It is also used in houshold affairs, for birdlime being dissolved in it, yields a certain tenacious matter serving to catch birds, mice, _&c._ about the house or in the field. For it is as permanent in the heat of the Sun, as in the cold of Winter, wherefore it may be used at any time of the year; all small animals stick to it if they do but touch the matter. A ligature or string smeered therewith, and bound about any tree prevents the spiders from climbing up thereon, and other kinds of insects that are noxious to the fruit; a thing worth taking notice of. This oyl is not by the pouring on of water corrupted, neither is it precipitated, as that of Antimony: wherefore it is useful for many things. Common yellow sulphur boyled in it, _viz._ in a strong fire, so as to be dissolved in it, swims upon it like fat, is thereby purified and made as transparent as yellow pellucid glass, and a better medicine than those common flowers of sulphur: it serves also for other uses, all which to relate here it would be too tedious. This oyl being mixed with clean sand, and distilled by retort in a fire that is very strong (otherwise the spirit of salt will not leave the _lapis calaminaris_) yields a most fiery spirit, the _lapis calaminaris_ remaining in the bottom of the retort. This spirit is so strong, that it can scarce be kept; it dissolves all metals, and all minerals (excepting silver and sulphur) wherefore by the help thereof many excellent medicaments are made, which cannot be made with the common spirit though never so well rectified, which although it be often rectified, yet it is not without flegm, which cannot be separated from it by the power of rectification, so well as with _lapis calaminaris_.