how that appears black； when the same liquor； which
serves to deface the other； is used upon it。 For whereas
the impregnation of saturn is only a lead suspended by
the edges； of the acid liquor； this lead must needs revive；
and resume its black colour； when that which held it
rarefied is entirely destroyed； so the alkali of quick…
lime being filled with the sulphurs of arsenick becomes
very proper to break and destroy the acids； and to
agglutinate together the particles of lead。
It happens that the visible ink does disappear by
reason that the parts which did render it black have
been dissolved； and the invisible ink does also appear
because the dissolved parts have been revived。
〃Quick…lime and； orpiment being mixed and digested
together in water； do yield a smell much like
that which happens when common sulphur is boiled in
a lixivium； of tartar。 This here is the stronger； because
the sulphur of arsenick is loaded with certain salts
that make a stronger impression on the smell。 Quick…
lime is an alkali that operates in this much like the
salt of tartar in the other operation； you must not
leave the matrass open； because the force of this
water doth consist in a volatile。
〃The lime retains the more fixt part of the arsenick
and the sulphurs that come forth are so much the
more subtile； as they are separated from what did fix
them before； and this appears to be so； because the
sulphurs must of necessity pass through all the book to
make a writing of a clear and invisible liquor appear
black and visible： and to facilitate this penetration the
book is strook； and then turned about； because the spirit
or volatile sulphurs do always tend upwards； you must
likewise clap it into a press； that these sulphurs may
not be dispersed in the air。 I have found； if that these
circumstances are not observed； the business fails。
Furthermore that which persuades me that the sulphurs
do pass through the book； and not take a circuit
to slip in by the sides； as many do imagine； is
that after the book is taken out of the press； all the
inside is found to be scented with the smell of this
liquor。
〃There is one thing more to be observed； which is；
that the infusion of quick…lime and orpin be newly
made； because otherwise it will not have force enough
to penetrate。 The three liquors should be made in
different places too； for if they should approach near
one another； they would be spoiled。
〃This last effect does likewise proceed from the defacing
liquor； for because upon the digestion of quick…
lime and orpin； it is a thing impossible for some of the
particles will exalt； stop the vessel as close as you
will； the air impregnated with these little bodies does
mix with； and alter the inks； insomuch that the visible
ink does thereby become the less black； and the invisible
ink does also acquire a little blackness。〃
Priceless MSS。 in immense number written in
periods between the third and thirteenth centuries
have been destroyed by modern scholars in experimentations
based on the false theory that the faded
inks on them； whether above or below other inks
（palimpsests）； contained iron。
Sulphocyanide of potassium is highly esteemed as a
reagent for the restoration of writing； if iron is present。
Theoretically； it is one of the best for such a purpose
if employed with acetic acid。 It causes； however； such
a decided contraction of parchment as to be utterly
useless； but for paper MSS。 is excellent。 The metallic
sulphides generally pronounced harmless； causes
the writing to soften and become illegible in a short
time。 On the other hand； yellow prussiate of potash；
with acetic acid in successive operations is of great
service in treating the most perplexing palimpsests。
Ink which badly corrodes a steel pen need not
necessarily be condemned； it may contain just the qualities
which make it bind to the paper and render it
more durable。
Some inks which are fairly permanent against time
if not tampered with； can be removed with water。
This is true of the most lasting of inks；the old
〃Indian。〃
In ancient Latin MSS。 the words fuco； fucosus
and fucus are found to be frequently employed。 It
is interesting to note the variations in their meaning：
FUCO。To color； paint or dye a red color。
FUCOSUS。Colored； counterfeit； spurious； painted； etc。
FUCUS。Rock lichen （orchil） red dye。 Red or
purple color。 The （reddish） juice with which bees
stop up the entrance to their hives。 Bee glue。
FUCUS。A drone。
In Japan the word 〃ink〃 possesses more than
one meaning Four hundred Inksone degree of
sixty miles。〃 （See Geographical Grammar； of 1737； page 3。）
〃Say what you will Sir； but I know what I know；
That you beat me at the Mart； I have your hand to show；
If the skin were Parchment； and the blows you gave were Ink；
