560 ORD. XXXII. Gruinales. GtatAcuM oFFICINALE. 
by exposure to the sun, it is gathered and packed in small kegs 
for exportation. This resin is of a friable texture, of'a deep 
greenish colour, and sometimes of a reddish hue ; it has a pungent 
acrid taste, but little or no smell, unless heated. It contains more 
resin than the watery extract made from the wood; and more 
_ gummy matter than the spirituous extract.‘—The Guaiacum tree’ 
also yields a spontaneous exudation from the bark, which is called 
the native gum, and is brought to us in small irregular pieces, |] of 
a bright semipellucid appearance, and differs from the former in 
being much purer.* The Bark contains less resinous matter than 
the wood, and is consequently a less powerful medicine, though in 
arecent state it is strongly cathartic. The Fruit, {says a late 
author ) ‘‘ is purgative ; and for medicinal use, far excels the bark. : 
A decoction of it has been known to cure the venereal disease, and 
even the yaws in its advanced stage, without the use of mercury.” 
The Flowers, or blossoms, are laxative, and in Jamaica are com- 
monly given to children in the form of syrup, which in appearance 
much resembles that of violets, It is only the wood and resin of 
Guaiacum which are now in general medical use in Europe; and 
as’ the efficacy of the former is supposed to be derived merely 
from the quantity of resinous matter which it contains, they may 
be considered indiscriminately as the same medicine. Guaiacum 
* Des Marchais, Voyage en Guinée & Cayenne, tom. 3. p. 246. “ The Gum, 
or rather the resin of this plant, transudes frequently of its own accord, and ma 
be seen concreted on many parts of it at all seasons of the year; but it is generally 
found in greater abundance where the bark has been cut or wounded.” Browne’s 
Jam. 226. 
| It is sometimes sophisticated by the negroes with the gum of the Manchineal 
tree, (a species of the Hippomane) but this is easily detected by dissolving a little 
in spirit of wine or rum. The true gum imparts a whitish or milky tinge; but the 
Manchineal gives a greenish cast. Long, 1. c.724. Mouch advises a few drops 
of Spirit. nitri dulc. to be added to the spirituous solution, and then to be diluted 
with water, by which the gum is precipitated in a blue powder; but the adulteration 
will appear floating in white striz, &c. Vide Crell’s Chem, Journ, P. 2. p. 78, 
& Long, lL. c. 
