= adjunct to medicinal oils on account of t 
170 ‘ GUTITIFERZ. 
Chemical composition.—Indian Gamboge has been found by 
Christison (1846) to be essentially the same as that of Siam- — 
It has also been examined by Broughton (1871), who is o 
opinion that it is equal to that of Siam. . A sample of Gam 
boge from the Nagar district in Mysore was found by one of 
to be remarkably pure; it had the following percentage com 
position :—Moisture, 5:4; resin, 80-4; gum, 18:0; dross, 1°2. 
‘Commerce. —In the Indian markets the ordinary pipe Gam- 
boge is alone met with. Price, Re. 14 per lb. 
MESUA FERREA, Linn. 
Fig.—Riheede, Hort. Mal. iti, 58; Wight Ill.,t- 127; Ie 
#. 118. Iron wood tree (Hng.), Mésua Naghas ( Fr.). ; 
Hab.—F. Bengal, EB. Himalaya, E. and W. Peninst 
Andamans. The flowers. . : 
a Vernacular.—Nagkesar (Hind., Beng.), Négchampa (Mar. 
Nagecuram {Tam.), Naga-sampagi (Can.), Chikati ma 
(Tel.), Veila (Mal.) , ‘ 
Ss 
History, Uses, &c.—'This beautiful tree, with its larg 
Cistus-like white flower, called in Sanskrit Kanjalkam 
and Nagkesara, is a favourite of the Indian poets. In h 
Naishada the poet compares the petals of the flowers frou 
which thé bees were scattering the pollen of its golden anthers 
to an alabaster wheel on which Kamadeva was whetting 
arrows, while the sparks of fire were dispersed in every 
tion. It is the Castanea rosea indica of Bheede, so ca 
because the fruits are like chestnuts jin size and shape. 
dried blossoms are prescribed by Hindu physicians as a2 
i d 
vs 
fi 
La 
ay heir fragrance, am 
__ also considered to haye ‘astringent and stomachic prope 
_ Powdered and mixed with ghi (liquid butter) they are re 
mended by most of the later Hindu writers in bleeding pi 
irning of the feet. The root bark of Mesua ferrea con 
