The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Bartolommeo Ambrosini (1588 - 3 Feb 1657)
Italian botanist, physician and naturalist, prefect of the Botanical Garden of Bologna, and editor of many of the posthumous works of Ulisse Aldrovandi. Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeo_Ambrosini BotanistEditor
Relevant locations: Lived at or near Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Relationships: Bartolommeo Ambrosini was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605)
References in Documents:
the former;
and may therefore more particularly be called
Pentaphyllites. Some of these
c)
c)
M. Metall
with
the Astroites.
Marcasita Ammonea. So
I name it, for that it hath the same Figure with the Cornu Ammonis, and to the first of
these in
if not the same.
Yet appears to be a sort of Marcasite or
Gold colour'd Fire-Stone; both by its
Weight, and Cop
peras Tast. And some of them are
cover'd with Vitriolick
Flowers. a)
a)
tall
Title of Crysammonites:
not so properly, as not having a
grain of Gold in them.
(b)
b)
Mus. MetallHippopectinites. Given with several
more of the same bigness, by Mr.
half a foot over. Many of
the same kind were taken out
of a great Rock in Sea or
River.
Conchites miscellaneus. Composed of petrify'd shells, both of
the Turbina
ted, and the Bivalvous kinds, beded in a
kind of gritty
Lime-Stone. In
Calceolarius's
Musæum (a)
a)
p. 317
this, in the form of a Choping-Knife, but without a Name.
Another in b)
b)
c. 25
MusæumOstracomorphos Lapis. Not
properly, Lapis, as being part of a Rock: nor, by the former
word,
sufficiently expressing the mixture of shells therein.
d of an inch
thick,
representing, as it were, a plain Field, inclosed with
a
HEDGE of TREES; some bigger, others less; all so lively,
as if it had been the curious and elaborate Work of a
Painter; or had been cast through a Glass (as
shews the way sometimes of taking Lanships) upon a
Tablet in a Dark Room.
It is very observable, That the same curious Work which
appears
upon one side of the slate, doth also on the other.
Agreeable
to what b)
b)
Mus. Metall
this sort of Stones be broken into
several pieces, the like
Work will appear in the intimate
parts. Which plainly
demonstrates, that not being superficial,
it cannot be the
effect of Art.
STELECHITES: Entrochites, by most. But, in
proper speaking,
distinct from both. For it is not only of a
Cylindrical
Figure, or near it, and containeth a softer substance in the
Centre, answerable to a Pith: and also radiated as the
Branch of any Tree cut transversly. But
moreover con
b)
pid. Figur
pil'd, and, with the said Rays, mutually indented, so as
altogether to make a Cylinder. Described also
by c)
& Gem
(b)
c)
d)
and others. But we have
two Accounts hereof given us in the
d)
Mus.
Metall
actions
where extant.
The former, by Mr. e) e)
100
with
between thirty and forty Figures of their Varieties,
with some
other Congenerous Stones. The latter, by
Mr. f)
f)
129Junior; who hath added the De
scription of some more Diversities. And the manner of
their
growth. In this Species, which I
shall here enumerate.
The Occidental, sometimes as big as a mans
fist, especially d)
sinin
drov
Metout of
Porta.
in Oriental, no bigger
than a Filbert. The
Cyprus, &c. the
worst.
'Tis imitated (d)
with Æs ustum, and half as much Crocus Martis.
Nail of a Mans Finger.
Agate
and the
Onyxtogether. But the
Onyxdiffers from the
Agate, chiefly, in that, instead of Veins, 'tis generally com
posed, saith
Zones. But I think rather of several
Balls, one within another: which, when the Stone is po
lish'd, do indeed represent a round spot in the centre, with
several
Zonesor
Ringsabout it. Here are of divers
sorts.
inches long;
the top sharp, the middle ½ an inch over;
the base, an
inch, with four or five excentrick Crusts.
The
whole composed of several Crusts,
one within another, as
the Water-Pipe.
Yet not hollow, as that, or rather not
empty, but filled with
a Red stony substance. Being
kroken it shines like the Lapis Judaicus. Without, smooth,
of an
Ash-colour, with some little cast of red. Instantly
Spirit of Nitre. Aldrovandus (a)
a)
Metallic
figur'd like this; but by himself, or by
Stelechites Pyramidalis; very improperly.
by most called Selenites. By some Mariæ Glacies. By
. By a) a)
Mus.
