. 
{ i167 } 
which produces Myrrh, yet, from his account of it, we have no doubt 
in referring it to the genus mimofa; for in his opinion it very 
nearly refembles the acacia vera, which is the mimofa nilotica 
figured by us in the fecond volume of Medical Botany; and this 
correfponds with the defcription of the tree given by Diofcorides, 
The trees producing Myrrh grow on the eaftern coaft of Arabia 
Felix, and in that part of Abyffinia which is fituated near the Red 
Sea, and called by Mr. Bruce Troglodyte. The fame author fays, 
** In order to have.Myrrh of the firft or more perfeé fort, the 
“* Savages chufe a young vigorous tree, whofe branches are without 
** mofs or any parafite plant, and above the firft large branches give 
** the tree a deep wound with an axe. The Myrrh which flows the 
** firft year through this wound is Myrrh of the firft growth; and 
** never is in any great quantity. This operation is performed fome- 
- §* time after the rains have ceafed, that is, from April to June, and 
** the Myrth is produced in July and Auguft. The fap, once — 
** accuftomed to iflue through the gath, continues fo to do fpon- 
** taneoufly at the return of every feafon: but the tropical rains, 
** which are very violent, and continue fix months, wath fo much 
“6 dirt, and lodge fo much water in the cut, that in the fecond year 
** the tree has begun to rot and turn foul in that part, and the Myrrh 
“* is of a fecond quality, and fells in Cairo about a third cheaper than 
** the firft. The Myrrh alfo produced from gathes near the roots, 
** and in the trunks of old trees,.is of the fecond growth and quality, 
** and fometimes worfe. This, however, is the good Myrrh of the 
** Italian fhops every where in Venice. It is of a black red foul 
** colour, folid, and heavy, lofing nothing in weight, and eafily 
“* diftinguifhed from that of Arabia Felix. The third and worft kind. 
** is gathered from old wounds or gafhes formerly made in old trees, 
“© or Myrrh that, pafling unnoticed, has hung upon the tree a whole | 
_** year, of a black earth-like colour, heavy, with little {mell or bit- 
“* ternefs.” (Phil. Tranf: vol. 65.)—Mr. Bruce alfo fays, that fafa 
gum is fraudulently mixed with the Myrrh. 
_ The medical effe@ts of Myrrh are warm, corroborant, and antifep- 
tic; it has alfo been fuccefsfully employed in phthifical cafes as a 
pectoral ; and though allied to fome of the balfams, it is found to be 
more efficacious amd lefS “irritating to the fyftem. | ae 
Ete ALMA 
