THIS is a Gum that flows from the Trunk and large Branches of a great Tree, by the Incisions made into them; the Figure of which is agreeable to that drawn of it under this Head, and which grows plentifully in Cochinchina, chiefly in the Forest of the Kingdom of Lao and Siam: By Reason the Attendants of the Ambassadors of Siam, brought a great Quantity to Paris, where it was sold at a good Price.
The Description of Benjamin will not fail to surprise those who have never seen Benjamin as it came from the Tree, and stuck to the Bark, having seen no other at Paris, but a Quantity of different Sorts of Benjamin; the first of which Kind is that we call the Benjamin in the Tear, or gross Mass, which is usually clear and transparent, of a reddish Colour, mix'd with white Spots, as Almonds that are beat, whence it is call'd the Amygdaloides, or Almond Benjamin; this is the best Sort, and is said to come from Sidon, and Samaria; but that which is brought to us comes from the East-Indies, from Sumatra, and Siam, Malabar, Surat and Java.
The second is the greyish, call'd Benjamin in Sorts, which, if good, ought to be clean, of a good Smell, full of white Bits or Spots, as resinous and little loaded with Filth as may be; but have nothing to do with the black, which is Earthy and full of Dross; and beware of the Artifice of having them all mix'd together that they may sell the better. This Gum was not formerly us'd inwardly, either by the Indians or Europeans, but since Chymical Physick has been in Vogue the following Preparations are made from it, as a Tincture, Magistery, Flowers, Crystals and Oil. The Flowers according to Lemery, are made by putting the Benjamin into an earthen Pot, covering it with a Cone of Paper and tying it round about under the Border; then setting it into hot Ashes or Sand; and when the Benjamin is heated the Flowers will ascend. Shift the Cone, and sweep off the Flowers every Hour or two, and keep them in a Bottle close stopp'd. Note, that Benjamin being very full of volatile Particles, easily sublimes over the smallest Fire, and the Flowers ascend in little Needles, very white; but if you give never so little Fire more than you should do, they carry along with them some of the Oil, which will make them yellow and impure; you must therefore perform the Operation gently to have the Flowers fair, which will have a very pleasant Flavour and Acidity.
These Flowers are, without doubt, the most essential Part of the Benjamin, whose principal Virtues are as well to subtilize bad Humours and expel them through the Pores of the Skin, as to loosen and expel the thick and viscous by the ordinary Ways, chiefly those of the Breast and Lungs: Dose from three Grains to ten in any proper Liquor. They are profitable in vehement Catarrhs, Coughs, Colds, Asthma's, and Obstructions of the Lungs; procure Sweat excellently in venereal Cases, given in a Decoction of Guajacum, and fortify a weak Stomach. From these Flowers a Tincture is likewise extracted with Spirit of Wine tartarized, whose sulphureous Parts have a good Agreement with the volatile Salt of the Benjamin; so that this Spirit not only extracts a Tincture from the Flowers, but from the buttery Substance of the Gum, much more pure and subtle, and which will work in less Quantity than the Tincture drawn out of the crude or gross Benjamin.
Benzoinum officinarum, Ben Judaeum, or Asa dulcis, the Benjamin of the Shops, is a resinous Substance running together into large Lumps or Clots, being bright, shining, of a brown Colour, without Filth or Dregs; brittle, and easily crumbled into Bits, adorn'd with several white Flakes or Specks, like the inner Substance of Almonds, inflammable or easily taking Fire, and odoriferous, or yielding a fragrant Smell.
Benjamin is most esteem'd of when it is very clear, and almost transparent, of a light brown Colour, inclining to red, and plentifully furnish'd with white Flakes; that which is black is not so much valued: This is brought from the East-Indies, but more particularly from Sumatra and the Kingdom of Siam. The Benjamin Tree is large, tall and beautiful, as Garcius ab Horto relates, bearing the Leaves of the Citron, or Lemon-Tree, but smaller, and not shining so much, being whitish upon their under Side.
A Tree bearing the Leaves of the Citron or Lemon-Tree, and dropping Benjamin, which seems to answer the Description of Garcius, was not many Years ago sent out of Virginia, by Mr. Banister, to the Right Reverend Henry Lord Bishop of London, which grows now in the Royal Garden at Paris, being the Gift of the aforesaid Bishop. It flourishes in the Beginning of the Spring, but has not produc'd any Fruit as yet. Benjamin promotes Expectoration, and is of great Force and prevalency in the Asthma, or Stoppage of the Lungs, and a lingring phthisical Cough; but chiefly the Flowers of it, which being fresh and new made, may be given from six Grains to twelve: They are likewise endued with a Virtue to provoke Urine and Perspiration, and the following is proficuous in a Pleurisy. Take Carduus, and red Poppy Water, of each three Ounces; Flowers of Benjamin, ten Grains; of the Oil of Cinnamon, two Drops; Syrup of red Poppies, one Ounce; make a Potion to be repeated according to the Nature of the Disease, twice or thrice in twenty-four Hours.