167 
of Good Hope ; Duvaua and Schinus inhabit exclusively Chile and the adja- 
cent districts. 
Properties. Large trees, with inconspicuous flowers, abounding in a re- 
sinous, sometimes acrid, highly poisonous juice, are the ordinary representa- 
tives of this order, to which belong the Cashew Nut, the Pistacia Nut, and 
the Mango fruit. Some trees are celebrated for yielding a clammy juice, 
which afterwards turns black, and is used for varnishing in India. One kind 
is from the common Cashew nut. The varnish of Sylhet is chiefly procured 
from Semecarpus anacardium, the marking nut-tree of commerce ; and the 
varnish of Martaban from the theet-see or Kheu, a plant called by Wallich 
Melanorhaea usitatissima. All these varnishes are extremely dangerous to 
some constitutions ; the skin, if rubbed with them, inflames and becomes co- 
vered with pimples that are difficult to heal ; the fumes have been known to 
produce a painful swelling and inflammation of the skin, which, in a case re- 
corded by Brewster, extended from the hands as far as the face and eyes, which 
became swelled to an alarming degree. I have known an instance of similar 
effects having been produced by roasting the nuts of Anacardium occidentale. 
But there are some constitutions that are not affected in any degree by such 
poisons. These varnishes are at first white, and afterwards become black. 
This has been ascertained by Brewster to arise from the recent varnish 
being an organised substance, consisting of an immense congeries of small parts, 
which disperse the sun’s rays in all directions, like a thin film of unmelted 
tallow ; while the varnish which has been exposed to the air loses its orga- 
nised structure, becomes homogeneous, and then transmits the sun’s rays of a 
rich, deep, uniform red colour. Brewster, 8. 100. The same is probably the 
substance mentioned by Ainslie (1. 190) as the Black Lac of the Burmah 
country, with which the natives lacker various kinds of ware. The valuable 
black hard varnish called Japan lacquer, is obtained from Stagmaria verniciflua 
in the Indian archipelago : this resin is extremely acrid, causing excoriations 
and blisters if applied to the skin. Ed. P. /. 6. 400. A black varnish well 
known in India is manufactured from the nuts of Semecarpus anacardium and 
the berries of Holigarna longifolia. Ibid. 4 450. Augia produces a varnish 
in China and Siam. Wallich. The leaves of some species of Schinus are so 
filled with a resinous fluid, that the least degree of unusual repletion of the tissue 
causes it to be discharged ; thus some of them fill the air with fragrance after 
rain ; and S. Molle, Duvaua latifolia, and some others expel their resin with 
such violence when immersed in water as to have the appearance of sponta- 
neous motion, in consequence of the recoil. See But. Reg. 1580. Schinus 
Arroeira is said by Auguste de St. Hilaire to cause swellings in those who 
sleep under its shade. Ibid. 14. 267. The fresh juicy bark of this shrub is 
used in Brazil for rubbing newly-made ropes with, which it covers with a very 
durable bright dark-brown coating. The juice of the same plant is applied by 
the Indians in diseases of the eye. Pr. Maxim. Trav. 270. This last plant, 
and also Rhus coriaria, possess acid qualities. The fruit of Cassuvium occi- 
dentale and Anacardium orientale is said to exercise a singular effect upon the 
brain. Virey Bull. Pharm. 1814. p. 271. Mastich is the produce of Pistacia 
atlantica and Lentiscus ; Scio turpentine is yielded by Pistacia Terebinthus ; a 
substance like mastich is exuded by Schinus Molle, and the Peruvians use it 
for strengthening their gums. The juice of many species of Rhus is milky, 
stains black, and is sometimes, as in Rhus toxicodendron and radicans, ex- 
tremely poisonous. Rhus coriaria, a powerful astringent, is used by tanners. 
The bark of Rhus glabrum is considered a febrifuge, and is also employed 
as a mordant for red colours. Several Comocladias stain the skin black. 
DC. Rhus Cotinus, Arbre cl perruque of the French, and Venetian Sumacli 
of the English, has wood called young fustick, which is astringent as well as 
