150 
pltny's natural histoey. 
[Book xn. 
the second rank in estimation, the bark the third, and the 
wood being the least esteemed of all. Of the wood, that kind 
which resembles boxwood is considered the best : it has also 
the strongest smell. The best seed is that which is the largest 
in size and the heaviest in weight ; it has a biting or rather 
burning taste in the mouth. Ealsamum is adulterated with 
hypericon^^* from Petra, but the fraud is easily detected, from 
the fact that the grains of the latter are larger, comparatively 
empty, and longer than those of balsamum. ; they are destitute 
also of any pungency of smell, and have a flavour like that 
of pepper. 
As to the tears of balsamum, the test of their goodness is 
their being unctuous to the touch, small, of a somewhat reddish 
colour, and odoriferous when subjected to friction. That of 
second-rate quality is white ; the green and coarse is inferior, 
and the black is the worst of all ; for, like olive-oil, it is apt 
to turn rancid when old. Of all the incisions, the produce is 
considered the best of those from which the liquid has flowed 
before the formation of the seed. In addition to what has 
been already stated, it is often adulterated with the juice of 
the seed, and it is with considerable difficulty that the fraud is 
iletected by a slight bitterness in the taste, which ought to be 
delicate and without the slightest mixture of acidity, the only 
pungency being that of the smell. It is adulterated also with 
oil of roses, of cj^prus, of mastich, of balanus, of turpentine, 
and of myrtle, as also with resin, galbanum, and Cyprian wax, 
just as occasion may serve. But the very worst adulteration 
of all, is that which is effected with gum, a substance which 
is dry when emptied into the hand, and falls to the bottom 
when placed in water ; both of which are characteristics of the 
genuine commodity. Balsamum, in a genuine state, should be 
quite hard, but when it is mixed with gum a brittle pellicle 
forms upon it. The fraud can also be detected by the taste, 
and when placed upon hot coals it may easily be seen if there 
has been any adulteration with wax and resin ; the flame too, in 
this case, burns with a blacker smoke than when the balsamum 
is pure. When mixed with honey its qualities are imme- 
diately changed, for it will attract flies even in the hand. In 
addition to these various tests, a drop of pure balsamum, if 
placed in hike-warm water will settle to the bottom of the 
See B. xxvi. cc. 53, 54. 
