xviii 



I la medicinal propcrlits are astringent, and it is conn- 

 dered useful ia diarthoBa and dyneatery, in gleet, catar- 

 rlial afTectionSj &c. Alkaline gaits destroy its astringdnt 

 powers, and metallic salts and solution of isinglass are id- 

 compatibles. The dose is usually from twelve grains to 

 one drachm. 



The Ganibir shrub is propagated either by seeds or 

 cuttings^ bnt the latter are preferred. It was fortu&rly 

 cultivated to some extent at Singajjore, (where 1 had an 

 opportunity of observing it in November ll*30,) but tW 

 cultivation of the shrub and preparation of the exEract U 

 now neglected } the reason asaigned for which was, th&t 

 the Gambir can be im potted cheaper from the inlands in 

 the vtctQtty, wore especially at the Dntch settleuj^^nt a I 

 Hhio : a snmiler quantity, however, is grown by some of 

 the Chinese settlers for their own immediate consumptioni 

 but not so extensively as to form an article of eommerca. 



The extract is used citensively by the natives of India, 

 Eastern 'At chipelagO} Cochin China, and Cambodia, as 

 a masticatory^ wrapped up with the betel* There are dif- 

 ferent qualities of extract: the first and best is white> 

 brittle, and has an earthy appearance when rubbed be- 

 tween the fingera^ (which earthy appearance gave it the 

 natne of Terra Japonica, being supposed at first also to 

 come from Japan,) and is formed into very small round 

 cake*. This is the dearest kind, and roost refined^ but it is 

 not uofrequenlly adulterated with sago: this kind is brought 

 in the greatest quantity from the island of Sumatra. 



The second quality is of a brownish yellow colour, is 

 formed into oblong c«}k^.% and , when broken has a light 

 brown^ earthy appeurunce; it is aUo made into a i>olid 

 cube form : it is sold in the basars in small packets, each 

 containing five or six. 



The third quality contains more impurities than the 

 preceditt^, ih formed in sut»Sl citcular ^Mikes, and U sold 

 iu packages of five or six in the buzar. 



The method employed in preparing the exh-act in thus 

 correctly related by FiM.Aif Jjo^ : the leaves are col- 

 lected three or four times ay^ar; ilhcy are thrown iatti a 



