Foreign Vegetables. 209 
deviate from the common Order of Nature. There 
are likewife other wild Nutmegs, many Species 
of which are diftinguifhed by the Dutch ; but 
they are never ufed in Phyfick. 
J. Bauhine fuppofes Nutmeg to be the K dpoc- 
ytou of Tbeopbraftus, and that it was no Stranger 
to Pliny , being, as he affirms, the Cinnamomum of 
that Author ; and that the expreffed Juice, which 
was then called Caryophon , was the fame with what 
occurs at this Time in the Shops by the Name 
of Oil of Nutmeg. This, however, is much to 
be doubted, fince Diof cor ides has faid nothing 
either of Nutmeg or Mace : For the Macer which 
he fpeaks of was quite different from the Mace 
of our Shops, it being the Bark of a certain Wood, 
though at prefen t it is very uncertain of what Sort, 
The Arabians were very well acquainted both 
with Nutmeg and Mace, and the firft who men- 
tions them is Avicenna . 
The Tree bearing the female Nutmeg is diftin- 
guiffied, Nux Mojchata frudhi rotundo , C. B. P, 
407. Pala^ Pi fin. Mantifs. Arom. 173. It grows 
in the Molucca Blands fpontaneoufly, and is cul- 
tivated in Banda. 
Macis , Off. Bongo- P ala Moluccenfibus , Pifin , 
Mantifs . Arom. 173. Bijbefe , Serapion. Befbahe. 
Avicen. Mace is the Produce of the fame Tree, 
it being a Sort of membranaceous Subftance that 
lies underneath the foft juicy Covering of the 
Fruit, which is like a Walnut, or fmall Peach, 
and is extended upon the hard woody Shell that 
inclofes the Nutmeg. The belt is tough and full 
of Oil with a Colour bordering upon that of 
Saffron, and an extremely fragrant Smell. 
Nutmeg contains a larg^e Quantity both of thin 
and thick effential Oil, united with fome acid Salt 
and aftringent Earth. A twofold Oil is got from 
P it 
