156 BOTANY. 



This gentleman, however, seems to have mistaken the 

 tree, for he describes it as the one that produces the balsam 

 of Peru, Myrospermum peruiferum, and which belongs to 

 a different natural family. The medicinal properties of 

 their exudations too, are materially different. Liquid 

 storax, the production of (his tree, is described by Lindley, 

 merely as " a stimulating expectorant substance — influ- 

 encing the mucus membranes, especially that which lines 

 the air passages." The writer of the Burmese medical 

 treatise recommends the exudation of the tree for the usual 

 purposes to which the balsam of Peru is applied, under 

 the illusion that it is the same substance ! 



Here is a fine illustration of the fallacies of medicine. 

 It is probable that this balsam has been used in all the 

 various cases many times by the author, and quite as 

 much good done, and as wonderful cures effected, as if 

 he had used the veritable balsam of Peru. And the 

 same glorious effects are still being produced, for the 

 book is in the hands of many natives, and is highly valu- 

 ed : but no part more so than this, because it points them 

 to a production of the country, while most of the medi- 

 cines mentioned are foreign products. 

 liiquidamber Altingia. 



INDIAN GUM ANIME. 



In Hindustan, Valeria indica produces a resin which is 

 sometimes called copal in India, and gum anime in Eng- 

 land ; but it does not appear to be known that in these 

 Provinces, another species of the same genus yields 

 almost a precisely similar resin. 



When in bloom the tree is quite ornamental, and dif- 

 fuses the fragrance of its flowers for a great distance 

 around. 



Valeria Rozburghii. 

 coo5goooo5» 



AMERICAN CUM ANFME. 



The gum anime, or Courbaril locust tree, was introdu- 

 ced by Major Alacfarquhar, and is easily propagated. 

 Hymcnata Com baril. 



