254 
A Treatise on 
A R T I c. V. 0/ Mastich. 
Maftiche , Maftix et Refina lentifcina , Off, frillvn 
(r%mvv, Diofcor. Maftech , This is 
a dry pellucid Refin, of a yellow white Colour, 
concreted into Tears or Grains about as big as a 
fmall Pea or a Grain of Rice, brittle, breaking 
immediately into Pieces under the Teeth, but af- 
terwards by the Heat of the Mouth becoming foft 
like Wax. Being thrown upon Gledes it takes 
Flame, emitting an agreeable Sort of Smell. The 
Tafte is gently aromatick, refinous, and fomewhat 
reflringent. It ought to be made Choice of white, 
or pale tending to yellow, pellucid, dry, brittle, 
crackly, and of a good Smell. When it is black, 
green, livid, or impure, it is of no Value. 
It runs either of itfelf or from a Wound made 
in the Bark of a Tree very near a-kin to the Here- 
binthus , which is called Lentifcus Vulgaris , C. B. P. 
399. It grows in Ohio , where it is cultivated 
with much Care, and from whence only the Maf- 
tich of the Shops is brought ; though the Tree is 
found alfo in other Hands of the Archipelago , and 
in Spain , Italy, and Languedoc. 
In a chymical Analyfis , two Pounds of Maftich 
afforded one Ounce, feven Drachms and fifty four 
Grains, of limpid, odorous, and acid Phlegm •, 
two Ounces, one Drachm and twelve Grains of 
brown Liquor, which was more acid with a kind 
of Bitternefs ; one Drachm and forty two Grains 
of tranfparent, reddifh Liquor, fubacid and fome- 
what alkaline, rendering the Solution of corrofive 
Sublimate turbid ; one Drachm of tranfparent yel- 
lowifh Oil j two Drachms of reddifh Oil ; two 
Ounces, one Drachm and ten Grains of brownOil, 
which was tranfparent and fluid ; with twenty Ounces 
