The leperous distilment.”
In the first place, the learned commentator Dr. Grey, observes that the word here used (hebenon), was more probably designated by a metathesis, either of the poet or transcriber, for henebon, i. e. henbane. Now it appears from Gerarde, that “tabaco” was commonly called henbane of Peru, (hyoscyamus Peruvianus,) and when we consider how high the public prejudice ran against this herb in the reign of James, it seems very likely that Shakespeare should have selected it, as an agent of extraordinary malignity. No preparation of the hyoscyamus, with which we are acquainted, would produce death by application to the ear, whereas the essential oil of Tobacco would, without doubt, occasion a fatal issue. The term distilment has also called forth a remark from Steevens, which is calculated to support this conjecture; surely, says he, this expression signifies, that the preparation was the result of a distillation.
[660]. See “An Essay on the means of lessening Pain, and facilitating certain Cases of difficult parturition, by W. P. Dewes, M.D. 1806. also Med. Journ. vol. xviii.”
[661]. Cephalic Snuff. The basis of this errhine is powdered Asarum, diluted with some vegetable powder.
[662]. Tamarind, from Timmer a Date, and Hend India, Timmerhend, i. e. Date of India.
[663]. Various substances have been proposed at different times as substitutes for Coffee. In the “Fourth Century of Observations” in the “Miscellanea Curiosa,” we find a critical dissertation on the (Cahve) Coffee of the Arabians; and on European Coffee, or such as may be prepared from grain or pulse. Dillenius gives the result of his own preparations made with Pease, Beans, and Kidney Beans, but says that that made from Rye comes the nearest to true Coffee, and was with difficulty distinguished from it. This fact is curious, in as much as a spurious Coffee has been lately vended, which is nothing more than roasted Rye. The article is well known by the name of “Hunt’s Œconomical Breakfast Powder.”
[664]. See “Some account of the Medicinal and other Uses of various Substances prepared from Trees of the genus Pinus, by W. G. Maton, M.D. &c. being a Supplement to Mr. Lambert’s splendid work on that genus.”
[665]. The Τερμὶνθος of Theophrastus (lib. 3. c. 3.) and Dioscorides; (lib. 1, c. 76) from which the word Terebinthus seems to have been derived.
[666]. The term Balsam is very improperly applied to this substance, since it contains no Benzoic Acid.
[667]. The product of the Amyris Gileadensis, and probably the Balsamum Judaicum, Syriacum e Mecca, Opobalsamum, &c. of the older writers.