Ambra Nigra, c1745-1807

Description

Glass bottle containing a specimen of black ambergris (or ambergrise). From the Burges Collection.

Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 110. No. 5’ and ‘AMBRA NIGRA’.

Pomet and Lemery believed ambergrise was formed from honeycomb that had fallen into the sea, but it is actually a biliary secretion of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus.

Pomet, in his Compleat History of Druggs, says that ‘Ambergrise, besides its Use for the Perfumers, by reason of its excellent Scent, is a very good Medicine to warm the Stomach, and prevent the Cause of the Gout from attacking the vital Parts; it refreshes the Animal Spirits by its volatile Sulphur, strengthens the debilitated Parts, and restores in Consumptions.’

Lemery says of the black ambergris that ‘it is good for nothing in Physick, and but of very little Use for the Perfumers.’