A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

NACTA

Rulandus: An Abscess of the Breast.

NAFDA

or

SINAPTA

Rulandus: i.e., Petroleum, or Asphalt.

NAPELLUS

Rulandus: Wolf's bane.

NACDA

or

NATTA GIBBUS

Rulandus: A Hunchback, or Dwarf.

NAPTA

Rulandus: i.e., Gum.

NAPTA ALBA

Rulandus: i.e., is White Petroleum.

NAPHTHA

Rulandus: We have said that the Bitumen of Judea is a species of Naphtha, but is not true Naphtha. For Naphtha is nothing else but Petroleum, that liquid oil which, although in an impure form, is manufactured in our own land. Dioscorides (1. 1, c. 84) says that Naphtha was called Bitumen by the Babylonians, or Colamen of Bitumen, and that there were black and white varieties. White Naphtha is our Petroleum. Black is perhaps that pitchy and glutinous matter of Amiantus, Asbestos, or Earth-flax, which is not dissimilar from Bitumen, and which when it has once been set on fire can be extinguished by nothing but dust being heaped over it, like that slime from the lake of Comagenes mentioned by Pliny. By some among the ancients this black Naphtha was believed to be the Excrement of Demons, concerning which I venture to affirm nothing ; but we also have an excrement of demons, namely, the plant silphium, which produces the juice called laser. Many stinking substances were held precious by the ancients. Naphtha is a violent potency of fire, as Dioscorides teaches, and there is no substance which can compare with it for sustaining and nourishing fire. Pliny cites an example which occurred in Media at the execution of an adulteress, who had a crown of naphtha placed on her, and when this crown was set on fire the woman was consumed. Pliny also bears witness that there is a naphtha which is found in Babylon and Parthia which is like Liquid Bitumen. Thus Naphtha is twofold-natural, dealt with by Pliny, and properly Petroleum-manufactured, which is Colamen of Bitumen, as Dioscorides terms it. And of this there is one kind which is white, and may be a species of Petroleum, but is inferior to the native. And there is another kind which is black, and which may be the Excrement of Demons, so called by the ancients. I affirm that it is from a subtle Bitumen, i.e., from Naphtha (which is true Petroleum) indurated by the operation of the sun, as Ovid says of amber, that gagates is made in the sea, and not from manufactured White Naphtha. Thus Bitumen is twofold, in the sea, and in the earth, liquid, and hard, or glutinous. Pissasphaltus is also twofold-native and manufactured. Naphtha is twofold-native and manufactured. Thus Bitumen, Pissasphaltus, and Naphtha are almost various species of one thing, and so is the stone Gagates, which is formed of natural Naphtha, i.e., true Petroleum, as its smell indicates. The Thracian Stone, another species of Gagates, may be formed of black Bitumen or black Naphtha. This also burns in water, and is put out by oil. Succinum, or amber, on the contrary, is made of the resin of trees, though both have the power of attracting hairs and straws. Succinum does not burn in water, because of the poorness of its resin. Gagates burns fiercely, and its flame is increased by water, because of the strength of the Naphtha or Bitumen of which it consists. So also those coals which are found in our mines, and which we call Pit Coal, are a kind of Gagates, and nothing else but Bitumen hardened under the earth, or excocted by heat. This stone also is put out by oil, and burns fiercely when sprinkled with water, as is the nature of Bitumen. And those coals also are bituminous with which the mountains Etna and Vesuvius are burning, as Pliny sets forth, and as we also see to be the case in many places of Germany, and especially in the night, because in the day the heat of the sun weakens them or overwhelms them; but in the night, which is cold and moist, the matter is excited by the moisture. That species of pyrites, called the Fissile Stone of Islebia, is evidently bituminous, because it burns quickly, gives forth a bituminous smell, and takes impressions very easily. For impressions are made upon a body of this bituminous quality, which is prepared to receive impressions with as much ease and celerity, as the chemists say, that a soul enters its body. But of this enough. Petroleum, i.e., Naphtha, which is manufactured by the Agyrtx, does not come from the tomb of some saint whom I forget, as is falsely represented. For the rest, there is another manufactured Naphtha, which is described in the antidotes of Nicander. There is also a Bituminous Peat which is dug up in Saxony.

