TO CATCH FISHES. 87 



and it is excellent for trout in muddy water, and 

 for gudgeons in clear. Probatum est. 



Assafetida grows in Media, Lybia, and Syria ; 

 it is a gummy juice of Laser, Laserpitium, or Syl- 

 phion, gathered from vthe root or stalk when cut 

 open ; chuse that which is pure, fine, and clammy, 

 and smelling almost like garlic. It will keep 

 many years, but is often adulterated by mixing 

 meal, bran, and the gum Segapenum together. 



Camphor is a resinous gum, partly flowing of its 

 own accord, but chiefly by incision, from a tall 

 tree growing in India : the Bornean Camphor is 

 best. Chuse that which is white and clear like 

 chrystal, strong scented, will easily crumble be- 

 tween the fingers, and being set on fire is difficult 

 to be extinguished. There is a fictitious sort 

 which being put into a hot loaf will parch, but 

 the true will melt: it will keep many years in 

 flax-seed if it is not exposed to the air, other- 

 wise it will evaporate and consume to nothing. 



Mr. Walton, in his Complete Angler, says, 

 that if you dissolve gum-ivy in oil of spike, anoint 

 your bait for a pike with it, that he will take it 

 the sooner. 



I shall now give the reader the ne plus ultra of 

 all these kinds of ointments, composed by Mons. 

 Charrs, apothecary royal to Louis the Fourteenth. 

 Take cat's fat, heron's fat, and the best assafbeti- 

 da, of each two drachms, mummy, finely powder- 

 ed, diito, cummin seed, finely powdered, two 

 scruples, and camphor, galbamun, and Venice 

 turpentine, of each one drachm, and civet two 

 grains. Make them, secundum artem, into a thin- 

 nish ointment, with the chemical oils of lavender, 

 aniseed, and camomile, and keep it in a narrow- 

 mouthed, and well glazed gallipot, covered with 



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