CHAP. 58.—MALTHA.
Maltha[1] is a cement prepared from fresh lime; lumps of
which are quenched in wine, and then pounded with hogs'
lard and figs, both of them, mollifying substances.[2] It is the
most tenacious of all cements, and surpasses stone in hardness.
Before applying the maltha, the substance upon which it is
used must be well rubbed with oil.
1. A different thing altogether from the Maltha or Pissasphalt of B. ii.
c. 108. Festus describes it as a mixture of pitch and wax; and Palladius,
in B. i. c. 17, speaks of it as being composed of tar, grease, and lime
boiled; and in c. 35 he describes Maltha caldaria as a mixture of hammoniacum,
figs, tow, tar, and melted suet. It was probably a general name for
several kinds of cement. Heineccius says that it was employed for sealing,
but on what authority does not appear. See Beckmann, Hist. Inv.
Vol. 1. p. 141. Bohn's Edition.
2. This is perhaps the meaning of "duplici lenimento." The reading,
however, is doubtful.