in assaying, an hollow cone of brass or cast iron, into which melted metallic substances are thrown, in order to free them from their fusible. When a small quantity of matter is melted, it will be sufficient to rub the inside of the cone with grease; but when the quantity is large, especially if it contains any thing sulphurous, this caution of allowing the moulds is not sufficient. In this case the assayer has recourse to a lute reduced to thin pap with water, which effectually prevents any injury to the cone.