166 flint's natural histoet. [Book XIII. 



(2.) This is what is called the "regal" unguent, from the 

 fact that it is composed in these proportions for the kings of 

 the Parthians. It consists of myrohalanus, 73 costus, amomum, 

 cinnamon, comacum, 74 cardamum, spikenard, marum, myrrh, 

 cassia, storax, 75 ladanum, 76 opobalsamum, Syrian calamus 77 and 

 Syrian sweet-rush, w cenanthe, malobathrum, serichatum, 79 

 Cyprus, aspralathus, panax, saffron, cypirus, sweet marjoram, 

 lotus, 80 honey, and wine. Not one of the ingredients in this 

 compound is produced either in Italy, that conqueror of the 

 ■world, or, indeed, in all Europe, with the exception of the 

 iris, which grows in Illyricum, and the nard, which is to be 

 found in Gaul : as to the wine, the rose, the leaves of myr- 

 tle, and the olive-oil, they are possessed by pretty nearly all 

 countries in common. 



CEAP. 3. DIAPASMA, MAGMA ; THE MODE OF TESTING UNGUENTS. 



Those unguents which are known by the name of " dia- 

 pasma," 81 are composed of dried perfumes. The lees 82 of un- 

 guents are known by the name of "magma. 83 " In all these 

 preparations the most powerful perfume is the one that is 

 added the last of all. Unguents keep best in boxes of ala- 

 baster, 84 and perfumes 85 when mixed with oil, which conduces 

 all the more to their durability the thicker it is, such as the 

 oil of almonds, for instance, tlnguents, too, improve with age ; 

 but the sun is apt to spoil them, for which reason they are 

 usually stowed away in a shady place in vessels of lead. 

 When their goodness is being tested, they are placed on the 

 back of the hand, lest the heat of the palm, which is more 

 fleshy, should have a bad effect upon them. 



73 See B. xii. c. 46. 74 See B. xii. c. 53. 



" 5 See B. xii. c. 55. " 6 See B. xii. c. 37. 



77 See B. xii. c. 48. 76 See B. xii. c. 48. 



79 See B. xii. c. 45. 



80 Fee suggests that this may be the Nymphaea ccerulea of Savigny, a 

 plant that is common in the Nile, and the flowers of which exhale a sweet 

 odour. 



sl The diapasmata were dry, odoriferous powders, similar to those used 

 at the present day in sachets and scent-hags. 



82 " Faecem unguenti." 



83 This word is still used in pharmacy to denote the husks or residuary 

 matter left after the extraction of the juice. 



8i See B. xxxvi. c. 12. See also Markxiv. 7, and John xii. 3. Leaden 

 boxes were also used for a similar purpose. 

 85 Odores. 