Metall
founded, under the same
Name, with Talk. 'Tis indeed
the
nearest of kin to that of any Stone, being insensible of
Acids; and consisting of very thin,
perspicuous, glossy,
parallel, and flexible Plates. Seldom found figur'd. But
when it is, I
suppose always, as it is here in this piece, sc. into
a Diamond-square, i.
e. with unequal Angles, and equal
sides; whereas in a
Talk-Crystal, both are unequal. It was
taken out of Hæmus.
This Stone grows in
Cyprus, Sicily, Saxony, and many
other places; especially
in English
Name. Used in Windows, instead of Glass.
Ambrosinus
(a) a)
supra
Lead-colour'd sort so big, as to make not only Tiles, but
Tables.
Flints are of all colours. Some so clear,
that some Jewelers cut and
sell them for
Bohemick Diamonds. (c) c)
Gem
are also used for factitious Gems, with the mixture of Metals,
in
fusion. For making of Glass. For Mortars for the
powdering of
the Fragments of Gems. And sometimes added
to melted Metals, to keep them, as is supposed, by the Metallists, from spending. (d)
d)
in
Mus. Metal
are some few sparks of
GOLD. Together with a Knob
of Gold fus'd out of it. Given by
Sir
Gold hath the least variety of regular
figure, in the Ore,
of any Metal.
Because, more solid, and therefore, less wanton,
than the
rest. 'Tis a rare Specimen, mention'd by
de
Sepibusa) a)
RomanAurum
Ramescens. The
Ductility of Gold is admirable: one Grain, in Leaves, is
extended
to above fifty inches square: and one ounce em
ploy'd
in gilding small Hair-Wyre, will be extended to al
most an 100 miles in length; as Mr. b)b) Of Ef
fluv. p. 13. &
14
The Uses of Gold for Vessels, Coins, Armour,
Garments,
&c. are infinite. The Luxury of
taught him to powder his Hair with the Dust of Gold.
Some Painters, saith c) c)
Mus.
MetGold
over
Vinegar, whereby is produced a pure Blew (as
Ceruss out of
Lead) which they prefer before the Ultramarine. Of the
Art of Refining,
see the Phil. Transactions, (d)d) N. 142
Communi
cated by
Dr.
Merret
Chymically manag'd, it is reduced to several forms, called
Aurum Potabile, Aurum fulminaus, A.
Vitæ; as also, Auri Calx,
Crocus, Sal, Sulphur, Tinctura, Oleum, Vitriolum, Flos:
of which see
, and others. One
principal use of
Gold in Medicine is, for the Correction
of Mercurial Medicines. The original
use of Leaf-Gold in
Electuaries, and divers other Preparations,
was not only for
better grace, but from the opinion of its
adding Virtue to
them. And Plates of Gold, anciently, have been us'd, espe
cially for Children, as an Amulet. Which I
take to be the
true reason, why the Kings of Gold
upon those they Touch.
The Preparations of Silver, are made in most
of those
Forms, as of Gold, and
described by the same Authors be
fore mention'd. Goldsmiths sometimes give a silver-wash
to Copper, with that which is called Oleum Lunæ. Soder
(from the Italick, Saldatura) of Gold is made of Silver,
and half as much Brass.
Painters make a pure Blew herea)
in
Mus.
Metal
of with Sal Armoniac. (a) Of the Silver-Mines in
and the way of separating the Silver from the Ore,
see the
Phil. Transactions. (b) b) Num. 142
NULATED,
in one piece. The Capillary part, above two
inches broad; and
surrounded, like a Wood, by the other.
d)
d)
Metallicum
lar; which
Æs nativum figuræ
pangoniæ.
Zernick, almost of
the
colour of Crocus Metallorum, or
some sorts of the Hæmatites. Given by Mr. Consul at
See a very good Account of the Iron-Mines, and
Iron- Works in the
PowlePhilosoph. Trans
actions. (a) a)
137
Iron, according to the use made of it, are
set down by
b)
b)
Mus. Metall
into Wyre; another, for a File; another, for a Chisel; ano
ther, for a Sword; another, for the Edge of a
Sword in par
ticular; and
the like. For the hardening of Iron for
Files; one of the Kings Farriers, upon my enquiry, com
mendeth this
following way.
Take Horse Hoofs or Rams
Horns, and hang them over
the fire till they drop
like Glew. Take also pieces of Leather,
and burn them black. Powder
them both, and put to
them stale Urine,
and Bay-Salt. Let them stand together;
the longer the better: at three or seven years end it will be
excellent. Case the Iron with this Mixture,
and give it a
strong heat, sufficient to fuse the Mixture, for
three hours;
and then cool it. The surface of this Iron will be as hard
as the hardest Steel, and will make excellent Files: but the
hardening reaches not to
the heart of the Iron.
