CHAP. 28.—ARMENIUM; ONE REMEDY.
Armenia sends us the colouring substance which is known to us by its name.1922 This also is a mineral, which admits of being dyed, like chrysocolla,1923 and is best when it most closely resembles that substance, the colour being pretty much that of cæruleum. In former times it was sold at thirty sesterces per pound; but there has been found of late in the Spanish provinces a sand which admits of a similar preparation, and consequently armenium has come to be sold so low as at six denarii per pound. It differs from cæruleum in a certain degree of whiteness, which causes the colour it yields to be thinner in comparison. The only use made of it in medicine is for the purpose of giving nourishment to the hair, that of the eyelids in particular.