ON  STORAX. 
251 
for  a  long  period  a  very  grateful  odor ;  when  softened,  it  emits  a  certain 
honey-like  humidity.  Such  is  the  Gabalite,  the  Pisidian  and  the  Cilician 
[Storax.]  That  of  bad  quality  is  black,  friable  and  branny.  There  is  also 
found  an  exudation  resembling  gum,  transparent,  myrrh-like  ;  but  this  is 
produced  rarely.  Storax  is* adulterated  with  the  powder  of  the  tree  itself, 
made  by  the  erosion  of  little  worms,  honey  and  the  dregs  of  iris*  and  some 
other  things,  being  added.  There  are  those  who  pound  with  storax  in 
very  hot  weather,  either  wax  or  tallow  imbued  with  aromatics,  and  press 
it  through  a  strainer  having  wide  openings,  into  cold  water,  forming  as  it 
were,  little  worms  ;  they  sell  this,  which  they  call  vermiform  Storax.  In- 
experienced persons  admit  it  as  genuine,  not  regarding  its  remarkably 
powerful  odor ;  for  that  which  is  not  fraudulent  is  somewhat  strong. 
The  particulars  given  by  Pliny  in  this  chapter  on  Storax,  are 
very  minute  and  explicit,  although  his  supposition  that  the  drug 
packed  in  reeds  was  a  natural  production,  and  his  notion  of  it 
being  attacked  by  insects,  must  be  regarded  as  erroneous. 
The  following  is  Pliny's  account : 
"  That  part  of  Syria  joining  up  to  Judaea,  and  lying  up  to  Phoenicia > 
produces  Storax,  which  is  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Grabala  and  Marathus* 
as  also  of  Casius,  a  mountain  of  Seleucia.  The  tree  bears  the  same  name* 
and  has  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  quince.  The  tear  has  a  harsh  taste» 
with  a  pleasant  smell ;  in  the  interior  it  has  all  the  appearance  of  a  reed> 
and  is  filled  with  a  liquid  juice.  About  the  rising  of  the  Dog-star,  certain 
small  winged  worms  hover  about  this  substance  and  eat  it  away,  for  which 
reason  it  is  often  found  in  a  rotten  state,  with  worm-holes  full  of  dust.  The 
Storax  next  in  estimation  after  that  already  mentioned,  comes  from  Pisidia, 
Sidon,  Cyprus  and  Cilicia ;  that  of  Crete  being  considered  the  very  worst 
of  all.  That  which  comes  from  Mount  Amanus,  in  Syria,  is  highly  es- 
teemed for  medicinal  purposes,  and  even  more  so  by  the  perfumers.  From 
whatever  country  it  comes,  that  which  is  of  a  red  color  is  preferred,  and  it 
should  be  both  unctuous  as  well  as  viscous  to  the  touch ;  the  worst  kind  is 
that  which  crumbles  like  bran,  and  is  covered  all  over  with  a  whitish 
mould.  This  substance  is  adulterated  with  the  resin  of  cedar  or  with  gum, 
and  sometimes  with  honey  or  bitter  almonds;  all  which  sophistications 
may,  however,  be  detected  by  the  taste.  The  price  of  storax  of  the  best 
quality  is  seventeen  denarii  per  pound.t  It  comes  also  from  Pamphylia, 
but  this  last  is  more  arid  and  not  so  full  of  juice."f 
The  localities  here  mentioned,  include  those  cited  by  Dios- 
*  Possibly  some  residue  obtained  in  making  the  preparation  called  Irini 
spissamentum  described  lib.  I.  cap.  LXVI. 
f  Equal  to  16s.  per  lb.  avoirdupois. 
J  Pliny's  Natural  History,  Bostock  and  Riley's  translation:  Book  xij. 
Chap.  55. 
