VOL. XLV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 589 



It is not necessary here to take notice of what Dioscorides and Pliny attribute 

 to this plant ; they may be consulted, if, at the same time, they are regarded as 

 being very little skilled in its true qualities. Our author contents himself with 

 saying, that the Persians and Arabians, who appear to have been anciently the 

 first that used this plant, fi-equently use at present not only its flowers to perfume 

 their linen, their cloths, and their tables, but make a greater use of its leaves in 

 a decoction, for the cure of all distempers of the skin, as the itch, scabs, and 

 ring-worm, which the air of their country causes from its heat, and from the 

 drought which often reigns there to a great degree. These disorders, if neglected 

 to be cured as soon as possible in dry climates, easily degenerate into the leprosy ; 

 and it is on accoi^it of these disorders of the skin, that the eating of pork is for- 

 bidden to people of every religion in these countries ; because that food there is 

 known to occasion these distempers. 



All the nations of the East Indies make use of it in medicine, for the same, 

 as well as for several other disorders ; but they particularly use the leaves to dye 

 their nails ; which our author thinks they had originally from the Arabians. In 

 dyeing their nails, the Indians make use of the fresh leaves, which always grow 

 in great plenty in their gardens, and apply them beaten on their nails, mixing 

 with them sometimes a little lime and juice of citron. This colour lasts a great 

 while on the skin, on account of sweating. A strong decoction of the leaves in 

 water is sometimes vised to tinge their nails, but more generally their skin and 

 hair. 



There is reason to believe, that this pretended beautifying of the skin, the 

 hair and nails, which long custom has established among the Eastern nations, 

 owes its origin to a quite different principle than that of beautifying. The an- 

 cients had no other view in the beginning, than the prevention of pruriginous 

 and leprous disorders in the skin, to which their climate subjected them, as well 

 as to preserve them from vermin, as the leaves of Cyprus have that property. 

 But as in using baths with these leaves in them, they dyed their skin either red 

 or yellow, according to the preparation, they accustomed themselves to this co- 

 lour by degrees, and afterwards regarded it as a salutary embellishment. 



These baths, which are here constantly employed for the cleanliness .and 

 health of the skin, and which the necessity of using has established as a point 

 of religion, and a duty, for the better prevention of these maladies, is certainly 

 a true method to preserve both the body and the skin in a good state. These 

 good effects are extended further by using the alcanna ; because its colour, passing 

 in the opinion of these people for a necessary ornament, and a mark of cleanli 

 ness, makes the practice of bathing better observed. ' ''? '"" ' ■"' 



