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They had given this name to the bags in which the 

 caftoreum is contained, which are very different, 

 and in number four in the lower belly of the beaver. 

 The two firft, which are called fuperior, from their 

 being more elevated than the reft, are of the form 

 of a pear, and communicate with each other like the 

 two pockets of a knapfack. The other two which are 

 called inferior are roundim towards the bottom. 

 The former contain a foft, refinous, adhefive mat- 

 ter, mixed with fmall fibres, greyifh without, and 

 yellow within, of a ftrong difagreeable and pene- 

 trating fcent, and very inflammable, which is the 

 true caftoreum. It hardens in the air in a month's 

 time, and becomes brown, brittle, and friable. 

 When they have a mind to caufe it harden fooner 

 than ordinary, 'tis only placing it in a chimney. 



It is pretended that the caftoreum which comes 

 from Dantzick is better than that of Canada ; I re- 

 fer it to the Druggifts. It is certain that the bags 

 which contain this latter are fmaller, and that even 

 here the largeft are the moft efteemed. Befides 

 their thicknefs, they muft alfo be heavy, brown, of 

 a ftrong penetrating fcent, full of a hard, bitter, 

 and friable matter, of the fame colour, or yellowifh 

 interwoven with a delicate membrane, and of an 

 acrid tafte. The properties of caftoreum are to at- 

 tenuate vifcous matter, fortify the brain, cure the 

 vapours, provoke the menfes in women, prevent 

 corruption, and caufe ill humours to evaporate by 

 perfpiration. .. It is alfo ufed with fuccefs again ii the 

 epilepfy, or falling ficknefs, the palfy, apoplexy, 

 and deafnefs. 



The inferior bags contain an uncluous and fattifh 

 liquor like honey. Its colour is of a pale yellow, 

 its odour fetid, little different from that of the cafto* 



reurn, 



