Note 5 — BOOK VIII.

[Pg 274][5] Atramentum sutorium rubrum. Literally, this would be red vitriol. The German translation gives rot kupferwasser, also red vitriol. We must confess that we cannot make this substance out, nor can we find it mentioned in the other works of Agricola. It may be the residue from leaching roasted pyrites for vitriol, which would be reddish oxide of iron.