CRUDE DRUGS. 675 



BisABOL, or East Indian myrrh, is exported from Eastern 

 Africa and Asia; it closely resembles true myrrh, but is distin- 

 guished from it by the ethereal solution not becoming reddish 

 with bromine vapor. Furthermore, on mixing 6 drops of a 

 petroleum ether solution (one part of myrrh to 15 of ether) with 

 3 c.c. of glacial acetic acid and then adding this liquid carefully 

 to 3 c.c. of concentrated sulphuric acid, a rose-colored zone is at 

 first developed, and finally the entire acetic acid solution assumes 

 the same color. With genuine myrrh the solution is colored a 

 very pale rose color. 



Allied Plants. — Opopanax is a balsam-like product obtained 

 from Commiphora Kataf, a plant indigenous to Arabia, and is 

 supposed to be the Myrrh mentioned in the Bible. It yields from 

 6 to 10 per cent, of a greenish-yellow volatile oil with a pleasant 

 balsamic odor; and also contains opo-resinotannol (a compound 

 not yielding umbelliferone on distillation) both free and com- 

 bined with ferulaic acid ; free ferulaic acid ; vanillin, and a gum 

 containing bassorin. 



MuLU KiLAVARY is a gummy exudation obtained from Com- 

 miphora Berryi, a plant growing in India. It occurs in yellowish- 

 brown or dark brown translucent fragments, having a conchoidal, 

 oily fracture, and consists chiefly of gum, with a small quantity 

 of a tasteless resin and a volatile oil. 



TEREBINTHINA.— TURPENTINE.— An oleo-resin ob- 

 tained from Pintis palustris and other species of Pinus (Fam. 

 Coniferse), evergreen trees (Fig. 47, B, C) indigenous to the 

 Southern United States (p. 81). The oleo-resin is secreted in 

 the sapwood and is obtained by making triangular incisions in 

 the bark and wood in the spring; it flows into cavities (or boxes) 

 made lower down on the trunk, from which it is dipped into 

 barrels or other receptacles. The product of the first year's cut- 

 ting is of superior quality and is known as " virgin " turpentine. 

 It yields about 15 per cent, of oil of turpentine, while the product 

 of the second or third year yields 10 per cent. 



Description. — In yellowish, opaque masses, brittle in the 

 cold ; lighter internally, sticky and more or less shiny ; odor and 

 taste terebinthinate. One part dissolved in 5 parts of alcohol 

 gives a clear solution having an acid reaction. 



