MYRRHA. 145 



oil is not much altered by boiling with alcoholic potash, nor does it 

 combine with alkaline bisulphites. 



The Bitter jynnci pie of myrrh is contained in the resin as extracted 

 by alcohol. By exhausting the resin with warm water an acid brown 

 solution is obtained, from which a dark, viscid, neutral mass separates 

 if the liquid is concentrated ; it is contaminated with a large amount 

 of inorganic matter, from which it may be purified by means of ether. 

 Yet the latter affords also but an amorphous, somewhat brittle brown sub- 

 stance, softening at 80°-90°C. This bitter principle reminds us of that 

 mentioned in our article Elemi, page 151 ; it is but sparingly soluble 

 in water ; the yellowish solution is intensely bitter. The bitter prin- 

 ciple of myrrh appears to be a glucoside. We have not succeeded in 

 preparing it in a more satisfactory state. 



Commerce — Myrrh is chiefly shipped by way of Berbera to Aden, 

 and thence either to Europe or to Bombay. The exports of Aden in 

 the fiscal year 1875 to 1876 were 1,439 cwt.; one half of which went to 

 Bombay, one third to the United Kingdom.^ 



The bags or bales which contain the myrrh are opened in Bombay, 

 and the drug is sorted. The better portion goes to Europe, the refuse 

 to China, where it is probably used as an incense.^ 



Uses — Myrrh, though much used, does not appear to possess any 

 very important medicinal powers, and is chiefly employed on account 

 of its bitter, aromatic properties. 



Other Varieties of Myrrh — Though the myrrh of commerce 

 exhibits some diversity of appearance, the drug-brokers and druggists of 

 London are not in the habit of applying any special designations to the 

 difierent qualities. There are however two varieties which deserve 

 notice. 



1. Bissa Bol (Bhesahol, Bysabole), Habaghadi or Hebbakhade of 

 the Somalis, formerly called East India Myn^h? 



This drug is of African origin, but of the plant which yields it 

 nothing is known. Vaughan* who sent a sample from Aden to one of 

 us in 1852, was told by the natives that the tree from which it is 

 collected resembles that aSbrding Heera Bol or true myrrh, but that it 

 is nevertheless distinct. The drug is exported from the whole Somali 

 coast to Mokha, Jidda, Aden, Makulla, the Persian Gulf, India and 

 even China.' Bombay official returns show that the quantity 

 imported thither in the year 1872-73, was 224 cwt., all shipped 

 from Aden. 



Some myrrh, no doubt that from the interior of north-eastern 

 Africa, the Habaghadi or Baisabole, finds its way by the country of 

 the Wagadain (Ugahden or Ogadain) to the small port of Brava 

 (Barawa, Braoua), about 1° N. lat., and to Zanzibar.*^ This is, possibly, 



^ Information obligingly supplied by taining about 15 cwt. were consigned to 



Captain Hunter, July 1877. nie for sale in London by a friend in China, 



^ Dymock, Pharm. Joum. vi. (1876) who had purchased the drug under the 



661. notion that it was true inyrrh. The com- 



* MyiTha indica, Martiny, Enq/klop. der modity was bad of its kind, and was sold 

 med-pharm. Rohvoaarenkunde, ii. (1854) with difficulty at 30^. per cwt. — D. H. 



98, 101. * * Guillain, Documents sur I'histoire, la 



* Pharm. Joum. xii. (1853) 227. geogr. et le commerce de VAfriqtiA orientate 

 ' In 1865, 10 packages of this drug con- iii. (1856) 350. 



