* 
STYRACE, 371 
The Mahometans use it for the same purpose, and direct the 
fumes to be inhaled. As an incense it is much used by all 
classes, the imports into Bombay alone averaging 6,000 cwts. 
per annum. For the early history of this drug in Europe, the 
Pharmacographia may be consulted. In that work will also 
be found a summary of what is known regarding the method 
of collecting it in Sumatra and Siam. 
Description.—The following excellent description, to- 
gether with a summary of its chemical composition, is 
extracted from the Pharmacographia :— 
“Stam Beyzorn.—The most esteemed sort is that which 
Consists entirely of flattened tears or drops, an inch or two 
long, of an opaque, milk-like white resin, loosely agglutinated 
into a mass. More frequently the mass is quite compact, con- 
sisting of a certain proportion of white tears of the size ofan 
almond downwards, imbedded in a deep, rich amber-brown, 
translucent resin. Occasionally the translucent resin prepon- 
derates, and the white tears are almost wanting. In some 
packages the tears of white resin are very small, and the 
whole mass has the aspect of a reddish-brown granite. There 
is always a certain admixture of wood, bark and other eames: 
tal impurities. 
“The white tears, when broken, display a stratified structure 
with layers of greater or less translucency. By keeping, ‘the 
white milky resin becomes brown and transparent on the sur- 
face, but from some experiments made by one of us (F.) it 
does not appear that opacity is due to water, but rather toa 
peculiar molecular (semi-crystalline ?) state ofthe resin. Siam 
benzoin is very brittle, the opaque tears showing a slightly 
waxy, the transparent a glassy, fracture. It easily softens in the 
mouth, and may be kneaded with the teeth like mastich. It 
has a delicate balsamic, vanilla-like fragrance, but very little 
taste. When heated it evolves a more powerful fragrance 
together with the irritating fumes of benzoic acid ; its fusing 
point is 75° C. _ The presence of benzoic acid may be ‘shown. HM : 
