Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Amber
AMBER (Succinum) is a hard, bituminous substance, possessing a subacid resinous taste, and a fragrant aromatic smell. It is the production of many countries, but the best sort is that which is found in various parts of England, especially in the clay and gravel-pits between Tyburn and Kensington, as well as behind St. George's hospital, near Hyde-Park Corner, where fine specimens of this concrete are occasionally discovered. Prussia possesses it in great abundance, and the king derives from this article alone an annual revenue of 26,000 dollars; on which account the late Frederic professed himself to belong to the trade of amber-turners.
Those parts of the earth which produce this bitumen, are generally covered with a soft slaty stone, and abound with vitriol. Its most remarkable properties are, that it attracts other bodies to its surface, such as paper, hair, wool, &c. and that it presents a luminous appearance in the dark. In its native form, under ground, it resembles various substances, such as pears, almonds, peas, &c.; but, when broken, leaves, insects, and other small objects, frequently appear inclosed: hence it has been supposed, that amber was originally in a fluid state, or that from its exposure to the sun, it became softened, so as to be susceptible of those impressions. As these insects are never found in its centre, but always near its surface, the latter seems the more probable conjecture. Animals of all kinds, are extremely fond of it, and pieces are frequently discovered in their excrements. Several centuries before the Christian æra, it was in high esteem as a medicine; and Plato, Aristotle, and other writers, have commended its virtues: among the Romans it was valued as a gem, and in the reign of Nero, brought in immense quantities to the capital, where it was highly prized by the fashionable ladies, who decorated themselves with trinkets made of that substance; a custom which is still prevalent at Munster in Westphalia, and other catholic countries, where it is converted into amulets, crosses, &c.
As a medicine, amber is at present but in little repute, though it is still given in fluor albus, hysteric affections, and in those diseases which proceed from debility. Formerly it was used in a variety of preparations, but of late, an aromatic balsam, a powder, and an essential oil, are the only forms in which it is employed.
Lastly, this bituminous matter constitutes the basis of several kinds of varnish. It is used for the coating of various toys, for staining the papier maché, and for the varnishing of carriages; for which last purpose, however, it is more profitable to dissolve the gum copal. The following is a simple and efficacious recipe for making the amber varnish.
Melt the amber slowly in a crucible, till it becomes black; then reduce it to a fine powder, and boil it in lintseed oil, or in a mixture of this and the oil of turpentine.—See Varnish.