* 320 A COMPENDIUM OF 
cylindrical pieces which are often hollow in the 
centre, also in cakes, the latter being obtained 
from the broken leaves and twigs, the juice of 
which the natives allow to flow into cocoanut 
shells; it is then placed in earthern vessels and 
exposed until it hardens; this latter is termed 
cake Gamboge and the former pipe Gamboge. 
Gamboge is of an orange yellow color, of waxy 
appearance, makes a mixture with water, and 
is partly soluble in alcohol and ether, and con- 
tains 80 per cent of resin (gambogic acid so 
considered), and from 16 to 20 per cent of gum. 
In its action Gamboge is a hydragogue cathar- 
tic and is rarely administered alone, but given 
in conjunction with other remedies; much used 
as a pigment in the arts; derivation of the name 
obscure, but supposed to be called after those 
who first described the tree. 
Guaiaci Resina. Guaiac Resin. Obtained 
from the Guaiacum Officinale.—Natural order 
Zygophyllacez, and found in South America 
and West India Islands. The large tree yield- 
ing this resin has already been described, and 
therefore we shall only speak of the exudation, 
which is obtained in three ways, viz., by inci- 
sion, by heating the heart wood of the trees, 
and by boiling the chips in water. The resin 
occurs in commerce in very irregular masses, 
occasionally in small, globular pieces, of a red 
brown or greenish-brown color, with a metallic 
lustre. _ When held in the hand for a few mo- 
ments it gives off a feeble aromatic odor. 
Taste, bitter, spicy and acrid. Spirits of nitre 
turns its solution green, and the tincture of 
iron, blue. The resin contains an acid and a 
