ACTIONS AND USES 581 



incense, perfumes, holy oils, and unguents for embalming. 

 It exudes spontaneously, as a yellow- white oily substance, 

 from perforations or cracks in the cortical layer of the 

 trunk or branches of several species of the shrubby thorn- 

 like balsamodendrons. The best sorts are in irregular- 

 shaped, semi-translucent, red-brown tears, or masses of 

 tears, which deepen in colour when breathed on. They 

 are brittle, and easily powdered ; their fracture is irregular, 

 shining, oily, and occasionally dotted with opaque white 

 markings. Myrrh has a slightly bitter, acrid taste, and 

 an agreeable aromatic odour. When heated, it softens, 

 froths up, and burns, leaving a dark spongy ash. Powdered, 

 with water it forms an emulsion, but it readily dissolves 

 in rectified spirit. It consists of 50 to 65 per cent, of 

 soluble gum, chiefly arabin ; 23 per cent, of a resin, myrrhin, 

 soluble in alcohol, ether, and acetic acid, and 2 per cent, 

 of a pale yellow volatile oil, myrrhol (C 10 H 14 0), isomeric 

 with thymol and carrol, and some bitter substances. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Its antiseptic volatile oil and slightly 

 irritant resin render myrrh a topical stimulant. When 

 swallowed it increases the secretions of the gastro-intestinal 

 glands, producing stomachic, carminative, and mild laxative 

 effects. During elimination it stimulates the mucous lining 

 of the respiratory and urinary tracts, and is hence prescribed 

 as a disinfectant, expectorant, and diuretic. It is sometimes 

 used as an antiseptic, mildly astringent vulnerary, and a 

 flavouring agent. It resembles the fragrant gum resin 

 olibanum, produced by several species of Boswellia, and 

 the concrete resin of the Elemi tree imported from Manilla. 

 It is less stimulant than the balsams and foetid gum 

 resins. 



DOSES, etc. Horses and cattle take 3ij- ; sheep and pigs, 

 3ss. to 3i- ; dogs, grs. x. to grs. xx., repeated several times 

 daily, in bolus, decoction, or tincture, with vegetable 

 tonics, or with aloes. The tincture of myrrh is thus pre- 

 pared : Macerate 4 ounces of myrrh in 16 ounces of alcohol 

 (90 per cent.), for seven days in a closed vessel ; shake 

 frequently, filter, and add sufficient alcohol to make one 

 pint. 



