Travels in North America* 4î 

 The true Tefticles of this Animal were not known to the 

 nf- u r r Ancients, probably, becaufe they are very 

 u/ ik>e ^aj- ^^^jj^ j^j^ ^^^^^ ^j^g Qxo\xi. They had 

 toreum. given this Name to the Purfes or Bags of the 



Caftoreum^ which are very different, and four in Number, in the 

 lower Belly of the Beaver. The two firft, which they call thç 

 upper, becaufe they are higher than the others, have the Shape 

 of a Pear, and communicate with each other like the two 

 Pockets of a Wallet. The two others, which are called thç 

 lower, are rounded at the Bottom. Thefe contain a refinous, foft, 

 glewy Matter, rnixt with fmall Fibres, of a greyilh Colour 

 without, and a yellowifh within ; of a ftrong Smell, difagreea* 

 ble and penetrating, and v/hich is eafily inflammable. This is 

 the true Caftoreum : It grows hard in the Air in a Month's 

 Time, and becomes brown, brittle, and friable. If we are in a 

 hurry to harden it, it need only be hung in the Chimney. 



They fay that the Caftoreum which comes from Dantxtc^ \% 

 better than that of Canada, I refer to the Druggifts ; it is cer- 

 tain that the Bags of the latter are fmaller, and that here alfo 

 the largeil are eileemed. Befides their Bignefs, they fhould be 

 heavy, of a brown Colour, of a penetrating and ftrong Smell, 

 full of a hard brittle and friable Matter, of the fame Colour, or 

 yeîlowj interweaved with a thin Membrane, and of a fliarp Talle. 

 The Properties of Caftoreum, are to attenuate vifcous Matter, to 

 ftrengthen the Brain, to remove Vapours, to provoke the Menfes, 

 to hinder Corruption, and to evaporate bad Humours by Tranf- 

 piration ; it is ufed alfo with Succefs againfl; the Epilepfy, the 

 jPalfy, the Apoplexy, and Deafnefa. 



The lower Bags contain an unfluous fat Liquor |ike Honey. Its 

 Colour is a pale Yellow, its Odour fetid, little differing from that 

 of Caftoreum, butfomething weaker and fainter. It thickens with 

 keeping, and takes the Con/iitence of Tallow. This Licjuor is 

 ^•efolving, and ftrengthens the ^Nerves ; for this Purpofe, it need 

 only be applied to the Part aiFeéled. It is a Miftake to fay, as 

 fome Authors do iHll, upon the Credit of the ancient Natura* 

 Jills, that when the Beaver is purfqed, it bites off thefe pretende4 

 Teflicles, and leaves them to the Hunters to fave his Life. It is of 

 his Fur which he ough|: rather to deprive him.felf, for in Compa- 

 rifon of his Fleece, the reft is hardly of any Value, But how- 

 ever, it is this Fable, which has given it the Name of Caftor. The 

 gkin of this Animal, deprived of its Fur, is not to be negleded ; 

 they make Gloves and Stockings of it ; but as it is difficult to 

 get off all the Fur without cutting the Skin, they feidom ufe 

 any but thofe of the Land Çeaver. You have heard, perhaps, 

 Madam, of the fat and dry Be>ver Skins ; the Difference is this, 

 the dry Skin is the Skia of a Beaver that has never been ufed ; 



G ' the 



