Ambragrisea, c1745-1807

Description

Glass bottle, with glass lid and paper labels, containing a specimen of ambergris (or ambergrise). From the Burges Collection.

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.

Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 110. No. 2’ and ‘AMBRAGRISEA’.

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 adds that ‘It strengthens the Brain, the Heart, and the Stomach; procures Alacrity, and makes the Spirits gay, provokes Lust, and is a good Antidote against Poison or Infection in Men; but raises the Vapours in Women, therefore let them avoid it.’