IMPROVED. 1 



and laftly, the Balfam of Mecha, or Balm of Gihad, 

 caird OpohalfmrM-n ; this la ft, to wit, the Balm of 

 GlJead, is tlie fineft Balfani we have ; which, tho* 

 of the Turpentine Kind, yet is fo dear that it can- 

 not be afforded to Horfes of common Value, not- 

 withftanding a little of it will go a great Way. But 

 feeing fome Gentlemen may take it in their Heads • 

 to try a little upon a Horfe in the Glanders, here 

 follows a Defcription of it. 



The Balfam of Mecha or Bahn of Gilead is a Refi- An Ac 

 nous Liquor or Balfam, whichat firft is of the Confif- coiii^t t>t 

 tence of Oil of fwcet Almonds, but by Age becomes ^^,'j^''' 

 like Turpentine, lofes much of its Smell, and grows 

 Blackifli. When freih, it is of a very agreeable Aro- 

 matick Smell, and taftes like Citron-Peel. The 

 Plant from wiiich it flows is call Balfatniim Syriacum 

 Folio Rut^ by Cafpar Bauhine the fomed Botanift. 

 Monfieur Lippi was fent by Lenvis the Fourteenth of 

 France as AmbafTador to the Emperor of the Akyf- 

 files in Egypt, where he was at great Pains to dif- 

 cover the Plant which produced this Balfam, and 

 likev.'ife the Manne; of procuring it, which he at 

 lafl did ; and tells us, that there are three Ways of 

 producing it. The Firll is by Running of itfelf 

 from the Tree ; the Second by Incifion, or cutting 

 thro* the Bark ; and the Third is by boiling the 

 ^lops of the Trees ; and that the Bilfam which rifes 

 firll, after a gentle Decoftion, is very good, and 

 much eileemM ; but what is got afterwards is of the 

 coarfer Sort, and of little Value. The firft Kind is 

 fent entirely to the Seraglio of the Grand Seignior ', 

 the other Sorts are fuffer'd to be exported. 



This Baliam is not now to be found in Jndea, 

 which was its ancient Native Soil, and where it was 

 very common before the Deftruftion of Jemfalein : 

 But foon after that, the Jeivs de^roy'd all' their 

 Trees, leaft the Rowans fhould make Advantige 

 of them. 



At prefent it is found at Mecha and Grand Cairo 



in Bgypt, from whence ic is carried to ConJiantinopU^ 



I 5 and 



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