general, is used to denote a stone of any kind.

Roman antiquity, a geographical measure denoting a mile; because miles were distinguished by erecting a stone at the end of each; from the number marked on which, the length of way from Rome might be known. The device is by Plutarch ascribed to Caius Gracchus. This was more accurately executed by Augustus, who erected a gilt pillar in the forum, at which all the public ways of Italy, distinguished by stones, were terminated. The same thing was done in the Roman provinces. Hence the phrase tertius lapis, centesimus lapis, &c. for three, a hundred, LAPIS hundred, &c. miles; and sometimes the ordinal number without lapis, as ad duodecimum, &c. at twelve miles distance.

LAPIS Affinis, in the natural history of the ancients, the name of a stone called also sarcophagus, from its power of consuming flesh. See SARCOPHAGUS.

LAPIS Bononiensis, the Bolognian stone. See CHEMISTRY, No 1081, 1082.

LAPIS Fungifer, a kind of earth found near Rome, Naples, and Florence. It is found in the chalk hills near Naples, in a stalactitical form and of a white colour, intermixed with fine roots of shrubs. A piece of it from Italy was found to contain siliceous, argillaceous, and calcareous earth, together with some magnesia, vegetable alkali, and oxide of iron.

LAPIS Lazuli. See LAZULITE, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPIS Lyncurius. See LYNCURIUS, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPIS Mutabilis. See HYDROPHANES, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPIS Hepaticus. See LIVER-STONE.

LAPIS Lydius. See TOUCHSTONE, and LAPIS LYDIUS, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPIS Obsidianus. See OBSIDIAN, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPIS Nephriticus. See JADE-STONE, MINERALOGY INDEX.

LAPITHÆ, in Ancient Geography, a people of Thessaly. See the next article.