NAR

Rulandus: i.e., Fire.

NARBASAPHAR

Rulandus: i.e., Brass.

NARCOTICA

Rulandus: A Soporific Medicament, which removes pain, or at least deadens its. keenness.

NARDINUM OLEUM

Rulandus: A kind of Oil, Spikenard.

NARIS

Rulandus: Nostril.

NATARON

or

NATRON

Rulandus: i.e., Nitre.

NEBULGEA

Rulandus: is a Salt which is deposited by the moisture of a Mist, and is hardened by the Sun.

NECROCOMICA

Rulandus: are Portentous Presages, signifying something which is to come by signs falling from heaven upon earth; those crosses, for example, which fell in the days of Maximilian the First.

NECROLIA

or

NECROLICA

Rulandus: are Medicaments which prevent death and preserve life.

NECROMANTIA

Rulandus: is a Forbidden Art, by which formerly divinations were obtained from the dead. But true Necromancy compels the dead to manifest, and extracts answers and speech from them, and compels them to perform wonders. Any operations connected with the death's head, bones, shroud needles, shrouds, or cerements, quivers, sepulchres, and such like, are comprehended under this cursed art, which is wholly superstitious, and avoided by Christians.

NENUFARENI

Rulandus: A name of those Spirits who inhabit the Elements.

NEUTHA

Rulandus: A Child's Caul, sometimes covering the eye, sometimes the ear, and sometimes the whole face of a new born child.

NIGELLA

Rulandus: A Rat.

NIGROMANTIA

Rulandus: Formerly a Natural Art, by which man, after a natural manner, sought to discover the secrets of minerals, metals, and things hidden in the earth. Afterwards, by the suggestion of the devil, and through the perversity of wicked men, it fell into abuse, and became a diabolical art.

NITRUM, BAURACH, ROCK SALT, SALTPETRE, NITRE

Rulandus: is Hot and Dry in the Second Degree. It is a substance having affinity with Salt, and is a species of Salt. Hence, Transparent Salt, Alexandrine Salt, Salt of Anderena, Salt of Nitre, are one and the same. But Nitre is formed from coagulated moisture. We do not know exactly what were the species of Nitre which are described by the ancients, but they differed from our own. They were used in food, and blended with wine, as we learn from Pliny 0. 14, C. 20, and 1. 18, c. 17), as well as from the Georgics of Virgil. Formerly, they seem to have been also of a rosy colour, bitter, light, spongy, and easily consumed by fire, whereas, ours in no way correspond to these descriptions, and are derived from the air, while the ancient Nitres were of terrene origin. Ours also are of greater medicinal virtues, provoking humours, and possessing laxative qualities. It should be noted that there are several species of manufactured Nitre, which are mentioned by Pliny (1. 31, c. 10). By us, Nitre is manufactured in several ways

