EXTRACTS I'ROM ANCIENT PHARMACY. 
473 
In a dangerous time, take three little branches of Rue, a Walnut and a Fig ; 
eat all this and you shall be safe. 
The Second Book contains some excellent receipts for perfumed Oils and 
Odoriferous Sweet Waters. The practical directions for the distillation of 
aromatics might be copied with advantage by the modern pharmaceutist. 
One formula may be given, not as the best, but because, although the shortest, 
it illustrates the true laboratory principle of maceration before distillation. 
The eighth odoriferous water. (Book ii. p. 46.) Take four pounds of 
damask rose water, with six ounces of lavender water; the flowers of 
jessamin three pounds; with half a scruple of fine musk—keep well all this 
together in a vessel well stopped, by the space of ten days : and after distil it 
in balneo Marie^ until all be come out. Then keep it in a phial of glass for 
your use when you shall occupy it, and you shall find it a marvellous water. 
It is remarkable that the process for obtaining the true .odour of flowers, by 
bringing them in direct contact with oils, or fat (only lately understood in this 
country), was practised at this early date according to the following method, 
wliich does not stand alone:— 
Oil of Jessamin and of Violets. 
Take sweet almonds well peeled and brayed ; the flowers of jessamin as much 
as you will, and laying them rank upon rank, you shall leave them in some 
moist place, ten days together, or more; then take them away, and press out 
the oil in a press: the virtue of which oil serveth for divers things. In the like 
manner you may have oil of violets, and other flowers. 
A description of the process of enfleurage is given in the formula for oil of 
oranges, very excellent. 
The following perfumed water resembles our modern Eau de Cologne.^ and is 
a good elementary form ; it suggests a curious speculation for the imaginative, 
whether this recipe might not have fallen under the observation of the first M. 
Farina, himself an Italian, and so have been used as a humble stepping-stone 
towards his great commercial success. 
The sixth odoriferous water:— 
Take fresh flowers of losemary, two pounds; amber, a scruple ; three pounds 
of the water of the flowers of oranges, lemons, and citrons, all confusedly 
together, which the Frenchmen call Eau de Naphe. Leave altogether in some 
vessel well stopped (stoppered) ten days. Then the water being distilled in 
Balneo Marie, let it be kept in a phial of glass very close and stopped. 
Several of these odoriferous waters are variations of the same receipt. 
Alexis has a quaint and a flowing style. He elsewhere describes a heavenly 
water which hath many goodly and notable virtues, as we shall show you here¬ 
after : an oil of cloves very noble. A good way and manner how to make 
ink, for to carry about a man in a dry powder ; which (when he will write 
with) he must temper with a little wine, water, or vinegar, or with some other 
liquor, and then he may incontinent put it in experience. With the same 
powder all other ink may be amended, be it never so evil. Fowder of Cypress, 
very exquisite. An easy w^ater for ladies and gentlewomen. To make a goodly 
lustre or beautifying of the face : good for ladies and dames. 
Enough has been quoted to give a general idea of the work. It is strange 
to find some modern follies anticipated. 
To make hair as yellow as gold. A very goodly way or manner how to make 
yellow auburn hair, without standing long, or nothing at all in the sun : a rare 
and very excellent secret. 
Nor was Alexis alone in wishing to conceal his information. 
A very goodly secret to dye or colour wood, of what colour a man will, which 
some joiners do use that make tables and other things of divers colours, and do 
YOL. VIIT. 2 I 
