Vol. IX, No. 4.] Sarcocolla. 179 
[N.S.] 
emplastri imposita.’’ The Arabian physicians gave sarcocolla 
to the extent of two drams, Schroder not more than one dram. 
In Ulfaz Udwiyeh sarcocolla is classed as *‘ caustica’’ with 
blue vitriol, verdigris and burnt wood. and ‘ cicatrizantia 
with red lead and native gubhates) To sum up its medical 
Sarcocolla is a Moghul medicine and is used specially by 
Yunani physicians throughout India. Tavernier! (1665) men- 
tions it as one of the drugs obtainable in Surat, a large e 
porium in the seventeenth century. Dr. Ainslie ( 1826) Saiene 
it as a Madras drug. Dr. R. H. Irvine omar it in a cata- 
logue of drugs of Ajmeer” in 1841, and of Patna® in 1848. Dr. 
Honigberger* states in 1852 that it was officinal in Lahore, 
where also Baden Powell collected and described it in 1868. 
The Indian Museum possesses specimens from Bombay, Delhi, 
Amritsar and Lahore. In Europe, according to Pomet,* it was 
known in 1694 as a medicine from Persia; and Guibourt® 
describes it, probably as a Museum specimen, in 1849. The 
ting opium, for securing the corks of large glass flagons in 
which rose-water is exported, and it is eaten by ladies of the 
harem to improve their appearance and to give the skin a gloss. 
There is no secret regarding the admixture of opium with this 
gum, in fact it appears to be a recognized ingredient. Opium 
mi 
os cent. of other ingredients with ‘‘ Schire’’ opium boiled 
arédiante used are sarcocolla, or an extract rom 
as Teriak-i-lub ; this preparation sells at 250 m. per seven 
nds. 
Professor Joseph Feil of Ohio, reported’? in sie the 
presence of sarcocolla as an adulterant of ie eee th, edi 
cinal gum obtained from other species of Astragalus, we grow- 
ing in Persia. Professor Feil experimenting with a sample 
of powdered tragacanth, quoted at a low rate, found it to be 
oo soluble in alcohol, and to have the odour and taste of 
1 Travels, Vol. II, p. 20. £ Densohaphy of ‘aaa 
5 Materia Medica of Patna. 4 Thirty-five years in the East. 
5 Histoire Generale des drogues, Paris 
5 Histoire naturelle des drogues simp!. 
7 Bulletin of Amer. Pharm. Ass., 1908, 379. 
