MANNA 345 



Preparation of Benzole Acid,. Obtained by simple sublimation of benzoin. Is 

 also prepared artificially from toluol, but sometimes from phthalic acid 'or 

 hippuric acid. Contamination with cinnamic acid is detected by mild oxidation 

 when it yields the odor of oil of bitter almond. 



ACTION AND USES. Stimulant and diaphoretic, but seldom used as such 

 except in the compound tincture of benzoin. It is used locally as a 

 stimulant and irritant, and in tooth powders and fumigations. Dose: 

 8 to 30 gr. (0.5 to 2 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Tinctura Benzoini Composita (10 per 



cent., with aloes, storax, and tolu),. .Dose: 15 to 60 TIJI (i to 4 mils). 



Tinctura Benzoin! (20 per cent.), 10 to 40 TIJJ (0.6 to 2.6 mils). 



Adeps Benzoinatus (2 Gm. digested in 100 Gm. of lard). 



OLEACEJE. Olive Family 



Trees or shrubs with simple leaves illustrated by the olive, the ash, the 

 lilac, and the privet. The olive fruit contains mannite, which is converted into 

 olive oil on ripening. 



429. MANNA. MANNA 



MANNA 

 The concrete saccharine exudation from Frax'inus or'nus Linne". 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A tree about 25 feet high. Leaves pinnate, 

 leaflets 7 to 9, serrate. Panicles dense; calyx 4-clef t ; corolla white, divided to- 

 the base into linear segments. 



SOURCE. 'The tree yielding the manna is a native of Sicily, Calabria, and 

 Apulia. The juice exudes spontaneously, or its flow is hastened by 

 incision. Although this is the only manna officially recognized, sac- 

 charine substances known as mannas are yielded by many other trees 

 and plants, and are obtained from the cocoons of some insects. The 

 manna of Scripture was doubtless a lichen which grows extensively in 

 the Sahara and Western Asia, and which occasionally falls like rain 

 over the adjacent country. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. In stalactiform pieces from i to 6 inches long, or 

 irregular fragments, yellowish or brownish-white, internally white 

 and porous; very friable. Manna in tears is a pure kind, but manna 

 in flakes is chiefly valued and mostly met with. Manna in sorts, 

 minute tears, internally crystalline, and fat manna, brownish viscid, 

 non-crystalline masses, are also met with. Odor honey -like ; taste 

 sweetish, afterward nauseous. Soluble in water and alcohol. When 

 long kept, manna darkens and deliquesces into a liquid. 



OTHER MANNAS. Manna occurs in irregular masses, consisting of brittle 

 and soft resin-like fragments from yellowish-white to yellowish-gray 

 color. The quantity of the yellowish-white fragments should not be 



