BOOK XII. Liv. 118-123 



the bark third and the wood lowest. Of the wood 

 the sort resembhng boxwood is the best, and also has 

 the strongest scent ; the best seed is that which is 

 largest in size and heaviest in weight, which has a 

 biting taste and is hot in the mouth. Balsam is adul- Modesof 

 terated with the ground-pine of Petra, which can be ^^.'/j^''''""' ' 

 detected by its size, hollowness and long shape and 

 by its weak scent and its taste hke pepper. The 

 test of tear of balsam is that it should be thinning 

 out in eonsistency, and sHghtly reddish, and give a 

 strong scent when rubbed. The second quaUty is 

 white in colour, the next inferior is green and thick, 

 and the worst kind black, inasmuch as Hke oHve oil it 

 deteriorates with age. Out of aU the incisions the 

 oil that has flowed out before the formation of the 

 seed is considered the best. Also another mode of 

 adulteration is by using the juice of the seed, and the 

 fraud can be with difRculty detected by the greater 

 bitterness of the taste ; for the proper taste is 

 smooth, without a trace of acidity, the only pun- 

 gency being in the smell. It is also adulterated 

 with oil of roses, of cyprus, of mastich, of behen-nut, 

 of the turpentine-tree and of myrtle, and with resin, 

 galbanum and wax of Cyprus, just as occasion serves ; 

 but the worst adulteration is with gum, since this 

 dries up on the back of the hand and sinks in water, 

 which is a double test of the genuine article — pure 

 tear of balsam ought to dry up Hkewise, but the sort 

 with gum added to it turns brittle and forms a skin. 

 It can also be detected by the taste ; or when adulter- 

 ated with wax or resin, by means of a hot coal, as it 

 burns with a blacker flame. When mixed with 

 honey, its quaHty alters immediately, as it attracts 

 tties even when held in thc hand. Moreover a drop 



85 



