NAT. ORDER.— ROTACEiE. 137 



pal gardens throughout that country, although it is not as common 

 as many other exotic species of this genus. Not only this j^lant, 

 but most of its congeners, abound with a glutinous liquor, which 

 in summer exudes upon their leaves. It is well known that the 

 Cistus Cretitus is the species from which the officinal labdanum 

 is collected. This is done by means of an instrument called 

 Ergastiri, made in the form of a rake, to which several leathern 

 thongs are affixed instead of teeth, and with which the leaves of 

 the shrub are lightly brushed backwards and forwards, so that the 

 flued labdanum may adhere to the leather, from which it is after- 

 wards scraped off with knives, and formed into regular masses for 

 exportation. 



Three kinds of labdanum have been described by authors, 

 all possessing nearly the same projierties ; the Cistus cfeticus, Cistus 

 ladaniferus, and the Cistus laurifolius, all of which are small ever 

 green shrubs, inhabiting the Grecian Islands. The best labdanum, 

 which is the soft kind, has an agreeable smell, and a lightly jjungent 

 bitter taste ; the hard is much weaker. Rectified spirits of wine 

 dissolves nearly the whole gum into a golden-colored liquor; on 

 distillation with water, there comes over a fragrant essential oil. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Labdanum is a stimulant expec- 

 torant, and astringent, and was formerly employed internally as a 

 pectoral, and in catarrhal affections, dysenteries, and many 

 other diseases ; but at present it is wholly confined to external use, 

 and as an ingredient in the stomachic plaster, although seldom use<l 

 in the United States for that purpose. 



