406 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Lithraea Caustica (Fam. Anacardiacese), a tree found in Chili, 

 causes an inflammation of the skin like that caused by Ilhus Toxico- 

 dendron. The plant contains a resin and a volatile oil. The poi- 

 sonous properties are ascribed to a volatile substance resembling 

 cardol. 



Chinese and Japanese Gall. Chinese galls are excrescences pro- 

 duced on Rhus semialata as a result of the stings of an Aphis. Jap- 

 anese galls are similar formations occurring on Rhus japonica. 

 (See p. 168.) 



Literature. Stevens, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1906, p. 53; Warren, 

 Ibid., 1913, p. 545; Bessey, Ibid., 1914, p. 112; McNair, Jour. Am. 

 Chem. Soc., 1916, p. 1417; Acree, Ibid., p. 1421. 



MASTICHE. Mastic. The dried, resinous exudation from Pista- 

 cia Lentiscus (Fam. Anacardiacese), a large shrub indigenous to the 

 Mediterranean region. The resin exudes through incisions made in 

 the bark, and when dry is collected. The chief source of supply is 

 the island of Scio. 



Description. Somewhat globular or ovoid tears, 3 to 7 mm. in 

 length, pale yellow or greenish-yellow, translucent, having a glass- 

 like luster, comparatively free from a whitish dust; brittle; fracture 

 conchoidal, becoming plastic when chewed; odor slight, balsamic; 

 taste mild, terebinthinate. 



Mastic is completely soluble in ether, acetone and volatile oils. 

 It is almost completely soluble in alcohol, the solution giving an 

 acid reaction with litmus paper. 



Constituents. About 90 per cent of a resin, consisting of a-resin 

 (mastichic acid), which is soluble in alcohol, and /3-resin (masticin). 

 which is insoluble in alcohol; a volatile oil, 1 to 2.5 per cent, with the 

 balsamic odor of the drug and consisting chiefly of d-pinene. A 

 small quantity of a bitter principle is also present, which is soluble 

 in hot water and is precipitated by tannin. 



Allied Plants. Various other species of Pistacia found in India 

 and northern Africa yield resins resembling mastic. American 

 mastic is obtained from the Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus Molle). 

 Similar resins are found in other genera of the Anacardiacese, as 

 Astronium and Semecarpus. 



Chios Turpentine is a product resembling mastic and is obtained 

 from Pistacia Terebinthinus (Fam. Anacardiacese). It consists 

 of 10 to 12 per cent of a volatile oil (consisting chiefly of pinene) and 

 80 to 90 per cent of resin. 



Literature. Lloyd, Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1917, 89, p. 1. 



ANACABDIUM. West Indian Cashew. The fruit of Anacardium 



