88 LOUREIRO OK THE NATURE AND MOD 



' tains some small black knots which have just 

 began to form. The outside, however, is often 

 found of the same colour and shape as that of the 

 best Agallochum, which it owes to the black 

 colour, wax, and hot irons employed by the drug- 

 gists to impose upon unexperienced purchasers. 

 It has some smell, but a weaker and less agreeable 

 than the other two species, and therefore sells 

 much cheaper. 



In some parts of the East, the Agallochum is 

 frequently used as a corroborant, and in some 

 degree astringent medicine. Its smoke revives the 

 animal spirits, and is efficacious in vertigo from 

 debility ; but not in that kind which proceeds 

 from hysterical affections. Taken in the form of 

 powder or pills, it .promotes digestion, checks 

 vomiting and diarrhoea. 



As for the economical uses of the Aloexylum- 

 tree, the natives of Tonquin and Cochin China make 

 writing paper of it. To do this, they macerate 

 the bark in water for some days, and having re- 

 duced it, by beating, into a pulp, they put it into 