Rulandus: in stables, sheepcotes, ancient dormitories, in rocks, cellars, walls, and other such places, as well as in old and disused sand-pits. There is also that Nitre which is called Spumous, and is Aphronitum, Saltpetre, the Spume of Nitre, and a true species of Nitre. It has affinities with the flower of the Asian rock or stone, referred to by Dioscorides, and of which we have already treated (see Lapis Asius). If we consider rightly, Green Chrysocolla, the Scissile Copper-Stone is a species of Nitre, i.e., Native Nitre. Dioscorides (1. 5, c. 78), describes Spume of Nitre along with Nitre, both as regards the country of its origin, and its quality. He indicates their medical virtues, how they are to be treated by fire, and the uses of the crude mineral. Information upon the same subject will be found in Serapion, under the name of Baurach.
It will be seen that the species of Nitre may be classified broadly as follows: Native mined Nitre, similar to salt from the mines. Under the generic name of Burach the following varieties are included :
1. Armenian, and this is the best kind.
2. Nitre from Rabath, which is either white
Rulandus: very similar to salt from the mines, and having a medium flavour between salt and vinegar
Rulandus: or black.
3. African.
4. Egyptian.
5. Roman.
6. Babylonian.
Manufactured Nitre, like a petrine or saline efflorescence. It is derived by coction from salt or saline water. The first and the sixth species were alone known to the Arabians. The Babylonians also had two kinds, namely, Nitre (rock salt, purple, moderately bitter), and Baurach, with which, when dissolved in water, it was the custom to besmear loaves before baking, and thus produce a gloss upon the crust. There is copious information in Pliny (1. 31, c. 10), on Nitre and spume of Nitre. Nicander also treats in his Antidotes of Nitre as prevailing against a poisonous potion compounded of bullock's blood. Nitre is also an ingredient in the powder of the tormentors, as is well known to the apothecaries of Satan who take their name from torments.

NITRUM

Rulandus: The Saline Stone, i.e., White Sulphur.

NITRUM ALEXANDRINUM

Rulandus: i.e., is Clavellated Ash.

NITRUM

Rulandus: is a kind of Salt. It is also Borax, and one kind of Armenian Salt

Rulandus: black, red, or sapphire.

NITRUM

Rulandus: is a certain Brine from combinations of Urines prepared in Salt.

NITRUM

Rulandus: i.e., Baurac.

NITRUM

Rulandus: Nitre.

NITRUM

Rulandus: Sago, Talc.

NITRUM, TINCAR

or

TINCKAR

Rulandus: Which See.

NITRUM

Rulandus: i.e., White Salt, Baurac.

NITRON

Rulandus: Vitreous Refuse.

NITRIALES

Rulandus: Whatever Calcines and Burns, as Sulphur, Saltpetre, whereby one calcines Pearls, Precious Stones, and Corals into a Saltpetre.

NOAS

Rulandus: in Arabic; Calchos in Greek; Copper in Latin; Ore in German.

NOAS

or

NOAC

Rulandus: Brass or Copper.

NOBACH

Rulandus: A Necromantic Instrument.

NOCHAT, NUCHAT

or

NUCHOR

Rulandus: i.e., Venus, Copper.

NOCASIT

Rulandus: i.e., a Perforated Vessel, Sieve, or Colander.

NODI ARTICULORUM

Rulandus: Indurated Tumours, Knots in the joints, as in gout.

NOERA

Rulandus: i.e., a Cover over a Distilling Apparatus.

NORA

Rulandus: i.e, Calx.

NORA

Rulandus: i.e., is Nitre.

NORA

Rulandus: Every kind of Salt.

NOSIDIDACH

Rulandus: (?) A joint (Artus).

NOSTOCH

Rulandus: A Ray or Radiation of a certain Star, or its off-scouring, superfluity, etc., cast on earth. It falls, chiefly during June, July, and August, upon broad fields or meadows, being like a large fungus or sponge in appearance, and of a yellow or dark tawny colour, like a coagulated juice, and to the touch like jelly. By Nostoch some understand Wax.

NUBA

Rulandus: i.e., Copper.

NUBA

Rulandus: is a second species of Manna, red in colour, such as falls in Ireland.

NUHAR

Rulandus: i.e., Venus, or Copper.

NUMUS

Rulandus: Lead, Black Lead.

NUSIADAT

Rulandus: i.e., Ammoniac.

NUTRIMENTUM

Rulandus: is Material changed by Putrefaction in the Stomach.

NYMPHAE

Rulandus: Spiritual Men and Women, or Corporeal Spirits, inhabiting water, such as was Melusine.

NYMPHIDICA

Rulandus: The Spirits obtained by heat artificially from water may be so called.

NYSADIR, NUSSIADAI, NESTUDAR

Rulandus: Sal Ammoniac.