citing comfits,[1] aromatic plants, meat, honey, eggs, and other similar viands. He who follows such a regime is protected against the following accidents, to which excessive coition may lead.
Firstly, the loss of generation power.
Secondly, the deterioration of his sight; for although he may not become blind, he will at least have to suffer from eye diseases if he does not follow my advice.
Thirdly, the loss of his physical strength; he may become like the man who wants to fly but cannot, who, pursuing somebody cannot catch him, or who carrying a burden, or working, soon gets tired and prostrated.
He who does not want to feel the necessity for the coition uses camphor. Half a mitskal[2] of this substance, macerated in water, makes the man who drinks it insensible to the pleasures of copulation. Many women use this remedy when in fits of jealousy against rivals,[3] or when they want repose after great exercise. Then they try to procure camphor that has been left after a burial, and shrink from no expense of money to get such from the old women who have the charge of the corpses.[4] They make also use of the flower of henna, which is called faria; they macerate the same in water, until it
- ↑ These comfits are called madjoun, and are prepared from fruit, particularly from cherries and pears cooked with honey. According as they may be wanted more or less spiced there are added, in varying quantities, cinnamon, musk, etc.
- ↑ The mitskal is a weight of three-sevenths of a dirhem, corresponding to a drachm and a half of our old system of weights and is equal to one gramme and ninety centigrammes.
- ↑ The word derair—the singular number of which is derra, and which is rendered in the translation with rivals—comes from a root which signifies to be injurious.
- ↑ With the Mussulmans it is customary to wash the dead with the greatest assiduity with perfumed waters before they are buried.