Your own Hand…writing would tell you what I think。〃
Comedy of Errors； iii； 1。
The first book ever printed in Europe； to wit； a
copy of 〃Tully's Offices；〃 is carefully preserved in Holland。
White's Latin…English Dictionary； 1872； distinguishes
the words Atramentum and Sutorium in their interpretations。
ATRAMENTUM。The thing serving for making
black。 A black liquid of any kind。 A writing ink。
Shoemaker's black。 Blue vitriol。
SUTORIUM。Belonging to a shoemaker。
Before the employment of blotting paper a pounce…
box which contained either powdered gum sandarach
and ground cuttle…fish bones； or powdered charcoal； sand
and like materials was used by shaking it like a pepper…
box on freshly written manuscripts。
Blotting paper as first employed consisted of very
thin sheets and of a dark pink color； which fashion
changed to blue in later years。
Good blotting paper of the present time removes
fully two thirds of fresh ink when used on HARD
finished paper。
Blotting paper should not be used upon records。
Its use removes the body of the ink； leaving discoloration；
but nothing for penetration。 In inks intended
for copying； the employment of blotting paper is
especially bad。
〃Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of
the realm in erecting a Grammar School； and
whereas； before； our forefathers had no other
books but the score and the tally； thou hast
caused printing to be used； and contrary to the
King； his crown and dignity； thou hast built a
paper mill。〃
2 King Henry VI； iv； 5。
Mr。 Knight relates a conversation between Dr。 Gale
and a gentlemen from the West relative to the introduction
of some material into ink to prevent moulding。
Dr。 Gale had astonished his friend by stating
〃will prevent the deposition of the ova of infusoria
animalcutae；〃 when it was suggested that he add
〃and the sporadic growths of thallogenic cryptograms
and be fatal to the fungi。〃
The University of Pennsylvania claims to possess
the oldest piece of writing in the world and which is
on a fragment of a vase found at Nippur。 It is an
inscription in picture writing supposed to have been
made 4；500 years before Christ。
Wafers were not introduced until the close of the
sixteenth century。
The Persians in ancient times； some 800 years
B。 C。； were in the habit of celebrating certain festivals
and it is related that in the month of December one
of their ceremonies was that of driving the Dives
（spirits） out of their houses。
For this purpose the Magi wrote certain words
with saffron on skins； papyrus or wood and then
smoked it over a fire。 The spell thus prepared was
glued or nailed to the inside of the door； which was
painted red。 The priest then took sand； which he
spread with a long knife； whilst he muttered certain
prayers and then throwing it on the floor the enchantment
was complete； and the Dives were supposed
immediately to vanish； or at least to be deprived of
all malignant influence。
Aristotle's work on the Constitution of Athens；
B。 C。 340； or probably the copy made by Tyrannio；
was discovered transcribed underneath farm accounts
of land in the district of Hermopolis in Egypt in the
reign of Vespasian； A。 D。 9 to 79。
In MSS。 written before the invention of printing
and indeed for many years after； the title page if any；
will be found on the last page with the date。
〃Let lawyers bawl and strain their throats；
'Tis I that must the lands convey；
And strip their clients to their coats；
Nay； give their very souls away！〃
DEAN SWIFT； 〃On ink。〃
〃It is certain that in their treaties with the
European Greeks of Constantinople the Arabs
always stipulated for the delivery of a fixed number
of manuscripts。 Their enthusiasm for Aristotle is
equally notorious； but it would be unjust to imagine
that； in adopting the Aristotelian method； together
with the astrology and alchemy of Persia；
and of the Jews of Mesopotamia and Arabia； they
were wholly devoid of originality。〃
The 〃Arabic〃 numerals which we now employ are
probably of Indian origin； having been brought by
Arab traders from the East and introduced by them
into Spain in the middle ages； whereas they spread
over Europe coming in use in England perhaps about
the eleventh century。 But whether India invented
them or borrowed from Greek or other traders from
the West is unknown。
The ancient writing implement known as the stylus
was made of every conceivable material； sometimes
with the precious metals； but usually of iron； and on
occasion might be turned into formidable weapons。
It was with his stylus that Caesar stabbed Casca in the
arm； when attacked in the senate by his murderers；
and Caligula employed some person to put to death a
senator with a like instrument。
In the reign of Claudius women and boys were
searched to ascertain whether there were any styluses
in thei