198 
BOSWELLIA SERRATA. 
ferentgum: and annual consignments of it have been since regularly 
sold a^ the East India Company's sales.* 
Sensible and Chemical Properties, &c. Olibanum is a 
transparent, brittle substance, of a pale yellow or reddish colour. 
It consists of grains of diflferent sizes, from that of a pea to a ches- 
nut,t and is generally covered with a whitish powder, produced by 
the friction of the grains against each other. It has a peculiar aro- 
matic odour when burnt, and a slightly bitter and somewhat pungent 
taste. It is not fusible, but inflammable, burns brilliantly with an 
agreeable smell, and leaves a whitish ash, composed of sulphate, 
carbonate and phosphate of lime, with muriate and carbonate of 
potass. Neumann got from 480 grains, 34G alcoholic, and 125 
watery extract ; and inversely, 200 watery, and 273 alcoholic. Oli- 
banum forms a milky fluid when triturated with water, and a trans- 
parent solution with alcohol. When distilled alone it affords a small 
portion of a volatile oil, but distilled either with water or spirit, no 
oil comes over. Ether dissolves nearly three-fourths, and when eva- 
porated on water leaves a very pure transparent resin, while the part 
undissolved becomes white and opaque, and the greater part of it is 
soluble in water, forming a milky solution. According to the analy- 
sis of Braconnot, 100 parts of olibanum contain 8 parts of a frag- 
rant volatile oil, (which resembles oil of lemons both in odour and 
colour), 56 of resin, 30 of gum, and 5.2 of a matter resembling gum, 
but insoluble in water or alcohol. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Olibanum is stimulant and 
diaphoretic, and was formerly considered of much efficacy in disor- 
ders of the head and chest ; in coughs, haemoptysis, and in various 
fluxes, both intestinal and uterine ; it was also much employed exter- 
nally as a vulnerary. Both Geoffroy and Riverius speak of the great 
efficacy they experienced from its use in pleurisies, especially after 
venesection. It is however now seldom prescribed for internal use, 
but as a perfume, it is sometimes employed to fumigate sick 
apartments. 
Off. Olibanum. 
* Asiatic Researches, vol. ix. p. 381. 
t Olibanum has received different appellations, according to its different appear- 
ances : the single tears or grains are simply termed Olibanum ; when two are joined 
together, Mascnlum ; and when two are very large, Femininum ; the fine powder, which 
rubs off from the tears, Mica Thuris; and the coarser Manna Thuris. 
