believed that it will form a tree from 40 to 50 feet high, as 
that of Lignum Vite is reported to be; Dr. Macfadyen indeed 
expressly states that it does not grow more than 12 feet high. 
In the Flora of Jamaica of this Botanist, p. 187, is an account 
of the species, from which the following is an extract :— 
“ The bark of this tree is thick and smooth, of a greyish 
colour. The wood is very hard, heavy, so as to sink in 
water; to the taste slightly bitter, inodorous, (but when 
ignited giving outa slight fragrant smell). It takes a fine 
polish, and turns well. It is much used where solidity is an 
object, such as for ship-blocks, bed-rollers, pestles, &c. The 
centre of the wood is an obscure green, and is the part which 
contains the larger proportion of resin: the outer layer or 
sap is more yellow, lighter, and contains very little of the 
resin. 
“ The Gum-resin, known by the name of the Gum 
Guaiacum, is produced from this tree. It is friable, semi- 
transparent, of a brownish green, light, and diffuses in burn- 
ing a somewhat agreeable odour. It has a slight degree of 
bitterness, and produces a smarting or burning sensation in 
the fauces. It dissolves entirely in alcohol; and partially in 
water. Oxalic acid is produced by treating it with nitric 
acid. It either flowers spontaneously and concretes in tears, 
or is obtained by incisions. This latter operation is per- 
formed in May, and the juice, as it flows out, is concreted by 
the sun: It may also be procured by sawing the wood into 
billets, and boring a hole longitudinally through them, so 
that when one end of the billet is laid on the fire, the gum 
flows readily from the other, and is collected in a calabash 
or gourd. It may also be obtained by boiling the chips or 
raspings in salt water, when the gum will separate from the 
wood and rise to the surface. 
“ The Spaniards first imported the Guaiacum wood from 
America into Europe in the year 1508. It had the reputation 
of being antisyphilitic, and the names holy wood, and the. 
wood of life, were given to it, and it was in such esteem as to 
be sold at the rate of seven dollars the pound. It was in the 
height of its reputation in 1519, in consequence of the cele- 
brated warrior Van Hutten having been cured by it, after 
eleven unsuccessful attempts to remove the symptoms he 
