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Radcliffe The Stockholm Papyrus

Book Name: The Stockholm Papyrus

Author: Radcliffe

published: 1927

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Radcliffe The Stockholm Papyrus

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.

Whitening of Pearls

To make brownish pearls white when this is due to smoke. Take about 1 obulus of honey which is unadulterated and add to it 2 cups of cistern water. Make honey water out of this and pour it in a small jar. Bruise fig root small and put it in. If it pops while you are cooking it remove away from the fire and calm it with the liquor. After you have made it really soft, and have stirred and measured it with the nail, smear the pearls with it and let it harden. Wipe it off with a pure linen rag and the pearls will at once show their whiteness. If they do not yet appear to you to have become entirely white, coat them anew, for the more you coat them and wipe them off the whiter they become.