RESINS. 427 



dragon finely represented under the rind of its fruit; 

 but this is mere fiction. This resin is the product of 

 a large tree called Pterocarpus draco, which grows 

 in Africa and America as well as in Asia ; it is also 

 collected from some other plants, particularly the 

 Calamus rotang. The juice exudes in drops, which 

 are collected and wrapped up in the leaves of reeds. 

 It is of a dark red colour, which lightens to a fine 

 crimson when pulverized, without smell or taste, and 

 very readily fusible; its texture is compact, and it 

 breaks smoothly and easily ; it quickly ignites, burn- 

 ing with much flame and emitting a slight fragrant 

 smell. Like other resins it is insoluble in water, but 

 perfectly soluble in alcohol, and, with the assistance 

 of heat, in expressed oils, to which it imparts a 

 deep red colour. Dissolved in alcohol, it is used for 

 staining marble, to which a red tinge is given, which 

 penetrates more or less deeply according to the heat 

 of the marble under application ; but for fine designs, 

 the marble should be cold, because the colour spreads 

 while sinking. 



Dragon's blood is likewise a medicinal drug. 



Animi is a rexin which affords a most excellent 

 varnish, and is largely employed for this purpose. 

 The tree whence it is obtained is native both to Asia 

 and America; hence two kinds of animi are known, 

 and distinguished from each other by the names of 

 Oriental and Occidental. The former is dry, and 

 varies very much in colour, some specimens having a 

 green tint, some red, and others brown. That which 

 comes from South America is of a pale yellow, partly 

 in transparent and somewhat unctuous tears, and 

 partly in larger masses which are brittle. Its taste is 

 not very pleasant ; it readily fuses, and burns with an 

 agreeable smell, and like other resins it is totally, 

 though not very readily, soluble in alcohol. 



