BOSWELLIA SERRATA. ORD. Terebinthacezx. 119 
substance, of a pale yellow or reddish colour ; it consists of grains of various 
sizes, from that of a pea to a chesnut, and is generally covered with a whit- 
ish powder, produced by the friction of the grains against each other. It has 
a bitterish and somewhat pungent taste, and when chewed, sticks to the 
teeth, and renders the saliva milky. It is not fusible, but inflammable, burns 
brilliantly, with an agreeable odour, and leaves a whitish ash, composed of 
sulphate, carbonate and phosphate of lime, with muriate and carbonate of 
potass. Olibanum forms a milky solution, when triturated with water, and 
a transparent fluid with alcohol. When distilled alone, it affords a small 
portion of volatile oil; but distilled either with water or spirit, no oil comes 
over. Ether dissolves nearly three-fourths, and when evaporated on water, 
leaves a very pure transparent resin, while the part undissolved becomes 
white and opaque, and the greater part of it is soluble in water, forming a 
milky solution. Neumann got from 480 grains, 346 alcoholic, and 125 watery 
extract; and inversely, 200 watery, and 273 alcoholic. According to the 
analysis of Braconnot, 100 parts of olibanum contain 8 parts of a fragrant 
volatile oil, (which resembles that of lemons both in odour and colour) 56 
resin, 30 gum, and 5,2 of a matter resembling gum, but insoluble in water 
or alcohol, 
The Medical Properties and Uses of Gum Olibanum have already been de- 
tailed under the article Juniperis Lycia; it is, however, now seldom em- 
ployed, but as a perfume to fumigate the apartments of the sick. 
