E 576 l 
Praftke, of dyeings to beautify the Body, is extended 
even to their Horfes, of which they tinge the Mane, 
the Tail, and the Hoofs. They often add Alum to 
heighten the Colour. This Powder is fent from 
Ccnftantinople to Ruffia. Let us now confider the 
other Properties of Cyprus. 
It is not neceflary here to take notice of what 
'Diofcorides and Rimy attribute to this Plant} they 
may be confulted, if, at the fame time, they are re- 
garded as being very little skilled in its true Qualb 
ties. Our Author contents himfelf with faying, that 
the Rerfians and Arabians , who appear to have been 
anciently the firft that ufed this Plant, frequently ufe 
at prefent not only its Flowers to perfume their Li- 
nen, their Cloaths, and their Tables, but make a 
greater Ufe of its Leaves in a Deco&ion, for the 
Cure of all Diftempers of the Skin, as the Itch, 
Scabs, and Ring-worm, which the Air of their 
Country caufes from its Heat, and from the Drought 
which often reigns there to a great Degree. Thefe 
Diforders, if they are negle&ed to be cured as foon 
as pofiible in dry Climates, eafily degenerate into the 
Leprofy,* and it is on account of thefe Diforders of 
the Skin, that the eating of Pork is forbidden to 
People of every Religion in thefe Countries} becaufe 
that Food there is known to occafion thefe Diftem- 
pers. 
. . Ail the Nations of the Eaft Indies make ufe of 
it in Medicine, for the fame, as well as for leveral 
other Diforders s but they particularly ufe the Leaves 
to dye their Nails ; which our Author thinks they 
had originally from the Arabians. In dyeing their 
Kails, the Indians make ufe of the frefh Leaves, 
which 
