Note 27 — BOOK IX.[1]

Oleo, ex fece vini sicca confecto. This oil, made from argol, is probably the same substance mentioned a few lines further on as "wine," distilled by heating argol in a retort. Still further on, salt made from argol is mentioned. It must be borne in mind that this argol was crude tartrates from wine vats, and probably contained a good deal of organic matter. Heating argol sufficiently would form potash, but that the distillation product could be anything effective it is difficult to see.