Cadmia
Encyclopedia
In alchemy
, cadmia (Latin for calamine
), is an oxide
of zinc
(tutty) which collects on the sides of furnaces where copper or brass was smelted, and zinc sublimed
. The term is also applied to an ore
of cobalt
.
For the cadmia produced in furnaces, there were five identified kinds: the first called botrytis, as being in the form of a bunch of grapes; the second, ostracitis, as resembling a sea shell; the third, placitis, for resembling a crust; the fourth, capnitis; and the fifth, calamitis, which hung around certain iron rods that were used to stir material in the furnace; being shaken off, the cadmia resembled the figure of a quill, called in the Latin, calamus. The cadmia botrytis was found in the middle of the furnace; the ostrytis at the bottom; the placitis at the top; and the capnitis at the mouth of the furnace.
In pre-modern medicine
, cadmia was used as a desiccative
and detersive, in moist stinking ulcers, causing the area to become healed by the formation of scar tissue. The botrytis and placitis were also used for diseases of the eyes.
The term cadmia was formerly applied to the mineral calamine
, or lapis calaminaris.
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, cadmia (Latin for calamine
Calamine (mineral)
Calamine is a historic name for an ore of zinc. The name calamine was derived from the Belgian town of Kelmis, whose French name is "La Calamine", which is home to a zinc mine...
), is an oxide
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
of zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
(tutty) which collects on the sides of furnaces where copper or brass was smelted, and zinc sublimed
Sublimation (physics)
Sublimation is the process of transition of a substance from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through an intermediate liquid phase...
. The term is also applied to an ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
of cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
.
For the cadmia produced in furnaces, there were five identified kinds: the first called botrytis, as being in the form of a bunch of grapes; the second, ostracitis, as resembling a sea shell; the third, placitis, for resembling a crust; the fourth, capnitis; and the fifth, calamitis, which hung around certain iron rods that were used to stir material in the furnace; being shaken off, the cadmia resembled the figure of a quill, called in the Latin, calamus. The cadmia botrytis was found in the middle of the furnace; the ostrytis at the bottom; the placitis at the top; and the capnitis at the mouth of the furnace.
In pre-modern medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, cadmia was used as a desiccative
Desiccation
Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...
and detersive, in moist stinking ulcers, causing the area to become healed by the formation of scar tissue. The botrytis and placitis were also used for diseases of the eyes.
The term cadmia was formerly applied to the mineral calamine
Calamine (mineral)
Calamine is a historic name for an ore of zinc. The name calamine was derived from the Belgian town of Kelmis, whose French name is "La Calamine", which is home to a zinc mine...
, or lapis calaminaris.