occurs before the four last centuries.
"Peter Caniparius, Professor of Medicine at Venice, wrote a curious book concerning Ink, which is now scarce, though there is an edition of it printed in London, in 1660, quarto. The title is—De Atramentis cujuscunque generis opus sanè novum. Hactenus à nemine promulgatum. [A work actually new, concerning inks of every kind whatsoever—hitherto published by no one.] This work is divided into six parts. The first treats generally of inks made from Pyrites, [sulphurets of iron and copper,] stones and metals. The second treats more particularly of Inks made from metals and Calxes. [Better say calces, or, to speak chemically, crystallized salts deprived of their "water of crystallization," or carbonic acid, by the action of heat.]—The third treats of Ink made from soots and vitriols.—The fourth treats of the different kinds of Inks used by the libraries or book-writers [professional scribes or copyists of manuscripts before the invention of the art of Printing,] as well as by printers and engravers, and of staining (or writing upon) marble, stucco, or scagliola, and of Encaustic modes of writing; as also of liquids for painting or coloring of leather, cloths made of linen or wool, and for restoring inks that have been defaced by time, as
