CALYaiXOBiE. 515 



Odina Wodier has an astringent bark, which has been employed in India. 

 It also yields an astringent gum. 



JHstacia. — P. Lentiscus is the source of the concrete resin called mastic or 

 mastich. It is obtained from the stem by incision. Mastich is chiefly employed 

 dissolved in spirit of wine, or oil of turpentine, as a varnish and cement. ' It 

 is used in the East as a masticatory, and also to some extent for fumigation. 

 It is also employed in this country by dentists for stopping teeth. It pos- 

 sesses stimulant and diuretic properties, but is rarely employed in medicine. 

 It is principally obtained from the island of Chio, where this plant is much 

 cultivated. P. Terebinthus is the source of the liquid oleo-resin, caUed Chian 

 Turpentine. This becomes solid by keeping from the loss of its volatile oil. 

 It has the general properties of the ordinary Turpentines, derived from some 

 of the Coniferag. Chian Turpentine, as its name indicates, is also obtained 

 from the island of Scio or Chio. Pistacia vera produces the fruit known as 

 Pistachio or Pistacia-nut, the kernels of wMch are of a green colour, and 

 have an agreeable flavour. They are highly esteemed by the Tirrks and 

 Greeks, and are occasionally imported into this country. They are either 

 eaten raw, or after having been fried, with pepper and salt. P. Khinjuk and 

 P. cabuUca, natives of Scinde, yield concrete resins resembling mastich. 

 Curiously shaped galls, of a shghtly astringent terebinthinate taste, are ob- 

 tained from P. KItinjuk, which enter into the native Materia Medica of 

 India under the name of Gul-i-pista. 



Rhus. The Sumach, — Several species of this genus have more or less 

 poisonous properties. They have generally a milky juice, which becomes 

 black on exposure to the air ; and the emanations from some of them ex- 

 cite violent erysipelatous inflammation upon certain individuals when 

 brought within their influence. R. Toxicodendron is the Poison-oak of 

 North America. The leaves contain a peculiar acrid principle, to which their 

 medicinal properties appear to be due. They have been thought to be useful 

 in old paralytic cases, and in chronic rheumatism. R. venenata is the 

 Poison-ash or Poison-elder, and, like the two former, has very poisonous 

 properties. The above plants, in a fi-esh state, ought to be very carefully 

 handled, as their juices frequently cause violent erysipelatous inflammation. 

 The bark of R. Coriaria is a powerful astringent,\ind is used in tanning; 

 other species have similar properties. The fi-uit is acidulous, and is eaten 

 by the Turks. The leaves, when dried and powdered, constitute the material 

 called Shiimac or Sumach, which has been employed in tanning and dyeingfor 

 ages. The wood of /i.Co^fnwoi is known in commerce as Young Fustk or Zante 

 Fustic. It is used for dyeing, and produces a rich yellow colour. This must 

 not be confounded with Old Fustic, which is obtained from an entirely 

 different plant (see Madura tinctoria). R. Metopium, a native of Jamaica, 

 furnishes the Hog giim of that island ; this is said to have astringent, 

 diuretic, and purgative properties when given internally, and to act as a 

 vulnerary when applied externally to wotmds, &;c. From tbe fruits of R. 

 succedanea, and probably other species, Japanese Wax is obtained, which 

 is now largely used in this country for candles, kc. On the branches of this 

 plant in India, peculiar horn-like galls are foimd, vfhich are reputed to 

 possess astringent and tonic properties. 



Semecarpus Anacardium is the source of the Marking Nut. These nuts 

 are used extensively in the preparation of a black varnish. The seeds are 

 edible, like those of the Cashew. These nuts and the fruit of HoUgama 

 longifolia (as before noticed), furnish the black varnish of Sylhet, used in the 

 East Indies, for varnishing lacquer-work, and for marking linen, hence their 

 common name. The black thick juice of this plant has powerfully caustic 

 properties, and is used by the natives in the East Indies as a vesicant. Its 

 employment, however, has frequently led to serious conseqitences, and should 

 be condemned as dangerous. 



Spondias.—S. pui-purea, 8. Mombin, and others, have edible fruits, called 



Hog-plums in the Brazils and NYe.-^t Indies. The fruit of S. cytherea or dulcis, 



a native of the Society Islands, is said to rival the Pine- apple in flavour and 



fragi-ance. 



Stagmaria verniciftua {Rhus vernicifera) , is the source of a valuable hard 



LL 2 



