Home1842 Edition

ASPHALTUM

Volume 3 · 62 words · 1842 Edition

BITUMEN JUDAICUM, or Jew's 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