148 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



tical instrument -maker, comb and pipe or flute- 

 maker ; the roots for the inlayer, and cabinet- 

 maker," &c. It is still in great demand with 

 the turner for screws and numerous other 

 articles, as well as for making musical wind- 

 instruments. German flutes have been prin- 

 cipally formed from this hard and smooth 

 wood ; but the professors of that instrument 

 now prefer those that are made from the 

 cacao-tree, as they are not so subject to swell 

 by using as those made from box-wood ; which 

 swelling often causes a variation of half a 

 note, as after being played upon for a short 

 time the tone becomes sharper. 



We do not find that the physicians of an- 

 cient days or modern times have used this 

 vegetable in medicine ; but the quacks of ig- 

 norant ages suffered nothing to escape them 

 by which they could impose on the credulous, 

 and in their works we find the virtues of the 

 box extolled for diseases that delicacy forbids 

 us to mention. 



We perfectly agree with old Gerard, who 

 observes, " that it is more fit for dagger-hafts 

 than to make medicines ; though foolish em- 

 piricks and women leaches do minister it 

 against the apoplexy, and such diseases." 



From Parkinson we learn that it was used 

 to change the hair to an auburn colour; and 

 in the ephemerides of the curious there is the 



