ON A SUBSTANCE RESEMBLING MYRRH. 
335 
and we shall see, further on, when speaking of the direct action 
of alcohol, that it exists in it to a greater amount. 
One part of the myrrhoid in powder (100 grains) triturated 
in an agate mortar with two parts of water, (200 grains) af- 
forded an opaque mass, of the consistence of mucilage, homo- 
geneous in its consistence, which was mixed by trituration 
with about thirty parts of cold water; the liquid still transpa- 
rent, and very little colored, in a short time exhibited a mul- 
titude of small oleaginous drops, which at last became united 
in masses at the bottom of the vessel, having the appearance 
of a resinous liquid, to which we shall return directly, and 
which resisted solution in a large quantity of boiling water. 
Above it, was held in suspension another matter, very 
light, very voluminous, giving to the liquid the appearance of 
a thinner solution of gum tragacanth; it has been impossible 
for me to determine the proportion of it, inasmuch as by 
desiccation it was reduced, so to speak, almost to nothing. 
This substance, morever, appeared to me analogous to traga- 
canthine. 
In place of rubbing the myrrhoid in powder with water, it 
was allowed, in substance, to remain tranquilly in water for ten 
or twelve hours; the solution did not take place as above, but in- 
stead of the small portion of insoluble matter uniting itself in 
soft mass, it presents light flocculi floating upon the liquid, 
when it is agitated, and separating when allowed to stand. It 
may be remarked, in passing, that myrrh when placed under 
the same circumstances presents a different action. The aque- 
ous solution of the myrrhoid is very bitter and acrid; it sensi- 
bly reddens litmus paper. It is troubled by alcohol, and pre- 
cipitates in white flocks, leaving the supernatant liquid per- 
fectly clear and colorless. It is rendered equally cloudy 
when exposed to heat or the solar rays, and preserves its 
opacity to the end of the evaporation, leaving a yellow matter, 
dry and translucent, which again forms with cold water a limpid 
solution. This aqueous solution of the myrrhoid is formed 
almost entirely of a peculiar matter, which we shall designate 
by the name of Myrrhoidine. 
V 
