Chemical Lexicon

Alatan is litharge of lead.

Abenum is a metallic vessel made of copper or iron, two feet in height, and of the same width as the bottom: upon the top of this, a lid formed in the following manner, and properly closing its edges, must be placed. A copper plate is made round to the capacity of the cauldron, in the center of which (since it must serve the purpose of a cucurbit distilling vessel) a hole is excavated to the width of the vessel being placed, so that the vessel can protrude through it. But on one side or the other, near the end of the cauldron, another small hole is perforated, through which hot water is poured, and the deficit of evaporated water is supplied. The use of this cauldron with a lid in baths is very frequent.

Akon, Cos Whetstone, is a stone by which knives and other instruments are sharpened. Of this there are various species, black, white, yellow, and very black in color. A species of whetstone is what they call the Heraclean and Lydian stone, which is known to goldsmiths and is called a touchstone.

Alabastrites Alabaster is a stone from the species of marble known in Venice.
There are three species of it.
The first is whitish, from which images of saints and monuments of the dead were once made.
The second has black spots.
The third sometimes whitens in reddish, therefore it is called Onyx, which represents the color of a human nail, and Dioscorides properly understands this species when he says, Alabastrites, which is also called cremated onyx, discusses hardness with pitch or resin.

Alafalet is ammoniac.
Alattar is burnt copper.
Albanum is salt of urine.
Alber is urine.
Alborca is Mercury.