BENZOINUM 343 



broken fragments; inodorous; taste sweetish, astringent, and then acrid, its 

 acrimony being very persistent, especially in the fauces. This acridity is due 

 to monesin, a principle identical with saponin. Monesia also contains tannin, 

 glycyrrhizin, and lucumin (silky needles). Stomachic stimulant, alterative, 

 and astringent. Used in diarrhea, hemorrhages, in astringent gargles, and in 

 powder or ointment applied to scrofulous ulcers. Dose: 5 to 20 gr. (0.3 to 

 1.3 Gm.). 



EBENARCE^E. Ebony Family 



427. DIOSPYROS. PERSIMMON. The unripe fruit of Dio'spyros virginia'na 

 Linne. (Official, i82O-'8o.) Very astringent. Used in uterine hernor- 

 rhage, leucorrhcea, and sore throat. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.) in 

 infusion, syrup, or vinous tincture. 



STYRACEjE. Storax Family 

 428. BENZOINUM. BENZOIN 



BENZOIN 



A balsamic resin obtained from Sty'rax ben'zoin Dryander, and other species of 



styrax. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A large tree with tomentose branches. Leaves 

 alternate, oblong, the under surface tomentose. Inflorescence compoundly 

 racemose; calyx 5-toothed; corolla 5-parted, gray; stamens 10, their filaments 

 coherent at the base into a short tube. 



SOURCE AND VARIETIES. Sumatra and Java. Sumatra-Penang, grayish- 

 brown with many white tears, odor storax-like; Siam, reddish- 

 brown, odor vanilla-like; Palembang resembles Sumatra, but yields 

 more benzoic acid; false benzoin, catappa benzoin (Terminalia 

 angnstifolia), whitish brown. 



A deciduous shrub of the Lauraceae, a native of Virginia, and called 

 spice-wood or Benjamin tree, was at one time thought to be a source 

 of benzoin. The berries of this tree are aromatic, and have been 

 used as a substitute for allspice. 



COLLECTION. In Sumatra the benzoin is collected by making incisions 

 in the tree during its seventh year, only the unhealthy trees yielding 

 resin. The milky juice which flows first is the purest and most 

 fragrant, but soon hardens upon exposure to the air. That which 

 flows subsequently is brownish, and some is scraped out when the 

 tree is cut down and split open, as it is soon killed by the process of 

 tapping. These varieties are in common called head, belly, and 

 feet benzoin, and have the relative value to each other of 105, 45, 

 and 1 8, being esteemed according to their whiteness, semi- trans- 

 parency, and freedom from admixture (Royle). A product of the 

 younger tree furnishes a variety known as amygdalina benzoin, which 

 contains whitish, almond-like tears diffused through its substance. 



