BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 315 
branches are adorned with ovate, oblong leaf- 
lets, arranged in pairs, numbering from 7 to 10, 
whilst the flowers are in long racemes, and arise 
from the axil of the leaf stalk; fruit, somewhat 
like an almond in size and shape. Gum Oliba- 
num exudes spontaneously from the bark in the 
form of a milk-like juice, but becomes on expo- 
sure of a brownish yellow or of a brown-red 
color. The tears or masses are of irregular 
shape, from the size of a pea to that of a marble; 
odor agreeable, balsamic and terebinthinous; 
taste bitter, aromatic and balsamic; forms with 
water a milk-like mixture, but with alcohol 
a partial solution. Olibanum contains from 60 
to 70 per cent. of resin, 20 or 25 per cent. of 
gum, and a small quantity of volatile oil, which 
is termed Oltbene. Olibanum was an offering 
to the Divinity, and as an article of commerce 
has been known from the most remote age of 
man, It has been used as a stimulant and ex- 
pectorant, but is almost obsolete as an internal 
remedy, though largely used as an ingredient 
in- plasters, either alone or with other gum 
resins or spices; also an ingredient of incense in 
church ceremony. Most of the gum is said to 
come from the port of Bombay. The origin of 
the name is uncertain, but it is probably derived 
from the Hebrew word /ebonah, which signifies 
milk, The allied gums are the Elemi and Be- 
dellium, the former gum from the Canarium, 
Cummune, or Java almond or Elemi tree, and 
the latter from the Balsamodendron Mukel. 
The Elemi is also known as the pitch tree, and 
is used for caulking boats in the Island of 
