244 
says, that in the Island of Ceylon it is used 
by the native doctors precisely for the same 
s with Siam Gamboge in Europe 
and elsewhere. I have made many expe- 
riments in my Clinical Wards in the Royal 
Infirmary, with the article sent by Mr. 
Anderson Blair, and invariably found it at 
least as effectual as the common drug used 
in this country. From comparative trials, 
indeed, made in the same individuals, I 
am even of opinion, that Ceylon Gamboge 
is the more powerful of the two, while it 
is equally safe and free from any accessary 
unpleasant operation. 
In conclusion, then, I may venture to 
express my firm persuasion, that Europe 
need not be indebted to Siam alone for its 
Gamboge ; and that, with a little enterprize 
and due attention on the part of our Go- 
vernment and Settlers in Ceylon, Gamboge 
of the most esteemed quality may be add- 
ed to the other European exports of that 
prolific and highly favoured island. 
November 28th. To the observations 
made above, on the external characters and 
composition of the different kinds of Gam- 
boge, it may be well here to annex a brief 
notice of the gambogioid juices obtained 
from two trees, which have been at differ- 
ent times supposed by some to yield the 
genuine drug, namely, the Garcinia cam- 
bogia, and Xanthochymus pictorius. 
I am here again indebted to Mrs. Col. 
Walker for my subjects of analysis, having 
very lately received splendid specimens of 
the barks of both trees, with their exuda- 
tions concreted on them. 
The exudation of Garcinia cambogia, 
as I am informed by Mrs. Walker, con- 
cretes slowly and imperfectly, so as to re- 
main long viscid in the climate of Ceylon. 
The specimens sent to me, on arriving here, 
still continued soft enough to receive the 
impression of the fingers when squeezed 
between them. The exudation was chiefly 
in the form of long slender tears, of a clear 
lemon-yellow tint, without odour or taste, 
of a distinct resinous appearance, both ex- 
ON THE SOURCES AND COMPOSITION OF GAMBOGE. 
ternally and in their fracture, and wh 
incapable of forming an emulsion 
rubbed with the wet finger. These 
given off, to the fourth part of a grain 
and after repeated cohobation, there were 
rom another portion, weighing 
twenty grains, the resin and volatile oi 
a little dark, brittle, fibrous matter, 
dently from particles of the bark. 
analysis gave the following results:— 
P 
Resin 2 350 ee ee 66.0 
Arabik uere 14.0 
Volatile O11!) a i eee 12.0 ; 
Fibre of the bark ...... 5:073 
Los 0: 15427 T 
100.0 
udation, evidently a true gum-resin, * 
containing, too, a considerable proportion 
of gum, is nevertheless not emulsive. The 
resin differs essentially from that of 
ether or rectified spirit, and possessing d 
colour somewhat different both in tint ane — 
in intensity. Its colour is not orange " 
rather lemon-yellow ; and its solution 
much less intense in tint than that of 1 
resin of Siam or true Ceyl i 
the last two present an equal depth of sha? 
when dissolved in ten times as much spif 
as the other. 
The physiological effects of the par 
resin of Garcinia cambogia on the an 
body form a distinction between this 
stance and true Ceylon Gamboge, ? 
