302 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



the Carouh of Judea, or Apples of Sodom,i that is to say, false galls, 

 rich at the same time in tannin and gum-resin, which have been 

 employed as stimulant in cases of chronic bronchitis and cystitis, 

 phthisis, colic, etc. The bark of Terehinihus is astringent ; the 

 pericarp acid and bitter; the embryo oily. This oil is employed 

 with friction for rheumatic pains; a sort of bread is said to be 

 made from the seeds. The Mastic-tree {P. Lentiscus^), distin- 

 guished at once from the P. Terehinihus by its persistent pinnate 

 leaves, is also a beautiful tree of the mediterranean region; it 

 grows not only wild but is also cultvated in the East, and 

 especially in the Isle of Scio, where Mastic is extracted. For 

 this, numerous incisions of little depth are made in the bark of 

 the trunk and large branches. Large drops of a pale yellow 

 juice flow from them and harden, the smaller remain spherical, 

 the larger flatten and become more or less irregular. In com- 

 merce, friction renders their surface mealy, they have a vitreous 

 fracture, a sweet odour, an aromatic taste. They soften in the mouth 

 and constitute a choice masticatory, considered to strengthen the 

 gums, perfume the breath, and facilitate digestion. It is burnt in 

 Turkey as a perfume, and liqueurs are flavoured and toilet waters 

 and tooth powders prepared from it ; it is recommended for tooth- 

 ache and ear-ache, gouty and rheumatic affections, catarrh, hemop- 

 tysis, etc. ^ The true Pistachio * (fig. 259, 314-317) is said to be 

 of Syrian origin. Transported thence to Italy, in the time of the 

 Eoman emperors, it has since become naturalised in nearly the 

 whole Mediterranean region. Although its different parts are 

 odorous and aromatic, only its berries are employed, the Pista- 

 chios, whose greenish embryo is rich in an oil which quickly 

 grows rancid ; sufficiently agreeable to eat however, and much 



1 GuiB. op. cit. iii. 498, fig. 707-711. — vulgaris C. Batjh. — Sieth. et Sm. Fl. Grac. t. 

 March. Anaeard. t. 3, fig. 4-6. It is a plant- 967. — Terebinthus Lentiseus Mcench. 



louse, the Aphis Pistacia, which causes their ^ n jg considered to be formed of an essential 



production. oil united to the mastichine. 



2 L. Spec. 1455. — Blackw. Serb. t. 195. — ■< P. vera L. Spec. 1454. — Blacw. Herb. t. 

 DuHAM. op. cit. iv. t. 18.— DO. Prodr. n. 7.— 461.— Duham. Arbr. 4d. 2,iv. 1. 11 .—T)C. Prodr. 

 Geen. et Goer. Fl. de Fr. i. 339.— Nees, PI. n. 1.— Turp. in Diet. Sc. Nat. Atl. t. 260.— 

 Med. iii. t. 351.— Mee. et Del. Diet. Mat. M4d. PoiR. Fl. Med. v. 273.— Meb. et Del. Diet, 

 V. 349. — Pekeika, Flem. Mat. Med. ed. 4, ii. p. Mat. Med. v. 353. — GuiB. op. cit. iii. 494, fig. 

 ii. 376, fig. 69.— GuiB. op. cit. iii. 495.— A. 706.— Eev. in Fl. Med. du xix' Sihle, iii. 86.— 

 EioH. Mim. 6A.. 4, ii. 339. — Lindl. Fl. Mid. Grbn. et GoDU. Fl. de Fr. i. 339. — Maech. 

 288. — EoSEKTH. op. eit. 846. — Beeg. et Schm. Anai,ard. 146.— P. narbonensis L. Spec. 1454.— 

 Darst. Off. Gew. t. 21 i.—MA:Rcs. Anaeard. 100, p. reticulata W. Spec. iv. 751 (P. cultire, P. 

 147, t.l. — P. massilienais Mill. Diet, (ex DC). vrat). 



— P. chia DuHAM. Arbr. &A.. 2, iv. 72. — Lcntiicua 



