MASTICH 469 



The resin, which has been known from the earliest times, and was 

 formerly much more highly prized than it is now, is collected on the 

 island of Scio in the Grecian Archipelago, and also in Cyprus, and 

 possibly on other islands, but is exported only from Scio. 



The bark of the tree, which contains a circle of oleo-resin ducts 

 in the bast, is punctured with a small instrument resembling a chisel ; 

 the oleo-resin exudes in the form of small tears which in a few days 

 become dry and hard. It is then collected, that taken from the 

 tree itself forming the best qualities, whilst that which has dropped 

 upon the ground is inferior. 



Description. Mastich occurs in small hard tears about the size 

 of peppercorns. The majority are pear-shaped, ovoid, or nearly 

 globular ; sometimes, but not often, they are elongated and resemble 

 small stalactites. When fresh they are nearly colourless and quite 

 clear and bright, but by keeping and handling they become pale 

 yellow in colour and acquire a dull, dusty surface. They are 

 brittle, breaking with a clear, glassy, conchoidal fracture, the interior 

 of the tears being quite transparent. When chewed the tears break 

 up at first into a sandy powder, which subsequently agglomerates 

 into a plastic mass. The drug has an agreeable, rather aromatic 

 odour, and a slight agreeable taste, both of which though, not 

 pronounced, are characteristic. 



The student should observe 



(a) The preponderance of rounded or pear-shaped tears, 



(b) The characteristic odour, 



(c) The formation of a plastic mass when the resin is chewed ; 



and should compare the drug with 



Sandarac resin (see below). ^ 



Constituents. Mastich has approximately the following composition: 



a- and /2-Masticonic acid, amorphous, soluble in alcohol 38'0 per cent. 



a-Masticoresene, soluble in alcohol .... 30*0 ,, 



/3-Masticoresene, insoluble in alcohol. . . . 20'0 ,, 



a- and /?-Masticinic acids . . . . . 4.0 



Volatile oil . 20 



Masticolic acid, crystalline . . . . . 0'5 -,-, 



It consists, therefore, chiefly of resin acids and resenes associated 

 with about 2 per cent, of volatile oil (chiefly cZ-pinene). 



Uses. Mastich was formerly employed as a stimulant, and was 

 also used in the manufacture of varnishes. For the latter purpose 

 it has been superseded by other cheaper resins, whilst as a medicine 

 it is obsolete. 



