118 NATURAL HISTORY. 
of the combs is prefled out, to cure the pleurify. For this purpofey 
they mix it with vinegar, and lay it between.two clean linen cloths; af- 
ter which they apply it as a poultice, to the pained part, and fprinkle it 
with vinegar trom time to time, without taking it off. It is alfo good 
in cold and eedematous {wellings, which are hard to be refolved. Far- 
riers alfo make ufe of it, againft bruifes in horfes. : 
Bees wax is compofed of two parts, namely, a great deal of phlegm, 
which keeps an acid diflolved, and an oil. It fhould be new, hard, 
compact, a little glutinous to the touch, of a fine yellow colour, and 
of a pleafant {mell, fomewhat like that of honey; but it fhould have no 
tafte at all, Virgin wax, is that which is made without the help of 
fire; and is nothing but a preparation of the yellow; which muft be 
melted, wafhed feveral times in water, divided into pieces, and layed 
upon linen cloths, which muft be expofed for fix weeks or two months 
to the fun, till it becomes white, Some make ufe of tartar, and chryf 
tals of tartar, by which means they render it of a very fine white. 
‘When it is very white, clear, tranfparent, hard, brittle, taftelefs, and 
will not ftick to the teeth when chewed, it is beft; for it is then emol- 
lient, and opening, as well as the yellow; but it is not fo refolutive, be- 
eaufe the greatelt part of falts are wafhed away. Bees wax in fub- 
flance, is feldom or never given inwardly ; though it has been ufed to 
eure bloody fluxes; but it is prepared, by putting it into a hollow {weet 
apple, and which muft be roafted under hot cinders, in fuch a manner, 
that the wax muft melt, and enter into the fubftance of the apple. There 
muft be about two drams ef wax, and the whole mutt be given, thus 
yoafted, in the aforefaid diforder; and the pain will vanifh immediately. 
The butter of wax, gained by diftillation, is good to refolve cold tus 
yours, and for pains in the joints; as alfo for the palfy, as well as for 
parts that are frozen, and for chaps in the breaft, when ufed as a lini~ 
ment, and applied to the part affe@ed. Four drops of the oil of waxy 
which is nothing but the butter rectified, given in a proper water, is very 
diuretic, and is good in the nephritic cholic. Some give ten drops for 
this purpofe, 
The propolis taken notice of above, is an attenuant and refolvents 
and good to ripen boils, as well as for malignant ulcers. It is mixed 
in France, in plafters and in ointments, and if the vapour of it is re= 
ceived into the mouth, by means of a funnel, it is faid to be very good 
to mitigate inveterate coughs. The method is, to throw bits into 4 
ehafing-difh that has fire in_it. 
‘There, are feveral kinds of wax, and of different colours, which aré 
eccafioned by the ingredients that are added thereto. Thus green wa® 
is compoted of white wax, foftened with a little turpentine, and colour- 
ed with verdigreafe in fine powder. ‘This is good for corns in the feets 
being applied thereto in the form of a plafter. Red wax is made in the 
fame manner, with the addition of vermillion; it is refolvent, whe? 
applied outwardly, 
The Bee flie is a fort of {pecies by itfelf, it being of a nature betwee? 
a Bee and a common Flie, and it feeds its brood with a fort of fweet 
pake. The trunk differs from that of the common Bee, for its great~ 
eft part is hid in a fort of fhelly fheath; and when it is thruft out ° 
it, it is accompanied with a fort of threads, four in number; but whe® 
it is not ufed, it lies under the teeth. Under thefe there is a et, yi : 
‘ (ait i 