Of Rusma (a brown and light Iron substance)
with ½ as
much Quick Lime
steeped together in Water, the
Women make their Psilothron, to take
off their Hair where
sover they please. There are
many Medicinal Preparations
of Iron or
Steel: But none, that I know of, equal to
the
Tincture made without Acids; especially in Obstructions,
and to strengthen
the Tone of the parts, as in Lienterick, and
other like Cases. Against all outward and inward Hæmorrhages, Quercetan
highly extols his Oleum Martis. A Tincture
of Steel made with White Wine, saith c) c)
Mus. Met
strong Cathartick. What he means, I know not.
Perhaps
he might find some such effect upon himself, from
that, as
one I know in this City, doth from Mithridate, which com
monly gives him a
Stool extraordinary. And another, upon
whom Marmalad hath the like effect.
wall
long, slender, and edged
Styriæ, of a bright Steel-colour,
almost like a cluster of small broken Needles. Aldrovandus
(a)
a)
MetAntimony, which
Plumosum.
a)
sinus
and
others.
others
Sal Gemmeus tinctur'd
with partly
an Amethystine, partly a
Saphirine Blew.
Crystal of this
Salt, much
like that of the Corns of common Sea-Salt; from
which it
differs no more, than Pit-Salt.
Sal Fossilis properly so call'd, is, as it
were, the Ore of the
Sal Gemmeus. Yet This, as well as Metals, is
sometimes
found native. The principal Mines are in
labriaPhil. Transactions. (a)a)
In the lesser b) b)
Polan. lib. 1
Salt (he means the Ore) like huge Stones; so
hard, that
Houses and even whole Towns are built with them.
Near
Eperies, a City in Salt-Mine, in which
are pieces Ten
thousand pounds weight. (c)c)
Dr.
BrownTravails,
p.
112
Of This as of common Salt, may be distill'd
that Acid
Liquor commonly, but absurdly call'd the Oil. This mo
derately taken, but especially
if it be dulcify'd by Cohoba
tions with a simple, or
rather with an aromatiz'd Spirit of
Wine, is sometimes of
excellent use to restore the Digestive
Faculty to the Stomach.
But the common sort, taken, as
it often is, without
discretion, really breeds more Diseases,
than it pretends to
cure. See several Preparations of Salt in
(d)
d)
Mus. MetalGreat Cam's
Dominions, the people
melt and cast Salt into a round
Form,
for Money. But who ever knows the nature
of common Salt, must also, that this Report is a great
mistake.
Crystal of this
Salt, much
like that of the Corns of common Sea-Salt; from
which it
differs no more, than Pit-Salt.
Copperas.
'Tis white, and form'd almost like Sal
Ammoniac; but
hath the perfect Tast of Green Vitriol. Acids stir it not.
Besides the places mention'd, and others, Green Copperaas
is plentifully made here in
where. The Copperas Stones or Fire-Stones are found on
the Sea-shore in
best of a bright Silver-colour. For the making
of Copperas,
fifteen broad at top; well
ram'd first with Clay, and then
with
Chalk. In these Beds the said Stones are
laid about two
feet thick: which by Sun
and Rain, are gradually dissolv'd;
and
in five or six years time, begin to turn into a kind of
Vitriolick Earth, which will swell and
ferment like levened-
Dough. And once in four years, the Bed is
renewed with
fresh Stones. In a Boyler containing about twelve
Tuns of
Vitriolick Liquor running from the Bed, they
put in by
degrees, about fifteen hundred pounds of old Iron;
which
both quickens the boyling, and prevents the setling and
melting of the Copperas at the bottom
of the Boyler, and
of the Boyler it self. Sometimes, in
stirring the Earth on
the Beds, they find pieces of Native Copperas. See a parti
cular and exact account of these Works at
municated by Mr.
and by Me published in
the a)a)
Of the Nature of Vitriol, see several
considerable Observa
tions grounded on Experiment, in
the same Transactions. (b)
b)
&
Amongst other particulars, an excellent way of purifying
it from its Okre.
The three principal Parts hereof are, an Acid
Spirit, fixed
Salt, and Sulphur. The
last, a good Hypnotick, in some Cases,
where Opium is not safe.
Native Vitriol, saith c) c)
Mus. Met
tity of ʒj in any convenient vehicle, is a great Remedy in
Plague. Blew Vitriol
of ex
cellent use against Venereal
Ulcers. Both of this, and the
Green, is made the
Powder called Sympathetick; the De
scription whereof may be seen in
in Stiptick Liquors of
Mr. Vitriol.