220 Mr.. Hunter's Observations on Kauclea Gambir. 



From the leaves of this- shrub is prepared the substanee called] 

 Gutta Gambeer, in two ways. The first is by boiling the leaves*. 

 This process was performed under my inspection, by a Chinese, 

 at Prince of Wales's Island. Seven catties (or $± lbs.) of the 

 leaves, plucked clean from the stalks, were boiled in a large 

 pot for one hour and a half, adding more water as the first 

 wasted', till towards the end of the process, when it was inspis- 

 sated to the consistence of a very thin sirup. When taken off: 

 the fire, and allowed to cool, it became solid. It was then cut 

 into little squares, which were dried in the sun, turning them 

 frequently. After one month, I weighed them, and found ten 

 ounces and two drachms, troy, weight. 



The Gambeer, prepared according to this process, is. of a 

 brown colour; but from some parts of the Malay coast, and of 

 Sumatra^ it is brought in little round cakes almost perfectly 

 white. According to Dr. Campbell of Bejicoolen, this is made 

 by cutting small the leaves and young twigs, and infusing, them 

 in water for some hours, when a feecula is deposited, which is 

 inspissated by the heat of the sun, and moulded into round 

 cakes. 



The Gambeer, when first tasted, impresses on the palate a, 

 strong sensation of bitter and astringency. But it afterwards 

 leaves a sweetish taste, which remains a long time. From 

 these sensible qualities, it might reasonably be expected to 

 prove useful in medicine. And accordingly, we are told that 

 it has been found beneficial in angina and aphthae, as well as 

 in diarrhoea and dysentery. The drug was infused in water 

 to which it gave the colour of the infusion of bohea tea-f*. By 



* See Marsden's Sumatra, p, 243, — where he quptes, for a particular account of the 

 manufacture, the second volume of the Transactions of the Batavian Society. 

 t Murray I. c, Seba. item. Buisson apud Degner, d&Dysent, p. 297, 



the 



