VII. An Account of a China Cabinet, filled with several Instruments, Fruits, &c. used in China: sent to the Royal Society by Mr. Buckly, chief Surgeon at Fort St. George. By Hans Sloane, M. D.

MRMr. Buckly, chief surgeon at Fort St. George in the East-Indies, having lately presented the Royal Society with a China Cabinet, full of the Instruments and Simples used by their Surgeons, &c. Amongst which, several are new and of different Shapes from the same used in Europe, they have commanded me some Account should be given of them.

The Rasors were of Two Sorts, sither such as are represented to the natural Bigness, Fig. I. and resemble some Sorts of Knives, and do not fold in; or (391) Fig. 2, and 3. Which represent another sort of Rasors, which are longer, and fold in after the manner expressed in the Figures. They were daubed over with a Substance resembling Diachylum Plaister, to keep them from Rust, which it had effectually done, through different Climates.

Fig. 4. And 5. Represents an Incision Knife used in China, the whole being of Brass, excepting towards their Point aa, which is of Steel.

The most unusual Instruments that came over in this Cabinet were, those contrived for the taking any Substance out of the Ears, or for the scratching or tickling them, which the Chinese do account one of the greatest Pleasures.

Fig. 6. Does represent one of these Instruments which is a small Pearl, such as is used in Necklaces, through the Bore of which is put and fasten’d a Hog’s Bristle, the other End of the Bristle being fast in a Tortoise-Shell-Handle.

Fig. 7. Represents an other Instrument for the Ears, made of small Silver Wire twisted, set into a Tortose-Shell-Handle, the Wire being made into a round Loop at the End.

Fig. 8. Shows an Ear Instrument made of a piece of large Silver Wire, flatted at end, and set in a piece of Tortoise-Shell.

Fig. 9. In an Ear Instrument made likewise of Silver-Wire, set in a Tortoise-Shell-Handle, the End of the Wire being made sharp, and shap’d like an Hook.

Fig. 10. Represents an Ear Instrument, very much resembling our common European Ear-pickers, being of Silver set in Tortoise-Shell.

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Fig. 11. Shews the Figure of an Ear Instrument made of several Hogs Bristles, set as in a common Pencil.

Fig. 12. Represents Instruments made of very fine Downy Feathers tyed together like a Pencil, or Brush on the end of a Tortoise-Shell-Handle.

Fig. 13. Shows an Instrument exactly like that figured Fig. 8. Only the flat end has a slit through it.

Fig. 14. Is a Chinese Figure, wherein is represented one of that Nation, using one of these Instruments, and expressing great Satisfaction therein. This I had of William Charleton, Esq; who favoured the Royal Society with a Sight of it at one of their Meetings.

Whatever Pleasure the Chinese may take in thus picking their Ears, I am certain most People in these parts who have their hearing impaired and have advised with me for their Help, I have found have had such Misfortunes first come to them by picking their Ears too much, and thereby bringing Humours, or ulcerous Dispositions in them.

I. A further Account of what was contain’d in the Chinese Cabinet, by Hans Sloane, M. D.  A Sea-Horse Tooth.  A Cow-Bezoar. This was roundish, as big as a Hens Egg, made of Laminæ, or Plates, one Layer on another, after the manner of true Bezoar, but melts when applied to the Candle, and therefore is not true, but factitious. (71)  A pair of Brass Tweezers.  A round Metallick Speculum, used as a Looking-Glass, two inches Diameter.  A Malaya Purse made of Straw, Platted or Woven as are Straw-hats.  Two Bone Probes.  Four China Pencils, with these the Chinese write their Letters, as we do with Pens.  One wide Tooth’d Comb of one piece of wood.  One strait tooth’d Combe: Its Teeth are all distinct flat pieces of wood, sharp at both ends, set together and fastned to one another by two pieces of Reed, laid over their middles.  An Instrument to clean the Combs, of three Teeth.  Nux Vomica.  Bamboo Stone.  Books of China Leaf Gold, the Leaves of some of which are an Inch and half square, others four Inches. The Paper was of the ordinary China Paper, likely made of Silk or Cotton. The Chinese Guild Paper on one side with this leaf Gold, then cut it in long pieces, they then weave it into their Silks, which makes them, with little or no Cost, look very rich and fine. The same long pieces are twisted or turn’d about Silk Thread by them, so artificially, as to look finer then Gold Thread, tho’ it be of no great value.  A Sheet of brown Paper from China. This sort of brown Paper, which is smooth and thin, is made use of in lieu of Linnen Cloath or Rags, to spread Oyntments on, to apply to Sores, in the Hospitals in Paris.  Two Steel Instruments for polishing Rasors, each of them crooked and two inches long. (72)  Semen Phaseoli Zurattensis, or Couhage, Rai hist. plant. Used for Curing Dropsies.  A great black Scarabæus, a Scarlet Butterfly, an Ash-coloured Capricorn, a Locust, and a Phalæna, all to pieces.  An Indian Hone, a blackish Colour.  A China Hone like ours.  An indian Hone, to be used after the Stone, to smooth the points of Lancets, &c. This is made of a kind of white Wood, as light as touchwood.  A Painter’s Brush, made of the Stalk of a Plant, the Fibres of which, at both ends, being fretted asunder and tyed together again, serve for a Brush.  A Box of several kinds of China Ink, with Characters on them.

It were to be wished other Travellers into Foreign Parts would make such enquiries (as Mr. Buckly, who sent these to the Royal Society has done) into the Instruments and Materials made use of in the places where they come, that are any manner of way for the Benefit or innocent delight of Mankind, that we may content our selves with our own Inventions, where we go beyond them, and imitate theirs wherein they go beyond ours.