Chap. 43.] GAEFM. 507 



in Egypt, and, as it would appear, is conveyed thither by the 

 waters of the Nilus ; though it is to be found floating upon 

 the surface of certain springs as well. The best kind is that 

 which yields a certain fatty ^^ substance, like oil — for salt even, 

 a thing that is quite marvellous to think of, is not without a 

 degree of unctuousness. 



This substance is sophisticated, and coloured with red earth, 

 or, in most instances, with powdered potsherds ; an adultera- 

 tion to be detected by the agency of water, which washes off 

 the fictitious colour, the natural colour being only removeable 

 by the agency of oil. Indeed, it is for its colour that per- 

 fumers more particularly make such extensive use of this drug. 

 When seen in the vessels, the surface of it is white, but that 

 which lies in the middle is moister, as already stated. It is 

 of an acrid nature, calorific, and bad for the stomach. It acts 

 also as a sudorific, and, taken with wine and water, has a pur- 

 gative effect upon the bowels. It is very useful, also, as an 

 ingredient in acopa^^ and in detersive^'' compositions, and is re- 

 markably efficacious for the removal of hairs from the eye-lids. 

 It is the practice to shake up the sediment, in order to re- 

 novate the saffron colour of the drug. 



In addition to these substances, there is another, known in 

 the salt-works by the name of ''salsugo," or ''salsilago :" it is 

 quite liquid, Salter in taste than sea- water, but inferior to it in 

 its properties. 



CHAP. 43. GAEITM I FIFTEEN REMEDIES. 



Another liquid, too, of a very exquisite nature, is that 

 known as ^' garum :"^^ it is prepared from the intestines of fish 

 and various parts which would otherwise be thrown away, 

 macerated in salt ; so that it is, in fact, the result of their pu- 

 trefaction. Garum was formerly prepared from a fish, called 

 "garos"^^ by the Greeks ; who assert, also, that a fumigation 

 made with its head has the effect of bringing away the after- 

 birth. 



(8.) At the present day, however, the most esteemed kind 



35 A sort of bitumen, probably. 



"^ Medicines for relieving weariness. See B. xxiii. c. 45, and B. xxix. 

 c. 13. ■^■' " Sniegmatis." 



3*^ It was, probably, of an intermediate nature, between caviar and an- 

 chovy sauce. 



23 See B. xxxii. c. 53. It does not appear to have been identified. 



