PISTACHIA LENTISCUS. 
105 
abruptly pinnate, consisting of several pairs of narrow, ovate, oppo- 
site leaflets, closely attached to the common footstalk, which has a 
narrow foliaceous expansion or wing on each side, running from one 
pair of leaflets to the other; the flowprs are male and female on 
distinct trees, and resemble those of the Pistachia Terebinthus ; the 
fruit is a drupe, containing an ovate smooth nut, of a brownish 
colour when ripe. The flowers appear in May, and the fruit ripens 
in August. 
The ofhcinal mastic is chiefly obtained from the island of Chios, 
by making transverse incisions in the bark of the trunk and branches 
of the trees, from whence the mastic slowly exudes, and is suffered 
to run down to the ground, which is properly prepared to receive it, 
by being made perfectly smooth and hard. After sufficient time is 
allowed for its concretion, it is collected for use.* The time chosen 
for making these incisions is from July to August, when the weather 
is hot and dry ; on the following day the mastic begins to flow, and 
is collected every three or four days till the middle of October or 
November, when the mastic ceases to exude. The best mastic comes 
to us in the form of small, transparent, brittle grains, packed in- 
chests; it is said that above 1500 cwt. is annually exported from 
Chios. We are told that a soft mastic, having all the qualities of 
true mastic, (except in its consistence, which resembles that of tur- 
pentine,) is obtained by engrafting the lentisck on the Chian turpen- 
tine tree.f 
Sensible and Chemical Properties. It has a light agree- 
able smell, more especially when rubbed or heated. Its taste is 
warm and bitter ; on being chewed it at first crumbles, but soon 
after sticks together, and becomes soft and white like wax. It totally 
dissolves in ether, and partially so in alcohol, in both which menstrua 
it discovers a greater degree of warmth and bitterness, and a stronger 
odour than that of the resin in substance.J Alcohol dissolves about 
four parts out of five, the residue which remains undissolved has, 
when moist, the charaCteF of caoutchouc, but becomes brittle when 
dried.§ This substance resembles pure resins, in being semi-trans- 
parent, brittle, fusible, insoluble in water, and soluble in ether, but 
« Tournefort's Voyage du Levant, torn. i. p. 44. 
f "Vide Translation of 01ivier':i Travels, vol, ii. p.t)0. 
i Lewis's Mat. Med. 
§ Tbomson's Chemisiry, 4th edit. vol. v. p. 93. 
VOL. II. Q 
