SANDARAC 47 



pendulous bags from the tree. The mass grows daily until the middle 

 of July, when the sap ceases to run. The quality of the gum varies 

 considerably, not only during the flowing period but for some time 

 afterwards. During May and June the exudation has a decidedly 

 pungent taste resembling turpentine. As the mass hardens it 

 becomes intensely bitter. During the cold weather of winter the 

 turpentine-like odor and bitter taste are entirely dissipated and the 

 gum is ready to be harvested. It is assorted into several grades 

 according to its color and aroma. Thousands of tons are used for 

 commercial purposes annually. While the gum is used extensively, 

 very little has been written concerning its constituents. It consists 

 largely of a gummy substance, a small quantity of volatile oil 

 (apparently a simple terpene), and several resins. 



Sandarac. The dry resinous exudation of Callitris quadrivalvis 

 (Fam. Pinacese), a large shrub of northwestern Africa. The resin 

 exudes spontaneously and in order to facilitate the flow and increase 

 the yield incisions are made. 



Description. In pale yellow, cylindrical tears, attaining a length 

 of 3.5 cm. and varying in thickness from 5 to 30 mm. ; the outer sur- 

 face smooth and covered with a whitish dust; fracture, short, glass- 

 like ; inner surface lustrous and transparent ; odor balsamic and taste 

 slightly aromatic and bitter. It is distinguished from mastic in 

 that it is not plastic on chewing. 



Sandarac melts at 135 C. and is completely soluble in alcohol 



(96 per cent), ether, amyl alcohol, acetone and hot linseed oil. It is 



'only partly soluble in chloroform, carbon disulphide, petroleum ether, 



and volatile oils such as oil of turpentine. Benzol dissolves only 



about 40 per cent of the best grades. 



Powder. Almost insoluble in alcohol (95 per cent), the solution 

 remaining almost colorless; the fragments do not melt when heated 

 with water. 



Constituents. About 95 per cent of a resin consisting of 85 per 

 cent of sandaracolic acid and 10 per cent of callitrolic acid; from 0.25 

 to 0.5 per cent of volatile oil composed principally of pinene; a small 

 quantity of a bitter principle which forms a crystalline sodium salt; 

 and yields about 0.10 per cent of ash. 



Allied Plants. A resin closely resembling sandarac is' obtained 

 from Actinostrobus pyramidalis, a shrub growing in southwestern 

 Australia and from one or more species of Callitris growing in Australia 

 and Tasmania. 



Adulterants. A fictitious Spanish article has been found in com- 

 merce apparently manufactured from ordinary colophony. It was 



