MYRRH A. 221 



ACTION AND USES. 



Cascara sagrada is a tonic and stomachic in small doses, 

 aperient in large doses, and cathartic if freely given. It is 

 useful in the same class of cases as the Rhamnus frangula. 



ANACARDIACE^B. 



Mastiche MASTICH. A resinous exudation ob- 

 tained by incision from the stem of Pistacia lentiscus. 

 Produced in the island of Scio. 



Characters. Small irregular yellowish tears, brittle, be- 

 coming soft and ductile when chewed, having a faint agreeable 

 odour. 



Substances resembling mastich : Acacia, ammoniacum, gal- 

 banum, which are larger, rougher, and more opaque. 



Composition. Mastich consists of 80 or 90 per cent, of a 

 resin, mastichic acid, soluble in alcohol ; of a smaller quantity 

 of another resin, masticin, soluble in ether, but insoluble in 

 alcohol ; and of a trace of volatile oil. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Mastich was formerly used much like other oleo-resins, but 

 its application is now confined to dentistry, where it is em- 

 ployed as a temporary stopping for carious teeth. A solution 

 in ether or collodion is applied on cotton wool with oil of cloves 

 or cinnamon, and remains as a firm plug by evaporation of the 

 solvent. 



AMYRIDACE^E. 



Myrrhat MYRRH. A gum-resinous exudation 

 from the stem of Balsamodendron myrrha. Collected 

 in Arabia Felix and Abyssinia. 



Characters. In irregular- shaped tears or masses varying 

 much in size, somewhat translucent, of a reddish-yellow or 

 reddish-brown colour ; fractured surface irregular and some- 

 what oily ; odour agreeable and aromatic ; taste acrid and 

 bitter. 



Composition. Myrrh contains about 2 per cent, of an 

 oxygenated (ethereal oil, Ci H n O, myrrhol ; a resin, myrrhin, 35 

 per cent. ; and gum 60 per cent. Myrrh forms a milky- white 

 emulsion with water, the resin being "suspended by the gum in 

 solution 



