RUBIACEA. 173 
, by a Dutch trader named Couperus. This person nar- 
es how the plant was introduced into Malacca from Pontjan 
n 1758, and how Gambier is made from its leaves; and names 
_ Several sorts of the drug and their prices. In 1807 a descrip- 
tion of ‘the drug called Gutta Gambier,’ and of the tree from 
which it is made, was Sis sce to the Linnean Society of 
London by William Hunter.” A good description of the 
manufacture of Gambier will be found in the Pharmacographia. 
The process consists in boiling the leaves and young shoots 
nd evaporating the liquor until it crystallizes. 
Description. -—Gambier is an earthy-looking substance 
of light brown hue, consisting of cubes about an inch each 
de, more or less agglutinated, or it is in the form of entirely 
compact masses. The cubes are externally dark reddish brown 
and compact, internally of a pale cinnamon hue, dry, porous, 
able, devoid of odour, but with a bitterish astringent eet 
coming subsequently sweetish. 
Under the microscope the cubes of Gambier are seen to con- 
sist of very small acicular crystals. (Pharmacographia.) Gam- 
ier is also imported into India in the form of small lozenges. 
Chemical composition.—In chemical composition Gambier 
rees with Kutch. (See Acacia Catechu.) Gambier from 
ngapore has lately been exported in a damp condition 
sing great inconvenience in the trade. Mr. W. N. Evans” 
has analysed some authentic field and trade samples with the 
following results :— 
Gambier Trade me 
from field. Gambier. ae 
Tannin 1148 14 68 257 « 
Organic matter 30°11 
a r @Georertsese 
Ash .. 
Loss 
