BOOK XXIV. XXII. 32-35 



XXII. That resin is derived from the trees men- ff«m. 

 tioned above, with its varioiis kinds and native regions, 

 I have stated in my account of wine," and afterwards ** 

 when deahng with trees. The most general classes 

 are two — the dry resin and the Hquid. Dry resin 

 comes from the pine and the pitch-pine, the liquid 

 fi-om the terebinth, larch, lentisk and cypress. For 

 in Asia and Syria these last '^ also produce it. They 

 are mistaken who think that the same resin comes 

 from the pitch-pine as comes from the larch. For 

 the pitch-pine exudes a resin that is rich, and Hke 

 frankincense in consistency, while the larch produces 

 a thin resin with the colour of honey and a very 

 ofFensive odour. Medical men use hquid resin only 

 occasionally, generally that from the larch and 

 administered in egg, for coughs and ulcerated bowels, 

 nor is that from the pine much used ; the others are 

 only employed after boiling. The various ways of boil- 

 ing I have fully explained.'' Of the various trees pro- 

 ducingresin, the favourite is the terebinth, which yields 

 one highly scented and very light ; of the regions, 

 Cyprus and Syria are most favoured ; both resins are 

 of the colour of Attic honey , but the Cyprian is thicker, 

 with more body in it. In the dry kind the qualities 

 looked for are whiteness, pui-ity and transparency ; 

 in every kind, however, that from a mountain soil is 

 preferred to that from the plains, and a noi-th-east 

 aspect produces more highly esteemed resin than any 

 other. Resin is dissolved in oil for the treatment 

 of wounds and for poultices ; by means of« bitter 

 almonds when used for draughts. Its medical pro- 

 perties are to close wounds, to act as a detergent, and 

 to disperse gatherings ; terebinth resin is also good for 

 chest complaints. The last when warmed is used as 



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