Of Storace. chap. 147.
STorax, as Isidore sayth, libro. 17. is a Trée of Arabia, and is like to a quince Tree. The braunches thereof wooseth out by dennes aboute the rising of the Starre Canicula. The dropping there∣of that falleth on the grounde, is not cleane, but if it bée kepte with the rinde of the same. And the dropping that clea∣ueth to the springs and sprayes is white and cleane: and is first made browne redde, by heate of the Sunne. And some manner kinde thereof is called Calami∣tes, and is fat and moyst, and full of Ro∣sen. And thereof commeth swéete ly∣cour, as it were honnye, with good smell and merrie, and is fastened together and hath the same name. For the Gréekes call a drop Stiman: and Stirax in Gréeke, is called Storax in Latine, as Isidore sayth. And the Glose super Eccle. ca. 23. sayth the same.
Also Storax is the dropping of the Trée Stirax, and is right vertuous in medicine. For it is (as Dioscorides sai∣〈…〉〈…〉 Platearius) hotte and drye with glewie substaunce, and hath vertue to drawe. And heereof is thrée manner kindes: one is called Calamites, and is good, and the first that droppeth out of the Trée and wooseth: and the other is called Storax, and is redde, and commeth out and droppeth after the first, and is more pure. The third is Storax redde in colour, softe and fléeting, swéete in smell, sowrish in sauour, much and great in quantitye, and maye bée departed and made roughe with handeling and kne∣ding in the hande: and that that hath sweete sauour, is feyned: And what is feined, is knowen. For if it bée olde, it falleth to Pouder while it is iourned and wonde, and kneade in the hand, and falleth in péeces. And if it be freshe and newe, it waxeth soone moyst, and clea∣ueth not full fast to the hand, and hath more swéetnesse then it should, the softe and fleeting is not feined.
Among these thrée manner kindes, Calamita is of much vertue, and com∣forteth wonderfully the braine. Fumo∣sitie thereof stauncheth all manner run∣ning of re••me. And a plaister thereof made, cleanseth the gummes: and faste∣neth and strengthneth wagging of téeth, and commaundeth menstrual bloud, and helpeth well against coughing and hoars∣nesse: and good Storax is put in ••••olls, and kepte against Nittes, whelkes, and pimples of the head, and agaynst manye other passions and euills. Huc vsque Dioscorides & Platearius. The fumo∣sitie of Storax purgeth the ayre that is corrupt, and driueth awaye all pes••i••n∣tiall vapour and fumositie, as Isidore sayth.
(Storax, a swéete intense or Gum, whereof is made Stirax liquida, a strong smelling moysture.)