burnt paper

Ingredients

afqāš, gum arabic, gallnuts, burnt paper, egg yolk

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Take afqāš (likely cucurbit or fruit peel), grind finely, and mix with ten dirhams of gum arabic, ten dirhams of gallnuts, and five dirhams of burnt paper. The ingredients are combined in a mortar and mixed with egg yolk to form compresses (p. 221).

Evidence

"Take the afqāš, grind it finely, pour on it ten full dirhams of gum arabic and the same quantity of gallnuts, five dirhams of burnt paper; put everything in a mortar, mix it with egg yolk, make it into compresses... (p. 221)"

Remarks

The term 'afqāš' is problematic; a marginal note explains it as Arak fruit peel and palm twigs, though it likely refers to a cucurbit (gourd/melon) or hard fruit (p. 221, n. 32). This recipe is described as a 'dry ink' suitable for travelling (p. 221, n. 34).