The apothecary, ancient and modern, of the city of London / [George Corfe].

  • Corfe, George.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The apothecary, ancient and modern, of the city of London / [George Corfe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour (Eccles. x. 1). The wisdom that was vouchsafed unto this holy writer was imitated by the son of Sirach, 200 b.c., after the captivity of his people, and their restoration to Judsea, he collected in later years the wise sayings of ancient godly men, and thus opens his 38th chapter:— 1. Honour a physician with the honour due unto him ; for the uses which ye may have of him; for the Lord hath created him. 2. For of the Most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king. 3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head; and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration. 4. The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them. 5. Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known ? 6. And He hath given men skill, that He might be honoured in His marvellous works. 7. With such doth He heal (men), and taketh away their pains. 8. Of such doth the Apothecary make a confec¬ tion ; and of His works there is no end; and from Him is peace over all the earth. An old poet (Shirley) says very beautifully—- “ Only the actions of the just Smell sweet and blossom in the dust—” (Death’s final conquest!) but he had been anticipated by the son of Sirach, for in the 49th chapter he begins :— “ The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the Apothecary; it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as music at a banquet of wine.” The touching incident recorded by the Evangelist St. Matthew (xxvi. 12) is the expression of a heart overflowing with simple faith towards Him Who never spake as man spake. Both Theophrastus and Pliny write of very precious ointments kept in vessels of alabaster, for their better preservation ; but sometimes the vessels or boxes employed for this use were gold, silver, glass, stone, or even wood. The vessels were of small size, and appear to have had a form similar to that of our oil flasks with long and narrow necks. Of this spikenard (Markxiv.), “ very precious,” Sir Wm. Jones traced it to the Jaramandi of the Hindoos, from whence a kind of “ attar ” or essential oil was extracted, very dear, very valuable, very precious, that is, unadulterated. Dr. Royle confirms this. It is a species of valerian, and grows along the Himalayas. It is still used in the sacrifices by the Brahmins. The elephant delights to trample over it and intoxicate itself by the odour, as the felines
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