(from λίθος, a stone, and ἀπορρίπτω, to break), an epithet applied to medicines that are supposed to break or dissolve the calculus in the bladder.

**LITHOSTROTON,** amongst the Romans, was a pavement of mosaic work, consisting of small pieces of cut marble of different kinds and colours, and first used in the time of Sylla, who caused one to be formed at Praeneste, in the temple of Fortune, and afterwards in private houses. They were brought to such perfection, that they exhibited representations of nature with all the accuracy of the finest painting.

**LITHOTOMY,** in Surgery, the operation of cutting for the stone. See Surgery.

**LITHUANIA,** an extensive province of Poland, now annexed to Russia. See the article Russia.

**LITINA,** a circle of the Russian province of Podolis, extending in north latitude from 49. 5. to 49. 45., and LITUS, in the arts, is a blue pigment, formed from archil. It may be prepared by adding quicklime and purified urine, or spirit of urine distilled from lime, to archil previously bruised by grinding. The mixture being cooled, and the fluid suffered to evaporate, becomes a mass of the consistence of a paste, and is laid on boards to dry in square lumps. It is only used in miniature paintings, but cannot be much depended on, because the least approach of acid changes it instantly from blue to red.