was yet generally thought not to exift, and this mere-
ly from an error. Its name importing a refemblance to a burn-
ing charcoal, the world in general grew into an opinion of its
having the properties of a burning coal^ one of which is the
fhining in the dark ; and, fuppofing that property ftrongly com-
memorated in the name, and finding no gem which had it*
they took it for granted the Carbuncle no longer exifted ; nay,
the fertile imaginations of fome travellers have gone fo far as
to affirm, that a gem with this property is yet to be feen in
fome places, and have given a thoufand abfurd relations of it.
To all this it is only to be anfwered, that the whole is an ab-
furd error; for that the ancients never attributed any fuch qua-
lity to their Carbuncle, but that the whole reafon of their
giving the name anthrax to that gem was, that it was of itfelf
of a very deep and ftrong red ; but, when held up againft the
fun, or when fet upon a bright pale foil, it was exactly of that
fort of red colour, which is feen in burning charcoal.
Artificial Carbuncle. Take ten ounces of matter pre-
pared with faturnus glorificatus, and natural cryffal reduced to
an impalpable powder ; add to this half an ounce of crocus
martis, in fine powder prepared. (See CROCUS, &c.)
Mix thefe powders well together, and put them into a good
crucible, which cover and lute well; then put it into a glafs-
houfe fire for three days, putting it nearer and nearer the ftrength
of the fire by degrees.
Then take out the crucible, and put the matter into a mar-
tie mortar; then pound and grind it very fmall, with its weight
of fal gemmae, and put it into another crucible, which cover
and lute as before.
Being dry, put it into the fame glafs'-houfe furnace, removing
it nearer to the fire by little and little, and let it ftand for twenty-'
four hours in a good fufion.
Then take it out, and put it into the furnace to bake again,
as you do glafs, where leave it twelve hours, that it may cool
gently.
When the crucible is cold, take it out of the furnace to bake
Vol. I. G again,
the Carbuncle is, that it is a gem of great hardnefs, and of a
deep red with a mixture of fcarlet. It was known among the
ancients by the name anthrax, which was ufed metaphorically,
to fignify that this gem was in feme lights of a fire colour ; the
proper fignification of the word being a lighted charcoal, the
Latin name is a tranflation from the Greek, and mod nations
have agreed to call it by a name of the fame fignification.
Our jewellers, among whom it is very rare, know it by no
peculiar name, and not only now, but for many ages back this
has been the cafe : and, while the genuine Carbuncle was often,
feen, it was yet generally thought not to exift, and this mere-
ly from an error. Its name importing a refemblance to a burn-
ing charcoal, the world in general grew into an opinion of its
having the properties of a burning coal^ one of which is the
fhining in the dark ; and, fuppofing that property ftrongly com-
memorated in the name, and finding no gem which had it*
they took it for granted the Carbuncle no longer exifted ; nay,
the fertile imaginations of fome travellers have gone fo far as
to affirm, that a gem with this property is yet to be feen in
fome places, and have given a thoufand abfurd relations of it.
To all this it is only to be anfwered, that the whole is an ab-
furd error; for that the ancients never attributed any fuch qua-
lity to their Carbuncle, but that the whole reafon of their
giving the name anthrax to that gem was, that it was of itfelf
of a very deep and ftrong red ; but, when held up againft the
fun, or when fet upon a bright pale foil, it was exactly of that
fort of red colour, which is feen in burning charcoal.
Artificial Carbuncle. Take ten ounces of matter pre-
pared with faturnus glorificatus, and natural cryffal reduced to
an impalpable powder ; add to this half an ounce of crocus
martis, in fine powder prepared. (See CROCUS, &c.)
Mix thefe powders well together, and put them into a good
crucible, which cover and lute well; then put it into a glafs-
houfe fire for three days, putting it nearer and nearer the ftrength
of the fire by degrees.
Then take out the crucible, and put the matter into a mar-
tie mortar; then pound and grind it very fmall, with its weight
of fal gemmae, and put it into another crucible, which cover
and lute as before.
Being dry, put it into the fame glafs'-houfe furnace, removing
it nearer to the fire by little and little, and let it ftand for twenty-'
four hours in a good fufion.
Then take it out, and put it into the furnace to bake again,
as you do glafs, where leave it twelve hours, that it may cool
gently.
When the crucible is cold, take it out of the furnace to bake
Vol. I. G again,