CENTURY X. 131 



929. They have, in physic, use of pomanders, and 

 knots of powders, for drying of rheums, comforting of 

 the heart, provoking of sleep, &c. For though those 

 things be not so strong as perfumes, yet you may have 

 them continually in your hand ; whereas perfumes you 

 can take but at times ; and besides, there be divers 

 things that breathe better of themselves, than when 

 they come to the fire ; as nigella romana, the seed of 

 melanthium, amomum, &c. 



930. There be two things which (inwardly used) do 

 cool and condense the spirits ; and I wish the same 

 to be tried outwardly in vapours. The one is nitre, 

 which I would have dissolved in Malmsey, or Greek 

 wine, and so the smell of the wine taken ; or if you 

 would have it more forcible, pour of it upon a fire-pan, 

 well heated, as they do rose-water and vinegar. The 

 other is the distilled water of wild poppy, which I wish 

 to be mingled, at half, with rose-water, and so taken 

 with some mixture of a few cloves in a perfuming-pan. 

 The like would be done with the distilled water of saf 

 fron flowers. 



931. Smells of musk, and amber, and civet, are 

 thought to further venereous appetite ; which they 

 may do by the refreshing and calling forth of the 

 spirits. 



932. Incense and nidorous smells (such as were of 

 sacrifices) were thought to- intoxicate the brain, and to 

 dispose men to devotion : which they may do by a kind 

 of sadness, and contristation of the spirits ; and partly 

 also by heating and exalting them. We see that 

 amongst the Jews the principal perfume of the sanct 

 uary was forbidden all common uses. 1 



1 Exodus, xxx. 37. 



