GUMS. 
19 
The astringent substances known as Kinos or Gum-kinos, 
which exude from the bark of Pterocarpus Marsupium and 
other trees, are included among the gums described below, 
and will be again mentioned under the heading of Drugs, to 
which they more strictly belong. 
A.—STAPLE GUMS. 
GUM ARABIC , in the broadest sense, is the product of 
many species of Acacia. The chief source is A. Senegal, 
Willd. ( A . Vereh), a common tree of N. Africa and W. Asia, 
which yields the gums known as Arabian, Kordofan, Senegal, 
Sennaar, Suakin, Geddah, Somali, &c., collected in different 
parts of the countries mentioned. The gums of N.E. Africa 
often travel to Europe via Bombay, and are known as East 
Indian, but are not produced in India, though sometimes 
adulterated there with local gums. A small quantity of 
gum also comes from W. and S. Africa, Australia, and other 
places, and is the product of many different species of 
Acacia. 
The gum usually flows freely ; the stems are sometimes 
wounded beforehand. The form of gum arabic varies with 
the species and country of origin. 
The fracture is conchoidal, with glassy lustre. Colour 
pale yellow to brownish. Good kinds are fully soluble in 
cold or hot water ; poor kinds leave a gelatinous swollen 
mass undissolved. The solution is slightly acid. The ash of 
good gums is about 3 per cent. 
The best kind is Kordofan gum, which occurs in round 
pellets to about an inch in diameter, and pale yellow. 
The best qualities are used in liqueur making, medicine 
(Acaciæ Gummi of the British Pharmacopoeia), and to give 
lustre to silkwares, &c., in the process of dyeing, also in 
making the best water colours ; inferior qualities are used in 
colour making, for adhesives, and in calico printing. The 
