510  Collection  of  Mastic  at  Chios.  {X^v.^mf"' 
Gay,  speaking  of  the  acridity  and  repulsive  taste  of  oil  of  tar,  rec- 
ommended that  it  should  be  sweetened,  "  in  order  to  mask  its  flavor 
and  its  odor."  Sugar,  as  I  have  said,  does  not  alter  the  therapeutic 
properties,  but  modifies  its  organic  properties  and  facilitates  its  ab- 
sorption. While  retaining  the  odor  and  taste  of  the  remedy,  the 
saccharate  so  disguises  them  that  the  most  delicate  stomachs  can  bear 
it  without  repugnance. 
The  saccharate  of  tar  is  not  the  result  of  a  chemical  reaction  ;  it 
is  a  simple  mixture,  each  of  the  elements  of  which  retains  intact  its 
composition  and  its  properties.  Constant  in  its  composition,  it  will 
furnish  solutions  really  and  mathematically  entitled  to  the  name, 
being  able  to  fulfil  all  the  conditions  necessary  for  mixtures,  gargles, 
injections,  etc.,  and  enabling  the  physician  to  give  his  patient  such 
quantity  of  tar  as  he  may  deem  necessary. — Pharm.  Journ.  and 
Trans.,  Sept.  23,  1871.,  from  Journal  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Qhimie. 
THE  COLLECTION  OF  MASTIC  AT  CHIOS. 
By  M.  J.  Leon  Soubeiran. 
Mastic  flows  from  the  Pistacia  Lentiscus,  a  Terebinthaceous  tree, 
growing  principally  in  the  south  of  the  Isle  of  Chios,  about  Cape 
Mastic,  which  takes  its  name  from  this  resin,  and  is  situated  about 
an  hour's  journey  from  the  city  of  Chios.  According  to  the  natives 
it  exudes,  not  only  from  artificial  incisions,  but  also  spontaneously 
from  the  branches,  where  it  congeals  in  drops,  which,  under  the  name 
of  dahra  (tears),  are  gathered  separately,  and  constitute  the  most 
esteemed  kind.  But  the  bulk  of  the  resin  issues  from  vertical  inci- 
sions skilfully  made  with  a  knife  close  together  round  the  whole  cir- 
cumference of  the  trunk,  from  the  root  to  the  branches.  A  few 
hours  after  this  operation,  which  is  done  about  the  middle  of  June, 
there  issues  from  the  incisions  a  resinous,  transparent,  aromatic  sub- 
stance, which  soon  solidifies.  After  fifteen  or  twenty  days  this  resin 
is  collected  in  little  baskets,  lined  with  white  paper  or  clean  cotton 
cloths.  Previous  to  this  time  the  ground  underneath  the  tree  is  cov- 
ered so  as  to  prevent  the  juice,  which  runs  plentifully,  from  being 
soiled  by  the  earth.  If  such  contamination  does  take  place,  care  is 
taken  to  cleanse  it  directly  it  is  collected.  The  production  of  resin, 
which  is  collected  by  women  and  children,  lasts  about  six  months, 
and  is  valued  at  about  X8  to  XIO  for  a  full-grown  tree. 
