THE Lentisk is a Tree which has Leaves like Myrtle; after which it bears Flowers, which produce small Berries like Bunches of Grapes, green at first, and blackish afterwards as they ripen, and are attended with a little Husk, or Bag, full of Liquor, from which little flying Infects are generated, as from the Scarlet-Grain, or Kermes Berry.
These Trees are very common in Egypt and the Indies, and particularly in the Isle of Chio, where they are industriously cultivated and watch'd, left when they are cut, such as are not the proper Owners should run-away with the Mastick that flows from them. They plant a great many of these Trees in Italy, and the Italians make an Oil of the Berries, after the same manner as they do the Oil of Bay-berries. This is us'd to the same Intentions as the Leaf and the Wood; the last of which they work into Tooth-pickers in Provence and Languedoc.
Chuse your Lentisk-Wood heavy, compact, and firm, that is, tough, or hard to break, grey without, and white within, of an astringent Taste, and adorn'd with Leaves if possible.
Of Mastick in Tear.
The Mastick in Tear, so distinguish'd from the Mastick which is made of Rosin and Brick-Powder mix'd together, is a resinous Gum which drops during the great Heat, without Incision of the large Branches, and the Trunk of the Lentisk; and sometimes likewise, after having been cut, the Tears fall from the Tree into a Receiver set for that Purpose.
Chuse such as is in the largest Tears, and which, being chew'd, becomes like white Wax. The best is that of Chio, being larger, and of a more balsamick Taste than that which is brought to us from the Levant, by the way of Marseilles, which is almost the only sort they have in France. Mastick is much used in Physick, and among other things, to ease the Tooth-ach; and is used to several other Purposes, as the making of Varnish &c. The People of the Levant-Trade deal with us particularly in mixing their Mastick so as the worst lies at the bottom, and the best at Top; but they will not sell the one without the other.
Lemery
Lentiscus, the Lentisk, is a Tree full of Branches, sometimes large, and sometimes small; which are pliant, flexible, and cover'd with an Ash-colour'd Bark. The Leaves are like those of the Myrtle, ranged by Pairs on the Side, and at last terminate with a single Leaf, always green, of a strong Smell, but not at all disagreeable; of a smart, astringent Taste: There grow oftentimes upon the Leaves certain little Bags or Bladders, fill'd with a Liquor. The Flowers grow upon Stalks arising from the Leaves like Grapes, reddish in Colour, tending towards a Purple; from whence arises the Fruit, which are small round Berries, black when they are ripe, and of an acid Taste, in each of which is contain'd a little longish Kernel, hard and black, having a white or green Pith in it. The Wood is brought dry to us, and should be chose fresh, difficult to break, heavy, and not subject to be carious or spongy: It contains a great deal of Oil, Flegm, and likewise essential and fix'd Salt; is astringent and cordial, resists Poison, and is excellent to strengthen and preserve the Gums.
The Resina Lentisci, or Mastick, is produced from this Tree, growing in Syria, &c. and brought to us, out of Turky, from Smyrna and Aleppo; but the best is from Chio, which is of a light Colour, or white yellow, clear, and almost transparent, free from Dross or Filth, in Grains, Tears, or Drops, and sweet-scented, bright, pure, and friable, being easily reduc'd to Powder: It is a Gum-Rosin, said, by some, to come from the same Tree with the Chio Turpentine. It is sometimes adulterated with Frankincense, and Rosin of the Pine-Tree; but the Smell will easily discover the Cheat. The green-colour'd, blue, and impure, are not good; and the black, like Bitumen, is nought. It is hot and dry, subastringent, and strengthens the Stomach and Head, and is chiefly us'd against Vomitings, Loathing, and Fluxes of the Bowels. It corrects sharp Purges, hinders Vapours arising from the Stomach, which hurt the Head; strengthens the Nerves, cures spitting of Blood, Coughs, Colds, Catarrhs, and a stinking Breath. By chewing, it draws away Flegm from the Brain, and is us'd in a Plaister to the Temples for the Tooth-ach; in a Cataplasm for the Stomach, and as a Dentifrice for the Teeth. Dose, a Dram to two Drams, in Powder, for the Fluor Albus, or Gonorrhoea.