86 GUTTIFER^. 



peculs, Bangkok in 1875 no less than 846 peculs, value 48,835 dollars ; 

 from Saigon there have of late been shipped from 30 to 40 peculs 

 annually (one pecul = 133-3 lbs. = 60*479 kilogrammes).^ 



Uses — Gamboge is a drastic purgative, seldom administered except 

 in combination with other substances. 



Adulteration — The Cambojans adulterate gamboge with rice flour, 

 sand, or the pulverized bark of the tree,^ which substances may be 

 easily detected in the residue left after exhausting the drug successively 

 by spirit of wine and cold water. 



Other Sources of Gamboge — Although the gamboge of European 

 commerce appears to be exclusively derived from the form of the plant 

 named at the head of this article, Garcinia travancorica Beddome, is 

 capable of yielding a similar drug which may be collected to some 

 small extent for local use, but not for exportation. It is a beautiful 

 tree of the southern forests of Travancore and the Tinnevelly Ghats 

 (3,000 to 4,500 feet). According to its discoverer Lieut. Beddome,^ it 

 yields an abundance of bright yellow gamboge. 



OLEUM GARCINIiE. 



Concrete Oil of Mangosteen, Kokum Butter. 



Botanical Origin. — Garcinia indica Choisy (G. purpurea Roxb. 

 Brindonia indica Dup. Th.), an elegant tree with drooping branches 

 and dark green leaves.^ It bears a smooth round fi'uit the size of a 

 small apple, containing an acid purple 'pulp in which are lodged as 

 many as 8 seeds. The tree is a native of the coast region of Western 

 India known as the Concan, lying between Daman and Goa. 



History — The fruit is mentioned by Garcia d'Orta (1563) as known 

 to the Portuguese of Goa by the name of BHndones. He states that it 

 has a pleasant taste though very sour, and that it is used in dyeing ; 

 and further that the peel serves to make a sort of vinegar. Several 

 succeeding authors (as Bauchin and Ray) have contented themselves 

 with repeating this account. 



As to the fruit yielding a fatty oil, we find no reference to such fact 

 till about the year 1830, when it was stated in an Indian newspaper'' 

 that an oil of the seeds is well known at Goa and often used to adul- 

 terate ghee (liquid butter). It was afterwards pointed out as the result 

 of some experiments that the oil was of an agreeable bland taste and 

 well adapted for use in pharmacy. A short article on Kokum Butter 

 was published by Pereira'^ in. 1851. With the view of bringing the 

 substance into use for pharmaceutical preparations in India, it has been 

 introduced into the Pfuumiacopoeia of India of 1868. 



Preparation — The seeds are reniform, somewhat crescent-shaped 

 or oblong, laterally compressed and wrinkled, -j^ to -j^ of an inch long 



"^ Report from H.M. Consul-General in *F\g.Bentleya,nd.TTimen, Medic. Plants, 



Siamfor 1875. 9. part 31 (1878). 



' Spenser St. John, op. cit, ^ Quoted by Graham, Catal. of Bombay 



^ Flora Sylvatica, Madras, part xv. (1872) Plants, 1839. 25. 



tab. 173. «Pharvi. Journ. xi. (1852) 65. 



