BITUMEN JUDAICUM, or Jews pitch, is a light solid bitumen, of a dusky colour on the outside, and a deep shining black within; of very little taste; and having scarcely any smell, unless heated, when it emits a strong pitchy one. It is found in a soft or liquid state on the surface of the Dead Sea, and by age grows dry and hard. The same kind of bitumen is met with likewise in the earth, in other parts of the world, in China, America, and in some places of Europe, as the Carpathian hills, France, Neufchatel, &c. There are several kinds of Jews pitch in the shops: but none of them are the genuine sort, and have little other title to their name than their being artificially compounded by Jews; and as they are a medley of we know not what ingredients, their medicinal use begins to be deservedly laid aside, notwithstanding the deficient, resolvent, pectoral, and other virtues, attributed to this bitumen by the ancients. The true asphaltum was formerly used in embalming the bodies of the dead. The thick and solid asphaltum are at present employed in Egypt, Arabia, and Persia, as pitch for ships; as the fluid ones, for burning in lamps, and for varnishes. Some writers relate, that the walls of Babylon, and the temple of Jerusalem, were cemented with bitumen instead of mortar. This much is certain, that a true natural bitumen, that for instance which is found in the district of Neufchatel, proves an excellent cement for walls, pavements, and other purposes, uncommonly firm, very durable in the air, and not penetrable by water. The watch and clock makers use a composition of asphaltum, fine lamp-black, and oil of spike or turpentine, for drawing the black figures on dial-plates: this composition is prepared chiefly by certain persons at Augsburg and Nuremberg. See the preceding article.