NATURAL HISTORY. iy 
phlegm, and a little oil and earth. . The white honey contains the 
fame principles, but not quite fo much falt. = 
The ancients, as has been already taken notice of, made greater 
ufe of honey, than we do at prefent, becaufe fugar was not then fo 
fommon ; but in fome cafes, it is ftill preferred ; for it is more purging 
in glyfters, and cleanfes wounds better, upon which account it is mix- 
¢d with digeftives. It is a greater prefervative of the compofitions inte 
which it enters, than fugar, on account of its clamminefs; and for 
this reafon, it is made ufe of in venice treacle, and mithridate. It alfe 
deferves to be preferred, becaufe it contains the moft effential fubftancé 
of flowers, and may be faid to contain the quinteflence of aromatie 
Plants. Honey taken in fubftance, is pe@toral, laxative, and deterfive, 
and is good in many difordes of the lungs, occafioned by a grofs 
Phlegm. It alfo loofens the belly, and is made ufe of in clyfters, 
The whiteft honey is beft for inward ufe, as the yellow is for outward. 
Some ufe it as an aliment, and then it is eafy of digeftion, and fapplies 
the blood with a new balfam of life; however itis not good for dry 
bilious conftitutions,. We are told in the German ephemerides, that 4 
young country girl, having eaten a great deal of honey, became fo iné- 
briated with it, that fhe flept a whole day, and talked a little idly the 
day following. 
The mof common preparations of honey for drink are mead, and 
Methegelin; thefe in fome countries are in high elteem. The common 
ydromel is made with boiling an ounce and a half of honey, with 4 
Quart of {pring water, taking off the feum} afier which it is ftrained 
through a cloth, and may be ufed as common drink. This is good 
®gainit coughs in old people, and when any perfon cannot bring up 
Phlegm without difficulty. Some direé it againft internal ulcers, bes 
faufe they fuppofe it is an enemy to putrefaction. 
__Vinous hydromel is made by mixing four pounds of virgin honey; 
with ten quarts of fpring water, and boiling it till about a third is cons 
fumed, or till an egg will fwim thereon. Then it is to be poured into 
@ caik, which mult be expofed to the heat of the fun, or in a ilove for 
forty days; or till the liquor will ferment no longer, thaking it from time 
%o time. Then the catk muft be topped up, and put in a cellar, to be 
€pt for ufe. ‘This ftrengthens the ftomach, and is very weil tafted. 
Vhere is kept in the fhops, other preparations of honey, namely; 
fimple oxymel, and oxymel of f{quills. The firl is made by mixing 
two parts of good honey, with one of white wine vinegar, and boiling 
it to the confiftence of a fyrup. The dofe is half a {poonful, and it is 
thought to be good to incide thick vifcous humours, that adhere to the 
Tonchia of the lungs, in a moift afthma, Oxymel of fquills has the 
‘ame virtues, but much {tronger. 
Honey-water, made by the chymifts, has an agreeable fmell, and @ 
tharpith talte; and it is looked upon as cordial, pectoral, and aperitive, 
Some wath their heads with it, to make their hair grow, or apply it 
very day with a fpunge. Spirit of honey is opening, and the oil is 
8eod againft rotten bones. : = 
Externally, wine mixed with honey, is very good to cleanfe ulcers; 
and affift in forming a cicatrice. Honey water is good to clear the 
ght; and take off the fpots of the cornea. Some make ufe of the 
Hare of Bees, which is nothing elfe than what remains after the wai 
