224 A Treatise on 
Hift. 1659. It grows in the inland Parts of Bra* 
file , as alio in Maranhon , and the neighbouring 
tilles. 
This Balfam in Diftillation with a large Quantity 
of Water, yielded a clear Oil of a pleafant fubtile 
Smell ; and the diftilled Water had the fame Smell. 
The Portion remaining upon the Water in the Cu- 
curbit had the Confiftence and Smell of a Refin. This 
being diftilled from a Retort gave up a certain 
Portion of etherial Oil, a pretty large Quantity 
of fubacid Liquor, and at laft fome thick empy- 
reumatick Oil, which at firft was red, and after- 
wards brown. A fhining, rare, light, black Mafs 
or Coal, was left behind, which afforded no Salt 
by Lixiviation. Hence it appears that the Balfam 
of Capivi is compounded of both fubtile and thick 
Oil united with fome acid Salt ^ and its Virtues are 
owing to thefe Principles. 
Thomas Fuller , a Phyfician of the Univerftty of 
Cambridge , obferves that this Balfam communicates 
no violet Smell to the Urine like Turpentine, but 
imbues it with a manifeft bitter Tafte. The fame 
Author extols it for many extraordinary Proper- 
ties *. It foftens the muriatick Saltnefs of the Se- 
rum, the Spittle, and the Urine, by involving the 
faline Spicula. It reftores the Blood when impo- 
veriftied by a Lofs of its balfamick Parts : Cures 
its fcorbutick, rancid and putredinous Cachexy : 
Is prevalent, either externally, or internally, againft 
Ulcers ; for it both cleanfes and heals them. It 
cures all Sorts of Wounds, and particularly thofe 
of the Nerves : Stops Dyfenteries and other Fluxes 
of the Belly ; as alfo the Fluor Albus and Goncr- 
rhcea. <c It wonderfully deterges (fays Dr. Fuller) 
“ the Reins, Ureters, and Bladder, when obftrudt- 
“ ed with Sand, Mucus , or Pus ; (Lengthens them 
* See his Dif’penfatorv, p. $z 6 . 327. of the Englijh Edition. 
l “ when 
