Chap. 2.] 
UKGUENTS. 
163 
of opinion, however, that the unguents which have been the 
most universally adopted, are those which are compounded of 
the rose, a flower that grows everywhere; and hence for 
a long time the composition of oil of roses was of the most 
simple nature, though more recently there have been added 
omphacium, rose blossoms, cinnabar, calamus, honey, sweet- 
rush, flour of salt or else alkanet,^^ and wine. The same 
is the case, too, with oil of saffron, to which have been lately 
added cinnabar, alkanet, and wine; and with oil of sampsuchum,*^^ 
with which omphacium and calamus have been compounded. 
The best comes from Cyprus and Mitylene, where sampsuchum 
abounds in large quantities. 
The commoner kinds of oil, too, are mixed with those of 
myrrh and laurel, to which are added sampsuchum, lilies, 
fenugreek, myrrh, cassia,*^ nard,*^ sweet-rush, and cinnamon."^ 
There is an oil, too, made of the common quince and the 
sparrow quince, called melinum, as we shall have occasion to 
mention hereafter ; it is used as an ingredient in unguents, 
mixed with omphacium, oil of Cyprus, oil of sesamum,*^ balsa- 
mum,^*'^ sweet-rush, cassia, and abrotonum.^^ Susinum^^ is 
the most fluid of them all : it is made of lilies, oil of balanus, 
calamus, honey, cinnamon, saffron,^^ and myrrh ; while the 
unguent of Cyprus is compounded of Cyprus, omphacium 
^0 The alkanet and cinnabar were only used for colouring. 
*i " Sampsuchinum." It is generally supposed that the sampsuchum, 
and the amaracus were the same, the sweet marjoram, or Origanum mar- 
jorana of Linnaeus. Fee, however, is of a contrary opinion, See B. xxi. 
c. 35. In Dioscorides, B. i. c. 59, there is a difference made between 
sampsuchinum and amaracinum, though but a very slight one. 
*2 The bark of the Cassia lignea of the pharmacopoea, the Laurus cassia 
of botany. See B. xii. c. 43. 
^2 See B. xii. c. 26. The Andropogon nardus of Linnaeus. 
See B. xii. c. 41. 
See B. xxiii. c. 54, also B. xv. c. 10. The Malum struthium, or 
"sparrow quince," was an oblong variety of the fruit. 
Sesamum orientale of Linnaeus. See B. xviii. c. 22, and B. xxii. 
c. 54. 
Balm of Gilead. See B. xii. c. 54. 
*^ Southernwood. The Artemisia abrotonum of Linnaeus. 
Or lily unguent, made of the lily of Susa, which had probably a 
more powerful smeU than that of Europe. Dioscorides gives its composi- 
tion, B. i. c. 63. 
The Crocus sativus of Linnaeus. 
Cyprinum. It has been previously mentioned in this Chapter. 
M 2 
