Myrrh is a resinous Gum that flows from a little Shrub that is very thorny, by Incisions that are made, into clear transparent Tears of a white Colour, that in growing older become of a deep red. These small Trees, whose Leaves come near in likeness to the young Elm, grow plentifully in the Happy Arabia, Egypt, and Africa, especially amongst the Troglodytes, from whence it derives its Name, as well as that from Abyssinia; because they gather a great deal in the Kingdom of the Abyssines, or Prester John's Dominions. Chuse the finest Tears, of a golden yellow Colour, clear and transparent, apt to crumble, light, bitter to the Taste, of a strong Smell, pretty disagreeable; and also that which is the true Stacte Myrrh, or that in Tears, that flows spontaneously from the Tree.
They ought to be undeceived who believe, according to what a new Author has advanc'd, that all the Myrrh the Druggists sell, has none of the requisite Qualities it shou'd have; and as for the little the Apothecaries sell, it is not worth speaking of; but we may be satisfied there is enough to answer our Intentions, if we get that in small Pieces, Lumps or large red Tears, clear and transparent, that when it is broke, has little white Spots in it: This is brought out of Turkey and AEthiopia, from whence comes the best Kind, being of a bright, yellowish, or red Colour, somewhat clear, brittle, of a biting and very bitter Taste, a strong Smell, fat, resinous and mark'd within, with white Specks: It is also either firm and solid, which is properly call'd Myrrha; or liquid, which according to Dioscorides is call'd Stacte, which is first so gather'd from the Tree without force, and also press'd from the Myrrh, as the Oil of Liquid Amber from the Rosin of that Name.
There is prepar'd from it, an Extract, an Oil or Liquor of Myrrh, Troches, and an Oil by Distillation: As to the Liquor, Lemery says, it is the more soluble Part of the Myrrh moisten'd with the Humidity of Whites of Eggs, and the moist Place in which it is made, which is generally a Cellar; and in his Opinion this is the best Oil yet invented: for if it be drawn by Spirit of Wine or Distillation in a Retort, it is so torrified that it loses its best Parts; whereas per Deliquium, what volatile Parts this Gum contains are preserved in their Natural Being, the Humidity joyn'd to it, not being able to alter its Nature.
Myrrh opens and removes all Obstructions of the Bowels, provokes the Courses, and relieves all, or most Distempers incident to the Womb; being given in a Bole, Electuary or Powder, from six Grains to twenty. Stacte is that liquid Part which is found in the Center or Middle of the Lumps or Clots of Myrrh, when they are fresh and new, or squeez'd from the Myrrh, as Dioscorides teaches. Besides its opening and antihysterick Faculty, it is likewise us'd with Success, in a Quinsy, Hoarseness, Cough, Pleurisy, Fluxes of the Belly and Quartan Agues: Outwardly, in Wounds, Tumours, Gangrenes and rotten Bones: It attenuates, discusses and resists Putrefaction. Myrrh has given a Name to the Troches of Myrrh; it is also us'd in Venice Treacle, in the Confection of Hyacinth, Pills of Agarick, the Divine Plaister, and in Oxycroceum.
Myrrha or Myrrh is a resinous Gum, that flows by cutting a thornny Tree that grows in Arabia Felix, Egypt, and AEthiopia, in the Abyssines Country, and amongst the Troglodytes; for which Reason the best is call'd Myrrha Troglodytica. It ought to be fresh, in fine clear Tears, light, and of a golden yellow, or reddish Colour, having little white Specks within, like those upon the Nails, of a fat Substance, a Strong Smell, and not very pleasant, the Taste bitter and acrid; but as this Gum so chose is rare, it ought to be reserv'd for internal Uses, and the common may serve for Plaisters, Ointments, &c. It is aperitive by Urine, and a little astringent by Stool, provokes the Courses, and hastens the Birth, is an excellent Vulnerary and proper in Ruptures, both internally and externally apply'd. The Myrrh which the wise Men of the East presented to our Saviour, was likely a Drugg different from ours; for it is represented to us as a very precious aromatick Perfume, instead of which our Myrrh is common, and has neither Taste nor Smell that is agreeable. Some hold that it was the Stacte, of which I shall treat in its Order; others will have it to be the Storax: Others again pretend that it was a very scarce and fragrant Gum or Balsam, which had then the Name of Myrrh, and which is now unknown to us by that Name; but this is a Matter too difficult to decide here.