Note 5 — BOOK X.

Amiantus (Interpretatio gives federwis, pliant, salamanderhar). From Agricola's elaborate description in De Natura Fossilium (p. 252) there can be no doubt that he means asbestos. This mineral was well-known to the Ancients, and is probably earliest referred to (3rd Century B.C.) by Theophrastus in the following passage (29): "There is also found in the mines of Scaptesylae a stone, in its external appearance somewhat resembling wood, on which, if oil be poured, it burns; but when the oil is burnt away, the burning of the stone ceases, as if it were in itself not liable to such accidents." There can be no doubt that Strabo (X, 1) describes the mineral: "At Carystus there is found in the earth a stone, which is combed like wool, and woven, so that napkins are made of this substance, which, when soiled, are thrown into the fire and cleaned, as in the washing of linen." It is also described by Dioscorides (V, 113) and Pliny (XIX, 4). Asbestos cloth has been found in Pre-Augustinian Roman tombs.