OF FOREST-TREES. 151 



more worth than the land itself. There is extracted an oil from the Ash, cHAP. VII. 

 by the process on other woods, which is excellent to recover the hearing, 

 some drops of it being distilled warm into the ears ; and for the caries 

 or rot of the bones, tooth-ache, pains in the kidneys ^nd spleen, the 

 anointing therewith is most sovereign ^ Some have used the saw-dust 

 of this wood, instead of guaiacum, with success. The chymists exceed- 

 ingly commend the seed of Ash to be an admirable remedy for the 

 stone : But (whether by the power of magic or nature, I determine not) 

 I have heard it affirmed with great confidence, and upon experience, 

 that the rupture to which many children are obnoxious, is healed, 

 by passing the infant through a wide cleft made in the bole or stem 

 of a growing Ash-tree ; it is then carried a second time round the Ash, 

 and caused to repass the same aperture as before. The rupture of the 

 child being bound up, it is supposed to heal as the cleft of the tree closes 

 and coalesces. The manna of Calabria is found to exsude out of the 

 leaves and boughs of this tree during the hot summer months^ : Lastly, 



z As Mr. Evelyn does not profess any knowledge in medicine, but, on the contrary often 

 makes an apology for his ignorance in that science, I shall only remark, that the boasted 

 properties of the oil obtained from the Ash are not to be depended on, being only 

 in common with oil obtained from any other tree. The curing a ruptured child, by passing 

 its body through a cleft made in the bole of a young Ash-tree, has no foundation in reason 

 or philosophy. 



» The Ash described by Mr. Miller, under the title of Fraxinus Rotundtfolia, is said by him 

 to be the tree from whence manna is procured ; but we are now informed by Dr. Dominico 

 Cirilli, that it is the Fraxinus Ornus. The Doctor, in a letter addressed to Dr. Watson, 

 and inserted in the sixtieth vol. of the Philosoph. Trans, says, " The Manna-tree, commonly 

 "called Ornus by botanists, is a kind of Ash, and is to be found under the name of 

 "Fraxinus Ornus, in Linnaeus's Sp. Plant. In all the woods near Naples, the Manna- 

 " tree is to be found very often, but, for want of cultivation, it never produces any manna, 

 " and is rather a shrub than a tree. The manna is generally of two kinds, not on account 

 " of the intrinsic quality of them being different, but because they are got inia different 

 " manner. In order to have the manna, those who have the management of the woods 

 " of the Orni, in the months of July and August, when the weather is very dry and warm, 

 " make an oblong incision, and take off from the bark of the tree about three inches in 

 "length and two in breadth; they leave the wound open, and by degrees the manna runs 

 "out, and is almost suddenly thickened to its proper consistence, and is found adhering 

 "to the bark of the tree. This manna is collected in baskets, and goes under the name 

 "of Manna Grassa. When the people want to have a very fine manna, they apply to the 

 « incision of the bark, thin straw, or small bits of shrubs, so that the manna, in coming 

 "out, runs upon these bodies, and is collected in a sort of regular tubes, which give it the 

 « name of Manna in Cannoli ; that is, manna in tubes. This kind is always preferred to the 

 " other, because it is free and clear." 



