38 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA^ 



of Di2?terocarpuSj and other balsam iferous trees such as several 

 species of Mastixia and Gironniera.'^ The balsam of Dijiterocarpus 

 is called Gurjun in India, and is enumerated amongst the products 

 of India, Burmah, and the Malayan region, by various authors 

 since the commencement of this century. Its medicinal properties 

 were pointed out by O'Shaughnessy ("Bengal Dispensary," 1842, 

 p. 222) as being equal to Copaiba, and as such it has now 

 obtained a place in the Indian Pharmacopsea. Balsam of Gurjun 

 varies somewhat in its character because it is derived from 

 different trees of the order, all of which are more or less balsami- 

 ferous. The basis or the acid crystallised from the resin is called 

 Gurgunic Acid by Werner, who gives it tlie chemical formula 

 C44 Hgj O5+ 3 H2 O which is that of hydrate Abietinic Acid f and 

 jDrobably identical with that and Metacopaibic Acid. 



This statement of the qualities of Dipterocarpus turhinatus 

 will serve as a specimen of the whole. The balsam of D. trinervis 

 is used in Java tor wounds. It furnishes a dye, and with the 

 yolk of an egg an emulsion of the same efficacy as copaiba. I 

 have seen torches made of banana leaves smeared with this 

 dammar as mentioned by Blume. The light is brilliant and the 

 smell agreeable. The Camphor Tree of Borneo and Sumatra, and 

 which I think I have seen growing in the state of Selangore also, 

 is Dryobalanops aromatica, Gaertn. The product is best and most 

 abundant where it is found in the wood. De Vriese tells us 

 (Hook. Lond. Jour. IV. p. 33) that its price is high in Sumatra 

 where it is called Kassa baras, and the rajahs do not care to export 

 it, but use it to embalm the remains of royal personages. The 

 same kind of camphor is known in China and Japan, where it is 

 sold as a drug for a tonic and stimulant. The same tree also 

 exudes a small quantity of aromatic or balsamic oil, called Oil of 



* Mastixia belonging to the order Cornace^, has about six species in 

 Java, &c., and two in Ceylon. Gironniera belongs to the order Urticace.>e, 

 with seven or eight species extending from Cejdou through the Malayan 

 region to South China and the Pacific Islands. 



t Derived from Canada balsam, an exudation from the Canadian cedar. 



