The wonderful Plaister for the curing of all Kinds of Ulcers. ibid. An excellent Pomatum for the Cure of Tettars, Ringworms, Pimples, and other Deformities of the Skin. 94 * * * * * The APPROBATION of Monsieur _Andry_, Counsellor, Lecturer, and Regal Professor, Doctor, Regent of the Faculty of Medicine at _Paris_, and Censor Royal of Books. I Have read, by order of the Lord Keeper of the Seals, this _Natural History of Chocolate_, and I judge that the Impression will be very necessary and useful for the Publick. Given at _Paris_ this 5th of _April, 1719_. THE Natural HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE. Of the Division of this Treatise. I Shall divide this Treatise on Chocolate into three Parts: In the _First_, after I have given a Description of the _Cocao Tree_, I shall explain how it is cultivated, and give an Account how its Fruit is prepared: In the _Second_, I shall speak of the Properties of _Chocolate_; and in the _Third_, of its Uses. PART I. CHAP. I. The Description of the _Cocao-Tree_. The _Cocao-Tree_ is moderately tall and thick, and either thrives, or not, according to the Quality of the Soil wherein it grows: Upon the Coast of _Caraqua_, for instance, it grows considerably larger than in the Islands belonging to the _French_. Its _Wood_ is porous, and very light; the _Bark_ is pretty firm, and of the Colour of _Cinnamon_, more or less dark, according to the Age of the Tree. The _Leaves_ are about nine Inches long, and four in breadth, where they are broadest; for they grow less towards the two Extremities, where they terminate in a point: their Colour is a little darkish, but more bright above than underneath; they are joined to Stalks three Inches long, and the tenth part of an Inch broad. This Stalk, as it enters the Leaf, makes a strait Rib, a little raised along the Middle, which grows proportionably less the nearer it comes to the End. From each side of this Rib proceed thirteen or fourteen crooked Threads alternately. As these Leaves only fall off successively, and in proportion as others grow again, this Tree never appears naked: It is always flourishing, but more especially so towards the two _Solstices_, than in the other Seasons. The _Blossoms_, which are regular and like a Rose, but very small, and without smell, proceed from the Places from which the old Leaves fall, as it were in Bunches. A large Quantity of these fall off, for hardly Ten of a Thousand come to good, insomuch that the Earth underneath seems cover'd over with them. Every _Blossom_ is joined to the Tree by a slender Stalk half an Inch or a little more in length; when it is yet in the Bud, it is one Fifth of an Inch broad, and about one fourth or a little more in length: when it was least, in proportion to the Tree and the Fruit, the more strange it appeared to me, and more worthy of Attention[a].