Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/286

 HETHER the Nitre of the Antients be of the same species with the Salt which is commonly known by the name of Salt-peter, is variously disputed by very learned Authors amongst the modern Physicians: on the negative side are Mathiolus and Bellonius; the latter of which had the advantage, by the opportunity of his travels in Egypt, to have often seen and handled them both, and is so positive as to pronounce, that in all Christendom there is not one grain of Nitre to be found, unless it be brought from other parts, although at the time of his being in Grand Caire (which was about the year 1550) it was so common there (as he says) that ten pounds of it would not cost a Moidin. Among those that hold the affirmative, the most eminent are Cardan and Longius; and it should seem the general vote of learned Men hath been most favourable to that Opinion, by reason that in all Latin Relations and Prescriptions, the word Nitrum or Halinitrum is most commonly used for Salt-peter.

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