CHAPTER IX. 
SPERMACETI. 
u What spermaceti is,” (says Sir Thomas Brown, in his 
work published in 1686, third book, chap. xxv. p. 139,) 
“ men might justly doubt, since the learned Hofmannus, 
in his w r ork of thirty years, saith plainly nescio quid sit, 
and therefore need not wonder at the variety of opinions, 
while some conceived it to be flos maries , and many a 
c bituminous substance floating upon the sea.’ That it 
was not the spawn of the whale, according to vulgar 
conceit or nominal appellation, philosophers have always 
doubted, not easily conceiving the seminal humour of 
animals should be inflammable, or of a floating nature. 
That it proceedeth from the whale, besides the relation 
of Clusius, and other learned observers, was indubitably 
determined , not many years since, by a spermaceti 
whale cast on our coast of Norfolk which plainly 
informs us that the source of spermaceti was not com- 
monly known in the year 1686, nor was its use in medi- 
cine much better understood, although Dr. Thomas Brown 
informs us that the “ combers of wool made use hereof, 
and country people , for cuts , aches , and hard tumours . 
It may prove of good medical use,” says he, “ and serve 
for a ground in compounded oyls and balsams.” How- 
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