Page:The History of Ink.djvu/75

Rh, who lived in this world, about the commencement of the Christian era, has left a little memorandum on this subject which is worth quoting.

We give his words entire:—

There are two kinds of bald spots occuring on the human head,—one of them a baldness which creeps over the scalp like a serpent,—the other showing itself in the form of round surfaces uncovered by hair. Some recommend the use of acrid irritant articles, combined with oils, &c. But there is nothing better for you than to have the bald place shaved every day with a [very dull] razor, and, after having done that, you needn't do anything else but rub on the place thus shaved a little atramentum sutorium—("shoemakers' Ink," "copperas-water,")—[solution of the Di-proto sulphate of the (per) sesquoxyd of iron].

The editor of the printed copy of the edition of the works of which was printed in Padua, made a material error on this point.

The word "sutorium" (being unintelligible to the ignorant monk who superintended the printing) was changed to "scriptorium,"—that is, "writing-ink," instead of "shoemakers'-ink." It is well-known that a solution of copperas properly made, will remedy or prevent premature baldness;