C 345 ] 



by nieans of Leeches hath been preferred to others? 

 previous to this, however, he quotes Zacutus Lujl- 

 tanus for a cafe, where the Leech, during its ap- 

 plication, made its way into the ReBum^ and take^ 

 occafion to recommend, in any fimilar inftance, 

 the immediate injeftion of fait water; and thinks 

 it would be equally efficacious in the ftomach, if 

 the animal has unwarily been fwallowed, which 

 Jaas fometimes fatally happened. 



128. QpoBALSAMUM Declaratum. Le Moifie. 



1764. 



Among feveral articles of the Materia Medica^ 

 of the produdion of which phyficians had a very 

 imperfed: knowledge, none excited more curiofity 

 than this drug, called alfo Balm of Gilead, and Bal- 

 Jam of Mecca^ from the place of its growth : a drug, 

 the virtues of which were highly extolled through- 

 out all the Eaft, from the moft antient times. 

 Near twenty authors are here mentioned, who have 

 written profelTedly on this produ6lion, but few had 

 feen the fhrub that produced it. Profper Alpinus 

 fays, he faw the plant grov/ing in a cultivated 

 ft ate in gardens near Cairo but it is now doubt- 

 ful whether that he faw was the true fpecies, 

 though of the fame genus. We owe the full dif- 

 covery of the fhrub which yields it to Dr. Forjkal^ 

 one of thofe unfortunate gentlemen, who were fent 

 to Arabia Felix^ on the expedition planned by Pro- 

 fefTor Michaelis^ which did fo much honour to the 

 late Frederick V. of Denmark, He faw it growing 

 plentifully in that country, particularly about 



Medina^ 



