340 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Bruifes. 
The bitumen found in the mummy pits is diflblved with but- 
ter by the Egyptians, and not only applied externally, but taken 
inwardly, in large dofes, for bruifes and wounds ; it is faid to 
have a furprifing effect. 
Petroleum, 
Petroleum, which is brought from the weftern fhore of thfr 
Arabian gulf, near to Suez, is taken inwardly as well as out- 
wardly applied, and is much efteemed. 
Bezoar. 
The Orientals have ftill great confidence in the bezoar, or 
benzoar. For a fmall one they are, not unfrequently, contented 
to pay a fum equal to feven guineas. Even the European phy- 
ficians adminifter it in fome cafes pulverifed, as an alterative, and, 
as they fay, with fuccefs. 
Sal ammoniac. 
Perhaps none of the drugs of Egypt is more extenfively ufe- 
ful than fal ammoniac. That medicine feems, as it were, a fpe- 
cific, 
