272 A Treatise on 
In a chymical Analyfis , two Pounds of Gum 
Tragacanth yielded three Ounces and feven Drachms 
of clear Phlegm, without either Smell or Tafte % 
ten Ounces and forty eight Grains of reddifh Phlegm, 
of an empyreumatick Scent, and a fubacid Tafte, 
and bitterifh, fomething like Peach-Kernels, which 
gave Marks of a ftrong Acid *, one Ounce, two 
Drachms and forty Grains of acid, and alkaline 
urinous Liquor, gently tinged with red ; one 
Ounce, two Drachms and fifty fix Grains of red- 
difh Oil, reckoning both the thicker and the thinner. 
The Refeduum , which was black and denfe like a 
Coal, weighed eight Ounces. This being calcined 
for twenty eight Hours left one Ounce of gray 
Allies ; from which were got two Drachms and 
thirty Grains of fixt alkaline Salt. The Lofs of 
Parts in Diftillation was feven Ounces, two Drachms 
and three Grains •, in Calcination feven Ounces. 
Gum Tragacanth therefore has the fame Princi- 
ples, and nearly in the fame Quantity with Gum 
Arabick ; yet contains fomething more acid Salt 
and Earth, but lefs Oil. It is not foluble in Oils, 
or Spirit of Wine. It fwells greatly in Water, and 
becomes a thick Mucilage, which a large Addition 
of Water can fcarce diffolve. This Property ren- 
ders it ufeful to Apothecaries in making Powders 
with Sugar into Pills and Troches ; becaufe by a 
very little of the Mucilage a great deal of Powder 
may be reduced into a Mafs. 
This Gum infpiffates the Humours, abates their 
Motion, and foftens their Acrimony. It covers, with 
its foft Mucus, Parts which are excoriated and fore, 
and fo affwages their Pain. Whence in a Cough, 
Hoarfenefs, and other Affedtions of the Bread pro- 
ceeding from {harp Lymph, it is frequently pre- 
ferred *, as alfo in Disorders of the Urine occaft- 
oned by Acrimony, as in a Dyfury, Strangury, 
