[Footnote 111: χαλκάνθον, sulphate of iron, which, mixed with tincture or decoction of nut-galls, makes writing ink. Our own word copperas is an exact translation.]
[Footnote 112: φιάλη. A broad flat pan used for sacrificial purposes.]
[Footnote 113: There is some muddle here, probably due to Hippolytus not having any practical acquaintance with the tricks described. The smoke of nut-galls would hardly make the writing visible. On the other hand, letters written in milk will turn brown if exposed to the fire without the application of any ash.]
[Footnote 114: A sauce made of brine and small fish.]
[Footnote 115: See the roughly-drawn vignettes usual in magic papyri, _e. g._ Parthey, _Zwei griechische Zauberpapyri_, Berlin, 1866, p. 155; Karl Wessely, _Griechische Zauberpapyri von Paris und London_, Vienna, 1888, p. 118.]
[Footnote 116: τὰς φρένας. One of Hippolytus’ puns.]
[Footnote 117: Hebrew was used in these ceremonies, because they were largely in the hands of the Jews. See _Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity_, II, pp. 33, 34, for references.]
[Footnote 118: ἠχεῖ. Particularly appropriate to the striking of a metal disc.]
[Footnote 119: The book of course was a long roll of parchment, the inner coils of which could be drawn out as described.]
[Footnote 120: ὀρυκτῶν ἁλῶν. Cruice translates fossil salts. Does he mean rock-salt?]
[Footnote 121: τὸ ἰνδικὸν μέλαν. Either indigo dye or pepper. Cayenne pepper put in the flame might have a startling effect on the audience.]
[Footnote 123: Said to be an astringent earth made from rock-alum, and containing both alum and vitriol. Known to Hippocrates.]
[Footnote 124: Red lead or vermilion? The idea seems to be to frighten the dupe by the supposed prodigy of a hen laying eggs which have red or black inside them instead of white.]
[Footnote 125: Pliny, _Nat. Hist._, VIII, c. 75, says the sheep is compelled when it feeds to turn away from the sun by reason of the weakness of its head. This is probably the story which Hippolytus or the author has exaggerated. Something is omitted from the text.]
[Footnote 127: Hymns like these are to be found in the two collections of magic papyri quoted in n. on p. 93 _supra_.]
[Footnote 128: He tells us how this trick is performed on p. 100 _infra_. Lecanomancy or divination by the bowl was generally performed by means of a hypnotized boy, as described in Lane’s _Modern Egyptians_. This, however, is a more elaborate process dependent on fraud.]