dragon's blood. 171 



which softens the external shell, and forces out the resinou3 fluid, 

 which is then inclosed in certain leaves, of the reed kind, and hung 

 in the air to dry. Another way of obtaining die Sanguis Draconis 

 is by simply boiling the fruit in water, inspissating the strained de- 

 coction, and drying it in the same manner as the former. In Palim- 

 bania the external surface of the ripe fruit is often observed covered 

 with the resin, which is rubbed off by shaking the frttit together in 

 a bag ; when this is done, the drug is melted by the sun's heat, and 

 formed into globules, which are folded in leaves: this is deemed 

 the purest kind of dragon's blood ; and that which is next in good- 

 ness is procured by taking the fruit, which is found to be still 

 distended with resin, out of the bag, and, after bruising it, exposing 

 it to the sun, or boiling it gently in water; the drug then appears 

 floating upon the surface, and is skimmed off and shaped into small 

 cakes. The inferior sort of dragon's blood is that which rises from 

 the crude fruit after being long boiled, and is usually formed into 

 very large cakes or masses, in which the membranous parts of the 

 fruit, and other impurities, are intermixed. It is also brought to 

 us adulterated, or artificially composed, in various ways. Both the 

 small globules and the large masses, which we have noticed, are 

 imported here, and found to vary widely in goodness and purity. 

 The best kind of this gummy resinous substauce breaks smooth, is 

 of a dark red colour, and when powdered changes to crimson ; it 

 readily melts, and catches flame. It is not acted upon by watery 

 liquors, but it totally dissolves in pure spirit, and soluble likewise 

 in expressed oils. It has no smell, but to the taste discovers some 

 degree of warmth and pungency. 



The cinnabris and sanguis draconis appear to have signified the 

 same thing with the ancient Greeks *, who were well acquainted 

 with the astringent power of this medicine ; and in this character it 

 has since been much employed in haemorrhages and alvine fluxes. 

 At present, however, it is rarely used internally, being superseded by 

 more certain and effectual remedies of this numerous class ; and it 

 enters no officinal composition but that of emplastrum thurisof the 

 London pharmacopoeia. [Linn. Kcempfer. Jacquin. 



* Ktvra0pi, atyuct Joaxcvtc-. 



