Note 222 — ESSAYS. (continued 3)

In the 13th book and 12th chapter of Pliny’s Natural History, he tells us the size or paste used by bookbinders was made with fine wheaten flour, boiling water, and a little vinegar, which is our common shoemaker’s paste. And in book xi., chapter 39, we learn that the stronger glue was made, as now, of the hides of cattle boiled down. He says bull’s hide makes the strongest glue. The ancients seem to take some strange things for granted. A bull is stronger than a cow—therefore—his hide makes stronger glue. An English mechanic would have tried the experiment.