MEDICINAL PLANTS AND DRUGS. 159 



must have early attracted the notice of mankind ; as it appears that this 

 fragrant .crum-resin was used as incense, in the religious ceremonies of 

 almost all the antient nations. Of this honour it has kept possession, from 

 the most remote antiquity, until the present time, when it still continues, 

 unless when it's place is supplied by Benzoin, to perfume the churches,, 

 mosques and temples, both in Europe and Asia, 



That naturalists should have remained in ignorance or in errour, until 

 almost the present day, respecting the tree which yields a substance so 

 long known, and so universally used, must appear not a little surprising. 

 Such, however, is the fa6l; and the merit of having discovered the true 

 origin of this celebrated incense, is due to Mr. Colebrooke, who has 

 ascertained and proved, most;&atisfa6lorily, that the ohbanum, or frankin- 

 cens^e of the antients, is not the gum-resin of the Juniperus Lyciat as was 

 generally supposed, but the produce of our Boswellia Thurifera, See his 

 paper on this sub]e6t, in the Asiatick Researches, Vol. IX. p. 377, to 

 which is subjoined a botanical description of the tree by Dr. Roxburgh. 



Although the Olibanum is still retained in the pharmacopoeias of the 

 three British Colleges, it is seldom used as a medicine in modern prac- 

 tice. Formerly, ho\yever, it was held in considerable estimation, as a 

 remedy in catarrh and hoemoptysis ; and as it is less heating than myrrh, 

 by which it has been superseded in these diseases, it might still, perhaps, 

 be used with advantage, in some cases, in which the myrrh might prove 

 too stimulant. 



C.ssALpiNiA BoNDuCELLA. (W.) Catcaranjja^^) Cat-caUji^^'^ H. Puti- 



Caranja. S, 

 This shrub is a native of both the Indies; but it's use in medicine is, I 



(0 Kut-kurunja, C-) Kut-kuhjce. 



