Note (10) — BOOK V.

10. Soot of frankincense.) Dioscorides orders it to be made thus,—“With a pair of small tongs light a bit of thus at a lamp, and put it into a new hollow earthen vessel, which is covered with a concave copper one, with an opening in the middle, and carefully anoint it over; on one side or both, put small stones to the height of four fingers, to show if it burns, and that there may be room to put in other bits, before the first be entirely extinguished; and continue this, till you observe a sufficient quantity of soot collected; always wetting the external side of the copper with a sponge dipped in cold water. For thus all the soot will be fixed, when this is not too much heated: otherwise it would fly off again by reason of its lightness, and be mixed with the ashes of the thus.” Lib. i. cap. 85.