TRAGACANTH WOOD OIL. 117 



19. Caramania gum, whitened with white lead, for mixture I855 - 

 with sorts and common gum, in the proportion of 100 per cent. 

 The substances designated Moussul Gum and Caramania Gum 

 belong to the somewhat ill-defined group described by pharma- 

 cologists as Bassora Gum, Kutera Gum, and False Tragacanth. 



In a small but interesting collection of gums and gum-resins Persian gums 

 formed in Persia by W. K. Loftus, Esq., and deposited partly ar re if n 1 " 

 in the British Museum, and partly in the Museum of the Eoyal 

 Gardens at Kew, is a specimen of our Moussul Gum, stated to be 

 the " common Ketira of the Arabs, exuded from the Gawan or 

 Gallan of Persia." Is this plant the Cochlospermum Gossy- 

 pium, De C.? 



The Caramania Gum appears identical with the Gomme 

 pseudo-adragante of M. Guibourt, regarded by that author as the 

 produce of Astragalus gummifer, Labill. 



Further researches, however, are much required to determine 

 botanically the origin of these substances. 



The practice of whitening gum with carbonate of lead is Lead 

 deserving of attention. Mr. Maltass was informed upon his adulterant. 11 

 first inquiries on the subject, that the whitening was effected by 

 starch ; this, however, proved untrue, and it was afterwards re- 

 luctantly admitted that white lead was employed. 



I can fully confirm the existence of carbonate of lead in the 

 samples No. 17, 18, and 19 ; and can also state that I have 

 readily detected lead in the adulterated Small Tragacanth im- 

 ported into the London market. 



The gum used in adulterating tragacanth can readily be recog- 

 nized upon careful inspection. 



ON WOOD OIL, A SUBSTITUTE FOE COPAIBA. 



(Gurjun- Balsam, N. Repert. f. Pharm. v. 95.) 



AMONG the drugs that have recently appeared in the London lose. 

 market, I have observed one article to which I am desirous of 

 drawing attention. It is a liquid imported in considerable 

 quantity from Moulmein in Burmah, and offered for sale under 



