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CAPUT L

Volume 5 · 153 words · 1815 Edition

CAPUT Lupinum. Anciently an outlawed felon was said to have caput lupinum, and might be knocked on the head like a wolf, by any one that should meet him; because, having renounced all law, he was to be dealt with as in a state of nature, when every one that should find him might slay him; yet now, to avoid such inhumanity, it is holden that no man is entitled to kill him wantonly and wilfully; but in so doing he is guilty of murder, unless it is done in the endeavour to apprehend him.

CAPUT Mortuum, a Latin name given to fixed and exhausted residuum remaining in retorts after distillations. As these residua are very different, according to the substances distilled, and the degree of heat employed, they are by the more accurate modern chemists particularly specified by adding a term denoting their qualities; as earthly residuum, charry residuum, saline residuum, &c.