172 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



much from Forskal's specimen of B. kataf in the herbarium of the British 

 Museum, as will be seen in the annexed cut. It was found in Arabia, in the 

 vicinity of Gison, in great abundance, growing with Acacias and Euphorbias. 

 This accounts for the origin of one of the kinds of Myrrh met with in com- 

 merce, the Turkey, which is stated to be collected in Arabia, and taken to 

 Turkey by the route of Egypt, but leaves the same state of uncertainty as 

 regards the source of the East Indian, which is said to be gathered in Abys- 

 synia, and thence sent to the Indian ports. That these two kinds are not the 

 product of the same district of country is proved by the fact, that the impuri- 

 ties or extraneous substances found mingled with them vary widely, which 

 would not be the case, if both kinds came originally from the same 

 place. It may prove, however, that they are the product of the same species, 

 growing in different countries, more especially as the climate of the coast of 

 Abyssinia is very analogous to that of Arabia. 



Myrrh, as found in the shops, is in small fragments, called tears, or in 

 masses composed of agglutinated portions of various shades of colour. When 

 of good quality it is reddish-yellow, somewhat translucent, and possesses a 

 peculiar aromatic odour, and a bitter, warm taste. It is partially soluble in 

 water, alcohol, and ether. It has been often analyzed, the latest examination 

 of it being by Brandes, who operated on specimens collected by Ehrenberg 

 and Hemprich ; in these he found volatile oil, about one-fourth of resin, one- 

 half of gum, and several salts. The resin consisted of two kinds, one hard, in 

 small proportions, and which presented some of the properties of an acid, the 

 other soft, and probably a mixture of resin and volatile oil. 



Medical Properties, Src. — Myrrh is a stimulant tonic ; in small doses it pro- 

 motes appetite and aids digestion, and appears to diminish excessive secretions 

 from the mucous membranes. When administered in large quantities it acts 

 as an irritant to the alimentary canal, excites fever, and creates much dis- 

 turbance of the system. It also appears to have some special affinity to the 

 uterus, though this is denied by many writers. It is given in a variety of 

 complaints, though it is only calculated for cases where there is a diminution 

 of vascular action, and a general relaxed condition of the system, or of some 

 of the organs. In an atonic state of the stomach and bowels, it has proved 

 highly useful, especially in combination with some of the preparations of iron, 

 in which form also, it is very beneficial in those disordered conditions of the 

 uterine system, attended with anaemia, as in chlorosis and some forms of 

 amenorrhoea. It also forms a good external application in aphthous sore 

 mouth, in a spongy or ulcerated condition of the gums, and to foul ulcers. 

 When given internally in substance, the dose is from ten to thirty grains, 

 either in powder, or suspended in water. It is but seldom given alone, being 

 generally combined with the chalybeates, or with aloes or some of the foetid 

 gums, according to the indication to be fulfilled. 



2. B. Gileadense. — De Candolle. Leaves ternate. Leaflets entire. Peduncles one- 

 flowered, lateral. 



De Candolle, Prod. ii. 76 ; Woodville, iii. 192 ; Stokes, Med. Bot. ii. 357 ; 

 Stephenson and Churchill, iii. 157; Amyris gileadensis, Linn., Mant. 65 ; 

 A. opobalsamum, Forskal, Arab. 79 ; Prolium Gileadense, Lindley, Flor. 

 Med. 169. 



Common Names. — Balm of Gilead, Balsam of Gilead. 



Foreign Names. — Balsamier de la Mecque, Fr. ; Balsamino di Gilead, It. ; 

 Gileadischer Balsamstrauch, Ger. 



